Harry went upstairs and helped Ron toss things into his trunk. He was still looking under his bed when Mrs. Weasley poked her head in the door. “Are you lot ready yet?”
“Almost,” Harry said. “Just making sure we didn’t leave anything.”
“Please finish up, dears. We need to leave soon if we’re going to make it to King’s Cross in time for the express.”
- - -After finding his copy of Flying with the Cannons under the dresser, Ron latched his trunk shut and started lugging it down the stairs. Harry stopped at Ginny’s landing when he noticed her door was open. He stuck his head inside. “Need a hand?” he asked.
“Just as soon as I get this closed,” Ginny said as she folded her spare cloak and placed it in the corner of her neatly packed trunk. That done, she closed the lid and pulled the latches shut. “Sorry I snapped at you earlier.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Harry said quickly. “You were just startled.”
@@ -45,9 +42,6 @@He struggled to keep his face impassive. The only thing that would make this worse would be the mortification of everyone realizing he was having some sort of stupid panic attack in the back of their car. Fortunately Ron was talking to the twins about Quidditch while Percy and Molly talked about his prefect duties and Ginny stared out the window, daydreaming. Harry took a deep breath and closed his eyes, ignoring the visions that appeared, unbidden and unwanted.
He almost flinched away when he felt a light touch on his forearm. Ginny had moved her hand, letting the heel of her hand rest against his skin. Harry tried to focus on that, rather than the smells or the memories, and he realized that her shoulder was pressing firmly against his upper arm. He let his eyes crack open and glanced at her sidelong.
She was facing forward, seemingly staring out the windshield. Every now and then her eyes would dart in his direction and her lips pursed. Harry sighed and tried to use Occlumency exercises to make himself relax, focusing on the feel of her arm pressing against his. He was more surprised than anything when they stopped at a traffic light and he realized he’d dozed off. After that, he was shaky but basically all right.
-They arrived at King’s Cross at quarter past ten, with plenty of time to board the Hogwarts Express. Harry lagged back as they sorted themselves out, and made a point of helping Ginny get her bulky trunk on the trolley.
“Thanks,” he whispered as he wedged her trunk in on top of his.
She smiled, not even pretending ignorance. “I overheard Mum asking Dad if you’d be okay in there. They decided to let you be and see how it went. Like you’d let it show if you could possibly help it.” Harry froze for an instant, surprised that he was so transparent to her. When he straightened up, she was faintly smirking.
@@ -63,9 +57,6 @@“Do you think I can’t take care of myself?” Ginny asked. She didn’t seem angry, yet, but her voice had a cool tone to it.
“More like Draco never starts anything unless he has you outnumbered or it’s a sneak attack. I’ve told Ron, Hermione, and Neville the same thing.”
Ginny nodded her head thoughtfully. The train whistle blew and the compartment jolted as the train began moving.
-A few minutes later the compartment door opened and Ron entered. “Look what the cat brought in,” he said jovially. Hermione rolled her eyes as she followed him through the door. Neville was next, smiling.
“You know,” Harry said, “we ought to just plan on grabbing this last car every time we ride the Express. It’ll make it easier for us to meet up, anyway.”
“Of course, it also means Draco and the others will figure out where they can find us,” Hermione reminded them.
@@ -79,9 +70,6 @@“Maybe so,” Harry agreed, “but it’d be nice to keep certain people’s mouths from writing cheques their bodies can’t cash.” Hermione looked thoughtful at that, but everyone else in the compartment was confused. Harry sighed and explained the Muggle figure of speech.
“You’re right, mate,” Ron said happily. “A good cursing or two would encourage polite behaviour.” He grinned. “Especially with all the curses Hermione has learned.”
Hermione rolled her eyes as they all laughed, but Harry noticed her cheeks grow a bit pink as well. Harry leaned back in his seat and felt the tension ebb out of him. Being with all of his friends again was like a tonic after the tension of the drive to King’s Cross. For a moment Harry wished this train ride could last forever, delaying their arrival at Hogwarts. For now, his friends were happy and safe, and that was all he could ask for. He didn’t even realize he was dozing as the murmur of conversation lulled him to sleep.
-He dreamed he was in an underground chamber lined with serpentine statues. He was looking desperately for something he couldn’t find. Worse, he’d forgotten what he was searching for. He tried to raise his wand for light, but remembered he’d dropped it. Why had he done something stupid like that?
A loud bang yanked him out of his disturbing dream as the compartment door was thrown open. His hand was already digging into his sleeve for his wand as he opened his eyes. Ginny was standing in the doorway, looking dishevelled and angry. “Get your wands and follow me!” she hissed.
Harry leapt to his feet, his mind racing. She didn’t appear to be hurt, just furious.
@@ -139,9 +127,6 @@Harry sighed. “Hermione, you’ve sat classes with that lot. You know how stupid they are. Those pureblood fanatics are going to hold onto their bigotry until they are dragged, kicking and screaming, into the twentieth century.” He shrugged and smiled. “That being the case I’d rather we were doing the kicking and they were doing the screaming.”
Ron let out a loud laugh, echoed by Neville. Ginny smiled warmly at Harry while Hermione sighed, though the corner of her mouth did curl upward.
Luna stared at Harry without blinking. “You must all be in Gryffindor,” she said. It wasn’t a question.
-The rest of their journey passed in relative peace. Ron coaxed Hermione into a game of chess while Ginny and Luna talked and Neville leafed through a Herbology journal.
Harry dozed off again, but at least that weird dream didn’t return. When he awoke, they were almost to Hogsmeade and a couple of chocolate frogs were sitting on his lap. He blinked at his friends in confusion, but no one would tell him who had purchased the treats for him. He shrugged and ate one as the train came to a halt.
Harry shrugged into his school robe as students began filing off the train. He and his friends clambered down the back steps and onto the platform. It only took a moment to spot Hagrid’s head looming above the crowd.
@@ -151,9 +136,6 @@“Well, I’ll keep a close eye on ‘em for ye, Harry,” Hagrid replied, peering down at the girls. “I heard Arthur and Molly broke all th’ rules and had a lil’ girl,” he rumbled. “And I went ter Hogwarts wit’ a Lovegood. Was that yer Dad?” he asked Luna.
The blonde girl just cocked her head and peered up at the groundskeeper, but didn’t answer.
“Well, no matter. I’ll get them up ter th’ Sortin’ in half a mo’,” he said, waving as Harry and the other second years made their way to the carriages. Harry was unsurprised that he could clearly see the thestrals harnessed to them. The four of them piled into the large carriage with a good bit of room left over. Soon they were moving up the road toward the Hogwarts gates.
-The Great Hall was just as Harry remembered it. He made sure his Occlumency shields were up before he looked toward the high table. Professor Snape was sitting next to Gilderoy Lockhart. The latter was gaily chatting away, seemingly unaware that the potion master looked like he really wanted a vial of poison. Professor Dumbledore’s eyes met Harry’s for a moment, but the only reaction was a small nod. The absence of a Legilimency attempt was a hopeful sign, so Harry returned the nod.
When they sat down, Harry made sure they left a space between himself and Ron, as well as between Hermione and Neville. He waved hello to Seamus and Dean, but he doubtlessly appeared distracted to anyone who knew him. He didn’t think the Sorting Hat would double-cross him, but beginnings are such delicate things.
Neville was quiet, but Hermione was obviously concerned as she stared across the table, her eyes flickering between Harry and Ron. Harry grunted and turned toward Ron. “It puts her anywhere else; I say we use it to start a bonfire.”
@@ -199,22 +181,13 @@“And then only when you walk by the Slytherins, mate,” Ron said after swallowing.
“You want to join us?” Harry asked carefully. Now that he saw an opening, he hoped to seal the deal. “Ginny has started working with us as well, so you won’t be the only new girl.”
Luna stared at Harry long enough to make him wonder if he’d said something wrong. Finally, she nodded. “I’d like that,” she said and began eating.
-The feast proceeded without further incident. By the time dessert was served, Harry was definitely feeling groggy.
Once the dessert was cleared away, Dumbledore stood and the Great Hall immediately quieted down. “Very good,” he said cheerfully, his voice nonetheless filling the hall. “Now that we are all replete from this excellent dinner, I have one more announcement. Joining us to fill the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is the extremely well known Gilderoy Lockhart.”
There was scattered applause, mostly from the witches, following that announcement. With a grin that displayed an inordinate number of teeth, the man gave a jaunty wave in response. Next to him, Professor Snape grimaced, his upper lip showing a definite curl.
“I’m sure you will all show him a very warm welcome,” Dumbledore continued, his eyes twinkling. Harry wondered if the headmaster didn’t know what an awful fraud he’d hired, or if he just didn’t have any other options.
-After another chaotic rendition of the school song – one sure to qualify as a lyrical felony in most jurisdictions – they were finally dismissed to seek their beds.
Harry was full and dozy as they followed Percy to the Gryffindor tower. He barely registered the glares coming from some of the Slytherins. He tried to memorize the password, ‘wattlebird’, as they trooped into the common room. Harry was tempted to warm himself by the fire, but he knew he’d probably fall asleep down here if he did. After making sure everyone knew to get up two hours early for practice, he made his way up to the dormitory. He managed to change into his pyjamas before falling asleep.
-Harry woke up thrashing wildly, knocking the covers to the floor. It took him a long moment to realize he was at Hogwarts, and not inside a collapsing house in Devon. That had been a particularly close call. He still had no idea how the Death Eaters had located them, but they were damned lucky Hermione had spotted them before they stepped out the back door. As it was, the three of them managed to return fire from behind cover, instead of being cut down in an ambush. Unfortunately, as Ron stunned the last one, a stray Reducto curse collapsed the back wall of the kitchen, bringing down a section of the roof. Hermione and Ron managed to step back in time, but Harry was knocked out and pinned under the rubble. He awoke as they were digging him out, but with his arm and both legs trapped it was hard not to panic. Recognizing his distress, Hermione held his hand and stroked his face while Ron cleared away the boards and pieces of siding. He was covered with cuts and bruises when they were done, but the terror of being trapped and helpless stayed with him even longer.
+Harry woke up thrashing wildly, knocking the covers to the floor. It took him a long moment to realize he was at Hogwarts, and not inside a collapsing house in Devon. That had been a particularly close call. He still had no idea how the Death Eaters had located them, but they were damned lucky Hermione had spotted them before they stepped out the back door. As it was, the three of them managed to return fire from behind cover, instead of being cut down in an ambush. Unfortunately, as Ron stunned the last one, a stray Reducto curse collapsed the back wall of the kitchen, bringing down a section of the roof. Hermione and Ron managed to step back in time, but Harry was knocked out and pinned under the rubble. He awoke as they were digging him out, but with his arm and both legs trapped it was hard not to panic. Recognizing his distress, Hermione held his hand and stroked his face while Ron cleared away the boards and pieces of siding. He was covered with cuts and bruises when they were done, but the terror of being trapped and helpless stayed with him even longer.
By the time he got his breathing back under control, Harry was quite thoroughly awake. He sat up and put on his dressing gown. He started to dig quill and parchment out of his trunk before he remembered that Ginny was here at Hogwarts this year. No need for letters. The clock showed that he had at least two hours before everyone else would be getting up for practice, so he selected a book on mid-level healing charms and went down to the common room.
Harry was surprised to find anyone in the common room at this hour, let alone Ginny. She was sleeping half-reclined on the couch, with her head resting on the arm. He stared at her for a moment, then took a blanket off the back of the couch and tucked her in. He paid special attention to her feet, remembering her complaints about how cold they got while she slept. That done, he picked an armchair near the fire and settled down with his book.
When it was nearly time for the morning run, Harry closed his book and stood up, stretching. He nudged Ginny until her eyes opened, whereupon she sat up so suddenly that they almost knocked heads together.
@@ -229,9 +202,6 @@Harry remembered that Ginny was never one to beat around the bush when she wanted to know something. “Why?” she asked.
“Well, from what you described, she’s a good person, but she’s going to have a rough go of it here if she doesn’t have some people looking out for her. The only problem I see is in classes, since you two will be separated from the rest of us. In that case it’ll be up to you to watch out for her.”
Ginny’s swallowed. “I’ll do that,” she said firmly. She surprised Harry by giving him a quick hug and then dashing up the stairs to her dormitory.
-Half an hour later they were all trotting out of the entrance hall and onto the grounds. Harry kept the pace reasonable so Luna could keep up. Nonetheless, her fair complexion was beet red half-way through. Neville, of all people, dropped back as she began to lag and talked to her as she slowed.
“I had a rough time when we first started,” he said, puffing a bit. “It gets easier after you do it for a while.”
Luna nodded, too out of breath to reply.
@@ -245,9 +215,6 @@Neville’s most significant change was regarding the potions professor that horribly intimidated him in another life. Watching Snape’s relentless badgering of Harry infuriated the boy, and there were a few times Harry wouldn’t have been surprised to see Neville whip out his wand and hex the man.
Harry received two surprises when he began checking his friends’ defences: Neville’s shields were almost as good as Hermione’s, for all that he’d been practising the shortest amount of time and her the longest. The second shock was when Harry tested Luna to see if she had any natural resistance to Legilimency. He was able to penetrate her mind with little difficulty, but the bewildering welter of images and associations he found inside was almost overwhelming. Intrigued, Harry stayed longer than he normally would have. It wasn’t like he was invading her privacy – the only thing he could pick up was a steadily worsening headache.
Well, that’s… interesting, he mused. This may work out better than I thought it would.
-Harry’s headache was just fading as they headed inside to shower and change for breakfast. Their morning meal was noticeably calmer without a Howler from Mrs. Weasley, though Harry did wonder what Dobby was getting himself up to since he wasn’t trying to ‘save’ Harry.
He smiled warmly at Professor McGonagall when she handed him his class schedule. It probably disconcerted her, but it was hard for him to take her stern persona seriously… not after the way she’d ripped into Umbridge on his behalf in his prior life.
Soon they split up. Ginny and Luna had charms first period, while the rest of them were off to Herbology.
@@ -259,15 +226,9 @@“Well done, Mr, Longbottom!” Professor Sprout beamed. “That’s an ingenious use for what many consider to be a liability of cultivating Mandrake. Thirty points to Gryffindor! Neville is correct about the Mandrake’s cry. While these are only seedlings we’re repotting today, their cry can at least knock you out. So make sure you get those earmuffs on tight!” Some of the Hufflepuffs looked a little disgruntled at the generous award their Head of House had given to a Gryffindor, but none of them raised their hands, so it was their own fault.
Harry wasn’t as surprised by the squalling-baby appearance of the uprooted Mandrake this time, though it was still disturbing. He just hoped they didn’t need to be brewing mandrake restoratives this year.
With the four of them working together, they didn’t end up grouping with Justin Finch-Fletchley. Harry wondered about that, but didn’t see how that would hurt anything in the new timeline. With the diary locked away, the Muggle-born student wouldn’t be attacked this time around.
-By the end of the class they were still filthy and sweaty from stuffing uncooperative, muddy, fat babies into their new pots. Harry really wanted a shower, but he barely had time to wash his face and hands before they had to be in transfiguration.
Professor McGonagall’s class was more a free-for-all than Herbology, where Neville was the clear expert. Hermione was usually first with the answers, but not always. Surprisingly, Ron even beat them all once. Hermione’s pleased grin made the red-head’s ears turn pink, and Harry wondered how much he’d studied over the summer.
By the end of the class, they were all competing to see who could transfigure a beetle into the most elaborate button. Professor McGonagall came over to see why they needed so many beetles, but just shook her head when she saw the results of the button-making contest.
-Lunch was fairly quiet, though Ginny was laughing about their first charms lecture. She thought Professor Flitwick was terribly cute. Hermione was scandalized at the implied disrespect, and she was all set to chastise Ginny about it when Luna chimed in.
“Ginny, it isn’t nice to laugh about someone who was victimized by green-winged fump-gizers,” Luna said in her characteristic dead-pan drawl.
That pretty much stopped Hermione in her tracks. “Green-winged whats?”
@@ -278,9 +239,6 @@Hermione almost flinched back, but didn’t say anything. She looked almost confused, and then she peered very intently at the blonde first-year. Almost as soon as their eyes met, Hermione flinched back. She shook her head, rubbing at her eyes. “I’ve never heard of any sort of Fump-gizers, Luna, and they aren’t in Scamander’s guide. Where did you read about those?”
“There was an article about them in the Quibbler. I think I can get you the issue if you’d like.”
Hermione nodded slowly, still rubbing her temples.
-When they finished eating, Ron suggested they go out to the courtyard for some fresh air before their next class. As they left the Great Hall, Harry hung back until he was walking next to Hermione, who was still frowning.
“You tried to use Legilimency on Luna,” he said. It wasn’t a question.
Hermione nodded cautiously. “Something very odd happened.”
@@ -297,9 +255,6 @@“I am,” Harry said with a pause. “I’d like to have a second observer. I wonder sometimes if the sense of who is trying to probe your mind can impact how effective your Occlumency is.”
“That’s not a bad idea, Harry, I’ll do it next time we practise – just maybe not with Luna,” she said with a small smile.
He returned her smile and they eased past what could have been an awkward conversation. Harry remembered how often the three of them used to fight, and how trivial the reasons usually were. A good bit of it was his fault too, given how awkward he was and how easily he flew off the handle about some things. Burying all of the people he loved gave Harry a new perspective on things, and a lot more tolerance for their little quirks.
-It wasn’t until they were already out in the courtyard that Harry remembered a rather embarrassing conversation with Colin Creevey. Just like last time, the junior stalker edged forward with his camera and started badgering Harry about taking a picture of him. Harry purposefully misunderstood him and gathered his friends for a group shot of all six of them. They looked at him a little oddly, but the frantic plea in Harry’s eyes forestalled any questions – though Ginny and Hermione looked mildly amused.
After Colin snapped the picture, he of course did the worst possible thing. “Um, H-Harry, could you sign it for me? So I can send it to my Dad?”
“Signed photos? You’re giving out signed photos, Potter?” Draco sneered. Besides his skill with nasty bits of magic he had no business knowing, the Malfoy heir was a positive genius at saying things in as insulting a manner as possible. “Everyone line up!” he roared, “Harry Potter’s giving out signed photos!”
@@ -313,7 +268,7 @@“Envious, Potter?” Draco asked with a sneer. Something about the boy’s expression bothered Harry.
“No, because after you’ve spent all your inherited money, you’ll still be a useless parasite,” Harry snapped.
“What’s all this? What’s all this?” Professor Lockhart said as he strode toward Harry, his turquoise robes swirling around him. “Who’s giving out signed photos? Besides me, that is?” He chuckled at his own quip.
-Harry started to step back, but the man reached out and grabbed Harry’s shoulder and pulled him in against his side. “Come now, Mr. Creevey, you can get a picture of both of us and we’ll sign it. Can’t do much better than that, can we?”
+Harry started to step back, but the man reached out, grabbed Harry’s shoulder and pulled him in against his side. “Come now, Mr. Creevey, you can get a picture of both of us and we’ll sign it. Can’t do much better than that, can we?”
Harry debated breaking the man’s instep, but instead he simply ducked down and dropped from the man’s arm. He let himself somersault backward and rose to his feet in one smooth motion. Colin got a good picture of a rather confused Professor Lockhart staring down at his left armpit. Later that night Harry would trade Colin two pictures of himself for that one of Lockhart. The man hardly ever took a picture that was less than perfect so just owning it was a petty form of revenge.
Lockhart turned around and saw Harry standing behind him. He reached forward, but seemed to reconsider. “Come with me, please, Harry. We have something to discuss before class.”
Harry gave his friends a disgusted look, but Hermione and Neville just shrugged. Ron was still glaring at Draco and fingering his wand. Harry really hoped a fire-fight didn’t break out when he wasn’t there to join in. He noticed Ginny was standing slightly in front of Luna, shielding her from the Slytherins. Harry felt an odd surge of pride, but he hoped she knew some kind of blocking spell.
@@ -330,9 +285,6 @@Professor Lockhart smiled ruefully. “The position was mine for the asking, since no one wants to risk that so-called curse. Besides, it’s not like this is really an important class, is it? Most students will never need to use what they learn in here anyway. Those that do, well, they aren’t going to be complaining, now are they?”
Harry felt his faint smile pull into a grimace. Okay, you negligent son of a bitch. You’ve got to go, the sooner the better.
“You don’t need to give me an answer now, Harry,” Lockhart said with a paternal smile. “Just think about it. We can do great things for each other, great things.” Harry was suddenly reminded of Ollivander, talking about his wand. It was just about as comfortable a memory too.
-Students began filing into the room and Harry went to sit with his friends. Hermione seemed to frown when she saw his face, so he supposed that horrible grimace was still there. He had a strong urge to ask to be excused so he could go take a shower.
Harry dutifully filled out Lockhart’s exercise in ego-gratification he called a quiz. It’ll be easier to get him sacked if he doesn’t suspect anything, he reasoned. Maybe I should just aim for something more general, like just ‘get rid of him’, and see what opportunities arise.
The Defence professor’s speech about how his job was to ‘arm them against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind!’ fell a little flat in Harry’s ears when he recalled the man’s earlier words. Apparently that twinkle in his eye was from sarcastic amusement, or perhaps satisfaction in his own acting skills. The man was just as much a superficial fake as the Dursleys, and just as poisonous in his own way. He’d willingly send his students out into the world without any real idea of how to handle things… he’d send them out like sheep to the slaughter.