While You Were In A Coma

While you were in a coma

Chapter Four

As soon as Harry heard Hagrid's booming voice calling the first years towards him, he knew he had arrived at the Hogsmead Station.

The three of them were talking as they made their way amongst the throng of students clad in black robes, greeting familiar faces, and grinning at the all-too-familiar scenes along the way. Amazing how Neville manages to lose something every single year, Harry thought with a smile as his gaze fell upon Neville, who was frantically searching for this year's lost possession.

The trio were heading towards the horseless carriages. Harry was sporting an enormous smile. Everything was turning out very well. His stomach was filled with delicious sweets from the trolley on the train, and fortunately, they hadn't encountered any "unpleasant" people on the train. Quite the contrary, actually, as only a few minutes into their journey they'd been joined by the twins and Ginny, who, combined, were hilarious company. The entire train trip had been filled with laughter and fun, special courtesy of the twins, of course.

Harry was elated. Within a few minutes he was going to be back at Hogwarts, the only place that he felt at home. The thought of eating a wonderful, delicious feast and enjoying it with all of his friends brought a smile to his lips. And currently, he was walking between Ron and Hermione, as he'd done millions of times before, happily listening to Ron ranting about this year's Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. It was all so blissfully perfect. But his tiny bubble of happiness was violently burst just as Ron started muttering something incoherently and turning extremely red. This could only mean one thing, and, for some reason, Harry didn't want any of it to happen.

"Ron, what are you mumbling?" Hermione snapped, after five minutes of trying to understand him.

"Well...I was just suggesting that we get in a carriage together," Ron sputtered at last.

"Don't be stupid, Ron. We always go in a carriage together, you don't have to ask," she replied exasperatedly, making her way to an empty carriage. She was about to step in, but in a quick, swift move, Ron grabbed her arm, and stopped her from getting in.

"No! I meant US get a carriage together, you and me," Ron's ears went scarlet when he saw Hermione's confused glare. "You know...ALONE..." he spoke slowly, as if speaking to a small child so she would understand.

There it was again. That feeling: it was like a brick hitting him straight in his face, Harry realized, as he saw the exchange of glances between his friends. "Ohhh..." Hermione spoke, finally understanding Ron's proposal and immediately swivelling to look at Harry. "Oh Ron, we can't just do that and leave Harry all alone-" Hermione began, her eyes never leaving Harry.

Pity. It was the last thing he liked receiving, and it was a thousand times worse, coming from Hermione. Was this how all the coming school years were going to be like? Always having to escape somewhere else, just so that Ron and Hermione could be alone? Always being the misfit third wheel? Something else was bothering him, too, something that had to do with the idea of Ron alone in a small, enclosed space with Hermione, where nobody could see them...he immediately shivered, not wanting to even think about that.

"...we always ride together to Hogwarts, it's like a tradition-" Hermione was saying. During all of Harry's inner turmoil, he had missed Hermione's speech of why Ron's idea was impossible.

"It's quite alright," Harry broke in. The last thing he wanted was to stand with them, just watching Ron clutching Hermione's hand possessively in his. And besides, he didn't want to hear more of her 'pity arguments'.

Hermione stepped back down from the step she was on, surprised at Harry's words. "Are you sure?" she asked in a voice low, her eyes searching his.

"Yeah...I mean why would I mind, anyway?" he answered, in what he desperately hoped was a convincing, nonchalant tone, looking everywhere except her eyes. For some reason, he felt if he looked straight into her eyes, he would say something completely wrong.

"Yes...of course, why would you," Hermione repeated curtly in a strange voice, noticing the lack of eye contact. "Well...come on then," she said shortly to Ron, before stepping into the carriage.

Ron hit Harry's arm lightly. "Thanks mate...well, wish me luck," Ron whispered, before turning to follow Hermione.

"Luck?" Harry repeated, not quite sure if he wanted to know the answer.

"Yes...let's see if your previous advice works...see you at Hogwarts," he replied, and, with a huge jump, he got into the carriage and waved before it started moving.

"Ron, wait! What are you going to do?" Harry shouted, desperately hoping to get an answer.

Why do I care? Let them do whatever they want, thought Harry, as he walked around, looking for Fred and George or another friendly face to share the journey with. He started to make his way a few steps ahead where he'd spotted a patch of flaming red hair. When he got to the place, however, he found it was only Ginny, and not the twins. "Hey Ginny, have you seen Fred and George?" Harry asked.

Ginny turned to him and, as always, her eyes dropped to her feet before she replied, "They already got into a carriage with Lee."

"Oh," Harry sighed.

Ginny watched him for a while, and her face turned bright red as she began to speak. "You could...you could come in a carriage with me if want," Ginny suggested, lightly twirling a piece of her robe around her finger. "I saw Ron and Hermione leave...and if you're alone...well, you know...you could come...with me."

Harry looked around searching for another friendly face: Dean or Seamus... anybody. But no such luck; the station was emptying and nobody he knew was left. "Ok, sure," he said, rather unenthusiastically.

"Hello Harry!!" A perky voice called out just as Harry was helping Ginny into the carriage.

"Uh, hi, Colin," the still-tiny figure of Colin Creevey, with his mousy blonde hair, stood in front of him.

"Hey, Harry, you don't mind if my brother and I ride in the same carriage as you, do you?" Colin asked excitedly, his face shining with excitement. Harry groaned inwardly. Ginny, having heard Colin's request, stuck her head out, her eyes shooting daggers at the boy.

Harry was having trouble deciding what could possibly be worse. It was either spending the entire ride answering endless questions from the Creevey brothers or sitting there, completely uncomfortable, with Ginny gawking at him, like she had the whole summer, "Sure Colin, get in," he managed with a small smile as he let the Creevey brothers get in first.

"Hello Ginny," Colin greeted with a smile, settling comfortably beside her. Harry struggled to suppress laughter at the face Ginny was making. Well, at least it won't be boring! Harry thought just as the carriage started its way.

***

The first day of classes finally came, and Hermione couldn't possibly be more excited. As always, she had started to read this year's textbooks in advance. Ron was a little annoyed that she had preferred to walk to the Great Hall for breakfast with several books in her hand rather than linked with his.

"This year's Transfiguration class looks extremely interesting," Hermione stated as she took her seat at the Gryffindor table.

"Which translates into: this year's Transfiguration class will be utterly difficult and accompanied with tons of homework," Ron said as he took the seat next to her.

Harry smiled as he sat in front of them, "Thank God, food!!" Ron exclaimed, grabbing the spoon and starting to pile his plate with fried eggs and several sausages that stuck out in odd angles. Immediately he attacked.

Hermione shot a disgusted look at Ron, who, being so immersed in eating, didn't even notice, "Honestly Ron, how can you devour such large amounts of food, all at once?!"

"Hey! I'm a growing boy. I have to eat well," Ron defended himself before sticking two sausages in his mouth at the same time.

"Great plan Ron, just as long as you're careful to which way you grow," Harry said as Hermione extended her hand to serve the small amount of eggs that Ron had left. Harry beat her to the platter. He took a spoon- full of fried eggs and placed them on Hermione's plate before starting on his own. "Want sausage?" Harry asked Hermione, after fighting briefly with Ron for the platter.

"There is only one left, you better take it," Hermione said, shooting an annoyed glance at Ron, "Honestly, there were more than fifteen sausages in that plate," she muttered.


"No that's ok, you take it." Harry gently slid the sausage onto Hermione's plate.

"But you love sausage, you take it. I'll have some bacon," Hermione answered, taking the sausage and placing it on Harry's plate.

"Hermione, I know you prefer sausage to bacon. You take it," Harry argued as he put the sausage onto Hermione's plate once again.

"But you..."

"OH FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, IT JUST A BLOODY SAUSAGE!! IF NEITHER ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO EAT IT, THEN GIVE IT TO ME!!!!" Ron shouted, annoyed at the little exchange between Harry and Hermione.

"It's your stupid fault that we're even having this discussion! If you had shared like a normal friend, we'd all have some sausages!" Hermione argued, as she grabbed her fork and cut the sausage in half, passing a half to Harry.

After the little 'discussion' at breakfast, Ron apologized to Hermione, and promised he would never eat that much again. But somehow Harry knew that Ron had just said that to make Hermione forgive him, and that he didn't plan on keeping that promise.

Herbology had been their first class, and, like the previous years, they shared it with the Hufflepuffs, "Thank God for small blessings," Ron put in, as he preferred the friendly Hufflepuffs a million times more than the horrible Slytherins.

On their way to the dungeons for Potions class, Ron begged Hermione to let him take her hand. "I just don't think it's a good idea, Ron," Hermione said firmly, quickening her pace.

"Why not? After all, we are boyfriend and girlfriend," Ron argued vehemently as he took her hand.

Harry didn't have a choice but to look to the side. He just couldn't make himself look at this kind of interaction between his friends.

"Oh my God! If this isn't the most disgusting sight I have ever laid eyes on," a familiar, drawling voice pierced Ron and Hermione's conversation. Harry whipped his face towards owner, sick with anticipation. "I can't believe it! Weasel and the Mudblood?" Draco crowed snidely, walking slowly towards them, with his goons Crabbe and Goyle trailing after him, sniggering stupidly.

"Shut up, Malfoy!" Ron warned, dropping Hermione's hand, and turning to face Malfoy.

"I suppose you are made for each other. I mean who would want to date a poor bastard like you, Weasel?" Draco continued, completely ignoring Ron's menacing gaze. "Only a dirty little Mud-"

This time Harry interrupted. "You better shut up Malfoy, I'm in no mood to take your idiotic banter," he said coldly, staring Draco down.

Draco flinched, but tried to not let on. "And why are you so angry, Potter? Don't tell me you also wanted a part of the little bitc-"

Harry advanced before Ron could even blink, grabbing Malfoy by the collar. "Don't you even dare finish that sentence or I swear-" Harry roared, Draco fighting to rip his hands off of his collar.

"You swear what, Potter?" the cold voice of professor Snape interrupted; the three of them turned around to find him walking towards them. "Will you kindly unhand Mr. Malfoy?" he asked coolly as he stood beside Harry, "First day of class, and you have already earned the first ten points off from Gryffindor for this beastly behaviour," he smirked slightly, as he put a hand on Draco's shoulders and led him into the classroom.

Harry and his friends didn't bother to say anything, knowing very well that it wouldn't do any good, "Come along now, or ten more points will be taken off for being late to class," the dull, content voice of Snape called through the door, making Harry, Ron and Hermione quickly enter the classroom.

After another terrible Potions class, the trio separated. As usual, Snape had picked on Neville, taken another five points from Gryffindor because Seamus had sneezed when Neville's potion started wheezing orange smoke. Also, Snape was finding vicious ways of remarking that Ron and Hermione were Hogwart's newest star couple.

Hermione ran to her Arithmancy class and Harry and Ron dragged their feet towards the highly unanticipated Divination, not really wanting to end the day with the equally terrible class. Harry and Ron were in such a bad mood that they didn't make fun of anything that professor Trelawney said to the class or about the new methods they were engaging in this semester for their predictions. Unfortunately, professor Trelawney had taken their serious attitude as newfound gain of respect for her class and had paid extra attention to the pair.

Finally the class ended, the classroom had emptied out pretty rapidly except for Ron and Harry who were still grabbing their bags, ready to leave, when professor Trelawney spoke to them. "Wait. I can feel something cold engulfing your beings," she began in a cool monotonous tone. Ron groaned, as if he'd been expecting this, but Harry remained silent. Professor Trelawney was in the same kind of weird trance, similar to when she warned him about Wormtail and Voldemort. "A person from the past is returning to pay back his debt. Where three were standing, only two will remain, and in darkness you will stay."

Ron rolled his eyes and turned to leave. Harry was waiting, wanting to know if there was more to come, but that was evidently the end of it. Professor Trelawney seemed to wake up and snap back to her usual airy self and didn't remember anything. Harry was worried; another strange prediction, and the worst part is that he wasn't sure is the professor had been looking at him when she was speaking...or at Ron.

TO BE CONTINUED