Of Love and War

A billion people died on the news tonight

But not so many cried at the terrible sight

Well mama said

It's just make believe

You can't believe everything you see

So baby close your eyes to the lullabies

On the news tonight

-Jack Johnson

Harry Potter sat in the café at the train station. In his haste to leave the Dursleys behind forever he had arrived at the platform about three hours early. He had been hungry, and ever since the Aunt Marge incident when he was thirteen he had made a point to keep a little converted Muggle money with him all the time. Stranded was not a feeling he wanted to deal with again. So he had decided to get some breakfast. He sat at a counter facing windows that showed the platforms below him and berated himself for his earlier behavior. Giving Vernon Dursley the finger was hardly worth the effort it took, as was getting mad about his appalling conduct. He scowled as he sipped the tea in front of him and decided that this was not the day to worry about it.

Harry had idled about two hours away at the café, and in that time many people had - as always, it seemed - looked at him rather oddly. He did look a sight though, with his two trunks stacked precariously on a trolley next to him and an owl in a cage perched on top. The fact that Hedwig whiled away the time by twittering ridiculously had not helped the situation.

Yes, Harry had indeedeceived many an odd look that morning, but unbeknownst to him, he had received many an appreciative glance as well. In the past two years Harry had really grown into his body, as was apt to happen closer to the end of one's adolescence. He had grown quite a bit, shooting up about five inches since his fifth year. He was not towering like Ron, but given another year or two he would probably stop at about 5'10."

He had finally cut his messy mop after his encounter with Voldemort in fourth year. Recognizing that perhaps he was hiding his trademark scar behind his messy coif, he decided that this was indeed a fruitless attempt as, after all the press around the Tri-Wizard Tournament, what little anonymity that he had around his identity was all well gone, hidden scar or not.

His hair now sat in a wild array atop his head, only more closely cropped, making it look intentionally messy. This, combined with his striking but warm green eyes, an almost handsome face, and a lopsidedly disarming grin made for an attractive enough package. Though his knees remained, as always, knobby. What made him stand out though, was a sense of power that he exuded - he commanded respect wherever he went.

This was not an attitude, it came as naturally as the swagger in his step, but anyone he encountered noticed it, even if it was unconsciously. Power is an influential and deceptive quality. It makes smart people do stupid things and stupid people forget what mind they have.

But Harry never noticed these things about himself. He was a busy young man with much on his mind and his self-awareness often took a back seat to his sense of obligation. This probably accounted for the fact that one of the most eligible wizards in the entire world had nary done more than go on an awkward date - awkward because of his fame, his shy nature, and his insecure mind. So he had remained unattached and distracted enough not to care about it.

He had a task at hand - it was coming soon and it was his destiny, he was sure of that now, as his mentor had informed him of as much. He was part of a family heritage that unavoidably tied him to centuries of past suffering. His part in that particular fight was nearing - he could feel it.

Harry sighed and checked the large clock above the platform he was facing and decided that someone must be here by now. He really needed a familiar face.

Harry grabbed his trolley and left the counter for platforms nine and ten, still unaware of the occasional glances thrown his way. He reached the barriers to platform nine and three quarters and was debating between waiting here and going through with Ron and Hermione (it was their last year and there was a certain sentimental quality to crossing together that last time) or just going through himself and finding a compartment where he could relax until they showed up. Harry's decision, however, was made for him as he caught sight of Hermione, flanked by her parents and weaving her trolley through the crowd.

A grin broke out across his face as he first spotted her. She was, as always, all hair, a wonderful great head of it. It was curlier now than when he had first met her, but bushy as always and kissed slightly by the sun, no doubt from her trip with her parents.

Harry had received several letters from her over the two weeks that she had ended up staying in Spain, and he had never in his life seen her as happy and laid back as those letters had portrayed her to be. He wondered vaguely if that boy named Mateo she had met had anything to do with it. All wondering ceased after he caught the look on her face - she looked rested, happy, and content. It warmed Harry's heart to see her like this, as mostly he saw her slightly pale and worried, more often than not either about him or school.

Harry called out her name, and when she caught sight of him her face lit up, her warm brown eyes sparkling enough to see a change in them from where he stood. As her grin broke out, so did she, abandoning her trolley to run up to him. When she came upon Harry she threw herself at him and clutched him in a fierce hug. Harry felt at home again in her embrace and wished that Ron could have been there to make snarky remarks - then it would have been perfect.

"Oh Harry, it is so good to see you again. I missed you and Ron so during the holidays."

She pulled back then, but remained in his arms so she could bestow him with a smile.

"I don't think I ever got used to not spending those weeks at the Burrow with you both. We won't be able to move far away from one another after graduation. I don't know how I would be able to stand being away from you both for that long without the promise of the school year ahead to spend together."

Hermione then dropped a kiss on his cheek, as had become their custom when greeting each other after long absences. When she had first done that Harry had been embarrassed, as any proper fourteen year old should have been. But Hermione had continued with an open affection around him after fourth year, even as she and Ron had dated. By now he was used to it and even felt himself craving it. He had never experienced that kind of tactile care before, and felt something lacking when it was not received.

Ron had not been unaffected by this new trend either - perhaps it was all the snogging that they had done, but he was now more affectionate with Hermione as well. The two boys were even seen from time to time in a back slapping embrace, especially after a successful Quidditch match. They were, after all, family, and families hugged.

It had sparked more than one rumor of questionable legitimacy amongst the Gryffindors, and Malfoy and his cronies liked to make lewd comments about threesomes, which were met with much guffawing from the three and usually a comment made by Ron about whether or not Malfoy would like to join them some time. This always shut him up.

Harry pulled back reluctantly from the much missed contact to look at her face. The gold in her eyes flashed in happiness, a smattering of newly acquired freckles were spread attractively across her nose. Harry felt emotion stir inside his chest as he took her in. He could feel himself grinning back. That is until the clearing of a throat could be heard from behind Hermione. It was the Grangers, who had finally caught up with the two. Harry released Hermione from his arms and she promptly laced her fingers through his.

Harry grinned at Hermione's parents - he liked them very much, though he hadn't had the chance to get to know them like the Weasleys.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Granger. How was your holiday?"

They grinned back. Their daughter had told them all about her best friends, and they knew that Harry was a very good one to their daughter. This immediately endeared him to them as they loved their only child very much and would stand for nothing less than what she deserved which, in their opinion, was the best of everything. Mrs. Granger responded for them both.

"Hello, Harry. It was very lovely, and I daresay Hermione enjoyed herself, but please call us Helen and Peter."

Harry grinned and agreed, and then only half listened as he took in Hermione's parents. They were an unlikely couple; Helen Granger was a slight woman but stood at 5'7". She was fair-skinned and blonde, her blue eyes bright. And while they were very different in their coloring, Hermione was built just like her and was in possession of an uncannily similar face. Mrs. Granger looked like she came from money, which she had.

Peter Granger, on the contrary, was tall and sturdy and colored like Hermione, brown hair and eyes, and he tanned like her as well. He was a self-made individual, earning his way through dentistry school by working at his father's grocery in London's East End.

He and Mrs. Granger had met at the same school and Helen had forsaken her previous life of society and money for a grand love affair. A move which proved to be very successful as she stood twenty years later still madly in love, with a beautiful daughter, successful career, and fairly well off lifestyle.

Helen's parents had basically disinherited their daughter after she married Peter, but one look at their granddaughter and they had relented. Helen was forever thankful for that, for it hadn't been long after that they had died in a car accident. She was grateful they had forgiven her and gotten to know their only grandchild. Hermione was an only child in a long line of only children on her mother's side. She did, however, have dozens of cousins on her father's.

As her mother really began to warm up to her story, Hermione interrupted her.

"I am really sorry, Mum, but I have got to go and find Professor McGonagall. She was expecting me several minutes ago and is no doubt ready to strip me of my badge."

"Of course, darling. We don't want to get you in trouble."

Hermione's mother swept her into an embrace.

"Do be careful this year, try to stay out of trouble. You have done so nicely with this the last couple of years. Have fun, but not too much fun, mind your grades and your health and send us loads of letters. It makes me so happy when I see an owl swooping over our roof."

Hermione's father was next with his admonishments and well wishes and Harry watched with the same envy he felt when watching any parent and child interact. When they were all good and teary and had said their good-byes, Harry bid them the same and followed Hermione across the platform in search of Professor McGonagall. Once through the barrier, Hermione slipped her arm through his and they walked toward the train.

"So, Hermione, how was your holiday? Tell me all about - what was his name, Mateo?"

Harry watched with satisfaction as a blush graced the ridges of her cheeks. He saw another smile creep across her face, this one different from any other he had ever seen upon her features. The words 'Cheshire Cat' came to mind.

"Yes, his name is Mateo and when I left him the other day he was fine, and other than a little heart trouble when he attached himself to my face, my holiday was great. Although depending on whom you ask, the heart trouble was the best bit of all."

"Why Hermione Granger! I'm shocked, how very brazen of you. But enough about your wanton hedonism, what else did you do?"

Harry watched with a sense of unease as that smile slid across her face again. He suddenly began to wonder if he really did want to know about the rest of her holiday. But then it fell away again and Hermione launched into a speech.

"Well, I learned loads of Spanish - did you know that it is spoken really differently in Spain than what they often teach in books? The little bit I knew from reading one barely helped me at all. There are so many ways, for instance, that basic conjugation of verbs varies between geographical..."

"Hermione, spare me the dissertation, what else did you do?"

"Well, we shopped and visited a lot of museums, we went topless on the beach..."

"You did what?"

Harry looked properly horrified at this idea.

"We shopped."

"Don't be coy with me, Granger, go back to the bit about topless beaches."

Hermione grinned, "Oh that, well my mum..."

"Your Mum!"

"Yeah, she thought it would be a neat cultural experience to try it out. We were the only ones there not doing it, so I guess she figured 'when in Rome'. But you know what? When I finally did do it I actually liked it."

Harry got a sudden flash of Hermione and her mother on that beach, and like any normal seventeen-year-old male, felt aroused by the picture it presented. However, he figured that the images now running through his head were best left unexplored, as they seemed at the very least inappropriate, so he decided to change the subject.

He cleared his throat and tried again.

"So tell me, this fixation with what's-his-name, was it just a summer thing or is it true love? Should I be expecting to write to 'Mrs. What's his name' after we leave school and to be surrounded by bossy Spanish-looking Hermione miniatures when I visit?"

"Honestly, Harry," she admonished. "I only knew him a week. I am not going to marry him or anything - and his name is Mateo. But it was rather lovely, if not a little odd. Can I tell you something in confidence?"

"Of course you can."

"Well, kissing Mateo was really great, but it was quite different from when I kissed Ron. It was like I forgot where I was and what I was doing. I always enjoyed kissing Ron. He is actually a very good kisser, but with Mateo..."

She hesitated here and Harry tried really hard to ignore the fact that he had just learned information about Ron that he could have lived without. Hermione had something she was hesitant to tell him and he didn't like it. They shared everything, even things they didn't with Ron. He didn't know why, but he knew Hermione would never laugh or get angry or tell anyone. He pushed aside his own feelings of wariness about what he was about to hear and encouraged her by giving her arm a squeeze.

"Go on, Hermione, you know you can tell me anything."

"Well, it was like I could've gone farther with him, and it would have been out of my hands to stop it. He affected my ability to think rationally. It felt really weird - I didn't like being out of control like that, but at the same time I did. I don't know if that is normal or not."

Hermione looked quite baffled while she said all of this. Harry himself didn't really know what to make of it - it certainly didn't sound like Hermione, but then he had even less experience in this area than she did, so he was only speculating. What they really needed was Ron; he was the one who knew about this stuff. But he was not there yet so Harry did his best to console her.

"Well, it sounds pretty normal to me. You know, teenage hormones and all that. I wouldn't be too concerned if I were you, Hermione."

Hermione seemed to snap out of a trance of sorts and smiled back.

"Thanks, Harry. Oh look, there's McGonagall."

With that, the two friends made their way over to the train where a harassed looking McGonagall was standing next to none other than Draco Malfoy.

"Look, Malfoy's with her too," said Harry.

"Well, he is Head Boy - come on, lets go over."

Harry followed reluctantly.

*****

Padma Patil stood in Kings Cross station next to her sister Parvati, whom she was staring at as if she had a third head. Perhaps if she did her attire would have been slightly more appropriate for the occasion.

Her parents had just left for their respective jobs, but only after helping them deposit their trunks. The family had then wandered to the station entrance where both girls were given well wishes for the year ahead and goodbye hugs and kisses in between "I love you's."

Her sister had taken their departure as an opportunity to remove her long overcoat, revealing underneath a very short black skirt and a red shirt that plunged so low Padma wondered how she was keeping everything in. Parvati was dressed for a night of pub-crawling or perhaps a party, not for the long day's worth of travel on a train that they were facing. In fact, this wasn't unusual attire for her sister per se, but she hadn't seen her dress like this since she had started to date Ron Weasley.

In that respect alone Padma had approved of Ron. It appeared that Ron liked Parvati just fine in jeans and a t-shirt. Padma had found, much to her delight and unending amusement, that for the first time in their lives her sister was raiding her closet for something to wear.

This current change in wardrobe left Padma to draw one of three conclusions: one, Parvati and Ron had broken up and she was on the prowl again; two, Parvati was about to break up with Ron and wanted to not only look devastating while doing it, but was planning on chatting up random boys on the platforms; or three, her sister was sending the red-headed boy an extremely unveiled message of what she wanted.

She was hoping that it was the third option, for Padma and Ron had become fast if not close acquaintances and she really didn't want to have to give him the cold shoulder, as was her sisterly duty.

This 'cold shoulder' arrangement alone had ensured that Padma had not lead a fast-paced social life at Hogwarts, as her sister had been through nearly the entire population of boys in their year and several of the best-looking ones in the years above and below. In fact, there wasn't a boy who Padma had been interested in that Parvati hadn't dated. She wondered idly if perhaps her sister read her diary to find out who had caught her eye recently so as to go after him.

Parvati and Padma were identical, but it was often hard to tell. Parvati was forever made-up and underdressed, while Padma took the more sensible approach of jumpers and sweatshirts that hid her figure, with a pair of jeans and trainers to complete the look. She found a certain irony in the fact that Parvati had apparently found the real thing in what had initially been a boy meant for her.

She suddenly had a flash of Ronald Weasley in those ridiculous robes during the Yule Ball while her sister had danced, though somewhat ungracefully, with none other than Harry Potter. Ron had treated her appallingly that night, and she had been surprised to find that two years had been enough to turn him charming and sincere. Hermione Granger had done her job well apparently, and now Parvati was reaping the benefits.

She was happy for her sister, if not a little jealous, but she knew that jealously was what it was, and it being not an unfamiliar feeling for her where her sister was concerned, she didn't let it effect their relationship.

But Padma's rumination was soon interrupted as her sister (who, now that she was looking at her, had curled her hair, and was wearing an obscene amount of makeup for mid-day) let out a shriek of delight and flew from the spot next to her. She looked up in time to see her jump on a surprised Ron and proceed to molest him where he stood. He looked rather surprised to have a scantily clad teenage girl attached to his front, but he also didn't look like he would be complaining about it.

Padma put on her friendliest face and made her way over to the now lip-locked couple. It appeared that option number three had been the correct choice. However as they continued to snog, she began to wonder if there should have been a fourth option because from where she was standing it was looking like the deal had already been closed between them, and this was the aftermath. She wouldn't be surprised if this was the case, as the scheming her sister had gone through their last night of holiday to get her out of the house had been grand in proportion.

Imagine her discomfort when, as she went to meet what was supposed to be a blind date, she discovered that he had thought she was Parvati. Thus began an awful night of awkward conversation and fake smiles, till the end of the firework display had signaled the end of the festival, and the end of her date, where she had been manhandled in a Volkswagen in front of her house. A kneed groin and bitten hand had been the means of her escape.

She now stood there watching the couple, and it became clear to her why Parvati had done what she had done. While her sister would have been in the arms of a nice boy who had just ravished her, she herself had been fending off an attacker. She plastered a smile on her face to hide the grinding of her teeth. This most definitely called for a sisterly conversation that just couldn't wait.

Padma reached her destination with a smile that bordered on manic in appearance and waited. Ron noticed her first and broke off the kiss he and Parvati were sharing. He grinned at Padma and bid her hello, never disengaging himself from her sister. Padma gave him a tight-lipped smile.

"Hello, Ron, it's good to see you again. Would you mind terribly if I spoke to my sister for a moment? It won't take long, I promise, just the usual girl talk."

Parvati opened her mouth in obvious protest but Ron beat her to it.

"Of course, I need to find Harry and Hermione anyway. Then you have to tell me about how the rest of your holiday went."

This time Padma smiled genuinely. She really did enjoy Ron's company and it wasn't his fault that her sister was inconsiderate.

"I'd like that. It won't be long, I promise."

Ron smiled at her again, and then whispered something in Parvati's ear that made her grin. He kissed her once again briefly and loped back into the crowd, presumably in search of his friends.

Her sister turned to her with obvious annoyance in her eyes.

"Well then, what is so important that I had to send my boyfriend off?"

Padma tried an indirect approach to the conversation, hoping to avoid a blow out in public.

"Nice outfit. I thought that Ron liked it when you wore normal clothes."

"These are normal clothes, and why are you changing the subject? This isn't about clothes. You are obviously annoyed about something so spit it out."

"Oh, but it is about your clothes in a way. Can I ask why the sudden change of wardrobe?"

"I just wanted to look nice for Ron, what's wrong with that?"

Apparently indirect was not meant to be so she took the more direct approach.

"Nothing, except possibly the reason why you want to look nice. You shagged him, didn't you? That's why I had to go on that date, isn't it?"

"What do you care if I slept with him? It never bothered you before when I did with anyone else."

"I could really care less if you slept with the whole of Gryffindor in one big orgy! But I do care when I'm set up with someone who thinks that I'm you and who then tries to grope me even after I protest! Do you not care about what almost happened in his car in front of the house that night? You set me up with a goddamned fiend so you could go and have it off with your boyfriend! Are you even listening to me?"

Her sister was looking around nervously at the growing crowd around them. She recognized some of them as students from school. It occurred to her that she had begun to yell, which was why there was a crowd around them, but she was beyond caring, she was so mad.

"Would you look at me while I'm talking to you? If you had asked, I would've just left! You are so selfish sometimes; don't worry about the consequences as long as they don't affect you, right? Well that is crap, it's going to take some serious apologizing for me to forgive you for this one!"

Her sister finally opened her mouth to speak.

"Look, Padma, I really am sorry about that, when you told me what happened that night I felt really bad, but do you suppose you could keep it down, you're embarrassing me. Lets talk about this later, somewhere more private."

That had been the wrong thing to say apparently, for Padma reached a new level of indignant rage. She was so mad that she was impotent to speak. She merely let out something between a growl and a sob, fighting off the mad urge to hit her sister, and stomped off into the nearby ladies' room.

Once there, she locked herself in a cubicle and fumed for a minute before bursting into tears. She was angry, embarrassed about the spectacle she had made of herself (it would surely be all over the train and then Hogwarts, how embarrassing), and most of all infuriated at her sister who was, in Padma's opinion, callous in her indifference. She must not care about her at all - after all, she had gotten her attacked and hadn't even bothered to tell her the truth about why that happened, and then she brushed it off when she had been forced to face it. Padma looked at her watch through teary eyes and saw that she had a good half an hour to mope and cry before she needed to be on the train.

*****

Harry and Hermione walked up to McGonagall and Malfoy with a sense of apprehension, even though they knew Malfoy wouldn't try anything in front of a teacher.

"Hermione, there you are. You're late," said McGonagall in a stern voice. "I would have hoped for a better example from the Head Girl. I don't know why I even bother with having twenty-two prefects and a Head Boy and Girl if only the Head Boy will bother to show up. So where is your male counterpart - Mr. Weasley?"

"I'm not sure, Professor, but I do apologize for my tardiness. You see, I only just arrived home yesterday and was dreadfully behind in packing. It won't happen again, I promise."

"Yes, well, see that it doesn't."

Harry was glaring at Malfoy, who was wearing a satisfied smirk at watching Hermione get into trouble. His thoughts were interrupted by McGonagall's voice.

"Potter, if you don't mind, I would like a word alone with my Head Boy and Girl."

"Oh, right. I'll go and try to find Ron."

After Harry had left (with a wink to Hermione), McGonagall began giving them instructions. Hermione was only half listening, thinking about what she and Harry were talking about earlier. Her behavior with Mateo really hadn't been normal for her. The more she thought about it, the more nervous it made her - what if it hadn't been some innocent summer fling? After all, what kind of good-looking Spanish boy would waste their time on her? Perhaps it had been a set up, someone looking to get information on Harry through her. That could account for the crazy reactions her body had been having around him - perhaps she was under some form of Imperius or something. Hermione realized what she was thinking and decided that being Harry's friend had really made her far too paranoid for her own good.

"Miss Granger, are you listening?"

"What? Oh yes, of course. Um, actually no, I wasn't. I'm sorry, I don't know what has got into me today."

McGonagall sighed resignedly and retold Hermione what she was to be doing.

"I want you both out looking for the Muggle families. We have started a new system to cut down on the stress of their first time to Platform 9 and ¾. All first year parents and students are wearing red poppies, you are to seek them out and ask if they are looking for the platform. If they respond 'yes', ask them if they believe in magic.

Hermione found this to be slightly cheesy and made a face. She could see Draco rolling his eyes.

"We have to ask if they believe in magic? That is ridiculous," said Draco.

McGonagall looked at him sternly.

"Nevertheless, this is the code that was worked out. We don't want to be shoving random Muggles through the barrier, and these questions will prevent that. You two and the seventh year prefects will be in charge of this. That makes eight people, which should be plenty to get everyone through the barriers on time. Here are poppies for all of you to wear, get out there and track down the rest of your classmates. Go on now, I have other things to do."

With that, McGonagall was nothing more than a swish of roes and Hermione was left alone with Draco, at whom she immediately began to scowl.

"Well this must be quite the assignment for you, Malfoy - shepherding Mudbloods and their Muggle parents. Do try not to bite off and swallow your tongue in protest."

"Shut up, Granger, don't presume to know me so well. I'm professional enough not to let my personal opinions get in the way of my responsibility. Besides, perhaps it's not Mudbloods at large that I hate so much as it is you."

Hermione glared fiercely at him and then spun on her heel before flouncing away.

Draco watched her go with some satisfaction. It was good to see that he hadn't lost his ability to irritate over the summer. He supposed that he should get to work finding lost and clueless first years and their oblivious parents. The sooner he started the sooner the task would be finished. Besides, if he thought fast he could probably find a way to get out of the job altogether, but for that he would need his cunning.

*****

Ginny Weasley had in a scant five minutes managed to displace not only her parents but her brother as well. Her father had gone to put her trunk away for her, her brother was in search of Harry, Hermione, or Parvati, whoever he happened upon first, and her mother had gone to the ladies' room.

That had been several minutes ago, so she sighed and decided to head for the platform - once there she could at least check in with McGonagall and find out what she was supposed to be doing. Ginny made her way to the barrier and was surprised when an angry looking Hermione burst indiscreetly through to the Muggle side. Her face lit up when she registered who was in front of her.

"Ginny! I'm so glad to see you!"

Ginny soon found herself in an embrace with a delighted looking Hermione.

"You look great, obviously summer agreed with you," Hermione said.

Ginny looked down at herself and wondered what she was on about. After all, she hadn't really changed much in appearance since last year. Perhaps Hermione needed medication. But that would be an impolite thing to suggest, so she just smiled in return.

"Thanks, same goes for you. I'll always be envious that you get so brown."

"Oh well, you know, shake of the genes and all that. Have you seen McGonagall yet?"

"No. I just got here with my family, but now I have no idea what has happened to them."

"So you probably don't know where Ron is then. Drat, I need to find him and give him something. Well if you are on your way to see the Professor, be forewarned that she is a bit testy today."

Ginny rolled her eyes, "When is she not?"

The girls were soon interrupted by a whoop of delight and before Ginny had the chance to turn around Ron had brushed past her to engulf Hermione in a fierce hug. He was so tall that he lifted her right off her feet. They were both laughing at each other when Ginny felt Harry slide up next to her. He offered her a grin and gave her a hug also.

"Hey Gin, it's great to see you again."

Had this been two years ago, Ginny would at this point be stuttering like an idiot. But she had actually gotten to know Harry and found that while he was an amazing friend and a really good person, her hero worship of him had been just that. She had finally moved past it and they got along very well now.

"It's great to see you too, Harry - how is your first day of freedom going?"

Harry looked over at his friends with a contented expression and smiled a little wistfully.

"It's certainly starting to look up."

Ginny turned her gaze back to a now grounded Hermione, who was handing her brother a red poppy and telling him something in a hushed voice.

"What's all the secrecy you two?" asked Harry.

Ron grinned at his friend, "Just planning our first late night rendezvous is all."

Hermione slapped his arm at this and addressed Harry herself.

"Nothing, just prefect stuff. As much as I'm excited to see you all, I have to get to work. Ginny, go find McGonagall, she has a job for you - we'll catch up later, I have loads to tell you."

"Yes, all the juicy bits about the new boyfriend. And when I say juicy bits, I of course mean his," said a now smug Ron. He got an elbow in the gut for his mouth.

"We have to go now, I'll talk to you later on the train," said Hermione.

With that she grabbed Ron by the hand and drug him away, Harry following closely behind grinning.

Ginny shook her head at them and crossed over the platform, where she immediately spotted a now weary looking McGonagall. She approached cautiously and put on her best smile.

"Excuse me, Professor, but I'm here now."

"Oh Miss Weasley, so you are. Well I think that we pretty much have the train covered, perhaps you can help one of the seventh years with the new first years. I just have to find one, wait one moment please."

McGonagall disappeared and Ginny stood patiently. As she waited she wondered what had happened to her parents. It was now going on fifteen minutes since she last saw them. Her thoughts were interrupted as McGonagall came back; Ginny froze when she saw who was with her. She would know that platinum head anywhere - this did not bode well towards an improvement in her day.

"Now, Miss Weasley, I want you to help Mr. Malfoy here. He will explain the procedure to you."

Ginny looked at him with contempt and cursed whatever deity was against her to pair her even for a short while with the likes of Malfoy. He sneered back at her, and before she could raise a protest, McGonagall was gone. Ginny gulped at the gleam in Draco's eye.

*****

Draco couldn't believe his good luck as McGonagall led him over to Ginny Weasley. If he'd looked all over the train station he couldn't think of a better person to make his "assistant."

He, of course, planned to take total advantage of the situation and exploit his power over her so as not to have to do any actual work himself. After all, he was a Slytherin, and the house code demanded that he take action towards abusing any Gryffindor if the opportunity arose. That she was also a Weasley was just an added bonus. He must have done something right to have such good luck. As McGonagall continued to speak he saw a look of disdain and apprehension on Ginny's face. Perfect. And then McGonagall was gone, leaving his victim in his care.

"Well then, Weasley, this is what you are supposed to do. Take this, and then go and find the Mudbloods and tell them how to get onto the platform."

Ginny recognized the object in his hand as the same kind of flower Hermione had given her brother earlier. She looked at it for a moment and then back at Draco with an incredulous look on her face.

"And what, may I ask, will you be doing while I'm finding Muggle-borns?"

"That's no concern of yours. I'm Head Boy and it's my prerogative to delegate jobs as I see fit if I'm needed elsewhere."

"But you aren't needed elsewhere, this is your job. I'm only supposed to help. What would McGonagall think if she found out that her Head Boy was shirking his duties, and managing it by abusing his power?"

"And why would she find out about it? Does being a Gryffindor mean you uphold the quality of tattling as well as bravery? Or is that just an attribute you owe, along with no class and promiscuity, to your family traits?

Draco was satisfied when he saw Ginny's mouth drop open in surprise at his harsh wards. He smiled internally and continued.

"After all, your brother certainly does know how to get around, and if your mother had learned how to keep her knees together around that Arthur Weasley I suppose there would be far less of you around to offend my senses. But then if she had, you never would've come along, and who would go and tend to the sheep for me?"

Draco watched as Ginny turned red in anger before continuing.

"I suppose it isn't all bad...if only I could find a way to put the rest of your family to work for me, then my continuing endurance of your ridiculous lineage wouldn't be completely in vain. You'd be like house elves - a bit annoying, but indispensable to a clean and organized home."

Draco smirked smugly, as Ginny seemed to lose her ability to speak and spluttered incoherently. Then she did something he didn't expect. She reared back and went to slap him. It would've hurt too, had he not caught her arm, he could tell by the force of it. Apparently she'd meant it.

"I don't think so, Weasley," he remarked snidely.

Ginny wrenched her arm from his grasp and stepped up close to him.

"Malfoy," she hissed. "You're a complete son of a bitch. I'll do this because McGonagall told me to, but I'm not doing it for you. If you come near me again I'll not be held responsible for my actions."

She punctuated her response with a finger in his chest and he noted vaguely that she smelled rather nice, and apparently had practice in poking, for her little finger caused more pain than he would have guessed. She then spun on her heel and, fuelled by her indignation and rage, stormed away in search of some first years to help. Draco had to hold back his mirth, that had been more fun than he thought it would be.

*****

"Are you looking for the platform?"

"Yes, we are."

"Well I can help you, but tell me - do you believe in magic?"

"Yes."

"Good, then follow me."

Ron grinned as he mentally tallied another one in his head. When Hermione had tried to force that ridiculous poppy onto his shirt he had scoffed and told her he didn't need a stupid flower to locate Muggle-borns, claiming he could spot one from twenty paces. Hermione had laughed in his face and told him he was about the most oblivious pureblood wizard she had ever met when it came to Muggles.

Ron, being a seventeen year old boy, had seen this as a challenge and had soon drawn up the terms of a bet where the person who helped the most Muggle families would have the rights to a day of servitude from the other. Hermione had quickly agreed and they soon took action towards that end.

Harry had rolled his eyes as they shook on it, and was then forced to stand in a neutral middle position, which the two couldn't cross over - he was their boundary line.

Ron introduced himself to the overwhelmed family and then kindly explained to them how to get through the barrier; he ushered them all through in a discreet manner before turning back, where he saw Hermione helping two families at once. The large group was chatting like old friends, with Hermione in the middle answering questions graciously.

Ron looked on in appreciation for a moment. She really was an incredible girl; it was too bad it hadn't worked out between them. Then he caught her wink and scowled in return. Two at once! He had some catching up to do, and time was almost up. He meandered back over to Harry, who was looking bored.

"Hello, mate. Bang up job you're doing there," said an amused Ron.

"Oh yeah, just one of my many neat features, vanquisher of evil Dark Lords, an ace of a Seeker, not too shabby with Transfiguration...oh and in a pinch he makes a great wall."

Ron smiled at his sarcasm. "Yeah well, don't knock it I say."

Ron quietly scanned the area before him as Harry began to speak.

"Hermione's ahead, you know. I'd get to work right quick if I were you, otherwise you will be carrying all her books for a day. That is enough to give a healthy young man lifelong back problems."

"Yeah, yeah. You know what, Potter..."

But whatever Ron was going to say died on his lips. Harry looked over, concerned at this sudden silence, and was surprised to see Ron's eyes as wide as saucers. Harry hadn't seen his friend this scared since that little incident with Aragog and his family. Harry was quickly growing concerned.

"Ron, Ron...Ron!"

"Look."

Ron had barely breathed his response and Harry's eyes followed the finger that pointed to somewhere behind him. What he saw took Harry's voice away. It also knocked the breath out of him, for the sight he was faced with was the stuff of which his worst nightmares were made.

Streaming onto the platforms were at least a hundred Death Eaters, they were a sea of indistinguishable black. There were no faces, no sounds, as they settled into position around the platform. And then, as if parting a sea, came another figure, moving so effortlessly that it might as well have been floating, flanked by two more hooded figures. The one in the forefront stopped and slid his hood back. Harry gasped and grabbed Ron's arm for support as he watched in horror, for the face that appeared was that of Lord Voldemort.

*****

The Dark Lord stood with those loyal to him and his teachings, already feeling a sense of satisfaction at what was to transpire here. The fools had made no preparations, how naive.

He also noticed that they were marked, how very kind of Dumbledore. He scanned the crowd - the Muggles were oblivious, giving him curious looks but continuing about their business.

The wizards, however, were quite different. He noted with satisfaction the fear they were failing to hide. It spurred him on, that was the purpose of this exercise after all. Fear. It would be their undoing. It was time to begin; Voldemort raised his wand to his throat and whispered "Sonorous."

"Attention non-believers and foolish resistors. I am Lord Voldemort, the greatest wizard of all the ages since Salazar Slytherin. It has been a great while since I was last in my current position, but as life has a funny way of teaching sometimes, you need to be knocked down to come back stronger. Pain and suffering teach discipline and strengthen the desires of men. While I am no longer a man, the sentiment still applies. Because of that I am back to take my rightful place of Overlord. Those with blood rights bow to me now, for the rest will be destroyed in this announcement to the world of my re-emergence. Make no mistake, you have only one chance for my mercy, and this time I will not fail."

Voldemort watched as those in robes around him knelt, he saw a few pureblood wizards do so as well and this pleased him. He waited for a full thirty seconds and was satisfied that he had the answers of those there.

"Very well, shall we begin?"

Voldemort turned to his Death Eaters and after a pause sent up the Dark Mark. Moments later chaos ensued.

*****

Harry watched the goings on with the same sense of horror he had been feeling since his first vision of Voldemort. He vaguely registered that his nemesis was speaking. Other than that, he barely noticed anything else around him. All he could do was think of how unprepared for this they had been.

Oh God, oh God. I don't even have my wand. I'm not ready - it can't be happening yet, I'm not ready. But it is. Look at them, they are all marked, bloody red poppies. How could we have been so careless, we have his targets marked and gathered for him. I can't do anything, the bloody prophecy, it's my destiny and I'm unprepared. I have to do something.

Harry made a lunge forward, but was stopped by a firm grip on his arm. He whirled around and found Ron no longer shocked but determined.

"No, Harry, there's nothing you can do just now. We have to go, we have to get out, you are too important to lose in the first round. I know how to make a Portkey, Hermione taught me. We are going."

Harry started to protest but was cut off again by Ron.

"Now!"

Harry made another attempt but was cut off by a bang. He looked above him and saw the Dark Mark floating above his head. He heard Ron muttering a charm next to him, and then a great cloud of fog came rolling in around him and he heard nothing else. However, he did see.

The Death Eaters were dispersing and were killing and tormenting all those they came across. Muggles began to realize that this group, though weird looking, was indeed malevolent. As they saw those around them struck down for no reason they could determine, they began to run. Soon the whole place was in a panic.

The figures left some people alone, the ones that had bowed down before, but Muggles and wizards alike were picked off in a methodical way. Harry saw their frightened expressions and silent screams. They were scratching themselves till they bled, some convulsed till they broke their backs, the lucky were killed quickly by Avada Kedavra. Then Harry felt Ron jab him with his prefect badge followed by a familiar tugging behind his navel, and all he saw after that was the kitchen of the Burrow.

*****

Hermione had nearly been run over when she had made her abrupt stop. The two families she was helping were soon asking what was wrong. They didn't get an answer - all they heard was a whispered, "Oh no."

Hermione was now fixated on the speaking nemesis before her. She glanced at the people next to her and immediately felt sorry that their first experience with the wizarding world was to be this one. But Hermione was never one to dwell and sped into action. She gathered the group together and walked them all through the barrier. She told the families to stay put and ran to find McGonagall. It didn't take long to find her.

"Professor! Come quick, its You-Know-Who! He's here!"

Professor McGonagall dropped the scroll she was reading and looked Hermione in the eye to see if perhaps this was a bad joke. The fear in her eyes told her that indeed it was no such thing.

"Is it true?"

Hermione nodded.

"Quickly then, we have to get who we can on this side of the barrier, it's protected."

McGonagall and Hermione went through the barrier once more and walked right into a thick mist. Hermione couldn't hear a thing and reckoned that the mist was to blame. It must be some kind of a sound damper. She could only see about thirty feet in front of her because of it, but what she saw made her blood run cold.

People were panicked. They were running with no real direction, only knowing that they needed to get away. There was the heavy smell of magic in the air and she could see the lights of deadly spells whizzing past and in the distance, making the fog glow different colors, though red and green were the prevalent ones. This made it look like there was a fire, or perhaps that the air around her was permeated with blood. For all she knew, both were true.

Hermione looked next to her and saw McGonagall pushing random people through the barrier with no concern about whether they were magical or not. Hermione was soon following her lead until they had the area mostly cleared of people.

She signaled to McGonagall that she was going. She had to look for Ron and Harry; she was worried not to have seen them yet. McGonagall shook her head no, but Hermione went anyway.

She soon was jogging, staying close to the ground, making herself as invisible as possible, and weaving a path through fallen bodies. Some were gruesome, some looked normal, but they were all lifeless. There were huddled people, crying children clutching their parents; everyone was looking desperately for a way out. Hermione had to fight down a wave of nausea; she had to find Harry and Ron. Harry especially, she knew how important he had just become to the wizarding world at large.

Hermione was growing frantic in her search as she passed body after body, but while it didn't turn up who she was looking for, she did run into the unlikely form of her roommate, Parvati Patil.

"Parvati," Hermione gasped. "Are you all right?"

But Parvati just shook her head and pointed to her ears. Hermione had forgotten that no one could hear. Hermione instead grabbed Parvati by the arm and led her towards the exits. As much as she wanted to search until she found Ron and Harry, it was becoming increasingly dangerous where they were.

She and Parvati continued to trek through the carnage with a sense of urgency towards the exits that were now in sight, and as they were passing one of the brick barriers a hand shot out and pulled Hermione behind it. She gasped in fright and found herself staring into the eyes of Mr. Weasley. Hermione had never been more relieved to see anyone in her life. She turned around to get Parvati's attention, but what she saw made her faint of heart.

There was Parvati staring down a Death Eater, she had no wand - it must have been in her trunk with her school things. Hermione fumbled for her own wand, which prefects were supposed to have on hand, and saw Ron's father raising his own, but watched in horror as the Death Eater, already positioned, mouthed a silent spell and saw Parvati crumble to the floor.

The Death Eater turned to Hermione and Mr. Weasley, but finding himself facing two armed adult wizards, apparently decided it wasn't worth the trouble. He left and Hermione flung herself at her friend, quickly looking for a pulse. There was none. She was distracted as a figure came to stand over her - she was expecting Mr. Weasley, and with a heavy heart she looked up and saw a horrified Padma Patil in a black Death Eater robe staring back at her.

*****

Padma had been in the bathroom for about twenty minutes and had finally exited her cubicle to freshen up a bit before heading to the train. She was ignoring the cacophony that was a busy train station as she washed her face; that is until she heard a voice rise clearly above the others.

It was muffled and she strained to hear it. Not long after, she heard a bang. Like someone had set off a firework or something, and then all she heard was a deafening silence.

It was an unnatural silence, something wasn't right. Padma didn't have her wand with her - it was on the train in her trunk - and suddenly felt very vulnerable. She made her way to the door to see what was happening and quelled a shriek when she saw the Dark Mark floating near the arched ceiling of the station. She was shocked and snapped the door closed, it was all she could think to do. She merely panicked for several moments, then she pulled it together and began devising a plan.

She mentally judged the differences in distance between the entrances and the nearest train platform from where she was, and decided the entrances were her best bet for escape. Padma pushed on the restroom door tentatively, but met resistance before it was even halfway open. She peeked her head out to see what was impeding her progress and almost retched at the sight that met her. A person in Death Eaters robes was lying quite dead in front of the door - she could tell he was dead because of the odd angle at which his head was tilted.

Padma quickly closed the door again and dove for the nearest cubicle, where she became thoroughly sick. She took several great breaths and tried to get the image of cold, lifeless eyes out of her head. Once she had calmed down, she admonished herself about her behavior - now was not the time to lose one's head, she could do that when she was safe. But for now there was an opportunity blocking her door.

She steeled her nerves and made for the door again. She pushed hard against it, and after gritting her teeth, grabbed the man by the legs and pulled with all her might until he was inside the ladies' room with her. She fell back away from him panting, he was rather heavy. She wondered vaguely if that was because he was a man or a dead body, but pushed those thoughts out of her head and set to work on the plan she had instinctively formed when she saw him.

Within minutes he was stripped of his robes and she was engulfed in them. They really were too big on her, but she figured that everyone's adrenaline would be too high to notice this. It was at least some kind of disguise.

Padma made her way out of the now easily opened door and was almost trampled by a mother and her small child trying to seek refuge in the bathroom she was exiting. They saw her dark robe and, wide-eyed in fear, shut the door soundly. Padma continued on, finding bodies everywhere, and had a hard time making her way through the fog. The few people who were left standing that she did encounter would run when they saw her coming. She hoped that she didn't run into anyone putting up a fight against Voldemort and his minions, she would surely be struck down.

She hadn't gone very far when she spotted her sister with Hermione Granger not ten yards away. She was alarmed when she saw Hermione pulled away from behind, but then saw a ginger head of hair that could only belong to one family and relaxed; however, her blood ran cold at what she saw next.

Her sister had the wand of a Death Eater trained on her. Padma watched as Hermione and Mr. Weasley fumbled for their own wands, but it was too late. The Death Eater looked, hesitated but a moment, and with a swish and flick her sister crumpled to the floor.

Padma screamed silently into the dense air and watched as the Death Eater looked at Hermione and Ron's father, she only just registered anything else at this point and almost tripped over a dead body because of it. She began to run, chanting one thought over and over in her head. No, no, no, no.

The Death Eater left then, and Hermione was immediately at Parvati's side, tears now glistening in her eyes. Padma pulled the hood of the cloak down and began to unfasten it even as she continued forward. She reached them and was practically standing on top of Hermione when she looked up. Padma saw the alarm on her face and realized this was probably due to the robes. She finished stripping them off and fell to her knees in front of her sister before grabbing her hand. She felt Mr. Weasley's hand on her shoulder and looked up to see the other on a crying Hermione's shoulder. Then the world around them faded away as Mr. Weasley apparated with them away from the madness.

*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*

Draco Malfoy was getting bloody sick of this fog. He could only see about ten feet in front of him. He was currently looking for his father, as this would be an excellent opportunity to see what Death Eaters were all about.

When Lord Voldemort had appeared he had helped Ginny Weasley get people to safety for a little while. He was, after all, Head Boy. And it was his responsibility to ensure student safety.

The fog had not penetrated the barriers, so when they finally stepped through themselves the sounds of chaos were now accompanying the images of it. It was actually better in Draco's opinion to have the sound back. There was something very unnatural about all the imagery of death on the Muggle side without any of the sounds that accompanied it. The affect was creepy and disorienting, but then he supposed that was the purpose of it.

On Platform 9 and 3/4 it was controlled chaos. They found wizards and their families being loaded onto the Hogwarts Express and Muggles being Portkeyed out of the station in large groups, with an escort to memory charm them once they were safe.

At some point he knew the barriers would be sealed, he could see the dark magic detectors being set off as the Death Eaters tried to get through the protection placed on them. They would only hold out for so long while they were still open, but if they closed the barriers there would be no way in for anyone, Death Eaters or their unfortunate victims.

For this reason they kept them open as long as possible. Everyone was boarding the train now to leave the station - he and Ginny had been among them but he lost her in the crowd as they made their way towards the train. He then slipped through the barriers to the Muggle side once again.

This is how he came to be creeping by dueling wizards and over dead bodies. He spotted his father ahead in what appeared to be a protective bubble of sorts, the air inside was clean, and with him he saw his mother. They were arguing and gesticulating wildly, he still couldn't hear what they were saying so he stepped inside with them. When they spotted him his mother looked alarmed and his father looked annoyed.

"What are you doing here?" they asked in unison.

"I came to see it."

"Well you both are revealing my identity to anyone who passes by. Leave at once," said Lucius.

"No, I will not leave until we straighten this out," said his wife.

And then a cold voice came from behind them. It was Voldemort, who had silently slipped into the bubble with them as well. He had his red eyes narrowed into slits.

"What is this Lucius, you don't want people to know who your master is? Where is your loyalty to the cause? You should be proclaiming your intentions loudly. I think that my faith in you has been compromised and I'm afraid that you will now have to prove your loyalty."

"Of course, Master, what can I do that would please you?"

"If I was hearing correctly, it appears that your wife doesn't approve of my tactics here today."

Voldemort turned to Narcissa and addressed her.

"Why do you defy your husband? Do you not trust that he knows best?"

Narcissa merely looked the Dark Lord in the eye and said nothing.

"Very well, your silence has sealed your fate. Lucius, you are now a liability. I cannot have dissension among my ranks, and that includes family members, for you all will be living in my utopia and enjoying the benefits. As such, you must all earn it through service and loyalty. Your wife has shown neither. Kill her."

Draco's heart plummeted to his feet at those two words; he could scarcely believe what he was hearing. He looked over at his mother - her face had gone white, and for the first time since he had found them here he saw fear in her eyes. But that was silly; his father would never do that.

He then looked at his father and his blood ran cold. His face was total detachment; his eyes were cold and showed no emotion. He raised his wand arm, causing Draco to start towards his mother. He was stopped by a look from her.

"Is this what it all means to you then, Lucius? You would kill the mother of your only son?"

Draco's father said nothing to that statement; he just continued to look at her.

"Very well then, I won't be married to someone like you anymore, and since Malfoys don't get divorced, I suppose you will have to kill me."

Draco couldn't believe his ears. His mother couldn't have just said that. And his father couldn't really be standing there thinking about killing his mother. Yes, she could be annoying, but she was his mother and he needed her, he loved her and she was the only person in his life that he could say that about honestly.

It certainly wasn't that way with his father, he mostly respected and feared him, wanted to be like him. But love him? Perhaps he did, but if his father went through with this he couldn't see how it would remain that way.

Draco spoke up, "Father, you can't."

"Ah, young Malfoy. Worry not, we will get to you next, it may be time for you to choose a side," said the Dark Lord.

"You leave my son alone, he will not become one of your minions so long as I have breath in my body," said Narcissa.

"So be it. Lucius, do it now."

Draco watched as his father raised his wand. He watched as he swished it down. He watched as he opened his mouth and he watched as his mother fell before his feet. He looked at his father, disbelieving that he had actually done it.

Draco stared down at the body of his mother and heard the voice of the Dark Lord. He looked up at the emotionless eyes of his father and Apparated on the spot.

The Dark Lord addressed his servant again, "Very good, Lucius, this goes a long way in proving yourself. Don't worry about the boy, we will find and take care of him later. However, I think it may be time to go, please take it down."

"Yes, Master."

And with a mumbled spell, the two watched as the Dark Mark disappeared, as did the fog. Death Eaters all over began Disapparating, and within seconds all that remained were the fallen bodies. Voldemort raised his wand and shouted a curse. All the barriers began exploding and the sound deafened before the ceiling between nine and ten came crashing to the floor.

Outside of King's Cross Station screaming could now be heard, along with a rumbling as the ground beneath began to shake. Muggles looked on in shock and people scrambled around in the streets looking for a safe place from the flying debris as the roof of the station began to collapse in on itself. It hadn't taken long for the roof to find the floor, and as the sounds of it died away, people began to come out from their cover once again. Above them smoke was now rising, and as dust coiled its way into the sky, it slowly began to take a vague shape. After a few moments the shape became more defined, and there above was the image of a skull with a snake woven through it.