Alone

Harry Potter Fanfic

Train Ride

Harry stepped into the familiarities of Diagon Alley, his bright eyes scanning the area with both excitement and interest.

The greatest thing you'll ever learn

Is just to love- and be loved in return

The gentle flicker of the poster plagued his mind with the uncomforting reminder of Harry's less than exciting love life. His mussed hair had grown a bit over the summer, not to mention his body. Harry felt like he had woken up one day and was looking downward on everyone as he now stood at a full 6 feet even. He was relatively thin and well proportioned in his new skin. Excited- he couldn't wait to see what his friends would have to say about his new growth spurt. Though he never expected what he saw next...

Ron was approaching; his hands were resting in the pockets of black, formal pants. He had grown over the summer as well...I mean sure they were sixteen now but...damn! Ron was now 6'2" and his once short red hair had grown quite long. Tied back in a ponytail over broad shoulders that could do no wrong under that black cape...thus was casual wizarding attire. Hermione was standing beside him, her brown hair frizzy still and pulled back, thin and unusually curvy. She was wearing a simple pair of muggle jeans and a white tank top- and she looked good. So much for the surprise...

"Ron, Hermione!" Harry waved to them frantically running over

Ron smiled seeing Harry and hugged him tightly, a rather large hand patting Harry on the back, almost covering his whole shoulder blade. Then came Hermione...poor girl had to practically do ballet to hug onto her male companions. She had only grown to barely brush 5'4" after all...but it was cute- in a way.

"Harry look at you, you've grown!" Ron smiled

"You both have...I never thought it possible..." Hermione smirked lightly in a joking manner

"You too Hermione..."

The three companions laughed heartedly. Harry was so happy to be going back to Hogwarts- and he'd always managed to stay with Ron for the second half of the summer. Hermione stayed over too, ever since the Quidditch World Cup. She and Ginny were becoming rather good friends, very close and always together. Ginny came up behind Harry blushing furiously, though it wasn't for Harry. The change was most apparent in her- her long straight red hair had grown in quite nicely, not to mention other assets. She was already 5'6", no doubt she got her height from her father, leaving her short mum all alone in the world of not being able to reach. They all shopped for their school stuff that day, getting books, quills, and a bit of Ice cream. Before time would allow them to notice it was already time for them to be heading back to the Burrow. A pouch of floo powder hung from Ron's belt buckle and he handed some to Harry allowing him to go in first, then Ginny, Then Harry, and finally himself. Mrs. Weasley was ecstatic to see them all as she always was and welcomed them graciously into her home for one of fourteen suppers before they would be on their way to Hogwarts once again. Ron bent down offering to help Harry lift the trunk- Ron had become quite strong...probably from all the de-gnoming.

"Thanks Ron."

"Of course...I help you in all your battles and escape from your wicked relatives...and you thank me when I lift your trunk?"

Harry blushed, and then Ron laughed- Harry never noticed it before, but he never properly thanked Ron for all his help. He also never noticed just how charming Ron could be, now that he matured a bit...though his temper was still a bit to be desired.

They walked onto the train taking a car with Hermione- Ginny decided to sit next to her, Ron next to Harry. They bought out the whole treat trolley, which had become more or less of a custom. Everything was going wonderful and normal- maybe this year Hogwarts would finally hold a normal year for him and his friends.

"Ron you stupid prat!" Harry found himself doubling over in laughter as Ron fed Hermione a grass flavored bean

Hermione's face went sour as she ran out of the car holding her mouth; Ron was laughing so hard that his race matched his fired hair. Ginny ran after her quickly shouting after her "Are you ok"? Which only made the boys laugh even harder. This calmed until the girls returned.

"Funny smells like fresh cut grass!" Ron laughed

Hermione walked over giving his a good smack upside the head.

"You're absolutely horrible Ronald Weasley!"

They would have laughed but the next set of events turned their train of thought. Everyone soon found themselves hitting the floor mercilessly. Ginny and Hermione tumbled head over heels against the right corner of the car, followed by Ron and Harry- leaving both couples in rather uncomfortable positions, tangled within each other's bodies. Harry's face was merely a centimeter from Ron's, and he found himself oddly uncomfortable hearing a moan of pain from Ron's lips. Ginny blushed deeply as she fell over Hermione, the bump causing them to "accidentally kiss", and Hermione's face turning bright red as well. There was an immense tension in the room as everyone made their attempt to move off one another.

"Wonder what all that was about..." Ron muttered rubbing his lower stomach which was crunched, his voice a bit higher than normal...

"Are you alright Ron?" Harry looked over to him worriedly as he saw his friend double over on the floor holding his stomach

Ginny being the most innocent of the group jumped up bringing her hands to her mouth and gasping.

"What happened to him?!"

"My knee kind of hit him...in the..." Harry winced lightly

Hermione who was a bit more wise to the ways of boys, being she hung out with them all her life and heard Fred and George's "Ten most horrible things to do to a guy."

"Harry kneed him in the groin..."

Ginny winced lightly as Ron got up unsteadily, a familiar cold voice echoing behind him.

"Wincing Weasley..."

A cold voice echoed from behind them as poor Ron straightened himself up, his hand moving from his groin area. Jesus not Draco Harry thought momentarily turning to see him. Standing there, long blonde hair- steel gray eyes...tall physique...No!

Ron had been fighting off his affections for Draco ever since they'd had a little stern chat in the hall. It included Draco's hands pushing Ron against the wall and getting in his face- Ron hadn't felt the same ever since, time to cover up!

"What do you want Malfoy?" Ron sneered

Harry looked up to Draco, he'd grown too- grown more annoying. Harry felt no emotion towards Malfoy but hate, he stood protectively in front of the girls, a true born hero.

"What could I possibly want from you Weasley?" Draco raised an eyebrow

Ron rolled his eyes, but just about as he was going to attack him back verbally the train shook again, throwing all of them to the ground. Ron landing on Draco- with Harry on top of him. Draco coughing as his eyes went wide. They scrambled to their feet. Harry couldn't be sure...but was it him or was Ron tripping a lot- he fell on Draco three times before he made it to his feet. All of them looking around in a bit of fear, except Draco of course.

"Weasley what the big-" he was cut off as Harry silenced them

"It's getting cold..."