Harry Potter and the Brothers of the Wolves

Chapter IX: The Journey There

The morning of the thirty-first of August was one long anticipated. Harry and Ron hustled and bustled around Ron's lofty room, collecting all of their things that were thrown about, picking up objects and dropping them after assuming they wouldn't need them once at school. The atmosphere was more frantic than ever, taking into account that they only had a few hours before the Hogwarts Express left King's Cross station.

After a flurry of scavenging, Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Fred and George were packed and ready to go. Mr. Weasley stood in the middle of the assembled group and held up a hand to silence the tense and eager wizards and witches.

"This," he said, rising up a dirty, raggedy old boot held in his right hand, "is a Portkey. It is a one-timer, only good for one trip. It has been authorized by the Ministry and can only be activated by saying the trigger words.

"Now, if everyone could try and squeeze in, watch the cage, now, Harry. Everyone have a finger on the Portkey?" After a collective nod of agreement, Mr. Weasley stated clearly, "Portus Activiti!"

A familiar tug below the navel and they were off. Shoulders bumped, trunks collided, and Harry could do nothing but concentrate on holding on to Hedwig's cage and his trunk.

As suddenly as the feeling had come, it disappeared. Mr. Weasley was left standing as everyone else fell to the ground in a mass of arms and legs. Harry was the first one who unengaged himself from the group, standing up and smoothing down his Muggle clothes.

He looked around to see where they had come to. They were all in a dark, gloomy room that looked very much like the Leaky Cauldron (in it's better, less taken-over days), except for the fact that there were very few people. One of the dark figures that were leaning over the bar approached them.

"Greetings, Remus," said Mr. Weasley. Lupin gave Mr. Weasley a warm hug and then turned to Harry.

"Hello, Harry. How are things going?" Another awkward hug was exchanged. Harry and Lupin chatted amiably for a few minutes, and then urged out by Mr. Weasley with a simple "time to go."

During the car ride, which was supplied by the Ministry, Harry kept stealing glances at Lupin. Something seemed wrong with him. Harry had seen him at his worst times, right before the full moon, but he seemed much more exhausted than then. Weary lines ran all over his face, and deep, dark circles under his eyes.

The car ride was very short, and soon they were all standing outside the barrier to Platform 9 ¾. Mr. Weasley gave everyone a farewell and walked out of the station. Ginny was first through, followed by Gred and Forge, as they had dubbed themselves, Ron and Hermione, and Harry in the back. Passing through the not-so-solid barrier, Harry was once again comforted to see the large, scarlet train that assured him every time that it all wasn’t just a dream.

Familiar faces passed by, saying their farewells to their parents, loading trunks onto the train, and jumping in to get a good seat. With no one to say goodbye to, the group loaded their trunks into the train and hopped up.

Gred and Forge left them to go look for Lee Jordan, the school’s Quidditch commentator. Ginny, to Harry’s dismay, went with her fourth year friends, including Luna Lovegood and Rose Sue, two Ravenclaws.

So, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were once again sharing a compartment together. Harry sat to one side with Hedwig in her cage, while Ron and Hermione sat across from him.

“Harry, you remember how me and Hermione here are…you know,” Ron wavered slightly.

“Insane? Pregnant?” Harry offered teasingly.

“Stop that, Harry, we’re together, duh,” Hermione said bluntly.

“Right, I knew this a while ago. Remember on my birthd-”

“YES! Yes, we remember, please don’t bring that one up again,” Ron blurted out.

“Anyways,” Hermione continued, “we just wanted to tell you how things are going to change.” Harry raised his eyebrow. “Harry, you know it’ll be a lot different, what with me and Ron together, you might feel that you are a third wheel, the man on the outside. We just wanted to tell you that we won’t try to exclude you.”

The realization spread across Harry’s face, and quickly turned to one of dismay. It would be awkward, being the attachment. They would be wanting more time to themselves, and Harry would give it. He thought back to their first year, where Ron and Harry were close friends, and Hermione was the add-on. He would get to know how it felt soon.

The journey to Hogwarts was long and tedious, but they were soon pulling in to Hogsmeade Station. Harry, Ron, and Hermione jumped off the train caboose and walked towards the carriages standing alone and unsupported. They looked from each carriage to the next, but most were taken up. They had walked for some time until they reached a carriage with only one person in it, which meant they could hop in.

Inside, the lanterns had been extinguished and the other occupant sat calmly in the darkness. Again, Ron and Hermione sat together and Harry was stuck next to the other person.

Hermione, who didn’t understand the reason for the darkness, quickly took out her wand and produced blue flames that lit up the lanterns, casting an eerie glow all inside the carriage.

The other person squealed, and turned away from the flames. All Harry could tell that it was a girl, due to the squeal and the long, dirty-blonde hair hanging down her back. Slowly, Luna Lovegood turned around and revealed her wide, silver-gray eyes, which protruded far more than a normal person’s should, giving her a permanently surprised look.

“Hello,” she said in a dreamy voice. She turned to Harry, and, without looking up, said “You’re Harry Potter. And you are…” she turned to Ron and Hermione.

“Er- Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger,” Ron stuttered.

Luna gave a dazed smile and the rest of the ride to the castle passed in silence…