Lion Heart

Lion Heart

For the first time in two months, Harry was looking forward to the day. It was the first of September and he was finally going back to his real home to see his real family. He wasn't sure how much longer he could have taken the Dursleys' hollering at him before he just snapped and turned them all into three headed toads. He had found his only relief to be at night when he could do his homework and write letters to his friends.

"But no use dwelling on that now," Harry thought as he stepped in front of Platform 9 and 3/4. He smiled to himself as he thought of how soon he'd be seeing his friends again. He turned around just in time to see the Dursely's driving away like their car had been shot out a gun barrel. "Good-bye to you too! See you next summer, don't worry I'll write. Oh, and send Aunt Marge my love, as well!" Harry said sarcastically as he turned around and crashed right into Ginny Weasley.

"Hey! Why don't you watch where-Oh! Uh...hello Harry!" The youngest Weasley squeaked as she jumped to her feet, saw who she was speaking too, and nearly fell down again. Even after four years, Harry Potter could still make her blush, stutter, trip over her own feet, and turn the usually smooth and sensual young lady into an over all teeny-bopper.

Harry suppressed his smile as Ginny quickly turned to leave, and directed his attention to another red-head. His best friend of several years, Ron Weasley, strode toward him. "Harry!" Ron called rather loudly as he approached, then added more quietly to his sister as he passed her, "Lovely shade of red you're sporting there, Gin."

"Oh shut up," she said angrily and elbowed him in the ribs for effect. Harry doubled over in laughter as Ron doubled over in pain.

"Ow," Ron said weakly from his place on the floor as Harry walked, smiling, the rest of the way to him.

"Girl's got it in for you, Ron," Harry offered him a hand and helped him get to his feet. "C'mon, we better get going. We don't need the Hogwarts Express to leave without us again."

"Ahhhhh, deja vu. Those were the days." Both boys laughed at the cornyness of the corny joke, grabbed their trolley's and passed through the barrier.

They went to their usual compartment, at the end of the train, to find the last part of their trio already there waiting for them. "I thought you two had decided to take up residence on that platform." Hermione said as she stroked Crookshanks, who purred like a, well, like a cat.

"Sorry about that," Ron said, as he and Harry sat down opposite from Hermione. "So, how was your summer 'Mione? Do anything life-alteringly, earth shattering?"

"Well, no. I had all my homework completed the first week of vacation and had nothing other than reading to keep me occupied. I-" Hermione stopped abruptly as the door to their compartment slid open.

"And what are everyone's favorite do-gooders up to?" Draco Malfoy drawled casually, as he strolled into their compartment. "Saved any babies lately? Or gotten any little kittens down from high trees?" Crabbe and Goyle laughed stupidly behind him.

Harry looked at them with mild disinterest, "Ya know, Malfoy, I think it's time you got some new sidekicks."

"Yeah," Ron chimed in, "Because your current ones are really hard on the eyes. No offense boys."

Crabbe and Goyle's facial expressions didn't even change. They didn't seem to realize that they'd just been insulted. Malfoy, on the other hand, being the most intelligent third of the group, narrowed his eyes and said, "I haven't forgotten what happened at the end of the train ride last year, Potter. You better watch your back." And with that, the three Slytherins left the compartment.

"Ooooo, famous departing line, 'you better watch your back,' I'm shaking with fear!" Ron said sarcastically.

"Will they ever grow up?" Hermione wondered aloud.

"I highly doubt it," Harry replied, "All they know how to do is annoy the living daylights out of the three of us."

"I can see it now," Ron said dramatically and motioned with his hands in the air, "'Dedicated seven years of life to annoying Harry Potter and co.' Won't that look nice on their job applications." The three friends laughed and enjoyed the rest of their Malfoy-free train ride to Hogwarts.

*

"I can't believe it, only six new Gryffindors!" Seamus Finnigan shouted at the end of the sorting, "There are ten new Slytherins! How completely unfair!" Some of the surrounding Gryffindors murmmered in agreement.

"That's because Gryffindors are harder to come by! You've got to have something special to get in Gryffindor," Dean assured his best friend. "We should be proud that we're Gryffindors, and that we're fewer numbers than everyone else."

"So, this is one of those 'be happy with life's blessings' type speeches, isn't it?" Ron asked. He, Hermione, and Harry were sitting across from the two.

"Yes," Dean replied calmly, "When life gives you lemons-"

"Squeeze the juice into a watergun and squirt it into people's eyes?" Malfoy was back again, this time alone.

The side of Dean's mouth quirked, but Ron looked at the pale boy in disbelief. "Since when do you go out without your human walls to protect you?"

"Yes, you might get sneezed on or something," Seamus added, looking at the Slytherin in disdain.

"Why not take risks? All I've got to lose is my life, and I got that for free." Malfoy sneered at them, then turned his attention to Harry. "Potter, I want a Wizard's Due with you, tonight."

Harry raised an eyebrow him, but didn't reply. It was Ginny who spoke up from her seat next to Hermione. "If I recall, this scenario already happened. You challenged, and you chickened out, leaving Harry for Filch to find. I'm guessing Harry isn't too eager for the encore presentation."

Malfoy's eyes sparked dangerously, "I wasn't talking to you, Weasel." He spat, using the nickname he usually reserved for Ron.

Ron and Harry both sprung to their feet, "You keep a civil tongue around me and my family Ferret Boy," Ron said in a low voice. He had pulled his wand out and his arm was shaking.

Malfoy glanced once at Ron, as if he were merely bored, than again spoke to Harry. "Well, are you up for it, Potter?"

Harry just glared at him and said, "The Charm's classroom, midnight. And you sure as hell better show Malfoy, or so help me God, I'll set loose Ron, and the entire Gryffindor house on you."

With a final smirk, the pale boy turned and stalked away. Harry felt Ron instantly relax at his side. "Don't worry, Harry, I'll be your second tonight. They'll be scraping Ferret Face off the walls come tomorrow."

But Harry looked doubtful, "I dunno Ron. He didn't say anything about seconds. I think I should go alone."

"That'd just be plain silly of you, Harry," Hermione finally spoke up, "if you insist upon acting like a 12-year-old, at least let Ron go with you, so you won't be alone."

"Yeah, we can act like twelve-year-old's together." Ron grinned at his best friend.

*

The day passed, slowly by, the duel with Malfoy looming in the back of Harry's mind like a giant storm cloud. They didn't have potions, or care of magical creatures on Mondays, so he didn't have to worry about Malfoy. Before Harry knew it, it was 11:45, and time to set off to meet Malfoy. He'd decided during history of magic that he didn't want Ron coming along. For all they knew, it could very well be a trap, but Harry refused to ignore the challenge. And if it was a trap, he'd save Ron the detention with Filch.

All this in mind, Harry grabbed his cloak and the Marauder's Map, neglected to wake Ron (who was snoring soft in the bed next to his) and tip-toed down to the Gryffindor common room. He didn't notice the dark shape in the corner, silently watching him.

*

The trip to the charm's classroom passed without incident. He easily avoided the Grey Lady, and one teacher with the aid of his cloak and map. Harry quietly slipped into the empty classroom and shut the door behind him. He folded the cloak and map, and set them in the corner once he'd checked that Malfoy hadn't arrived yet.

The young Gryffindor waited for 20 minutes until he was fighting between staying awake, and the growing feeling of dread that Malfoy wouldn't show, again. 5 minutes later, he'd finally had enough. He grabbed his things, and reached out for the door knob. But before he could touch it, the door swang open and cracked him in the head.

Harry was caught off-guard, he lost his balance and tumbled backwards with a soft, thud. "Owwwww," Harry moaned as a flash of red caught his eye. "Ron, you attacked me with the door!" He thought wildly. But it wasn't Ron, it was Ginny.

"Ginny!" He gasped, then before he could stop himself, "You attacked me with the door!"

"Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry," Ginny wailed softly, as she kneeled down next to him. "I didn't see you there!"

"Well, I'd hate to think that you attacked me with the door on purpose," Harry joked as he rubbed his head.

"Here, let me help you up. Whoa, don't fall over," Harry swayed and nearly overbalanced again, "Oh, I feel horrible. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yeah, be a pal and make everything stop spinning. What are you doing here anyways?"

Now, Ginny looked sheepish. "Well, I knew you were coming alone, and I didn't want you to be un-protected...so I decided to be your second in your duel with Malfoy," she finished in a rush, the hurridely looked away form him.

Harry squinted at Ginny, "You did that for me? But you could have gotten caught! Filch-"

"Oh, I took care of him," this time she looked at him, eyes bright, "I had Nick trick Peeves into casuing a distractioon three floors up. Filch is up there cleaning up the mess."

"I can't believe you went through all that for me."

Ginny blushed scarlet, "It was nothing, really. I'd do anything for you, Harry."

Harry, looking at her intent and curious, stepped closer to her. Ginny instinctively lifted her face upwards, her eyes fluttering shut.

"So, what kind of distraction did you have Nick cause?"

Ginny's eyes snapped open. "What?" Harry repeated what he'd said. "What kind of.....OH! Harry Potter you are absolutely immpossible!" With that, Ginny turned on her heel and stormed out. Harry left to look after her in bewilderment.

*

"He did, what?!"

"He asked me what kind of distraction I had Nick cause," Ginny repeated dully.

"Honestly, I didn't think Harry was THAT thick!" Hermione exclaimed. She and Ginny were sitting on Hermione's bed, Hermione having waited up for her friend to return. "He didn't even say, thank you?" Ginny shook her head sadly. "I thought for sure this whole sticking your neck out for him would knock him out of la-la land. I can't believe it didn't work!"

"Well, it was a good idea, Hermione. And I really would do anything for him ..."

TBC