Harry Potter and the Magic Within

Harry Potter and the Magic Within

Chapter 5: 'The Hogwarts Express'

The next two weeks were absolutely fantastic for Harry. He played

Quidditch up the hill with Fred, George and Ron and helped out Mr Weasley with his queries on Muggles, he even got a look at some of the things Fred and George had invented using the money Harry had given them. Hermione went back home after Harry was alright again so she wasn't there, but things were definitely better than they had been for a long time. Harry even wished he wasn't going back to school when the end of the summer came. Life at the Weasleys was so different from life with the Dursleys.

There was one thing that was different in the Weasley household though, Mr and Mrs Weasley seemed very watchful and alert while Harry was around. He guessed that this had something to do with the Diagon Alley incident. Harry had puzzled over that incident many times since as well. How had he survived another killing curse? Luckily, Harry didn't have much time to worry about things when everything was so busy and so much fun at the Weasleys.

When the last evening at the Weasleys arrived, Harry had a great wish to stay for a while longer. He did want to be back at Hogwarts as well though. He knew he would feel safer there than anywhere else in the world.

Mrs Weasley made a large dinner and they all ate out in the garden. Harry sat next to Ron down at the end.

'So, what is gonna happen when you see Malfoy?' said Ron through a mouthful of mashed potato.

'I don't know,' Harry answered. He really didn't know what to do about Malfoy. He wished he could beat him up, but he didn't want any trouble at Hogwarts.

'I think we should distract Crabbe and Goyle, then jump on Malfoy from behind. We could beat up Malfoy really well when it was us both against him.' said Ron eagerly.

'No, I don't think we should make any trouble, Ron,' said Harry as he reached across the table for some more pie.

'What? Do nothing? Harry, think of what he did,' said Ron staring bewilderedly at Harry.

'I don't want any trouble if I can help it,' said Harry firmly. 'So that means we can't do anything to Malfoy,' he added. Ron was rather put out but agreed that it was best not to get in trouble.

After dinner was finished and cleared away, Ron and Harry went to Ron's room to get an early night.

They woke up next morning, a little later than they had planned.

It was 9am and Harry hadn't packed everything away in his trunk. He and Ron rushed around throwing things into their trunks as quick as possible. The whole house was in a state of pandemonium. Fred and George got up half an hour after Ron and Harry and had more to pack as they were planning to smuggle their joke items away with them.

It was 10.15 when everyone was finally packed and ready to go.

Mr Weasley had managed to borrow a car from the Ministry of Magic to get to King's Cross Station.

Mr and Mrs Weasley sat in the front and Fred, George, Ginny, Ron and Harry got squashed in the back. It was lucky that the Ministry provided a big car or they would never have all fit in. The journey was almost half an hour to King's Cross. They got out of the car and heaved all the luggage out of the magically enlarged boot of the car.

At 10.53 the Weasleys ran on to Platform 9 at King's Cross Station. They walked as quickly as they could over to the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 without looking suspicious. Then Mr Weasley, Harry and Ron all casually stood next to it before leaning on it and disappearing. Ron and Harry found that the time was 10.58 and that steam was billowing around the train already. They pushed their trolleys to the door, Fred, George, Ginny and Mr and Mrs Weasley following, then Harry and Ron pushed Harry's trunk and Hedwigs cage in to the train. Harry then went in to grab Ron's trunk and Pig's cage. They went down the length of the train, pulling their things with them, until they found an empty compartment at the back of the Hogwart's Express. They opened the window to say goodbye to Mr and Mrs Weasley, where they were already waiting.

'Do be careful this year won't you,' she said to Harry.

'Yes, Mrs Weasley,' said Harry smiling. He was going to miss the Weasleys.

'Always keep an eye open,' said Mr Weasley, nodding. Mrs Weasley gave Ron and Harry a kiss and then, as the train started moving, waved goodbye to them. Ron and Harry sat back down. The compartment door slid open and in came Hermione.

'I was wondering where you were,' she said as she sat down next to Ron. 'You left it very late, the train was just about to go.'

'We slept in,' said Ron. 'Shut up, Pig', he added as the minute owl chirped loudly and whizzed around its cage. Harry looked out of the window and watched the scenery change. Horrible thoughts were creeping in to his mind again. He shook himself mentally. Stop it, he thought. Something of what he was thinking must have shown on his face, because when he looked back at Ron and Hermione they were looking at him anxiously.

'What?' he said.

'Stop worrying, Harry,' said Hermione, softly.

'I wasn't,' Harry lied. Hermione raised her eyebrows. 'Ok, maybe I was a little,' Harry admitted.

'Not surprising,' said Ron, shaking his head. 'Just try not to think of that stuff,' he added with a grimace.

Harry didn't think of any of the things which had bothered him for a very long while after that. He, Ron and Hermione talked about the holidays, the new year and Ron and Harry bored Hermione with Quiddich chat.

'I wonder who our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is,' said Hermione after the Quiddich talk had stopped. They had never had a Defence against the Dark Arts teacher who had lasted more than three terms. A rumour was going around that the job was jinxed.

'No idea,' said Ron, shrugging. 'I just hope it's not a teacher who sets a lot of homework.' He laughed. Then the compartment door slid open and there stood Malfoy with his cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, behind him. Malfoy had obviously not expected to see Harry there because he jumped at the sight of him. Harry felt a great surge of anger but, in spite of his wish to beat Malfoy to a pulp, stayed where he was and looked calmly at Malfoy's shocked face.

'You seem surprised to see me,' said Harry casually.

'No,' said Malfoy in a voice that convinced no one. 'Why would I be,' he added, trying to sound his normal drawling self and failing.

'You know why, Malfoy,' said Harry coldly. At this point, Malfoy seemed to go a little red in the face. He then turned quickly and left, Crabbe and Goyle following.

'He knows you know,' said Ron, grinning. Harry nodded. The rest of the journey was spent eating the yummy treats from the refreshments trolley. Harry bought some of everything, from Bertie Botts every flavour beans, to Chocolate Frogs and Cauldron cakes. They talked away as they ate, they laughed a lot as well.

It was almost dark when the Hogwart's Express started to slow down and stopped at Hogsmeade station. They got off the train and stood on the platform. Harry heard a familiar voice calling the first year students.

'Hi, Hagrid,' Harry called.

'Alright, Harry?' he yelled back. 'See you inside,' he added, as he led the new students away. Harry, Ron and Hermione walked over to the invisible horse drawn carriages. They climbed in and were joined by Neville Longbottom, a very forgetful boy in their house and year. Harry looked out of the small carriage window to watch Hogwarts come closer and closer.

Chapter 6: 'Strange Happenings'

When the carriages stopped in front of the main doors, Harry jumped down, followed by Ron and Hermione, then joined the crowd in to the large entrance hall. The crowd of students then started to file in to the Great Hall.

'Potter! Potter, come here,' came the voice of Professor McGonagall. Harry turned to see her beckoning him. He walked through the crowd to meet her. He had a strong feeling he was in trouble, but this was only because it was usually the strict Professor McGonagall that usually told him off.

'Potter, follow me,' said McGonagall, curtly. Harry followed her up the marble staircase, along a corridor and into her office. She opened the door and to Harry's surprise, Albus Dumbledore was sitting at the desk.

'Ah, Harry, sit down,' said Dumbledore, looking rather old and tired. Harry sat and McGonagall left the room, closing the door behind her.

'I wanted to have a word with you, Harry, before the term started.

I heard about your incident over the summer,' he paused, 'I believe you may be slightly curious at the fact that you survived another death curse. I would explain it to you, if I could, but I am just as amazed as anyone else.' Harry sat silently, he was rather surprised that he was having this talk with Dumbledore. 'It seems very unlikely to me,' he went on, 'that you will have a hassle free time, this year. I know you can look after yourself. I also know what you are up against. I wanted to let you know that you can come and see me anytime. To tell me about anything.' He smiled and gave Harry a long penetrating look, as he had done many times before, through his half moon glasses.

'Now go down to the Great Hall and have a good time,' said Dumbledore. Harry nodded and left.

Harry sat down next to Ron and Hermione in the Great Hall a few minutes later. He had missed the new students sorting ceremony. They had all been put into their new houses and everyone had started eating.

'What did McGonagall want you for,' asked Ron.

'She took me to see Dumbledore,' Harry said, as he started on his meal. Ron put his fork down and stared at Harry.

'What did he want?' He said.

'Told me I could go and see him any time I wanted and that I could talk to him if I needed to,' answered Harry. Ron nodded and went back to his food. Hermione carried on eating as well.

A few minutes later, Dumbledore walked in to the Hall and sat down in his seat at the teachers' table. Hermione elbowed Harry.

'I don't see the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher,' she said.

'No, nor do I,' said Ron as he scanned the teachers table.

Just then, the great doors opened and in walked a young lady with long silvery hair and bright blue eyes. She walked silently over to the teachers' table and sat in the empty seat. Then Dumbledore stood up.

'Welcome, to a new year at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!' he said, smiling. 'I have a new teacher to introduce to you all,' he continued, with everyone listening closely. 'This is the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Genevive Argent.' Professor Argent smiled and the whole hall clapped. 'I am sure you will all help Professor Argent find her way around until she has settled in to school properly,' continued Dumbledore. 'Now we should all continue to eat this wondrous feast.'

Harry was certain that for a moment, Professor Argent's eyes had looked his way. He turned back to his food.

'We've never had a Witch teach us Defence Against the Dark Arts before,' said Ron before grabbing a bread roll.

'No, I wonder if she is qualified, you know, experienced in the Dark Arts, she looks so young,' said Hermione.

When the students had all finished, the Gryffindor prefects took their house out of the Great Hall to go to Gryffindor Tower.

When they got to the portrait of the fat lady, which stood in front of the entrance to the common room, they were told the new password then they entered the round cosy room. Everyone went straight up to their dormitories. Harry and Ron went up the familiar spiral staircase and went into their five four-poster bedded room. Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas and Neville all came in after them. Harry lay down on his bed and was asleep before he knew it.

When Harry woke up he got changed quickly and went down to the common room where he met Ron.

'Morning,' said Harry sleepily.

'Let's go get breakfast,' said Ron. They left the common room through the portrait and set off to the Great hall. When they entered the Great Hall Hermione was already sitting down eating breakfast.

'You woke up late didn't you,' she said as they sat down. Ron rolled his eyes.

'You just got up early,' he replied. Harry started on his toast. To put an end to Ron and Hermione's disagreement, Harry asked a question.

'What have we got first?' he said.

'They haven't given us our timetables yet,' answered Hermione. But, just as she spoke, Professor McGonagall came round handing out the Gryffindor timetables. Hermione scanned her timetable.

'Oh, we have Defence Against the Dark Arts first!' she grinned.

After a quick breakfast, Harry, Ron and Hermione left the Great hall to go to the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher's classroom. When they got there, the other 5th year Gryffindors where waiting outside. A moment later, the door opened and Professor Argent let them in. Harry sat between Ron and Hermione.

'Good morning, class,' she said smiling. 'I am Professor Argent, I will be teaching you Defence Against the Dark Arts.' She picked up the register. She started calling out the names. The Gryffindors raised their hands as they were called. She stopped before Harry's name. 'Harry Potter,' she said slowly, 'He is in this class?' Harry raised his hand. 'Ah,' she said looking straight at him. Her smile had faded a little and she looked rather serious. She then carried on reading out names as before and seemed to act normally again.

'Now, for your first lesson,' she said as she put the register away, 'we are going to try to use counter curses. Simple ones to begin with, and then harder through the upcoming lessons. The first curse we shall try to block is the Trickulartis curse. This would tie you up in strong magical ropes if it hit you. We block it with the Uncanas charm.'

The whole lesson was spent practicing the counter curse to the magical ropes. When they had tried to use it on their own a few times, Professor Argent tried using the Trickulartis curse on them. Almost everyone found it easy to block the curse with the Uncanas charm. When Harry's turn came, he stepped into the space made in the middle of the class and stood in front of Professor Argent.

'Ready Harry?' She said, smiling. Harry nodded. She raised her wand and said the curse. Harry had raised his wand and said his counter curse just as she spoke.

A blue flash followed by a hazy smoke filled the room. When the smoke cleared, the class saw that Harry's wand was glowing in his hand but Professor Argent's had been knocked out of her hand and was lying behind her desk under the blackboard. She looked very shocked indeed. Harry stood as still as a stone. He had no idea what he had done. Most of the class had ducked behind the desks, now they came up looking extremely bewildered. Hermione and Ron had their mouths open and were staring at Harry like everyone else.

The class ended ten minutes later, half an hour before the usual time.

'Harry, what on earth just happened in there?' whispered Ron as they headed down for lunch not long after.

'I don't know,' said Harry quietly.

'Was she trying to curse you with something, Harry,' asked Hermione anxiously. Harry didn't reply straight away. He had the strange feeling that it hadn't been Professor Argent who had made the room flash and smoke. He had a feeling it had been him. A tickling sensation had run down to his hand and then next thing he saw, his wand was shaking and glowing. How could he have though? He turned back to them.

'I don't think she did it, Hermione,' he began slowly, 'I think it was me,' he sat down at the table. Whatever they had thought they were going to hear, it hadn't been that.

'You mean it was you who did that?' said Hermione, her eyes wide as saucers.

'Yeah, I think I did,' said Harry slowly. He wasn't sure what he thought of the whole thing.

'Wow! You are going to be an amazing Wizard then, Harry,' Ron said grinning.

'Maybe you should go and talk to Dumbledore, Harry,' said Hermione, 'he did say you could go and see him if you needed to and I think you should tell him what has happened, maybe he'll know why,' Hermione finished. Harry didn't think he should disturb Dumbledore.

'No, I don't think I should bother him, it was only a silly mistake that I guess I made when I tried to counteract her curse,' said Harry in a voice so final, Hermione didn't attempt to convince him to do otherwise.