Just Plain Harry

Chapter 7 On the Hogwarts Express

Harry sat alone in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express, listening to the noisy students and thinking. Everyone seemed in much better spirits than the people Harry had seen in Diagon Alley; but then, Harry was both happy and relieved to be finally going back to Hogwarts, and he supposed others must be, too. He was glad to be alone right now, though - he had a lot to think about, starting with when he had gotten down to the breakfast table the day before.

Sirius was nowhere around, which surprised him. Ron and Hermione exchanged a look, and before Harry could say anything, Ron explained.

"After you left the room last night, everything got even more crazy," he said. "Percy wanted to call the Ministry on the spot, despite Dad and Mum trying to tell him that everything was okay, Sirius was innocent, they knew him, and all that. Bill and Mum were holding him back. Fred and George didn't say anything, they just stood there with their wands pointed at Sirius - I actually thought they seemed more dangerous than Percy, though they were at least listening to Dad."

Hermione nodded. "I'd never seen the twins look like that, Harry," she said. "But Percy was being just ridiculous, he wasn't listening to anyone, and he kept struggling. He finally got his wand arm free and..."

"And he probably would have cursed Sirius right there, but Hermione was too quick for him. She disarmed him easily. Course, she got an owl from the Improper Use of Magic Office, but worth it, I say," Ron said, looking so proud that Harry was hard put not to snicker at him, even as worried as he was.

"Sirius was so good, Harry," Hermione said. "I could tell that he wanted to just shut Percy up and go up to you, but he just stood there, not drawing his wand or making any threatening moves, until it all got straightened out. Unfortunately, it didn't."

"What?"

"Percy...Percy wouldn't hear reason. He just kept saying that he knew Sirius was guilty, and he wasn't going to let him get away, now that he was right there."

Ron muttered something that sounded like, "stupid git," but Harry wasn't paying attention to him.

"What did he do?" he said, not taking his eyes off Hermione.

"Nothing. It's...Mr. Weasley had to do a Memory Charm on him - you know, Obliviate."

Harry was so shocked he just sat there and stared at her. On his own child?

"Yeah, Dad was furious," Ron said. "He told Sirius to get out, that he'd done enough damage for one day. He wouldn't let Sirius come up to see you, even, just said that he'd better get out of his house, if he knew what was good for him. I've never seen Dad like that, even when he fought Lucius Malfoy in Flourish and Botts."

So Harry still hadn't seen Sirius, and he really wanted to. It was his own fault, though; if he hadn't run upstairs right away, he could have talked to him a little, at least. And maybe he would have been able to convince Percy. He had been so mad at Percy that he had hardly spoken to him the whole rest of the time at the Burrow, though he knew it was pointless, because Percy didn't remember a thing.

Then, as they walked out to the Quidditch field, Hermione told them that she had been asked to be a prefect. Neither Harry nor Ron had been surprised, but they reacted completely differently. Harry was really happy for her, and showed it, but Ron was more happy that now they could get away with lots more stuff. Hermione nixed that idea quickly.

"I can't let you guys get away with things just because you're my best friends," she said. "That wouldn't be fair."

"Hermione," Ron said, in a tone he obviously thought sounded sweetly reasonable. "Think of all the times we've been out of bounds or went against the rules, because it was necessary. We saved lives, Hermione."

Harry had to snicker at Ron's saintly expression, but Hermione didn't even smile.

"I know that, Ron," she said, looking seriously at both of them. "And if it is a matter of life and death, or something really serious, which I know it could be, then I won't say a word. But I'm not going to stand by and let you break rules just for a prank, or something."

Ron looked like he was about to explode, so Harry stepped in.

"I doubt we'll have time to get into too much trouble, truthfully," he said. "What with all these extra classes, and studying for the O.W.L.s, and all."

"Yes, and you'll both have Quidditch practices, right?" Hermione said.

It was the right thing to say, because Ron was so thrilled that Hermione just assumed that he would be on the team that he didn't say anything else.

So Hermione was out on the platform still, with Dean Thomas, the other Gryffindor prefect, looking out for first years and anyone else that might need help. She had promised to join them once she finished that, but Ron insisted on staying with her anyway. They had seen Draco Malfoy as they were coming through the barrier, and Ron didn't want Hermione's first day as a prefect ruined. Hermione just looked amused, but she did let Ron trail along after her.

Harry hoped that they came back before Ginny came in, though. Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnigan had already stopped by to chat, as had Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown. They were all Gryffindor fifth years, and Harry had been glad to see them, especially since they all treated him like normal, which they hadn't at the end of last year, after the third task. They had all gone off to see Lee Jordan's new pet, though, so Harry was left alone again. And after the talk he had had with Angelina Johnson the evening before, Harry wasn't sure how to act around Ginny.

Harry liked Angelina, and he was glad that she had taken all the teasing she got at the Weasleys' in good part, even giving some back. He had been a little intimidated by her when they first met, because she was so self-possessed. But he could hardly practice Quidditch together at all hours and in all conditions and stay intimidated. All the same, they weren't what you'd call close, so Harry had been surprised when she asked to talk to him after dinner. They had gone inside (dinner had been outside, because of the large number of people) and sat down at the kitchen table.

"Harry, I want to talk to you about Ginny," Angelina said.

"About Ginny? Why?"

"I don't know if anyone ever told you, but before Ron went to Hogwarts, he and Ginny were really close. They did everything together, sort of like Fred and George."
Harry was confused. Ron certainly hadn't mentioned anything like that.

"I think Ron was probably embarrassed to tell you," Angelina said. "Once he met you and Hermione, he seemed to stop thinking of Ginny as a friend, and started thinking of her only as his little sister. It hurt Ginny's feelings."

"How do you know all this?" Harry asked. He couldn't imagine that Ron told her about it, and he really couldn't picture Ginny going to Angelina, of all people.

"Fred, of course. He's worried about her. Harry, I'm going to ask you to do something that will probably be very difficult. I know that Ginny had that crush on you, and that probably embarrassed you. But that's in the past. Now, she just wants to be friends with all of you. Well, she and Hermione are already friends, and Ron used to be. That just leaves you, Harry."

Harry stared at her, thinking about Ginny. Maybe she did just want to be friends. And he always had fun when she was around; it was just her old crush getting in the way. But if Angelina thought that was over...

"Did Fred ask you to say all this?" he asked.

"No, of course not. He doesn't know I'm doing this. Ginny doesn't know I'm doing this, and please don't tell her. I just...wanted to let you know what's been going on."

So Harry had a lot to think about as he sat in his compartment on the Hogwarts Express. What is it with people telling me what to do? he thought. First Professor Moody, then Mr. Weasley, then Angelina. He just had to decide what advice to follow.

Just then, Ron and Hermione entered the compartment, putting an end to Harry's brooding. Hermione gave a huge sigh as she sank onto the seat.

"I think this might be more difficult than I thought," she said, leaning her head back against the seat. "Were we really that stupid as first years?"

Before Harry or Ron could answer her, Ginny came bursting into the compartment. She flung herself on Hermione, throwing her arms around her friend.

"Hermione, you would not believe the things I've been doing, Dad will be so pleased, like going to the cinema and using computers, they're so useful, don't you think? We've got to find a way to get them to work at Hogwarts, think of how much easier research would be if everything were organized on the computer! How was your summer, did you have fun at Diagon Alley? And what color dress robes did you get me - Mum said she was going to let you pick them out. Oh, Hermione, it's so good to see you again!"

Harry just stared at her in bemusement - this was a Ginny he had never seen before, but Ron let out a great snort.

"I like that - it's so good to see Hermione, but what about Harry and me?"

Ginny said, "Oh, you!" but she stood up to give first Ron and then Harry hugs. That surprised Harry; she'd never done it before. But she certainly seemed to put no stock in it; she just did it, and then sank down on the seat next to him.

"So, what happened at the Burrow while I was in the Muggle world?"

"Oh, lots of yelling," Ron said, waving a languid hand at her. "Harry yelled at Dad, Percy yelled at Dad, Percy yelled at Si-Snuffles, Snuffles yelled at Harry." Ron's ears turned red as he realized that he almost said Sirius' name.

"Who's Snuffles?" Ginny asked, looking around at them all. "And why on earth did you yell at Dad, Harry?"

Harry just stared at her. He wasn't sure what to say. He wanted to tell her; it wasn't fair that her family knew and she didn't, but it wasn't just his secret. He looked over at Ron and Hermione, but they just looked back at him. Sirius wasn't here, so it was his decision.

Ginny didn't give him time to speak.

"Right," she said. "Well, if you guys aren't going to trust me, I'll just go." She stood up and put her hands on her hips, which brought her elbow very close to Harry's head. "Ron, I know it's hard for you to believe, but I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm almost as old as Harry, and I can handle quite a lot, you know. If you don't want to admit it, that's fine, but don't expect me to keep tagging along after you forever. That goes for you, too, Harry."

She turned to leave, almost whacking Harry in the head with her elbow, which he wasn't sure was an accident. He looked over at Ron and Hermione. Ron just looked stunned, but Hermione was glaring at him. He motioned for her to relax.

"Wait, Ginny," he said, standing up. He turned her around by her shoulders and looked straight into her eyes. She was still shorter than he was, but not by much. "You're right, you're absolutely right. We haven't been fair to you, but that's going to change. Come back here, sit down, and get ready for a long story."

Ginny's eyes filled with tears, but before Harry could say anything else, she brushed them aside and smiled at him. He led her back to their seats, where he turned to Ron and Hermione.

"So, who wants to do the honours?"

As the train sped north, the three of them filled Ginny in on everything that had happened to them from third year on. She looked so happy on hearing that Sirius Black was innocent and ready and willing to fulfill his godfatherly duties that a light seemed to shine inside her. When Harry told her about the third task, though, the light went out. He told it haltingly - it got easier each time he told it, but he knew it would never be easy. Ron then jumped in with a description of the shouting matches of two evenings before, and Hermione told about the new classes they would be taking. Harry described his dream in detail, which made Ron and Hermione lean forward to listen hard, too, since they hadn't heard it before. When they were done, Ginny bowed her head so that her hair covered her face.

"Gin, you okay?" Ron asked, taking her hand. She raised her head and shook back her hair, revealing tears in her eyes again.

"No, but then I suspect none of us really are," she said. She turned to Harry. "Thank you for telling me this - for letting me in. I don't know what I can do to help, but I do want to help."

Harry smiled at her. "You've already helped. Didn't you go to those Muggles knowing the risks you were running? That takes a lot of courage, Ginny, to be bait. Did anything happen?"

"No," she said, ignoring the incredulous stares she was getting from Ron and Hermione, who hadn't known that she knew about the dream. "Nothing happened. I wish it had - it feels like I did it all for nothing. Though I did have fun." She grinned.

"I'm glad," Harry said. "Speaking of fun," he added. "Anyone up for a game of Exploding Snap?"

"Harry!" Hermione said.

"I think we've all had enough seriousness for right now, Hermione," Harry said. "Professor Moody told me to live a normal life, and right now, a normal life includes Exploding Snap."

Ron and Ginny laughed, and even Hermione smiled. They got out the cards, and as they played, Harry watched Ginny surreptitiously. Ron might think differently, but Harry thought Angelina was right. Ginny Weasley was no longer the slightest bit in love with him.