The Man of the Moment

Chapter Six: The Beginning of the End

"Ron, have you got your badge?"

"Yes, Mum."

"Ginny, have you packed your schoolbooks?"

"Yes, Mum- and my clothes, and my toothbrush, and my broom, and..."

"Alright, alright, I get the message," Mrs. Weasley clucked, bustling around the youngest two of her brood, and checking they were fully prepared for a trip they make every year. Harry couldn't recall a single incident where she had ended up owling something that Ron or Ginny had forgotten, and he didn't think that was likely to change this year.

Hermione was sitting on her trunk outside the room she shared with Ginny, looking a little pensive. Harry sat down next to her.

"Knut for your thoughts?" he asked. Hermione smiled.

"I was just remembering how Mum used to fuss," she replied, simply, and Harry understood.

"They're safe, just remember that," he replied, placing his hand on hers. She looked up at him and smiled sadly.

"I know, and I'm grateful. I wonder what they're up to?" she mused, and Harry thought he saw a tear trickle down her face. With some instinct he hadn't known he possessed before, he drew himself close enough to Hermione that their knees knocked together, and put his arm tightly around her. She flopped her head onto his shoulder and sighed.

"What a mess," she whispered into the crook of his arm.

"It's going to get messier," Harry replied, quietly. Hermione tilted her head up to look at his face.

"We'll be okay," she replied, and Harry wished he could share her optimism.

A sudden bang made Harry jump, and knock Hermione's jaw hard enough for her to wince. Ron stood in front of them, with an odd expression on his face.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, flicking between Hermione and Harry. Once he spotted Hermione's cheerless expression, he knelt down beside her in a flash.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Hermione nodded, and wiped her eye with her robe sleeve.

"I'm fine, Ron," she replied. Ron patted her awkwardly on the back.

"That's good," he replied, before getting up to his feet.

"Mum says we need to get down there. The car has arrived," he explained. Harry grinned.

"No problem," he replied, pulling his Apparition licence out from his robe pocket. Ron grinned.

"It's the ace-est thing in the world, isn't it?"

Hermione stood up and folded her arms in mock irritation.

"Well, it's alright for you two," she huffed. Ron laughed.

"Cheer up, Hermione- you'll get to take your test in the Christmas holidays," he replied.

"It's just not fair," she said.

"Well, when you get to our age, you'll see life just sometimes isn't fair- you're too young to understand now," Ron joked, and Hermione gave him a waspish glare, though Harry could see her lips struggling to hide a smile. Ron feigned capitulation, and conjured her trunk down the stairs to make up for his teasing. Hermione walked on after him. Harry just couldn't resist, and instead Apparated to the front door.

He was greeted to the ear-splitting sound of Mrs. Weasley screaming in fright when he got downstairs.

"Oh, Harry, dear- you frightened the life out of me!" she exclaimed, patting her hand to her chest.

"Half breeds! Filthy Mudblood scum besmirching the house of my Fathers!" came the expected maniacal call-to-arms. Mrs. Weasley winced.

"Sorry, Mrs. Weasley," Harry replied, trying his best to ignore the shrill voice of Mrs. Black's portrait.

"It's alright- I'll sort it out when I get back from the Station," she replied, opening the front door as she did so to allow Ginny to haul her trunk out into the street.

Suddenly, Ginny stopped dead in the street, and put her hand to her forehead as she peered out in front of her.

"Cool!" she breathed. Harry was about to follow her outside to see what had impressed her so much, when he heard Ron and Hermione descend the staircase; the former conjuring two trunks down the stairs with considerable effort.

"Thanks, Ron- I must say, it's such an easier job with magic," Hermione said, as she walked down the stairs.

"Easy for you to say," Ron retorted, as he struggled to control the two trunks.

"If it's a problem, I can always carry mine..."

"It's no problem!" Ron replied, quickly, as he lurched down the stairs.

The three of them collectively gasped when they got outside and saw what Ginny had been awestruck over. It was a very impressive looking big black car, complete with tinted windows and a small flag on the bonnet that suggested it was Ministry owned.

Mrs. Weasley, Harry noticed, couldn't suppress her smile.

"It's nice, isn't it," she remarked, cheerfully. "Your dad arranged the car for us; now, come and put your trunks in the boot."

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny did as they were told. All of their trunks fitted without any difficulty- in fact, there was room to spare, which Harry assumed to be one of many advantages of having magically enhanced Ministry transport. They then got into the back of the car, Harry carrying Hedwig in her cage, Ron with Pigwidgeon, and Hermione with her hissing plastic cat case that presumably contained an rather irritated Crookshanks.

"Shush, Crookshanks, it'll be over soon," Hermione soothed at the caged door.

Mrs. Weasley got in the front seat, and it was then that Harry noticed the driver. He was bald, with a distinctive gold earring, and Harry recognised him immediately.

"Kingsley!" he exclaimed, then felt foolish for doing so. The Auror craned his neck, and gave Harry a smile.

"Hello, Harry," he replied, as he slipped his sunglasses on over his eyes.

"Why are you driving us?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah, shouldn't you be off capturing Death Eaters, or something?" Ron asked, in such an upfront way that Shacklebolt laughed heartily. Hermione gave Ron a disapproving look, before adding, "I must admit, I would have thought the Order would want you doing something more... well..." She trailed off. Shacklebolt raised an eyebrow.

"Important? Believe me- escorting The Boy Who Lived and the Minister for Magic's children, not to mention the survivor of a recent Death Eater attack, ranks as pretty important work," he replied. Mrs. Weasley glared at him.

"Kingsley!" she hissed, "Do be gentle around the girl..."

"It's okay, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione replied, "I've got to get used to it sooner or later."

Shacklebolt smiled sympathetically.

"So, you saw the Prophet yesterday?" he asked. Hermione looked confused. Harry had to admit he was at a loss as to why Shacklebolt had asked this, as well. He noticed Mrs. Weasley smack Shacklebolt hard on the arm, and give him a dangerous look. Shacklebolt turned to face her.

"Molly, are you ready?" he asked. Mrs. Weasley nodded.

"Yes... are you sure you know how to drive this?" she asked, nervously. Shacklebolt laughed richly.

"Sure, in theory," he replied, as he pressed his foot to the accelerator and drove off, grinning mischievously at Mrs. Weasley's horrified expression.

"Of course I've driven this vehicle before," he explained, and Mrs. Weasley breathed a sigh of relief.

They sped through queues of traffic, squeezed through at least seventeen gaps that were significantly smaller than their vehicle and jumped around ten red lights without so much as hearing an irate fellow motorist beep their horn in frustration before they reached Kings Cross station. Shacklebolt pulled up beside a group of men dressed as station guards, and wound down his window.

"Sort the trunks out, would you, lads?" he asked, at which the nearest station guard nodded and clicked his fingers. The rest of the guards opened the boot and began to load their trunks onto trolleys. Harry noticed they all had wands sticking out of their coat pockets.

"Undercover security," Shacklebolt explained, noticing Harry's expression. Harry nodded in reply, before they all piled out of the car, carrying their various caged pets.

"Right, this way, everyone!" Mrs. Weasley instructed, leading Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the guards towards platform nine and three quarters.

"Have a good term," Shacklebolt said through the open car window, before winding it shut again and driving off.

"Come along, now," Mrs. Weasley said, chivvying the group of four across the bridge overlooking the railway track and onto platform nine. When they reached the barrier between platforms nine and ten that would take them to the Hogwarts Express, Harry couldn't help but notice a huge sign on it that currently read 'STOP'.

"What's that for?" Ginny asked.

"It's to reduce the amount of people trying to get through the barrier at one time," Mrs. Weasley explained. "They've got new security measures, so things will take a little longer than usual..."

"But surely the Muggles will think something's up, with that huge sign staring them in the face!" Ron pointed out.

"The sign's charmed, Mr. Weasley," one of the guards piped up. "No-one can see it, except for wizards and witches."

Ron nodded to show his understanding, and the red sign spun within the brickwork, and showed up a few seconds later as a huge green sign with the words 'PROCEED' printed on it.

Looking around, Harry checked nobody was watching him, before he leant casually into the barrier, and soon found himself on platform nine and three quarters. A wizard dressed in regulation navy-blue robes casually looked him over, and pointed his wand at his head, then his torso.

"Arms," he ordered, and Harry lifted up his arms. The wizard swiped his wand over Harry's outstretched arms, and down his legs, before jerking his thumb towards the train.

"Proceed," he said, gruffly, and Harry waited further along the platform for Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley. Clutching Hedwig's cage while the snowy owl slumbered peacefully, he saw one guard examine their luggage by waving his wand across the top and bottom. The guard then handed the trolley of trunks back to Mrs. Weasley once he appeared satisfied they didn't contain weapons, poisons or smuggled in Death Eaters. He couldn't help but snigger when he saw one of the wizard guards examine Hermione, and almost jump out of his skin when her cat carrier emitted a loud, angry hissing noise. He also noticed the guards exchange glances, and then look at Hermione with what Harry could only interpret as sympathy as she walked towards him.

"Harry, Ron and I have got to go to the prefect carriage for a chat with the new prefects- it said in our letters. It shouldn't take too long- you will save us both a seat, won't you?" she asked. Harry nodded.

"Sure," he replied, as Ron and Ginny joined them, pushing the trolley between them.

"Right, here we go," Ron said, dragging Hermione's trunk off the trolley and placing it at her feet, before grabbing his own. Harry and Ginny both took their trunks, and Harry noticed Ginny trying desperately to suppress a grin.

Mrs. Weasley came up to them, and gave them all a huge hug.

"Now, you four take good care of yourselves, and don't forget to work hard- you've got your N.E.W.T.s this year, and I can't stress how important they are, so do your best," she said, and then hugged them all again. When she hugged Harry, he felt as though she had almost squeezed the air out of him, so strong was her grip. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw two familiar figures walk along the platform. They were both tall and thin, with dark hair- Harry recognised them as Persephone and Snape once he saw the latter's profile. He watched as Persephone said something to Snape, and he climbed into the carriage just behind them. She made her way over to where he, Hermione and the two youngest Weasley's were currently saying their goodbyes to Mrs. Weasley.

"Hi, folks," she offered, breezily, just as Mrs. Weasley had let Harry go.

"Hi, Professor," they chorused, at which she laughed.

"Well done, glad I don't need to remind you," she joked, before placing a hand gently on Mrs. Weasley's shoulder.

"It's okay, Molly, Severus and I have checked over the train- there's nothing untoward going on," she said. Mrs. Weasley smiled.

"Thanks for letting me know, Persephone. How are you doing?" she asked, pointedly, and Harry assumed her question was related to Persephone and Snape.

"Fine, we're fine," she replied, somewhat dismissively, and Mrs. Weasley dropped the subject.

"I'll most likely pop along and see you on the train- we're supposed to do routine check on all the pupils every fifteen minutes, and somehow I feel I'm going to get saddled with the job," she said, with mock weariness. Harry couldn't help but smile- he doubted Snape would happily traipse up and down the train, unless there was a chance he could apprehend someone for some misdemeanour or another- even more so if it was Harry he got to castigate.

"Cheer up, Harry- at least you won't have to explain to Severus why you're sitting in a carriage looking like you're up to no good," she teased, patting him on the back. He pulled a face in return, at which Persephone cracked up laughing.

"You cynic, you!" she replied, before stepping purposely out of Mrs. Weasley's earshot and towards Hermione.

"Did you get a chance to read the Daily Prophet yesterday?" she asked, having sidled over to Hermione, who shook her head.

"No, I didn't. I figured I'd just catch up on today's issue instead..." She trailed off as Persephone pulled a rolled-up newspaper from her robe pocket and surreptitiously hand it to Hermione.

"I'd read it as soon as possible, if I were you," she advised, gravely, before raising her voice to a normal level.

"Right, see you all later, chaps and chapesses!" she said, cheerily, before walking across to the carriage Snape had previously entered, and climbed into it herself.

After one last goodbye from Mrs. Weasley, Harry made his way onto the train, followed by Ginny, Ron and Hermione. They had just about hauled their trunks into the luggage compartment before they heard a whistle blow, and the train lurched into its rhythmic movement.

Ginny held out her hands expectantly, and Ron handed her Pigwidgeon in his cage.

"Thanks Ginny," he said.

"Hermione, do you want me to take Crookshanks with me?" she asked. Hermione nodded, and carefully handed her plastic cat carrier to Ginny, who took it by the handle. The carrier hissed and rattled a bit.

"Shush, Crookshanks, she'll be back in a bit!" Ginny said to the front of the cage. Crookshanks calmed down a bit, but Harry saw from the brief glimpse he got of its squashed up face that it was not a particularly impressed feline.

"See you in a bit," Ron said, as he and Hermione made their way to the front carriage, and Harry and Ginny were left with the task of finding seats.

"Hmm, nope, don't like this one," Ginny said, sniffily, as she closed a carriage door, and walked towards the next one. Harry sighed heavily, but continued to follow her. Surely one carriage was the same as another? He could understand Ginny not wanting to share a carriage with Draco and his cronies, but dismissing a carriage out of hand because it had a piece of chewing gum stuck to one of the seats, or because the sun filtered in through the windows? That smacked just a little bit of pickiness, and he wondered if Mr. Weasely's sudden promotion to Minister for Magic was in any way responsible.

Fortunately, Ginny did eventually find an empty carriage that was to her liking, and sat down, gesturing for Harry to sit opposite, which he did so. He noticed Ginny kneel on her seat to reach the curtains and draw the ones on her side halfway across the window nearest her.

"Sorry about the pickiness," she explained, "but I was hoping to get a bit of kip before Ron and Hermione get back. I didn't get much sleep last night."

"Why?" Harry asked, feeling guilty for thinking that her parents' success might have spoilt Ginny, if only briefly. Ginny yawned, and stretched her arm out above her head.

"Chatting to Hermione," she replied, "she seems to need less sleep than I do. Plus, she's a bit nervous about taking..." She trailed off, as though seeing Harry for the first time.

"It's not important," she added, quickly, before patting the seat cushion nearest her head.

"You don't mind, do you?" she asked, presumably referring to her attempt to catch forty winks. Harry shook his head.

"No, go ahead," he replied. Ginny smiled, and curled up on the seat. Harry watched her as she quietly fell into a serene snooze.

Secretly, Harry was quite glad Ginny wanted to sleep. It was true he now had nobody to talk to on the train until Ron and Hermione got back from their briefing, but it gave him a chance to catch up on a bit of reading. He reached deep into his inside jacket pocket, and pulled out a slim red book, before taking off said jacket and stuffing it into the hand-luggage compartment above his head. The book was well thumbed, and dated back to 1975. It was penned entirely by his mother.

'21/08/1975

Well, today has been fun. When I say fun, of course, I mean if your idea of fun is feeling eight months pregnant without being able to see your horrendously huge stomach, and screaming at people that they disgust you. It's not mine, I'll tell you that for nothing.

I'm at the Beauchamp's cottage in Southern France again. It's around midnight, I've got stomachache, backache, and my ankles are killing me. Porphyria's given me a pain-killing potion of some description, and told me to rest up. About half an hour ago, she brought me a hot water bottle for my back, and said if I needed anything else, I should just wake her. She looks perpetually anxious, and I'm not sure whether it's for the health of me, the health of the baby, or the success of her plan. I only realised a few months ago that the idea of me giving birth to this child, then handing it over to the Beauchamps, is slightly on the illegal side- according to wizarding law, unwanted babies are supposed to go through a care program, where they are housed with the best available parents. What we're doing bypasses all of that, and the Beauchamps could get into serious trouble for it (me and Severus are minors, so we would get off scot free if the whole plan was discovered). Now I understand why we're going to the Slavic regions to give birth- lower age of consent, my backside! Porphyria and Severus have family up there, a few of which are qualified midwives (I'm not sure what the wizard equivalent is- I think it might be 'birth receivers', or something, although that sounds very odd), and they're going to aid me through labour, then doctor the baby's birth certificate, so it appears that the child is theirs. From that point on, I will bear no relation to the child, legally.

And I'm really not sure how I feel about that. See, a few months ago, she started kicking. Just a little bit at first, but she's strong, I can tell that much. I know it sound silly, but she's kind of got a personality now. She's a little toughie. I can picture her at Hogwarts- I don't really know what she's going to look like (personally, I hope she looks more like me than Severus!), but I can just imagine her knocking James and Sirius down a peg or two- she definitely wouldn't stand for their nonsense! Apparently, she's going to be really magical. Francois rested his wand against my stomach the other evening, and it started whooshing great green sparks everywhere. He reckons if you get that kind of reaction before birth, your child's likely to be really magically adept- he's been reading far too many wizarding parent magazines, though he tries to hide the fact.

Me and Severus had a row today. Again. That's all we seem to do nowadays... We're not going out! God, no- please, don't think that! It's just; we've been trying to get on, for the baby's sake. I know we won't be looking after her, but if we both want to visit her, we figured it would be better for her if we were friends, or at least civil.

The problem is, I really hate him. I can't describe it- he makes my skin crawl in the most unnatural way. I can hardly bear to be around him, he just disgusts me! The thing is, it's pretty irrational- he's perfectly nice to me, he's been brewing this potion for me (which he would most certainly get expelled for if he was caught) and he's trying to be supportive. But I just want him out of my life. So, we keep arguing, and then Porphyria ends up arguing with the both of us, because she's worried that if I get stressed out, it'll be harmful to the baby. Maybe this is the problem- everyone's so intent on making sure this baby's okay, that what I want seems to be a moot issue.

Anyway, Severus did possibly the worst thing he could do today. I was sitting outside, doing some of the recommended reading for next term, when he brought me a drink and sat next to me.

"How's the reading going?" he asked me, casually. I replied that it was going fine, and hoped he'd leave me alone. Except he kept pressing the matter, and trying to make small talk. Severus is notoriously bad at small talk.

"Divination? I didn't know you were taking that for your O.W.L.s," he remarked. I put my book down, and glared at him.

"There's a lot you don't know about me," I snapped back. He shrugged.

"I'm only trying to make conversation," he replied.

"There's no need," I replied, swiftly, trying very hard not to lose my patience. Severus didn't appear to be paying much attention.

"I never really liked Divination; I don't like the idea that we have no free will- I like to think I choose my own path," he mused. I know I shouldn't have said it, but I didn't bite it back quick enough.

"Well, you've done a great job so far," I spat, angrily. He glared at me.

"Meaning?"

"What do you think?" I shouted, hotly. "You only turned fifteen three months ago, and you're going to be a father- how's that something to be proud of?"

He was dumbstruck for a moment, and then finally replied, "I wasn't the only person responsible for that."

"You were the only one responsible that had all of their faculties intact!" I shouted back. I could feel myself shaking. Severus was staring at me in that horribly cloying way he was prone to doing now and then. I knew what he was up to.

"Stop that!" I ordered, but instead he glared at me furiously.

"So, that's really what you think of me?" he replied, quietly. I think he was hurt, but somehow, this just made me hate him more.

"Yes," I replied, standing up, "Yes. I hate you- I can't stand you, I wish I'd never, ever met you, and that I never had to lay eyes on you again- happy?" I yelled. He jumped to his feet, and looked paler than I'd ever known.

"I... I..." He stammered for a full three minutes, and it only made me angrier.

"Come on, spit it out!" I goaded, "truth hurts, doesn't it?"

Porphyria came running out towards us. For a moment, I thought she was waving a rolling pin, although that could have just been what I expected her to do.

"What's going on?" she demanded.

"Ask Severus," I spat, "he's the one that seems at a loss for words."

Severus stormed off.

"What's the matter? Can't take the pressure?" I shouted after him. He turned around, and stared viciously at me.

"I can't take the fact that I want to punch that stupid smirk off your face!" he yelled back, a really strange expression pulling at his features. I was stunned, so stunned, in fact, that I just sat down quietly. Severus ran off down the garden, and Porphyria looked fraught with worry.

"I'm sorry," I said, "I didn't think it would..."

"Just go inside, Lily. I'll sort this out," she replied, swiftly, before running after Severus. I didn't understand any of it- was she mad at me? I wouldn't be surprised if she was- I was pretty mean to him. I wish I didn't feel how I do, but I can't help it. But then, how dare he say such a thing to me?

I couldn't help it. I'm nosey. I followed Porphyria down the garden to the stream that runs along the bottom. It's nice down there- sometimes, on the rare occasion me and Severus are actually getting along; we'll go down there and race paper boats. I rip up pieces of 'L'Oracle Quotidien' and charm them to fold into paper boats, whilst Severus works out the exact distance we should drop them into the stream to avoid catastrophic branch or rock obstructions. We then float them with our wands to the centre of the stream, and on the count of three, drop them into the water. We run along the bank, and whoever's boat passes the big cherry blossom tree first, wins. Damn, I'm good at that game!

I saw Porphyria sit next to Severus, who was sitting on the bridge that crossed the stream. He had his head resting in his hands, his feet over the edge of the bridge, and he looked incredibly glum. Porphyria put her arm gently around him, but he shrugged her off. I couldn't hear exactly what they were talking about, except that Porphyria asked him if he was okay, and he shook his head dumbly.

"I can't believe I... I actually wanted to... Oh God, Porphyria, I'm turning into Dad!"

Porphyria hugged him, despite his obvious reservations.

"Shhsh," she whispered into his hair, "you walked away, just remember that. You walked away rather than... You're worth ten of him, Severus, don't ever forget that."

I snuck off back to the cottage before either of them knew I was there- Severus has really been having difficulty controlling his newfound Legilmens skills (the other night, I was in my room, thinking about how much I fancied some fish and chips, and a few moments later, Porphyria called up to me, saying that Severus seems to think I'd want to eat something from the local fishmongers. I'm telling you, it's creepy!). I don't understand what they were talking about, but I can hazard a guess that whatever it was, it wasn't pleasant.

Right, I'm going to stop writing now, because my stomachache has got worse. It's like I've got period pains, but they keep coming and going really quickly, around every minute or so...

Oh dear. I'd better go and wake Porphyria...'

Harry was distracted by a yawn and a crumple of clothes.

"What are you reading, Harry?" Ginny asked, stretching her small frame elegantly across the carriage seat, before pulling herself up into a sitting position.

"Oh, nothing," Harry replied, quickly sliding the diary under his folded arms. Ginny looked curious, but said nothing.

Suddenly, Harry heard footsteps from behind him. He turned around, and Ron was walking up the carriage.

"We're back!" he announced, sliding cheerfully into a free seat next to Harry. "That was relatively painless, too."

Hermione wandered along after him, engrossed in a copy of the Daily Prophet, and looked perturbed by what she was reading.

"What's up?" Harry asked. Hermione's face darkened.

"Look at this," she said, angrily, thrusting her paper into Harry's hand, before slumping huffily into a seat next to Ginny. Harry read the headline, and blanched.

Hogwarts' Head Girl Attacked!

On the 31^st July, You-Know-Who's forces attacked the home of Hogwarts' new Head Girl, Miss Hermione Granger, a sixteen year-old Muggle-born witch. It is believed that the girl is safe and well, although it is unknown what has happened to the parents. They are believed to be dead, according to sources close to Ministry officials.

Teachers at Hogwarts have declined to comment on the girl to our reporters, but her fellow students describe her as 'an annoyingly clever girl.' She has achieved twelve O.W.L.s, eleven of which were at 'O' standard, and is consistently top of her classes, as well as being firm friends with Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, and Ronald Weasley, son of the new Minister for Magic. She has also been romantically linked with Bulgarian Quidditch star Viktor Krum.

The Minister for Magic has refused to elaborate on the situation, but has released a statement saying, "I am appalled at the treatment of this family, not only by the Death Eaters- who will be caught and punished, make no mistake- but also at the vile exploitation of Miss Granger's situation by the Daily Prophet. This is not some tawdry, sensationalism story- this is real life, and real human beings have been persecuted by V*******t's henchmen. This cannot, and will not continue. We will fight V*******t and his forces at every turn. We will never surrender."

Beside the text was a moving photograph of Hermione with Viktor Krum outside Quality Quidditch Supplies. Presumably the photographer there for the Lytenbolt display event had inadvertently made himself a lot of money by snapping that chance photograph.

"That's the last time I forget to read my copy- who knows what'll turn up next!" she ranted, as she took her cat carrier from Ginny and hugged it on her lap. Harry heard a distinct mewing sound come from the case. Ron looked at her sympathetically.

"Well, at least everyone was nice about it in the meeting," he replied. Hermione looked thunderstruck.

"Oh yes, everyone was so sympathetic! All I kept hearing was 'Are you okay, Hermione?', 'We heard what happened, oh it must be awful!', 'You're so brave for coming back to school- you show them you won't be beaten by this!' It's bad enough coping with the actual event- I think the constant sympathy will just about finish me off!" she sighed. Ginny patted her on the shoulder.

"They just mean well," she said. Hermione exhaled deeply.

"Oh, I know, and it's nice, really- but I just want to forget about it. I don't want to be treated like some kind of macabre celebrity!"

"Join the club," Harry retorted, sarcastically. Hermione flushed with embarrassment, and Harry instantly felt guilty for his outburst.

"Harry, I'm sorry- I didn't mean to upset you..."

"It's okay," he replied, "but you should seriously consider joining. At the moment, it's very exclusive- just me, Neville, Susan, and you."

"It'll get increasingly less exclusive the further into the year we go," she replied, darkly.

The door of the carriage opened, and Harry spotted Neville walking towards them.

"Hey, Neville," he said, by way of a greeting. Neville waved at the four of them, before sitting down next to Hermione.

"Hi, guys," he said, before turning to face Hermione.

"I'm really sorry," he said, with sincere affection, "I saw..."

"The Daily Prophet," Hermione finished. Neville nodded.

"That must've been tough," he replied. Hermione nodded.

"It doesn't help that it's splashed all over the paper, either," she said, tartly. Neville smiled weakly at her.

"Yeah- at least I missed out on that," he added. "Where were you at the time? Were you at Ron's, or something?"

Hermione sighed heavily.

"I was there with my parents. In the house," she replied, quietly. Neville gasped.

"Oh my God- how did you get out?" he asked, and Harry noticed he had gripped Hermione's hand as though it might drop off her wrist if he let go.

"I was rescued..." Hermione trailed off, clearly unsure how she could answer this question without explaining away Snape's appearance.

"The Brethren," Ginny replied, nonchalantly, and Neville seemed to accept this.

"I'm glad they're joined forces with the Ministry," he announced, "Gran says there have been fewer reported attacks this time around than last time."

They all nodded in agreement, but Harry noticed that Hermione looked rather upset. It appeared that Ginny had noticed too, for she soon said, "Can we change the subject, guys? This is all a bit depressing."

"Yeah, sure- sorry, Ginny," Neville replied, before asking Harry how he did on his Apparation test.

"I passed," Harry replied, flashing his pink licence card at Neville, who grinned.

"Congratulations!" he said, "but it's a pity they had to be pink, isn't it?"

They all laughed, except for Hermione. Ron put his arm around her and pinched her cheek gently between his fingers.

"Aww- is our little Hermione feeling all young and Apparation-free?" he teased. Hermione swatted his arm.

"Just because some of you are old enough to have taken the test doesn't mean you have the right to rub it in the face of those of us who aren't," she replied, with Ginny nodding enthusiastically. Neville looked at her incredulously.

"Aren't you seventeen yet, Hermione?" he asked. Hermione shook her head.

"Not for almost three weeks," she replied. Neville laughed.

"Wow, so you're the smartest and the youngest girl in our year," he replied, with slight awe.

"Not to mention the ugliest," a familiar voice drawled, nastily. Harry looked up and saw Draco Malfoy glaring at them. What was most apparent, though, was that Crabbe and Goyle were nowhere to be seen.

"You've changed your tune," Ginny muttered, under her breath, though Draco evidently heard it, as his cheeks flushed momentarily.

"Shut your mouth, Weasley!"

Ron stood up.

"Don't you talk to my sister like that, Malfoy!" he snarled. Malfoy glared back at him.

"I'll do what I like!" he retorted, before glancing disparagingly at Hermione.

"I saw the report in the Prophet," he said, breezily. "It was a good laugh." He looked her up and down critically. "I see you're still here- pity, I was hoping you'd go the same way as your parents..."

Harry and Neville both jumped up in anger at this remark. Hermione, however, stayed in her seat, and surveyed Draco calmly.

"Well, you were out of luck, weren't you?" she replied, with a slight smile. "It's beginning to become a habit, that. First your father goes on the run..."

"Yeah, well it appears he found the time to go and teach your lot a lesson!" Draco snapped back, before suddenly going very quiet. Harry saw that Neville was staring at Draco with a mixture of loathing and disgust.

"How can you even be proud of that?" he asked, clearly repulsed. Hermione merely inspected her fingernails for a moment.

"How can you even be stupid enough to infer it?" she added. "I'm assuming you realise just how many of the Ministry's officials are out looking for those Death Eaters. The article you were so pleased with made sure of it- they don't want the public to think for one minute that they're not doing their job..."

"You really think you're better than me, don't you, Granger," he laughed. Hermione smiled coldly at him.

"No, I know I am." She fingered her Head Girl badge for a moment, and then turned to Ron.

"Do you think we should deduct points from Slytherin for racial abuse now, or when we get to school?" she asked. Ron grinned maliciously at Draco.

"We could do both, you know," he added. Draco rolled his eyes.

"Do you really think I care about some stupid points?" he laughed, drawing his wand as he did so. "I'm much more interested in making you lot suffer, and seeing as if you used your wand against me, Granger, the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery could land you in a spot of bother- the expulsion kind..."

"It might do for her," Ron said, drawing his wand.

"But not for us," Harry finished, pointing his wand right at Draco. He quickly noticed that Neville had done the same, and the three of them had circled Draco, who quickly made a grab for the slim red book on the table in front of where Harry had been sitting.

"Ooh, what's this, Potter?" Draco taunted, waving the book in front of Harry's face, but snatching it away every time Harry tried to grab it back.

"Give it back, Malfoy!" Harry spat, pointing his wand right between Draco's eyes.

Suddenly, a thin hand swept the book out of Draco's grip. Harry inwardly groaned when he saw whom the hand belonged to. Snape had clearly been badgered by Persephone to do a sweeping check on all the carriages, and was not too impressed by the whole affair, seeing as his facial expression was akin to that of a bulldog who has just chewed a mouthful of wasps.

"Sit down, put your wands away- now!" he barked, and after a few moments of shifty glances to make sure that Draco wasn't going to slip in a sneak attack, Harry, Ron and Neville sat down.

"Draco, go back to your carriage," Snape ordered.

"But, sir..."

"Do as I say, Draco," Snape said, quietly, and Draco obeyed almost instantaneously.

"Potter, come with me," Snape ordered, clicking his fingers. Harry glanced across at Ron, before reluctantly following Snape, in the hope that he might be able to retrieve his book from the greasy haired Potions Master.

They must have walked halfway along the entire train before Snape ushered Harry into a carriage compartment. A quick glace around, at which Harry saw Persephone pondering over a chess move, allowed him to presume this was the teachers' carriage. Snape shut the sliding door and turned to face him, his eyes gleaming with fury.

"What in Merlin's name do you think you were doing, leaving this lying around?" he demanded.

"I was reading it," Harry replied, evenly, but with enough humility in his voice to hope that Snape might give him his mother's diary back. Snape continued to glare at him.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous it would be for this to fall into anyone else's' hands? For all of us?" he barked, with such an increase in volume at the last four words, that Harry felt himself jump in shock. He knew he had to handle this carefully, if there was any chance of his retrieving his book. He took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Professor. I'll be sure to lock it away in my trunk straight away," he replied, though it was a colossal effort to get those words out without gagging.

For a moment, Snape looked as though he had just been dealt a blow to the stomach. Then his shocked expression morphed into one of scepticism. He glanced briefly at Persephone, who shrugged, before glaring at Harry once more.

"You'd better," he snarled, and handed Harry the red leather diary.

"Now go!" he ordered, and Harry did as he was told before Snape could change his mind. When he closed the door to the teachers' carriage, he could have sworn he heard Snape grumble, "I really dislike other people's children."

As he was walking back to his original carriage, it suddenly struck Harry that when Snape had ranted about the threat of the diary Harry currently held in his hands, and how its secrets would endanger them, he hadn't just mean himself and Persephone- he had meant Harry as well. What he didn't understand, though, was why.

* * *

By the time he got back to where Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville were sitting, another student had joined them. Neville had just lowered his wand away from the familiar girl, who looked oddly pleased at having had it pointed at her just moments ago.

"Thanks, Neville," Luna said, tucking her straggly blonde hair behind her ears. "It would have worn off eventually, but my legs were getting really tired." She sat down in the seat next to Ginny that Harry had previously occupied, so he gestured for the two year-six girls to budge up along the seat, and he sat down next to Luna.

"Hi, Luna, did you have a good holiday?" he asked. Luna's eyes lit up.

"Yes- me and Dad went to South Africa in search of the Hooplak bird- it looks like a garden sparrow, but it changes the colour of its plumage depending on its mood, so Dad got me to take photographs while he cast Cheering Charms around the forests," she explained, enthusiastically.

"But there's..." Hermione trailed off, then coughed. "Did you find any?"

Luna shook her head.

"We didn't, but I think that's because we went in August. Their breeding season is around May, and if we'd gone then, I bet we would have seen them all over the place, trying to secure a mate," she replied, before twiddling a section of her hair around her finger.

"I saw the Daily Prophet yesterday, Hermione- I'm awfully sorry about what happened with your parents," she added, her wide blue eyes awash with sympathy. Hermione visibly bristled at this.

"Thanks," she replied, politely, though Harry could tell she hated attention drawn to her plight. Luna seemed to pick up on this.

"I know the last thing you'd want is for everyone to go on about it, but I just wanted you to know," she said. Hermione smiled, and nodded in understanding.

"I didn't mean to be curt..."

"But I was unlucky enough to be the fifth or sixth person to mention it- it's okay," Luna replied. There was a brief silence, before Luna piped up once again.

"Were you there?" she asked, casually, as though Hermione's recent brush with Death Eaters was as normal a conversation topic as the weather. Hermione cringed.

"Yes, I was," she replied. Luna tilted her head and glanced at her sideways on.

"Wow," she exclaimed, "that must have been really scary. You were very brave to get through it. The Daily Prophet are nasty- Dad would never have put your story on his front page to try and sell more copies," she announced, proudly. Harry watched as Hermione fought the urge to smile, and failed.

"That's nice to know," she replied. Luna beamed at this, and Harry felt her leg brush against his repeatedly as she jiggled it.

"What's the matter?" Harry asked. Luna looked puzzled for a moment, then looked down at her leg, and laughed.

"Oh, that- I got hit with the Dance of the Deranged about an hour ago. I was going to wait for it to wear off, but I got so tired..." She trailed off, and then looked at him with a smile. "Anyway, I think I'm still experiencing the side-effects. Not to worry- it'll right itself," she explained.

Harry felt a twinge of sympathy for the Ravenclaw girl, but she seemed unperturbed by the actions of her classmates.

"So, what did Snape want with you, anyway?" Neville asked, changing the subject. Harry shrugged his shoulders.

"Not a lot- just to shout at me, and evidently to give me some exercise," Harry replied, in a deadpan voice. Neville laughed.

"Typical Snape," he replied. Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Except he actually gave me that book back- now that isn't so typical at all," he replied. Neville looked at him as though he had just announced that Snape had bought him an ice cream.

"Really?" he gasped. Harry nodded. Ron looked amused.

"Weird," he commented.

"Tell me about it," Harry replied. Hermione nodded.

"Yes, why not just give it you back here?" she asked, and Harry faltered, not wanting to explain in front of Neville and Luna what Snape had said to him.

"I suppose he didn't want to show weakness in front of you lot," Luna mused. "He's rather animalistic in that respect..."

Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Neville stared at her, open-mouthed.

"What?" they asked, collectively. Luna shrugged.

"Animalistic. He's always on the defensive- I'd say he was a victim of bullying, to tell you the truth," she replied, nonchalantly. Neville almost fell out of his seat laughing.

"Snape? Yeah, right- as if he'd be so mean if he knew what it was like to be on the receiving end? I bet he was born vicious!" he said, between giggles. Harry and Hermione both looked at the floor, knowing that Luna's hypothesis was fairly accurate.

"So, what N.E.W.T.s are you two taking?" Neville asked, once he had calmed down. Ginny counted on her fingers as she spoke.

"Hmm; Charms, Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts- but that was compulsory, given the situation- and Potions," she replied. Ron gave her a thumbs-up gesture.

"Just like her brother," he teased. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"You'd be surprised how many jobs require those subjects- I've been thinking about going into Magical Forensics- you know, determining how somebody has died, magically speaking, and presenting your findings at the Wizengamot at murder trials," she explained. Neville gave a low whistle.

"Wow- that's pretty competitive, isn't it? Plus, the hours are difficult," he said. Ginny shrugged.

"I can do it- the Magical Murder Department recruit people every year. Besides, I can sleep anywhere, isn't that right, Harry?"

"Yep, that's true," he said, gesturing to the seat where Ginny had curled up asleep during the start of their journey, but feeling himself grow uncomfortably red at her mock-winsome smile.

"What about you, Luna?" Neville asked. Luna smiled dreamily.

"I'm taking Defence, Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Charms and Potions," she replied.

"I'm doing Herbology too!" Neville replied, excitedly. Luna looked at him, clearly puzzled.

"Sorry- it's just hardly anybody has taken it in my year- it's nice to meet someone else who's doing it," he explained. "I have to ask, though- why are you taking Potions? I took the first chance I could to be rid of the old git!"

Luna's smile didn't change.

"I want to be an Animal Healer- or perhaps go and study them in various countries. Whichever, I thought I ought to get the qualifications needed for becoming an Animal Healer just in case I decided firmly upon doing that," she explained. "Plus, Potions is one of my favourite classes," she added. Neville looked stunned. He wasn't alone, for Harry noticed Ron and Ginny staring at her as though her head has just spun around three hundred and sixty degrees, and then exploded. Only Hermione remained immune, though Hermione didn't dislike any of her subjects, however irritating the teacher might be. Luna laughed at them.

"Well, it is! I do really well at it, plus Snape likes me," she explained. Harry felt his jaw drop.

"Snape likes you?" he asked, incredulous. "Snape doesn't like anyone, except the Slytherins!"

"He likes me," Luna replied, emphatically, "he always gives me good marks, says nice things about my work, helps me if I get stuck and tells the others off for picking on me. To tell you the truth, I think it only makes them worse, but he can't help that," she added, vaguely.

Ron looked at his watch, and then nudged Hermione.

"Come on, we'd better go and rally the troops," he said. Hermione looked confused for a moment.

"Oh, you mean the students?" she asked. Ron patted the centre of his forehead with the palm of his hand.

"No, I meant the Dark Force Defence League I've hidden in my pocket- of course I mean the students!" he replied, as he got up. Hermione swatted his arm and said something about not being glib.

"What have you got to do?" Harry asked. Ron grimaced.

"Get everyone to grab his or her luggage and exit out of the front of the carriage," he replied.

"We're getting escorted down to the castle by the teachers," Hermione added. Ginny looked confused.

"What about Snape and Per... Beauchamp?" she asked. Hermione managed a weak smile.

"Not enough, I'd imagine. There won't be any Hogsmeade trips this year, either."

"No Hogsmeade?" Neville exclaimed. Luna sighed.

"I suppose it makes sense- it's not like they can send us out there without supervising each and every one of us, and there's definitely not enough staff to do that," she said.

Ron and Hermione walked off, and Harry could hear them ordering the students in each carriage to grab their belongings and queue near the front of the carriage. Harry, Neville, Ginny and Luna went to collect their luggage- Ginny carried Crookshanks in his carrier for Hermione, whereas Luna took care of Pigwidgeon for Ron. Harry and Neville hauled the trunks out of the luggage compartment and waited patiently in the queue. As they slowly made their way towards the front of the train, Luna grabbed a trunk out of one of the compartments and dragged it along with her. Harry could see out of the corner of his eye that somebody had charmed it so that her nametag read 'Loony Lovegood'. She didn't bat an eyelid.

Eventually, they reached the end of the queue. Ron and Hermione were instructing everyone to go to their house teachers, at which point they lost contact with Luna, who wandered over to the group of students gathered around Professor Flitwick. Harry, Neville and Ginny made their way over to Professor McGonagall, who made each student swallow the foul potion they had drank last year, that forced any polyjuiced or transfigured impostors to show their true colours. She then ran her wand along each of their trunks until she was satisfied they were all who they claimed they were, and that none of them were carrying anything dangerous in their possession. The quill hovering above her clipboard then ticked each student off as they were deemed safe and non-counterfeit.

"Right, everyone, into single file please, and get into the carriage, please," McGonagall ordered, as a huge carriage pulled by four Thestrals pulled up alongside them. Although Harry could see the black horses with bat-like wings, he knew that most of his housemates could not, for one had to have witnessed a death before being able to see them. He shook away the thought that many of these pupils would no doubt soon be able to see them, before boarding the carriage with Ginny and Neville. Ron and Hermione quickly ran on, after McGonagall had performed the same security measures on them, then she and Persephone boarded the carriage last of all, and the Thestrals pulled away.

"Well, so far, so good," Hermione panted, sitting down next to Ginny, who was too busy greeting Dean Thomas to notice. Ron averted his eyes from the scene, and instead looked steadfastly at Harry.

"Have you noticed that the security in this school is tighter than that of the Ministry?" he commented. Harry nodded.

"Yeah, I had," he replied. Dean broke away from Ginny for a moment to laugh.

"Well, in our House alone, we've got the Boy Who Lived, and two of the Minister for Magic's children," he commented, breezily, before casting a wary glance at Hermione.

"Hey," he said, quietly, "I read the Prophet yesterday..." He trailed off at Hermione's look.

"I know, I know- you're sorry," she replied, bitterly, and then looked horrified at her reply. Dean looked straight at her, and gave her a lopsided smile.

"Actually, I was going to congratulate you on surviving," he replied.

There was a moment of utter silence, and then, all of a sudden, Hermione burst out laughing.

"Thanks, Dean- you've no idea how much that means to me!" she said, hugging him with such fervour, he didn't seem to know what to do. Instead, he just patted her gingerly on the back. Ron leant over to him and whispered in his ear, "I think she's fed up of being mollycoddled over the whole affair."

Dean nodded in understanding, and allowed himself to hug Hermione with a bit more ease.

The carriage ground to a stop, and McGonagall got off the carriage, followed by Persephone, who Harry noticed was carrying a tiny dog in her arms.

"Everybody please follow Professor Beauchamp to your common-room. She will give you the password once to get there, and tick you off her register. You are to unpack, and be in the Great Hall by no later that five o'clock," she announced. Persephone clapped her hand together.

"All right, you lot, follow me!" she practically bellowed, and the students filed though the main entrance after her. Harry looked across the corridor, and noticed Hagrid was escorting the Hufflepuffs to their common-room off the main hall, Madam Hooch was escorting the Ravenclaws to the west side of the castle, with a wistful looking Luna dawdling slightly behind the rest of them, whilst Professor Sinistra led the Slytherins down into the dungeons.

On the way along the corridor, Harry spotted Albus Dumbledore, their headmaster, and gave him a cheery wave. He peered though his half-moon spectacles, then returned Harry's wave.

"Well, hello, Harry," he said, beaming, "and how are you? Glad to be back after the holidays?" he asked, with a wink. Harry smiled.

"Definitely good to be back, sir," he replied. Dumbledore smiled.

"Indeed, indeed... and Ronald, I hear congratulations are in order for your father," he announced. Ron grinned.

"Yeah- he was more surprised than anyone when he got in," Ron said. Ginny poked him sharply in the ribs.

"Ron!" she barked, before turning to Dumbledore.

"Thank you, headmaster," she replied, giving Ron a quick glare. Dumbledore chuckled.

"I'm really going to miss you Weasleys once you've left. It'll be the end of an era," he said, almost wistfully, before looking across at Hermione. His expression swiftly became more grave.

"Hermione," he said, taking one of her hands and gripping it tightly with both of his. "I hope you are alright after that dreadful attack."

Hermione smiled weakly.

"I'm fine, headmaster," she replied, though Harry noticed that Dumbledore's words had made her neither angry or on edge. Dumbledore shook his head.

"Severus told me all about it, and how Alexandra has sorted out your parents' affairs," he whispered, knowingly. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione all knew exactly what he meant.

"I was lucky they were there," Hermione replied. Dumbledore didn't release his grip.

"If you need anything- anything at all, whether it's to talk, or you just want a bit of time away from your fellow Gryffindors, my door is always open," he said, kindly. Hermione nodded.

"Thank you, sir," she replied. Dumbledore smiled, and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

"You're a courageous girl, I'm sure you'll get though this," he said, before grimacing slightly.

"What's the matter, sir?" Ron asked. Dumbledore sighed, and crunched something between his teeth. He reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a bag with the words 'Rhubarb and Custard' written along the side.

"It's these sweets," he complained. "They're one of my favourites, yet for some reason, they don't taste quite the way I remember. They seem very bitter," he explained. He opened out the bag a little, and offered them to the four. Harry, Ginny and Hermione declined, but Ron took one.

"Thanks, sir," he said, as he popped the two-coloured boiled sweet into his mouth. He sucked it for a moment, as though he were a wine critic mentally debating the subtle undertones of the flavour, and then said, "It tastes alright to me, sir."

Dumbledore sighed again.

"Oh well, perhaps my taste buds have changed with my age," he suggested sadly, "I don't recall them tasting like this earlier this morning... Anyway, you four had better catch up with Professor Beauchamp- if she's anything like her father, I think she may well begin to count tardiness as the eighth deadly sin," he joked, before saying goodbye and wandering along the corridor to the Great Hall, where Harry had noticed the other four Heads of House had gone.

"We'd better catch up," Ron said, jerking his thumb towards the group of tiny-looking Gryffindors that were at the end of the corridor. Harry nodded, and the four of them ran as fast as they could down the corridor, dragging their trunks behind them.