Invisible Trail

Chapter Five: Back to Hogwarts

King's Cross Station was one of the busiest spots in London. People were rushing in and out all day long, trolleys full of bags and trunks could be seen everywhere, and the sound of an approaching train could always be heard, even over the noise the passengers did.

Everyday trains of all sizes and colours would pull in one of the many platforms and the passengers boarded and descended from them at an amazing speed. It was a daily routine; a tedious process that could bore beyond senses anyone when closely watched. Yet, September the first was always the exception because wizards and witches from all over the country came to this station to see their children off to school.

Ronald Weasley was one of these children. Actually, he was no longer a child; he was already seventeen-years old. He was a tall, freckled, and red-haired teenager who was about to begin his last years at Hogwarts. Pushing a trolley, he walked beside a small part of his family toward the barrier that divided platforms nine and ten. Without being seen by the Muggles in the station, they passed through the barrier and arrived at Platform Nine and Three Quarters.

A scarlet train, surrounded by hundreds of students and several adults, waited the time of departure, which was at 11:00 AM sharp. Ron and his sister Ginny, who would be starting her sixth year at Hogwarts, set off to find an empty compartment and leave their trunks. After doing so, they returned to say good-bye to their family.

"Ron, please behave," Molly Weasley requested her son.

"I always behave!" Ron protested.

"Then, why weren't you named Head Boy?" Mrs. Weasley asked, trying to prove she was right.

"Which is great, Ron!" exclaimed George, one of Ron's older twin brothers.

"Yeah, we thought you would end up like Percy," Fred said matter-of-factly.

"There's nothing wrong with being Head Boy or Girl," Mrs. Weasley pointed out. "So, Ginny, do your best so you'll be named next year, dear."

"I'll try, Mum," Ginny answered. "But I don't promise you anything," she quickly added looking at Fred and George, both of which smiled after hearing this.

Suddenly, a loud whistle blew, indicating that the train was about to leave. Ron and Ginny got into the train and looked outside the window as the train started to move.

"Have a good year!" Mrs. Weasley wished them as she waved them good-bye.

"Have fun!" Fred and George yelled in unison.

Soon the train was gathering speed and Mrs. Weasley, Fred, and George were out of view.

Ron and Ginny sat down and remained quiet, each one deep in thought. Ron could imagine what was going on inside her sister's head: she was thinking about Harry, just as he was.

After an hour or so, the compartment door was opened and Hermione came in carrying along her heavy trunk and Crookshanks' cage.

"Hi!" she said out of breath from dragging her things. She crossed the compartment and hugged both of them.

"Where were you?" Ron inquired.

"Doing Head Girl duties," she responded briefly.

Ron looked incredulously at her. "Have you already finished?"

"Of course not!" she responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the whole wide world.

Ron had a confused look now. "Then, why are you here?"

Hermione was starting to get annoyed at being questioned her motives. "Because I decided to let the Head Boy do it by himself."

Ron was about to ask another thing. Fortunately, Ginny had taken the hint and beat him. "Do you know who the Head Boy is?"

"Dunno," Hermione answered.

A silence fell upon them; they were all absorbed in their own minds. Hermione had taken out of her trunk the book entitled "Advanced Transfiguration" and had settled herself in front of Ron.

The train ride had always been an interesting experience for him ever since his first journey, when he had met Harry. From that day on, the Hogwarts Express had taken an important part in Ron's life. He could well recall each of the rides to and from Hogwarts as if they had been only yesterday: all those Quidditch chats, the games of exploding snap, and, of course, the fights with Draco Malfoy and his two bully friends, Crabbe and Goyle.

The compartment door flew open once again and Ron turned around to see who it was.

'Speak of the devil,' Ron thought as he saw Malfoy standing there.

"Well, isn't it the Weasels and the Mudblood!" he said in his usual cold voice. "But, where is Potty?"

Ron's temper was beginning to rise. "Why don't you ask your father?"

"And why would he know the answer, Weasel?" Malfoy asked in an innocent sort of voice.

"Because he is a bloody Death Eater!" Ron snapped back.

"Oh, yes! I heard the story," Malfoy answered as if he had just understood what Ron was talking about. "The Dark Lord attacked the house where he lived with those Muggles. He is supposed to have disappeared, but I doubt it. I'm quite sure that he is already de . . ."

He did not finish the sentence because Hermione had suddenly stood up and was pointing her wand at him. Seeing this, Ron and Ginny followed her example.

"Get out of here, Malfoy, before I loose control!" Hermione warned him through gritted teeth.

Malfoy turned around and left with Crabbe and Goyle right behind him. Hermione shot the door close and sat back down to continue reading. Ron could see tears flowing freely down her cheeks. He wanted to tell her Harry was just fine, but he was not very sure himself.

The rest of the journey passed quietly and quickly. Soon, they were inside a carriage that would take them in front of the stone steps that lead to the entrance hall of the castle.

After a few minutes, they climbed down of the carriage and headed towards the Great Hall. The ceiling showed a sky full of dark clouds, just like the real sky. Strenuous thunders could be constantly heard, indicating that a strong storm was about to begin. They settled themselves at the Gryffindor table and waited in silence.

Ron looked around the Great Hall and immediately noticed that it looked extremely empty. Many parents had refused to allow their children go to school because they considered Hogwarts was no longer a safe place, even under the rule of Albus Dumbledore. Naturally, there were also missing students who had died in attacks. You-Know-Who and his followers could do as they pleased and the Ministry would just pretend nothing was happening. His Dad, Arthur Weasley, had been trying to convince Fudge to forget his pride and admit that Dumbledore had been right all along, but Fudge was such a stubborn . . .

"Ron, pay attention," Hermione whispered into his ear.

He shook his head, trying to push back his train of thought and focus on what was going on around him. The Sorting ceremony was already finished and Dumbledore was standing up to give his speech.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts," he said warmly. "I know you're hungry, so I won't take long. Tuck in!"

The plates and goblets on the five long tables (the one for Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and the staff) were magically filled with food and drinks. Ron would generally enjoy the feast, but this year was so different in very many ways. He served himself a little and just played around with his food; he was not the only one, all along the Gryffindor table he could see sad and not very hungry faces. After what seemed like an eternity, the last plates had been cleaned and Dumbledore stood up again.

"Well, now that we are no longer hungry, I shall begin. The dark forest, please note, is strictly forbidden as so is performing magic in the corridors. Mr. Filch has also requested to inform you that some products from the "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes" are also prohibited. To those of you who wish precise information, you can always ask him to show the list."

'Fred and George are going to go mad when they find out'. Ron thought. He knew that on one hand, they would be proud that one of their inventions could drive Filch crazy; but one the other hand, they would never like the idea that any of their products were banned at Hogwarts. He would send them an owl tomorrow morning.

"Now, I would like to ask for a moment of silence in memory of those who have died during this war we are currently fighting against Voldemort (most people flinched after hearing the name). Please remember Justin Finch-Fletchley, Susan Bones, Cho Chang, and Colin Creevey. All of them died recently in the hands of the Death Eaters."

A few people started crying, those who had been family or friends.

"I would also like to ask you to pray for the welfare of Harry Potter, whose house was attacked at the beginning of the summer and whose whereabouts have been unknown ever since."

Ron could feel tears forming in his eyes, but he forced them back. He was not willing to let go just now of his best friend. Silence had fallen over the Great Hall. After about a minute, Dumbledore continued.

"Now, I would like to inform you that Professor Snape has kindly accepted the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Snape? Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Ron echoed. "No way! Then, what is that woman doing here?"

But before Hermione had time to answer, Dumbledore spoke again.

"Oh, I almost forgot! I would like to meet Head Boy and Girl here after they show the first year students to their dormitories. Now, to bed!"

Hermione stood up and asked the first year students to follow her. Ron was following closely behind, as he already knew the way to Gryffindor Tower. She led them through a series of stairs and corridors and stopped in front of the picture of a fat lady in a pink silk dress.

"The password to go inside the common room is 'hippogriff'," she indicated them.

The portrait flew open to allow them into a warm, cosy, and circular room full of comfortable chairs and couches that sat in front of a fire. She showed the girls their dormitories and then proceeded with the boys.

"I'm off to see Dumbledore," she told Ron once she finished.

Ron turned to look at her. "What does he want you for?"

"Dunno," she answered, "but I'll tell you afterwards."

"You better," Ron joked. "I'll wait for you here."

"Ok," and with that she left the common room.

Ron sat in one of the couches as the common room started to get empty. After an hour, he was the only one there, so he lied down on the couch thinking about how were the Defense Against the Dark Arts classes were going to be like with Snape. 'Well, his dream finally came true,' he thought. He waited there for Hermione; he didn't know she would not come back that night. He waited and waited, until sleep finally beat him.