𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐝 {𝐇. 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫}

35

"Good morning," Johnny whispered, his eyes still closed but he could feel Hermione's eyes on him. "Kiss?"

"No, I've got morning breath," Hermione said, cuddling deeper into Johnny's chest.

"I don't care," Johnny lifted Hermione's head and attached their lips. The two got up and ready after that. Just as Johnny was wrestling Quorra into her cage, Ron and Harry barged in, the latter pulling his jumper over his head.

"The sooner we get on the train, the better," Ron said. "At least I can get away from Percy at Hogwarts. Now he's accusing me of dripping tea on his photo of Penelope Clearwater. You know," Ron grimaced, "his girlfriend. She's hidden her face under the frame because her nose has gone all blotchy..."

"I've got something to tell you," Harry began, but they were interrupted by Fred and George, who had looked in to congratulate Ron on infuriating Percy again.

They headed down to breakfast, where Mr. Weasley was reading the front page of the Daily Prophet with a furrowed brow and Mrs. Weasley started telling Hermione and Ginny about a love potion she'd made as a young girl. All three of them were rather giggly.

"What were you saying?" Johnny asked Harry as they sat down.

"Later," Harry muttered as Percy stormed in.

Johnny had no chance to speak to Harry, Ron or Hermione in the chaos of leaving; they were too busy heaving all their trunks down the Leaky Cauldron's narrow staircase and piling them up near the door, with Hedwig and Hermes, Percy's screech owl, perched on top in their cages. Two small wickerwork basket stood beside the heap of trunks, spitting loudly.

"It's all right, Quorra, Crookshanks," Hermione cooed through the wickerwork. "Johnny and I will let you out on the train."

"You won't," snapped Ron. "What about poor Scabbers, eh?"

He pointed at his chest, where a large lump indicated that Scabbers was curled up in his pocket.

Mr. Weasley, who had been outside waiting for the Ministry cars, stuck his head inside.

"They're here," he said. "Harry, Johnny, come on."

Mr. Weasley marched Harry and Johnny across the short stretch of pavement toward the first of two old-fashioned dark green cars, each of which was driven by a furtive-looking wizard wearing a suit of emerald velvet.

"In you get, boys," said Mr. Weasley, glancing up and down the crowded street.

Johnny got into the back of the car besides Harry and was shortly joined by Hermione, Ron, and, to Ron's disgust, Percy.

The journey to King's Cross was very uneventful. The Ministry of Magic cars seemed almost ordinary. They reached King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare; the Ministry drivers found them trolleys, unloaded their trunks, touched their hats in salute to Mr. Weasley, and drove away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving line at the traffic lights.

"Hello!" A cheery voice said brightly. Evelyn had appeared, a bright grin on her face as her son and nephew hugged her tightly.

"How're you, boys?" Evelyn asked, placing both her hands on their shoulders. "Eating enough? Not depressed?"

"We're fine," Harry reassured her, loving the fact that this Aunt was way better than Aunt Petunia.

"I'm well depressed," Evelyn groaned jokingly. "Working under Fudge, the wanker, then there's the fact one of the trainee Aurors burnt off my eyebrows, Tonks her name was."

Johnny and Harry laughed.

Mr. Weasley kept close to Harry's elbow all the way into the station, Evelyn doing the same with Johnny.