Gryffindor Princess and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter Six: The Hogwarts Express

Her mouth fell open in wonder, the Scarlett red Hogwarts express looked absolutely breath taking. Witches and Wizards were crowded onto the platform, saying goodbye to their children on the train. George quickly pulled her to the side as Percy and Ginny appeared behind them.

"Ah, there's Penelope!", Percy said, flattening his hair and going pick. Ginny and Hope exchanged a glance before turning away to hide their laughter. Penelope was Percy's prefect girlfriend, who they'd discovered last year.

Once the remaining Weasleys arrived they helped them pack their trunks into a compartment that looked quite empty before coming back outside to say goodbye.

Mrs. Weasley gave them all a kiss and a hug, telling them to take care.

"I've made you all sandwiches", she told them, "here you are, Ron.. no, their not corned beef... Fred? Where's Fred? Here you are dear..."

"Harry", Mr. Weasley pulled him off to the side.

"He really is acting strange", Hermione said.

Mrs. Weasley continued to hand out the sandwiches before ushering them all onto the train. They stood in the doorway smiling at Mrs. Weasley waving eagerly.

"What is dad doing?", Ron asked, as Mr. Weasley and Harry continued to talk.

"Harry's going to miss the train", Hermione said.

The guards were walking up and down the train closing the doors.

"Harry!", Hope called. The train started to move. Harry sprinted towards the door and Ron threw it open for him. As the train began to pick up speed they waved goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley until the train rounded a corner and the platform disappeared from view.

"I need to talk to you in private", Harry muttered.

"Go away, Ginny", said Ron.

"Oh, that's nice", Ginny huffed.

Hope, Harry, Ron and Hermione set off down the corridor looking for an empty compartment to sit in. Hope couldn't believe how full the train was. There were students cramped into seats stuffed with more students per compartment than seats to sit down on. People were already unpacking their lunches or bringing out games to play on the journey. The passageway was also busy, as they sometimes had to step into compartments to allow others to walk past them. They finally found a compartment with only one occupant, he was a middle aged man sitting fast asleep beside the window.

She recognized him to be Remus Lupin, that man she'd met at Hogwarts. She wondered if staff members normally took the train into school, surely they would at least get their own private compartment?

"Who d'you reckon he is?", Ron whispered, as they sat down, sitting on seats furthest from the window.

"Professor Lupin", Hope said, "I met him over the summer, he's the new Defense-Against-The-Dark-Arts teacher."

The others exchanged glances. Hope had watched Defence-Against-the-Dark-Arts teachers come and go her whole life growing up at Hogwarts. None of them lasted longer than a year. She had quite liked Professor Lupin and hoped he would be able to end that streak.

"I hope he's up to it", Ron looked doubtful, "he looks like one good Hex would finish him off doesn't he?"

Hope ignored Ron's comment and turned to Harry.

"What did you want to tell us?", She asked him, "does it have anything to do with Mr. Weasley acting strange?"

"Have you guys heard about Sirius Black?", Harry asked, they all nodded, "well I overheard you mom and dad arguing last night Ron. You Dad wanted to tell me that apparently I'm a target of Sirius Blacks, you know since I destroyed Voldemort and all, anyway, so your Dad seems to think I'm going to go after him and try to get revenge or something."