The Space Boy and The Red Head

7 - Back to School

Friday - 5th January 1996

The families were gathered on the platform as friends reunited, dragging cases along to the luggage compartment. The McLaggens were stood beside the Weasleys and Grangers as all of their respective kids boarded the train.

Apollo was practically being held up by his brother as they said goodbye to their parents. Every single cell in his body somehow felt like it was both on fire and yet frozen to the core. Like every muscle was ripping apart and all his bones were on the brink of breaking, which of course they would be that night.

After saying farewell to their own parents and meeting Lee Jordan in the crowded platform, the twins ran back over to Apollo.

"Easy there mate. We'll get your trunk" Fred bounded over, swooping in to take the others luggage.

"Hey. Apollo, rough holidays?" Lee said going to help support the others weigh.

"Oh you know. Just the usual" apollo chuckled, trying to remain cheerful but couldn't help but groan at the pain it caused his chest when he laughed. The others gave him looks of sympathy.

"I swear you are always sick, you should get checked at St Mungos honestly" George said as he went to help Lee in assisting the boy into the train and settling him into a compartment.

Apollo winced as a wave of pain went through him again. "I'm not really a fan of hospitals, they freak me out" he said. That was only partly true. He wasn't so much as freaked out as he was nervous that they would find traces of his lycanthropy if they tested his blood.

The train back to Hogwarts had never felt so slow. The boys had kept themselves entertained for hours by playing games, eating sweets and finalising prank ideas. The next two pranks were completely planned out, the next few after that just needed a few more details ironed out. The sun beginning to dip behind the horizon now as night arrives very earlier during a Scottish winter. Apollo squeezed his eyes shut as pain surged through his body. It was only an hour til they would arrive and an hour later he would transform again. George, who was sat beside him leaned over.

"Get some rest. I'll wake you up when we get there" he whispered. Lee had passed out after quickly crashing down from a sugar high already and Fred was absentmindedly drawing silly pictures in ink all over his arms, occasionally joking that they were tattoos like Bill had.

Apollo didn't know he had fallen asleep until George was gently nudging him awake as they pulled into the station.

"Time to get up, love" he whispered. Immediately, every muscle in George's body tensed as he realised what he said. His face drained of colour and he coughed in embarrassment. Fred and Lee were both awake now, having watched the whole thing and were trying desperately not to laugh.

"I don't want to get up though" Apollo grumbled as he slowly sat up. His senses finally kicking in as he realised he'd been asleep on George's shoulder the whole time. Now his face flushed red and he hoped that the boys would just think it was because of how sick appeared to be.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to fall asleep on you"

Glancing out the window to the night sky caused dread to fill in Apollos gut. The train must have arrived slightly later than planned. Very soon the moon would rise, he didn't think he'd even have time to go to the castle first.

The group of four fought their way off the train and onto the platform. Apollo had insisted he could walk himself, but after almost falling down the steps off the train, Fred and Lee had taken to holding him up. They insisted on walking slowly since he looked so frail but Apollo was desperately trying to get them to hurry up. Terrified the process would begin any second now. The Weasleys and Jordan were discussing the feast as a voice interrupted them.

Madam Pomfrey cleared her throat.
"Oh dear Mr McLaggen, let's get you straight to the infirmary shall we? Off to the castle now you three" she said, grabbing Apollos shoulder and whisking them off in the other direction of the castle. She hoped the others were too distracted to realise they were going the opposite way to everyone, and definitely not the direction of the school. As soon as they were past the crowd, Apollo let out an agonising groan. It was starting.

His mind fought to contain the beast within. Despite the sheer pain he felt at that moment he began to sprint towards the Shrieking Shack. His lungs burning from the change and the lack of oxygen he was taking in. Opening the door quickly he threw himself into one of the rooms. Putting as much distance between him and the exits as possible.

Pomfrey was not far behind the boy. She circled the building casting reinforcing spells and charms that would prevent anyone from getting in or out until she released them the next morning. Poppy Pomfrey was a brave woman, immensely so, but despite having cast the spells herself, she was still terrified of the growling and snarling from within. A large bang filled the air as the wolf charged at the door, she let out a small shriek in terror. Splinters were flying off but the door held as the wolf repeatedly tried to escape.

Casting one final charm to the door, she made her way to the castle. Since they had traveled from the train station and not the passage way, and with the monster currently in the building, she wasn't able to use the tunnel that led back to the Whomping Willow. She'd have to walk the long way back. At least she'd miss the welcome back speech.

She opened the doors and entered the hall. Ready to eat the delights the house elfves had cooked up. She indulged in a rich butternut squash soup and a sticky toffee pudding dessert. She looked across the hall as she ate, watching students chatting happily as they sat amongst their housemates. Though she felt a pang of guilt as she remembered the screams of pain she'd heard not 30minutes prior. Her mind suddenly occupied only with the thoughts of the poor boy, alone and in pain. Her face must have obviously reflected this as she suddenly felt a slightly nudge to her side, plucking her out of her thoughts.

"You alrigh' , madam pomfrey?" The gruff voice spoke.

"Yes Hargrid. Sorry, I'm just worried for Apollo McLaggen is all. Must be awful going through that alone" she said.

"Why what's wrong with young Apollo? Has it got somethin to do with 'is sicknesses?" Hagrid replied.

At realising her mistake, Poppy clamped a hand to her mouth. "Oh Hagrid, you can't tell anyone! I didn't mean to say it" she sobbed.

Hargrid didn't really know what she was talking about at first. But as the dinner went on the puzzle pieces slotted together, his absences from class and the fact certain creatures seemed to just not take to him seemed to make sense all of a sudden. In fact for someone with such great knowledge of magical beasts and creatures, Hagrid couldn't believe he hadn't realised sooner.

"Oh Poppy, has he got.. y'know, oh what's the proper word, lycanthropy?" He said after they'd sat in silence for a while.

Poppy hushed him, then nodded her head. Staring down at her lap, twiddling her thumbs.

"Well that explains why the twins and Lee Jordan ain't 'ere then"

"What! Oh they don't know Hagrid. I must find them. They'll know something is up if he's not in the dormitory or the infirmary." She panicked. Quickly rushing out the great hall and towards the infirmary. Her heart beating a mile a minute. Her heals clicking against the floor as she ran for the second time that night.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she rounded the corner to see the three boys outside the hospital wing. They hadn't been inside yet.

"Boys! What are you doing out here? Mr McLaggen needs to rest. You can visit him in the morning" she said, knowing full well the boy was not currently inside.

"Now, with your reputation, I assume you know where the kitchens are. Get yourselves some dinner and off to bed."