Forsaken Bloodlines {HP x GOT}

Chapter 8: New Acquantance

As the Hogwarts Express chugged along, Harry, Ron, and Lyanna were engrossed in conversation. They were sharing stories and getting to know each other better when Harry turned to Ron with a curious question.

"Are all your family wizards?" Harry asked, genuinely interested.

Ron looked up, slightly taken aback by the question. "Huh? Oh. I think so. Well, Mum's got a second cousin who's an accountant. But we never talk about him," he said with a shrug.

Lyanna smiled and added, "As far as I know, all my relatives are magical. No non-magical relatives have ever visited us."

Ron turned to Harry with a curious look. "I heard you went to live with Muggles. What are they like?"

Harry interjected, "Horrible. Well, not all of them. Mine are, though. Trade them for three wizard brothers any day."

Ron nodded sympathetically. "Five. I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others. But if I do, it's no big deal because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes. Charlie's old wand. Even Scabbers used to be Percy's..."

Ron reached into his pocket and pulled out a fat, gray, seemingly unconscious rat.

"Hardly ever wakes up," Ron continued, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "He's useless basically. Percy got an owl for making Prefect, but Mum and Dad couldn't afford— I mean, I got Scabbers instead."H

arry and Lyanna shared a look of understanding. "It's okay, Ron," Lyanna said gently. "Sometimes the most unexpected things can turn out to be the best."

Before Ron could respond, the compartment door slid open again, and Hermione Granger stepped inside, her expression determined.

"Have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one," she asked urgently.

Harry, Ron, and Lyanna shook their heads. "No, sorry," Harry said.

Hermione's eyes fell on Ron's rat. "Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see then."

Ron looked flustered but pulled out his wand, determined to impress. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow," he recited, waving his wand over Scabbers.

Nothing happened. Scabbers remained gray and motionless.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me."

Harry and Ron exchanged embarrassed glances, while Lyanna bit her lip to suppress a smile.

Hermione continued, "I'm Hermione Granger, by the way. And you are?"

"Ron Weasley," Ron mumbled, still blushing.

"Harry Potter," Harry added.

Lyanna smiled warmly. "Lyanna Malfoy."

Hermione's eyes widened. "I've read about you all in various books! You're all quite famous, you know."

Lyanna blushed slightly, but Hermione pressed on. "Well, we'd better find Neville's toad. You three should change into your robes. I expect we'll be arriving soon."

With that, Hermione turned on her heel and left the compartment, leaving the trio in a mix of amusement and slight bewilderment at her efficiency and confidence.

As the train continued its journey, Harry, Ron, and Lyanna shared a laugh, their initial embarrassment giving way to the bond forming between them.