Learning From The Ashes: Book 2, Year 4

Chapter 5

"Be careful this year, my love." Molly said, patting my cheeks as she pulled away from my embrace. "I'd say I would see you at Christmas, but I have a feeling you will all want to stay at the school for Christmas this year!"

Ron and I shared suspicious glances. "Charlie said the same thing. What aren't you telling us?" He demanded.

"Hurry up or you'll miss the train." Mr Weasley grinned, pushing us onto the scarlet steam engine.

We hurried onto the train just in time as it started moving. "Tell us!" Ron yelled out the window, Molly and Arthur just smiling at us and waving.

"Come on, let's find a compartment." I sighed, still wondering what they were talking about.

As Hermione, Ron, Harry and I sat in our compartment, my mind started to drift as I stared out the window at the green smear of countryside.

"Everyone is talking about what happened at the world cup." Hermione said as she closed the compartment door, blocking out the sound of gossiping students.

"Yeah, can't say I blame them. This is the biggest thing the Death Eaters have done since Voldemort was defeated. They all went into hiding for the last 13 years, hardly ever poking their noses out without the protection of You-Know-Who anymore." Ron explained.

My thoughts wandered to visions of my shriveled and weak father. "I wonder what they have planned. It was almost like a 'welcome back' party." I muttered.

"But you said You-Know-Who was still really weak." Hermione said. "Surely that can't be what this is about."

"He was- he is. He has to be." I frowned. "I can't think of any reason how he would gain back power. Especially not enough to do a full fledged come back tour."

"Well, lets just chalk this up to the Death Eaters just trying to scare everyone." Hermione said nervously.

"Yeah." Harry agreed. "I'm sure it's nothing."

I could tell he wasn't just trying to convince us, but also himself.

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