After the train had left the station, Harry decided to get a move on and get himself a compartment. Ron and Hermione were probably cloistered in the prefects' carriage, so he would have to sit alone. Or he could find Neville, Ginny or Luna. He trudged along, pulling his trunk with him.
People stared shamelessly as he approached. They even pressed their faces against the windows of their compartments to get a look at him.
It was a relief when Neville and Luna came up to him and Harry greeted them happily.
"Let's find seats," said Harry, and the three of them set off along the train. At last they found an empty compartment and Harry hurried inside gratefully.
It was a pleasant time chatting with Neville and Luna and about two hours later, Ron and Hermione entered the compartment at last.
Ron was just talking about Malfoy not doing his prefect duty when the compartment door slid open again and a breathless third-year girl stepped inside.
"I'm supposed to deliver these to Neville Longbottom and Harry P-Potter," she faltered as her eyes met Harry's and she turned scarlet. She was holding out two scrolls of parchment tied with violet ribbon. Perplexed, Harry and Neville took the scroll addressed to each of them and the girl stumbled back out of the compartment.
"What is it?" Ron demanded as Harry unrolled his.
"An invitation," said Harry.
Harry Potter,
I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C.
Sincerely,
Professor H. E. F. Slughorn
"But what does he want me for?" asked Neville nervously, as though he was expecting detention.
"No idea," said Harry. What would the new DADA professor want with him and Neville?
"Let's get going, then," said Neville, looking like he was dreading the idea of meeting a professor in person.
The pointing and whispering seemed to have increased and every now and then, students would hurtle out of their compartments to get a better look at him. The exception was Cho Chang, who darted into her compartment when she saw Harry coming.
A fleeting image of Alicia and her incessant questioning about his previous girlfriend came into his thoughts. He almost longed to have been with her at the moment. At least, she never gawked at him like he was a zoo exhibit.
When they reached compartment C, they saw at once that they were not Slughorn's only invitees, although judging by the enthusiasm of Slughorn's welcome, Harry was the most anticipated.
"Oho! So, this is the Harry Potter!" said Professor Horace Slughorn, jumping up at the sight of him. "I see Sirius was right! You look just like your father! The likeness is uncanny, if it weren't for Lily's eyes!"
Though Harry was almost exasperated by now when people compared his appearance with his parents, he was also slightly surprised. "You knew my parents, sir?"
"Didn't Sirius tell you?" said Slughorn, slightly put-out, but then continued with more than a hint of pride. "I taught them both and your godfather! One of the brightest bunch of witches and wizards to step foot into Hogwarts, I daresay."
YOU ARE READING
Dysfunctional
FanfictionPost-OotP: Sirius is cleared and finally gets to give Harry the home he had always wanted. Rebuilding his life with a war brewing in their world isn't simple. It's a good thing he has a family that he can fall back on this time. What he didn't reali...
