Silent Magic, Silent Stone-A Harry Potter AU

Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry

Harry smiled at Ron, relieved that Hermione had left. 

Did you hear about Gringotts? It's been all over the Daily Prophet–someone tried to rob a high-security vault Ron asked.

Yes! They broke in and got out, all without getting caught. Harry told Ron

My dad says it must've been a powerful Dark wizard to get 'round Gringotts, but they don't think they took anything, that's what's odd. 'Course, everyone gets scared when something like this happens in case You-Know-Who's behind it.

Yeah, well, they always get scared. It's probably nothing. Harry was more scared then he let on 

The compartment door slid open again, and three boys entered. Harry recognized the middle one at once: it was the pale boy from Madam Malkin's robe shop. He was looking at Harry with a lot more interest than he'd shown back in Diagon Alley. 'Waggle your fingers, Weasley, and make the deaf boy understand!' The boy snarled at Ron.

Ron interpreted for Malfoy. 'Is it true? he said. 'They're saying all down the train that HarryPotter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?'

Yes, signed Harry. He was looking at the other boys. Both of them were thickset and looked extremely mean. Standing either side of the pale boy, they looked like bodyguards.

'Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle,' said the pale boy carelessly, noticing where Harry was looking. 'And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. 

Draco Malfoy looked at him.

Ron stopped translating.

'Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford.'  Malfoy snorted.

Ron started translating again.

'I'm a Malfoy. I know the ways of the magical world much better than anyone you already know,' He held out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't take it.

I think I know the ways of the world well enough, thanks, he signed coolly.

Draco Malfoy didn't go red, but a pink tinge appeared in his pale cheeks. I'd be careful if I were you, Potter, he said slowly. Unless you're a bit politer, you'll go the same way as many. They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with riff-raff like the Weasleys and it'll rub off on you. 

Both Harry and Ron stood up. Ron's face was as red as his hair. 'Say that again,' he said. 

'Oh, you're going to fight us, are you?' Malfoy sneered.

Unless you get out now, said Harry, more bravely than he felt, because Crabbe and Goyle were a lot bigger than him or Ron.

'But we don't feel like leaving, do we, boys? We've eaten all our food and you still seem to have some.' 

Goyle reached towards the Chocolate Frogs next to Ron – Ron leapt forward, but before he'd so much as touched Goyle, Goyle screamed in pain.Scabbers the rat was hanging off his finger, sharp little teeth sunk deep into Goyle's knuckle – Crabbe and Malfoy backed away as Goyle swung Scabbers round and round, and when Scabbers finally flew off and hit the window, all three of them disappeared at once. Perhaps they thought there were more rats lurking among the sweets, or perhaps they'd heard footsteps, because a second later, Hermione Granger had come in.

What has been going on? she signed, looking at the sweets all over the floor and Ron picking up Scabbers by his tail. 

I think he's been knocked out, Ron signed to Harry. He looked closer at Scabbers. No – I don't believe it – he's gone back to sleep. 

And so he had. 

You've met Malfoy before? Harry explained about their meeting in Diagon Alley.

Ron turned to Hermione. 'Can we help you with something?' 

You'd better hurry up and put your robes on, I've just been up the front to ask the driver and he says we're nearly there. You haven't been fighting, have you? You'll be in trouble before we even get there!

Scabbers has been fighting, not us, said Ron, scowling at her. Would you mind leaving while we change?

All right – I only came in here because people outside are behaving very childishly, racing up and down the corridors, said Hermione in a sniffy voice. 'And you've got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you know?'

Ron glared at her as she left. 

Harry peered out of the window. It was getting dark. He could see mountains and forests under a deep-purple sky. The train did seem to be slowing down. He and Ron took off their jackets and pulled on their long black robes over their heads. Ron's were a bit short for him, you could see his trainers underneath them.

A voice echoed through the train: 'We will be reachingHogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on thetrain, it will be taken to the school separately.'Harry's stomach lurched with nerves and Ron, he saw, lookedpale under his freckles. They crammed their pockets with the lastof the sweets and joined the crowd thronging the corridor.The train slowed right down and finally stopped. Peoplepushed their way towards the door and out on to a tiny, darkplatform. Harry shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp camebobbing over the heads of the students and Harry heard a familiarvoice: 'Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here! All right there, Harry?'Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.'C'mon, follow me – any more firs'-years? Mind yer step, now!Firs'-years follow me!'Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down whatseemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark either side ofthem that Harry thought there must be thick trees there. Nobodyspoke much. Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, sniffedonce or twice.'Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec,' Hagrid called overhis shoulder, 'jus' round this bend here.'There was a loud 'Oooooh!'.The narrow path had opened suddenly on to the edge of a greatblack lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, itswindows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with manyturrets and towers.'No more'n four to a boat!' Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet oflittle boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Ron werefollowed into their boat by Neville and Hermione.'Everyone in?' shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself,'Right then – FORWARD!'And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding acrossthe lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent,staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them asthey sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.'Heads down!' yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; 84 HARRY POTTERthey all bent their heads and the little boats carried them througha curtain of ivy which hid a wide opening in the cliff face. Theywere carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking themright underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out on to rocks andpebbles.'Oy, you there! Is this your toad?' said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.'Trevor!' cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands. Thenthey clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp,coming out at last on to smooth, damp grass right in the shadowof the castle.They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around thehuge, oak front door.'Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?'Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on thecastle door.