Liar. Harry Potter's sister ~ Book 2

chapter five

The thrill of Harry being cleared seemed to carry us pleasantly into September. The blazing heat from the sun had died down as August came to an end and welcomed autumn. The air was crisp and fresh each morning instead of the usual humid feel it had to it and the leaves, slowly began adventuring to the ground.

There was a prominent end-of-the-holidays gloom overhanging us on the morning of September first, but we were all to preoccupied: scurrying about, packing last minute things and getting ready to board the Hogwarts Express. Feelings of excitement and dread hit me in alternate waves every minute this morning. Excitement because I get to see Draco again today. And dread because I'll have to explain to him why I didn't write to him when I promised I would.

I dressed and showered at top speed that morning, only to hear the shouts and scolds from Mrs Weasley echoing up the stairs: Fred and George had bewitched their trunks to float themselves down the stairs, to save them the bother of carrying them, knocking Ginny down two flights of stairs in the process. I manage to convince Hermione to help do a  double check of our bedroom for any things we might have forgotten to pack, before heaving my trunk downstairs, with a little help from Ron.

At quarter past ten, full of a delicious breakfast, courtesy to Molly, and utterly fed up of folding up clothes and ticking off checklists, we step out into the cool September breeze. Several adults from the Order were positioned around Harry and I, as guards, for protective reasons. Sirius had transformed into his animagus form and was now trailing in front of Harry and I, snapping at pigeons and cats and barking energetically every few minutes. He hadn't been allowed to leave the house for a while and I couldn't help but laugh at his overexcitement.

After twenty minutes of walking, we reached the Kings Cross station. Once inside the station, in pairs, we leaned against the barrier between platforms nine and ten, and when the coast was clear, slipped easily through to the other side and onto platform nine and three-quarters. The Hogwarts Express, a scarlet train stood grandly next to the platform, belching sooty steam out of its funnel and circling it around the air. My eyes gaze over the room, completely mesmerised, and I feel my face bright up at the very sight. I'm going back.

We unload our luggage trolleys onto the train and spring back onto the platform for last goodbyes before the train departs. After a small pep talk from Mad-Eye about staying safe, a bone crushing hug from Mrs Weasley, a kiss on the forehead from Remus and an appreciative lick on the hand from Sirius, we were all jostled onto the train. We lean our heads out of the windows and wave at the shrinking figures as the train began to gather speed. We wave and wave, calling out final farewells, until the train turned a corner and they were gone.

"Well do you want to go and get a compartment then?" Harry asks, retreating his hands from the open window. Ron and Hermione exchange worried looks.

"Well- we, Ron and I, are supposed to go into the prefect's carriage," Hermione says, awkwardly. A few weeks ago we received our Hogwarts letters and the pair of them had been positioned as prefects for Gryffindor. Honestly, I was expecting Harry to be prefect and not Ron, but I was happy for them nonetheless.

"Oh," Harry says, clearly disappointed. Ron avoided our gaze and had suddenly become very interested in his fingernails. "Alright. Fine."

"I don't think we'll have to stay in their the whole journey," Hermione said, quickly, "Our letters said we have to speak to the Head Boy and Girl and we might have to patrol the corridors, occasionally but that's it." We nod.

"It's fine, good luck with your first duties." I say, attempting to shift to awkwardness, "Well, we might see you later then?"

"Yeah, definitely." Ron said, before he and Hermione hurried off, down towards the engine, leaving Harry, Ginny and I alone.