1 Chapter 1
HARRY POTTER
"My father told me about it ages ago -," as Malfoy was speaking, a voice interrupted him.
"Is everything all right there," Malfoy and his goons looked to their side, checking to see who had spoken. And then Harry observed the change in Malfoy's behavior. His face changed from his usual haughty to a more neutral expression.
Then a new student entered the compartment. He was tall and lean. He was already dressed in his robes. His robes were neat and crisp, and his hair was set in a fashion that Harry had seen in magazines.
"Yes, everything here is good. I was just telling them about the special event that Hogwarts is hosting this year." Malfoy spoke, his voice not carrying his usual spark.
The senior looked at Draco while raising his brows, "Well you should not spoil the fun Malfoy. The Headmaster will announce it during the feast. They can enjoy the news along with the rest of the school. Now, off you go."
Draco looked at the boy for some time, before he turned back and started walking away. The boy looked at them for the first time and Harry was quick to spot the badge with 'H' on it. Harry noted that he was also wearing glasses, though they were in a much better condition than his.
"Hello everyone. I hope there wasn't anything serious going on there?" All of them looked at each other and shook their heads. Malfoy was just being a nuisance, and well that was just normal for them at this point.
The boy looked over the compartment until his eyes landed on Hermione. Hermione was also looking at the boy and had closed her book.
"Ah, Hermione what a coincidence. I was about to look for you. I have brought all the books and notes you wanted. Do you want them now or I can give them to you?" before he had finished his sentence Hermione had spoken.
"NOW." She said a bit too excited in Harry's opinion. Perhaps she felt that herself because she coughed and then spoke again, in a much milder tone. "I mean, could you give them to me now? I could place them with my luggage."
The boy smiled while shaking his head, probably at Hermione's antics. "Then come with me, they are at the front. I can help you bring them to your compartment."
Hermione nodded and stood up leaving all three boys alone in the compartment. Harry looked at Ron whose mouth was wide open as if he had seen a ghost or a galleon. He bumped him on the shoulder to break him out of his perplexed state.
Ron looked at Harry and spoke in a shocked voice, "Man did you look at his robes?"
"Yes, Ron I did see the Headboy badge," Harry spoke. Ron shook his head, "No. Not the badge Harry. The color of his robe!"
Harry tried to remember and was shocked for a moment too.
"It was green. He was a Slytherin," Neville spoke from the side. His eyes were still fixed on the closed door of their compartment.
Harry was also shocked by the revelation. The senior was from Slytherin. The bigger shock had been Hermione's interaction with the boy. It seemed that both of them were more than mere acquaintances.
"How do you reckon Hermione knows the bloke?" Ron asked him. "I don't know. Do you know him Neville?" he asked the plump boy.
If the boy was Slytherin. He would have to be pure blood.
Neville looked at them and shook his head. Well, they would know soon enough. They just had to wait for their best friend's return.
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After some time Hermione returned to their compartment. She opened the doors and spoke,
"Boys, can you help me place it with my luggage?" she said while pointing at a bag. Harry and Ron looked at each other and got up to help their friend.
After they had settled down once more Ron, spoke first unable to control his curiosity. " Who was that guy, Hermione?"
Hermione looked up from her book, "Oh, him he was a senior, his name is Edward Wright. Seventh year. Professor McGonagall introduced me."
That was both a shock and assurance for Harry. If McGonagall had vouched for him, it meant that he was probably not a bigot, but the question.
"Why would McGonagall do that ?" he asked, stopping Ron from probably insulting the guy.
"Oh, you know I took all those classes last year. It was taking a toll on me, so she introduced me to him. He is the only student other than me who took his OWLs for all those subjects."
"Oh, So he is a nutter," Ron spoke and Hermione's expression changed swiftly.
"Nutter. He had the highest practical scores in all the wanded subjects, in over 3 decades. According to Professor McGonagall, he already has job and apprenticeship opportunities lined up." Her scathing words echoed through their compartment and he could see Ron turning red from embarrassment. " I just –"
His words were cut off," And a nutter has been helping you get by in your exams all these years." And with those scathing remarks, she had walked out of their compartment.
BANG. ( probably closed the door on her way out)
Ron had turned red from the embarrassment. He just got up and started stuffing his dress robes back into his luggage.
Harry looked at Neville who just looked very floundered. He looked outside the window, the storm had gotten worse. The heavy rain and the strong winds were rattling the window.
Well, there was their fight of the year. It had just come early this year.
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As they made their way to the Great Hall, Harry spotted Hermione walking with some girls from their year. Ron was behind him talking with Dean about the World Cup and ensuing chaos. From the back, he saw Peeves carrying a bunch of balloons making his way toward them. He picked up a balloon and threw it toward the girls, some of them shrieked and tried to move away.
Just as it was about to land, it stopped mid-air.
"Peeves, I think they are cold enough. Why don't you wait for the summer, " He looked at us and saw Edward coming towards them, his wand out and pointing towards the falling balloons. All of whom had stopped. Behind him, McGonagall was coming with a blonde girl.
"Peeves, the Headmaster will hear about this." McGonagall was annoyed, that much was evident from that voice. The boy spoke once more,
"No need for that Professor. Why don't you postpone this and we can make plans for some other time."
Peeves just giggled and made an ok sign. He then made a face at Professor McGonagall before flying off. McGonagall just shook her head and moved on towards the incoming first years.
"Hmm, why don't we warm it up here a bit." He said while waving his wand and Harry could feel the temperature around him rising. The boy then waved at Hermione and rushed to meet up with Professor McGonagall.
Hermione looked down and he could spot a small red blush covering her face. Harry could see multiple girls staring dreamily at his retreating back.
Well, he would have to curb his curiosity for the time being because hunger came before curiosity or anything else, even if it was curiosity over a nice Slytherin senior. And there was still that special announcement that Malfoy had mentioned.
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Harry was making his way to the dorms, as he thought about the announcements. The Triwizard Tournament sounded exciting but the cancellation of the Quidditch season had been a bummer. Their new DADA professor was weird, he hoped he was competent. Hermione was still not talking to them, Ron had again blurted out words before thinking. he was embarrassed but too pig-headed to apologize. But he would talk to her tomorrow, hopefully, she would have calmed down by then.
He changed into his night dress and sat on the bed. Sirius had still not replied to his letter about his scar. The visions and the pain had been constantly bugging him, he looked out the window and could see that the storm had mellowed out, hopefully, tomorrow would be a clear day.
