Chapter 307: On the Train
Harry and the others spent a few more days at the Leaky Cauldron, making the most of the last stretch of their summer holiday.
When September arrived, Sirius escorted the three of them to the Hogwarts Express.
Platform Nine and Three-Quarters was overflowing with people.
Parents bustled about, helping their children push heavily loaded luggage trolleys, while older students struggled to drag oversized trunks and owl cages through the crowd.
Once aboard the train, however, things would become much easier.
The Hogwarts house-elves would take care of the luggage.
"Have a safe trip!"
Standing on the platform outside the window, Sirius waved enthusiastically.
The locomotive released a cloud of white steam.
With a slight jolt, the train slowly pulled away from the station before gradually picking up speed.
---
"Aren't you sitting down?"
Hermione found an empty compartment and took a seat.
Only then did she notice that Ron was still standing in the aisle, glancing around as though searching for something.
Her eyes quickly landed on the gold-and-red Prefect badge pinned to his robes.
She immediately understood.
"Oh..."
"I forgot to mention."
Ron puffed out his chest proudly.
"You'll have to call me Prefect Weasley now."
"I have to report to the Head Boy for Prefect duties."
"So I can't stay with you two for the moment."
"Yes, yes."
Hermione answered absentmindedly.
"Off you go, Your Excellency Prefect."
She showed absolutely no interest in encouraging his smug expression.
Ron was wearing an entirely new set of robes today.
Normally, his clothes were hand-me-downs.
Apparently Mrs. Weasley had decided that a Prefect ought to look respectable.
Hermione sighed inwardly.
When are these two ever going to grow up?
Tilting her head against the window, she quietly watched the scenery outside blur as the train accelerated.
---
A new school year had begun.
Yet for the students sheltered safely within Hogwarts...
Lord Voldemort's return still felt incredibly distant.
The outside world had not yet intruded upon their lives.
Like flowers growing inside a greenhouse...
They remained carefully protected.
One day, however...
They would all experience the cruelty of war.
---
The countryside flashed past outside.
The journey was still long.
Having boarded the train early in the morning, Harry and Hermione were beginning to feel hungry.
When the snack trolley arrived, they each bought a few treats.
Harry chose several packets of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
Hermione picked up a few Chocolate Frogs.
"You don't want the cards?"
Harry asked as Hermione casually unwrapped the chocolate.
"Of course not."
She barely glanced at the card before handing it over.
She had never been interested in collecting Chocolate Frog cards.
Even so...
She instinctively read each name.
Cassandra Vablatsky.
Merlin.
Albus Dumbledore.
Gellert Grindelwald.
Every one of them was familiar.
Hermione remembered their achievements almost by heart.
She had always enjoyed memorizing facts.
---
Dark clouds drifted across the sky, blocking out the sun.
The gloomy weather made everyone sleepy.
Harry and Hermione soon dozed off in their seats.
---
"I really don't understand why Dumbledore chose her to be a Prefect."
About an hour later, Ron's muttering woke them both.
"Who knows?"
"Maybe she's secretly a Death Eater."
"Who?"
Hermione frowned immediately.
Ron snorted.
"Pansy Parkinson."
"The girl who's always following Malfoy around."
"Oh."
Hermione simply nodded.
She neither agreed nor disagreed.
"I'll be sure to report to Professor McGonagall that Gryffindor's new Prefect enjoys spreading malicious rumors behind people's backs."
A cold female voice interrupted him.
Pansy Parkinson happened to be walking past their compartment.
"So..."
She sneered.
"This is the quality of Gryffindor's new Prefect."
With her chin raised proudly, she continued down the corridor.
"Gossiping about people behind their backs is a very disgraceful habit."
"And making accusations based entirely on your own imagination is even worse."
Another calm female voice sounded from the compartment across the aisle.
It was Luna Lovegood.
She removed a copy of The Quibbler that had somehow been resting upside down across her face and placed it neatly on the table.
Her dreamy eyes drifted lazily toward them.
Then...
She simply closed her eyes again.
"Did I say anything wrong?"
Ron protested indignantly.
Harry opened his mouth.
"...Uh..."
He wasn't sure whether he should agree or disagree.
Fortunately...
Someone interrupted before he had to answer.
"Have you seen Trevor?"
A worried voice echoed down the corridor.
Neville Longbottom stood outside the compartment once again searching for his missing toad.
"Forget those unpleasant people."
Ron quickly changed the subject.
"I've got good news."
"Neville's a Prefect too!"
"Pretty surprising, right?"
He pointed proudly toward Neville.
"Congratulations."
Harry and Hermione spoke in unison.
Neville scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
After the summer holiday...
He had clearly lost weight.
His once-round face had become noticeably leaner.
His features looked firmer.
More mature.
The timid, clumsy boy from previous years seemed to have grown into someone far more confident.
Only one thing hadn't changed.
His terrible memory.
The embarrassment on his face quickly gave way to concern.
"I'm still looking for Trevor..."
"He might be somewhere in another compartment."
Hermione looked around thoughtfully.
Trevor had always had a talent for appearing in the most unexpected places.
"Alright."
Neville nodded.
He planned to search the rear carriages before returning to his Prefect duties.
"Wait for me!"
Ron waved.
"I'll help."
The two boys hurried off together.
---
The atmosphere inside the compartment finally settled down.
The remainder of the journey passed quietly.
Outside...
The weather remained unpredictable.
At some point, rain began gently tapping against the windows.
The soft pattering blurred the view of the countryside beyond.
Before long...
The rain stopped.
Sunlight lazily broke through the clouds once more.
A faint rainbow briefly appeared across the horizon before disappearing behind drifting clouds.
The scenery remained unchanged.
Rolling mountains stretched into the distance.
Green fields spread across the countryside.
Thin columns of smoke rose peacefully from scattered cottages.
---
Night gradually fell.
The lights inside the train flickered on one after another.
Their warm glow illuminated every compartment.
It also meant the journey was nearly over.
Hogwarts was close.
The lights finally woke Luna.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes, carefully rolled up her copy of The Quibbler, tucked it neatly into her bag, and then quietly stared at everyone inside the compartment.
Or perhaps...
She wasn't staring at all.
Luna always looked as though her thoughts had wandered somewhere far beyond everyone else's.