"Harry! It is so good to see you!" Hermione squealed as she entered the compartment Harry had claimed for them. "I have been so busy this summer! But how was it with your godfather and Professor Lupin? Did they show you a lot of new magic? What was it like living with them? Did you go to the World Cup like you talked about? Were you there when the rioters attacked? Did you…"
"Hermione! Stop it already," Harry interrupted in a loud voice.
Hermione looked a bit chagrined when she realized she'd been machine-gunning her questions without giving Harry a chance to answer.
"Sorry," she said. "It is just so much happened since the end of last year."
"Tell me about it," Harry agreed with a roll of his eyes.
"My ankle still hurts from all of those 'changes'," Ron announced from where he stood in the compartment door. Harry grinned up at one of his best mates. Ron had quickly accepted Sirius's apology for breaking the boy's ankle at the end of last year. But that didn't stop the red-head from playing up his encounter with the dangerous fugitive for all it was worth. Ron enjoyed the attention and it diverted attention away from Harry's role. It was a win-win in Harry's book.
"Oh hush, Madam Pomprey fixed it that night," Hermione responded.
"It still aches when it rains," the red-head whinged playfully.
"Wasn't that your excuse for why Ginny scored so many goals on you even though your ankle has nothing to do with flying or tending goal?" Daphne asked from behind Ron. The Slytherin witch moved past the surprised Ron to drop into the seat across from Hermione.
"Who told you that?" Ron demanded.
"That would be me," Ernie answered as he moved past Ron to sit down next to Daphne.
"You're supposed to be my mate!" Ron yelled in mock indignation. "That means backing a bloke up!"
Ernie smiled beatifically. "I am a Hufflepuff. That means we stand for fair play and honesty. I just reported the truth. It is not my fault is a dastardly and sly Slytherin twisted my words for her own nefarious purpose." Daphne giggled at the expression on Ron's face at Ernie's response.
"Eat a thesaurus this summer?" Harry asked with a grin.
"I wish. Mum made me take elocution lessons," Ernie answered with a wince.
"I for one think it is nice to hear the English language used properly and to its fullest extent," Hermione commented. "I can practically feel the average intelligence quotient in this compartment going up twenty points already."
"And here I am to do just that," Padma announced as she walked into the compartment. Her announcement was met with snarky comments all the way around as she settled in next to Harry.
Ron just shook his head and settled to sit on the floor. Daphne made room for him to lean against the bench. "You're all daft. All that readings made your brains all mushy. You need to actually get out and do something. Like, Harry, what the bloody hell happened at the World Cup?"
"And there is the epitome of a Gryffindor," Daphne signed in mock distress. "No tact. Just charge off into the face of danger."
"Harry didn't charge off to face danger," Ron responded in an offended tone. "According to the Prophet, he forted up in their tent." Daphne smacked him lightly across the top of his head.
"I was referring to you, twit."
The rest of the students laughed at the byplay. The group had been much relieved when Ron ended his stupid grudge against Daphne and all things Slytherin early the year before. Now he just hated most things Slytherin - like their Quidditch team, their head of house, and Draco Malfoy.
Which was entirely understandable to Harry.
...
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