Chapter 184
Chapter 184
“Ah, Penelope. Did you have a good summer?”
Suer passed through the barrier to platform nine and three-quarters beside Percy. The instant they arrived, Percy strode towards a pretty girl with long, curling hair–Penelope Clearwater.
Hermione and Ginny giggled behind them.
“Everyone, don’t block the entrance. Get onto the train. It will be leaving soon.” Mrs Weasley came through the barrier last, carrying a large bag and urging them onwards.
They passed several hopelessly crowded carriages before reaching the rear of the train.
While Mr Weasley helped his children load their trunks, Mrs Weasley opened her bag.
“Mum started making these first thing this morning.” Ron stood at the far edge of the group, unwilling to approach Hermione for fear of Scabbers’s life.
“Here, Ron, this one is yours. Bacon sandwiches.” Mrs Weasley handed him a brown paper box.
“These are beef. Oh, Fred–Fred!”
Mrs Weasley called several times without receiving an answer. Fred and George had already vanished into another carriage.
“Ginny, give these two to your impossible brothers later. This one is yours–tomato, wasn’t it?”
“All right, Mum.” Ginny giggled and accepted three boxes.
“Suer, I made one for you too. I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t know what you liked, so I included some of everything.” Mrs Weasley drew an absurdly large box from her bag.
“Thank you, Mrs Weasley. I’ll enjoy it.” Suer accepted the box and thanked her politely.
“If you don’t like something, you needn’t eat it.” Mrs Weasley smiled and took out another sandwich. “This is yours, Hermione. It’s tomato, like Ginny’s. I thought girls couldn’t possibly object to something as lovely as tomato, could they?”
“Thank you. I like tomatoes,” Hermione replied softly.
Mrs Weasley quickly found an owner for every sandwich. “There we are, children. Onto the train.”
The scarlet steam engine was already pumping out white clouds. It was ready to depart.
“Harry, come with me for a moment. I need to tell you something.” Just before Suer stepped onto the train, he saw Mr Weasley draw Harry behind a pillar.
The train had already begun to move when Harry came running and leapt through the door Ron held open for him.
The train rounded a bend and left the platform behind.
Because Harry had boarded so late, many compartments were already full.
“Hi, Suer. I’ve got two seats here. Would you like to join us?” Neville called as they passed along the corridor.
“Oh, hello, Harry and Ron.” Neville leaned out and only then saw the others behind Suer and Hermione. His face grew awkward. There were only two empty seats in the compartment.
Hermione had already spotted Hannah inside. Hannah was one of the few close friends she had at school.
“Hi, Hannah.” Hermione entered with Crookshanks in her arms. She clearly did not want to share a compartment with Ron either. During the drive, he had watched Crookshanks as though the cat were a thief, and Hermione had been seething ever since.
Suer shrugged at Harry and Ron without speaking.
“You two stay here,” Harry said considerately. “Ginny, Ron and I will look farther ahead. We should find somewhere to sit.”
“All right. See you at school.”
“See you there.”
Ron, Harry and Ginny continued down the corridor. Suer watched them go, then entered Neville’s compartment.
Hermione and Hannah were already chatting, sharing stories from their summer holidays.
For once, Neville’s toad had not gone missing. At some point, it had settled on top of Crookshanks’s head.
Crookshanks rolled both eyes upwards, trying to see what was sitting there, and ended up cross-eyed.
“How did you end up sitting with Hannah?” Suer asked as he sat beside Neville, giving him a meaningful look.
Neville was still poor at talking to other people. He glanced nervously at Hannah and, once he was sure she was not paying attention, hurried to explain.
“I-I met Hannah on the train. She was the only person in the compartment, and I couldn’t find anyone else to sit with, so… so…”
“I see.” Suer nodded teasingly. Neville’s nervousness only made the situation more obvious.
Neville was still as innocent as ever, even in his third year.
“Did you go anywhere during the summer?” Neville asked, gathering the courage to change the subject before Suer could pursue it.
“No. I stayed at home the entire time.” Suer shook his head and returned the attack. “What about you? Did you go anywhere, or keep in touch with anyone?”
“Keep in touch?” Neville seized on the final phrase and denied it fervently. “No. I stayed home too. You know I only have Trevor, not an owl.”
But while denying it, Neville looked at Hannah again.
His guilty expression and furtive glance convinced Suer that something had happened between them. They must have exchanged letters during the holiday.
It was not a very convincing lie.
“I’ll write to you in future.” Suer chuckled, mischief filling his eyes.
“Oh, that would be wonderful. I’ll give you my home address after we reach school.” Neville shifted uncomfortably under Suer’s gaze. “My grandmother packed some food for the train. I can share it with you.”
“Certainly.” Suer stopped teasing and brought out the box Mrs Weasley had given him, along with several snacks he bought in Diagon Alley the previous day.
The boys’ movements caught the attention of the two girls, who had been deep in conversation. They took out their own food and joined in.
Mrs Weasley truly was an excellent cook. Suer’s enormous sandwiches were packed with ingredients: corned beef, ham, bacon, cheese…
“Did you receive the Hogsmeade permission form? I heard it is the only entirely non-Muggle village in Britain. Is that true?”
Hannah and Neville nodded together.
“It must be fascinating,” Hermione said eagerly. “Do you know much about it? I read about it in Sites of Historical Sorcery. One inn served as headquarters during the goblin rebellion of 1612, and there is the Shrieking Shack, which is supposedly haunted…”
“Honeydukes is the real attraction,” Hannah said. “My uncle took me there once. There is also Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop. I heard older students often go there for wonderful dates. I wonder whether anyone will invite me.”
Like many girls her age, Hannah dreamed of romance. Her eyes shone as her gaze quietly settled on Neville opposite her.
The shy affection was wonderfully innocent. Suer noticed at once.
Neville’s face turned crimson. He struggled to say something, but no words emerged.
Suer decided to help them.
“Neville and I were just discussing that. He told me that, if it wouldn’t be too forward, he would like to invite you to have tea with him, Hannah.”
“Really, Neville?” Hannah’s eyes lit up as she stared directly at him.
Neville flushed even more deeply, all the way down his neck. He looked ready to burst into flame. His head remained bowed, unable to meet Hannah’s gaze.
Yet it nodded almost without his permission.
“Wonderful. Then I accept.” Hannah was clearly more outgoing than Neville, and their personalities complemented each other beautifully.
The tips of her ears were red as well. She had needed courage to answer.
“Hmm-hmm.” Hermione made an amused little sound.
Suer immediately understood.
“In that case, Miss Hermione Granger, may I invite you to join me for tea on a Hogsmeade weekend?”
“Hmm.” Hermione lifted her chin and gave a deliberately haughty little hum. “Very well.”
The blush along her graceful neck betrayed how pleased she truly was.