Chapter 83

Chapter 83

The old steam engine belched white smoke and gave a deep, thunderous whistle.

The train carrying the future of magical Britain began to move.

Hermione sat quietly in the compartment with Gadding with Ghouls in her arms. It was already her second time through the book that summer.

Crookshanks lay contentedly across Suer’s knees. The large ginger cat had surrendered completely to Suer’s expert hands and purred in bliss.

Sunlight, its fiercest heat now fading, streamed through the window and fell across the two of them.

The compartment was wonderfully warm.

Before long, the door rattled open.

“Have you seen our ickle Ronniekins?” A red-haired boy poked his head inside. “Hello, Suer.”

“You…” Suer could not tell which twin it was.

“I’m Fred,” the boy said. Then the other twin stepped in behind him.

“Liar. I’m Fred!”

A small girl with bright red cheeks followed them into the compartment. It was Ginny.

“You mean Ron?” Hermione closed her book. “I haven’t seen him or Harry. Weren’t they with you?”

“We all arrived together,” Fred said with a shrug. “Harry and Ron were the last ones through onto the platform, and we haven’t found them since. Mum’s frantic. Mischievous little Ronniekins–always finding new ways to surprise us.”

“Have you searched every compartment?” Hermione asked.

“We’re doing that now. We only just reached yours,” George said. “Percy vanished the moment he got on.”

“I’ll help you look.” Hermione stood.

“I’m staying here,” Suer said. “They may be eating sweets in another compartment. Try Neville. Hermione and I saw him climb into one further along with a girl from our house.”

The entire group swept out of the compartment.

Quite some time later, Hermione returned alone, looking deeply worried.

“We couldn’t find Harry or Ron anywhere. It’s as though they vanished. Do you think they might be stuck inside the barrier?”

They were not stuck in the barrier. They had never crossed it at all.

Suer shook his head and tried to reassure her.

“It’ll be all right. Perhaps they missed the train. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley will find some way to get them to Hogwarts.”

“As long as they stay quietly at the station.”

In all likelihood, Harry and Ron were already driving the flying car through the clouds above them, following the train.

“I hope so.” Hermione was too worried about her friends to keep reading. She lifted Crookshanks into her arms and stroked the ginger cat rhythmically.

Suer turned to the window and narrowed his eyes, searching as far as he could see. He found nothing but clouds in peculiar shapes.

Of course he could not find them. Ron had switched on the car’s invisibility function and was excitedly discussing with Harry how spectacular their arrival would look.

Perhaps the professors would even award them points.

“Anything from the trolley, dears? Perhaps an iced pumpkin juice?” The plump witch pushing the sweet-laden trolley knocked at their compartment door.

Suer bought several Cauldron Cakes, some filling biscuits, and two iced pumpkin juices. He used a Levitation Charm to arrange everything on the table between them.

“Whatever happens, we still need to eat before we reach Hogwarts. We’ll be on this train until dark.”

“Perhaps Mr. and Mrs. Weasley will get Harry and Ron to school before we arrive.”

The Hogwarts Express was not particularly express. It dawdled along and delivered its young passengers safely to their destination as dusk gathered.

“Put on your robes and leave your luggage on the train. It will be taken to Hogwarts for you,” a voice called through the corridor.

Second-years returned to the castle by a different route from the first-years.

Suer and Hermione followed the older students off the train in the opposite direction, then crossed to an open area filled with carriages.

Returning students rode to the castle in carriages drawn by Thestrals.

The great iron gates of Hogwarts already stood open. Winged boars circled the marble pillars, their wings spread against the night.

As in the previous year, Professor McGonagall led the first-years into the Great Hall. This time, however, Suer and his classmates were seated at the long tables, watching the Sorting.

As the first-years filed in, Suer glanced towards the Gryffindor table. Sure enough, neither Harry nor Ron was there.

The Sorting Hat began the song it had spent a year composing.

It was every bit as tuneless as before.

Suer clapped perfunctorily with the others.

Professor McGonagall unrolled her parchment and began the Sorting. The first student was a grey-haired boy. He walked nervously to the front, sat on the stool, and squeezed his eyes tightly shut.

The Sorting Hat deliberated for only a few seconds before shouting out his house.

Where was Snape?

Suer noticed an empty chair at the staff table.

Ah. Harry and Ron must have arrived.

How delightful. Truly delightful.

The Sorting proceeded smoothly. Soon it was Ginny Weasley’s turn, and the Sorting Hat naturally roared, “GRYFFINDOR!”

As applause broke out at the Gryffindor table, Professor Snape entered through a side door. His expression was black as thunder. He strode directly to Professor Dumbledore and bent down to whisper something.

Suer saw the smile on Dumbledore’s face stiffen.

The Sorting ended ten minutes later. At a signal from Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall hurried out of the Great Hall with Snape.

“Another new school year,” Dumbledore said as he rose. His voice carried across the hall. “I must remind our new students that the Forbidden Forest is strictly out of bounds to all pupils…”

“And finally, let the feast begin.”

“Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!”

The empty dishes filled with food the instant Dumbledore finished speaking. Excited cheers rose clearly from the nearby first-years.

Suer, however, noticed something unusual. Dumbledore had delivered before dinner the announcements he would normally save until after the feast.

Sure enough, when Suer looked up at the dais again, the only professor he saw was the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart. Dressed in aqua-green robes, Lockhart was clutching a glass of wine and pestering Professor Sprout.

It appeared that their distinguished Ravenclaw alumnus was not terribly popular with the rest of the staff.

Well, well. Suer had never seen kind-hearted Professor Sprout look so disgusted.