Harry wasted no time in following Blaise and Malfoy through the corridor of compartments, making sure he stayed a safe distance away so he didn't get caught. His heart was beating fast in his chest, and adrenaline ran through his veins, his mind racing with curiosity and endless possibilities as to why Malfoy was acting shadier than usual.
Finally the two Slytherins stopped near an compartment at the end of the train and to Harry's great displeasure Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy were sat in it, chatting merrily.
Draco entered the compartment and Blaise had a moment of puzzlement as if he felt Harry's presence slip past him and into the compartment. Harry held his breath, his heart rate speeding up. If Blaise mentioned anything then surely Harry would get caught? But to Harry's great relief, Blaise shook his head and closed the compartment door, sitting down, saying nothing.
"How was it?" Pansy asked as Harry climbed up on to the only empty seat in the compartment and hoisted himself up on to the luggage rack where he hid himself even though he was invisible.
Blaise scoffed. "That Slughorn. My mother told me about him. 'He'll try to cultivate you, darling, just like all those with connections.'"
"Sly old devil!" Pansy exclaimed.
"That's why he's Slytherin, like us." Blaise shrugged, smirking lightly.
Pansy giggled.
"Was the food any good?" Crabbe asked and Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes. Of course Crabbe would ask about the food.
Malfoy shrugged. "I dunno, I didn't eat anything."
"Poor thing, aren't you feeling well?" Pansy cooed, pulling at Draco's shoulders so he fell into a lying position on her lap.
"I just haven't time for all that nonsense." Draco shrugged.
Blaise eyed Draco and Pansy. "I would have thought you'd have liked being part of his Slug Club."
Draco met Zabini's eyes and they stared at eachother for longer than comfortable. "What's it going to matter, anyway? When the Dark Lord takes over, you think it's connections like Slughorn's that'll matter?"
Pansy eyed Malfoy suspiciously. "You say that like you have different connections in mind."
Draco looked smug again. "Maybe I do."
Blaise laughed, his eyes taunting. "Watch out, Pansy, you've got a would-be Death Eater on your lap."
Malfoy glared and sat bolt up, clearly annoyed. "Oh, shut up. Come on, we're here." He spat.
It was then that Harry noticed the train indeed was slowing down. The students from the house of emerald and silver stood up and Harry's breath hitched but he forced it to slow down and held it. It wasn't until Crabbe got his trunk did Harry's heart stop. The trunk had hit him and he had let out a small noise of pain as his eyes stung. He hoped no one heard.
Luckily, they began to leave.
"Coming?" Pansy asked Draco as she noticed him lingering in the compartment.
Draco shook his head. "Go ahead. I'll be right behind you."
Harry's breath hitched again. Why did Draco want to stay behind? Did he know Harry was here with him?
Harry's questions were soon answered when Draco whipped out his wand and pointed it at the space where Harry was lying, invisible. "Petrificus Totalus!"
The jinx not only successfully magically binded Harry's body together so he was unable to move but it also left him unbalanced so he fell off the luggage rack, the Invisibility cloak falling off him, revealing him to Malfoy.
"Hello again, Potter." Malfoy scowled.
Harry couldn't move, all he could do was keep his blinking eyes trained on Draco who crouched down next to him. Harry felt dread chill him, he had no means to protect himself.
"You've got no idea what you've done to my family, do you, Potter."
Draco straightend up. Harry thought his family deserved it for all the suffering Voldemort and the Death Eaters put people through but that thought was soon erased from his mind when pain suddenly coursed through his body and he saw Draco lift his foot off his face.
Harry heard the crack, he knew from the throbbing pain and blood dripping down his chin, that Draco had broken his nose.
"That's for my father." Malfoy spat, giving Harry a disgusted once over and throwing the Invisibility cloak back over him. "And that's for me. I don't reckon they'll find you until the train's back in London. See you around, Potter. Or...not."
Malfoy took his trunk handle and left, letting the compartment door slide shut behind him.
>>>
Harry felt his heart rate quickening alarmingly and his breaths felt short and laboured.
He couldn't stop the panic resting upon him like a suffocating blanket. He couldn't move and there was no way anyone would notice him with the Invisibility cloak covering him from the rest of the world.
His mind swirled with possible outcomes; each as heart-wrenching and stomach turning as the other. The thought of the train leaving back for London hit Harry. How would anyone find him? He was surely stuck like this as no one would be able to find him.
It could be hours before Dumbledore got notified about his absence and sent someone to find him. Would Dumbledore even get someone to find him? What about Ron, Robyn and Hermione? Surely they noted his absence by now? But what could they do? They wouldn't be able to do anything. Harry would be stuck here with his nose throbbing terribly and blood trickling down his face, drying up and irritating his face as it crusted up.
Time went by slow. Harry felt it had been an eternity with his dark thoughts and panic growing every minute he was stuck there, but soon on the silent and eery train, he could of sworn he heard approaching footsteps.
It could have been his mind playing tricks. A sick and twisted trick but they were getting louder and Harry couldn't mistake the leap in his heart as a wave of hope washed over him, freeing him of his suffocating thoughts.
Harry could see through the cloak. A light was approaching, ever growing brighter! Soon enough, Harry saw a silhouette walk by the corridor, their illuminated wand held aloft.
The silhouette reached a hand out and opened the compartment door. Harry's heart skipped a beat; he was going to get found! But suddenly the hope was draining out of him; the person was leaving. Harry tried shouting out but his mouth wouldn't move. He fought against the curse Malfoy had put on him with all his might but to no avail; he couldn't move and the person had left.
Harry wanted to cry but before his mind could fully comprehend the situation he had landed himself in, the person was back and this time they opened the compartment door fully, taking a step inside. "Aparecium!"
Harry was very glad to see it was Tonks.
He was also glad to know the revealing charm she had used worked because Tonks let out a breath and stared directly where Harry lay, unable to move.
"Harry!" The usually eccentric witch breathed, relief evident in her voice.
Harry was shocked to see, as Tonks pulled the cloak off him, that her hair was still a mousy brown instead of it's usual vibrant blue and pink colour.
She pointed her wand at Harry. "Finite Incantatum!"
To Harry's great relief, he felt his body relax and he was able to move again.
Tonks helped him up, yet again aiming her wand at his face. "Episkey!"
A flash of light came and a loud crunch echoed as Harry's nose was repositioned. Harry gasped in pain.
Tonks gave him a look that plain and clearly said I'm glad you're okay. Harry smiled in return.
"Come on, let's get your trunk. I'll take you to the entrance gate. I'll send a Patronus to let them know we're coming that way." Tonks said and again pulled out her wand.
"Expecto Patronum!" The silver/blue light emitted from the end of the wand and didn't take long to form shape. The Patronus was gone too quickly for Harry to tell exactly what it was but it looked very much like a dog or wolf.
"Yes, Robyn made quite a fuss about your disappearance, saying that you were either in trouble or landed yourself in it. Either way, I suppose she was right." Tonks looked at Harry fondly as if he reminded her of someone. Someone they both knew well.
Harry couldn't meet her eyes, knowing who she was thinking of. Sirius...
>>>
They began their long walk to the castle's gate. The cool night air felt good against Harry's skin as it had gotten rather clammy under the cloak.
The two slowly approached the gate, talking as Harry's truck and Hedwig's cage floated behind them.
"Is that your real hair colour? I'm just used to seeing you in pink." Harry couldn't help asking after noticing her dull brown hair again.
"I haven't felt very festive recently." Tonks admitted.
"The war?"
Tonks was silent for a moment. "Something like that."
They arrived at the towering metal gates, gleaming in the moonlight. There was a shadow standing behind it, the moonlight only making their sharp features noticed, especially their hooked nose.
"Snape." Tonks greeted briskly. "I thought Hagrid would get the message."
"Hello, Nymphadora." Snape drawled, ignoring the Aurors question.
Tonks looked wary. "Don't call me Nymphadora."
"Not particularly glamourous these days, are we?" Snape's black eyes lingered on Tonks' brown hair. "Ah well. I suppose that when one's--"
"Shut it, Snape." The metamorphmagus snapped.
Snape's eyes landed on Harry and they gleamed maliciously. "Mr. Potter. Once again The Chosen One must make a grand entrance."
Harry stared back, his body already pulsing with anger. He bit back his nasty retort.
"It wasn't his fault--"
"Let it go, Tonks." He said gently and she hugged him briefly.
"Bye, Harry."
"Thanks again." Harry said, hoping his gratitude showed through his face and actions.
Snape slowly and reluctantly opened the gate for Harry, who stepped through it. Harry couldn't help but admire the soft golden glow emitting from the windows of Hogwarts as it loomed ahead of him making him feel all warm and fuzzy. He was home.
It made him remember the time in his third year when Sirius was asking him to move in with him while staring up at the castle. Harry's heart suddenly lurched terribly. He wished he could go back to those days.
Harry turned, not being able to watch the castle anymore and saw Tonks making her way from the castle.
"Oh, and, Tonks? I see your Patronus has changed. I preferred the previous one. This one looks a little...shabby." Snape's face was emotionless but his eyes gleamed tauntingly, enjoying this moment all too much. Harry was confused. He was not aware a Patronus could change.
Tonks shot Snape a dirty look before stalking off, waving one last time at Harry.
Snape turned back to Harry, a smirk growing on his face. "Fifty points from Gryffindor for lateness, I think. And twenty more for the disrespectful state of your attire. You know, I don't believe any house has ever been in negative figures this early in the term. You might have set a record, Potter."
As Harry walked up to the castle, he couldn't help thinking who he hated more; Snape or Voldemort? He pondered the thought until he reached the wooden doors to the entrance of Hogwarts.
Regardless of everything that had happened so far and was surely going to happen; this was his home and Harry was very glad to be back...
(Hello. Bloody hell, took me a while to update didn't it. I'm sorry for that but as I explained in my A/N, college has got me drowned in work. To be honest, I'm meant to be doing work now but I've made you wait long enough so I finished this, plus I love writing this story. I'm going to be so lost when I do end up finishing this series. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter and thank you all for your patience and support. I love you all, until next time.)