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On September 1st, Harry stood at King's Cross Station with the rest of his friends, the scarlet engine of the Hogwarts Express steaming quietly before them. The smell of oil and smoke hung in the air, mingling with the faint chatter of students hurrying past with trunks and owls.
Astoria gave an exaggerated sigh as she tugged her bag higher onto her shoulder. "Why are we taking the train again?" she asked, wrinkling her nose like the idea personally offended her.
Harry let out a chuckle. "Aunty Amelia said now that Voldemort's almost finished, we should use it. Tradition, and all that. Hogwarts Express is supposed to be the iconic way of travel for students."
Daphne gave him a sidelong glance, lips twitching. "This is about Slughorn, isn't it?"
Harry nodded with a smirk. "Most likely. He's got influence with half the Ministry. Aunty Amelia included."
A chorus of sighs rose from the group.
Draco, standing just a little stiffly, scanned the bustling platform as though expecting someone to leap out at them. "I still can't believe the twins graduated," he muttered, almost suspiciously.
That broke the tension. They chuckled at the idea.
"After their NEWTs, they didn't even consider the Ministry," Tracey said, a trace of amusement in her tone. "Straight to Diagon Alley to open that joke shop."
"You saw it, too," Susan added, smiling. "They are already considering a second one in Hogsmeade."
Cho's face brightened at that, the pride in her voice clear. "Cedric started at the Ministry."
Yeah, Cedric's NEWTs were impressive. Since he'd been part of the group holding the Ministry together during Voldemort's raid, and with marks that would make most professors jealous, Amelia made sure a position was waiting for him the moment he graduated. Same went for Angelina and Alicia. Even though they toyed with the idea of working with the twins in Diagon Alley, they thought better of it in the end.
Pansy shook her head, lips pursed. "I still can't believe Dumbledore fired Tonks."
Megan rolled her eyes, throwing up exaggerated air quotes. "Encouraging her to 'venture towards better opportunities.'" Her voice went sharp with mockery. "Apparently she was wasting her talents teaching."
"Sounds like Dumbledore to me," Tracey said. "If he can't control them, he's quick to call it wasted potential."
Ginny glanced Harry's way, raising an eyebrow. "Breaking the curse didn't change much, did it?"
Harry gave a small shrug, faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Some things are beyond curses, Ginny. Can't fix everything."
Hermione spoke up. "It is about Slughorn. Dumbledore wants him back for Potions, and to make room, he shifted Snape to Defence. He's been itching for that job for years."
Harry raised a finger lazily, as if declaring the obvious. "That."
The rest groaned almost in unison.
The platform was crowded in a way it hadn't been for years. Last few years, hardly anyone had trusted the train after the mess with the Death Eater Professor and Voldemort's return. Now, with Voldemort's power waning, the Hogwarts Express was back in fashion... though the Ministry's new security measures probably had something to do with it.
Luna, beaming as always, rummaged in her bag and pulled out her Hogwarts letter. "Look at this." She flipped the parchment over and pointed near the bottom.
In bold print, it read: "We strongly encourage students to use the Hogwarts Express. Not only will a full team of Aurors and Hit-Wizards be stationed aboard, but Professor Slughorn and Harry Potter will also be travelling on the train."
That earned a round of snorts from the group.
"Merlin's beard," Ginny muttered, smirking. "They've turned you into a walking security system, Harry."
"Subtle as ever," Tracey muttered.
"Beats being their poster boy," Hannah said lightly.
Daphne raised an eyebrow. "I would say it is both. You are a deterrent and a Ministry advert in one neat package."
After the Ministry duel, word had spread fast. If it hadn't been for that perfectly timed photograph of Harry pinning Voldemort to the floor, his wand pointed against the Dark Lord's chest, half the wizarding world wouldn't have believed the story. A fifth-year holding off Voldemort? Ridiculous. But the image circulated like wildfire, and suddenly parents were writing letters to the school saying they would feel safer sending their children on the train if Harry Potter himself was aboard.
Susan gave a quiet laugh, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "You've become Hogwarts' version of a bodyguard."
"Better him than Filch," Ginny said with a grin.
"I don't know," Tracey said lazily, "Filch chasing Death Eaters with a mop would've been amusing."
They soon boarded the train, the group taking over a large compartment near the middle. Trunks were tucked neatly under the seats, with Astoria already claiming the window spot as her own as the train shuddered to life, pulling out of the station with a low hiss.
Daphne and Tracey were chatting quietly across from Harry, while Ginny sat cross-legged on the floor, digging through her bag for a pack of cards. Susan and Hannah had taken the other corner seat, leaning in to gossip about something that made Susan smirk. Neville, perched beside Hermione, kept shaking his head in mock dismay as Luna waved a copy of The Quibbler like it was a sacred text.
The door to the compartment slid open with a faint rattle. A breathless third-year girl stood in the doorway, clutching a stack of letters so tightly her knuckles had gone white.
"I… I was supposed to deliver these to… all of you," she said, her words tumbling over each other. Her wide eyes locked on Harry, and it was as if the rest of the group ceased to exist.
"Hello, Eleanor," Harry said with a smile.
The poor girl let out a squeak loud enough to make Tracey stifle a laugh. "H-hi, Harry," Eleanor managed, her voice just a whisper.
Harry reached over and took the letters from her hands. "How is your mother? Better, I hope?"
Eleanor nodded far too hard, her curls bouncing with the movement. "Y-yes! She is all better. Thank you for asking."
"Glad to hear it," Harry said, his tone warm. "Be careful on your way back, all right?"
"Y-yes. You too," Eleanor stammered, backing out of the compartment so fast she nearly tripped over her own feet.
As soon as the door slid shut, Tracey let out a quiet snort. "You've got the poor girl ready to faint just because you said her name."
Harry arched a brow, setting the letters down on the seat beside him. "Would you rather I terrified her for fun?"
"Better than making her blush like that," Daphne said, her lips twitching in amusement.
Ginny smirked. "Honestly, Harry, you've turned into the Hogwarts heartthrob and you don't even try."
"Not my fault," Harry replied, picking up one of the letters and flicking it open. "Blame the Prophet."
"Oh, I do," Susan murmured, rolling her eyes. "Half the editorials these days read like they're planning your wedding guest list."
"They'd better not," Tracey said, mock glaring. "We aren't catering for half of wizarding Britain."
Astoria looked up from her spot by the window, her expression too innocent to trust. "Please. You would all be bridesmaid disasters. I would have to carry the wedding."
Hannah burst out laughing, clapping a hand over her mouth.
Hermione shook her head with an indulgent smile. "Honestly, Astoria."
"Don't encourage her," Daphne muttered, though the faint smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.
Harry,
I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C.
Sincerely,
Professor H.E.F. Slughorn
He hummed lightly as he passed the rest of the letters around the compartment, flicking them to their intended recipients. Unsurprisingly, each one bore the same neat script, inviting them for lunch with Slughorn.
"Are we going?" Nott asked, already tearing his own open. He sounded more curious than anything else.
Harry raised a brow. "Depends. Do you fancy watching Horace try to collect people like Chocolate Frog cards"
Tracey shook her head with a smile. "Might be worth it just to see who he is after. He is probably frothing over Potter's little fan club by now."
"Oh, he is," Daphne said smoothly, scanning her own letter. "I would wager two galleons he starts with the Longbottom family connections before moving onto Susan's aunt. Then comes Potter. The crown jewel. Slughorn's Holy Grail."
"Crown jewel?" Harry echoed with a scoff. "Do I at least get a velvet cushion and a plaque?"
Astoria grinned. "You will get a whole display case if you let him. He is probably halfway through planning it already."
"Surprising we all go invited." Hannah raised a brow.
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