Emotional Range of a Teaspoon

Chapter 7: Home Again

A/N: thanks for all the great reviews. I tried to get this one out as quickly as possible. I'm actually having trouble thinking of what should happen next, so if anyone wants to submit a suggestion, that would be most appreciated. This is a transition chapter, just transportingeveryone into the next phase of the story. And don't worry Harry/Ginny fans, I will stay true to my word that this is a R/Hm H/G fic. I'm really sorry at how long this took, and I've recently put out another fic, with my life based off of it. I am Ginny in that one, and all the crazy things that have happened to me in the last few months will hopefully be incorporated in that. It's called New Beginnings, but nevermind. Ok, here we go.

Anyways, Chapter 7: Home Again

WHOO! WHOOO!

The Hogwarts Express whistled as, at exactly 11:00 am, it departed from King's Cross Station, Platform 9¾. In the very last compartment of the train sat the six companions of the Department of Mysteries. They were talking cheerily about the summer and vacations and school and whatnot.

Harry did not join in the conversation. He was staring out of the window, gazing at the scenery that flashed by as they sped along the countryside, heading north.

At the moment, the others were all chatting about what they had done over the summer.

Ron, Ginny and the Weasleys had gone north to Scotland for a week or so to visit Mr. Weasley's family up there. They had made all sorts of cakes and treats, and with the whole family together for the first time in a while, they had had the best of times.

Neville had told them all about how he had gone with his gran to the town where his parents had grown up, and seen their old house and everything. He was much more open to them then he had ever been, after all they had gone through together.

Luna told a fantastic tale about her and her father going on a wild hunt to find a Crumple Horned Snorcack. To her dismay, they never did find one, although they came across a nest of something that may have had Snorcack eggs in it. Hermione was very quiet during that story, her nostrils flared and her hand clasped tightly in Ron's, biting her tongue.

At one point during a lag in the conversation, Neville turned to Ron and Hermione and motioned to their locked hands. "You two finally discovered it then?" he asked.

Hermione blushed. "Yes. I don't know how we were so stupid before. Especially me," she added, glancing at Ron, who play-hit her on the arm.

Ginny piped in "Well, I know why it took so long. In third year, when they first got their hormones," she said snickering, and Hermione blushed even more, "they got in such a fuss over that bloody rat. And fourth year Vicky came into the situation and complicated things up. I really don't see how you missed how jealous Ron was, Hermione. And last year, well…" She glanced uneasily at Harry. "Well, things were just complicated. They didn't have time for flirting with O.W.Ls, did they?"

"Speaking of flirting and school work, how are you and Dean going to get on this year, do you think?" asked Luna dreamily.

It was Ginny's turn to blush this time. Harry looked up from the window to hear her response as she said "Well, we're going to try not to bother each other's studies too much. I mean, he hasn't got any tests this year, but I expect it'll be bad, with N.E.W.Ts next year." She paused, thinking. "It's alright though, I'm not too fussed about school work. I don't really care that much to tell you the truth."

Hermione bristled at this, and looked critically at Ginny. "You know what I'm going to say to that Ginny, so I might as well not even bother saying it."

"Ok then, don't say it," said Ginny, leaning back in her seat and looking comfortable.

Neville, Luna and Ron chuckled at Ginny's response, and a companionable silence fell among the group. Harry turned back to the window to gaze, a slight frown on his face.

The train sped northward for the rest of the day and the six companions sat and talked. They talked some more about the summer, and about what was to come in school, and about what might be going on with Voldemort. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny had spent the better part of the summer in Grimauld Place, and while Harry had not listened to anything dark wizard related, the others had a pretty good idea of what was going on.

Eventually the lights flickered out and the train came to a stop in Hogsmeade station. They all got off the train, jostling on the small platform towards the thestral drawn carriages. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna all plopped into the same squishy carriage, and the six of them trundled off towards Hogwarts.

As they approached the castle, Harry gazed out of the carriage window. He could see the glittering lights of the towers, the deep black of the lake reflecting the stars, and a gentle stream of smoke rising from Hagrid's cabin. He sighed. There really was no place like this. He didn't know it yet, but this year at Hogwarts would be his most interesting one yet, full of adventure, torment, discoveries and all new challenges just waiting to be solved. He was not alone, and that was one of the best feelings in the world to him.

And also, he was home.

A/N: Alright, that's chapter 7... Please submit comments and critiques, and again check out my other fanfic New Beginnings (starring Aymie as Ginny!). Ha, anyway, please review!
-FP