Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or his universe, if I did I would be really and truly filthy rich.

Author's Note: Sorry for the overlong hiatus, I have a really involved voluntary job (basically a full time job without the pay part). I also had severe writers block, but I've been re-reading Order of the Phoenix and now the spark of inspiration is back! Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Holly had completely forgotten that Ron and Hermione would need to go the Prefect's carriage. So after a hasty goodbye she made her way down the aisle looking for an empty seat. Most of the booths were filled already, Holly walked past them swiftly, and she could already hear the shocked gasps and see the pointing fingers in her peripheral vision. Even having peripheral vision was strange. It felt like an eternity before she reached the end of the train where a very awkward looking Neville sat opposite a girl with her face covered by a magazine. Holly was startled to see it was upside down, and could make out it was called "The Quibbler". Neville seemed relieved to see her, and she felt the same, even going so far as to hug him, which made him blush to his ears.

Holly had always liked Neville; he was such a naturally good person. Sweet, generous, she'd always be grateful for the Gillyweed he suggested during the Tri-Wizard. She'd gone to the Yule Ball with him last year, and though he'd stepped on her toes a few times, they'd had a decent time. It wasn't at all romantic, just two friends having a night out, and they'd ended up talking about Quidditch and Chocolate Frog Cards. Neville had no predisposition to judge; even though she was famous he never treated her differently. Especially now after the summer of the smear campaign he was chatting to her amiably, as if nothing had happened. Holly didn't speak much, just enjoyed listening to Neville talk about the plants he had discovered over the summer, including a strange moving Cactus he said was a "Mimbelus Mimbletonia". It was rather cute. He offered to show her its defence mechanism but she declined.

The girl opposite still had her magazine glued to her face, Hermione would probably have considered it rude, but Holly thought she may be shy. After two hours the food cart came around and still Ron and Hermione had not arrived. Holly got herself a pumpkin pasty and a chocolate frog as well as an assortment of sweets, she didn't know if Ron would get a chance to use the cart. Neville settled for a cauldron cake, the pale blond girl opposite didn't move, still hypnotised by her magazine. The only reason Holly knew she wasn't body bound was she flicked the page occasionally. Holly and Neville chatted about Quidditch, classes, careers, anything and everything. It was another hour before Ron and Hermione arrived.

"Oh hello Neville! So sorry we took so long Holly, this year's Head Boy and Girl take their duties very seriously. They gave us a very thorough briefing."

"Yeah", said Ron "It was dead boring, has the food cart been?"

Holly presented Ron with her sweet assortment, he murmured thanks through a mouthful of fizzing whizzbies. Hermione took the seat next to Holly and Neville but Ron had to sit on the magazine girl's side. He didn't look very comfortable and shot occasional furtive glances her way. After another half an hour Ginny came into the compartment to visit, and to hand Ron his corned beef sandwich.

"I know you won't eat it but Mum said to give this to you. Hello Luna, how was your summer?"

The platinum blond girl lowered her paper to reveal she was wearing a pair of off paper spectacles. Holly couldn't help noticing the eyes behind were large and blue, and she wore a pair of turnips for earrings and a necklace of butterbeer corks. She found she rather liked the necklace.

"Oh" she said, as if she only just noticed she was in a booth full of people "Hello Ginerva. Yes it was quite good, Daddy and I went searching for the Crumple Horned Snorkack, we think we've found some genuine evidence."

"That's great. Everyone, this is Luna Lovegood, she's in my year but in Ravenclaw. Luna, this is my brother Ron, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom and Holly Potter, they're in the year above us."

Luna's eyes fixed on Holly and she said "You're Holly Potter."

"Yes" Holly answered, waiting for the tirade of abuse she thought was to come.

"You went into the Lake last year."

Holly didn't know where this was going "Yes I did..."

"Then you must have seen the Merpeople's Undewater Mithril Mine."

There was a stunned silence.

"Mine?"

"Oh yes, the Ministry's Beast Control Department forces the Merpeople to mine for mithril so they can bribe the Goblin's at Gringotts, otherwise they will be rounded up and tagged."

Hermione scoffed "Oh that's complete rubbish. I think we'd have noticed if the Merpeople had been enslaved by the Ministry. Also, there is no such thing as a Crumple Horned Snorkack! But no wonder you believe all that tosh, reading a conspiracy rag like The Quibbler."

"Actually, my father is the Editor" Luna said coolly.

Hermione blushed, her tongue had gotten her into trouble "Oh."

Holly decided to answer the question.

"I'm sorry Luna, I was pretty focused on finding Ron last year, I didn't have much of a chance to look around. For all I know there could have been mines down there."

Hermione glared at her, but Holly was more willing to admit the possibility of the impossible than Hermione.

"Oh that's alright Holly" she said, brightening "I plan to go looking myself this year, there is plenty of Gillyweed growing in the lake."

The blank look on Neville's face cleared at the mention of the plant.

"Gillyweed? Do you like herbology? I've got a Mimbelus Mimbletonia here my Uncle got me..."

Surprisingly, Luna and Neville began to chat between themselves about Herbology, and the experimental plants her father bred, including something called "Dirigible Plums". It was as if there was no one else in the carriage.

It began to get dark and Ron and Neville left the carriage for the toilets to allow the girls to change into their robes. The lights of Hogwarts appeared in the distance and suddenly a knot that had been in Holly's stomach since the trial loosened. She was home, a part of her had felt like she would blink and be back in that courtroom, watching her wand get snapped and being sent back to the Dursley's forever.

They filed out of the train as it reached Hogwarts and Holly noticed that there was no sign of Hagrid, instead, Professor Vector was there herding the first years into the boats. The older students walked towards the carriages with the invisible horses, except, they weren't invisible anymore. Black skeletal horses with leathery wings now occupied the bridles, with frightening glowing eyes.

"What are those?!" she said, her voice unsteady.

"What are what Holly? There's nothing there?" said Hermione, looking at her with a worried expression.

"The weird horses at the front of the carriages!" Holly exclaimed, pointing right at them.

"We don't see anything mate, are you feeling alright?" asked Ron, a frown on his forehead.

Holly felt like ice, was she going mad?

"Don't worry, you're not mad, I can see them too."

Holly looked over at Luna who for some reason had Ron's own Pigwidgeon on her shoulder.

"You can?"

"Yes, I've always been able to see them. You're just as sane as I am" she said, smiling dreamily before stepping into the carriage.

Holly hesitated and then followed.

Author's Note: Hope you liked it, please read and review!