The Train Ride

First published on: 11/05/2020

Last edited on: 13/07/2020

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1 September 1991.

Lyra, Susan and Harry woke up as early as 5 A.M and got ready for the day. The Hogwarts Express leaves at 11 A.M, there's no need for them to rush. But Amelia has to leave for work, so they have to reach there by 10 A.M at max. With all their luggage packed and rechecked, by the time they had breakfast together with Amelia and Minny, it was already 8 A.M.

"Mistress, Minny has good news to tell", Minny was smiling as she held a camera.

"What is it, Minny? And why the camera?" Amelia inquired as she stood up from her seat. Meanwhile, the trio looked at Minny with interest in what she had to tell.

"Minny is with child!", she excitedly explained, "And Camera is to take pictures of little mistress, Miss Susan and Mister Harry. "

"""Wait what?""" The trio was shocked.

"Why are you guys shocked?, Minny is married to Az for more than a decade already. And Minny, you don't have to do the household chores until your child is born.", Amelia said.

"Who's Az?", Harry was confused.

"Wait! Do you mean Az? Carina's personal elf? How in the world?" Lyra was too shocked by this piece of news.

But Amelia only mysteriously smiled and didn't say anything else, while Harry asked another question, "Who's Carina?"

"That would be Draco's twin sister... The boy you met at Madam Malkins' shop. Carina was there too", Lyra explained.

"Pictures!", Minny reminded, and the trio stood went for a group hug and stood smiling for Minny to take a few snaps. Amelia too joined the trio for one picture.

Then the four of them left in Amelia's car for King's Cross Station. They reached their destination exactly at 10 A.M. Harry, Susan and Lyra stood out among the crowd as they searched for platform 9 3/4.

"Kids, there's no way you would find Platform 9 3/4 like this. You just have to pass through the wall between 9 and 10. Don't worry, you won't hit the wall. Who goes first then?", Amelia asked the trio.

Since the other two didn't come forward, Lyra hardened her heart and rushed forward with her luggage towards the wall. She expected to crash into the wall, but since the wasn't any pain she concluded that she successfully passed through and opened her eyes. What greeted her was a lively platform full of people and a red streaming train which was labelled as 'Hogwarts Express'.

She turned around and looked back towards the direction she came from and saw a board hanging on the top of the wall, 'Platform 9 3/4'. Just at that time, Harry appeared from the wall followed by Susan and at last Amelia.

The trio gave Amelia one last hug, and after Amelia left they settled down in a compartment at the end of the train as Lyra couldn't bother to search for some free compartment in the front.

The trio chatted for a bit and after some time, Hannah came and invited Susan to go sit with her. Lyra didn't go as Harry would be left alone if she went (and she wasn't that close with Hannah anyway).

Lyra noticed that there was a store selling Daily Prophet and wanted to buy a copy, so both Lyra and Harry went down the train.

"Look, Harry! You made the front page!", Lyra noticed that there was an article dedicated to Harry on the front page of the paper.

"Ly, I wouldn't buy your joke" Harry didn't believe it.

But Lyra didn't respond to him as she silently read the front page of the newspaper.

"You're for real? Me? Why?" Harry didn't know why he would be at the front page and peeked at the newspaper.

"Of course... You're THE Harry Potter after all. The Savior. It's news to the Wizarding world that you're starting Hogwarts this year.", Lyra teased Harry.

After the duo spent some time teasing each other back and forth they decided to return to their compartment, but as they moved towards the door, they bumped into someone.

"Sorry...", both Lyra and Harry apologised.

"It's-"

"Alright-"

"That's what -"

"Others would say".

A pair of red-headed twins alternatively said.

"So, what would you guys say then?", Lyra asked as Harry rubbed his head.

"Owe us one", they said together.

Before Lyra could even answer, "What's that?" said one of the twins suddenly, pointing at Harry's lightning scar.

"Blimey," said the other twin. "Are you -?"

"He is," said the first twin. "Aren't you?" he added to Harry.

"What?" said Harry.

"Harry Potter." chorused the twins.

"Oh, him," said Harry. "I mean, yes, I am."

The two boys gawked at him, and Harry felt himself turning red.

As soon as she saw that, Lyra couldn't restrain her laughter anymore.

"Oh, Harry... you really are famous, alright..."

The twins then turned to her and asked, "You are?"

"Oh, me? I'm Lyra"

Just as she was about to ask them their names, a voice came floating.

"Fred? George? Are you there?"

"Coming, mom"

With one last look at Harry, the twins went off and Lyra and Harry boarded the train.

Harry sat down next to the window and started to look outside.

Lyra sat next to him and saw that he was looking outside and stretched her head out to see what he was looking at and noticed that it was the Red-headed twins along with their family. She too decided to see what they were doing as she felt that the twins were interesting.

Their mother had just taken out her handkerchief.

"Ron, you've got something on your nose."

The youngest boy tried to jerk out of the way, but she grabbed him and began rubbing the end of his nose.

"Mom - geroff" He wriggled free.

"Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got some ink on his nose?" said one of the twins.

"Shut up," said Ron.

"Where's Percy?" said their mother.

"He's coming now."

The oldest boy came striding into sight. He had already changed into his billowing black Hogwarts robes, and Lyra noticed that he had worn a Prefect's Badge.

"Can't stay too long, mother," he said. "I'm upfront, the prefects have got two compartments to themselves -"

"Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?" said one of the twins with an air of surprise. "You should have said something, we had no idea."

"Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it," said the other twin. "Once -"

"Or twice -"

"A minute -"

"All summer -"

"Oh, shut up," said Percy the Prefect.

"How come Percy gets new robes, anyway?" said one of the twins.

"Because he's a prefect," said their mother fondly. "All right, dear, well, have a good term - send me an owl when you get there."

She kissed Percy on the cheek and he left. Then she turned to the twins.

"Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet."

"Great idea though, thanks, Mom."

"It's not funny. And look after Ron."

"Don't worry, ickle Ronniekins is safe with us."

"Shut up," said Ron again. He was almost as tall as the twins already and his nose was still pink where his mother had rubbed it.

"Hey, Mom, guess what? Guess who we just met?"

Hearing this, Harry leaned back quickly so they couldn't see him looking and Lyra chuckled at Harry's antics.

"Who?"

"Harry Potter!"

"Oh, Mom, can I go on the train and see him, Mom, eh please....", Lyra could hear a little girl's voice. Lyra teasingly looked at Harry again and he turned away from her and his face turned red in embarrassment.

"Ginny, the poor boy isn't something you goggle at in a zoo. Is he really, Fred? How do you know?"

"Asked him. Saw his scar. It's really there - like lightning."

"Poor dear"

"Do you think he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like?"

Their mother suddenly became very stern and said, "I forbid you to ask him, Fred. No, don't you dare. As though he needs reminding of that on his first day at school."

"All right, keep your hair on."

A whistle sounded.

"Hurry up!" their mother said, and the three boys clambered onto the train. They leaned out of the window for her to kiss them good-bye, and their younger sister began to cry.

"Don't, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls."

"We'll send you a Hogwarts' toilet seat."

"George!"

"Only joking, Mom."

The train began to move. Harry and Lyra saw the boys' mother waving and their sister, half laughing, half crying, running to keep up with the train until it gathered too much speed, then she fell back and waved.

Lyra stopped looking and turned towards Harry.

"They're an interesting bunch, aren't they?" Lyra asked Harry as she rested her head on her hand and with a smile on her face.

Her smile infected Harry, and he too smiled and answered, "Yeah, they are."

"Excited for school?", Lyra asked and Harry nodded.

"Well, Young man, one day you'll realise that 'Home' is the best place to be at rather than school", Lyra said with a dramatic effect.

Hearing this, Harry's smile fell, "I don't have a home, Ly."

"Seriously, Harry? What the hell do you consider the place where you stayed for the past month as? An Inn? Is that what it is to you? If it's not home then what is? Your Muggle Aunt's place? Are we not your family? Am I not your sister?" Lyra said.

Harry was stunned at her outburst but felt warm at her words.

"Uh-That Harry, I meant... like only if you think of me as your sister, if you don't, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude or anything," Lyra was berating herself for shouting at him.

"Of course, you can be my sister. Well, you already are!"

Just at that time, the door of the compartment slid open and the youngest red-headed boy from earlier came in.

"Anyone sitting there," he said, pointing at the seat opposite to them, "Everywhere else is full."

Both Lyra and Harry shook their heads and the boy sat down. He glanced at the two of them and quickly looked out of the window, pretending he didn't. Lyra saw that he still had a black mark on his nose and snickered to herself.

"Hey, Ron."

The twins were back.

"Listen, we're going down the middle of the train - Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down there."

"Right," mumbled Ron.

"Lyra, Harry," said the other twin, "did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And this is Ron, our brother. See you later, then."

"Bye," said Harry, Ron and Lyra. The twins slid the compartment door shut behind them.

Ron looked at Harry then at Lyra and then back at Harry and then asked, "Are you really Harry Potter?"

Harry nodded and Lyra said, "He is, alright? The Greatest Harry Potter, that is..."

"Ly... That's enough," Harry rolled his eyes.

"Alright, alright. But I'm never going to stop enjoying this... haha.."

"It's true then... Oh - well, I thought it might be one of Fred and George's jokes," said Ron. "And have you really got - you know..."

He pointed at Harry's forehead.

Harry pulled back his bangs to show the lightning scar. Ron stared.

"So that's where You-Know-Who -?"

"Yes," said Harry, "but I can't remember it."

Ron looked like he was about to ask more, but Lyra knew that this was a sensitive subject to Harry and decided to interfere.

"Well, now that you've come to know Harry, let me formally introduce myself. I'm Lyra. Lyra Bones", Lyra said as she extended her hand.

"I'm Ron. Ronald Weasley," Ron shook her hand. "Wait, are you that Lyra Bones? I mean, Madam Bones' daughter?"

"Exactly," Lyra confirmed his suspicions.

No one noticed that the rat which was pretending to sleep in Ron's pocket was fidgeting a little nervously.

"So - your father, is he a muggle or muggle-born wizard? I'm not prejudiced or anything, I'm just curious, you know?"

"Can I choose not to answer your question?"

"Well - er, Okay"

Lyra was curious about the Weasley family, although she heard from her mom that Arthur Weasley, most likely Ron's father was a nice Wizard, she wanted to know more about the four brothers. But as she was eavesdropping on them earlier, she couldn't reveal that she knew he had 4 siblings.

"How many brothers do you have exactly, Ron?"

"Five," said Ron who was looking gloomy for some reason, "I'm sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left - Bill was head boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat."

Ron reached inside his jacket and pulled out a fat grey rat, which was asleep.

"His name's Scabbers and he's useless, he hardly ever wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad for being made a prefect, but they couldn't aff - I mean, I got Scabbers instead."

Ron's ears went pink. He seemed to think he'd said too much because he went back to staring out of the window.

Neither Lyra nor Harry felt that there was anything wrong with not being able to afford an owl.

"Are all your family wizards?" asked Harry, who found Ron just as interesting as Ron found him.

"Er - Yes, I think so," said Ron. "I think Mom's got a second cousin who's an accountant, but we never talk about him."

"So you must know loads of magic already."

"I heard you went to live with Muggles," said Ron. "What are they like?"

"Horrible - well, not all of them. My aunt and uncle and cousin are, though. Well, now I think my aunt's not bad compared to the other two, but still, I wish I'd had an all wizard family."

Then Harry told all about his life at the Dursleys.

"...and until Hagrid told me, I didn't know anything about being a wizard or about my parents or Voldemort -"

Ron gasped.

"What?" both Harry and Lyra asked.

"You said You-Know-Who's name!" said Ron, sounding both shocked and impressed. "I'd have thought you, of all people -"

"I'm not trying to be brave or anything, saying the name," said Harry, "I just never knew you shouldn't. See what I mean? I've got loads to learn.... I bet," he added, voicing for the first time something that had been worrying him a lot lately, "I bet I'm the worst in the class."

"Harry, I dare say, if you're the worst in class, I'll never eat chocolate in my life ever again. And what are you worried about, we had studied a bit during the past month, didn't we? There's no way you're lagging behind. And don't be scared of saying Voldy's name. It's not that we're not supposed to, it's just he put a taboo on his name during the war. "

Ron couldn't stop laughing no matter how terrified he was of Voldemort. She had called him 'Voldy' after all. Harry too cheered up, as he knew when Lyra dared to swear on not eating chocolate, it meant she was really serious.

While they had been talking, the train had carried them out of London. Now they were speeding past fields full of cows and sheep. They were quiet for a time, watching the fields and lanes flick past.

Lyra got bored and took out the Daily Prophet for a quick read. That's when she noticed an article titled, 'Restless Criminals, Nyx family Targeted?'.

It mentioned that according to the intel provided by the Greek Ministry of Magic, an international criminal organisation, who call themselves as 'aiónia theristiká' ('αιώνια θεριστικά' or ' Eternal Reapers' or 'Reapers' in short) have infiltrated into Britain and their possible target might be the Nyx Family, who recently immigrated to Britain from Greece.

Lyra had a bad feeling when she read this piece of news. As she was pondering on who these so-called 'Criminals' might be and whether or not their activities would affect her mum in any way, there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything off the cart, dears?"

Ron's ears went pink again and he muttered that he'd brought sandwiches. Harry and Lyra went out into the corridor. The woman had Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and many more.

Lyra bought lots and lots of chocolate frogs, and a few pumpkin pastries, while Harry bought a little of everything.

Harry and Ron shared their food and ate, but Lyra just ate up her pastries and put all the chocolate frogs she had into her moleskin pouch.

Justat that time, someone knocked on the door and Lyra, who was near the door stood up and slid open the door to see Susan, Carina, Daphane and Hannah. They pulled her out to change into their robes. It took a while for them to change as they chatted their way through it. After changing, Lyra pulled Carina to the side and asked her in a whisper, "Did Az tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"That he's going to become a father?", Lyra clarified.

"Az becoming a father....?" Carina looked visibly confused but it soon turned into surprise, "Wait! Az is married?! This is news to me... But if it's true, I'm happy for him. I don't think my parents are aware of it either. Don't mention this in front of Draco, else Az would be punished. By the way, who's his wife?"

"It's Minny"

"Lyra, then don't you think... we are considered family now?!"

"Of course," Lyra said, but what she didn't tell out loud was, "Even if Minny and Az weren't married, we are relatives by blood."

After that little conversation, everyone returned to their respective compartments except for Carina who followed Lyra just to see Harry, the boy who lived. When she came with the others before, she couldn't actually get a good look at the boy, about whom Lyra had been writing so much in their letters the past month.

When they got near Lyra's compartment, they could hear the all-too-familiar, mean voice of Draco, "Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."

Before Lyra could even react, Carina rushed inside the compartment and pulled Draco by his ear, "Draco, how many times do I have to tell you not to be rude? If you do this again, then I would never talk to you."

"Why are you supporting him instead of me? You're my sister, alright? And, it was him who laughed at my name first, why do I have to be polite to him when he laughed at my name? And I just told him whatever father had said about his family. Do you mean that father is wrong, then?", Draco reasoned as he wriggled out of his sister's grasp.

"Yes, Draco. It is not right to judge someone like that. So, father is certainly in the wrong here. And for saying that, you're wrong too. So, you should apologise, Draco."

"No! Father can never be wrong! And I'm not wrong either. I won't apologise!", Draco yelled and stormed off with two of his minions.

After Draco left, Carina turned towards Ron and Harry and apologised with a bitter smile, "Sorry about that. My brother could be a bit rude..."

"It's alright", Harry said as he looked towards Ron, and Ron too nodded along.

"We just hope, it doesn't become a problem for you. He's you brother, after all," Harry said, little concerned.

"Ah, that, don't worry. He'll come apologising to me within a few hours. He had never been mad at me more than half an hour until now," Carina just shrugged in the most natural way, making Lyra wonder if Carina always got her way in her family, with that innocent little face.

"Oh look at me, I haven't even introduced myself yet, sorry about that. I'm Carina and the surname's Malfoy." Carina stretched her hand out to the two boys.

They just chatted a bit, and then Carina bid farewell to the three of them and left.

After a few minutes of silence Ron asked, "So, you've met Malfoy before?", and a girl slid open the compartment's door.

She had lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth, but instead of talking, she just looked at the trio. "You'd better hurry up and put your robes on, I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there," she paused, then looked towards Lyra and said, "Seems like you have already put on yours... I'm Hermione Granger, by the way. And you are?"

"I'm Lyra", Lyra smiled as she replied.

But Ron was so eager about whether Harry knew Draco or not, so Harry had to tell Ron about how he, Draco and Lyra had met on that day at Diagon Alley.

Then Ron turned towards Lyra, "You're friends with Draco Malfoy?"

"Do I look like an idiot?", Lyra asked and Ron shook his head.

"Then how could I possibly be friends with him? But the other Malfoy though is one of my best friends. She's a nice person, totally different from the whole Malfoy family. Sometimes makes me wonder if she was adopted."

"Yeah, his sister does seem like a nice person, totally unlike what my dad has said about his family. The Malfoys were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been bewitched. My dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoy's father didn't need an excuse to go over to the Dark Side."

"Who are you guys talking about?", Hermione asked.

"""Draco Malfoy""", the three unitedly said with a distaste.

"You guys change, I'll wait outside for a few minutes.", Lyra said and went outside the compartment along with Hermione. Hermione left for her own compartment, while Lyra wandered towards the Lavatory.

When she returned, she could hear Ron say, "- but imagine if they put me in Slytherin?"

"What Ron? Will you not talk to me if I'm in Slytherin?", Lyra asked Ron as she entered.

"You? In Slytherin? No way..."

"Just say, if I am put in Slytherin"

"It's not possible...."

"Just say what if..."

"Then you'll be in an awful position. That house is full of bad people"

"Not everyone in Slytherin is bad, Ron. There are nice people there too."

"Then what about Malfoy? He's a bad person and He'd certainly be in Slytherin"

"Well, you got a point there, Ron. Draco is really a handful, but his sister is a nice girl though."

When she noticed Ron's aversion towards Slytherin, a thought formed in Lyra's mind. "Ronald, Harry, if possible, like... if the choice was given to us, let's go over to Slytherin. The three of us together in Slytherin, it'd be fun, what do you say? No pressure though"

"No problem with me, Ly," Harry said.

"What about you, Ron?"

"Me...? In Slytherin?"

"Don't worry, if any of the mean wizards try to attack, I'll protect you two like the badass I am!" Lyra declared with a dramatic effect and the three of them shared a laugh at that.

But a few minutes later, Lyra noticed that Harry was somewhat out of it and asked, "What is it, Harry?"

"I was just wondering in which house my parents were in..."

"They were Gryffindors, Harry. My father was one too. But my mother's a Ravenclaw," she noticed that he was looking worried and realised what he was worried about, "Don't worry Harry, they'd be proud of you and love you from wherever they are, no matter what house you are going to be in."

"Thanks, Ly. I really needed that." Harry smiled at Lyra and gave her a small hug.

Just at that time, a voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

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(A/N: That's it... And that was a lot of copy-paste with little modifications. A total of 2515 words)