CH 141

Hermione turned to Harry as he walked up and said, "How do I look, Harry?"

"Gahhh!" cried Harry feigning terror. Turning to Cygnus he said, "Cygnus, help! She asked me one of those questions!"

Smirking back, Cygnus said, "Sorry, Harry; you're on your own. This is one of those character building moments."

Showing mock-disappointment Harry turned back to face Hermione. He could see she was standing there glaring at him with her hands on her hips. And so was Daphne.

"Errr - Ummm..." said Harry. "You look wonderful, Hermione."

"Uh-huh. And why is that, Harry? What have you noticed different about me?" she ominously asked. "Ummm - You've grown a little taller..." he said.

"Keep going..." she said.

"Ummm - Your hair is looking really nice. Errr - It looks like your new shampoo is really working for you," he tried.

"Getting better, but you're not there yet," she said.

Having a brainwave, he said, "Sorry, Hermione. But, you see that lovely young lady standing next to you? We're betrothed, see? And - I only have eyes for her; no one else. What I said is about all I can possibly notice."

Both sets of hands left hips. Hermione crossed her arms and looked back at Harry with a bit of a smirk. "Nice save, Mister Potter." Harry's hand flashed up to pat himself on the chest as he rocked back a couple of short steps. "I survived! Sweet Merlin, I survived one of those questions without being hexed!"

The adults chuckled and Isabel ruffled his hair. "Good answer."

The Granger parents left a little later and the Greengrasses escorted the three kids through to the barrier. Hermione was in front with her own trolley and case on top. This time she had a pet carrier with what Harry assumed was an orange tortoiseshell cat inside. Daphne was walking alongside Harry who was pushing the trolley with the two cases on top.

Hermione passed through the barrier and Harry confidently pushed the trolley to the wall; and ran into it. He nearly somersaulted over the handle of the trolley and banged his forehead on the top trunk. He came away with a slight cut over his eye.

"Ow!" he cried.

"What in Merlin's name?" said Cygnus.

Harry backed the trolley away a little to make sure everything was okay. As surreptitiously as possible, Isabel held his head up facing her by his chin and used a minor healing charm, Episkey, to heal the cut.

Cygnus then gently pushed the trolley until it began to pass through the barrier. With a shrug, he pushed right through. Daphne also successfully passed through.

Once the healing was done, Harry walked up to the barrier and stuck his hand out first. The wall was solid.

Isabel pulled him back and said, "Wait." She then walked up to the barrier and shoved her hand through until it looked like she was leaning against the wall. With her arm through the wall to her shoulder she gestured for Harry to walk through. He was able to pass through and Isabel followed him.

On the platform the others were waiting anxiously.

"What was that?" asked Harry.

"It must be malfunctioning," said Cygnus.

"No," said Harry shaking his head. "It was only blocked when Itried to pass through. If it wasn't for Isabel sticking her arm through and holding it there I have no doubt I'd still be out on the other side.

"Someone deliberately tried to prevent me getting on to the platform. What else could it be?" "I'll be heading to the Ministry after you depart," said Cygnus. "I'm going to get someone to come and check the barrier and see if there's a malfunction; or, if someone really has tampered with it. It should only do that if a muggle tries to walk through."

"Well, we're now running a bit late," said Isabel. "You kids need to find your friends now or find them once you're on the train."

Hermione and Daphne nodded and led them down the length of the platform looking for the other four. They found them down near the rear of the train.

"You're late," said Susan. "What happened?"

"Trouble with the barrier," replied Daphne. "Harry couldn't get through."

"There was a problem with the barrier?" asked Aunt Amelia. Cygnus nodded and said, "I intend to head directly into the Ministry and see if they can get someone out here to have a look at what happened."

"I'm heading directly in, too," said Aunt Amelia. "I'll join you."

"I think someone might have keyed it to reject me from entering," said Harry. "Maybe, have me seem as if I was a muggle and was refused?"

"Possible," said Cygnus. "I'll find out."

The Seven quickly boarded the train and found a compartment near the rear again.

Harry had his note out and stuck to the outside of the door while Neville and the girls were sorting themselves out inside.

Once done he entered, closed and locked the door. Sitting in the spot waiting for him next to Daphne, he took seat. Turning to the now locked door he placed the Door Sealing Charm on it and sat back.

"Well, that was a little excitement for the morning," he said.

"I've never heard of the barrier failing before," said Daphne. "It's a little worrying."

"There's always the slim possibility of it happening or failing altogether," said Susan. "That's why there's an emergency exit a little further along the platform. It's just a normal door that leads into a janitor's workroom, which then exits onto the outside Platform 9."

"Good to know," said Harry.

They were about an hour into the journey when Harry excused himself to go to the toilet. As he was returning he ran across a young blonde haired girl with almost silver eyes who was dragging her trunk behind her. He noticed she was wearing small radishes as earrings. Her wand was tucked behind her right ear.

"Hello," he said. "Didn't like the people you were sitting with?"

"No. They demanded I leave," she said in a soft dreamy voice. "I have no idea why."

"Hmmm..." said Harry. "Well, we have one spare seat in our compartment. You can come and sit with us, I guess."

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