The Tenth Weasley - CH - 49

The morning of September 1st at the Weasley Manor was as chaotic as ever. Despite knowing for weeks that this was the day they were leaving for Hogwarts, the Weasleys still managed to scramble at the last minute, stuffing robes into trunks, searching for lost books, and running around in a flurry of panic.

"Has anyone seen my wand?" Ron yelled, pulling apart the cushions of the living room sofa.

"Check under your bed!" Percy called from upstairs, his voice muffled as he double-checked his own belongings.

Fred and George, who had already packed the night before (or rather, stuffed everything haphazardly into their trunks), were sitting on the kitchen counter, eating toast and watching the madness unfold with amusement.

“This happens every year,” Fred said lazily, biting into his toast.

“It’s tradition at this point,” George added, shaking his head as Ron tripped over his own trunk in his rush.

Unlike his siblings, Harry was already fully prepared. His trunk was packed and waiting by the door, his owl cage secured, and his robes neatly folded inside his trunk. He had grown used to the Weasley way of doing things over the years, but he still couldn’t understand how they managed to be late for everything, even something as important as the first day of school.

What made this morning even worse was that they were waiting for the Potters.

Molly and Lily had made an agreement that their families would go to King’s Cross Station together. This meant they had to delay their departure until the Potters arrived. The extra wait made the already chaotic morning even more stressful.

“Molly, are you sure we have to wait for them?” Arthur asked as he levitated another trunk towards the front door.

“Yes, dear,” Molly said, tying a scarf around Ginny’s neck. “Lily and I agreed on this. Besides, Rose and Ginny will be starting together, and it’s nice for them to travel with family.”

Harry sighed and leaned against the doorframe. It wasn’t that he had anything against Rose, but the thought of traveling with the Potters for even a moment made his stomach twist. Ever since the summer at the manor, the Potters had been suffocating him with their attempts to reconnect, and Harry wanted nothing more than to avoid them.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the Potters arrived. James and Lily stepped through the Floo first, followed closely by Charlie and Rose.

“Morning, everyone!” James said cheerfully, clapping Arthur on the back. “Ready for another exciting year?”

“You’re late,” Molly said with a stern look, but she softened quickly. “Never mind that. We need to get going, or we’ll miss the train.”

Lily bent down to fuss over Rose, straightening her Hogwarts robes. “Are you excited, darling? Your first year at Hogwarts! You’ll love it.”

Rose nodded eagerly, already deep in conversation with Ginny. The two youngest girls were buzzing with excitement, talking about everything they had heard about Hogwarts.

"I hope we get sorted into Gryffindor!" Ginny said, her eyes sparkling.

"Me too!" Rose agreed. "Charlie says it's the best house."

Harry rolled his eyes and turned away. He wasn’t in the mood for more Potter-Weasley bonding time.

“Alright, everyone, into the car!” Arthur called out, ushering the group towards the enchanted Weasley car.

The vehicle had been modified so extensively that it easily accommodated all of them without feeling crowded. As they all piled in, the trunk compartments expanded to hold their luggage, and the seats adjusted automatically to give them enough space.

James sat beside Arthur in the front, discussing something about Quidditch, while Molly and Lily sat in the middle row, chatting about the upcoming year.

Harry, as usual, ended up sitting next to Charlie Potter.

It was going to be a long ride.

The journey toward King’s Cross Station was unbearably awkward for Harry. He sat stiffly in his seat, surrounded by nothing but Gryffindors. His own family—Arthur, Molly, Percy, Fred, George and Ron—were all in Gryffindor. The Potters—James, Lily and Charlie—were all Gryffindors.Ginny and Rose are hoping to be a Griffindor. And then there was him, the only Slytherin, sitting in the middle of the car like some kind of outcast.

Every time James Potter spoke, Harry had to hold back the urge to roll his eyes. James had a habit of insulting Slytherins casually, as if it were second nature.

“- and I told him, of course Slytherins would cheat their way through the tournament, it’s what they do.”

“James,” Lily hissed, giving him a sharp jab in the ribs with her elbow.

James blinked, then suddenly remembered. “Oh, right. Sorry, Harry.” He grinned sheepishly, but Harry didn’t miss the condescension behind it.

It wasn’t genuine. It was the kind of apology someone gave when they didn’t actually mean it—when they just wanted to move on without taking responsibility.

Harry clenched his jaw. This was exactly why he hated being around the Potters. They still saw him as an outsider, as something that needed fixing, rather than someone who simply belonged in Slytherin.

Then Rose Potter, in her usual innocent, curious voice, piped up.

“Harry, what kind of dark curses do you know?”

Silence filled the car.

Harry’s stomach twisted as every single head turned toward him. Even Arthur, who was in the front, glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

Harry blinked at Rose. “What?” he asked, his voice sharp.

Rose looked completely serious, as if she were asking about his favorite Quidditch team instead of something that could get him locked in Azkaban.

“Well,” she continued, oblivious to the tension in the air, “I **heard Dad and Mum talking about how you know dark magic, and that Professor Dumbledore is keeping an eye on you, and that—”

“That’s enough, Rose!” Lily snapped, her tone more panicked than angry.

Rose frowned but went quiet, her gaze flicking between Harry and her parents in confusion.

Harry leaned back in his seat, his arms crossed. He could feel everyone's eyes on him, waiting for him to react.

So Dumbledore had told the Potters about his connection with Quirrell.

So James and Lily were gossiping about him behind his back.

So even their youngest daughter thought he was some kind of dark wizard.

Harry forced a smirk onto his face, even though he was boiling with frustration.

“Well, if I do know any dark curses,” he said casually, “I certainly wouldn’t teach them to a first-year.”

Rose’s eyes widened in disappointment.

Ginny, who was sitting beside Rose, immediately grabbed her arm and whispered, “Told you not to ask.”

Lily looked mortified and was about to say something when James chuckled nervously.

“Kids say the darndest things, huh?”

Harry’s jaw tightened.

He had never wanted to get out of this car so badly in his life.

At King’s Cross Station, Harry found himself marveling at the grandeur of Platform 9¾, despite having seen it before. It was a bustling, chaotic hub of witches and wizards, all preparing to send off their children to Hogwarts.

Wizards and witches wore robes of all kinds—some in bright, clashing colors, others in elegant, tailored garments that looked centuries old. Some students carried broomsticks slung over their shoulders, while others dragged heavy trunks, their parents fussing over them.

Amidst the lively chaos, the Weasleys stood as a unified group—their matching fiery hair making them easy to spot. But what made them even more distinct was how loud and affectionate they were with one another, unlike the pureblood families who carried themselves with formality and pride.

As Harry stood with his own family, he caught sight of the Greengrass family approaching.

Daphne Greengrass walked ahead, her usual calm and composed demeanor unchanged. Behind her, a younger girl—Astoria Greengrass—followed closely, her eyes wide with curiosity.

The Greengrass parents looked poised and elegant, dressed in fine robes of deep green and silver embroidery, clearly marking their pureblood status. Unlike the boisterous greetings of other families, the Greengrasses exchanged subtle nods and formal pleasantries.

Daphne introduced Harry politely to her family.

“Father, Mother, you know Harry Weasley, my friend from Hogwarts,” she said, her tone measured and respectful.

Lord Greengrass nodded approvingly, though there was a flicker of calculated interest in his gaze.

“A pleasure, Mr. Weasley,” he said in a smooth, cultured voice. “Daphne has told much about you.”

Lady Greengrass, standing beside him, smiled politely but did not speak.

Astoria, however, seemed more curious than her parents. She tilted her head slightly and asked, “You’re in Slytherin, right?”

Harry smirked slightly. “That’s right.”

Astoria looked impressed and nudged Daphne. “I told you, he wouldn’t be like the rest of them.”

Daphne sighed, as if already exhausted by her younger sister’s antics.

Harry, suppressing his amusement, nodded at Astoria. “You’re starting this year?”

Astoria nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! And I’m hoping for Slytherin.”

Lord Greengrass placed a firm hand on Astoria’s shoulder, his expression unreadable. “That would be a fine placement,” he said simply.

After exchanging a few more formalities, the Greengrasses bid farewell to their daughters, and Daphne and Astoria boarded the train alongside Harry.

As they made their way through the corridor, Harry felt the familiar excitement of returning to Hogwarts, but this time, there was a lingering tension in the air—the weight of what had happened last year, the growing suspicions around him, and the uncertainty of what awaited them this time.

As soon as the Hogwarts Express pulled away from the station, the students began splitting into their own groups.

Fred and George disappeared first, eager to meet their friend Lee Jordan and discuss their latest pranks and mischief. Their departure was expected, as the twins rarely sat still for long, especially during train rides.

Meanwhile, Charlie, Neville, and Ron—dubbed the Mini-Marauders—were already running up and down the corridors, plotting their next adventure. Their voices could be heard echoing through the train, occasionally followed by laughter or an exasperated shout from a prefect telling them to settle down.

Charlie, in particular, kept circling back to Harry, trying to convince him to join the Mini-Marauders.

“Come on, Harry,” Charlie said, grinning as he leaned against the compartment door. “Think about it. We’re expanding! The Mini-Marauders could use a Slytherin.”

Harry chuckled, shaking his head. “I think I’ll pass. You know, some of us actually like peace and quiet.”

Charlie groaned dramatically. “You sound just like Percy.”

“I do not,” Harry shot back, glaring. “I just don’t feel the need to run around causing mayhem.”

Neville grinned. “That’s a shame. We were gonna see if we could sneak into the food cart’s storage before lunch.”

Ron snorted, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth.

Harry just rolled his eyes. “Good luck with that.”

Charlie sighed in mock defeat, but it was clear he wasn’t giving up on recruiting Harry anytime soon. With a final wave, he and the rest of the Mini-Marauders vanished down the corridor, leaving Harry with Daphne, Astoria, Ginny, and Rose.

As the train rumbled forward, the compartment felt comfortable, even with the mix of Slytherins and Gryffindors.

Daphne, sitting beside her younger sister, suddenly turned to Harry. “I wanted to ask you something,” she said, her voice carefully measured.

Harry raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

Daphne glanced at Astoria, who shifted uncomfortably. “Would you be willing to let Astoria have a room in our dorm?”

Astoria’s eyes widened, as if she hadn’t expected Daphne to ask on her behalf.

Harry thought for a moment. He knew that claiming rooms in Slytherin dormitories wasn’t easy—it was a challenge to take one for himself, and he doubted Astoria would be able to do the same without trouble.

Still, it wouldn’t be impossible.

“Sure,” Harry said finally. “She won’t have to worry about any trouble from the older students.”

Astoria lit up, and Daphne let out a relieved sigh.

“Thank you, Harry,” Daphne said sincerely.

Harry just shrugged. “No problem.”

Ginny and Rose, who had been quietly watching the exchange, shared a glance before Ginny nudged Harry. “You’re really good at this, you know.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. “At what?”

“Making allies,” Rose answered, smirking slightly.

Harry just laughed. “It’s called keeping your housemates from killing you in your sleep.”

Daphne rolled her eyes, but there was an undeniable look of amusement on her face as the train continued its journey towards Hogwarts.

Their journey ended at King’s Hogsmead Station, where the familiar sight of Hagrid loomed over the crowd, herding the nervous First Years towards their traditional boat ride across the Black Lake. His booming voice carried over the station, calling, "Firs’-years! Over here! Firs’-years!"

Astoria, Ginny, and Rose, who had bonded over the train ride, exchanged excited glances.

“This is it,” Ginny whispered, grinning at Astoria and Rose.

Astoria nodded, though her excitement was mixed with nervous energy. “It feels so different now that we’re actually here.”

Daphne, standing beside her younger sister, gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “You’ll be fine. Just stick together.”

The trio rushed off towards Hagrid, joining the crowd of First Years, and soon they disappeared down the path towards the lake.

Meanwhile, Harry, Blaise, and Daphne, along with the other returning students, were directed towards the thestral-drawn carriages.

The moment Harry stepped closer, he felt a shiver run down his spine. Unlike before, when the carriages seemed to move on their own, Harry could see what was pulling them—large, skeletal creatures with leathery bat-like wings and glowing white eyes.

He froze for a second, his breath catching.

Daphne noticed and followed his gaze, but she only saw the empty harnesses moving by themselves. “What’s wrong?”

Harry hesitated before muttering, "I can see them."

Blaise, who had just climbed into the carriage, paused mid-step. “See what?”

“The thestrals,” Harry said quietly. “They’re pulling the carriages.”

Daphne and Blaise exchanged glances, both of them looking at the spot Harry was staring at, but they clearly couldn’t see anything.

Daphne’s eyes narrowed slightly. “That means… you’ve seen death.”

Harry clenched his jaw. “Yeah.”

He didn’t say anything else.

Daphne and Blaise didn’t push. They simply climbed into the carriage with him, sensing that this wasn’t the time to pry.

The carriages lurched forward, and the students began their ride toward the towering silhouette of Hogwarts, the castle lights glowing warmly against the darkened sky.