Chapter 158: Chapter 158: "Hogwarts Express and Another Year"
The Hogwarts Express gleamed a brilliant scarlet against the backdrop of Platform 9¾, billowing steam as it prepared for its journey to the magical school. Students bustled about, hauling trunks and cages, saying farewell to their families amidst a cacophony of hoots, meows, and excited chatter.
Harry Potter, now entering his fourth year at Hogwarts, navigated the crowded corridor of the train, searching for the compartment where his friends sat. As he slid open the door, he was immediately engulfed in a whirlwind of enthusiasm and mild reproach.
"Harry!" exclaimed Cedric, his eyes shining with excitement. "Why didn't you tell us about the dueling tournament?"
Before Harry could respond, Arabella chimed in, her voice a mix of admiration and frustration. "We had to find out from the Daily Prophet, of all places! Our friend, the dueling champion, and we couldn't even cheer you on!"
Harry found himself surrounded by his closest friends - Cedric, Roger, Arabella, Alicia, Angelina, Elvinia, and Reggy - all talking at once, their voices a symphony of curiosity and mild accusation.
"I'm sorry, really," Harry said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I honestly forgot to mention it. This summer was... well, it was quite busy."
Elvinia raised an eyebrow, her clever eyes examining Harry closely. "Busy enough to forget to tell your best friends about a major tournament?"
Harry sighed, running a hand through his perpetually messy hair. "I know it sounds ridiculous, but yes. I had so many plans this summer, so many things I wanted to accomplish. The tournament was just one part of it all, and somehow, in the whirlwind of everything else, I forgot to send an owl about it."
Roger grinned, punching Harry lightly on the arm. "Well, you're forgiven. But only if you teach us some of those champion-level dueling moves."
"Deal," Harry laughed, relieved that his friends' annoyance was already fading. "I promise, I'll show you everything I saw at the tournament. It was an incredible experience."
As the train lurched into motion, the group settled into their seats, the familiar landscapes of London beginning to roll by outside the window. The conversation naturally drifted to the upcoming school year, and inevitably, to the subject of their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"Did you see the Daily Prophet?" Reggy asked, pulling out a slightly crumpled newspaper from his bag. "The famous writer Gilderoy Lockhart's going to be our new DADA professor."
The announcement was met with mixed reactions. Elvinia frowned slightly, her brow furrowed in thought. "His books... well, they contain important information, I'll give him that. But the way he writes them, it's like he's more concerned with glorifying himself than actually teaching."
Cedric nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean. It's like reading adventure novels where he's always the dashing hero. Gets a bit tiresome after a while."
Harry listened to his friends' opinions, a knowing look in his eyes. He waited for a lull in the conversation before dropping his bombshell. "I wouldn't expect too much from DADA this year," he said quietly. "In fact, I think it might be even worse than our first two years."
His statement was met with surprised looks and a chorus of "What?" and "Why?" Cedric leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "What makes you say that, Harry?"
Harry took a deep breath, knowing his next words would change his friends' perspectives dramatically. "I've come across some... information," he began carefully. "It suggests that Lockhart is a fraud. He doesn't actually do any of the things he writes about in his books. Instead, he finds people who have had these adventures, gets their stories somehow, and then rewrites them as if he did them himself."
The compartment fell silent as his friends absorbed this shocking revelation. Reggy was the first to speak, his voice thoughtful. "You know, that actually makes a lot of sense. I always wondered how one person could be an expert in so many different fields of magic. And some of his timelines never quite added up - it was like he was in two places at once sometimes."
Elvinia nodded slowly, her initial frown deepening. "If this is true, it's... well, it's despicable. Using other people's experiences and claiming them as his own? That's not just lying, it's stealing."
"But how can we be sure?" Roger asked, always the voice of reason in their group. "I mean, that's a pretty serious accusation, Harry."
Harry shrugged, "I can't say too much about where I got the information, but just trust me here or your could wait for our first DADA class to experience the truth first hand. And honestly, when you look at everything we know about Lockhart, doesn't it fit? The way he's always seeking attention, his celebrity-like behavior..."
As the realization sank in, a pall seemed to fall over the group. The prospect of a year of DADA classes with a fraud for a teacher was not an appealing one.
"Merlin's beard," Angelina groaned, "how are we supposed to sit through his classes now? All that preening and those blinding smiles... it was bad enough when we thought he was actually accomplished."
The rest of the train ride passed in animated discussion about Lockhart, speculating on how he had managed to fool so many people for so long, and wondering what their DADA classes would actually entail this year.
As the sky outside began to darken, signaling their approach to Hogsmeade station, there was a commotion in the corridor. Neville Longbottom, looking flustered and worried, burst into their compartment.
"Harry!" he panted, clearly distressed. "Charles and Ron are missing. The Weasley twins were certain they saw them at the platform, but now there's no sign of them on the train!"
Harry, taken aback, considered the situation. It seemed like Dobby the house elf might have intervened, blocking the platform entrance to prevent Charles from reaching Hogwarts, much like the canon events.
"Are you sure, Neville?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm. "Have you checked every compartment?"
Neville nodded vigorously. "Twice! And I've asked everyone I could find. Nobody's seen them."
Harry's mind raced. He had thought that with Charles's parents there, any problems like Dobby's interference would be quickly fixed at the platform. Yet, it looked like things had gone wrong, possibly leading to the same flying car incident that happened in the books.
"Don't worry too much, Neville," Harry said, trying to sound reassuring. "I'm sure the professors will sort it out. They might even be brought directly to school by their parents."
As Neville left, somewhat comforted by Harry's words, Harry felt a pang of sympathy for Charles, knowing the trouble he might face this year, especially after last year's chaos that caused Gryffindor to lose so many points.
Harry hoped that if the flying car was involved, it wouldn't draw too much attention or break the secrecy rules. If it did, Charles could be in serious trouble, and even Dumbledore might struggle to help since it would involve the whole wizarding community.
The remainder of the journey passed quickly, and soon they were all seated in the Great Hall, awaiting the Sorting ceremony and the start-of-term feast. As Harry's gaze wandered to the staff table, he suddenly understood why Charles had missed the train.
There, seated among the other professors, was Lily Potter. She looked nervous, her green eyes - so like Harry's own - darting around the hall, clearly searching for her younger son. It was obvious she hadn't been informed about Charles's absence.
Harry's mind raced, quickly piecing together the puzzle. After the dangers Charles had faced last year, it made sense that his parents would be reluctant to send him back to Hogwarts. Lily's presence at the staff table could only mean one thing - she had taken a teaching position to keep a closer eye on Charles.
A quick scan of the table confirmed Harry's suspicion. The only missing face was that of the Muggle Studies professor. It seemed Lily Potter would be taking on that role this year.
As Harry pondered this, he pieced everything out. If Lily was already at Hogwarts as a new professor, she would have arrived early to prepare for the term. And with James likely busy with his Auror duties, they might have asked the Weasleys to take Charles to Platform 9¾. This explained how Charles had ended up in a situation where he could miss the train.
A wry smile played on Harry's lips as he considered the irony of the situation. Despite all the changes in this world and the alterations Harry himself had induced, somehow, the major events from the canon timeline seemed determined to repeat themselves. It was as if fate, or perhaps the very fabric of magical reality, was conspiring to maintain certain fixed points in time.
As the first years filed in, looking small and terrified, Harry couldn't help but smile to himself. This year at Hogwarts was certainly going to be interesting, in more ways than one. Between a fraud for a DADA teacher, Lily Potter as the new Muggle Studies professor, and his brother already in trouble before term had even begun, Harry had a feeling that his fourth year at Hogwarts would be just as eventful as the others.
The Sorting Hat's song began, but Harry's mind was already racing ahead, contemplating the challenges and adventures that surely lay ahead. Whatever happened, he knew one thing for certain - it was going to be an unforgettable year.
Chapter 159: Chapter 159: "The Missing Diary"
As the Sorting Ceremony began, Harry's eyes swept across the Great Hall, taking in the familiar faces he'd only known from books in another life. His gaze landed on Colin Creevey, a small, mousy-haired boy who was practically vibrating with excitement. Colin's old-fashioned camera hung around his neck, and he was snapping pictures left and right, his eyes wide with wonder at the enchanted ceiling and floating candles.
"First years, I swear they get smaller every year," Roger whispered, nudging Harry.
Harry nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. He wondered if Colin would become Charles's fan in this reality. Given how different Charles was from the Harry of the books, and considering the less-than-stellar reputation Charles had earned last year, Harry doubted it. Still, Colin's enthusiasm was infectious, reminding Harry of his own wonder when he first entered Hogwarts.
His attention was then drawn to a girl with long, straggly blonde hair and a dreamy expression. Luna Lovegood stood out even among the nervous first years, her silvery eyes taking in the Great Hall with a serene curiosity that seemed at odds with her peers' anxiety. She appeared to be humming softly to herself, completely unfazed by the grandeur around her.
"I'll keep an eye on her," Harry thought to himself, remembering the bullying Luna had endured in the Ravenclaw House of the original timeline. He made a silent vow to ensure she had happier school days this time around. Perhaps he could introduce her to some of his friends early on, creating a support network for the eccentric but brilliant witch.
As the line of first years shuffled forward with each name being called out loud, a flash of familiar red hair caught Harry's eye. Ginny Weasley, looking small and nervous, was fidgeting with the hem of her robes. Her freckled face was pale with anticipation as she waited for her turn to be sorted.
Without hesitation, Harry reached out with his Legilimency, gently probing her mind. He knew it was an invasion of privacy, but the stakes were too high. He had to know if she had Tom Riddle's diary.
To his surprise and growing concern, he found no trace of the Horcrux in Ginny's mind. There had been no confrontation with Lucius Malfoy, no diary slipped into her cauldron. This deviation from the expected timeline sent a chill down Harry's spine, his mind racing with the implications.
"Everything alright, Harry?" Reggy asked, noticing his frown. "You look worried."
Harry schooled his features into a neutral expression. "Just thinking about the year ahead," he said smoothly. "Lots to consider with Lockhart as our new professor."
As the Sorting continued, Harry's mind raced. The absence of the diary with Ginny was not good news. His foreknowledge, his greatest advantage, was becoming less reliable. The Horcrux could be anywhere – maybe still with Lucius Malfoy, maybe in the hands of another unsuspecting student, or worse, it was sold by Malfoy and was now who knows where.
The only thing that consoled Harry was the fact that with Dobby acting to restrict Charles from coming to Hogwarts, there was a high chance the Diary was inside Hogwarts and not outside. Only this way would Dobby act to save Charles from the coming danger. But this brought its own set of worries – if the diary was indeed at Hogwarts, who had it? And how will this new person act?
"I need to find it," Harry thought grimly. "Before things progress in ways I can't predict."
Halfway through the Sorting, a commotion at the staff table caught Harry's attention. Professor Snape and Lily Potter both stood abruptly, exchanging a significant look before hurrying out of the Great Hall. Harry didn't need his reasoning skills to guess what that meant – Charles and Ron had arrived, likely in spectacular and rule-breaking fashion.
"What do you reckon that's about?" Roger whispered, his eyes following the departing professors.
"Ten Galleons says it's about Harry's younger brother," Reggy replied with a smirk. "Bet he's made some unusual entrance. He was not in the Hogwarts Express, after all."
Another Ravenclaw student, a prefect named Penelope Clearwater, leaned in, her voice low. "No need to guess. Look at this paper. You'll know what it's about."
Reggy took the Evening Prophet which had the front page headline of "FLYING FORD ANGLIA MYSTIFIES MUGGLES." He then read out for everyone, his voice a mix of disbelief and amusement: "Two Muggles in London, convinced they saw an old car flying over the Post Office tower ... at noon in Norfolk, Mrs. Hetty Bayliss, while hanging out her washing ... Mr. Angus Fleet, of Peebles, reported to police."
Roger's eyes widened in shock. "It seems your brother is not one to live a quiet life, Harry. This is outrageous. They came to Hogwarts in a flying car. How did they even manage to find such a modified car?"
Harry sighed internally, feeling a mix of exasperation and concern. Charles, it seemed, had not gained much wisdom from being raised in the wizarding world. He had indeed chosen to fly the Weasleys' enchanted car to Hogwarts, risking exposure of the magical world when he could have simply waited for help. It was a reckless decision that spoke volumes about Charles and Ron's impulsiveness and lack of foresight.
As the Sorting concluded and the feast began, conversation at the Ravenclaw table and the others turned to speculation about the fate of Charles and Ron. The Great Hall buzzed with excited whispers and wild theories, the flying car incident overshadowing even the Sorting of new students.
Harry, however, found his thoughts drifting to another problem. His mind was preoccupied with the missing diary and the potential dangers it posed. As he mechanically filled his plate with roast chicken and potatoes, he couldn't shake the feeling that this year would bring challenges he wasn't fully prepared for.
When Dumbledore finally rose to make his start-of-term announcements, the Great Hall fell silent. The headmaster's eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles as he introduced Gilderoy Lockhart with a flourish. The fraudulent author stood with a dazzling smile, his lavender robes sparkling in the candlelight, eliciting cheers and sighs from his admirers.
Then came the introduction of Lily Potter as the new Muggle Studies professor. The announcement was met with enthusiastic applause, particularly from the Muggle-born students who saw Lily as a symbol of what they could achieve in the wizarding world. Harry felt a pang of sadness, knowing that most of these students were unaware that Lily's success was largely due to her marriage into the Potter family. The reality for most Muggleborns in wizarding Britain was far less bright.
As the students filed out of the Great Hall, heading for their dormitories, the corridors buzzed with rumors about Charles and Ron's flying car adventure. Wild speculations about their expulsion spread like wildfire, each retelling of the story more exaggerated than the last.
"They won't be expelled," Harry said quietly to his friends as they climbed the stairs to Ravenclaw Tower. "Dumbledore won't allow it. They'll lose some points, maybe get detention, but that's all."
Back in the dormitory, as his classmates settled in and chatted excitedly about the year ahead, Harry lay in his four-poster bed, his mind whirling with plans and contingencies. The diary Horcrux was out there somewhere, and he needed to find it to keep the events of this year under control. The thought of the Chamber of Secrets being opened, of students being petrified – or worse – weighed heavily on him.
"I can't rely on my knowledge of the future too much from now," Harry thought, staring at the blue and bronze hangings of his bed. "I need to be proactive, gather information, and stay alert. This year might be more dangerous than I anticipated."
With these weighty thoughts, Harry closed his eyes, willing sleep to come. The sounds of his dormmates' soft breathing and the gentle hooting of owls outside the window gradually lulled him towards slumber. As he drifted off, his last conscious thought was a determination to protect his fellow students, no matter what unexpected turns this year might take. Whatever challenges lay ahead, Harry Potter was ready to face them head-on.
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
33 Power
stone You may also Like
Paragraph comment