Click-Clak
By warden
Click-Clak, Click-Clak, Click-Clak
Watching the beautiful countryside roll by them, Harry leaned his forehead against the cool window and let the gentle motion and noises of the Hogwarts Express lull him into a relaxed state. In the distance he could see a magnificent bird of pray circling in the air searching for its food. All around them the wildlife scattered at the passing of the scarlet engine. Harry could just glimpse a rabbit running down its hole and squirrels up their trees. A smile stole its way across his lips as he relished the opportunity to stop being the Boy-Who-Lived, the savior of the wizarding world. His moments of relaxation were few and far between these days, a response to Voldemort’s now open campaign against the world. He had been biding his time but Harry had forced the monster out in the open.
Harry shook his head and pulled it away from the window. Now was not the time for such thoughts. Looking around the compartment Harry couldn’t help but wonder. It seemed like every time he rode this train his little entourage of friends kept getting larger and larger. Across from him sat Ron and Hermione. There from the beginning, Harry’s two best friends had been on many of the harrowing adventures that he seemed to go through. From thick to thin, Trolls and Dark Lords, they had been there.
Next to them, Luna and Neville sat with their hands wrapped together and Luna’s head on Neville’s shoulder. The pair had gotten together shortly after the Ministry incident and now seemed almost inseparable. Neville was one of the few that had the patience and tolerance for Luna’s slightly dreamy nature, indeed it was one of the many things he loved about her. He had once confided to Harry that Neville felt himself to be much too serious most of the time and Luna helped balance that. With her he could have fun and be completely serious about it all at the same time.
Crammed in the remaining space on that side of the compartment was Seamus and Lavender. The newest additions to the group had proved themselves earlier in the year when Voldemort, having grown bolder, made an attempt to kidnap several students from the school. It had been their bravery, courage, and quick action that had saved the kids while Harry dueled with several of Voldemort’s top Death Eaters. They had snuck by the action and took out the two rookie Death Eaters that were transporting the children before leading the frightened first years back to the castle.
They had both received the Special Services to the School Award for their actions.
That brought Harry to the final occupant of the compartment and the reason that his six friends were crammed together on one side. Her vibrant red was splayed across him, courtesy of her head being snuggly nestled in his lap. She was lightly dozing and as he looked upon her angelic face, Harry could not help but wonder once again on how the Gods had gifted him with such a loving and wonderful girlfriend. With all the fighting and death that followed him around, Harry had thought that any girl that would want to be with him would have to be far, far crazier than Luna. But all through the summer and this school year Ginny had stuck by him, comforting Harry in his grief and helping him train for the final confrontation.
No one could really place when they had become boyfriend and girlfriend, not even Harry and Ginny themselves. Somehow, out of their friendship love had grown and one day they were no longer ‘just friends,’ but something more. And it was something Harry would be eternally grateful for. Had it not been for Ginny he felt like he would have fallen apart at the seams this year. Between classes, his extra training, and Quidditch, Harry had barely anytime to breathe during the day and it had begun to show. His lack of sleep and relaxation was breaking his concentration and his grades started taking a nose dive that he was having trouble trying to pull out of. Ginny had gone to his teachers and practically made them give him some free time and reduce the amount of work they were shouldering him with. The effect of that little amount of free time had been astounding and Harry had actually learned much more that when they had been pushing him so hard.
Harry ran his hand through Ginny’s hair a few times before leaning back against the window. His thoughts on the happier times of his life as he watched the scenery roll by and the gentle click-clacks of the train sent him into sleep.
***
Laughter began to filter through the haze of her sleep. Blinking lightly at the intrusion, the young redhead slowly rose from slumber and took stock of her surroundings. Her head was resting in her boyfriends lap and, judging by the rapid blinking of his eyes, the laughter had awoken him as well. She graced him with a radiant smile and he smiled back, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. Shivering slightly, Ginny marveled at how even such a small gesture from Harry could warm her entire being. Everything that boy did had an effect on her. She grabbed his hand and gave it a light kiss before once again searching for the reason for her awareness.
Across from the pair, Ginny could see Ron leaning forward and gesticulating wildly. The others, while paying attention to the story, could be seen rolling their eyes every now and then. Ginny smirked to herself, it seemed like Ron was once again telling the story about the flying car. Well…his version at least, which seemed to change every time her elder brother told it.
“…and then it sputtered and started to fall. From how high you ask? The gage was broken so I couldn’t tell. Five kilometers up…at least. Anyway, the car started to fall and that was when Harry started to scream about not wanting to die so young.”
Ginny snorted to herself. In all the time she had known Harry he had never once screamed out in fear, or even pain. When Voldemort had put the cruciatus curse on him once again, Harry hadn’t yelled out once. But she let Ron continue on uninterrupted. She wanted to see how the story turned out this time.
“Well, what kind of friend would I be if I let my mate die screaming like a little girl? So…I kept my calm and fought to bring the car back under control. Even with all my strength and skill it was a difficult task. I had just managed to level her out when we hit the whomping willow.” Here Ron paused for the customary gasps of horror, but found none coming from this audience. It didn’t faze Ron one bit though as he quickly launched into the rest of the story. “I was thrown clear and landed on the ground several meters away but Harry was still stuck in the car and the tree. Well…I grabbed my wand and tried to summon him see,” Never mind that Ron hadn’t learned the summoning charm until his forth year. “It didn’t work so I started using every one of my vast repertoire of spells on the tree. My wand wouldn’t even work. So I tossed it aside…”
This time a small snort escaped Harry but it went unnoticed amongst the others. Apparently their awakening had yet to have been noticed by Ron’s audience.
“I charged the tree with no concern for my safety. All I could think about as I dodged the flailing branches was getting Harry out of there.” Ron dodged the imaginary branches in his seat. “I quickly scaled up the trunk of the tree and made my way through the violent tree to Harry. He had been knocked unconscious when we had crashed so he had stopped screaming but he couldn’t get out on his own. I ripped up the door with my manly strength.” Ginny nearly laughed aloud as Ron paused to flex his muscles in what he must have thought was a sexy way. “I quickly pulled Harry from the tree and carried him away; luckily the tree seemed to want us out almost as badly as we did so it let us go. We got a ways a from the tree before I stopped and set Harry down, I could tell that he was okay cause the training I’ve gotten from Madame Pomfrey.”
This time Ginny couldn’t stifle the small giggle that escaped her lips. Ron had apparently forgotten that he was not telling the story to the little fan girls that always followed Harry around. They always loved Ron’s stories and would swoon from his escapades. Ron loved the attention and Harry loved having the attention off him so he never said anything but now Ron was talking to his friends not those floozy little airheads. Apparently Ron had forgotten that.
“Unfortunately, I had forgotten about the car. There was a loud crack and when I turned to see what had made the sound. All I could see was the car commin’ straight for us. I rolled to one side, picking up my wand as I did so. I didn’t have time for a proper spell but everyone knows that strong magical people don’t really need incantations or the like. Using all my magic I managed to pull Harry towards me just before the car crashed on the ground. I lay there for a moment trying to collect my breath before taking Harry to the Hospital Wing…all in all it was quite an adventure.” Ron leaned back in his seat with a rather smug look on his face.
“You forgot to break your wand this time, Ron,” Harry’s voice startled Ron and the redhead nearly jumped out of his seat.
“H-Harry!” Ron stuttered. “You’re…um a-a-awake.”
Harry leveled a piercing gaze at his friend. “Yes Ron I am awake. I rather enjoyed your story as well.” Harry slowly ran his fingers along his wand, a gesture that Ron seemed to notice as his face became a little paler. “I especially enjoyed the part about me…what were the words? Oh yes…’screaming like a little girl.” Harry took a firm grip on his wand.
“N-N-Now Harry,” Ron gulped. “We’ve been friends for a long time now…”
Ginny noted with some satisfaction that Ron was extremely nervous and was eyeing Harry’s wand with extreme trepidation. Not without reason though. Harry had always been powerful in his own right and seemed to have been a natural at dueling and fighting. But ever since he had begun his extra training at the beginning of the school year his power and ability had increased by leaps and bounds. He knew spells that even Hermione didn’t know and could cast them with more power than most adult wizards. Just the other day Ginny had watched Harry battle against three Aurors and win with nearly no problem. Ron’s fear of Harry was entirely justified.
She knew that harry was teasing by the look on his face but her brother obviously didn’t. Deciding to take pity on the poor guy Ginny sat up and gave Harry a hug. “Come on love, she told him. “You know my idiot of a brother was just kidding.” She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.
“Yeah, Harry!” Ron piped up, a little less nervous than before. “I was just sayin’ what it might be like, you know. Like if I didn’t have to worry about skill or nothing like that.”
Harry gave Ron another piercing glare before nodding to Ron. “Alright then.”
Ron sagged in his sat with relief. That was all anybody could take before bursting out laughing. Ron looked slightly affronted at this but didn’t say anything. Ginny laughed even harder as he started to pout. But she got herself under control and waited for Seamus to get back into his seat, having fallen down from laughing so hard.
“My brother brought up an interesting point though,” Ginny mused.
“Oh and what’s that?” Lavender asked.
“Well he said something about not having to worry about skill…and I was just thinking…” Ginny brought a hand up to her cheek as she thought about it. “We don’t have much more time here at Hogwarts and we all have plans for after we graduate but….What do we really want to do? Let’s say that there were no restrictions at all, and if you could do anything — you know, infinite knowledge, money, whatever. What would you do?”
The compartment got kind of silent as everybody thought on that. Ginny smiled to herself as she saw the dreamy — well dreamy-er, look on Luna’s face. “What about you, Luna?”
***
I blinked in surprise as the only daughter of the Weasleys addressed me. It was not often that I got asked for my opinion. Usually I would have to do something strange to get peoples attention, just so I could get my point off. Not very many people knew that it was the main cause for my silliness and I have since been labeled as ‘Loony.’ But looking at Harry holding onto Ginny’s hand and both of them looking at me I could tell that they knew. They were unusually perceptive of people and their emotions.
It was all ion the eyes. Every time I have looked into their eyes I wonder if they were really teenagers at all. Their eyes seemed so old to me, filled with pain and experience and most of all, a deep wisdom. It was that wisdom that caused Ginny to single me out I’m sure, most likely in another effort to get their friends to see that I am not quite as crazy as they seem to think. A view shared by many. Even Neville, bless him, tends to think that I have several screws loose but unlike others he doesn’t look down on me for it.
Ginny’s idea was a good one. And even as she was voicing it a single idea had popped into my head and was now popping out of my mouth.
“I want to go to the moon.”
Harry blinked, that obviously had not been the answer he had been expecting but other than that slight eye movement he gave no other indication of being surprised. “Why?” he asked.
“The moon has always been a point of fascination for me.” I prattled on. “No broomstick made can fly that high and its to far for even the most powerful of witches to apperate. I would be the first person to walk on the moon. Maybe I could fly around on the surface and look for some snorklelakers…” Goodness! Where had that came from. I knew that there was no such thing as a snorkla-ck-er…whatever. Old habits are hard to break I guess. “They like to live near food you know. The moon is green cheese I’ve heard.”
There was a snort to my right, oh great, it was the bushy haired one. Oh well, I can’t let her get away with that one. I gave her my most airy look. “Yes?”
Hermione looked a little nervous at being caught. Good! She was about to reply with something but Harry interrupted, he knew where this would go. “I hate to break it to you Luna but the Muggles have already been to the moon, way back in the sixties in fact.”
A huge disappointment filled in my chest, “Oh.”
Harry smiled at me and I felt Neville give my hand a squeeze. “That doesn’t make it any less of a great dream, Luna,” Harry soothed. “It just means that instead of the first person you can be the first witch to be on the moon. Don’t let it go.”
I smiled, a sincere one that few ever saw, Harry was right. It was still my dream. “Thank you, Harry,” I said, “ You’re absolutely right. What about you Hermione, what would you do?” Ha! Take that you bookworm girl!
***
Damn! Damn! Damn! I had thought that I had gotten of the hook there for a moment. Sometimes I think that Luna is far more perceptive than she lets on. Oh well…I guess this is all just karma. Fascinating thing karma, I remember reading about it just last week. Of course it’s been mentioned in several books I have read but it is much more a Muggle philosophy than a wizard one. The wizards didn’t really like to mingle with muggles, despite the fact that they had done so for centuries in the early years. Which, incidentally was my biggest dream.
“I would like to go back in time and meet Merlin.” I said softly. Ron opened his mouth to say something and judging by the look on his face it definitely wasn’t going to be an encouraging one. Prat. “Ever since I was a little girl…” Best way to deal with prats was to ignore them. “I was fascinated by magic. I must have read The Sword in the Stone a hundred times when I was younger.” Ron opened his mouth again, probably to mention something about me reading Hogwarts: A History that many times. Unoriginal Prat. “I’ve always wanted to meet him, and when I found out that I was a witch I wanted to learn from him too. But he lived so long ago so it was impossible.”
Not impossible per say, in Toying with Time the author made some very plausible possibilities for traveling in time. Time turners of course could do so but they would never send you back more than a day. The author’s theories were based highly of the same ones that Muggles used but with a twist. I wonder if it would really be possible to apparate after passing the PNR zone of a black hole…
***
Hermione kept talking about traveling back in time to meet Merlin and the different ways of actually traversing time but it held no interest for me. By the Gods I hoped they didn’t ask me! How could I explain to them that my only dream was grabbing the vision of beauty that sat next to me and snogging her senseless. Her perfume drifted over to me and I inhaled deeply, like her namesake…Lavender. I wonder if I could get her phone number…did she even have a phone?
It took me a moment to realize that Harry was lloking right at me. Anothr moment to realize that the entire compartment was silent. “Well Seamus?” Harry asked.
Damn! They had asked me. I opened my mouth and… “Telephone pole..snog…would like!” Ah Hell…
***
I smircked to myself as Seamus proceeded to tell everybody exactly how he would snog a telephone pole. I looked to the girl he was sitting next to, it wasn’t a telephone pole he was thinking about. A soft hand touched my cheek and I looked down into the warm brown eyes of Ginny.
“What about you, Harry?” she asked me softly as the others continued to laugh. “What would you do?” I smiled at her and looked around once more. The click-claks of the train blending in with the happy laughter of my friends. Leaning down, I placed a feather light kiss on her lips and whispered into her ear, pulling her closer as I did so.
“I’m already doing it…”
The End
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