Chapter 60: CHAPTER 60: THE GLOOMY FIRST DAY

Facts:

A Time-Turner was a magical device used for time travel. It was a special timepiece which resembled an hourglass on a necklace. The British Ministry of Magic encased an Hour-Reversal Charm in the time turners they created, for additional stability. The number of times one turned the hourglass corresponded to the number of hours one travelled back in time. However, they can only stay in the past for five hours at a time, without the possibility of serious harm to the traveller or to time itself.

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The outside was pouring, raindrops were dripping at the window, and the chilling gust of wind could be felt from the ventilation. Ed heard that the train was about to arrive at the Hogsmeade station, so he quickly woke up Hermione, who was still asleep in his arms.

“Hermione…” Ed shook the girl gently, careful not to shock her.

The girl moved and made incoherent sounds, she whined lightly to Ed’s neck which made his skin vibrate.

“Hermione… the train’s about to stop, you’ve got to wake up.” Ed tried again, but Hermione just kept whining to Ed.

Ed sighed, then he looked around the compartment and saw almost all of them snickering, Harry and Ginny especially, making Ed embarrassed. “Hermione… everyone’s looking right now, please wake up.”

Hermione didn’t budge, so Ed did the next best thing to wake her up, blowing air to her ear. He made his mouth near her ear and blew some air into it, which made Hermione yelp because of the ticklish sensation.

Hermione instantly woke up and saw the scene, her body still leaning against Ed, and her friends smirking at her. And in that moment Hermione’s cheeks became redder and quickly separated from Ed, looking away from the others.

“Awake yet?” Ed teased, his face is smiling.

“What do you think…” Hermione mumbled in embarrassment, she then fixed her clothes and tidied her hair.

“Right, we’re about to arrive.” Ed said, “wear your uniform Hermione.”

“Oh right!” she exclaimed, panicking a little, “How about you? How are you not dressed?” she questioned as she saw that only she and Ed hadn't worn the uniform yet.

“Well, you’re sleeping on my shoulder, so I can’t really move… and I don’t want to wake you up either.” Ed said casually, which made Hermione more embarrassed.

“S-S-Sorry…” she stuttered an apology, which Ed just answered with a weak smile on his face.

Ed then pulled out his uniform and walked to the changing room in the train, quickly changing his clothes. After that, he didn’t come back to his compartment yet, instead he went to check on Richard, Daphne, and Astoria.

He opened their compartment door, and saw that they looked fine, but decided to ask, nonetheless.

“You guys okay? Sorry I didn’t check up on you earlier, Hermione had a small breakdown…” Ed questioned in worry.

“We’re fine, Richard casted the spell, and Professor Lupin was giving chocolates to everybody.” Daphne answered, “Is Hermione okay now though?”

Ed nodded weakly, “Yeah, she’s fine now, no need to worry.”

“Right.” Richard joined in, “You alright though mate?”

Ed shot a smile to his friend, “I’ll manage, okay, I’ll see you at Hogwarts then.” Ed then closed the compartment slowly, and he suddenly remembered that Draco was sitting alone in a compartment earlier, so he decided to check up on him.

He slowly walked to the blonde’s compartment door and slowly opened it. There he saw that the boy was sitting alone, looking at the window blankly.

“You okay there cousin?” Ed questioned, making Draco turn to him, “Where’s your gang?” Ed sneered.

“Why do you care anyway?” he grumbled.

“They’re not befriending you anymore because your dad’s dead? Did they bully you because of it?” he asked smugly, making Draco flinch, “Aw how the tables have turned, the bully becomes the bullied.”

“Shut up.” He grumbled weakly

Ed looked at the pitiful state of his cousin and sighed, “Has your mother taught you anything? You should change your ways Draco, or you’ll suffer horribly if this goes on.”

“And befriend blood traitors and mudbloods? Yeah, no.” he said decisively, although he didn’t make eye contact with Ed.

Ed chuckled dangerously, “You should throw away your father’s way of thinking Draco, trust me, it’ll be the end of you.” Ed said with a little bit of threat, and before Draco could say anything, Ed closed the compartment door and walked back to his own compartment, there, he saw that everyone, except Ron who’s looking away to the window, were talking excitedly to Hermione, but oddly, she didn’t really say anything and instead she had a red face, looking at her feet and not making eye contact to anyone.

Ed opened the door and the compartment instantly turned silent. “What are you all talking about?” Ed asked as he sat beside Hermione again, which made the group snicker.

“Nothing.” Hermione quickly said with her red face, “Nothing, nothing at all, how about you though? Where have you been?”

“Oh, I was checking Richard and Daphne, after that I went to talk to Draco.” Ed said.

Harry narrowed his eyes, “Why?”

Ed shrugged, “No reason, he’s alone though, it seems that Crabbe and Goyle didn’t want to be friends with him anymore since his father is dead.”

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows, while Ron and Harry were gleaming with excitement.

“Deserves that, that git.” Ron said in a mocking tone, “No one’ll defend him anymore, he won’t bother us again, maybe we’ll be the one who’ll pick on him now.”

“Don’t do that Ron!” Hermione scolded, “Even if he bullied you over the last years, you can’t bully him back, you’re just the same as him if you do that…”

“Well, at least I have payback, and I won’t pick on anyone else, only Malfoy.” Ron sneered, which made Hermione snort. Before the girl could scold the ginger again, the train stopped, signalling that they had arrived in the Hogsmeade station.

“Right, Hermione, I’ll take Pe-” Ed was about to say ‘Peter’, but he noticed that the rat was awake, “Scabbers with me.” Ed said, then he looked at Ron and Harry, “You okay with that?” Ed said while making a shush sign, signalling don’t say anything suspicious.

Both of them nodded, Harry even stared at the rat with hatred, while Ron looked at it with disgust.

“Okay, let’s get out of here…” Ed stood up, bringing Peter Pettigrew with him.

All of them then stood up and exited the compartment, they passed through the crowd towards the exit of the train, Ed saw that outside was still raining, making the one who stepped outside soaked in rainwater.

“Do you bring an umbrella Hermione? Anyone?” Ed said, and all of them shook their heads.

“Magic it is then.” Ed said, he pulled out his wand and thrust it to the sky, conjuring an invisible umbrella. “Right, who wants to be with me to go to the carriage?”

Before the rest of the group could say anything, Hermione jumped in and marked her place beside Ed, making the group smirked at Hermione.

“That was quite fast isn’t it Hermione?” Harry teased, which Hermione just blushed and looked away from Harry.

“Hey what are you doing?! No magic until we arrived at Hogwarts.” Percy suddenly came near Ed and scolded him.

“Seriously Percy? Now?” Ed looked annoyed at the pompous redhead who is now headboy, “Look outside and see for yourself Percy, is it raining or not!?”

“But you can’t use magic outside of school!” Percy insisted.

Ed sighed, “Then what am I supposed to do? Soaked myself in the rain? The school doesn’t offer any umbrellas to its students, and the wand is basically a portable umbrella, so why not use it?”

Before Percy could lashed out again, Penelope Clearwater suddenly interrupted. “What’s going on here?”

“He’s using magic outside of school Penny!” Percy said.

“Well, it’s just an umbrella charm, it’s fine.” Penelope answered, “What do you want him to do then? Soaked himself?”

Percy tried to argue with his girlfriend, but didn’t dare to speak any longer, “Fine…” he grumbled and left the scene.

“Thanks.” Ed said to Penelope.

“It’s fine.” She said while smiling to Ed, then she left, allowing Ed to use the charm.

Ed sighed in annoyance because of the scene, “Your brother’s a fucking git you know that Ron?” Ed commented, which the redhead instantly agreed. Hermione however smacked Ed on the shoulder as he cursed, “Language!”

Ed gave the girl an ‘are-you-serious?’ look, “You literally stayed with me almost a month, I cursed every day, and you’re still complaining now?”

“It’s a bad habit.” she huffed angrily, “Let’s go now.” She continued.

Ed then nodded, he covered Hermione with his umbrella charm and walked to the carriage, leaving the rest of the group alone.

“You think they’ll get together this year?” Neville, who has been quite this entire time, suddenly commented.

“Probably Neville, probably…” Harry answered the boy.

The rest of the journey to Hogwarts was pretty uneventful, Hermione kept looking outside, admiring the view of the castle as the iron gates open, once they got off the carriage Draco didn’t come to bully the group, but instead just went straight to the Great Hall, earning a snicker from Ron.

When the group was walking towards the great hall, a slightly frantic looking McGonagall came closing in on them, shouting Harry’s, Hermione’s, and surprisingly Ed’s name.

“Potter! Granger! Follow me to my office.” She said, or rather commanded, “You too Aldrich, follow me.”

“Me Professor?” Ed questioned, confused on why he was called.

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“There’s nothing to worry about.” She said, “Now, follow me, I just wanted to talk to you three. Move along Weasley.”

The three nodded and followed the stern professor to her office, once inside, the three of them were told to sit, and were offered some tea. “Professor Lupin owled me that you have taken ill Potter.” she eyed Harry, “And you as well Ms. Granger…”

“It’s fine Professor McGonagall.” Hermione said, “It’s just the dementors…”

At the mention of dementors, McGonagall grimaced, and before she could say anything, a knock came from the door, and it opened, revealing madam Pomfrey in her healer uniform.

“Ah, Poppy, would you check on Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger over here?” McGonagall stood up, coming to her friend at the door.

“I’m fine.” Harry said, “I don’t need any-”

“Oh, it’s you is it?” Madam Pomfrey said, “I suppose you did something dangerous again?”

“Not really.” McGonagall interrupted, “It’s dementors.”

Madam Pomfrey scowled as McGonagall mentioned dementors, “Setting dementors around a school,” she muttered, using her hand to feel Harry’s temperature “He won’t be the last one who collapses. Yes, he’s all clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate —”

“I’m not delicate!” Harry refuted rather harshly.

“’Course you’re not.” She said nonchalantly as she checked Harry’s pulse, making Hermione chuckle at Harry’s reaction. Then Madam Pomfrey continued to check on Hermione, but she insisted that she’s fine.

“What did they need? Bed rest? Some remedies?” McGonagall asked, worried like a mother, which was quite a nice feeling.

“I’m fine!” Harry snapped a bit, “Professor Lupin told me to eat some chocolate.”

“Did he now?” said madam Pomfrey, approving the professor’s action, “so we finally have a professor that knows the remedies…”

“Are you really alright Potter?” questioned McGonagall.

“I’m fine Professor.”

“How about you Granger? Professor Lupin told me you looked pale when the dementors came.”

“I’m okay Professor.” She said with a weak smile, “Ed gave me some chocolate.”

McGonagall nodded in approval, “Very well. Mr. Potter, Kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Mr. Aldrich and Miss Granger about their course schedule, then we can go down to the feast together.”

Harry, along with Madam Pomfrey then got out of the room, leaving the professor and the duo alone.

“Now.” McGonagall broke the silence since the departure of Harry, she then pulled out a necklace with a small sandglass attached to it and placed it on the desk. “I believe you should know about this item Ms. Granger, you will be using this only for studying, do you understand Ms. Granger?”

“Yes, I understand Professor.” She said as she took the time-turner excitedly. McGonagall then looked at Ed, “Are you perhaps wondering why you’re here Mr. Aldrich?”

“Um… yes, I don’t know why I’m here…” he said, “Will I use that too? To attend ancient runes and divination?”

McGonagall smiled mysteriously, “Perhaps, but please, I want to talk about your schedule first Mr. Aldrich.”

“Um… is there anything wrong with-it Professor?”

“Well, are you sure you wanted to take only two lessons Mr. Aldrich? You’re one of our top students after all, I’d be ashamed if you only took two electives.”

“Well, I wanted to take arithmancy as well, but-”

“Well, I’m sure that can be arranged.” She cut Ed off while writing him a new schedule, “What about Care of Magical Creatures? Don’t you want to take that?”

“Um, that might me interesting I guess but-”

“Right.” She said, adding the new class to his schedule, “I’m sure you’ll do good in that class.”

“But-”

“Here you go Mr. Aldrich.” She said as she gave him the new schedule, “Now, good luck on this year's studies.” She smiled rarely as she stood up and opened the door for the two.

“Well, it seems like we’ll be together using that Hermione…” Ed said with a deadpan look, walking to the great hall with McGonagall and Harry.

“Hey, it isn’t so bad.” She defended, “And I’ll get to spend some time with you as well…” she continued, rather weakly now as she was embarrassed to say it, Ed however heard her loud and clear.

“Hermione, we literally slept in the same room for almost a week… Do you want to spend time with me again?” Ed asked rather harshly.

“Well, what’s wrong with that…” she mumbled in dissatisfaction.

“What are you two talking about?” Harry curiously asked.

“Nothing.” Hermione answered, “Just some stuff about the electives.”

“Oh, you take divination and Ancient runes right Ed? We have class together.” Harry said, trying to make small talk.

“Well, I’m not taking divination and ancient runes anymore… I took every elective except muggle studies now, thanks to Professor McGonagall.” Ed said, glaring at the Professor in front, who didn’t hear their conversation.

“How?” Harry was surprised, “Some of the lessons are at the same time right?”

Ed sighed and ruffled his hair in annoyance, “Well, I’ll manage…”

The three then entered the great hall, already packed with students, Professor McGonagall walked to the Professor’s long-table, while Hermione, Ed, and Harry sat on the Gryffindor long-table.

Ron, seeing that his friend came back, started to ask some questions, which Harry happily answered, then the room suddenly went quiet, signalling that Dumbledore was about to say some words.

“Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say, before we become befuddled by our excellent feast.” He said loudly to the students.

He then cleared his throat and continued to speak, “As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business.”

At the mention of this, almost all of the students and the professor grimaced, the students especially as they already knew how horrible the dementors are.

“They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds,” Dumbledore continued, “and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises — or even Invisibility Cloaks,” Dumbledore stared at Harry as he said the last part. “It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors,” he said.

Percy hearing this puffed out his chest, making Ed snorted in annoyance, “Bloody pompous fuck.” He cursed under his breath, which Hermione heard and smacked him lightly on the shoulder, scolding him about cursing.

“On a happier note.” Dumbledore changed his tone to a bit lighter, “I’m pleased to announce that Professor Lupin will fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher starting today.” Lupin stood up and gave a slight bow in his ragged look, causing some Slytherins to snicker, and aside from that, the students gave him a half-hearted applause just for politeness.

“And also, we have a new care of magical creatures professor as professor Kettleburn retired to enjoy his remaining limb…” Dumbledore announced, “I’m pleased to announce that our own Rubeus Hagrid will be replacing him starting today.”

Hagrid then stood up rather abruptly, knocking some utensils out of the long table. The students clapped, the trio were especially loud.

After that, the applause calms down, and Dumbledore let the students eat the feast, officially opening the year.

After the feast ended, the students were escorted to their respective common rooms, once Ed arrived at the Gryffindor tower, he was walking to his dorm room when the golden trio suddenly stopped him.

“Hey Ed, what are you going to do with the you-know-what?” Harry asked, while the other two nodded in agreement.

“Oh, we’ll just act normal today, tomorrow I’ll bring it to Dumbledore for further ‘processing’. After that, I’m planning to contact Amelia Bones using Dumbledore as a bridge.” Ed explained, “Don’t worry, you-know-what won’t escape.” Ed winked to the three, while the rat in the cage was looking at them confusedly, wondering what they’re talking about.

“Well, I hope not.” Ron said, “Don’t want it running around the school are we?”

“Just be careful where you place it.” Hermione added, “All right, I’m going to sleep, mind the nightmares yeah?” She added more as she hugged Ed tightly in front of everyone, she released the hug with a red face and sprinted to her own dorm room, embarrassed by what she just did.

“What nightmares?” Harry curiously questioned.

“I have the same nightmares lately…” Ed informed the two while they were walking to their own dorm room. “So, I’m sorry if I woke all of you up in the middle of the night… I’ll try to not disturb you.”

“Are you really okay mate? That sounds serious…” Ron asked with worry.

“I’m fine Ron, just PTSD.” Ed dismissed it casually.

“How did you get PTSD?” Harry questioned, “It’s quite rare for someone so young to get it is it?”

“What’s PTSD?” Ron added, oblivious to the muggle term.

“It’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” Ed explained to the clueless redhead, “As for how I got it… you don’t want to know.”

The two just nodded blankly as they arrived at the dorm room. After that all of them quickly changed to their sleeping clothes and drifted to sleep, ending this rather gloomy first day.

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