Secrets and Truths

Chapter Three
Old Friends Meet New

“Oye mate, there you are.” Said Ron as he stepped in.

“We were worried when we didn’t see you on the platform Harry. You were here early?” Hermione said with a questioning look.

“Yeah mate, mum’s about to have kittens because we couldn’t find you. Ginny, be a sport and go tell mum Harry’s already on the train and hurry up it’s almost eleven.”

“Go do it yourself Ronald, I’m not your messenger girl” with that she turned on her heel and stormed away.

Ron just rolled his eyes and told them he would be right back.

“What was that all about? What’s got Ginny in such a foul mood?” Harry asked Hermione.

“Honestly Harry, nobody knows. Ron says she’s been like that since the school term ended. Said she’ll have good days but more often bad.
Mrs. Weasley is beside herself with worry.”

Ron had returned and stood beside her, he had heard the last part of what she said and shook his head in agreement.

“Yeah, it’s really weird, some days it’s like she’s a whole other person or something. Dunno. Between that and not seeing you, mum was on the verge of a breakdown or something. She was scared, we were all scared that something had happened.”

“You are alright aren’t you Harry?”

“Sorry I scared you guys. I’m fine, really. Uncle Vernon was just so glad to be rid of me he brought me early. I was so engrossed talking with Althia that I didn’t realize it was so close to eleven.”

“Who?” They said in unison.

“Um, Althia” he said pointing to the girl across from him.

She looked up to them and gave them a small smile and a wave.
Ron just stared with his mouth open and Hermione blushed. She recovered first and spoke.

“Oh I’m so sorry, Althia is it? We were worried about Harry and so relieved when we found him that we didn’t notice you.”

“That’s alright, it’s good to have friends that look out for you. But you do realize Harry here is a big boy and can care for himself and not a toddler that needs chasing after?” she said with a smirk on her lips.

At that Ron clamped his jaw shut and Hermione’s dropped. Harry was just awe struck. It was the first time in a long while someone realized, that in fact, he could think and care for himself. He loved his friends but they could be overbearing at times. And if they were so utterly worried why hadn’t they written more than a few lines to him over the summer. He liked Althia more and more each minute.

Ron was the first to get his thoughts back this time.

“Bloody Hell, who do you think you are? I think we know Harry a bit better than you do, we’re…”

Althia, because she is so good at it, cut him off.

“Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry’s best friends.” She said and smiled sweetly. All three just stared at her.

“How, how did you know Althia?”

“I told you I know things Harry” and gave him a wink.

Harry just smiled and winked back. He turned to his friends and gave them a smile as well. He rather enjoyed the looks on their faces. Both were at a loss for words. Harry decided to bring them back to reality.

“Umm guys, are you going to sit or do you plan to stand the whole trip?”

They nodded and sat, Hermione by Harry and Ron by Althia. As they sat they felt the train pull out of the station. They sat in silence for a while, each not knowing what to say. Finally it was Althia who spoke.

“Harry, maybe I should go. I don’t want to make you or your friends uncomfortable by being here.”

Before she could stand completely Harry jumped up to stop her.

“Absolutely not, either you stay or we’ll both go.” He said as he gave his friends a glare. “We just got off to a bad start is all. You’re welcome to stay here with us, isn’t she guys.” He asked as he looked from Ron to Hermione.

“Yes, of course Harry, we were just taken by surprise by her.”

“Yeah mate, it’s fine with us if she stays.” He said as he turned his head and gave her a lopsided grin.

“Good it’s agreed then. You’re to stay put Althia, no arguments.” He stated as he sat back down.

“As you wish Harry.”

“Well now that’s settled” Hermione began “a proper introduction would be nice. You obviously know whom we are but who exactly are you? How did you know us, did you know who Harry was too? Who else do you know? And why are you just now coming to Hogwarts so late in your school career? Where did you go before? Was it Beauboxtans? And what year are you in? Do you think you’ll be able to handle the curriculum of a new school?”

“My your certainly not a bit shy are you. Would you like to know the color of my knickers too?”

Both Harry and Ron snickered at that. Hermione just blew it off and waited expectantly for her answer, err, answers. She shook her head and proceeded to tell them most of what she had told Harry about her past.

“I’m going to be a fifth year, I turned 15 on August 1st. And I think I’m more than able to handle the curriculum. Oh, by the way their blue.” She added laughing.

“Hmm, what’s blue?”

“My knickers of course.”

The boys couldn’t help themselves and busted out laughing. Hermione just rolled her eyes and waited for them to settle down before her curiosity got the better of her.

“What do you mean by ‘more than able to handle the curriculum’.”

“Like I said before, with all the tutoring and not much more to do than study, I’m past OWL level studies. I could probably give some seventh years a run for their money in some classes.”

“Blimey, why not just go on to sixth year then?” Ron asked flabbergasted.

“Simple, I don’t want to be in classes with people older than me and be labeled as the know it all. I don’t want to be in the limelight and receive special treatment. Besides I like school and staying in fifth gives me more years to enjoy. Understand?”

They were all somewhat surprised. Hermione was impressed with her declaration of liking school. Even if Althia ended up in another house, she realized that for once she would have someone to study with that would do their own work and not look to her for the answers like Ron and Harry had made a habit of doing. Ron, he was shocked. He couldn’t understand, not really, why someone would choose to stay in school if they had the opportunity to get out sooner. And Harry he knew just how she felt. To be stared at and labeled was no fun at all. And to be in the ‘lime light’ he defiantly knew how that felt. Every year was something new that brought him into everyone’s attention. He could completely understand her want to stay in school for as long as she could. He himself enjoyed it as well although he didn’t receive the best marks. But how well would anyone else fare if they had a Dark Lord and insane Professors out to get you? If it weren’t for that he was sure he could do better.

“Well if you know things about Hogwarts then you should know about the different houses. Have any hopes for a particular one?” Hermione asked.

Harry perked up at this question. He hadn’t really given it much thought before. He hoped that if she were placed in another besides theirs that they wouldn’t grow distant from one another. He had seen it happen before.

“Yes I know of the different houses and the kind of people they have. It really makes no difference to me. It’s silly really, to think that a person shows traits for just one house. Take yourself for example Hermione you would have been well suited for Ravenclaw as much as you are suited for Gryffindor. And you Harry, think you would have been suited for a house other than your own?”

“I don’t really know, haven’t put much thought to it he fibbed. But if you’ll keep it just between us, the hat wanted to put me in Slytherin, and before you ask why I’m in Gryffindor, I asked the hat to do it. Well at least any house BUT Slytherin.”


Ron and Hermione were shocked and hurt by his statement. After all these years this was something they had never been told. They were supposed to be his best friends and here he was telling someone he just met a secret like that. They couldn’t help but wonder what else Harry wasn’t telling them.

“You’ve got to be joking right. What if the hat does put you in Slytherin? ‘There wasn’t a witch or wizard that didn’t go bad in that house!’ ” Ron practically yelled.

“Now look who’s got to be joking. Don’t be a prat. Just because Grindelwald and Voldemort were in that house doesn’t mean it’s evil. If Harry had ended up there would you have turned your back on him?”

Harry and Hermione raised their eyebrows at her use of Voldemorts name while Ron just shuddered. Harry looked at them both expectantly. He was surprised that they were hesitating with their answers.

“Of course we wouldn’t have” they answered together.

“I would hope not, seems to me Harry is far from being dark. Besides if he were don’t you think Voldemort would want him to join forces with him rather than try to kill him?”

Harry was still reeling from their slow answers. He had to think if they were really truthful about it.

“It took you long enough to answer guys. I know if it were either of you I wouldn’t have thought twice about being your friends, I wouldn’t have judged you that way, I…”

“Really Harry” Althia interrupted “ you’ve never judged anyone from another house?”

Harry took a moment to think. He had done that once before but that was before they were ever sorted into a house.

“Well once but that was totally different. I didn’t like him before we were ever sorted. He is a great prat and did end up in Slytherin. Probably will turn out to be dark just like his dad and house mates.”

“Shame on you Harry. You’re judging him still and a LOT of other people. Who are you to say who’s dark and who’s not? You just decided because he was a prat to you that he’s evil. You can’t always go by first impressions and i’m here to tell you that I’m sure every house has assholes, even Gryffindor.”

“And I bet they got bitches too.” Ron whispered to himself.

Althia gave him an icy stare she had heard his comment.

“I’m sure they do Weasley. And remember” she said pointing to her chest “that this is one BITCH you don’t want to mess with!”

Ron gave her a dirty look and turned away. Hermione once again rolled her eyes and looked to Harry. He was rubbing his forehead and had his eyes scrunched shut.

“Oh my God Harry, are you okay? Is it Voldemort?” Hermione asked concerned.

“No, no it’s not that. I’m just irritated at all the bickering. It’s giving me a headache.”

“I’m not surprised Harry” she replied pulling his hand from his head.
“Tell you what, how about a truce. No more talk of evil wizards and house rivalry so to speak.” She said as she looked to the other two occupants.

“Fine by me, what about you” Althia said as she elbowed Ron in the ribs.

“Sure, sorry we upset you mate.”


With things settled once again they chatted on for a while getting to know one another. Hermione decided that she was a nice person that she would like for a friend. Ron, well, he thought she was nice enough even if she could be a bitch at times, and if Harry liked her he would give her a chance. Besides she was bloody hot. Harry, he was just glad everyone was getting along again.

Things went well for a long while until the compartment door slid open to reveal unexpected company.


*************************TBC****************************