Lucifer made a mental note to always leave for the train ahead of schedule.
If he waited on the Weasley's every year, he'd risk being late every morning for the train to Hogwarts.
He offered to Apparate everyone, but they declined.
What Lucifer didn't know, but was told by Lupin, was that that many Witches and/or Wizards Apparating from or to one place could cause serious concerns.
"Then we'd better go, now," Lucifer said, heading down to the front door of the house.
He had gotten ready and dressed an hour ago.
He had let Rowena go an hour ago to get a head start on the travel to Hogwarts, she hated being crammed into her cage for extended periods of time, unless it was her choice, so he never forced her into it.
Hermione ran down the stairs with Crookshanks in her arms, which he clearly did not appreciate, and she stopped in front of him.
"How do you manage to get ready so quickly?" She asked, exasperated.
"All of my stuff is kept in my pouch, I never have to reorganize anything in it," he said and pet Crookshanks across his head, earning a purr of content.
"We can't leave until Sturgis Podmore's here," Alastor said, coming up to Lucifer.
"Let me be his stand-in, and let's go when everyone is ready," Lucifer said, eyeing Moody.
Moody's large, electric blue eye swiveled towards him, "You really want to be his stand-in?"
"Yeah, we'll be late if we wait on him," Lucifer responded.
"Alright, POTTER, MOVE YOUR ARSE!" Moody barked and Harry came down with his shirt half on and his glasses sideways.
"What?" Harry was at the base floor, his trunk dropping to the floor and flying open.
Lucifer's eye glowed red and everything of Harry's flew into the trunk and it shut with a loud click, not opening back up.
"Morningstar here is going to be our final one," Moody said.
"Final one for what?"
"Your Guard for the trip to King's Cross," Moody said as though it were obvious.
"Do you expect Voldemort to be hiding in a Trash Bin?" Harry scoffed.
"He's supposed to be lying low, no I'm talking about his Death Eaters," Moody's voice growled, "they can blend in better than he can."
Before Harry could say anything, a large black dog appeared beside him.
Everyone else appeared within the next minute or two and they all made their way out of the house.
The weak September sun greeted them as they stepped into its bathing light.
Arthur hadn't been able to secure them cars this time from the Ministry, so they had no choice but to walk all the way to the Station.
It was only Twenty minutes away, but it still was a drag to almost everyone, especially Molly, who kept complaining about how Muggles were able to travel without magic.
Lucifer, naturally, was unaffected by the walk.
The only eventful thing that did happen was Sirius scaring a few cats.
When they finally arrived at the station, they had to linger around platforms nine and ten until it was safe enough to cross the barrier.
One by one they walked through to be greeted by many, many people, and the bright red train that always had them in awe.
"Nice dog, Harry!" A tall boy with dreadlocks called over.
"Thanks, Lee!" Harry said, grinning widely as Sirius wagged his tail frantically.
Moody had walked through a moment later with all their luggage, minus Lucifer's.
"All okay," he muttered to Molly and Tonks, "Don't think we were followed..."
A porter's cap was pulled over his mismatched eye to hide the fact it was different, larger, and moving independently of the other eye.
Arthur came through with Ron and Ginny seconds later.
They almost had the luggage cart unloaded when Lupin came through with Fred and George.
"No trouble?" Moody growled.
"Nothing," Lupin said.
"I'll still be reporting Sturgis to Dumbledore," Moody said, "That's the second time he's not turned up in a week. Morningstar here covered his post. He's getting to be as unreliable as Mundungus."
"That's saying something," Lucifer said.
"Well, look after yourselves," Lupin said, shaking hands all around. He paused on Harry last and clapped him on the shoulder, "You too, Harry. Be careful."
"Yeah, keep your head down and your eyes peeled," Moody said, shaking Harry's hand as well, "and don't forget, all of you - careful what you put into writing. If in doubt, don't put it in a letter at all."
"It's been great meeting all of you," Tonks said as she hugged Hermione and Ginny, "We'll see you soon, I expect."
"Lucifer," Lupin said as he walked up to him, "I trust you'll continue to look after Harry?"
"Won't stop now," Lucifer nodded and looked Lupin in the eye.
"Good, good," Lupin smiled as the warning whistle sounded from the train.
"Quick, quick," Molly said distractedly, hugging them at random, "Write... be good... if you've forgotten anything we'll send it on... onto the train, now, hurry..."
Just before Harry boarded the train, Sirius placed his front paws on Harry's shoulders and began licking his face.
They all boarded and were waving to them all, Sirius bounding down the platform as the train picked up speed.
After a few seconds, they were all out of sight.
"I'm glad he got to get out of that house," Hermione said, smiling, "two months he'd been stuck inside it."
"Well," Fred got their attention by clapping his hands, "can't stand around chatting all day, we've got business to discuss with Lee. See you later," and he and George disappeared down the corridor to the right.
The train was still gathering more speed, causing houses outside to become blurs.
They swayed a bit as they stood,
"Shall we go find a compartment?" Harry asked.
"You, Weasely, and Ginny go, Hermione and I have to go to the Prefect's Carriage first," Lucifer said.
"It shan't take long, Harry, don't worry," Hermione said quickly.
"Oh," Harry said, "Right. Fine."
"We won't be there the whole journey. Depending on the Slytherin Prefects, I may not be able to stand being in the same compartment with them for long at all," Lucifer said, smirking.
"We'll find you three, don't worry," Hermione said as she and Lucifer walked to the Prefect Carriage, he was pulling Hermione's stuff while she held Crookshanks, "Who do you think the Slytherin Prefects are?"
"If Malfoy isn't the Male Prefect, I'll be honestly surprised....."
"... all of the girls are either mean, harlots or brutish..." Hermione said, recalling her encounters with Pansy, Astoria and Millicent, "Knowing Snape... he will choose Parkinson..."
"Yeah, let's go," Lucifer tried to encourage her, but Hermione snarled her nose.
When they arrived at the Prefect Carriage, they walked in and saw the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff Prefects already there.
Lucifer saw Padma Patil and Anthony Goldstein from Ravenclaw and Hannah Abbott and Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff, "And we are still waiting on Slytherin's Prefects," said the Head Girl.
Lucifer didn't recognize her.
He settled into the seat beside Hermione, missing the sideways look he was receiving from Padma.
When the Slytherin Prefects finally arrived, Hermione almost vomited; Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson walked in, flashing their Green and Silver Prefect Badges.
"Now that everyone's here, we can begin," the Head Boy said.
"Congratulations, all of you, for being selected as Prefects. You clearly demonstrate the qualities of your House better than anyone else in your Fifth Year, and with it comes special privileges, as well as heightened expectations. You all will be able to take away points from any rule-breakers, and give out detentions if the punishment is suited enough for it. Prefects may also block another Prefect's decision if they are the same Year as you, unless the reason for taking off points or giving a detention is valid. You may also make use of the Prefect's Bathroom on the Fifth Floor, it's the Fifth Door to the left of the statue of Boris the Bewildered," the Head Girl said.
"You will be tasked with Leading the First Years this year to their Common Rooms, and twice a week you will patrol the corridors. In previous years it was more often, but given that this is your O.W.L. Year, it was reduced to twice a week. The two days do not matter, don't want anyone getting an understanding of a possible schedule," the Head Boy said.
"Remember that Prefects cannot take points off other Prefects or give another Prefect Detention, that would defeat the purpose of the position. We can give one of you Detention, and any Professor can still give you Detention, so mind yourselves, you are Prefects, and you have been trusted with Authority you've not had in previous years," the Head Girl looked around at them.
"Any questions?" The Head Boy asked.
"Jus-" Hermione was about to ask, but Lucifer had elbowed her painfully in the ribs.
"Yes?" The Head Girl looked at her.
"Yeah, I have one," Hermione pressed on.
She loved Lucifer, but she wasn't going to let him stop her from asking,
"Why are they Prefects?" She pointed right at Malfoy and Parkinson.
"What's the matter, Granger? Upset you can't give me detention?" Malfoy taunted.
"No, I just didn't realize being a whiny bitch was a Slytherin Quality," Hermione glared at him.
"Enough, both of you," the Head Boy said, "You're Prefects, act like it."
"Just don't ask me to shake his hand, I don't know where it's been..." Hermione said, crossing her own arms with a frown.
The Head Boy and Head Girl quickly moved past that and went over a few other things before telling them they were free to return back to their compartments.
xxxxxx
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