Hermione smoothed down her tousled curls, a pout on her lips as she distanced herself from Luke.
Little did she realize her hearing had sharpened—courtesy of those feline ears.
Luke slouched in the corner, his gaze fixed on the twitching cat ears atop Hermione's head, a helpless sigh escaping him.
He hadn't dared to touch them yet, not after the last time...
His fingers instinctively grazed his still-tingling cheek, evidence of Hermione's fiery temper.
"Um... sorry about earlier?" he ventured tentatively, his voice tinged with apology.
Luna, ever observant, cast a gentle glance his way. "No need to apologize," she murmured softly.
Luke shook his head, the tension lingering between them.
"Are you starting Hogwarts this year?" Hermione interjected, breaking the awkward silence.
"Yep, just starting out," Luna confirmed, her demeanor dreamy.
With outsiders in the carriage, Hermione resisted the urge to seek solace in Luke's embrace, opting instead to maintain her distance, the cat ears a quirky barrier between them.
As the two girls engaged in conversation, Luke leaned wearily against the window, resigned to their chatter.
This train ride was far from the peaceful journeys of the past.
From Hogwarts to naysayers, the two girls chattered incessantly, their knowledge surprisingly vast, easily catching up on missed events.
Suddenly, a sharp knock jolted the compartment, its urgency contrasting with the leisurely atmosphere.
"Come in," Hermione called, rising to open the door.
But before she could finish, Fred burst in, freezing at the sight before him.
"Hey, what's the hold-up?" George's voice came from behind.
"What's going on?" Luke inquired lazily, puzzled by the commotion.
"Is something amiss?" Hermione queried, her curiosity piqued.
The two brothers appeared unusually agitated, a sight rarely witnessed within the confines of Hogwarts.
Even when they found themselves ensnared by Filch's clutches, their expressions remained unperturbed, almost carefree.
"It's Harry and Ronald. We've scoured every carriage but haven't located them. Yours is the last stop," Fred exclaimed impatiently, with Ginny trailing behind, looking slightly overwhelmed.
Even Hermione found herself in uncharted territory, facing such a peculiar predicament for the first time.
"After we passed through the barrier, we lost sight of them..." Ginny murmured softly.
"Are you referring to Harry and Ronald, the lad with spectacles and the redhead?" Luna, seated nearby, interjected softly.
"If that's the case, they should be outside..." Luna trailed off before anyone could respond, gesturing toward the window.
Fred and George stood momentarily dumbfounded, their gazes instinctively following Luna's indication.
Luke and Hermione followed suit, turning their heads to peer outside.
Against the azure backdrop, waves of clouds undulated in the sky, occasionally punctuated by the graceful flight of birds. However, what caught the attention of the group wasn't a bird but a familiar blue Ford Anglia, its appearance slightly weathered.
"A car...flying through the sky?" Hermione exclaimed, her disbelief palpable.
Even Luke couldn't help but feel a twinge of surprise. While flying cars were within the realm of possibility given his current grasp of alchemy, the presence of the driver was what truly intrigued him.
"A boy with red hair..." Fred ground out through clenched teeth, his frustration evident. "Ronald actually piloted the car here!"
"And Harry's with him!" Ginny chimed in, pointing towards the passenger seat.
"How dare they?" George sputtered, frozen in disbelief, unable to articulate a complete thought.
"I can already envision Mrs. Weasley's reaction..." Luke remarked, casting a sympathetic glance towards the twins.
"Oh, Gryffindor might be in for some hefty penalties..."
At this, Hermione visibly wilted. Deductions at the start of the term—what a daunting prospect!
Meanwhile, outside, Ronald and Harry seemed to catch sight of their friends. The aging blue car slowly approached as Harry waved enthusiastically.
"Luke, Hermione!" Harry called out with a grin.
Ronald leaned in closer, spotting his fuming twin, and looked visibly flustered.
At that moment, numerous young wizards aboard the train spotted the old Ford car soaring in the sky and erupted into cheers, their excitement palpable.
"The car is taking off!" Luna observed keenly, her voice ethereal as ever, noting the vehicle's ascent.
With several pairs of eyes fixed on the spectacle, the ancient Ford ascended steadily, eventually disappearing into the clouds.
"These two are unbelievable..." Hermione muttered, her gaze distant and incredulous. She had harbored hopes of competing for the Academy Cup this semester, but now it seemed like a distant dream.
The Weasley twins, Fred and George, shared Hermione's sentiment, their expressions a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"Let's inform Professor McGonagall first and then figure out what to do next," Fred suggested, taking Ginny with him as they exited the carriage promptly.
Hermione's concern was palpable as she quietly inquired, "Do you think they'll be expelled?"
Luke shook his head confidently. "No, Dumbledore didn't expel Harry, did he?"
"Harry Potter, the boy who lived?" Luna interjected, her curiosity piqued.
"Yes, that's him," Hermione confirmed, a hint of weariness in her voice.
Luna nodded, absorbing this new information with interest, her perception of Harry shifting slightly.
"Alright, Fred's gone to inform Professor McGonagall, let's not dwell on it for now," Luke suggested, producing a bag of chocolates and placing it on the table.
"Instead of worrying, let's enjoy some snacks," he continued, handing chocolates to Hermione and Luna.
"Thank you," Luna replied graciously, while Hermione, ever the conscientious one, traded Luke's chocolate for a rice ball.
"You've had enough sugar for today; I don't want to see you with a toothache," she scolded gently, poking Luke's cheek and offering a playful pout.
"Okay, I'll stick to dinner then," Luke agreed with a smile, gently squeezing Hermione's hand. He didn't protest about the snacks.
Observing the affection between the two, Luna couldn't help but wear a pensive expression, her thoughts wandering.
.....
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