CH 26

Harry just sat there a bit stunned. Cygnus saw the expression on his face and snorted in amusement.

"Did she just do what I think she just did?" asked Harry with no small amount of wonder.

"Kissed you? Yeah, she did," replied Cygnus.

"Hunh!" snuffled Harry. "I'll just have to do something nice for her more often, then. If that's how she's going to repay me."

Cygnus chuckled in response.

After Daphne had moved through the Estate like a whirling dervish, she was soon packed and ready to go. As it was a Sunday, Cygnus was able to join them on the trip. Stepping onto the platform through the barrier, Harry's senses were assaulted by the smell of burning coal, the tang of steam, and the sounds of lots of children and their parents both greeting each other and saying their goodbyes.

Harry had no sooner come to a halt, looking about in wonder, when he was hit by a trolley to the back of his legs from behind. He hadn't moved out of the way of the barrier quickly enough and someone coming through from the other side wasn't able to stop in time before hitting him.

"Sorry," he muttered over his shoulder.

He then followed the Greengrasses further onto the platform; though, walking with a little bit of a limp. He was annoyed with himself for not considering it was likely to happen. Once away from the barrier he asked Daphne if there was any particular spot where she'd be meeting up with Tracey.

"No," she replied. "What about you with Susan and Neville?"

Harry just shook his head and said, "We just agreed to meet up on the train and, whoever was here first, would find a compartment for us."

With a wry smile she said, "In that case, you'd best leave your trunk and cage here and go and have a look. You really don't want to be dragging either down the length of the train, do you?"

"Actually, that's a good idea," he replied. "You don't mind?"

"No," she said. "Besides, I don't want to be dragging my trunk down the length of the train, either." "Okay, I'll be as quick as I can," Turning to the Cygnus and Isabel he said, "I'm just going to search the train for our friends and be right back, alright?"

"Alright, Harry," replied Isabel with a smile. "Apparently, we're waiting here for Tracey, anyway."

Harry quickly ducked away and boarded the train via the first carriage. Then he proceeded down the length of the train looking in to compartments as he went. About ten minutes later he reached the caboose car and turned about, walking back up the length of the train again peering into compartments as he went.

Hopping back off the train he quickly approached the Greengrasses, since joined by the Davises, and said, "They're not on the train yet. But, compartments are starting to be 'reserved' pretty quickly. I suggest we board now and claim one for our own."

"Put your trunks onboard and come back out," said Cygnus. "I want to introduce you to a few people, Harry."

Harry gave a nod and grabbed the handle of Daphne's trunk. He put that onto the carriage floor just inside the door and allowed her to pass. Then grabbed Tracey's trunk and did the same for her. Once he was satisfied the girls were organised he picked up the handle of his own trunk and put that inside before stepping past. With Hedwig's cage in one hand, and gripping the handle of on end of his trunk with the other, he followed the girls.

The girls led him through a couple of carriages before they selected one, indicating for him to precede them inside. Inside he glanced around before realising the trunks went into the overhead racks. He picked his up and shoved it onto the rack. Then looked to see both girls trying to act coquettish and indicating their own trunks.

With a sigh, he had soon manhandled both trunks up and alongside his own.

"Thank you, Harry," said Daphne after giving him a flirty little kiss on the cheek. Tracey followed it up with one of her own.

"You do realise your trunks," he said, "even though they have Featherweight Charms on them, are still exceedingly difficult to manoeuvre up onto those racks, right?"

"Yes, Harry. But, that's why we have you to handle them for us, right?" said Daphne, as if it explained everything. Before Harry could respond, Tracey said, "Come on. You promised to rejoin the families back on the platform so Uncle Cygnus can introduce you to people." And walked off, closely followed by Daphne. Harry sighed and followed them off back to the others.

Back on the platform, Cygnus managed to introduce Harry to no less than a dozen people. Harry worked hard mentally to remember faces and associate names with them. He also stored in his mind the little facts about them which Cygnus mentioned. One was a hard worker within the Misuse of Magic Office at the Ministry; that person was an import/exporter of rare potion ingredients. Another was an ally on the Wizengamot.

While Cygnus was busy introducing Harry to what he felt was everyone, Susan turned up with her aunt in tow, closely followed by Neville and Gran. Daphne and Tracey took the pair of them on board to show them the compartment they'd snagged, while Aunt Amelia and Gran spoke with Cygnus, Isabel and Tracey's parents. Then they also started introducing Harry to people they thought he should get to know.

By the time it was almost 11.00am, Harry was having trouble trying to maintain focus on what he was doing. And he was feeling a little irritable from it. The first five minute warning whistle, indicating the train was about to depart, was heard from the engine, and Harry was happy to escape back to the train.

However, just as he was about to board, he was interrupted by a family full of redheads that had just turned up. He was almost rudely yanked back from stepping on board by the oldest boys. One of which said, "Hang on there a tic, old chap. Mind giving us a hand with our trunks?"

With a sigh, Harry quickly assisted them loading four school trunks onto the train before being able to step onboard himself.

"Thanks much, kind sir," said one of them, before he had a chance to move away down the passageway. One redhead - one of a set of twins - looked more closely at him, and said, "Oi! You're Harry Potter!"

"Yes," said Harry in response before he was finally able to get free of the rabid redheads.

He quickly moved down the passageway and entered the cabin where he'd first stored his, Daphne's and Tracey's trunks. And, with a sigh, collapsed onto one of the seats.

"It was bad enough trying to remember all the names, faces and details of the people Cygnus, Aunt Amelia and Gran introduced me to; I then had to run into a rabble of redheads as I was trying to board the train," he grumped.

"Rabble of redheads?" asked Susan.

"I think he means the Weasleys," replied Neville with a bit of an embarrassed chuckle. "When I stuck my head out the window, it was to tell Harry to hurry up. However, he was already about to board. That's when the Weasleys intercepted him and made him help load their trunks before he could get on board."

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