Harry and Hermione arrived at the platform of the Hogsmeade Station. All the students were busy boarding the Hogwarts Express, and Harry was not willing at all, to engage in useless conversation with anyone. The incident of the previous night would have already spread to every student in Hogwarts, and he was in no mood to face their weird and unsettling gazes.
He quietly pulled Hermione along and boarded the train without attracting any attention. Fortunately for him, the last cabin of the train was completely empty. He entered the cabin and closed the door from the inside. Further, to avoid being disturbed, Harry pulled his wand and cast a locking charm followed by a Notice me not charm on the doors.
Hermione slumped onto the seat next to the large glass window of the Hogwarts Express, and Harry took his seat opposite her.
"Quite a year it has been," said Hermione, breaking the silence with a deep sigh. "Another year filled with adventures and dangers."
"But you, at least, found someone, actually two people, whom you can call family," she added. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.
"Yes," added Harry, gazing outside the window towards the Hogsmeade station.
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Gazing outside and witnessing the bustling and chaotic Hogsmeade station, Harry was lost in his thoughts. He had been able to return from the future, back into his past.
One might assume that, being the noble man he was, he would try to make groundbreaking changes or instigate some kind of revolution in wizarding Britain. But he had no such grand aspirations or goals in mind.
His main goal was to right the wrongs he had, personally, endured during his school years and to finally enjoy his life. His purpose was to correct the blunders he had made as an innocent kid, and he was not going to be the saviour that everyone expected him to be.
Although, along the way, he would not mind doing a good deed or two for wizarding Britain. Killing Voldemort, which definitely had to be done, was in itself a very great thing for wizarding Britain, or even for the world as a whole.
Seeing the Hogsmeade platform, full of buzz and chaos, with Hogwarts students, Harry got lost in thoughts of what had happened to this grand and premier institute of magic.
After the defeat and death of Voldemort, Minerva McGonagall had taken the reins of Hogwarts as its headmistress. Under her guidance, the school had functioned well for two decades. She had run the school flawlessly with her no-nonsense attitude.
But ultimately, old age, combined with the losses and tragedies she had endured in her life, took a toll on her, and she eventually retired. And it was then that the downfall of Hogwarts began.
With the Board of Governors being controlled by pure-blood supremacists, a weak-willed and puppet headmaster was appointed to the school. As a result, the entire management of the school fell under the influence of the Ministry and its pervasive corruption. Even day-to-day activities started being dictated by the Ministry. Harry, at that time, lost in his own personal regrets, paid no heed to any of these matters.
In another few decades, the quality of education at Hogwarts was completely ruined. Instead of being a place of learning magic, it became a breeding ground for pure propaganda and divisive politics.
The hatred and discrimination against muggle-borns became rampant. This widespread dissatisfaction among muggle-borns due to the mistreatment they faced at Hogwarts was another of the reasons why the muggle world eventually discovered the hidden world of wizards. Muggle-borns dissatisfied and angry with the treatment, spilled the beans about this secret world to the general public.
By the time Harry had performed the ritual to return, Hogwarts had been nothing more than a ruin of stones. A place that had been a symbol of magical study for more than a thousand years was turned into an abandoned castle with falling roofs and creeping vines.
The jerk of the Hogwarts Express as it began to move brought Harry out of his thoughts.
He sighed deeply and looked at the changing scenery outside the window. From the stone-built Hogsmeade station to lush green grasses, trees, and forests.
It had not been more than a few minutes since the Hogwarts Express had started moving. Harry looked at Hermione's beautiful face with her bushy, curly hair. She was busy looking outside the window.
Only after she had died had Harry learned how insecure Hermione had felt about her looks, especially her hair. Yet, neither in his previous life nor in this life could Harry understand why Hermione would feel that way. He genuinely felt that Hermione was among the most beautiful girls he had ever seen.
Remembering all that he had read in her 'secret' diary, a tinge of regret appeared on Harry's face. A few moments later, the regretful expression was replaced by a smiling face.
"Say, Hermione," Harry said, drawing Hermione's attention towards him. "What do you think of me?"
His eyes flickered with amusement.
Hermione's face turned into one of utter confusion, "What does that question even mean?"
Harry sighed and next moment he stretched his hands and pulled Hermione on his laps who could only yelp in shock.
Hermione was now sitting sideways on Harry's lap and her face was blushing red, "Harry... what are you doing?"
She struggled get herself free but Harry's grip was strong and whether she was really willing to move away was also a matter of debate.
Harry did not answer immediately and removed few strands of her hair from face and tugged it behind her ears.
Hermione blushed even deeper but thinking about her hair, insecurity started to creep in. Her face turned into that of anxiousness.
"Harry... my hair... what are you doing?" She stammered.
Harry smiled, "Hermione in the hospital, I was thinking of certain things. Help me answer these questions."
"You are such an ardent follower of rules and regulations; A worshipper of authority," continued Harry.
"I never seen a bigger sticker for rules other than you," he said earning a glare from the witch.
"Yet since, first year, you have been breaking rules after rules with me. Why would you do this?" Harry asked.
Hermione flushed red, "We are friends... Harry... That is why I would go with you… let me go..."
Harry nodded thoughtfully while his hands tightened even further pressing Hermione close to his body.
"Even now you won't tell?" Chuckled Harry with mischievousness.
"Tell what, Harry?" Hermione replied anxiously.
"Hermione, I may have been dense but even so I can feel the love and care you have for me... tell the truth..." Harry said.
"Harry..." Hermione muttered with the intention of denying but stopped midway.
She took a deep breath, "I love you... Harry..."
"I Love you too, Hermione," smiled Harry without any surprise. "Since when?"
Harry wanted to hear the truth, he had read in the diary from her mouth.
Hermione was shocked by the sudden and candid acknowledgement of his love for her. She had muttered a lot of courage to confess but had never expected that Harry would reciprocate so easily.
She kept quiet for few moments but finally spoke, "Since, first year, from the day you saved me from the troll. You risked your life to save mine… How could I not… "
"Parvati, told me later, that it was you who took the initiative to save me," she said. "That Ron was not even interested in coming along with you."
"That it was you who almost forced him to come along."
"And why did you not tell earlier?" Asked Harry back.
"After all you know me very best. I am too dense to understand these things. If I had not guessed it now, would you have always kept quiet?" This was thing Harry really regretted. If only Hermione had taken the initiative things would have been different. She would have not suffered that fate. She knew better that he had been too much of an idiot to understand.
Hermione took moments to organise her thought and decided it was good to come clean, "I felt I am not good enough for you. I am not beautiful and my hair... they look like this and my teeth."
He was already aware of all these reasons. But this time, the wheels had started to change.
Harry chuckled, "You are beautiful, Hermione."
A smile crept on Hermione's face at the compliment and before she could understand anything, Harry pulled Hermione, making her seat face to face. In another instant, Harry pressed forward and his lips made contact with hers. The wetness of her lips seeped in his mouth as he started to suck her lips.
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