Chapter 17 - The Cruciatus Curse

                                        

                                              
The Cruciatus Curse
                              
They arrived at King's Cross twenty minutes early. The Ministry driver got the trolleys for them and loaded their trunks onto them. Mrs. Weasley thanked him and he sped away, easily dodging through traffic. They walked over to the barrier at platform nine and three-quarters and walked through it slowly. There was no need for any of them to run at it anymore. They found a compartment near the end of the train to put their trunks in. However, Ron, Ginny and Hermione still had to supervise the loading and mentor the behavior of the students. Harry had not actually seen Ron or Hermione dock any points, yet, but for a while, he was not hanging around them. 
                              
After they loaded their luggage, they went back to say good-bye to Mrs. Weasley, and Fred and George, who had popped up while they were gone. 
                              
"Now, Harry, make sure you eat a lot of food, ok? And don't wander off, especially into the Forbidden Forest. It's very dangerous. You managed to find your way back in there last year... again.... Do really try to stay out of it," Mrs. Weasley hugged him and was on the verge of tears.
                              
"And Ron, you better keep him and you out of there, too, and I'm so proud of you being Captain of the Quidditch team! You will do great," she hugged Ron, too.
                              
"Yes, I'm sure he will make us all very proud," Fred said, in a hearty voice.
                              
"Don't make fun of your brother! Someone put him in charge and that's more than you two can say!" Mrs. Weasley snapped.
                              
"We're so sorry, Ron... can you ever forgive us?" George said, through fake tears and getting on one knee and grabbing Ron's hand. 
                              
Ron wretched his hand away and looked at the people around him, who were watching curiously. His face went red and he said a tersely good-bye to the three of them. Harry did the same, smiling, and Mrs. Weasley hugged Ginny and Hermione in turn and they all headed for their compartment. Neville, Dean and Seamus spotted them and came to join them in their car. 
                              
"So how was your vacation, mate?" Seamus asked.
                              
"Great," Harry said, thinking about witnessing an execution. 
                              
Seamus understood his meaning and waved good-bye to his mum, who was outside the window. She eagerly waved back, but as the train started to move, she vanished from view. Seamus moved back by the door and sat down. 
                              
"She looks happier," Harry said.
                              
Seamus was slightly confused, but said, "Yeah, I think she has gotten over him."
                              
"So, your parents aren't getting back together then, mate?" asked Dean.
                              
"No, it'll never happen," Seamus said, sorrowfully.
                              
"That's too bad," said Ginny, frowning.
                              
"Let's play some cards," said Ron, unconcerned about the topic. 
                              
Hermione gave him a dark look, but played Exploding Snap with them anyway. They talked about their presents and Harry noticed that Ron and Hermione did not say much about their presents. He did not even remember what their presents were, but the conversation turned to Ron's new training ideas, which went on for hours. They ate a few snacks when the trolley cart came by their compartment, and they reached Hogwarts after dusk. They enjoyed a good dinner, and went up to their dorm rooms to get ready for a hard, long day of classes tomorrow. 
                              
Harry took notice that the house elves had brought his trunk up, while he pulled off his robes. Suddenly, the day seemed exhausting. He wanted to sleep. Ron was not there. Where could he be? He did not feel like looking for him, but he was extremely tired and he lay down in bed. He immediately closed his eyes.