Chapter IV - Platform 9 and three nightmares

"I don’t see your ghost girl Harry, how is she again?" Ron was trying to help his best friend on finding the one thing that made him less grumpy for the last month.

Harry was with his quartz stone around his neck, holding it, "she's tall, dark, has a great smile..." "-has you completely STUPID, excuse me" Ginny told them while she passed them by. She was seeing her dream of being close to Harry further and further away.

But Harry had only one thing in his mind.

"I know! It's her first time here, she won't know how to pass the platform Harry!" Ron said while grabbing his friend and going through the door.

***

Maggie was now officially frustrated, she had no idea how to get to that silly platform, no idea what were the visions she'd been having since she held her mom's wand and she hadn't been able to check on Harry since his birthday. It wasn't fair... The whole deal wasn't fair...

Chris was holding their wands, was carrying the parcels, the luggage, his owl and Maggie's black cat... But he could only think of Ginny. She was so hurt by Potter... He did nothing but hurting her... He wouldn’t let Harry do the same to his sister... He wanted to be with Ginny, she was older yes, but just one year, that wouldn’t be much of a difference in the real world, not this magic-wannabies world, with people dressed stupidly, holding wands and casting silly spells.

Why couldn’t they just stay in San Francisco and have tutors? He then thought once again in Ginny's hair, how it'd feel to hold her, to kiss her, to absorb every inch of her...

Maggie made him come back from his nonsense asking him if he remembered the whole story. "Yes I do, don’t treat me like a 10 year old Mag- Marie! You are supposed to be around 25, you studied in Salem, went to Romania, got the degree on dragons, then got to be an auror and now you teach... Busy life, ha? I cant believe uncle A can come out with such a big amount of crap, honestly"

Chris didn’t wanna be there, and neither did she, not under those conditions. "Look, I hate this as much as you, I wanted to be a Gryffindor, I was a 7th Year Student until 3 weeks ago, I hate having to be a teacher, but I have no choice, Uncle Albus didn’t give me any choice, so you better learn that crappy story and make it realistic, all right?"

She looked up and saw Harry coming her way with his lovely smile, and the quartz around his neck. Chris saw him and wanted to threw him under the train, but nothing had made his sister smile like that in years. "Ok, just avoid questions until we get to Hogwarts, forget the whole thing until we have no choice... please???" she was begging now.

"Ok, I wont mention our last names, no age, no Remus, no mentioning our parents... They happened to die one day in a car crash or something... Enjoy your trip with the bastard, sis" he smiled at her and walked to say hi to Ron, who was obviously Ginny's sister. All four of them were close from each other, nodding & being introduced.

"Morning Miss Matthews, how are you today?" and he smiled at her and kissed her hand. She giggled "I'm better now that you've come to the rescue Mr. Potter". Their obvious chemistry made Ron a bit sad, thinking of his sister, still he was happy for his friend, it was obvious that the american liked him.

Chris got their luggage again and headed to the gates of the platform "Excuse me, I'm gonna be sick."

Maggie gave her brother a piercing look "He has a thing with trains I dunno, It's so good to see you Harry, Hi Ron", Ron didn’t like her attitude... He started wondering who they really were, where were they parents... Very much like his girlfriend Hermione.

All three of them headed to the gates, Ron a bit forward so they could have some privacy. "I was having a pretty bad day... bad week really when we met and I just couldn’t stop thinking of you ever since" Harry was blushing oddly and looking straight into her eyes from time to time.

Wow... You don’t waist any time, do you? Now... Think Maggie, think... "Well Harry, I've been thinking a lot about you too" and she smiled. She just wanted to tell him the whole truth and run away... with him of course. People could see miles away they had something going on, they were closer and closer from one another. Unfortunately, red haired boy came their way and, after apologizing for the interruption, reminded them the train was punctual and about to leave in 5 minutes.

Maggie went back to her moody self "So what? We just blink inside". Both Harry and Ron chorus "you WHAT?" With an come on expression, very Hermione-like she held Harry tight with one arm and vanished, leaving blue stars that disappeared behind them.

They were all alone in a compartment. Again, Harry and Maggie felt a cold chill through their spines, he had her close from him, too close to be true.

"You disappeared after my birthday" said while caressing her face really slowly, touching her lips with this thumb. "Oh boy... Well (she coughed) my place in Hogwarts... There was a problem with it and I had to take care of it, but is all good now" and she smiled at him. She found herself with both of her arms around him, not wanting to go anywhere...

They were in the middle of a great silence before a great kiss.

Ron found Hermione and passed on his worries to her. "Who IS she? Where are they? We have to find them Ron, I don’t trust her, and I just saw her once! And that american accent, lord!", they were about to split and look for them. "I don’t know what's going on Herm, but she... I dunno... I don’t like her." Hermione knew exactly how Ron felt. She had always known that Harry and Ginny together weren’t a good idea, not because they didn’t match, but because of Ron. One was his best friend, the other his sister... He wouldn’t know how to take sides if they ever broke it up, like Harry did.

"Darling, Harry is our friend, you should dislike her because she took your friend and disappear afterwards but not because your friend is attracted to her. You know... He's been having a rough year, a rough life Ron... Just look at the last 5 months... He almost looses everything, he's lost and we have to help him" Ron felt upset and ashamed.

"Hermione, you NEVER get it! You think I'm like this because of Ginny!? Hell no! He is vulnerable, and she IS acting suspicious, I even noticed it! You know me less and less" and he walked away...

Things between them weren't as happy as they seemed, but right now she had to find her friend, didn’t have time to think of her own problems.

Hermione opened the compartment's door and found Harry with Maggie in his arms, but they weren't kissing... close enough though. "Oh, Harry sorry, I was worried. We are 2 compartments away, Hi... Marie, right? I'm Hermione, Ron's girlfriend" and she nodded. "Well Harry, I have to look for Chris, I'll see you later, bye Hermione, nice to meet you" and she almost run through the door.

Once again, she escaped. Harry was more confused & upset than before. "Let's go get a drink" he said.

Chapter III - Quartz Stones & Cel Phones

Harry was pretending to be having fun... Its was passed 7 and the girl with the great smile hadn't showed up yet. He was getting upset, sad all over again.

He was sitting at the bar, his friends and the Weasleys were all there, it was like a big Gryffindor party. But he was feeling miserable. He wanted to be free of all that, he wanted to leave, go. He slowly zipped a drink... Probably had some alcohol he slipped on it. He saw Ginny coming his way, and just wanted to avoid her.

When will she get over him? When will she just let him be himself and not this guy she wanted him to be? The fact that they dated for a year and he left her because he realized he loved her as a sister broke her heart and made her this pathetic woman who would just be there all the time getting on his nerves.

"You should stop this, u're doing nothing but destroying yourself Harry" she was looking at him with simpathy, which he hated...

"WHO ASKED FOR YOUR OPINION?" The whole room went silent. Ginny started weeping and run out of the Leaky Cauldron & he had to go after her. Not because he really cared about her, but he cared about the Weasleys. They were his family as well.

Ginny bumped into Maggie when she was coming out, she was with Chris as well. She knew she was history cos of the red haired Weasley girl.

Harry went out second and his face changed when he saw her, but Maggie was sad. "Your girlfriend went that way". Maggie was about to walk away as well. "No, wait, she's not my girlfriend. Not anymore" He sort of blushed when saying that last phrase.

"So, she's available?" Chris said while taking off to Ginny's way. They looked at each other and then to Chris and giggled. Maggie turned around and headed to the Leaky Cauldron "No, lets go some place else, if I walk in there withouth Ginny Ill be crucified". Maggie nodded and they headed to a park, outside Diagon Alley.

It was weird to be outside of Diagon Alley, walking around London like a muggle, on his cloak, with a girl, also on her cloak. It wasnt the most romantic place in the whole world for sure, but it could have been worse. "So, whats the story with this chick anyway?" Maggie couldnt help herself. The way she talked made Harry giggle inside. "Well, that chick is my best friend's sister, and she was like obsessed with me for a long time-" "Oh, a psycho kinda girl" his smile went broader, and her wanting to kiss him did too.

"Well, then she started dating other guy and I sort of dated a girl, and then one thing led to another and-" "And you kissed and then u saw yourself stucked in a relationship that u didnt want, not only with her, but her whole family, am I right?" Harry looked at her, seriously.

Maggie felt a shudder going through her spine, she wasnt sure why she had said that, but Harry didnt seemed pretty much pleased. "Im, im sorry Harry, I have a really big mouth" she almost blushed. Harry kept staring at her but smiled "Its allright, you're pretty much right, she was too posessive and I just realized she just wasnt what I needed nor wanted."

An ackward silence followed that last sentence. She just wished it could make that feeling go away, then she remember she had a package on her pocket. "Oh, here, happy birthday Harry" and she grinned.

"Oh, thanks, u really shouldnt have". Harry opened the little package, it was a long silver chain with a quartz hanging from it. He smiled and looked right into her eyes. He really needed a quartz stone. He couldnt believe this girl, honestly. She saw him just once and realized he needed orientation and his path cleansed and inner calm... and all of his friends... they just werent there.

His eyes got filled with tears, but men dont cry, at least not in front of girls they just met. "Thanks for this really" and kissed her on the cheek. "I thought you might needed it, you seemed troubled" and she gave him a tender smile. "I do..." He hanged it around his neck and it stayed there. He felt like he didnt need a drink anymore, at least not for the time being.

They got up and started walking again. Harry stopped at a bar, close from the underground. It really seemed like people along with rats could coexist there. "So, you wanna go inside? I mean, is not the coolest place in London, but is not that bad" Maggie stared for a second at the door "Maybe some other day... I should really be heading back Harry, I gotta find my brother & go to Notthing Hill". They were going back into Diagon Alley when she grabbed a celphone from her pocket and ringed her brother. Harry was surprised, first Notting Hill and then a cel phone.

"I dont care Chris, wait over the Leaky Cauldron, the doorstep, we have to be heading home, bye" and she hanged up "Sorry about that" and she smiled. Harry told her that he tought she'd go searching for him, not call him on the cell phone. He hadnt seen one in ages, specially not in the Alley. "Well... they're handy, plus we are around muggles all the time, kinda makes sense, though I dont think I'll have signal on Hogwarts" and they giggled. They were almost there from the Leaky Cauldron, but he couldnt let her go, he had to do something.. kiss her maybe. He just felt this desperate need of kissing her.

He stopped and she kept on walking forward a couple of steps and then he held her arm and pulled her closer from him. They were close, Maggie started studdering "Ha-Har-Harry I have to..." Harry looked right into her eyes and passed his arm around her waist "I know this is like too soon and all but... I cant help it" words failed him "I- I- I knn-now Harry, I know what you mean" She was serious, had no clue what to do, she knew what she wanted, probably the same thing he wanted.

"You dont waist any time do you? You better stay away from my sister dude" and they broke it up. Chris was there giving them a reproving look. The "who's in charge" part kept on changing back and forth between Maggie and Chris. To top it all up an owl came out of nowhere and dropped a letter next to Marie.

"Now what?" The letter was from Hogwarts, Prof. McGonagall's handwriting. It was sent to M. S. Matthews, which was odd since letters from Hogwarts usually had a full name. Maggie took it and showed it to Harry "Yes, M.S. Matthews, Marie after my mother... yes. Well Harry, Ive had a great time, I guess I'll see you around. I have to go now". Maggie was walking away. "WAIT! How can I find you? You're in muggle London, thats a whole different world". Harry felt like he needed a drink again.

"I'll find you dont worry" she caressed his face and held the quartz for two seconds "Use it" she smiled and they both walked away.

Chris whispered at her sister "Why didn't you tell him your real name Maggie? Why using mom's?" She looked at him sad and dissapointed. "I dunno hunny, uncle Albus orders".

Harry stayed there staring at them and then to the wall that separated the wizards from the muggles. He wondered where she really belonged to.

Chapter II - Back to the Alley

By the end of July, near Harry’s birthday, the three friends agreed to meet at Diagon Alley, to buy the supplies for the next term. Besides, they’ll be able to catch up on their holidays’ news. Ron could see all right, tough he needed glasses and kept breaking them. Fortunately, Hermione, feeling much better, was around him to mend them with the so familiar “Oculus Reparo.”

They met Harry at the Leaky Cauldron. They were sitting at the very last table, giggling and sit really close to one another, drinking buttlebeer. They almost looked embarrassed when Harry joined them. They had been trying to hide their romance for some silly reason and kept believing no one would realize.

“Was sup folks, studying or something?” And he blinked towards an even redder Ron. “I’m so glad you are both all right. I’ve also heard Dumbledore is much better” said with an excited tone of voice. Hermione added that Prof. McGonagall secretly told her the Headmaster of Hogwarts was preparing a big surprise for this year. “I cant wait really!” She was almost astral projecting out of her body out of the emotion. “McGonagall and you, yes, but, isn’t she a bit too old for you?” Ron loved playing jokes to her.

Harry ordered some muggle drinks instead or buttlebeer. He told them about his holidays, he went to San Francisco with Remus, he was working there, ever since 4 years ago, but he didn’t really know what the job was about. Anyway, he went out when he was in there a few nights, sneaked out of the hotel where he was staying and visited some pubs and drank a few things… “I got a fake ID, ha ha.”

Suddenly, Hermione realized her old time friend wasn’t looking good at all. He was drinking alcoholic drinks; he was looking tired and lost some weight. She started to worry, but something told her to shut up (probably it was Ron’s foot over hers).

“So, our last year, we are seniors, we rule Hogwarts” he had this naughty smile on his face that made Hermione start to worry… “no we don’t… we have licenses other students don’t have” and Harry gave the naughty look right back at Ron, and started laughing an almost drunk laugh.

They stayed there for a while, Ron and Hermione were preparing a birthday party at the Leaky Cauldron for the next day, and Harry kept on drinking.

Later that night Ron had to carry Harry to his room. Whatever he wanted to prove, well, he wasn’t accomplishing it. And Ron suddenly realized this was going to be the hardest year at Hogwarts.

***

“Chris, get here man” A skinny dark haired girl told a shorter blond boy. She looked weird, she belonged to the “Muggle London” or certainly looked like it. They had this strong American accent that you didn’t see much around Diagon Alley.

She was bound to call people’s attention, specially from young man on their late teen years…

Her name was Maggie, and the boy was Chris, her kid brother. She was sweet and loveable, but she also had a really bad temper. It was their first time at Diagon Alley and they were absolutely lost. Nonetheless, she wasn’t the kind of person that’d ask for directions… Unless they’d come from a Hogwarts’ uniform.

She was holding a list of supplies from Hogwarts, all she was missing were two wands; they didn’t use wands. She needed to buy them, and an owl and maybe a little kitten… And definitely some food!!! They were starving…

So, she was carrying all these parcels, so was Chris, and they were running through Diagon Alley. He was 14 or 15, no more than that, and she looked a bit older, maybe because of their hard growing up. Anyway, parcels, crowded alley, racing each other (though she was older, they were pretty close from one another). She was bound to bump into someone. Hermione, who was carrying books wasn’t pretty happy when this muggle like girl bumped into her and spread all of her parcels.

“Oh, Im sorry sweety, I was just racing my bro here and bang, crashed into ya” Hermione, unusually annoyed by this girl, replied it was okay and took off to the Leaky Cauldron. “Now, that was weird!” Marie said to Chris. She felt something weird coming from that girl, a great worry over her shoulders. She had that gift (got it from her mom), she could sense people stuff. Her mom (Anne Marie) was another kind of witch, a practitioner of the old ways, something different that what you see in Hogwarts. Still, Maggie thought it was cool.

She was lost in Diagon Alley, with a lot of parcels on the floor, no one being kind enough to help her picking them up or pointing directions to where she could get those freaking requested wands!! She was getting annoyed, over Hermione’s way of annoyed…

“I’m sorry about my friend, she’s… I don’t know” He picked the parcels up and got a thumb up from Chris. The brunette glassy guy smiled at the gesture “Hello young man, first year at Hogwarts?” Chris pointed at his big sister, who was still drooling cos such a cute guy helped her.

“Oh, yeah, it’s our first year at Hogwarts, we just moved from the US” She smiled, and he smiled back.

Maybe this year wasn’t gonna be so bad after all. “I’m sorry, you’ve been so cool with us, eh, do you know where we can find some wands?” Chris couldn’t believe his sister asking for directions… She must have really liked this guy, he thought. “Wands? Well, I’d have to say Ollivander’s. Best (and only) place around. Now, let me help you with those parcels and I’ll show you where it is, if it’s okay with you, of course” How to say no to that smile?

Harry was smiling inside. Who is she? She was glowing. She had the greatest smile he had ever seen. He wanted to know all about her, and 2 blocks weren’t even close enough from enough… He couldn’t let her go, he couldn’t let her into Ollivanders just like that. “Well, here it is” and he smiled. She didn’t want to go in either, she just stared at him and he stared back at her.

"So, well, Thanks" and she kept staring. Chris looked at them and step in between "Excuse me, my sister is kinda shy, we are knew and all u know? So, what's your name?" And Maggie turned red and wanted to kick her little brother hard. He run into Ollivander's. Maggie was mumbling, making no sense at all "I, I, ahh, ehh, Im gonna kill him!" Harry started laughing "My name is Harry, Harry Potter, at your service" and he waved at her in a really funny way, she had to laugh at it. "So, Harry Potter, nice to meet you, I'm Marie Matthews, my pleasure." It was the first time someone didnt make a big fuss out of his name. He felt relief.

She wanted to get a coffee and talk to him, she didnt care about the wands anymore, or the kitten, or the starvation. She just wanted to know more about him, she knew stuff about him allright, lots actually, but she couldnt tell him.

He wanted to see her, to absorb every inch of her, every smile, every sight, he couldnt let her go. "So, bye Harry Potter, I guess Ill see you around" and she was coming into the store. "Wait" he grabbed her by his arm. "Well, today is my birthday, and my friend, the one that bumped into you? Well, her and my friend Ron are making me a surprise party at the Leaky Cauldron now... so... Would you like to go?"

Suddenly he remember when he was in fifth year, trying to tell Cho the way she felt about her. Now he was the one blushing. "I'd love to go Harry, at what time is it gonna be?" He told her and then she said bye, and kissed him on the chick and run into the store. He touched his own face and walked away.

Maybe Ron was right, this year was gonna be the best.

***

When she came into the store, Chris was already holding a wand. This old weird man was staring at her with a smile. "Hello Ms. Smith! I knew I'd see you around here sometime. My gosh! You look just like your mother". Maggie went back to earth. Her smile completaly erased when she heard her last name being pronounced.

"That's not our last name anymore, we are making a fresh new start, we are Matthews now, just like mom" She was tough. "Oh, I see, never mind then, here, try this wand" She hated the fact of using wands, she just lead energy in the old ways. But now she was gonna be a student, finally she was gonna be at Hogwarts... It was worth it.

"Okay, just wrap it up, I'll take it" She wanted to leave, she was hungry again and couldnt stop thinking of Harry's smile. "No sis, you've gotta try it, come on" She couldnt say no to her kid brother, she saw all the stars on his eyes, she just couldnt say no. "Okay, gimme that" and she grabbed it.

A thunder was heard outside. Harry docked, but everyone looked at him in a funny way, no one else heard it.

Maggie heard it, she looked outside, but when she turned, she fell. She was surrounded by darkness, a soft, cold drift was getting her face wet, she had all these feelings within. Fear, sadness, rage, revenge. She tried to shake her head and get out of there. She opened her eyes, and had Chris next to her. She woke up with a headache, her right hand hurt bad.

"Mr O. I think you gave me the wrong one, bad vibe comin from that" But Ollivander wrapped it up for her. "That was your mother's wand Ms. S-Matthews, that belongs to you. Before you passed out-" "your bluish light came out of it sis, it fits u" and she took it.

Chris knew she saw something, her mood changed radically after that.

She had no clue what she saw, but she had a feeling, a very bad feeling about it.

Chapter I - Harry's Holidays

Harry was determined to put an end to Voldemort and he did. He was determined put an end to Wormtail, and he did. But he wasn’t proud of either. He had to; it wasn’t self-determination alone what lead him to use the “Avada Kedavra” curse.

He still resented that. He wasn’t a murderer.

At the end of the last battle against the Dark Lord, Hermione was almost dead, Ron was nearly blind, and both Snape and Dumbledore were facing the remains of Voldemort. Remus Lupin (an auror werewolf who used to teach in Hogwarts) and Lucius Malfoy (a dead eater turned good) were chasing after the few remaining dead eaters.

But Harry was having an inner fight with himself.

He was standing in front of Wormtail, who was tied up and could barely move. Harry was in pain, but also full of hate. In front of him was the man who killed his parents. He had to do something; Azkaban without the Dementor’s didn’t seem enough punishment for Wormtail. He couldn’t just turn him in to the Ministry of Magic.

He got up from the chair where he was sitting and he took his wand from the floor. He released Wormtail from the strings and stared at him, full of hate. “Oh, Harry, I knew you’d understand.” But Harry didn’t talk.

He wasn’t the same old boy that he used to be. He was almost 6 feet tall now, nearly a man, and the expression in his face showed how many things he went though, and this was one of the toughest one of all. He had his wand and wasn’t afraid of using it, he wasn’t thinking of the outcome. All he could think of was the voice of his parents the night they died, that same old nightmare he’d been having for the last six years. But now it was about to be over.

“You wouldn’t just attack me now, would you Harry?” Harry looked at him. He was holding his wand towards Wormtail’s nose. “You are absolutely right Scabbers. I shouldn’t just kill you… After all, you did nothing but slaughtering my parents and tried to kill me several times after that. All the people I care about is on the other room, looking not too good… No, you are right, I have NO REASON to attack you.”

Harry’s wand was bursting with a bluish flame that made Wormtail float in the air for a few minutes. With a flick of his wand, he smashed him through one of the walls. “Get up! Come on, What? Are you scared of a boy? GET UP!” Harry was nearly crying now, but whether it was for pain, sadness or rage he couldn’t tell.

He only had to say 2 words, and Wormtail’s life will end. He deserved it, even more than Voldemort. He had tricked his parents and Sirius and deceived them; Sirius had spent many years suffering the Dementor’s torture & then died in an awful way. Wormtail deserved it. No more, no less than that.

Harry just had to pronounce them, just like Wormtail had done years ago, to kill Cedric. Just Avada Kedavra and that was it. Harry burst into tears, there he was, his wand on his had, Wormtail right there, and he was about to say those words that he resented so much. “Av- Avada” he was whispering them, he couldn’t say them, he wasn’t a murdered, he wasn’t like Voldemort or Wormtail himself. He couldn’t do it.

“Do- Don’t do it Harry-“ Dumbledore’s voice came from behind him. “Let go of your wand, come on, go with your friends now, I’ll take him to Azkaban myself. He’s getting what he deserves.”

Dumbledore was serious.

“Did I get what I deserve? I couldn’t even choose, he just killed my PARENTS! Hermione is almost gone now, and Ron… And HE did all this.” Wormtail was slightly moving to his left.

“Are you going somewhere?” Harry was still pointing his wand towards him. “You know? Don’t even try it, you cant turn into an Animagus anymore, thanks to the potion Snape just threw at you.”

Harry was hurt, bad, he might not be bleeding, but he was in pain.

“Come on Harry! Hermione is asking for you, go to her, to them” But Harry wouldn’t go, he wanted to be a part of it. He wanted to take Wormtail to Azkaban himself. He wasn’t a boy anymore. They failed to see that Wormtail was approaching towards a wand that was lying on the floor. As soon as he grabbed it, he sent them flying across the room, knocking Dumbledore unconscious.

Wormtail sent Harry “Expelliarmus”, but he derived it to the wall, that exploded in a million pieces. A cold, wet air came through the wall. They both felt it. Curses came and go, and Harry was bruised, and tired and lying on the floor, close (but not close enough) from a knocked out Dumbledore. Wormtail hesitated for a second. Will he kill the boy that started all this mess? Will he kill the greatest wizard of the Century and take all the glory?

There was no doubt in his head. Wormtail stood next to Dumbledore, pointed his wand towards him, but couldn’t say the curse; “Avada Kedrava” came from Harry’s wand first.

Wormtail was dead. Dumbledore was safe.