“TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!” The Hogwarts Express blared as the conductor bellowed, “All aboard for London!”
One by the one the students of Hogwarts piled onto the train once more, each looking forward to a few months of rest and relaxation before yet another school year began. The wardrobes had been emptied, trunks filled and notes had been distributed to all students instructing them not to use magic over the holidays unless under the supervision of an adult mage and strictly not anywhere in public where a muggle might witness such actions.
For the Crusaders, in their terms anyway, it had been a relatively quiet final week of term. That was aside from the acromantlua that had escaped the Forbidden Forest last Sunday, the tree sap incident on Tuesday and finally, the House Cup celebrations yesterday.
Hufflepuff hadn’t just won the House Cup, they’d annihilated the other houses gaining a record one thousand one hundred and eleven points in total after some final points for Scootaloo’s actions against Quirrell. To put this in perspective, even after some additional points for Harry, Hermione, Ron and for some reason Neville after the parts they’d played in stopping Quirrell, Gryffindor had only managed four hundred and eighty-two points. Even so, simply for the fact Slytherin had been prevented from winning the House Cup for a seventh year in a row and that school was over for two whole months, everyone aside the Slytherins had been in a celebratory mood.
It had been yet another evening Scootaloo would never forget from the most unbelievable year of her life so far. One of the highlights of the whole evening, apart from the food, was when she’d pulled Hermione from her seat and performed the black swan solo from Swan Lake before kissing her in front of the entire school, much to the other girl’s embarrassment. This had then been topped though by Professor Sprout dancing like a loon on top of the teachers' table with the House Cup on her head like a hat screaming we are number one before kissing Discord on the lips much to his surprise and horror.
“Hey Scoots! Will you stop daydreaming for a moment and get over here? We found an empty compartment,” Apple Bloom suddenly yelled from further down the train snapping Scootaloo out of her memories and back to the present.
As Scootaloo squeezed into the cramped compartment in between Apple Bloom and Hermione, while trying her best not to step on Wallace who was already sleeping peacefully on the floor, she wondered what they were going to do for the next six or so hours.
“What took you so long?” Hermione chided as the train gave one final loud toot before it started making the long journey back to London.
“Just daydreaming. Can’t believe it’s been nearly a whole year already since Discord appeared in my life and whisked us away from Equestria,” Scootaloo replied whimsically.
“I know; I can’t believe how quickly our first year has gone as well. Let’s just hope there are no evil lunatics next year,” Hermione replied.
“Definitely, now, we’ve six hours or more of boredom to kill; what would you like to do? Epic exploding snap marathon? Do some reading together? Reminisce about the school year? Find a quiet corner and you know?” Scootaloo finished with a smirk as Hermione’s face momentarily turned bright red.
It did not take long though for her to regain her composure though and respond in a sly tone, “Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? Sorry, you know I’m not that easy. You’ll have to try harder for your kisses.”
“Worth a try,” Scootaloo said with a shrug of her shoulders before placing one hand beneath her girlfriend’s chin and booping her nose with one of her fingers on her opposite hand. “You know I like a challenge anyway,” she said seductively before releasing Hermione’s face as Apple Bloom interjected.
“Save it till later you two, a lot later,” Apple Bloom deadpanned while rolling her eyes. “Now, you two in, or what?” she said shuffling a deck of cards.
“Of course!” Scootaloo exclaimed with a look determination. “Once I show my girlfriend just how awesome I am at Exploding Snap she’ll be begging me for a kiss.”
Apple Bloom rolled her eyes again while Ron and Harry tittered across from the girls.
“How many games is it now Harry?” Ron said turning his head to the other boy next to him.
“184,” Harry deadpanned as the Crusaders all looked curiously at the two boys.
“And how many has she lost?” Ron requested.
“Zero,” Harry deadpanned once more. “Trust me, we’ve tried everything, but you just can’t beat Hermione at Exploding Snap. She’s won more sweets off us than Sugarplums sweets shop!”
Hermione crossed her arms and glowered at the two boys.
Scootaloo’s smirk grew wider. “What part of 'I like a challenge' don’t you understand?”
Hermione turned and faced her girlfriend before saying coolly, “It’s your sweets and chocolate you are wasting.”
“Pfft, no one has quicker reactions than me aside Rainbow Dash. Bring it on!” Scootaloo said determinedly pushing her face into that of her girlfriend’s.
“Oh yeah?” Hermione questioned not backing down.
“Yeah!” Scootaloo retorted. “Apple Bloom, deal the cards.”
“No, just no,” Apple Bloom stated firmly putting the cards away. “I’ve seen enough of you two competing with each other over the past year to know that letting such a debacle go ahead, especially in such a cramped space, is only going to lead to trouble. Save your competition for when we are not cooped up like sardines and preferably when I am nowhere in the vicinity.”
Hermione let out a giggle as Scootaloo pouted crossing her arms over her chest.
“Fine,” Scootaloo eventually huffed. “But what else have we got to do?”
“Ooh, ooh. I know!” Sweetie chimed opposite her. “How about we go around and each recall our best, worst and funniest moment of the year. I’ll go first.” And, not waiting for any objections, Sweetie began. “Worst moment by far was the whole Potions debacle at the start of term,” she said morosely.
“Well, you were warned after you nearly burnt down the Burrow,” Apple Bloom said frankly in reply.
“Although it did confirm just how psychologically unstable your sister is,” Scootaloo stated. “Didn’t she threaten to cut off both your hands and then shove them up your arse?”
Sweetie shivered. “Don’t remind me. And, no, she was going to cut off my hands and then shove my horn up my arse, I think while still attached to my head.”
Scootaloo grimaced. “Yeah, ouch, that does not sound nice. I think on that note we should swiftly move on. Best moment?” Scootaloo asked.
“Hmmm.” Sweetie thought for a moment. “Either receiving Wallace or my performance in our first quidditch match, probably just the latter even in spite of the broken foot.”
“Oh yeah, you were immense against Ravenclaw,” Scootaloo replied. “That goal you scored was ridiculous!”
“Agreed,” Harry and Ron said simultaneously.
“Yep, and thirty-seven saves to my name as well. A Hogwarts record along with the first keeper to ever score in a match,” Sweetie said with a huge smile. “Now, as for funniest moment, that’s a trickier one, but two moments for me stick out more than the others. Hermione, did Scootaloo tell you what happened the night of my birthday?”
Hermione looked at Sweetie somewhat puzzled. “No? What happened?”
“Don’t you dare,” Scoootaloo growled.
“Oh, now I’ve got to hear this,” Hermione said forcing a hand over her girlfriend’s mouth to stop her interrupting.
“Well,” Sweetie began, “I was trying to give Wallace a bath,”
The dogs head instantly shot up, eyes wide in alarm.
“No, Wallace, I’m not giving you a bath now you silly mutt, go back to sleep,” Sweetie sighed pushing the dog's head back beneath her legs.
Wallace gave out another mighty yawn before settling back down to sleep as Scootaloo tried to protest some more but with Hermione’s hand over her mouth all that came out were muffled grunts.
“Just ignore grumpy pants. Go on,” Hermione instructed.
“Well, as you could probably tell by his reaction, Wallace is not a fan of baths and after he escaped my grasp one too many times a certain Pegasus decided to goad me. This was the result,” Sweetie pulled out a photo from her robes and handed it to Hermione who shoved Scootaloo away from her as she desperately attempted to intercept the photo.
Hermione bellowed with laughter as she took in the sight of her macho girlfriend in a dress with permed hair and a pink bow. Ron snatched it off her before Scootaloo could and he and Harry also broke out into fits of giggles.
“Oh, that’s priceless,” Harry managed to eke out as Scootaloo grumbled mutinously under her breath.
“I know right?” Sweetie said taking careful possession of the photo once more. “Still, I don’t think anything could beat Christmas Eve. After how dogged she’d been at denying,” Sweetie began only for Scootaloo to interrupt.
“That’s enough. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stop right there.”
“Grrrrrrrrrrrrr” Wallace growled.
“You were saying?” Sweetie said smugly as Scootaloo eyed the massive beast on the floor. Even though he was just a puppy she still didn’t fancy her chances against Wallace. So, for once in her life, she took the wise option and sat in silence while giving Sweetie a death glare to try and put her off from what she was about to say. It didn’t work and didn’t faze the other girl in the slightest. “Now, where was I. Ah, yes! So, me and Apple Bloom had been bombarding and teasing Scootaloo for a week to reveal her relationship with Hermione and then, after all the hard work and effort she’d gone through in denying it she goes and mumbles in her sleep, oh Hermione, I’ll help you with your kissing studies.” The carriage fell into raucous laughter as Scootaloo tried to bury her head in shame, her cheeks turning red.
“I hate you so much,” Scootaloo mumbled into her hands.
After a while, once everyone had got their breaths back, Harry said, “My word, I’m not sure if anything will top that, but let me see. Personally, for me, the funniest moment was when I caught site of Malfoy being taken to the infirmary by Professor Sprout with the head of an ass.” The boy finished as a smaller round of laughter broke out around the carriage.
“Oh yeah, I remember that,” Scootaloo said after a short while, finally able to hold back her laughter. “Professor Sprout may have played a part in that,” she added.
“What do you mean?” Harry pressed.
“Well, it was just after the whole Poison Joke debacle with Snape that revealed mine and Hermione’s relationship to the whole school. I was coming out of my extra Herbology lesson with the Slytherins and Malfoy couldn’t help but call us disgusting freaks. Unbeknownst to him Professor Sprout was right behind him and he got dragged back into the greenhouses for detention.”
“Oh yeah, I remember that. She may have accidentally pushed him into the Poison Joke. Completely accidental, of course,” Hermione cut in finishing Scootaloo’s story as more laughter reverberated around the carriage.
“Serves the bully right,” Harry wheezed as he tried to get control of his body before going on. “Right, now where was I? Best and worst moments of the year. Undeniably the worst thing for me in the entire year was Quirrell and Voldemort and I’m just glad we managed to stop the both of them.”
“For now,” Scootaloo interrupted as the mood in the carriage swiftly changed and a sombre silence hung in the air.
“Yeah, well, hopefully if we keep delaying his return, he’ll give up eventually and never return,” Harry replied optimistically.
“We can only hope,” Scootaloo said sombrely.
“Can we please move on? This topic is depressing,” Apple Bloom said brusquely before adding, “Or I’ll get Sweetie to sing another song.”
“HEY!” Sweetie admonished indignantly.
Harry groaned, “Please no, Christmas was bad enough. At least I know what we can use on Voldemort the next time he reappears.”
“HEY!” Sweetie interjected once more as Ron broke out into yet another laughing fit next to Harry. “My singing is not that bad and as I told you before, it just sort of happens. It would be funny though to see the evilest wizard of all time break out into a spontaneous song and dance routine.”
Even more stifled giggles reverberated around the carriage as the image lodged itself into all the students’ brains.
“It certainly would be different,” Harry said. “Anyway, my best moment was Christmas by far. Exams a distant nightmare, awesome food, snowball fights and for the first time ever, presents! Scootaloo, how about you?”
“Good call,” Scootaloo replied. “For me it’s a really tough one, but my overall favourite moment of the year was the final quidditch match where I caught the snitch just in time to win us the match and the cup. YOW!” She finished rubbing her arm as Hermione punched it.
“If you really want that kiss you are going the wrong way about it,” she huffed with mock hurt. “And there was me going to say my best moment was when we kissed for the first time above the clouds before Discord rudely interrupted us. Think I might change that to my exam results. Still, I suppose I can’t be too angry. That was a pretty epic take and you did bring a lot of joy to Professor Sprout.”
“Yeah, sorry, if it makes you feel any better embarrassing you throughout the year was probably second on the list,” Scootaloo giggled as Hermione playfully punched her girlfriend’s arm once more.
“Oh, that reminds me. My funniest moments of the year were dumping that bucket of water atop your head after the pony lesson and seeing you in a tutu last week. Oops, was that last one meant to be a secret, too bad,” Hermione shot back.
Scootaloo’s eyes went wide as Sweetie said between chortles from across the carriage. “I was wondering how you got so good at dancing at the feast last night.”
“Yeah, she has a secret interest in…” Hermione never finished as this time it was Scootaloo’s turn to shove her hands over Hermione’s mouth.
Sweetie was practically doubling over with laughter. “You two are just perfect for each other,” she managed to wheeze.
“Sometimes I wonder,” Scootaloo grumbled removing her hand.
“By the way it's ballet she has a secret interest in. I once caught her practicing in one of our barns during a rainstorm,” Apple Bloom nipped in with a knowing grin.
Scootaloo’s head hit her hands. “I give up. Who else wants to add to the embarrassing moments of Scootaloo’s first year?” She said in a muffled tone.
“Erm, w-well, in hindsight, I did find you falling atop the spiky bush in Herbology somewhat funny,” Neville’s nervous voice eked out for the first time next to Apple Bloom.
Everyone, aside from Scootaloo, broke out into yet more laughter upon remembering the poor girl’s misfortune in that Herbology lesson.
Scootaloo groaned; this was going to be a long train ride home.
*
It was indeed a long and tiring train ride to London. Other notable memories that were shared over the course of the trip included the crusaders' cutie marks and pony forms, Apple Bloom’s unhealthy obsession with food, explosives and throwing people and trolls into the lake, Applejack in lingerie, the mascot costume, Scootaloo’s upgrades, Valentine’s day, the many forms of Sweetie Belle (Sweetie Bubbelle, Swampy Belle, Snow Belle the Snow Girl, Spectral Belle and Scootaloo’s personal favourite, Squeaky Belle), DADA, Wally, the quidditch celebrations, Scootaloo’s ankle lock, Neville and Apple Bloom’s relationship, the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid and more. Scootaloo had also regaled the carriage with the story of how she, Sweetie and Bloom had ended up in this dimension.
Afterward, Scootaloo and Hermione decided to compete to see who could eat the most Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans. It had not ended well after Hermione had got vomit followed by stilton and then sweaty socks. Thankfully, this time she managed to get to the bathroom in time. To be fair to Scootaloo, she herself had had to deal with cat’s piss, curdled milk and horse, the latter of which had actually taken the young seer by surprise.
It was much to everyone’s relief when they at last pulled into Kings Cross station, especially for Apple Bloom as in the final hour Scootaloo had fallen asleep and had been using her shoulder as an impromptu pillow while driving everyone mad with her snoring.
Apple Bloom had been only too happy to shove the drooling Pegasus girl off her shoulder and onto the floor after Sweetie had taken Wallace out.
“What? Huh?” Scootaloo said in a daze rising from the floor of the carriage.
“Rise and shine sleepy head; we’re here,” Apple Bloom cried jumping from her seat. “Come on, everyone else has gone to get our luggage.”
Scootaloo gave a loud yawn and tried to get the awful crick out of her neck.
“Did you really need to shove me so hard?” she grumbled as they made their way out of the carriage and onto the platform.
“After you used my shoulder as a pillow while snoring like a bear in between mumbling sweet nothings about Hermione for the past hour? Yes, yes, I did,” Apple Bloom retorted.
Scootaloo’s cheeks started to glow red but before she could press her friend for further information Sweetie’s voice intervened.
“Hey girls over here!”
Slowly Scootaloo and Apple Bloom joined the rest of their friends in a long queue awaiting their turn to exit. A wizened old guard was only letting them pass through the wall two or three students at a time so as not to attract attention from and alarm the muggles.
“So, Scootaloo, how was your dream? Did you save Princess Hermione from the evil frost dragon?” Hermione tittered.
Scootaloo’s cheeks went scarlet.
“Yes. She was just attempting to kiss the princess, who she mistakenly took for me, when I shoved her onto the floor,” Apple Bloom replied for Scootaloo to yet more laughter from the group of students. Scootaloo was trying to hide herself in her coat.
“Why am I friends with you lot?” she groused.
“Because no one else can tolerate you,” Hermione taunted as they edged ever closer to the wall.
It couldn’t get close enough quick enough for poor Scootaloo but finally it was their turn and in a couple of groups they made their way out onto the other side of the wall. A crowd of people were waiting, all craftily making it look like they were awaiting a train, and almost as soon as they emerged, they heard Ginny’s voice.
“Over here,” she squealed waving her hand in the air. “Mum, look, it’s the Harry Potter.”
“Quiet Ginny,” Molly chided walking over. “Have we said our goodbyes? Harry, Hermione, Neville, you know you are all welcome to visit if your guardians permit it over the summer.”
“Thanks Mrs. Weasley, and especially for the fudge and jumper,” Harry replied as a hand grabbed his arm.
“Come along, boy; you’ve kept us waiting long enough,” Vernon growled as he began to drag Harry away.
“I’ll see you over the summer,” Harry called as he slowly disappeared from view.
“How peculiar,” Molly commented. “Anyway, we had better be getting a move on also. Hermione, Neville, you all right waiting by yourselves?”
“Don’t you worry, dear; I’ll keep an eye on them till Miss Granger’s parents arrive,” Augusta Longbottom’s stern voice echoed as she approached the group. “Hello Neville, I am glad to see you have been making some friends although I’m sorry to say you are grounded for the entire summer after that whole nighttime wandering debacle.”
“Yes Grandma,” Neville sighed. “Could Apple Bloom at least be allowed to visit? Even if just for a short while or to help with my summer studies,” the boy pleaded highlighting the girl stood next to him.
Augusta took a long look at Apple Bloom before saying, “Hmm, what are your intentions with my grandson young miss?”
“He’s my boyfriend you old crone. Good enough?” Apple Bloom said bluntly.
Neville turned and stared wide-eyed at her, before he turned and stared equally wide-eyed at his grandmother who was cackling like a loon.
Slowly Augusta got a hold of herself and wiped a tear from her eye. “Honest. I like that. I never thought my wimp of a grandson would ever manage to win the heart of a fair maiden, especially before my days were done. This is certainly a nice surprise. Anyway, Molly has our address. We are going to visit Neville’s parents in a week’s time; I’m sure they’d love to meet you, 9:00am sharp.”
“Yes ma'am.” Apple Bloom curtseyed before turning to Neville. “I’ll see you then Neville,” she said giving the boy a kiss on his cheek much to his embarrassment and Augusta’s delight as she turned and prepared to follow Molly with all her belongings.
Unsurprisingly to Apple Bloom, Hermione and Scootaloo were saying goodbye to each other by snogging each other’s brains out -- of course.
As the two girls slowly let their lips disentangle from each other a perplexed voice echoed across the platform.
“Hermione?”
And, of course, Hermione’s parents would just have to turn up at this precise moment, wouldn’t they? Apple Bloom thought to herself.
“Sometimes I wonder if we’re the characters in some cheesy fan fiction,” the girl sighed to herself watching as Hermione stared completely speechless at her parents.
END OF BOOK ONE