Back of the Train
 

There's plenty of seating at the back of the train. Grab a compartment with your friends. The train is about to depart.

Minerva seemed to be the first to find a compartment. She found an empty one that seemed big enough for her and her friends. She sat down happy to be alone for a little. She breathed hard knowing it would be a long ride home.

Justin found where Minnie had sat down and was the next one in the compartment. " Hey, Min, this one looks big enough. " he smiled as he sat down beside her.

YAY! Finally leaving! Finally home! She could already smell the smell of Rupert's...kittens? Oh well! Maybe he made cookies for their arrival!

Ronnie found an empty compartment. Ah, PERFECT. Some ALONE time. Finally. She swung open the door and shut it, and sat by the window and looked out of it. She then let Scabbers and Twirl free of their cages, and they both curled up on her lap. "Finally, we're heading home guys!" she whispered to them. Scabbers squeaked excitedly, and Twirl purred. Looks like she wasn't the only one excited.

"Yeah it does" She said in a non enthusiastic voice. "Umm Justin I don't know if I'm going to stay the entire trip home in here. I hope you understand." She knew she could be honest to Justin she knew he saw right through her.

" I figured as much. I understand what it's like to see them together.... I-I used to be well sort of jealous of him at the start of term. It was hard for me to see as well. " Justin confessed.

Harvey walked throught the train looking into each compartment for his friends and then finally he saw them. He walked in and sat down next to Ronnie, across from Minnie and Justin. "Hey guys.. good see everyone here..

Dragging her trunk and bags behind her, Alyssa her head in and was glad that she had found everyone. Now the only other thing she had to do was let Aaron know where she was. "Hi everyone does the offer still stand? Can we join you? I lost Aaron again but I' m sure he'll catch up. If it's too crowded in here, we can find somewhere else." Alyssa smiled at everyone, she could somehow sense the tension in the compartment but didn't say anything.

Just has she stopped her sentence with Justin Harvey and Ronnie were sitting across from them. "Oh Hello" she said blushing a bit. She hoped they didn't hear her talking.

Then there was Alyssa. "Of course it still stands we wouldn't have it any other way. Get in here!!" Minerva smile and got up to help Alyssa with her trunk.

" Hey , Harv? Give me a hand with Alyssa's trunk. We'll put it above on the rack." Justin said as he smiled toward Alyssa.
" Of course , Lyssie. Here let Harv and I get that trunk for ya. the more the merrier. say, are you and Aaron gonna come to my party. you're more than welcome. there's to be a dance after dinner. I do hope you two can make it. "

Harvey smiled "Hey Mins!" he said smiling at her then Alyssa appeared at the door way "Of course Alyssa. Come on take a seat" he said to her smiling as Minnie helped her with her trunk.. he had invited many people so there were more to come.. the more the merrier it may make some people feel more comfortable if there are a ton of people in this compartment.

Minerva smiled with some relief soon she will be home for a break. Minerva welcomed it with open arms the year was filled with great memories and bad ones as well. She looked around at her friends. "I'm so glad we are all sitting together. I remember when I got on this train at the beginning of term I carried my trunk everywhere because I didn't have anywhere to sit."

As Ronnie sat in her still empty compartment, she took out her trunk and began searching through it, and finally found some Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. Ahh, her favorite! She put her hand in the box and pulled out one and popped it in her mouth. She spat it out right away. Eww, vomit flavored! Yuck! She giggled and looked down at Scabbers and Twirl and her eyes popped immedietly. She looked in horror and the rat who wasn't breathing on her lap. She pushed Twirl off her lap who meowed angrily. She carefully scooped Scabbers up in her hands and put him close to her face. "Scabbers!" she gasped. He only was taking little breaths, they became slower and slower. "Scabbers! No!" she cried, tears already streaming from her eyes. She didn't know what to do! He slowly opened his eyes and licked her finger slowly, before his breathing slowly stopped and he lay there, in her hands motionless. This explained why he hadn't been eating lately, why he had always been sleeping. "Scabbers!" she yelled. "Don't die, PLEASE!" she yelled. She knew it was too late and sighed. She quickly rummaged through her trunk and found an extra white T-shirt. She wrapped him up in it and placed him beside her and began sobbing. Scabbers! Dead! She couldn't believe it...

Justin stood struggling with Alyssa's trunk trying to heave it up onto th top rack unsuccessfully. Out of breath he glared over at Harvey who was sitting comfortably in his seat.

Out of breath Justin answered, " I remember missing the train altogether. Me mum had to send me by floo powder. " he chuckled.

Harvey chuckled "Oh I am glad too.. oh yes I remember that.. I met Minnie at the Food Court and we became friends almost instantly and I invited her to sit with me and some girls I had also met on the train.. well actually I kind of knew one of them from before at muggle school. But I was glad I decided to go to the food court that day " he said smiling at his friends as he told the story and then he looked at Minnie he remembered her that day.. tired from heaving her trunk,,, hungry and pretty.. even to this day.
Just then Ronnie screamed out.."Ronnie what happened" he asked concerned as he looked at the white bundle next to her

Guess Ronnie is in another compartment..
 

Minnie got up and helped with the trunk "There" she said smiling at him. She looked at him confused "what is floo powder?" She hadn't heard of this before.

Min blushed as Harvey remembered that day. She made a note to go back to that cart even if it was just to walk around a bit. "Hey Harvs where is Ronnie, is she not sitting with us? It's not because of me is it?" She was worried she was getting in between the two of them.

Justi n walked over to Ronnie's compartment having heard her cry out for her pet , Scabbers. " Oh Ronnie. that's awful. It's almost as if he was waiting to pass at home." He wrapped his arms around her and held her as she sobbed,
" I am so sorry, Ronnie. Perhaps we can get together in Diagon Alley and I'll have choose a new pet. would you like that?"

Harvey looked as Minnie blushed as he talked about that day.. "Oh I dont know.. no.. no.. no its not because of you.. I dont know why she isnt here." he said smiling.. as he looked at her..

Minerva jumped when she heard someone cry out. "Was that Ronnie? Harvs you better go see whats wrong." Minerva said she didn't want to go, it was Harvey Ronnie would need.

Harvey was already concerned at the screaming and was trying to hear some more when Minnie told him to go he nodded and left to see if Ronnie was ok.. He went to her "Ronn...." he noticed the bundle and knew what had happened. he put his arms around her and didnt say anything he just held her there

Ronnie sniffled and snuggled up to Justin. Comfort was the only thing she wanted right now.....she stared blankly at the wrapped up T shirt and sighed. "Thanks, mate." she said quietly. "You're a real good friend, you know that? I wish I was as nice as you." she said. She smiled weakly. "Yeah, th-that'd be nice.." she said between sniffles. But, this rat couldn't replace Scabbers. Not really.
Ronnie was shaking terribly. "Sc....Scaabbers!" she cried. She knew she hadn't told Harvey about him at all....why didn't she? It was too late for him to meet him now. Unless he wanted to meet a dead rat. "My...p-pet rat just d-died right in my h-hands!" she said still shaking terribly. "A few...few...weeks ago he hadn't been eating or an...anything! He....always was slee-sleeping and he just died!" she said sobbing harder.

Harvey hugged and held her in his arms "Oh Babes! I am sorry to hear that.. ssshh he is probably in a better place you know like rat heaven or something" he said softly as he held her...

" Oh. Well, floo powder is powder from a magical fireplace. You hold it in your hand and speak the location you wish to go to while you're standing an unlit fireplace. As you say your destination you let the floo powder go... And POOF1 you end up in the fireplace of your destination." Justin explained.
" Harvey, thank Merlin You're here. Please, take and comfort her. I need to find Ame. "
" I know your new pet won't take his place , but It will love you just the same. " Justin said with a sympathetic smile.

Ronnie felt so much better as Harvey held her in his arms. "It...it's fine. Yeah, he is in a b..better place now." she mumbled, burying her face into his chest so she could cry quietly.

Ronnie nodded slowly and sniffed. "Thanks for the comforting, you..you can go f-find Ame now." she said giving him a tight squeeze.

Minnie looked at him weird. "You travel in a fireplace, don't you get burned?" Minerva was just so confused she thought she heard everything guess not.