Lucy's POV

Today, we're going back to Hogwarts and it's a complete PANDEMONIUM.

Mrs. Weasley is shouting orders.

Mr. Weasley is systematizing the car.

The Twins are recurrent up and down the stairs, panicking.

Harry and Ron are packing their stuffs into their trunks rapidly.

Ginny is pacing frenetically in her -or our- room.

And here I am, packing my things, when I saw a black book, more like a Diary, tucked in my Battered Transfiguration Book.

I flipped the pages and saw nothing but a name engraved on the front.

"Tom Riddle?" I muttered. I turned to Ginny, who's still pacing around.

I swear, it's getting quite annoying. But I won't judge, she's probably excited or nervous.

Back to business,

"Ginny," I started. She stopped walking and faced me. I raised the Diary for her to look at it.

"Is this yours?" She shook her head, confused.

"No, I don't have a diary." She spoke and went back from panicking.

I sighed and shrugged. "Well, I'll keep it, then." And put it inside my trunk.

Once I am done, I zipped it close and dragged it downstairs with my bird cage.

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The Weasleys, Harry and I are pushing large Trolleys. We dashed under the Large Clock which read TWO BLOODY MINUTES to eleven.

"Oh dear! The train'll be leaving any moment! All together now!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed hastily.

Hurrying, we raced to Platforms Nine and Ten.

Quickly, Percy, Fred and George strode briskly toward the stone barrier that divided the platforms -- and simply disappeared.

"Go on, Ginny.You know what to do."

Ginny turned to me, I can see the nervousness in her eyes. I smiled encouragingly and gave her two thumbs up.

She weakly smiled and rushes toward the barrier, closed her eyes, and sled onto the other side. Mr. And Mrs. Weasley faced us.

"Arthur and I will just help Ginny find a compartment. Be fast, dears." We nodded and they dashed toward the barrier.

I glanced at the clock.

"We better hurry." I spoke. They nodded simultaneously. Harry is at the front of Ron, and I'm here behind him.

Harry leans into his trolley and -- CRASH! -- hits the barrier and bounces back into Ron and I.

I toppled over Ron and Harry, and it hurts like hell.

Ouch... My bum!

"Ow..." I whimpered. The boys quickly get up and helped me stand up.

Harry and Ron apologized but I waved them off. Then, a guard approached us, glowering.

"What in blazes d'you three think you're doing?" He asked irritated.

"Sorry. Lost control of the trolley." Harry lied. The guard left shaking his head. Harry turned to Ron and I.

"Why can't we get through?"

"I dunno. The gateway's sealed itself for some reason." I answered while patting the brick wall.

As Ron presses his ear to the barrier, the CLOCK CHIMES.

'11:00 am'

Oh, We're doomed!

"The train leaves at exactly eleven o'clock. We've missed it!" Harry gasped.

I sighed and plopped down on top of my luggage dejectedly.

"I can't hear a thing." Ron thought for a moment. "Harry, Lucy, If we can't get through, maybe Mum and Dad can't get back."

I stared at him, shocked.

He's a pureblood, but he doesn't know?!

"Of course, they can! They're wizards, Ronald. They can apparate from here to the Burrow." I said.

"Oh... Right." He smiled sheepishly. Harry looked puzzled.

"Apparate?"

"That's right. It's a spell, wizards and witches use to appear magically or to teleport to or from a place." I explained. "Anyway, that's not the point. We can't get through. What should we do now?"

"Maybe we should go wait by the car." Harry suggested.

Ron's face brightened.

"The car!"

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Pushing our trolleys madly before us, Harry, Ron and I rushed to the car, and load our belongings into the Anglia's boot.

"This is mad, Ron. We can't drive to Hogwarts." I spoke.

"Who says we're driving." He replied. Huh?

"You don't mean-- Ron, no." Harry said firmly. I looked at them confused.

"What is it?"

"We're going to fly to Hogwarts using the car." My eyes widened.

"What?! No, we can't. The situation will even get worse if we use magic outside of school. We can get expelled." I exclaimed.

Ron sighed. "Look, who knows when Mum and Dad will get back. And we've got to get to school, haven't we? And even underage wizards are allowed to use magic if it's an absolute emergency. Least that's what Fred and George always say..."

I sighed defeated.

"Fine. But something tells me we're going to regret this."

_____________________________________________________________

Ron is on the driver's seat, while Harry and I are on the passenger seat.

Ron Taps his Wand on the dash and the Anglia burbles to life.

"No offense, Ron, but are you sure you know how to fly this?" Harry asked warily.

Ron shifted. "No Problem."

With a Great Jolt, the car lifted from the ground.

"There. See. Now I reckon all we have to do is find the Hogwarts Express and follow it. Simple." Ron stated. We nodded, not entirely convinced.

I peered out the window. Down below, Two pedestrians stare in disbelief.

'Uh, Ron. I should tell you. Most Muggles aren't accustomed to seeing a flying car." I said slowly.

He nodded. "Right."

Ron pressed a Tiny silver button on the dashboard and we disappear. Down below, the baffled pedestrians blinked.

I put my head on Harry's shoulder. He glanced at me.

"Tired?" I nodded. He put his arm around me as I closed my eyes.

"Lucy?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks." I lifted my head from his shoulder to look at him.

"For what?"

"For always being there for me." He said sincerely. I smiled.

"Of course, You're my best friend. I'll be here for you when you need someone to talk to, I'm here to make you smile or laugh when you're sorrow, I'll cheer for you on your Quidditch Game. I am always by your side." I spoke.

I swear, I'm falling for my Best Friend, hard.

"Always?"

"Always."

_______________________________________________________________

The Anglia's ENGINE PUTTERS softly, when -- POP! - the car reappears.

Ron jabs at the silver button.

"What's happening?" I asked.

"Uh oh. The Invisibility Booster must be faulty." Ron spluttered out.

"Any sign of the train?"

"There! Up ahead! Look..." Harry pointed at a single line of Train Tracks outside.

"Brilliant."

Ron shifted, Glides down, until the Anglia is only a few feet above the tracks. The boys and I peer ahead, looking for the train.

"It must be around here someplace." I said.

Then, we heard a train whistle. We perked up and smile.

"Do you hear that?" I spoke happily.

Then, at precisely the same moment, Harry, Ron and I registered the Direction of the sound.

We glanced at each other, turn as one and see the train behind us, coming THIS WAY.

"AAAAHHHH!!!"

Ron spins the wheel, puts his foot to the gas and -- at the last possible second -- whips the Anglia out of the train's path. The car WAFFLES, TOPPLES upside down briefly, before TILTING onto its side.

I grip my seat tightly. I'm afraid of heights if you don't know, especially when it's swirling. I managed earlier, but I don't know if I still can.

As the car jets under the bridge, Harry goes sliding down across his seat, into the door, and... OUT. Dangling upside-down from the open door.

"Harry!" I called aghast, that he will fall. It's quite a drop.

"Hold on, Harry!" Ron panicked.

Harry's fingers begin to lose their grip.

I offered my hand. "Take my hand!"

Straining, I yanked him inside, levels off the car.

As Harry falls heavily into his seat, he BUCKLES his safety belt.

"I think we found the train." Harry said. We nodded, sighing in relief.

Suddenly, Ron and Harry begin to laugh. I watched them angrily.

Harry almost die, and now they're laughing?!

"What are you laughing at?! Harry almost die and you have a nerve to laugh?!" I snapped, glaring at them.

"Y-you have to agree that i-it was funny!" Ron chortled. Harry nodded still laughing.

"Yeah. We didn't even know that the train is behind us."

A smile slowly appeared on my face and guffawed with them.

And let me just tell you, the train incident is Worth It!

_______________________________________________________________

The HOGWARTS CASTLE comes into view.

"Welcome Home, Harry and Lucy." Ron said.

Harry and I smiled at the sight of it, when the Anglia Groans..

"Just out of interest, Ron. Have you ever landed a car before?" I asked worriedly.

"Well... no. but, until a few hours ago, I'd never taken off in one either." He replied.

With that, the car lurches, the nose drops, and...

"Uh oh."

Me, Harry, Ron and the car went pitching through the night.

As Ron rakes the gears, we hurtled madly toward the CASTLE WALL.

"It's not working!" Ron grunted.

"Up! Up!" Harry yelled.

Ron shifted desperately. The Anglia lurched up, barely cleared the castle wall.

The three of us exchange a look of relief, when... the car GROANS again, lurched downward.

"Mind that tree!" I shouted.

Down below a GIANT WILLOW TREE looms. Ron shifted but Nothing happened.

Great... The Whomping Willow.

"Turn! Turn!"

Harry reaches over and, together, he and Ron Spin the wheel.

It's useless. The car is heading straight for the tree. Desperately, Ron Whips out his wand and WHACKS THE DASHBOARD.

Nice tactic Ron! *sarcasm*

"Stop! Stop! Stop!"

The wand SNAPS IN TWO and -- CRUNCH! -- car meets tree. Harry and I blinked.

Poor Ron.

We hang dreamily, balanced on the Highest Limb.

"My wand! Look at my Wand!" Ron whimpered.

"Be thankful it's not your neck."Harry commented quietly.

I'll probably laugh because of his comment, but now's not the time.

THWUNMP! Something heavy hits Harry's door, sends a shudder through the car.

"What's happening?!"

Slowly, we looked up and, in disbelief, watcedh one of the tree's branches pull back, curl into itself, and came lashing forward like a MASSIVE FIST. THWUMP!

"AAAHHH!"

The Anglia tilts crazily, slides backwards and FREE-FALLS through the air and... LANDS on lower grid of branches.

"What kind of tree is this?!" Screamed Ron.

Before I can respond, the tree begins to pummel the car from all sides, tossing us like a popcorn. Windows shattered.

Heavy Dents appeared on the roof above our heads. Then, the car fell again. Slamming heavily to the ground.

Instantly, the tree's lower branches shoot through the front and rear windscreens, gaining purchase, begin to shake the car back and forth.

"AAAAHH!"

The tree pitches the car into the air. As the Anglia Slams down again, bobbing on its Squealing shocks, the engine burbles back to life.

I looked up, peering through the shattered windscreen. The willow's branches, as one, rear back, ready for one last punishing blow.

"Reverse! Reverse!" I cried out.

Ron shifted, the Car shoots backwards, and the willow pummels the Tread-marked ground we just vacated.

Safely clear, the doors fly open, the seats tip sideways, and Ron, Harry and I are ejected.

As we hit the ground, our trunks fly from the boot, Hedwig's and Elsa's cage rockets out the back window, and Hedwig and Elsa, themselves flaps into the night.

Taillights blazing angrily, the battered car speeds off, fishtailing into the Dark Forest.

"Dad's going to kill me!" Ron said horrified.

We heard a TREMENDOUS GROAN, turn back, and see the Whomping Willow assume its natural form, waiting for its next victim.

Barbaric...

______________________________________________________________

Filthy and bruised, Harry, Ron and I draged ourselves up the steps. Behind us, we see the mountain of student trunks and caged pets already brought up from the train.

"A house elf shows up in my bedroom, we can't get through the barrier to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, we almost get killed by a tree... clearly someone doesn't want me here this year." Harry frowned. I put my arm around him.

"Don't worry, and don't frown. Put your charming smile on your pretty face." I teased. He chuckled.

"But you two have to admit that it's strange." Ron pointed out.

"Well, take a good look, kids..." We stopped. Mr. Filch stood at the top of the landing, his cat -- Mrs. Norris -- twitching her tail at his feet.

"This night might will be the last you spend in this castle."

Three words: WE ARE DOOMED.

_____________________________________________________________

Third Person's POV

CLOSEUP: The Evening Prophet enters frame. The Headline reads: Flying Ford Anglia Mystifies Muggles.

Below the fold a picture shows Harry and Lockhart at Flourish and Blotts.

Professor Snape stands at his desk, newspaper in hand as Harry, Lucy and Ron stare with dread. Filch lurks in the doorway, eying them with pleasure.

"You were seen! By no less then seven Muggles. Do you have any idea how serious this is? You have risked the exposure of our world. Not to mention the damage you inflicted on a Whomping Willow that has been on these grounds for hundreds of years." Professor Snape rambled resentfully.

"Honestly, Professor Snape, I think it did more damage to us." Ron butted in. Lucy snickered and rolled her eyes.

"Silence!" He spat. "I assure you, were you in Slytherin and your fate rested with me, the three of you would be on the train home tonight. As it is --"

He was cut off by Professor Dumbledore who stands in the doorway. Alongside him is a distinctly annoyed Professor McGonagall.

"They are not."

"Professor Dumbledore... Professor McGonagall." Harry said.

Professor Snape pointed his finger at the three Best Friends like a tattle-tailing child.

"Headmaster, these children have flouted the Decree for th Restriction of Underage Wizardry. As such-"

"I'm well aware of our bylaws, Severus, having written more than a few myself. However, as Head of Gryffindor House, it is for Professor McGonagall to determine the appropriate action."

Ron rised gloomily from his seat. "We'll go and get our stuff."

"What are you talking about, Mr. Weasley?" Professor McGonagall questioned.

"Well, you're going to expel us, aren't you?" Lucy asked miserably.

Her face softened. "Not today, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Conner. But I must impress upon the three of you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be sending owls to your families tonight. And you will each get a detention."

Lucy grinned and nodded.

Snape casts a look of pure venom at Harry and Ron, and an apologetic face to Lucy.

"Splendid. Now, I suggest we return to the feast. There's a delicious-looking custard tart I want to sample." Dumbledore stated. Then, the Professors left.

Rising, Harry spies an envelope on the floor. Taking it, he reads the back: "KWIKSPELL. A CORRESPONDENCE COURSE IN BEGINNER'S MAGIC." It's addressed to "MR. ARGUS FILCH."

"Mr. Filch. You dropped this..."

Filch turns, eyes the envelope with embarrassment, then snatches it from Harry's hand and stuffs it into his pocket and left.

Lucy sighed in relief. "Whew! I thought they will expel us..."

Ron and Harry glanced at each other and guiltily looked at Lucy.

"Uumm... Lucy," Ron started, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. Lucy eyed them puzzled.

"We're sorry that we dragged you into this trouble. We know that studying here in Hogwarts is very important to you." Harry apologized.

Lucy sighed and put her arms around Harry's and Ron's shoulders.

"Come on! Stop saying sorry. Besides, what's life without a little risk?" She smirked. "And you have to say, it's quite fun!" She suddenly grimaced and added. "And dangerous."

"Deadly." Harry agreed.

Ron fist pumped. "And adventurous!"

The two of them laugh at their friend's silliness.

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