"It's all right, Crookshanks," Hermione cooed through the wickerwork. "I'll let you out on the train."
"Cleo too." Rosalie grinned as Hermione nodded her head vigorously.
"You won't," snapped Ron. "What about poor Scabbers, eh?"
He pointed at his chest, where a large lump indicated that Scabbers was curled up in his pocket.
Mr. Weasley, who had been outside waiting for the Ministry cars, stuck his head inside.
"They're here," he said. "Harry, come on."
Harry got into the back of the car and was shortly joined by Hermione, Rosalie, Ron, and, to Ron's disgust, Percy.
The journey to King's Cross was very uneventful compared with Harry's trip on the Knight Bus. The Ministry of Magic cars seemed almost ordinary, though Harry noticed that they could slide through gaps that Vernon's new company car certainly couldn't have managed. They reached King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare; the Ministry drivers found them trolleys, unloaded their trunks, touched their hats in salute to Mr. Weasley, and drove away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving line at the traffic lights.
"Right then," Arthur said, glancing around them. "Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry."
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"I need to talk to you in private," Harry muttered to Rose, Ron, and Hermione as the train picked up speed.
"Go away, Ginny," said Ron.
"Leave the poor girl alone, you prick." Rosalie frowned and pushed Ginny behind her.
"Oh, it's fine, Rosie." Ginny smiled at her sister. "That's nice, Ron," said Ginny huffily and she stalked off.
Rosalie, Ron, Harry, and Hermione set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment, but all were full except for the one at the very end of the train.
This had only one occupant, a man sitting fast asleep next to the window. Rosalie, Harry, Ron, and Hermione checked on the threshold. The Hogwarts Express was usually reserved for students and they had never seen an adult there before, except for the witch who pushed the food cart.
