Silent Mind
Harry sighed and leaned his head against the window pane. He hadn’t thought he’d ever be back on the Hogwarts Express, but here he was. Hermione, Ron, Neville, Luna and Ginny were there too, all going back one final time. It was odd for Harry to think about, all six of them being in their seventh year together.
He knew things would be different now, without Snape and Dumbledore. Slughorn had gone back into retirement too. And with McGonagall taking up the position of Headmistress, Hogwarts was in need of a new transfiguration teacher too. That was three new staff members and Dumbledore had always struggled to find just one. And Harry had nearly forgotten, the muggle studies professor had been killed too.
Absentmindedly, Harry touched his scar, still not used to the fact that it no longer pained him.
Hermione, ever observant, asked him, “Harry, your scar isn’t hurting you, is it?” She sounded so alarmed that everyone turned and looked at him, except for Ginny, who had already been staring. All summer- which he had spent at the Burrow- Ginny had been trying to get him alone. He knew she had been hoping they’d get back together, but after everything that had happened, Harry didn’t think he was ready for a relationship. Even stranger, he wasn’t entirely sure whether he still held feelings for her at all.
“No, sorry, it’s just a habit.”
She relaxed visibly and asked, “And no visions?”
He shook his head, they’d had this conversation nearly everyday over the summer. “Nope. My head has been blissfully empty.”
Ron nudged him with a shoulder, “That’s because you aren’t doing any thinking mate, might have to break that habit with our N.E.W.T.S. this year.”
Harry laughed and resumed his intent peering out the window of the Hogwarts Express to the vast expanse of vibrant rolling hills beyond.