"Come on, let's get you on board." Sirius said, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder. They chose a compartment near to the arriving prefects.
Sirius placed Harry's trunk in the luggage rack, after Harry had retrieved a picnic basket containing lunch, his school robes, and a book from it. Meanwhile, Remus finished placing a number of charms on the compartment; a notice-me-not which would only allow Harry's friends to find him and an alarm charm that would create a serious banshee like sound if someone with intent to harm Harry tried to get into the compartment.
"OK," Sirius said with false cheer, "I guess this is it."
Harry met his gaze and nodded. He felt choked up; unable to speak. He moved towards Sirius and got pulled immediately into a fierce hug.
"If you want to come home at any time…" Sirius began, before he stopped abruptly. When Harry felt Sirius take a shaky breath, he realised Sirius was struggling to keep his own composure.
"Thank you, Padfoot." Harry said; his words were partially muffled as they were said into Sirius's shoulder. "For everything."
"I love you, Pronglet." Sirius whispered.
Remus gently cleared his throat.
Sirius sniffed loudly and loosened his hold, allowing Harry to inch back enough to look at him. Sirius's eyes were suspiciously wet but he had a determined smile on his face. "Now, remember; do your best, have lots of fun, kiss lots of girls or boys or both…"
Harry blushed bright red.
"…and most importantly, use your Dad's cloak for pranking!"
Harry laughed at the last and gave Sirius another quick hug before stepping back.
"I guess it falls to me to be the sensible one." Remus said, opening his own arms in a request for a hug which Harry complied with speedily. "Stay safe. You see, hear or otherwise sense anything suspicious, tell Moody or Minnie or call us; OK?"
"OK." Harry moved back and made a face. "You know that hug was kind of weird with your, uh…additions."
"The girls?" Remus looked down at his bust. "Yes. I could see how it might be a little disconcerting."
"And on that disturbing note…" Sirius reached over, pulled the blind down on the window, and tapped his wand on Harry's head returning him to his usual form. "All done."
They all looked at each other.
"Best Summer Ever." Harry declared softly.
Sirius smiled. "Call me on the mirror once you're back in the dorm after the feast to let me know you're safe."
"I will." Harry promised.
"OK," Sirius said firmly, "we're leaving."
Neither he nor Remus moved.
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm going to be fine."
Sirius sighed, gave him another gentle hug. "Be good, and if you can't be good, don't get caught." He dropped a kiss on the top of Harry's head and when he stepped away from Harry, Remus caught Sirius's arm and gently dragged him out of the compartment, closing the door softly behind them.
Harry threw himself at the nearest bench and worked on not crying for a good minute. It was stupid, Harry thought miserably; he was going back to Hogwarts – he should be happy. But there was an ache in his chest, a desperate urge to pick up his trunk and leave – return home.
Home.
He had one now. And it was filled with love and banter and belonging. Finally, belonging.
Merlin, but he missed Sirius already; Remus too. And Dobby.
He blinked back tears and told himself to stop being a baby. He was fourteen! And this was his fourth year! And it wasn't as if he wasn't ever going to see them again! He was seeing them every Wednesday for his usual duelling lesson! He shouldn't be bawling his eyes out like a first year.
There was a soft knock on the door and Harry immediately stood drawing his wand. Hermione opened the door and smiled at him happily.
"There you are!" Hermione shooed him back while she got her trunk into the compartment and he sprang forward again to help her, levitating the trunk up to the rack and sheepishly musing he should have done the same with his own.
"How did you know I was on the train?" asked Harry once Hermione settled on the bench opposite him.
"Dobby popped by and gave us a note from Sirius ten minutes ago." Hermione explained. "We decided to floo instead of driving because I didn't like the idea of you sitting alone on the train for a whole hour by yourself brooding."
Harry frowned as he considered if he was totally predictable in his reactions.
Hermione's eyes narrowed on him. "I figured that you would probably feel how I felt in first year."
"How's that?" asked Harry, staring at the corner of the compartment.
"Like you want to get off the train and go home." Hermione said bluntly.
Harry's gaze jerked back to her.
Hermione smiled self-deprecatingly. "I'd never been away from home before and I was nervous and I missed my parents as soon as I said goodbye to them and…I think I volunteered to go look for Trevor because it meant I had something to do and I could just stop thinking about home so much."
"But I'm not eleven and it's not like this is my first year," argued Harry, "you must think I'm pretty stupid to…"
"Be homesick?" Hermione supplied. "Oh Harry!" She dived across the compartment and hugged him before settling next to him, wrapping her arms around his right arm, snuggling into his side with her head on his shoulder. "This…" she said a little hesitantly, "this is the first time you've really had, well, people to miss, isn't it?"
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