Chapter One
In Which Harry Nearly Gives His Uncle A Heart Attack And Goes Back to School
"Off to that freak school again, eh boy?" Vernon Dursley glared at Harry over the morning paper as Harry struggled down the stairs with his school trunk. Harry glanced at his uncle with dislike as he continued down the stairs. "Yes Uncle Vernon. I am going back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry again. Seeing as though it's my school, I suppose it's no wonder. This year, I expect I shall be learning about advanced transfiguration and deadly curses…" He trailed off as he reached the bottom of the stairs and watched as his uncle's face first turned ghostly pale, then bright purple in the space of two heartbeats. With a roar, Vernon ditched his newspaper, heaved his massive bulk up from the kitchen table and lunged at Harry who, with the ease of much practice, dodged nimbly and dashed out the front door, laughing. When he reached the taxi at the end of the driveway, he glanced back to see his uncle standing in the front door, chest heaving as his meaty fists clenched and unclenched. He could almost see the cogs in Vernon's mind tick over as he contemplated ways to punish his nephew. Not that Harry intended to hang around to find out. He waved cheekily at his uncle as the cab driver stowed his belongings in the trunk and Hedwig's cage in the backseat. "See you later, dear Uncle!" If possible, Vernon's face went an even deeper shade of purple and as Harry got into the car; he wondered idly how much more teasing it would take to give his uncle a heart attack. The thought was too tempting and Harry quickly gave the driver directions to Kings Cross Station.
The platform of 9¾ was as crowded as ever as Harry crossed the enchanted barrier. As usual, the scarlet engine of the Hogwarts express was whistling and billowing smoke. As Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger followed him onto the platform, Harry spotted a familiar, unwelcome sight. Draco and his father, Lucius Malfoy stood to one side imposingly. As Draco surveyed the crowd as if he were a king, his father turned to speak to a tall, thin man with greasy black hair. Snape, thought Harry in disgust. The potions master looked as dour as ever and was speaking in a low tone to the elder Malfoy.
"Two of a kind eh, mate?" Ron grinned as Ginny, his younger sister and his mother and father appeared behind them and Harry turned his head to grin back at his best friend. "Ronald, you shouldn't say things like that!" Hermione scolded the still grinning red head. "Aww, come on 'Mione…" Ron snapped his mouth shut as Hermione cut him a glare at him which would turn anyone to stone. Fred and George Weasley careened into the back of their brother as they came flying through the barrier as the clock struck the hour. The three brothers went down in a tangle of flaming red hair and pale, gangly limbs. "That was close!" said one, grinning maniacally and springing back to his feet. "Yeah, nearly didn't make it. You alright mate?" the other asked with a similarly evil grin as he helped Ron to his feet again. Exasperated, Ron nodded as he got himself together. The Weasleys, Hermione and Harry clambered on board the train and found an empty compartment. Harry flopped into a window seat, relieved to be away from the Dursleys. The back of his neck prickled and he turned to see Draco smirking at him from the doorway. 'What do you want, Malfoy?" He snarled. The blonde Slytherin smirked wider. "Temper, temper Potter. Anyone would think you don't like me." The blonde glanced at Ron, nodded regally and gestured vaguely at Ron's threadbare top and faded, holey jeans. "Weasel, I wasn't aware homeless was fashionable this season." He glanced at Hermione, who stiffened threateningly, her face clouding further. "Granger, still hanging out with Weasel? Tut tut." Still smirking, he sidled off, Crabbe and Goyle in tow. "Slimy git," Ron muttered under his breath, earning another glare from Hermione, who seemed to be giving everyone that look. Harry wondered why she was in such a foul mood.
The trip to Hogwarts was uneventful after that. The trolley lady made an appearance around mid afternoon and the trio happily pigged out on sweets. The familiar landscape flew by with the hours and soon, Harry could see the castle on the horizon. Still, it was nightfall by the time they had arrived and were seated in the great hall. The first years were sorted by the tatty Sorting Hat and the Welcome Song was sung. The Feast was served after Dumbledore's amusing annual speech to the student body. The new Defence against the Dark Arts was introduced; an old Auror friend of Moody's called Wolfsbane who looked almost as grizzled as old Mad-Eye himself. Harry glanced at Snape to see his reaction to the new Dark Arts teacher. It was well known Snape wanted the job, but the dark haired professor looked distant, removed, his usually sharp gaze unfocused and misty, and he didn't seem to even notice the new addition to the teaching staff. Harry frowned, but shrugged it off. The ceiling of the great hall showed a clear night sky, brilliant with stars. After the last dessert was eaten and the plates magically cleared, the trio followed the flow of bodies out of the great hall and up the main staircase. The press lessened as they neared the portrait of the fat lady until just the Gryffindores surrounded them. The common room was just as they'd left it with the exception of the red banner that fluttered above the fireplace which had "Welcome Gryffindores!" in curly golden letters and a charmed roaring lion motif. Yawning, Harry and Ron stumbled up the stairs to the boys dormitories. "Night Hermione" they chorused. She smiled. "Goodnight Harry, goodnight Ron."
Unfortunately for Harry, sleep did not come as readily to him as it did for Ron. The red-head's sleepy murmurs about broomsticks and spiders didn't help his plight, and when it became obvious he would not fall asleep in bed, Harry moved to the window to watch the stars. When sleep continued to evade him, Harry found himself slipping into his invisibility cloak and down the stairs of the dorm, across the common room and out the portrait, intent on finding somewhere to think about what the coming year would bring. The Fat Lady greeted him softly, although she couldn't see him. He slipped off the hood and grinned at her, waving as his head seemed to hover on thin air. She giggled quietly and he covered up again as he strode off down the corridor. In his haste, he forgot about the Marauders Map, but, since he was already halfway to his destination already, he decided the cloak would be enough. He navigated the halls silently, meeting no one. As he neared the room of requirement, he sped up, wondering what the room would think he needed tonight.