Hey everyone! This is my first Harry Potter fanfiction and I'm excited to see how it goes! Please review and let me know what you think :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, which belongs solely to J.K. Rowling.
Harry Potter lay on his bed in the Dursleys' house and stared at the ceiling.
It was the summer after his fourth year at Hogwarts. The end of summer, actually. Just two more weeks and he would board the Hogwarts Express again.
Normally, Harry would be overjoyed. After all, Hogwarts was his first home. Just like it had been with Voldemort, the wizard who had marked Harry on that fateful Halloween so many years ago...
And speaking of Voldemort, he had come back to life by using Harry's only blood... and Cedric, Cedric had died for him. Cedric, his parents... Harry silently wondered who else would die for him.
Yes, after the previous year, Harry wasn't sure he wanted to return to Hogwarts. But he had to. He was the Boy Who Lived, after all.
Sighing, Harry reread a letter Sirius had written him.
Harry,
Hey, it's me again. I heard about what happened at the tournament and I'm so sorry. I wish I could help you more, but for now, all I can do is send you letters. I'm sorry you still have to live with the Dursleys, but maybe you can stay with me next summer. I hope you're alright and if you want to tell me anything, just use your owl; she'll know where to find me.
-Padfoot
Harry really missed Sirius, but he knew he couldn't do anything about it. Not now, anyway. Sighing again, Harry tried to be optimistic about the coming school year, but it was difficult.
On September 1st, Harry was on the Hogwarts Express with his friends, Ron and Hermione. He was trying to be optimistic but honestly, it was nearly impossible with the hearing that had happened about the dementors.
Ron noticed this and asked, "You okay, mate? You've been kind of quiet lately..."
"Yeah," Hermione added in, "In fact, you've barely spoken a word since we boarded the train!"
"Don't worry, guys," said Harry, quickly smiling, "I'm fine, just thinking a bit. Anyways, have you two finished your summer work yet?"
"Are you seriously asking us about homework?" Ron looked horrified.
"Of course I've finished my work, Harry! In fact, I finished it during the first week of summer," exclaimed Hermione, "You've finished yours, haven't you? I'm not letting you copy mine, that's for sure!"
Ron and Harry rolled their eyes.
"Yes of course, Hermione," Harry answered.
Ron gulped. "Come to think of it," he said, "I don't think I finished my Transfiguration homework..."
Hermione gasped as if this was the worst thing possible. "And what, pray tell, have you been doing all summer?" she hissed.
"Uh, some Quidditch..."
"Well I suggest you finish it now, Ronald, otherwise you might receive detention on your first day back. Because you are certainly not copying mine."
"Yes, you've already said that."
Harry laughed as his friends continued bickering.
"Harry! Help me convince Ronald to do this homework!" Hermione exclaimed.
"No, Harry, you're on my side, right? Tell this blubbering witch to stop poking her nose into other people's business!" Ron groaned.
"Hermione, stop arguing with Ron so he can actually finish his work," laughed Harry.
Hermione looked triumphant as Ron grudgingly began to do his work.
After arriving at Hogwarts, Hermione asked, "Who do you suppose the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is?"
"I don't know, but hopefully she'll be better than the last one," answered Ron.
"Yeah, especially since the previous one tried to get me killed..." said Harry.
"Don't worry Harry, it'll be alright," Hermione tried to smile reassuringly, "After all, the new teacher can't be worse than the last one, right?"
She was wrong.
At the Welcoming Feast, Professor Dumbledore stood up to give his usual speech. He was interrupted, however, by the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, a plump woman dressed in all pink.
Seeing her, Harry nudged Ron and Hermione.
"She was at my trial," said Harry, "She works for Fudge."
Thanks for reading! Once again, please review :)