Chap 1

The banquet hall was full once again with returning students. Harry, Ron and Hermione surveyed the teacher's table. "Looks like we've lost a few teachers again" said Harry "who do you think will teach defence against the dark arts this year?"

Anyone but Snape, we'd never survive that class, he'd make sure of it" groaned Ron "could you imagine a Scucca and Manticore obstacle course!"

Just then Dumbledore rose to give his speech to the first years. "Welcome all to Hogwarts, I warn you now that you will find you time here to be very exciting, and perhaps dangerous to the less attentive students. To the returning students, you will notice many changes this year. In particular among the teachers, Professor Lupin has returned as our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and will be joining us later this evening" which was met by wild applause from all the students in the hall "yes, yes, I am glad to have him back as well, also joining us this year is Miss MacLeod who will be replacing Madam Trelawney as divination professor. Unfortunately Miss MacLeod was unable to be here for the sorting ceremony as she is transferring to us from a Northern School and will arrive sometime later this week. That's all, please, eat."

Harry, and Ron practically dived into the food, "I've been waiting for this all summer, I've even dreamt about it" sighed Harry as he stuffed a large piece of chicken into his mouth "imagine a whole summer with nothing but grapefruit and soda crackers, it's a crime."

Oh honestly, you two think the most important subject at school is dinner" Hermione quipped "I don't suppose either of you finished your essays for Professor McGonagall, or Professor Binn, have you?"

Ron simply gave Harry one of those 'not again' looks. "So, enjoy your summer with Viktor Krum did you" chimed Ron as Hermione's face grew scarlet, making both boys laugh .

Fred and George saw "their" girlfriends "Oy. Nadine, Angelina over here! Wait until they see what we came up with over the summer. More stuff than you can shake a stick at Harry, we have all the candies of course, and the fake wands, and now we have exploding pillows, towels that make you wet, and of course our personal favourite biscuits that make you turn colours depending on your mood. Red for angry, blue for sad, green for jealous, better keep Ron away from those..."

SHUT UP FRED yelled Ron.

As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted, they're great for getting people, they don't even realize they're changing colours." Fred went on laughingly.

As Nadine and Angelina shook their heads and exchanged knowing glances. "It's going to be a long year Nadine" "Have you hid the crazy glue, Angelina? I don't want to go through that again."

As they made their way to the common room they discussed the new teachers. "I can't believe Lupin is back, I can't wait for DADA classes to begin, he's the best teacher we've ever had, and if he's here maybe Snuffles will be here with him, I haven't seen him in so long, have you, Harry?" Hermione hoped this was not a sore subject for Harry.

"Not since my birthday, Aunt Petunia nearly dropped over when a big, black dog showed up at the door with a package in its mouth, before he left, he dug up half of her flower garden. She was besides herself, yelling at Snuffles, throwing stuff at him, anything she could find cups, pillows, newspapers. She never managed to hit him, but it was really fun to see her try. I'm not sure, but I think that was part of my present as well."

"Leave it to Snuffles" agreed Ron.

Hermione just shook her head "Boys, can't you ever stop playing pranks on people, really, its so immature."

As they rounded the corner they came upon Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall deep in discussion. "I am deeply concerned about Miss MacLeod, I was expecting her yesterday, its not like her to be late, not without sending word. She's always been very good about that sort of thing." stated McGonagall.

"Now Minerva, I'm quite sure your worrying about nothing, you know as well as I that Miss MacLeod is quite capable of taking care of herself" assured Dumbledore "she probably got distracted by something in the forest, you remember how curious she is. However if it makes you feel any better, I have already sent Hagrid out to search for her. Well, hello Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, and Miss Granger ready for you first year as prefect?" Dumbledore asked.

"Prefect, why didn't you tell us Hermione. Gheez, not that it's a big surprise or anything." Ron quickly added. Hermione gave Ron one of her coldest stares and headed towards the tower as Ron followed her, trying to explain what he meant, but unfortunately, only making it worse.

"I hope this isn't the way the rest of the year is going to go" sighed Harry.

"I shouldn't worry about it if I were you Harry, you three have always been the greatest of friends, I doubt that will ever change. Perhaps you should catch up with them though, just in case." said Dumbledore with a wink.

Back in the common room with a calmer Hermione and an appropriately apologetic Ron. Harry began to wonder aloud about the new divination teacher.

"Well honestly Harry, how good can she be if she got lost on her way to the school" joked Ron "she's probably another crazy old woman with thick glasses and too much jewellery."

"If you asked me, its all nonsense. Divination is nothing but guessing, no real magic to it at all" quipped Hermione rather peevishly.

Harry smiled brightly "As long as she doesn't keep telling me I'm going to die, I'll be happy."

They continued to joke and pass the night away playing exploding snap and wizards chess with the rest of the common room while Hermione showed the first years their dorms and went over the rules, several times by Ron's reckoning, until it was quite late.

The next morning everyone was up bright and earlier, eating their breakfast and anxious to get their new schedules.

"Oh no, double potions with Slytherin again. What do we do to deserve this?" whined Ron.

"Come on Ron, don't look at it as a problem, see it as an opportunity" said George.

"Right, an opportunity for what exactly?" questioned Ron.

"Why to field test your dear brothers newest and greatest inventions of course. What better targets could you ask for than a room full of Slytherins?" replied George with a large smile and a wink toward Harry.

"Hey, it looks like the new divination teacher still hasn't gotten here, maybe the class will be cancelled this year, more time for quidditch!" Harry said hopefully.

Although he felt guilty saying it, looking at the teachers table it was obvious McGonagall was worried as was Lupin, and strangely even Snape seemed concerned. They all kept looking at the empty seat and talking amongst themselves, and Hagrid hadn't come back either, all in all it wasn't looking like a good way to start the year.

Suddenly Harry heard a commotion in the hall. It sounded like someone shouting and arguing. Actually the closer he listened the more he was sure it was Hagrid's voice. Dumbledore stood up and started walking towards the door he got as far as Harry's table when the doors flew open.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, Sir," began Hagrid " 'fraid we ran inta a bit o' trouble. Seems they knew she wa' comin'. Blackharts didn' 'ave much chance tho." he finished, grinning broadly as Snape and Lupin rushed up.

Behind Hagrid was the woman he had been referring to, she wasn't very big, not that many people would be compared to Hagrid, but she was about the same size as Harry, she seemed rather wild and unkempt in appearance, her hair was so dirty Harry really wasn't sure of the colour and it was all over the place, it looked as bad as Hermione's in the morning. In fact it looked almost as though she had been running through the underbrush from the looks of it. But the thing Harry noticed most about this woman was her eyes, they were the same shade of green as his, but much wilder looking, almost like looking at an animal, but still those eyes. He noticed Lupin staring at her as well, as if he couldn't believe the scene in front of him either.

The woman simply look at Dumbledore and shook her head. Snape tried to talk to the woman, but couldn't get Hagrid to move, she just nodded her head at Severus and wearily leaned against Hagrid. Harry still couldn't believe what the two of them looked like, they were both dirty and winded, and he was sure that was blood on their clothes. .... .

Albus walked up past Hagrid and whispered something to her, she immediately handed him a small package. Dumbledore smiled gently, he looked tired suddenly, he called Prof McGonagall over, and after a short, yet animated discussion on the part of Hagrid and his new friend, Prof McGonagall insisted on taking the stranger to Madam Pomfrey.

As they found out later, the woman with Hagrid had been attacked on her way to Hogwart's, and although no one was saying by who exactly, everyone seemed to have one guess, Voldemort.