AN: Hello dear reader and welcome to my latest story. This is the first time I've attempted a Harry Potter fic so we'll see how it goes. I hope you all enjoy it. It begins in the summer after the defeat of Voldemort.

Harry awoke with a tired groan. He reached out and seized his glasses, pushing them up his nose before looking around his bedroom to see what had drawn him from his slumbers. His green eyes finally fell on the handsome screech owl tapping on the window of his bedroom at Number 12, Grimauld Place, London. The 18-year-old sighed before struggling out of bed and over to the window to let the bird in. It landed on the dressing table and held out its leg, allowing him to remove the letter that had been tied to it. Feeling a lump on the back of the envelope Harry turned it over, seeing from the corner of his eye that the bird took off now it had been relieved of its load.

Of course, Harry thought as he eyed the wax seal, Now it's all over I still have my final year of school to attend. He smiled as he realised that he, Ron and Hermione would be in the same year as Ginny and assumed that they would all be receiving letters as well. He broke the seal and withdrew the parchment from the envelope, sitting back on his bed as he unfolded it and began to read.

Dear Mr. Potter,

Please find enclosed your compulsory book list for your seventh year at Hogwarts.

The Hogwarts Express will leave, as usual, from King's Cross Platform 9¾ at 11 a.m. on September 1st.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva M. McGonagall

Headmistress

Harry drew out the second piece of parchment and scanned the booklist. As always there was the latest grade of The Standard Book of Spells and he was intrigued by Advanced Counter-curses which he assumed would be for Defence Against the Dark Arts. He did note that there was no new book for Potions, though he wryly noted that he would need a new book anyway, after he had hidden the Half-Blood Prince's book in the Room of Requirement and it had, he assumed, subsequently been destroyed in the Fiendfyre inferno a few months ago.

Harry was drawn from his musings by a polite knock on the door; he opened it to reveal his house-elf, Kreacher, stood in the doorway.

"Kreacher is sorry to disturb master," the elf began with a bow, "but master has a friend wishing to speak to him. Master's friend is waiting in the fire in the kitchen."

"Lead the way," the teenager told his elf and followed him down to the kitchen of the grand house. He ran his left hand quickly through his ever-untidy black hair and turned to the fireplace, briefly wondering that the fire was lit in early August.

"Finally! I thought you'd never get up," Ron Weasley, Harry's best friend, greeted him jovially. The dark-haired boy rolled his eyes but smiled at the newcomer.

"I forgot today was the day our letters were arriving" he admitted.

"Well if you were staying with us…" Ron began, his voice losing its light note and developing a slight edge. Harry cut him off.

"Don't Ron. You know why I haven't stayed at The Burrow this summer" he sighed.

The group had gone their separate ways over the summer; the Weasleys had gone to their home just outside Ottery St. Catchpole while Harry had declined their invite, deciding instead to finish the task of making his London home habitable. He had, though, visited for a couple of days here and there over the holidays. He had not heard from his other best friend, Hermione Granger, since they parted company after celebrating the end of the Wizarding War; she had apparated to Australia to find her parents and attempt to remove the memory charm she had put on them, robbing them of memories of their past life, including her.

"Is Hermione with you?" he asked Ron.

"No," he said sadly, "she found her parents easily enough and lifted the charm but when they realised where they were – and that they were still practicing dentistry out in Australia – they decided to stay and live the lives of Wendell and Monica Wilkins instead of coming back to England. So she stayed with them instead; she's been sightseeing out there all summer but I assume she got her Hogwarts letter and she'll be back soon." Then he sniggered slightly. "Hermione will never miss anything to do with school."

The red-haired boy turned his head away from Harry for a moment before facing him again.

"Mum says breakfast is ready. When are you heading to Diagon Alley?"

"Probably today now I have my list."

"Oh, us too! Meet you at 10 in Flourish and Blotts?"

"Sure."

Ron disappeared and Harry began mentally planning what he needed to do in the wizarding street while Kreacher bustled around preparing breakfast. He scanned his booklist again and thought about picking up an additional book on Auror training in preparation (he hoped) for next year. I also need an owl he mused sombrely, bowing his head as he felt pain again at the loss of Hedwig. Just over a year ago now he thought sadly.

"Thanks Kreacher" he commented idly as the elf set his breakfast before him. He began eating his bacon and eggs as he eyed the cereal, tea and toast that were waiting for him.

"Kreacher?" he asked thoughtfully.

"Yes master?"

"What will you do when I go to school? I don't want you to be here alone for months."

"Kreacher could come with master" the elf suggested. "Kreacher could work in the kitchens then go home with master for the holidays."

"That sounds great. Maybe you could come back here now and again as well to make sure everything is alright?"

"Kreacher would be delighted" and he retreated with a bow.

As Harry was finishing his breakfast he heard a knock on the door. He opened it and smiled widely as it revealed Hermione Granger stood in front of him. He eagerly pulled the girl into a hug.

"Harry, you're not dressed yet!" she commented lightly as they separated.

Harry rolled his eyes and laughed. "It's great to see you too" he told her.

The pair spent a few minutes in the kitchen, being plied with tea by Kreacher, while Hermione told the stories of her travels around Australia. One thought struck Harry, though, so he asked the bushy-haired girl.

"Why did you come here Hermione? Why not go and see Ron?" he asked curiously.

"Oh well, I was in London anyway – I had to go to my parents' old place to sort out a few more of their things – so I thought I'd call in on you. You're not upset about it are you?" Harry could detect the evasiveness in her voice along with her slightly challenging retort.

"Not at all. Anyway I'm meeting Ron and the other Weasley's in Diagon Alley today at 10. Want to come?"

"Yes, I need my books. And you need to get dressed" she teased gently.

Harry donned a T-shirt and jeans for the outing; he and Hermione travelled by floo powder to the Leaky Caldron pub where they were greeted by Tom, the landlord. Walking into the bar area they received a standing ovation from the patrons and, looking at one another, responded with an embarrassed wave before walking out of the back of the pub into the alleyway so they could enter the magical street beyond.

Liked it? Hated it? Want me to stop it here and now? Don't be shy about letting me know. Hopefully see you all soon for the next chapter. PD31.