Because of the closeness of the release of the seventh and final installment in the Harry Potter Series, I am writing a story that takes place in seventh year. Makes me kind of sad to know it'll all be coming to an end soon. But we'll still have our memories, and Of course, all characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

The Devil Comes Back

As the Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade, Harry Potter glanced around his compartment. He thought how different Hogwarts would be in his final year. Dumbledore was dead. There was no way Snape would be able to return to his teaching position. Half, maybe even the entire wizarding world was searching for him. He had ended the life of perhaps the greatest wizard of all time. Ron and Hermione were getting up from their seats next to Harry.

"Come on Ron," Hermione was saying with as much dignity as ever, "We've got to show the first years to the lake." Hermione had always shown a lot more enthusiasm in her prefect duties than Ron had.

Ron scowled. "Aw, it's our last year getting off the Hogwarts Express, Hermione! Can't we ride in the carriage up to the castle with Harry?" Hermione was not going to tolerate Ron's laziness this year.

"Of course not, Ron!" she thundered. "Especially this year, it's completely out of the question! With You-Know-Who on the loose, and Professor Dumbledore- well, you know. I'm sorry Ron, but we are prefects, and it is our duty to guide the first years to the lake."

Ron was afraid of Hermione when she was in a bad mood. "Fine," he mumbled. "For Merlin's sake, you didn't have to raise your voice. We'll see you at the feast, mate."

Hermione marched out of the compartment with Ron stumbling after her. After a silent moment, Harry got to his feet, gathered his luggage, and walked toward the exit of the train. He met up with Luna, Neville, and Ginny. They entered the carriage pulled by the dark looking creatures called Thestrals. Harry guessed that many of the Hogwarts students could see the Thestrals, and not just a handful, including Neville, Luna, and Harry. The only people who could see the Thestrals, were people who had seen death. After several Death Eaters had entered Hogwarts last year, many people, including Dumbledore, had been killed. The carriage came to a halt, and Harry, Neville, Luna, and Ginny stepped out of it.

Filch searched every student thoroughly before he admitted them into the castle. One Slytherin had been caught trying to smuggle in four dung bombs. After Harry had been searched, He made his way, with all of the other students, to the Great Hall for the sorting of the first years and the beginning of the year feast. Harry sat down the familiar Gryffindor House table. Ron and Hermione just walked in through the doors of the Great Hall.

"Oi! Ron! Hermione! Over here!" Harry bellowed. Ron pushed past a group of gossiping third years, and Hermione glared at him for his rudeness. She apologized to the girls, and sat down at the table next to Harry, knowing she shouldn't be too close to Ron when he is eating.

"Hi, Harry. Oh, it looks like we're just in time. Professor McGonagall is just about to speak, and the first years are all coming in now. Oh, they're so cute!"

"Were we ever really that small?" Ron asked. "I swear, they get smaller every year." Ron also had this little insight every year as well.

"Oh, Ron, why must you always be so rude?" Harry wasn't listening to Ron and Hermione's banter. He was looking at Hagrid. The Care of Magical Creatures teacher was looking quite upset. He had always loved and respected Dumbledore and now that he was gone, Hagrid must've felt awful.

"Hey, Hagrid," Harry said softly. "How are you?"

Hagrid looked up and stared at Harry for a moment with his warm and beady eyes. "Oh, hey there, Harry. I been better, but I'm alrigh'. 'Ow're you? I know Dumbledore was like a hero to ya. He was a hero ter all o' us, Harry." A little silent tear ran down from Hagrid's eye and got caught in his large beard. "Oh, I gotta get up ter the staff table. Seeya, Harry."

Harry watched Hagrid's bulky figure make its way up to the table where all the usual teacher's, minus two, usually sat. Professor McGonagall rose from the table and cleared her throat.

"Could I have everybody's attention, please?" She waited for the crowd to quiet down. It took a while longer than it usually did. Unfortunately, Professor McGonagall did not have the same effect as Dumbledore had. When the hall had completely quieted, she began to speak. "Thank you. Now, all of you know this, but I will say it for the first years. It is my great displeasure to inform you that our former headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, was killed at the closing of last year." A mist of whispers past through the room, but Professor McGonagall talked through it. "So, though nobody will ever be able to take the place of Professor Albus Dumbledore, I will be taking the job of headmistress this year. I will remain Gryffindor Head of House, and will still be teaching Transfiguration. Professor Slughorn will be Slytherin Head of House. However, since Professor Snape remains hidden, we do have a new teacher to take his place in Defense Against the Dark Arts. I would like to introduce Professor Tonks."

Harry looked up from the table so fast, he heard his neck crack. Tonks!? Tonks was going to be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts? Well, Tonks was an Auror, so she had to know a thing or two about defending yourself against a monster or Death Eater, or even Voldemort himself. Tonks looked serious at her spot at the staff table. Why had Harry not seen her sitting there? Well, perhaps it was because she was not wearing her usual spiked bright bubble gum pink hairdo. She wore a glimmering green dress cloak, and her hair was a deep red and down past her waist. She looked absolutely stunning. Most of the males in Gryffindor had drool dripping out of their gaping mouths. McGonagall got back to her speech.

"Now, let us get to the sorting of the first years." Professor Sprout carried the stool supporting the ancient Sorting Hat to the center of the stage. "Well, go ahead." The Sorting Hat leapt into his song as he did every year.

Oh, the time of year has come again

For yet another group

Of innocent little first years

To be in the Hogwarts loop!

Our greatest headmaster yet,

His life came to an end.

That's why the student's must stick together

This school must be a friend.

Slytherin and Gryffindor

The worst of enemies

Must be alliances, so then

We shall be at ease

The Dark Lord wants to split apart

This grand academy.

We must fight back, repel his attack

Or else we'll crumble at his knees!

"Now… Alventon, Sylvester." A shy looking boy with straight black hair and a rather large nose shuffled up to the Sorting Hat. The old, worn hat seemed to be saying something to Sylvester Alventon. Then, after a moment, RAVENCLAW! The entire Ravenclaw table clapped, cheered, shouted, and welcomed their new house member. "Angleium, Sarah." HUFFLEPUFF! More cheering from the Hufflepuff table. "Arsonion, Jeremy." SLYTHERIN! The only noise was from the table of Slytherins. "Azkatolion, Alexander." GRYFFINDOR! Alexander Azkatolion received the warmest welcome of all from the Gryffindors. The sorting ended after Emma Zarkozzi was sorted into Ravenclaw.

"Now, everyone, please enjoy the feast!" McGonagall sat down in her large chair at the center of the staff table. Food appeared at the tables and everyone piled delectable looking food items onto their gold plates. Harry scooped himself a large helping of roasted potatoes and a slab of turkey. He heard a deep growling noise and instinctively glanced over at Ron.

The boy turned a bright shade of pink. "Yeah… it was my… umm, my stomach…" He started piling on some roast beef and took a large swig of his pumpkin juice. Hermione stared at him with a disgusted look. She stuck a fork into a steamed carrot from her vegetable stew and nibbled on it silently. After about a half hour, the food disappeared, and the desserts were put on the tables. It was Ron's favorite part of the meal, of course. Before you could say 'Chocolate Frog' Ron had inhaled half his bowl of pudding and was already searching for the Cinnamon Crumble Cake. Harry picked up a Pumpkin Pasty from a platter of delicious looking pastries, and bit into it before licking the icing off his lips. After everyone had had their fill of sweets, they all disappeared of the table, but not before Ron had snatched up a handful of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. How did that boy stay in such shape? Even if he did play Quidditch, he should at least be as big as Hagrid by now. Professor McGonagall began to speak again.

"Well, I hope you've all enjoyed the feast. A couple of announcements: Anyone who wishes to try out for Quidditch this year, please give your name to your Head of House, and your Quidditch team captains will inform you when tryouts shall be. Also, with You-Know-Who out on the loose, and especially with the break-in of Death Eaters at the end of the term last year, I would prefer if everyone be with another student or teacher at all times. Whether it is in the hallways, the bathrooms, or in the common rooms, please have someone with you. Well, now that the feast is over, I bid you all a good night and a wonderful term here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

"Oh, Ro-on…," Hermione sang. "We've got to lead the first years to the common room." Hermione was just trying to get Ron as miserable as possible, now.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake! Fine, I'll see you back in the common room, mate. Come on you little rats- I mean adorable gifts from above…"

"Bye, guys," Harry muttered. He slowly rose from the bench he had been sitting on for the past few hours. His backside was sore from sitting down for so long, especially on such a hard surface. He was about to turn to go up the stairs leading to the Gryffindor common room, but something, or someone, had caught his eye. Standing up, proud and tall at the Slytherin table, was a boy with pale skin, and sleek silvery blond hair.

Well, there you have it. Thanks again to my beta dracolover18Obviously there will be another chapter. Maybe even a third with enough inspiration (and reviews)! So just click that little blue button at the bottom left of your screen, and you could be the cause of a nice long story. And I thank you.