Disclaimer: If it sounds familiar, I don't own it.

Claimer: I do own Jewels and everyone in her group except Gemini, who's my friend's character. (But I have obtained permission to use Gemini in my story, so I'm not breaking any laws.)

Ch. 1- Summer's End

Seventeen-year-old Harry Potter sat on the edge of his bed and stared at the wall in front of him. It was nearly 3 a.m., but he was too excited to sleep.

"Only six more hours," he thought aloud. "Six hours 'til I can get out of this place and go to the Burrow. Six hours 'til I say good-bye to the Dursley's for the final time. Six hours 'til I apparate and leave a large chunk of my troubles behind."

The next thing Harry knew he was in a graveyard. All around him were the tombstones of his family and friends. To his right was Ron's and behind him was Hermione's. Then he saw Fred's and George's side by side followed by Cho's and Ginny's.

Suddenly, Harry heard a girl screaming and someone's malicious laugh. He ran toward the sound until he saw the girl before him and a hooded figure standing in front of her. A boy appeared next to Harry, gave him a meaningful look. They both got out their wands and on the count of three yelled 'Stupify'. The figure fell and the girl scrambled to her feet and pulled out her wand. She gave Harry and the other boy a weak smile.

"Alright," she said, "on the count of three. One...two...three!!"

Then the three of them yelled together, "Avada Kedarva!!"

Harry woke up drenched in sweat and his heart pounding. His mind was racing. He could not believe what he had just dreamed.

"Me? Using an unforgivable curse? And Avada Kedarva too?" he thought. "No way it was just a stupid dream."

But as he dressed he could not help but wonder if it really was just a dream.

A sharp yell from Uncle Vernon brought Harry back to planet earth.

"Boy!! Get down here!" he yelled.

Harry could not help but notice the unusual cheerfulness in his voice. He grabbed his trunk and Hedwig, who was asleep in her cage, and scrambled down the stairs.

"Yes?"

"Here. Your aunt made you some toast for the road. The three of us would like to say good-bye and anything else dear?"

"I believe you covered it, Vernon."

And without any further ado Harry disapparated. A second later Harry found himself on top of Mrs. Weasly's kitchen table.

"Sorry 'bout that Mrs. Weasley. I still haven't quite got the hang of apparating yet. It's a miracle I passed the test."

"That's quite alright, dear. Ron is having some trouble too. I picked up your books in Diagon Alley yesterday. Your booklist was sent here."

Harry repaid Mrs. Weasley despite her polite objections and then ran up to Ron's room.

"Still packing, Ron?"

"Yep. Could you give me a hand mate?"

"Your mum said your having some trouble apparating too."

"Some?" Harry turned to see Ginny in the doorway. "He ended up in Belgium twice yesterday."

"Actually," said Ron, "it happened a third time. I tried to apparate to the lavatory, since is so close and all, and I ended up in Belgium. But I was in a lavatory, in Belgium. A Belgium bathroom –er-I think."

Ginny started laughing like crazy and Harry could hear her even when she was downstairs. Ron proceeded to turn bright red.

Forty-five minutes later Ron, Harry, Ginny, and Hermione sat in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express chatting excitedly.

"This is it you guys, our final year! Sorry, Ginny. I hope the Let's-blow-our-homework-off-boys finally take school seriously." said Hermione.

"We will," said Ron defensively.

"Hey where's Neville?" asked Harry.

"I dunno. I hope Looney -er- Luna," said Ron at Ginny's glare, "doesn't show."

But at that precise moment both Luna and Neville walked into the compartment, just as the train took off.

"Hey," said Luna, "want to meet the transfer students?"

"What transfer students?" asked Ron and Harry together.