Disclaimer: Credit goes to JK Rowling...(and a few other companies, people, etc. who probably own a little bit of The Boy Who Lived...)

A/N: This was my first fanfic EVER. I wrote this about two years ago, WAAAAY before OOTP, so there are a lot of things that won't fit in with canon. My writing was horrible, and I switched back and forth between plot lines...but I still think this is a pretty darn good story. However, it is the only thing I have EVER completed in all the fanfics I've ever tried to write...so I thought I'd just post it online...It is a love triangle sort of thing...Hermione likes Harry, Ron, and there's some Draco in there too...so if you don't like this...then don't read it... Well, enjoy my REALLY old fanfic...

Chapter One - New Beginnings

Harry woke up to rain slapping hard against his bedroom window. He turned over trying to go back to sleep when he suddenly realized...

"It's September first!" He shrieked as he immediately sat up. Harry reached over to his bedside table and put on his glasses. He got up and opened up his closet. Harry saw his open trunk with all of his school books and supplies packed inside it along with his Firebolt and the invisibility cloak he had inherited from his father.

He looked into the mirror on the back of his closet door. A 15 year old, tall, skinny, black haired, green eyed teenager looked back at him. He picked up his clothes and changed out of his pajamas. He heard a cough from the next room. He figured his Uncle Vernon had woken already. Harry pushed his hair out of his eyes and ran his fingers over the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

"This is the reason I'm even here in the first place," He thought to himself. "I wish Sirius could be proven innocent so I can get out of this hell-hole" Sirius was now hiding where Harry guessed was somewhere in France, Sirius had always said he wanted to visit France one day.

Harry started to pack up all of his things into his trunk, mostly his birthday cards and presents.

Harry picked up the huge box of candy that he had received from Ron. It contained everything from chocolate frogs to Bertie Botts' Every Flavor Jelly Beans. Harry had already eaten half of his candy. He pushed aside a few of his books and shoved the candy box down into his trunk. He then picked up the glass box that he had received from Hermione. Inside the box, on display, was the golden snitch that Viktor Krum had caught at the Quidditch World Cup only a year before. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had gone to that very eventful game, and somehow, Hermione managed to buy the snitch for Harry as a present. He put that down into his trunk also, and closed the lid.

Harry made his way downstairs and into the kitchen. All three Dursley's were already awake and eating breakfast. They completely ignored Harry when he walked in...as usual. Harry made himself some toast and eggs and sat down at the table to eat.

"What time must you be at King's Cross, boy?" Uncle Vernon growled, not looking up from his newspaper.

"Before 11:00." Harry said through a full mouth of toast.

"Well, we're going to drop you off at 9:00, so hurry up and eat boy, or we won't take you at all!" Uncle Vernon spat with vengeance. Harry didn't complain; he knew he would just have to sit there until his friends showed up. But it was either this, or walk; the Dursley's had been horrible that summer. And today, he was finally leaving...

........

9:00 had come and gone, and Harry was left alone at King's Cross. Harry had already made his way through the barrier and the Hogwarts Express had already arrived at the station and a few students and their parents had also arrived. But Harry hadn't seen anyone he knew yet. He had gone ahead and put his trunk into Ron's, Hermione's, and his usual compartment.

Since the rain was pouring down in sheets, Harry just waited in the booth, watching out the window. He leaned his head up against the foggy window, with his eyes heavy with tiredness and was about to fall asleep when he saw Ron and Hermione outside, saying goodbye to their parents.

They made their way into their usual compartment. When Hermione saw Harry seated in the compartment, she dropped her bags and threw her arms around him.

"Oh Harry! I've missed you so much! How are you doing?" Hermione squealed. Harry just patted her back awkwardly.

"I missed you too Hermione. And I'm fine, thanks." Harry replied while trying to get out of her tight hold.

When Hermione finally let go after what seemed an eternity, Ron and Harry just looked into each other's eyes. Last year had been particularly rough on them. They embraced each other like brothers.

"Alright there Ron?" Harry asked.

"Perfectly well, and better now." Ron smiled.

A whistle blew from somewhere. The train lurched forward, and they were on their way to their fifth year at Hogwarts.

"Man I can't believe that we're already at our fifth year!" Ron gasped.

"I know..." Harry responded.

"It's weird, knowing that's it has gone by so fast..." Hermione said dreamily.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione talked like this the whole train ride. They talked of summer trips and experiences; they talked of old memories, and new beginnings. ........ When they arrived at Hogwarts, they already knew exactly what to do and where to go. They picked out a carriage and braved the rain all the way up to Hogwarts grounds. They made their way into the Great Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table, waiting for the first years to be sorted.

So far, the year had been off to a great start. The first years were sorted and they were already eating dinner. Then Professor Dumbledore stood up to make a few announcements.

"As you know, we have already appointed our new Head Boy and Girl." He proclaimed while pointing out the two seventh years. "And we have also appointed our new Prefects." At this, Hermione started squealing and smiled really big. She had only gotten her letter yesterday..."But now we need to appoint new Quidditch captains, and their players." At this, everyone got excited and very silent. "Quidditch captains must be in fourth year or higher. Classmates in your house will vote on who is to become Quidditch captain. The Quidditch captain will then recruit their own players. Your Head of House will accept any nominations for captains. Voting starts tonight and ends tomorrow morning, I will announce the elected captains at breakfast! So get your votes into your Head of House!" Dumbledore finished with a smile and winked at Harry. "Oh and yes, I wish to make a final announcement!" Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling. "Since last year's Yule Ball went so well, the teachers here at Hogwarts have decided to have an opening dance this year! It will be, this Friday, to celebrate the beginning of a new year!" Dumbledore caught Harry's eye and smiled at him again, then sat down and began to eat again.

The hall was buzzing. Everyone was excited about having new Quidditch players and captains, but most people were eager about the Ball this Friday.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione all walked back to the Gryffindor Common Room and sat down in their usual chairs by the fire.

"So...Harry?" Ron began, "So do you want to be nominated for Quidditch captain because I'd surely vote for you!" Harry was up to the job.

"Of course!" He replied.

So Ron went to McGonagall and nominated Harry. That night, many students kept coming up to Harry saying that they voted for him to be Quidditch captain. Everyone was cheerful about the beginning of the year, the upcoming Ball, and the new Quidditch captains. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. So for the rest of the night, everyone talked peacefully about the upcoming events. Finally, after much talk and many games of chess, Harry, Ron, and Hermione said their goodnights and went to bed.

Harry couldn't sleep. He was worried about two things: If he would be voted Quidditch captain, and if Hermione would go with him to the dance. Harry never looked over to see the time, but he knew it was very late into the night. He stayed up wondering, and thinking, until he finally dozed off...

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A/N: Please Review!