Harry could smell the pine trees that lined the path down to the lake. He stepped down onto the platform and looked around, listening for the familiar call of "Firs' years over here... firs' years..."

But it did not come. Instead, a quite different voice, that of a young woman stood out. "First years! First years please line up over here!"

Harry looked, stunned that instead of Hagrid, the half-giant groundskeeper that he had come to call friend, a well dressed woman moved about the approaching first years, guiding them to the boats that would take them across the lake to the Castle. Harry pushed forwards, until he got within three feet of her, then he called out. "Pardon me miss," He said, not wanting to insult her. "Where's Hagrid?"

"Hmm?" She said, twirling round, her cloak whipping, showing off her decidedly muggle attire, that of a carefully tailored dress shirt, vest, and trousers, her eyes blinking when she saw the scar barely hidden by Harry's bangs. "Professor Hagrid is currently on a personal holiday, something about family matters." She said dismissively, putting out a hand to gesture to the carriages. "But you, Mr. Potter, need to get to the Castle.

Harry made to ask another question, but she waved him off, turning her attention back to the first years, a few of them having decided to join the crowd heading for the carriages. "All first years! Down here please!"

Harry looked at her, feeling troubled for his first real friend. He turned around to face the carriages, then did a double take. In front of him were what could only be described as horses, skeletal, leathery horses that stared with pupil-less eyes. Why were they here? It was a matter of fact that Hogwarts Carriages could pull themselves.

"Hey Harry," Ron said, stumbling over to him. "Bloody crowded that train is-"

"What do you suppose those things are?" He asked, nodding towards the creature.

"What things?" He asked as Hermione strolled up, followed closely by Ginny.

"What are you two talking about?" Hermione asked the boys, looking in the general direction Harry looked, eyes completely bypassing the winged horses.

"I think Harry is being funny." Ron said, adjusting his grip on Pig's cage.

"No I am not," Harry insisted pointing at the creatures. "They're right there, what's the word? Hitched! Hitched up to the carriages!"

"Harry, are you sure you are alright?" Hermione asked, looking between the carriage and her friend, concerned for him.

"It's alright," Said a sing-songy voice from within the carriages. "I can see them too, your just as sane as I am."

As Harry climbed into the carriage with his friends, a polite nod of greeting to that strange Lovegood girl, he couldn't help but feel that her comment was not the least bit assuring. He kept a close eye on the horses as the trotted up the path to the castle, going through the gates and stopping in front of the doors to the entrance hall. He was only distracted when he entered the Great Hall, tables laden with plates, and the endless stream of students sitting down at their tables.

"We have two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome Professor Violet Dangerie, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." The most esteemed Headmaster announced to his pupils, to the applause of many, especially those eager to see Hagrid no longer teaching this year. Harry, Ron, and a very shy Hermione only applauded politely, lamenting over the absence of their favorite professor.

"In other news-" Albus was interrupted by a little *Cough-cough*, from the end of the staff table. Delores stood up, much to the shock of all the students, especially the staff. Dumbledore politely stood back to allow her to address the entire population of the school. "How lovely it is to see all your bright, smiling, faces looking up at me."

Within minutes of her speech, peoples attention wavered, and by the time five minutes had rolled around the only people still following the bright pink toad was Hermione and the rest of the school staff, who all shared identical looks of outrage and scandal. A side door opening up to the side stopped the flow of words from Umbridge's mouth, and the rest of the school population looked as well at the young man, boy really, that walked in. He hustled over to the staff table, stopping at Professor Dangerie's seat. A few whispered words were shared before she got up, muttering apologies to the headmaster, before departing with the young man back through the side door. Delores looked shocked only for a moment more before continuing her tirade, even as the whole school though and wondered, what were the two of them doing?

Violet finished the incantation on the barrier, shoring it up in case of emergencies. She took a breath and looked at her companion, putting the finishing touches on their outdoor classroom, camp, and menagerie. She loved the way he did such thing with ease, the way he opened her eyes to new and interesting ways to look at magic.

"Sorry to pull you away from your dinner." Caleb said, forgetting the colloquial for the evening meal. "But I feel that with your government sniffing around, it would appear safer for you to do magic rather than myself." He shrugged, glancing only barely at those books and manuscripts that he so often puroused. Books he promised to one day share with her.

"It's alright Caleb." Violet said, smiling slightly. "I might have hexed that woman if I heard any more of her drivel. I mean the nerve of-"

"The nerve of what woman? What did she say?"

"She was saying that progress, for the sake of progress must be discouraged." Violet almost spat out. "She is basically saying that the ministry wants to control Hogwarts. We have to-"

"Atch! Now is the time to rest and reflect. We can worry about the spy tomorrow." The thoroughly unique muggle said, walking into the tent that housed their belongings, ready to get a good nights sleep.

A/N: Whoo. Now that was a good one, in my humble opinion.

First off, I would like to say, Hi everybody! Sorry to take so long, but I was without inspiration for weeks, and by the time my muse had decided to sing, I was sadly cut off from any way to write.

Second off, the main reason I couldn't update until now was because I was trapped within the very bowels of the Air Force's Basic Military Training. But now I am an Airman in the world's greatest Air Force. So they say.

But who cares, now I can do the real important things, like completely butchering Mrs. Rowling's work, and using it to make this mishmash of creativity. Please continue sending your love and support, since I will be writing on a semi-permanent basis. (As long as I pass my PCs.)

Shoutouts to my adoring fans, The Raven and Her Writing desk, lagoon childe, Bluestorm28, Little Green Faerie Of Doom, godcrusher123, and finally gwencarson126 for their commitment and support for this story.

This chapter is dedicated to Eoin Twomey, whose constant encouragement inspired me keep up the good work.