Chapter 3: Harry's Last Term Starts
Vernon Dursley was driving his wife and their (adopted) son to King's Cross Station so Harry can take the Hogwarts Express to his last term as a student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "Harry, remember to be on your best behavior." Petunia told him. "It's not only your last term at Hogwarts but also your first time there as an adult. You don't want to cause a misunderstanding that'll make you unjustly rot in Azkaban for years until someone clears it up, do you?"
Given it took almost a whole decade to end Sirius Black's wrongful imprisonment, Harry couldn't fault his (adoptive) mother's reasoning. "No, Mum."
As they arrived at the station, they met the Weasleys. "What's with your parents, Harry?" Ron asked upon seeing how they were more emotional than usual.
"Well, since it's my last year as a Hogwarts student and my first one as an adult, they're more worried." Harry explained.
"Well, my brothers received more attention than usual during their first time as adults and so am I." Ron understood.
Compared to the previous years, the train ride was rather uneventful. "So, Harry, what've you been doing this summer?" Ron asked.
"Well, after claiming full control of the inheritance my birth parents left me, I bought a place to live at Godric's Hollow." Harry explained. "What about you, Ron?"
"Oh, the usual." He simply said, not wanting to elaborate after being reminded of how wealthy Harry was.
"What's like being Head Boy, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Good." He simply answered.
"Is that all you have to say, Harry?" Ron asked in exasperation. "Now you can give those slimy snakes all the detentions they deserve!"
"Being Head Boy or Head Girl is more than giving detentions, Ron." Hermione admonished him while pointing at her badge.
"Come on, Mione." Ron pleaded. "Can't you imagine Malfoy having to scrub cauldrons without magic?"
"The idea has merits but we have to catch him doing something wrong before assigning him any detentions." She explained.
Meanwhile, at the castle, the Professors, except for McGonagall who's waiting for the first-years at the entrance gate as usual, were at their table. "You seem happier than usual, Sirius." Headmaster Dumbledore commented.
"It's Prongslet's last year at Hogwarts!" Sirius exclaimed. "Kids grow so fast."
"I know what you feel, Sirius." Professor Flitwick said. "It still feels like it was yesterday when you let the Sorting Hat decide which Hogwarts House you should go."
"I still remember the Howler your mother sent you for becoming a Gryffindor, Black." Snape said. "The loudest one I ever heard and I was here when the Weasley Twins received howlers from their mother."
"Now there's something I should have challenged them to do: getting their dear old Mum to outscream mine." Sirius said with a smile. "Well, there's still hope with Ron and Ginny."
"DON'T GIVE THEM ANY IDEAS, BLACK!" Snape shouted in anger. "It's already bad enough that Dumbledore favored Potter by making the brat Head Boy instead of Draco."
"Snivy, it's not Harry's fault that Hogwarts doesn't have a Headmaster that favors Draco unless you think Voldemort would have done something about it if not for his defeat." Sirius teased Snape.
"DON'T SAY HIS NAME!" Snape shouted, prompting Headmaster Dumbledore to berate him for fearing a name.
End chapter. Sorry about it being short.