James Potter and Sirius Black threw back their heads and sang, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, you look like a monkey, and you smell like one, too!" and laughed like madmen as Harry and Oliver blew out their candles. It had been the same lyrics every year since they were old enough to know what a monkey was. Harry and Olly had grown up and matured. Their father and uncle had not.

Lily Potter and Remus Lupin looked on with amused smiles as they clapped and Olly and Harry sat back down. Faint trails of smoke rose, twisting, from twenty-four candles on two cakes, and were quickly dispersed by their mother's waving hand.

"Did you make a wish?" James asked.

Oliver bobbed his head. "The Nimbus 2001."

James gave an approving nod. "And what about you Harry?"

Harry made a face. "I thought the wish didn't come true if you told anyone?"

Sirius laughed and James spluttered. "Just tell us."

Harry smirked. "For all talk about Quidditch to be banned."

James and Olly gave him horrified looks while Lily and Remus laughed, Sirius patted him on the back. "Really?" James started. "That's stupid. I would have wished for a Quidditch pitch."

"You always wish for a Quidditch pitch." Lily said, cutting the cake. "Have you got one yet?"

"No. But you need to save up wishes to get something like a Quidditch pitch. On my next birthday I'll have wished for it twenty-seven times. I'll have to get one then."

Lily shook her head. "Yes," she said. "Of course you will."

Lily passed out the plates and they begun eating. Harry watched the scene around him. His brother and father had already begun talking about brooms. Sirius and Remus were laughing about one thing or another and his mother was watching him with a guarded expression. Ever since the incident with Quirrell the dynamic of their family had changed ever so slightly. Olly was closer than ever with their father, and seemed cautious around Harry, like he didn't know how to act around him. His mother on the other hand was always watching him, making sure he was alright, as if he was going to shatter like glass at any moment.

"You OK?" she asked, she tentatively placed a glass of butterbeer in front of him.

Harry smiled. "I'm fine mum, stop worrying about me."

Lily patted his head affectionately before moving away to join in Sirius and Remus' conversation, though she kept watching Harry out of the corner of her eye. She was worried about him. He had been Imperiused by the dark lord himself and forced to almost kill his brother, and he was acting as if nothing had happened. Merlin knew that Olly was shaken up by the incident, he could barely look at his brother now, and would wake up in the night, shaking from nightmares. But Harry just sat there, smiling. Either he was a very good actor or something was wrong with him.

After a short while James announced that it was time to open presents and the group moved over to the fireplace where a pile of presents were waiting.

Olly opened his presents first. He got a Nimbus 2001 from James and Lily- much to his delight. A broom servicing kit from Sirius and a professional grade Golden Snitch from Remus. He was practically bouncing up in down in excitement as he hurried Harry to open his presents.

From his parents, Harry received a stack of books, the most interesting being a transfiguration book written by Dumbledore himself. Sirius gave him another copy of Teen Witch Weekly and a pair of dragon hide boots which would magically resize themselves to fit him. Remus gave him a black band to wear on his finger which would partially resist the disarming charm. Harry thanked them all with a hug before Olly hurriedly barged out of the house, broom in hand. He watched his brother and father whizz about on their brooms for a while before he slipped out into his room.

Around midday Susan and Hannah stumbled out of the fireplace with wide grins. He received a box of chocolates and a hug from each and as he led them up to his room he saw his father and Sirius winking at him. They spent much of their time talking and joking and danced around his bedroom as the Weird Sisters blasted through his speakers. Shortly after dinner, both Susan and Hannah left and Harry returned to his room.

Upon entering he saw a large black owl sitting at his window. He let it in and it dropped a heavy parcel on his bed before flying up to the large perch in his room, next to Hedwig. After he fed it a few owl treats it left and Harry turned to the parcel on his bed. He found that it was from Severus and inside the paper was a thick book called Potions and Poisons. He smiled and quickly hid it on his bookshelf, he had little doubt his parents would confiscate it when they saw that it had the recipes for more than a few toxins.

Just before he was about to head off to bed, Harry ducked his head into Olly's room to wish him goodnight when there was loud pop and a little creature, with bat like ears and large eyes suddenly appeared at the foot of Olly's bed. Harry's eyes widened in surprise and he quickly stepped into the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

"Uh… Hi?" Olly said. "Who are you?"

The house-elf, as Harry recognised it, looked excited. "The great Oliver Potter… So long had Dobby wanted to meet you sir. I am Dobby sir, Dobby the house-elf."

Harry fingered his wand in his pocket. "Why are you here, Dobby?"

"Dobby has come to warn the great Oliver Potter… but Dobby wonders where to begin."

"Get on with it." Harry said impatiently.

Oliver shot him an annoyed look. "Sit down, Dobby. Start at the beginning."

The house-elf looked like it wanted to burst into tears. "Never had Dobby been asked to sit down by a wizard… like an equal."

Harry sighed. "What do you want?"

"Dobby has come to warn Oliver Potter. He must not go to Hogwarts this year. Bad things are happening."

Olly gave the house-elf a surprised look. "Not go to Hogwarts? But I have to go back. There's no way I'm staying here."

"But you mustn't, there is a terrible plot. If you go you will be in mortal danger."

"What plot?" Harry asked.

"Dobby cannot say. Dobby fears he had said too much. Dobby will have to punish himself for warning Oliver Potter, when he goes home."

"Your family doesn't know you're here?" Harry asked in shock. It was very rare for house-elves to do anything of their own accord, especially without telling their family.

Dobby shook his head violently. "Dobby's family doesn't know Dobby has gone to warn the great Oliver Potter."

"Does this have anything to do with You-Know-Who?" Olly asked.

"No, not He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

"Can you tell us anything else?" Olly asked. At the house-elf's vehement shake he sighed. "Then I have to go back. All of my friends go there."

"But Oliver Potter will be in danger!"

Olly shook his head. "I still have to go back."

Dobby looked as if he was about to answer when his body gave a horrible shudder. Dobby looked terrified. "Dobby's family is calling Dobby. Dobby must go. Oliver Potter must not go back to Hogwarts." And then, with a pop, he was gone.

"We should probably go tell mum and dad what happened."


"This book list is stupid," Harry said. "Seven of Lockhart's books."

"But Lockhart is a great wizard. My mum's read all of his books." Hannah argued.

Harry shook his head. "My dad says he's a fraud. He says that he hasn't done a single thing he says he's done in his books."

Hannah and Susan, who was with them, looked troubled by this.

Harry and his friends continued to discuss the books that were required for their second year of Hogwarts as they made their way down Diagon Alley. The alley was filled with students and parents, all buying their supplies for the coming year. They had already spent two hours in the alley, and had bought everything they needed, and much more, save their books. He had started his shopping with his family, the Weasleys and the Grangers but had split up with them after he ran into Susan and Hannah. Harry checked his pocket watch and saw that it was midday, and he was meant to join his parents and the rest of them in Flourish and Blotts.

They pushed past groups of giggling girls, boys drooling at the Nimbus 2001 and children complaining about not being able to go to Hogwarts until they arrived at the bookstore. Harry could see that the bookstore was packed, and there was even a line out the door. He and his friends gathered around a large banner that decorated the upper windows of the store.

GILDEROY LOCKHART
Will be signing copies of his autobiography MAGICAL ME
Today 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Harry groaned. He, Susan and Hannah squeezed inside. The line wound around right to the very back of the shop, where Lockhart was signing his books. They all grabbed grabbed a copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 and sneaked up the line to where Harry's parents, Olly, the Weasleys, and the Grangers stood.

"There you are," his mother said. "We shouldn't be too much longer."

Gilderoy Lockhart came slowly into view, seated at a table surrounded by large pictures of his own face, all winking and flashing dazzlingly white teeth at the crowd. The real Lockhart was wearing robes of forget-me-not blue that exactly matched his eyes; his pointed wizard's hat was set at a jaunty angle on his wavy hair.

Harry sighed at his appearance and handed his book and the rest of his supplies to his mother. He quickly told her that he was going find a book to buy with the voucher Olly had got him for Christmas.

He stepped out of line and started browsing the bookshelves. He smirked in amusement as his brother was pulled out of line by Lockhart and forced to pose for photos.

He walked slowly, until he had lost himself in the maze of shelves. Harry found a section filled with old, dogeared second hand books and started scanning tittles. An Introductory Guide to Monster Hunting, A History of Magic, Merpeople: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Language and Customs, Maleficent Magic…

Harry took the Maleficent Magic book from the shelf, and flicked through it. It appeared to be a book on dark magic used in duelling. Ever since his fight with Olly he had become extremely interested in duelling. Though he would never admit it he actually enjoyed the fight, well at least the duelling bit, not so much the almost killing his brother bit. He scanned through a bit on the use of the severing charm in a duel.

"While the severing charm has extensive use in the household, it's use in a duel is limited. As the spell was created in order to cut cloth it is not very powerful and will do little more than scratch the skin of your opponent. Despite the spell's weak strength and limited cutting power, there have been several limited cases where a significantly powerful wizard or someone particularly skilled with this charm have used it to ravage their opponents. However, this approach is not recommended for the average wizard, as most will be able to do very little damage with the spell."

Harry closed the book and made his way back to his mother. Harry knew he should put the book back but he didn't. He walked up to the counter where a tired looking man in spectacles was sitting, he exchanged the book for the voucher and walked up the line, looking for his group.

At the edge of the room he saw Susan and Hannah standing off to the side, a heavy heap of books in their cauldrons, looking nervous as Ron argued loudly with Draco Malfoy. He walked up to his mother and grabbed his cauldron from her, slipping in Maleficent Magic as he did. He walked up next to Susan.

"What did I miss?"

Susan opened her mouth to speak just as Olly threw himself at Draco. Harry hastily lunged forwards and caught his brother's shoulder before anything could happen.

"Olly!" James said. "What are you doing?"

"Well, well, well- James Potter."

A tall man, with blond hair, aristocratic features, and a pale face appeared just behind Draco, a hand on his shoulder.

"Lucius," James replied coldly.

"Busy time at the Ministry, I hear," Lucius Malfoy said. "Must be dangerous, as an auror, conducting all those raids. I hope they're paying you overtime?"

He reached into Harry's cauldron and extracted the battered copy of Maleficent Magic from amid the new, glossy Lockhart books. He glanced down at its tittle and raised an eyebrow at Harry when he saw it.

"Obviously not," he said. "Dear me have you spent the entire Potter fortune on that mudblood of yours?"

There was a loud thud as Harry's cauldron went flying; James had extracted his wand and thrown a spell that caused Lucius to fly backwards into a bookshelf. Dozens of heavy spell books came thundering down on his head. Oliver cheered and Draco looked horrified. Lucius quickly picked himself up and drew his wand from his cane. Before anyone could move to stop him he had cast four spells in quick succession. Harry's father conjured a shield that absorbed three of the spells, but the first of the four slipped through before the shield fazed into existence. James stumbled back, cursing, as there was an audible crack and his arm hung limply at his side.

'Break it up! Break it up, there, gents!"

Hagrid was wading toward them through the sea of books. In an instant he forced himself between the two, putting an end to their impromptu duel. Lucius Malfoy's eye looked bruised as it had been hit by a rather heavy tome. He was still holding Harry's book. He thrust it back at him, his eyes glittering with malice.

"Here, boy- take your book- have fun with it." He pulled himself from Hagrid's grip and beckoned to Draco and swept from the store.

"Yeh should've ignored him, James," Hagrid mumbled. "Rotten ter the core, the whole family, everyone knows that- no Malfoy's worth listenin' ter. Come now, let's get out of here."

The assistant looked as though he wanted to stop them from leaving, but he barely came up to Hagrid's waist and seemed to think better of it. They hurried up the street, the Grangers shaking with fright and Lily beside herself in fury.

"What were you thinking, James? Duelling in public? Over a name?" she yelled.

James cowered under her fury. "Sorry," he mumbled. "Did you see the spells he fired though? All dark magic. He hit me with a bone-breaker."

Lily shook her head. "You won't be able to get him in trouble though, you attacked him first. He won't press charges unless you do."

James nodded and Lily drew her wand and muttered a few spells, there was a small crack and James' arm was as good as new.

It was a subdued group that made it back to the Leaky Cauldron, where they would all floo back to their respective houses. Harry hugged Susan and Hannah goodbye before stepping through the fireplace and returning home.


Harry spent the next three weeks with his nose buried in his new books. He was truly amazed by some of the magic that was described in the books. Magic and Numbers, a book on Arithmancy, described the magical properties of numbers and how this could be used in spell creation. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was a delight to read. Basic & Standard Charms was a good read and Harry found many spells he wanted to try out when he got back to Hogwarts.

Defensive Transfiguration Part 1, Dumbledore's book, proved why the Headmaster was regarded as a genius. The book described hundreds of ways someone could use the most basic transfigurations in a duel. He even had several examples of his use of some of the spells, one even describing how he blocked the killing curse by transfiguring a twig into a huge matchbox in his duel with Grindelwald.

The uses of Runes, described how runes worked, and how they could be used to create permanent enchantments, and even heal people.

However Harry's favourite book, much to his own alarm, was Maleficent Magic. Perhaps it was morbid curiosity, or simply because it was the most down to earth- simply telling things as it were. The book itself didn't actually describe how to perform any curses, it simply mentioned them and how they could be used and how they had been used. Though it did describe some particularly nasty curses, many of them making Harry feel sick. He remembered one case where the book extensively described the effect of the blood-boiling curse.

Harry had been corresponding with Susan and, surprisingly, Ginny quite a bit during the last three weeks.

Susan and Harry talked about everything and anything, though half of their letters were them simply organising when and where to meet each other. It was during this period Harry met Amelia Bones, while at the Bones Manor. She seemed nice, though if Harry was perfectly honest, intimidating.

He and Ginny had been owling each other after Ginny had a huge fight with her family and was left without anyone to talk too. Mostly they talked about Hogwarts and their families.

With only one week until Hogwarts started back up again, Harry decided it would be a good idea to start going through his textbooks, well not the ones by Lockhart, but the rest of them. He hopped over to his cauldron and started organising his books. He was in the middle of carelessly throwing Lockhart's books to the side when he spied a small, black book that he didn't recognise. Tentatively he pulled it out of the cauldron and studied it. Harry saw at once it was a diary, and the faded year on the cover told him it was fifty years old. On the first page, written in a very elegant, very swirly handwriting was the name "T.M. Riddle." However the following pages were all blank.

Harry's brow furrowed in thought as he tried to remember when he could have got this. He reasoned, that it had probably fallen into his cauldron during the duel between his father and Lucius Malfoy. He didn't know why but he felt almost drawn to the diary, he kept flicking through the blank pages as if it was a story he wanted to finish. Harry was sure he had never heard the name T.M. Riddle before, but the name meant something to him, as if Riddle was a friend he had when he was a small child, though he was sure he didn't know anyone called Riddle. He felt compelled to write something in it. So, moving to his desk, Harry set the diary down and dipped a quill in a bottle of ink. He paused for a moment, thinking of what to write before slowly bringing the tip of his quill down.

"My name is Harry Potter."

The wet ink shone momentarily before it sank into the page. Harry raised an eyebrow at this. And then, oozing back out of the page, came the words he never wrote.

"Hello, Harry Potter. My name is Tom Riddle. How did you come by my diary?"

Harry stared at the diary in wonder as the words faded away. He quickly scribbled down a reply.

"I found it in my cauldron. I think it fell into it at the bookstore, when my father had a fight. How are you replying, what is this?"

Harry eagerly waited for the reply.

"I recorded my memories in a way more lasting than ink. I am a memory of the real Tom Riddle, sealed away in this diary."

As the words faded away Harry dipped his quill in the bottle of ink. He was about to write a reply when more words faded into existence.

"Tell me about yourself."

Harry quickly scrawled out a reply. "My name is Harry Potter. I am 12 years old and am about to start attending my second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. My brother is Oliver Potter, the boy-who-lived.

"I too attended Hogwarts. Might I ask what the meaning of 'the boy-who-lived' is?"

"It begins, I suppose, with a person called You-Know-Who. He was dark wizard, as bad as one can go and worse. About twenty years ago he started looking for followers. Some joined him out of fear, others, because they wanted a piece of his power. He was taking over, anyone who stood up to him was killed. Dumbledore was the only person he might've been afraid of. He didn't dare attack the school, well-not just then at least. One day when me and my brother were only a year old, he came to our house, I don't know why but he came. He tried to kill my brother but he failed. He sent the killing curse but it was reflected right back at him. That's why my brother is called the boy-who-lived."

There was a pause. Tom didn't reply for a while, as if he was processing what harry had said. And then.

"You-Know-Who?"

Harry realised his mistake and hastily wrote out his reply.

"Voldemort. People call him You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named now because of how terrible he was."

Again, Tom didn't reply. Harry sat there, staring at the blank page until words faded into existence on the page.

"How did your brother survive the curse? How did he reflect it back at Voldemort? Is Voldemort dead?"

The writing was messier than it had been before, like Tom had hurriedly wrote it down.

"I don't know how he survived it or reflected it. Our parents say it was a one-in-a-million chance. And no. Voldemort is still alive, though only barely. He possessed one of the teachers last year and tried to steal the Philosophers Stone. He Imperiused me in the attempt and I almost killed my brother. Though Dumbledore stopped him, he still escaped."

"Interesting. What house are you in at Hogwarts?"

"Hufflepuff, though I think the sorting hat was considering putting me in Slytherin. What house were you in?"

"Slytherin."

"Did you like it in Slytherin? My dad and brother think that everyone who is in Slytherin is a dark wizard. But that can't be true, right? I wouldn't really know, I didn't talk to many Slytherin's last year.

"Slytherin was a very good house, I'm glad I was put in it rather than any other house. I made many good friends in Slytherin. And no, Slytherins may be cunning and ambitious but no one is a dark wizard."

"It sounds nice. Kinda wish I'd been put in Slytherin now."

"Why? Do you not like Hufflepuff?"

"Not really. People don't really like me, they only see me as the brother of the boy-who-lived, rather than as Harry Potter. I only have two friends, even my brother ignored me throughout most of the year."

"People are stupid, I wouldn't worry about them, especially not a bunch of puffs. You shouldn't worry about your brother either, he sounds like he's arrogant and useless. You did almost kill him, clearly you are the superior of the two."

Harry smiled. "Thank you, Tom. It means a lot."


September the first arrived quickly. The Potter family apparated to Platform 9 and 3/4 fairly early. Harry was pleasantly surprised to see the platform relatively empty.

"I guess this is goodbye," Lily said, hugging her sons in turn. "Be careful, both of you."

"Yes mum," they chorused together.

"Be good." James said. "Olly, I expect you to be the seeker again this year. Harry, you should trial for your team as well."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Not everything is about Quidditch, dad."

They said their final goodbyes and the two made their way down the train. They picked a compartment and stowed their luggage.

Harry and Olly sat together talking for about twenty minutes, until Susan, Hannah, and Hermione all appeared at similar times and sat down to talk with them. Five minutes before the train was due to leave the Weasley family appeared in the crowd. Harry and Olly both stood up and left the train to greet them. He started looking for them but couldn't find them in the dense crowd of people. He was about to give up when he head someone yell, "I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP, MUM! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Harry recognised Ginny's voice and began making his way over to her and the rest of the Weasleys. He spotted her standing about twenty feet away with the rest of her family. Judging from Mrs Weasley's shocked expression and the uncomfortable looks on males in the family, Harry would guess they were having a bit of a disagreement.

He stayed where he was, not wanting to make the problem any worse. Harry, and the rest of the station, watched as Ginny and her mother got into a full-blown argument right then and there. As they both turned as red as their hair, Ron, Percy, and the Twins edged away and made their way over to where Harry and Olly were standing.

"Mental, those two. They've been arguing for weeks." Ron said as he came up next to Olly.

"They look like they're about to start hexing each other." Olly noted pointedly.

"They did at one point, Gin-Gin used a rather powerful Bat…" Fred began.

"Bogey hex on dearest mother…" George continued.

"Her first spell. We're all so…" Fred said.

"Proud." They said together.

At this point Ginny had stormed away from her mother. Large trunk in tow. Though none of the others noticed this.

"Remind me to never get on her bad side." Olly remarked.

"You know she has a crush on you, right?" Ron said suddenly.

At this point Ginny had come up to them. She stopped dead when she heard her brother. She looked mad, really mad. Her skin was as red as her hair. She looked like she was going to hit Ron. But before she could do anything Olly started speaking.

"What? Really? Ew, no thanks."

Ginny suddenly looked very pale. With tears in her eyes she hurriedly barged past them and onto the train.

Harry looked Olly and Ron, who stood there with stupid, shocked expressions on their faces. "Well done, both of you, I hope you're happy." He said disgustedly. Harry then turned and followed after Ginny.

He searched the compartments quickly until he came across the red-head crying in a compartment of her own, near the end of the train. He stood in the doorway for a second before slipping in and closing it quietly behind him. He sat down next to her and placed his hands awkwardly in his lap.

"Go away." she sobbed quietly.

Harry placed a hand on her back and rubbed soft circles. "Its ok. Its ok. Ron and Olly are gits, don't worry about it."

"But I liked him. And he hates me! Its all Ron's fault."

"He doesn't hate you Ginny, its just… he doesn't like you in the same way you like him. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Or maybe he might like you in a few years, he's only a second year after all."

Ginny sniffed. "But I've liked him ever since I first heard the story of how he defeated You-Know-Who."

Harry patted her back sympathetically. "Exactly. Was it really Olly you liked? Or was it the thought of Olly?"

At Ginny's confused look he continued. "I mean, did you like Olly because he was Olly? Or did you like the Boy-Who-Lived, the dashing hero who defeated the dark lord?"

Ginny opened her mouth to reply but no sound came out, and she quickly shut it.

"Exactly. You only ever liked the Boy-Who-Lived. Not Oliver Potter, the idiot Gryffindor."

Ginny gave him a sad smile. "I guess you're right."

"Of course, I'm me. I'm always right."

Ginny gave a short laugh.

"So… what house do you think you'll be in?" Harry asked.

"Gryffindor." She replied automatically.

"Really? You want to be in Gryffindor? You seem much too smart to be in the house of our illustrious saviour the Idiot-Who-Lived."

Ginny giggled at the name and Harry smiled. "Seriously though. While everyone in your family has gone into Gryffindor, I really didn't peg you for one."

"Really? What house do you think I'll be in then?"

"Hmmm… not Hufflepuff, considering the argument you just had with your mother." Ginny looked sheepish. "You're certainly smart enough to go into Ravenclaw, especially after this hex I heard you threw. Though Slytherin is also a definite option."

Ginny looked horrified at the thought of being in Slytherin.

Harry laughed. "Oh come on, Slytherin isn't that bad. I can assure you everything you've heard about them is quite wrong," Harry's mind wandered to the decidedly pleasant Tom Riddle. "I have a friend in Slytherin, he's very nice. And you make your real friends there. Well that's what the Hat says anyway."

Ginny was looking at him as if he was mad. "But they're dark wizards! And they all like Voldemort and bully all the other houses."

Harry shook his head. "As I said, everything you've heard about them is wrong. Honestly I wish I had been sorted into Slytherin."

"What?" Ginny asked, shocked.

"Well the hat almost put me on it, I think. And all of the other houses are silly. Ravenclaw's are always stuck up and hate you if you do better than them in class. Gryffindor's are also stuck up and think they can't do any wrong. And Puff's are just stupid, well most of them at least, Susan, Hannah, me and the older prefects are all good. But the rest of them," Harry shook his head. "Idiots."

Ginny seemed to consider his words. They sat in comfortable silence until the compartment door was opened and Susan and Hannah barged in. Harry smiled and they all began chatting. A large portion of their conversation was dedicated to moaning about having Gilderoy Lockhart as their Defence teacher. Ginny seemed shocked at the proclamation that Lockhart was a fraud, and said something about her mother being devastated.

Halfway through the trip, their compartment door slid open and an indignant looking Ron and uncomfortable looking Oliver stepped through. Behind them stood Hermione, who had obviously forced them to come.

"Go away." Ginny said frostily.

"Look, Ginny, we just want to apologise-" Ron started, not looking or sounding apologetic in the slightest.

"Go. Away." Ginny repeated.

"Ginny! We just-"

"GO. AWAY." Ginny practically screamed.

Ron looked like he was about to argue but Harry stood and moved in front of him, wand drawn.

"Just leave. Now."

Ron looked angry, he drew his wand and pointed it at Harry. "Get out of this Potter! This has nothing to do with you. You're evil, Olly told me all about what you did to him, I know you're just a…"

Harry's eyes darkened. Before Ron could finish his sentence his wand was flashing.

"Flipendo!"

The knock-back jinx fired from his wand and crashed into Ron, sending him hurtling back and smashing into the closed compartment door behind him. He groaned as he slumped to the floor. Harry looked at his brother.

"Is that what you told him?" he said in a quiet voice. "Is that what you think of me?"

"Harry-no.. I just-"

"Just leave. Just get out."

Oliver stayed where he was.

Harry pointed his wand. "LEAVE!" he roared. "Unless you want a repeat performance of what happened when I was being 'evil'." he said in a quieter voice.

Olly looked uncomfortable and started to move away, just as Ron jumped up, waving his wand wildly.

"LOCOMOTOR WIB-"

Snap.

Everyone looked on in horror as Ron smashed his wand into one of the walls, causing it to horribly snap, almost in two.

"My wand," he said weakly. "Look at my wand…"

Harry didn't know whether he should feel bad or laugh. At the moment he felt like he was about to laugh.

Ron turned on Harry. "You-"

"Colloportus." Harry said quickly, and the compartment door sealed itself with a bang.

Harry sighed before he flopped heavily against the cushioned seat in the compartment, next to Susan. She gave him a small smile and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"Don't worry Harry. They're just prats, don't even think about them." She said comfortingly.

Harry offered her a half-smile and a quick thanks. He looked at his wand, muttering, "Bloody Gryffindors."


The rest of the train ride went by without another incident or interruption. Harry, Susan, and Hannah shared a carriage up to the castle, while Ginny followed Hagrid to the boats with the all of the first years.

"I like her." Susan said as soon as they were alone in their carriage.

Hannah nodded in agreement. "She's certainly not like her brothers."

"Thank Merlin for that." Harry said, causing the group to burst out into laughter.

They chatted quietly for the rest of the trip. When they arrived at the Great Hall, they all sat down together at the Hufflepuff table. Megan Jones, one of Hannah and Susan's dorm mates, greeted them warmly as they sat down, and they engaged in polite conversation as the first years entered the hall.

The sorting seemed to drag on forever until finally, "Weasley, Ginerva" was called out.

Ginny bounced up to the stool and tentatively placed the Sorting Hat on her head.

Ginny seemed to be deep in conversation with the hat and talked and talked.

And talked more and more until five minutes had passed and excited whispers broke out around the hall, everyone muttering "Hatstall," to each other. It was almost another minute until the Hat opened its mouth widely and bellowed:

"SLYTHERIN!"

The Slytherin table cheered and Harry laughed as he saw the stunned expressions on Percy, Ron, the Twins, Olly and even Professor McGonagall.

Ginny walked over to the Slytherin table where Draco Malfoy made room beside him. No doubt pleased that he had something he could tease her brothers with.

After the Sorting finished, Dumbledore stood. "I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. A few older students should also remember this. Next, I would like to welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, Gilderoy Lockhart.

Harry groaned as the hall burst into applause. Susan and Hannah shared his troubled expressions.

"This year is going to be awful." Harry said, burying his face in his hands.

"What's wrong with Lockhart? My mum has all his books." Megan asked.

"He's a fake." Susan said. "He didn't do anything he said he did in his books."

Megan looked disheartened at this news. Though the food appeared and distracted Harry before he could say anything to her.

The feast, as always, was wonderful and after it was over Harry made his way to the Slytherin table to congratulate Ginny.

"Well done Ginny!" Harry said, as he came up behind her. "I knew you could do it!"

Ginny turned and smiled, "Thanks. I don't think my brothers are very happy." She said as she watched her brothers barge through the crowd towards them.

"Forget them. You wouldn't want to be an idiot Gryffindor like the rest of the Weasels," Draco Malfoy said as he clapped her on the back. There was a round of agreements from his and Pansy Parkinson's gangs.

"Ginny! How could you betray your family and become a slimy snake!" Ron yelled as he approached.

Before he could come any closer Draco, Blaise Zabini, Crabbe, Goyle, and even Pansy had drawn their wands and pointed them at him.

"What did you just call us Slytherins?" Draco hissed darkly.

"Move aside, Malfoy. This is a family matter."

"Just because you finally have one proper witch in your family, doesn't mean you can come over here and complain." Draco said.

"Ginny, you can't hang out with these snakes, they're dark wizards!"

Ron shrieked as a volley of hexes and jinxes were fired at him. One in particular, a bat-bogey hex, had him running from the hall screaming.

Draco and the rest of the Slytherins clapped Ginny on the back for her spell and they all moved off as one group towards the dungeons. Just before they exited the hall, Ginny turned and flashed him a wide smile. Harry smiled back and Ginny left through the large doors of the hall with her new housemates and friends.


A/N: Thank you for reading! Do not hesitate to ask me anything!