Author Notes – Apologies for the delay since the last update but I've had no time since then. Lots of consequential things happen in this chapter so keep an eye out for clues about later developments. Thank you as always for reading and please review and share.

Rating – T.

Note – I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters, that privilege belongs to JK Rowling.

CHAPTER SIX

Back To Hogwarts

'Do you know something?' said Harry, as he and Cedric attempted to force his boyfriend's trunk into one of the many overhead storage areas on the Hogwarts Express. 'I've got a terrible feeling of déjà vu that this thing is about to fall on me any second.'

'Either way it's your turn to buy lunch this year,' replied Cedric, and with one final heave, they secured it in place. 'It's bloody inconvenient that we're still not allowed to use magic. That would have made the whole exercise a hell of a lot easier.'

Harry collapsed into the nearest chair and Cedric sat down opposite him, straightening his newly acquired "Head Boy" badge. Harry rolled his eyes. 'Yes, it's still there,' he said in a weary voice. 'Honestly, you're a lot less attractive when you're behaving like Percy Weasley.'

'Hey,' said Cedric, with a fake expression of outrage. 'I'll have you know that I had a crush on Percy Weasley in my third year.'

There was a moment of silence. 'You're just going to leave that comment hanging there aren't you?' Cedric grinned and Harry aimed at a kick at him.

'Ok, I'm kidding!' exclaimed Cedric, dodging Harry's foot. 'Honestly, no need to overreact.'

'For the mental image that you just conjured, I think that was an under-reaction. The last thing I need right now is the thought of you and Percy going at it.'

'Oh please, that is truly revolting!' said a voice from the doorway. Harry looked over and saw Ron and Hermione standing there. 'We were planning on joining you, but I don't think I'll bother now.'

'No, no, please come in,' said Harry. 'Cedric won't mention Percy again, will you Cedric?'

'Of course not,' replied Cedric in mock seriousness. 'Besides, I've always Fred and George were the more attractive ones.'

Ron covered his face with his hands. 'No more please,' he whimpered. 'I'm the only one here whose not an "only-child" and can understand the trauma of people fancying your siblings.'

'Yes,' agreed Hermione. 'None of us are looking forward to your reaction when Ginny gets a boyfriend. I've told her to let you know through three inch protected glass.'

'Very wise,' cut in Cedric. 'Anyway, I suppose the three of us are going to have to go on patrol soon.' He looked at Harry with a sad expression on his face. Cedric had been particularly upset that Harry hadn't been made a Prefect when their Hogwarts letters had arrived. As much as Harry had insisted that he didn't mind, and that he was very happy for Ron, Cedric still felt the need to be angry on his behalf, which was very sweet of him.

'Oh God,' said Ron. 'I still can't believe I signed up for this.'

'You didn't sign up for it at all,' admonished Hermione. 'You were chosen by Dumbledore and you could have turned it down you know.'

'Oh right, and how do you think Mum would have reacted to that? That's the sort of news that would require three inch protected glass and even that wouldn't be enough.'

Harry looked at his two best friends happily. Since the summer, there was no doubt that there was a friendlier atmosphere between Ron and Hermione. They still bickered as much as they ever did, but there was not the nastier undertone that had run through it in previous years. Harry and Cedric were still wishing they would just bite the bullet and get together, but in the absence of that, some progress was at least welcome.

'Come on then,' said Cedric. 'We'd better go and make sure the other Prefects know what they're doing, and I'm supposed to have my first meeting with the Head Girl as well. Are you going to be all right in here Harry?'

'I think I'll be able to entertain myself for the next twenty minutes or so. I'll read a book or something. And remember,' he said to Cedric. 'I've seen the new Head Girl and she's very pretty. Don't start getting ideas.'

Cedric rolled his eyes. 'I'll try not to let her steal me away from you.' He bent down and kissed Harry on the lips. 'See you in a minute then. Look after this would you?' He pressed something into Harry's hand before turning round and leaving the compartment with Ron and Hermione.

Harry opened his fist and examined the golden pendant that he was holding for what felt like the millionth time. Both he and Cedric had scrutinised every single aspect of the piece of jewellery since that mysterious woman had given it to Cedric in Diagon Alley. Harry had instinctively not wanted to keep it, but Cedric had insisted, at least until they found out what it was. The way that the woman had seemed to know about what had happened in the graveyard had intrigued him and he was determined to find out more when he could. Harry had to admit that it was a beautiful pendant; the gold chain shined brightly and the focal point of a circular gold disk was engraved with side profile of a man that Harry did not recognise, but was clearly strikingly handsome nonetheless. Both Cedric and he had found themselves had various times just staring at it for several minutes and found themselves forgetting about anything else.

'Not sure that I trust you very much,' he muttered to the jewellery before placing it inside the pocket of his jacket. 'But Cedric seems to think you're worth keeping.'

Harry enjoyed the quiet of his own company for a while. He had thoroughly enjoyed spending the summer holidays with the Weasleys, Hermione, and Cedric, but he had always been surrounded by people. Harry liked every now and again just retreating into his own thoughts for a while. He found himself thinking about the year ahead. It wasn't something they had discussed very much but this was Cedric's last year at Hogwarts. In no time at all, Cedric would be leaving Harry behind to go and pursue his career. They would stay together of course, but it would take some getting used to not having his boyfriend around all the time. Harry couldn't say he was looking forward to it very much.

It wasn't long before Ron, Hermione, and Cedric reappeared in the compartment. 'Anything interesting happen on your patrols?' asked Harry.

'No, but it turns out the first-years are cheeky little shits,' replied Ron, sitting down with a sigh. 'I swear I wasn't nearly that rude when I first came to Hogwarts.'

'They do seem to get more confident every year,' supplied Cedric. 'Still, never mind. No sign of the lunch trolley yet?' he continued, checking his watch.

'Nope, afraid not,' replied Harry, who couldn't help noticing that Cedric's eyes kept darting around. 'I've got it here,' he said, reaching into his jacket pocket and extracting the pendant.

Cedric took it and kissed Harry on the cheek. 'Thanks babe,' he said. 'What shall we do for the rest of the journey?'

'You do what you like,' said Ron, yawning loudly. 'I'm tired.' He leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes. 'Wake me up when it's time to go on patrol again. Actually don't bother waking me up at all.'


Several hours later, the four of them made their way into the Great Hall for the start-of-term feast. The rest of the train journey had been uneventful; they had passed most of the time chatting or playing the occasional game of Exploding Snap. Eventually Ron had challenged Cedric to a chess match that had lasted at least an hour and a half, and had ended in a spectacular checkmate for Ron, eventually pinning Cedric's King in a place it could not escape from. Harry decided not to join in; after everything that had happened the previous year, he had not quite got over his aversion to chess boards quite yet. He couldn't help feeling sorry for the pieces as they were manipulated across the board by the two players.

Harry tried to avoid the customary stares from the other students as he made his way towards the Gryffindor Table. 'I'd better go,' muttered Cedric, and leaned in to peck Harry on the check, before disappearing off to the Hufflepuff table. Harry wished that Cedric didn't have to go, but those were the rules, and he was getting enough attention already without causing any more fuss. It seemed that over the summer the story of what had happened at the Ministry had spread around the entire school. There really was no such thing as privacy at Hogwarts.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table and Harry looked up at the staff table. All the usual faces looked back at him. Professor Snape was sat next to Professor Flitwick and looked as mean and moody as he had at the start of fourth year. Clearly whatever personality alterations Merlin had performed on Snape were not meant to be permanent. Somehow Harry couldn't image Snape had reacted particularly well to being rewritten like that. He looked along the line, trying to identify who might be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher now that Professor Moody had once again gone back to retirement. As he scanned the row of chairs he couldn't help but notice that Dumbledore's golden chair was empty. It was not at all like the Headmaster to be late for the start-of-term feast, and his absence made Harry feel distinctly nervous.

Eventually his eyes fixated on a man at the far end of the table. He was dressed entirely in black, not unlike Professor Snape's robes. He looked to be middle-aged, but had a thin face and pointed nose. Despite his neutral expression, his eyes seemed to be alive with emotion and sparkled underneath the starry sky above them. He caught Harry's eye for a moment and smiled. Harry just stared back, entirely unsure of what to make of this new arrival. 'I can only assume that must be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher,' he said, and Ron and Hermione followed his gaze to look at the man.

'I suppose so,' said Hermione. 'He looks innocuous enough.'

'Maybe,' replied Harry, continuing to watch the thin man, even though the teacher had long since stopped paying attention to Harry and was talking to Professor Sinistra to his left. 'I can't help feeling that I recognise him from somewhere but I've no idea where.'

Harry looked away from the newcomer and caught Hagrid's eye, who waved enthusiastically at him. Harry grinned back and looked around the Great Hall. Even after all the difficult things that had happened in his four years at Hogwarts, it was always good to be home. When he sat down at that table a year ago, he barely would have imagined that in a year's time, he would be walking into the Great Hall with a boyfriend by his side.

A few moments later, Professor McGonagall got to her feet and cleared her throat loudly. Silence fell immediately, perhaps even more quickly than it would have done for Dumbledore, Harry noted. 'Welcome to another year at Hogwarts,' said Professor McGonagall. 'The Headmaster wishes me to express his apologies for his absence. He is away on urgent business at the moment but intends to return as soon as he can.'

Harry gave Ron and Hermione a significant look across the table. They were clearly all thinking the same thing; was Dumbledore's absence something to do with what had happened to Harry and Cedric in the graveyard? Harry glanced over at the Hufflepuff table and caught Cedric's eye, who raised his eyebrows back at him and smiled.

'Now then,' continued Professor McGonagall. 'Before we begin the feast, there are a couple of announcements to make. Firstly, I'd like you to put your hands together and welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Osiris.' She gestured towards the thin man in black at the end of the table. There was polite clapping from the students, many of whom were staring at Professor Osiris curiously. 'He will of course be taking over from Professor Moody who has retired.'

After the usual reminders about the Forbidden Forest and magic in the corridors, the feast began. It was, as always, delicious, and when it was over Harry was feeling full and contented. Professor McGonagall then dismissed them for the night, and Harry walked over to the Hufflepuff table as Cedric stood up. 'So,' he said. 'What do you make of that new Defence teacher?'

'Mmm?' replied Cedric, looking absent minded. 'Oh him. He looks all right I suppose. Hard to know until we actually have a lesson with him. The standard of recent years has been...mixed.'

'Are you all right?' asked Harry. 'You look distracted.'

'Yes I'm fine. I was just thinking, I need to go and get a book out the library.'

'Oh right,' replied Harry, confused as to why Cedric was mentioning this particular fact to him now. 'What's it called?'

'Erm...I'm not sure.'

'Well the book must have a name. It's usually written on the front.'

That particular dig seemed to break Cedric out of his reverie. 'Oh thank you very much, what would I do without you? Listen I'd better go, we've got to escort the first years to their dormitories. See you later.' He kissed Harry once and then again, before heading off to join the Prefect teams.

Harry made his way with Neville, Seamus, and Dean to the Common Room, as Ron and Hermione had disappeared to direct the Gryffindor first years. Harry wanted nothing more than to go straight to bed, but he waited for his two friends to arrive, leading the massed group of nervous looking new students. Harry watched as the Prefects directed them to their dormitories and then returned to the Common Room. Ron and Hermione walked over and sat down in armchairs opposite him.

'Welcome home,' said Hermione with a smile and Harry grinned back.

'Now then,' said Ron. 'Where do you think Dumbledore is?'