Hermione Granger fell backwards onto her bed with a sigh. It was part-way through the first week of the holidays, and she was already enjoying it more than her time at Hogwarts. Not that she'd ever admit that to anyone, least of all her parents.

Her parents, being non-magical, had naturally been fascinated by the magical school, and Hermione had described it to them in great detail. Albeit making her time there appear much better than it was. Like many a child who had been bullied throughout her schooling, she was very good at hiding her emotions from the few people who could have helped her.

Although she wasn't bullied at Hogwarts anywhere near like she had been at her Muggle school (barring comments from blood supremacists, of course), she hadn't made any new friends either.

Of the girls in her dormitory, Pavarti and Lavender had become inseparable friends, and Fay and Su were part of their own group – the little Asian girl still hadn't said a word to her, despite sharing a dormitory for the best part of three months.

Hermione had escaped her loneliness by throwing herself into her study – her endeavour increased when she found out she wasn't topping her year – it was a new and unpleasant feeling. Logically, she knew it wasn't good or necessary to study so hard in her first year, but it let her pretend her resentment was merely stress.

Letting out another sigh, she pulled out her completed charms essay and began editing. Twenty minutes later, she was re-writing the entire thing.

When they had finished lunch, Harry went to see the Headmistress again – to let her know when he'd be leaving the school. Millie tagged along – claiming that she'd always wanted to see the McGonagall's office.

"I saw Hagrid while you were off with McGonagall," Millie said suddenly.

"Yeah?" responded Harry, waiting for her to continue.

"Tried to press him for more details about the stone."

"Anything new?"

"Not really. He was being unusually cagey about it. Seems like they know who tried to steal it."

"Did he mention who it was?"

Millie shook her head. "Said something about it being classified. Don't think they want people to know that".

Harry nodded, confused. Surely, if it had been Voldemort, they'd want everyone to know about it. Although the war hadn't really ended – it was merely in stasis – the wizarding public had fallen into a dangerous state of security.

He was interrupted from his mulling as they arrived at the statue guarding McGonagall's office. He opened his mouth to say the password, but the statue spun to the side before he could speak. Shrugging to Millie, they stepped onto the rotating staircase and let it take them up to the office.

Despite common belief, the statue did not obey the current headmaster/headmistress, but obeyed the castle itself. It would open for anyone who Hogwarts deemed important – most teachers didn't need a password to gain access.

Harry and Millie reached the top of the staircase, and raised his hand to knock. He paused when he heard voices coming from the room. He could hear the voices of Professors Flitwick and McGonagall coming from within.

"….is unhappy. Filius, am I doing the right thing?" McGonagall was saying.

He heard Flitwick chuckle softly. "Minnie dear, you've been asking that for many a year. You're doing the best you can."

"But what if it's the wrong thing to do?"

"But what if it's the right thing to do?" echoed Flitwick. "Minnie, we don't know the answer to that".

There was a pause before McGonagall responded. "But what if we're wrong? You know what it says in the…"

"I didn't know you were one to put store in such things, dear," interrupted Flitwick smoothly.

Harry, unwilling to eavesdrop too long on two of his favourite teacher, knocked loudly on the door. The conversation halted, and the door opened.

Walking in, they saw the professors sitting by the fireplace. Flitwick had his hand raised, and as they entered, he waved his hand and the door swung shut.

The demeanour of the room had apparently changed as they entered – both professors smiled widely at them.

"Harry, Miss Bulstrode, how are you?" the bubbly charms professor asked happily.

"Great, Professor, how are you?" Millie responded politely. Harry nodded at him, inwardly laughing at the idea of a half-giant meeting a half-goblin. Millie was over twice the height of her Professor.

"Is everything okay, Harry?" Minnie was slightly concerned – it had scarcely been two hours since the first year had been in her office.

Harry smiled back at her. "Yes Professor, I just wanted to let you know when I'd be leaving".

Minnie felt relieved – "that was a fast response, Harry. When are you leaving?"

"Sunday at 9".

Minnie nodded. "Can he use your fireplace, Fil?" Flitwick nodded the affirmative.

"Just come to my office then Harry, and you can leave from there. Do you know where you're going?"

Harry nodded. The Headmistress looked over at Millie. "Miss Bulstrode, are you here for a reason?"

Millie shrugged. "I'm nosey," she said cheekily. Flitwick chuckled and Harry thought he saw a smile break across McGonagall's stern face.

"Well, we won't keep you all day," bubbled Flitwick, "See you on Sunday, Harry".

Harry and Millie bade their farewells, and left.

As the door closed, Filius turned to Minnie. "For a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, they seem remarkably close".

"The house lines have become very blurred in recent years, Filius."

Flitwick nodded. "Hopefully they're a sign of things to come".

Minnie smiled at her oldest friend. "Unite the children, and they'll unite the adults

The last war had essentially broken the walls between school houses, as each side had recruited from all the school houses. There was fighting within houses, and two students died as the war intensified in the last year. Had the war not abruptly stopped, Hogwarts would have closed.

"Do you think the war will start up again soon?" Flitwick asked, knowing but dreading the answer.

"It's only a matter of time, Fil. The rumours from Albania have stopped. It would appear Tom is on the move".

Filius muttered a goblin curse. "And of Lestrange?

"The Tibetan ministry found evidence of a blood ritual in a cave, two days ago".

"And you think it's her?"

"Albus does, and I agree".

Filius nodded. "She was a Black, that family knows more about blood rituals than anyone."

"And then there are the visions that young Mr Potter is having". Minnie had told Filius about them earlier that day.

"And you don't think these are mere dreams?"

Minevra McGonagall frowned. "I do not."

Harry and Millie left the Headmistress's office and headed down towards the entrance Hall, deciding to visit Hagrid again.

They walked in silence, with Millie looking worriedly at Harry. She had gotten used to his frequent changes in personality, but he was acting slightly strangely anyway. Normally, he'd get rather quiet and reserved around teachers or adults, but around his friends he was usually very chatty.

When he was alone with her, he was almost always outgoing and bubbly, a stark contrast of how he acted in the wider public. But since leaving the Headmistress's office, unusually, he'd scarcely said a word.

Despite what some of the more vindictive and prejudged students thought, Millie was very intelligent. On top of that, she knew Harry very well – having spent a large amount of time with him alone. And she knew not to pressure him to talk. He needed to mull for a moment and work out his thoughts, and then he'd talk.

So she walked alongside him, remaining silent. She reached out and held onto his hand reassuringly. There was nothing romantic about the gesture, just an offer of comfort. He squeezed her hand in thanks, but gave no outward response to the physical presence.

Inside, Harry was challenged. He had, in his own way, seen Minnie as more than a headmistress. He'd seen her as an unshakeable protector, someone who looked out for him without expecting anything in return. Overhearing her seeking adivice from Flitwick – being worried and insecure – was challenging this view, and he didn't know what to think. To him, it was akin to watching your own parent break down.

As they reached the entrance hall, Harry broke the silence. "What do you think they were talking about?"

Millie frowned, thinking back. "You mean, while we were listening in?" Harry nodded. "I'm not sure…" Millie began carefully. "McGonagall was worried about something and asking Flitwick for advice."

Harry nodded again. "Yeah. I just never thought McGonagall had reason to worry that much".

Millie suddenly understood. She knew that, given how he was raised, Harry had a tendency to idolise adults who tried to help him. Harry had a closer than usual relationship with the Headmistress. She thought carefully before responding. "McGonagall sounded like she wanted advice on something. That's not a bad thing, Harry".

Harry nodded, thinking hard. Little did he know it, but that small lesson would stick with him the rest of his life – even the greatest people were merely human.

Angelina Johnson was rather excited. In a few days time, Harry would be there. In her last two years at Hogwarts, she hadn't made a friend like him. Sure, she had been friends will Alicia since first year, and they'd been joined by Katie when she arrived the year after. And she had the Weasley twins, who looked out for her in their own unique way, but Harry was different. The eleven-year-old, mature beyond his years, had gotten underneath her tough-as-nails facade, and was friends with the girl beneath that.

She originally viewed him as a little brother she was taking care of, but they'd grow to be closer friends, especially after what happened at Hogsmeade. Harry didn't know it, but he'd helped her immensely after the 'incident'.

The 'incident'. That's what Angelina referred to it as. Unwilling to relieve the memory, she'd shut it away. As though it had happened to somebody else. In her mind, she had recovered from it – she was too strong, too tough to let it get to her. She had considered telling Harry about it, but her psyche argued that he was far too young to understand.

Pushing the thoughts from her head, she switched on the television and let the visual nothingness take over. Despite being raised magical, she had grown up in a house with large Muggle influences. Born and raised in London, she'd attended a Muggle school before Hogwarts. She'd fallen in love with the television.

Su Li grimaced as she walked downstairs. Her house was thoroughly westernised, void of any of the Asian influences she'd grown up with. She saw her father, perched in his chair as always. She frowned at the cliché - an Asian man in his 60's, balding with glasses. He was tall, but portly, his face set in a fairly constant grimace.

The man before her was a sad departure from the man he had once been – only five years previously. Back then, he looked muscular, young and strong. He didn't acknowledge her entrance, but kept his eyes fixed on a spot in the wall – where there was evidently something only he could see.

With a sudden pop, Ashender appeared in front of her. Ashender was their house-elf; and older elf-male with relatively small ears. The elf had effectively raised Su after her mother died, and had looked after her father.

She greeted the elf affectionately, pulling it into a hug.

"Is yous be needing anything, Missus Su-Su?" Su grinned and shook her head. Ash rarely talked that way, and only ever did it for comic relief.

"No, thankyou Ash," Su muttered under her breath.

The elf nodded his head, and then grasped her arm. "Come!" he commanded with a grin. "I is show you what I've done".

The excited elf pulled her along, half walking, half bouncing, and led her outside. Ashender pulled her out to the Greenhouse. The elf had begun building the greenhouse the previous Christmas, and had apparently finished it while she'd been at school.

Su raised her eyebrows at Ash, and the elf beamed at her silent praise. "Come, Come!" commanded the elf again, and began to pull her inside. She entered the greenhouse and was blasted with warm air, reminding her of the greenhouses at school. Unlike the greenhouses at school, which were largely filled with useful or dangerous plants, this greenhouse was a thing of beauty.

Wizarding and Muggle flowers covered over half of the greenhouse. There were magical flowers that continuously changed their colour, others that opened and closed at you as if they were winking. She recognised a bush covered in bizarre yellow flowers, which magically gave the viewer a sense of happiness.

A corner of the greenhouse was dedicated to bonsai trees – mostly Muggle plants, but with a few wizarding species thrown in as well. One bonsai plant, placed well away from the rest was moving around, swiping at any insect that came too close. She grinned as she recognised it as a miniature version of the Whopping Willow – one specimen of which was in the middle of the Hogwarts grounds.

The rest of the greenhouses were filled will a variety of aesthetically pleasing plants. The entire thing was fantastically beautiful, and Su had quite simply found her favourite place. She looked at the elf, who was grinning proudly at her side.

She nodded, drinking in the scene. "Wonderful…" Rarely for Su, the word was spoken at a normal volume. Next to her, Ash beamed.

Harry and Millie arrived at Hagrid's with Harry in a somewhat better mood. Millie had spent the trip across the grounds trying to cheer him up, and it had worked to a degree.

They knocked on the door which opened to reveal the smiling groundskeeper.

"Back again are ye?" he asked, winking at Millie. Harry meanwhile had been bowled over by Hagrid's oversized, slobbering boarhound. Cursing his small stature for the hundredth time that year, he climbed to his feet to be greeted by Hagrid.

"Hey, 'Arry!" exclaimed the large man, who motioned them both inside. They both sat heavily on the voluptuous cushions of the lounge. Fang – the huge dog – stuck his head onto Harry's lap, drenching him in slobber.

Hagrid bustled around the kitchen part of his hut, preparing tea. Thankfully, Hagrid bypassed his infamous rock cakes – perhaps he had none prepared – but whatever the reason, Harry wasn't going to complain. Hagrid's cooking was legendarily inedible.

Hagrid was as cheerful as he had been during their last visit, but seemed a little more guarded than usual – it wasn't as easy to press him for information. The conversation was a little strained – Harry felt a little like a third wheel in the conversation as Millie and Hagrid knew each other going, and conversed quickly.

After about an hour, however, the conversation moved to Harry's parents.

"I knew yeh parents, Harry. They were good people," Hagrid had said to him with a smile.

Harry had nodded hesitantly. His parents were a bit of a non-entity to him. Obviously, he knew the story and what they had done. However, it's hard to form an emotional attachment to someone you don't actually know. So whenever anyone tried talk about them, he didn't know how to respond.

"I can probably get a few photos of them if yeh like," continued Hagrid, happily.

"Err, sure, thanks Hagrid," responded Harry with a bit of a forced smile.

Millie glanced at Harry and smiled reassuringly. "What are you doing for Christmas, Hagrid?" she asked, surreptitiously changing the subject. Harry smiled at her thankfully.

Aurora left the area of the Apparition wards around Hogwarts, and disappeared with a pop. She arrived at her old family home a second later. It had been destroyed during the war, while she'd been at Hogwarts for her first year. None of her family had survived – either killed by the followers of Lestrange, or killed in the magical fire that destroyed the home. Six innocent people, killed because she was a witch and they were Muggles.

After she'd finished Hogwarts, she'd had it rebuilt and warded strongly. However, in the five years that followed, she'd only been able to visit a handful of times. It was maintained by an elf she'd hired from the Hogwarts stock, but the efforts were largely wasted on the unused house.

She walked in the door, and her childhood memories led her to her old bedroom. She'd rebuilt the house the exact way it had been. She walked through the halls, assaulted by memories.

When she reached her room, her tough façade broke. She fell onto the bed, and for the first time since her last visit, tears tore down her cheeks.

At roughly the same time, Fay Dunbar was enjoying her holidays with her family. Unique among her friends, Fay's family hadn't suffered any major tragedies. Even the Weasley twins, forever the jokers, had occasionally hinted at some sort of major loss happening during the war.

Her sister, only her junior by two years, had been excitedly questioning her about Hogwarts. She'd done the same thing to Tobais for years, and she assumed he was rather happy she was there to pick up the questioning now. Especially as he'd just started his NEWTs – being in sixth year. She'd barely seen her Ravenclaw brother since starting school, he'd been holed up in the library probably.

She was currently playing several games of exploding snap with her sister, and was losing most of them astoundingly. She put down a card without thinking, and her sister went to put down another card when the deck exploded suddenly.

She started laughing when she saw her sister – the girl had lost both her eyebrows, and the effect was rather striking. And funny.

"I told you…not to put your face… too close, Amy," she stuttered out between laughs. Amy ran to a mirror, and apparently found the vision hilarious as well – giggling madly.

"I look like a lizard!" she declared proudly.

"Mum'll put it right when she gets home".

Amy pouted. "But I like it!"

Fay laughed. "Well…"

Her reply was interrupted by a large white owl flying through the window. "Hedwig!" she said, and untied the letter from the expectant owl.

She started to open the letter, but Hedwig hooted reproachfully, and widened her eyes. Fay snorted – if owls had eyebrows, Hedwig's would be raised. "Come here," she said to the owl, which flew to onto her shoulder. The owl hooted again.

Fay shook her head and walked to the kitchen. She pulled a few slices of raw bacon from the fridge and gave one to the waiting owl who took it and took off to land on the bench.

"You'll get fat," she informed the owl, handing her another piece of bacon. Hedwig hooted indignantly through mouthfuls.

"She's adorable!" declared Amy, following her into the kitchen. She started patting the owl – Hedwig tilted her head back, enjoying the neck-scratch.

"I'll write back to Harry soon, if you want to hang round," Fay informed Hedwig. Hedwig hooted expectantly, and Fay sighed, getting a few more pieces of bacon from the fridge and putting them in front of the owl. She shook her head again – Hedwig certainly loved her bacon. She left the room to read her letter, leaving Hedwig to bask in Amy's scratches and pats.

The letter was short and fairly simple.

Fay

I'm staying at Angelina's for Christmas now! We're going to Diagon Alley on Sunday morning, think you can make it? We'll be at the Cauldron at 9, if you can make it.

How are you going? Hogwarts is decidedly boring without you or Su around.

Harry

Fay quickly wrote back an affirmative response, knowing her mother needed to go to Diagon Alley before Christmas, and Sunday was her day off, so it was a pretty sure bet.

She returned to the kitchen to find Amy tossing bits of bacon into the air, and Hedwig swooping to catch them. Fay found herself shaking her head a third time. "Bacon-fetch", as Harry called it, was Hedwig's favourite game, and it was a regular sight at the Gryffindor table during breakfast.

The game finished after a few moments, and Hedwig landed on the counter, her chest puffed out in pride. Or maybe she was just full of bacon. Fay tied the letter to the owl's leg, who hooted loudly, and circled the room – Fay opened a window, and Hedwig flew out into the afternoon sun.

Amy looked disappointed that her feathered playmate had left, but then her face brightened again. "Another game?" she asked hopefully.

Harry and Millie left Hagrid's before dinner. The Great Hall was even emptier than normal – the seventh-years were absent, as were most of the teachers. Tenebris and Flitwick were eating next to each other in silence, and Professor Sprout was a few places along, seemingly asleep with her head on the table. Harry glanced at Millie as they walked in the door, and muttered "kitchens?"

Millie nodded. The noise of the kitchens would be far less awkward. They ducked behind a statue of a stone soldier, and went along a corridor – a shortcut they'd discovered early on, which came out near the Hufflepuff Common Room. It was only a few minutes away from the kitchens.

Tickling the pear, they were ushered in by the house-elves, and sat at a table. They both chuckled as the elves piled a spread of their favourite foods in front of them. Their regular visits to the kitchens had ensured that the elves knew which foods they liked without asking.

"So…" began Millie awkwardly. "Sorry about Hagrid today."

Harry shook his head. "He meant well, Mil. He's a really nice guy…just a little…" he hesitated, unwilling to insult Millie's friend.

"Tactless?" offered Millie with a smile. Harry nodded.

An elf with simply huge, floppy ears bounced onto the table, and sat cross-legged in front of them. "How is young masters?" she asked happily.

"Flopsy, we've asked you not to call us that," said Harry with a smile. Inwardly, he cringed at the elf's name. They'd been told that house-elves chose their own names, and they knew that Flopsy was very proud of her ears.

"Yes, Master Harry," replied the elf, sticking her tongue out cheekily. Harry snorted. Flopsy was their favourite Hogwarts elf, one that acted as their 'carers', and they both genuinely liked her. Flopsy cleaned the first-year Gryffindor boy's dorms, and often stopped to chat with him.

"How are you, Flopsy?" asked Millie nicely.

"Flopsy is bored, Missus Millie. Flopsy is waiting for the students to come back. Master Harry is too clean!" she exclaimed, mock-glaring at Harry.

"Sorry, Flopsy," replied Harry, while Millie laughed at him.

"To clean for a young boy!" declared Flopsy. "The others are more dignified. And messy".

Millie chuckled again. A lot of house-elves thought that people who were 'too clean' were insulting them. However, they both knew that Flopsy was actually quite fond of them – and liked having fun.

"Young master Harry has been going places he shouldn't at night!" she chided, boisterously.

Harry nodded. "How do you know that, Flopsy?"

"Just cause you is invisible doesn't mean Flopsy doesn't know," replied the house-elf happily. "Master Harry has much to learn about the castle.

Harry snorted, used to dealing with the excitable elf. Millie sat back happily, eating her lasagne and watching Harry being chided.

"Master Harry should look in Filch's office," continued the elf, cryptically.

"Why?"

"Master Harry should look in Flich's office," repeated the elf with a cheeky smile.

Harry nodded, bemused, realising he wouldn't get any more information. He started eating his dinner with Flopsy watching him with wide eyes.

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office alone, his head in his hands. He knew war was coming again, but he didn't know when. He was one of the few people alive who knew the full prophesy, the others being Minerva McGonagall and a few Unspeakables from the Department of Mysteries.

The prophesy stated that war would come again, and that young Harry Potter had the power to stop a dark lord.

He had tried to gain access to the Potter child, he needed to talk with him, find out where his loyalties lay and instruct him towards the right path. But Minerva had blocked him at every turn.

Albus didn't know what to do – a situation almost unknown to the 150 year-old wizard. He was used to being in control, and knowing what would happen in advance.

Albus Dumbledore was used to being in control of a situation. But now he didn't know what to do. He had to do something. This was for the greater good.

After wandering around for a while with Millie after dinner, Harry retired to the Gryffindor rooms. As he went into his dorm, he was startled by a "Hello, Master Harry!"

Regaining his senses, he looked at Flopsy, who was sitting cross-legged on his bed.

"I've told you not to call me that," he informed her tiredly.

"Master Harry…" she began, cheekily. "You should explore the caretakers office!" she informed him, mimicking what she had said over dinner.

"Why?" he asked her quizzically.

"Something of Master Harry's father," replied the elf happily.

Harry paused, confused. His father finished Hogwarts fourteen years ago.

"Flopsy, how old are you?"

"Flopsy is 31, Master Harry. Almost an adult."

"Almost?" questioned Harry, wondering how long house-elves lived.

"Yep yep!" replied the house-elf happily. "Master Harry should come!"

"Okay," laughed Harry. "Give me a moment."

Grabbing his invisibility cloak, he swung it over himself and the excited Flopsy. Flopsy grabbed his finger and half-led, half-dragged him downstairs.

"What are we getting, Flopsy?" he asked her as they passed through the portrait of the

Fat Lady.

"You'll see, Master Harry, you'll see!"

A/N So I hope I didn't give too much away in that chapter. More will be revealed in the next few chapters that will lead up to the major action in Harry's first year. Next chapter will see Christmas and Harry going to Angelina's, and perhaps the Gringotts scene if you're lucky. It'll also reveal the object in Filch's office that Harry is getting. For those who think it's the Marauders Map, all I'll say is that Harry still has an object made by the Marauders to get off the Weasley Twins at a later stage. All the minor characters that are being built up will play important parts in the story at later stage. Some good, some evil.