Harry and his friends did not get to bed until very late, as the Order had thrown them a party, essentially to make up for all they had had to suffer through over the summer. Even Mad-Eye Moody, who was very put out he'd been stunned by the youths, toasted the five teens.
Many members of the Order had come, including Amelia Bones, who took a few moment to speak to Harry and Sirius.
"It has been my mission to see to it that Sirius is cleared of all charges." She said plainly. "I have managed to get hold of several Pensieve memories from some of the Death Eaters we managed to capture, as well as Sirius' own memories. These will help greatly, but there will be strong opposition, as the Wizengamot does have more than a few suspected Death Eaters on it."
"So, what does it all mean? Will you be able to get him free?" Harry asked.
"I do not know." Amelia said bitterly. "Fudge did a lot to affect people's opinion. If we could capture Pettigrew, and show him to the public, that would surely do the trick, but otherwise…" She let the thought hang.
"What happened to Umbridge?" Harry asked. His hand clenched, and the scars he'd gotten from the former High Inquisitor stood out starkly.
"She was sentenced to the Kiss." Amelia said flatly. "It turns out you weren't the only student she tortured. She illegally questioned a few children from prominent families during her tenure. When she was questioned under Veritaserum… well she pretty much signed her fate. She just couldn't shut her mouth. She kept going on and on about how all children should be made to suffer for their lies."
"Sounds like she didn't have a very good childhood." Sirius remarked.
"Indeed." Amelia commented. "So, the elections for a new Minister will be held in November and I will be able to devote all my time to the Order, and hopefully we'll be able to end this war swiftly, before you actually have to get involved." Amelia said with a tone of hopefulness, even though Dumbledore had told her and the rest of the Order that it would in fact be Harry to finish the war.
After that, Harry was allowed to rejoin the party, which he was kind of dreading, as the entire Weasley clan had come to see him. It was during the party that he and his friends learned that Fleur had been living in England and working at Gringotts over the last year, and that she and Bill had begun dating and were now engaged to be married. Harry was very happy for them both, and quite excited to catch up with another champion from the Tri-Wizard tournament.
"I 'ave been keeping my muzzer and fazzer abreast of all the goings on here, and as they have many friends in power in France, they have pledged to provide support to you, 'Arry, should you need it. Though, I must tell you, zay hope zat it does not come to zat. All of France would prefer that England's problems remain their own."
"I understand. And thank you." Harry smiled, shaking her hand. Fleur was not about to accept a simple handshake, and embraced him warmly.
"A 'andshake will not do, mon ami." She laughed, and Harry had to smile.
Things got very uncomfortable for Harry when he finally spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Molly hugged him so tightly, he was sure he felt a few ribs crack under the pressure. She finally released him when Arthur made a remark about killing the poor boy.
Harry had no idea what he should say to the parents of his fallen friend. He still felt a world of guilt over Ron's death, even though he knew he was not to blame. Thankfully, the Weasley parents helped put him at ease.
"I'm very proud of what he did." Mrs. Weasley said tearfully. "I know that you were having troubles getting along last year, but I never doubted his loyalty to you, Harry. He thought of you as another brother and, in the end, he did what he would have done for any of the rest of us."
"I just wish I could have told him what his friendship meant to me." Harry remarked.
"He knows, Harry." Mr. Weasley smiled proudly. "He always did, even when it didn't look like it."
"I hope you will come and visit us next summer for a bit." Mrs. Weasley smiled. "And not just for Bill and Fleur's wedding. You will always be welcome in our home."
Harry was overwhelmed by their words, and struggled over the lump in his throat to thank them.
Fred and George couldn't stay too late, as they had much to do in their new shop, which they couldn't wait for Harry and the others to come see when they could. They did bring quite a few things for Harry and his friends. A lot of joke items, as well as some very interesting items that the Twins promised would be quite handy.
Ginny managed to get Harry alone later in the night. Harry felt very anxious being around Ginny, who he was aware had been quite distraught over Harry's relationship with Daphne.
"Harry, I've had a lot of time to think over the summer, and I want to tell you I'm sorry. For everything. I was jealous of Daphne because I had a crush on the boy from stories I heard growing up. What was worse is when I met you, you turned out to be everything from my imagination. Brave, and selfless. Everything a girl could want in a boy. The trouble was that you were more than that, and I didn't take the time to find out. I was too caught up in the Boy-Who-Lived to see Harry, and I became one of the simpering fan girls."
"Ginny, I…" Harry tried, but Ginny cut him off.
"I realize now that I was wrong. I saw how you and Daphne were last year, and I was insanely jealous because she had what I thought was supposed to be mine. But, as the year went on and I saw what you went through and how you reacted to things, and how she handled it all, I realized that she was the right girl for you. I mean, I don't even know what I want or even who I am yet. So how could I be what you need, much less what you want? So, I'm sorry. And, if you'll let me, I'd like to be your friend."
Harry was completely taken aback by Ginny's confession and apology. He thanked her for her honesty, and hugged her.
"I'd be honored to call you my friend."
They rejoined the party, and Hermione sidled up to Harry.
"What was that all about?" she asked Harry, watching, an emotional looking Ginny sitting next to Neville, and striking up a conversation.
"She… She apologized for her attitude towards me and Daphne. I think she's maturing or something." Harry said, still looking gob smacked. Hermione mirrored his expression, and went over to Neville and Ginny.
Daphne looped her arm around Harry's waist and kissed his cheek. "Should I be worried?" She asked, nodding towards Ginny, who looked up and gave a soft friendly smile.
"I don't think so. Not anymore, anyway." Harry smiled, and kissed his girlfriend back.
After all the guests had dispersed, Remus and Sirius informed the teens that they would be leaving the house for King's Cross at ten the next morning. Harry lie awake for awhile, wondering about the coming year.
Dumbledore had so far kept his promise, and had divulged all he knew about Lord Voldemort. He had come by the Flamel House quite a bit over the last month, always bringing his Pensieve, and several different memories that he shared with Harry and the others. After viewing them, they would discuss what they had seen. Harry guessed that he wanted to see if they would see things he had not, which turned out to be true when they came to the peculiar memory from Professor Slughorn, in which they discovered how early Voldemort had thought of splitting his soul.
"He seemed obsessed with the number seven." Tracey had observed.
"So it stands to reason he made six." Hermione explained. "Six Horcruxes, and then one fragment still in his body."
"But did he actually accomplish all six, or did he make fewer, or more, even?" Neville asked.
"I think it very likely that he made all six, but not until after his return. I believe he had intended Harry's death to be the catalyst for the original sixth Horcrux, but as he was all but destroyed, was unable to do so until after his resurrection." Dumbledore reasoned.
Dumbledore had told him after their last lesson that soon after school started, he would be tutoring Harry one on one for more advanced magic. Harry was very excited for school to begin, and was eagerly anticipating what he might learn.
But now, as he lay in his bed on the eve of his return to Hogwarts, something else was weighing on his mind. Ever since he'd had the fragment of Voldemort's soul removed, he had stopped having nightmares, and headaches. It had been a very restful summer, all things considered, yet, Dumbledore words were haunting him now.
"I must point out it's usefulness. With this connection, you have been able to see what Voldemort has done, thus saving the lives of more than a few people."
It was true. Harry's ability to see into the enemy's mind had proven to be quite valuable. Harry now wondered if he had been too hasty in having it removed. Could he have simply learned to control it better? Wouldn't it have been a valuable resource in telling Harry what the Dark Lord was planning?
Despite all he'd gone through that summer, Harry had never felt less prepared for the future, or more unsure of himself than he did at that moment. He only hoped that he would not repeat the mistakes of his past.
It was nothing like what he was used to.
No one forgot anything. Everything was packed and ready to go, even pets. They even managed to leave on time.
Harry and his friends, along with a group of Order members arrived, on Platform Nine and Three-quarters at half past ten on September the first. Harry and Neville helped all three girls with their trunks, and the group secured a cabin for themselves before saying their goodbyes.
As Sirius was still technically wanted by the Ministry, he was unable to accompany them, which, Harry guessed was the reason he'd kept them up so late that evening.
Daphne didn't want to get on the train until Astoria arrived so that she might get a chance to see her parents. Sirius had provided a new two way mirror, so that she could speak to them over the summer, which had proven invaluable, but as Daphne had said more than a few times over the holiday, "You can't hug a mirror."
"DAPHNE!"
Astoria came through the barrier, and upon spotting her older sister, nearly tackled her to the ground.
"I'm so happy to see you. Where's Harry? Where's Tracey? Did you do something new with your hair, cause it looks so cute. I want to know everything that happened. I've got loads to tell you. You're so tan. Where have you been? Was it fun? Who all was with you? You've been so vague on everything. You look so thin, didn't they feed you? Did you hear about Umbridge? Where's Tracey? Did I ask that already?"
Daphne's mind felt as if it were spinning out of control, and had to finally cover her sister's mouth with her hand.
"Slow down. Take a breath. Where are Mum and Dad?"
"We're here."
Aurora Greengrass looked as elegant as ever, and Daphne was never so happy to see her mother and father, who was surveying the train platform with an air of superiority. Daphne realized immediately what he was doing. It had been discussed a lot over the summer.
Ever since Daphne had all but announced her alignment with the side of light, she had put her family in peril. It was partially for this reason Dumbledore had whisked her away to the island. In public, The Greengrasses would appear as if they had denounced their eldest to protect her as well as themselves. Dumbledore reasoned that Lord Voldemort would not go after Daphne's family so long as they branded her a traitor. A neutral family could still be swayed to his cause, and the Greengrasses were well looked upon.
Daphne hugged her mother, who returned the gesture, while her father simply glared. Daphne noticed however that the mask of resentment did not reach his eyes, which sparkled with something she hadn't seen since before she'd gone to Hogwarts.
"Astoria has a few things for you." Aurora whispered. "She's to give them to you when you get to school."
"It isn't too late to return to the family." Her father said, rather loudly. Daphne shook her head, pulling away from her mother.
"I've made my decision." She said strongly.
"Very well. You've made your choice." Jonathan nodded solemnly, still glaring at his daughter. "We've nothing more to say to each other. May the fates watch over you."
"Goodbye, father." Daphne said, pretending to be truly hurt. Aurora wiped at her eyes and turned to follow her husband as he marched off the platform. Daphne was very pleased with her acting job, especially when she saw Theodore Nott and his father glaring at her a short distance away.
"I'll see you on the train." Daphne said out of the corner of her mouth to Astoria, who was doing her best to look upset. She joined her friends who were hanging out in their cabin, waiting for the journey to begin.
"How'd it go?" Harry asked when Daphne returned.
"Ok, I think. Tori nearly blew it, but Mum and Dad played their parts well. I think they'll be safe."
"I'm sure they will." Harry nodded, and embraced her warmly.
"Finally!" Tracey smiled, and before anyone could say anything, the blonde Slytherin slipped out of their cabin and moved through the crowded corridor.
"Where's she going?" Neville asked. Harry shrugged, but both Hermione and Daphne looked out into the hall.
"She's going to claim her guy." Hermione laughed.
The two girls watched as Tracey walked right up to the tall, dark-skinned Slytherin. All summer, Tracey had been composing a speech that she planned on saying to Blaise Zabini, confessing her romantic feeling for the boy. Hermione and Daphne couldn't hear what they were saying, but if they were reading Tracey's body language right, she had completely forgotten her speech. There was a long moment where the two simply looked at one another, until Tracey flung her arms around the boys neck and began snogging him. Daphne swore she heard Tracey say "Sod it all." Right before leaping into her fellow Slytherin's arms.
"Sometimes, you just don't need words." Daphne giggled, and Hermione guffawed. They slipped back into the cabin.
"Well, I need to get up to the Prefects cabin. I should be back before we get to Hogwarts." Hermione sighed. She slipped into Neville's arms and kissed him deeply before slipping out of the cabin and into the flow of students.
At eleven o'clock, as it had done for many years before, The Hogwarts Express sounded the start of it's yearly journey, and began chugging out of the station. Neville settled into one of the seats, while Daphne and Harry settled into the seats across from him. They chatted about nothing more important that who might make the house Quidditch teams, or how Defense class would be different with Snape as their teacher.
Snape had been very vocal about how Defense Against The Dark Arts would be very different this year, not knowing that Harry and Daphne had already met the new Potions teacher, and were able to figure out that he would be their new Defense teacher.
It wasn't long before people began to come by and say hello. The first pair were Seamus Finnegan and Lavender brown, who was not looking as vibrant as she normally did. In fact, she looked as if she hadn't slept a lot over the holiday. Harry knew that she and Ron had started seeing one another at the end of the previous year, but had no idea how strongly they felt for one another.
Both of Harry's housemates seemed interested on whether the DA would be continuing into the new year. In fact, nearly everyone who'd stopped in wished to know whether the club would go on. Harry hadn't really thought about it during the summer, and told them all so.
"I don't know." Harry told Luna Lovegood, who was the latest person to come and greet them. She had been offering copies of her father's news magazine, The Quibbler, to students, and greeted Harry and the others with a warm, if not distant smile.
"Oh." the dreamy eyed blonde said, a slight drop in her shoulders as she spoke.
"Well, I don't know that we'll need it, as Umbridge is gone." Harry said, starting to feel bad. Everyone else had simply nodded and moved on, but with Luna, it felt as if he were actually letting her down in some way.
Doesn't mean you should stop teaching. I mean, do you honestly think Snape will be any better?
Ron's voice echoed in Harry's mind. Harry couldn't find fault with that reasoning. If Snape's record in potions was anything to go by, it would be nearly as bad as having Umbridge return to teach. That alone was enough to make Harry decide to speak to Dumbledore about it at their first lesson.
"It was a lot of fun." Luna continued. "Like having friends."
"What do you mean?" Daphne asked, she had been leaning against Harry, but sat up now, motioning for the young Ravenclaw to sit down. Luna followed her unspoken request and sat next to Neville, who leaned forward, interested in Luna's turn of phrase.
"This may come as a bit of a surprise, but not many people like me. I think they think I'm strange. Did you know, some people even call me Loony? "
There was a wave of uncomfortableness as Harry, Neville and Daphne looked at each other pointedly. All three of them were aware of Luna's nickname.
"It's never really bothered me before, but after last year, I'm starting to feel like I'm missing out on something. It was fun to talk to people, and have them treat me nice. Even boys. Did you know, I've never even kissed a boy… or a girl for that matter."
"Well… that's not such a big deal." Daphne said, rather awkwardly. "I wouldn't worry so much about that, but you have friends. I'm your friend, if you'd like. And Harry and Neville and Hermione."
Luna's face brightened a bit, and she gave a dreamy smile before getting up from her seat. "That's really good to know. Perhaps we'll get a chance to become better friends over the year."
Luna left before anyone could say another word, leaving the three to stare open mouthed at the door.
"Luna likes… girls?" Neville finally stammered.
"So what if she does." Daphne said, looking to Neville, who was looking thoroughly confused.
"It doesn't matter, but I just… Well, Last year, she kind of stared at Ron. I mean, really stared." Neville said.
"I noticed that too." Harry said. "Near the end of the year, especially when he and Lavender were flirting, or whatever they were doing." Harry added.
"That doesn't mean she can't like girls. Some people like both, you know." Daphne pointed out.
"Would you ever be with girl?" Harry asked, a chuckle in his tone.
Daphne looked at Harry and Neville, both of whom looked a little too interested in her answer. Daphne had spent the better part of five years hearing boys talk, and she knew very well that just about every boy at one time or another dreamt of two girls being together. In fact, the way some of them talked, you'd think it happened all the time.
"What makes you think I haven't?" She gave a soft smile.
"Uh…" Was all Harry could reply.
"Come on, me and Hermione and Tracey in that little room all summer, with our hormones raging, and our needs not being met. Who's to say that once in a while we wouldn't take care of each other in only the way a woman can?"
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?" Neville shouted, practically falling out of his seat. She had noticed Harry's embraced had tightened around her a bit as well. She couldn't help it, and burst out on peels of laughter.
"You. Are. Evil." Harry said vehemently.
Daphne could not stop laughing for another twenty minutes. Eventually, both Neville and Harry joined in her mirth, though they both kept repeating how truly twisted and horrid she was.
Around one o'clock, just when their stomachs began rumbling a bit, a young girl opened the cabin door, and timidly looked inside.
"Is Harry Potter or Neville Longbottom in here?" she asked.
"Actually, you found both of us." Neville smiled.
"Oh, good." the girl said. "I was asked to give you these."
She handed two sealed envelopes, and left without another word. Both Harry and Neville stared at the envelopes in confusion before ripping them open.
Dear Harry,
I wonder if you'd be so kind as to join me for lunch in the front of the train. It should be most enjoyable.
Yours,
Horace Slughorn
"Invitation to lunch?" Neville asked, after he finished reading his letter.
"Yeah, you?"
Neville nodded, then looked at Harry unsurely. "Should we go?"
"Of course you should go." Daphne said, pushing Harry up out of his seat. "You never know when you might meet someone who will prove useful sometime in the future."
"But what about…" Harry began, but Daphne cut him off.
"I'll be fine. Hermione will be by any minute, and I'm sure Tori, or Tracey will show up anytime. Now go."
Harry gave her one last look of concern, but Daphne shooed him out of the cabin. She was sure it would do him good to get in touch with his inner Slytherin.
Just as she'd predicted, she wasn't alone very long, as Astoria slipped into the cabin, her face a threatening mask of mischievousness.
"I just left Dennis and his buddies drooling. Boys are so pathetic sometimes. Morgana, I love being a girl sometimes." She said rolling her eyes in delight.
"I don't even want to know what you did." Daphne rolled her eyes.
"Where's Harry?" Astoria asked, looking around as if somehow Harry had been shrunken, or was hiding behind Daphne.
"He was asked to see the new professor." Daphne said flatly. She hated that he had left, but she still felt it was the right thing to do. She hadn't been too impressed with Slughorn on their first meeting, but she knew better than most that appearances could be very deceiving.
"Good, because I want to know what you did." Astoria grinned.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, come off it. All alone with Harry all summer long. Seriously, how much sex did you have?"
"OH MY GOD!" Daphne screamed, her face coloring a brilliant shade of scarlet. She grabbed Harry's jacket, which he'd left behind, to cover her face. "How can you ask me that? You shouldn't even be thinking of that yet."
"Right. Like you didn't think about snogging and shagging when you were thirteen. All last year I had trouble concentrating on anything for very long because I kept thinking about boys. My hormones are getting out of control! I mean, my boobs got bigger this summer." Astoria smiled. As if to emphasize her point, she grabbed her chest, holding her breasts up. "See? Mom had to buy me all knew bras. Dad wasn't too pleased, but what can he do? He married mom, and she's got huge boobs., he should have known that his daughters would be just as busty…well, one of us, anyway."
"Please stop, please stop, please stop." Daphne kept repeating over and over, holding her hands over her ears. While she was quite blessed in the chest, she had known for a long time that her younger sister would be the one blessed by the chest fairy.
"Come on. You guys had a whole island, what could be more romantic than making love in the surf?" Astoria pressed.
"The idea of that was great until it came out of your mouth. I don't think I'll ever…" Daphne shuddered, and buried her face again. She and Harry had not had any real opportunities to become truly intimate, like she had wanted. That, of course, hadn't stopped her from imaging thousands of scenarios in which they were naked and writhing in the throes of passionate bliss.
At this moment, however, all those wonderful images were horribly tainted and disgusting as her mind force fed her images of her younger sister and some faceless boy succumbing to their primal urges. Astoria's greatest power seemed to be ruining her sister's life, in some form or another.
"Where are the boys?"
"HERMIONE!" Daphne shouted with relief. "Oh, thank the gods. Please sit, and stay with me."
"Well, I should patrol the corridors, but I…AHH!"
Daphne had reached up and yanked her bushy haired friend into the seat beside her.. Hermione looked truly confused, as she rubbed her wrist where Daphne had clutched her.
"I guess I'll stay for a bit. How are you Tori?"
"Great." The younger Greengrass girl smiled proudly. "My boobs got bigger."
"AHHHHHH!" Daphne shrieked into Harry's jacket.
Harry and Neville found Slughorn's compartment, and were a bit surprised to found they were not the only ones to be invited.
"Oh, Harry, m'boy. Come in, come in. Sit down. Plenty for everyone. Ah, you must be Mr. Longbottom. Yes, I can see it. You do so resemble Frank, especially in the face."
Slughorn was just as rotund as Harry remembered, though he was far better dressed this time around. Harry and Neville took a pair of seats, and Harry was stunned to find Ginny Weasley sitting next to him, looking very nervous, and confused.
"Hey, Gin." Harry smiled, Neville also greeted the youngest Weasley, who smiled gratefully at the two boys. Harry guessed it was because she now knew someone there. All around Slughorn were several boys and girls whom Harry recognized, but didn't know any of their names.
"Well, introductions are in order, I think." Slughorn said, calling everyone's attentions back to him. "Harry, you and Neville perhaps already know Cormac McClaggen. He's a seventh year in Gryffindor."
Cormac was a tall muscular boy with wiry blonde hair. Ha gave a nod to his Housemates, and turned back to Slughorn.
"This is Marcus Belby, of Ravenclaw." Belby was a rather thick young man with squinty eyes, and a mess of curly dark hair.
"Miss Theresa Miles from Slytherin, and Miss Andrea Mason, also from Slytherin. I had sent out a few other invitations, but it seems those people have chosen not to join us. Pity. Well, everyone, please tuck in." Slughorn urged, picking up his own fork and tearing into what appeared to be a pheasant.
Harry, Neville and Ginny all followed the rotund teachers example and began picking politely at their plates. The pheasant was cold, but still rather good, and the salad tasted very fresh. Harry would have preferred a pumpkin pastie shared with Daphne, but she was adamant that Slughorn might prove useful to him, and Harry decided that he should listen to her.
During the meal, Slughorn went on and on about all the famous people he knew and had helped during their formative years. After he'd exhausted that topic, which took a great deal of time, he took to talking to each young person, and questioned them about their family. He would then try and impress the other students by telling them all what the relative of the person he questioned did, or was famous for. The most uncomfortable time was when Slughorn got to Neville, and didn't even ask how the Longbottoms were doing. Neville couldn't even speak as Slughorn went on about his parents sacrifice for the cause, as he called it.
All in all, it wasn't an entirely unpleasant experience, and Harry did find the new Potions master to be rather entertaining. It was only when Slughorn noticed it was getting dark outside that he finally excused them to return to their cabins and prepare to arrive.
"That wasn't so bad." Harry sighed.
"I thought I was in trouble." Ginny said. "He caught me hexing Zacharias Smith with a Bat Bogey Hex. I thought for sure I was going to get detention."
"I don't like him." Neville said firmly. Harry guessed that Neville was upset over Slughorn telling everyone about what had happened to his parents. Neville never talked about his parents, and Harry was sure that Slughorn's blatant disregard for Neville's feelings on the topic had not endeared the new professor to his friend.
"Come on, let's get back to the girls." Harry urged.
Harry led the way along the corridor, glancing into the cabin's he passed, occasionally waving to someone who had seen him. They were passing the bathrooms when Draco Malfoy stepped into the corridor.
Draco stopped, and simply stared at Harry. What confused Harry was that his rival didn't sneer, or make a quip about his superiority. He simply stared at Harry, his cold steel gray eyes trying to bore through Harry's brilliant green.
After a long moment of silent staring, Draco gave a soft harrumph of triumph, and bodily pushed past the three Gryffindors. Draco didn't turn back, or even fling a single insult over his shoulder. He simply kept on his way.
"That was so strange." Harry said softly.
"No kidding." Ginny remarked.
"Maybe his father being thrown in prison actually did some good for him. I never got the sense that Draco was ever proud of his father." Neville commented.
"You couldn't tell that by the way he threw his father's name around." Harry said, heading further down the train.
"The name of Malfoy was pretty important in Pure Blood circles, might still be. That doesn't mean he liked his father."
Harry nodded in understanding. Knew better than some what it was to hate the people who you were supposed to be related to. Draco was an opportunist at best, so he would use his family's standing to get what he wanted. It did make sense. And the truth was, Harry had no idea what Malfoy's relationship with his father was truly like. Perhaps Neville was on to something.
Daphne threw herself into Harry's arms when he returned, and begged that he some how get rid of her younger sister, who was sitting quite primly, looking very pleased with herself. Harry actually shivered at the sight, as he knew quite well how truly troubling the younger Greengrass could be.
Hermione also looked very distraught, but neither girl would tell the boys why. Astoria stood up, and with a quick hug to Harry, left them alone, to find her friends and prepare to disembark.
"I hate her so very much. Truly." Daphne said after her sister was gone. "She's evil in a way that defies imagination."
Hermione only nodded, and a small grin broke out. "I'm just thankful it was primarily directed at you."
"What'd she do?" Harry asked again, as he felt the train slowing up.
"I don't want to talk about it"
"This is going to be so weird." Hermione sighed. "After rooming with you and Tracey all summer, it's going to be quite a change to be back with Lavender and Parvati."
"I know. Millicent is nice, but I'm not looking forward to hearing Pansy talk about her great summer, or whatever. She's so obnoxious. And my sister is going to harass me more, I know it."
"Maybe if you make something up, she'll be satisfied. So long as she thinks that things happened, she's going to keep on pestering you." Hermione suggested.
"What does she think happened?" Neville tried, but both girls shook their heads.
The train pulled to a stop, and the corridors filled with students. Harry and his friends stepped off the train, and Harry heard the very familiar call of "Firs Years! Firs years over 'ere."
Harry turned and saw the massive shadow of Hagrid walking up the platform towards them.
"Good to see you, Hagrid." Harry smiled when the Half giant came near.
"'Ello, you lot, I've a good summer then?" Hagrid boomed, a broad smile hidden by his tangled black beard.
"Quite good." Daphne grinned. "it's nice to see you, Hagrid."
"And you as well, Daphne. Go on now, get yehselves up to the castle. I'll be seeing yeh soon enough."
Hagrid continued on, calling out for first years. Harry led the others towards the waiting line of carriages. Harry was strangely comforted to see the Thestrals again, and took a moment to say hello to the nightmarish horses. Daphne and the others also took a moment to pet the two that were pulling the chosen carriage, which the horses seemed to enjoy.
"Should we wait for Tracey?" Neville asked as he climbed into the carriage after Hermione.
"I think she'll be fine." Daphne grinned. "Given that we haven't seen her all trip, I'll be surprised if she and Blaise make an appearance at the Feast."
Harry took a deep breath before he followed Daphne into the carriage. As good as the summer had been, in comparison to all his past summers, it was still very good to be home.