The day dawned on Harry and Ron when they would have to go back to Hogwarts. They had bought all their supplies and had fun when they weren't facing the mystery of the tall girl, named Kelly Long.

Harry hailed a cab and together, he and Ron managed to get their things loaded. While they were doing this, he noticed that Malfoy and the exchange students were getting into the back of a limousine. A man with red hair, and too many muscles was helping them in. He turned to look at Harry staring at him and gave him a wink and a smile. Harry was shocked. He didn't know the guy and yet the man had seemed to know him. Was he somehow connected with Kelly. Who was he? Too many unanswered questions and he was aching to get some answers.

He and Ron got into the cab and were on their way King's Cross. Harry was disgruntled and Ron noticed. At first he tried to engage Harry in conversation but Harry was having none of it. Then finally, Ron gave up and just watched the scenery go by.

They made it to the station and were getting on board when they spied Neville and Hermione in the crowd. Hermione seemed glad to see them and ran up to them.

"Have you heard about the exchange students. Now we get to find out how they deal with the Dark Side. They have spells we don't have. Isn't it exciting?"
"Joyful," said Ron.

"Thrilling," said Harry.

"What's wrong with you two?"

"Nothing at the moment," said Harry. "I have to talk to you and gain your opinion on something. C'mon. We need to find a compartment."

Hermione nodded and her parents came forward and helped her load her things. She put Crookshanks with the other animals and Harry let Hedwig stay in the compartment with he and the others. Neville hung on this whole time, saying nothing and looking sad. Harry was too preoccupied to really notice and felt bad about that but reminded himself to talk to Neville once they were situated.

They sat down and Harry turned to Neville. "What's up Neville?" He asked.

Neville looked down at his hands and then looked up at Harry. "Have you read in the Daily Prophet what's going to happen? I can't compete with these new students! I can barely get by as it is. I'm almost a Squib!"

"What's up?" Asked Harry.

"It's in the Daily Prophet," said Hermione. "They have a whole series on it. These students have abilities we don't have and they're going to try to teach us."

"What abilities?" Asked Harry suspiciously.

"I don't know exactly. The paper didn't say. I can't wait to find out!"

Harry looked at Ron and he looked back at him. Hermione saw this and said, "Alright, out with it! What's going on?"
Ron spoke up. "It has to do with one of the new students, but it might be a little embarrassing for Harry."
"What's so embarrassing?" Asked Hermione. "C'mon Harry, tell me."
Harry took some time before speaking. "One of those students keeps coming to me at night and tells me to make a choice between good and evil."
"Is that all?"

"Well, no, but I can't tell you everything. Some of it is too private."
"Oh. Maybe you should tell Dumbledore."
"I think I will."
Hermione, Harry and Ron considered their predicament and Neville looked sad. They decided to talk of other things and soon had forgotten about the exchange students. The trolley went by and they bought snacks and were munching away when there was discreet knock on the door.

Harry looked up and saw Luna Lovegood. He invited her in and she sat down. She had a copy of the Quibbler with her.

"Hi everyone," she said. They all said Hello back.

"What does the Quibbler say about these exchange students?" Asked Ron.

"Oh, you should read the article," said Luna. "My father says they're full of dark magic and not to be trusted."

"What else do you know?" Asked Harry.

"Don't they seem a little old to be going to Hogwarts?" She asked.

Harry thought about it. "I hadn't really noticed," he said. "Have you Ron?"
"No. But now that I think about it, I think Luna's right."

"I'm not saying their evil or anthing," said Luna. "It's just that they don't feel, right, I mean."
"I agree with you," said Harry. "Here, why don't you let me look at your Quibbler."
Luna handed it over and Harry looked for the article on the exchange students. He found it and read through it. Luna's father seemed to think there was an underground cabal of wizards and witches, who practised dark magic, in the U. S. What's more, he seemed to think that these wizards, like Lord Voldemort, could do magic without a wand. He said they were to be feared and watched and is disappointed in Dumbledore for allowing them in Hogwarts.

"They can do magic without a wand?" Asked Harry.

"So my father says," said Luna.

"Harry," said Hermione, then she looked at Luna. "You have to take it with a grain of salt. Maybe, they're nice people."
"I doubt it," he said. But when he thought of Kelly, he got conflicting emotions. On one level, he liked her and wanted to save his parents. On another hand, she reminded him of a snake and one he wanted to steer clear of. He hated feeling this way and was sure his reactions were only going to get him into trouble.

The train continued on its Northward journey and passed villages, farms and forests. It was getting wild outside, the farther they got from civilization and Harry the others were realizing that this would be their last train ride to Hogwarts. Harry suddenly felt sad, unsure of what he would be doing when he left and felt tears start in his eyes when he realized he would soon be leaving Hogwarts. No more would he be a Seeker for Gryffindor. He would be out in the real world amongst muggles and non-muggles. What would his life be like? Would he ever go back to Hogwarts? He had a sudden aching for the familiar halls and his teachers and was looking forward to seeing Hagrid once he got to Hogsmeade.

Harry was getting dozy and noticed that eyes of all his friends were sleepy too. Hermione was leaned up against the window with her eyes shut and Ron, on the opposite side, was leaned up against the pane of the glass and was drooling. Luna and Neville were sleeping on each other's shoulders.

Harry didn't want to fall asleep and didn't want to feel sad about leaving Hogwarts, so he decided to get up and go down the train. He made sure he had his wand, in case he ran into Malfoy or one of his friends and stepped out of the compartment and went down the passageway.

He looked into compartments but didn't spy the new students and made it all the way up to the conductor. He hadn't seen Malfoy and was sure he must have missed them on his way up when he turend around to go back. He was halfway down the compartment when he ran into Malfoy and Charles, one of the exchange students. Charles looked a little like him, only he had brown hair and brown eyes. He smiled at Harry and Harry sort of smiled back. Harry was about to pass them when Malfoy stopped him.

"Where do you think you're going, Pothead?"

"Malfoy, I don't think you should be doing that," said Charles.

"No, it's alright," said Harry. "If it's any of your business," said Harry. "I'm headed back to my compartment."

Malfoy suddenly took out his wand and Harry saw it and whipped out his own. Charles looked on wide-eyed and said, "No! This isn't the way to handle this. Put away your wands!"
Neither did so and Malfoy muttered a spell. Charles said something fast, a word Harry had never heard before and the spell never landed on Harry. Harry was about to release his own spell, when Charles stepped in the middle and incanted something. Harry felt stopped and couldn't use his wand. He looked at Malfoy and noticed he couldn't either. Time felt slowed, almost stopped Harry couldn't figure out why. He wanted to talk but like a movie on slow motion felt he would sound silly. What had Charles done?

Charles took their wands and held on to them. "I'll give them back once we get to the station. I suggest we get back to our compartments." Then Harry noticed his lips moving and time returned to normal again. He wanted to ask Charles what he had done but Charles and Malfoy were already moving off. Harry had nothing to do but go back to his compartment. He'd tell his friends about this and now felt something akin to fear. That spell, Charles had done had felt strange. What other strange powers did these students have. Did Kelly have them too? Weird.

Harry found his compartment and saw that Hermione, Ron, Neville and Luna were already in their school robes. He went in and noticed that Hermione was ready to scold him.

"I know," he said. "We're almost there. I'm getting ready."

Harry changed and before he was done heard the train whistle. They gathered their belongings and went out of the compartment and towards the exit. They noticed it was raining outside and Harry silently cursed the weather. They all stepped out onto the platform and Harry looked through the rain and saw Hagrid collecting first years. Harry knew he'd make it to the feast sopping wet.

He and the others went towards the carriages and Harry looked around for exchange students. He needed his wand. Hagrid suddenly shouted his name and Harry turned around. Hagrid was gesturing him over. Harry made his way through the press and finally managed to get near Hagrid.

"Here's your wand, Harry. You wouldn't be dueling on the train now would ye?
"I didn't get the chance to."
"Watch yourself Harry. Times are getting darker."
"I know."
"I'll be seeing ye at the feast."
Harry nodded and headed back towards the carriages. He noticed that most everyone else had left and was slightly put out. They had left without him. He decided to ignore this and found a carriage. He couldn't see to well in the rain and so didn't notice that he was in a carriage with Cynthia and Kelly.

"Oh, hello," said Harry.

Kelly smiled at him. Then she pointed her wand at his glasses and suddenly they were clear.

"Does that help?" She asked.

"Yes, thanks," he said.

They didn't say anything else on the way to the castle and Harry was full of questions. He watched her under cover of his bangs and found her attractive. Normally, he tried to ignore all the girls at Hogwarts since they were always chasing him, but he decided he couldn't ignore her and found he didn't want to. Maybe he was making his choice then felt it was too early to make. He needed his questions answered before he did anything.

They went past the flying boars and up to the castle and Harry noticed that Cynthia and Kelly were looking around with interest. Kelly was especially interested in the castle and was studying it intently. They pulled up in front of the wide double doors and got down. Professor McGonagall was there and led them inside. She pointed her wand at the three of them and instantly they were dry. They went inside the Great Hall and saw Hermione waving him over.

"I'll see you later, Harry," said Kelly.

Harry looked back and saw her smiling at him. He sort of grinned a goofy grin and watched her being led away by Professor McGonagall. He turned around and went to an empty seat near Ron and waited for the sorting. With more nostalgia, he noticed that this would be the last sorting of his school career. He mentally chided himself for thinking this, realizing that if kept thinking of things that would be his last, he'd be severely depressed throughout the school year. It would be a lot like having a dementor near him. Harry tried to think of something good and suddenly cheered up. He wouldn't have to deal with Malfoy again and he was definitely looking forward to that.