I've grown to disliking my beginning chapters. I can't wait to get this one finished, because I want Harry's seventh year to not sound so…out there.

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Harry boarded the Hogwarts Express with Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Luna, and Neville. Draco, for the first time, had decided to stay at Hogwarts, rather than "Stay with his drunk mother," as he said.

The six of them played exploding snap or chess as they waited to reach platform 9 ¾. Harry laughed freely as Ron got squirted with the foul smelling liquid produced from the game.

Finally, the train began to screech to a loud halt, and they each wobbly strolled off the train, from not moving for such a long period of time. Mad-Eye Moody, Lupin, and Tonks, each cheerily waving to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, greeted them. Harry lugged Hedwig, Isis, and his trunk from the train.

(AN: I have changed the phoenix's name, Taeli, to Isis in the earlier chapters to some of you older readers.)

"Want me to help you with that?" Asked Tonks.

"Thanks," said Harry as he passed her Isis.

As they made it towards Grimmauld Place, Harry nearly ran into Snape's sneering face.

"What's he doing here?" Asked Harry, as though Snape weren't scowling in front of him.

"Professor Snape will be staying with us for Christmas," Said Lupin, looking slightly disgruntled.

"Why?" questioned Ron curiously.

"Potter's advanced guard. And I didn't volunteer, either." Snape said lazily, and he turned to walk into the other room, scowl on his face. Harry noticed that Grimmauld Place had been painted a deep red color, and the portrait of Sirius's mother was removed. Harry figured Dumbledore had found a way to peel her off.

"Alrighty then," said Harry, "I' going to put my stuff away." As he reached his room, he saw a tawny owl pecking at the glass, the Daily Prophet clutched in his beak.

Suddenly remembering that he had re-ordered the Prophet, he opened the window to let the bird through, and pulled a few sickles from his pouch and handing it to the bird. Harry opened it, finding that Voldemort had attacked another muggle town. This didn't alarm Harry much—Voldemort had attacked nearly six by now.

Tossing the paper in the bin, (Which burped loudly, then in a rumbling voice, said, "Thank you."), Harry went downstairs and grinned. Tonks was merrily singing, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," and Mundugus drunkenly joined in, along with Ron and Hermione. Lupin was smiling, as they had each reminded him of Sirius from the previous year, and Snape merely tutted and scowled.

"Comon' Snape, join in!" Said Tonks.

"I'd rather not."

"Loosen up a bit, you know, there is this little thing called 'fun.'"

Snape cocked an eyebrow, and Tonks shrugged and hummed "Deck the Halls," as she dusted cobwebs off the corners of the walls.

"Maybe if Snape got drunk he'd sing," Ron muttered to Harry. "We should exchange his butterbeer with firewhisky and get a camera."

Harry sniggered silently, careful not to look at Snape, or he might burst out laughing imagining Snape dancing on the table, singing to Spice Girls. Even worse, Snape singing "Silent Night."

(AN: Bursts out laughing, picturing the image myself. Silent night is a pretty song, but Snape singing it would be hilarious.)

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K, done with this chapter. I'm going to take a break for about three days, possibly. Sorry, I have just had a lot going on.