All characters and events that you recognise from the Harry Potter books belong to jk Rowling. Any others belong to me.
I'm not sure if I'll do this as a series. I have been thinking about it but I'll take a break from the story after it's done and see if I want to.
Enjoy :)
Lily and James awoke on the 1st of September to the sun peaking around the drawn curtains.
Lily rubbed her eyes as James pushed his glasses on his nose.
She sighed and looked at him.
"Well, this is it. Our first time dropping him off at Platform 9 and 3/4."
"Yeah, and it's his fifth time." She sighed again and slumped back into the plushy pillows.
"He'll be okay. We have the mirrors and you know how many people he has looking out for him. We can send him sweets and cakes, just like we had always planned."
She turned to face him again. "I know. It's just going to be hard to say goodbye."
He nodded.
She swiftly stood up and drew the curtains. James groaned and buried his face in the pillows.
"I'm gonna burst into flames! I've got a hangover!"
She chuckled. "I think we have a potion for that downstairs. I don't even know how you managed to get that drunk. I'm just glad that we had ushered the kids upstairs before you started singing."
He groaned again. "I don't think Kingsley will ever be able to look at me the same way"
"Yeah well you didn't have to take your trousers off."
"Don't remind me."
She laughed softly as she pulled him out of bed.
"Come on. Let's go make breakfast for everyone."
Once again, Harry found himself being awoken by the sound of Hermione roughly shaking Ron awake. He was on a bed directly opposite Harry on the other end of the room, and the bushy haired girl was talking in an indecipherable flurry.
"Late...sleep..responsibilities...irresponsible moron..WAKE UP RONALD."
Harry jumped and pushed his glasses up his face, just as Ron exclaimed that he wasn't wearing a top.
"We will be late if you don't get up!! Have you even packed?!"
Ron and Harry looked guiltly at each other.
"Don't worry Hermione. We'll do it now."
"Give us a minute to get dressed though will ya?"
The ceiling was blue with a few wisps of cotton-candy clouds scattered around. A faint breeze hit Harry in the face as he opened the window, and he noted how beautiful the view looked, coated lightly in mist.
They got dressed quickly, and began throwing things in their open trunks. Hedwig and Pigwidgeon hooted from their spot on top of the wardrobe, and Harry and Ron grabbed their cages. Ron stuffed Pigwidgeon in his cage, as he was too small to make the journey from Wiltshire to Scotland in a day.
"Meet us at Hogwarts." Harry stroked his owl who affectionately nipped his finger.
They hoisted their trunks out of the room, Harry giving it one last look with a smile, and walked down the hall.
Pleased that they no-longer had to be quiet to avoid waking the portrait, they babbled enthusiastically about the feast that would await them, and didn't care when their trunks loudly thunked down the stairs. They left them by the front door along with the other four, and stepped into the kitchen.
They were greeted by a chorus of sleepy good mornings, and Mrs Weasley pushing them into chairs at the breakfast bar. She fussed over them, while James spooned scrambled egg onto their plates.
As their eyes adjusted to the bright lights, they couldn't help but notice how many people were actually there.
Aside from the Weasleys, Sirius, Hermione and the Potters, there was Moody, Tonks, Remus and Kingsley.
Harry and Ron seemed to notice it at the same time, as they looked at each other with an eyebrow raised.
"What's everyone doing here?" Harry lowly asked Sirius.
"Your guard."
"My what?"
"You can't honestly think that we would let you go to Kings Cross in a taxi. Your parents and myself will be coming too."
Harry winced and looked hesitant.
"We'll use charms and change our appearances, dont worry. Besides, I think they want to see you off for the first time."
Harry nodded and looked at his parents who were laughing with Remus and Tonks.
Twenty minutes later, they all entered back into Grimmauld place.
The order decided to keep it in use as a cover for their location of headquarters. So, the large party all quietly passed through the hall and out into London. Harry was surrounded by his parents (who didn't look like his parents) either side of him; Moody in the very front and Tonks at the very back. The other adults walked beside the Weasley children and Hermione, all clutching the inside of their jackets.
Harry couldn't help but think that even if a muggle were to pass, they would definitely know that something was going on.
The party rounded a corner where five taxis were waiting. Their shrunken trunks were sat comfortably in their pockets, and Harry sat in between Ron and Hermione, with Moody in the front, his magical eye whirring.
The muggle driver was either decent enough or too scared to outwardly show any discomfort at Moody's eye, and left them in relative silence, only asking where they wanted to go.
Another twenty minutes later, they arrived outside Kings Cross.
Moody paid the driver, and the second Harry stepped out he was once again surrounded by nervous adults.
They were all lead through the bustling crowds, Moody's leg clunking on the cold floor.
James and Lily walked Harry through onto the platform, after Moody had gone first to check and sent the signal (a bottle cap which was thrown out of the wall.)
The adults hurriedly enlarged the trunks to their normal size, and formed a protective circle around the students.
"We'll miss you." Lily whispered, hugging her son. "Don't forget to talk to us all the time with the mirrors and be careful of the new teacher."
James hugged Harry and clapped him on the shoulder. "Give Snape hell for us." He winked.
Lily slapped him on the arm and rolled her eyes, but it was clear that her heart wasn't truly in it.
Harry turned around to step on the train, but did a double take.
His breath hitched in his throat. He thought he saw..
You're going mad. He thought to himself. He waved as he boarded the train with the Weasleys and Hermione.
They found a compartment with Neville (who they all hugged) and a blonde that Harry didn't know, and sat down. Harry waved out the window at Sirius and his parents, who grinned at him.
The train whistled and billowing white smoke obscured the view out of the window for a second. Harry was faintly aware that Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Neville were talking, but he couldn't stop waving and smiling at his family.
Eventually, the train started moving, and Ron and Hermione left to do their prefect duties. Harry waved until his parents were out of sight, and noticed that for the first time, he would miss something of his life outside of Hogwarts.
He slumped against his seat and sighed. Ginny looked at him as if to ask "are you alright?" And he nodded in return.
"How's your summer been Neville?" Harry asked conversationally.
"Not too bad thanks. Gran has been lecturing me about the importance of my OWLs the entire time. As if I'm not already worried enough."
Ginny smiled sympathetically. "Don't stress too much Neville. Just try your hardest. That's all you can do."
He smiled appreciatively at her, and turned back to Harry.
"so how was your summer?"
Harry suppressed a snigger. "Eventful." He said simply.
"Oh yeah. Heard about that."
Harry's eyes widened. "Wait? You did?" He suddenly began to panic... they can't know about-
"Yeah your trial was all in the prophet."
Harry sighed internally, relieved. "Oh, that. I haven't picked up a prophet in ages. How bad are they trashing me then?"
Neville winced a bit. "It's not too bad... okay it's not great but it's not just you."
Harry traced his scar absentmindedly.
"Oh!" Ginny exclaimed, "you haven't been introduced! Harry, Neville, this is Luna Lovegood. She's a Ravenclaw in my year. Luna, this is Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom."
The girl that Harry had completely forgotten about looked over her magazine. She had messy, long blond hair and was wearing some very peculiar glasses.
"Hello" she said dreamily. Neville nodded politely.
Harry smiled, "it's nice to meet you."
She beamed brightly (so brightly it was almost edging on mockery) and went back to reading. Harry caught Neville's eye and they both suppressed a smirk.
Harry chatted with Neville and Ginny about mundane things as they rolled through fields. They spoke of the new DADA teacher and simple things like the feast. The only time Luna spoke again was when she randomly chipped in "I like pudding." And went back to reading her magazine. People walked past their compartment whispering and pointing at Harry. Most glared or looked at him curiously, while only two people actually smiled at him: Cho, and Angelina Johnson from the Quidditch team. Harry's stomach did several somersaults when Cho smiled at him.
Hermione and Ron returned an hour later, their prefect badges glinting on their robes.
Ron huffed as he slumped onto the empty seat by Luna as Hermione sat by Neville.
"How was it?" Harry asked
"Just had to patrol the corridors a bit. I can't wait to put Crabbe and Goyle in detention."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You'll never guess who the other prefects are."
"Malfoy and that cow Pansy Parkinson are for Slytherin; Hannah Abbott and Ernie Macmillan for Hufflepuff; and Padma Patil and Anthony Goldstein for Ravenclaw."
"Who the hell would make Malfoy a prefect?!"
"He's just going to abuse his position." Neville looked slightly worried.
"Well he can't do it to other prefects so we're safe." Ron lay back in his seat.
"Oh thanks Ron that's real comforting for the rest of us."
The trolley came by and they all pitched in to buy a load of food for everyone in the compartment. The sky was becoming more and more cloudy as they went further North.
"Chocolate Frog, Luna?" Ginny offered the blonde.
"Oh yes, thank you Ginny." She put down her magazine and reached over.
"Hey Luna please can I have a look at that?" Harry's mind flashed back to the ministry, where Kingsley gave Arthur a copy of the Quibbler for Sirius.
She nodded dreamily.
Harry couldn't suppress the grin that rested on his face as he read the article.
"What is it?"
"Do you guys remember the Azkaban escapee from our third year? Sirius black?" He had to be very careful around Neville and Luna. "Well there's an article about how he's really a singer Stubby Boardman."
Ron, Ginny and Neville all grinned.
Hermione scoffed: "well what do you expect from the Quibbler, honestly. Everyone knows it's a load of rubbish."
"Excuse me, my dad's the editor." Lunas voice became less dreamy very quickly.
"Oh. I'm sorry I didn't-"
Luna nodded sharply, picked up the Quibbler and buried herself in it again.
Eventually, they all changed into their robes as the sun began to set. The forests and fields with cattle turned to hills with sheep.
There was the familiar 'whoosh' as the train stopped in Hogsmede station, and the tense bustling to get off the train. Hermione and Ron rushed ahead to help the first years off, leaving Harry, Ginny and Neville to help bring their pets (their trunks would be taken up for them)
Harry stepped off of the train holding Hedwigs empty cage and a squirming Crookshanks. People in close vicinity whispered as he pushed through with Neville and Ginny in his wake. He expected to hear the gruff, familiar "firs' years, firs' years follow me!" From Hagrid, but then remembered what Remus and Tonks had said the previous evening, as Professor Grubbly-Plank called out instead.
They eventually made it to Ron and Hermione, who were waiting by a carriage. Harry passed Hermione Crookshanks, and Neville passed Ron Pigwidgeon as they prepared to step in. But before they did, something caught Harry's eye.
It transfixed him, and he walked around to the front of the carriage, ignoring the other's stares and questions.
"What is it?" He breathed. The carriages were no longer pulling themselves, instead were being pulled by black, skeletal horses. They looked reptilian, but were completely fleshless, their black skin clinging to their bones, outlining every single one. Leathery wings sprouted from their backs, and their eyes were pupil-less and a ghostly white.
Ron came to stand beside Harry, concerned for his friend. "Er- Harry?"
"What is it?"
"What's what?" Ron began looking around, brows furrowed, yet nothing was out of place.
"The horse-things pulling the carriage."
"Harry there's nothing pulling the carriage. They're pulling themselves like always." Hermione had come to see what was going on.
"Can't you see it?" He turned to look at them, questioning whether they were joking or not.
"Don't worry." Luna's dreamy voice said from his left. Harry jumped slightly, she had practically materialised out of thin air. "I can see them too. They've always pulled the carriages."
There was a brief awkward silence, where Harry looked between Luna and the horses, and Ron and Hermione shared a look of utter disbelief.
"Come on. Let's get in." Hermione ushered them all in the carriage, determined to just let it go for now.
A few second years ran up to the carriage before Ginny could shut the door, they stepped up, caught sight of Harry, froze, and ran away.
"Bloody hell." Ron muttered. Hermione rolled her eyes as they ran away, while Ginny and Neville exhanged nervous glances.
"I'm in for a lot of that this year, aren't I?" Harry sighed.
Hermione smiled weakly, and he exhaled again.
The carriages were pulled up around a winding track, and they caught their first sight of Hogwarts. Even after 5 years, it still took their breath away. A multitude of towers and turrets, all alight against the dark sky.
The carriage pulled to a stop outside the stone steps, and they all stepped out. They deposited pets and cages in the large entrance hall, and followed the crowd into the Great Hall.
Candles were suspended in the air, and the charmed ceiling showed the cloudy night outside. Students moved to sit at their house tables, and Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Neville moved to sit near Fred, George and their friend Lee Jordan.
Harry couldn't help but notice all the heads that swivelled in his direction as he walked through the four tables, and subconsciously flattened his hair over his scar.
At the staff table, Professor McGonagall watched the students carefully, well aware of the stares and points that Potter was getting. She offered him a small smile as they locked eyes, and he returned it gratefully. He's in for a rough year, she thought. McGonagall stood up and left out of a side door to retrieve the first years, and a few minutes later, Professor Grubbly-Plank took Hagrid's seat.
The students scanned the staff table, curious as to who their new teachers would be.
Harry was no exception, his eyes passed over all of them, until they locked on someone he recognised.
He nudged Ron in the ribs.
"You see the toad-like woman in pink?"
Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Fred and George all nodded.
"I can't remember her name, but she was at my hearing. She works for Fudge."
"So she's the new-" Harry nodded as the doors opened.
Professor McGonagall lead a hoarde of terrified first years into the room. The sorting hat burst into song, and then, the first years were called up and sat down on the stool with great trepidation to be sorted.
Harry clapped alongside the other Gryffindors very time they gained a new student, but he couldn't help but keep glancing at the new teacher.
After the incredible feast (where Harry mostly remained quiet), Professor Dumbledore stood to give his usual notices.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I would like to remind everyone that the Forbidden Forest is completely out of bounds." Harry could've sworn that his eyes rested on him, Ron and Hermione. "As usual, our caretaker, Mr Filch has asked me to remind you that magic in corridors is strictly forbidden. We have had two staffing changes this year: the first being Professor Grubbly-Plank, who is taking over Care of Magical creatures, while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave; the second, being Professor Umbridge-"
"Umbridge that's it!" Harry said far too loudly, and clapped his hand over his mouth. He went bright red as Ron covered his face to stop himself laughing out loud, and Hermione rolled her eyes, a smile dancing on her lips none the less.
Professor Dumbledore's eyes sparkled as he continued as though without interruption, "- will be taking up the post of Defense Against The Dark Arts. Tryouts for the house Quidditch teams will begin on the-"
He broke off, and turned to face Professor Umbridge, who had stood up. As she was very small, it took a while for the students to understand why he had stopped, until she gave a girlish "hem hem"
He raised an eyebrow slightly, but quickly turned passive again and sat down, watching her intently. The other members of staff looked either shocked or enraged. McGonagall's mouth was thinner than ever before, and there were multiple raised eyebrows.
All the students smirked at each other, except for the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione, all of which were watching the woman with frowns etched on their face. Hermione was biting the inside of her lip with concentration, and sat up very straight.
"Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome." She said sweetly.
Harry felt a powerful rush of anger and dislike towards the woman. She straightened her bright-pink cardigan and surveyed them all.
"It is a delight, to see all of your bright, enthusiastic, happy faces, smiling up at me."
Fred and George very obviously looked around, even standing up slightly, to see if anyone actually was - they weren't.
Harry, who was still watching the staff, noticed a few of them smiling slightly at Fred and George, while Umbridge looked calculatingly at them for a moment, before continuing.
"I am sure we will all get on brilliantly."
Fred and George quietly chuckled loudly, causing many students to smirk at them.
The smile faded slightly on her face, and Hermione clenched her jaw, knowing that whatever coming next would be important. Some of the staff had realised this too, and were staring at Umbridge intently, particularly Dumbledore.
"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of our young witches and wizards to be of vital importance." - a few heads turned at the mention of the ministry - "And we believe that it should be done so carefully, in order to preserve our gifts and nurture them appropriately."
Hermione and McGonagall both frowned deeply.
"Each professor and headteacher has brought something new to this historic school, which is as it should be, as for without progress, there would be stagnation and ruin. But, progress for progress' sake must be discouraged, for not all of our traditions require being changed. A constant equilibrium between new and old; tradition and innovation; permenance and change must be ensured. No matter the costs." She smiled sweetly, and Harry exchanged a concerned glance with the Weasleys.
"Some changes will be for the best, while in retrospect, others will be considered as errors in judgement. Outworn and outdated habits and tendencies must be left. Let us preserve what must be preserved, perfect what can be perfected, and prune practices that ought to be prohibited. Let us move forward into a new era. An era of openness, effectiveness and complete" her eyes lingered on Harry, an action not unnoticed by the students and staff. Harry raised an eyebrow in return. "-and utter, honesty." Her eyes remained on Harry, and she tilted her head downwards slightly.
"Thank you." She eventually finished.
It took Dumbledore a second, before he stood up and continued again, though his eyes were no longer sparkling.
Harry turned to face Hermione and the Weasleys, all of whom were staring back, eyes wide.
Ron swore very quietly under his breath.
One thing was certain: this year at Hogwarts would be very different.
Thank you for reading! As always leave any thoughts, comments or questions in the review section. :)