All characters and events that you recognise from the Harry Potter books belong to jk Rowling. Any others belong to me.
Someone was asking something along the lines of why was the last chapter not unique or exciting or something like that. It's ridiculous to think that there will be action in every chapter. If you don't like that then don't read - makes absolutely no difference to me! There will be action and significant events but I'm not going to jump straight into it. This story is partly about Harry's relationship with his parents. It's not all about drama.
And I included Umbridge because she's important. No matter how much of a cow she is.
The guard separated at Kings Cross, most returning to Potter Manor, while Moody, Kingsley, Tonks and Arthur all parted to do various tasks.
Lily and James sighed as they apparated outside of Potter Manor and stepped in.
Molly noticed their weary faces, and sat them down for a cup of tea.
"It's normal to feel like this, you know." She began, sitting across from them in the sitting room. "Every time the kids go I always feel a bit down. It's especially worse when it's your first time seeing them off. It will get easier, and it's not like you won't be able to communicate. The best thing you can do is keep yourself busy, otherwise the quietness of the house will become overbearing."
Lily smiled appreciatively at Molly. "Thank you, Molly."
"At least now we can get fully involved with the order." James commented.
"Do you have any idea what either of you will be doing?" Molly asked tentatively.
"Dumbledore said guard duty, because we'll be disillusioned. He also said that should any surveillance or intel missions arise, he will involve us in when delegating the tasks."
"Also he said that provided we are careful, we can go to Diagon Alley and Gringotts in disguise. The Goblins won't care about our identities when we reveal them as they don't get involved in wizard business."
Molly smiled warmly. "See, there will be plenty to do. And you can always go to other safe houses such as my own or Grimmauld place, even for a change of scenery."
"Thank you, we really appreciate that. We're actually thinking of going and getting an owl from Diagon Alley today, do you need anything Molly?"
"No no, dears, I'm quite alright. I'll be going home today to do my regular tidy and dust, so I'll see you both soon."
The second Molly had left the room, Lily turned to her husband. "We are getting her and Arthur something as a thank you for everything they've done for Harry. Definitely. But what should we get them?"
"What about a set of mirrors? So they can all communicate with their children?"
Lily beamed.
They both altered each other's appearances and apparated near the Leaky Cauldron.
Diagon Alley was exactly as they remembered it.
It was filled with a multitude of people all going about their business. There was something calming about the familiarity.
The shops either side of the cobbled road were brightly coloured and bustling, and the couple delighted in pointing out shops and people that they recognised to one another.
They walked up the street to Gringotts Bank, slightly anxious. On their request, a Goblin lead them to a separate room, where they revealed and proved their identities and were lead to their vault.
After redoing their disguises, they left Gringotts to go and buy Molly and Arthur the mirrors.
They bought 9, unaware whether it was a good idea to get one for Percy or not. They did anyway, and hoped that it wasn't insensitive to draw attention to it.
They then left to Eeylops Owl Emporium.
The bell above the door rang as they stepped in, and the owls hooted at the new arrivals in the mostly empty shop.
They made their way through the isles, until one caught their eye.
It was a beautiful tawny owl, with a brown-grey body and black markings. The markings around it's face made it look uncannily like Professor McGonagall, causing them to both do a double take.
They looked at each other and burst out in fits of laughter.
"We can't not get this one now!"
Lily stroked it gingerly and it nipped her finger affectionately, while when James did it, the owl made him bleed.
Lily collapsed into more fits of giggles.
"What should we name her?"
"Okay, hear me out: McGonagowl."
"You have got to be kidding."
"My dearest wife, how on earth could you even suggest such a thing. I happen to believe that it is an incredible name befitting of this owl."
"And how would we explain it to her?"
James scoffed as he paid the owner, "puh-lease. Minnie loves me. She will be honoured."
Lily rolled her eyes, smiling infectiously.
"Come on, let's go home."
They smiled and apparated back to the manor.
That evening, they gave Molly and Arthur the mirrors.
"We wanted to buy you both something as a little thank you for everything you've done for Harry. There is no way that we can ever truly repay you, but thought you'd appreciate these nonetheless."
They were taken aback, and insisted that they didn't need to be thanked. But, Lily's stubbornness pulled through, and they accepted gratefully.
Molly teared up slightly at the thought of Percy.
"We didn't want to upset you, but it won't last forever. You will make up soon, and, when you do, I'm sure he will appreciate one."
Molly choked back the tears to thank them and envelop them both in bonecrushing hugs, while Arthur hugged them a lot less tightly, but meaningfully all the same.
"We'll send these to them all tonight, maybe the ones at Hogwarts will get them by tomorrow." Molly tucked them away in her pocket.
"How do you think they're all doing?"
"They arrived a few hours ago, I can imagine the feast is probably wrapping up about now." Arthur said drowsily.
"I wonder who the knew DADA teacher is? Minerva said yesterday that they hadn't arrived yet, so the first time the staff will have met them was today."
James turned to his wife, "do you think Harry will call us with the mirrors tonight?"
"They'll probably fall straight to sleep. He'll likely do it tomorrow, but why don't you owl him and arrange a time for tomorrow evening."
"I'm sure he'll love our new owl." James winked at Lily who buried her face in her hands.
Molly and Arthur looked at each other bemusedly.
"Come again?"
Lily sighed wearily. "The owl we chose looks scarily like Minerva, so James named it McGonagowl."
Arthur stifled a snigger while James looked very pleased with himself. "Harry will love it. I'm sure of that." He said confidently.
The two couples both owled their children, in the hopes that they would arrive the following morning.
Hogwarts, 2nd September
Harry awoke in his familiar Hogwarts bed early that morning, his scar prickling.
The sun was just beginning to rise, but the serenity of it was punctured by the snoring of his dorm mates. Harry had fallen asleep immediately last night, exhausted of all the pointing and whispering already, meaning that he hadn't spoken to his other dorm mates.
He yawned and went into the adjoining bathroom, where he showered and changed into his robes, and then sat by the window to watch the sun rising.
He smiled slightly. This was one of the reasons Hogwarts felt like home: how, no matter what was going on, he always felt an element of peace.
Understandably, he didn't feel quite as peaceful as usual- what with the pointing, Umbridge and what happened last year- but he still loved the castle.
The others all awoke suddenly when their alarms went off at 7:00, and begrudgingly all dressed too.
"Morning Harry." Neville said cheerfully as he stood by him to look out the window.
"Morning Neville." Harry responded dreamily, in his own world.
He stood up and went to make his bed when Ron returned from the bathroom.
"Dean, Seamus. Had a good holiday?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, not too bad. Better than Seamus' anyway. He was just telling me."
Seamus scowled at Dean, who shrugged in return.
"What happened Seamus?" Neville questioned, turning the cactus on his bedside table so it's more promenant side was facing them.
Seamus sighed, but not exasperatedly, no, almost as if he was preparing himself.
"Me mam didn't want me to come back this year."
"Why?" Harry asked, turning to face him.
He didn't answer straight away, but turned to rummage through his trunk. "Because of you I suppose."
Thick silence enveloped them.
Harry's heart began to beat very rapidly in his chest.
"Me? Why?" He asked in a measured voice.
"Ur- well, not just you I suppose." Seamus responded slowly. "Dumbledore too.."
"Wait so she actually believes the Daily Prophet? She believes that I'm a liar and Dumbledore's a doddery old fool?" His voice gradually became louder as the anger surged.
Seamus met his eyes for the first time and gave a curt nod.
Ron and Neville winced while Dean looked at Seamus warningly.
Harry gulped down the spiteful comeback, and angrily emptied his trunk.
The silence was thick and the tension tangible.
"Harry... what actually happened the night Cedric died?" Seamus asked slowly and cautiously.
Harry stopped in his tracks, and very slowly turned to face Seamus.
Ron, sensing danger, interrupted loudly. "Hey Harry why don't we go and get some food?" His voice was almost hysterical.
Harry and Seamus both ignored him. "I will say this once, very plainly, so that the information can penetrate through your thick skull." Harry's voice was dangerously quiet and hollow. Seamus tried to interrupt but Harry raised a hand to silence him. "You can relay this information to your stupid mother and anyone else who's calling me a liar too. Exactly what Dumbledore has said happened, happened." His voice dripped with malice.
"Don't you dare have a go at my mother." Seamus snapped.
"I'll have a go at anyone who calls me a liar!" Harry retorted angrily, his hand reaching towards his wand in his pocket.
"Don't talk to me like that!"
"I'll talk to you however I want!"
"HEY GUYS! WE SHOULD REALLY BE GOING TO BREAKFAST!" Neville shouted.
"If you don't like it leave!! Go explain yourself to McGonagall and find another dorm!!"
"You know what. I will." Seamus spat
"That's bang out of order Seamus." Ron interjected. "Calm the hell down. You're not moving anywhere."
"What so you actually believe all this rubbish about you-know-who?!" Seamus rounded on Ron.
"His name is VOLDEMORT!! BESIDES IF IM LYING YOU HAVE NO REASON TO FEAR SAYING THE NAME!" They all flinched at the name, but Ron ignored Harry and turned back to Seamus.
"Yeah. I do believe him!"
Seamus looked as if he was about to respond, but bit his tongue and grabbed his wand, getting ready to storm out.
"My Nan and I believe Harry." Neville said calmly. "And Dumbledore. We have no reason not to trust either of them, so if they say he's back, then he's back." He said simply, and left for breakfast.
Harry felt a surge of gratitude towards his friend. Seamus glared one last time at Harry and Ron, and turned on his heel and left. Dean looked at them apologetically and left too.
Harry clenched his jaw, and finished emptying his trunk. Ron watched him carefully out of the corner of his eye, but knew better than to say anything.
He caught Harry's eye and inclined his head towards the door. Harry nodded curtly and they both left.
They met Hermione in the common room, who was about to ask what took them so long, but Ron shook his head and she didn't question it.
As they stepped into the bustling great hall, Harry instantly regretted not coming earlier to avoid everyone. And, sure enough, almost everyone stopped talking to turn and stare at him.
Harry clenched his jaw, and avoiding everyone's eyes, he went and sat in the middle of the Gryffindor table where Fred, George, Ginny and Neville were all sat eating.
His eyes scanned the staff table. Dumbledore wasn't there, and Hagrid wasn't yet either. Umbridge watched him carefully. Thoroughly unnerved, he sat down with Ron and Hermione.
Almost a second after they had sat, hundreds of owls came swooping in. Hedwig joined them, and perched on Harry's shoulder for a rash of bacon before taking off again.
Strangely enough, a stern-looking tawney owl landed in front of him with a letter attached to its leg.
He raised an eyebrow, and gingerly untied it and ripped open the envelope addressed to him.
Harry,
Hope everything is well by you. The owl is our new one which we bought from Diagon Alley yesterday. Her name is McGonagowl (three guesses who named it.)
Harry couldn't help but smirk and look at the owl again. She did look a bit like McGonagall.
We hope you have a great first day, and that we can have a chat tonight at 9:30. Try and find somewhere secluded. Send McGona- you know, I'm not even going to say the name. Send the owl back with your response, and whenever you want to talk, send Hedwig with a note.
We look forward to seeing you, stay out of trouble.
Love,
Myself, Prongs and co. Xx
Harry smiled at the prospect of seeing his parents, and passed Hermione the note. Her lips curled at the edges when she read about the owl, but nodded at him when she had finished.
Harry folded the note and put it in his pocket, then turned to the Weasleys.
They were all holding a mirror each, and reading the note that was attached.
"Where'd you get them from?" Hermione asked.
"Mum and Dad. We've all got one." Ginny said, peeling her eyes away from the note.
"They were a present from you pa- uh. Eh. They were a present."
"Oh cool. Well I have a.. discussion on my own tonight at 9:30. Ron, I was thinking of using the dorm room. Can you keep everyone out?"
Ron nodded as Professor McGonagall stepped up to the group, handing out timetables.
McGonagowl turned to look at her doppelgänger, cocked her head slightly and hooted approvingly.
The teacher raised an eyebrow sternly while Harry and Hermione tried to stifle their laughter.
She handed them all a timetable and continued down the table.
With trepidation, they read through their timetables.
"Ugh." Ron groaned. "This is horrible! History of Magic, Double Potions, Divination and Double Defense!"
"That is quite unfortunate." George said as he peered over to look at Ron's timetable.
"Good luck guys."
Potter Manor
Lily, James, Remus and Sirius were sat around a coffee table in Potter Manor playing two separate games of Wizards Chess when the Patronus materialised in front of them.
It was a Phoenix, which Remus identified as Dumbledore's, announcing his impending arrival.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, the Headmaster stepped into the room, his purple robes rustling by his feet.
"Ah good, you're all here." He observed cheerfully. "I can't stay long, but I have a proposition for you all. A mission of sorts. That is, if you're interested?"
The four shared a look and smile.
"Where do we sign up?"
Thank you for reading! As always leave any thoughts or comments in the review section. :)