Chapter seven

It was two days later that the five friends walked into the great hall with Sirius, Remus, Andromeda and Ted. The other students who had left to learn from tutors returned the day before. That was the day the Daily Prophet announced that Sirius Black was now headmaster of Hogwarts. In his statement he explained the changes, but also how they now had ways to prove who was causing trouble. He also said that the staff were now going to get tough on the students, especially when it came to bullying. The story also explained about the new head of house, who would not be a teacher, but someone that would be available at all times so if a student needed to speak with them, they would be available. The student's wouldn't have to wait until the teacher had some free time. The four heads of house had arrived the day before. All the students fell silent as they watched the new headmaster stand behind the staff table.

Sirius first introduced Andromeda Tonks and he explained that even though she would be the potions mistress, she was now the healer in charge at Hogwarts. Poppy would only see minor injuries and hand out basic potions for things like headaches, since she was only a nurse. He introduced Ted as the history of magic teacher and he explained how Binns had disappeared when informed he would not be needed anymore. Ted was also deputy head. Most cheered when he introduced Remus as the defence against the dark arts teacher. Only a few Slytherin's glared. Sirius also explained that Filch was no longer at Hogwarts. He said since the house elves did all the work, there was no need for someone like Filch to be there. Also, none of the new governors liked the way he had threatened to torture students. The last thing Sirius said was his office door would always be open if anyone needed to speak to him, all they had to do was come and see him.

One thing most of the students were curious about was how Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood were sitting at the Hufflepuff table, with Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott. It didn't take long for them to find out that those five had been having private lessons with Sirius and Remus. Also that Harry and Susan were dating, so were Neville and Hannah. As to why they were sitting at another table and not their house table, Sirius explained that at the end of his other announcements. The moment Sirius explained that students could sit anywhere, like with friends from other houses, two girls instantly got up from the Slytherin table and sat at the Ravenclaw table. Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis, two Slytherin girls sat beside a small group of Ravenclaw's and everyone saw how friendly they were. The other Slytherin's didn't seem to like two of their own joining another table. The only time the students could not sit at other tables was the first morning of the term as they needed their schedules.

'Looking around as…Professor Black spoke, most seemed to like the changes,' Susan said.

'Yeah, but there were a few Slytherin's who didn't like Davis and Greengrass moving from their table to Ravenclaw. There were a few that had some nasty looks,' Harry said.

'Professor Black noticed,' Neville said.

'So, the portraits and probably the house elves will be keeping an eye on them to make sure the two girls don't end up harassed, or hurt,' Hannah said.

'Professor Black never said just who would be making sure the students behave. They probably believe it's the new heads of house,' Luna said who was eating some apple pie instead of dinner. They got to know Luna a lot more when they were studying together. Luna prefer to start with desert then have dinner. She always dished her dinner up but ate whatever desert she wanted first. Luna was a little strange, but she was also a great friend.

Just before the end of dinner, Angelina Johnson squeezed in next to Harry, 'So are you going to return as seeker?'

'If you want me Ang, you know I love to play.'

'You're in. I've been holding off hoping you would return. The first game is in two weeks.'

'I've been flying so I'm still in shape. Sirius got me a practice snitch, so he would help me practice.'

'He never missed it and always caught it in the first fifteen minutes,' Susan said, 'The Puffs don't stand a chance against Harry. But we also know the Gryffindor's flying foxes are some of the best we've ever seen.'

'Thanks Susan,' Angelina smiled, 'All three of us are hoping to get picked by the same team when we leave. It's why we came up with a lot of our moves. Anyway, I'll leave you lot to finish eating.'

'Um, did any of the Gryffindor's ask when you were going to hold try outs for seeker?'

'Yes and not just for seeker but keeper as well. Ron and Ginny. Ron was told straight away that he would need to bring his grades up before he could even be considered. I told Ginny that if you hadn't returned by the first game, then she would be given a shot. Everyone knew I was holding out for the best seeker Hogwarts had ever seen. I didn't want to lose you.'

'Ah, that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside,' Harry pretended to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye making his friends and girlfriend laugh. Angelina playfully swiped Harry's head before heading back to the Gryffindor table.

'You've been hanging around Fred and George too much,' Neville said.

Harry laughed, 'I love those two, they make life fun. It's why I gave them the triwizard money. I figured with Voldy back, we could all do with some laughs.'

'Why didn't you want to keep it?' Hannah asked.

'I couldn't. I did offer it to the Diggory's when they came to see how I was. They refuse to take it and told me to keep it, to use it for myself. I just couldn't.'

Susan put her arms around Harry, 'It wasn't your fault, how many times do we have to tell you that?'

'I know in some ways it's not, but in one it is. It was my idea for us to share the win.'

'Fair play, something Hufflepuff's do anyway Harry. Cedric would have said the same if you didn't. Susan's right, it's not your fault,' Hannah said.

'It seems Ginny is not happy with Susan,' Luna said.

The group glanced at Ginny who was glaring, 'She's always fancied Harry. She now knows he's dating Susan,' Neville said, 'She's been saying over the last couple of years she hoped Harry would finally see her as a girl and not Ron's little sister.'

'It had nothing to do with her being Ron's little sister, it was her temperament. It was too much like her mother's. Mrs Weasley, she's a wonderful woman, but someone that wants everything her own way and she likes to yell. I hate people yelling and I don't like people who always want things their way when there could be better ways to do things. But really, the only thing Ginny and I have in common is quidditch. She likes attention, I don't. She doesn't mind being surrounded by heaps of people, I hate it. She wants to be a famous quidditch player. I wouldn't mind playing but I hate being famous. I know it would be different if I was famous for quidditch and that would be because I was good. I hate being famous because I survived over my parent's. Susan and I have a lot in common, some are obvious, like our parent's, we both wouldn't mind playing professionally but we both like the idea of being aurors. We both don't have any siblings so we grew up pretty much alone, or like with Susan, with her aunt.'

'All of us are like that Harry. We don't have siblings and grew up with either one guardian or one parent,' Neville said.

'That's why the five of us get on so well, we have similar lives and similar backgrounds,' Luna said.

Harry realised Neville and Luna were right. Hannah only had her mum; her dad was killed during the first war with Voldemort and she didn't have any siblings. Luna had her dad, her mother died due to an accident only a few years ago. Susan lost her parent's during the war, just as Neville and Harry did and none of them had siblings.

It was only a couple of hours later that four Slytherin's were gone. They weren't just expelled, they were arrested for attacking Daphne and Tracy. Ten house elves arrived, some protected the two girls while the others restrained the students. When Sirius, Remus and Ted turned up, Sirius explained that this was how Hogwarts was now. House elves would be used to watch and protect, but restrain students if it was needed. There would no longer be students hurt or bullied, not when there were ways to stop it.

Before Remus, Ted and Sirius went back to their rooms, another house elves arrived to explained more trouble, this time in Gryffindor. By the time they arrived, two house elves had Ginny bound, another two had Ron bound and Hermione also had two house elves restraining her. Harry along with the girls from the quidditch team all had their wands pointed at Ron, Ginny and Hermione. It took a while, but they got the story from the portraits and the students who witnessed what had happened. Ron and Ginny went to attack Harry, Hermione had gone to use a spell on Harry when she was behind him. Once their wands were checked for their last spells, Ron and Ginny were expelled and arrested, just like the Slytherin's. Hermione was expelled.

'So Ginny said if she couldn't have you, no one would, but I never would have believed she would use the killing curse,' Sirius said.

'It's lucky that the spell missed everyone in here, the room was full at the time,' Remus said.

'We knew some wouldn't like the changes, but seven students attacking others on the first night. It's going to be a long time before the students realised just how much Hogwarts has changed,' Ted said.

'Once I tell everyone who got arrested and why, I think some will realised just how different things are,' Sirius said, then moved over to Harry who was talking on his mirror to Susan.

'I'm fine love. I'll see you in the morning.'

"Alright sweetheart. But if anything happens I'll have my mirror right beside my bed," Susan blew a kiss before the mirrors went dark, 'I'm fine Sirius, just shocked they could do something like this.'

'Hermione only got expelled and she was only upset that she lost the prefect badge. I know I'll be speaking with Arthur tomorrow, maybe Molly, but first they will be interviewed by aurors to find out why they would use unforgivables.'

'I know Ginny had a crush on me, the twins and Ron told me, then Hermione did. But to go as far as the killing curse is just crazy. What did Ron use?'

'the cruciatus curse, which again it was luck that kept you and everyone else safe.'

'It was a good idea to use the house elves Sirius. I mean Dobby saved me from old Lucy. The house elves follow the headmaster's orders and since you only told them to contain the bad kids and protect the innocent, they knew they weren't doing anything wrong.'

'They weren't. Tomorrow they will have their new Hogwarts uniforms, but I will be giving them those puzzles you told me about. There are enough house elves to do the work so half can relax, then they switch. Okay, it's safe now, so you shouldn't have any more trouble,' Sirius hugged his godson, 'Tell me if anything goes on, even if it's minor. I won't lose you pup,' Sirius whispered.

Harry hugged his godfather harder as he nodded. They both realised how close it came to Harry being killed and by people who were supposed to be friends. Once the three members of the staff left, the girls in the quidditch team hugged Harry, kissed his cheek which made him blush and made the girls laugh. Harry was pulled up the stairs to the dorm room by Neville. Ron's bed was already gone and the other beds were moved slightly since they now had more room. Everyone knew things were changing, some changes were expected, some were shocking, but all were necessary.