Please forgive any mistakes, I did clean up as much as I could.

Another year starting at Hogwarts. Things are about to get real.

Chapter 3.

Harry, now safe at Hogwarts, was confined to Gryffindor Tower until the start of the school year. He spent the first few nights in the Hospital Wing under the watchful eye of Madam Pomfrey. The school nurse kindly gave him Dreamless Sleep drafts when his nightmares became too much and he woke during the night with screams in his head and visions of uncaring red eyes.

It was a week before term and, for the time being, the nightmares had subsided. Harry woke in his own bed, the daylight streaming through the half-drawn curtains. With a yawn he made his way down the stone steps to the common room, sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace where a plate of toast and some hot tea waited for him, like every other morning. Grabbing a slice and chewing for a moment he glanced around the room, thankful for the quietness, only for his green eyes to land on a very battered and slightly burnt rack-sack.

It was his bag from the holiday village. Some-how it had survived that night. Reaching for it and peering inside, Harry found that most of his things were undamaged, including his home-work. Right at the very bottom was a letter.

With trembling hands he opened it,

It was not your fault, Harry. You are not alone.

Harry re-read the short note twice more. Hot tears threatened to fall, his hand went straight for the chunky chain around his neck. Pulling the chain, the pendent fell into his hand. Harry held it to the light, it really did look like a face or a knights' helmet. He'd ask Hermione to check it out once school started.

Looking at it he pondered the same questions:

What was the thing that attacked the holiday village?

Where was the other half of the pendent and who's got it?

Now that he's got half is the attacker coming to Hogwarts?

Merlina died for it, how many more?

With a sniff he wiped the tears away, tucking the 'lucky charm' back under his shirt, and focused on the pile of books that had appeared on the couch next to him. The young wizard peered at each title briefly. He found the normal suspects : Potions, Charms and Transfiguration. The DADA book he threw away in favour of Hermione's present. There wasn't a new book for Herbology so he kept his old one. He found a small collection of new quills, ink bottles and notebooks...

...And another note hidden in one of the notebooks. Looking at it, his stomach dropped.

We need to have a very important talk Harry. (it's about our future.) I'll save you a seat at the feast.

Yours, Ginny.

With a growl Harry crumpled the note into a ball and threw it into the fireplace, aiming his wand and shouting, "Incendio!" The note and surrounding wood were engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds. Feeling slightly better, Harry checked his timetable for the year ahead and packed his bag accordingly.

"HARRY!" Harry's vision was blurred by bouncy, brown hair that could only belong to Hermione. A slap on the shoulder was Ron's way of saying hello. Pulling away the boy wizard offered his two friends a small smile, that crumbled at the last second. "Oh, Harry!" Hermione moved to give him a second hug but he stopped her. "Understood. We're here, when you're ready."

"I know. And thanks."

Ron was beaming, "Mate, did you see the book list? No Divination, means no barmy Trelawney! Wishes do come true!"

"Ron!"

"What?"

Hermione huffed, pointing at her silver badge. "We're Prefects. We can't say that about teachers. What will the young ones think?"

Ron folded his arms, "The young ones will agree with me." He quickly spotted a group of students."OI! Ravenclaw third years, Trelawney?"

A boy shook his head. "Wish I never climbed that ladder. She told me I was going to sprout wings and hatch an egg."

His friend gave a one shouldered shrug. "Said she saw a dancing flower in my cup. Turned out to be a dead fly."

Ron turned to Hermione with a big grin, "See!"

Hermione rolled her eyes, grabbed Harry by the sleeve and dragged him into the Great Hall for the feast. On their way to their seats Harry's sleeve was snatched in an iron grip. The raven haired wizard found himself falling backwards and landing in someone's lap, their arms wrapping around his torso and squeezing him tightly. An over-powering flowery scent assaulted his nostrils and he nearly gagged.

"Oh, Harry! I was so worried when you didn't write to me all summer. Did you get my note?"

"Ginny?"

"I've already spoken to Mum and Dad and you can stay at the Burrow for the Christmas holidays, so you don't have to stay here on you're own-"

"Ginny?"

"-And it will give us some time together. We have to talk, Harry. There's something very important..."

"Let him go, Weaselette, he needs to breathe. Beet red is such an ugly colour." Harry and Ginny both looked round at the new voice. Ginny scowled while Harry blinked dumbly. Draco Malfoy had paused on his way to the Slytherin table and was now standing in their personal bubble.

"Sod off, Malfoy." Ginny growled.

"I will, once I've saved Potter. Call it practice at turning over a new leaf." He held out a hand. "Potter?"

Harry stared down at the offered hand and then back to Ginny, who was frowning and holding on for dear life. With a nod he let Malfoy pull him free. Ginny spluttered in outrage, her face now going the ugly beet colour. Malfoy walked with Harry, much to the surprise of the other students, over to where Ron and Hermione were already seated.

"Um...thanks?"

Malfoy inclined his head, "You're welcome, Potter. I meant what I said. Mother wants me to be more of a gentleman this year. With my Father... indisposed, someone has to keep the Malfoy name unspoiled."

"And that's you?" Another nod. "Well...If it's not a trick, good for you, Malfoy."

That earned him a slight smirk, "Thanks. We're here." Ron and Hermione stopped talking, spying the pair heading towards them. Ron was half out of his seat, a frown on his face. Hermione was glancing between the two with interest. As Harry moved to take his seat, Malfoy's eyes drifted downwards before widening and snapping back to his face. Harry was watching him closely. With another nod and smirk, he said, "Have a nice night, Potter." and turned to head back to Slytherin, he paused halfway, "By the way, pretty necklace you got there, Cybertronian?"

"Um..." Harry's hand went to the chain around his neck, his hand circling the charm on the end feeling its warm weight. He blinked again...Wait, warm?

"Everyone, please take your seats! The Sorting will begin shortly." Dumbledore smiled at the returning students, and at the small crowd of new starters. Harry was too busy looking at the pendent, feeling it getting warmer in his palm, that he nearly missed the Sorting. He faintly heard the last first year proclaimed as a Hufflepuff, only looking up when Hermione nudged his arm. His eyes quickly went to the end table, narrowing in confusion seeing Malfoy tucking something under his shirt. Hermione nudged him again and nodded towards where Dumbledore was coming to the end of a story. "...It has been many moons since it has been last seen, and many believe it simply does not exist. But the Guardian of the Forest is no myth. So, I ask each and everyone of you to take notice of the newly placed magical barriers, and stay away from the darkest part of the Forbidden Forest." He looked at them over his glasses. "Heed my words, and you will not suffer a most horrible demise."

Somewhere ,outside in the distance, a loud bellowing roar echoed around them, making the windows wobble. The candles above them went out, plunging the Hall into darkness. Many students screamed and huddled together.

Dumbledore clapped his hands, returning the light, "Right, then. It's late. Off to bed. Chop-chop!"

What (or who) could have made that loud noise?...I wonder...

Next we get to meet the new DADA Professor, and keeping with my little Easter egg hunt I got going, I would like you to meet...Professor Gwen Witwicky.