Harry Potter and the Soul Shifter

By: Alex Lyons3


Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and everything in the wonderful world of Hogwarts. Disney owns Brooklyn, the gargoyle. I own Jessica "Jess" Cotten.


Author's Note: Originally, I started on a story about Harry's sixth year before J.K.R. released OotP. Sadly, when Sirius died, so to did my ability to write that fan fiction. So, I've salvaged some characters and added some cross over points and re did the whole thing. I really didn't expect Sirius to die. Truthfully, I should have. Just for the record, the time line is going to be a bit iffy since most people put it up as Sirius died in 1996. I'm going to say that Harry didn't even start Hogwarts until 1997, so Sirius didn't die until 2002. Did I lose anyone? *A few hands are raised* Okay! Simply, first book published in 1997. So, that's when Harry starts as far as I'm concerned. Harry's fifth year would be 2001-2002, so Sirius (at least in my mind) does not die until 2002. Okay? Anyway, on with the story.


Chapter 10: On The Hogwarts Express


A month and a half had past and "The Great Gryffindor Quartet", this included Ginny, were ready and eager to return to Hogwarts. They were all curious about who their new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teachers were going to be. They'd heard from Lupin, who'd gotten the information from Dumbledore that the Defense Lessons were going to become a double period because both teachers had important things to teach the students and neither wanted to come in at different days. The decision had a few opponents, The Malfoy Family was one. Obviously, they either didn't want the children to learn how to defend themselves or Draco didn't want to be in the classroom with the Defense Teachers longer than he had to be.

"The Great Gryffindor Trio" also had gotten their scores from their O.W.L.S. during that month and a half and every one of them had made an Outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions, for which both Harry and Ron sobbed uncontrollably as they realized they'd have to spend another two years with Snape. Hermione, of course, got perfect scores on everything.

Now that everything was over here and the day had finally come for them to journey through the passage to Platform Nine and Three-quarters.

There was much to do to get ready, such as: make sure everything was packed, make sure the animals had been fed and were now in their cages and of course make sure everyone made it to Platform Nine and three-quarters. Luckily, this time around The Order only had to worry about Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny, who were the only ones left in school.

Each of them were currently down stairs in the hallway waiting for instructions from Mrs. Weasley.

"Is everyone ready?" She called.

"Yes." They all called.

"Good! Harry, you're with Brian and Jess. Ron. Ginny, you're with us. Hermione, you're with Lupin and Bill. Moody will handle the luggage again. Alright, off you go!" She said to Harry as Jess and Brian came down the stairs in muggle attire, which they pulled off flawlessly. Both wore blue jeans and a t-shirt. Brian's was a black Harley-Davidson t-shirt while Jess's was one with horses on the front. They put their trunks with the others and then came up to get Harry.

"Ready?" Brian asked Mrs. Weasley.

"He's all yours." She said.

"Well, come on Harry, we don't want to keep the Hogwarts Express waiting, do we?" Brian asked and opened the door.

Soon they were walking along outside and enjoying the bright sun light. Nothing happened as they quickly slipped through the passage between Platforms nine and ten. Harry looked extremely depressed. Brian leaned a little towards him.


"What's the matter?" He whispered to Harry.

"Nothing." Harry quickly lied, which earned him a rather undignified snort from Brian. Harry looked at him in surprise. Brian looked at him disapprovingly as though he knew what Harry was thinking.

"You miss him. You'll always miss him. You'll be forever without him, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with. In fact, it makes it all the harder. If you could you'd go back and stop all this, but you can't. Listen, Harry, I may have not known him, but I do know what you're going through. If you need to talk, or anything, let me know. I'll listen and I'm not going to judge." Brian said to Harry quietly. Harry looked at Brian in shock.

"Well, hello, Molly. Arthur." Jess called from behind them. "Any trouble with your lot this year?"

Brian whispered to Harry, "And that, dear Harry, is why I let her speak when undercover."

"Not a bit of trouble." Mrs. Weasley said cheerfully, "Especially now, with the twins graduated."

Harry hid a grin behind his hand. Brian gave a lop-sided grin to Molly.

Bill, Lupin and Hermione came soon after.

"Everything well, Bill?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Perfect." Bill answered.

The train whistle blew loudly and steam billowed out of the smoke stack.

"Quick now, get on!" Mrs. Weasley said sharply as Jess and Brian got on the train. Taking their luggage from the cart that Moody had just pushed through. Brian was soon back out and hefted Hermione's trunk into the train. Mr. Weasley got Ginny's trunk and Ron and Harry both got their own on to the train. While Mrs. Weasley handed them the cages that contained their familiars.

Harry and Ginny were soon looking for a place to sit while Ron and Hermione had to go to the front to get instructions from the Head Boy and Girl. Harry and Ginny couldn't believe how many first years were on the train. There seemed to be more of them than ever before.

"Harry? Ginny?" A familiar voice called to them. It was Brian, he was looking at them curiously.

"Oh hello, Brian." Ginny said, "We're just looking for a compartment."

"Well, why not come in here?" He asked looking hopefully at each of them.

"Well, we...er...need to find..." Ginny paused for a moment, but Harry picked up the line quickly.

"...Neville and Luna." Harry said hoping that Brian didn't by chance have Neville and Luna in there with him.

He didn't mind Brian really, but he was tired of the slightly older man's insistence that he needed to open up and talk about Sirius' death. He was tired of Brian's insistence that he was the right person to take things to if he decided to talk.

"Oh." Brian said looking slightly put out, "Well, I hope you find them."

Ginny let out a small sigh of relief.

"Thank you." She whispered. "I'm afraid the man's a bit weird."

Harry nodded in understanding.

"I mean, he's nice. Too nice. I'm a bit worried he might be like Tom Riddle, only very real and very here." Ginny murmured.

Harry wondered about this statement as they made it to the last car and finally found Luna and Neville. They had the compartment to themselves and soon the four of them were talking about how their summers were and how much they were looking forward to this year.

* * * * *


To RogueFanKC: Hey, not bad. Now, can you tell me how Brian knows to call Snape, Snivellus and Lupin, Moony? Hey, that's why I rewrote it because JKR is very good at what she does and I didn't want the story to come out as an Alternate Universe fic. Anyway, glad you enjoyed it so far.


To Little Ear Big Ear's sis: Thank you.


To Jeanne: Okay, I won't give away who Brian really is. It'd give away far too much information. I'm not saying this to be rude, but I fear that once I do give it away people will stop being interested in reading it and reviewing it.