Chapter 6: Back to Hogwarts

Guess what? Nothing belongs to me except the stuff that does.

Chapter 6: Back to Hogwarts

They hurriedly left Diagon Alley and arrived back at the burrow. They laughed when they looked at each other. Harry's eyes were still wide open with surprise, Ron was shaking all over and Hermione was by far the worst. She still looked pale with fright and nearly ready to cry.

"It's all right, Hermione," said Ron. "We're back, we're alive, your books didn't get ruined, what's the matter?" Hermione didn't even notice Ron's sarcastic remark about the books, Harry noticed. She must have been really upset or Ron would have received a punch in the arm by now.

"I just don't like all this Dark Magic," said Hermione. "And what about what Malfoy said about people with muggle parents?"

"We'll be going back to Hogwarts in two days," said Harry. "No one will be able to hurt you there. Not with Dumbledore around." Hermione nodded and forced a smile.

"You're right," she said. "I guess I am over reacting a little."

"That was disturbing, though," said Harry. "They just kill people for no good reason at all. Right in front of everyone yet at that."

"Yeah," said Ron. "And they'll never catch all of the Death Eaters no matter how hard they try. A lot of those people are really good wizards." Harry nodded.

"It would be quicker to just weaken Voldemort instead," he said.

"That's not exactly an easy thing to do," said Ron. "Well maybe it is for you, Harry." He continued. Harry noticed the sarcastic tone in his voice again. Apparently so did Hermione.

"Can you guys please not start this again?" she asked. Ron made a face, but didn't say anything else.

"I'm home!" a voice called from the other room.

"Dad's here!" said Ron. "Let's go ask him about what happened today." They went to the other room.

"We saw you in Diagon Alley today," Ron said without even saying hello. Mr. Weasley nodded.

"There was a murder there today," he said.

"I know, we saw it," said Ron.

"What's this about a murder?" Mrs. Weasley walked into the room.

"The Death Eaters murdered a man today in Diagon Alley," said Mr. Weasley. "The kids saw it and I was one of the people on duty to handle it."

"My goodness!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley. "Are all of you all right?"

"We're fine, mum," said Ron. "So who was the guy, Dad? He was wearing ministry robes."

"His name was Harold Ghostly. He was young. Just started working for the ministry a few months ago," said Mr. Weasley.

"So, why did they kill him?" asked Hermione.

"Well, no one is really sure, but they're assuming it's because he was from a muggle family," he replied. Hermione burst into tears. Mrs. Weasley hugged her tightly.

"It's okay, dear," she said to her. "Arthur, I really wish you wouldn't tell these kids those sort of things. You don't need to scare them like that."

"They have a right to know," said Mr. Weasley. "These are dangerous times. Bad things are out there. Far worse than what these kids have seen today. Now I'm going to go try to get some rest. The Ministry wants me back there in five hours." He headed up the stairs. Mrs. Weasley sighed. She turned to Hermione.

"Don't you worry yourself," she told her. "You'll be safe at Hogwarts. Those people have no reason to go after you."

That night, Hermione didn't sleep well. Harry had been given an extra room and Hermione was sleeping on the floor in there that night. He'd woken up several times and heard her sobbing. When he tried to talk to her, she pretended to be asleep. I wonder what's really wrong with her, thought Harry. He'd never seen Hermione get this upset over anything. She was usually level headed and not affected so severely by such things. Harry wondered if maybe she wasn't telling them everything.

The next day went quickly. They all did their final packing for Hogwarts. Fred and George had come up with all sorts of plans for things they wanted to do before leaving Hogwarts. It was their seventh and final year there. They'd done some bad things before, but Harry suspected they'd be all the worse this year. You had to admit they were funny, though. You just never accepted anything they tried to give you. Most people learned that the hard way.

Hermione still seemed a little troubled, but was acting more like her usual self. She even slapped Ron when he made a comment on how many classes she was taking. Harry could tell that Ron also had noticed that she just wasn't her usual self, though. That night, Mrs. Weasley prepared a large meal for them before they left. She also surprised Fred and George with new robes, as gifts because it was their last year. They headed to bed early so they would be able to get up early the next morning to get to Kings Cross Station in time to board the train.

The next morning, Mr. Weasley drove them all to Kings Cross Station. They unloaded their trunks and their pets. Mrs. Weasley hugged them all and told them to be careful. Mr. Weasley wished them all a good year. Then Fred and George were taken aside. Harry assumed that they were being told to behave, judging by the expression on Mrs. Weasley's face. Frowning and grumbling, Fred and George were the first to cross the barrier. Harry and Ron followed next to find that Fred and George had burst into hysterical laughter upon reaching the other side. Of course they'd only frowned and looked angry to make their parents think they'd actually made them convinced that they couldn't do anything wrong that year. But anyone who knew Fred and George well knew that nothing could stop them from being pranksters.

Hermione and Ginny came next. Hermione still looked troubled. Ginny found two of her friends and headed off with them.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" asked Harry as they stood in front of the Hogwarts Express. "Let's get aboard." They rolled their luggage onto the train. The car they always sat in was unoccupied, so they placed their trunks there and sat down.

"Our fifth year," Harry's mind drifted. He thought of his dad and Sirius in their fifth year at Hogwarts. They'd become animagus. All for Professor Lupin, or Moony as they'd called him, who was a werewolf. Harry wondered why he'd never done anything like that in his life. He was good friends with Ron and Hermione, but it wasn't the same as his parents and their friends had been. They would have done anything for each other. Even died for each other. Sirius had told him that once. He wouldn't do any further explaining, though.

"After this year, we only have two left," said Ron. "I can't believe it. What do you think we'll do after we graduate?"

"I think it would be fun to be an auror," said Harry.

"Cool," said Ron. "I'm not sure what I want to do yet. I'll probably end up working for the ministry though. Most people do." Harry nodded, then noticed that Hermione wasn't paying attention to them. She was staring out the window with her face frozen in a fearful expression. He glanced at Ron who looked at her too. She seemed to be a world away. Something was definitely wrong.

"Hermione," said Harry. "Hermione? Hermione!"

"Oh, what?" Hermione looked surprised.

"Um, Hermione, is something wrong?" asked Harry. "You haven't been yourself lately."

"Oh it's nothing," said Hermione. "Really." Ron and Harry exchanged glances.

"We know it's something, Hermione," said Ron. "Would you please tell us." Hermione sighed.

"All right, but you guys are going to think I'm over reacting," Hermione began. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She handed it to Harry. He carefully unfolded it. Printed on it was the Dark Mark. Underneath it was a message that said All Mudbloods must die. Harry frowned at it. This was what had been worrying Hermione. He didn't know what to say to her. It didn't seem like a big deal to him, but she obviously thought it was. He showed Ron. Ron didn't look very shocked at the sight of it either. Hermione was staring at them still looking scared.

"Hermione, um," Harry started. "Why does this scare you so much? It's just a letter, it doesn't mean anything."

"I don't want to die, Harry!" Hermione cried suddenly. "I don't want him to kill me!"

"It's just a piece of paper," said Ron. "It doesn't mean that You Know Who is going to kill you." Hermione drew in a deep breath.

"There's something I've never told you guys," she began. "My mum's father was a wizard. My mum didn't inherit any powers, though. But my grandfather married my muggle grandmother. After they'd had my mum, he left her. When You Know Who came into power, he joined the Dark Side. He didn't want anything to do with us then. He wanted us dead. Just because of us being muggles. He died when I was seven, but I know he told You Know Who that he wanted us dead. My parents finally decided that I was old enough to know. They thought since my grandfather was dead it wouldn't be any big deal anymore. But obviously it is because someone sent me that letter." Hermione burst into tears. "They'll probably kill my parents, too." She sobbed harder.

"We won't let that happen," said Harry, unsure how he would keep his promise to his friend, but he knew he had to. His father had been loyal to his friends until the day he died. He'd never let them down and now Harry wouldn't let his friend down either.

"Gosh," said Ron. "You're grandfather was a Death Eater?" he stared in disbelief. "But Harry's right, we won't let anything happen to you."

"Hermione, for once I'm going to be the one suggesting this to you, but when we arrive, I think we need to go talk to Dumbledore," said Harry. Hermione nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes.

The rest of the train ride was better. They kept on talking about different things to keep themselves from thinking about their troubles. Hermione cheered up a little and was even reading a book by the time they were almost there. Soon they could see the castle in the distance.

They got off of the train with their luggage and climbed onto a carriage, which would take them to the castle entrance. Upon arriving, they were instructed by Professor McGonagall to be seated according to their house tables. Harry, Ron and Hermione took their usual seats near the end of the Gryffindor table.

"Hey look," said Ron, looking at the teachers' table. "Professor Snape isn't there."

"That's weird," said Harry. Then he remembered the end of his fourth year. Snape had gone somewhere when Sirius had left to find Professor Lupin. He was probably off working for the Dumbledore. Harry didn't say anything because he didn't know for sure.

"It looks like we don't have a Defense Against The Dark Arts Teacher this year either," pointed out Hermione.

"Or they might just make their grand entrance a little late," said Ron, recalling how last year's teacher had arrived late.

"No Hagrid either," said Harry. "I wonder where he is?"

"He usually brings the first years across in boats, remember?" said Hermione.

"They didn't come in the boats this year," said Ron. "That's really weird."

"The sorting will now begin," announced Professor McGonagall as she brought out the old ratty looking hat and placed it on a stool in front of everyone. "First years, when your name is called, you will come forward and try on the hat. The hat will decide what house you will be in. You will be seated at your house table afterwards. We will now begin." The sorting hat recited it's poem. "Allen, Frederick." She called the first name.

Harry, Ron and Hermione sat silently. Harry was glad just to be back in Hogwarts; back in the only place where he'd ever been happy, the only place he'd ever felt safe, the only place where he had real friends, the place where his parents and their friends had went to school, the place where Dumbledore was always there to protect everyone, the place where you could always run to when you were in need and find someone who cared, and the place that echoed with memories of so many years gone by. This was home.

Hermione looked relieved to be back as well. They talked to Neville Longbottom, who had lost a finger in an unfortunate accident over the summer. He'd been helping his grandmother cook by slicing potatoes. He tried to bewitch the knife to cut on it's own, but as usual, accident prone Neville had messed up the spell and the knife went after him instead. He told them he was lucky to have gotten away with only a missing finger. His grandmother said it could have gotten much worse if she hadn't stopped the knife with the counter curse. The sorting ceremony went by more quickly than they'd expected.

"Great," said Ron. "I'm starving!" But it didn't look as though they'd be eating for a while. Dumbledore stood before them.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts," his voice showed slight worry and his eyes didn't twinkle like they normally did. Harry nudged Ron and pointed this out. Ron, who was apparently too hungry to care, shrugged. "There have been some things happening in the wizarding world in the last few months that I think you all should be made aware of. Voldemort is back in power." No one seemed shocked. They'd all heard. A few first years made frightened sounds. "As most of you know he killed a young boy at this school last spring. That boy's name was Cedric Diggory. Before I continue, I'd like to have a moment of silence for Cedric." As they were silent, Harry felt guilty. He was practically responsible for Cedric's death. He'd made them both touch the trophy in the center of the maze. They'd planned to declare victory for Gryffindor. Neither of them had known that the trophy was a portkey, and by the time they'd found out, it had been too late. I'm sorry, Cedric, thought Harry. I am sorry I made you touch the trophy. A feeling that he'd never felt before swept over him. It's not your fault, Harry, it seemed to say. Cedric is in a better place. The moment of silence ended and Dumbledore continued speaking. "The danger of Voldemort and his followers, the Death Eaters, is very great. One of the safest places to be right now is right here in Hogwarts. I want each and every one of you to understand that we are in dark and dangerous times right now, and no matter where you are, you must be careful. Some of you have been affected by this dark power before," his sympathetic eyes drifted towards Harry. "And in times like these there is no telling who is next. I am not trying to scare anyone. I am just making you aware of the dangers that are out there. With that issue addressed, I want to tell anyone that if you receive anything that looks remotely like a threat from the Death Eaters or Voldemort, or you feel that for any reason you may be in danger, I want you to come to me immediately. The password to my office is good always prevails over evil. Remember it whether you need to use it or not. The password in itself is something you need to know. On a lighter note, you'll all be pleased to hear that there will be no Potions Class this year. Professor Snape has taken the year off. I will be teaching your Defense Against The Dark Arts classes as there were no other teachers available for the position this year. Professor Grubbly-Plank, who was your Care of Magical Creatures teacher for a while last year will be teaching you this year as Hagrid will be taking the year off as well. Now heal the fear in your hearts with food in your stomach. Let the feast begin!"

The empty bowls before them filled with food and they began to eat.

"Don't you guys think it's weird that Professor Snape and Hagrid are both gone this year, and we don't have a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" asked Hermione.

"Well, I'm definitely not complaining about Snape being gone," said Ron. "But I wonder where Hagrid is?" He and Hermione both looked at Harry as though he might know something they didn't know.

"I don't know where they are either," Harry said honestly. "But I think we should go see Dumbledore tonight." He had noticed that Hermione had looked frightened again when Dumbledore had been talking about the danger of the dark side.