This story's characters belong to JKR.
It was written over a year ago in the back of an old exercise book, but a friend told me about this site (which I think is brilliant), and decided to take the plunge and publish it. Hope its ok, any suggestions are welcomed! – Dewbs
Unusually, for September, the weather was holding. Autumn had not yet decided to kick in and by the late afternoon, the sun was going down as warmly as it had in any of the other months. Leaning up against the window, Harry saw Hogwarts creep nearer, warm light reflecting in its many windows.
"Seems a shame to go back when the weather's like this," sighed Ron. "Why couldn't we have had another week?"
"Ron," said Hermione sharply, "You've had almost two months. Any longer and you'd have forgotten everything".
"Two months isn't long enough for not seeing Malfoy and Snape," Ron muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else. Harry stayed out of the conversation. He was more than grateful to be returning to Hogwarts, even if it involving seeing Draco Malfoy. It was better than seeing Dudley.
When at last the carriages reached the vast entrance hall, everybody was extremely hungry and tired. An already harassed-looking Professor McGonagall barked orders at them, muttering something about how interviews were best taking place in the holidays. Nobody knew what she meant until….
"Look at that!"
A group of wizards and one witch was standing looking rather nervous in one corner. One wizard in particular stood out, his turquoise robes a stark contrast to the darker colours the others were wearing.
"Oh no," exclaimed Ron, looking over Harry's shoulders. Harry followed Ron's line of gaze until his eyes met with an unpleasantly familiar sight.
"Well, I was most surprised when Witch Weekly me 'Most Charming Smile' again…"
The wizard in turquoise was Gilderoy Lockhart.
"I'm not having him again," Ron stated. "I'd rather drop an OWL than have him."
The witch Lockhart was talking to looked completely nonplussed by him. She was smiling at him sympathetically, as if he was extremely slow.
This made Harry laugh. The sound must have reached the witch's ear, because she glanced over Lockhart's shoulder to see Harry. She grinned, and subtly mouthed "git".
Harry was impressed. It seemed there was one witch who didn't Lockhart was the bee's knees. That's if she was a witch at all; she was the only one wearing muggle clothing, a smartly cut pin-stripe skirt suit. Harry reckoned her to be in her early thirties, but she was still very striking.
As they made their way into the Great Hall, with its magnificent reddy-purpley sunset sky, they discussed which position the group outside were filling.
"Ha, ha, bet its potions," laughed Fred. "Someone's finally had enough of old Snapey and stuck a knife between his shoulder blades". Unfortunately, Snape was up at the top table, occupying his usual place.
No official explanation was given was given until after the feast, when Dumbledore stood up.