Chapter 2

Going to Hogwarts

Harry woke up much later than usual. He was in the same bed and the same room. None of it had been real. None of the strange happenings from the night before really happened. He was simply hallucinating, at least that's what he thought.

The morning started as usual. Harry awoke from the wonderful smell of eggs and bacon that he couldn't have. The Dursleys were on their normal schedule he heard uncle Vernon slam the door on his way to work. He remembered it was poker Thursday for Aunt Petunia when the door slammed a second time. And remembered also that Dudley had a date tonight with some girl from school, and was going shopping with one of his friends for flowers chocolates and the like. The door slammed a third time and they were all gone, all but Harry. He stumbled out of bed and suddenly tripped! He flew through the air and landed on his face. He looked to see what he had tripped on. Floo Power.

So it hadn't been a dream.

* * *

He packed up all his things, because he knew that Dumbledore would be expecting him soon. He took a pinch of the salt-like substance and tossed it into the fire. The Fire turned a violent purple color and raged a giant roar. Harry pushed in the luggage and said "Hogwarts!" Then it was time for him. He left a note on the Dursleys table that said, "See you next June!" He pinched more Floo Powder into the fire and Screamed "Hogwarts!" once again.

He was falling past hundreds of fires! Purple, like his fire. His luggage landed below him with a violent thump! He kept falling past the roaring fires. Until he too landed in a dark fireplace, filled with soot. "Cough, Cough" Harry Was inhaling the soot and coughing it up to keep it out of his lungs.

"Welcome Harry" The Boy who lived looked up to see a man with a long white beard. He knew him immediately. Professor Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The man in the purple robe walked up to Harry and helped him up. "I see you met Arabella."

"Yes," Harry coughed. "Last night. She gave me the Floo Powder."

"Ah," Dumbledore muttered.

"I have a question sir," Harry managed though his coughing fit. "The Daily Profit stopped sending to me, do you know why?"

"Yes Harry, it was I who proposed the cut off." Harry looked at him. "I thought Voldemort may have a spy there and would be able to find you.

"HARRY!"

"What?" Harry turned to see the familiar face of his friend Moony. Professor Lupin.

"I neglected to mention a few surprises around the school." Dumbledore laughed. Lupin ran up to him and hugged him firmly.

"I've missed you so much Harry!" Lupin exclaimed.

"Albus?!" Harry heard another voice from behind him. He turned around and didn't recognize the woman that walked out of the huge door.

"Miss Leonessa?" Dumbledore asked.

"I was making out my lesson plan for first day and . . ." She looked at Harry. "Well I don't believe we've met," She took Harry's hand and shook it hard. "I'm Lysandra Leonessa. I'm your potions teacher!" She announced.

"Potions?" Harry asked. "What happened to Professor Snape?"

"Nothing, we simply felt the need to hire an extra potions teacher Harry," Dumbledore answered. Miss Leonessa looked shocked for a moment. She shrugged whatever it was off and left with Lupin. "I believe you know the way to Gryffindor tower." Dumbledore walked out of the hall, and left Harry standing there.

Harry walked through the winding tunnels of Hogwarts School. Everything was very strange. He was used to the building as being filled with other students and the noise of spells and laughter in the halls, but there was nothing. He found the picture of a fat lady and realized he hadn't gotten the password. "Pig snout?" He asked the portrait.

The lady shook her head. "How about Alohamora?" She shook her head but the portrait flew open anyway since it had unlocked. He climbed through the door behind it.

He stepped into the Gryffindor common room and looked around. His luggage was laid out on the floor. "Dobby?" He called. The familiar looking house-elf walked into the light of the room.

"Yes sir?"

"Can you bring my luggage up to my room? Please?" Harry asked.

"Yes Sir, oh wait, Dobby has a surprise for Mr. Potter." He ran into the shadows and walked back out with a big black dog.

"SNUFFLES!" Harry ran up to the creature and hugged him with all his might. The dog transformed back into his human form of Sirius Black.

"Oh Harry, I missed you!" He hugged Harry back and stood up to look around. "I have wonderful news. Dumbledore said you could keep me in your dorm as a pet!"

"What?" Harry asked.

"Long story. I also have a gift for you." The man pulled out a piece of parchment from his robes. "This is a potion I want you to make and drink."

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"I can't tell you, Fudges orders." Sirius replied. "Just make it. Miss Leonessa is allowing you to use the potions lab. It's our secret by the way." He turned back into a dog and ran up the stairs. From the balcony he yelled down "by the way, the password in Snuffles!"