Chapter 2: A Midsummers Nightmare

Bright summer light streamed in from the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall as Harry and Ron sat down for breakfast. All that morning the Gryffindors had been casting quick glances at Harry, and he figured that by late afternoon everyone in the school was going to have heard of the nightmare that he had had. Hermione, who was already nose deep in reading The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, looked up when Harry sat down. At once Harry knew that Hermione had heard of his nightmare because a worried look was on her face.

            "It was nothing," he told her at once, and she nodded weakly.

            "If you say so Harry, but I still think you should go and see Dumbledore about it," she was saying.

            "But my scar didn't hurt," Harry told her, and it hadn't, so what was the use of going to see Dumbledore if the dream hadn't affected his scar. He certainly didn't want everyone worrying about him, and over a silly dream that had been just that. "And besides, Dumbledore has enough to worry about."

            Hermione shrugged, and began eating her porridge and reading once more, but her eyes kept flicking over to Harry as if he was a time bomb waiting to go off. It was bad enough having these nightmares, but now he had his friends worried again, as they had been all summer, and Harry hated that. From the time he had gotten home by the Dursleys things started going wrong. At first it had been an uneasy feeling that had given Harry chills, and every night he woke up to the feeling of eyes on him, watching him. He would wake up with a start, and look out the window, once in a while to see a shadow vanish from sight, but he had thought it was all part of the dream, and had gone back to sleep. Then the nightmares had started, and night after night he would wake up in a cold sweat. And every time he woke up he was sure that there was a shadow outside his window. Harry knew that as long as he was in his Aunt and Uncle house he was safe. But, he wondered, staring out on the deserted Privet Drive, even if Voldemort couldn't find him, could one of his followers?

            It was during one of those nights that he woke up feeling dread wash all over his body that he heard the swish of a cloak just outside his door, and when he opened it up he saw a shadow dodging down the stairs. He dashed after it as fast as he could, from his bedroom upstairs, and caught it slipping into the kitchen. Harry opened the door, and peered in, the door made a slight creek and he winced wondering if the person had heard him. In the dim light from the lamps on Privet Drive that cascaded in through the windows, Harry saw the image of the shadow, turn and look at him with an intense pair of blue eyes, then, with what seemed to be a smile, it dart out an open window; slamming it shut loudly with a BOOM!  This causing Uncle Vernon to make a loud snort, and call, "Who's there…?" A moment later Uncle Vernon had fallen back to sleep, and Harry looked out over the back yard, only to see it deserted. Catching his breath he went back upstairs before he was caught down in the kitchen and accused of stealing food. He was sure that someone had broken into the house, and by morning he knew it was certain, because when Harry came down for breakfast Aunt Petunia was howling on about muddy footprints staining her spotless floor.

            From that time on however whenever Harry went out he got the distinct feeling that he was being followed, and every now and then he would spot a big black raven fly across the sky. The Dursleys had only made things worse. Apparently Dudley had failed in his diet and the school nurse at Smeltings was ordering him to see a nutritionist, who then told Dudley that he would have to go to a 'Special Spa' where his 'problem' could be fixed. The 'Spa' turned out to be in Switzerland, and the Dursleys had no intention of taking Harry with them. Harry had asked if he could go stay with the Weasleys –Ron's family –and, not to his surprise, Uncle Vernon gave him the utmost look of loathing.

            The Dursleys hated magic –even the M word would cause a panic in them –and the fact that Harry was a wizard made them hate him even more then they already did. The year before the Weasleys had crashed though the fireplace when they had come to pick Harry up for the Quidditch World cup. In doing so they had made a mess of Aunt Petunia's front room, and caused much havoc without (or in the case of the twins, Fred and Gorge, with) meaning to. Since then even the mention of the Weasleys had caused Uncle Vernon to fly into a fit.

            "You will be staying here with Mrs. Figg," Uncle Vernon had told Harry when he, Aunt Petuinia, and Dudley had gotten back from the nutritionist. Dudley sniggered behind Uncle Vernon; Dudley's favorite past time was watching Vernon make Harry miserable. "We will be leaving in one week, and I do not want to hear from her about you causing any problems. If there are…you will not be returning to that School of yours! Mark my word!"

            Harry narrowed his eyes, gone were the days that he let the Dursleys treat him like so much trash, and then he smiled. "Okay then. I guess I'll be writing my godfather –you know the one that's a convicted murder…"

            Vernon Dursleys face went pale, but he still held his ground. "You are going by Mrs. Figg's, weather you like it or not, and there is nothing you can do to fight it."

            In the end Harry had caved in, packed up, and by the third week of summer was moving into Mrs. Figg's house. Harry didn't exactly like Mrs. Figg, although he didn't dislike her either; before he had gotten his letter to Hogwarts, his Aunt and Uncle would always shuttle him over at her house and leave him there while they treated Dudley and his friends to treats for his birthday. Mrs. Figg was an old woman who was quite strange, but was kind to Harry, and came off rather odd indeed. She always had a chocolate cake that was a week old, or even older, and Harry had to be careful of avoiding stepping on her many cats' tails, a feat that he was never quite able to do, since the cats were all over the place. She'd have Harry help her around the house, gardening, fixing things, or hang up antiques that she got from friends. And the worst thing was that the place smelled of the cats, and cabbage, a smell Harry recalled when he had a tour of boys tent that Mr. Weasley had gotten from his partner Perkins. Then there was the fact that all her furniture was mismatched, and had several knitted covers, and she had no television what –so –ever. So Harry had to find other things to occupy his time, which use to be playing cards or other games with Mrs. Figg.

 When he arrived, Mrs. Figg was waiting outside, watching as Mr. Dursley pulled up in his company car and Harry got out, hauling his trunk with his school supplies, Hegwig's cage, and a suitcase packed with normal Muggle clothing. Uncle Vernon hissed at him another warning of behaving as Mrs. Figg came over and gave Vernon a cold look.

            "Vernon," she said while two enormous tabbies sat besides her on the driveway, "I want a word with you before you leave Harry here."

            "About what," Uncle Vernon had asked an indignant look upon his face.

            Mrs. Figg held out the remains of a plant that Harry at once recognized; he'd seen it just last year at Hogwarts, a young bubotuber sapling. The plant had been crush and run over. "This was a very important plant of mine Mr. Dursley. Your son, Dudley" she sniffed as she said it as if she'd just said a very nasty curse word, "and two of his…friends…knocked this off my porch, and then ran it over with his bike. I will be expecting payment for the damages Vernon."

            Uncle Vernon glared at her, "For a ruddy plant, I think not. How do you know it was my son?! You have no proof…"

            "My cats say they saw him, and that's good enough for me," Mrs. Figg cut him off. "I will be expecting payment as soon as you return from your trip, if not sooner."

            "Very well," said Uncle Vernon tersely, and Harry saw him mouth 'Her cats…' with a suspicious look that he got when he thought Harry was doing any magic. Then he looked to Harry and said, "I'm warning you boy, if I hear that you showed off any of your abnormality over here…or if you try to contact any of those weirdo's you call friend to come get you…"

            "I know, I know," Harry said back, his brow narrowed, and said in a sarcastic tone, "I won't ask Ron to come and get me." 

            "Abnormality," Mrs. Figg wrinkled her nose. "Weirdoes…? Utter nonsense Vernon, the boy has no abnormality…unless that's what you've been telling him it is." She looked at Harry, for the first time, with a concerned look, "Have they been telling you that, Harry? Didn't your Aunt and Uncle tell you why you have to stay here? I'm sure Albus mentioned it in the letter. They did tell you after you came back from school last year didn't they?"

              "Ah…" was all Harry was able to get out, when Mrs. Figg turned on Uncle Vernon with a look of anger. Her wrinkled face twisted into a look that Harry was sure would have made even Mr. Filch nervous. 

            "You didn't tell him? You mean to tell me that he doesn't realize why he must stay here?! Do you think the boy doesn't have enough thought in his head to comprehend?" Her two large cats had leapt up on Vernon's car's hood and were hissing at him. "You will tell him right now, Vernon."

            "Tell me what?" Harry had asked, looking extremely perplexed. Uncle Vernon was looking at the cats as they were hissing, and Mrs. Figg, with terror in his beady eyes. He tried to back up the car, but it wouldn't start, and Mrs. Figg said once more, "You will tell him now Vernon."

            Mr. Dursley shot Mrs. Figg a very nasty look, then turned to Harry and said bluntly. "She's your Secret Keeper, what ever that means. More of the freakishness that surrounds you boy," he looked to Mrs. Figg, "there I told him."

            Mrs. Figg nodded to her two cats who jumped off, and just like that the car jumped into reverse and shot down the driveway, smashing it's backend into the fire –hydrant and knocking it over. Water gushed out as Uncle Vernon let out a loud scream, and several of the neighbors came out to see what was happening. Vernon Dursley managed to get the car back into the right gear, and set off down the street with the bumper hanging off, sending sparks up as it scrapped the street.  Harry blinked, and stared at the sight. He'd never seen anything like it; it was like the python he'd sic on Dudley at the zoo all over again, only far better. Mrs. Figg beckoned her cats, and hitched up the shawl she had over her shoulders and said, "Come along Harry. Inside now, hurry, can't have you catching a chill."

            Harry had followed and once inside and Mrs. Figg said, "Been waiting fourteen long years to do something like that to that brutish Muggle." Then she started laughing, a kind sort of laugh, and one that was quite infectious as well. Harry had never heard Mrs. Figg laugh, and he joined in too. After she got him some lemonade, and some cookies, Mrs. Figg had explained, as best she could that Dumbledore had asked her to act as Harry's Secret Keeper, and protect him till the time was right to reveal herself. And now, that Harry was at Hogwarts and understood what had happened to his parents, she could safely tell him that she was a witch. It took Harry several minutes to collect himself after she had finished explaining the situation. To Harry it made perfect sense that she was a witch, she owned so many cats, and her odd plants, and the fact that she didn't own a telephone, or a television…why hadn't he seen it before.

            The next several weeks with Mrs. Figg flew by. She let Harry send out Hegwig, and he helped her with her potions and other things around the house. For once Harry felt the same happy feeling he had when he was at Hogwarts. Mrs. Figg, for all her strange ways, was really a very nice lady, and Harry was glad he was with her and not with his Aunt and Uncle. A week before his birthday he got a letter from Ron. Pig, Ron's small owl, flew in one morning to Harry's room, and startled him awake.

            "Get down here you," Harry said grabbing hold of the minute owl who hooted happily when caught and nipped Harry's finger. Harry took off the letter and let Pig get some food from Hedwig's food dish. She still gave the small owl a look of disapproval, but she had grown use to him and joined him in eating. It was Oliver; Mrs. Figg's old gray Persian, who'd taken to sleeping on Harry's bed at night, that wasn't thrilled to see Pig. He tried to cover his ears to block the high pitched hooting from Pig, but in the end gave up, and pulled his baggy, elderly body off the bed, and trotted out of the room with a shake of his head. Harry laughed, and read the letter.

            Dear Harry,

            Got your letter, so this Mrs. Figg is a witch, Mum says she's heard of her, but doesn't know who she is. Dad's been twice as busy with raids; it's been really bad. There are tons of rumors flying around that a number of Muggles have been attacked, and that people have been seeing a flurry of strange things happening. Dad thinks it's the Death Eaters going on a binge. We went to Cedric's funeral early this month, almost all of Hufflepuff was there, and guess who else was there. Malfoy and his family actually had the nerve to show up! He and his parents came with Fudge and his wife. Cho was there too; she was sitting with Mrs. Diggory. I guess she was trying to console Cedric's mum, but from the looks of it Mrs. Diggory was doing more of the consoling.  I saw Hermione there as well with her folks, she was wondering if you were feeling okay. You haven't been having any more nightmares have you?

 Mum just got word from Dumbledore that you can come and stay with us. That is if Mrs. Figg says it's okay. Lots of things have been happening over here. Bagman's been officially sacked, looks like his debts have run really high, and some one spotted him in America. I guess he's hoping to avoid the goblins, but Bill says that he hasn't got a chance, those goblins will find him in no time. So far there haven't been any bad reports on the Ministry from Skeeter, may be Hermione's jar changed her, ("That'd be a surprise," Harry thought) but I doubt it. There's not been enough dirt out yet. Fred and Gorge started inventing as soon as we got home. Mum insisted that they put it in the bank, but they're more determined then ever. Been trying out new stuff almost every other day! Ginny's been getting mail from someone, but she won't tell us. Mum thinks she's got an admirer.

  

            Mum just sent a letter out to Mrs. Figg, we'll be coming to pick you up by three o'clock. Oh and just to warn you, Percy's been given a promotion by Fudge, temporary till they get someone to take over the International Magical Cooperation Department, but the way he's been going on about it. Worse then when he got his Head Boy letter.

                                                                                    See you soon

                                                                                                Ron

            Harry finished the letter, and smelled sizzling sausage, and hurried down stairs to see Mrs. Figg feeding Errol, the Weasley's old Owl. He looked like an ancient feather duster, and was gulping down water as if he had never had a drop to drink in his life. Mrs. Figg saw him and held up the letter. "Better get packed if there going to be here by three then," she insisted, and Harry noticed that there was a group of letters along with the letter from Mrs. Weasley. Owl post was the normal way for wizards to send mail, and Mrs. Figg obviously had gotten quiet a few letters. She smiled at Harry as he sat down as sat down to eat. 

            At three o'clock that afternoon the Mr. Weasley, Ron, Fred and Gorge, arrived to pick him up, using floo powder to arrive, and Mrs. Figg sent him on his way with a wink, saying that she'd see him soon enough. Harry spent his birthday with Ron and his family, and Mrs. Weasley insisted upon having a party for Harry, and Harry met the rest of the
Weasley clan, including Mrs. Weasley's account cousin. On his birthday Harry received, along with a number of birthday greetings and gifts from his friends. Hermione sent him a fine looking quill set, and Hagrid had sent him a package of the best fudge he had ever tasted. And from Hogwarts, he got his normal letter from Professor McGonagall reminding him to be at platform nine and three quarters at eleven o'clock on September 1st.

            It was a wonderful summer, and yet even with all the Qidditch  that he and Ron, Fred and Gorge played, and all the wonderful treats he had at the Weasleys, Harry couldn't shake the foreboding he had every time he went outside, or to sleep. Twice he'd seen the black bird that he'd seen at Privet Drive, and the one time he went down to the village with Ron and Ginny to find a run away chicken, Harry swore that he saw a woman watching him from inside a store. Harry didn't tell this to Mrs. Weasley because he knew she would get terribly upset, he didn't even mention it to Ron.

            Two weeks before the start of the school term the Weasleys and Harry went to Diagon Alley to pick up supplies for school. Here Harry and Ron had run into Hermione who was with her parents. Harry noticed that she had a perfect badge pinned to her cloak, but wasn't showing it off as Percy had last year. She said nothing about Krum, but Harry could tell Ron was wondering what she'd said to him the day they left Hogwarts. Hermione, on the other hand, was more anxious to ask Harry about his dreams, a subject Harry had avoided till then. Harry told Hermione what he had told Ron that they were just bad dreams, and that was it. It wasn't until they got into Flourishes and Blotts that Harry felt the uneasy feeling that had plagued him all summer. He looked around and had spotted a woman in a midnight blue velvet cloak, pretending to be reading a book, watching him. As soon as she saw that he noticed her, she turned and headed for the door.

            As she left, Harry saw that a black bird, one that looked very much like the bird that he had seen flying around watching him by Privet Drive and the Burrow, landed on her shoulder. Harry put his book down, and started for the door, Ron and Hermione calling to him. He ignored this, and found himself winding his way through Diagon Alley, and saw the woman pick up her pace, realizing that she was being followed. Harry quickened his step, and dodged past different wizards and witches as they bought their goods. It wasn't till Harry was at the edge of Knockturn Alley that Ron and Hermione caught up with him.

            "Harry, what is it?" Ron asked, catching his breath. "What's the matter?"

            "There was a woman who was watching me, who's been watching me. And I want to find out why." Harry told him. "She just went down there."

            "Harry, w-we can't go down there," Hermione told him, and was pulling him back. "That's Knockturn Alley. You remember what happened down there the last time…"

            "I know, but…" Harry tried to find the right words. "She knows something; I can feel it, Hermione. I've got to find out why she's been following me."

            Reluctantly Hermione nodded, and she, Ron, and Harry, started down the dark Alley. Harry had forgotten how dire it was down in Knockturn Alley, the grim and shadows seem to have doubled since he'd last found himself, by accident, down the narrow street. The trio kept close to one another as they made there way further down the twisted corridors. Hags and vile looking warlocks watched them with cold, dark eyes, and it seemed to Harry that these people were almost happy to see them come down this way. A hag, halfway down, had grabbed Hermione and commented that her hair would make an excellent pillow stuffing. Ron was turning pale at the sight of the many spiders that crawled along the ground, windows, and walls of Knockturn.

            Harry had been trying to find the woman, but was having no luck in the dark alley and, at Hermione's suggestion, agreed that they should be getting back. She had just vanished, and seeing as her cloak had been so dark a color Harry was sure that she had ducked into a shadow earlier and went back. However, when Harry turned around he discovered that he didn't know the way out.

            "Let's go this way," Ron suggested, seeing a gaggle of disfigured goblins whispering at the trio. Harry nodded and they set off to the left, but soon were blocked by a group of strange hags that were grinning at them, and they backed up rather quickly, because Hermione bumped into a barrel of wiggling, ugly, slugs, splashing it all over the ground. The owner of the shop wasn't too pleased, and Ron shouted to run. And run they did, as fast as they could, as the owner was shouting, "Stop those thieves!"

            Instantly several warlocks blocked another way out, and Harry pulled his friends down another entrance, and down several steps into a dimly lit street, and away from the warlocks. They were running blind, turning in circles, and trying to retrace their steps. Panicked, they whirled about the alley and found that pounding footsteps followed them. It was a nightmare, and none of them could wake up. Ron was muttering something about not wanting to die, and Hermione looked extremely pale as he bushy hair flew behind her.

            They turned another corner and someone grabbed Harry's shoulders. A sharp cold voice that Harry recognized at once said, "In here, and be quick about it."

            The person had steered them right into a small shop full of curious oddity. Through the dirty window Harry, Ron, and Hermione saw the group of warlocks pass, come back cursing that the trio had disappeared, and saw them head back to the upper portion of Knockturn Alley. They let out a collective sigh of relief, only to hear their rescuer clear his throat. They had turned around slowly, to face none other then their Potions Master, Severus Snape.

            Severus Snape was a tall man with long black greasy hair, sallow skin, and a hooked nose. His black eyes gazed down at the trio and the look they received was something that was a cross between loathing, and annoyance. Harry knew that Snape saw them all as pests, and greatly disliked Ron and Herminone. But he saved his worst feelings for Harry.

            Professor Snape hated Harry, and the feeling was more then mutual. Ever since his first year Snape had shown only disgust of Harry and his friends, and Harry suspected that Snape suspected them of stealing from his private stores at the school. It was true that Hermione had taken some Boomslang skin back in their second year to make a polyjuice potion to find out who was setting a monster on the Muggle-born in the school, but Snape had only truly begun to suspect after last year when Barty Crouch jr. had stolen the ingredients to make his own polyjuice potion in order to keep up his disguise as Mad-eye Moody, a famous Auror. It was during this time that Harry had found out about Snape being an ex-Death Eater, and a spy for Headmaster Dumbledore. And just last year Dumbledore had asked Snape to do something, what that was, Harry did not know, but he had wondered thought out the summer.

            "And, exactly what are you three doing down here?" Snape had asked in his silkiest voice. He folded his arms across his chest, and hovered over them like a giant bat. Snape was watching Harry, eyeing him up, as if he was waiting for Harry to give him some sort of lame excuse. It was Hermione who spoke up first though, and in a very careful way.

            "Well Professor," she started, "we were actually looking for a relative of mine. She's a Muggle, and got so very excited at seeing Diagon, that she took off to explore, and we lost her. And one of the shopkeepers said that he thought he saw her come down this way. So we came down here to look, and got lost. She probably slipped into one of the other stores back in Diagon, and we just didn't see her."

            "So," Snape said with a sneer, "you let a Muggle wander around Diagon Alley, by themselves, without supervision, and you haven't the faintest idea where they are? Really Miss Granger, if I could I would take a hundred points from you for this, but as it's summer I can't." He gave her a sharp cold look. "Do you realize the sort of damage that could occur if this, relative of yours, were to buy an item here and use it outside in their home? Your house would be visited by the Accidental Magic Reversal squad, and I don't think that your parents would like to try and explain that situation to your…relative…Miss Granger."

            Hermione cast a look to Harry that was almost pleading, but lowered her head as if she were ashamed. Snape's eyes rounded on Harry and Ron, who instantly looked down as he spoke, "I will be speaking to the Headmaster about this, perhaps a months worth of detention ought to calm this curious nature of yours. But for now, follow me, and keep close. There are those who would just love to get a hold of a young wizard or witch and use them for…shall we say… malicious purposes."

            With that Snape led them though a back door and up a set of stone steps. There he peered around the archway, and then beckoned them to follow. Up several passageways, and behind a number of shops, the small procession went, not talking to each other. After what seemed like hours, Snape pointed out the main Alley and the entrance to Diagon. Then he slipped back the way they came, and Harry, Ron and Hermione headed straight for the sunlit world of Diagon Alley.

            Once back on familure ground the trio went to rest, but not wanting to deal with anyone (Ron had ushered them away from a rushing Gorge, Fred, and the twins best friend Lee Jordan, who were waving them to come over and see something that they bought) they went inside a pastry shop that was near the entrance of Knockturn. Inside was only a hand full of wizards and witches, most past their prime. On a stool by the counter a small freckled face witch sat talking to the owner, and laughing with her. Harry and Hermione sat down at a table, and Ron went to get something to eat.

            "Harry, be honest, what's going on?" Hermione asked after sitting a while in silence. Her face was still pale from fright, but there was a determined glint in her eye, one that Harry had seen on many occasions when Hermione was set on something. Ron had brought back some small cakes, and sat down.

            "Yeah, what's the matter with you? I've seen you toss and turn at night. You're having more nightmares, aren't you?"

            Harry looked back and forth between Ron and Hermione, and saw nearly identical expressions of worry in their faces. They didn't care that they had just gone down the most dangerous Alley in all of Wizard London. Nor did they eat any of the food that Ron had just brought over. Harry smiled, he was glad to have friends that really cared about him, and then with a deep breath he related the problems that he was having. The break in at his Aunt and Uncles house, the black bird, the woman in St. Catchpole ("You mean to tell me you saw someone watching us and didn't think to tell any of us? She could have followed us home, Harry." Ron hissed. "I know, I know," Harry replied, "I should have, but I didn't want you to worry."), and the fact that he saw her just now in the bookstore, with the bird on her arm. After he'd finished Harry looked to Ron and Hermione, waiting to see what they had to say. At once Hermione insisted up Harry writing to Dumbledore, but Ron said he didn't see a reason, or at least not one yet. And Harry agreed that he should write to Sirius. It was then that the little freckled witch had jumped down and told them off for going into Knockturn, and had left in a huff when Ron dismissed her very quickly.

            For the rest of the day Harry tried to find the woman, but he knew it was no use; she was gone. The day before the start of term Harry, Ron, the twins and Ginny, were packed and ready to leave the Burrow. Mr. Weasley would not be coming with them the next day, as he had to supervise several raids that following morning. Percy was off on a rant on how everyone was worried about nothing, and that Mr. Fudge had every right to insist upon sending in some specialist to keep and eye on Dumbledore. This had lead to a fight with Mrs. Weasley, and Percy stormed up stairs slamming his bedroom door. However Percy was able to secure two large cars for them to travel to the station. ("I will not have my family ride on a Muggle Underground, it's far to risky," he told his mother as she got into the car.) The trip to Kings crossing was quite nice, and Ginny played happily with Pig until they came to the station.

            As they raced to the barrier, and hurried though, Harry waved hello to Hermione who was running to catch up with them. "Mum had a emergency so she sent me by my self."

            As normal the scarlet steam engine of the Hogwarts express was all ready to go, and soon the group had piled into separate compartments. Gorge and Fred had gone off to look for Lee, and Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny took a compartment in the back. Hermione let Crookshanks out of his box, and he cuddled up besides Ginny. Talk all over was of what new measures the Ministry had set up, and around two Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, had come to visit.

            "Been all over the news, it has," Seamus told Harry. "Diggory's Da has been offering money for anyone who can give information on Cedric's death."

            "And the Ministry is sending out two officers from the MLES to stay at Hogwarts," Dean said, looking at Harry with a slight smile. "Seems they think that You –Know –Who didn't cause any of the trouble last year."

            The two stayed for a while, talking to Ron and Harry about Quidditch and who might be chosen as Captain, and Keeper. When they left Neville Longbottom had come in. He said he was trying to avoid a group of Slytherin seventh years that were causing trouble in the forward compartments. His face was white when he came in, but a slight pink came to his cheeks when he spotted Ginny, who quickly looked away.

            "Ah can I stay in here with you?" He asked them, and sat down by Harry and Ron.

"Well, Well, Well, Longbottom." A cold drawling voice said from the doorway. "You better watch out, or you'll get what Diggory got. Hanging around with Mudbloods can make you an easy mark."

Harry looked up, as Draco Malfoy, and his two goons, Crabbe and Goyle, came into the room. Crabbe and Goyle looked to have grown quite a bit, and seemed to gain more mass.

"So tell me Potter," smirked Malfoy, his gray eyes shifting up to the scar on Harry's forehead, "how does it feel to be considered a murder?"

"I donno, Malfoy," Harry said coolly, "maybe your Dad could answer that question for you."

Malfoy's pale eyes drew narrow, but his face went a bit paler then normal, making it seem pointier then ever. To Harry's surprise Malfoy said nothing in return, instead he started to make comments about knowing all sorts of things since his father and Fudge were such "good friends" claiming that soon Dumbledore would be removed from his job and that Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, would make certain of it. Then he went on to taunt Neville about his parents, saying the most awful of things to him; and then, when Ron, told him to go 'Sod off' Malfoy turned his attack onto Ron. He actually pulled his wand on the tall red headed boy. This was a big mistake however, because to everyone's disbelief in the compartment, Ginny Weasley blasted Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, with a spell that sent them flying straight back out into the hallway, and thee trio slammed into the wall, crumpling into a heap on the floor. Then she marched over, and shut the door, and said plainly, "Well, he was getting on my nerves!"

            "Ginny? You sure you're alright?" Ron asked with a perplexed look on his face. Ginny blushed, and then said.

            "I'm fine," and she took her seat next to Neville. Harry was surprised by Ginny, after the way Draco had treated her in her first year at the school, she'd finally gotten back at him. He gave her a smile, and she blushed even harder. It was not a secret that Ginny was still taken with Harry, but she'd changed over the past three years, and the crush that she had had been on the wane. On the other hand Neville Longbottom seemed to suddenly be very busy looking at the passing trees as the train made its way towards the castle, careful to avoid looking Ginny right in the eye. Harry saw that he was smiling. 

            Once they were off the train, and out on the platform, Harry, Ron, and Hermione paused briefly to wave to Hagrid who was calling to the First years to follow him. First years traveled across the lake to the school, while the rest of the students rode in horseless carriages up to the castle. Harry, Ron, and Hermione got into a carriage, and the door shut behind them. Soon the train of carriages was making their way up to Hogwarts castle. Harry was taking advantage of the warm weather, and pulled down a window, to cool the stifling inside. As he watched the town of Hogsmeade pass by, he was startled to see a sudden blue flash emanate not far from the Hogsmeade station. Then like a camera flash, it faded as if it had never been.

            Shaking his head, thinking, hoping he had just imagined the incident, he looked back to his friends.

            "Something wrong Harry?" Ron asked when Harry pulled his head back in and looked puzzled.

            "No, no, it's just…I just saw something flash blue out by the station, that's all."

            Hermione, with a glance at Ron, looked out as well. Neither saw a flash, and Harry quickly dismissed it. When the carriages stopped in front of Hogwarts the students filed out into the entrance hall, only to suddenly be assaulted by Peeves, the resident poltergeist, who tossed several glass objects at them with the utmost glee. Professor McGonagall shouted at him to stop threatening, as always, to have Dumbledore cast him out. Peeves stuck his tongue out at her, and let go a raspberry, then flew up through the top of the ceiling. Hermione went with several other Prefects into another room, and told Harry and Ron she would see them soon.

            The students then were led into the Great Hall, with it's enchanted ceiling showing a clear sky full of brilliant white stars. Yet as Harry sat down, he noticed at the staff table that there was far more people then usual. An empty chair for Hagrid, who was out leading the first years over the lake, sat beside professor's Flitwick (Charms) and Sprout (Herbology). Professor Sprout looked quite sad, not as sad as she had been last year at the end of year feast, but it was obvious that she was still mourning for Cedric Diggory, he had been in her house. Besides Professor Sprout was Professor Sinistra (Astronomy), and Vector (Arithmancy). On the opposite side Harry saw a woman, wearing a dark blue robe, like that of a police officer, with thick blonde hair sitting besides a man with chestnut hair and a mustache, who was dressed in gray, and had a derby hat hanging over the right side of his chair.

            In the center of the table sat Professor Dumbledore, who was talking to Professor Snape. The long gray beard that Dumbledore wore looked like it had grown another foot or so, and his blue eyes twinkled as the students took their seats. On Dumbledore's right sat Snape, to his left was an empty chair for Professor McGonagall. Then Harry saw something that made him jump, to Snape's left sat Flur Delacour, the young witch from France who had competed last year in the Tri-wizard Tournament. She had mentioned she wanted to work at Hogwarts to learn better English, but Harry had not seriously thought she would be coming. The other person who had caught Harry off guard was the woman next to Flur. If he hadn't been awake he would have thought he was dreaming, because it was Mrs. Figg who was sitting beside Flur, and talking to her with a smile on her face. If she saw Harry she certainly didn't act like she had. Between Mrs. Figg and the chestnut haired man, was an empty chair.

            Harry nudged Ron, who had been staring abstractedly at Flur, and told him that the woman she was talking to was Mrs. Figg. She looked very different in her red robes, and Ron mumbled something about, "You think she's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

            "You know her," hissed a Third year that was sitting near Harry. "Any chance you can put in a good word for me?"

            Hermione eventually turned up just in time for the sorting, smiled and sat down next to Ginny. Upon Hagrid arriving with several nervous first years, Professor McGonagall had them sit on a wooden three-legged stool, and called them up by name. They were sorted by the sorting hat, and placed into the four Houses (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin). Once this was over Professor Dumbledore invited them to eat, and magically food, from the kitchen below, popped up on the tables. Soon everyone was so busy eating and enjoying himself or herself, that they were startled when Professor Dumbledore made his usual speech.

              "Another school year has begun," he said looking them over. "Sadly this year once among us is not present at this feast, one who should be. I speak of Cedric Diggory, a boy who was very brave even in the face of unspeakable danger." He looked to the Hufflepuff First years as he spoke, "I hope that each of you shall learn of this young man, and try to live up to your house as he did. A Hufflepuff is loyal and true and not afraid to work, this was what Helga Hufflepuff chose when she selected her students, and Cedric Diggory embodied this while he was at Hogwarts."

            Everyone raised a flask of Pumpkin juice to toast Cedric, and then Dumbledore continued. "As some of you already know, we two very important visitors who will be with us throughout the year. I am speaking of Mr. Danial Jacobs, and Ms. Lynda Simkins, Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad, and First Lieutenant of the Homicide division." The tables clapped for the man and woman, but with very little enthusiasm, and Harry noticed that Mrs. Figg was glaring at Officer Simkins. "They are here to conduct an investigation, along with three guards from Azkaban."

            Dementors, Harry thought, as Dumbledore warned not to interfere with the officers, or try and trick the Dememtors. As he did last time Professor Dumbledore added not to use an invisibility cloak against the Dementors, and that Jacobs and Simkins would be using them as watchmen for a private office in the castle on the third floor.

            "Also we have three new staff members here, whom I would like to welcome." Dumbledore continued with a twinkle in his blue eyes. "Firstly, Mrs. Arabella Figg has agreed to take up the position as Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts this year. Then there is her Assistant, who will be assisting Professor Figg in reviews for Fifth and Seventh year students, as well as teach third and sixth year with Professor Figg. And lastly Ms. Flur Delacour will be student teaching with Professor Flitwick, and working with Professor Figg's assistant in learning how to teach here. I'm sure you will all will give her your attention in class."

            Several boys pulled up their jaws from the floor, including Fred, and Flur gave Dumbledore a polite smile. From there on in it was the normal speech, no going into the Forbidden Forest. No one under third year allowed into Hogsmeade, and Qidditch sessions would begin at the start of November, and for anyone interested that was not in first year, to speak with their Heads of House, or Madame Hooch, and the fact that Mr. Filch had added seventy-seven more items on his list of items that were banned from the school, including fake wands, canary creams, and exploding pogwallors.

            Hermione shouted for the first years of Gryffindor to follow her and she led the table from the hall. Hermione beamed at Ron and Harry, obviously very pleased at how well she was handling her new responsibility, and lead the group up the stairs to the Fat Lady's portrait.

            "Password?" she asked, while two first years squealed at the sight of a talking painting. 

            "Jabberwokey," Hermione said, and led them in. Harry and Ron were so sleepy from eating their fill that they, along with Neville, Dean and Seamus had gone up to sleep. That was when the nightmares had started.

            As all of this ran around his head Harry was surprised when Ron tapped his shoulder saying, "Oy, Harry, look we got Care of Magical Creatures first. Damn, what is this, are they trying to torment us or something?"

            Harry looked; they had been put with Slytherin again. A sharp call from the table behind them made him turn.

            "Hey Potter," it was Malfoy, laughing. "Need a nightlight? Scared of the dark, having all those nightmares."

            The rest of the Slytherins chucked, as Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way out of the Great Hall. Then, as they passed by the Greenhouses, and across the vegetable fields, Harry got the strangest nervous sensation. As if something unique was about to occur, and something that he had no way of stopping.