Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.  That would violate Anti-Slavery laws.

Author's Note: I guess I didn't describe why Harry would play the trumpet very well.  He didn't have his school-books, firebolt, quills, parchment, etc and was forced to spend a lot of time in his room, as I said.  He picked up the trumpet, simply because it was something to do.  Don't worry, it really doesn't play that big of a part in the story.

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The next day, Harry realized that his trumpet would have to be fine tuned.  According to Dudley's book, the first and second buttons (the book called them valves) were supposed to be equal to the third button.  But apparently some of the pipes weren't the right length and created two different notes instead.  And worse, the book said something about 'Alternate Fingerings'.  Was that supposed to mean he could hold the trumpet a variety of ways, or he could use different combinations of buttons?

Despite his difficulties, Harry began in earnest learning the trumpet.  Although only a couple of weeks had passed since he had made his first attempt at a trumpet, 10 hours a day of practice had a way of amplifying his results.  He was able to play a rough scale, and even had figured out how to play a lullaby he remembered hearing in school.

Harry quickly ran out of material to use.  The book he had begun with wasn't designed for teaching people how to play the trumpet, or even building one.  And he simply hadn't heard much music through his life.  His avenue for advancement lay in an unexpected place.

"You want me to do what?" asked Dudley, somewhat amazed.

"I want you to borrow some music from the library for me," asked Harry.

"Why would I want to do that?" Dudley responded.

Harry had to admit, Dudley had a point.  What did he have that could help Dudley, who seemed to have everything?  The answer hit him, and he smiled.  "Well, I could let you play with this…" Harry said, and then pictured in his mind a giant bow, with some giant suction cup arrows.  Harry quickly cast 'Elicio', and Dudley shuddered in fright.  He quickly got over that, once he saw the new toy he could play with.

Displaying beautiful timing, Piers walked into the room and said, "Wow!  When did you get that, Dudley?"

"Well, Dudley," Harry asked, "Do we have a deal?"

Dudley weighed his options.  The bow was created by magic, and Dudley hadn't had much luck with magic as of yet.  But the image of Mrs. Figg's cat stuck on a giant suction cup eventually got in his head.  He nodded and grabbed the bow excitedly.

Harry was a little disappointed when Dudley got back from his rampage.  Dudley was as good as his word, and brought back several CDs.  But they turned out to be a horrible sort of music, if it could even be called that.  "It's Jordan and the Crazy Monkeys." Dudley said proudly.

"Dudley, I'm looking for some simple music.  Can you bring back some old and simple music?" Harry asked.  Dudley looked at him, a slight smile on his face.  Harry realized immediately what he wanted.  "Give me back the bow and arrows.  I'll make you something else."  Harry had to balance two things carefully.  On one hand, he didn't want to go arming Dudley with weapons to lay waste to the neighborhood.  On the other hand, that was the type of thing Dudley wanted most.

Harry closed his eyes, and pictured a kind of mini water cannon.  After 'Abeo'ing the bow and arrows out of existence, he created a giant water gun.  Dudley's face fell in disappointment, and he said, "Harry, I already have one of those."

Harry smiled, and said, "But have you ever had one you've never needed to refill?"  Dudley smiled too, and grabbed the gun.


Harry and Dudley's trading pact was sailing smoothly.  After the water cannon, Harry made a giant slingshot, followed by a machine-gun foam ball shooter.  And Dudley obliged Harry by bringing in all sorts of odd music for Harry.  Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were baffled by Harry's ability to stay in his room completely quiet for over ten hours a day, and were puzzled how Dudley managed to have a brand new toy each week.

The music that captured Harry's imagination was something called Big Band, but almost all of it was far beyond his ability to play.  However, he had great success with children's songs, which were simple.  He was in the middle of London Bridge when he heard a knock on his door.  Harry quickly hid the trumpet, and opened the door.

"I was wondering, what do you do with all that music?  Do you just listen to it all day?" Dudley asked.

Harry thought about it a minute and beckoned Dudley in.  Dudley gasped in surprise as Harry pulled out his trumpet.  Harry started the music, and played along roughly with a few of the songs.  After he was finished, Dudley said, "I didn't know you could play the trumpet!"

Harry smiled, and said, "I've been teaching myself how to play it.  I've insulated the room so Petunia and Vernon don't hear."

"Well," Dudley said, "when you go back to school next week, you'll keep playing right?"

"Next week?" Harry said.  It then hit him that he was only going to be at the Dursley's for 5 more days.  "Yeah, I'll keep playing.  Why?"

Dudley shifted in his spot.  "Well, I was wondering if you could learn a song for me.  It's called 'Hey Jude'."  Without even waiting for Harry to respond, Dudley bolted from the room.  Harry decided he should pay his cousin back, and he'd learn the song.  Unless it was a song from Jordan and the Crazy Monkeys.

Harry boarded the Hogwarts express, and was anxiously looking for Ginny.  However, as the train got moving, only Ron and Hermione had entered the compartment.

"Where's Ginny at?" asked Harry.

"Oh, you didn't hear," said Ron in a crestfallen voice.  Harry gulped.  Ron continued, "It… well," and started gently sobbing into his robe.

"What happened?" asked Harry, completely devastated.

"She went off, and by the time we found her, it was too late…" and Ron broke down.

"She's, dead?" asked Harry, shocked.  Ron wouldn't look at him, and was mourning pitifully into his robes.

Before Harry could break down and start crying with Ron, Ginny bounded into the compartment and said excitedly, "Sorry I was late, Harry."  When Harry saw her, he immediately got up and gave her a giant hug.  He looked over at Ron, who was sniggering.  Hermione looked like she was trying to fight a smile.

"You!" yelled Harry at Ron.  Hermione started chuckling, and Ron burst into laughter.

"There," called Ron, "I got you back for the spider last year!"  Ginny didn't seem to know what to make of the whole situation, and sat down hesitantly next to Harry.

The train ride passed all too quickly, and Harry soon found himself in the Great Hall yet again while McGonagall led yet another herd of new arrivals in to be sorted.  Harry looked towards the end of the hall, and waited for the sorting hat to begin.  Soon after, the hat opened its mouth and sang:

A long long time ago

In an age long since past

Four wizards and witches conceived

A school where students would amass

Each founder had a different vision

Of what traits a scholar should own

They put their knowledge inside of me

So I could decide alone

Ravenclaw was a thinker

Who favored her pupils wise

If you have a keen mind

Try Ravenclaw on for size

Hufflepuff valued friendship

People loyal and true

If you have a kind heart

Hufflepuff could be for you

Slytherin was quite cunning

Whose followers were quite sly

If you have a crafty soul

Give Slytherin a try

Gryffindor was a brave lad

Whose students didn't know fright

If you have nerves of steel

Gryffindor would fit you right

With the knowledge they gave me

I can select students too

I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

Put me on and I'll sort you

McGonagall addressed the first years in a loud voice, "When I call your name, go up and put the hat on.  When it announces your house, please go sit at the appropriate table."

"That's definitely not what she said last year," said Ron.

"Not again," Hermione called as McGonagall called up "Avery, James."  Harry wasn't paying close attention to the two of them.  He knew that Avery was a death eater, and his son James might be as well.

Ron didn't appear to notice, and said, "Not what again?" as the hat announced Ravenclaw.  Harry didn't know whether to feel relieved or not.  On one hand, it meant that James wasn't power hungry.  On the other hand, maybe it meant that he was even more intelligent than he was power hungry, and needed looking after.

"The argument about what McGonagall said in years past," Hermione said; Rachel Bader was called up and announced as a Hufflepuff.

"What argument?" Ron asked as Helen Baxter was called up.

"You know what argument," Hermione said alongside the hat shouting Gryffindor.  While Harry congratulated Helen, Hermione continued, "You were talking about it the whole entire time the sorting was going on!  I must say, you were rather rude."  She apparently didn't' notice that Mark Dorsey, Christopher Goldstein, and Jung Han were sorted during her rant.

"We weren't talking the entire time.  Besides, I seem to remember you talked during it as well," Ron retorted.  Harry congratulated the second new Gryffindor, Karen Johnson.

"I talked when it was over, and I just told you that McGonagall didn't say the same thing every year," Hermione explained.  Harry watched as Maria Machado and Ian Martin made their way to Hufflepuff and Slytherin respectively.

"Oh, yeah.  By the way, how did you remember what she said each year?" Ron asked.  Harry was looking at the two of them in disbelief, and watched as Lisa Nichols walked to the Ravenclaw table.

"Not that again!" Hermione said, exasperated.  "Park, Andrew" called McGonagall.

"Not what again!" Ron asked, confused.  "Hufflepuff!" yelled the hat.

"Worrying about what McGonagall said all the past years," said Hermione.  McGonagall called out the next name.

"I just wanted to know how you remembered what she said," Ron said and Jill Powel walked up the hat.

"I don't know.  I've always been able to remember little things like that," Hermione said as Jill was announced as a Slytherin.

"Well, that would explain why you do so well in your studies," Ron admitted.  Hermione blushed; Douglas Robbins made his way to the Slytherin table after Jill.

 Harry looked in amusement at Hermione and Ron.  They were gazing at each other, and didn't seem to remember where they were at.  After Tanya Schaffer was announced as a Ravenclaw, Harry congratulated Linda Simpson and Philip Woodside as the last two Gryffindors.

"Did you two enjoy the sorting?" asked Harry, somewhat sarcastically.

"Huh?" Ron replied.  He didn't appear to notice what was going on.

"Well, you did congratulate the five new Gryffindors, didn't you?" asked Harry.

"Harry, what are you asking?  Of course, we noticed every one of them!  We're going to introduce ourselves to the five later tonight!"

"Good luck, then. I suppose you realize, though, that there are really only 4 new Gryffindors," Harry asked with glee.  Hermione's face fell; she knew Harry had trapped her there.

"So much," Harry continued, "for lecturing Ron and me about not paying attention to the sorting."

Harry would've needled her a little bit more, but Dumbledore spoke up, "It's yet again to start another year at Hogwarts.  I have a few start of term announcements; I'll be quick and get them over before the feast.  First, the forbidden forest is still off limits to all students.  Second, Quidditch teams will be formed the second week of class.  Anyone interested in taking part in their house team should contact Madame Hooch.  Finally, we will again be taking place in the Triwizard tournament." He waited for the loud cheering to die down, and continued, "We will again be limiting entrants to those 17 years or older."  Harry looked around, but nobody seemed to upset about this.  Of course, there weren't any firebrands 16 years old this year, he though.  Dumbledore seemed pleased about this and said, "However, unlike the last two years, this year Durmstrang will be hosting the event.  Anyone wishing to be part of the delegation should contact Professor McGonagall.  That said, I think it's about time to start the feast!"

Everyone dug in, eating the great assortment of foods that suddenly appeared.  Harry was eating some steak and kidney pudding, when Ron asked him, "So, Harry, are you going to enter this year?"

"Yeah, Harry!  I mean, you won two years ago," piped Ginny.

"Well, I don't know for sure," Harry admitted.

"What?  Why not?" asked Hermione.

"I don't know.  I mean, what would the point be?  If I were anyone else, getting selected as Hogwarts champion would be great.  But if I lost the tournament, I'd be laughed at – the boy who lived, beaten by another champion?  And if I won, I'd have to deal with all that publicity again.  Besides, Ron would probably beat me down," Harry explained.

"What?" sputtered Ron.

"You're probably right, Harry.  Ron was pretty jealous when you were selected," agreed Ginny.

"Jealous!" Ron squawked.  The other three looked at him, and sniggered.

"Maybe you should put your name in, Ron," Harry suggested.

Ron appeared to be considering this, when Hermione surprised them by saying, "Well, I'm going to enter."  Hermione seemed the least likely to enter something as dangerous as the Triwizard Cup.

"Well, there goes the idea of me entering, then," said Ron.  "I mean, how could the Goblet of Fire choose me over the great Hermione?  How many O.W.L.s did you get last year?  23?"

"Oh come on, Ron.  You can only get 16 at most, you know that," said Hermione.

"Well, how many did you get?" Harry asked.

Hermione hesitated, and softly said, "16."

Ron and Ginny dropped their silverware, and Harry sniggered.  The four finished their supper, and were led up to the Gryffindor commons by Lee Jordan, who amazingly was the new Gryffindor Prefect.  As soon as they were inside, Lee turned and addressed the rest.  "Welcome to Gryffindor!  I've got a few ground rules to lie down," he started, and a few people groaned.  He smiled, and said, "Ok.  First, everyone must at some point wander the corridors at night.  I won't hear any nonsense about following curfew.  Second, I want someone to follow in my footsteps of being the Hogwarts Quidditch announcer.  I'll be holding auditions next Monday.  Make sure you brush up on your nasty adjectives for Slytherin.  Lastly, anyone caught studying in the commons will find their room subject to Weasley Wizard Wheezes testing.  That is all."  He ran up, and gave Fred and George high fives.

"How on earth did he become prefect," Hermione asked, looking disgusted.

"Well, the year before you came they didn't have a lot of new students.  The only 7th years in Gryffindor this year are Fred, George, and Lee.  And they couldn't very well get Fred or George to do it," grinned Ron.  Hermione gave him a nasty look; apparently she was angry about the new rules being introduced.  Harry wondered how far the Gryffindor test scores would dip this year.

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A few notes.  First, I don't remember if the canon specifies the ages of Angelina, Alicia, and Katie.  So I'm saying Katie is three classes older than Harry, and Alicia and Angelina are two classes older.  I don't remember any older Gryffindors besides Oliver, Alicia, Angelina, Katie, Fred, George, and Let being mentioned.  If you don't like this, just imagine this: Lee Jordan is prefect!  Do you really think a rule stickler would be better?

Second, I've decided to get as many chapters up before 1:00 PM, 11/22/02 when I will be leaving for home for a week (and thus unable to post any chapters)

To the reviewers:

Anonymous: Hehe, give me a break – I've only had the story up a couple of days.  Don't worry, though.  I think I got the entire first story done within two weeks.  I'll try to match it (although you'll have to wait over the next week to see the new chapters)

Liza Potter: Hope you don't mind the trumpet too much.  I made sure I included the sorting in this chapter for you.

Please Review!