Disclaimer: Um, right, you all know this ain't mine. Harry and Co. belong to J.K. Rowling. However, I do own something. Adriane Black is MINE. You can use her character if you wish, but please ask.
Summary: I'm over it.
A/N: You can kill me for not posting earlier, but then I can't post any more chapters. What would you do then? A little less thought out than the other chapters, but I have finals this week, so I figured I would force this one to happen.
Truth Be ToldBy Witchmaster
Anything But NormalHarry managed to escape from the Dursleys without incident for once. Actually, the Dursleys had hidden in the kitchen while the Weasleys had gotten Harry's things. It was after that that things had gotten a little hectic.
First, Mr. Weasley had gotten lost in the middle of London. They had driven in circles for a very long time before taking a turn down a one-way street. The wrong way. They drove up the street with muggles swerving to avoid them for quite some time. Apparently, one muggle had finally decided to call the police, for a car with flashing lights stopped in front of them, preventing them from going any further. Things had taken an even sharper turn down hill after that.
" Sir, you are blocking the road," Mr. Wealsey said as the cop, a small balding gentleman, approached their window.
" This is a one way street," the cop responded. " You're going the wrong direction." Then he looked in the back and noticed that there were too many people for the number of seat belts. He proceeded to try and write a ticket for Mr. Weasley. However, when the cop asked for a driver's license, he discovered that Mr. Weasley wasn't in possession of one. A big debate followed, ending when Molly Weasley placed a memory charm on the officer, who politely asked them to turn around and gave them directions to King's Cross. Never the less, the whole thing caused them to arrive with about three minutes to spare.
The first thing noticed by all was how incredibly quiet the station was compared to how it usually was. Harry reckoned that there were only half the students than normal. Even so, he and Ron probably wouldn't have found a compartment that was empty if Hermione hadn't found them and almost physically dragged them, trunks and all, to the front of the train.
The entered the small compartment just as the train began to pull away from the station. Caught off guard, Ron slipped and sat down on one of the seats. Unfortunately, Crookshanks was already occupying that place. The cat hissed and stalked over to Hermione. Ron opened his mouth to say something rather nasty about the animal, but caught himself and said "Sorry, Crookshanks," instead.
Harry and Hermione both stared at him, openmouthed. Hermione was the first to recover from her surprise. " How were both of your summers?"
Ron's ears went a little red. " Oh… erm…fine," he muttered.
Hermione turned to Harry, who shrugged. "Okay, I guess. The Dursleys weren't horrible, but Aunt Petunia finally lost it at Dudley," he smiled slightly, still amused by the memory. "Not much else happened."
"So, Hermione, how was your summer?" Ron's ears were still slightly red.
" Oh, fine. Viktor invited me to Bulgaria, but my parents wouldn't let me go, " she answered him.
"That's good," Ron said vaguely. Then, he seemed to realize what he had said and his ears turned redder. " I-I mean…"
Harry burst out laughing. Soon, Hermione and, eventually, Ron joined in. It felt good to laugh again, something none had done very much that summer.
" So, Harry," Hermione managed between giggles, " Did you hear from Sirius at all this summer?"
" Yes, twice," Harry said. " He's at Professor Lupin's. He said they were working on something, but he wouldn't tell me what."
" Probably something to do with You-Know-Who's return," Ron said, without thinking.
" Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, as if he'd cursed.
Harry's reaction was much different than hers. " Say, Voldemort," he said calmly. Ron flinched. " And, its okay, Hermione."
" Have you had any dreams this summer?" they both ask simultaneously.
Harry hesitated a fraction of a second before answering, "No." Better not to make them worry.
They both looked at him suspiciously, but didn't ask again. All three sat there silently for a few minutes.
In a desperate effort to break the silence, Harry suddenly asked, " I wonder who's going to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year?"
" I dunno," Ron said. " Maybe another ex-auror?"
" Just as long as he or she isn't another Death Eater in disguise," Harry said, with a grimace at the memory of last year.
" I, for one, wish Professor Lupin would come back," Hermione said. Harry and Ron nodded in agreement.
They continued talking in this manner for a long time, until the lunch cart came around. Even Ron bought something from the cart, much to the surprise of Harry and Hermione. Ron usually shared with them, not that they minded. The Weasleys were nice people, but incredibly poor.
" What?" he asked, noticing their stares. " Dad got a raise, and Fred and George gave me a bit of extra money. Dunno where they got it, but they bought me new dress robes, too." He rummaged around in his trunk. " Blue and no lace on them."
Harry mentally smiled a knowing smile. Outwardly, he said " That's great, Ron."
They talked a bit more, while eating pumpkin pastries and chocolate frogs, among other things. They continued to discuss their summers, and what classes were going to be like this year as the landscape rolled by outside the window. They were interrupted when the sliding door rolled open, revealing Draco Malfoy, for once not followed by his two stooges.
Harry and Ron leapt to their feet, Hermione rising more slowly. " Malfoy!" Ron snarled.
All were surprised to see Malfoy look a little frightened, and he turned and left without a word. The trio stared after him for a few minutes before Ron stepped forward and slammed the door shut. "What was that about?" he asked. Harry shrugged and even Hermione looked perplexed.
At that moment, the Weasley twins chose to make their entrance. They came through the door with a bag filled, no doubt, with things for pranks, wearing identical, devilish grins. Ron eyed them warily.
The twins walked over to Harry and each draped an arm over his shoulders. Fred bent his head close to Harry's ear and whispered, " We used the money you gave us to invent some stuff." That was all the clue he gave as to what.
" Anyone want a sweet?" George asked, offering the bag around. Not surprisingly, no one took up the offer.
They all whiled away the rest of the time playing Exploding Snap and laughing at Fred and George's jokes. At one point, Neville Longbottom joined them, unwittingly taking one of the trick sweets. A few seconds later, a purple bunny with pink spots sat where he had been. ( A/N: I give Sirius's Crazy Chick full credit for that.) After a short while, only his hair remained that strange coloration.
" Cocoa Conies," Fred informed them. This sent everyone into another fit of laughter.
By and by, they approached the school. Not for the first time, Harry got the feeling he was going home. This time, however, the feeling was tainted with a darker memory, which he pushed aside.
All the boys stepped out of the room so Hermione could change. She did the same for them. When she came back, Ron noticed the prefect's badge pinned to her robe.
" Hermione, why didn't you sit with the other prefects?" he asked.
" Because I didn't want to have to listen to Parvati and Lavender discuss how wonderful Divination was going to be this year," she said with a sniff.
Ron opened his mouth to say something, but the train suddenly lurched to a stop, and he was again thrown to the side. Instead of landing on Crookshanks this time, however, he landed on top of Hermione. Both turned scarlet. Ron attempted to stammer an apology as she yelled "RON!!" Everyone else found this hilarious, but they refused to talk to each until they reached the castle.
Fred and George were teasing the two mercilessly as they approached the Great Hall. However, all were struck dumb by the amount, or, rather, the lack there of, of the students in the hall. Harry had been nearly dead on in guessing that there was only half the amount of normal students. Gryffindor had by far the most, only missing the seventh years who had graduated last year, though by the look of the few first years entering, that number would hardly be replaced. Even the new students looked to be only half the ordinary number.
Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville all took their seats as Professor McGonagall brought out the Sorting Hat and set it on the old three-legged stool. A rip in the brim opened wide and seemed to smile, before the hat burst into song.
"Let me sing a song for you
I'll tell you all about
A small story, old and true
About each Hogwarts House
All together there are four
That's how its always been
Hufflepuff and Gryffindor
Ravenclaw and Slytherin
If you belong in Hufflepuff
Then you are just and loyal
Always mild, never rough
You're unafraid of toil
If you be of clever mind
Then Ravenclaws the best
Here you'll always find your kind
The wise among the rest
Or maybe in sly Slytherin
If you desire power
Or if cunning and ambition
Drive your waking hour
Or might you dwell in Gryffindor
Those brave and strong of heart
The daring will forever more
Set Gryffindors apart
Don't be afraid, put me on
I'll see your every thought
Never once have I been wrong
I'll find your perfect spot!"
The whole of the Great Hall burst into applause, with enough sound to make up for those missing. The clapping and cheering broke off as McGonagall called the first student forward, "Bard, Dylan" who became a Ravenclaw. Harry turned back to his friends.
" Wonder why there are so few people this year," Ron said. " D'you think it has anything to do with You-Kn- alright, Harry- Voldemort's," he quailed under Harry's glare and shuddered as he said the name, " return?"
Harry shrugged, albeit pleased with himself for finally getting Ron to say the name. "Guess it could, but most of the wizarding world doesn't think he's back," he said. He applauded "Dane, Samantha" as she became the first new Gryffindor. Then he glanced up at the teacher's table. Professor Dumbledore was watching the Sorting with much the same expression he always wore, though slightly sadder; the twinkle in his eyes wasn't as bright as it had been in the past. Snape wore the same unreadable expression he had at the final feast the term before, though he glanced down the table and gave someone Harry hadn't noticed yet a look of utter loathing. Harry followed his gaze and his heart gave a great leap. Professor Lupin looked at Harry and gave him a small wave, which Harry returned. As Professor Lupin turned back to Professor Sinstra, who he'd been conversing with, Harry turned back to his friends.
" Professor Lupin's back," he whispered excitedly. All of them started and turned up to the teacher's table.
" D'you think he's going to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts again?" Ron asked with barely restrained excitement.
" Of course he is, Ron," Hermione scoffed, " It's the only open position, isn't it?" She turned back to watch " Moran, Damian" get sorted into Slytherin. Ron stuck his tongue out at her back.
" Zablione, Gina" was the last person to get sorted and became a Gryffindor. All together, there were only about a dozen new students. Four had wound up in Gryffindor. Dumbledore stood up as Gina took her seat and McGonagall. He smiled and looked around. " All I have to say is: Eat!"
By magic, food appeared on all the tables. Harry smiled as he heard a couple of the first years gasp with surprise. That had much been his reaction during first year when the same thing happened. He reached for the potatoes just as one of the first years did. The result was the potatoes flew all over the table. The first year, a blue-eyed girl with long, dark, wavy brown hair, started to apologize just as Harry did. Harry started laughing and soon the girl joined in. She stuck out her hand across the table. He took it.
" I'm Samantha Dane. Most people call me Sam," she said, eyes sparkling with merriment.
" I'm Harry Potter, " he said, expecting the usual goggle-eyed stare his name generally brought on. Much to his relief, she showed no reaction.
" Nice to meet you, Harry," she said. She turned to the boy sitting beside her. " Dave, meet Harry. Harry, meet Dave." Harry and the boy shook hands. Sam introduced Harry to all the first years, and in turn, Harry introduced his friends. Fred and George shared a look, one that said they were planning something.
" Anyone want a sweet?" Fred asked innocently. He offered a very familiar bag. Dave eyed them, but took one any way. Seconds later, Dave was a red and gold striped bunny. Everyone at that end of the table started laughing. When he changed back, except, of course, for his hair, Dave joined them. Neville touched his still slightly purple and pink hair.
" They did the same thing to me earlier," he confessed.
Still snickering, Sam brought out a bag of her own. " Sweet?" she said in the same manner Fred had. Surprised, Fred and George took one each. Everyone found the two tiny owls, one blue and one red, even funnier than the Chocolate Conies.
Fred and George were looking murderous when they reappeared, but before they could retaliate, the food disappeared and Dumbledore stood up again.
" Another year has arrived," he said. Everyone cheered. " As usual, I have some start of term notices to make. The Forbidden Forest is still, as it's name suggests, forbidden. All houses will be having Quidditch trials one week into the term. Anyone can try out, but first years are reminded they may not have their own brooms." Harry noticed Sam looked vaguely disappointed. " However, we must now discuss a more serious topic.
" All of you remember the death of Cedric Diggory at the end of term last year." His eyes rested on all of the tables in turn, remaining on Hufflepuff the longest. " I once again wish to honor his memory," he said as he lifted his glass. Everyone, including all off the Slytherins, which Harry now noticed contained no Death Eater's children except Malfoy. " However, I do not believe Cedric would wish for us to dwell on the past. In light of Voldemort's," most of the people in the room, with the exception of most of the Gryffindors and Slytherins, flinched, "return, I repeat what I said at the end of last term. We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." His eyes scanned the tables again, and there was no doubt this time that his eyes rested on Gryffindor and Slytherin the longest. " Old rivalries must be forgotten if we are to defeat a common enemy. Our survival may depend on our ability to work together." One last time, he looked at everyone in the Great Hall. Then he smiled.
" On a lighter note, we have one new and one returning teacher in our midst," he said. Harry looked at his friends in confusion. Professor Lupin was the only 'new' teacher and there had only been one job opening anyway. " Our dear Professor Binns has finally retired. His class, History of Magic, will be taken over by returning Professor Remus Lupin." The hall erupted into wild cheering. Even if History of Magic was the most boring class in the school, A teacher as good as Professor Lupin was bound to make it interesting! Dumbledore let the cheering go on for several minutes before clearing his throat. This had as much of an effect as if he'd shouted. The hall fell quiet. " Also, though she will not be arriving until late tonight, we have a new teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts." Several people laughed. No one could remember the last time they hadn't had a new Defense teacher. " Though she is not here, I would like to introduce Professor Adriane Black!" The hall clapped, though the sound was not as tumultuous as it had been for Lupin. The reaction at the teacher's table was very different, though.
Professors McGonagall, Sinstra, Sprout, and several others all looked at Dumbledore like he'd finally completely lost it. Hagrid and Lupin both looked shocked, as if they'd just realized something they hadn't thought of before. Snape, for one, had a mixed look on his face, somewhere between anger and confusion. All in all, the general air was one of disbelief.
Dumbledore either didn't notice their looks, or just ignored them. " Off to bed with you lot," he said, and turned to Lupin, who had started walking up to him when he had opened his mouth to dismiss the students.
The four fifth years walked out behind Fred and George and the first years, whose topic of discussion seemed to be pranks.
" D'you see the looks on the other teacher's faces when Dumbledore announced who the new Defense teacher was?" Ron asked. Hermione nodded and Harry made an affirmative noise. Even Neville nodded.
" It was pretty obvious," Hermione said. Harry listened absently to what they were saying. He glanced back to where Dumbledore was talking to Lupin, who was nodding about something.
He didn't know why, but he had a deep feeling that this year was going to be anything but normal.
*****
Ok, I did it!! I actually finished this chapter!!. The night before finals start, too. Health (urgg) and English tomorrow. Honors English isn't that bad, and at least I don't have to take the comprehensive final in Health.
A couple of things I need help with;
I need a part for Draco Malfoy. With him on the light side, of course. Anyone have a brilliant idea I could borrow? A million kudos to the person (or peoples) who help. Should any of the first years have a role in the story? I kinda like Sam. I still need a vote either way on the footnotes.All in all, an okay chapter. Longer than the others, but it didn't get anywhere. A little funnier than usual for me. No worries, angst is coming. Oh, and Adriane will be a big character. There's a lot of stuff coming people probably don't expect. Care to guess, anybody? Some of its obvious. Have fun.
Multiple thanks to the following people.
Ox king: Lots of people like that idea.
Shizu: Thank you!!! Here's more.
Angel: I didn't stop. I just took a break. J
Hermionegranger: I hope you found this chapter just as interesting.
bluebird161221: You deserve to hex me into oblivion, you really do.
Izean: It was both actually. Dream and vision, that is. It started out as dream and became vision.
s0ccerstar3000: Here's more. Hope you enjoyed it.
Ray: Thank you.
Jen: Bet you thought I'd quit. But I'm back, I really am.
eris wannabe: Thanks for saying I'm talented. ** embarrassed smile**
jliles: Glad you like it.
Littletiger: I'm glad you liked the descriptions. I think a lot of a story is in descriptions.
Abby: One of the best? I dunno. There are a lot of good ones.
Emma: He was hideous, wasn't he? ** Laughs evilly** I needed Lily desperate.
Aniwda: Thanks. A lot of the story's in the beginning.
Helen: Here it is!! Enjoy.
Candledot: A double review!! Not many people do that, myself included. No, Sev was not under Imperious. I wanted Lily running scared, right into the protective arms of her fellow auror and friend. ** Grimaces** That sounded really corny.
Tank u again. Chocolate Conies for everyone!!!
Alrighty then, I'd better go study. I'll try to post soon. Reviews are always welcome. That way, I know who to thank for reading. Or maybe I'm the review greedy author. Later, dudes 'n' chicks.
--WM