Chapter 4

Harry spent every day at the Quidditch Field practicing the Wronski Defensive Feint. He was getting really good at it.

On August 31st, Harry stayed at Mrs. Figgs house to get packed and ready for the next day.

~*~*~*~*~

"Rise and shine!" said Mrs. Figgs cheerfully.

"Ugh…" Harry groaned. "What time is it?!

"6:30" answered Mrs. Figgs.

"6:30?! I don't have to be on the train 'til 10:00!" Harry complained.

"I know, but it takes an hour to get to London. We're leaving at 8:30, get there at 9:30, and you can get on the train and have half an hour to prepare yourself for that meeting" explained Mrs. Figgs.

Harry reluctantly got up and got changed. He double checked his things to make sure he had everything. Harry grabbed everything, except the empty bird cage, to the front room. When Harry went back to get Hedwig's cage, he found Hedwig sitting on his bed. Harry eagerly walked to Hedwig and untied the letter from her leg and read:

Harry,

I'm sorry for what happened to you, but if I were you, I would talk to them to see what's going on. You don't have to do this, but I highly recommend it.

~Sirius

P.S. Dumbledore wrote and told me that you wee chosen to be a Gryffindor Prefect. Congratulations!

~Sirius

'That's the same advice Mrs. Figgs told me. Hmmm… maybe I will talk to them.Maybe not right away, but I'll talk to them, eventually.' Harry thought.

Harry gave Hedwig a treat and put her in her cage. Then he put the cage in the front room and walked into the kitchen for breakfast.

"Help yourself!" Mrs. Figgs said.

Harry served himself to some French toast and to some eggs.

By the time Harry had finished his breakfast and checked his room one last time for any left behind items, it was 8:15.

On the way to Kin's Cross, Harry and Mrs. Figgs talked about the teachers at the school and talked about who they liked, and who they didn't like.

When they finally arrived at King's Cross, Mrs. Figgs got a trolley and helped Harry put his luggage on it.

She walked with him onto Platform 9 ¾.

"I'll put my stuff on the train, and then I'll come back out to say goodbye." Harry told Mrs. Figgs.

After Harry put his stuff in a compartment, he left to say goodbye to Mrs. Figgs, when he saw Dumbledore talking to her.

"Is everything planned for tonight?" He hear Mrs. Figgs ask Dumbledore.

"Yes. We have been planning this for months. I just hope everything works out the way I planned. Does he suspect anything?" said Dumbledore.

"Not a ting. I sure do hope this works out. You should've heen the way he was after he found out his-"

"Well, I best be going!" Dumbledore interrupted, just as he caught sight of Harry. He saw Dumbledore wink at Mrs. Figgs and said, "It was nice seeing you again, Arabella."

"You too, Albus" Mrs. Figgs said, and Dumbledore walked away.

Mrs. Figgs turned around and say Harry standing there.

"What was that all about?" Harry asked, looking puzzled.

"It was nothing, dear, nothing." Mrs. Figgs replied. "So, are you ready for a new year at Hogwarts?" Mrs. Figgs said, trying to change the subject.

"I don't think I ever was ready for a new year at Hogwarts," Harry said with a grin.

"You may be right about that" Mrs. Figgs laughed.

Harry and Mrs. Figgs just stood there admiring the Hogwarts Express in silence, until Mrs. Figgs said, "Well, I think it's time for you to get ready for that meeting of yours. Have fun at Hogwarts, I'll miss you Harry Potter!" Mrs. Figgs said, starting to tear up.

"Mrs. Figgs, don't cry. The school year will be finished before you know it. It won't be long 'til I go to your house again," Harry grinned.

Mrs. Figgs hugged Harry. "I know, I know," she whispered.

"Thank you for letting me stay at your house over the summer. I probably would've been bored stiff if I stayed at the Dursleys all summer." Harry said, wishing the school year didn't have to start just then. "I'll see you next year. I don't know, maybe I'll be back during Christmas break, depending on how everything turns out."

"I'd like that." Mrs. Figgs said, sniffling.

"Bye Mrs. Figgs. Once again, thank you." Harry said, walking away.

"Bye Harry Potter. Don't forget to write!" Mrs. Figgs called as Harry walked on to the train.

'Which compartment are we meeting at?' Harry thought as he was walking down the corridor.

As Harry was looking around, he saw a compartment door labeled 'Gryffindor Prefects.' "Ah! Here we go!" Harry whispered to himself.

Harry opened the door, and found that Ron and Hermione were there, waithing for the meeting to start. Hermione was sitting next to Ron, and there was an empty seat next to him.

"Hi Harry," Ron said cautiously. "How are you?"

Harry grabbed the chair next to Ron and moved it about three feet away from him.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Hermione asked, sounding concerned.

Harry glanced at them and just glared, but still didn't say anything. 'I'm not ready to talk yet' Harry told himself.

All three of them sat in silence until Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore finally entered the silent compartment.

"Congratulations for being chosen to be the new Gryffindor Prefects!" Dumbledore said with his usual twinkle in his eyes. Harry couldn't help but grin. "Now, you might be wondering why we have chosen three Prefects and not two." Harry saw Hermione nod her head in agreement. "We have chosen three Prefects this year from each house because of what has happened last term. As you know, Lord Voldemort-" Ron flinched at the sound of his name. "has risen, and we feel that the students would feel a bit more comfortable with four more Prefects."

"Anyways, lets get down to business. Professor McGonagall would like to tell you some of the privileges that you have now that you are Prefects. Minerva…"

Professor McGonagall stepped forward, "As you all know, Prefects are allowed to award and take away points to any house. But if you are caught abusing this privilege, I'm afraid that we'll have to ask you to turn in your badge." Professor went on like this for five more minutes.

"Now, do any of you have any questions?" Professor McGonagall asked.

Hermione raised her hand. "Um… Ron and I were wondering if we could talk to you privately, Professor."

"Ok, Mr. Potter, if you don't mind…?"Professor McGonagall said, nodding her head towards the door.

Harry got up and left, wondering what on earth that Hermione and Ron wanted to talk to Professor McGonagall. Harry was walking towards the compartment where he put his luggage when Dumbledore stopped him.

"So, you finally know that Mrs. Figgs is a witch." Dumbledore said.

"Yeah. I never saw it coming." Harry replied, grinning.

"Did you enjoy spending time with her over the summer?" Dumbledore asked.

"Did I ever! I learned a lot from her." and Harry started telling him some of the highlights that he had with Mrs. Figgs.

"Umm.. Professor, I don't mean to sound like I'm butting into the conversation that you had with Mrs. Figgs earlier, but it sounded like you were talking about me. Would you mind telling me what's going on." Harry asked.

"Oh my goodness! I completely forgot about something that I needed to go to that was really important. I'm sorry. It was nice talking to you." and Dumbledore left with a *pop*.

Harry turned around to go to his compartment when Hermione and Ron walked out of the compartment, smiling. They stood there in the corridor looking at each other, and then Harry continued on his way.

"Harry, wait, can we talk?" Hermione asked, still sounding concerned.

"No," Harry said hotly, and went into the compartment.

When Harry got into the compartment, he sat alone in silence until Ron and Hermione invited themselves into the compartment.

"Harry, please, let us explain everything." Ron pleaded.

Harry got up and left the compartment saying, "If you wanted to explain, then you could've just told me about it in the letter replying to my invitation."

"Harry, it's not like that, please, you don't understand." Hermione said.

Harry didn't care. He knew he had to talk to them soon, but he just wasn't ready. He didn't know how to start and when he would talk to them.

Finally, just as the train arrived at Hogsmeade, Harry decided to talk to Hermione and Ron after the big feast, and he knew exactly what he'd say. Then Harry made his way to the castle.

As Harry got off the train, he ½ expected to hear "Firs' years, over here!" from Hagrid.

But Hagrid's familiar voice wasn't heard. Instead, he heard Snape's cold voce hollering at the first years to follow him. Some of the first years were terrified of Snape and stayed far away as possible from him as they got on the boats.

When Harry got in the Great Hall, he sat at the front, nearest the staff table where they usually left space for the new first year students. A few 2nd and 3rd year students sat there, just so that they can be the first ones to get to know the first years and also let them feel welcome.

Harry looked around and saw Ron and Hermione talking in soft whispers. As Harry looked around some more, he noticed that three of the staff members were missing. Snape was obviously sailing across the lake with the first years, and Hagrid must still be out doing the errand for Dumbledore since last term. The other teacher who was missing was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

Other people must've noticed it too, because they started to whisper things like, "I wonder who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is this year," or, "Where's Hagrid?"

Finally, the first years arrived, filing into the Great Hall nervously. Harry noticed that they looked more scared than he remembered the sortings from before, but Harry could be wrong because this would be his second time he's seen a sorting, (If you're not counting his own.) 'It could just be because it was Snape who had gone to retrieve the first years.' Harry thought.

After all of the first years had gotten into the Great Hall and formed a single file line, Professor McGonagall placed a stool with an old, worn out hat on top of it. All of the eyes in the Great Hall were now staring at the hat. The poor first years looked more terrified than ever.

After the sorting hat had finished it's song, the Great Hall broke out cheering and applauding.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward and started to read off some names.

As usual, the first years that were called walked up to the stool and put on the hat nervously.

"Farnworth, Brenda!" Professor McGonagall called.

Harry saw the first year look at her two friends, gave them a nervous smile and walked to the stool and put on the sorting hat.

"Gryffindor!" the hat yelled. Cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table as Brenda happily walked to the table, sitting across from Harry.

"Forester, Daniel!

The first year walked up to the stool with a smug look on his face, much what Draco Malfoy looked when his name was called to be sorted.

"Slytherin!"

'No surprise there!' Harry thought out loud quietly.

Daniel walked over to the Slytherin table as Malfoy leaned over to start a conversation with him.

"Holz, Ashley!"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Laskey, Elizabeth!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Monson, Marisa!"

As Marisa was walking toward the stool, Harry heard Brenda pleading, "Please be Gryffindor! Please be Gryffindor!" Harry assumed that they must be friends.

The hat sat there in silence for a couple of seconds until it rang, "Gryffindor!" Everyone from Gryffindor, of course, was clapping and cheering, and Brenda was probably cheering the loudest, she was so excited.

"I knew you would make it! Oh, I'm so glad we're in the same house!" Harry heard Brenda say to Marisa.

"Yeah, so am I, I just hope Ysabel is put into Gryffindor also," Marisa replied.

Twenty more minutes passed by until the last person was called.

"And last, but not least," said Professor McGonagall, "Whitney, Ysabel!"

Harry looked over at Brenda and Marisa. They were sitting on the edge of their seats and looking at the sorting hat on Ysabel's head as if they were about to announce the winner of a contest.

Thirty seconds passed by when Marisa leaned over to Brenda and asked, "Why is it taking so long?!"

"I don't know," Brenda said, sounding a little worried.

Finally, after a whole minute had passed, the hat called, "Gryffindor!" Brenda and Marisa jumped up from their seats and were jumping up and down, squealing as Ysabel had joined them.

After everyone had settled down, mainly Ysabel, Marisa, and Brenda, Dumbledore got up and gave his usual beginning-of-the-term-speech.

"Now, I'd like to say to all of you, welcome to a new year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore paused as he waited for the cheers to die down. "Before we begin, Mr. Filch has asked me to read off the list of supplies that will be prohibited all year round." After Dumbledore read the list out loud, he said, "Would Mr. Fred and George Weasley please come up and take this list. I assume that you two need a copy of this more than anyone else in here."

Fred and George walked up to Dumbledore with a wide grin on their faces. Once they had claimed their new list, and everyone had stopped laughing and cheering, Dumbledore continued.

"We would like to remind everyone, and let the first years know that the Forbidden Forest is forbidden. That is why we call it the 'Forbidden Forest.'" Dumbledore said, chuckling to himself. "Anyways, I'm sure that some of you have noticed that two of our staff members of our staff are not here. Hagrid is out on some important business, but he will be back on Monday in time to teach Care of Magical Creatures. As for our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, she too will be here on Monday. Unfortunat-"

"Who is it?!" George interrupted.

"You'll just have to find out on Monday, Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore said with a gentle grin. "As I was saying, unfortunately, she couldn't make it to the feast today, for she had other plans today. Now lets start the feast!" and all of the golden plates were filled with food of many various choices. Harry helped himself to some mashed potatoes, fried chicken, corn, and a roll.

During the feast, Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione. They were still in a deep conversation, only Fred, George, Ginny, Seamus, Dean, and Neville had joined in.

When Harry paid attention to his food again, he heard some one ask him, "You're a Prefect, right?" Harry looked up and saw that it was Ysabel talking. He noticed that Marisa and Brenda were looking at him.

"Yes, I am," Harry answered.

"Then why aren't you sitting with those Prefects, over there," Marisa asked, pointing at Ron and Hermione. Harry looked over and made eye contact with Ron. Ron quickly turned away and returned to his conversation.

"Well, I don't know. I just felt like sitting with the first years, ya know, kinda make them feel welcome." Harry lied. He'd much rather be sitting with Ron and Hermione, involved in whatever conversation they were having. It sure did look interesting.

"Oh," Brenda replied. "By the way, my name is Brenda Farnworth, this is Ysabel Whitney, and this is Marisa Monson. What is your name?"

"Harry," he replied. "Harry Potter."

Ysabel dropped her fork, Brenda choked on a piece of chicken, and Marisa just sat there, with her hand halfway t her mouth holding a roll.

When Ysabel had realized that she was staring at Harry in disbelief, she shook her head to get back to reality. "Sorry," she replied. "We thought we would meet you sometime this year, but we all didn't expect to meet you on our first day, here at Hogwars." she explained as Marisa was helping Brenda recover from almost choking to death.

"Oh, that's alright, in fact, you reactions were the most calming if you don't count the choking" Harry teased. Brenda started to blush.

Through the rest of the dinner, Harry enjoyed talking to Ysabel, Marisa, and Brenda.

After the feast, Dumbledor stood up once more.

"There is one more thing I want to say before you head to your common rooms," Dumbledore said. He made it very clear that it was very important to listen , for there was a sort of seriousness in his voice. You could hear nothing but the person next to you breathing. "As all of you are aware, Lord Voldemort has risen. Now, he has not attacked yet, but I ask all of you not to let this intefere with your school work. We are in dark times now, and everyday is growing darker than the day before. It is crucial that we all stick together. If we don't, then we'll grow to be more vulnerable to Voldermort. To ensure your safety, you will be escorted only to and from Care of Magical Creatures. Also, all Quidditch team practices will be supervised by Madame Hooch. Now, I am aware that all housed need a new team captain. If you are on the Quidditch team, your team needs to get together and decide who your new team captain will be. Once the team captains are chosen, they will be responsible for holding tryouts for opening positions on the team." Dumbledore paused to make sure he didn't leave anything out, then continued, "I hope everyone enjoys their weekend. You all have two days before classes starts. Now, Prefects, please guide everyone to their common rooms."

Harry got up and was just about to join Ron and Hermione when Dumbledore called him. "Harry, will you please follow me, I'd like to talk to you for a moment."

"But what about-"

"Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger seem to have everything under control." Dumbledore answered. "Please follow me then," and he led Harry out of the Great Hall.

They walked down the corridors in silence until they reached a statue of a gargoyle.

"Sugar Quills," Dumbledore said to the Statue, and it sprang to life, revealing a spiral staircase going upwards.

Harry stepped into Dumbledore's magnificent office, wondering what on earth he wanted to talk to him.

A/N: I hope you've enjoyed this story so far. I want to thank every one for their reviews. Anyways, I'll be off to write chapter 5.