After a restful Christmas break at the Burrow, Harry and his friends found themselves back at Hogwarts. Unlike their earlier years at Hogwarts, they no longer lived in the Gryffindor dorms.
Instead, select students were moved into new dorms. Much to Harry's dismay, the students in the new house had christened it Lightning. You can guess how they came up with that name. They still belonged to their old houses for all intents and purposes, but took some different, more intense classes. They didn't have their own Quiddich team, for example, but they had house colors -red, green, blue, yellow, and black.
It also solved the problem of over crowding –Hogwarts had many more students now. A lot more teachers too; Now there were generally two teachers a subject, one teaching first through fourth years, and the other fifth through seventh. Lightning students took extra classes and that called for even more teachers.
He left the boys dorm and entered the common room where he greeted his former girlfriend, "How was your Christmas?" They had broken up just moths ago, but were still close.
Ariana, "It was a break I needed. I don't have to ask how yours was -you look happier."
"The Weasley's are great," he replied with a heartfelt grin.
Ariana originally went to another, smaller school in Britain, until 6th year when she'd come to Hogwarts. Nowadays Hogwarts had a hell of a lot more students, both from other schools in Britain and form foreign schools. Voldemort had reached out into other countries and caused enough trouble to worry some parents. So they sent there children here; Other former students went elsewhere, their parents instead fleeing Britain.
"Hermione and Ron already went down," she said, referring to the Great Hall.
"Alright," and they headed down for lunch.
The Great Hall now had five tables, the new one directly in the middle; The hall had been magically enlarged to accommodate it. He and Ari took a seat across from Ron and Hermione. He sat next to Brian, who had come to Hogwarts in his 5th year. He was actually from Scotland.
Harry greeted him, then added, "Dumbledore said he was calling a meeting today."
"He say why?"
"Nope." Dumbledore was the head of the Order of the Phoenix –he sometimes called extra meetings, in the event that there was something they all needed to know. Todays meeting was going to have as many members as well available. Sometimes though, there were meeting involving only the senior members. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Brian were the few student members. Brian had lost a brother to Voldemort, after his family was attacked for supporting Dumbledore. Apparently his father was a friend of Dumbledore's, and one of the few to believe him right away when he said that Voldemort was back.
"I heard that the number of people in training to be Aurors has tripled," said Audrin Myers, who was sitting across from Brian.
"Figures." Was all Brian said.
"I probably will," said Ariana, "become an Auror I mean. Even if Voldemort is defeated."
"I heard that the Ministry was planning on assembling another fighting force, separate from the rest, with it's own autonomy." Audrin caste a pointed look at Harry, who scowled; For some reason people looked up to him, and expected him to become a leader in the war. He probably was, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
"How do you figure that?"
"Well, just saying. Sounds like a good idea." As in, I would want to be a part of it.
Brian glanced at Harry, knowing full well he was probably in a bad mood now.
Hermione had caught the end of the conversation, and was now eyeing Harry. He was a naturally good natured person, despite all that he had gone through. He was constantly beset by nightmares of what Voldemort or his minions were doing –several times a month sometimes. Not to mention that the past several years had been adventurous as the first four.
"Harry, what happened with Snape yesterday?" Harry's face, now often beset with weariness or sorrow, assumed a put upon expression.
Ron, with his selective ears, pulled out of his conversation with the boy next to him. "Oh, he really…" And began his diatribe. Harry didn't feel the need to insult Snape anymore, but Ron was the same as always. Scratch that. He was more inventive.
Harry cut in, "What are planning for the team?" Ron's face lit up. He was still captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team; Harry was still seeker. It was amazing just how ferocious an argument Slytherin put up about it, even though they got to keep their players who were moved.
All in all, the Slytherin's were quieter this year, though still as hateful as ever. Ron, Harry, and Hermione had all received an Order of Merlin, third class for being instrumental for saving the Minister's life. Ron's father had been newly appointed, and near the top of Voldemort's hit list.
That was a long and convoluted story –but had resulted in Lucius becoming a wanted criminal. Draco hadn't returned to school this year.
Voldemort's move on the ministry was not exactly a surprise, and it had only been a matter of when he would attack. He waited too long, busy gathering dark creatures and death eaters, extending himself across the world. While this would help him in the long run, it had given Dumbledore enough time to block him.
The ministry had been moved to a 'safe location' before Voldemort even attacked. How they had managed to keep Voldemort from finding out was an amazing mystery. After all, the ministry was pretty damned big. Where it was now, Harry knew not.
Harry had listened Sirius complain about having to wait through two hours of security measures before they would let him talk to Arthur. An hour was mandatory now to check for Polyjuice Potion, but Sirius was certain they made him wait just because of who he was. Which, he had been forced to admit, might be true. Despite his being cleared, old prejudices died hard.
He realized that lunch was over by Ron's waving a hand in front of his face. "You alive, mate?"
Hermione said, "Don't be rude Ron."
The red head just rolled his eyes in response.
"Honestly."
