Title: The Fifth Year

Author: Cactuskitty

Chapter Six: The Arrival

Summary: Harry wakes up from a awful dream and goes in search of Dumbledore…

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Harry Potter book series, they belong to J. K. Rowling, so please don't sue.

A/N: ***=flashback/end of flashback

Chapter Six:

The Arrival

The days passed by Harry very quickly after his conversation with Dumbledore and everyone was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new students. Though Harry and most of the other fifth years barely had time to think about that, because of the difficulty of all their classes. Even Defense Against Darks Arts wasn't a free ride anymore. Their new teacher was more difficult than any other teacher they had ever had in that subject. Her name was Rowena Odele, and you could tell by her age that she was quite new to the teaching profession. No one was shocked when they found out that she had only graduated two years ago. Though despite her age, she was almost as strict as McGonagall and her assignments were nearly as brutal as Snape's. So with classes like that and Quidditch practices (Ron was the new keeper,) they barely ever had any free time to even tie their shoes.

To add on to that Harry was going through a mass depression. It seemed that he didn't even enjoy flying anymore; it was so bad. No one knew how to approach him since he hadn't told anyone of his dream and they just took to the idea that he was loosing it. Except for his two best friends and Ginny. She had decided that it was time she had a word with him, or in other word her best friend was forcing her to do so.

***

"Goodness Chloe!  Just look at how upset he is! Doesn't he get that it's not his fault?" Ginny said to her best friend Chloe Nobuko the popular and brilliant fourth year who, was everything Ginny wanted to be. Forward, clever, Oriental, pretty, not easily tempered, and liked by almost every one. God, she even suspected that Draco respected her, though that could have been because their mothers were such good friends…

"Well, some things are harder for others to get over. Just give him some time Gin, and he'll come around." Chloe said, and then with a daring glint in her black almond shaped eyes added, "In the mean time why don't you talk to him?"

Ginny looked at her friend with a skeptical look and asked, "Why? It's not like he'd listen. Plus, I'm getting over him. Remember? Was it not you, who said that I should come to the realization that he is just a stupid celebrity crush? That he proved this summer that he barely can decipher me from a tree. Also that I should just forget about him, because you know for a fact that a lot of cute guys are coming from my cousin's," After that word Ginny made a terrible face, and continued, "school. Because she and some of you other friends go there."

"Yes, I know, but I still think you should talk to him. Who knows, it might do you both some good." That ended the conversation, and they both went back to their Herbology homework.

 

***

Ginny decided that she had better hurry up and make a fool of herself before she would loose him to Quidditch practice, and lucky for her she spotted him on the way to the library.

"Harry," She yelled, then in a much quieter voice added, "Please wait up, I really would like to talk to you for a moment."

Harry stopped and responded in the half-hearted way he addressed everything else, it was very obvious that his thoughts where somewhere else. "Sure Ginny, what do you need to talk about?"

"Harry, I really would like to talk to you about this entire school thing." She swooned for a minute as she realized how easy it was for her to address him, but her happiness quickly faded once she saw how dead his green eyes now looked, "I really think that it's important for you to realize that it wasn't your fault. For crying out loud Harry, no one even knew about it. And even if they did, there wasn't anything they could have done. Half of Britain still doesn't believe that he is back yet."

Those last three lines infuriated Harry, and his green eyes quickly came back to life. If only she could have known how wrong she was, how utterly and terribly wrong. He had known it was going to happen, and he may have been able to have done something if had had been able to stay conscious. So what right did all these people have to tell him he was not to blame? Because he was to blame as far as he was concerned, did Voldemort not say that he was only doing it to show Harry what he, the nasty devil, was capable of? So why the hell couldn't anyone understand? Though then again, he never told anyone other than Dumbledore about the dream, and he wasn't going to let Ginny in on it now. It really wasn't her concern anyhow.

"Look Virginia," He watched as she cringed at her name, " Don't take this the wrong way, but I really don't want to discuss this with you, or anyone for that matter. Though I would like to talk to you about something. Next time you decide to meddle in other's matters, find out all of the information before you confront them. Understand?" She nodded and he continued, "Because there is a lot more to this attack then most know… Why am I telling you this anyway, it's not like you would understand."

By this time Ginny had started to cry, though she was much more angry than upset. So she shook with rage as she responded, "Oh, but I understand perfectly Harry." She said with a smirk, "I understand that the next time I decide to be a good person and try to help a 'friend' out of a depression not to waste my time. Because they would much rather sit around feeling sorry for themselves, and take the easy way out instead of trying to improve their emotional condition or their surroundings. Once I can do that, I'll remember to stop worrying about people who couldn't give a damn about me." She stopped and started laughing, "Yes, I'll do that. I think we're done here, so good bye Harry."

After those three last words she stalked back to Gryffindor tower, now crying because she had just truly understood that what Chloe had said was true. He could never value her as a person, and that hurt her much more than anything he had said. Though surprisingly Chloe was right again, the talk had done her good. She was now completely over Harry, she could never be with someone who disregarded her feelings like that. So when she said goodbye, she had truly meant it.

But Chloe was right in more way than one, because what Ginny had had said to him stuck a nerve, maybe more than one…

*       *        *       *

The day finally came when the new students we to arrive, and everyone was lectured as to how to be sensitive around them, because they had all just suffered a great lost. Though even a seminar couldn't keep down their spirits, while waiting for their new guest at dinner. It seemed that everyone was excited, even Draco Malfoy. He was telling anyone who would listen about his supposed "good friend" who was going to be joining them at Hogwarts, and he was very anxious to see "her" again. Though no one really cared, except for a couple of his usual Slytherin lemmings. Most were just happy that it was keeping him so preoccupied that he had nearly (except for a few stray comebacks) stopped being such a nuisance. Though, Ron and a few other boys in various houses we taking bets on how ugly she might be..

But despite everyone's enthusiasm, Harry was feeling guiltier than ever. He had stopped being depressed after his 'chat' with Ginny, but he couldn't help feeling that he was to blame. Even if he wanted to see Ophelia more than ever, part of him feared her coming. The reason was, he could never explain to her why he felt so guilty, because the thought of her blaming him would be too much to bear. Even the idea of her ever finding out was enough to drive him insane. The idea of all the pain he had caused her, Harry felt sick jus thinking about it. Life was just so unfair… He was so busy contemplating his guilt, he wouldn't even have noticed that the new students had arrived if Ron hadn't elbowed him very hard in the gut to point out that Ophelia and her two friends had come in.

There they were, standing in a line with at least thirty more students. Most around their age and girls, which pleasantly surprised them (meaning Harry and Ron.) Though unlike nearly everyone in Hogwarts, most looked as though it pained them to be here. The all looked very scared and tired, much like they had all looked their first year. Though Harry's attention was redirected as Dumbledore started his speech.

"Welcome everyone. If it had been for other circumstances you had all come here, I am sure you would find this place much more…" He paused for a moment in thought, but before he could continue everyone's attention was diverted towards the huge doors that led to the great hall. They had just been slammed by what seemed to be a very embarrassed looking girl, around his age. Though he was unable to identify anything more, because of the way she walked, like a scolded child, towards the front of the room to join the rest of the new students. 

"Ah, Miss Greer, I am so glad you were able to join us."

The girl responded quickly and politely by saying in a very respectful voice, "Please excuse my tardiness professor, but while we were being led here I was paying more attention to your beautiful campus than where I was going. So please except my dearest apology for interrupting your speech and for being late." With that and a small wave to Eilene and Leona, who seem to be giggling, she walked to the end of the line.

Her voice sounded somewhat familiar to Harry, but he was unable to place it. Though the mystery was soon solved when Ginny, who was sitting by him, quickly realized whom she was when McGonagall called "Greer, Darcy" and the girl rose and faced the Hall.

"Hey Ron, isn't that the girl from the deli?" she asked in a hushed voice.

"Yeah Gin, I think it is! Harry look, it's her!" Ron said in an excited voice, then added, "I wonder what house she'll be sorted in? I hope she's in Gryffindor, she seemed sort of brave."

Harry for the first time in weeks actually looked interested in the conversation, "Me too Ron, but isn't it taking a long time?"

"Maybe she's a complex person." Hermione said with a smile on her face, "Now will some one please remind me who she is again?"

Though before any of them could answer, the hat had made its decision.

"RAVENCLAW!" It yelled out and she walked over to the clapping blue table, where she quickly sat next to Chloe and where they instantly embraced and engaged in conversation. And Ginny figure that this was one of her many friends.

"DAMN!" Ron nearly shouted, "Now we'll never find out anything about her." He said with a look of great distain.

Though his bitterness was quickly diverted by Hermione, who said, "Hey look at the Slytherin table! It seems as though the incredible bouncing ferret is just as upset about the hat's decision as you are!" She said with a laugh.

"I'll bet she was the 'friend' he was talking about; and I bet the poor arse is angry because she isn't Slytherin scum like he is!" Ron said with a laugh.

"No really Ron?" Harry said in a sarcastic voice and tried to shield himself from Ron who had just whacked him hard, "I wonder if he knows about her interest in muggle science…"

"Oh damn! I just remembered, the bet… I so lost… I bet she was uglier than Pansy and Millicent combined, but you can I was wrong…" Ron said in a grave voice as Hermione hit him on the side of his head, "Ow 'Moine! What the hell was that for?"

"What the hell are you doing betting on how ugly girls are? Don't you know how mean that is?" She squawked in a mother-like fashion.

"Gosh Hermione, it's not like you weren't thinking the exact same thing!" Ron said in a defensive voice.

"I was not! And how would you know what I am thinking? I thought you cheated in Divinations?" Hermione said in a very hushed, but angry voice. "And as matter of fact, Malfoy is a very handsome looking boy. There is no reason why is 'friend' wouldn't be tolerably handsome."

"So, you're checking out Malfoy now? As is Krum wasn't bad enough..." Ron started to say, but was cut off by a very flustered looking Ginny.

"Shut your bloody trap right now Ronald! Eilene is going to be up to and I don't' want you two to spoil it for her, so just be quiet, before I bloody make you, you prat!" And you could tell by her menacing voice that she meant what she said. She had really been cantankerous the last few days, and Harry was starting to think that it might have been partially his fault.

"McGregor, Eilene!" McGonagall shouted.

A few seconds later the hat screamed out "GRYFFINDOR!" And their table burst out in cheers as Eilene came and sat in-between Harry and Ron. Though they didn't have any time to talk to her, because the next person called was:

"Nyx, Leona!"

She was sorted in to Ravenclaw and went to go sit with Darcy and Chloe. The three of them seemed very happy about the hat's decision, and continued chatting away merrily.

It seemed to take a very long time for Ophelia's name to come up. And when the time finally came, she was very much the center of attention. This was due to the fact that everyone was surprised to see another Weasely, let alone a tall, blond one. Though, that would most likely be the least shocking thing about her…

Harry could not wait for her to come join them; they had so much to talk about. Though his idea was shot down once the old hat screamed out its answer.

"SLYTHERIN!" Is the answer the hat screamed out loudly, and everyone started whispering. No one knew what to think, a Weasely in Slytherin? Everyone was astonished except for three people: Virginia, that Darcy girl, and Ophelia. Poor Harry though he was going to start hyperventilating; he was so displeased. And the thing that caused him the most anguish was that he had remembered what Dumbledore had told him about the Sorting Hat in his second year. And Harry found it very hard to believe that she had actually wanted to go to that house, but then again he had only known her for a week. Maybe she was more cunning then she let on…