Gray plumes of smoked billowed from the sparkling train at platform 9 and ¾ at London's King Cross Station. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat back in their seats in the compartment they were sharing and relaxed as the Hogwart's Express began to roll them towards the unique Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry that they would spend their sixth school year at.
"Things are going to rather interesting this year, you know…" Hermione, now head of the class, and a prefect, looked wistfully at the English countryside that was passing outside the window, after a rather silent year from You-Know-Who, everyone's expecting something."
Ron agreed, "My Dad actually got to have a regular schedule this year at the Ministry. They took everyone but the Aurors and the Defense staff of You-Know-Who duties. Last summer he was rarely home, it was tough, Mum had to get a job and she wasn't home a lot either, and Percy, well, you know Percy." Ron's ears turned red and he closed up in his usual way when he thought he'd said too much. Harry sensed it would be a wise idea to brighten the mood.
"My summer with Dumbledore was really awesome though. He's got a big house, all sorts of neat stuff. Did you know he was married? His wife died though, a while ago. He was pretty loose about it though. But he has all this weird stuff, there was this thing called a Mondelein, you could wave your wand over any place in the world and you could see what was happening. Of course, most of the magic families have put blocks on their houses from them, but it was still really cool. And he had all sorts of amulets and potions and gems."
"Anything off the cart dearies?" The cart lady smiled down at them.
"No thank you." "Sorry." "Later perhaps."
"Surprised you're not stuffing your face Potter." Malfoy frowned deviously down at him, along with his two bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle. His face took a slightly phony sympathy look, "How was your summer with your poor, evil, family?"
"Well, after my Aunt and Uncle found out I'd escaped the brink of death for the past year, they decided to be gone with me altogether. So I got to spend a summer with Dumbledore."
"Aw, Saint Dumbewdore decided to take wittle Harry in for the summer? Awww…" He sneered, "It's going to take a bit more than Dumbledore to save you Potter. You-Know-Who knows where you are."
"And you know where Voldemort is, I'm assuming, as you and your father probably spent the summer in his traveling circus." Hermione, Ron, and Harry all snorted.
"Laugh it off, Potter. Your time is coming. Your number's up."
"Fearful threats from a most powerful wizard." Hermione smiled, "Did you finally learn how to magic yourself into talent?"
"As for you," Malfoy turned abruptly, "you're going to die right with Potter."
"I'm scared for my life, really I am."
Malfoy glared again as he and his two puppets skulked off into the next car.
"I do have to admit, it is a bit disheartening, I mean, I know it doesn't matter that I'm not pureblood but-."
"But nothing, Hermione." Ron shrugged, "It doesn't matter to us."
Hermione flashed a small but true smile.
"Wonder who our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is going to be?" Harry pondered aloud, "We haven't had much luck with them, have we…"
Ron just groaned, "Don't even mention it. It'll probably be some evil griffin or something disguised as an attractive blonde man, what, with the luck we've had."
"Did Dumbledore mention anything
about it Harry?" Harry could just see Hermione's mind at work, thinking of
possibilities in some book she had read.
"Nothing, he said positively
nothing about it. He was altogether very mysterious about the whole affair and
that makes it all more interesting." Harry was glum, but was clearly trying to
figure it out as well.
"Well, whoever it is, I hope they last more than a year." Ron leaned back in his chair, "It'd be nice to have one who could stay a while." He suddenly perked up, "Hey, wonder what happened with Hagrid and Madame what's-her-face over the summer!"
"Oh, that." Harry looked even gloomier, "He went to go live with her, and he won't be teaching this year." The three of them sat back and watched the train speed towards what promised to be a rather dull first day at Hogwarts.
They boarded the carriages that took them to the castle.
"Looks overcast." Ron said. They entered the great hall in a river of black cloaks and murmured speech. The first years were being led up a stairway to be sorted. Ron tapped Harry on the shoulder, "Who is that?" He pointed to a tall, dark-haired boy wearing a Gryffindor badge.
Harry stared, and then it hit him.
"Neville got tall over the summer." Hermione whispered. Neville ran over to them, excitedly, his voice was much deeper, "How are the three of you? Of course I heard about you at Dumbledore's, Harry. That must have been, well, wizzo! But what have you two been up to?" He looked at Ron and Hermione.
Ron started, "Fred and George are supplying their stuff for joke shops everywhere now, making loads of money, Mum's not too pleased, Percy took head of his department, I thought he couldn't shut up before, but now it's even worse. Mum's been working in Diagon Alley, of course, Dad's still at the Ministry. And Ginny and I are here." He himself seemed rather disappointed about his summer.
Hermione frowned, "I haven't been up to much either, but I think the question really is, what have you been doing, Neville?"
"We went to go visit some family in Russia, I've been gone all summer. My relatives up there have all sorts of weird, older stuff. My Aunt kept on making me drink this blue stuff, it was rather disgusting, but apparently it was good for me." He shrugged, "Say, I'm really hungry, let's go in."
As they entered the great hall,
Harry noticed three spots missing. "Two are for Hagrid and Defense Against the
Dark Arts, wonder what the third is?"
"Pity Snape's right there, it
would've been so wonderful to have a year without him following us everywhere…"
Ron looked a bit too wistful. When everyone was quiet, Dumbledore stood up, and
made his entrance speech.
"Welcome, welcome, to another year at Hogwarts. In light of no recent detection of Voldemort, I am pleased to announce the return of extracurricular activities."
"I'll also take this opportunity to announce the three new teachers joining our staff this year." He pointed to a man on his left. "This is Professor Griffith. He'll take Hagrid's place as the groundskeeper and the Care of Magical Creatures Professor." Harry looked at the burly, light-haired man, who didn't even smile.
"Hey Potter, miss your giant fwiend? Aw you sad he's gawn? Awww." Malfoy whispered mockingly.
"Maybe you won't get away with being the dull thing you are in this class, I bet he sees right through you." At a glance from Professor McGonagall, they both turned around.
"To my right," Dumbledore continued, "Is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Caladon." A pleasant-looking blonde woman flashed a pretty grin, somehow reminding Harry of Fleur Delacour.
"And to my far left is Professor Lundor. He will be teaching, in the place of Professor Binns, History of Magic. And now for the traditional sorting." The hat was placed on the stool, and it began to sing.
The nervous first years were called up to be sorted amidst loud cheers from their new houses. As the last girl joined her table, Dumbledore clapped his hands twice and the empty platters filled with mountains of food. Everyone began to eat.
Harry had just topped off his second serving of mashed potatoes when he started to feel the feeling of being home again. He looked up to the ceiling, where a heavy rain was setting in. Perhaps the year would be dull, but he could handle it. Just as he relaxed, the great doors of the hallway swung open. Filch was leading a girl in, rather, a girl with shoulder-length brown hair was quickly strolling in as Filch panted behind.
Harry thought, although she only had a half smile on her face, that the girl seemed to be enjoying herself way too much. The whole hall was silent now, anticipating, and watching the tall girl in the crimson robes waltz straight through the middle of the room to Dumbledore. She procured a note that floated up to him. Harry watched as the headmaster's expression change from anger to a mix of utmost fury. But Harry thought he saw something else there, pain.
Dumbledore nodded and Filch led her out of the room. The girl looked around as she walked through the tables. Her and Harry's eyes met, he saw flashes, and a searing pain began along his forehead. But then it was over as she looked to other tables. Harry could see students somehow dazed; she had a mysterious air about her. She looked forward and strolled out the open door. The students and staff set their silverware down, and all their plates, napkins and cups, somehow, they just weren't hungry.
And just as Harry stood up to leave he looked around at some of the people still seated, Malfoy staring with his mouth open, Dumbledore angry and confused at the same time, and Professor Snape giving the door a look much worse than he had ever given Harry. And suddenly what had promised to be a rather boring year had transformed into what was definitely to be a strange one. In fact, it may as well have been downright bizarre.
In the common room a large fire had been started, as everyone gathered around the tables to discuss what had happened.
"Did you see Dumbledore? He really wasn't too pleased." Parvati had her eyes wide.
"It was really weird how she just burst through the doors like that. She looked like it was all just a big funny joke!" Neville shook his head, "She was pretty though."
Other bits of conversation started. "Did you see her hair? The ends were dyed blue and purple and silver and red." "Her robe was really pretty, it was deep crimson, like blood or something." "I wonder if that note was real, it just appeared from nowhere." "She was almost enchanting, she was so mystifying. It's like she put some sort of spell on the whole room."
Slowly everyone but Harry and Hermione joined. She was looking in a book somewhere, and he was thinking about the girl. He'd only seen Dumbledore look that mad once before, in front of the imposter Moody, yet he'd only seen his eyes so sad when Dumbledore told Harry about his wife.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Ron frowned, "You look really odd."
"Nothing, nothing. I was just thinking about that girl." It wasn't a total lie, but even Ron knew something was up, although he knew better than to ask. Harry wasn't quite ready to tell about his scar, though. He was too skeptical, he may have even imagined it, but then, he had seen those images as he looked into her eyes.
In any case, it wasn't worth the trouble; he didn't want Ron worrying about something he may have imagined, and besides, Harry at least wanted Ron and Hermione to go one year without worrying about 'famous Harry Potter and his wars against evil'. He sighed.
"Hey Harry! At least we've got Quidditch back this year, maybe you'll make captain, eh?" Neville looked hopeful, either in trying to change the conversation or trying to cheer Harry up. Both attempts worked, as the Gryffindor common room soon erupted in a discussion about Quidditch and who was going to win the championship this year, who would make the house team, etc., this year. After an hour and a half of discussion, they all headed for the dormitories, and to sleep.
