Chapter 1- A New Year, A New Surprise

Right before a certain green-eyed, messy-haired boy climbed onto the train her took a final look around. 'They're not here,' he thought, 'I guess I will have to just find my own compartment until I find them.' As he finished getting onto the train it took off.

Harry was glad to finally get away from the Dursleys. This summer had been especially hard for him, with Ron in Romania visiting Charley and Hermione in Hawaii with her parents. Also, Vernon had forced him to do all of the housework, yard work, and other physical labor that the Dursleys were too lazy to do. If Harry refused or even rested his uncle would threaten his by starting to take off his belt. If he didn't get the message within 15 minutes Harry would be in his bedroom, laying on his stomach for it would be too painful to lie on his back, with silent tears of pain and rage falling down his cheeks. 'But I am on the way far from the Dursleys.' Harry said to himself.

As Harry found an empty compartment and sat down he winced. The Dursleys thought that in order to keep him in line they had to give him a reminder of what would be waiting for him when he got home if he brought disgrace to the family in any way.

Several times throughout the train ride girls such as Parvati and Lavender dropped in only to giggle and rush away. 'I sure hope I find Ron and Hermione soon, people are acting strange.'

Soon enough Harry found himself at Hogwarts. He went to the feast to see the sorting and if he could find his friends. As he walked to the Gryffindor table he was pleased to see everyone there. He sat down next to Ron.

"Harry you made it! I thought you might have had a close encounter with another one of Hagrid's 'pets'." Ron said.

"Yeah, well, I'm here. By the way, where were you and Hermione on the train and where is Hermione now?" Ron's face grew solemn.

"You mean you haven't heard? Harry, Hermione's family was attacked by you- know-who the day they got back from Hawaii." Before Ron could continue Harry interrupted him.

"Is Hermione ok? Are her or her parents hurt? They must be for her not to be here," then he said to himself, "God dammit, if she is hurt I am going to kill . . ."

"Harry, what are you rambling about? Hermione is fine, although she is quite depressed. Her father is in critical condition and her mother is recovering."

"Do you know when she is coming back?"

"My father, (Ron's father was now the head of the Ministry of Magic), said that she is coming her sometime tomorrow night."