-This is a 'missing chapter' from The Quest of Power (new edition) which should be up soon.

-Thanks to my betas and all those who have reviewed. I love you all! wipes away tears and waves

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cHogwarts/c

As they boarded the train, the students laughter turned to silence. Everyone going to Hogwarts, except the first years, were remembering the horror of the last part of the Triwizard Tournament. The students remembered finding out that for an entire year, there was an impostor in their midst. The one and only famous Auror, Mad Eye Moody, was forced to live inside a magical trunk while a Death Eater paraded around as the Defence Against Dark Arts teacher for ten months.

They remembered how Harry Potter became the fourth person in a competition limited to only three. Some remembered guiltily, especially the Hufflepuffs, how they reacted to the Boy Who Lived by wearing buttons denouncing Harry as a fake -- an impostor.

They relieved memories of the French veela, Fleur Delacour, and Quidditch star, Viktor Krum, being levitated out of the Third Task, stunned. They sat in silence as Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory, the Hogwarts Champions, disappeared from the Quidditch field. There was an uproar when a bruised boy with dazed green eyes appeared holding tightly to the body of a tall Hufflepuff and carrying a trophy in one hand.

Many students were horrified to hear their beloved Dumbledore stand so forlornly in the Great Hall and proclaim that He Who Must Not Be Named was back from exile. Many students, and some of the teachers, refused to believe the Headmaster. Instead, they blamed Harry.

He just wanted attention...obviously couldn't get enough of being the Boy Who Lived...

The others who listened to Dumbledore had mixed emotions. First there was shock, then there was fear, then there was feeling of bravery from all the houses. They all had reasons to fight against Voldemort's second reign. Together, everyone from different houses would make a formidable team. The Gryffindors were known for not backing down to anything, Ravenclaw could use their minds successfully to think of plans, while Hufflepuffs kept everyone together by being even tempered and loyal to the cause. The Slytherins also churned out a few people desperate to get away from The Dark Lord. All of them wanted to live their lives the way they wanted.

*****

Without saying anything, Hermione and Ron stood before Harry as if they were bodyguards when they left the horseless carriages. Ginny laid a supportive hand on the orphaned boy's arm. Harry flashed the three a thankful grin and they all entered Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

After the students second year and up had settled at their respective tables, the first years filled in behind Hagrid, the half giant, their faces shining with awe and fear of teachers, students, and the spectacular Great Hall. Professor McGonagall stood up, hair swept up in a tight bun. She pulled out a stool and an old, battered hat. Then she placed both objects in the center of the room and stepped back. For a while there was silence and murmurs began to break out among the students. Even the teachers began to look a little worried. Suddenly, the hat twitched and rip near the rim hurriedly broke into song:

A thousand years or more ago,

When I was newly sewn,

There lived four wizards of renown

Whose names are still well known

They shared a wish, a hope, a dream

They hatched a daring plan

To educate young sorcerers

Thus Hogwarts School began.

Now each of these four founders

Formed their own House, for each

Did value different virtues that they wanted preached

You might belong in Gryffindor

Where dwell the brave of heart

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set the mighty lions apart

You might become a Hufflepuff

Where they are just and loyal

Those badgers are true

And unafraid of toil

Then there's bird's view Ravenclaw

If you have the mind

They are full of wit and learning

That's where to find that kind

Of course there's crafty Slytherin

That's a place to make friends

The snake house uses any means

To achieve their ends.

The founders made me to be put about your ears

I've never yet been wrong,

I'll have a look inside your head

And tell you where you belong!

The Sorting Hat stopped speaking, and the room was filled with applause. After the noise had died down, Professor McGonagall stood up and called the first student to the front of the room.

"HUFFLEPUFF!!" the Hat called out over the loud cheers of the badger table. The next person went up and the next, and the next. The last person to go was a boy named....

"Barnaby Whelan" Professor McGonagall called, rolling up her parchment. The Hall broke out in quiet whispers as the young boy made his way up to the front of the room. Harry watched and gave Hermione a puzzled look.

"He looks...kind of like... Cedric," he muttered to himself. Parvati Patil who was sitting across from Harry leaned in, whispering in a conspirational voice.

"Cedric's parents are divorced and his mother remarried. Barnaby is Cedric Diggory's step brother." She leaned away to talk to Lavender Brown, leaving Harry with a dazed expression on his face. Barnaby was still sitting on the stool, obviously holding a conversation with the Hat. Finally, the Hat called:"RAVENCLAW!" Applause was heard as the boy jumped off the stool and sat beside Head Girl Cho Chang. Harry watched the two hug. Dumbledore stood up after McGonagall put away the hat and the stool.

"Students, I welcome you to a year at Hogwarts. Before we eat, I must say something important....goggleplex, tucks, piggly wiggly. Now I must say Bon Apetit to the delicious food set in front of you." With that food suddenly appeared in front of the students. The first years gasped in amazement and Justin Flinch--Fletchy whooped as he grabbed the platter in front of him.

Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Harry glanced at each other before quickly picking up their utensils. Dumbledore had just given them a secret Order of the Phoenix message to the members located in the school. To the untrained mind, and any spies inside the building, it seemed like Dumbledore was being his old, crazy self, but the last few words meant the members were about to have their first meeting in an hour.

Conversations could be heard around the room as people ate their fill. Ron and Ginny were talking about Quidditch. Hermione was preaching to Dean and Shamus about the wonders of SPEW with Colin Creevy who had joined her organization last year. Neville was moaning to anyone who would listen about his lost toad Trevor, while some third years were having a heated discussion on the new DADA teacher (Arabella Figg) and Potion teacher (Archie Dublumes). Harry glanced at the Ravenclaw table and his eyes immediately swept towards two people in particular. Cho sat there, a smile on her face, as she spoke with Barnaby.

Maybe it isn't so bad...Cho and Barnaby had some time to move on with their lives, Harry tried to convince himself. Then he received a good look at their eyes. He shut his own.

Eyes really are the window to the soul.

Both Ravenclaw students had eyes that seemed dead to the world. Both conversed with a cheerful voice and walked with authority, but sadness was evident when the two thought no one was watching. Harry knew that the best he could hope for with either Ravenclaw was friendship. He knew that anytime the two looked at him, they would always see the death of a person they loved dearly.

For Barnaby, an older brother...a person to admire and proudly say "That's my big brother your cheering for ... the captain of a Quidditch team ... that's my brother".

As for the other Ravenclaw, Cho and Cedric had given their love to each other. Cho had let the man capture her heart and it was shattered the moment Cedric took his last breath.

Harry looked away.

*****

Later on, the students were in their respective common rooms trying to finish homework or settle into school mode. All were there except for a few who had been called for a rendezvous as the cause for Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Ginny.

"This is not an official meeting....it's more of a get together," Dumbledore explained to the assembled group. "When you are called to be part of a special mission, I want you all to be comfortable with your partner or partners if need be."

One boy raised a hand. "How long do we have to be in here," he asked nervously. "I told my friends I was going to the Library, but I'm not sure they bought it. I know they are going to start asking questions about my where abouts soon..."He trailed off.

Dumbledore raised a hand and addressed the entire room. "First of, you will all be receiving Time Turners. Time Turners will allow you to repeat hours of the day without you missing any of your classes. This way you can keep yourself in school and still have time to practice fighting in the Order. If you are unsure how they work, ask me. Right now, there should be no worries of uninvited students popping into the Great Hall." Dumbledore continued calmly. "Many of you went to the Quidditch World Cup a few years ago, correct?" People nodded or murmured in assent.

"Ah...so that's how he's done it," Hermione breathed.

"What? How has he done it," Ronald asked with knitting his eyebrows.

"Dumbledore has warded the Hall with a busy spell. Like the spells that kept the Muggles away the time we went to see the World Cup." Seeing Ron and Harry's still perplexed looks, the bushy haired girl was about to continue, but was interrupted by a male voice.

"There's a ward around the Great Hall, so anyone coming near here suddenly remembers something important and rushes away without coming in."

"Neville," the group exclaimed. Neville reddened.

"Hi guys," he said softly. "I know it seems weird that I'm at a place like this. Believe me, I was surprised when I was invited to join this organization, but I wanted to do something right for once in my life." He paused, debating whether to go on. He continued. "My...my parents were Aurors and they were... they were tortured when they were caught by Death Eaters." Neville glanced quickly at the horror stricken faces of all listening, except for Harry who gave Neville a comforting look. The boy took courage from that and went on.

"They're not dead. They're just at St. Mungos where they have been since I was a baby. My parents don't recognize me and I was thinking that I could, well ... maybe, carry on the family tradition of fighting evil or something." His voice that had been strong throughout the speech was barley above a whisper by the end.

"Oh, how... Gryffindoric," a voice drawled from behind Ron. They turned and saw:

"Malfoy," Ron spat, "what are you doing here?"

"Obviously the same thing as you Weasel." He smirked as two red-haired students faces contorted in anger.

"You evil, stuck up, little Slytherin git. How the hell did you get into an organization like this," Ron continued, drawing out his wand. Draco looked at him and smirked.

"Careful where you point that thing, weasel. Don't want you to be burping up slugs all night," the blond replied calmly as he walked away. Ron stared at the retreating back with a look of loathing.

"Ignore him, Ron," Ginny sighed, "the Headmaster's looks like he's about to speak again."

Dumbledore turned to the assembled people. "It's getting late and I for one, am very tired. We all have a big day in front of us and I would rather face it refreshed and awake after a good night."

They were dismissed.