OMG! It's been almost a year since I started this! And I basically said it would be done. I'm such a liar. And a procrastinator. Special thanks to my friend the Frogwizard for reviewing and supporting me as well as Emma for being there to actually review. PLEASE R/R! It would mean so much to me! Anyways.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I do own, however, Sean, any new characters, and the plot so back off scumbags! On that cheery note! Enjoy! This is my longest chapter yet! ^_^
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared in horror as about ten wizards advanced slowly on Sirius with their wands drawn. "This is ridiculous," muttered Hermione and she jumped down from the bench.
"Hermione! Wait! What are you doing?" cried Ron, but it was too late. Hermione was already striding towards Sirius and the mass of people. Harry and Ron quickly jumped off the bench and headed off in the same direction as Hermione. However, it was too late. Hermione had already reached the center of the mob and was standing in front of Sirius while facing the oncoming mob.
"Hermione!" hissed Sirius. "Move!"
"No!" replied Hermione hotly. "Hey! Everyone! Don't any of you read the Daily Prophet?"
"What are you talking about girl?" came a voice and out of the shadows stepped Lucius Malfoy with his wand drawn. "Move or I'll get rid of you as well!" said Lucius grinning a sadistic grin.
"Well, unfortunately for you Mr. Malfoy that Sirius here is no longer a convict. See for yourself!" replied Hermione smiling. Hermione held up a copy of the day's Daily Prophet and there on the front page was the headline "Sirius Black Cleared of All Charges."
"What?! This is impossible!" yelled the elder Malfoy ripping the paper out of Hermione's hand. His eyes scanned over the article and the crowd awaited the verdict with drawn breaths. Just like in the American Trix cereal commercials, Malfoy's face changed several shades of color giving a new meaning to "colors of the rainbow." (A/N: Can you imagine that? Trix are for kids!) "Damn! This isn't over Black. Or you Granger. It's not over by a long shot," muttered Malfoy and strode off into the crowd. The crowd tittered for a few more moments then slowly dispersed, careful to avoid Sirius.
"Thanks Hermione. It seems most haven't read today's news because it's Express day," said Sirius.
"No problem!" replied Hermione. Harry and Ron, who had been watching the exchange with open mouths, stared at Hermione and Sirius.
"Sirius… What happened? How?" trailed off Harry. Sirius smiled a tired grin.
"It's a long story and we'll have plenty of time later. However, right now I suggest you all find a compartment before we leave," suggested Sirius. Harry and Ron nodded mutely and Hermione tugged them towards the train. "Come on guys!" urged Hermione and snapped the two out of their daze long enough to help load the trunks onto the Express. After about five minutes, the trio found an empty compartment near the back of the train and settled down for the ride. "Hey Hermione?" asked Ron after a minute.
"Hmm?" was the reply as Hermione started digging through her trunk.
"How did you know about Sirius?"
"I saw it on the news stand." With a triumphant sound, Hermione emerged with a large book and settled down in the seat next to Harry and started to read. Harry and Ron exchanged looks. 'Well at some things haven't changed,' thought Harry and drifted off to sleep.
A/N: Train ride is boring. I don't feel like writing it! So here the gang is at Hogwarts…
"Hey Harry! Wake up! We're here!" urged Ron. Harry groggily sat up and looked out the window to see the large castle looming over them. Hogwarts, England's famous wizarding school for the training of those who possessed magic and Harry's home nine months of the year. While Hermione and Ron lugged the trunks out, Harry quickly pulled on his school robes then gave the other two a hand. Together they piled into a horseless carriage and sat down to await their departure. "Did you guys see Hagrid anywhere?" asked Harry.
"No. But didn't you say that Dumbledore had him on some sort of mission or something? Asked Hermione.
"Yeah I guess you're right," said Harry.
"Hermione, you're always right," quipped Ron.
"Shut up," was the reply.
"Mind if I join you?" asked a voice and none other than Sirius got into the carriage.
"Sirius! What are you doing here?!" exclaimed Ron.
"Oh right. I didn't get a chance to tell you. I'm the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor," said Sirius.
"You're kidding!" exclaimed Harry. Sirius grinned and shook his head.
"I'm not! Dumbledore offered me the position. Too bad it's cursed, but at least the pays good." Hermione snorted and Sirius looked at her.
"Something funny Miss Granger?" asked Sirius seriously. (A/N: lol! Sirius seriously!)
"Not at all PROFESSOR," retorted Hermione.
"Better shape up or I'll dock points," warned Sirius grinning.
"In case you haven't noticed, term hasn't started yet. So good luck!" said Hermione and went back to her book. Once again, looks were exchanged and the topic gradually switched to the topic of the Quidditch World Cup. With a lurch the carriages were off and rolling towards the Great Hall.
The Great Hall was just as magnificent as the year before if not even more so. There was no grave reminder of the past year's events except for some tension hanging over the Ravenclaw table. Harry was greeted by claps on the back by the Gryffindors and a Weasley welcome by the twins. Ginny greeted him with a shy hello and went off with the other fourth years. At that moment, Professor McGonagall strode out with the Sorting Hat in hand and placed it on a stool in the middle of the room. With that, the students scrambled to find seats. Harry sat in between Hermione (who actually put down her book) and Ron (who was grumbling about long ceremonies and the need for food). Harry just grinned and the great doors opened. In two lines were the small intimidated First Years. The gazed around the room apprehensively and came to a stop as McGonagall stopped them. A rip in the hat's brim opened, but suddenly closed with a snap. Whispers immediately broke out over the hall. The Sorting Hat wouldn't sing? It was unheard of! Dumbledore slowly descended down from the teacher's table and put on the hat. After a few moments the headmaster nodded and placed the hat back on the stool. "It seems that Sorting Hat has no song for this year," announced the professor. No Sorting song? Impossible! "However, the Sorting Hat will still sort the First Years into their respective houses." Harry, Ron, and Hermione all looked at each other. So, evidence of Voldemort's rise had already started to appear starting with the Sorting Hat. It wasn't just a hat, it was the key player in making the houses and keeping the tradition going! Without the hat, who would keep the Houses in order? Their thoughts were shattered as "Atarik, Lance" was made a Gryffindor and they joined in the applause. However, their thoughts were still centered on the Sorting Hat.
Gradually the hat worked down the line of first years until only "Zabini, Lucas" was made a Slytherin. However, after a gesture from Dumbledore, McGonagall left the hat on the stool. Dumbledore once again stood up and cleared his throat. "Ahem. As you all know, several rumors of the one Dark Lord coming to power have been spread. As a result of this, several wizarding schools have shut down all over the world." The students tittered wondering what this was leading to. Only Hermione seemed to remain indifferent. "due to this," continued Dumbledore, "We are pleased to accept a an exchange student." The Hall burst into whispers. Never in Hogwarts history had an exchange student been accepted. "He's all the way from America so I expect you will treat him with the same respect you show your classmates. His name is Sean O'Brian and he will be joining the fifth year class, but his house is yet to be known." Dumbledore nodded and once again the huge doors opened. The room once again was full of noise, but most of it was from girls swooning over the new guy. He was Harry's height and quite handsome. His brownish-blonde hair was put into a natural windswept look. His eyes were a sly cinnamon color that gleamed with cunning and mischief. He walked purposefully and the school robes billowed out majestically around him as the girls sighed dreamily and boys narrowed their eyes at him. Harry looked out of the corner of his eye and looked at Hermione. Rather than swooning like every other girl, Hermione just looked on with a slight quirk in the corner of her mouth.
With an air of cockiness, Sean stepped up and placed the hat on his head. He hadn't even sat down when the hat yelled, "Gryffindor!" and whines were heard from other tables as the "most good-looking guy on the planet" joined the Gryffindors. He received great applause from the Gryffindors and strode, surprisingly, over to sit opposite of Hermione. As he tried to sit down he was stopped by Hermione's feet propped up on the bench.
"Sorry, seat's saved!" she said smirking.
"Hermione! Are you crazy?!" hissed Parvati as she hurried to clear a spot next to her.
"It's all right," said Sean. "But if I may ask, who's the seat saved for?"
"Someone with an actual life," answered Hermione. The Gryffindor table went silent as did the rest of the Great Hall.
"Ouch!" replied Sean. "I'm hurt. But then again, I'm talking to M.J. here."
"Touche," said Hermione. With a sudden laugh she jumped up and hugged him over the table. "Sit down you!" she laughed. Sean grinned and took a seat. It seemed like this year at Hogwarts there would be plenty of gossip! Hermione the bookworm with the new guy? Not possible! "Students! I just want to say a few reminders for this year before we eat as well as welcome a few new teachers. Professor Black and Professor Latvin will be are new Defense Against the Dark Arts and Care of Magical Creatures Professors. Unfortunatly, Professor Hagrid is on urgent business and is unable to attend class so Professor Latvin has graciously stepped in. I hope you all will treat Professor Black and Professor Latvin with respect and courtesy. A few reminders. First years will not be allowed to play Quidditch nor have a broom on campus. All Hogsmeade trips will be open to third years and higher. The Yule Ball will be available to fifth years and higher. Mister Filch has reminded me to remind you all no magic in the corridors. The Forbidden Forest is of course forbidden. No one is to go near it at any time regardless of the emergency. Finally, last but not least, no one is to leave grounds without a chaperone. This includes Hogsmeade trips. It is due to the immense publicity and rumors flying about, but rest assured this is only a precaution. On that note! Carpul Tilat Vom!" Magically the dishes filled with food and everyone began to dig in. "Anyway, who are your friends M.J.?" asked Sean.
"Well, this is Harry Potter and Ron Weasley," she answered. "Try the Shepard's pie. You'll like it."
"Thanks," he answered gratefully. "I don't think I can get used to all this British stuff! Umm… Which one is the Shepard's pie or whatever?"
"Here," said Ron handing over the dish.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"So what's America like? Where'd you live and where'd you go?" asked Lavender bombarding Sean with questions.
"Well," he started, "It's nothing like this place!"
"No place is like this place Seanie," said Hermione taking a sip of her pumpkin juice.
"Right you are! Anyway, I grew up in San Francisco. Busy place I tell you! Just like London only we drive on the right side of the road and it's sunny 360 days out of the year. I lived by the ocean so I'd swim and surf a lot! My parents owned a house in the city as well as by the ocean. Both my parents were workaholics. I went to an Independent Wizarding School which is a chain of wizarding schools in the U.S. And that's about it!" he finished.
"Wow! Sounds like a blast!" exclaimed Dean.
"You bet!"
"You watch any football?" inquired Dean.
"Yeah. Both American and English," said Sean.
"Cool!" The rest of the meal was quite uneventful except for Sean answering questions about his hometown and the like. Hermione remained mostly silent only interjecting a few comments or two until everyone was finished and headed off to the dorm. Hermione, as her duty stated, moved ahead of the first years and stopped in front of the giant portrait of the fat lady. "Tipsy Tuppins," she said and the lady in the portrait swung aside with a smile to admit the Gryffindors. The students scrambled in to be greeted by the warm cheerful look of the Gryffindor common room. Most headed off to bed, but a few, namely Fred and George, took it upon themselves to start a game of Exploding Snap. Sean headed over curiously to see what it was and was followed by most of the fifth years. Harry and Ron started after him but stopped when they noticed Hermione wasn't there. "You coming Hermione?" asked Ron.
"No, I'm tired. I'm going to go to bed," she answered.
"You sure?" asked Harry.
"Yeah. See you guys tomorrow," she said and walked up the stairs to her dorm. Harry watched her back for a few minutes until Ron called him over to the large group playing in the middle of the room. Harry threw one last glance at the stairs before going over to join the laughter.
Hermione quietly shut the door behind her. All the other girls in her dorm were downstairs playing Exploding Snap with that moron Sean. Although, she had to admit, it was nice seeing him again. She sat down on her bed and looked out the window at the half moon. 'You seem tense. What's up?' said the voice.
'Nothing. Just tired. I've had better days,' answered Hermione.
'You okay?'
'I'll live.' There was a pause then, 'You know I'm here for you right?'
'You always have been. Why should I doubt you?'
'THEN CUT THE CRAP AND TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG!' the voice screamed.
'Ow! MAJOR MIGRAINE!'
'Sorry.'
'No you're not,' retorted Hermione
'You're right I'm not,' said the voice. There was another long period of silence. 'Fine. I'll tell you,' thought Hermione.
'Bout time.'
'You already know I've been having nightmares, but they've gotten worse lately.'
'Worse?'
'Somehow, I feel like the past is catching up fast. Too fast. And this time, there's no one to catch me,' said Hermione.
' I'll be there to catch you. Count on it.'
'Thanks.'
'No prob. Get some sleep. I'll be here.' Hermione smiled. 'Night.'
'Night Hermione.' And the voice was gone. However, as Hermione got into her pajamas and settled in bad, the lingering feeling of the voice's presence stayed. That night, there were no bad dreams.
So whaddya think! Good? Bad? Tell me! Please R/R! I'm begging for feedback! I'll write some more when I find the time, but with my midterms and a HUGE recital coming up I may not be able to write for a couple of weeks! HEY! At least this time I;m telling the truth! lol.
Peace out
Sailor Universe