When Harry woke up he was very groggy. When things seemed a little more clear he looked at the clock. 10:30 at night, and no sign of anyone from Hogwarts. Harry read Hermione's letter again.

"Keep an eye out, especially tonight."

"Well what am I supposed to keep an eye out for?" Harry asked sleepily.

He got up and walked over to Hedwig's cage to let her out. He knew she must want to go hunt, for she had been sleeping all day. He was right. No sooner had he opened the cage, she had flown out into the night. He was now at a loss of what to do, all of his holiday work was complete, he certainly couldn't practice flying or any other spells. Harry kicked open his trunk and pulled out a book Hagrid had given him, after his first year at Hogwarts. There were several pictures of his parents and himself, but he automatically turned to his parents wedding picture. James and Lily were arm in arm, and standing next to them, his father's best man, and best friend, was Sirius. Everyone in the picture was beaming up at him. Harry quickly shut the book as he could not seem to force the tears back anymore. He let a few fall as he put the album away. He sat on his bed, head in his hands. His head sprang up though as Hedwig flew into the room once more.

"What are you doing back so soon?" Harry wondered out loud as Hedwig swooped into her cage as though she was preparing to be moved.

It was then Harry heard laughter outside his window. He jumped off his bed to find out who was there. He couldn't believe it, outside on broomsticks were Hermione, and Tonks who he had met last year. He spun around again after he heard a faint "pop" and in his bedroom was Remus Lupin and Mad-Eye Moody.

"Hello Harry!" they all said at various times overlapping each other.

"What are you all doing here? I thought it would be just one person!" Harry replied.

"Well, we apprated here, so we could take your things to Hogwarts easily-" Lupin began with a faint smile.

" We flew because we thought you could use some fresh air-" Tonks continued.

"And Tonks thought you could use a friend on the journey back and even at Hogwarts." finished Hermione.

"We'll see you at school Harry." said Moody handing Harry his Firebolt and with that and another popping sound he and Lupin disappeared.

Tonks and Hermione came inside. Hermione sat down and looked around, and Tonks put a charm on Harry he had undergone only once before. His body and broomstick camouflaged with his surroundings. Tonks went to Hedwig. Lupin had let her out and left with her cage.

"Is it alright if she flies with us Harry?"

"Yes, I imagine she'd like that." he replied.

"Ok let's go then." Tonks said turning to Hermione, "You all set?"

"Yes. Let's go." she replied.

They crept past the sleeping Dursleys and into the front yard since they couldn't very well kick off from a window. Tonks kicked off first, and her, Harry and Hermione had made a sort of triangle. Tonks in front, Harry and Hermione next to each other behind her, Hedwig flying in between all of them, hooting madly. After five minutes or so of silence Hermione turned to Harry.

"So…Harry…err-how are you?"

"Fine." Harry said, and thought to himself, Fine as long as I don't think of Sirius and what I did to him.

"It's just that, well you never answered my letters I was getting worried."

"Sorry. Didn't mean to worry you. Everything's been fine, not much to say." Harry told her, knowing all the while Hermione wasn't dense enough to believe that.

"Harry, you're lying. I know you are." Hermione said looking worriedly at him.

"It's been a rough summer, but what can you expect? I may have damn well killed Sirius myself!" he snapped, regretting it immediately, that pesky lump was back in his throat, and he was determined not to cry.

Tonks dropped back a few feet to where they were,

"Harry stop, you can't keep blaming yourself for what happened! It wasn't your fault. It wasn't anyone's fault." she said kindly.

"She's right Harry. Stop blaming yourself. Sirius wouldn't want that." Hermione insisted.

Harry turned to look at her,

"I should have listened to you. I should have stayed at Hogwarts and this wouldn't have happened. If I had listened to you he'd still be alive."

"Harry-" she began before Tonks cut in.

"Harry listen to me. When we left to get you, we pleaded-we begged Sirius to stay! But he told us he wouldn't. It's not that he wanted out of the house it's that he wanted to help you. The truth is you and Sirius should have left the moment we arrived and you two saw each other and knew you were safe, but he had some old battles to take care of, and so did you. Harry he would have gone had you not been there! There was nothing you could do."

"But-" Harry began.

"Listen to her Harry! There was nothing you could do! It's not your fault." Hermione told him.

Harry just shrugged his shoulders and continued flying. Tonks flew back to the front farther ahead. Hermione still flew next to Harry, looking over at him every few minutes. Hedwig still hooting madly, flew a bit closer to Harry. It seemed like they had been flying for hours when finally Harry looked up and saw it. That enormous castle he called home. He knew they were within ten minutes of Hogwarts. Sure enough about five minutes later he heard Tonks yell for them to prepare to land. Hedwig had flown off to the barn where all the school owls were. Harry and Hermione sped up, now even with Tonks.

"What are we waiting for, Tonks?" Hermione asked.

"Just making sure we are in the clear from the Whomping Willow." she replied, "I think we're alright now though. Okay take it down."

With that they all landed. All were silent as they walked up the stone steps to the great doors that lead into the entrance hall. The doors opened even before any of them reached the top. Albus Dumbledore was standing inside. Smiling at Harry, then at Hermione, and lastly Tonks. As they walked inside Harry saw that all of the house tables were against the walls and there was one table in the middle of the room. All three turned to Dumbledore.

"Thank you, Tonks." said Albus kindly.

"No problem. Um- I'd like to stay for tonight if you don't mind. I fancy a chat with Remus and Mad-Eye." she replied smiling at Harry and Hermione.

"Of course. They're in the Ravenclaw dormitories, awaiting news of your arrival I expect." Dumbledore gestured her in the right direction, then turned to Harry and Hermione.

"Err- Professor where will we be staying?" Hermione asked, though to Harry it sounded like she was just trying to make conversation.

"The Gryffindor dormitories, as usual." he said smiling.

"Right. Well, good night then Professor, night Harry." she said walking off toward Gryffindor house.

"Good night." said Harry and Albus simultaneously.

Professor Dumbledore turned to Harry,

"Hello Harry."

"Hello Professor. What was it you needed to tell me…you know before term begins." Harry replied.

"All in good time Harry. Get a good night's rest and we will meet tomorrow evening." Dumbledore kindly insisted.

"Good night Professor."

"Good night Harry." he replied as he watched Harry walk away Albus said to himself, "Tomorrow you shall meet someone new. Someone very special, someone with a secret…I wish I knew what."

Tonks and Lupin had come out from around a corner. Dumbledore gazed at them smiling, then he nodded. Tonks flashed a thumbs-up and Lupin gave a little chuckle, as they walked back to Ravenclaw. Dumbledore simply walked to his office smiling.