Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and characters related to it. Harry Potter and its characters are the intellectual property of the talented J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Scholastic, Raincoast and Bloomsbury books. Storyline and plot have been developed partially based on the plots, characters and storylines of the first 5 installments of Harry Potter, The Sorceror's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire and The Order of the Phoenix.

Author's Note: While skimming through my earlier chapters I realized I made some grammatical errors in some of the chapters. I will correct them as soon as possible to set an example for the proper usage of English to the boys and girls out there. =Þ. I also decided not to write about Harry's birthday if anyone is wondering why there is no mention of that. Was never really good at describing a birthday party, after all, the only 16 year old birthday parties I remember involve a lot of alcohol, which I doubt would be available to Harry. Anyway, I also thought I should make a point that I feel that since J.K.Rowling seems to be writing the book in the perspective of a growing boy, Harry should have matured more after the events of his 5th year, thus being the way he is in my story. Sweet sixteen is after all sweet sixteen. One other thing, I also realised that I have not written much about Hedwig and Pig, since they seemed to be mentioned in all the books at one point of time or rather. Sorry bout that as well, I'm not too good with the pet thing but I'll try and keep it in mind when I write later chapters.

Chapter 9

            The rest of the summer passed by rather uneventfully for Harry and Co. Soon after the reading of Sirius's will, Remus was called away on matters for the Order, thus leaving the 4 DA members unable to continue practices with the boggart Dementor. Harry was more than willing to assume the responsibility by himself but Mrs.Weasley forbade them to train with the Dementor. She had been willing to allow them to train with a fully trained wizard watching over them, but she was concerned with allowing them to face a Dementor by themselves. Before Remus left, he had told Harry to keep in contact with him when he returned to Hogwarts, and that he will always be there to listen if he faced any problems. He also told Harry to be wary of anything that was going on at Hogwarts, as well as to be careful when he went into Hogsmeade, as no where was safe at this point of time. Harry had chosen not to argue with Mrs.Weasley over the issue of the Dementor as he felt she did have a point and also because the start of term was approaching. Before they knew it, it was time to return to Hogwarts for the start of a new term at school. On their last night at Grimmauld Place, Mrs. Weasley had cooked a marvellous dinner, and the entire Weasley family (minus Bill, Charlie and Percy) sat down to a wonderful dinner. Fred and George were constantly reminding their brother to keep up the family spirit at Hogwarts and play his fair share of pranks in his 6th year, adding that they would be more than willing to supply him with the necessary "tools" to pull off the pranks. Mrs.Weasley was not approving of this behaviour and proceeded in telling the twins off for setting a bad example for their siblings.

            The morning came when Harry would finally be returning to Hogwarts. He actually was not too sure of what to expect in this year at Hogwarts. He had packed his belongings the night before and had proceeded to have breakfast early that morning. It seemed that the usual Weasley chaos when it came to leaving for the start of term was no longer apparent, seeing as how they were all at Grimmauld Place and not the Burrow, with more space to move about. There was also the fact that Ron and Ginny were the only two returning to Hogwarts this year. Mr.Weasley had managed to borrow a ministry car again this time around and the four of them, along with Mr. and Mrs.Weasley drove down to Kings Cross and got on to platform 9 and 3/4. As they got on the platform to board the train, Harry could see his fellow Gryffindors and other Hogwarts students that he had got to know the previous year. Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas called out to him when they saw him, and he had received nods and friendly gestures from Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, Terry Boot and other DA members as he walked on the platform. From a distance, he also noticed Cho Chang boarding the train. She also seemed to notice him and smiled at him, which Harry returned and thought that she looked a little nervous when she did that. The time came to board the train and the 4 of them were hugged by Mrs.Weasley and were reminded to behave themselves at school and not get involved in any dangerous activities.

            After they had boarded the train, Ron and Hermione went to join the prefects in their compartment as Harry and Ginny set off to find a compartment. They found Neville sitting in one of the compartments alone and they joined him as they did the previous year. "Hey Harry, hey Ginny, Wow Ginny! Your hair looks great!" said Neville as the both of them sat down in the compartment with him. "Hey Neville," said Harry returning Neville's greeting. Neville seemed to have changed during the summer. He no longer carried a bumbling presence like he had used to, on the contrary, Neville seemed to have lost a little weight over the summer, and the look of confidence on his face was very apparent, which was not surprising seeing as how he had handled himself during last year's events. "How was your summer?" Harry asked.

"It was fine. Didn't do much over the summer, Gran seems to think that the outside world is getting dangerous. She wasn't too happy about what happened last year at school, but she didn't tell me off as badly as I had expected. In a way, I think she was quite proud of me," he said.

They continued conversations over what they had done over the summer, and mentioned that they had tried out the Patronus charm with a boggart Dementor and meeting Viktor Krum during the Order meetings. Somehow, Harry felt much more comfortable with Neville than he had in the past. The last year's events had led to him to feel that Neville was much more trustworthy and loyal a friend than he had ever thought he was. They were going on about whether the DA would be continued that year when Ron and Hermione came into the compartment.

"Really, I wonder why they bother gathering in the prefect's compartment anyway. It's not like they tell us anything new," said Ron as he opened a Chocolate Frog.

"Ron, you know we have a duty as prefects…" Hermione said before she was interrupted by the opening of the compartment door.

"Oh look…….the dream team has added another 2 members," said a slick voice. It was Draco Malfoy and his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle. "Not bad Potter, Mudbloods, Weasels, and now you've added Longbottom on your list. It's good you've got the Mudblood with you, seeing as how Longbottom is probably so slow you'll need to balance his brains out with the Mudblood, even then there's no guarantee that it will be in balance," he added as Crabbe and Goyle laughed beside him.

"Get out Malfoy. There are 5 of us here and we won't hesitate to curse you to hell and back," said Ron coolly.

Malfoy seemed to suddenly realise that for once, he and his cronies were outnumbered, but he simply grinned, "Oh we'll leave Weasel. Don't want to be seen in the same compartment as this bunch. Remember my words Potter, you will get what's coming to you soon enough. You won't have someone to watch your back all the time," he said as he closed the compartment door and left before Ron stood up.

Hermione simply put on a look of disgust but turned to Ron and said, "I'm impressed Ron. You didn't lose your temper like you normally do."

This was a matter of opinion though, Harry thought, since Ron's face was flaming red and his face could only show one emotion, pure hate. Ron however, composed himself a little and replied, "Well, he won't have such a good time at Hogwarts now since everyone knows what his father is, and what his family does. We'll see how he carries himself at school now that everyone knows his dad is a Death Eater, I still wonder how in the world Crabbe and Goyle are still going back to Hogwarts. How on earth did they manage to get through their O.W.Ls?!"

The rest of the ride to Hogwarts passed by uneventfully enough, with a few games of exploding snap. Soon after, they had arrived at Hogwarts and Hagrid was there, waiting as usual to greet the first years as they came off the train.

"Firs' years, Firs' years this way," he caught sight of Harry and put his gigantic hands on Harry's shoulder. "Hey Harry, doin' al' righ'?" he asked Harry.

"Yeah Hagrid, I'm fine. It's great to see you again and it's great to be back," he said as they boarded the carriages, the Thestrals being ever more visible to Harry.

The four of them made their way into the great hall, Harry of course, receiving the usual pointing fingers and whispered voices as he passed by the tables, making his way down the Gryffindor table. He sat down at the table and looked over to the teacher's table in front of the great hall. As usual, Professor Dumbledore sat there, with his long silver hair and beard talking to Professor McGonogall who nudged her head in Harry's direction as she noticed him looking over to them. Professor Dumbledore looked at Harry and smiled at him, a smile which Harry returned. Looking down the table, Harry saw Professor Snape, still looking as unpleasant as ever, and a few places from Professor Snape was someone Harry had not seen at the teacher's table before, but had an odd feeling that he should have seen his face before. He was a rather weird looking wizard to say the least. He was dressed in a really oddly coloured robe which seemed to change colours if you looked at it from a different angle. He also wore a hat similar to Professor Dumbledore's but the hat also seemed to change colour every time you looked at it from a different angle. He wore glasses as well and had a short, grizzled greyish beard which matched the colour of his hair, which was just above shoulder length. He had eyes which seemed to wander to every inch of the great hall and Harry seriously wondered if he was merely observing every aspect of the Great Hall, but it seemed that the man was in a permanent daze. Harry knew that this could only be the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, but he seriously wondered if this man was up to the job. He looked like a circus wizard more than a professor. Before Harry could voice his opinion to Ron and Hermione, the first years had lined up in front of the sorting Hat, which was placed on the stool in front of the Great Hall and as with every year, the hat started its song.

(SONG)

The Great Hall was bursting with applause at the end of the Sorting Hat's new song as the first years were beginning to be sorted out.

"Cartman, Eric," called Professor McGonogall as a pudgy boy sat down on the stool.

"Slytherin!"  

Harry turned to Ron and Hermione, telling them about what had seemed as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. "Yeah, he looks like a real nutter that one," said Ron. "Really wonder if he's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor or if he's a replacement for Filch," he added as he looked over to the students being sorted.

"Skywalker, Luke,"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Ron, you should know better than to judge people by their first appearances. Remus didn't really look like a good Defence professor when we met him in our third year, but he turned out to be the best one we've had," said Hermione as she clapped along with the rest of the hall as the last first year, "Vader, Darth" was made a Slytherin.

Professor Dumbledore then stood up to make his usual start of term announcement. "Let the feast, begin," as the golden plates of the five tables were filled with the usual feast of excellent food. Harry, feeling particularly hungry began to fill his plate with steak and bacon. Ron attacked the food ferociously like a man possessed and was reprimanded by Hermione.

"Ron, when will you ever stop stuffing your face with food every chance you get?"

Ron had learned by now to swallow his food before he answered Hermione, "C'mon Hermione, I've only had a Chocolate Frog since the train, I'm starving," as he dove into another helping of chicken drumsticks.

As per usual, Harry could not be bothered with the constant bickering of his two friends over dinner as he continued with his steak and bacon. Ginny however, giggling, asked Harry if he had to put up with their bickering every other day of the school term. "More or less so Ginny, more or less so," he said in reply as Ginny grinned and started on her own dinner. After they had all eaten as much as they could, the plates cleared themselves then filled themselves up again with the usual selection of various sweets, cakes and ice cream. After working through his 2nd helping of treacle tart, Harry felt well-fed and watered and was stretching to relax his absolutely full stomach when Professor Dumbledore stood up yet again to make another announcement.

"Welcome back, to another year at Hogwarts. I hope that all of you will find the time to enjoy the school term regardless of the recent happenings. I would like to make a few statements before we go off to bed. Firstly, the forbidden forest, is as usual, forbidden to all students," as his eyes flashed towards Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Secondly, I would like to welcome the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Would you please kindly welcome our new professor, my very own brother, Professor Aberforth Dumbledore," he said as the hall burst into some mild clapping. Most of the students were really quite appalled by the sight of Professor Dumbledore's own brother, and most of them, Harry thought, must have been thinking alongside the lines of Harry, that the new professor did not remotely look like a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Dumbledore then continued his speech, "Due to the confusion that it would cause to have students referring to two Professor Dumbledores, my brother would prefer students to refer to him as Professor Abe, seeing as how Professor Dumb did not sound very suitable." He was chuckling mildly at this before he finished his speech by sending them off to bed.

Harry told Ron, Hermione and Ginny that he would join them later as he remembered that he had to meet Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonogall after the feast. He climbed the by now familiar stairway to Professor Dumbledore's office and met by Professor McGonogall at the entrance to the office.

"I'm glad that you remembered Mr.Potter, I was about to go to the Gryffindor tower to get you myself," as she turned around and said the password "Crazy Conker Candy," which Harry found very amusing, knowing that the product had been developed by Fred and George and wondered if Professor Dumbledore was unfortunate enough to have tried one himself. He stepped in to the office to see Professor Dumbledore stroking Fawkes lightly.

"Ah Harry, it is good to see that you are well after the events of last year. I hope that you are ready for the new term?" he asked as Harry nodded in reply.

"Good, good. As Professor McGonogall would have informed you, we believe that it is now essential for you to begin your training in combat. Classes have been arranged for you with reference to your schedule at school this year. Professor McGonogall, Professor Abe, Professor Flitwick and I will be instructing you in the various forms of magic that you will have to learn and accustom yourself with," he said to Harry in a very serious tone that Harry had never heard before. He simply nodded in response.

"Harry, you must understand that the magic we will be teaching you is very advanced magic, so advanced that some of it are even unknown to Aurors. You must be prepared to train very hard to master these new aspects of magic," he said again to Harry.

"Professor, I know what I have to do, and I have come to accept that it is what I must do, for myself and for everyone else. I'm sure that I can do it with all your help," he said in a firm voice.

Professor Dumbledore simply smiled and his eyes twinkled with pride. "Very well Harry," he said. "I am glad to see that you are determined. On another note, if you feel that you are up to the challenge, you can resume your efforts with the DA if you wish to do so. You will also be happy to know that your ban on quidditch has been removed effectively and you will be allowed to join the Gryffindor team again," he added.

Harry simply smiled and nodded. "Well, if there is nothing else, I am sure you have had a long day and you will want to get to bed, off you go then Harry," said Professor Dumbledore as Harry bade the two Professors goodnight and proceeded back to the Gryffindor Tower.

"It's going to be a busy year," he thought as he muttered the password to the portrait of the fat lady, stepping in to the common room to tell his friends who were sitting by the fire in the common room of what had just transpired in Dumbledore's office.

Author's Note: Yeah I know about the names and the song but I really couldn't think of anything. If anyone is feeling in the mood to create a sorting hat song, mail it to me and I'll put it in =). And I know that some of you are wondering why I'm using Dumbledore's brother in the story, well my justification for this is that the idea of Remus Lupin resuming the job appeals greatly to me. I really wanted to use him as the DADA teacher but I feel that using him makes my life easier in writing the story so I decided to try out something which I have yet to read in other fan fics. Hope no one has any objections. By the way, to the fans of Tonks and the twins, not to worry, I plan to use those characters in greater proportions later in the story. Oh yeah, Disclaimer: Eric Cartman is owned by South Park, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader owned by LucasFilms and e.t.c. I was just using the names for some comic relief.