Wow! I got such positive reviews that I decided to boost my update.  I don't know how much I'll be able to write, tough.

I wanted to update sooner but F.F.net was out of reach…Happens a lot lately, ne?  Oh well!  On with chapter 2!

Fate has brought us together

Chapter 2: Shocking news

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  "Well, that sucks…"

  "Ron! Watch your language!!!"  Hermione, 7th year Gryffindor, scolded her boyfriend.  She had long, pale brown hair that reached the middle of her back now, but she had finally found the way to tame it to make it look presentable.  She too was disappointed of the new train rule but pouting was not going to bring them anywhere now, did it?

  As a matter of fact, the train conductor had gotten so pissed last year when a fight between the lions and the snakes (^_^) had destroyed an entire hall, that he had decided that once the train had started to move, no students were aloud to get out from their compartment.

  So the result?  Ron and Hermione were stuck there and couldn't go out to search for Harry in the other cabinets.

  "Don't be such a worry wart, Ron.  We'll reunite with Harry in the Great Hall."

  "Oh Hermione!  My one and only voice of reason!"  Was the sarcastic reply of Ronald Weasley.  He was even taller than last year.  He still had his flaming red hair and he had filled even more.

Maybe being tall did run in the family.  Correction.  It did run in the family; on the boy's side, mind you.

  "Oh! Do shut up.  Look, put on your robes, we're arriving at Hogwarts."  Was Hermione's only reply.

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  "I wonder where is Harry?"  The great Hall was filling with the older students.  The duo was sitting in front of Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnigan, 2 of their classmates, and waiting for their ever so popular friend to show up.  "I hope Harry's 'family' didn't put bars on his windows again!"  Said an angry red head with, lets say it, a rather disgusted tone on the word family.

  "Ron! Will you stop complaining alread… "Hey guys!!!"

  Stopping in the middle of her phrase, Hermione and the gang all turned around to see… Who was this guy anyway?

  He was tall, less than Ron, but still taller than Hermione.  He had on Hogwarts robes with the Gryffindor Lion badge.  He looked pretty well built too.  A new exchange student? They continued their inspection to see deep black hair that reached to his shoulders and the greenest eyes…

  'Green eyes?'  Thought Hermione.  And as always, she was the first to recognize him.  With the biggest of smile, she expressed her surprise.  "Harry!!!  It's so nice to see you!"

  After a couple seconds of silence, Ron pounced on him and said the first thing that went through his head: "Harry! What did you do to your hair!?"  Sweatdrops could be seeing in the vicinity of the ever so clever red headed Weasley.  "Why Ron, happy to see you too…"

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  The sorting was over.  Albus Dumbledore had made his usual announcement about no putting foot in the Dark Forrest or else our dear Filch would have great pleasure in finding appropriate detentions and, to the Gryffindor's surprise and the Slytherins's disgust, Remus Lupin had accepted yet again the task of teaching DADA.  Not everyone was pleased, but You-Know-Who was gaining power and the students had to have a major boost in this department.  So he was grinning and waving to the students, who were in turn more than happy to have him back-except the Slytherins, of course- and professor Snape seemed to have put a dangerous 'don't talk to me, or else' glare that indicated his displeased disposition of staying in potions another year.  Poor Snape!!!  (Not Really ^_^;)

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  "Did you see the expression on the first year's faces when they saw the ghosts!!!  Precious!"  Seamus was having a blast.  True they went through that on their own first year but it was always funny to see the scarred looks they received.

  "Yeah! And don't you think it's fantastic that professor Lupin is back!  At least, he is patient with the students and teaches something that we'll actually need in the future!"  Neville was happy, there wasn't any other word for it.  He always got into trouble despite his efforts.  And Lupin luckily wasn't like Snape!  Taking 50 house points for an exploded cauldron…

  Letting those 2 in their own conversation, Hermione decided to question Harry.  "So Harry," she started, "I hope you had a nice time this summer.  You said you went to Japan, right? How was it?"

  "Yeah mate!  How DID it go?  With this muggle family of yours, I'm surprised you're even here instead of Japan! Knowing them, they could've forgot you there and come back without you! 

  'You're not far from the truth, my dear friend.  I didn't really want to come back myself…' thought Harry gloomily.

  Choosing to ignore Ron's words for the moment, he replied to the intelligent girl he met in his first year instead.  "Well Hermione, I only stayed with the Dursleys for a week.  I spent the rest of my vacation at someone else's house."  Before he could explain, Hermione cut him with an interested look.  "Really??? What happened?" 

  "Well…The Dursleys were ranting on my being a nuisance when she made a deal with them.  Soooo...I stayed at her place all summer.  It was bloody awesome too!!!  I had time to do my homework, for once.  I worked on the house and she even taught me some hand-to-hand combat moves!  To tell you the truth, I was a little reluctant to come back home.  Not that the Dursleys would have minded…"

  Ron was now all ears.  With an evil glint in his eyes and a sly grin plastered on his face, he couldn't help but to try to make Harry as red a tomato: " SHE? Harry dear?  Don't tell me that you finally got out of the sweet little boy act and get yourself a girlfriend!"  Hermione and Ron were looking at him expectantly, daring him to open his mouth.

  "Oh no!  Not girlfriend, really."  A thoughtful expression marring his face.

Ron and Hermione looked disappointed.  They thought they could make Harry sputter in shock and look as stoned as a rock but he didn't even seemed fazed by the question.  And what was the deal with that look?

"No, not girlfriend…….More like fiancée………………………………………………………………………………

"You're serious aren't you?"  whispered words, mouth like a fish, opening and closing.  For the first time ever, there was total system crash in the girl's head.

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Uh Oh…Ron looked frantic, with eyes as big as that… Burst in 5……………..

4………….

3         

2…

1..

"ARE YOU TOTALLY OUT OF YOUR BLOODY MIND!!!!!?????

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Cliffhanger!!! Ha! Ha! Ha!  Review and we'll see!!!!  (I'm not that heartless, don't worry…^.^)

It seems that I find my inspiration at night…It's 12:21am for Merlin's sake!  So all hail me for working my butt out for you guys!!! ^_^;  I just hope I'll be able to post the bloody chapter…

Hey!  I just wanted to thank you guys again for the wonderful and encouraging reviews!!!

Sniff! I am loved… O-kay! That was weird!  Probably due to the lack of sleep or something…

ANYWAY!

Review!... I dare you to!