Disclaimer: The characters and places belong to JK Rowling. The only character that belongs to me is Medea who comes in later. The title I got when I was on a volunteer shift and I saw a copy of Scientific America, but the plot is mine.

Chapter 1: Breakfast

The owl flew into the great hall, causing all the heads to turn and watch it in horror. It was not the first time an owl had flown into the Great Hall--most students were used to owls--but this one seemed different. It may have been the feeling of pure hatred that came from its direction, or simply the fact that it seemed exhausted yet determined to make its delivery. Whatever the reason was, not a single individual sitting in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Great Hall eating breakfast that morning wanted the owl to land in front of him or her.

The Owl circled for a few minutes, fixing each student with its loathsome glare. It seemed to be enjoying the suspense. After what seemed like an eternity the owl began its decent with an angry hoot in Dumbledore's direction. It landed heavily in front of the boy who least wanted it near him.

Harry Potter sighed and reached for the letter attached to the owl's foot, only to be bitten by the angry animal.

"Fine!" he said angrily, "if you do not want to give me your message than don't!" he folded his arms across his chest and stared at the animal. The owl stared back at him and them pecked at the rope holding the letter. When the letter was loose the owl took off again, flying so close to Harry's face that Harry had to duck.

Harry sighed and reached for the letter, painfully aware of the many curious faces watching him. The letter was short, written with blood-red ink on dark parchment. It read:

The boy who lived can only live once.

Harry turned it over to see if anything was written on the other side but could not find anything else. He passed the letter to Hermione to see what she could deduce from it. Ron leaned over to read it over Hermione's shoulder and paled.

"Well at least he's giving us a heads up!" Hermione's voice shook.

"As if that's needed." Harry pretended to be interested in his eggs. "We knew he was after me since our fourth year when he used my blood to regain power. It's just surprising that it's taken him this long."

Hermione nodded. "The peace of the last few years has made me a little nervous."

"I liked them, the years I mean. If it weren't for the knowledge that he was out there, they would have been the best in my life." Harry refused to look up.

The three were quiet for a few moments.

"We really don't know that it's him." Ron said, trying to cheer them up. "I mean, it wasn't signed or anything."

"Seriously Ron!" Hermione snapped. "Who else would it be?"

"It could be anyone!" Ron snapped back, his face turning red with anger. "I was trying to be nice and not jump to the worst case scenario right away."

Hermione snorted. "Oh yeah, very optimistic. 'You lived once but I'm going to kill you. Ha ha ha.'"

"I never said optimistic!"

"Well who else do you think sent it?"

"It's not as if people haven't played pranks before, you know."

"I'm sure this is your type of prank. Very funny!"

Harry stared at his two friends. He wasn't surprised but it still made him uncomfortable. He gave them one more look and then left the table quietly. Ron and Hermione did not even notice.

He loved Ron and Hermione very much but sometimes they seemed, well, a little much. Harry had known them since his first year at Hogwarts. They had helped him learn about the wizarding world and they were almost always there to help him deal with any trial that came his way. But Ron and Hermione were complete opposites, and that created quite a few clashes.

"Opposites attract." said a small voice.

Harry looked up to see Ginny Weasley smiling at him then blushing furiously. Harry tried to smile at her but his smile did not manage to reach his eyes. Ginny seemed to notice but misunderstood Harry's sadness.

"I sorry Harry, I saw Ron and Hermione quarrel like always and I thought…"

"It's not that. They always quarrel." Harry said, "It was just as if you read my mind. I was just thinking about how they are complete opposites."

"I've known you for six years, Potter." Ginny smiled mischievously. "Okay make that four. The first few years I was too busy knocking over the butter when I saw you."

"You still do that, Ginny." Harry was beginning to feel better and the letter was becoming more and more distant in the back of him mind.

"Bad habit." Ginny dismissed his comment with a slight movement of her hand. "Anyway, I was just walking into the Great Hall and I saw you leaving Ron and Hermione, looking upset."

So she hadn't seen the letter. Harry thought. "You haven't eaten breakfast? You better hurry so you won't be late to class."

"Yes mother." Ginny teased. She turned to go but stopped and looked back at Harry. "Will you be okay?"

Harry nodded. "Why not?"

"I don't know. Something's bothering you, I can tell. Should I send Ron and Hermione out to you when they run out of air?"

Harry nodded again. "That would be nice. But make sure they truly lose their voices first. My ears are beginning to hurt."

Ginny chuckled and left.

Harry looked after her for a while and then the letter came back to his mind. Harry started to turn them over in his mind, and then he muttered, "The boy who lived can only live once. True, but you didn't say anything about how long he would live."

~*~

Special thanks: Frodo thank you so much!!! I loved your little annoying comments as you put them a lot more than I liked my typos! Beware the creature Granger for he haunts your steps. My heart tells me that Granger has a part to play yet, for violin or for viola, before this is over.