Author's Notes: Okay, here's a new story that I've been trying to get written for awhile. I started it a few months ago and kept making so many changes. It's an adventure story, so there's naturally more action compared to my other fanfiction. This is my first try at this genre. Please be patient. I don't know how quickly I'll be updating this story as I have one more story that I'm working on. Please read and review. I welcome the cheers and jeers with open arms.

Disclaimers: All characters and the Harry Potter story line belong to JKR. I'm just borrowing without any intentions of making money even though I'm so poor right now.

Chapter One - Praelusio (L. Prelude)

     He wasn't used to this Animagus transformation.  He doubted that he'll ever get used to it.  But the information he obtained needed to be disclosed to Dumbledore immediately.  Too bad about those wards that prevent Apparition into Hogwarts though, he thought.  Apparating would save him a lot of time–time that he couldn't afford to waste right now.

     His Animagus form was that of a bat, and seeing one in broad daylight is an odd sight. He knew that it was even more suspicious that his destination was to be Hogwarts Castle.  If any of Voldermort's spies saw him, the killing curse would be the last of his worries.

     He has served the Dark Lord for almost seven years, establishing an excellent intelligence network among his subjects and allies.  He wasn't particularly proud of this feat but it was an achievement indeed.  He was one of the best Shadow Eaters, Voldermort's elite intelligence faction.  Very few people know about them.  Very few wizard or witches lived long enough to tell much about them.  They were always the Dark Lord's ears and eyes.  Where he could not go, they would venture in his stead.

     He flew steadily and as swiftly as he could, going through the Forbidden Forest.  It wasn't his way of choice, but this was the fastest and provided the best stealth.  Dangerous it was, but he was sure that as a Shadow Eater, he was probably a lot more dangerous compared to most creatures that existed in this forsaken place.

     It was never supposed to be like this, he contemplated.  True that he didn't want Muggles as part of the magical world.  But that was his past, something he had long abandoned.  He was so stupidly naive then.  After he lost someone he greatly admired to one of Voldermort's followers, his conscience was swayed.  At that point, the differences between Muggle wizards and witches and purebloods no longer mattered.  Allegiance shifted and now he was a spy for the Order.  He was one of Dumbledore's best double agents in Voldermort's camp.  By joining Dumbledore, he hoped to redeem himself and eventually avenge the death of his brother.

     And at this point, vengeance and his brother's wish are the only things that he had to live for.  His brother trusted Dumbledore.  So should he. 

     He is a Potter after all. 

     Well sort of.

*****

     "Hurry up, Harry! We don't want to miss the train!" Ron frantically called out behind him.

     "I'm right behind you, Ron. It's just that Hedwig's really being rowdy inside his cage right now, wanting to get out it seems." Harry struggled to keep his owl's cage from falling off his cart. He finally managed to calm his owl down and quickly followed after Ron through Platform 9¾.

     As Harry went through the portal, he drank his eyes on the sight of the mighty Hogwarts Express that came into view, full to the brim with life as its horn hooted loudly above all other sounds. Around it, people young and old bustled about lively. In the midst of the hurried activities, the mighty iron giant waited to perform its duty to transport this year's Hogwarts students.

     It was a welcome sight for Harry.

     He and Ron hurriedly had their trunks and other luggage carted away and soon went searching for a compartment to occupy. They were separated from Ginny earlier and assumed that she had met up with her friends in their own compartment. Noticeably, they have yet to complete their usual trio as Hermione Granger was still unaccounted for. They both knew she was somewhere on the train; Ginny mentioned briefly that she caught a glimpse of her in the crowd earlier.

     Finally, after fighting their way from the excited grasps of first years wanting to glimpse the famous Harry Potter, Harry and Ron discovered an empty compartment in a secluded part near the back of the train. Quickly they ducked inside, shut the door and pulled the curtains down to avoid being seen.

     "They're getting loonier year after year, aren't they?" Ron took a deep breath and attempted to rearrange his robes. Clearly, Harry wasn't the only one who had fans. "Great! I just got these robes as back to school gift from Fred and George! Now I look like a complete mess and we haven't even left for Hogwarts yet!"

     Harry sighed. "I'm really sorry about that, Ron." Harry wished that his fame had subsided over the years and that he could just be like any other wizard in the magical world. But since Voldermort designated him as his prophesized nemesis, no amount of wishing would make his life normal.

     "Rubbish!  None of this is your fault. It's just those crazy fans of yours that need to get a grip. Haven't they heard of the common courtesy?" Ron exclaimed. He reached into his pocket and took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his forehead.

     Harry chuckled.  "Well, it really hasn't hurt your chance with the ladies, has it?" Harry mused.

     Ron gave him an indignant look. "Oh sod off! Ronald Weasley is a one woman man."

     Harry couldn't help but notice the sudden reddish hue coloring his best friend's cheeks. Harry grinned. "I know one witch who'd be really interested and happy to hear that, Ron."

     "Oh leave me alone, will you?"

     The last two years have been kind to Harry in terms of physical attributes. By the time he celebrated his seventeenth birthday, Harry had grown to almost five feet and ten inches tall. His ruffled jet-black hair was still there, although the unkempt look suited him quite well as he received quite a number more of appreciative glances from the opposite sex.  Quidditch has done wonders for his frame as he sported a slight muscular athletic build.

     Ronald Weasley was no pushover either. Two years of playing as Gryffindor's Keeper had done well for his lanky frame. About six feet high, several girls on the platform earlier didn't miss tall build, like Harry. And of course, his flaming red hair was still there.

     Harry took a seat opposite Ron inside the compartment. A mixture of relief and excitement hit him as soon as he sat back. He was glad to be going back to Hogwarts for his final year. His summer at the Dursleys, although not as harsh as his previous ones with great gratitude owed to the Order, was still quite unbearable. Dudley still tormented him whenever he could and always stopped short of causing any real trouble. Uncle Vernon had been quite distant but Dudley still made his life miserable whenever he had an opportune moment.

     Interestingly enough, Harry observed a slight change in Aunt Petunia's attitude toward him. She wasn't as harsh as she used to be and more often than enough, she did her part to somewhat quell the displeasure that Uncle Vernon and Dudley bestowed upon him. Every now and then, she would actually take the time to buy him new clothes. But she did so without Uncle Vernon or Dudley really noticing it. She would also make attempts at giving him extra food portions when the other two Dursleys weren't looking.

     And on his seventeenth birthday, she even gave him a real present. It was a plain simple box that had the initials of L.E. inscribed into it. Aunt Petunia just muttered something about his mother owning that box. Excitedly, he tried to open it immediately but to his disappointment, he quickly realized that it was sealed with some unknown magic, probably to prevent his aunt from opening it.  Harry figured he'd just ask Hermione for help in unlocking the box.

     "Hey Harry? You all right there, mate? The snack trolley's here." Ron interrupted his thoughts. "Do you want anything?"

     Harry grinned. Some things really just don't change as Ron still has a liking for chocolate frogs. He reached for his money pouch and like Ron, started eyeing the treats that he wanted the most. "It would be a crime if I passed on the snack trolley on my last year."

     A few minutes later and several galleons lighter, Harry and Ron were enjoying several chocolate frogs and cakes from the trolley. They have yet to meet up with their female best friend, which didn't seem to faze them much at the moment. If Ginny said Hermione was here, her assurance was enough. Besides, Harry thought, she was probably holed up in another compartment, busy reading the latest edition of Hogwarts: A History and just forgot about everything else. Both he and Ron knew that Hermione was perfectly capable of that.

     Harry noted as well the lack of Malfoy's presence on this train. He wasn't sure yet how he felt about that. Normally, he would lavish in the tranquility without Malfoy trying to make his life miserable. But considering the events that happened in his sixth year (and every year before that), he was having second thoughts.

     He shook his head clear of last year's events and looked down to the wizard's chessboard just in time to see his second knight piece being whacked away by Ron's bishop piece. A few more moves and turns later, it seemed that his wizard's chess winless streak against the youngest Weasley boy is yet to be changed.

     Ron gave him a smug smile, celebrating his victory. "I guess there's always next time, Harry. Though I must say, it really took longer to beat you this time."

     "I suppose but there's bound to be a first time, Ron," Harry remarked. "By the way, you notice that Hermione hasn't joined us yet?" Harry asked as he helped his friend put away the chess set.

     "Yeah, I noticed that too. Do you think we ought to look for her by now?" Ron stored his chess set in the overhead compartment on his side.

     Harry stood up. "Yeah."

     "No need to do that now really," a voice suddenly came about as the door to their compartment slid open completely. There stood in the middle of the doorframe Hermione Granger, with that air of...intelligence and confidence about her as usual.

     Like he and Ron, puberty had done wonders for their diligent best friend. Her curly hair was still there and it did well to accent her leaner, facial features. She was definitely taller. Around five-foot and seven or eight inches, Harry estimated. He was certain that she's had her share of suitors from the Muggle and Magical World. Harry also noted the slight tan she sported. Must be from vacationing somewhere tropical with her parents, he mused.

     Behind their female best friend, stood Luna Lovegood, although Harry wasn't sure of his vision's accuracy. She looked different from how he remembered her. Taller for one thing, about an inch shorter than Hermione. And she looked less...odd.  Her pale blonde her was a tad bit shorter now.  It just fell below her shoulders.  Harry also noticed that she had in her left hand the latest copy of her father's newspaper. Or tabloid, as Hermione would put.

     Ron was first to break the stupor. "Where in the bloody hell have you been?"

     "Oh sod off, Ron.  It's not like we hid from either of you.  We just wanted to make certain that your wave of loony fans had moved on." Ginny remarked as she appeared just behind Luna.

     Ginny wasn't about to fall behind in growth progression to Hermione or Luna. Her red hair still made her easy to spot in a crowd as a Weasley. She was just as tall as Hermione and had a light athletic build thanks to quidditch. Ginny Weasley was certainly no pushover in her sixth year. On the quidditch field, the Gryffindor chaser had opposing beaters flying after her to no avail. Off the field, young men who have noticed her growth and maturity suffered the same fate.  Harry snickered as he recalled how Ron literally hexed several boys on the stands after leering too much over his sister.

     "Here I thought you were holed up in another compartment, reading the latest edition of Hogwarts: A History, and forgot about Ron and me," Harry chided Hermione.

     Hermione rolled her eyes on him. "Not likely. I was looking for you two earlier but I noticed that your fans got to you first. Rather than get myself crushed by that mob, I sought out Ginny instead."

     Ginny giggled. "Oh Ron! You were such a clown. You had a horrified look on your face when a first year girl tried to pull out some of your hair!"

     "Well, don't mind me for not wanting to become bald anytime soon! Imagine! She had the audacity to ask if my hair was real!" Ron glared. He crossed his arms over his chest and muttered some unintelligible words. "I was so close to hexing her. Lucky for her, my wand wasn't handy."

     Luna sat next to Ron and raised a hand to brush a tendril of hair from his face. "Don't worry about it, Ronald. I definitely think your hair is real." She smiled at him sheepishly.

     Ron's response was nothing short of turning a shade of beet red after that remark. Ginny couldn't help but burst out in another fit of giggles at her brother's expense.

     Harry turned to Hermione. "What did you do for the summer, Hermione?"

     She gave him an awkward smile. "Mum fancied Greece so much after a brief visit for a conference last year. So this year, she insisted that Dad and I go with her for two weeks. It was an amazing two weeks to say the least."

     "Oh I guess that's where you got your tan from," said Ginny. "It looks absolutely great on you, Hermione. So any boys, Muggle or magical, come knocking at your doorstep during the summer?"

     Hermione laughed. "I think my Dad tried his best to scare off any boy who might even be thinking of courting me. There were some who tried, but they were too drab for me. Pushovers and none of them had much of a character to them really."

     Harry frowned and moved his gaze outside the window. Why should it bother him that wizards and Muggle boys could be after her?

     "Harry? Did you hear me?" Luna was trying to get his attention.

     Harry blinked.  "Sorry. Dazed off for a bit.  What were you asking?"

     "I was wondering if you had a chance to go some place else this past summer," Luna asked.

     "Oh. No, unfortunately not.  Despite the better treatment I get at the Dursleys, I very much doubt that including me in their family vacations is priority.  I get fed more though," he managed a weak smile.  "There's also the never ending chores and homework."

     "Don't forget answering your fan mail.  You said you received dozens of pictures along with it.  Well mostly from the female population.  He even received owls all the way from witches in America!" Ron laughed.

     Hermione gave him an odd look but then smiled. "Well that's wonderful, isn't it?  Does this mean you got yourself a girlfriend, Harry?"

     Four pairs of eyes bore into him.  Harry's right eyebrow shot up.  "You all must be bloody insane if you think I'd have time, much less a chance or the guts, to have a girlfriend.  It's like asking for a death wish.  Well for the girl I mean."

     Ron and Ginny sniggered.  Luna gave him a wide-eyed look.  Hermione...just stared at him.  Her expression was unreadable.

     "What?"

     Hermione moved her gaze from him and turned to Ginny.  "I almost forgot to tell you, Gin.  Vicky (Ron made a sound) owled me; he said he might be able to manage getting you that autograph that you want of Bulgaria's Keeper.

     "You're still in touch with Krumm?  How is he?" Harry asked with interest.

     Hermione avoided his gaze.  "He's fine.  Quidditch and all keeping him especially busy."

      "Oh."

     The cabin suddenly became quiet.

     "Well then, anybody up for a game of exploding snap?" Ron asked.

     Almost everyone jumped at the chance to break the silence that came with the sudden tension.  They continued to play the game until Ginny and Hermione declared drowsiness overtaking them. Both Harry and Ron offered to give up their seats for both the remaining girls so that they may nap without incident but Hermione and Ginny insisted on just napping upright. Luna preoccupied herself her father's newspaper (or tabloid, as Hermione would insist), once again reading them upside down.

     "We'll both take the sides by the window though so we may rest against them. That way, Ginny and I won't be in your way if you need to do something or get up," Hermione said. Soon enough, with Hermione seated next to Harry and Ginny next to Ron, the girls drifted off to slumber while the boys were left to wonder about doing something to keep them occupied.

     "How about another game of Wizard's chess?" asked Ron.

     "No thanks. I think I've lost quite enough to you today and every other time before that." Harry shook his head. "Hey what about poker? I'm sure George and Fred would have taught you that game by now." Harry took out a worn deck of cards.

     "Er...well okay...but no money. I'm flat out broke right now but Fred and George said they'd get me some money soon." Ron brightened a bit. "Another gift they said for starting my seventh and final year."

     They had decided to use Bertie's Many Flavored Beans as stakes in their games. They asked Luna to join their game but she respectfully declined. It seems that she had no liking for Bertie's flavored beans and had no desire to win piles of them either. And so commenced several poker games between Harry and Ron. After a few games, Harry seemed to have the upper hand as his pile of flavored beans clearly dwarfed Ron's.

     "I have...two pairs...a pair of Jacks and a pair of 2's" Ron proudly showed his hand. He was sure he'd win this game with this hand after Harry called his hand. He started for the pile of flavored beans that lay between them.

     "Not so fast, Ron. I got a flush here." Harry grinned and lowered his cards.

     "Oh bloody hell!" Ron protested. "How'd manage that, Harry?"

     Harry started to gather the new pile of beans to add to his winnings. "Oh I dunno...Just pure lu-"

BOOM

    

     An extremely massive explosion just overcame Hogwarts Express.

     And it wouldn't take a genius to figure out that chaos would soon follow.

- To be continued