Welcome to Hogwarts
Chapter 4
"Harry, I'm going to have you study Occlumency once again. Professor Snape will no longer teach you, but I will. I want you up here every Wednesday at 6:00 after classes." Dumbledore's words rang freshly in his mind.
His defense training wasn't going as good as planed, but all the same. He was improving. According to Dumbledore they all were complex spells that even Voldemort's closest deatheaters have trouble with at first.
It was two days before Hogwarts was supposed to be starting and him and the rest of the students that were there were sitting waiting for Dumbledore so they could go to Diagon Alley to get their things for the next year.
"Harry, what all do you have this year?" Ron asked. "I mean what classes are you taking this term?"
"Defense against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration and Potions..." Harry said, looking at Ron.
"You're taking Potions? I'm not, I wanted to be an Auror, but I messed up on my Potions exam. And you know Snape, he only accepts those who have 'O's, What are you taking Hermione?" Ron asked looking over to Hermione.
"I really would like to be a Healer, so I'm taking Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Arithmacy, I just can't stand to drop that," Hermione said, looking sincere. "So, what are you going to do Ron?" Hermione asked him.
"I er-, Thought I'd work in the Department of Magical Games and Sports," Ron said flushing red. "All you need is a N.E.W.T. in Charms and an O.W.L. in Care of Magical Creatures. Mum wasn't too pleased when I told her, though. I think she was afraid I'd turn out like Percy."
"Is everybody ready to leave, via portkey?" Said Dumbledore who just walked in. Mostly everyone nodded. "All those who can apperate may, by all means, apperate to Diagon Alley." Harry nodded in return, and Dumbledore picked up an old car tire, "Portus," he muttered and then handed it to Ron, and everybody besides Harry took hold.
"Has everyone here traveled by Floo-Powder before?" Dumbledore asked and they all nodded. "OK, on three-one, two, three." And they were gone in a blink of an eye. Dumbledore turned to Harry, "Ready?"
"Yeah, So it would be like, 'Pperate-ay Diagon Alley'?" Harry asked Dumbledore.
"Correct," and with that Dumbledore disappeared with a little 'pop'. Harry imagined Diagon Alley and then said to himself, 'pperate-ay Diagon Alley'. He heard a little pop and then he was there.
"Bloody Brilliant!" Ron said, who was right next to him. "Where'd you learn?" Ron asked.
"Dumbledore," Harry replied.
"Everybody meet back here at, four. I want two groups of seven and one of eight. Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley, Cho Chang, Dean Tomas and Luna Lovegood is group one. Group two is Katie Bell, Parvati and Padma Patil, Colin and Dennis Creevey and Lavender Brown. Group three is made up of, Ernie Macmillian, Justin Finch-Fletchy, Hannah Abbort, Anthony Goldstien, Michael Corner, Zacharias Smith. Each group will have a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Group one's Remus Lupin, Two's Professor McGongall and Three's Snape."
Harry felt bad for group three, Snape... he thought bitterly to himself. He had to endure two more years with Snape... his least favorite teacher at Hogwarts.
"Come on," Lupin said and started walking toward Grigotts. "I expect some of you need to get some Galleons, Sickles and Knuts?" Lupin asked them politely. Some nodded and others muttered 'yes'. They walked in and got a cart and a goblin drove them to their vaults. Harry got a sack full of Galleons, and then before they knew it they were walking out and starting to buy their things.
For the first time he looked at his list, he needed:
Defend yourself against the mortal Foe, by Abviforth Sunibe
The Curse and Counter curse, by Tim Sabitini
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6, by Miranda Goshawk
An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration, Ermic Switch
Moste Potente Potions, by Alice Lancaster
Harry looked at the last book again... Wasn't the book they used for the Polly juice potion in their second year? Harry asked himself. And then said, "Hermione... isn't Moste Potente Potions the book with the Polly juice potion in it?" She responded with a quiet yes.
After getting all of their books and their coin bags considerably lighter they stopped for lunch, for it was only one. After lunch they had to go to Madam Malkamime's robes for all occasions and Ollivanders, because Neville needed a new wand. And then to the Apothecary to get things for potions.
***
Harry and the rest of the D.A. were getting ready for term to start, it was 5:00 and the students were due to be there in about a half an hour. Harry just realized something... What if first, second or third years needed protection too?
"Hey, Colin" Harry said, and Colin automatically walked over. "Tell your brother to ask third years if they want to join the D.A., I'm getting Hermione to help me with the First and Second year drafting... Tell everyone if his or her younger siblings are in danger to see me, ok?"
"Sure thing, Harry!" Colin said enthusiastically.
"Oh, yeah, tell the rest of the D.A. to get their things together, because once term starts officially we are going to be staying by houses, gender and year. Even though the floors are already divided into boys and girls rooms... Dumbledore's going to add a room for wing for each house while we're at the feast."
"Ok," Colin said and then walked out. Harry was all alone once more. The time went by quickly and Harry quickly got deep in though.
I have to kill Voldemort... I must and I know it... Some way or another... I really think I should tell Ron and Hermione about the prophecy. They'd understand...
But what if they didn't? What if they though him to be the next Lord Voldemort?
"Harry, it's time for the feast. Are you ready to go?" Hermione asked.
"I need to change into my robes... I'll be down in a few minutes." Harry said and started to get dressed into his robes.
"I'll wait, I'm in no hurry, we do have ten minutes," Hermione said. He dressed faster and then pinned his Head Boy badge to his uniform and walked out of his dorm. He wanted to tell Hermione about the prophecy. He didn't know what to think about it.
"Harry why are you looking so down?" Hermione asked, looking concerned.
"It's just... I mean last year after.... After Sirius died, Dumbledore told me why well, why Voldemort wanted me dead." It was hard for Harry to talk about Sirius, he missed him alot, and perhaps more then even he knew.
"What, Harry, what is it?" Hermione asked, sympathetically.
"Well, I er- Dumbledore, I mean, told me... I-It was because of a prophecy, made by Professor Trelawney... That's what was in the bowls in the Department of Mysteries... My fate... And Voldemort wanted to hear what it was." Harry said, in monotone. He told Hermione exactly what the prophecy said.
"Well, I think you should figure out what that means. And I can't help you defeat Voldemort, only you can." Hermione said and pushed the doors the Great Hall open.
Mostly everyone was already there... Malfoy smirked at Harry and Hermione as they crossed the hall to the Gryffindor table. Harry sat next to Ron and Hermione sat across from them both. Harry yawned.
"What's up mate?" Ron asked.
"N-no-nothing... just t-tired," Harry said through yawns.
"You slept till noon," Hermione said, looking at him, "How could you possibly be tired? Unless...."
"Unless what?" Harry asked, slightly confused.
"Unless, you're getting the Wizard's flu," Hermione said, thoughtful. "But don't worry... It only would last a few days; hardly anyone gets seriously sick from it."
"Seriously sick?" Harry repeated.
"It happens in about one out of one thousand cases. You just are really sick for a few days, and it's hard for you to control your magic." Hermione looked to the teachers' table, "You should tell Dumbledore."
"He knows," Harry said, looking up to Dumbledore. He knew he was right.
Harry sneezed.
"You all right?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, fine..."
"Welcome to a New Year at Hogwarts! To the old comers, welcome back! To the new comers welcome to Hogwarts! Let the Sorting Begin!" Dumbledore said. The sorting hat's mouth opened and it sang...
"Every year I sort the students
Into there desired house.
It has been almost 1000 years,
Since I sorted my first.
The founders were pleased,
As the first class took their place,
In history as we know it,
For the great halls first feast,
Maybe gryffindor,
Is where you should reside?
In bravery the students
Take their pride.
Or maybe hufflepuff,
Is where you belong?
Those sweet and loyal hufflepuffs,
Will never steer you wrong.
For ravenclaw,
Maybe your new home,
For wise old ravenclaw,
You will be known.
For Power hungry Slytherin
If your ambitions are true
You will never stagger nor fall
People will know the real you.
If you have a future in one of these
Step forward...
And become the majority
At Hogwarts school of Sorcerery."
McGongall read the first name off of the list: "Arnold, Alexis." A girl with long blonde hair walked up and sat beneath the sorting hat.
"Gryffindor!" Harry along with the other Gryffindor's clapped as Alexis Arnold took her seat next to Seamus.
"Anderson, Lauren!"
"Hufflepuff!" The Hufflepuffs clapped.
"Basil, Andrew!"
"Ravenclaw!" Harry saw Cho Chang clapping. She smiled when she saw him looking at her and he returned her smile.
"Basil, Vince!"
"Gryffindor!" Harry clapped welcoming Vince Basil to the Gryffindors.
"Chuma, Jason."
"Ravenclaw!"
"Copeland, Mike."
"Slytherin!" The Slytherin table busted into applause.
"Desimon, Melissa." She went and sat next to Jason Chuma. They weren't sitting far from Cho...
"Ravenclaw!"
"Everly, Elliot!"
"Slytherin!" The Slytherins clapped as Elliot, who was at least a foot shorter then the rest sat at the Slytherin table.
"Harvey, Julie."
"Ravenclaw!" She sat next to Melissa and they started talking.
"Hormell, Rhonda."
"Hufflepuff!" The Hufflepuffs applauded. And she went and sat next to Lauren Anderson.
Harry fell out of attentiveness and only paid attention every once in a while. He heard when "Plummer, Ashley," was made a Slytherin and "Santore, Ashley," was made a Ravenclaw. But the rest he didn't hear. The next thing he heard was Dumbledore stand up and say, "Tuck in!"
Harry wasn't hungry so he didn't eat. Ron found this strange... because Harry normally pigged out during the start of the term feast. Besides the sick feeling, Harry's scar was throbbing... It didn't bleed though. He took a potion that morning to prevent it from bleeding.
He could see faint shapes, and hear faint whispers....
"Our path to Harry Potter is almost complete.... Very soon he will irk me no longer. For, I Lord Voldemort, will soon become immortal at a very costly price... Harry Potter will share my immortality, and I can not harm him... We have to do it soon..."
Voldemort's voice faded out... Harry coughed.
"What's up, Harry? You look even sicker then you did a few minutes ago... and you're really pale. You should go to the Hos-"
"No," said Harry firmly. "I'm not going to go to the hospital wing... I'm fine OK? I just... had a though..."
"About Voldemort?" Hermione asked.
"Er- Yeah... How could you tell?" Harry asked, Hermione.
"I could see a tiny trace of red in your eyes... It was as if I was seeing him... And I felt cold. And you had an expression of fear and only one thing would ever cause you fear, and I know this is true... Lord Voldemort." Hermione sounded frightened. "Are you going to tell Dumbledore?"
"No, like I said before he already knows," pain seared across his scar again. "And I wish this would quit hurting!" Harry said fiercefully... rubbing his scar.
"You OK?" Ron asked concerned.
"This isn't normal... something's wrong... It's never hurt this bad... not even when he possessed me... I'm going to the common room... the Gryffindor password is 'Stumfy' Tell the Hufflepuff prefects that the password to their common room is, 'Helga,' OK?" Harry said, rubbing his fist along his scar again.
"Sure, Harry, do you want me to come with you?" Hermione asked, sympathetically.
"Yeah, Harry, I can handle the-!" Dumbledore cut off Ron.
"Now that we all have ate and drank, I have a few announcements. We have two new teachers. Filling the Defense against the Dark Arts position is Professor Remus Lupin."
The whole Gryffindor table clapped hard...
"And filling the Potions position will be Professor Nymphadora Tonks. We will also, by Minerstry Order, and in confirmation that Voldemort..." most of the students gasped, "returned there will be Aurors positioned around the school.
"Also, Quidditch cup will start in November, House teams will stand the same as before last season. Unless, you were drafted onto the team by the team last year.
"And finally I'd like to announce, if anyone is afraid of Voldemort killing them, or in grave danger in Voldemort's reign in terror, please come and see me right after this speech. Go to your head of house and they will bring you to me, and the people in charge of the D.A., or so they call it, will show you your accommodations... Only those who are worthy of admission will be allowed to enter the D.A. Common Room. I will give the leader a list and he or she will show you the common room."
They walked out. About twenty, first years, Harry noticed walked up to their heads and about twenty-five second and thirty, third. Harry set off up to his common room ready to turn in from a long day. His scar prickling uncomfortably.