Chapter Six
Back to School
Harry barely ate. His thoughts were on what had just transpired between himself, Dumbledore and Snape. Although the prospect of a week's detention with Snape filled him with dread, he couldn't bring himself to be angry at Dumbledore for giving him the punishment he did. His actions were wrong, and he knew he shouldn't have done it. Neither did the prospect of a one game suspension from Quidditch upset him greatly. Ginny was a good Seeker, and he was confident that the team would win. What bothered him most was the disappointment in him that Dumbledore had obviously felt. Dumbledore had taken great pains to point out to Harry what he thought of him, and to let him down wieghed heavily on him. He resolved not to let Dumbledore down again. His thoughts were also centered on Snape's last words before he left. Was his hatred of Harry what it seemed? Was Snape in fact testing him, preparing him for facing Voldemort? Harry's head swam as he went round and round with these thoughts. All he knew was that Snape hated Harry, his father, and Sirius, and Harry hated Snape for it. But he would try not to let it affect him.
When dinner was over, Dumbledore rose.
"Well, that certainly was an excellent dinner, Molly. You could teach the house elves at Hogwarts a thing or two. I must be going now. Give my regards to Remus and to Arthur. Harry, can you come with me for a moment?"
Harry accompanied Dumbledore to the door. Just before he left, Dumbledore leaned in to Harry and whispered in his ear.
"Keep this from everyone. I want you to learn Apparition as soon as possible. I will be arranging weekly lessons when you get back. Good luck this year, Harry."
And as Harry looked up to Dumbledore, he was shocked at how old and worn he looked.
During the remainder of the last week, everyone got ready for the return to Hogwarts. Hedwog's cage was sent to Privet Drive. Lupin had recovered, although his hair looked slightly grayer, and he needed a few extra meals before he looked more like himself again.
On the night before Harry's return to Hogwarts, there was a major meeting of the Order. At one point, Harry was called down, to the immense jealousy of the other three. As Harry entered the kitchen, everyone looked at him with serious expressions on their faces. Even Fred and George, who would joke about anything, looked gravely at Harry.
"Well, Potter" Moody growled, "it turns out we were right. Your aunt is being watched."
Harry gasped as Moody continued.
"We don't think a move will be made on her, though, until after you are on the train."
"The thing is, Harry" continued Mr. Weasley, "they know we are also watching, but they think we're watching you. The fact that Hamish is always with her when she goes out has been serving as a deterrent. They think that all we care about is you"
"See? Being famous does come in handy" said Fred, smiling.
"However, they don't know you're here" said Tonks, "and if you show up on the train and the dursleys don't take you, they'll realize something's up. So we have to get you and your aunt together at King's Cross, and to have you seen together."
"And a right bugger of a job this is going to be" said George.
"The key to the plan is timing." Lupin continued. "Your things will be sent to Privet Drive tonight, with the exception of your cloak. The train begins boarding at 9:30, but Dumbledore has made arrangements for you to be on board much earlier. You will remain in your cloak in the arranged compartment, until Hamish comes on board. When he changes into a cat, you may remove your cloak. you'll be safe once you're on the train. The Hogwarts Express has special protective charms on it so that all students will not be harmed. Minor curses of course work, as I'm sure you know" he grinned at Harry and winked "but nothing life threatening will work. I will remain with your aunt and assist Hamish in escorting her back to Privet Drive. After that, it's up to us to keep her safe. And we will, Harry, don't worry. Now. Do you understnad the plan? Any questions?"
"Erm, how exactly is aunt Petunia taking this?"
A stately looking witch whom Harry remembered as Emmeline Vance spoke up.
"Better than you might expect. She has some strength in her. After all, she was once part of the Order."
"WHAT? AUNT PETUNIA WAS IN THE ORDER?"
Lupin explained. "Dumbledore had a network of muggles and squibs working secretly for the Order, mostly gathering information, but dangerous nonetheless, considering that Death Eaters were killing muggles for sport. Petunia was one such operative. It's not for me to say what happened, but a year or so before you were born, she left the Order. She severed all ties she had with our world, and vowed never to even acknowledge our existence. It was the only time I had ever seen someone strike Dumbledore."
Harry's mind was reeling. This was almost too much to take. However, he had a thought about what might have happened from Aunt Petunia's own mouth. She had mentioned Voldemort had killed her entire family.
"Harry, your aunt has had to live with what happened for a long time. Please do not mention this to anyone, especially her, until she is ready to tell you"
Harry nodded. With that, the meeting ended. Mrs. Weasley had prepared a special dinner, and many of the Order stayed. She also explained to Ron, Hermione, and Ginny that Harry would be leaving early and would see them on the train.
The next morning, Lupin awakened Harry before dawn. His things had been snet the night before, so he dressed quickly, tucked his cloak under his jacket, and went downstairs. Mrs. Weasley was already up, and she laid a plate of bangers and mash at the table. Harry ate quickly, and Mrs. Weasley gave him a fierce hug good-bye. Harry slipped on his cloak, and he and Lupin slipped outside unseen. London was just waking up, so the streets were fairly deserted. They walked quickly but carefully, as by the time they reached King's Cross some twenty minutes later, traffic was picking up. They casually ambled to the tracks, and slipped between the barrier of Platforms Nine and Ten. The Hogwarts Express stood there dark and silent. Lupin stopped at a carriage about two thirds of the way down the train and spoke quietly into the air.
"Well, Harry, this is where I say good-bye for now. Go into the fourth compartment. Hamish will meet you there and the you'll be able to remove your cloak. Study hard, teach well, and keep your eyes open. If you have to reach us urgently, write a note with your new quill. Once you sign it, it will be sent immediately. Good luck, Harry." Lupin groped for a minute, found Harry's shoulder, and gave it an anxious squeeze. "Oh, I nearly forgot. Mrs. Weasley made you a snack and Fred and George dropped off a catalogue for you to read to pass the time." He handed the parcel to Harry, who quickly slipped it under his cloak.
Harry silently entered the compartment. He gave a heavy sigh, and took out the catalogue. He was so absorbed in reading about Fred and George's new products that the time seemed to fly. In addition to things he knew about such as Vanishing Hats, Skiving Snackboxes, Canary Creams, and Ton-Tongue Toffees, there were parchments which would correct whatever was written on them, with pointed comments about the quality of the work and the dubious ancestry of the writer, exploding quills, sweets which would scream in pain when they were bitten, and many many more.
Right at 9:30, Harry heard a noise at the door of his compartment. The door opened, and he watched himself enter.
"Hello, Hamish" he said quietly.
"Hello, Harry. Safe and sound?" Hamish lugged Harry's trunk and Hedwig in her new cage into the compartment and closed the door, drawing the shade. He muttered "Colloportus" to lock the door and drew the window shade as well.
"Do you need help putting everything away?"
"Nae, Harry. When I'm done, I'll transform. You unlock the door, and I'll just walk out as a cat. Dinna worry, I'll keep you're aunt safe this year."
"Erm, Hamish...your hair..." For Hamish's hair was beginning to grow longer and shaggier.
"Timed it just right then, didn't I?" Hamish grinned and got to work putting the trunk on a shelf. As he was lifting the trunk, the sleeves of Dudley's overlarge hand-me-down shirt slid to his elbows. Harry was looking straight at his left arm and suppressed a gasp of horror with a cough. On the forearm, Harry saw a faint red mark, like a very faint tattoo. It was a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth. The Dark Mark.
Harry tried to keep calm as he slowly reached for his wand underneath his cloak. Hamish had finished and turned to Harry, not realizing what his arm had shown.
"Well, all done. Time to transform before I burst out of these clothes, although your cousin is a biggun, isn't he? Good luck this year, Harry. On the count of three. One. Two. Three."
Harry threw off his cloak and suddenly there was a cat mewing at his feet. Harry unlocked the door, and the cat walked out regally.
Harry's mind was in a panic. Did he see what he thought he saw? He pushed back his left sleeve. No mark. What to do? He couldn't attack, for students were starting to arrive. His mind was blank for a moment before he remembered what Lupin had said to him about his phoenix feather quill. He dove into his things, and found it nd a piece of parchment. He wrote as quickly as he could.
Professor Lupin
I think Hamish is a Death Eater. I saw the Mark on his arm.
Harry.
As soon as Harry wrote his name, the letter vanished in a burst of flame. Harry sat back, breathing heavily and looking out of the window. No one seemed to be panicking, so Harry guessed that there was no attack happening. After a few anxious minutes, there was a flash of flame and a note appeared next to him.
Harry
Thanks for the warning. We'll keep our eyes open.
Lupin.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief and felt suddenly hungry. Mrs. Weasley had made him a couple of bacon sandwiches, which he ate gratefully. When he finished, he went and opened the shades on the door and window. As the door shade went up, Harry suddenly came face to face with Cho Chang, an extremely pretty seventh year. Harry had had a huge crush on Cho since his third year, and last year, he had even, for a time, realized his crush. It had gone rather badly, and Harry now no longer had those feelings for her. Cho opened the door.
"Hi, Harry. Erm, look, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for last year. I guess I didn't treat you well, becuase of, well, a lot of things on my mind." Cho's previous boyfriend had been Cedric Diggory, whom Harry had seen killed by Voldemort. Harry blushed a little.
"Um, that's okay, Cho, un, I wasn't the most perfect gentleman, either." He smiled and held out his hand. "Friends?"
Cho smiled back and took his hand and shook it. "Friends." She turned to leave, then turned back.
"Oh, are you going to continue with the DA this year?"
"I don't know...I've got a tough schedule this year, and we need to see how the new Defense teacher is. Plus, I'm back on the Quidditch team."
"All I know is that my mother nearly had a heart attack when she saw what book we'll be using. I hope we can still meet. You're a very good teacher. And i'm looking forward to beating you this year. I finally got a Nimbus, so watch out." Cho grinned and left.
Harry returned to his seat with a smile on his face. Last year with Cho had gone very badly, and he was glad they were now friends again. A couple of minutes later, the door to the compartment opened and Luna Lovegood stood there.
"Hello, Harry. Do you mind if I sit here?"
"No, go ahead." Harry suddenly felt a warm rush. Luna had changed his summer for him. Her letter had released his grief for Sirius, and he felt more healed than he had in a long time.
Luna stowed her trunk and sat down opposite him. Her wand was tucked behind her long dirty blond hair as usual, and she pulled out the lates edition of The Quibbler and began to read. On an impulse Harry looked out of the compartment and saw that the carriage was still rather empty. He sat next to her and took her hand.
"Erm, Luna" he said as she turned her large eyes towards him, "I want to thank you for the letter you sent me. It meant more than you could know." Before his nerve left him, he leaned toward her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Blushing furiously, he returned to his seat opposite her. He looked up and saw Luna looking at him. Her eyes seemed to lose their dreamy quality and were focused on him sharper than he had seen them before. They seemed to look inside and through him. Her lips curved into a slight smile on her face he that hadn't seen on her before. Harry moved from his seat and sat next to her.
"So, Luna, how was your summer?"
With that, Luna launched into a tale involving the search for the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. As Harry listened, suddenly Luna's ways and beliefs didn't seem so outrageous or "Loony", as she was sometimes called, anymore.
As they talked, the carriage started filling. Many of the members of the DA stopped by asking Harry if he would be continuing with it this year. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione stopped by promising they would drop by later. After a while, Harry and Luna were joined by Neville Longbottom, one of Harry and Ron's fellow Gryffindor sixth years. Neville was a pleasant, round faced boy whose parents had been tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange, a Death Eater and Sirius' cousin. Neville had barely escaped the same fate last year at the Ministry when Sirius and other members of the Order had burst in to rescue them. He sat down opposite them.
"How are you Harry? I hope you're feeling better." Harry assured Neville he was, giving Luna a quick smile which Neville didn't notice. Neville reached into his robes and pulled out a new wand.
"Do you like it? I though Gran was going to kill me for breaking Dad's wand, but Dumbledore wrote her and told her what happened." Even after Death Eaters had broken his wand, neville fought tooth and nail against them, even willing to sacrifice himself to the torture of Bellatrix Lestrange to Keep Harry from giving them the recording of the prophecy made about him.
"D'you know what she said then?" Neville was saying. "She said I fought like my father and that he would have been proud of me, and that she was proud of me too!" Neville was beaming. Indeed, since the escape of Bellatrix lestrange from Azkaban, Neville was becoming more and more confident.
"She took me to Ollivander's for my new wand, and it just feels so much better than Dad's did." He gave it a wave and red and gold sparks flew out of the end.
"That's great, Neville" said Harry, a bit overwhelmed by Neville's enthusiasm. "Say, where's your mimbletonius?"
"Oh, it got too big to bring with me, but I was able to start a cutting growing" As he was reaching into his bag to show Harry the cutting, the door to the compartment slid open and Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway, flanked by his cronies Crabbe and Goyle.
"Well, Potter" he sneered, "if you're going to keep company with Loony and this oaf here, you'll be dead in five minutes. You'd better watch your back this year." Malfoy had sworn to kill Harry himself last year for putting his Death Eater father in Azkaban.
Harry reached for his wand, but Neville was on his feet with his wand out faster than Harry had ever seen him move before, pointing it directly between Malfoy's eyes.
"Out, Malfoy" he said in a tone Harry had never heard before, "and speaking of watching one's back, take a look behind you."
The three of them turned and quickly slunk out of the compartment. Harry looket out and saw at least ten members of the DA in the corridor, all pointing their wands at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"All right, Harry?" said Colin Creevey, a Gryffindor fifth year with a bit of a hero worship for Harry. "This whole compartment is full of DA members. They won't be back." Harry looked closer at Colin. He was in his robes already, and he was wearing a prefect's badge.
"Thanks, Colin" said Harry, "and good job making prefect." Colin beamed and waved as he continued down the corridor. Harry returned to the compartment and turned to Neville, who was looking like he did not believe what he had just done.
"Wow, Neville, you were brilliant." Harry grinned. "It's too bad Ginny didn't see you in action."
"She did."
Ginny, Ron and Hermione stood in the doorway grinning. Neville blushed and looked away. As the entered, the witch who ran the snack cart came by. Over a mound of Cauldron Cakes and Chocolate Frogs, the six of them chattered happily until it was time to change into their robes. Soon the train came to a stop at Hogsmeade Station. They all got out and made their way to the carriages. Ron shook his head at the invisible thestrals which drew them. "Never again" he muttered. Harry smiled. He could seee them, having seen Cedric die almost two years before, and their black skeletal forms did not frighten him anymore. As they moved towards the carriages, they heard a familiar voice.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right, there, Harry, Ron, Hermione?"
They waved at the huge form of Hagrid, who was guiding the first years to the boats which would take them into the school.
Soon the carriages pulled up to the doors to the school. As they entered, something flew past them and exploded with a "poof". They looked up and saw Peeves, the school poltergeist, pelting students with small pellets that exploded into great clouds of multi colored dust which seemed to cling to everything. Already half the walls and several students were covered.
"What's that he's got in his other hand?" Hermione asked Ron.
"It looke like--"
Peeves cackled "Peevsie has a special deal with Ickle Ronniekins' brothers! We're going to have so much fun this year!"
"PEEVES!" Professor McGonagall burst out of the great hall. "I'm warning you--"
Peeves blew a loud raspberry at her and vanished. Professor McGonagall gave her wand a wave and the dust vanished.
"Mr. Weasley, tell your brothers I'm going to have a word with them. Potter, see me in my office after the feast."
They both nodded and entered the Great Hall. When everyone was seated, Professor McGonagall led the first years into the Hall and placed the Sorting Hat on its stool in front of the faculty table. The brim of the hat cracked and it began to sing.
You have heard me sing before
Of the unity of the Hogwarts Four.
Of Gryffindor's Bravery, the Cunning of Slytherin
Hufflepuff's Loyalty, Ravenclaw's Brain.
And of the end of that unity
When the Four became Three.
And though I separate you into the Houses that I call
The Four Houses are within you all.
So now unite again and heed my warnin'
The enemy lies not from without, but from within.
The Sorting Hat ended its song to dead silence. Never before had it given a warning like this, and a dark and ominous mood seemed to settle on everyone as they looked around nervously. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and the Sorting began.
After the sorting, Dumbledore stood. He alone seemed to have a smile on his face.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts, all of you" He gave a quick glance at the Slytherin table. "I know that in at least this one thing, we are all united. Tuck in." With that, food appeared on the platters laid on the table. As the students started eating, the level of talking rose, but most of the conversation was centered on the Sorting Hat's terse and ominous song.
"Have you ever heard the Hat give a warning like that?" Hermione asked Nearly-Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost.
"No, Miss Granger. Indeed, I think there will be Ghosts' Council tonight after the feast to discuss it."
"What did the Hat mean, 'the four houses are within us all'" asked Ron. "Does that mean I'm secretly a Slytherin?" He looked over at the Slytherin table with great distaste.
"I believe, Mr. Weasley" Nick said stiffly, "it meant that we all possess to some degree all of the qualities of the Four Houses. Even Slytherin. After all, we all possess ambition, which is one of the prized qualities of Slytherin House"
"I'll bet Malfoy must be sick after hearing he's just the same as a Muggle-Born" said Ron with a grim smile.
Harry nodded. He could understand what the Hat meant. After all, the Hat had almost placed him in Slytherin, after noting that he could have easily gone into Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw as well.
Presently the feast ended, and Dumbledore stood again.
"Before I send you all off to bed, I have a few start-of-term notices. First, all decrees set in place by Dolores Umbridge are hereby abolished." Thuderous cheers greeted this news. Professor Umbridge, with the aid of the Ministry, had tried to take complete control of Hogwarts last year. "Second" Dumbledore continued, "Mr. Filch has asked me to tell you that the list of non allowed items has grown over the summer to include most of the catalogue for Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Third, I must remind you that the forbidden forest is even more forbidden to all students this year. If anyone wanders in and survives, they will be punished after they return from the hospital wing. Finally, I am pleased to announce that Professor Trelawney is returning as the Divination teacher, in conjunction with Firenze. I'm sure they have an exciting year of lessons planned." There was an audible sigh of delight from many of the girls. 'We also have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor this year, but unfortunately, Professor Windrider could not be at the feast tonight. And now," Dumbledore concluded, "off to bed with you to get a good night's sleep for classes in the morning."
There was a rustle as the Hall began to empty. Ron turned to Harry.
"I'll wait outside the common room for you while you see McGonagall and give you the password."
Harry nodded and made his way to McGonagall's office. She was waiting for him.
"Close the door, Potter" she said. As harry complied, she continued. "You will have your Apparition lessons every Saturday in Hogsmeade. I will be instructing you. It is very important that you master it before Christmas. You will accompany Professor Windrider on the pretext of planning lessons for the upcoming week. I trust you already have some idea of what you will teach?"
Harry nodded.
"Good. As Gryffindor's first match is the last one scheduled before the Holidays, I expect you to have made significant progress by then. I wish to root Gryffindor on, as I'm sure you do as well, but if you haven't made much progress, we will have to skip the match. Understand?"
Harry nodded again.
"Well, off to bed with you." Harry turned to leave. "And Potter?" Harry turned back. "Good luck this year.
As Harry made his way towards the Gryffindor Common Room he was wondering why everyone was seeming to wish him good luck this year. Ron was waiting by the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"What did McGonagall want, mate?"
"Oh, she was checking to see if I was ready to teach Defense lessons."
Ron turned to the Fat Lady. "Lionheart" he said.
The portrait swung open and they entered the Common Room. "You go on up, mate, i want to say good night to Hermione"
Harry made his way to his dormitory and crawled into bed. Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan, and Neville were already in bed. As he was instructed and had been practicing, he worked on clearing his mind of thoughts. It was difficult, as he kept going back to the events of the day with Hamish and Luna, and with everyone wishing him good luck, as if he was running a race he was sure to lose. Eventually he managed, to an extent, but his dreams were troubled by a dark figure stalking through the night, whirlpools, and an unblinking eye staring at him.
Back to School
Harry barely ate. His thoughts were on what had just transpired between himself, Dumbledore and Snape. Although the prospect of a week's detention with Snape filled him with dread, he couldn't bring himself to be angry at Dumbledore for giving him the punishment he did. His actions were wrong, and he knew he shouldn't have done it. Neither did the prospect of a one game suspension from Quidditch upset him greatly. Ginny was a good Seeker, and he was confident that the team would win. What bothered him most was the disappointment in him that Dumbledore had obviously felt. Dumbledore had taken great pains to point out to Harry what he thought of him, and to let him down wieghed heavily on him. He resolved not to let Dumbledore down again. His thoughts were also centered on Snape's last words before he left. Was his hatred of Harry what it seemed? Was Snape in fact testing him, preparing him for facing Voldemort? Harry's head swam as he went round and round with these thoughts. All he knew was that Snape hated Harry, his father, and Sirius, and Harry hated Snape for it. But he would try not to let it affect him.
When dinner was over, Dumbledore rose.
"Well, that certainly was an excellent dinner, Molly. You could teach the house elves at Hogwarts a thing or two. I must be going now. Give my regards to Remus and to Arthur. Harry, can you come with me for a moment?"
Harry accompanied Dumbledore to the door. Just before he left, Dumbledore leaned in to Harry and whispered in his ear.
"Keep this from everyone. I want you to learn Apparition as soon as possible. I will be arranging weekly lessons when you get back. Good luck this year, Harry."
And as Harry looked up to Dumbledore, he was shocked at how old and worn he looked.
During the remainder of the last week, everyone got ready for the return to Hogwarts. Hedwog's cage was sent to Privet Drive. Lupin had recovered, although his hair looked slightly grayer, and he needed a few extra meals before he looked more like himself again.
On the night before Harry's return to Hogwarts, there was a major meeting of the Order. At one point, Harry was called down, to the immense jealousy of the other three. As Harry entered the kitchen, everyone looked at him with serious expressions on their faces. Even Fred and George, who would joke about anything, looked gravely at Harry.
"Well, Potter" Moody growled, "it turns out we were right. Your aunt is being watched."
Harry gasped as Moody continued.
"We don't think a move will be made on her, though, until after you are on the train."
"The thing is, Harry" continued Mr. Weasley, "they know we are also watching, but they think we're watching you. The fact that Hamish is always with her when she goes out has been serving as a deterrent. They think that all we care about is you"
"See? Being famous does come in handy" said Fred, smiling.
"However, they don't know you're here" said Tonks, "and if you show up on the train and the dursleys don't take you, they'll realize something's up. So we have to get you and your aunt together at King's Cross, and to have you seen together."
"And a right bugger of a job this is going to be" said George.
"The key to the plan is timing." Lupin continued. "Your things will be sent to Privet Drive tonight, with the exception of your cloak. The train begins boarding at 9:30, but Dumbledore has made arrangements for you to be on board much earlier. You will remain in your cloak in the arranged compartment, until Hamish comes on board. When he changes into a cat, you may remove your cloak. you'll be safe once you're on the train. The Hogwarts Express has special protective charms on it so that all students will not be harmed. Minor curses of course work, as I'm sure you know" he grinned at Harry and winked "but nothing life threatening will work. I will remain with your aunt and assist Hamish in escorting her back to Privet Drive. After that, it's up to us to keep her safe. And we will, Harry, don't worry. Now. Do you understnad the plan? Any questions?"
"Erm, how exactly is aunt Petunia taking this?"
A stately looking witch whom Harry remembered as Emmeline Vance spoke up.
"Better than you might expect. She has some strength in her. After all, she was once part of the Order."
"WHAT? AUNT PETUNIA WAS IN THE ORDER?"
Lupin explained. "Dumbledore had a network of muggles and squibs working secretly for the Order, mostly gathering information, but dangerous nonetheless, considering that Death Eaters were killing muggles for sport. Petunia was one such operative. It's not for me to say what happened, but a year or so before you were born, she left the Order. She severed all ties she had with our world, and vowed never to even acknowledge our existence. It was the only time I had ever seen someone strike Dumbledore."
Harry's mind was reeling. This was almost too much to take. However, he had a thought about what might have happened from Aunt Petunia's own mouth. She had mentioned Voldemort had killed her entire family.
"Harry, your aunt has had to live with what happened for a long time. Please do not mention this to anyone, especially her, until she is ready to tell you"
Harry nodded. With that, the meeting ended. Mrs. Weasley had prepared a special dinner, and many of the Order stayed. She also explained to Ron, Hermione, and Ginny that Harry would be leaving early and would see them on the train.
The next morning, Lupin awakened Harry before dawn. His things had been snet the night before, so he dressed quickly, tucked his cloak under his jacket, and went downstairs. Mrs. Weasley was already up, and she laid a plate of bangers and mash at the table. Harry ate quickly, and Mrs. Weasley gave him a fierce hug good-bye. Harry slipped on his cloak, and he and Lupin slipped outside unseen. London was just waking up, so the streets were fairly deserted. They walked quickly but carefully, as by the time they reached King's Cross some twenty minutes later, traffic was picking up. They casually ambled to the tracks, and slipped between the barrier of Platforms Nine and Ten. The Hogwarts Express stood there dark and silent. Lupin stopped at a carriage about two thirds of the way down the train and spoke quietly into the air.
"Well, Harry, this is where I say good-bye for now. Go into the fourth compartment. Hamish will meet you there and the you'll be able to remove your cloak. Study hard, teach well, and keep your eyes open. If you have to reach us urgently, write a note with your new quill. Once you sign it, it will be sent immediately. Good luck, Harry." Lupin groped for a minute, found Harry's shoulder, and gave it an anxious squeeze. "Oh, I nearly forgot. Mrs. Weasley made you a snack and Fred and George dropped off a catalogue for you to read to pass the time." He handed the parcel to Harry, who quickly slipped it under his cloak.
Harry silently entered the compartment. He gave a heavy sigh, and took out the catalogue. He was so absorbed in reading about Fred and George's new products that the time seemed to fly. In addition to things he knew about such as Vanishing Hats, Skiving Snackboxes, Canary Creams, and Ton-Tongue Toffees, there were parchments which would correct whatever was written on them, with pointed comments about the quality of the work and the dubious ancestry of the writer, exploding quills, sweets which would scream in pain when they were bitten, and many many more.
Right at 9:30, Harry heard a noise at the door of his compartment. The door opened, and he watched himself enter.
"Hello, Hamish" he said quietly.
"Hello, Harry. Safe and sound?" Hamish lugged Harry's trunk and Hedwig in her new cage into the compartment and closed the door, drawing the shade. He muttered "Colloportus" to lock the door and drew the window shade as well.
"Do you need help putting everything away?"
"Nae, Harry. When I'm done, I'll transform. You unlock the door, and I'll just walk out as a cat. Dinna worry, I'll keep you're aunt safe this year."
"Erm, Hamish...your hair..." For Hamish's hair was beginning to grow longer and shaggier.
"Timed it just right then, didn't I?" Hamish grinned and got to work putting the trunk on a shelf. As he was lifting the trunk, the sleeves of Dudley's overlarge hand-me-down shirt slid to his elbows. Harry was looking straight at his left arm and suppressed a gasp of horror with a cough. On the forearm, Harry saw a faint red mark, like a very faint tattoo. It was a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth. The Dark Mark.
Harry tried to keep calm as he slowly reached for his wand underneath his cloak. Hamish had finished and turned to Harry, not realizing what his arm had shown.
"Well, all done. Time to transform before I burst out of these clothes, although your cousin is a biggun, isn't he? Good luck this year, Harry. On the count of three. One. Two. Three."
Harry threw off his cloak and suddenly there was a cat mewing at his feet. Harry unlocked the door, and the cat walked out regally.
Harry's mind was in a panic. Did he see what he thought he saw? He pushed back his left sleeve. No mark. What to do? He couldn't attack, for students were starting to arrive. His mind was blank for a moment before he remembered what Lupin had said to him about his phoenix feather quill. He dove into his things, and found it nd a piece of parchment. He wrote as quickly as he could.
Professor Lupin
I think Hamish is a Death Eater. I saw the Mark on his arm.
Harry.
As soon as Harry wrote his name, the letter vanished in a burst of flame. Harry sat back, breathing heavily and looking out of the window. No one seemed to be panicking, so Harry guessed that there was no attack happening. After a few anxious minutes, there was a flash of flame and a note appeared next to him.
Harry
Thanks for the warning. We'll keep our eyes open.
Lupin.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief and felt suddenly hungry. Mrs. Weasley had made him a couple of bacon sandwiches, which he ate gratefully. When he finished, he went and opened the shades on the door and window. As the door shade went up, Harry suddenly came face to face with Cho Chang, an extremely pretty seventh year. Harry had had a huge crush on Cho since his third year, and last year, he had even, for a time, realized his crush. It had gone rather badly, and Harry now no longer had those feelings for her. Cho opened the door.
"Hi, Harry. Erm, look, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for last year. I guess I didn't treat you well, becuase of, well, a lot of things on my mind." Cho's previous boyfriend had been Cedric Diggory, whom Harry had seen killed by Voldemort. Harry blushed a little.
"Um, that's okay, Cho, un, I wasn't the most perfect gentleman, either." He smiled and held out his hand. "Friends?"
Cho smiled back and took his hand and shook it. "Friends." She turned to leave, then turned back.
"Oh, are you going to continue with the DA this year?"
"I don't know...I've got a tough schedule this year, and we need to see how the new Defense teacher is. Plus, I'm back on the Quidditch team."
"All I know is that my mother nearly had a heart attack when she saw what book we'll be using. I hope we can still meet. You're a very good teacher. And i'm looking forward to beating you this year. I finally got a Nimbus, so watch out." Cho grinned and left.
Harry returned to his seat with a smile on his face. Last year with Cho had gone very badly, and he was glad they were now friends again. A couple of minutes later, the door to the compartment opened and Luna Lovegood stood there.
"Hello, Harry. Do you mind if I sit here?"
"No, go ahead." Harry suddenly felt a warm rush. Luna had changed his summer for him. Her letter had released his grief for Sirius, and he felt more healed than he had in a long time.
Luna stowed her trunk and sat down opposite him. Her wand was tucked behind her long dirty blond hair as usual, and she pulled out the lates edition of The Quibbler and began to read. On an impulse Harry looked out of the compartment and saw that the carriage was still rather empty. He sat next to her and took her hand.
"Erm, Luna" he said as she turned her large eyes towards him, "I want to thank you for the letter you sent me. It meant more than you could know." Before his nerve left him, he leaned toward her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Blushing furiously, he returned to his seat opposite her. He looked up and saw Luna looking at him. Her eyes seemed to lose their dreamy quality and were focused on him sharper than he had seen them before. They seemed to look inside and through him. Her lips curved into a slight smile on her face he that hadn't seen on her before. Harry moved from his seat and sat next to her.
"So, Luna, how was your summer?"
With that, Luna launched into a tale involving the search for the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. As Harry listened, suddenly Luna's ways and beliefs didn't seem so outrageous or "Loony", as she was sometimes called, anymore.
As they talked, the carriage started filling. Many of the members of the DA stopped by asking Harry if he would be continuing with it this year. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione stopped by promising they would drop by later. After a while, Harry and Luna were joined by Neville Longbottom, one of Harry and Ron's fellow Gryffindor sixth years. Neville was a pleasant, round faced boy whose parents had been tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange, a Death Eater and Sirius' cousin. Neville had barely escaped the same fate last year at the Ministry when Sirius and other members of the Order had burst in to rescue them. He sat down opposite them.
"How are you Harry? I hope you're feeling better." Harry assured Neville he was, giving Luna a quick smile which Neville didn't notice. Neville reached into his robes and pulled out a new wand.
"Do you like it? I though Gran was going to kill me for breaking Dad's wand, but Dumbledore wrote her and told her what happened." Even after Death Eaters had broken his wand, neville fought tooth and nail against them, even willing to sacrifice himself to the torture of Bellatrix Lestrange to Keep Harry from giving them the recording of the prophecy made about him.
"D'you know what she said then?" Neville was saying. "She said I fought like my father and that he would have been proud of me, and that she was proud of me too!" Neville was beaming. Indeed, since the escape of Bellatrix lestrange from Azkaban, Neville was becoming more and more confident.
"She took me to Ollivander's for my new wand, and it just feels so much better than Dad's did." He gave it a wave and red and gold sparks flew out of the end.
"That's great, Neville" said Harry, a bit overwhelmed by Neville's enthusiasm. "Say, where's your mimbletonius?"
"Oh, it got too big to bring with me, but I was able to start a cutting growing" As he was reaching into his bag to show Harry the cutting, the door to the compartment slid open and Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway, flanked by his cronies Crabbe and Goyle.
"Well, Potter" he sneered, "if you're going to keep company with Loony and this oaf here, you'll be dead in five minutes. You'd better watch your back this year." Malfoy had sworn to kill Harry himself last year for putting his Death Eater father in Azkaban.
Harry reached for his wand, but Neville was on his feet with his wand out faster than Harry had ever seen him move before, pointing it directly between Malfoy's eyes.
"Out, Malfoy" he said in a tone Harry had never heard before, "and speaking of watching one's back, take a look behind you."
The three of them turned and quickly slunk out of the compartment. Harry looket out and saw at least ten members of the DA in the corridor, all pointing their wands at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
"All right, Harry?" said Colin Creevey, a Gryffindor fifth year with a bit of a hero worship for Harry. "This whole compartment is full of DA members. They won't be back." Harry looked closer at Colin. He was in his robes already, and he was wearing a prefect's badge.
"Thanks, Colin" said Harry, "and good job making prefect." Colin beamed and waved as he continued down the corridor. Harry returned to the compartment and turned to Neville, who was looking like he did not believe what he had just done.
"Wow, Neville, you were brilliant." Harry grinned. "It's too bad Ginny didn't see you in action."
"She did."
Ginny, Ron and Hermione stood in the doorway grinning. Neville blushed and looked away. As the entered, the witch who ran the snack cart came by. Over a mound of Cauldron Cakes and Chocolate Frogs, the six of them chattered happily until it was time to change into their robes. Soon the train came to a stop at Hogsmeade Station. They all got out and made their way to the carriages. Ron shook his head at the invisible thestrals which drew them. "Never again" he muttered. Harry smiled. He could seee them, having seen Cedric die almost two years before, and their black skeletal forms did not frighten him anymore. As they moved towards the carriages, they heard a familiar voice.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right, there, Harry, Ron, Hermione?"
They waved at the huge form of Hagrid, who was guiding the first years to the boats which would take them into the school.
Soon the carriages pulled up to the doors to the school. As they entered, something flew past them and exploded with a "poof". They looked up and saw Peeves, the school poltergeist, pelting students with small pellets that exploded into great clouds of multi colored dust which seemed to cling to everything. Already half the walls and several students were covered.
"What's that he's got in his other hand?" Hermione asked Ron.
"It looke like--"
Peeves cackled "Peevsie has a special deal with Ickle Ronniekins' brothers! We're going to have so much fun this year!"
"PEEVES!" Professor McGonagall burst out of the great hall. "I'm warning you--"
Peeves blew a loud raspberry at her and vanished. Professor McGonagall gave her wand a wave and the dust vanished.
"Mr. Weasley, tell your brothers I'm going to have a word with them. Potter, see me in my office after the feast."
They both nodded and entered the Great Hall. When everyone was seated, Professor McGonagall led the first years into the Hall and placed the Sorting Hat on its stool in front of the faculty table. The brim of the hat cracked and it began to sing.
You have heard me sing before
Of the unity of the Hogwarts Four.
Of Gryffindor's Bravery, the Cunning of Slytherin
Hufflepuff's Loyalty, Ravenclaw's Brain.
And of the end of that unity
When the Four became Three.
And though I separate you into the Houses that I call
The Four Houses are within you all.
So now unite again and heed my warnin'
The enemy lies not from without, but from within.
The Sorting Hat ended its song to dead silence. Never before had it given a warning like this, and a dark and ominous mood seemed to settle on everyone as they looked around nervously. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and the Sorting began.
After the sorting, Dumbledore stood. He alone seemed to have a smile on his face.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts, all of you" He gave a quick glance at the Slytherin table. "I know that in at least this one thing, we are all united. Tuck in." With that, food appeared on the platters laid on the table. As the students started eating, the level of talking rose, but most of the conversation was centered on the Sorting Hat's terse and ominous song.
"Have you ever heard the Hat give a warning like that?" Hermione asked Nearly-Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost.
"No, Miss Granger. Indeed, I think there will be Ghosts' Council tonight after the feast to discuss it."
"What did the Hat mean, 'the four houses are within us all'" asked Ron. "Does that mean I'm secretly a Slytherin?" He looked over at the Slytherin table with great distaste.
"I believe, Mr. Weasley" Nick said stiffly, "it meant that we all possess to some degree all of the qualities of the Four Houses. Even Slytherin. After all, we all possess ambition, which is one of the prized qualities of Slytherin House"
"I'll bet Malfoy must be sick after hearing he's just the same as a Muggle-Born" said Ron with a grim smile.
Harry nodded. He could understand what the Hat meant. After all, the Hat had almost placed him in Slytherin, after noting that he could have easily gone into Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw as well.
Presently the feast ended, and Dumbledore stood again.
"Before I send you all off to bed, I have a few start-of-term notices. First, all decrees set in place by Dolores Umbridge are hereby abolished." Thuderous cheers greeted this news. Professor Umbridge, with the aid of the Ministry, had tried to take complete control of Hogwarts last year. "Second" Dumbledore continued, "Mr. Filch has asked me to tell you that the list of non allowed items has grown over the summer to include most of the catalogue for Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Third, I must remind you that the forbidden forest is even more forbidden to all students this year. If anyone wanders in and survives, they will be punished after they return from the hospital wing. Finally, I am pleased to announce that Professor Trelawney is returning as the Divination teacher, in conjunction with Firenze. I'm sure they have an exciting year of lessons planned." There was an audible sigh of delight from many of the girls. 'We also have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor this year, but unfortunately, Professor Windrider could not be at the feast tonight. And now," Dumbledore concluded, "off to bed with you to get a good night's sleep for classes in the morning."
There was a rustle as the Hall began to empty. Ron turned to Harry.
"I'll wait outside the common room for you while you see McGonagall and give you the password."
Harry nodded and made his way to McGonagall's office. She was waiting for him.
"Close the door, Potter" she said. As harry complied, she continued. "You will have your Apparition lessons every Saturday in Hogsmeade. I will be instructing you. It is very important that you master it before Christmas. You will accompany Professor Windrider on the pretext of planning lessons for the upcoming week. I trust you already have some idea of what you will teach?"
Harry nodded.
"Good. As Gryffindor's first match is the last one scheduled before the Holidays, I expect you to have made significant progress by then. I wish to root Gryffindor on, as I'm sure you do as well, but if you haven't made much progress, we will have to skip the match. Understand?"
Harry nodded again.
"Well, off to bed with you." Harry turned to leave. "And Potter?" Harry turned back. "Good luck this year.
As Harry made his way towards the Gryffindor Common Room he was wondering why everyone was seeming to wish him good luck this year. Ron was waiting by the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"What did McGonagall want, mate?"
"Oh, she was checking to see if I was ready to teach Defense lessons."
Ron turned to the Fat Lady. "Lionheart" he said.
The portrait swung open and they entered the Common Room. "You go on up, mate, i want to say good night to Hermione"
Harry made his way to his dormitory and crawled into bed. Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan, and Neville were already in bed. As he was instructed and had been practicing, he worked on clearing his mind of thoughts. It was difficult, as he kept going back to the events of the day with Hamish and Luna, and with everyone wishing him good luck, as if he was running a race he was sure to lose. Eventually he managed, to an extent, but his dreams were troubled by a dark figure stalking through the night, whirlpools, and an unblinking eye staring at him.
