Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, Just the plot.

A/N: Sorry for taking so long to get this up. I hope that you enjoy the chapter- Things are going to start to move a bit faster from now on, I promise. I finally know where I want the story to go and all that Jazz (I watched Chicago last night, haha). If you have and suggestions or comments, Please, I would love to hear them.

GREEN, You are my HERO. Without you … well, I would be getting a lot more flames! :o) And when I say flames, I mean GO FLAMES! You can BEAT Montreal! I have faith in you! (by the time this is up … I am sure that they WILL have beat Montreal … I HOPE!!!)

But enough from the peanut gallery:

Lights, Camera, ACTION!

-The Charm Bracelet-

Chapter 12

The week slowly seeped away, and the residents of number 12 Grimmauld place were happily anticipating the return to their beloved school…

"WHERE THE HELL ARE MY NEW DRESS ROBES RON?" Ginny's voice cut through the already hectic atmosphere of Ron and Harry's Room.

"Why do you think that I know?"

"Because Ronald, you find pleasure in making my life more difficult than it already is!" She jutted her jaw, and put her hands on her hips bracingly.

"Ask Fred or George!" He yelled, searching franticly for something of his own. Harry sat at the end of his bed, calmly packing away things in his trunk.  She huffed and left the room.

"Guys, have you seen my curling Iron?"

"Hermione, electric things like that don't work at Hogwarts!"

"Its charmed-" she stated simply "-have you seen it?"

"No, sorry" Harry went back to folding his socks slowly, and sighing deeply. For the last week Ginny and himself had spent hours in the attic, searching through the trunk of his godfather. Only able to explore half the contents of the chest, he had insisted on hiding away most of the remaining items in his own Hogwarts trunk, and the rest in Ginny's. She had obviously sensed how important it was to him, and said that she would be happy to carry it, but as soon as they got to school, it was out of there.

"I found them." He could hear Ginny yell from the door, hustling into her own room.

"Where is that badge …" Ron was murmuring under his breath.

"Ron, your badge was under my bed … I don't know why" Hermione's head was visible for a second while she threw the silver 'P' into the room. Ron caught it expertly, and slipped it into his pocket.

"We'll leave it fifteen minutes, guys!" Bill yelled from the bottom of the stairs. Harry pulled his trunk out the door, with one quick glance behind his shoulder. Ron was still searching for something, and seemed rather distressed.

"Uhh, Ron. Are you missing something?"

"Yes!" He said angrily, tearing off the covers of his neatly made bed.

"What? I can help?"

"AHA!" He said, as he threw a pile of books out of his trunk, holding up a small scarlet box.

"What is it?"

"Uhh … nothing" He said, bending down and tenderly putting it back into his trunk, and restacking the books.

"Right …" Harry rolled his eyes, and grabbed his trunk again. "Ready to go?"

"Yep, lets go," and with that, they made their way down the stairs.

*

"And you have all your books?"

"Yes, mother"

"Now you write to me every week, and don't you forget. You too, Harry. Hermione. Ron, you tell me all about your prefect duties-" She beamed "- And Ginny, you can write and tell me about … whatever you wish." Ginny rolled her eyes dramatically, as her mother gave her a disapproving look. She had, to her mother's dismay, not been appointed prefect that year.

"Well, yea I get good grades, but Shelly Walkers' are better." She had said, but her mother had merely sighed deeply, shaking her head and asking herself 'Where she went wrong.'

"Yea. Bye Mom." She hugged her quickly, but her mother turned it into a full-fledged Weasley embrace.

"I love you, Ginny. You make your father and I so proud." She whispered into her ear, holding her close. Feeling tears starting to well up in her eyes, she moved away.

"I love you too, Mom. Dad." Her Father smiled warmly, and hugged her as well, kissing her softly on the forehead.

"Have a good year, Sweetie. Study hard."

"I will. Bye." She followed her brother and her friends through the barrier. Bill, Tonks and Charlie were already waiting on the other side, laughing with one another.

"Hey, Ginner. You ready?" Bill asked, embracing her in a one armed hug.

"As I'll ever be, I guess." She said nervously, looking at the Scarlet engine a few meters away from her. Ron and Hermione were speaking loudly with Charlie, while Harry was laughing about something, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. Tonks, who had gone all out that day, sporting candy cane striped ringlets that fell to her lower back, and was several inches taller, nearly the same height as Ron, was laughing merrily, supporting herself on a wooden chest resting upright. Why she had a chest, Ginny could only imagine. Another was stationed at her feet, though it was jet black and covered in many stickers.

A whistle sounded, and they were all forced to leave the Alumni and join their peers on the Hogwarts express.

"Ginny! Could you take Crookshanks onto the train for me?"

"Yep," She said, accepting the cat carrier that Hermione was offering to her.

"Thanks, she said quickly, before following Ron towards the front of the Hogwarts Express and disappearing into the sea of people.

"Wotcher, Harry," Tonks said happily, winking at him as he departed.

"Yea, see'ya" He replied, being pushed by the crowd.

"Oh, sooner than you think!" She said, and when Ginny turned to ask her what she meant, she was gone. Strange … 

"Ginny! Hurry up if you want to find a decent seat!" Harry's voice broke her concentration. He was pulling her shoulder towards him, and guiding her towards the entrance.

"Do you know what Tonks was talking about?"

"What do you mean?" He turned to her, brow furrowed.

"Erm, nothing." Grasping the handrail, she pulled herself off the platform. Why bother him with something that I probably misheard, anyhow. They walked together too the back of the train, checking compartments as the passed. She was wondering when she would find Neville and Luna, when Harry stopped dead in his tracks, causing her to knock into him.

"What?" She asked irritated. He had an eyebrow cocked, as he nodded his head toward the compartment to his left. Inside were non-other than her ex-boyfriend Michael Corner, and Cho Chang, kissing furiously.

"I guess a summer apart can do that to you …" She mused out loud, but Harry shot her a disgusted look.

"I guess… Com'on lets go." They continued to walk slowly to the end of the train, running into people on their way to the back. Seamus Finnegan was in a compartment with Lavender, Pavarti and Dean, who gave her a sheepish smile. She grinned back widely, hoping to show that there were no hard feelings. Harry on the other hand was glaring daggers at him, and had his fists clenched tightly.

"So, did you have a good summer?" Seamus asked happily. He was stroking a shiny broom in his hands fondly, as if it was the most wonderful piece of property he had even came in contact with.

"Yea, we did"

Harry grunted.

"What'choo got there, then," She pointed at the broom that he was now stroking. He smiled wide, and told her that she was going to try out for beater this year.

"Me an' Dean both. We figure that Kirke and Sloper aren't going to show their faces on the pitch again any time soon." Ha laughed. Ginny stifled a giggle, remembering the final match when Jack accidentally dropped his bat, and had to retrieve it from the Hufflepuffs section of the bleachers, where a few of the sixth years were playing keep away. It was two minutes later before Madam Hooch noticed and blew her whistle.

"Anyway, we should get going and find a compartment," Harry said, grabbing Ginny's upper arm, and gently pulling her up the aisle.

"See you at the feast," She said cheerfully, but after she closed the compartment door, she turned on Harry viciously.

"What was that about?"

"Wha-?" He started defensively.

"That! You could have been nicer!"

"I was being nice!"

"No you weren't. You were shooting dirty looks at everyone!"

"I was not!"

"Were to!"

"Was NOT!"

"What are you yelling about now!?" Neville poked his head out of a compartment a few doors away, and opened his eyes very wide. "Oh … it's you"

"What do you mean 'It's us'?" Ginny asked, pushing past him and into the compartment, where Luna was, smiling at her over a half finished game of gobblestones in front of her.

"Well …" He started, as Harry took a seat next to her, "I just thought that you were Ron and Hermione."

"WHAT!" They said in unison, both going beat red. Ginny didn't think that they were shouting that loud.

"Just never mind. Hey, do you want to play gobblestones? We can start over."

"No, its ok." Harry said.

"Yea, don't worry about it." Ginny reached for an issue of the Quibbler that was resting at Luna's feet.

"Can I borrow this?" She asked, holding it up.

"Yes, go ahead." She answered dreamily. The front page had a badly drawn picture of a character with a black hood, holding a wand to Fudges' forehead. The heading was 'Who's really running the Ministry.'

Harry was chuckling coldly beside her. "I wouldn't be surprised."

Ginny really did like Harry. They had grown close, and she loved spending time with him; but some times, he did frighten her. He had moods that were so dark and dreary, you couldn't tell it was Harry anymore. Hoping to avoid having him slip into one of these moods, she put the magazine back on the floor face down.

"So, are you excited to get back on the pitch?" She asked. Immediately his eyes lit up, and they started a long, detailed discussion about quidditch.

*

"Welcome to all our new prefects this year, and hello again to those returning, we hope that you had a wonderful summer." The new head boy rambled, speaking vivaciously with his hands. Ron rolled his eyes, and focused on the people around him. Malfoy and Pug-Face were sitting in a far corner, talking in low tones. Well, She was talking; he looked like he was trying to pay attention, or at least away from her. Hannah looked like she was dozing off, as well as a few of the sixth year prefects.

" … Proud! Hold your head high …"

It was the exact same speech as last year, maybe longer. Basically it was telling them that they weren't losers, they had power.

" … Uphold duties to the best of your abilities…"

Hermione was paying attention, and obviously taking mental notes. She nodded every once and a while, as if to prove that it WAS important. My god, she is a shoe-in for Head girl.

The new prefects were all sitting in the front of the compartment, absorbing everything he said, eyes wide, and mouths open. He recognized two or three of them from the DA, and fought off the urge to jump up at hit that Zacharias Smith kid from Hufflepuff, who was holding his head up pompously, trying to look more important than the rest of the fifth years.

" … Fifth year Prefects will be in charge of patrolling the train until we arrive at the station. Now, our head girl, Corey Zeller, will hand out the schedules to each individual prefect, informing them of their patrolling times, Prefect meetings and passwords for the prefect bathroom and other facilities that 'regular students' are not permitted to enter," He emphasized the words 'regular students' the same way many wizards talked about muggles, some sort of lower class pity.

A short, nervous looking girl, with curly brown hair and dark skin stood up, and started calling names off a list. The fifth years were the first to approach her, as they were to patrol the train, and taste their first bit of power. A few of the people in his own year were called before:

"…Weasley, Ronald …" He jumped to his feet, and quickly grabbed the roll of parchment she was holding.

"Thanks," He murmured and she smiled, going back to her list. Hermione had been waiting for him outside of the compartment, but was already completely absorbed in her schedule.

" … Squeaky clean … I have to hide it this year … Pavarti and Lavender kept stealing the password  …"

 "Are you ready to go?" he asked, grasping her shoulder. She gasped, and then looked embarrassed.

"Sorry, you surprised me." Grinning hugely, he chuckled and started guide her shoulder to the end of the train, where his sister and best friend undoubtedly were. Hermione smiled slightly, but shook him off, and hit him over the head with her scroll.

"Play nice, children. We wouldn't want you to get in trouble, now would we?" Malfoy had just emerged from the compartment, followed closely by Pansy Parkinson, who was reading her patrolling schedule.

"Bugger off, Malfoy," Hermione rolled her eyes, and made a move towards the end of the train.

"Ooh, tough words coming from a mudblo-"

"Oh, really creative, Malfoy. Haven't heard you call me that for weeks!" Instinctively, Ron moved towards him, fists clenched, but Hermione grasped the back of his robes, and he stopped obediently, but not before shooting a death-glare at Malfoy. "But, if you don't mind we'll be going now" She started to walk away, pulling Ron with her, though his eyes never left that rats face.

Malfoy watched him for a second, before turning to Pansy, who whispered something in his ear, and calling, "Weasley, have you no pride! You've been whipped by a Mudblood."

That was too much for Ron, he pulled away from Hermione, and was about to lung on Draco, who eyes had gone very large, when someone stepped out of the Prefects compartment.

"Is something wrong here, boys." A short girl said sternly, wedging herself between the two of them. She stared at Malfoy, who looked as though he had just eaten a lemon whole.

"Nothing," He said bitterly, glaring at the ground.

"That's what I thought, now get going!" she nodded her head towards the door that lead to the rest of the Hogwarts express. Shooting Ron a nasty look, he stormed away, with Pansy close on his heals. Ron and Hermione made a move to follow, when the girl stopped them.

"Not you two, just wait." They both turned slowly. Hermione looked horrified at the idea of being in trouble this early in the year, with the head girl nonetheless, but she didn't look mad, she was smiling.

"You are both friends with Harry Potter, right?" Ron nodded slowly, "Are you going to see him before the end of the train ride?"

"Yes," said Hermione, slowly, shooting Ron a confused look, he merely shrugged his shoulders.

"Great! I was supposed to find him myself, but it should be much easier this way. Would you give him this, please," She handed Hermione a sealed letter, with a Ministry of Magic stamp on it.

"What is it?" Ron asked rather rudely, and Hermione elbowed him in the stomach, "Ouch!"

The girl, Corey or something, just smiled, "Its from the High Inquisitor, expelling his lifetime ban from playing Quidditch on the Gryffindor house team."

"Really!" Ron grinned, grabbing the letter from Hermione, and examining it closer, "Brilliant"

But Hermione didn't seem as excited as him, and was still staring at the Head Girl, with a confused expression, "The High Inquisitor, you said,"

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore has taken over the position. He also changes some of the Educational Decree's, thank goodness; they will be posted in the common rooms. It was getting right annoying not being able to do anything without talking to that ogre."

"Here, here." Ron said happily, still examining the letter. The front was addressed to Harry Potter, in familiar writing, obviously that of their beloved Headmaster, and there was a ministry seal stamped onto it.

"Yes, well, thank you. We'll see you at the first Prefects meeting tomorrow night," Hermione said politely, pulling on Ron's elbow.

"Yea, thanks" Ron said, still a little dumbfounded.

"No problem, thank you, now I don't have to go find him!" She re-entered the Prefects compartment, and closed the sliding panel door.

"Com'on, Ron. Harry will be so excited!"

"Yea, I know," Ron said happily. He had a feeling that this year would be much better than the last.

*

"Hey, I wonder if Harry knows that Cho is snogging Ginny's ex-boyfriend?" 

"Ron, do you really think that he would care?"

"I dunno. Maybe." He said, "I would."

Hermione sighed, pushing Ron's back, forcing him to continue moving. A few people waved at them from inside compartments, others came out and chatted for a bit, and it took them a whole twenty minutes to find Harry who was in the very back compartment.

"Hey, mate, look what Hermione's got!" Ron said very excitedly, taking a seat beside Ginny, who looked up from her 'Witch Weekly' Crookshanks was watching Pig flutter around in his cage, and Hedwig had her beak in her wing, sleeping comfortable.

"What is it," He reached for the letter in Hermione's outstretched hands. "To Mister. Harry James Potter. The High Inquisitor's office! Is this a joke?"

"No, no, no. Just open it," Ron was bouncing in his seat like a sugar high 8 year-old, barely concealing any excitement. Harry looked at him funny, but ripped the perfectly sealed envelope, and pulled out a manila piece of paper from within. The entire compartment was watching him with anticipation, even the animals. Seconds passed …

"YES!" He jumped up, yelling and holding the paper in his hands, both Ron and Hermione stood up with him, Hermione giving him a hug, and Ron laughing with them both.

"Uh, guys …" Ginny trailed off, holding one of her hands out, expecting an answer. Her and Neville were sharing a confused look, while Luna smiled, clearly content.

"Oh," Harry grinned so widely, Hermione was surprised that his face didn't split in two. He passed the letter to Ginny, and Hermione watched her face as she skimmed through the letter, Neville reading over her shoulder. She finished it, and unceremoniously threw it back at Harry.

He gapped at her, stunned that she wasn't excited.

"Well..." he said.

"I told you so!" She jumped up and gave him a tight hug. He wrapped his arms around her comfortably, and Hermione noticed that he seemed to hug Ginny much longer than he had herself. She didn't mind …  but had a feeling that Ron might.

"That's great, Harry, really." She touched his shoulder, reminding himself to separate from Ron's little sister.

"So, I guess that I am out of a position," Ginny heaved a great, fake sigh, "I don't know how the team will manage without me."

"Well, I haven't actually made the team, just given permission to try out again …"

"And the only way that you can try out for seeker is if I quit," She smiled, pointing her finger, "But, like I said before, I'm trying out for chaser anyways."

"Oh, Right," He looked too happy to care right now; he was still grinning ear to ear, rereading his letter happily. 

Hermione sat next to Ron, near the window, and Crookshanks jumped onto her lap (To Ron's disgust) She stroked him gingerly, watching the countryside zoom past her.

The compartment had gone pretty quiet, with the occasional flipping of a page, or readjusting of position. Ginny had her legs brought up to her chest, resting her chin on them, and Luna was sitting cross-legged on the ground, staring at what seemed to be nothing, resting her head on Neville's leg. Neville obviously didn't notice, for he was deeply absorbed in a large textbook with what looked like an octopus with thorns on the front.

Ron's eyes were half closed, but not as if he were sleeping, more like he was thinking about something very confusing. Harry was staring at her.

"Hermione, when's the moon waning again?"

What a weird question, she thought, but racked her brain, trying to remember what the moon had been like the night before.

"Uhh, about 6 days, why?"

"Nothing," He said happily, turning towards Ginny who nodded. Hermione was thoroughly confused, and she did not like to be confused.

"No, really. Why?"

"I said nothing." He looked at Ginny, for some form of support, but she just shrugged her shoulders.

"You're hiding something … and I'm going to find out." She pointed her finger accusingly in his face.

"Hermione, its really nothing." He said, shaking his head. Hermione had opened her mouth again to tell him that she knew him better than that, but he bolted up, grabbing Ginny's arm.

"Com'on, Gin, lets take a walk. Bye Hermione," He grinned evilly before pulling Ginny out off the compartment and closing the door.

There was a moment of silence.

"Hermione, have you noticed something different between Harry and Ginny lately,"

"Nothing at all Ron."

*

They down the aisle, looking for a place to talk. Finally, Harry decided on the space where the snack Trolley was kept.

"Six days! We have to start planning! I have memorized most of the incantations, the rest we can read right from the book. We have to be sure that the mo-"

"Harry, slow down. Ok … We have been preparing for this for weeks. It will be fine … trust me," She grinned shaking her head.

"But aren't you excited?" He asked eagerly, crossing his legs.

"Very!" She giggled a bit, "But are we going to tell Ron and Hermione?"

Harry thought about it. He really wanted to tell them, but at the same time, he didn't. He knew that he was being extremely selfish, and foolish, but he just … didn't want to. Right yet, that was. He knew that he wanted Ron and Hermione both to be animagi with him, and he would tell them, when he was ready.

"I don't know. What do you think?"

"I don't know..."

"Do you think that they would be overly mad if we did it this month, and then, you know … walk them through it next month?"

"That sounds great … besides they probably have a Prefects meeting, it is a Friday"

"Yes, you're absolutely right, Virginia. I like the way you think."

"Why, thank you." She said equally polite. Hoisting himself onto his feet, Harry extended his hand and helped her up.

"I don't really feel like going back into the compartment. You wanna actually take the walk that we said we would?"

"Yea, ok. We can go around scaring the first years" She joked, walking beside him. The sky outside was already beginning to darken, and artificial light began to fill the train. The trees were thickening and Harry couldn't remember seeing a town or even a house for a few hours.

They walked mostly in silence, not that either of them minded much. Harry was just happy to be going back to Hogwarts. He loved the Borrow, and he loved spending time with all of the Weasley's, but Grimmauld place … was depressing. And Hogwarts- Hogwarts was home.

There were walking along a particularly hectic part of the train, when out of nowhere Ginny ran into a short boy.

"Oh, sorry Euan" She said, as he backed up, looking up at her.

"Its ok, Ginny, I'm all right," And he ran back into his compartment, blushing madly. She giggled a bit as they kept walking, little kids running past them every now and then. A few very short children already dressed in their robes were walking together. A young girl with dark brown hair, a very short boy, who had black hair and dark skin, grinning widely, and another boy strawberry blonde who made Harry stop dead

" … And there's exploding snap, and wizards Chess, and QUIDDITCH …" The short boy was saying, the girl nodding along with him.

"Yes! It's the most wonderful sport in the word! My Dad and I cheer for the Cannons! They're the greatest!"

"A girl after my brothers heart …" Ginny whispered into Harry's ear. He just nodded.

"What is it?" The strawberry blonde boy asked excitedly, raising his eyebrows.

"Its only the best sport in the world! And the Cannons suck"

"Do not!"

"When was the last time they won the cup?"

There was a short silence.

"I forget … but they are doing much better this year!"

"What is it though? Is it like football!" The blonde asked hopefully.

"Football?" Said the other boy.

"No, it isn't. Well it kinda is … but not. Its played on brooms."

"BROOMS! Like that fly? In cartoons?"

"Cartoons?" the dark skinned boy asked.

"Yea, like that, but not by wicked witches … Well, I guess that they could fly … but they probably apperate. Its much quicker."

"Apperate?"

"Becky, you're confusing him … and me, actually. How do you know so much about muggle things?"

"I spent the summer with my Auntie. She's a muggle,"

"Right …" The blonde boy looked very confused and a little frightened. He looked around, and his eyes froze on Harry.

"Hello." Ginny said cheerfully, but it was obviously used to cover up the confusion, "I'm Ginny, are you first years?"

"Yea, I'm Becky Marlin, and this is my friend Cray Jordan."

"And this is Mark … Mark something-or-other. Sorry, mate, I don't remember your last name." Cray said, looking at Mark, who was staring at Harry, "Hey! Your Harry Potter! My brother Lee told me about you, and how you won the Quidditch cup a few years ago!"

Harry didn't speak.

"Yes, He did," Ginny said for him … still with fake enthusiasm.

Harry and the boy continued to stare at each other. Harry couldn't believe it.

"Y-You're not supposed to be here … you're at the school for the Criminals …" Mark said in shock, pointing up at Harry.

"You're joking, right? This is Harry Potter: The boy who lived…" Becky was saying slowly, as if she was speaking to a three year old.

"That's what your Aunt told mine … she said that you were criminally insane!"

"You're Mark Evans, Right?" Harry finally said. The boy nodded his head slowly, his mouth still open, "And you live near me and my Cousin Dudley, right?"

At this, Mark put his hands to his hips, and stomped his foot, "I hate that stupid, fat pig! He looks like a balloon animal gone bad!" And immediately he covered his mouth, his eyes going (if possible) wider. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it li-"

Harry and Ginny erupted into a fit of laughter; Ginny supporting herself on his shoulder, "You … nailed him … kid ... " She managed between gasps for air. Wiping tears from his eyes, Harry nodded in agreement.

"God, I hope you make Gryffindor," He laughed, patting Mark on the shoulder.

"Oh, I want to be in Gryffindor!" Becky exclaimed happily.

"Me too, Lee says that it is the best of all the houses!"

"That it is," Ginny nodded, "But we should probably be getting back to our compartment, we're almost there. It was nice meeting you," Harry nodded, and followed her along the aisle, but was just close enough to hear Mark ask:

"What's a Gryffindor?"

*

"Firs' Years, Firs' Years, this way. Firs' Years!" Hargid was calling from the opposite end of the platform. Neville waved his hand, but doubted that the half Giant had seen it. His leg was still slightly asleep from Luna's head resting on it, but at the time, he didn't even notice. He had been completely absorbed in his reading, and didn't bother looking away to see what the tingling sensation in his right leg was coming from. Limping across the platform, he watched his friend's board on of the horseless carriages. Harry, who had just entered, offered his hand to Ginny, who smiled and accepted it.

Neville smiled. He didn't smile a lot lately, but seeing one of his best friends happy was reason enough to celebrate for him. Ginny and him had grown close in the past year, and he considered her a little sister. She had told him about her crush over Michael Corner, Neville had tried his hardest to offer her advice, but didn't have anything good to say.

"Neville," A soft voice spoke up from beside him, as he entered the carriages, "He turned and saw Luna's big eyes staring right at him … or he thought it was right at him, they were in his general direction, but didn't seem to be focusing on him.

"Uh, yes?"

"What happened to your wand?" She asked, though he couldn't tell if she cared. But he smiled a bit anyways.

"I bought a new one. See," He pulled out a smooth wand that he had bought the previous week. His grandmother was incline to buy it, stating that she would rather get his old one fixed, but finally gave in at the possibility that he may once again break it.

"Wow, that's nice, Neville," Hermione said, examining it closer. She wasn't joking, it was quite long, twelve and a quarter inches, made of solid oak and redwood, with essence of Phoenix feather. Apparently it was a made of wood that was used for protection against evil … and goodness knows, he could use some of that.

"Yea, its real nice." Ron added, examining it himself, opening his eyes in awe. Neville was pleased that his friends were impressed; he rarely had a chance for people to be in awe with him.

"Thanks," He said, putting it back in his Robes. The Castle was slowly growing larger against the dark blue horizon as they approached. Luna was looking out, the moon catching her eyes, making them look even brighter than they already were. Her lips were thin, and right now pressed in a rather expressionless line. She sighed deeply, small shoulders rising and falling gracefully, but her eyes didn't break contact with the moon. He stared at her for what seemed to be twenty minutes (Probably only a minute or two) but she didn't once blink.

It was a little creepy.

The fog was thick over the lake; Neville could barely see the first year's boats making their way towards the magnificent castle that was Hogwarts. Thinking back to his journey six years ago, he couldn't help but feel sorry for the new students, and a bit jealous.

It had been so scary - a very little fish in a very big ocean. When he had to sit on the stool waiting to be sorted into his designated house, he was terrified. He wanted, more than anything to be out in Gryffindor, just like his parents … but with the rate he had been going, he would probably end up in Hufflepuff. Not than there was anything wrong with Hufflepuff, but it was not the most prestige of all the Hogwarts houses. He could feel all the eyes in the hall upon him. It had been horrible, he squinted his eyes closed tightly, wishing that it was over.

" You have a lot in you, Longbottem. Not the brains for Ravenclaw, oh no. But there is a powerful magic in your blood. Very powerful. You want to show the world what you really are, you would be a perfect Slytherin … or not. No, no, no … absolutely not. I do remember your parents. Both had very powerful Magic in them as well … and both very strong … yes, I see much of them in you. Yes … GRYFFINDOR!"

"Neville!" Ginny was lightly tapping his knee, and nodding outside. They had come to a stop. "Time to go,"

"Oh, right," He said sheepishly, pulling himself out of the carriage. The large doors to Hogwarts castle opened, welcoming all the returning students. People we talking in hushed, excited tones … but Neville noticed that they were all substantially darker this year. Following his friends, who were walking quickly up the stone steps, he entered the castle.

Home at last.

    

*

Ta-da. Well, I hope that you enjoyed it, I am sorry (Again) That it took me so long to update. Keep the reviews coming people! Haha! Peace

~Angi :o)