Chapter 5
Unanswered Questions
"Harry, dear, if you'd leave your booklist on the table after lunch, I'll get your things while I'm in Diagon Alley."
"I'll do that. Thanks, Mrs. Weasley."
"It isn't a problem, dear."
The days just seemed to drag on and on to Harry. He was wondering just how long a week could be. Things were dull around Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Even though his favorite Wizarding family in the world surrounded Harry, he found it difficult to enjoy their company. Strangely enough, Harry wanted to go back to Snape's house to prepare for his Aurorship. He didn't feel like he was accomplishing anything by just sitting around and watching people of the Order come and go. Ever since Dumbledore had been attacked, Harry felt uneasy with himself and his surroundings. The headmaster would be all right, they learned the previous day, but it would take a few weeks for him to recover. He wasn't as young as he used to be.
"I'm surprised he survived the blow at all," one Healer had told them. "It seems as a very powerful spell was used, and has killed many people younger than Albus Dumbledore."
"Professor Dumbledore isn't just an ordinary man," Harry had replied indignantly. "He's stronger than you might think."
"I won't disagree with you there, Mr. Potter. If it had been someone else, they would have for sure died. Dumbledore seems to have a hidden strength that not many of us have."
"Thank goodness he'll be all right," Mrs. Weasley said, falling into a nearby chair and looking the most relieved she had all that week.
* * *
After they learned of Dumbledore's status, September the first seemed to come rapidly. Harry finally was starting to enjoy himself. "Ready to go, Harry?" Ron asked Harry as he walked in their room, where Harry had been packing. Throwing things around the room like mad, Harry gave a muffled response. "What was that?" Ron asked again.
Harry came up from under the bed. "I said I'll be there in a minute; I can't find my Standard Book of Spells Level Six."
"Is this it?" Ron asked, walking farther into the room and picking a book off a chair.
"Oh yeah, thanks." Harry stuffed the book into his trunk.
"Ready to go now?"
"Yeah, I think I have everything," Harry said as he looked around the room again.
"Great, then let's go."
* * *
Kingsley Shacklebolt accompanied the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione to the station. "I suppose it's too far to walk?" he asked. Ron and Harry gave him looks. He had to be joking. "I knew it was," he said, laughing. "That's why I brought along this Muggle form of transportation," he said, gesturing as seven bicycles appeared out of midair.
Ron looked at them in disgust. "And how exactly are you supposed to ride one of these...things?" he asked, examining them. Hermione stepped up, showing the Weasleys how to ride a bike. Although Harry wasn't supposed to know how, he had snuck into the garage one day when he was bored to ride on Dudley's unused bike. He jumped on one and rode it around expertly.
"Now, Mr. Weasley, you get on it like this," Hermione showed him again, "then you put your feet in the pedals, kick off, and keep on pedaling." Mr. Weasley looked absolutely fascinated.
While Harry was watching Hermione and Mr. Weasley, he almost lost his balance. He could have sworn that he would fall, but a force kept him up. "Kingsley?"
"Hmm?" the Auror asked distractedly as he watched the redheads make attempts to keep balanced on their bikes.
"Are there some form of charm on these things?"
"Oh, yes there is, Harry. A Balancing Charm was placed upon each of them. There is no way they'll fall, therefore a less likely chance someone will get injured." He placed a trunk on the back of his bike, where it shrunk to the size of a small shoebox. "Shrinking Charm," he said before Harry could ask. "Everything is smaller and lighter, but they'll grow back to their normal sizes when we get to the station."
Harry saw Ron violently sway, when the same unseen force kept him up. "Ready to go, everyone?" Kingsley shouted above the racket.
"Yes."
"Then let's get going."
* * *
At first the ride to the station was uneasy, with the inexperienced riders furiously wobbling every now and then, but eventually, it became quite a leisurely ride. The Weasleys seemed to be enjoying it. Mr. Weasley was rather impressed with the gears. "The things Muggles come up with!" he commented as he almost biked off the curb.
Before they knew it, the seven were at King's Cross, and the bikes disappeared once they were freed of their burdens of the trunks.
"Look, everyone!" came the all too recognizable voice of Draco Malfoy right as Harry stepped out of the barrier. "Here comes Potter, the soon to be youngest Auror of all time. How long do you think he'll last? Two days? Two hours?" Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, Malfoy's cronies chuckled dumbly. Every summer, the two just seemed to grow bigger and bigger. Harry was wondering if they would ever grow out of the available school robes. Pansy Parkinson appeared out of nowhere and shrieked with glee at Malfoy's comment. "And he's still connected with the poorest Wizarding family on Earth."
Harry felt Ron twitch in retaliation at his side, so he seized Ron's arm, without letting Malfoy see. "Ignore him," he muttered to Ron, "he's only trying to cause trouble."
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all pushed their trolleys up to the bright red steam engine that was already waiting. They all said goodbye to Kingsley and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley before they climbed aboard.
"Harry, do be careful," Mrs. Weasley told him during a rather long embrace. "If You-Know-Who can get to Professor Dumbledore, he can get to you. Train and study hard." She gave him an extra squeeze and the four Hogwarts students hopped on the train.
* * *
"How do you think Malfoy got hold of the information that you're training to become an Auror, Harry?" Hermione asked after Ginny left them with their own compartment. "Mr. Weasley said it was top secret information."
"I don't know, but with Malfoy blurting it all around school, everyone will know soon enough."
"It's his dad," Ron said. "He always seems to have secret ways of getting into the Ministry files. Rubbed off on dear old Draco, didn't he?" Ron sneered.
"Wasn't he arrested at the end of last year?" Hermione inquired again.
Ron lowered his voice. "Someone bailed Lucius Malfoy out of jail, Dad told me."
"Who would have had that much money?"
"I don't know, but whoever it is kept themselves secret and preferred to do it anonymously."
Harry thought for a minute. "Voldemort did it."
"But didn't he throw Malfoy out of his circle?" Hermione inquired again.
"Malfoy's dad was one of the Death Eaters in Voldemort's closest circle. He knew too much about their little clan that he was extremely dangerous if he let information slip to the Ministry. Voldemort knows Lucius Malfoy has to either be his group of Death Eaters, or dead. He can't afford a loose Death Eater exposing all his secrets."
"It wasn't You-Know-Who bringing in that money, was it?" Ron asked hesitantly.
"No. Whatever Voldemort is, he's not stupid. He must have hired one of his loyal followers to bring it in for him. He couldn't risk getting caught or have the Ministry know about his group."
Silence fell throughout the compartment.
"Was there a Secret Keeper involved with me becoming an Auror and all?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure. The only person I'd trust with that kind of secret would be Dumbledore, and we all know what happened to him..." Hermione trailed off, leaving them in an awkward silence.
"What if an imposter somehow got into Dumbledore's hospital room and forced it out of him while he's weak?"
Hermione thought for a while. "That's the most reasonable idea you've ever come up with in your whole life, Ron," she said, smiling. Ron glared at her.
"I suppose now that Voldemort knows I'm training to become an Auror he'll just be more dedicated to kill me off once and for all," Harry said, miserably while looking out the window at the overcast skies.
"Let's get your mind off of this, Harry," Hermione said, concerned.
"Yeah, hey, Fred and George invented this high-quality Exploding Snap card deck this summer. Want to play?" Ron asked, producing a small, hand crafted wooden box. Harry recognized the wood as cherry.
"Sure," Harry said unenthusiastically. "So their joke shop is doing fairly well?"
"Fairly well? They're just racking in the Galleons with that shop! You should see the constant hustle and bustle going through it every day of the week."
Harry managed a faint smile.
* * *
After countless games of Exploding Snap and Harry finally feeling a bit better, the Hogwarts Express started to slow. Harry, Ron, and Hermione changed into their robes and packed the remainder of the food into their trunks. The train stopped, but not at the station in Hogsmeade. Harry had witnessed this type of confusion once before in his third year when he met up with dementors for the first time. They all heard a scream coming from the car in front of them, so Harry jumped up and ran as fast as he could, Hermione and Ron at his heels.
Once Harry entered the car, he felt suddenly cold. Looking around, he saw about twenty dementors, each cornering a student. They weren't the dementors Harry was used to either. These creatures stood at least three feet taller than the dementors who guarded Azkaban, and each had a red mark sewn into their robes. "The Dark Mark!" Hermione exclaimed next to him.
Ignoring his own fear, Harry bellowed, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Turning from their victims, the dementors all looking at Harry through the silver stag that remained idle in front of him. Voldemort had trained them, as they were even more vicious than Harry remembered them. They all started on Harry, so gathering his happiest memory, Harry continued, "EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!" The stag started running in the direction of the dementors and knocked them off their feet, but they stood back up again almost immediately. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!! EXPECTO PATRONUM!!! EXPECTO PATRONUM!!!!" The stag grew even bigger. When it rushed towards the dementors this time, half of them fled.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry realized he wasn't the only one yelling the curse when Hermione's voice came from over his right shoulder. Even though hers was very feeble compared to his, the two combined chased the remaining dementors off the train.
Harry almost collapsed against the wall he was so exhausted. His breathing was heavy and ragged, and he noticed the whole compartment was staring at him, amazed at what he had just done. The younger students were astounded.
"Wow," came the familiar voice of Neville Longbottom, "that was the most impressive spell I've ever seen."
"It was nothing," Harry said quickly, trying to get Neville to be quiet so that Malfoy wouldn't hear about it.
"That was more than nothing," came a female voice that Harry couldn't place at first until he turned around. It was Cho Chang. "I've never seen anything like it either."
"Really, it was nothing, it was just a Patronus..."
"A Patronus that grew almost to the size of this whole train car!" she said as the train went into motion again. Harry hadn't taken notice of the size of it. "Those dementors seemed different somehow...like they were more powerful. I remember when Sirius Black was on the loose and those evil creatures came onto the train. They were bad back then, but they're worse now."
"Voldemort has trained them," Harry said, the depressing topic coming back to him yet again. "They are his servants, bound to him for life. That's why so many prisoners are escaping from Azkaban. The dementors aren't there to guard it anymore. More prisoners out of Azkaban, more Aurors killed each day."
"You should become an Auror, Harry," Cho said immediately, maneuvering him into a compartment where there was less attention on him. "All the qualities are there."
"I'm considering it," Harry replied, knowing he was forbidden to tell Cho about his secret training with Snape.
"You taught us Defense Against the Dark Arts last year," she replied. "That takes a lot of effort and quite a bit of knowledge of the spells."
"I've had experience with confronting Voldemort face-to-face. It's nothing fancy."
"Harry, escaping You-Know-Who once is a great accomplishment. You've escaped him six times and you're only sixteen."
"He's after me just because of that dumb prophecy last year. I'm not any special person just because he's curious to know what and why that prophecy says what it says."
"I miss you, Harry," Cho said, veering off the subject completely. "I wish we could recreate last year. I really like you."
Harry didn't know what to say. He really liked Cho too, but he just couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. "I have to go pack up some more of my stuff. We're almost there," he lied, dodging out of the compartment and towards his own, leaving Cho confused.
* * *
"Why did conductors stop for the dementors if they had the Dark Mark emblazoned on the front of their robes for everyone to see?" Ron asked as Harry entered his compartment again.
"They couldn't see the Dark Mark because of the lack of light," Hermione said. "They thought they were coming on the train to look for escaped Death Eaters or something of the sort."
"When really they were sent to search the train for me," Harry said miserably as the train jolted forward and started to accelerate to full speed again. He sat down on his seat again and looked out the window at the darkness, sulking.
* * *
Harry walked off the train with Hermione and Ron on either side of him. A man twice the height of a regular man and three times as broad was standing over everyone's heads, holding a lantern. "Firs' years o'er here! C'mon, don' be shy. Firs' years! O'er here!"
"Hi, Hagrid," Harry said as the trio weaved their way through the crowd to get to their friend.
"Why, hello, Harry! Yeh have a good summer an' all?" Hagrid replied, but Harry noticed the usual happy glint in his eye wasn't there.
"Yeah, I guess," Harry replied vaguely. "It was OK."
"Tha's good. Oi! Yeh a firs' year?" he asked a small boy who was a fourth the height of Hagrid and whose face looked green. Harry, Ron, and Hermione left Hagrid to rounding up the new students and walked over to the carriages pulled by ugly horse-like creatures with wings Harry recognized as thestrals. The three jumped into a carriage with Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, and Neville Longbottom and were on their way to the castle.
They made small talk about their summers, Harry eliminating everything that involved becoming an Auror and the things that involved the Order of the Phoenix, which made his summer sound almost as dull as Professor Binns' History of Magic class. Neville had gone on a vacation to Ireland, while Parvati and Lavender apparently spent the entire summer at each other's houses. They all fell silent after only a few minutes.
"We saw your Patronus, Harry," Lavender told him, in awe. "It was the most impressive spell I think I've ever seen."
"Really, it was nothing..." Harry started, but Parvati cut him off.
"How did you get it to be so powerful, Harry?"
"I just keep at it. Seriously, though, I wasn't trying to be brave or courageous or anything..."
"It drove off all those dementors. Even when they were more powerful than ever before," Neville started contributing to the conversation.
"Hermione helped..."
In a corner, Hermione snorted with sarcastic laughter. "Compared to yours mine was nothing."
To Harry's relief, the carriages slowed and stopped in front of the main entrance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The six melded together with the rest of the crowd and made their way up the steps and into the Entrance Hall where Peeves the poltergeist was waiting for them with spitballs and gross, slimy things that Harry had a bad feeling were the guts of an animal.
"Potter, a word please?" came the strict voice of Professor Minerva McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher, substitute headmistress, and head of Gryffindor House.
Harry nodded, wondering what he had done this time. He followed her to her office, dodging spitballs as he went, where she closed the door after he had entered. "Quidditch Captain, Potter."
"What?"
"You're the Quidditch Captain of the Gryffindor House team this year," she said crisply, but she couldn't hide a small smile as she added, "I have much enjoyed seeing the look on Severus' face as Gryffindor defeated Slytherin yet again last year in the match for the Cup. You're a good flier, Potter. An extraordinarily good flier. As team captain you are required to fill vacated positions. The Gryffindor team took a hard blow last year and only has three players returning this year: Ron Weasley, Katie Bell, and you. It's up to you to find two Beaters and two Chasers. You'd better find yourself some high quality players, Potter. The Weasley twins, Angelina, and Alicia are some of the best Gryffindor Quidditch players I've ever seen come through this school. I'd very much like the Cup to remain in my office," she told him while gesturing towards a pedestal that held the highly polished, large, silver Quidditch Cup. "In addition to finding more players, you'll have to schedule practices and book the field for practice. You may do that by signing up on Madam Hooch's office door. I strongly suggest you practice every night you can. Over half of your team will be new."
"What about my lifetime ban from playing Quidditch?"
McGonagall snorted. "Did you really think we would keep that foul Umbridge woman's rules and regulations, Potter?"
"Well...no, I just didn't know. And what about those substitute Beaters they put in for Fred and George last year?"
"They'll have to properly try out for the team. With Beaters like them, Gryffindor would never win the Quidditch Cup."
"Is that all?" he asked, getting ready to leave.
"No, I'm afraid not, but I'll have to make this go fairly quickly as the first years are probably almost across the lake by now," she added, glancing at her watch. "Potter, how are the Auror training sessions coming along?"
"Pretty good. I think I'm really making some good progress.
"How far have you gotten?"
"I can produce a fairly good Web of Life and I've worked on a bit of deflecting, but we didn't get beyond that."
"Well, it's a good start, Potter. You are aware that a week from now is your first training session with Professor Tonks?"
"Yes."
Professor McGonagall sighed. "With Dumbledore injured and everything, the sooner you can become an Auror the better. I just hope you're aware that the training to become an Auror usually lasts three years and you're fitting it in two years, even though you have school and Quidditch to keep up with."
"I am aware of this, Professor."
"May I ask what you received on your Potions O.W.L.?"
"Exceeds Expectations."
"Good, good. Potter, please get on Professor Snape's good side and stay there. You won't be able to become an Auror if you don't receive another 'E' on your Potions N.E.W.T. I don't want all this training to go to waste."
"I'll try."
"I'm glad. You know if you need any help, the door is always open here. I told that wretched Umbridge woman last year that I would make sure you became an Auror if it was the last thing I did and I intend to keep that promise. I'll help you in any way I can."
"Thank you, Professor."
McGonagall looked at her watch again. "We have to get along to the feast quickly, Potter. I have to be there before the Sorting. Come quickly." Harry followed her brisk steps out of the room.
* * *
"As many of you know, Professor Dumbledore is currently residing in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries due to an attack by a supporter of Lord Voldemort." The student body started buzzing upon hearing Professor McGonagall speak the Dark Lord's name for the first time in public. "This does not mean that Hogwarts is closed. What it does mean, however, is that many precautions will have to be put into play. Your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Tonks," McGonagall had not mentioned Tonks' name yet, so most every student craned their necks to catch a glimpse of their new teacher, "will be teaching you practical defenses for encounters with Voldemort and his followers." Tonks stood up and waved. She had her bright pink spiked hair again and worn black robes that were torn in some places, but Tonks wore them like they were the most fashionable clothes in the world. Many students were gaping at her, astounded at her appearance. "Professor Tonks is a highly qualified Auror as well as a Metamorphmagus, or someone who can change their appearance whenever they want or need to." Tonks changed her hair to a violent shade of electric blue to the student body's amazement. "I expect you will all treat her with the utmost respect.
"On a lighter note, Quidditch practices will start up soon, so the team captains had better get started with their tryouts for new players. The first match will be set for Saturday, November 11th, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw." Harry's heart sank. He had to face Cho. "The next weekend, the 18th will be Slytherin versus Hufflepuff. The Captains for this year will inform their teams when practices will start. Tomorrow is a big day for us all so let's all turn in early to get some sleep."
* * *
"Quidditch Captain?" Ron asked Harry, astonished.
"Yeah. McGonagall told me this evening."
"Captain?!"
"Ron, seriously, how could you not expect Harry to take up that position?" Hermione asked, obviously annoyed with Ron's petty behavior.
"I know he's good, but I guess it just surprised me."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Who's the Ravenclaw captain this year?" she asked as they walked through the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Cho Chang," Ron replied immediately. Ever since that git Robert Davities or whatever his name left..."
"Roger Davies," Hermione corrected quickly, earning a disapproving look from Ron, which she returned with a glare.
"Anyway," Ron continued, "Chang is a great Quidditch player, but last year took a toll on their team. Davies will be hard to replace."
"We have quite a hole ourselves," Harry said, plopping himself on his favorite chair inside the common room. Hermione and Ron sat in the chairs across from and next to him.
"You're going to be able to fill that, won't you?" Ron asked nervously.
"I hope so. Which reminds me, there had better be a tryout session this week..." Harry took out a quill and a piece of parchment and started writing:
Attention: All Gryffindors! Tryouts for this year's House Team will be held Thursday, September 4th at the Quidditch field. We are looking for two Beaters and two Chasers. Talk to Harry Potter with any questions.
When he was done, Harry tacked his notice up on the bulletin board in the common room, which was emptying fast. Fifteen minutes later, he was sleeping in his dormitory.
Unanswered Questions
"Harry, dear, if you'd leave your booklist on the table after lunch, I'll get your things while I'm in Diagon Alley."
"I'll do that. Thanks, Mrs. Weasley."
"It isn't a problem, dear."
The days just seemed to drag on and on to Harry. He was wondering just how long a week could be. Things were dull around Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Even though his favorite Wizarding family in the world surrounded Harry, he found it difficult to enjoy their company. Strangely enough, Harry wanted to go back to Snape's house to prepare for his Aurorship. He didn't feel like he was accomplishing anything by just sitting around and watching people of the Order come and go. Ever since Dumbledore had been attacked, Harry felt uneasy with himself and his surroundings. The headmaster would be all right, they learned the previous day, but it would take a few weeks for him to recover. He wasn't as young as he used to be.
"I'm surprised he survived the blow at all," one Healer had told them. "It seems as a very powerful spell was used, and has killed many people younger than Albus Dumbledore."
"Professor Dumbledore isn't just an ordinary man," Harry had replied indignantly. "He's stronger than you might think."
"I won't disagree with you there, Mr. Potter. If it had been someone else, they would have for sure died. Dumbledore seems to have a hidden strength that not many of us have."
"Thank goodness he'll be all right," Mrs. Weasley said, falling into a nearby chair and looking the most relieved she had all that week.
* * *
After they learned of Dumbledore's status, September the first seemed to come rapidly. Harry finally was starting to enjoy himself. "Ready to go, Harry?" Ron asked Harry as he walked in their room, where Harry had been packing. Throwing things around the room like mad, Harry gave a muffled response. "What was that?" Ron asked again.
Harry came up from under the bed. "I said I'll be there in a minute; I can't find my Standard Book of Spells Level Six."
"Is this it?" Ron asked, walking farther into the room and picking a book off a chair.
"Oh yeah, thanks." Harry stuffed the book into his trunk.
"Ready to go now?"
"Yeah, I think I have everything," Harry said as he looked around the room again.
"Great, then let's go."
* * *
Kingsley Shacklebolt accompanied the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione to the station. "I suppose it's too far to walk?" he asked. Ron and Harry gave him looks. He had to be joking. "I knew it was," he said, laughing. "That's why I brought along this Muggle form of transportation," he said, gesturing as seven bicycles appeared out of midair.
Ron looked at them in disgust. "And how exactly are you supposed to ride one of these...things?" he asked, examining them. Hermione stepped up, showing the Weasleys how to ride a bike. Although Harry wasn't supposed to know how, he had snuck into the garage one day when he was bored to ride on Dudley's unused bike. He jumped on one and rode it around expertly.
"Now, Mr. Weasley, you get on it like this," Hermione showed him again, "then you put your feet in the pedals, kick off, and keep on pedaling." Mr. Weasley looked absolutely fascinated.
While Harry was watching Hermione and Mr. Weasley, he almost lost his balance. He could have sworn that he would fall, but a force kept him up. "Kingsley?"
"Hmm?" the Auror asked distractedly as he watched the redheads make attempts to keep balanced on their bikes.
"Are there some form of charm on these things?"
"Oh, yes there is, Harry. A Balancing Charm was placed upon each of them. There is no way they'll fall, therefore a less likely chance someone will get injured." He placed a trunk on the back of his bike, where it shrunk to the size of a small shoebox. "Shrinking Charm," he said before Harry could ask. "Everything is smaller and lighter, but they'll grow back to their normal sizes when we get to the station."
Harry saw Ron violently sway, when the same unseen force kept him up. "Ready to go, everyone?" Kingsley shouted above the racket.
"Yes."
"Then let's get going."
* * *
At first the ride to the station was uneasy, with the inexperienced riders furiously wobbling every now and then, but eventually, it became quite a leisurely ride. The Weasleys seemed to be enjoying it. Mr. Weasley was rather impressed with the gears. "The things Muggles come up with!" he commented as he almost biked off the curb.
Before they knew it, the seven were at King's Cross, and the bikes disappeared once they were freed of their burdens of the trunks.
"Look, everyone!" came the all too recognizable voice of Draco Malfoy right as Harry stepped out of the barrier. "Here comes Potter, the soon to be youngest Auror of all time. How long do you think he'll last? Two days? Two hours?" Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, Malfoy's cronies chuckled dumbly. Every summer, the two just seemed to grow bigger and bigger. Harry was wondering if they would ever grow out of the available school robes. Pansy Parkinson appeared out of nowhere and shrieked with glee at Malfoy's comment. "And he's still connected with the poorest Wizarding family on Earth."
Harry felt Ron twitch in retaliation at his side, so he seized Ron's arm, without letting Malfoy see. "Ignore him," he muttered to Ron, "he's only trying to cause trouble."
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all pushed their trolleys up to the bright red steam engine that was already waiting. They all said goodbye to Kingsley and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley before they climbed aboard.
"Harry, do be careful," Mrs. Weasley told him during a rather long embrace. "If You-Know-Who can get to Professor Dumbledore, he can get to you. Train and study hard." She gave him an extra squeeze and the four Hogwarts students hopped on the train.
* * *
"How do you think Malfoy got hold of the information that you're training to become an Auror, Harry?" Hermione asked after Ginny left them with their own compartment. "Mr. Weasley said it was top secret information."
"I don't know, but with Malfoy blurting it all around school, everyone will know soon enough."
"It's his dad," Ron said. "He always seems to have secret ways of getting into the Ministry files. Rubbed off on dear old Draco, didn't he?" Ron sneered.
"Wasn't he arrested at the end of last year?" Hermione inquired again.
Ron lowered his voice. "Someone bailed Lucius Malfoy out of jail, Dad told me."
"Who would have had that much money?"
"I don't know, but whoever it is kept themselves secret and preferred to do it anonymously."
Harry thought for a minute. "Voldemort did it."
"But didn't he throw Malfoy out of his circle?" Hermione inquired again.
"Malfoy's dad was one of the Death Eaters in Voldemort's closest circle. He knew too much about their little clan that he was extremely dangerous if he let information slip to the Ministry. Voldemort knows Lucius Malfoy has to either be his group of Death Eaters, or dead. He can't afford a loose Death Eater exposing all his secrets."
"It wasn't You-Know-Who bringing in that money, was it?" Ron asked hesitantly.
"No. Whatever Voldemort is, he's not stupid. He must have hired one of his loyal followers to bring it in for him. He couldn't risk getting caught or have the Ministry know about his group."
Silence fell throughout the compartment.
"Was there a Secret Keeper involved with me becoming an Auror and all?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure. The only person I'd trust with that kind of secret would be Dumbledore, and we all know what happened to him..." Hermione trailed off, leaving them in an awkward silence.
"What if an imposter somehow got into Dumbledore's hospital room and forced it out of him while he's weak?"
Hermione thought for a while. "That's the most reasonable idea you've ever come up with in your whole life, Ron," she said, smiling. Ron glared at her.
"I suppose now that Voldemort knows I'm training to become an Auror he'll just be more dedicated to kill me off once and for all," Harry said, miserably while looking out the window at the overcast skies.
"Let's get your mind off of this, Harry," Hermione said, concerned.
"Yeah, hey, Fred and George invented this high-quality Exploding Snap card deck this summer. Want to play?" Ron asked, producing a small, hand crafted wooden box. Harry recognized the wood as cherry.
"Sure," Harry said unenthusiastically. "So their joke shop is doing fairly well?"
"Fairly well? They're just racking in the Galleons with that shop! You should see the constant hustle and bustle going through it every day of the week."
Harry managed a faint smile.
* * *
After countless games of Exploding Snap and Harry finally feeling a bit better, the Hogwarts Express started to slow. Harry, Ron, and Hermione changed into their robes and packed the remainder of the food into their trunks. The train stopped, but not at the station in Hogsmeade. Harry had witnessed this type of confusion once before in his third year when he met up with dementors for the first time. They all heard a scream coming from the car in front of them, so Harry jumped up and ran as fast as he could, Hermione and Ron at his heels.
Once Harry entered the car, he felt suddenly cold. Looking around, he saw about twenty dementors, each cornering a student. They weren't the dementors Harry was used to either. These creatures stood at least three feet taller than the dementors who guarded Azkaban, and each had a red mark sewn into their robes. "The Dark Mark!" Hermione exclaimed next to him.
Ignoring his own fear, Harry bellowed, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Turning from their victims, the dementors all looking at Harry through the silver stag that remained idle in front of him. Voldemort had trained them, as they were even more vicious than Harry remembered them. They all started on Harry, so gathering his happiest memory, Harry continued, "EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!" The stag started running in the direction of the dementors and knocked them off their feet, but they stood back up again almost immediately. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!! EXPECTO PATRONUM!!! EXPECTO PATRONUM!!!!" The stag grew even bigger. When it rushed towards the dementors this time, half of them fled.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry realized he wasn't the only one yelling the curse when Hermione's voice came from over his right shoulder. Even though hers was very feeble compared to his, the two combined chased the remaining dementors off the train.
Harry almost collapsed against the wall he was so exhausted. His breathing was heavy and ragged, and he noticed the whole compartment was staring at him, amazed at what he had just done. The younger students were astounded.
"Wow," came the familiar voice of Neville Longbottom, "that was the most impressive spell I've ever seen."
"It was nothing," Harry said quickly, trying to get Neville to be quiet so that Malfoy wouldn't hear about it.
"That was more than nothing," came a female voice that Harry couldn't place at first until he turned around. It was Cho Chang. "I've never seen anything like it either."
"Really, it was nothing, it was just a Patronus..."
"A Patronus that grew almost to the size of this whole train car!" she said as the train went into motion again. Harry hadn't taken notice of the size of it. "Those dementors seemed different somehow...like they were more powerful. I remember when Sirius Black was on the loose and those evil creatures came onto the train. They were bad back then, but they're worse now."
"Voldemort has trained them," Harry said, the depressing topic coming back to him yet again. "They are his servants, bound to him for life. That's why so many prisoners are escaping from Azkaban. The dementors aren't there to guard it anymore. More prisoners out of Azkaban, more Aurors killed each day."
"You should become an Auror, Harry," Cho said immediately, maneuvering him into a compartment where there was less attention on him. "All the qualities are there."
"I'm considering it," Harry replied, knowing he was forbidden to tell Cho about his secret training with Snape.
"You taught us Defense Against the Dark Arts last year," she replied. "That takes a lot of effort and quite a bit of knowledge of the spells."
"I've had experience with confronting Voldemort face-to-face. It's nothing fancy."
"Harry, escaping You-Know-Who once is a great accomplishment. You've escaped him six times and you're only sixteen."
"He's after me just because of that dumb prophecy last year. I'm not any special person just because he's curious to know what and why that prophecy says what it says."
"I miss you, Harry," Cho said, veering off the subject completely. "I wish we could recreate last year. I really like you."
Harry didn't know what to say. He really liked Cho too, but he just couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. "I have to go pack up some more of my stuff. We're almost there," he lied, dodging out of the compartment and towards his own, leaving Cho confused.
* * *
"Why did conductors stop for the dementors if they had the Dark Mark emblazoned on the front of their robes for everyone to see?" Ron asked as Harry entered his compartment again.
"They couldn't see the Dark Mark because of the lack of light," Hermione said. "They thought they were coming on the train to look for escaped Death Eaters or something of the sort."
"When really they were sent to search the train for me," Harry said miserably as the train jolted forward and started to accelerate to full speed again. He sat down on his seat again and looked out the window at the darkness, sulking.
* * *
Harry walked off the train with Hermione and Ron on either side of him. A man twice the height of a regular man and three times as broad was standing over everyone's heads, holding a lantern. "Firs' years o'er here! C'mon, don' be shy. Firs' years! O'er here!"
"Hi, Hagrid," Harry said as the trio weaved their way through the crowd to get to their friend.
"Why, hello, Harry! Yeh have a good summer an' all?" Hagrid replied, but Harry noticed the usual happy glint in his eye wasn't there.
"Yeah, I guess," Harry replied vaguely. "It was OK."
"Tha's good. Oi! Yeh a firs' year?" he asked a small boy who was a fourth the height of Hagrid and whose face looked green. Harry, Ron, and Hermione left Hagrid to rounding up the new students and walked over to the carriages pulled by ugly horse-like creatures with wings Harry recognized as thestrals. The three jumped into a carriage with Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, and Neville Longbottom and were on their way to the castle.
They made small talk about their summers, Harry eliminating everything that involved becoming an Auror and the things that involved the Order of the Phoenix, which made his summer sound almost as dull as Professor Binns' History of Magic class. Neville had gone on a vacation to Ireland, while Parvati and Lavender apparently spent the entire summer at each other's houses. They all fell silent after only a few minutes.
"We saw your Patronus, Harry," Lavender told him, in awe. "It was the most impressive spell I think I've ever seen."
"Really, it was nothing..." Harry started, but Parvati cut him off.
"How did you get it to be so powerful, Harry?"
"I just keep at it. Seriously, though, I wasn't trying to be brave or courageous or anything..."
"It drove off all those dementors. Even when they were more powerful than ever before," Neville started contributing to the conversation.
"Hermione helped..."
In a corner, Hermione snorted with sarcastic laughter. "Compared to yours mine was nothing."
To Harry's relief, the carriages slowed and stopped in front of the main entrance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The six melded together with the rest of the crowd and made their way up the steps and into the Entrance Hall where Peeves the poltergeist was waiting for them with spitballs and gross, slimy things that Harry had a bad feeling were the guts of an animal.
"Potter, a word please?" came the strict voice of Professor Minerva McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher, substitute headmistress, and head of Gryffindor House.
Harry nodded, wondering what he had done this time. He followed her to her office, dodging spitballs as he went, where she closed the door after he had entered. "Quidditch Captain, Potter."
"What?"
"You're the Quidditch Captain of the Gryffindor House team this year," she said crisply, but she couldn't hide a small smile as she added, "I have much enjoyed seeing the look on Severus' face as Gryffindor defeated Slytherin yet again last year in the match for the Cup. You're a good flier, Potter. An extraordinarily good flier. As team captain you are required to fill vacated positions. The Gryffindor team took a hard blow last year and only has three players returning this year: Ron Weasley, Katie Bell, and you. It's up to you to find two Beaters and two Chasers. You'd better find yourself some high quality players, Potter. The Weasley twins, Angelina, and Alicia are some of the best Gryffindor Quidditch players I've ever seen come through this school. I'd very much like the Cup to remain in my office," she told him while gesturing towards a pedestal that held the highly polished, large, silver Quidditch Cup. "In addition to finding more players, you'll have to schedule practices and book the field for practice. You may do that by signing up on Madam Hooch's office door. I strongly suggest you practice every night you can. Over half of your team will be new."
"What about my lifetime ban from playing Quidditch?"
McGonagall snorted. "Did you really think we would keep that foul Umbridge woman's rules and regulations, Potter?"
"Well...no, I just didn't know. And what about those substitute Beaters they put in for Fred and George last year?"
"They'll have to properly try out for the team. With Beaters like them, Gryffindor would never win the Quidditch Cup."
"Is that all?" he asked, getting ready to leave.
"No, I'm afraid not, but I'll have to make this go fairly quickly as the first years are probably almost across the lake by now," she added, glancing at her watch. "Potter, how are the Auror training sessions coming along?"
"Pretty good. I think I'm really making some good progress.
"How far have you gotten?"
"I can produce a fairly good Web of Life and I've worked on a bit of deflecting, but we didn't get beyond that."
"Well, it's a good start, Potter. You are aware that a week from now is your first training session with Professor Tonks?"
"Yes."
Professor McGonagall sighed. "With Dumbledore injured and everything, the sooner you can become an Auror the better. I just hope you're aware that the training to become an Auror usually lasts three years and you're fitting it in two years, even though you have school and Quidditch to keep up with."
"I am aware of this, Professor."
"May I ask what you received on your Potions O.W.L.?"
"Exceeds Expectations."
"Good, good. Potter, please get on Professor Snape's good side and stay there. You won't be able to become an Auror if you don't receive another 'E' on your Potions N.E.W.T. I don't want all this training to go to waste."
"I'll try."
"I'm glad. You know if you need any help, the door is always open here. I told that wretched Umbridge woman last year that I would make sure you became an Auror if it was the last thing I did and I intend to keep that promise. I'll help you in any way I can."
"Thank you, Professor."
McGonagall looked at her watch again. "We have to get along to the feast quickly, Potter. I have to be there before the Sorting. Come quickly." Harry followed her brisk steps out of the room.
* * *
"As many of you know, Professor Dumbledore is currently residing in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries due to an attack by a supporter of Lord Voldemort." The student body started buzzing upon hearing Professor McGonagall speak the Dark Lord's name for the first time in public. "This does not mean that Hogwarts is closed. What it does mean, however, is that many precautions will have to be put into play. Your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Tonks," McGonagall had not mentioned Tonks' name yet, so most every student craned their necks to catch a glimpse of their new teacher, "will be teaching you practical defenses for encounters with Voldemort and his followers." Tonks stood up and waved. She had her bright pink spiked hair again and worn black robes that were torn in some places, but Tonks wore them like they were the most fashionable clothes in the world. Many students were gaping at her, astounded at her appearance. "Professor Tonks is a highly qualified Auror as well as a Metamorphmagus, or someone who can change their appearance whenever they want or need to." Tonks changed her hair to a violent shade of electric blue to the student body's amazement. "I expect you will all treat her with the utmost respect.
"On a lighter note, Quidditch practices will start up soon, so the team captains had better get started with their tryouts for new players. The first match will be set for Saturday, November 11th, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw." Harry's heart sank. He had to face Cho. "The next weekend, the 18th will be Slytherin versus Hufflepuff. The Captains for this year will inform their teams when practices will start. Tomorrow is a big day for us all so let's all turn in early to get some sleep."
* * *
"Quidditch Captain?" Ron asked Harry, astonished.
"Yeah. McGonagall told me this evening."
"Captain?!"
"Ron, seriously, how could you not expect Harry to take up that position?" Hermione asked, obviously annoyed with Ron's petty behavior.
"I know he's good, but I guess it just surprised me."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Who's the Ravenclaw captain this year?" she asked as they walked through the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Cho Chang," Ron replied immediately. Ever since that git Robert Davities or whatever his name left..."
"Roger Davies," Hermione corrected quickly, earning a disapproving look from Ron, which she returned with a glare.
"Anyway," Ron continued, "Chang is a great Quidditch player, but last year took a toll on their team. Davies will be hard to replace."
"We have quite a hole ourselves," Harry said, plopping himself on his favorite chair inside the common room. Hermione and Ron sat in the chairs across from and next to him.
"You're going to be able to fill that, won't you?" Ron asked nervously.
"I hope so. Which reminds me, there had better be a tryout session this week..." Harry took out a quill and a piece of parchment and started writing:
Attention: All Gryffindors! Tryouts for this year's House Team will be held Thursday, September 4th at the Quidditch field. We are looking for two Beaters and two Chasers. Talk to Harry Potter with any questions.
When he was done, Harry tacked his notice up on the bulletin board in the common room, which was emptying fast. Fifteen minutes later, he was sleeping in his dormitory.
