Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related names and places are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner and have been used without permission.  No copyright infringement is intended.

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The fire crackled in the drawing room.  It had become usually cold for late August, and Mrs. Weasley had spent most of the morning coaxing the fireplaces into maintaining their fires. This room was the smallest and therefore the warmest, so Hermione, Ginny, Ron, and Harry had decided to spend their time in there.

Hermione was on the hearth rug helping Ginny with her Transfiguration paper. Ron was sitting reading a letter with his brow furrowed. Harry sat in a chair by the window.  His new Quidditch book lay open on his lap, but he wasn't looking at it.  Instead he stared out at the rain lashing against the window.

The four had been restricted to the house after their return from Diagon Alley two weeks earlier. Their only escape would be the day they left for the Hogwarts Express.

Harry looked at the others; they were all sitting as if nothing was happening around them.  The fire that had ignited in Harry so many weeks ago had now burned out.  Tonks had managed to kill any hope he had with five simple words, "The Death-eaters have escaped."

"Hey Hermione, I've forgotten to ask you about this." Ginny's voiced sounded amused.

"What?"

"What was your mum talking about when she told you not to fall off of anymore brooms?"

Hermione blushed and smiled.  "Oh, that.  It was nothing."

Ron looked away from his letter, confused.  "Hermione, you haven't gone near a broom since our first year flying lessons.  When have you been flying?"  He eyed her suspiciously.

Hermione sighed, in an irritated way.  "I haven't been flying, Ron! When I went home in July, I was still in a bit of pain.  I couldn't very well hide it, so I had to tell Mum and Dad that I had gotten hurt. I just told them that I had fallen off of a broom."  She looked guilty.

Harry stared at her.  This wasn't like Hermione to tell lies.  "Why didn't you tell them what really happened?  Why would you lie about it?"

Hermione gave a derisive snort. "Harry, you don't know my parents.  When they found out about what had happened with the Philosopher's Stone in first year, they nearly pulled me out of Hogwarts."

Harry saw Ron's mouth fall open and the letter he had been holding fall to the floor. "They didn't!

"Oh, didn't they? It took me ages to assure them that I would never do anything like that again.  It hasn't been easy keeping everything from them."  Hermione bit her lip and began playing with the laces of her trainers.

Harry couldn't believe his ears.  "Hermione, are you telling us that your parents don't know anything that's happened in the wizarding world since first year?"  He stared as she nodded.  "Do...do they even know about Voldemort?"

Hermione didn't answer.  She continued playing with her laces.

"Hermione, I can't believe you haven't told them! They're your parents, they should know!" Ginny was staring at Hermione with wide eyes.

"Look you don't know them! They still see me as this little five year old girl who needs protection day and night.  If they knew what was going on in the wizarding world, they would pull me out of Hogwarts and shove me into some all girls' boarding school!  Besides, it's not like I've been in any real danger."

Harry was becoming angry.  "What do you mean you 'haven't been in any real danger'?  You were nearly killed that night!"

Hermione leapt to her feet, sending Ginny's parchment flying.  She turned on Harry and pointed a threatening finger at him.  "Don't you start with me, Harry!  I remember perfectly well what happened at the ministry!  I don't need my parents worrying over it, and I certainly don't need you harping on about it!"  Without another word, she had stormed out of the room and slammed the door.

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No one mentioned the subject over the next few days.   At last the final day of August had arrived.  Harry felt torn between wanting to go back to his home at Hogwarts and wanting to avoid every single person and thing attached to the wizarding world.

Ron and Ginny were sorting through a basket of socks that Mrs. Weasley had laundered for them.  Harry was reading through his school list to make sure he had everything he needed.  (Dobby had offered to pack his trunk, but Harry thought it wasn't a good idea.)  Hermione had taken up Harry's usual seat by the window.

"No Ron, those are mine! Look, do you really think you can wear them?  My feet are much smaller than yours!"  Ginny was trying to wrestle a pair of white socks from her brother. 

"Hermione, Ginny, could you come down to the kitchen for a moment?" They were all startled by Mr. Weasley's voice.

Ginny was still tugging on the socks as she turned to her father.  "What's wrong, Dad?"

"Oh, nothing, it's just Molly would like a word with you."

Ginny finally managed to take back her socks and walked out behind Hermione.

"Wonder what's up?"  Ron asked Harry.

"Dunno, want to have a listen?"

Ron and Harry crept down the stairs and tried to hear the voices coming from the kitchen.  They had made it to the closed kitchen door, when Professor Dumbledore's voice was heard.  But before they could hear anything important, Winky came out of the door and spotted them.  Before she could say anything and give away their presence, they hurtled back upstairs.

"What's Dumbledore want with Hermione and Ginny?"  Ron wondered.

"Maybe it's something to do with prefects?" Harry suggested.

"Well, I'm a prefect too.  Wouldn't I be in a meeting about prefects?"  Ron looked hurt at the idea of being left out.  "Besides would Dumbledore really bother with a prefect meeting?  Whatever it is, they would tell us when we meet up with the new Head Boy and Girl."

Harry shrugged.  He also wondered why Dumbledore would need to meet with the girls.  Maybe there was something going on...

That night at dinner, Remus finally made his appearance.  Harry hadn't seen him since the beginning of the holidays.  He seemed to be in a good mood, but he looked rather tired.  Harry noticed that Ginny and Hermione kept throwing Remus questioning looks.  He also noticed that they had been rather quiet since their meeting with Dumbledore.  When Ron had asked what his mother had wanted with them, Ginny simply smiled and said, "Just girl talk."  They had left it at that.

After dinner everyone sat around and talked.  Mr. Weasley told them all of the measures the ministry was taking to recover the escaped Death-eaters.  One of the Aurors who had escorted Umbridge to Azkaban had been killed in the ambush.  Kingsley had managed to escape with only minor injuries.  

Tonks dropped by to let them all know that she would be escorting them to King's Cross the next day.  Harry had figured that they would have another guard, much like the year before.

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The rain was pounding the next morning.  The front hall bustled with the members of the Order who were acting as the guard today.  Everyone's trunks had been placed next to the door.  Hedwig was becoming restless and hooted impatiently. 

Mrs. Weasley came down the stairs.  "Alright the cars have pulled up."

Mad-eye took out his wand and stepped towards the door.  "Alright, I'll go and make sure everything is right." He stepped outside.

Remus turned to where the four stood.  "Alright, we're going to do things differently this year.  We've got to be more careful."

Mrs. Weasley began handing them identical rain jackets.  "I want you four to put these on and make sure you pull on the hoods.  Don't do anything that would set you apart from each other.  Just keep your heads down and get into the car as quickly as possible. Harry and Ron will go in the first car.  Ginny and Hermione will go in the second."

The door opened and Harry watched as people carried the four trunks, two owls, and one wicker basket outside.  A minute later, two quick taps sounded against the door.

"Alright, now remember what Molly said.  Don't look around, just keep moving and get into the cars as quickly as you can."  Remus opened the door and motioned for them to go.

Harry pulled his jacket tighter around him and walked towards the first car.  He could feel Ron close to his elbow.  He climbed into the backseat and saw that there were three others in there.  Tonks, Mad-eye, and Mundungus were watching him avidly.

As they began to pull away, Harry felt his stomach knot up.  The last time he had left for the train, Sirius had been with him.  He remembered Sirius bounding around the square of Grimmauld Place in his dog form.  He remembered him barking at cats on the journey, just to make Harry laugh.  Harry pushed back the overwhelming feeling to break something, and stared out through the glass.

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No one spoke during the trip.  Harry couldn't remember the trip taking so long the last time, but it now seemed to take forever to get to the other side of London.  Finally, he could see King's Cross.  People were scrambling to pull luggage out of the trunks of taxies, and get in out of the rain.

"Alright when we stop, don't get out immediately.  Wait until we've gotten out, and then follow us in.  Don't worry about your things.  Just stick together and head straight for the platform.  Keep your heads down and don't draw attention to yourselves."  Mad-eye told Harry and Ron.

Harry tried not to laugh.  It was funny having Mad-eye telling them to not draw any attention.  Harry thought that they had to be the strangest group to ever walk into King's Cross station.  He watched Tonks change her hair from long brown to short blonde.

The Order members stepped out from the car and Tonks motioned to Harry and Ron to follow.  They all kept their heads bent low, mainly to avoid the thundering rain, and ran into the station.  Harry had no idea if the girls were behind them or if they had went ahead.  He and Ron were surrounded by four Order members and it was difficult to see anyone.  At last they reached the dividing barrier to Platform 9 ¾.

Mad-eye whispered. "Alright, Tonks and I will go through first.  You two follow us and the others will come behind you."

Harry nodded, not looking up.  He saw one set of feet disappear, and then another.  Ron followed behind the last pair and Harry fell into step behind him.  The blast of the whistle made Harry look up at last.

"Alright, we should be safe now."

Harry looked around and was surprised to see several Aurors wandering around the platform, looking at every single face. 

"Harry! Ron!  Come on, we've found an empty compartment!"  Hermione was waving at them from a window several cars down.

"How did they get here before us?"  Ron asked Mundungus.

"Well, they took a shorter route.  We split up just in case we were being followed. Alright let's get this luggage loaded on board."

After Harry and Ron had settled the last trunk on board the train, they found the compartment where Hermione was. 

"Come on, lets tell everyone goodbye."  Ginny said.

After ten minutes of goodbyes and promises to be careful, they boarded the train once again.

"Well Ginny, Ron, we'd better head up front for the meeting.  We'll see you in a bit Harry."  Hermione pushed open the door and walked out.

Ron groaned and followed her.  Ginny sat looking perfectly disgusted.  "And Mum couldn't understand why I didn't want to be prefect.  All you ever do is go to meetings and yell at people.  Of course the yelling part won't be so bad."  She stood up and gave Harry a crooked smile.  "Well, see you in a bit."

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Harry sat looking out the window for some time, until a commotion outside the door startled him.  He stood and slid open the door of his compartment.  Two people were shoving each other.  Harry ran out and grabbed the two boys and pulled them apart.

"What's going on?"  Harry tried to keep the two separated.

"He called me a mudblood!  And I know very well what it meant, so I hit him."  The smaller of the two boys said.

"Well, it's what he is.  He shouldn't even be here!"  The larger boy shouted.

Harry was thankful when Seamus ran up and took control of the smaller boy.  "You two are first years I take it?" Harry asked.

The smaller boy nodded but the larger boy tried to kick Harry. Harry had his arms pinned to his sides and shook him. "Look you, if you don't calm down and behave, I can promise you that your first night at Hogwarts will be your last."  Harry stopped abruptly as Seamus laughed.  "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, mate.  It's just that you sounded like McGonagall saying that."  He started to laugh again; but the smaller boy was struggling to get away.  Seamus took a tighter grip and held him in place.

Harry looked at the boy Seamus was keeping a grip on.  "Wait, don't I know you?"

Before he could answer several prefects came up the corridor.  Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were amongst them.

"What's been going on here?" Hermione asked.

"These two were fighting out here." Seamus said.  "Harry managed to pull them apart before things got too bad."

The smaller boy tried to take a swing at Harry's captive. "Well he called me a mudblood!"

Hermione's face twisted in fury.  Harry knew that Hermione despised that word.  She walked forward and gave the larger boy a stern look. "What's your name?"

"Andrew Parkinson, not that it is any of your business."

For a second Hermione looked slightly amused. "You're Pansy's brother, aren't you? And don't get smart with me, I'm a prefect."

Andrew nodded, glaring at Hermione.

"Well,  I can promise you that the minute we get to Hogwarts I'll be having a word with Professor McGonagall about you. Now move along!"   Harry let the boy go and he stomped off down the corridor.

Hermione rounded on the smaller boy.  "Now, you.  I know what he said wasn't nice, but that doesn't give you the right to hit him.  Get back to your compartment."

"Maybe I should go with him and make sure he gets back in one piece.  Come on you."  Seamus took the boy by his upper arm and led him away.

Hermione, Ginny, Ron, and Harry filed back into their compartment.

"Never a dull moment around here is it?" Ron said, laughing.  "Oh, Harry, guess who's Head Girl this year!"

Hermione made to stomp his foot, but he was too quick for her. "Cho Chang!  Should be a fun year, eh?"

Harry didn't say anything.  "Just great." He thought.  "Yeah, a great year."

No one spoke much for the rest of the journey.  The girls left long enough to allow Harry and Ron to change into their robes.  Night fell eventually and the train began to slow and finally come to a complete stop.  They fought their way to the door and out onto the platform. 

 "Ginny, if you'll help Harry get Crookshanks and Pig to the carriages we'll cover for you for a few minutes." Hermione shouted as she tried to coax a terrified first year off the train.

Ginny picked up Pig's cage and grabbed the handle on Crookshanks basket.  Harry shifted Hedwig's cage to his right hand and took the other handle in his left.  They walked towards the carriages and Harry heard Ginny give a gasp and she dropped both animals.

"Ginny are you alright?" 

"I...I need to get back to Hermione. Are you okay with these?" And she left before he had a chance to answer.

Harry stood bewildered. What on earth was wrong with her?  He looked back at the carriages.  There, once again, were those winged horses.  He hated the sight of them now.  Then a thought occurred to him.  But, it wasn't possible.  Ginny couldn't see the thestrals, could she? No, she hadn't seen anyone die...or had she?

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 A/N: Thank you to all my reviewers! You guys are great!  I figure I should start addressing each of you personally, so here goes:

*Spaci Ireth*-I love the idea of her going to Azkaban; I just had to do it! And I agree I hate the way people are returning Harry to bright and cheerful, after his fifth year, I don't see what he has to be that happy about.

*Freakyfairy*-I will update as soon as I can. I've realized that in my excitement to write there are a lot of elements I had wanted to put in and have forgotten about them. Some I've had to throw in the middle of other things.  (i.e. I had wanted the part about Ginny becoming prefect in the chapter before, but I forgot.  I had a really funny thing planned for it.)  I've now decided to take the JK approach and hand write my chapters before typing them up.  It may be longer between updates, but the chapters will turn out better, I promise! 

*tanstaafl*-Well, there will be a lot of interaction between the two, but don't expect romance for a while; (think nearly at the end of this story.) But don't worry; the 7th year fic I have planned to follow this will be full of romance between them. But nothing completely nauseating I promise!