Ginny threw Bertie Botts Every-Flavour beans at Crookshanks who was watching her curiously. The rain battered the windows of the Hogwarts Express and the scenery shot past in a blur.
"I'm bored." Ginny sighed as she ran out of sweets.
"Well I'm hungry. Why'd you waste all those sweets?" Ron snapped.
"Because-" Ginny couldn't think of anything so left it at that.
"Do you think that Voldemort will try and attack the school?" Harry asked the others.
"Maybe" Hermione said, "But it would really be stupid because Dumbledore is the headmaster and Voldemort's scared of him, isn't he?"
"Yeah," Ron said supporting Hermione. Hermione gave him a quick smile. "And there's plenty of people in the school who would be ready to fight Voldemort."
"I suppose." Harry said frowning, "I guess I'd have to start teaching the DA some more complex stuff."
"That would be a good idea." Ginny said. She flicked a bit of chocolate frog at Crookshanks, who caught it in his mouth.
"Ginny, can you stop feeding Crookshanks." Hermione said slightly annoyed, "He's fat enough as it is." Hermione lifted Crookshanks onto her lap.
"I think he's cute." Said Luna as she drifted into the compartment.
"You do, do you?" Hermione said. She still didn't think very much of Luna.
"Well, I just came to tell Ginny that the thing you wanted me to do is done." Luna said with a slight smile. Ginny grinned.
"It's the least we can do." Ginny said. Hermione's eyes narrowed.
"What are you two up to?" Hermione asked. Luna hummed to herself and Ginny shrugged.
"You'll see." Ginny said.
"You're just like Fred and George." Ron said.
"Well, what do you expect?" Ginny asked.
"You know that mum's going to kill you if she finds out you're following George and Fred?"
"Only thing is that I'm a Prefect and much better at acting then them." Ginny said matter-of-factly. Ron shook his head and Hermione stroked Crookshank's fur silently. Harry stared out of the window watching the passing scenery. He pressed his forehead against the cool glass, causing it to steam slightly around his forehead. His scar was prickling again. He thought he'd gotten over that stage but obviously not. The world was getting darker, both because the sun was setting and because Voldemort's power was growing. Hermione had read him an article in the daily Prophet yesterday about how Voldemort now had followers all through Britain and France and Germany. Harry knew there was only so much that the order could do, only so much that anyone could do except Harry.
How was Harry supposed to kill the most powerful dark wizard of all time? Voldemort's power had spread so far, his influence was all over the world and anyone could be out there trying to kill him. As Harry thought of the extent that Voldemort's influence could have reached and how many people were fighting against him he suddenly felt very small. He was a tiny ant in termite's nest. Caught up in the flood of enemies and allies. Harry felt a sudden pang for his parents. It wasn't unfamiliar but this pang was different. He just wanted to get off the Hogwarts express and see his parents greet him as he walked off with his friends. He wanted this Christmas to be in some large mansion that Harry imagined would belong to him and his family and have everyone round for Christmas. April, Sirius and Remus His parent's friends. Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Jenny and the rest of the Weasleys, Harry's friends.
"Harry." Ginny said clicking her fingers in front of him. Harry started with surprise and looked around the compartment.
"What?" He asked.
"Can I talk to you?" asked Cho, who was sitting opposite him. He hadn't noticed her, where had she come from?
"Um, yeah sure. I suppose." Harry said.
"Outside." Cho said. Harry got up and followed Cho out of the compartment. Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione. Hermione gave him a curious look and Ron looked confused. Cho led Harry to the Head's compartment of the train.
"Are you sure I'm allowed in here?" Harry asked uncertainly. He was suddenly in a really bad mood and really didn't want to talk to Cho.
"It's fine. Geoff Goldberg is with his friends." Cho said referring to the Slytherin Head boy.
"Oh right." Harry said. "What do you want?" Cho looked at him slightly hurt.
"How are you?" Cho asked. Harry looked at her surprised.
"I'm in a crap mood." Harry said.
"Is it anything to do with me?" Cho asked.
"To be honest? No." Harry said. "Not everything revolves around you."
"I know." Cho said. She looked slightly annoyed but didn't sound it. "Harry I want us to have a fresh start. I never knew anything about Vol-Voldemort or the kind of things you have to do."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked confused.
"It means that when I saw you collapse in the Gryffindor Common room the other night and then you woke up and told us what had happened…I never knew that V-Voldemort was so powerful that he could do that. This sounds stupid but I'm starting to feel like there's no hope against V-Voldemort if he can do that to you." Cho said. Harry was starting to understand. "You're the boy-who-lived and then the Order and what Dumbledore said." Cho took a breath and looked out of the window. "The world really is getting darker and if, if he's really getting more powerful and he's trying to take over the school-" Cho looked back at Harry. Her brown eyes were slightly glazed and Harry was slightly scared she'd start crying. She walked forwards and hugged Harry tightly. "I'm really sorry for being so selfish last year. I didn't know the extent of what kind of burden this might be on you." Cho said.
"You don't know the half of it." Harry said glumly. Cho looked at him confused. "I don't want to talk about it." He said. Cho nodded and took a step back. She played with a lock of hair.
"So can we start again on a fresh slate?" Cho asked.
"I suppose but don't go and be evil to Jenny." Harry said.
"Jenny?" Cho asked.
"Yeah." Harry said. "I remember what you were like about Hermione." Cho looked slightly offended and opened her mouth to say something but Harry started talking again. "I want you to be part of a new scheme I'm thinking about for the DA. My most trusted members. I need an elite group of people to help me teach and I think it would be quicker if we all taught a few people each. If Voldemort really is going to attack the school we need to be as prepared as possible." Cho nodded silently. "And whatever you do don't say anything about the Order to anyone." Harry said. Cho nodded. Harry gave her a quick smile and turned to go.
"Harry." Cho said quickly.
"Yes." Harry asked turning to Cho.
"This is just something I'm curious about but-" Cho shifted uncomfortably. "Do you ever miss your parents? I mean you never got to know them."
"I miss them more then you know." Harry said. Cho nodded and let Harry leave.
"We're coming to Kings Cross." Hermione said gazing out of the window. "Come on Crookshanks." Hermione ushered he cat into the small wicker basket that she kept him in when they travelled.
"Come on then." Ron said as the train came to a stop. He lugged his trunk out of the train followed by Harry. Luna was behind them casually making her trunk float behind them. They had to stop using magic when they left the platform so she was alright. As all the students gathered on the platform Ginny turned to Luna and then aimed her wand at a few students that they knew were in Slytherin. She let out a small silver light and it struck one of them and suddenly all the Slytherin's cloaks started to change colours in a chain reaction. A few students looked around confused as Ginny grinned.
"It worked." She said happily. Luna let out an amused laugh and Hermione looked at Ginny slightly annoyed as she wrapped her scarf around her neck.
"Lets go." Hermione said as they hauled their trunks through the barrier. Lupin and Moody were standing a little way off by a stall that sold coffee.
"Hey Harry." Lupin said walking over. Harry gave him a slight smile. He was still in a bad mood.
"Where's Jenny?" Harry asked.
"At Grimmauld place." Lupin said.
"Ready to go?" Mad-eye growled as he counted the Gryffindors in front of him.
"Harry." Cho said running up to him quickly. She nearly collided into Moody but stopped just in time. "Oh, Professor Moody, Professor Lupin." She said slightly surprised.
"Who are you?" Moody asked. Cho looked at Moody uncertainly and turned to Harry.
"Um, I want you to meet someone." Cho said to Harry. Harry looked at her confused but nodded.
"Who is it?" Harry asked.
"My aunt Lee." Cho said. Lupin smiled slightly.
"How is Lee?" Lupin asked. Cho looked at him weirdly.
"You can come as well if you want." Cho said politely. Lupin nodded
"Alistor look after these three please." Lupin said. Moody nodded and stared at the other three. Harry knew Moody's magical eye would be on him.
"I told Aunt Lee that we used to date and she said she'd like to meet you. She's come over for Christmas." Cho explained to Harry. "She's with my parents over there." Cho pointed to where three Chinese people stood talking quickly. Harry saw Cho's trolley next to the man. The man looked quite strong and fit. One of the women he was with looked almost exactly like Cho but was a bit taller and the other had long hair tied up behind her head and looked quite pretty and young.
"Mother, Father." Cho said politely to get her parent's attention. The person who Harry presumed to be Mr. Chang glanced at Harry then his gaze went to Lupin.
"Remus, it is nice to see you again." He said.
"Very nice to see you again Chang." Lupin said shaking Mr. Chang's hand, "How are the Red Dragons?"
"We have won the Asiatic Cup and we have just started the matches to try and qualify for the World cup." Mr. Chang said happily.
"My dad is a chaser for the Chinese Quidditch team." Cho whispered to Harry. Harry looked at Cho then at Mr. Chang with awe. "That's my Aunt Lee. She is an auror for the Chinese Ministry and my mum is the Chinese Ambassador." Cho told Harry.
"So you come from a good family then." Harry said uncertainly. Cho gave him a shy smile. Harry noticed the woman Cho had pointed out as her aunt Lee was staring at him. He looked at her and saw her gaze on his scar.
"Harry Potter." Lee asked. Harry nodded. "I knew your Parents. They were very good people. They were very good friends to me." She said in perfect English.
"They were very good friends with all of us." Mr. Chang said. "I believe my mother helped to deliver you." Mr. Chang said. Lee nodded and Harry stared at the two Chinese people in slight awe and amazement.
"We have to go now." Lupin said, "It is imperative that we get Harry somewhere safe"
"It was nice to meet you Harry." Lee said. "I hope we get to meet again some time." Harry nodded.
"I hope so to." Harry said. He turned to Cho who gave him a quick hug and left with her family. Lupin led Harry back to the others.
"Who was that?" Ginny asked.
"Cho's family." Harry said.
"What's she doing introducing you to her family?" Hermione asked jealously. Harry shrugged.
"We were very good friends when we were at school" Lupin told them. "The Changs never really got the chance to see you before your parents died." Lupin said. "Now come on."