A/N: sorry it took so long for me to write. I was waiting till I got to the 20th review AND I got a small case of writers block. I know what I want to happen, I just didn't know HOW to make it happen....but its all good now......

Chapter 7: Hogwarts Express

Snape looked as though pondering this question, before his face contorted with rage once again.

"Look at me Potter. Do I strike you as the type of person that would sit down and share my life stories with you over tea? If you honestly believe that I'm going to allow you to meddle in my life any further, you are thicker than I thought, and gravely mistaken!"

Harry, not knowing what to say, stood there in awe.

"P-professor I'm s-sorr", Harry attempted to say before Snape interrupted him.

"No Potter, do not waste your useless apologies on me. I am finished. If I had the chance I would go owl in my resignation to Dumbledor this very second," said Snape venomously.

Harry retorted. "Why don't you? You're always going on about how you hate everything and if you fancy quitting, then do it. You'll be making a lot of people happy."

Snape looked at Harry and frowned. "You wouldn't understand." Snape trailed off mentioning something ignorance and arrogance before regaining his demeanor.

"I have spent enough time in the cursed house long enough. Our next meeting will be tomorrow after the Welcome Feast."

Harry nodded and allowed Snape to leave in peace, still with a million questions buzzing in his head. He convinced himself that first chance he got, he would talk to Lupin about everything, but in the meantime he could only wonder.

The rest of the day consisted of packing and rushing around the house.

Harry gathered all his belongings, and sent Hedwig out so she could meet him at Hogwarts. The rest of the house seemed to be occupied in their own little situations and for that Harry was grateful. He skipped his dinner and went straight to bed.

The next morning Harry awoke to find Tonks and Mrs. Weasley talking downstairs.

"Breakfast", screamed Tonks.

Mrs. Weasley smiled. "No dear, that's now how you do it. With those kids you need to yell like your trying to wake the dead. Here, let me show you."

Mrs. Weasley cleared her throat. "BREEEAAAAAKKKKFFFAAAASSSSTTT"

Harry smiled as he heard Ron groan. He put on his glasses, and began getting dressed.

He went downstairs and took his place at the table. Hermione, Ginny and Ron soon followed.

"Now you guys have to hurry up, we don't want to be late", Mrs. Weasley said.

They ate quickly barely talking about anything, and rushed back upstairs to get their luggage. Once they charmed their luggage down the stairs, they got their robes and waited near the door for the guard.

As soon as Moody, and Kingsley arrived, they began walking out the door.

Mrs. Weasley gave all of them a hug, and an especially long one to Harry.

"Stay out of trouble this year Harry", she said as she hugged him.

Harry smiled and nodded. They headed out the door and watched 12 Grimmauld Place shrink away.

They took the ministry cars and arrived at the station. Once they arrived, they said goodbye to the Order members, and started to load their things onto the train.

"Oh I'm just so excited. Newt classes and everything! This year is going to be really hard", said a very enthusiastic Hermione.

Harry and Ron exchanged significant smiles and went to find a cart.

They found a nearly empty cart. Neville was already sitting inside. They said their hellos and sat down.

"Gran got me a new wand", said Neville with a wide grin on his face. "She was really mad after I broke dad's wand, but she said she couldn't help but be proud."

Everyone seemed to notice the newfound confidence that Neville was displaying.

"That's great," said Hermione. "You can properly break it in when we start up the dueling club again. You'll need everything you can get if we're going to fight against Voldemort."

To Harry's great surprise, nobody shuttered, trembled or gasped. This was a nice sign of progression.

"Daddy said Voldemort has got some Noxumbra on his side now. There's no way to defeat them. Daddy has been telling the ministry for years about them but they never listened and now it's too late," which came from a very dreamy voice that belonged to Luna.

Ron made a double take, as no one had even noticed Luna slipping in.

"We've GOT to start locking the compartment door, and what the ruddy hell are Nogzyumbrellas," said Ron as he gave Luna annoyed look.

"Oh, Ron stop it," said Hermione fighting back laughter. "And Luna there is no evidence supporting Noxumbra. It's scientifically impossible. Just because your father has said so, and it is published in the Quibbler does not mean they exist, but you can inform me if you actually see one."

Luna shrugged and went back to reading her upside down issue of the Quibble. Ron and Harry snickered at Hermione's curtness towards Luna.

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned towards Ron. "And to answer your question Noxumbra are said to be night shadows, or night spirits, that basically lurk in the night, and are able to render you unmovable whilst your in its shadow. It supposedly can also feed off of your soul, much like a dementor."

Harry shuddered at the mention of dementors, and Ron spoke. "If Voldemort has them, then were done for. How do you fight something like that?"

Hermione chimed in. " You cant fight them," seeing the looks on the faces of the boys she continued "you cant fight them because they DON'T EXIST." Hermione sat back in her chair smiling as she looked through the most recent printing of The Intelligent Wizard magazine.

Ron and Hermione were about to get up to go to the Prefect's compartment when Draco Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle walked past their compartment. Draco stopped and peered in. The gang braced themselves, hands on wands.

Draco sneered. "Potter, as much as I hate you, I've been asked to extend yet another hand

in friendship. This is a crucial time Potter; you should choose your friends more

carefully. The Dark Lord could work with you, instead of against you, should you choose

so."

Hermione narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth as if to talk, but Draco intercepted saying,

"Shut your filthy mudblood mouth Granger. Better yet let me do it for you."

Before anyone could realize what was happening Draco had yelled "Silencio!"

Hermione continued to yell, but words were not emitted. Ginny, Neville, Luna and Ron stood up behind Harry with their wands tight in hand.

"Call of your goons Potter, the stink is making me faint," said Draco in a half-smirk half-yell.

Harry retorted. "I could say the same thing. And I'm not interested. I think its you that's got the wrong sort of friends. And I'm doing just fine fighting against Voldemort as well."

Draco shook his head. "Idiot Potter." He said Potter in a sneer not unlike Snape. "You have just passed up a chance at glory, the Dark Lord Rises."

He waved his wand and the spell was lifted off of Hermione. He continued, "I'm finished here, and Granger, I still insist you keep your filthy mudblood mouth shut"

Draco, Crabbe and Goyle left, and the compartment was left in a stir. Ron thought he might lighten the mood and muttered, "I told you we should have locked the door"

The gang smiled, and Luna began to laugh hysterically, even minutes after the joke wasn't funny anymore. Ron gave her the o-so-very familiar look of scorn at her peculiar tendencies.

The rest of the trip on the Hogwarts expressed past without anymore disturbances. Once Ron and Hermione returned back from the prefect's cart, they came back and enjoyed a trolley full of candy thanks to Harry.

It was nearly night time when they pulled into the station.

"Righ', Righ' then First years ov'r 'ere."

Hermione took Crookshanks of off the cart, as Harry and Ron helped her unload her luggage.

"Hagrid," Harry exclaimed.

Hagrid looked over towards them. "'Arry! Hows yeh summer been?"

"Its been great Hagrid, we'll be down to the cabin sometime tomorrow" Harry said as he took off towards the castle with his friends.

They set off into the castle and took their seats at the Gryffindor table. The Great Hall looked brilliant as always.

They were all talking loudly looking up at the staff table for the new arrivals as they did everywhere.

Just then the door burst open and Professor McGonnagal came through with the sorting hat on a stool, and a bunch of nervous looking first years behind her.

One by one the nervous first years tried on the hat until it came down to Alex Zylish, who was sorted in Slytherine.

Professor Dumbledor stood up and cleared his throat.

"Welcome to yet another year at Hogwarts. This year, given the circumstances, I will look upon the older students to aid the teachers in our fight against evil. That is why for years 4 and up, and joint Dueling Club, a long with a club, called the DA Club, with be ran. Nevertheless by one of your own and a trusted teacher of course."

He winked at Harry and continued.

"I will ask each and everyone of to practice caution around the Hogwarts grounds as we do not want any accidents. That is to say the Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden. It is not because I wish to take away your fun, but true dangers lurk within. Although there are many things that I wish to discuss with you, now is not the time. The only thing remaining on my list that must be done tonight is the introduction of our new teachers. Professor Lupin is back for another year and will be aiding in the Dueling/DA club. To my left, is your new Defense against the Dark Arts instructor. He wishes to be called Professor Procellus."

Professor Procellus stood up and spoke. "I look forward to teaching each and everyone of you and I am more than sure this year will be fun and rewarding."

Harry stared around at the table, and noticed that Snape, Lupin and Professor Sprout were staring at the new professor with a look of distaste. Harry wondered. He also couldn't help but wonder where he had heard the voice before. It was not important however.

Once the new professor sat down, the hall erupted in applause as they welcomed their new, well-groomed professor.

Professor Dumbledor waved his hand, and immediately all the plates were filled with mounds of food. The first years gasped and dug in. Ron eat his food rather ravenously much to Hermione's disgust.

Snape had finished his dinner early and left rather quickly. A lot of teachers did that when they had more important things to do.

Once they had finished dinner, they headed towards the Gryffindor tower. Harry remembered his appointment with Snape, and detoured towards the dungeons.

It wasn't a very long walk down there, but it seemed to take forever. He knocked several times on Snapes door, but there was no answer. He waited around ten minutes, and still no professor Snape.

Harry gave up the mission and returned to the tower. He looked at the tapestry and muttered, "Anibus"

The tapestry swung open, and he entered. He looked around at the warm, gold, and red Gryffindor room.

He headed upstairs to the 6th year boy's dormitory to find Ron already sleeping, with his robes and shoes still on.

He changed and got into bed. He exhaled. It was great to be back at Hogwarts.

REVIEW!!! I have already written chapter 8...the instant I see 30 reviews I'll upload it!! REVIEW PLEEEAAASSSEEE Good or Flame...JUST REVIEW