Disclaimer: I own nothing, bla bla bla.

Author's note: Here is Chapter four - finally, I am so sorry tghat I didn't post this up sooner but things have been a little hectic with the damn web site, any way I promise to post my other chapters sooner, hope you'll enjoy it, thanks to my sister who helps me proof read it, I really liked your reviews and like my last chapter I'll write a little note for each of you at the end of the Chapter, I am very hesitant with this Chapter I get the sense that my standard is slipping with every chapter that I write, so I dunno how this will turn out to be, I am sorry if it's too long I am trying to cut it down but with every chapter they go a bit longer, the weather is really horrible here in the UK… um… here's the fourth chapter… enjoy.

Chapter 4

Harry's heart jumped into his throat from the shock of the bang, his eyes were temporarily blinded from the purple lights, he rubbed his eyes and tried searching for his wand but it wasn't on him, someone must have taken his wand because he remembered vividly that he had put it in his pocket right before he left for Diagon alley.

When he came round to being able to see blurrily even with his round glasses he was beyond the state of panic, but what came next was far more shocking than what he was able to take in that moment.

Little golden lights were falling slowly and gracefully from the ceiling and he then noticed that a big chocolate cake was levitated in front of him saying plainly 'Happy Birthday' in dark chocolate, and pieces of different chocolate coloured balloons decorated it. The little lights now transfigured themselves into seven different presents, they hung in the air for a while and then flew towards Harry.

'Happy birthday Harry' squealed Hermione in delight.

'Oh my God' breathed Harry, 'Thank you' he breathed in relief.

'The big bang and the purple lights was my idea' shouted George proudly from across the room.

'That was very um… good, George but maybe the lights were a little too bright' then Harry remembered and panic flew over him again, 'do you know what happened to my wand?'

'Oh, that was my idea' shouted Fred from across the room, 'we thought that you might do something stupid with it, like stick it up mum's nose.'

'Ha ha, very funny' said Harry still rubbing his eyes, remembering the time he did stick his wand up the nose of a troll, 'Thank you very much Mrs. Weasley for the cake, it's very nice' he said appreciatively.

'Oh it was nothing dear' she replied fondly.

'Come on Harry, open up the presents!' said Ron excitedly, the next ten minutes was spent purely on Ron's wish.

Harry received a clump of sugar free sweets from Hermione, a giant bright orange poster of the Chudley Cannons from Ron which temporarily blinded Harry's already vulnerable eyes again, a fine pair of dragon hide gloves from Charlie, a large wooden cartouche with Harry's name in hieroglyphics engraved on it from Bill (no doubt from Egypt), a deluxe pack of 'skiving snackboxes' from Fred and George, a hand knitted hat with moving pictures of the four Quidditch balls from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley (which Harry knew he would never wear) and surprisingly  a wooden box with decorating white triangles around the sides from Ginny, Harry opened the box and was relieved to find twelve dungbombs inside it. 

The remainder of the summer holiday flew typically by like any summer where Harry is enjoying himself, as everyday went by he found out more and more about Ginny, she was a very easy person to talk to and after four years of ignoring the girl, Harry found that she had a very distinct character, there was nothing typical about her except the Weasley hair which he found that he really adored, he had to usually catch himself when he found that he was slipping into the dream like state, that was goggling at Ginny, and Hermione gave herself a lot more smirks.

The time came to pack for the next day where Harry would return to Hogwarts, Harry noticed that his trunk was the messiest and untidiest he ever had, had he been neglecting his trunk this much? Well it was record braking for him.

All too soon Harry found himself facing the solid-like appearance of the brick wall at King's Cross station to enter the platform which he always dreads and longs to meet. Ron, Hermione and Harry helped each other lift and drag their heavy trunks into one of the last compartments of the scarlet Hogwarts express. Once they were all seated comfortably they lapsed into static but not tense silence, Hermione seemingly bored with the absence of conversation brought out a book and began to read. There was no life in the carriage as Ginny had chosen to sit with her classmates.

With Hermione out of any possibility of involvement in a conversation, Harry and Ron began to play a game of exploding snap, that thoroughly brought them out of the plane of boredom. Harry saw and idea flicker across Hermione's face, she put her book down on her lap and said,

'Don't you think we should do something to that door?'

'What do you mean?' asked Harry.

'Like lock it or something so that Malfoy won't come in here and irritate us'

'Hmm… that sounds like a good idea but if we lock it Malfoy will just open it' said Ron,

'Not if we use bolting charm'

'The what?' asked Ron,

'There are many types of locking charms, the bolting charm is a type of a more complex locking charm so the only way that anybody would be able to unlock the door would be if you read this book' and she lifted up the book she was reading.

'Sounds good, go ahead then' said Ron. Hermione stood and performed the charm, a bluish coloured light emitted from the tip of her wand and a wafting slight vapor glided off the beam of light.

They were of course correct in their estimation that the visit from Malfoy was inevitable, he tried to unlock the door with his wand and as Hermione explained he couldn't open it, it looked like Malfoy like Harry and Ron didn't read their new school books. Malfoy then resorted to using his bare hands to try and bombard the door open, for some strange reason Malfoy seemed to really want to come into the compartment, at the end of his efforts he turned away with whatever pride he had left, he was also slightly pink in the face which was the icing on the cake for the trio's laughter to burst out uncontrollably like a great dam.

Ron and Hermione had to leave after that incident remembering that they had to meet up in the prefects carriage for their meeting, leaving Harry by himself, he didn't mind, this way he could think about anything without being interrupted, but he was interrupted, not by Malfoy but by a little girl, she had black hair that was tied in pony tail, and judging by her height and her frightened face she looked like a first year, she was tiptoeing into the room, trying not to be noticed.

'What are you doing?' asked Harry kindly, not wanting to frighten her.

'Um… um… I lost my way' she squeaked quietly.

'Well where did you want to go?' she hesitated then replied

'I'm trying to find the toilet'

'It's down the corridor and to your second left.' Harry supplied kindly.

'Thank you' she squeaked again.

'Any time' but a few minutes later she came up to him again

'Um…er, excuse me'

'Yes?'

'The door is locked and I can't get it open'

'Oh sorry about that, my friend locked it for a very good reason' and Harry, pointing his wand at the door clearly said the counter curse that Hermione taught him and Ron that afternoon if they ever needed to unlock the door. This time a green beam of light hit the door and a green vapor rose from the light. Then the door automatically unlocked itself and opened up to let anyone through.

'Wow' whispered the little girl, she then looked ashen faced as though she had committed a crime. Harry bent his head so he could look at her easier as his height made it a little uncomfortable on his neck when standing up to look at such a little girl.

'Are you muggle born by any chance' asked Harry swiftly.

'What is a muggle born?' she asked shakily.

'A muggle born is a person who has magical powers, but born from a family with no magical powers' said Harry slowly. She nodded her head slowly not knowing how to react.

'Well um…thank you' she said quietly and left through the open door.

Harry then sat in silence staring out the window at the peaceful weather and of the farms and hills; the sunset was arriving as that dull cloudy colour came over the sky. Harry was so absorbed in thinking that he didn't notice the little girl slip past him and out of the compartment.

When the sun had fully set the train slowed down and reached to a halt at Hogsmede station, Ron and Hermione had arrived back at Harry's compartment half an hour before the train stopped. Harry stepped out of the scarlet train and heard a voice that swamped him with comfort. It was Hagrid.

'Firs' years, firs' years this way!' He called out and repeated

'Hi Hagrid' called the trio and Hagrid gave a wave of greeting.

'I'll see you at the feast' Hagrid called and the next thing Harry saw was the first years riding the boats across the lake with Hagrid. 

'Come on I'm starving' said Ron and they all got on a horseless carriage (but not for Harry) with a fifth year boy, taking them to the castle. Once they were seated at the Gryffindor table and everyone else seated at their own house table, severe Professor McGonagoll walked to the front of the staff table and placed a wooden stool at the center so everyone could see it, on top of that the patched and frayed Sorting Hat sat still on the stool.

'When I call your name out come to the stool, sit on it, and put the hat on your head, when the hat shouts out the house you are supposed to be in, go and sit on that house table' said Professor McGonagoll formidably and the already frightened looking first years looked a little bit relieved.

'Baker, Butch' and a little boy with brown hair gingerly sat on the stool and put the hat on, it immediately shouted 'HUFFLPUFF' and he toppled over in delight, around five more first years were sorted until the little girl whom Harry met on the train was called, her name was Aimi Spencer and she nearly fell over when her name was called through fright, she also nearly feel over in delight just as Butch Baker was, but Aimi was called as a Gryffindor and she was greeted very warmly by all of the Gryffindor house mates and especially Harry. About ten more first years were sorted into the decided house and much to Ron's happiness the plates sparkled with food.

It was then, when Ron was stuffing his face with so much food he could barely make a muffled sound and when Hermione was staring death glares at him did Harry notice that an appraising sort of look came over Ginny from way over at the end of the Gryffindor table, she was looking at the fifth year boy who sat with Hermione, Ron and himself in the horseless carriage, Harry couldn't say that he felt much at first, he thought that he felt a swamping sense of sadness and disappointment, however this only lasted a very few moments as it was followed up quickly by anger and bitterness, one might call it jealousy.

Jealous? Why should Harry be jealous? He didn't like Ginny in a romantic sort of way, or did he? No, no that couldn't be possible, why couldn't it not be possible? He didn't like her, yes he liked her as a friend and Harry doubted that Ginny felt spiteful towards himself but something was nagging at the back of Harry's mind.

Harry's frustration was multiplied as a sharp pain in his foot met him, Hermione had kicked him under the table, apparently she had been following Harry's movements and Harry should have probably thanked her, for she caught him before Ron had a chance to finish chewing his food and swallow it down and notice Harry acting strangely which would lead to very awkward questions. Hermione had a slightly worried expression on her face.

'What's gone into you?'

'Nothing…nothing' he murmured

'Harry you ha…'

'I said nothing Hermione…' whispered Harry menacingly, and she turned from him looking as though he would regret his decision. What was worse than seeing that dreamy sort of look on Ginny's face was when she came over to sit by them.

'Hey Hermione, do you know that guy over there at the Ravenclaw table' murmured Ginny to Hermione and as usual, Harry started eavesdropping into their conversation, he was not pleased with what he heard.

'Yes' replied Hermione nonchalantly,

'Don't you think he is really good-looking?' asked Ginny fondly.

'Well um…I guess so, why?' Hermione said the 'why' bit of the sentence tauntingly.

'Oh…no reason'

'Oh that's right, you came all the way from the other end of the table and asked me about a good looking boy for absolutely no reason, that is so believable'

'Oh shut up Hermione, well um…do you know who he is' and Ginny continued to stare over at the Ravenclaw table.

'Oh I think I saw him at the prefects' meeting in the train-'

'He's a prefect!'

'Yes he is, I think his name is quite ridiculous actually, it's sort of hard to not remember' said Hermione playing with time.

'And…' said Ginny eagerly.

'I think it was… Max Sandwich' and Harry had to force his mouth shut before he snorted into his plate.

'What! What a stupid name, but he probably isn't so stupid considering he's in Ravenclaw'

'No, he probably isn- OUCH!' screamed Hermione and Harry continued to look innocent, Harry had enough and decided that if the two girls wouldn't stop the conversation he would, and as Hermione was sitting next to him and as she had already stomped on his foot he thought he would repay the favor.

'Are you alright Hermione?' asked a concerned Ron.

'Yes, yes I'm alright, I think I must have banged my foot against the leg of the table.' Said Hermione fussily.

'Are you sure you're alright?'

'I'll live, if that's what your worried about' said Hermione now agitated, and she seemed to be angry with Harry.

'No need to be rude' retorted Ron, oh no, they had started bickering, again.

'Um Ron… Hermione'll be fine okay?' said Harry exasperatedly, and Ron turned back to his Yorkshire pudding with no doubt a bit more resentment towards Hermione than he had before Harry stomped on her foot.

Harry was now feeling a crude mixture of anger and bitterness which was also heavily loaded with jealousy, He took off from the great hall the first, not wanting to be around Ginny and her dreamy looks, he stomped off up the marble staircase hoping the marble would break under his very feet. Oh God, he felt that braking something would make him feel better at that moment, whether it was the marble or his foot breaking, he didn't really mind, he just need something to vent his frustration onto.

'Buttocks' shouted Harry angrily and the portrait of the Fat lady swung open to reveal the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. Ron had told him the new password which made him laugh and Hermione scowl, apparently Dumbledore wanted something a bit less magical of a password and decided on something that he thought of comical and so did Ron, but if 'Buttocks' was the Gryffindor password he dared think what Slytherin's was. The common room looked the total opposite to what Harry was feeling, the warm red had a duty of being comforting but it was failing it's task with Harry and the fire cackled merrily which only made Harry feel worse.

Harry stomped off to the sixth year boys dormitory not wanting to take advantage of the empty common room. Red-hot was what Harry was feeling, red hot with anger, ire, rage and fury. All full of anguish, Harry searched around the dormitory for something turgid and hard, he found his trunk, yes, that would be good enough, he started kicking it with all his might not caring if he couldn't walk the next morning.

Over and over again he kept kicking his trunk, there was an indenture in it but he kept on kicking it, his foot kicked it so many times it didn't hurt anymore but he kept on going, all of his anger and resentment which had built up over the summer even if he spent it at the burrow was shoved into his foot with every kick he threw at the trunk, every feeling he had about Sirius's death, about the letters of stupid sympathy, about Ron and Hermione's annoying bickering… about Ginny.

It did not however do anything to make him feel any better but he kept on doing it, he didn't need a reason not to injure himself. Harry only stopped when Ron came into the dormitory, full of adrenaline, Harry felt no pain whilst he walked to his bed and flopped on it dreaming of beating up Max Sandwich until he had no bones unbroken.

Authors Note: I hope I didn't go over b0oard with the anger bit, anyway… hope you liked it, please read and review here are my notes,

Miraboo: always a pleasure reading your reviews, I accept your criticism but remember I am not that very experienced with writing romances, but there is a plan.

Vampire: I am so sorry that I didn't write a note for you in my last chapter, I didn't see your review before I posted it up, I am glad that you want to read on.

Melvianna G.C: Thank you so much for your review, sometimes I wonder if your being scarcastic but reading you review was very uplifting.

My eyes are dying: you intrigue me, my friend called me on the telephone and she said your exact same suggestion, you remind me of people who go slightly mad and hyper sometimes and listen to a lot of metal music, but that must be all in my head, I've never seen you, thank you for your review and I am glad that you read my fic.

Sabah: thank you very much for your review, I don't think I can be compared to JKRowling, but thank you for the comment.

ABG: good to know your hooked…hope you enjoy the rest of the chapters.

Googleoogle: thank you for your wonderful... but short review.

There is one really good default chapter (so you won't have to keep waiting for updates) called Heard by other ears, try reading it, I think you'll find it very interesting and emotional.