The Great Hall never ceased to amaze the people that it entertained. The ceiling, which was bewitched to mimic the weather and sky patterns outside, looked wonderfully clear and beautiful. Of course Hermione was the only person to notice as always, but to her it was the start of a new year and new adventures. Harry had a humorous look on his face as he was watching Hermione stare at the ceiling while they walked to their seats at the Gryffindor table.
"Hi Harry, hi Hermione, hi Ron," the sentence echoed almost instantaneously as most of the other 6th years greeted the trio of friends. Neville, Dean, Lavender, Parvati and Padma Patil, Lee Jordan, Justin Flinch Fletchley and the rest of the gang, didn't seem as enthralled to start the new term as they were to beginning a new season of D.A. meetings. Harry had a few ideas what he wanted to start teaching to his classmates but was a little unsure if they were quite ready for it. Harry continued to think and was so involved in doing so he never heard the sorting hat finish its song and the sorting process.
Just as Harry was about to voice his concerns to Hermione over what he might be teaching the D.A. this year, Dumbledore stood up and quieted everyone down.
"Welcome students, welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I trust that everyone had a safe journey here. Now before we begin the start of term feast, there are a few rules that I would like to go over with everyone. Firstly the Forbidden Forest is exactly as it sounds, forbidden. I would entrust that some students would already know this to be true but I will not press the issue further." Dumbledore took an ever so quick second to glance over where Harry, Hermione and Ron were sitting and they started blushing furiously not wanting to meet his gaze as they knew who he was referring to.
"Secondly, Mr. Argus Filch has added 3 things to his list of 448 items that are not allowed on school grounds, although I dare say that from last year, quite a few of those items were used in a few incidents," Dumbledore continued amusedly as his eyes twinkled over his half-moon spectacles.
"Thirdly, I would like you all to give a warm round of applause for our newest Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Serge de Roioul, who recently transferred here from the wonderful institute of Durmstrang."
Harry was eyeing the new teacher suspiciously because somehow that name rung a bell and he couldn't quite put his finger on it. The applause around him was scattered as it was a well known fact that Durmstrang was an institute for teaching the Dark Arts to its students. Hermione and Ron stared at Harry and the look in their eyes confirmed his suspicions as well.
Professor Serge was not as tall as you would have expected. His hair was black and slicked back to its fullest in a cow-lick fashion that Harry mused over slightly. His eyes though were a very piercing black and his skin seemed to match his demeanor which was pale and emotionless. Although he looked young, Harry seemed to think that he was probably in his thirties due to the winter climate that he came from. He also walked about with a cane that looked as thought it had the head of a serpent on it. Whatever it was, something did not sit right with Harry about his new teacher.
"With that said, tuck in," Dumbledore finished. Instantaneously the Great Hall was filled with the wonderful smells of the variety of foods that the house-elves always prepared. Hermione looked dolefully at the food for a few minutes as she well knew that her duty to S.P.E.W. would probably be compromised.
"Hermione, if you don't eat that food, I'm going to eat it for you," Ron said knowing why Hermione wasn't eating.
"Ronald I do not need you to eat my food, it's just that..."
"It's just what Hermione? I know you're not about to give me a speech about all the reasons why you think we shouldn't be eating. Just give it a rest, and eat ok?" Ron glared at her slightly daring her to say something else.
"Fine Ron, just so you know, I'm only eating because I'm terribly hungry right now."
Ron muttered something about not appreciating the house elves enough to enjoy their food.
Harry watched the entire process unfold with his two best friends and couldn't help but put a huge grin on his face. They never stop fighting do they? He shrugged his shoulders and continued eating until he couldn't eat any more.
Dumbledore stood once more and spoke; "Now I must ask that prefects please lead your houses to their common rooms and hand out the passwords to your fellow classmates."
Since Hermione and Ron were once again picked as the prefects for the 6th years, they got up and started leading the way towards the Gryffindor common room. "This way 1st years. Follow us."
Harry had forgotten that his best friends were going to have prefect duties again. He sighed a bit and thought back to his D.A. meeting and immediately felt better. I'm going to have try extra hard this year and prepare everyone for the upcoming battle with Voldemort. Harry had colleted his thoughts the entire way towards the common room and wondered what he would be in store for this year.
As soon as Harry got to the common room, he sat down in front of the fire and started wondering if Sirius really was gone. He felt his eyes start to water as all the events that happened 3 months ago replayed in his head. Harry felt a hand on his shoulder and immediately blinked the tears away and looked to see whose hand it belonged to.
"Harry are you all right?" Hermione asked very in a caring tone. She noticed when Harry walked over to the fire and sat down that he was going to be doing some heavy thinking about his godfather.
"I guess, I just don't what I'm going to do now that I don't have the closest thing I ever had to a father alive anymore," Harry said solemnly almost about ready to start crying his eyes out.
Hermione moved down to sit next time and put her arm around him and took his head on her shoulder.
"It will be all right Harry, me and Ron are here for you and you will never, ever be alone. Ok?"
Harry looked up and looked into his best friends brown eyes and suddenly felt a pang in his stomach and his heart beat fluttered a little although he didn't know why. Everything that happened to Harry, Hermione had always been by his side no matter what. She had pronounced her devotion to their friendship quite clearly at the Department of Mysteries a few months ago even though she knew it was going to be a trap. For as much as Harry tried pushing her away and as violently as he reacted towards her sometimes in their arguments, she never left.
As Hermione was staring back into Harry's emerald green eyes, she couldn't help but feel sorrowful for her best friend as she saw the pain and suffering that seemed to be the only thing Harry ever knew. Hermione promised herself right then and there in front of the fire to never let anything happen to Harry, nor let him out of her sight longer than intended. She didn't know what it was or why she was making this promise to herself but suddenly her heart started beating a little bit faster as she suddenly realized that their faces were now only an inch apart.
Harry blushed as he took his head off her shoulder but didn't mind that Hermione's arm lingered around his shoulders. Did I just almost kiss my best friend? Oh Merlin, I better not let that happen again.
Ron was about to see where Harry and Hermione went and stopped when he saw them sitting by the fire and talking quietly. He knew they weren't doing anything lovey dovey, but he felt something in the air as he sensed his two best friends were falling in love and never even knew it.
Ron shook his head and went up to the dormitory and plopped into bed wondering if they trio were ever going to be the same if Harry and Hermione ever told each other how they felt. Girls for Ron were sort of a fickle thing. As it was, Ron didn't have a girlfriend and wasn't really interested in having one for that matter. He wished he did have some interest in one of the girls at Hogwarts, but he just didn't. Ron went to sleep on that note and had a weird dream concerning him and Luna underneath the mistletoe last year.
Back in the common room, Harry and Hermione stayed in front of the fire for quite a while before Hermione finally stood up and gave Harry the once over and quietly kissed his cheek and said, "You're going to be all right Harry, I promise. Just have faith in Ron and me to always be here for you." Harry watched his bushy haired friend walking back up to her dormitory and wondered what he did to deserve such a wonderful and loving friend. Not to mention beautiful as well.... Wait did I just think Hermione is beautiful? No, no I didn't stop thinking that. Harry pondered for a few minutes on why all of a sudden he cared why he was thinking about his feelings for his best friend.
Harry sighed and gave up the idea of girls and walked up slowly to his dorm and went to bed with thoughts of Sirius, Hermione, Ron and Voldemort swimming in his head.
Harry suddenly woke up and felt his hands and feet were bound so he was unable to move. Suddenly he caught a movement out of the corner of his eye and looked to see who it was.
"Having fun there Mr. Potter?" said the mysterious voice. "I can't wait till the Dark Lord finds out that I have captured his archrival. I will be honored above all other Death Eaters."
Harry tried to respond back but all he could manage was a whimper. He tried focusing his energies into his surroundings and saw that a there was a lone door and window to wherever he was. He couldn't see out the window due to it being extremely dirty.
"Let's have a little bit of fun before the Dark Lord arrives shall we? CRUCIO!" Harry felt the sharp hot knives penetrating his skin as he was writhing in agony and screamed loudly. "Well we can't have you making any noise can we Mr. Potter? Silencio todas Shackeres!" Harry saw him wave his wand and say the incantation and knew that no one would be able to hear them anymore because of the silencing charm.
Suddenly he saw a wiping motion outside on the window and wondered who it could be. Harry didn't get a chance to see who it was as he blacked out again due to another crucio curse being placed on him.
Harry shot up out of his bed and could feel his heart beating a mile a minute. He didn't know what the dream was about but he certainly did not want to think about if it was going to come true or not. He got out of bed and put his robe on and went down to the common room. Just as he was getting to the last step he looked over and saw that Hermione was coming down the girl's stairs as well. She seemed to have been extremely worried and sweaty as well.
"What are you doing up this late?" They both said.