The next morning was as hectic as every other day they had left for King's Cross. Animals shrieked. Things were dropped, broken, and forgotten. Mrs. Black's incessant shouts were heard from her portrait.

"Filthy traitors! Defiling the house of my fathers!" she was heard screaming.

Everyone was too busy to shut her up. They ran around the house gathering their things hurriedly. They were walking to King's Cross like last year. They congregated in the front hall to wait for the guard to take them. Lupin finally shut the curtains around Mrs. Black's portrait with great difficulty. He turned around and looked at Harry.

"May I speak with you alone before you leave?" Lupin asked him.

"Er-sure," Harry replied following him into the kitchen.

"I have your birthday present," Lupin told Harry, giving him a book.

At closer inspection, Harry saw it was a photo album. He opened it and there stood the three loyal Marauders in the first picture. His father stood to the left waving and running his fingers through his unruly black hair that was so identical to Harry's. Lupin stood in the middle waving politely, and Sirius was to the right smiling as if he owned the world. As Harry flipped through the rest of the album, he saw pictures of his parents and their friends at Hogwarts looking young and happy. Harry looked at Lupin with tears stinging his eyes.

"This is the best present I've received yet," Harry said softly, looking at the ground.

"Sirius wrote me a letter as well, and he told me to explore the attic of this house. He said there was some memorabilia I would like. I kept some for myself, but I thought you would like these. I was worried they would get lost or ruined if I sent them with the owl post," Lupin said.

"Thank you, Professor," Harry muttered.

"Call me Remus, Harry," Lupin said smiling. "And if you need me for anything while you're at school, you know how to get in touch with me. Just code your letter a bit because we never know who might be watching communication in and out of Hogwarts."

"I will, Remus," Harry said, and then he heard Mrs. Weasley call for him in the front hall.

"Goodbye, Harry. Be careful," Lupin said, and Harry walked away.

They arrived at King's Cross half an hour later accompanied by Tonks, Moody, and Mundungus. They had dressed normally in Muggle clothes, and Moody had donned the same ridiculous bowler hat he had worn last year to cover his eye. They all leaned through the barrier between platforms nine and ten to get to platform nine and three quarters. Harry smiled as he saw the Hogwarts Express. He was so elated to be going back to school. He was itching to play Quidditch and to see the castle that was his home. Everyone hugged and kissed goodbye, and Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny boarded the train. Ron and Hermione left to go about their prefect duties, and Harry and Ginny went to find a compartment. They found an empty one toward the back, stowed their luggage, and sat down.

"So you didn't get prefect," Harry said to Ginny.

"Oh, no. I don't want it," she replied with a mischievous grin. "I take after Fred and George, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Harry laughed and pulled out his Potions essay that he hadn't finished. Ron showed up about an hour later, and Ginny left to go find some of her friends. Ron flopped down on the seat across from Harry and sighed.

"Prefect isn't all it's cracked up to be," he said looking tired.

"Don't you like it?" Harry asked.

"Yes, but it's more Hermione's thing," he replied. "Speaking of Hermione, I wanted to tell you something."

Harry put away his Potions essay he had finally finished and stared at Ron. He knew exactly what was coming.

"We are-er-together," Ron stuttered.

"It's about bloody time!" Harry said. "Congratulations, mate."

Ron blushed the color of his ginger hair and looked everywhere but at Harry. Just then Hermione slid the door open and sat down next to Harry.

"Stupid first years," she said. "Were we ever that dumb when we were that age? I mean, seriously, who doesn't ruddy well know what a prefect is? I just had two first years ask me if the P on my badge stood for a house they didn't know about."

They all laughed, but Harry grew immediately somber. He wanted to be honest with his friends. Ron had just been honest with him, and Harry wanted to show him the same respect.

"Hermione, would you silence the door please?" Harry asked her.

"Um, sure," she said and waved her wand toward the door.

"I have to tell you guys something that is very important, and you cannot tell another soul," Harry said.

"Sure, mate," Ron said. "What's up?"

Harry took a deep breath and began his story of what took place in Dumbledore's office last June. His friends were silent when he finished. Hermione looked pale, and Ron looked nervous.

"So, it's killed or be killed," Hermione said.

"That about sums it up," Harry said, smiling sadly.

"Is that what Phineas was talking about last night?" Ron asked.

"Yeah," Harry answered.

"Was that just last night?" Harry thought.

It seemed ages ago.

"You can't tell anyone," Harry said firmly.

They both nodded slowly, and Harry knew he could trust them. Hermione lifted the silencing charm from the door just as Ginny, Neville, and Luna Lovegood walked in.

"Hullo, guys," Neville said brightly as he struggled with his pet toad Trevor.

Luna drifted in behind him. Her dirty blond hair was in a loose braid and that permanent dreamy look was on her face.

"Hullo," she said, looking only at Ron.

"Um, hi," he muttered as he stood up to sit next to Hermione to make room.

They all talked and laughed for a while. Neville showed off his new wand he had bought. He had broken his dad's old wand at the Ministry of Magic last June.

"Yeah, my gran was pretty upset, but she seemed proud of me for fighting like that," he said.

The trolley came by, and they all filled up on sweets. Just then, the compartment door slid open again, and Draco Malfoy, with his cronies Crabbe and Goyle behind him, stood in the frame.

"Well, well, well," Draco said smugly. "If it isn't the reject cart."

"It must be," Hermione said coolly. "You're standing in it."

"Shut your mouth, Granger," Draco said, his voice rising.

"Get out, Malfoy," Harry said, not in the mood to deal with him.

"Now, now, scarhead," Draco replied. "Don't go talking to a prefect like that, or you might wind up in detention."

"I'll talk however I want to the son of a murdering fiend," Harry said, his green eyes fixed on Malfoy's face.

There was a collective intake of breath, and Malfoy looked taken aback for a moment.

"You might just be next, Potter," he said and turned away. The door slid closed, and everyone looked at one another.

"He'll get his one day," Ginny said, seething in anger.

"He's the least of our problems," Harry replied.

The train clanked on, and the weather outside could not have been better. Day melted into night as a swift, warm breeze blew in from the open window and ruffled everybody's hair. The train finally grinded to a halt at the Hogsmeade station, and everyone rustled around collecting their luggage. They filed off the train, and Ron and Hermione immediately went to help with the first years. Harry suddenly heard a welcoming voice.

"Firs' years over here!" Hagrid called. "Firs' years follow me ter the boats please!"

Harry ran over to Hagrid and hugged him.

"Well, hullo, Harry," Hagrid said cheerfully.

Rubeus Hagrid was the gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts. He towered six feet over the average man (his mother had been a giantess) and always had a twinkle in his eyes, which were almost hidden by his bushy black beard.

"I got Outstanding on my O.W.L.'s in Care of Magical Creatures," Harry said.

Hagrid smiled widely and slapped Harry on the back. Harry stumbled and ran into a group of first years that had gathered around Hagrid.

"Well, congratulations, Harry, but I've got ter be off with these youngins' here," Hagrid said.

"See you later," Harry said and walked over to Ron who was retrieving Pig from Ginny.

Harry finally turned his attention to the castle. The tiny lights from the windows were bright specks against the black velvet night. The turrets and towers rose into the sky, and Harry thought Hogwarts had never looked so majestic. Hermione joined him, Ron, and Ginny, and they walked to the carriages that would carry them to the castle. Harry looked at the thestrals that had alarmed him so much last year. He was quite fond of them now and patted one of them on the neck before he got into the carriage.

"Did I ever tell you guys that Bellatrix was the evil girl in my torch dream?" Harry asked his friends as the carriage rattled up the dirt road to the castle.

"Really," Hermione said, her eyes widening. "Do you remember the other girl?"

"No," Harry said, squinting his eyes in concentration trying to recall the little girl's face.

They pulled up to the front of the castle, and they all hopped down from the carriage. They climbed the steps, passed the winged boars, and stepped into the entrance hall. Everyone's shouts and laughter echoed through the massive room as they turned to enter the Great Hall. Harry caught a glimpse of Peeves the Poltergeist sticking something into a third year girl's ear. She shrieked, and he flew off cackling. They all found spots at the Gryffindor table. The enchanted candles floated in midair almost touching the ceiling, which magically reflected the warm, breezy night sky. Harry's stomach rumbled as the scared first years entered the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall led them to the front of the room and sat down a small, wooden stool. She placed a ragged hat, otherwise known as the Sorting Hat, on top of the stool. Harry glanced up at the staff table for the first time. Dumbledore was in the center, and he winked as Harry caught his eye. Harry waved, but kept scanning the table to see who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was. He assumed it was the pretty, young witch to the right of Snape, for she was the only new person. Harry did a double take and realized it was the witch he had seen the night before at Kingsley's house. He tried to remember who she resembled, but the Sorting Hat's brim had torn open, and it began to sing.

I am the Sorting Hat

Sewn long ago

Which can speak of the 'morrow

And days of the old

Upon your heads I sit

And name you to houses

All four of them great

Any one of you may lounge in

Courageous Gryffindor

No danger untold

Students in this house

Are brilliant and bold

Stealthy Slytherin

Determined and focused

Watch them with both eyes

Or they may swarm you like locusts

Witty old Ravenclaw

With its students so smart

They have studying and note-taking

Down to an art

Humble Hufflepuff

With their hearts of gold

They are a good mixture

Of all the traits shown

Here are the houses

Which reside in noble Hogwarts

But on the outside of these walls

Lay dangers in cohorts

Beware of great things

That are rising against us

Join together and blend

Do not dwell on grudges

Study the arts

That are plentiful here

So you may be prepared

For the dangers this year

The students and teachers burst into applause.

Ron leaned over to Harry and muttered under his breath, "About the same as last year."

Professor McGonagall called, "Aplin, Gavin!"

As he was sorted into Gryffindor, Harry lost interest. He started staring idly at his plate and imagined the house-elves scurrying around beneath them preparing the feast.

Hermione jabbed him sharply in the ribs with her elbow to get his attention as, "Zimmerman, Alicia!" was sorted into Ravenclaw.

Harry was glad she didn't know what he was thinking about the house-elves, or she would have jabbed him much harder. Dumbledore stood slowly, and a great hush fell over the Great Hall.

"I have some very important announcements, but right now I don't fancy them being more important than the magnificent feast that awaits us. Tuck in!" he said, sitting back down.

The plates magically filled before them, and everyone began reaching in various directions to grab their favorite foods. Mrs. Weasley fed them well, but there was just nothing like a Hogwart's feast.

"Whozat?" Ron asked Hermione, motioning to the young witch at the staff table.

Hermione dusted bits of crumb from the sleeve of her robes that Ron had sprayed her with and gave him a disgusted look.

"I have no idea. I suppose she is the Dark Arts teacher," Hermione said, helping herself to some steak and kidney pie. "She is rather pretty."

"Yeah, she is," Ron said, gazing at the unknown woman.

Hermione shot him a look to kill. After everyone had finished and the plates had been wiped clean, Dumbledore stood once again. The students fell silent and looked at him.

"Welcome new arrivals, and welcome back to our old hands. First, I would like to announce that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to all students, even those with the best intentions," Dumbledore said, smiling at Hermione who blushed deeply.

Harry knew he was talking about when Hermione had led Umbridge into the forest last year to escape to rescue Sirius. Harry felt a stab of pain at the thought of this and quickly pushed it from his mind.

"Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has posted a brand-new list on his office door of items banned from the hallways of Hogwarts that I believe includes every item from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Also, magic is not allowed in the corridors between classes. We have one new teacher to introduce. She is to take over the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, and she is Miss Gloria McGonagall," Dumbledore said.

"I thought McGonagall's name was Minerva," Ron said, looking confused.

Hermione and Harry rolled their eyes. The pretty witch waved and smiled, and Harry had to admit that she was quite beautiful.

"Miss McGonagall has just graduated from the Institution of Higher Magical Learning in London," Dumbledore continued. "We are very glad to have her with us. If you haven't guessed by now, Gloria is our Transfiguration professor's niece, and I daresay it will be confusing with the two of you here."

Minerva and Gloria smiled at him, and Harry could now see the striking resemblance between the two. He couldn't believe he hadn't seen it before.

"I believe everyone is ready for bed, so I shall now say goodnight," Dumbledore finished, and everyone rose from their seats.

Harry asked Ron the password before Hermione and him set off on their prefect duties.

"Believe it or not, mate, it's Flying Thestrals," he said and walked after Hermione.

Harry made his way to Gryffindor tower on the seventh floor. He stopped in front of the Fat Lady and muttered the password.

"It most certainly is, dear," she said and the portrait swung open.

The common room was deserted. Harry hurried up to the boy's dormitory. It was deserted as well. He quickly changed into his pajamas and climbed in his bed. He waved his wand at the curtains, and they closed. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to anyone. It was just that he had had such a good day, and he wanted to fall asleep before his thoughts were taken over by the events of the previous night. His head hit the pillow, and he was out before anyone else came in.