OOO WEE!! Look another story. Alrighty folks! This is going to be a little different from my first story. I hope you will all like it just as much though. I am enjoying writing it and thinking everything up so far. And for people who've read my first story, Summer Breeze, a sequel to that is in the works, so keep checking back. Please R&R!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. The plot and original characters are mine however!

The lyrics are " Weak and Powerless " by A Perfect Circle

Tilling my own grave to keep me level
Jam another dragon down the hole
Digging to the rhythm and the echo of a solitary siren
One that pushes me along and leaves me so
Desperate and ravenous
So weak and powerless, over you

Harry Potter smiled to himself as the Hogwarts Express raced along the countryside tracks. It was a bright day, and the train was filled with happy chatter. Ron and Hermione sat at the seat opposite of him, their finger intertwined. It was the beginning of their seventh and final year and though Harry was excited to be off into the real wizarding world, pursuing his career as an Auror, the slight inevitable sadness of this being his final year, weighed slightly on his mind. He didn't have time to think of that though, no one was giving him even a minutes peace. There was rumor that a big surprise was in store for them in school, which had everyone on the edge of their seats. Of course, people had come to their own conclusions. Second and third years exchanged stories of brutal combat and hairy monsters, scaring the life out of the new first years. Hermione was the first to put a stop to their fun, and it looked like she was going to be resented again this year. She had been made Head Girl and shared the honour with Draco Malfoy, who had been appointed Head Boy that year. None of this really surprised Harry or anyone else. Hermione had shuddered at the thought of having to share a dorm with Malfoy. Harry, Ron and Hermione had kept a mutual dislike with Malfoy the past six years. It was strange to day when they first got on the train that Malfoy only nodded to acknowlege their prescence. Usually the four of them would be slinging insults at eachother by now, that didn't happen. Maybe he'd grown up, matured. Maybe the three of them needed to do the same. Harry wasn't quite sure.

His thoughts were broken as the door the their compartment slid open and Ginny sauntered inside, with Neville Longbottom at her heels. The two shared and uncanny interest in eachother and had been dating for the past year. Neville was like a puppy dog. He'd changed quite a bit over the years. He was no longer the short, chubby boy when they first started. He was now tall and slim, and to many of the girls rather attractive. Ginny in her own right had gone from the awkward little girl to a lovely young woman. Her hair was longer and more wavy now and she started adding just a touch of make-up to her face. Harry could have kicked himself square in the ass for turning her down now. He smiled to himself at his musings. So much for regrets. True, he was the only person in his little clique of friends that was single, but honestly, it didn't bother him as much as he thought. He had other things to keep his mind off the prospect of dating someone. Maybe he didn't even have the time to put into a relationship. Ginny and Neville took a seat next to him, and greeted him warmly. He smiled and greeted them back.

" How was you summer, Harry? " Ginny asked. She had spent her summer with Neville.

" The usual. Spent a couple weeks at home then made my way to the Burrow. " Harry answered with a shrug. " Yours? "

" Interesting enough. " Ginny smirked, and Neville blushed something fierce.

" Ginny, " Ron hissed. " No one needs to hear that. "

Harry couldn't help but laugh. He tried to place himself in Ron's shoes for a minute and couldn't help but agree with Ron. Harry would not prefer to hear about his little sister's sex life, if he had one. Ginny on the other hand, laughed carelessly and flung her arms around Neville's waist. Hermione smiled faintly, shaking her head. Hermione had also changed. She still kept her steadfast study skills and kept the top grade of their year, but the two boys had managed to loosen her up a bit. She was no longer shy to talk about raging hormones and stopped giving so many warnings to carefree Gryffindors. Harry thought her change was brought about, in strong part, by her relationship with Ron. It had blossomed right under Harry's nose at the end of the summer before their sixth year. He sat back and looked at his two best friends. They sat close, Hermione leaning into Ron with her eyes closed while he played with her hair gently. They really were perfect for eachother and it only brought a smile to Harry's face. Yes, the year was looking bright already. Harry had abandoned the trouble boy that he once was. He now realized that he had to much to live for, of course with the prospect of his destiny, he wanted to experience as much as he could. He stopped giving thoughts to the fact that his life was irregular and he was either going to have to murder his archnemesis or be murdered. It only troubled him once in a while when he lay awake on a few sleepless nights. Other then that, he was ready to accept whatever obstacles were thrown his way. He'd gotten tired of being depressed and angry all the time. So with the help of a few friends, he was able to control it and live life to it's fullest.

The Hogwarts Express came to a screeching hault at the Hogsmeade train station somewhere around seven o'clock pm. The usual routine took place, and the students got into the coaches that were pulled along by the thestrals that precious few could see. Hagrid called to the first years and they set forward to sail across the lake towards the castle. This was nothing that felt new to any of the older students and they entered the familiar Great Hall of the castle and took their seats at their House tables. The Great Hall was decorated in the House colors over each table and behind the head tables where the professors sat was a large banner with the school emblem on it. Right in front, stood the stool with the old, tattered Sorting Hat. Harry stomach grumbled as the Professor McGonagall lead the timid looking first years into the Great Hall. Everyone settled in for the long process ahead of them, the Sorting of the first years.

Finally, after an agonizing Sorting ceremony, Professor McGonagall tapped her goblet with a spoon to get the students attention. Professor Dumbledore stood and thanked her quietly.

" A couple of before term announcemnets. Please note that the Forbidden- "

" Forest is off limits to all students, blah blah blah. " Harry muttered, receieving a disapprving glare from Hermione. Harry smiled and sat quietly through the rest of the announcements.

" And lastly, Hogwarts had the honour of playing host this year to a group of American students. They've started a foreign exchange program and we will be getting fifty American students from Corona Borealis for the year. I expect you all to be on your best behaviour and show them the hospitality that you would expect. They will be arriving tomorrow evening and we will be sharing a welcoming feast. Thank you. " he sat and food appeared up and down the tables. The students tucked into their meals without further question.

That night, Harry and Ron, along with their roommates, Neville, Dean, and Seamus sat around their dorm chatting happily. Harry felt at home once again, and the feeling filled the gap in his heart.

" What do you think it'll be like? Having American students here. " Neville wondered aloud.

" I'm not sure about the guys, but you know what they say about American women. " Dean laughed.

" Actually, I don't. What is it they say? " Ron asked, smirking at Dean.

" That they love men with accents and will take any oppurtunity to crawl on top of one. " Dean shot back.

Harry shook his head with a smirk. " You guys have to much time on your hands. "

" Oh please. " Seamus remarked. " As if you would pass up a chance to be fucked senseless by one. "

" That's for me to know and you to find out. " Harry smiled, and crawled into bed. " Now if you'll excuse me. I'm exhausted. "

" I would. " Ron offered in place of Harry.

" I'm telling Hermione that. " Harry threated emptily, but he enjoyed the look of horror that he caught on Ron's face just before he pulled the curtains to his bed shut. That night, Harry lay awake again, only this time he imagined what it would be like to find someone in a new crowd of people.