Dear Readers,

This is the third chapter, I apologize ever so greatly for the abundant length of time I require to complete each chapter, I am stressing with my workload, and fitting my writing in is a challenge. I will try my best to solve this problem. One more warning: they will act out of character... everyone! I am sorry; I'll try not to let them, but a warning in case some events trouble with your Harry Potter reality.

Reviews: Questions and Inquiries: First of all, each and every person who has reviewed my story. If you have then I thank you with all my heart. After each review I receive I start bouncing off the walls in joy for at least two weeks, if you have written, you know what it feels like. I wish I could show these reviews to my English teacher who perceives my writing as utter rubbish. I would like ten reviews to encourage me, every time someone reviews it also makes me feel guilty enough to write as much as possible. Now for a few questions and inquiries: A person asked me why I did not include detail into Hermione failing a class. I think you misunderstood; Hermione received an E in Astrology which stands for Exceeds Expectations, the second best grade. Someone asked me about traditional pairings: more or less. You will figure out whom Harry 'fancies' in this chapter (maybe) and Hermione is paired somewhat traditionally... (You can guess for yourself, Snape of coarse... just KIDDING!). Harry fainting? Some may ask: What. The. HELL? Sorry but I felt it would be ok, if I had realized that I haven't spoken for more than a month I would faint too. Oh fine, it was utterly stupid, blame me. And also, don't worry, Harry will train, it's important! For those who have said they liked my story, again, THANK YOU SO MUCH, it makes me feel so good. Enjoy this chapter, a bit short but better than nothing. I don't own Harry Potter.

The Train and the Tree

Every day of the second month of Harry's summer vacation, he stared hopefully out the window, then at the walls, then longingly at the ceiling. The summer passed at a snail's pace, a snail trapped in heat and worry, a lonely snail with nowhere to go. Harry technically awoke on September the 1st, though many would say it was late on August the 31st.

The sun had already appeared, Harry stared at it distinctly, hypnotized. BANG! If Harry had time to accustom to the use of his voice, he would have screamed. Suddenly his room was occupied by not one lone boy, but by four more men. Remus Lupin, Alastor Moody, Kingsley Shaklebolt and Bill Weasley were beaming at him.

"How are you Harry?" asked Lupin who was Harry's x-professor, a werewolf, and one of Harry's father's best friends. He seemed to be calm, unlike "Mad-Eye" Moody who was aggressively searching Harry's room.

"I'm... I'm fine." He managed. He stared the rest of the group, noticeably smaller then it had been the previous year.

"Hi Harry" said Bill, the eldest Weasley sibling with gleaming red hair. Harry shook his hand. "We're going straight to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, the others are already there.

"Where's your bookshelf boy?" growled Moody, an ex-auror who was supposed to have taught Harry in his forth year. "Show me Potter, don't touch." He said when Harry tried to clear numerous old toys that were abandoned by Dudley.

"How are we getting there, Portkey?" asked Harry. A portkey was a certain object that would teleport those who touch it to a different location.

"Yes" agreed Kingsley Shaklebolt in his deep voice. "It's the third shelf from the top is it not?" he asked turning to Moody.

"This one" said Moody, pointing to a dusty shelf. "We have fifteen minutes left, gather your things Potter. Harry had already prepared all of his school things, checking and double-checking that his Firebolt was securely packed. His Firebolt was one of his most prized possessions, the best broomstick model that Harry was prohibited from seeing most of his fifth year, the broomstick that Sirius had given Harry on the Christmas on his third year...

"Is that all of it?" asked Lupin pointing to the trunk Harry had placed in the corner.

"Yes. Er... Professor Lupin, I don't have any school supplies.

"Don't worry about it." Replied Bill calmly "Mum said she took out some gold for you and got all of the supplies on your list."

And so they waited another ten minutes in silence, Harry waited for Moody to tell them it was time. Finally Moody interrupted the stillness of Harry's bedroom.

"Pick your things up Potter, and touch the Portkey when I say three." Harry followed the orders "one, two, three!"

Harry laid his right hand on the portkey along with the others, the rush of being carried from one place to another contrasted greatly from Harry's two months of silence. His head spun but he adjusted quickly to the re-introduction of magic after two months.

Before Harry even opened his eyes the spinning stopped. Harry was pushed abruptly to one side as he realized he was at the busy train station standing in-between Platform nine and ten.

"Sorry" muttered a muggle, a non-magical person, dressed in a respected suit, hurriedly.

"There they are!" he heard Lupin say, pointing behind Harry. He quickly turned around to see quite a few bright red-heads and one bushy, brown one. Hermione ran at Harry and hugged him.

"Harry, we missed you. There's so much news, we'll tell you once we're in the train though. How have you been?" Harry was smiling at relief of finally being here, on his way to Hogwarts, his home.

"I've been ok" he answered looking around Hermione to see who else was present. Ron was right behind Hermione, grinning. Behind him was his sister Ginny, his twin brothers Fred and George and their mom, Mrs. Weasley.

They all greeted him, beaming. Even though Mrs. Weasley often hugged Harry and treated him as her own son, it made him feel a little more normal, as normal as it was possible for Harry Potter to feel.

While he was discussing joke-shop business with the twins minutes passed to leave them only ten to the departure of the train. This being Harry's sixth year going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry he knew perfectly well how to get through the barrier to Platform nine and three quarters. All there was to it was to not attract any attention to muggles surrounding them.

Kingsley Shaklebolt went through the barrier first to be the guard that would meet them. Moody stayed behind and went last to confirm that everyone passes to the platform in one piece.

Harry, Ron and Hermione said good-bye to the remaining Weasleys and The Guard. As they were searching for a compartment that was not yet full they were greeted by many of their classmates including: Neville Longbottom, an extremely forgetful boy who somewhat proved himself the previous year, when helping Harry fight off Lord Voldemort. The memory of the event did not please Harry. He also met Dean Thomas, another fellow Gryffindor who was muggle-born.

Finally, they found an empty compartment and settled themselves in it, preparing for the journey to Hogwarts.

"So mate, how were the muggles this year?" Ron asked half-smiling, trying to make the situation humorous for Harry.

"I don't know." Answered Harry, shrugging truthfully "They haven't talked to me the whole summer, I wasn't complaining though." He paused while Ron snorted and Hermione looked worried. "What news is there that you wanted to tell me?"

"The Death Eaters that were captured last year, after the Ministry started trusting you of course, well they escaped." said Hermione, angry as if she herself just heard the news for the very first time. Harry swore, shaking his head, even though it did not surprise him that the Ministry could imprison Death Eaters while Voldemort was in power for only so long, it was still a reminded of how helpless the situation was.

"No one knows anything about the Dementors" continued Ron "Where they are I mean; everyone knows they're working for Voldemort now. Dad said the panic is rising like it did before, but he hasn't attacked yet which causes everyone to expect the worse.

"I think Snape is working as a spy again, what else could have he had to have been 'prepared to do' that Dumbledore would have asked of him?" Hermione offered.

"You think Dumbledore has an idea of wh..." Harry was interrupted when the door of the compartment slid open. An unfamiliar girl who looked about their age was facing them. She had dark wavy hair that fell below her shoulders, pale skin, and a pretty face.

"Can I stay here, the rest of the train is completely occupied." She asked panting very lightly with the weight of her trunk.

"Sure" answered Ron, looking at her completely puzzled, staring at her strangely, even somewhat rudely.

"I haven't ever seen you at Hogwarts. You don't look like a first year..." said Hermione politely.

"I'm in sixth. My parents have lived in England for over a year, it was difficult to be so far away from them. I've been attending Durmstrang until my fifth year."

"Wow!" said Hermione, clearly fascinated. "I didn't know you can transfer between magical schools, I've never read about it."

"Well no, I was lucky Dumbledore allowed it. To be truthful, there's more reasoning to it. Durmstrang is not a good place to be at, especially now that... well, now that things have become more dangerous." There was silence for the next few seconds. Harry could tell that Hermione was dying to ask more questions, by the way her eyes were shining but she waited.

"My name is..." she started, but Harry interrupted.

"Maria Black." He said, surprising himself and all the others at speaking for the first time, so suddenly. Hermione and Ron's heads whipped around, but Maria merely looked at him strangely.

"How did you know?" she asked simply. Harry was taken aback by her calmness contrasting with Ron and Hermione's bewildered and demanding expressions.

"I... I received your school letter by mistake but the owl quickly noticed the mistake and exchanged it to my letter. I noticed the name and didn't recognize it. Your surname... Black..."

"Yes, it's my mother's maiden name. My older sister got my dad's name, Tonks. But my mother wanted me to carry on the Black name."

"You're related to Tonks?" asked Ron bemused.

"If you're talking about my sister then yes, I am." She answered coolly.

"I'm Hermione Granger." Said Hermione before Ron could interrupt rudely again. "That's Ron Weasley and Harry Potter." Maria shook all of their hands, looking back in Harry's eyes. Her own were a soft hazel and her eyes held warmth.

"If you're related to Tonks then you're related to..." Harry was going to say Malfoy, who was her cousin and his enemy, but he felt that it would expose her unkindly to something she may be ashamed of. "Sirius Black, he's your second uncle." said Harry, stating the obvious. He recalled the family tree that Sirius had shown him the previous year. Sirius's name had already been burned out of the tree, Harry wondered if there was now a death date below the black hole that replaced his name.

"Yes" Maria replied, her voice hushed but as clear as ever. Again there was silence. Harry noticed that Ron and Hermione were regarding him carefully for mentioning Sirius.

The train whistled and departed.

Well if you read my story please review. My goals for each chapter is ten reviews, but believe me, each and every one encourages me so very much. Just take two extra seconds for me please! Thank you for reading. I apologize for the strangeness ahead of time.