Ch4.

The Welcome Back Feast

Ron, who was tangled in his bed sheets from falling off his bed, was struggling to free himself while calming Harry.

"What happened mate?" he asked, looking utterly petrified. There was a knock on the door.

"Harry, Ron, are you both alright?" It was Hermione.

"Yes, we're alright." Harry replied, getting up from the bed to let Hermione in, who was followed by Ginny. Ron was still struggling with his blankets.

"Why were you screaming?" Hermione asked. She was looking between the two of them. Ginny had taken pity on Ron and was now helping to untangle him.

"I-I had another-er-dream." All three of them stopped and stared at him in bewilderment, "I didn't mean to see it, I closed my mind off and everything. I swear!" It was the truth. Ever since Sirius's death, Harry made it a point to practice occulmeny. He wasn't going to get any more of the people he loved killed.

"We should probably tell someone." Ron said.

The three of them went to the kitchen when they found Lupin and Tonks drinking tea. Both of them snapped their heads up at the sound of them entering.

"What are you all doing awake?" Lupin asked.

"Wotcher, Harry, everything alright?"

"Harry had a dream." Hermione spoke before any of the others could open their mouths.

"What was it?" Lupin asked in a serious tone. Harry sat and told them all that he could remember of the dream-slash-vision he had had. When he finished, Lupin;s eyes looked distant and concentrated on something else. Tonks was fingering her cup absentmindedly. Hermione was biting her lower lip while Ron's jaw hung open. The only person who was looking at Harry was Ginny and her face remained blank.

"And you've been studying occulmency?" Lupin asked quite suddenly making Harry jump.

"Yes, I've been studying ever since-er-the ministry incident." Lupin nodded his head at Harry, still lost in his own thoughts.

"Well, I'll pass it along to DUmbledore. For now just forget about this whole thing and keep practicing occulmency." Harry nodded and the four stood to return to their rooms.

"Wotcher Harry, I never asked you how you did on your O.W.L.S."

"Oh, I received six O.W.L.S."

"Wow, six, not bad. What did you get them in?"

"Outstanding in Care of Magical Creatures, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Exceeding Expectations in Potions, Transfiguration, and Herbalogy." Tonks smiled and nodded her head in approval.

"And you Ron?"

"I received six as well." Ron said, though not at all enthusiastically.

"And...?" Tonks persuaded.

"Outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Care of Magical Creatures. Exceeding Expectations in Charms and Transfiguration, and Average in, " Ron hung his head and muttered, "Devination, although I'm not really sure why I passed that!" He added hastily. Harry and Hermione caught one another's eye and both had to stifle a laugh.

"Not bad," Tonks said again with approval, "And you Hermione?"

"Ten" She said beaming, "in all of my classes, Outstanding in all except Astrology which I received an Exceeding Expectations. But I won't be continuing with Astrology or History of Magic." She added. Tonks' jaw dropped open, but she shook her head playfully at Hermione,

"One day, Hermione, you will realize that brains aren't everything and most of those things you learn from half of those classes will probably never come to use in your life now." Hermione's jaw dropped this time and she was rendered speechless. Lupin cleared his throat,

"You all have a busy day tomorrow, why don't you go on and head to bed." They each nodded and bid goodnight. Harry tried to concentrate on clearing his mind, but worries of another dream eluded him. He finally gell back to sleep just before dawn.

The next morning Harry awoke to the house in complete chaos.

"Breakfast is ready, so eat quickly." Mrs. Weasley told Harry as she whipped past.

"How are we getting to King's Cross?" Harry asked Lupin as he sat down to eat some eggs with Ron.

"We're walking again. We have many more Order members this year, so the Guard will be bigger. We tried getting cars, but they were being used by Ministry workers.

After a quick breakfast, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny said their good-byes and followed their Guard through London to King's Cross. Not once did anything remotely interesting happen during the walk to the train station. When they arrived, Harry and Ron leaned against the barrier, faking a conversation and then gracefully fell through. While they waited for the others to follow, Harry thought about the train station last year when Sirius had transformed into a dog and walked with them to King's Cross. It took Harry a few minutes to realize that Lupin was talking to him,

"I'm sorry, I was just thinging. I didn't hear what you were saying."

"I was just telling you to remember to study occulmency, but if you do have another dream, tell Dumbledore or McGonagall immediately. If you can't find them, find the first Professor you see. Write to me as much as possible and I will send word to you when I can."

"Okay I will. Who do you think they were talking about in my dream?" Harry asked. For some unknown reason, Harry felt compelled to protect these two people that the strange man is after.

"We have a good idea of who it is. But I already told you not to worry about them."

"I can't help it, you didn't see his eyes Remus. They were cold, almost dead like." Harry shuddered at the memory, "And when it came to the punishment, he almost looked...happy about it." Harry repressed another shudder.

"How do you mean?" Lupin asked searching Harry's face as if trying to see the memory himself.

"He seemed excited about being cursed. I can't really explain it. I mean, he smiled even!" Just then the whistle blew and they were rushed to say good-byes. Once on the train they split, Ron and Hermione went to the Prefect Compartment while Harry and Ginny walked the length of the train until they came to an empty compartment.

Harry and Ginny sat in silence for a few minutes before there was a knock on the compartment door. Looking up, Harry saw that it was Neville and waved him in.

"Hey Harry, Ginny, have a good holiday?"

"Hi Neville, yes it was good." Ginny replied.

"How was yours Neville?"

"Fairly good, I saw an old friend of mine who I hadn't seen in a few years and Gran and I went to Italy for a week. It was really amazing!" Neville was so excited that he was panting slightly. He flopped down on a seat next to Ginny, "Do you mind if I ride with you guys?"

"Of course not!" They both answered.

Harry and Neville played Wizard's Chess and Ginny read a book all the while making small talk.

"Harry, I ran into Katie Bell at the station. She said she wasn't made Captain of the Quittach team and asked if you were." Ginny said.

"Er-did she seem angry about it?" Harry asked. Ever since he got his leter for the returning year with the Quittach Captain pin, Harry had wondered what Katie would think. She has been on the team as long as Harry and is an extremely talented chaser.

"No, in all honesty, she seemed almost relieved that it wasn't her. You can't really blame her though, can you? I mean, you remember what Angelina was like being Captain in her seventh year, I can't even begin to imagine what Wood was like when he was Captain."

"Yeah, I guess. Though, it will be a completely new team if you think about it, well, for me anyway." Harry replied.

"Don't worry Harry, I'm sure you'll do great!" Neville told him beaming, "So, Ginny, I take it that you weren't made a Prefect." Neville said quietly. To both his and Harry's surprise, Ginny laughed.

"Prefect, me?" I think not! See, in my family everyone does something special to stand out, like becoming Prefect or Head boy, but for me, I already stand out." She paused to look at them and laughed again, "I'm the only girl!"

"Well that's one way to look at it." Neville said, shaking his head in bewilderment. Not long after this the food trolley came and Harry bought just about everything. Ron and Hermione walked in right after and flung themselves into empty seats.

"Same business as last year." Ron announced.

"Same people as last year too. Although I will say that Malfoy certainly looked a bit-sour-this year." Hermione added with a chuckle.

"I would be too if my dad was in prison." Ron replied, all of them laughed. No sooner were the words leave his mouth then did the compartment door open and there stood Draco Malfoy and his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.

"Having a go at me, are you? Well, we'll see who's laughing at the end of all of this. My father will get out of Azkaban and he will want revenge!" Harry laughed again at Malfoy,

"What, you think I can't handle Malfoy Senior?"

"My faher is a powerful man-"

"Let me remind you Malfoy that I took on an even more powerful man, and survived."

"MY FATHER WILL HAVE HIS REVENGE!" Malfoy yelled, panting slightly with anger, "You mark my words Potty, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will triumph over you, all of the, " he glanced at Hermione, "-Mudbloods will fall and the right way of our world will prevail. Mark my words Potty-Weasel." Malfoy turned and left the compartment followed by his goons.

"It's not Him that will win, we will, I know we will. We've have Dumbledore and Harry on our side." Neville said looking around at all of them. Harry felt his face redden and looked determindly at the ground.

"Well, I better go find Dean." Ginny said, breaking the silence. She stood and quickly left the compartment. Ron gave a sour look at Harry before he ripped open some chocolate frogs and ate them.

"I'm never going to date your sister, so you better get over it now." Harry told Ron with a smile.

"Well, why not?" Ron asked looking rather upset at the idea of Harry not dating Ginny.

"Because I don't think of her like that!"

"Fine then!"

They spent most of the train ride playing chess and eating their snacks. Every once in awhile, Ron and Hermione would patrol the corridor or stop a fight. Luna stopped in to say hello and stayed to chat until Ginny came back anouncing that they were nearly there and should change into their school robes. When the train slowed down to a stop, Harry and Ginny left carrying Hedgwig, Pig, and Crookshanks while Ron and Hermione went to help supervise. Stepping off of the train, Harry heard the familiar voice calling the first years,

"Firs' yers o'er 'here" Harry smiled at Hagrid, "'ello Harry."

"Hi Hagrid" Harry and Ginny followed the pushing crowd toward the carriages. Harry's eyes fell upon the Threstals and he repressed a sigh. They reminded him of that terrible night.

"Don't think about them Harry." Ginny whispered into his ear. Harry started and looked at her. She seemed to be watching him closely, "the Threstals I mean." she added.

"Hey, I found an empty one!" Neville cried. Ginny and Neville climbed in while Harry waited for Ron and Hermione. Harry was still watching the winged hrses and didn't realize Ron and Hermione had joined him until Ron cleared his thoart. When Harry faced them, they too, were looking at the haunting winged horses, although they could not see them.

"Are you-er-ready to go mate?"

"Yeah, let's go." They climbed into the carriage and sat in silence during the ride to the castle.

When they reached the castle, they were ushered inside by the crowd and stood in the entrance hall. Harry felt a tap on his arm and looked down to see Professor Flitwick at his side. Harry stooped slightly to hear him,

"Professor McGonagall would like to see you in her office, Mr. Potter." and then turned to help some students open the Great Hall doors. Harry looked back at Ron and Hermione who gave him curious looks. Harry shrugged his shoulders and left his friends to visit McGonagall in her office. She met Harry there and led him inside, there she had him sit and offered him a biscuit.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Lupin has informed us that you have had another drea, is this correct?"

"Er-yes Professor." Harry wasn't sure if he was about to be told-off for having seen what he had.

"And I was informed that you are still continuing with your occulmency, is that correct?" Harry nodded to her, "Professor Dumbledore would like for you to recount your dream. He will inform you to when that shall be, for now I would like for you to recount it to me."

By the time Harry had finished telling McGonagall his dream and answered all of her questions, and had seated himself next to Neville, the sorting had ended and Dumbledore was getting read to begin his speech.

As Dumbledore stood at the end of the sorting, the Great Hall doors opened and a man around his thirties and a girl who looked about Harry's age walked in. The silence taht had filled the Great Hall when Dumbledore stood had been a very pleasant one, now was very tense and every student's face had the look of curiosity upon it. The man walked up between the benches with the girl close at his heels. The man had a large grin across his face and when he reached Dumbledore, the two of them shook hands like old friends and began a whispered conversation. Harry turned his attention to the girl. She was quite pretty from what Harry could tell. She had long, straight brown hair and dark eyes. She had the look of utmost terror on her face, Harry couldn't blame her for being scared, he was sure that he had the same look everytime he found himself facing an unknwn crowd.

"Who do you think they are?" Ron whispered.

"Obviously he's the new DADA Professor. I'm not sure who the girl is though." Hermione answered with the roll of her eyes. Slowly the men disengaged themselves and the man walked to the empty seat at the head table. Dumbledore cleared his thoat.

"Everyone, I would like to introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Adams. He taught defense back in America and was kind enough to honor us with his presence this year and hopefully for many years to come." There was a polite applause at this introduction. "I would also like to introduce Professor Adams sister, Tally Adams, who will now be attending Hogwarts. Ms. Adams will be starting her sixth year and I expect everyone to treat her with great respect, help her when she needs it, and show Hogwarts at its best." Again there was polite applause. Harry saw her smile and wave. When he looked around he found that it was Neville to whom she was waving at. "now, Ms. Adams, you shall be sorted into a house, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff. The house you are sorted into is where you will sleep and those students in your house will be your companions and your classmates. Professor McGonagall, if you please." With that, Professor McGonagall stepped forward with the stool and the hat once more and placed them next to Tally. She then instructed Tally to sit on the stool and place the hat on her head. Tally, looking apprehensive, did as she was told. After several moments, and a few of Ron's disgruntled groans, the hat finally opened its rip and shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" Everyone was clapping and cheering, but none louder than Neville, who was actaully standing. Tally, who looked emensely relieved, smiled broadly and took a seat between Neville and Harry. they didn't have a chance to ask questions because Dumbledore had risen again and he hall became quiet once more. "I have a few anouncements to make. Mr Filtch, the caretaker, would like to remind students that there is to be no magic in the corridors. He would also like to remind you that there is a long list of items that are banned from use. If you wish to know what those items are, feel free to view the list hanging on Mr. Fitch's door. I would also like to say and remind some of the older students that the forest," Harry remembered Grawp and threw a panicked look in Ron and Hermione's direction, "is forbidden to all. Now just two words for you all, let's eat." Many of the students laughed as the empty plates began to fill with food. Harry began to dish some food for himself when he heard Neville speak,

"How come you never told me you were coming to Hogwarts?"

"Sorry Nev, but Josh specifically told me not to tell anyone, but who cares, right? This should be a fun two years." She smiled again and turned to face everyone. At closer inspection Harry realized that she had dark green eyes that went well with her olive skin and dark brown hair. Harry self-consciously tried to tidy his own black hair, "Hi, I'm Tally!" She introduced herself.

"I'm Hermione Granger, this is Ron Weasley, and that is Harry Potter." When Hermione pointed to Harry, Tally had slowly turned her head to face him. Harry saw her eyes widen slightly at his name, but they did not make the famiiar flicker upward to his scar that he had become accustomed to. Instead, she held out her hand and said,

"You know Harry, you and I are very much alike, we both had scars that run deep."

"What do you mean?" But she only smiled wider and returned to her food. Harry gave a curious look to Ron, who raised his eyebrows in return. Hermione leaned in towards Harry and whispered,

"Harry, what was that look you gave us during Dumbledore's speech?"

"Huh?"

"When Dumbledore mentioned the Forbidden Forest."

"Oh yeah, I was just thinking about Grawp. What do you think happened to him?" Before Ron and Hermione could reply, Harry heaerd someon spit out their juice and utter a word of disgust. Harry saw that is was Tally who had done it, whiping her mouth she asked,

"Ew, what is this stuff?" She was holding her goblet and her eyes held the look of uncertainty.

"Pumpkin juice." Ron replied. He was looking at Tally as if she had completely lost her marbles.

"Gross, I'll be right back," She set her goblet down, stood up, and walked the length of the table to the Head table. Harry watched her walk to her brother and whisper something to him. Harry realized that Hermione was talking to him.

"I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

"I was saying that Grawp is probably still in the forest, unless the Centaurs had things their way." Harry didn't think Hagrid would have let anytihng happen to Grawp and so Grawp was undoubtedly involved him Harry's future.

Shortly after leaving the table, Tally returned with a bottle of water. Upon seeing their curious faces, she explained.

"I have a bad heart, so I have to live a healthy life. As a result, Josh-er-Professor Adams, carries water with him at all times for me." She looked around at everyone, shrugged her shoulders, and returned to her food.

"You have a bad heart? Can't they fix it?" Hermione asked tentively.

"They've tried and failed miserably. Now the Healers feel that it's just best to live a normal, healthy life as much as I possibly can." She gave them a shy smile.

"Tally, where's Angel?," Neville asked, "I would really like to see her."

"Oh she would love to see you too, Nev, it's been so long. I think she's in the kitchen with all the other house-elves." It was Hermione's turn to spit out her pumpkin juice, staining the table cloth much worse,

"You have a house-elf?" she asked shrilly, her hair, bushy as it is, seemd to have electrified itself and was standing on end.

"well, yeah." Tally replied, looking alarmed at Hermione's change.

"Bu-but, how could you have a house-elf?" Hermione sputtered. Harry and Ron gave each other wary looks. Harry knew where this was going and he did not care to be a witness to it.

"I-I don't know. Angel's mother was my mother's and Angel became ours too." tally's terrifed face was nothing compared to Hermione's own, whose was red with rage.

"That is slavery!" Hermione said sharply. A shocked tally replied back,

"No it's not!" Hermione began to yell in fury,

"Do you pay her? Give her sick days? Or Vacations?"

"No we don't pay her, but she's never asked for it either!" Tally equally shouted back, "And we do give her days off when she asks for them! How dare you judge me an dmy family, you don't know anything about us or the type of relationship we have with our house-elf!"Tally's chest was heaving from the yelling. She had jumped up from her seat while she was yelling and now quickly glanced around the Great Hall. Most eyes were on her and Hermione. Harry noticed a peculiar sneer on Malfoy's face and wondered for a moment what it meant. Tally sank back into her seat with her face red from both anger and embarrassment. Everyone ate in silence after that.

Dumbledore rose from his seat once more as the dishes cleared themselves.

"What was that all about?" Ron asked Hermione.

"She has a house-elf."

"So? She's allowed to have one. She's right you know, you don't know how she treats her house-elf or the type of relationship they have." Hermione opened her mouth to retort but everyone was getting up to leave the Great Hall.

"Oh bother, FIRST-YEARS THIS WAY!" Ron and Hermione left Harry and so he began to make his way to the Gryffindor Tower alone. Half way there he ran into Neville and Tally. Neville smiled but Tally shot him a dirty look.

"I'm sorry about Hermione, she's very-er-passionate when it comes to certain things. No matter what anybody tells her about house-elves, she will always believe it's slavery."

"She's a Muggle-born then?" Tally asked. Harry could still hear the anger in her voice.

"Yes"

"Then maybe she should ask before she assumes anything." With that, tally turned around and walked ahead of Neville and Harry. They saw her introduce herself to Parvati and Lavender and begin a conversation with them.

"She's right you know." Harry started at the sound of Neville's voice, having forgotten he was there.

"What, who?"

"Tally, she's right about Hermione and about you."

"What do you mean?" Harry was clueless to what Neville was referring to.

"Hermione doesn't understand about Tally and her relationship with her house-elf, Angel. Infact, very few poeple do. They treat her like a member of their family. There is a history there, a common understanding between them. There is a reason she told you that both of you are similiar." Harry, who had been confused before, had become even more baffled at what Neville had said.

"What type of history? What happened and how are we alike?"

"I can't tell you. Tally doesn't want people to know. She already is the 'new student', she doesn't want people talking even more aobut her. Let's just say that she has a dark past. She has seen terrible things, Harry, things that only you could possibly understand." They had just reached the Fat Lady were Tally was waiting so Harry was unable to ask Neville anything else.

"Lavender said that the password is Norwedgian Ridgeback." Tally told them before stepping through the portrait hole ahead of them. She made her way back over to Lavender and Parvati, said good-night to Neville, nodded to Harry before following the girls up to their respective dormitories. Neville then headed off to the boys dormitories with Harry following behind.

His mind was whirling, jsut what exactly was in Tally's past and why didn't she want anyone to know? What had she seen and why was she so defensive about her house-elf? Plus, how and where did Neville fit into all of this?

Harry had already settled into his bed by the time Ron came into the dormitory.

"Hermione is still fuming, won't shut-up about the whole thing." Ron whispered to Harry.

"Well I hope she doesn't upset Tally too much on her first day. They probably have toshare the same dormitory as well."

After Ron had settled into his own bed, they bid each other good-night and Harry was again left with the strange thoughts he was having. However, having little sleep the night before and a long day, it didn't take long for himto fall asleep.