Author's Note: Here's Chapter Seven - I hope you enjoy it!

QueenWeasel - I'm glad you liked the dream. I thought Harry could use something comforting after everything he's been through.

MinorMistake99 - In reference to your question about Crabbe and Goyle - they were sorted with Malfoy into Slytherin and so are also in sixth year along with Harry. Also, thanks for the comment on Harry and Dumbledore's new relationship. Harry really needs an adult now that Sirius is gone, and I wanted him to have someone at Hogwarts if he needed them.

CHAPTER SEVEN - MAY I PRESENT THE REAL PROFESSOR MOODY

As Harry found himself sitting in the second row together with Ron and Hermione later - after their last experience in Moody's classroom they felt it safer to not sit right up front - he looked at Mad-Eye Moody standing there and felt a distinct sense of deja-vu. Two years before, he, Ron, and Hermione had sat in this very same classroom believing that they were being taught by the real Mad-Eye Moody, a retired Auror and trusted confidant of Albus Dumbledore. As the events of that year had played out, however, the real Moody had been discovered kidnapped, drugged, and locked in his own trunk by an imposter.

It was still raining outside now as Moody checked attendance. Harry found himself becoming more and more curious about what they would actually be taught by the authentic Professor Moody. Moody at last looked up at the class, his magical eye inspecting each student carefully.

"My name is Alastor Moody," he began in his rough voice. "A few of you may know who I am," his magical eye zeroed in on Harry, Ron, and Hermione, "But most of you have only met that imposter." Moody's mangled face twisted sinisterly as he had said the word "imposter." "Just know that that wasn't me! I know you've been taught by many different teachers," Moody's mutilated face grinned slightly at Harry as he had said this, "And I plan to bring all of that knowledge together and take you to the next step. This is an advanced class, so those of you who are here should already know to take this very seriously. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, along with loads of his followers so unceasing vigilance is the key. Today I want to see what you already know, so pair up on that side of the room, now."

As the students paired up and began practicing, Harry felt a surge of pride as everyone in the room executed all of their defense spells flawlessly. Even Moody looked impressed.

"Well, obviously at some point you have all had a very competent teacher," Moody said, as he actually reached over and put a gnarled hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry looked up and saw that everyone there, all former members of the D.A., were beaming happily at him; Ron and Hermione's smiles were especially wide. Harry felt himself blush as he gave a small grin of his own.

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Later at lunch a very wet and bedraggled-looking brown owl came swooping in, homing in on Hermione with a plastic covered rolled-up parcel. As Hermione put knuts into the small pouch attached to its other leg, Ron asked her what she had received.

"Oh, it's just the Daily Prophet. I guess it's late due to the nasty weather," she said, unfurling it and shaking off excess water. Harry had been so preoccupied by his feelings over Sirius that he still hadn't thought to re-subscribe. Harry was just getting ready to ask if he could see it when she was finished, when Hermione gasped. "Look!" she said, as she pushed the paper towards Harry and Ron.

DEATH EATERS BREAK OUT OF AZKABAN PRISON AND RETURN TO HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED

A spokeswizard speaking for Azkaban Prison has finally confirmed that the rumors of a breakout occurring last July are true. Witnesses have now come forward with new information about the mass escape from Azkaban of these known Death Eaters pictured below. These particular Death Eaters had just been captured last June. Ministry insiders from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement provided the identities of these fugitives, all of whom have been determined to be confirmed followers of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Madam Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, disclosed that security has now been tripled at Azkaban Prison and steps are being taken to recapture these highly dangerous fugitives.

CORNELIUS FUDGE AND AIDE LEAVE IN DISGRACE

After numerous allegations of corruption at the Ministry of Magic, Cornelius Fudge was forced to step down as Minister of Magic this morning. A very harassed-looking Fudge was seen vacating the Ministry of Magic headquarters today, followed by his former Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, Dolores Umbridge. Fudge and Umbridge angrily refused to comment when the press attempted to question them after their dismissal. A new Minister of Magic is to be appointed next week according to Ministry insiders.

"Well, that confirms it, Harry," Hermione said, as Harry and Ron finished reading the front page. "You were right. Those Death Eaters did escape last summer."

Harry nodded, grimly. Just like last year, the pictures of the escaped prisoners were now illustrating the front page, Lucius Malfoy among them. Ron looked down agitatedly at the sneering photographs and said, "Blimey, Harry, you're always right."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione all looked anxiously at each other for a moment before glancing up at the staff table. Dumbledore, Moody, and McGonagall were all talking together in a tight knot off to the side as the other teachers read the Daily Prophet in small groups. As Harry had glanced at the staff table, he thought that Snape had been looking at him, but when Harry's eyes had actually fallen upon him, Snape was looking in another direction. Harry then looked over at the Slytherin table. Malfoy was sitting there looking highly pleased with himself. Harry's insides went cold as he watched Malfoy gloating next to Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson; Harry looked away again, almost feeling ill.

That afternoon as he, Ron, and Hermione were coming back tired and dirty from the Herbology greenhouses, Harry again noticed the spot on the grounds where Sirius had come to him in his dream. Absorbed in the memory of the dream, Harry changed direction and strode directly to the spot. Ron and Hermione had been talking together a few steps ahead and were caught unaware by Harry's sudden departure.

"That fanged geranium really did have pretty blooms, though," Hermione was saying.

"Fanged geranium? Hermione, are you mad?" Ron asked, incredulously.

"What? I thought it was lovely." Hermione insisted.

"Hermione, why would you want a flower that can bite, even if it is pretty?" Ron argued, "What bloke would get his girl a plant that could hurt her? He'd have to be either a real prat or completely mental." Ron turned towards her, expecting her to continue arguing with him as usual.

But Hermione instead of arguing back, stopped quickly and looked up at Ron with an oddly misty expression of surprise on her face. "Oh, Ron, that's really so thoughtful of you," she said smiling, her brown eyes focusing up on his face warmly.

Apparently Hermione's tone of voice caught Ron a bit off-guard, and as she continued to smile at him affectionately, Ron blushed and looked shyly away from her. When he did, Ron noticed that Harry was no longer with them.

"Hey, where'd Harry go?" Ron asked.

"Oh," said Hermione, looking around. Apparently she had not noticed, either.

They turned back and saw Harry inspecting a patch of ground by the lake. Harry seemed to be completely preoccupied, and when Hermione reached out and touched his shoulder, Harry actually jumped.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, Harry," she said.

"Yeah, mate, we were just wondering where you'd gone." Ron said. Harry was looking at them somewhat blankly, almost as though he wasn't sure of who they were for a moment.

"Did you lose something?" Hermione asked.

"No, why?" Harry said, much too quickly.

"Well, you were looking in the grass like you had dropped something." Hermione answered, surprised at Harry's sudden jumpiness and anxious reaction to her.

"No. No, I was just ... let's go back inside," Harry said hastily. Harry hadn't told Ron and Hermione about his dream and he wasn't sure that he ever would. Harry felt that some things were just better kept to himself and that this was one of them. Ron and Hermione hastened their steps to catch up to Harry, giving him a searching look as they followed him into the castle.

Later Harry still remained quiet and circumspect as they sat down to dinner. Ron and Hermione noticed as they sat across from Harry that he was playing idly with his food instead of actually eating any of it. As the students slowly cleared out of the dining hall Hermione spoke up tentatively.

"Harry ... Harry, you seem to be a million miles away. Are you quite all right?" Hermione asked, finally getting Harry's attention.

"Huh?" Harry mumbled at first, "Yeah, I'm okay."

Harry had been completely distracted and distant ever since they had come back from the lake a short while before. Harry pulled himself rather sluggishly out of his reverie and looked over at Ron and Hermione. They were sitting very close together on the bench, their shoulders touching. It was as if their close proximity to each other was providing comfort on some unknown level, they didn't seem to be aware of it outwardly. Harry noticed that Ron and Hermione's faces were each mirroring looks of anxious concern as they stared back at him from across the table. Harry realized that he was doing it again; he was shutting them out. Harry looked down at his uneaten dinner and then around at the almost empty dining hall.

"Look, guys," Harry said quietly, even though no one was nearby, "I just need some space sometimes ... you know?" Ron and Hermione seemed to relax ever so slightly.

"You do know we'll do anything we can to help you, Harry." Hermione responded, speaking carefully. She and Ron were looking at Harry cautiously; it was almost as if they knew that something had happened and that he was purposely holding it back from them. After Hermione had spoken, Ron nodded in full agreement. Ron knew Hermione was better at expressing things than he was, though he was not planning to admit that to her anytime soon. Harry sighed darkly, nodding mutely. He knew that they didn't really understand just how horrible he felt right now, no one did. Harry wondered whether this dark cloud of sorrow would ever lift from him entirely as the three of them left and slowly headed back up to Gryffindor tower.

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The following Monday as Harry, Ron, and Hermione were eating breakfast, an owl once again dispatched a new copy of the Daily Prophet onto Hermione's plate, almost spilling Ron's orange juice onto her eggs and toast in the process.

"Bloody Hell!" Ron cursed angrily, as the owl flew towards the enchanted ceiling once more.

Hermione was quite used to Ron's bad morning temper, so she just ignored him as she opened the paper. Ginny was sitting on the other side of Harry with Dean Thomas. They had began going out at the end of last term.

"Oh my," Hermione said, reading the front page aloud so that Harry, Ron, and Ginny could hear. "Listen to this. New Minister of Magic Confirmed. Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt was today appointed as the new Minister of Magic by the Wizengamot after the former Minister, Cornelius Fudge, left last week. Kingsley Shacklebolt has been an Auror for thirty years and has been involved in the capture of many fugitives, including Death Eaters." Hermione continued reading. "Kingsley's first act of office was to repeal any and all educational decrees made by the former Minister of Magic or his Senior Undersecretary during the last school year at Hogwarts. 'The current headmaster is the only one who has the authority or knowledge necessary to dictate what happens at his school.' Shacklebolt stated. 'Albus Dumbledore is quite capable of managing Hogwarts, as he has proven time and again over his many years as headmaster.'"

"Shacklebolt also released publicly information vital to current escaped Death Eaters and the tracking and possible whereabouts of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. 'Investigations are ongoing in relation to current Death Eater activity,' Shacklebolt continued. 'The identities of these Death Eaters have been well established and documented. However, one fugitive wanted by the Ministry has now been cleared of all charges. Sirius Black, who escaped from Azkaban Prison three years ago, has been personally vouched for by Albus Dumbledore as being in no way a supporter of He-Who-Must-Not-be-Named or his associates at any time. I regret to say that Black must be cleared posthumously, as he died while fighting against Death Eaters this past June. I announce this information primarily to put his name once again in good stead and also as a comfort for the family and friends that Sirius has left behind.'" Hermione finished, rather breathlessly.

Dean had been busy buttering a muffin and had not really listened as Hermione had been reading. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny, however, had their eyes glued to Harry. Harry felt himself go white. He had only spoken very intermittently to anyone about Sirius since this summer, and hearing Sirius' death brought up in this very public forum had taken him completely aback. Harry sat there numbly for a moment as he tried to take it all in.

Unexpectedly, Ginny leaned over to Harry and placed her hand on his arm as she repeated softly, "As a comfort for the family Sirius has left behind, Harry." Then Ginny squeezed Harry's arm gently and gazed at him for a moment, a comforting smile playing across her delicate features. For some reason, Harry felt incredibly strengthened by this simple gesture of Ginny's. He smiled back at her as she released his arm and turned her attention back to Dean, who had begun trading chocolate frog cards with Seamus, completely oblivious.

Ron and Hermione were still staring at Harry. Ron had a slightly surprised look of dawning comprehension at what had just transpired between Harry and Ginny. Hermione, however, didn't seemed surprised at all. She simply smiled almost knowingly and turned again to Ron.

"Are you finished then, Ron?" she asked, abruptly taking Ron's attention away from Harry, who had turned to look at Ginny again.

"What ... Oh, I suppose," Ron said, as he asked Harry the same question. Harry nodded and began to get up from the table distractedly. As the three of them walked to the door of the dining hall, Harry turned back on an impulse and looked at the Gryffindor table again. Ginny was still seated by Dean and Seamus, but her face was turned towards the door watching Harry. When he caught her eye, she gave him a gentle smile before turning back to the card game.