"Avada Kedavra!"

Everything seemed to slow down. The green curse of death headed straight toward Harry.

And there was nothing he could do about it.

Suddenly a great red shape flew in front of him, swallowing the curse and bursting into flame. Harry looked at the bird on the ground.

"Thanks, Fawkes," he whispered, and continued fighting.

Soon all the Death Eaters were either gone or stunned on the ground. Parvati, who was still by Harry, fell into his arms, crying. Harry, feeling awkward, patted her back. Harry looked around. The tables, which had held food, were now in pieces and the food splattered up against the house. Mr. Weasley and Fred and George were busy trying to put a fire out in the garden. Harry gave Parvati to Mrs. Weasley, who brought her up to Ginny's room. Harry walked up to Tonks, who was sporting a heavy cut on her arm.

"How many died?" he asked quietly.

Tonks looked at him sadly.

"Padma Patil, Michael Corner, Seamus Finnigan, and Justin Finch-Fletchey."

Harry nodded, blinking tears out of his eyes. He walked away from everyone. When he was in a secluded part of the yard, he sat on a rock. Those four people had been here because of him. It was his fault that they died.

It was long after nightfall that anyone came for him. He was looking at the stars. He heard a twig crack, and he felt someone sit by him.

"Its beautiful isn't it?" Parvati said. Harry looked at her.

"Yes, you are," he said, and then realizing what he had said, he blushed. Parvati laughed.

"Hey, d'you want to go for ride?" he asked. Parvati nodded. Harry summoned his Firebolt, and they climbed on.

"You guys make such a cute couple," Hermione sighed, as Ron turned and said nothing. Hermione hit him on the back

"Thanks." Parvati said, holding Harry's hand. "Harry was really helpful when...well...you know..."

Hermione smiled sadly and took out her wand. She tapped the appropriate bricks and the bricks opened up to show Diagon Alley. The four sent to Gringotts. First they stopped at Ron's vault, which had many more coins in it now, as Fred and George's Joke shop had been a giant success. Next they stopped at Hermione's vault, which was nearly empty. She took what was left and assured them that she had some muggle money that she could exchange. Thirdly they went to Parvati's vault, which was littered with gold, silver, and bronze. There were pictures on the wall, one of each of her parents, one of her and her sister, and one of each her brothers, who also happened to be twins. Parvati said nothing about the pictures, and seemed not to see them until she stared at Padma for a second, after she had gotten her money. She laid her head down on Harry's shoulder and sighed.

"I miss her already..."

Harry patted her back knowingly. "I know, Parvati. I know."

They arrived at Harry's vault. When it opened, Parvati gasped.

"Harry, you're rich! What did your parents do?"

Harry hesitated. What had his parents done? He had grown up (Well, since his first year) hardly even noticing. He shrugged, and the cart brought them back to the top.

The first place they went was Flourish and Blotts. Their lists for school had arrived with their OWL results. He picked up his books, (Advanced Transfiguration, Poisons and how to control them, Charms for Experts, Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them (104th edition), Deadly Plants of the Indian, and Curses and Hexes, ways to use them.) He was unsurprised to see Hermione getting the same books as he did, (although she also got books for Astronomy, Arthimancy, History of Magic and Ancient Runes. Ron got the same books, minus Herbology, and Harry was surprised to see Parvati picking the same books as Ron, plus Divination.

"Are you training to be an Auror too?" Harry asked. Parvati coughed.

"Well, after, you know when, I owled Dumbledore. I hadn't chosen Charms or Transfiguration, but now I want to be an Auror."

"Cool," Harry said, "but why are you in Divination still? You have to know Trelawny is a fraud."

Parvati smiled. "Yes, she is, but that doesn't mean all Seers' are..."

Hermione was the first to catch on, "You mean you're a Seer?"

Parvati nodded.

"Wow, they're supposed to be really rare!" Hermione exclaimed.

"They are. Dumbledore said I have a real gift."

"What part of Divination are you er...Seeing?-in?" Harry asked, hoping he used the right words

"Oh, most of it. I'm hopeless in fire omens, and I can't do palmistry very well, but other then that..."

"Can you tell us anything from the future?" Ron asked.

Parvati shrugged, "Dumbledore says the future can be catastrophic if we know it now, but I will tell you something...the schedule for Mondays will be Charms, Potions, History (if you have it), lunch, Transfiguration, Herbology, and lastly Defense Against the Dark Arts."

The first day of term arrived faster then Harry wanted it to. Soon he and the Weasleys plus Hermione were arriving at Kings Cross, much earlier then usual. They entered the Platform. Only three other people were there, Parvati and her two twin brothers.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione put their trunks into a compartment near the back of the train, just as they usually did, and went out to meet the Patils.

Parvati was the first to meet them.

"Hey guys!" she piped. The three acknowledged her, and she brought them over to her parents. Mrs. Patil was holding onto her husband as though he might vanish into thin air (which was quite possible).

"Mum's not used to the magical world yet, even though she's been in it since before me and...well you know, were born." Parvati whispered.

"Oh, so you're a half blood?" Harry asked.

"Yea, didn't you know that?"

"Nope. I'm a half blood too, by my mums grandmum." Harry said. The words felt weird in his mouth. He had never said grandmum. He didn't even know if it was right.

Parvati didn't seem to notice. She brought Harry over to her brothers.

"These are my brothers, Percival and Peregrin. They prefer Percy and Perry though."

Harry found it quite odd that all the Patils' names started with P.

People had started arriving. Lavender helloed Harry, Ron, and Hermione, then she and Parvati were hailed by some sixth year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Harry met with a subdued Dean, and he lost himself quickly, feeling guilty of Seamus. He ran into Neville, who had another odd plant, named by Harry: What smoking does to you. He saw Ernie and Hannah, but left quickly as they were busy. Katie Bell informed him that she was Quidditch captain, and that tryouts were on Friday at 5:00. ("Please be good in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Harry!). He ran into the two Beaters from the other year, and they both informed him that they weren't coming back. Harry informed Katie, who was overjoyed. Soon, though, it was time for the train to leave. He found Ron and Hermione in their compartment. Ron was playing chess with Luna Lovegood, who was very evenly matched with Ron. Hermione was reading their new Defense book. Harry was bored, and he mistakenly asked Hermione for her Arthimancy book. Hermione immediately went into a long detailed explanation of Arthimancy, which lasted until the trolley came through. By this time, Harry was actually interested in Arthimancy, and started reading the book. Ron groaned, making a comment that he was going to turn into Hermione. Luna, taking him seriously, knowledgably informed him that the only the Polyjuice Potion could do that. Ron then went into a long discussion of the effects, which started up a heated argument between the two.

The train stopped when Harry was only halfway through his book. Hermione looked at her watch.

"We can't be there yet!" she exclaimed. Harry marked his page, and took out his wand. He listened intently, and then heard it.

"Dementors." Luna gasped, Hermione stood up, and Ron took a bite of a Chocolate Frog.

The other three took out their wands. They stood by the door, waiting. Soon it felt as though they had been plunged into a barrel of cold water. The Dementor appeared in the doorway.

Harry started searching for a happy memory, but before he found one, he collapsed. The Dementor was bringing Sirius out. It felt as though it was trying to extract Sirius's memory from him.

Harry fought the pain. He watched, his sight blurry, as Hermione's otter Patronus and Ron's stoat Patronus teamed together with Luna's turtle Patronus to drive the Dementor away.

Harry stood shakily. Ron threw him a Chocolate Frog, and Hermione sat him in his seat.

"Why can't I fight it?" he wondered aloud. Luna spoke up.

"Usually a person can't stand a Dementor just after a loss," she said intelligently. "Just after my mums death there was a Dementor in our house for some reason, and my dad couldn't fight it. One of our neighbors had to instead."

They arrived at the school minutes later. They entered the Great Hall, and sat at the Gryffindor table. Parvati came and sat across from them.

"Did a Dementor come to you guys too?" she asked.

"Yea," Harry said sullenly.

"Us too. You'll never guess what my Patronus was?"

Hermione and Harry exchanged glances as Ron, completely oblivious, asked what.

"An eagle! You know, like Ravenclaw?"

"Hmm..." Hermione said, pondering. "That's different."

"Yea, but I like it!" Parvati exclaimed. "It's almost like having her back again..."

Parvati was then beckoned over by Lavender, and Hermione was free to speak.

"How did she use her Patronus, if her sister died days ago?"

Harry furrowed his brow. "Yea, I was wondering that too...anyway, who's out new Defense teacher?" He scanned the table. His eyes fell upon someone vaguely familiar.

"Who's that?" he asked Hermione.

Hermione followed his gaze. "I don't know."

"He looks vaguely familiar..." Harry said quietly.

"What do you suppose he's doing here?" Ron asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Hermione asked. Ron shook his head and looked at Harry.

"The new Defense teacher," Harry said, rolling his eyes at Hermione.

Ron had no chance to reply as Professor McGonagall marched in with the first years.

The Sorting Hat droned on about house unity and the different houses until finally Harry noticed clapping, and knew the song was over.

Harry was hungry, and hardly noticed what was happening. He clapped, however, when there was a new Gryffindor. There were ten new ones, including Perry Patil. Harry shook himself awake, however, when Dumbledore started talking.

"I have a very long speech planned...but that will happen later! Tuck in!"

Harry obliged. He took some chicken wings and ate through them. No one talked until Dumbledore did in the end.

"Ah, the start of a new year. Unfortunately, Voldemort has already stuck. Many of you heard about the attack at a student's house where a birthday party was being celebrated. Four people have perished at the hands of the Death Eaters. Seamus Finnigan," Dumbledore looked at the Gryffindor table, "Padma Patil, Michael Corner," he looked at the Ravenclaw table, "and Justin Finch-Fletchey," he looked at the Hufflepuff table. "Let us avenge the deaths of these students."

All was silent for a moment, and then Dumbledore plunged into other news.

"Allow me to introduce the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher...my my, we do seem to go through them quickly, don't we? Professor Roland Quopenare!" There were loud bursts of applause.

"Wonder if he's up to it," Ron whispered.

"Looks to be, doesn't he?" Harry said.

"I remember where I've seen him!" Harry said suddenly, causing people to look at him. Hermione and Ron looked at him.

"He was on the platform...he was there with the Malfoy's!"