"Our seventh year was somewhat the same as any other. I'll start when the Sorting Ceremony began. The three of us were seated at the Griffyndor table, and were watching the first years being sorted into their Houses.

"Hey, Harry" Hermione said. " I forgot to ask. Did you get my gift for your birthday?"

"Yeah." He replied. "All those cookies made my day. Dudley is still on his diet that hasn't been working for years."

"He drives now, right?"

"Yes, but he failed the test the first two times."

"CALLAWAY, REBECCA!" called Prof. McGonagall.

They turned their attention to a girl with short brown hair.

"RAVENCLAW!" the hat shouted.

The Ravenclaw table erupted in cheers and Rebecca seated herself there.

"SIMS, ROBERT!"

"GRIFFYNDOR!"

They all stood up and clapped. Robert smiled as he sat down.

Minutes went by and more went by to their Houses. Finally it was time to eat dinner.

"I'm so hungry." Ron said after Dumbledore had given his speech about the year. The food appeared and everyone dug in.

So, what are you going to do after this year is over?" Hermione asked Harry.

He frowned then replied. "I don't know. If Dumbledore says that I'll have to stay with the Dursley's I'll stay there. But, if he says that I can leave, maybe I can stay with you, Ron."

"I hope so. I mean, we've been trying to do that for years." Said Ron as he finished off a treacle tart.

"I'm going to stay with my parents," Hermione said "Maybe when I turn eighteen I'll come back and have my own place."

"Lucky." Ron mumbled. He has a hard time at home since he lives with five other people.

Dinner soon ended and all the students filed into lines and walked together to their Houses.

"I can't wait until our classes start," said Hermione.

"Well, I can." Ron replied. "I'd rather sack Malfoy. Maybe even Snape."

"Yeah," agreed Harry. "Try Mrs. Norris."

"Ooh, good one."

"Shut up you two," said Hermione angrily.

"Come on Hermione," Ron smiled." I know you wish it too."

She didn't reply to Ron's comment, but did roll her eyes.

They reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, and Ron revealed the password, which was Spellfall.

"Enter please." She ordered politely.

Some of the first years oohed and awed over everything in the common room. The Head Boy then explained everything about their year at Hogwarts.

"Come on," Ron said to Harry. "Let's go to bed."

"Goodnight you two," Hermione called. "See you both tomorrow."

"See ya."

Ron and Harry changed into their pajamas and climbed into bed.

"Goodnight, Ron," yawned Harry.

"Goodnight, Harry." Mumbled Ron.

And they fell asleep.

The next morning came by fast. Everyone awoke and dressed for their first day of class.

"I'm famished." Said Ron as he put on his socks.

"You're always famished." Harry replied smiling.

"Yeah, well it just means I have good digestion."

The two of them laughed and finished changing.

All the Griffyndors set out for the Great Hall to have breakfast. Hermione slipped up beside them.

"Hey, I heard that the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher from last year is still here."

"That's a shock." Harry acknowledged.

"Yeah, well he creeps me out." Ron said.

"Prof. Clyde?" Hermione asked in surprise.

Ron turned red, but Harry cut in. "He is kinda weird, but they all were really."

"True." She said. They spoke no more until they sat in their table.

"I'm going to the common room until 9:00 when Charms class begins." Hermione said.

"Me too," Ron sighed. "I need to write Fred and George an owl. They told me to keep them posted on what's happening here."

"Nothing has." Replied Harry. Ron shrugged and said no more. He seemed to be thinking the same thing.

"Attention." Albus Dumbledore called.

Students immediately stopped talking and stared in his direction.

"This year will be the same as any other. Quidditch will begin next week and matches will be held. The first will be against Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. The Seeker for the Ravenclaw team will soon be announced. Your class schedules will be handed out."

He spoke about the O.W.L.S test for the fifth years and other related business.

"You may now begin eating."

Food appeared and Ron quickly grabbed a roll that Harry was about to reach for.

"Pig." Hermione hissed. Ron was stuffing the roll in his mouth.

"He's famished." Harry smiled. Ron did too.

"Whatever."

The mail came but none was for them. Neville of course got his usual package of forgotten goods, and they looked over at the Slytherin table to see Draco Malfoy with his usual boxes of treats.

"I'd love to shock him one day." Ron muttered.

"I would, but it's just not possible with Snape constantly around him giving compliments." Harry pointed out.

"I'll sock him too."

Hermione paid no attention to their talk. She tried not to anyway.

Students soon began to shuffle out and talk noisily.

"Come on, Hermione." Ron said as he slapped her arm.

Harry walked out with them, and decided to go along to the common room too.

They were in the hallway when someone ran up to them and tapped Harry on the shoulder. He turned and saw the girl from the Sorting Ceremony with the short brown hair. Ron and Hermione stopped as well.

"Yes?" he asked.

The girl seemed afraid, but she spoke strongly. "Are you Harry Potter?" She had a slight German accent.

Harry thought at once that she was probably another fan. He felt his stomach drop.

"Yes, what is it?" he finally said.

"Can I speak to you in private?" She glanced at Ron and Hermione before looking back at him.

"Uh," Harry stuttered. He looked at who friends who shrugged. "I guess."

"Thank you." The girl still didn't smile, but seemed relieved. Harry was certain that she had something on her mind besides being a loyal fan.

"Can you guys wait here?" Harry asked them.

They nodded and watched him walk a few meters away with the girl.

"Listen," she said in an urgent whisper. "My name is Rebecca, and there's something you should know."

Harry nodded and waited for her statement.

Rebecca sighed and bit her lip. She looked into his eyes and said to him in a serious tone. "I was exploring the woods at my aunt's old house with my cousin Sophie. She and I were having fun building a fort with logs and tree limbs. Later, she decided to leave and go back to see the baby my aunt had. Sophie didn't get to see her yet.

'When she left, I sat under the roof of our fort, waiting for her to return. When I got ready to stand up and follow her, I heard rustling nearby, then voices. One was,- but she couldn't continue.

"One was who?" Harry asked. Somehow he knew it wasn't good.

"It was Voldemort and Wormtail." She flinched.

Harry stood in shock. "V..Voldemort?"

Rebecca nodded. "They were talking about you. Voldemort was talking about how to kill you."

Harry kicked the ground. "He always does."

"But that's not the whole story," she cut in. "After awhile, I didn't hear anything. I figured that they had Disappearated, so I stepped out and ran to the house."

"But they saw you." Finished Harry.

Rebecca nodded and continued. "Voldemort say me first and shouted for Wormtail to capture me. I ran, but I kept tripping. He soon caught me."

"What did they do?"

"Voldemort just smiled and asked if I was going to Hogwarts. I answered yes since I didn't want him to hurt me. He wanted me to tell you something."

"What?" Harry asked, dreading the answer.

"That he is coming again. Voldemort isn't afraid. De said to be ready because you're in for a fight like no other."

Harry leaned his head back against the cold stone wall and tugged at his hair. He closed his eyes and shook his head.

"So, what are you going to do?" asked Rebecca.

Harry let go of his hair and looked at her. "I suppose I'll fight him."

Rebecca looked at him with a teary expression, but nodded.

Harry looked at Ron and Hermione, who were staring back at him.

"Even if it costs me my life."

They stood silent for a minute.

"Good luck then." Rebecca turned around and ran down the corridor.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked him as he came back.

"Nothing." Harry replied. He continued to walk to the Griffyndor tower.

"And that," Sari's grandfather whispered. "Was the start of everything."

Sari stood silently beside her grandfather.

"Finish the story Grandpa."

"No," he said." It is late. Go to bed now. I promise I will when you begin school. Come back here after all your classes."

Sari smiled. "Thank you."

She climbed down off the chair and reached for the door.

"Goodnight Grandfather."

"Goodnight child."

Sari saw him page slowly through the picture book just before she closed the door, and a lonely tear went down his face.

The next morning, Sari once again had breakfast with her family. It would be the last time since she would be eating her meals with her House starting at dinner.

They ate silently and rather slow. Sari looked in her grandfather's direction. He smiled at her and winked. Her grandmother ignored her the whole time. Sari guessed that she knew about the night before.

Mary Weasley got up and said to her. " Sari, when you're done, come to my room so I can do your hair."

"But Mum," Sari pleaded. "School doesn't start until later."

"I know, but come any way."

Her mother waved her hand and the empty plate disappeared.

So, when Sari had finished eating, she left and made her way to her parent's bedroom. In the corridor, she met up with Peeves. He was busy throwing books at an old man in a painting.

"Cut it out!" he said angrily.

Peeves only laughed.

"What are you doing, Peeves?"

"Having fun." Was the reply.

"Right, well, you better pick up all these books before Father comes. My Grandfather, too."

"Your grandfather keeps the story of Harry Potter a secret." He sang.

"You know about Harry Potter?" Sari asked in awe.

"Sari Girl, I knew Harry Potter."

She stared at him. "What was he like?"

"Harry Potter snuck around a lot with your grandparents. They solved everything that went wrong here. He was very nice, I suppose, but some people were afraid of him."

"Why?"

"Because he was a Parselmouth."

"A Parselmouth?" Sari gasped. "But that's the sign of Salazar Slytherin. It's what he was famous for."

"Yep. Potter was good at Quidditch. Brave, too. I never knew him as I know you, but enough. Ask your grandparents about him. They knew him better that me."

"I tried, but they freak out. Grandfather told me a little of their seventh year. He's going to tell me more, though."

"Yes," Peeves said seriously. That was strange for him. "What happened that year left everyone sad, yet happy."

Before Sari could reply, Peeves whooped and zoomed through the wall.

"You have such lovely hair." Sari's mother cooed.

"It's red and curly though." She whined.

"Wavy, Sari, not curly."

"Same thing, but I do like my green eyes."

"Yes, green eyes look good on you." Mrs. Weasley said, but frowned slightly.

"Their green, like Harry Potter's." Sari whispered.

Her mother stopped stroking her hair and looked sternly into her eyes. "Sari, stop it with Harry. He was the past. We need to look onto the future."

"But Mum, it makes them upset when they don't talk about him. They won't let go of him either."

Sari had no doubt her mother knew who she was talking about.

"Leave your grandparents out of this."

They were quiet from then on, and Sari stood still as her mother put her hair in a small bun on the back of her head.

Evening approached and the Hogwarts Express pulled in. The first years were piling four to a boat and sailed toward the school. The other students climbed into carriages and rode to the entrance door.

Sari's mother was standing there waiting for them; the caretaker, Mr. Grudge, met the first years.

Sari was on her way to wait for the others in the hall when she heard a voice. She ducked underneath a table and saw legs slowly approaching, then stop.

"Ron, why did you tell Sari about Harry?"

It was her grandparents.

Her grandfather shifted his feet in distress. "Hermione, we can't just bottle himself up inside us. We need to spread how good he was."

"Listen to me," Hermione hissed." Ever since he died, I've been having nightmares about it, You-Know-Who laughing and torturing Harry. You remember every bit of it I know you do. No one can forget that night."

"I write to Draco. He's been feeling sick, but he tells me that he is still upset about how he treated him. His granddaughter comes here this year."

"I hope that she isn't like he was. She'll be in Slytherin, no doubt." Her grandmother spoke in deep hatred that was alarming.

"Don't be so negative all the time." Argued Mr.Weasley. "You were ever since Harry died."

"Shut up!"

Hermione paused and apologized. She began crying softly. "Ron, I'm sorry for making you upset all these years, but I failed Harry. I said to myself after our first year that I would be protective of him. That I would try and help him in any way."

"But Hermione," Ron cut in. "Harry didn't want you to help him that night. Not any of us. Harry was determined to fight You-Know-Who by himself to take revenge on him for killing innocent people. It was his on fight, not ours."

Hermione was sobbing now, but she forced herself to say," He was so nice and thoughtful. He didn't care about what happened to him as long as other people were safe."

They began whispering so Sari couldn't understand them. She watched their movements turn to the door leading to the Great Hall.

Slowly, she crawled out from underneath the table and stood silent. So now she knew what kind of a person Harry Potter was, but after school tomorrow, she would know more.