A/N So no review responses this time. Please review, as I put a lot of time and effort in this and getting it out a bit faster than the last one. And on ships in this fic, this honest answer is I don't know. I started this over a year ago and since then my taste has changed drastically. Personally I love slash, but I DON'T plan on doing that here. It just wouldn't fit at all. When I first started this I think it was Harry/Ginny, but there is some definite Harry/Cho flirting and some ideas toward Harry/Luna later on in the fic. At the moment nothing is certain in anything but the barest plot ideas, and I will probably end up just going with whatever goes best with the story and its progression. If I make a definite decision I'll tell you, but for now I hope you are content to enjoy the fic as it is for the moment.

Chapter 4: Returning

For the third time that summer, Harry developed a routine that seemed to be mainly reading and training. He would get up and meditate for an hour, as learning elemental and wandless magic needed deep concentration. It would also help him with Occumency, and, though he hadn't mentioned this to anyone, to control his temper. If Harry managed to achieve any of these traits they might be controlled by his emotions, and Harry didn't want to hurt someone seriously in a moment of anger.

After meditating Harry would study some of his books, and then try one of the techniques for an hour or two. Then he would relax with a game of chess or mini Quidditch, and try to use wandless magic without anyone knowing, trying to catch himself off guard. And if he had any other spare time he was writing to someone.

Ron hadn't really changed his mind about Malfoy, but as Harry had managed to let him, Ginny and Hermione practice magic he had only mentioned it once, when he walked in on Harry bent over some parchment.

'Writing to your Pen Pal, are you?' he'd asked, but he had had the grace to blush slightly when Harry replied, 'Yes, I'm writing to Luna, as she sent me more pictures of Scandinavia and Crumple- Horned Snorkacks.'

With this routine, the last week of the holidays went by really quite quickly, in books and singed eyebrows, and too soon Harry was packing his trunk and shrinking it to the size of Fred and George's box. Harry hadn't really made any progress with wandless magic or elemental connections, but he and Ron had nearly conquered apparition, if they thought really hard, but they couldn't go anywhere that they couldn't see yet.

Dumbledore had decided to give them a Portkey to a compartment on the train, as they agreed that the train and the platform could be sites for an attack. Some members of the Order were going to be hidden on the train itself, but Dumbledore was still worried, and thought to send them after the train had left. This made Ginny very nervous.

'Don't Portkeys work by fixing you to a point in space? So if the train is moving, couldn't we miss it?'

In the end they decided to just do it quickly, Harry went first, then Ginny, Hermione and Ron coming afterwards. They took a deep breath and each grasped their Portkeys.

Harry disappeared a second before Ginny, and reappeared a second before Ginny reappeared, right on top of Harry, who rolled out from under her and ended up just leaning over her.

She grinned and said, 'Harry… is this the right time or place?' Harry got up quickly and grinning looked around for Ron and Hermione, only to find that they had landed in the corridor outside the otherwise empty compartment. By the time they were all settled in the train had long left King's Cross.

Harry's first thought was to check if Mark was on the train ok, but Hermione noticed that that might not be a good idea.

'You made one of your best friends on your first train journey. Why don't you just relax for a bit?'

Harry grinned again at that thought and they started to discuss the new Potion teacher, and whether she would be a member of the Order, how she would compare to Snape and Umbridge, and wondering if she would survive the year. When the food cart came Harry bought them all sweets and cauldron cakes. The conversation turned to lessons, and how Ginny had her OWLs later that year, when Harry decided to try some wandless magic.

Hermione had just put down her cake, and with a surge of magic followed by a surge of pride, Harry managed to make it rise up to Hermione's eye level and holding it there. She was a little shocked, but when she saw Harry grinning at her they all burst out laughing as Hermione took a bite from her flying snack. Of course even this small level of magic had cost Harry a lot of energy, and he spent the next twenty minutes or so eating chocolate frogs. Ron seemed to think that this was a good idea and joined him to the mutters of Hermione and his sister.

Neville and Luna soon joined them, and a lot of the remaining journey time was spent with Hermione trying to prove that Luna's photos of Crumple Horned Snorkacks were fakes.

It was only with 45mins left in the journey that Harry, as casually as possible, brought up the idea of becoming Animagi to the group.

'You don't have to if you don't want to,' he said to their impassive faces. 'It's just, well, I really wanted to, and I thought it might be fun to at least try…'

'That would be so cool!' Neville was the first to react. 'Then when Malfoy tries anything… bam!'

'Yeah,' said Ron. 'We could be like the next generation of Marauders!'

'I already know my Animagus form, though I've never managed to change into it.' Luna announced to nobody in particular. 'I'd be a jaguar.'

'It suits you, Luna,' said Ginny. 'How do you find out?'

Hermione answered. 'First you have to make a potion called the Anami Potion, and you write your full name on a piece of parchment and soak it in the potion. When it's dry, you spill a drop of blood on it, and it should make a picture of the creature that you could become. Some people can achieve Multimagi status and become more than one creature, but they are even rarer than normal Animagi.'

The rest of the journey passed happily discussing Animagi forms and what they would make people if they could, cultivating in Ginny's idea to turn Goyle into a bat.

As they stepped off the train, there was a little commotion, as second and third years were shoved out of the way by Slytherins who wanted to get to carriages first. Harry felt his temper rising and thought back to mediating. This was not what he needed right now. It was Luna who solved the problem.

She went up to the nearest Theresal and conjured some raw meat and whispered in its ear. It seemed to agree and lifted its head and called to the others.

Although only those who had seen death could see Theresals, it seemed anyone could hear them, and the eerie call was weird enough for Harry, who could see where it was coming from.

When the closest five Theresals lunged for the meat, they blocked all the others from going anywhere. Not very many could see why Luna, Neville and Harry were laughing as the rude Slytherins tried to find out why their coaches weren't going anywhere, but when they got out to check the people that had been shoved aside got in and Luna removed the meat with a casual wave of her wand.

The Slytherins looked really quite bemused as their coach moved away without them. Harry gave the Theresals a grateful pat as he got in other coach with Hermione, Neville, Ron, Ginny and Luna, and the three told the others about the Theresals.

They had to say goodbye to Luna, who was in Ravenclaw, as they enter the Great Hall and the rest headed for Gryffindor table. As Harry sat down, Dean came over and muttered, 'Is the DA on again this year? Only Snape was bad enough in Potions, and now… and, well, you got me an E in my DADA Owl, you know…'

Before Harry could reply, however, Dumbledore signalled to McGonagall to bring in the first years for their Sorting. Harry, thinking of Mark, grinned and whispered, 'I'll think about it.'

Last year I pondered

Whether it was wrong

How many friendships squandered

Ended with this song?

It is my job to split each year

Through the houses four

Whether close or loved or dear

I divide you all like law

Slytherin, in silver-green

They choose the ambitious and mean,

Gryffindor, the gallant leads

They'd shock others with their brave deeds,

Ravenclaw, proudly obtain

Those with the best used brain,

Hufflepuff, she always chooses

The hard working that never looses.

So year again, here I sit

Come try me on, I'll change your life

By saying where you best fit

But as I do I'm to cause endless strife

For though there were founders four

They were all friends, that was how

Hogwarts as one would be forever more

I call you join together now

An outside force builds

Its numbers ever growing

An evil force it wields

Its evil seeds always sowing

So Hogwarts now join your power

Lest that evil should win

And while outside is in darkest hour

Hogwarts crumbles from within.

Harry couldn't help but notice that this year the applause was rather scattered, but then the Sorting itself began.

'Adams, Laura.'

'Ravenclaw!'

'Adams, Thomas.'

'Hufflepuff!'

Ginny actually winced as pair of twins was separated. 'It's not that bad,' Harry told her, but his heart wasn't in it, and he was suddenly hoping that Mark would get into Gryffindor. His mind wandered, thinking about the song, but was brought back to reality suddenly when, 'Ettie, Rachel' became the first new Gryffindor. And then it was Mark's turn.

He walked to the stool nervously, and Harry could just imagine what was going through his head. 'Gryffindor!' shouted the hat. Harry's cheering was more from relief than happiness as Mark wandered over to their table, grinning broadly.

'Made any friends yet?' asked Harry, also grinning.

'Actually, yeah, my compartment was full. There was Lucy Carson, she's in Hufflepuff, Megan Riley, Matt Gozon, look he's in Ravenclaw, Thomas Serin, um, Peter Riafer, Carla Lokna, oh and Michael Richards.'

Harry thought that this list was quite long, but then he remembered that he'd only spent about 3 weeks around Mark, and had told him things that he'd never told anybody, and Mark could accept almost anything. Mark was just like that. Carla, Megan and Peter all joined Gryffindor, and Thomas and Michael stayed together as well- in Slytherin.

'They thought they might be, we talked about it on the train, because they're both purebloods, see?' Mark waved to Thomas, who to Harry and Ron's amazement grinned and gave a thumbs up sign.

'I wasn't sure about Houses, but I said I'd like to be in Gryffindor because that's where you are, and they agreed that it would be nice to meet you rather than just hear endless gossip.'

Harry stared and Ron seemed in a state of shock. But Hermione just smiled and simply said, 'Looks like the Houses are uniting after all.'

As they began to eat, Harry scanned the teachers table until he saw the new Potions teacher. He couldn't say anything, but he did manage to nudge Ron and point her out.

She seemed very young, maybe only 22 or 23, and was wearing robes of a very dark navy. And she was amazingly pretty. She had caramel hair that was flowing down her back, laughing hazel eyes and the clearest complexion Harry had ever seen. She was graceful and when she laughed several heads turned to look at her. And then she turned straight to Harry, smiled and winked and went back to talking to Professor Sprout.

'Did she just look at me?' asked Neville, and Harry realised that their new potions teacher had perfected the art of making everyone feel special. Harry had to learn how to do that.

'I think she just looked at all of us.' Dean answered, who was also still in shock.

'Well, I don't know about you lot, but I for one am glad I didn't give up Potions this year.'

There was a mixture of agreement and regret and people trying to swap timetables, but Harry was the only one who looked back at their new teacher. There was something about the way she managed herself, as if she liked to be stared at but wasn't used to it, something that said-

'Ron,' Harry suddenly worked it out. 'Ron, she doesn't look like that! Ron, she's a Metamorphmagus!'

Ron looked up at the staff, puzzled, but then he noticed the slightly uncomfortable air she had. 'It's like Hermione was at the Yule ball.' He said suddenly. 'She enjoys looking like that, but she isn't used to it, and wouldn't do it every day.'

And feeling slightly happier, he settled down to eating.

When all the food had disappeared, Dumbledore stood up and immediately the Hall fell silent.

'Welcome students, welcome back, to a new year at Hogwarts! This year, of course, grave times are upon us all, and so, as an act of caution, I ask that nobody ventures outside the grounds without the appropriate permission, and that nobody, whatever the reason, enters the Forbidden Forest. Now we have two new appointments this year. Professor Snape has deigned to teach Defence against the Darks Arts, and may I welcome Professor Formia to our ranks as Potions teacher.'

And she stood up, and received the strangest applause that Harry had ever heard. All the girls clapped politely, but the boys were strange. There were the surges of clapping from people that had already seen her, the bored clapping from people that had not, and then the surges as the bored people suddenly paid her a lot of attention.

As the applause finally ended, she sat down grinning and Dumbledore started to talk again.

'Additionally, there will be several new clubs this year. There will be three Duelling clubs, one for first years, one for second, third and fourth years and one for fifth years and above. There will also be a basic healing club starting this week, and please keep your eyes on the notice boards for other clubs that will be starting soon. And now, prefects, please!'

As people started to file out of the Hall, Dumbledore caught Harry's eye, and signalled that he'd wanted him to stay behind. Harry left the Hall but then doubled back after getting the password from Hermione. He was led in to the little room just off the Hall by Dumbledore and found that Professor Formia was also in there.

'So Harry, this is Professor Formia. She is a member of the Order, but has been in America these last two years.'

'Hello Professor.' Said Harry, wondering why he was there. He liked her, but not like that. He decided to impress her, so he looked her straight in the eye and made sure he didn't blush. Harry found it was harder than he would have thought, but he managed it. He actually silently praised Occumency.

She broke first. 'What are you gay or something?' she asked finally, laughing.

'No,' answered Harry. 'But you're a Metamorphmagus, aren't you? You don't look like that, really.'

'I said he was quick, Becky.' Chuckled Dumbledore. 'This is Rebecca Formia, but she prefers Mia or Becky casually. She's going to see if you have any potential to become a Metamorphmagi.'

'Oh. Ok…' Harry was unsure why he was still there.

'You listened to the hat, this year?' Dumbledore continued.

'Yeah…' said Harry.

'I believe that the DA wishes to reform?'

'Yeah, they do, but with Duelling clubs it might be a bit-'

'Harry, I would like you to reform the DA, as it was a good thing and you were a good teacher, but… I want you to open it to the Slytherins.'

Harry couldn't help staring for a second. 'Err, why?' was all he could say.

'Because Harry, they are part of the school. I do not want you to force them to join, but I do want you just to give them the option. You may make the final decisions on who may enter, but I beg you to just give them a chance. At least the first years.'

'Well…' said Harry, trying to think what it would be like to teach Crabbe how to make a Patronus. 'I guess it would be ok to offer, but the others might not like it.'

'Try them Harry.' Was Professor Formia's advice. 'You never know.'

Harry was about to leave, when he remembered something. 'Professor, they all said yes, they'd like to try it.'

'Good. I'll inform Minerva that she will have a class of six.'

And Dumbledore left the room. 'What was that about?' Asked Professor Formia.

'Oh,' grinned Harry. 'Me and Neville Longbottom, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood are going to try to become Animagi.'

And with a secretive grin they both left the room.

As the next day was a Saturday, they got their timetables, but didn't have any lessons until Monday. Ron summed up this marvellous arrangement saying that every term should start like this. Harry was also grateful, as he desperately wanted to sort out his timetable. He so much extra stuff to fit into this year Harry thought longingly of the time turner Hermione had had in their third year that let her be in two places at once.

'I have more extra lessons than NEWT subjects,' he moaned. 'Occumency, Metamorphmagi with teachers, Animagi and Apparition with you lot as well as Quidditch, running the DA and I guess I'll go to this healing club thing. I'll have to have two things on some nights, or I'll never do all my homework!'

'So is the DA back on?' asked Neville, and several former members listened to him.

'Well, yeah, but there's one condition from Dumbledore that lets us be public. And we could never hide from Dumbledore.' He took a deep breath. 'He wants me to let Slytherins in.'

There was a small but ringing silence, as Gryffindors thought about this. Harry thought they'd hate the idea but-

'It wouldn't be too bad, I guess.' Said Seamus. 'I mean, hear me out guys,' he added to the looks of astonishment all around him. 'I mean, if you give them the choice, most of them wouldn't come anyway. I mean, maybe we make them what they are, you know? Maybe if we just accept them, at least the first years anyway, there's nothing wrong with them yet, maybe we can stop them going rotten?'

'If it gets too bad we could just throw them out again.' Dean said.

'If we let them in, at least we seem like we want to be, well, not friends, but not at their throats, and if they refuse, well that's their call, right?' Lavender said.

'But what if we offered and they joined, and they were still really mean, and we were teaching them jinxes to use on us?' Ron thought aloud. 'I mean, they'd need an army to get past us, but it's the principle.'

'Well, I said I'd think about it, but if you guys are ok with it, then I'd be ok to try it. Cause everyone heard the hat, right?' There was a little laughter at this

'What was that about an army?' asked Seamus.

Ron glanced at Harry, but when Harry nodded, it was Ginny that answered.

'Last year, we- that is Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, me and Luna Lovegood- well, we flew to the Department of Mysteries, and, well it's a long story, but it ended up with us fighting a load of Death Eaters, and with Dumbledore and You-Know-Who duelling, and that was why the ministry finally believed Harry and Dumbledore, because they came down and saw him with their own eyes.' She finished sadly.

'Wait a minute.' Parvati said. 'Harry taught you enough that you basically took on a pack of Death Eaters and survived? Well that settles it, I don't care who else is there, if you can teach me like that I'm there.' And that remained the final voice for the Gryffindors.

The Ravenclaws and the Hufflepuffs agreed when they'd thought about it, and Harry suddenly realised how big his classes were going to be this year, even without the Slytherins. But though all the houses decided that they would let the Slytherins join if they wanted to, Harry didn't know how to tell the Slytherins themselves. Harry asked Dean, who was good at drawing, to design posters, and Harry finally decided what to write on them, with help from Hermione. Eventually, each poster had a Hogwarts crest on it and a large DA. Then underneath it would say:

The DA is a special Defence Club

Run by students for students, it is a great place to learn how to defend yourself in these dark times. From protective jinxes to extracurricular charms, you can learn a huge range of spells, or just practice the ones that you find slightly difficult. The DA is open to all ages, skills and houses. Do not feel that you have to come to every meeting, if you are just curious or don't like there is no obligation to return.

The first meeting is September 10th; meet in the Entrance hall at 3.00pm.

'Are you sure that doesn't sound too patronising Hermione?' Harry asked.

'Well it probably would to some people if they heard it come out of your mouth, but they can assume someone else actually wrote it. Anyway, as a sixth year Quidditch captain, you are allowed to be a little patronising to first years, you know.' She added with a smile, before multiplying the poster twenty times. 'So that's one for each house, one for each Bathroom and eight more for around the school. Oh and the original for you.'

'Hermione, this is great,' Harry said, 'but how are we getting one into the Slytherin common room?'

'Your friend Mark has agreed to help us out. He said Michael would be happy to put it up for us.'

Harry marvelled at Mark's ability to be liked by everyone.

Professor McGonagall was walking toward them in the courtyard as they stuck the first poster up. 'Are you free tomorrow evening? Professor Formia said the Potion would be ready by this evening and I'm sure you can manage the parchments?'

'Oh great, can we start this early?' said Hermione eagerly.

'Hermione, keep your voice down, or people will want me to teach them in the DA and then I'll be screwed.' Whispered Harry.

'Well, if we can all do it, maybe you should.' Said Hermione. 'I'll tell the others then shall I?'

'Yes please, I've got to try elemental tonight, I don't know how long that will take.'

A/N Review please! Chapter five 'Trial and Error' is being written but your support will bring it out much faster!