Chapter 2: New friends, old friends
He was lost in his own thoughts until someone said. "Hey Harry!" Harry looked around quickly, trying to spot who spoke to him, when something hit his shoe. He looked down and there was is old friend, Neesm. A green snake, that lived in Aunt Petunia's garden. Harry smiled at his friend and said. "Hello Neesm. How are you?"
The snake climbed up Harry's legs and curled up on the top of his raised knees. "I'm good, the weather is a little hot today though. How about you? Where have you been all day?"
Harry smiled at his little friend, nothing could get passed him. "I went to Diagon ally. I had to get my new school books. Plus I got two extra books that ought to help me in the future." The snake nodded his head, Harry had long ago told him about his entire life. It had taken a day and a night to tell it all but neither had cared.
"What were they? Stuff to help you beat Voldemort?" Neesm asked.
Harry nodded and said. "Yeah, a book of curses and hexes and a book of wizards and witches who've made their own spells. I think I'm strong enough to make my own now."
"Ah, so you did you show your friends what you brought?" Neesm asked.
Harry gave a what-do-you-think look and said. "No, I can't. They would ask too many questions." Sometimes the way the snake was able to pick up things from Harry's mind was a little unnerving, but Harry had quickly gotten over it. "You know sometimes you really scare me. You always seem to know what's up with me." Harry said.
"It's a gift, I must say. And its a god thing I have it. Otherwise, you might do something crazy again. And the elders wouldn't like that and I'd never be someone guardian again." He was referring to the time Harry had tried to kill himself. Soon after that incident Neesm had showed himself to Harry, being his guardian and all. The elders were the oldest magical snakes living, and each time someone was born who had a great destiny in store for them, the elders sent out guardians to watch over the person. Whether he or she be a human, halfling, animal or any other magical being.
Harry rolled his eyes and said. "Yeah, that would suck for you. I feel sorry for all anyone you've ever had to watch over."
"Well, I've never had to watch over someone who is always looking for trouble!" Neesm told him.
Harry laughed and said. "All right I guess I'm kind of a trouble maker." Neesm snorted, as best as a snake can snort. Harry grew serious and said. "Are you going to come to Hogwarts this year with me."
Neesm sighed and said. "I'm not sure. That cat you told me about, might be a problem. And I'm sure Professor Dumbledore would find out about me. That might be a problem, he might want to speak to the elders. No one else except for the one I'm guarding is supposed to know about me. What if word gets out that you have a snake you talk to. People might start that whole being the Slytherian Heir again." Harry looked at his friend, thinking to himself.
"Well, what if I kept you in a special room? I have the Maurder's map, and I know which classrooms are never used. I can see you at night." Harry paused a moment, thinking. "I know the perfect place you can stay, and I can make sure food is brought to you everyday! I could work! I know Dobby could bring you the food and he won't ask any questions!" Harry said excitedly, looking down at Neesm.
The snake sighed. "All right! I'll go, but I better check with the elders first so don't get your hopes up." Neesm warned him.
Harry smiled, a true happy smile and said. "Whatever."
Aunt Petunia's voice cut through the twilight air. "Harry! Come inside! Dinner!" She was obviously displeased with having to call him in, and not leave him out there. Harry sighed and moved Neesm off his knees.
The snake looked up at Harry as he stood and said. "I'll ask."
Harry smiled and headed in to the house. "Night!" He called over his shoulder. He pulled open the back door and walked into the kitchen, where he sat quietly and ate his dinner. The moment he was finished he went up to his room. He opened up the bag on his bed and took out the curses book. He read it cover to cover in just a few hours. His Aunt and Uncle had long since gone to bed and he could hear Dudley down stairs watching TV. He looked at his clock, it was one am. Harry placed the book on his bedside table, and opened the drawer. He pulled out a bottle of dreamless potion, and expertly poured out the right amount of the pale yellow liquid. He sighed and drank down the potion. And curled up under the sheets and fell asleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*
The caterwauling sound of Harry's alarm clock, jolted him out of his peaceful sleep. His hand searched for the button to turn it off, as his eyes popped open. He sat up in bed and looked at the clock. Six o'clock in the morning. The same time he had been waking up to for the past year. He got up put on a pair of running pants and a baggy shirt and headed out side. He started to warm-up, doing the same routine since last year.
Neesm came around the corner of the house and said. "Good morning! Ready to start?" Harry nodded and picked up the little snake and placed it around his neck. Neesm curled around his neck loosely as Harry started running around the neighborhood.
Harry arrived back at the house an hour later, he put Neesm back in the grass and headed inside. He immediately headed to the shower, no one was up yet. He turned on the shower, peeled off his sweaty clothes and got in. The warm water pelted his back so comfortably, that Harry fell deeply into his thoughts. Suddenly the water turned cold and Harry was pulled out of zoning and quickly finished his shower. He walked back into his room and put on a new pair of pants. The new black pants hung off him, comfortably and stylishly. He put on a red muscle shirt, that showed off the muscles he had acquired over the years.
He was no longer the scrawny boy he used to be. Now he was buff but not so much that is was disgusting. He sat on his bed and opened up one of his new transfiguration school book. He read through it in the space of three hours. He put his new books in to his trunk and grabbed Hedwig's cage. Hedwig looked up at him tiredly and then nestled back under her wing. Harry dragged the trunk to the door and went into the kitchen. The Dursleys were up and finishing breakfast.
"Hurry up, boy! I want to get you to the train station on time!" Uncle Vernon said gruffly. Harry grabbed the bacon and the toast off the last plate and headed into the back yard. He found Neesm by the tree and quickly scooped him up.
"Now, how do you want to go? I can put a concealing charm on you so that only I can see you but then I wouldn't be able to talk to you. Or you can stay in my trunk, I can make sure there are air holes." Harry said as he turned back to the house.
Neesm was quiet for a second before saying. "I think I'll go in the trunk." Harry nodded and headed to his trunk. He put Neesm in it, making sure it was comfortable, he made the air holes and shut the lid.
Uncle Vernon came tromping down the stairs and grumbled. "Lets go." Harry grabbed his trunk and Hedwig's cage and walked over to the car. Gently, he put both of his things in the back seat and climbed into the front. They both stayed quiet the entire ride, Uncle Vernon trying very hard to ignore Harry. The arrived at the train station and Harry quickly got out of the car, took his things out and shut the door. Uncle Vernon sped off down the road and out of sight. Harry turned to the busy train station and hurried to platform 9 and ¾. He stood against the barrier and fell through it, he quickly go out of the way of the others who were coming through it, among them was Hermione. She quickly spotted Harry and walked over to him.
"Hi! Harry!" She said happily, the Headgirl badge shined on her chest.
"You made Headgirl! Congratulations!" Harry said, giving her a true smile. Harry to say the least was in a good mood, finally he can go back to school and do some research. Together they headed onto the train and sat down in the last compartment. Ron arrived, breathing heavily, and sat down next to Hermione.
"Finally I found you guys!" He gasped, settling against the back of the seat.
Hermione stood up, and said. "Well, I've got to go to the meeting, I'll see you guys later." She gave Ron a kiss and left the compartment. Ron moved aside, blushing slightly. Ron, who didn't make Headboy and since there was no seventh year prefects, didn't follow her to the meeting.
Harry laughed at him and said. "I all ready know!"
Ron blushed again and said. "Since when?"
"The day we went to Diagon ally." Came Harry's answer.
Ron, blushing, pulled out a box and asked. "Want to play chess?"
Harry nodded and said. "Sure, I get to go first." Ron shook his head and opened the box. They immediately started playing becoming so enraptured in the game that they forgot about everything else. A knock on the door startled them so bad that Ron's hand knocked over a few of his pieces and Harry jumped. He stood up and opened the door.
"Would you like anything off the cart, dears?" The food-cart lady asked. Ron rubbed his growling stomach and nodded. Between the two of them they brought half the stuff on the cart. The set about eating their way through the pile when the door opened, Hermione stepped in. She pushed her now straight brown hair out of her eyes and sat down on the seat.
"Want something to eat?" Ron asked, handing her a small pie. Hermione took and ate it hungrily.
She smiled and asked. "Who's winning?" The boys gave her an odd look, Hermione pointed to the chess game.
"I am!" Both Ron and Harry said loudly. Hermione laughed as she took a handful of Bernie and Botts every flavored jellybeans. Ron and Harry got back into the game, and finished it with Ron winning, but only just.
Hermione stopped the argument that was sure to start by saying. "Hey Ron, did you pass your Apparition test?"
Ron looked up, startled by the suddenness of the question and slowly said. "Yeah."
Harry looked at Hermione and asked. "Why are you so suddenly interested in whether or not we've passed the test or not?" Harry had gone the day after they went to Diagon ally and passes his with flying colors.
"I'm just interested." Hermione said quickly. Ron shook his head and steered the conversation away from the test. The rest of the ride was spent talking about various subjects, all too soon the train started to slow down. Hermione kicked the boys out of the compartment to change, then switched places with them so they could change. They stayed in the compartment until the train reached a complete stop. They followed the crowd out to the carriages.
Harry lead them to the lone carriage, off to the side of the rest. The thestral made a weird screech of a greeting a nuzzled on Harry's arm. Harry patted the thestral's neck, and made a similar noise, only quieter. The thestral was the same one that took him to the ministry of magic. After that during his sixth year, Harry found himself out more and more with the thestral, it became one of his friends. "Theo." Harry crooned.
"Come on, Harry!" Hermione said from inside the carriage. Harry gave Theo one last pet and jumped inside the carriage. The carriage jolted forward and they were heading up to the castle. Hermione and Ron talked the entire way, but Harry stayed quiet, looking out the small window. The carriage stopped suddenly, nearly knocking them out of their seats. Ron opened the door and they all stepped out. Harry gave Theo a quick pat and followed the other two into the castle.
They sat down at their table, talking to the others who had entered with them. Harry was watching those still entering the Great Hall. He saw Malfoy with his usual minions, but though he had his usual I'm-king-of-this-school gait there was still something wrong. One of his friends placed his hand on Malfoy's shoulder, it seemed that only Harry saw Malfoy wince in pain, but he quickly masked it over with a laugh. Harry turned away from Malfoy, and pretended to listen to Ron talk. Harry let his mind wander, and ended up thinking about Malfoy. Why was he hurt? Who did it to him? Harry thought, as a million different other questions raced through his mind. Harry didn't realize how long he had been thinking until Hermione suddenly stood up.
Harry looked around at the people clapping, the new first years had been sorted and Professor Dumbledore was saying. "Give a round of applause for your new Headboy and girl!" Harry clapped with the rest of the school, as Hermione and some Ravenclaw boy sat down. "Congratulations!" Harry said, as the food appeared before them. They piled the food on their plates and started eating.
After they had had their fill, they got up with the rest of the school and headed up to the dorms. Hermione left Ron and Harry to show the first years to the common room. They said the password and entered the common room, Ron and Harry headed up to their dorms and Ron immediately started to change into his nightclothes. Harry sat on his bed, staring at the floor. He stood up suddenly and opened his trunk, Ron disappeared into the bathroom.
"Hi, Neesm!" Harry whispered. Neesm lifted his head tiredly and nodded. Harry quickly said an invisibility charm and draped Neesm around his neck. Harry pulled out his invisibility cloak and the Maurder's map. He started towards the door, when Ron came out of the bathroom.
"Where are you going?" He asked, heading over to his bed.
"I'm just going to go for a walk. I'm not tired yet." Harry said, his hand on the doorknob.
"OK, have fun." Ron said with a yawn.
Harry opened the door and left. Only a few were in the common room, but no one stopped Harry as he left the tower. He looked at the Maurder's map as he climbed through the portrait. He tapped his wand to it and said. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The blank parchment came alive dots moving across it. Harry stared at it for a second before heading down the hall. He kept one eye on the map as he made his way to the empty classroom. He stood in front of a suit of armor, and once again check to make sure no one was coming.
He looked up at the helmet and said. "The bumble bees are coming."
The armor nodded his head and moved aside, it reveled a door. Last year he'd found an empty room that no one ever used and put a suit of armor in front of the door, with a spell so it would never move or let anyone in unless they had the password. It was his own little hide-away. Harry opened it and stepped into the room. He shut the door behind him and undid the invisibility charm on Neesm.
"Here we are!" Harry said happily as he looked around the room. It had a few desks and boxes but otherwise it was empty. It you exclude the dust, Harry always left the room the way he had found it, whenever he left for vacation. Harry looked down at Neesm's skeptical face.
"It, um, different." Neesm said slowly. Harry laughed and did a few spells so the floor was grass, the desks became small trees and the boxes became small boulders. Earlier last year he had found the charm that was used on the Great Hall's ceiling. Harry charmed the ceiling to show what it was like outside. Neesm sighed. "Much better." Harry laughed, and placed Neesm on the grass.
"Everything all right now?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I think this will do." Neesm said as he looked around the room, the moon above him lit everything nicely. Harry nodded and headed for the door.
"Now you can play loud music in here, I've put a sound-proof spell on the room. But do try to keep your wild parties small." Neesm laughed and rolled his eyes. "I've got to go back now. I'll see you tomorrow." Harry said. "Goodnight."
"Night!" Neesm said. A last minute invisibility charm on the room, so that if anyone but Harry entered it would be normal looking, and Harry opened the door and left.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the busy Great Hall, and sat down for breakfast. Harry had periodically checked the Maurder's map all morning to make sure no one had been in the classroom. Harry looked up at the sound of thousands of birds' wings flapping, Hedwig swooped down and dropped his timetable on his lap. She took a bit of his toast before flying off with the other owls. Harry looked at his timetable, and groaned. Double transfiguration, then double potions, lunch, double Defense against dark arts, and finally double Charms. It's going to be very boring relearning everything. Harry thought.
He had last year spent endless hours in the library, just learning spells, potions, charms, curses, hexes and how to transform and apparate. He learned everything he need to know in school, plus loads more. He spent a few weekends during the summer at the Library in Diagon ally, where he learned many ancient spells, found a book that listed all the rules for the Hogwarts professors, and he'd read up on the other dark wizards in the past and how they had blundered. The library was much bigger then the one at Hogwarts and he didn't need a signed form to look at the books that might be considered restricted.
Harry pulled out his book on the wizards and witches who made their own spell, and set it up to read at the table.
Ron looked at the cover and asked. "Trying to get a head start on Potions?" Harry looked up distracted and nodded. He almost forgot that he had charmed the front of the book to resemble his potions book. He made a point to close his book bag, so they couldn't see the real potions book. Breakfast went by quickly and uneventfully, soon they were heading to their classes.
"See you guys at lunch!" Hermione said as she disappeared into the crowd. She had a different schedule then Harry and Ron, since she was interested in a different field of work then Harry and Ron's Auror field. Harry and Ron waved goodbye, and Harry knocked into someone.
"Sorry." He apologized as he turned to see who he had ran into. Ginny patted him on the back.
"It's all right, these halls do get kind of crowded don't they?" she said as she fell into step beside them.
"Yeah they do." Ron said, searching in his bag.
"What class do you two have? I've got Potions, thankfully not with the Slytherins." Ginny continued.
Harry nodded and said. "We've got transfiguration, then potions." Harry looked down at the timetable in his hand. "But we couldn't be as lucky as you. Nope we've got Potions and of course more then half the class is Slytherins." He said darkly.
Ginny laughed at him and said. "Well, I'm going down this way. See you two later!" And she headed down the stairs.
He was lost in his own thoughts until someone said. "Hey Harry!" Harry looked around quickly, trying to spot who spoke to him, when something hit his shoe. He looked down and there was is old friend, Neesm. A green snake, that lived in Aunt Petunia's garden. Harry smiled at his friend and said. "Hello Neesm. How are you?"
The snake climbed up Harry's legs and curled up on the top of his raised knees. "I'm good, the weather is a little hot today though. How about you? Where have you been all day?"
Harry smiled at his little friend, nothing could get passed him. "I went to Diagon ally. I had to get my new school books. Plus I got two extra books that ought to help me in the future." The snake nodded his head, Harry had long ago told him about his entire life. It had taken a day and a night to tell it all but neither had cared.
"What were they? Stuff to help you beat Voldemort?" Neesm asked.
Harry nodded and said. "Yeah, a book of curses and hexes and a book of wizards and witches who've made their own spells. I think I'm strong enough to make my own now."
"Ah, so you did you show your friends what you brought?" Neesm asked.
Harry gave a what-do-you-think look and said. "No, I can't. They would ask too many questions." Sometimes the way the snake was able to pick up things from Harry's mind was a little unnerving, but Harry had quickly gotten over it. "You know sometimes you really scare me. You always seem to know what's up with me." Harry said.
"It's a gift, I must say. And its a god thing I have it. Otherwise, you might do something crazy again. And the elders wouldn't like that and I'd never be someone guardian again." He was referring to the time Harry had tried to kill himself. Soon after that incident Neesm had showed himself to Harry, being his guardian and all. The elders were the oldest magical snakes living, and each time someone was born who had a great destiny in store for them, the elders sent out guardians to watch over the person. Whether he or she be a human, halfling, animal or any other magical being.
Harry rolled his eyes and said. "Yeah, that would suck for you. I feel sorry for all anyone you've ever had to watch over."
"Well, I've never had to watch over someone who is always looking for trouble!" Neesm told him.
Harry laughed and said. "All right I guess I'm kind of a trouble maker." Neesm snorted, as best as a snake can snort. Harry grew serious and said. "Are you going to come to Hogwarts this year with me."
Neesm sighed and said. "I'm not sure. That cat you told me about, might be a problem. And I'm sure Professor Dumbledore would find out about me. That might be a problem, he might want to speak to the elders. No one else except for the one I'm guarding is supposed to know about me. What if word gets out that you have a snake you talk to. People might start that whole being the Slytherian Heir again." Harry looked at his friend, thinking to himself.
"Well, what if I kept you in a special room? I have the Maurder's map, and I know which classrooms are never used. I can see you at night." Harry paused a moment, thinking. "I know the perfect place you can stay, and I can make sure food is brought to you everyday! I could work! I know Dobby could bring you the food and he won't ask any questions!" Harry said excitedly, looking down at Neesm.
The snake sighed. "All right! I'll go, but I better check with the elders first so don't get your hopes up." Neesm warned him.
Harry smiled, a true happy smile and said. "Whatever."
Aunt Petunia's voice cut through the twilight air. "Harry! Come inside! Dinner!" She was obviously displeased with having to call him in, and not leave him out there. Harry sighed and moved Neesm off his knees.
The snake looked up at Harry as he stood and said. "I'll ask."
Harry smiled and headed in to the house. "Night!" He called over his shoulder. He pulled open the back door and walked into the kitchen, where he sat quietly and ate his dinner. The moment he was finished he went up to his room. He opened up the bag on his bed and took out the curses book. He read it cover to cover in just a few hours. His Aunt and Uncle had long since gone to bed and he could hear Dudley down stairs watching TV. He looked at his clock, it was one am. Harry placed the book on his bedside table, and opened the drawer. He pulled out a bottle of dreamless potion, and expertly poured out the right amount of the pale yellow liquid. He sighed and drank down the potion. And curled up under the sheets and fell asleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*
The caterwauling sound of Harry's alarm clock, jolted him out of his peaceful sleep. His hand searched for the button to turn it off, as his eyes popped open. He sat up in bed and looked at the clock. Six o'clock in the morning. The same time he had been waking up to for the past year. He got up put on a pair of running pants and a baggy shirt and headed out side. He started to warm-up, doing the same routine since last year.
Neesm came around the corner of the house and said. "Good morning! Ready to start?" Harry nodded and picked up the little snake and placed it around his neck. Neesm curled around his neck loosely as Harry started running around the neighborhood.
Harry arrived back at the house an hour later, he put Neesm back in the grass and headed inside. He immediately headed to the shower, no one was up yet. He turned on the shower, peeled off his sweaty clothes and got in. The warm water pelted his back so comfortably, that Harry fell deeply into his thoughts. Suddenly the water turned cold and Harry was pulled out of zoning and quickly finished his shower. He walked back into his room and put on a new pair of pants. The new black pants hung off him, comfortably and stylishly. He put on a red muscle shirt, that showed off the muscles he had acquired over the years.
He was no longer the scrawny boy he used to be. Now he was buff but not so much that is was disgusting. He sat on his bed and opened up one of his new transfiguration school book. He read through it in the space of three hours. He put his new books in to his trunk and grabbed Hedwig's cage. Hedwig looked up at him tiredly and then nestled back under her wing. Harry dragged the trunk to the door and went into the kitchen. The Dursleys were up and finishing breakfast.
"Hurry up, boy! I want to get you to the train station on time!" Uncle Vernon said gruffly. Harry grabbed the bacon and the toast off the last plate and headed into the back yard. He found Neesm by the tree and quickly scooped him up.
"Now, how do you want to go? I can put a concealing charm on you so that only I can see you but then I wouldn't be able to talk to you. Or you can stay in my trunk, I can make sure there are air holes." Harry said as he turned back to the house.
Neesm was quiet for a second before saying. "I think I'll go in the trunk." Harry nodded and headed to his trunk. He put Neesm in it, making sure it was comfortable, he made the air holes and shut the lid.
Uncle Vernon came tromping down the stairs and grumbled. "Lets go." Harry grabbed his trunk and Hedwig's cage and walked over to the car. Gently, he put both of his things in the back seat and climbed into the front. They both stayed quiet the entire ride, Uncle Vernon trying very hard to ignore Harry. The arrived at the train station and Harry quickly got out of the car, took his things out and shut the door. Uncle Vernon sped off down the road and out of sight. Harry turned to the busy train station and hurried to platform 9 and ¾. He stood against the barrier and fell through it, he quickly go out of the way of the others who were coming through it, among them was Hermione. She quickly spotted Harry and walked over to him.
"Hi! Harry!" She said happily, the Headgirl badge shined on her chest.
"You made Headgirl! Congratulations!" Harry said, giving her a true smile. Harry to say the least was in a good mood, finally he can go back to school and do some research. Together they headed onto the train and sat down in the last compartment. Ron arrived, breathing heavily, and sat down next to Hermione.
"Finally I found you guys!" He gasped, settling against the back of the seat.
Hermione stood up, and said. "Well, I've got to go to the meeting, I'll see you guys later." She gave Ron a kiss and left the compartment. Ron moved aside, blushing slightly. Ron, who didn't make Headboy and since there was no seventh year prefects, didn't follow her to the meeting.
Harry laughed at him and said. "I all ready know!"
Ron blushed again and said. "Since when?"
"The day we went to Diagon ally." Came Harry's answer.
Ron, blushing, pulled out a box and asked. "Want to play chess?"
Harry nodded and said. "Sure, I get to go first." Ron shook his head and opened the box. They immediately started playing becoming so enraptured in the game that they forgot about everything else. A knock on the door startled them so bad that Ron's hand knocked over a few of his pieces and Harry jumped. He stood up and opened the door.
"Would you like anything off the cart, dears?" The food-cart lady asked. Ron rubbed his growling stomach and nodded. Between the two of them they brought half the stuff on the cart. The set about eating their way through the pile when the door opened, Hermione stepped in. She pushed her now straight brown hair out of her eyes and sat down on the seat.
"Want something to eat?" Ron asked, handing her a small pie. Hermione took and ate it hungrily.
She smiled and asked. "Who's winning?" The boys gave her an odd look, Hermione pointed to the chess game.
"I am!" Both Ron and Harry said loudly. Hermione laughed as she took a handful of Bernie and Botts every flavored jellybeans. Ron and Harry got back into the game, and finished it with Ron winning, but only just.
Hermione stopped the argument that was sure to start by saying. "Hey Ron, did you pass your Apparition test?"
Ron looked up, startled by the suddenness of the question and slowly said. "Yeah."
Harry looked at Hermione and asked. "Why are you so suddenly interested in whether or not we've passed the test or not?" Harry had gone the day after they went to Diagon ally and passes his with flying colors.
"I'm just interested." Hermione said quickly. Ron shook his head and steered the conversation away from the test. The rest of the ride was spent talking about various subjects, all too soon the train started to slow down. Hermione kicked the boys out of the compartment to change, then switched places with them so they could change. They stayed in the compartment until the train reached a complete stop. They followed the crowd out to the carriages.
Harry lead them to the lone carriage, off to the side of the rest. The thestral made a weird screech of a greeting a nuzzled on Harry's arm. Harry patted the thestral's neck, and made a similar noise, only quieter. The thestral was the same one that took him to the ministry of magic. After that during his sixth year, Harry found himself out more and more with the thestral, it became one of his friends. "Theo." Harry crooned.
"Come on, Harry!" Hermione said from inside the carriage. Harry gave Theo one last pet and jumped inside the carriage. The carriage jolted forward and they were heading up to the castle. Hermione and Ron talked the entire way, but Harry stayed quiet, looking out the small window. The carriage stopped suddenly, nearly knocking them out of their seats. Ron opened the door and they all stepped out. Harry gave Theo a quick pat and followed the other two into the castle.
They sat down at their table, talking to the others who had entered with them. Harry was watching those still entering the Great Hall. He saw Malfoy with his usual minions, but though he had his usual I'm-king-of-this-school gait there was still something wrong. One of his friends placed his hand on Malfoy's shoulder, it seemed that only Harry saw Malfoy wince in pain, but he quickly masked it over with a laugh. Harry turned away from Malfoy, and pretended to listen to Ron talk. Harry let his mind wander, and ended up thinking about Malfoy. Why was he hurt? Who did it to him? Harry thought, as a million different other questions raced through his mind. Harry didn't realize how long he had been thinking until Hermione suddenly stood up.
Harry looked around at the people clapping, the new first years had been sorted and Professor Dumbledore was saying. "Give a round of applause for your new Headboy and girl!" Harry clapped with the rest of the school, as Hermione and some Ravenclaw boy sat down. "Congratulations!" Harry said, as the food appeared before them. They piled the food on their plates and started eating.
After they had had their fill, they got up with the rest of the school and headed up to the dorms. Hermione left Ron and Harry to show the first years to the common room. They said the password and entered the common room, Ron and Harry headed up to their dorms and Ron immediately started to change into his nightclothes. Harry sat on his bed, staring at the floor. He stood up suddenly and opened his trunk, Ron disappeared into the bathroom.
"Hi, Neesm!" Harry whispered. Neesm lifted his head tiredly and nodded. Harry quickly said an invisibility charm and draped Neesm around his neck. Harry pulled out his invisibility cloak and the Maurder's map. He started towards the door, when Ron came out of the bathroom.
"Where are you going?" He asked, heading over to his bed.
"I'm just going to go for a walk. I'm not tired yet." Harry said, his hand on the doorknob.
"OK, have fun." Ron said with a yawn.
Harry opened the door and left. Only a few were in the common room, but no one stopped Harry as he left the tower. He looked at the Maurder's map as he climbed through the portrait. He tapped his wand to it and said. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The blank parchment came alive dots moving across it. Harry stared at it for a second before heading down the hall. He kept one eye on the map as he made his way to the empty classroom. He stood in front of a suit of armor, and once again check to make sure no one was coming.
He looked up at the helmet and said. "The bumble bees are coming."
The armor nodded his head and moved aside, it reveled a door. Last year he'd found an empty room that no one ever used and put a suit of armor in front of the door, with a spell so it would never move or let anyone in unless they had the password. It was his own little hide-away. Harry opened it and stepped into the room. He shut the door behind him and undid the invisibility charm on Neesm.
"Here we are!" Harry said happily as he looked around the room. It had a few desks and boxes but otherwise it was empty. It you exclude the dust, Harry always left the room the way he had found it, whenever he left for vacation. Harry looked down at Neesm's skeptical face.
"It, um, different." Neesm said slowly. Harry laughed and did a few spells so the floor was grass, the desks became small trees and the boxes became small boulders. Earlier last year he had found the charm that was used on the Great Hall's ceiling. Harry charmed the ceiling to show what it was like outside. Neesm sighed. "Much better." Harry laughed, and placed Neesm on the grass.
"Everything all right now?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I think this will do." Neesm said as he looked around the room, the moon above him lit everything nicely. Harry nodded and headed for the door.
"Now you can play loud music in here, I've put a sound-proof spell on the room. But do try to keep your wild parties small." Neesm laughed and rolled his eyes. "I've got to go back now. I'll see you tomorrow." Harry said. "Goodnight."
"Night!" Neesm said. A last minute invisibility charm on the room, so that if anyone but Harry entered it would be normal looking, and Harry opened the door and left.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the busy Great Hall, and sat down for breakfast. Harry had periodically checked the Maurder's map all morning to make sure no one had been in the classroom. Harry looked up at the sound of thousands of birds' wings flapping, Hedwig swooped down and dropped his timetable on his lap. She took a bit of his toast before flying off with the other owls. Harry looked at his timetable, and groaned. Double transfiguration, then double potions, lunch, double Defense against dark arts, and finally double Charms. It's going to be very boring relearning everything. Harry thought.
He had last year spent endless hours in the library, just learning spells, potions, charms, curses, hexes and how to transform and apparate. He learned everything he need to know in school, plus loads more. He spent a few weekends during the summer at the Library in Diagon ally, where he learned many ancient spells, found a book that listed all the rules for the Hogwarts professors, and he'd read up on the other dark wizards in the past and how they had blundered. The library was much bigger then the one at Hogwarts and he didn't need a signed form to look at the books that might be considered restricted.
Harry pulled out his book on the wizards and witches who made their own spell, and set it up to read at the table.
Ron looked at the cover and asked. "Trying to get a head start on Potions?" Harry looked up distracted and nodded. He almost forgot that he had charmed the front of the book to resemble his potions book. He made a point to close his book bag, so they couldn't see the real potions book. Breakfast went by quickly and uneventfully, soon they were heading to their classes.
"See you guys at lunch!" Hermione said as she disappeared into the crowd. She had a different schedule then Harry and Ron, since she was interested in a different field of work then Harry and Ron's Auror field. Harry and Ron waved goodbye, and Harry knocked into someone.
"Sorry." He apologized as he turned to see who he had ran into. Ginny patted him on the back.
"It's all right, these halls do get kind of crowded don't they?" she said as she fell into step beside them.
"Yeah they do." Ron said, searching in his bag.
"What class do you two have? I've got Potions, thankfully not with the Slytherins." Ginny continued.
Harry nodded and said. "We've got transfiguration, then potions." Harry looked down at the timetable in his hand. "But we couldn't be as lucky as you. Nope we've got Potions and of course more then half the class is Slytherins." He said darkly.
Ginny laughed at him and said. "Well, I'm going down this way. See you two later!" And she headed down the stairs.