6. New Quiddich Captain

When Harry finally woke up the next morning he laid in bed feeling the warm sunlight blanketing over his bed. He loved so much the way he was treated and the freedom he had when he was with the Weasley's and his new friends were so wonderful. Life in the magic community was for the most part good. In the back of his mind he knew that there was bad and the evil dark forced he would soon have to face but now, in the present, things were good and happy. The sun was already high in the sky and its warmth flooded through the room. When he finally brought himself to sitting up and stretching he noticed that Ron had already left and so had Dominic. He got up slowly looked out the window to see if his friends had already started their Quiddich practice for the day. Noticing no movement about the grounds of the house he changed out of his pyjamas hurrying to find the Weasley's and Cross'. He came down the stairs slowly noticing that the house was far to quiet. Would they really leave him all alone? Perhaps he slept through Mrs. Cross leaving. Maybe they all were outside and he just didn't see them. The house seemed to quiet.

"Surprised!" was the only sound Harry could hear as he reached the bottom of the stairs and the dinning area of the Weasley house.

Gathered around a brightly decorated table, littered with sweets and gifts, Harry found all his friends with giant smiles on all of their faces.

"Happy Birthday Harry!" They all said in perfect unison.

"My goodness, that a surprise. I've never had a birthday like this before. Thank you all so much!" Harry said still taking in all the work that had gone into the surprise party.

"The hardest part was keeping quiet as to not wake you up!" Ron smiled as he motioned for Harry to come to the table.

"Yes it was so hard getting out of the room without you hearing and all the commotion in the stairs we were sure you would wake up!" Dominic laughed.

"It was far to quiet when I came down the stairs I was sure you had all left on me!" Harry laughed.

"On your birthday?" Amelia laughed, "never, but the quietness could have given it away. To tell you the truth this was the first bit of real quiet at all. Its been crazy trying to get this ready for you!"

"It didn't help either that Fred and George brought exploding party favors from the joke shop!" Hermione said rolling her eyes.

"Oh if you could have only seen it Harry!" George laughed.

"Yeah we accidently started an exploding streamer," Fred joined in the laughter, "its only a prototype but we needed a test place, and what better time then at your birthday?"

"Mum had to toss it into the frying pan and slam on the lid," Ron said with a smile.

"Made a terrible sizzling sound and multicolored smoke came from the pan when she opened it!" Dominic added.

"Yeah that could be a good prank gift in itself," George smiled

"Wasn't exactly the reaction we were hoping for though." Fred added.

"You guys this is to much!" Harry laughed as he looked around at all the food and sweets, "this is better than any of the great feasts Dumbledore has ever had. Mrs. Weasley, thank you,"

"You're welcome dear," She smiled.

The rest of the afternoon and early evening was spent with Harry and his friend celebrating and joking around with the gifts and spending quite a lot of time out practicing there Quiddich moves. Amelia and Dominic had become quite comfortable flying about, on their brooms, and were really turning out to be good chasers.

"You know, you two should try out for the team this year," Ron said as they all landed to take a break and head back for more cake and sweets.

"Yeah we lost all three of our chasers last year at graduation," Harry said, "you are both really good!"

"My bet is that both of you would make it hands down!" Fred smiled.

"Yeah and I wouldn't be surprised if Harry is named Captain this year," George added.

"I doubt that I mean I graduate this year," Harry said.

"You'll be captain for sure!" Ginny smiled.

Harry blushed as he walked into the house with his friends, could he really be the new captain of the Quiddich team for Gryffindor? Harry hoped with all his heart that, that would be the case. The day was turning out to be the most wonderful day for Harry. It was the first real birthday party Harry had ever had and it was a wonderful feeling that he had been given on this his eighteenth birthday. As the sun began to set and the moon began to rise there was a short knock on the door to the Weasley home and two familiar faces appeared.

"Good evening everyone," Professor McGonagall said with a smile, "we are here to meet you Belinda." she said spotting Mrs. Cross by the fireside.

"So good to see you again," Belinda smiled as she noticed the second figure in the doorway, "well hello Professor Sprout."

"See mum you'll be fine at Hogwarts you already have new friends!" Dominic joked.

"You watch it!" Belinda laughed, "Professor McGonagall is head of your house and I give her full permission to punish you in any way she sees fit and if she decided to not let you play Quiddich this year then were will you be?"

"Mum don't say that!" Dominic said as his eyes grew wide, "we never even got to see a real match where we are from."

"I'm joking, but you'll have to try out like the rest of them!" Belinda smiled.

"We are looking forward to a great year again this year in Quiddich," McGonagall smiled, "Professor Dumbledore is going to do all in his power to keep the sport running this year, there will be no stopping the house cup."

"Really it's a for sure thing?" Harry asked with hope filling his eyes

"Yes Mr. Potter, and the Gryffindor team looks forward to you being their captain this year should you accept that," McGonagall smiled.

"Told you!" George and Ginny said with a smile and an excited cheer.

"Say yes Harry!" Ron whispered as he elbowed Harry in the ribs.

"Wow, I would love to Professor!" Harry said with a smile.

"Good, you and I will have to meet to discuss how many new team mate you will need and when to have tryouts." McGonagall smiled, "we will get together first week of school, we want your team to have plenty of time to get used to the new players wont we? You just have to win the cup back from Slytherin"

"Of course!" Harry smiled.

"You just may have a chance after all Dominic," Amelia smiled.

"So would you, you're a great flyer!" Dominic smiled.

"Not if you two don't behave!" Belinda laughed.

"Mum!" Both the twins cried

"You're making us out to be trouble makers," Amelia stated feeling a bit angry.

"I'm just joking around," Belinda smiled, "Professor McGonagall will have to make her own opinion of the two of you."

"Hello Professor," Amelia stated as she ran over and shook McGonagall's hand, "I am very much looking forward to you Transfigurations class."

"Eager to learn, that is a wonderful sign," McGonagall smiled, "I have read your records from Starysnow Miss. Cross, we will start work on perfecting your Animagus right away."

"I'd love that!" Amelia said excitedly, "Harry tells me you are a licenced Animagus yourself."

"That is true!" McGonagall laughed, "would you like to see?"

"Oh yes!" Amelia said even more excited and before anyone could blink again there was a small grey cat standing where Professor McGonagall was standing.

"I told you she was bloody brilliant!" Ron said as he stared.

"It really takes a lot of concentration but once you can really feel the change it comes nearly naturally," Minerva said as she transfigured again.

"I've done it once," Amelia sighed, "so I know I can do it... I just don't know how I did it!"

"That is what we will find out and I am sure it will come very quickly," McGonagall smiled.

"Just like your Occlumency," Belinda said as she smiled at Amelia.

"What!" Harry Gasped.

"Oh you all didn't know!" Belinda looked around.

"No!" Harry, Ron, Hermione and the rest had yelled together.

"Why didn't it say anything about Occlumency training in their files?" Minerva asked.

"Because we didn't know what it was till recently," Dominic said hiding shyly, "we just can do it. We've been able to since we were little."

"Yeah we could read each others minds and block each other out," Amelia said, "we really didn't know it was anything and assumed it was just a twins kind of bond that the muggle science magazines talk about."

"Until one of our profs in defense against the dark arts did a short lesson on it and enforced the fact that it was very difficult to learn," Dominic said.

"We sat on opposite sides of the room and could still talk to each other. Dominic burst into laugher when our prof told us it was nearly impossible for kids our age to even think of learning it." Amelia giggled.

"We had it mastered at five!" Dominic boasted.

"We kinda forget about it. Its such a natural every day thing for us!" Amelia said feeling guilty.

"Yeah we're sorry we didn't tell you," Dominic said to the friends that sat around them staring.

"That's wicked!" Ron said filled with excitement, "Harry is working on mastering it."

"But I'm not very good!" Harry sighed.

"All good things come with practice Mr. Potter," McGonagall said as she looked at him, "perhaps you would feel more comfortable practicing it with Dominic and Amelia rather than your Professor. It may help you to advance."

"Yeah Harry!" Amelia smiled, "we'll help you! Its not as hard as they make it out to be!"

"We had better hurry Albus will be waiting for us," Sprout said seeming in a bit of a hurry.

"Alright, Children be good, Dominic you especially. Amelia watch him I don't want to hear of any trouble!" Belinda stated as she snatched up her bags.

"Mum!" Dominic whined, "I'm not going to do anything!"

"You better not!" Belinda said as she kiss his forehead and headed for the door, "I'll see you in a few days!" she smiled and waved and disappeared out the door.

Belinda Cross found herself standing in a place that she had not seen in many years. Platform nine and three quarters was dark, lit only with a single lamp and was not as inviting as she had once remembered it. The Bright red engine of the Hogwarts express stood steaming and ready to leave as all the teachers began to show up one by one on the platform.

"This must seem rather odd for you, Belinda," McGonagall said as she watched Belinda closely, "we all ride the train just as the children do. The only other entrance to Hogwarts is in the headmasters office and it is just to difficult for find the place if we were to fly. The train is a relaxing ride, it will be a good chance for you to meet the new staff and reunite with the old that you once knew."

"Yes you're right, Minerva," Belinda smiled, "I supposed I am just a little on edge, I haven't taught in a magic school for a very long time This is going to take some getting used to."

"You'll be fine," McGonagall said placing a hand on Belinda's shoulder, "I know things are strange and frightening for you, but the safest place in this world is that school. You have no need to be worried."

The platform was becoming more and more crowded as more and more staff members emerged from the entrance to the platform. The tips of wands glowed as the teachers walked about providing more light to the seeming deserted station.

"Good evening everyone," came a booming yet gentle voice from the door to one of the train cars, "we best get a move on before it gets light. Another year of learning is in our midst and we must prepare for our new arrivals and challenges. Welcome to all, there is a great meal and warm beds waiting at Hogwarts for you, please join me for this relaxing train ride," Dumbledore smiled and stepped aside to let the teachers board the train, "Good to see you looking calmer Belinda," Dumbledore smiled as she came to the door way.

"I am more looking forward to being at Hogwarts now," She smiled.

"Everything will be wonderful, you have nothing to worry about," he said, "find yourself a nice quiet compartment and relax. We have a busy year ahead of us!"

Belinda made her way onto the train and settled into and empty compartment. It wasn't long before the train had started and the soon felt the comforting motion of the train that she had left behind her.