Chapter 8: The New Term Begins

"Snape isn't the only spy," said Draco. "We're all going to act like our Mums took us against our will. Make the rest of the house believe we're on their side. It might take a week or so but we can gain their trust again. "

"But what if people ask what happened after the Aurors showed up and rescued you?" a now concerned Harry asked.

"That's where I come in," the youngest Slytherin piped up again. "You see Mr. Harry Potter, sir, we were on our way to a house much like this one. One that only a family member can get too."

"We ran for it as soon as the Aurors showed up, and no one can question us. Besides those Death Eaters didn't stick around long." Draco smiled.

"Are you sure you're all up for this?" asked Harry.

"We're Slytherins!" the youngest beamed. "Well almost." The group laughed, Harry knew he was going to like this kid.

"We'll manage Potter don't worry about us," said Draco. He motioned to the others that it was time to go, but before Draco close the door he looked back at Harry. "Potter, you know we're going to have to keep up the rivalry," stated Draco.

"I know Malfoy," said Harry "Good, apologize to Granger for me in advance, but not Weasel. I at least want to have some fun this year," smirked Draco as he left. Harry just shook his head, some things will never change, he thought. Harry changed and went to bed, at least he was going back to Hogwarts, he thought as he fell asleep.

The next morning Harry awoke to the sounds of everyone rushing around getting last minute packing done. He slowly made his way over towards his bathroom and got ready for the day. Half an hour later Harry was carrying his belongs to the front door, he noticed Hedwig wasn't in the house, he figured she must have gone to get some last minute flying done. He went to the backyard to get her.

"Hedwig!" called Harry. A few second later Harry saw her along with another bird flying towards him. It was Rosie, Julia's Eagle. Hedwig landed safely on Harry's arm while Rosie flew right into the kitchen and as Harry followed he could hear Mrs. Weasley shooing the bird to go away.

"Harry dear, breakfast is ready," informed Mrs. Weasley as Harry walked into the kitchen.

"Alright, be right back," said Harry as he walked through the main hall to place Hedwig in her cage. "Come on girl, in you go," Harry, said to her. But Hedwig was giving Harry that, "not again" look and didn't seem too pleased to go back in her cage. Then Harry pulled out one of the treats he bought for her. Now Hedwig hopped into her cage without a problem and Harry gave her the treat once he closed the cage door. He headed back towards the kitchen. Harry walked in and saw Mrs. Weasley now standing right next to Rosie and waving her arms for the bird to move, but Rosie wasn't fazed.

"I'll sit there Mrs. Weasley don't worry," said Harry as he took his seat. Moments later he was joined by Ron and Ginny, then finally Hermione, who sat as far away from Harry as possible. Harry just kept his head down and slowly ate his food, every now and then he would look up at Hermione and try and catch her eye. "She's never going to talk to me again," thought Harry.

"Oh she will don't worry, she loves you too much," said a woman's voice. Harry's head jerked up and looked around. Mrs. Weasley was on the other side of the kitchen and the voice was to old to be Ginny's, who was sitting across from him.

"You alright mate," asked Ron who noticed Harry looking around like he didn't know where he was.

"Yeah, I'm fine," said Harry as he looked back down at his food. Great now he was going crazy.

"You're not going crazy," said the woman's voice. Before Harry could look again he felt a tapping on his shoulder. He tilted his head and stared directly into Rosie's eyes.

"Hello Harry," said Rosie. Harry just stared for a moment.

"Hi," he thought. "How can I talk with you, is this another one of those things I can do but don't know about."

"Oh no, it's me. I can talk to whomever I want. I'm telepathic but unlike Fawkes, I can communicate back," explained Rosie.

"Phoenix's are telepathic?" asked Harry, whom unknown to him was starting to get weird looks from everyone in the room.

"In a way, they're very perceptive about feelings," explained Rosie.

"No way," Harry said out loud.

"Harry dear, are you okay?" asked Mrs. Weasley. Both Harry and Rosie turned and looked at Mrs. Weasley.

"Uh yeah," he said as he noticed everyone was looking at him including Hermione.

"It's okay Harry we'll talk on the way to Hogwarts, Julia wanted me to stay with you today because she couldn't be here. Harry looked back down at his plate and kept eating as he talked with Rosie.

"Where is she?" asked Harry as he gave a smile to Ron who was still staring at him. This was actually kind of fun, thought Harry, his own little secret.

"She, along with some other Aurors, took the Slytherins around to their houses to pick up their stuff last night. Then put them on the night bus so it appeared they all stayed together at Padraig's house. They've been keeping a close eye on them since, but I believe she's moving her stuff into Hogwarts right now." Said Rosie who sounded like she was trying to concentrate.

"Who's Padraig? Is he the youngest?" Harry asked.

"Yes, he's gonna be a wonderful wizard some day. It's a shame he's going to ask to be put in Slytherin. He should really be in Gryffindor." Said Rosie. But before Harry could ask his question Mrs. Weasley called from the front door.

"The bus is here! Time to go! Called Mrs. Weasley.

"Not the bloody bus again," exclaimed Ron. Everyone laughed at Ron's frustration with the night bus.

The ride to the station wasn't as bad as before. They all made it onto the train with time to spare. Hermione and Ron went to the front to check in, still being prefects, they had duties to perform before they could join Harry in the back car. Ginny and Harry walked to the back of the train and put their stuff down. Harry then opened the window and Rosie came flying in and landed on the seat opposite Harry.

"She's a gorgeous bird isn't she," said Ginny as she sat next to Rosie. Harry saw Rosie buff up her chest.

"I knew I liked her," Harry heard Rosie say. He laughed, and then looked out the window. He watched as all the last minute arrivals came barreling through the wall and running to one of the conductors to help get their luggage on the train. Several hours later the train was rolling through the countryside and Ron and Hermione had joined them. Hermione was still avoiding Harry. She would talk with Ron and Ginny here and there but mostly kept her nose in a book. There were several times that Harry caught himself gazing at her but turned away when he felt someone noticing. Rosie had flown out the window when Hermione and Ron came back but Harry could still talk with her, she was shadowing the train from above. He was glad he had someone to talk too because this trip was turning out to be painfully long.

"You know you should try and talk with her," Rosie suggested.

"She will not want to talk to me," thought Harry as he let out a long breath.

"Oh Harry you should . . . we'll talk later we're getting close you should put your robes on. I'll see you in the Great Hall." Said Rosie. Harry got up and pulled his trunk down.

"Getting close?' asked Ron.

"Yeah, I was gonna change in the bathroom so Hermione and Ginny can change in here," said Harry as he looked in Hermione's direction hoping she might look at him but she didn't. He and Ron grabbed their clothes and headed towards the bathroom next to their compartment.

"Hey Harry," called Ron from the adjoining bathroom stall.

"Yeah," responded Harry.

"What did you see in Hermione's memory that's making her not talk to you," asked Ron, who was having trouble putting his pants on.

"You know I can't tell you," said Harry, who was buttoning up his shirt.

"Just thought I'd give it a shot, anyway do you think she'll talk to you anytime soon," asked Ron as he pulled his vest on.

"I hope so," whispered Harry who was putting his robe on.

"What was that?" called Ron.

"I don't know," said Harry, who was walking out of the stall. He and Ron finished up and headed back to their compartment. Minutes later the train began to slow down. The children departed and headed towards the carriages, all the upper classmen took their seats at the tables and waited for the first years to arrive. Some how Harry managed to sit next to Hermione, but he was still getting the cold shoulder. He decided to give up for the night and just catch up with the other Gryffindors. It was several more minutes until the doors to the Great Hall opened and the first years walked in. The Shorting hat was placed on the stool.

"The time has come for 4 different groups to become one. This year rivalries must die and new allies must arise. It shouldn't matter if you where a snake, raven, lion, or badger. The coming war will need all the houses together, united as one you shall be and let the history book see what a great generation of witches and wizards you will be." The sorting hat fell silent, for a moment nothing happened until McGonagall collected herself and called out the first name.

"Padraig McNair," she called. Harry felt a lump in the back of his throat form. Padraig's dad was the man who attacked him.

"He doesn't know his father is alive Harry, he thinks he died several months ago. His mother told him that when McNair went back to Voldemort," a voice that sounded like Julia said to him. Harry then looked up towards the teacher's table and saw Julia give him a little wave. "It's me, I'm using Rosie to communicate with you. But you'll learn all about it in class so don't ask me any questions. I just felt you getting tense when McGonagall read Padraig's last name and I wanted you not to hold any grudges towards him." Explained Julia.

"Okay I wont," Harry laughed inwardly. This was going to be one interesting year he thought. He then tried to hear what the sorting had been saying to Padraig.

"You know you don't belong there," said the sorting had in a low whisper. "I accept your deal . . . SLYTHERIN!" Yelled the sorting hat. Padriag took a deep sigh of relief and went and joined Malfoy at the Slytherin table. What deal did he make with the sorting hat Harry wondered? The rest of the sorting was uneventful once it was done Dumbledore stood and the hall went quite.

"Another year at Hogwarts is about to begin, and I would like to introduce a new teacher to you all. Professor Julia will be the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher, good luck Professor." Dumbledore clapped as Julia stood up and took a small bow. He noticed for the first time she finally looked like a witch. She was wearing dark navy blue robes of a very fine material. "Also the Forbidden Forest is completely off limits, if you try and take one step into that forest you'll be met with a very nice repelling curse which I'm sure none of you can disarm," Dumbledore paused. "So don't try," a small amount of laughter was heard and then Dumbledore's face became very serious and the laughter died down. "I'm sure many of you are wondering what the sorting had meant in his message. As you all know, we're entering a dark time, our world is beginning to split into two groups as it once did before you were born. However, there is still hope and that is what the sorting had is telling us. If we stick together as a school, as one army we can defeat any enemy and preserve all that we have." Dumbledore looked around and saw the tension that filled the hall. He beamed a great smile, "Now my children off to your common rooms and may your dreams be filled with happier days."

The Hall now was filled with the calls of the prefects asking their first years to follow them. Harry followed the rest of the Gryffindors up to their tower. Once he was in the common room he started to head up to the sixth year boy's dormitory.

"Harry!" Ron called. "Come here." Harry walked back down the stairs to see what his friend wanted.

"What is it?" asked Harry.

"It looks like you're rooming with us," Ron said happily.

"Where?" a confused Harry asked.

"Follow me," said Ron and he moved to a portrait of two Gryffindor's playing quidditch.

"Snitch," said Ron and the portrait opened. Harry followed him in to what looked like a smaller version of the common room.

"Where are we," asked Harry.

"The sixth year prefects dorm. Sixth and seventh years get their own dorm but I walked in and noticed you had a door with your name on it," explained Ron. Just then Hermione walked through the portrait.

"What are you doing in here?" she asked in a slightly accusing tone.

"I don't know, Ron just saw I had a door with my name on it," Harry said matching Hermione's tone of voice. The three stood there for a moment and then Hermione spoke.

"Well maybe this will explain what's going on." She said as she picked up a piece of paper that was on the table closest to the fire.

Dear Harry, Hermione, and Ron,

It is necessary that you three spend as much time together as possible, until we can figure out the key that unlocks how Hermione and Ron help Harry in his battle, the only thing we can do is hope that by you three being together it helps us find something. Also I would like to congratulate Harry on becoming the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain.

Head Master,
Albus Dumbledore

Hermione finished reading the letter and looked up at Harry. "Congratulations Harry," she said with not much enthusiasm. "Well, I'm going to bed. Good night." Her door was half way closed by the time she finished. Harry turned to look at Ron who looked a little down.

"Ron, I didn't know honestly." Harry felt that maybe he could talk Ron out of being angry with him before he made up his mind. Harry couldn't take it if they both didn't talk to him.

"I know," Ron said a little depressed. "I dunno, I guess with you not playing last year I thought they might choose me. But you know you've been on the team since your first year, it makes more sense for you to be the captain." Ron finished.

"So you're not mad?" Harry asked. Ron smiled up at him and shook his head. "Good," breathed Harry. "I don't know if I could take both you and Hermione not talking to me."

"It's not me you have to worry about," joked Ron.

"I know," Harry gave him a pat on the back. "We probably should get to bed, night Ron."

"Night," Ron said as he went to his room. Harry walked into his new room. The bed was a little bigger then the one in the dormitory and he had his own fireplace and desk. He looked towards the right and saw a door that looked liked it lead to a bathroom. He walked over to the bed and laid down, he needed to think of a way to get Hermione to talk to him again. But the harder he thought, the heavier his eyes got and soon he was dreaming of catching snitches, Hermione and for some reason Snape teaching class in a tutu.

He awoke the next morning fairly early. He got a nice long shower, and then put on his robes. He walked in to his common room to see if anyone else was awake but no one was. He decided to just head down to the great hall and have breakfast. Harry was only in the Great hall for fifteen minutes before it started to fill up. Another five minutes went by and Hermione came and sat down across the table from him. He guessed the only reason she did was out of habit. Just several minutes after she arrived, Ron stumbled to the table. They all ate in silence until the flapping of the owl's wings signaled the arrival of their schedules. As Harry watched the birds fly over him he suddenly remembered the gift he bought Hermione. He smiled to himself, all he had to do was wait it out for another two weeks and redemption would be on its way.