Welcome Home

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny went with Tonks, and Mr. And Mrs. Weasley to Platform 9 ¾. Goodbyes were said, somberly and soon they were off past the countryside to Hogwarts. Harry went to sit with Ginny, Neville, Dean, and Luna. While Ron and Hermione headed to the front car for their prefect meeting. Ron sighed as he and Hermione sat down in the prefect car. This was not his favorite part of being a prefect; as a matter of fact it was quite annoying actually. He and Hermione were the first prefects there, then everyone started piling in the car, Hufflepuffs next, Ravenclaws, and finally Malfoy and Parkinson filed in last. But they were still without a teacher. Malfoy avoided eye contact with Ron and Hermione. This made Ron grin and swell with a certain sort of pride. But that pleasant feeling did not last long, as soon as Snape swept into the compartment, looking bitter and angry. He glared at all of them meeting each person's eyes; he nodded cordially to Draco and Pansy. Then he started talking.

"I am the prefect supervisor this year," he said coldly, looking them over. "I will not waste your time or mine, telling you that you need to set good examples for your fellow students. You know that, that's why you were chosen, or so it would seem," he continued, resting his eyes on Ron for a minute. "Last year, we had a problem with prefects misusing their power over the students. And if I hear about anything of the sort, while I am in charge, there will be hell to pay." Draco and Pansy grinned coldly around the compartment, knowing they were practically exempt from that statement. "Now," continued Snape loudly, " Weasley, Granger, you have the first car, Draco, Pansy you have the second…" and Ron and Hermione were out of there before they could hear anything else.

"Well this is perfect," muttered Ron grudgingly.

"It won't be too much trouble unless Malfoy catches you doing something wrong. Which you won't be doing," said Hermione simply. Ron sighed and they walked down the train corridors, peering in the compartments. Then after a while Ron smiled and turned to Hermione.

"So, are you going to ask him?" he asked, she looked him over, as if he had just asked her something in Dutch.

"I don't know what you are talking about," she said turning away from him and looking at more detail at one of the compartments.

"I think you do," he said almost in a singsong voice, peering in the compartment where she had paused. Everyone in the compartment was either sleeping or reading. He smiled again and laughed, "you can't avoid it forever, one day it will be too much, for even you to handle. Believe me I know." She looked at him again harshly.

"You don't know what you are talking about," she said coolly, then quickly changed the subject, "I think we're done now, let's go back with the others."

"I'm telling you for your own good 'Mione," he said quietly but followed her back to the compartment with everyone else, and he didn't say another word. Ginny was sleeping on Dean's shoulder, Luna was reading the Quibbler, and Harry was staring out the window blandly. Hermione pulled out Harry's quidditch book to read, and Ron talked Harry into playing wizards chess. After another hour, the train started coming to a stop, and everyone groggily stretched and moved off the train, into the crisp night air. Harry, Ron, and Hermione piled into a carriage, Ron saw Harry smile sadly at the front of the carriages.

"Ooh, it's cold tonight," said Hermione crossing her arms across her chest.

"Want my coat Hermione?" asked Ron handing her his jacket he had worn on the train.

"No, I'm okay," she said, looking at him. He grinned and laughed.

"Alright then," he said shaking his head. Harry looked between them, curiously. After another minute, the carriage pulled to a stop by the entrance of the great castle. As they got out of the carriage, Ron looked up, and a snowflake landed on his nose. It was starting to snow.

"We better get inside," he said pulling his robes around him tighter. Hermione and Harry nodded, and they went through the doors into the castle, and slowly but surely made their way into the Great Hall. Ron breathed out, as soon as he walked in, it was so warm, and his robes felt dry. The three of them sat at the back of the table. He scanned the teacher tables, for the new DADA teacher, and sure enough Ron saw the new teacher on the end of the table, but before he could say anything Hermione did.

" There is the new teacher," said Hermione pointing and Harry now turned to look at the DADA teacher. The new teacher appeared pretty young looking but very stern. His hair was combed back, almost like Professor Snape's, with not a hair out of spot. His charcoal black robes were clean pressed and his shoes were polished under the table. He was talking very uneventfully with McGonagall. His face almost looked forced like he was trying to be stern. But the thing that bothered Ron was that there was something familiar about the new professor. He just couldn't put a finger on where he had witnessed him before, but he was almost sure he had seen him before. Professor McGonagall then went back to get the first years from the hallway, and the sorting hat. After the sorting hat sang a new song, the first years were sorted. Usually the sorting was fairly even but their seemed to be more kids sorted into Slytherin, or at least that's what it seemed like to Ron.

Then Dumbledore went through his start of term notices and after that introduced the new teachers. "We have a new addition to Hogwarts and I assume all of you will make him feel very welcome. This year we have Professor Blanchet who will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Professor Dumbledore, motioning to the teacher on the end who smiled curtly and nodded. There was a minor applause mostly because he had this look Snape did when he was going to deduct house points. "Now before I think of anything else to say, enjoy your meal." After Dumbledore said this food appeared on the platters around them and they enjoyed their dinner.

"That new teacher looks like someone I used to know," said Harry frowning as he helped himself to gravy on him potatoes.

"I know," said Ron, drinking some pumpkin juice, "I was thinking the same thing myself, I'm just not sure where I know him from." Harry shrugged and they both finished their meals, and slowly around them everyone else did as well. Ron and Hermione ran off ahead to lead the first years to the common room. Harry hung back by himself.

"Come on guys, you'll have a whole year to goggle at the pictures," groaned Ron as the first years walked slowly behind him.

"Ron!" shrieked Hermione, "leave them alone! Some of them have never seen the wizarding world before!"

"Still they have a whole year to get used to it, I know we weren't this slow first year," he then turned back to the first years exasperatedly, "come on, we are almost there." Ron sighed thankfully as he saw the Fat Lady in sight, and a bunch of frustrated students waiting at the entrance for the password.

"The password is Lumos Lenora," said Hermione as they reached the entrance. There were a lot of groans and sarcastic remarks as the herd of Gryffindors piled into the common room. She and Ron had to stand on chairs to be seen over everyone in the common room and announce instructions to the first years. Ron let Hermione do that, she was so much better with kids then he was. After of a few minutes, of the usual first year instructions, the first years all scattered about excitedly to their rooms to unpack and gossip about their new school.

"A man of many words you are Ron," joked Harry nudging Ron as they both slumped onto the couch in front of the fireplace.

Ron sighed and tilted his head back," Honestly Harry, you are lucky you aren't a prefect. Dealing with those little buggers is a hassle, and painfully annoying."

Harry laughed, grinning at Ron, and then Harry yawned, "You know, I think I'm going to call it a night."

"Harry! It's only eight o' clock! You can't be serious! You don't even have homework yet!" cried Hermione in surprise.

"Actually 'Mione I think he's right, I'm really tired too, not to mention we have classes tomorrow, I'd rather be refreshed to take on whatever classes I have in the morning," Ron replied stretching and grinning at Hermione almost mischievously.

Hermione gave a deathly glare at Ron and sighed hopelessly at the both of them. "If you must, I guess I'll see you in the morning," sighed Hermione who headed up the stairs to the girls dormitories.

"What was that about, since when has she been an advocate for staying up late?" asked Harry raising his eyebrows watching her disappear from sight.

Ron shrugged, though really knowing more then he let on. "Maybe she just wants some company," he answered doubtingly.

Harry just shook his head, and he and Ron went upstairs, they were the only ones up their dormitory. Everyone else had dispersed around the school and commons room. Harry and Ron changed and climbed into their respectable beds. Harry fell asleep right away, apparently not kidding about being tired. Ron however, lay awake with a smile on his face, thinking of things beyond his control.

Ron awoke reluctantly in the morning to Neville's new alarm clock. It made a loud noise that sounded like a banshee, and wouldn't shut off until you preformed the right spell to turn it off. Unfortunately for everyone, Neville couldn't remember the right spell to shut it off. Soon everyone in the room was throwing jinxes and curses at it, some of them back firing just making the sound worse. Finally Neville located the correct spell (Dozona) and shut it off. By this time everyone was up and on their feet, on the bright side no one was tempted to go back to sleep, but no one was in a very good mood. All five boys pulled on their clothes and grumbled as they went to breakfast. When Harry and Ron arrived in the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, Hermione was sitting there reading her paper.

"What took you guys so long?" she inquired, glancing up over her paper.

"Neville's alarm clock," said Harry sighing and slumping onto a seat and helping himself to some eggs and toast. Ron just nodded fervently at his side, pouring some orange juice. As most of the table was finishing breakfast, Professor McGonagall was gliding by the tables and handing out schedules. Ron looked at his and disappointment rose within him. His schedule was hardly fancy and lacking in anything officially important. He was taking NEWT level DADA,