CHAPTER 9: A New Year

Harry awoke later that day in the hospital wing at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He looked around to see many students lying unconscious in beds. He sat up very quickly, suddenly remembering the Dementors attacking the train. But all he saw was Madame Pomfrey walking around, bending over some students to pour a potion into their mouths.

"The year hasn't even started yet, and I've already cared for most of the school." She said in her usual fashion when she noticed Harry was awake. "And I couldn't be surprised when I saw you carried in, I hope you notice that I even put you in your usual bed, Mr. Potter."

"Where is everyone? What happened?" Harry managed to stammer. He tried to sit up further, but slumped back down onto the bed. He was feeling weaker than he had ever felt before.

"Oh no, that won't do. You need rest, eat this chocolate and sleep, I'll tell Dumbledore you woke up, I'm sure he'll want to speak with you." She said, slipping a piece of Honeydukes Chocolate into his hand. He ate it quickly, remembering that Lupin had always given him chocolate after practicing against the boggart-dementor. No sooner did Harry's head hit the pillow than he was sleeping dreamlessly.

"Harry! Wake up!"

"What? Let me sleep!"

"No, Harry. You need to get up! You've been sleeping for almost two days! Just about everyone else has woken up already!" Harry sat bolt upright and looked straight into the eyes of Hermione Granger, behind her stood Ron, Ginny, Parvati, and Lavender Brown. Harry groaned.

"What happened? Is everyone ok?" Harry asked, starting to wake up.

"Ah, I see your friends have finally managed to wake you. If you five would leave us for a few minutes, Harry and I have some things to discuss." Dumbledore said from the doorway. Harry's friends nodded glumly and walked out. Dumbledore walked over and sat on the foot of Harry's bed. "I have been told some very interested things, Harry. Some of which sound vaguely possible, others that sound completely ludicrous. Yet I wasn't there, so I don't know what to believe. I was hoping you would enlighten me." Dumbledore gave Harry a piercing look, and Harry got the feeling that he was looking for the answer in Harry's mind.

"You don't need to do that, Professor. I won't lie to you." Harry said quietly, taking the old man by surprise.

"No, you're quite right. Forgive me, Harry. Sometimes I cannot help it. But go on, what do you remember?"

"Well, I recognized the signs of a dementor attack before I could see any of them. I'm not sure if that's because my senses are more acute or because there were just so many of them. But when they entered the train I knew I had to do something. Hermione and I were the only ones that were able to conjure an effective enough patronus, the others hid in the compartment. Not because they wanted to, because I made them" Harry added quickly, not wanting his friends to seem like cowards.

"Quite understandable, Harry. Continue."

"The patronuses seemed to be keeping them at bay, but they weren't driving them back like they normally do. They were just keeping them from getting any closer to us. I felt weak, and I knew Hermione couldn't hold on much longer, but the only other weapon I had was my sword. All of a sudden I got the feeling that it could come in use, even though normally a blade would simply melt. I saw it emit a soft white glow, and just ran at the dementor, I thrust the sword into the chest of the closest one, but nothing happened. I was so afraid that I had failed, that my friends were going to die. But then, when the dementor went to pull the sword out it began to pulse, a bright, white light was shining out of his wound. I pulled out the sword, but it didn't melt. When I looked back up the white light was shining out from under the dementor's hood. Then a flash of white light came, and an explosion and I was thrown off my feet. I don't remember anything else." Harry finished. It was the first time he had thought about it since the train, and it seemed to confuse him more than ever.

"To fill in a gap, that is when I arrived. I saw that the dementors were quite distracted, but I conjured my patronus and the dementors flew off. That is when I found you and brought you here. And yes, everyone else will be ok. Nobody was kissed, there were just many students who were overcome, but they have all seemed to recover quite nicely."

"Sir, did you know- how come the sword can kill a dementor?" Harry asked, puzzled.

"I have my ideas, Harry. I'm not so sure that it is as much the sword as it is you. I told you last year that you possess a power so powerful that it could be the force that defeats Voldemort. I believe that force showed itself the other day, the sword may have simply allowed you to channel it."

"But, sir, I thought you said that my emotions were the power that Voldemort doesn't have, that my love saved me."

"I did indeed, Harry. But Love allows you to do extraordinary things. On the train you were so afraid of losing your loved ones that you channeled your emotions, your power, through that sword. I believe that you have been able to make many things happen when you are angry, scared, and possibly when you are happy."

"Hagrid told me about that in my first year. Isn't that just accidental magic?"

"Ah, Harry. This is where slight distinctions appear. Many young witches and wizards make something happen when they are frightened. But most only have one incident, and even those few that do have more than one incident never do this once they begin proper training. I know that in your third year you…blew up...your Aunt?" Dumbledore didn't seem angry when he said this, it was quite the opposite. He seemed happy. "You seem to be capable of expressing your emotions through a type of wandless magic. This is another reason why I want you to work with Professor McClaggan, in his years he has had some experience with a variety of different things, and I believe he may be of some use to you."

"Sir, can I ask you a question?"

"I believe you just did, but I will allow you one more if you would like."

"What exactly is Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts? I hadn't really thought about it until just now. I know the students in the class are the only ones that can use the restricted section of the library, other than that I don't know anything. Is it taught by Professor McClaggan?"

"You are beginning to remind me of your friend, Miss Granger. Since when have you been so concerned with your classes?" Dumbledore chuckled at this, that famous twinkle in his eye. "No, not Professor McClaggan. You will be pleased with your professor, but that is all I will tell you. I wouldn't want to ruin his introduction. You will be the only person in the class, so in a sense it will be a private tutoring session. However, because you are now taking Advanced Defense, taking extra lessons with Professor McGonagall, and extra lessons with Professor McClaggan, I must ask you to drop one of your other subjects."

Harry seriously considered dropping potions, but he knew he needed it if he ever made it through school. "I'd drop herbology, if it were up to me. But I guess I'd ask for your opinion."

"I quite agree, Harry. I think it would be quite unnecessary to continue with that subject, although I'll have to ask you not to repeat that." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "I will let you return now, the feast has been delayed due to all of the injuries. If you head down now, I believe it is about to begin. Dumbledore turned and walked out of the room. Harry got up slowly and made his way down to the great hall, where just about the whole school was waiting. Harry noticed that the sorting hat was sitting on its stool, and there were many empty seats where the first years would be sitting. Harry took a seat in between Ron and Parvati. They had just begun to speak when the doors swung open and Professor McGonagall led the first years inside.

Harry watched in silence with the rest of the school as the frightened first years walked out and looked at the Sorting Hat, which was sitting quite still on the three legged stool. The brim opened and the hat began,

I do not think my job is right

Considering information that's come to light

If I split you into four

I will tear Hogwarts apart at the core

But I am bound by a magic spell

So your house I will tell

But just know that this is an error

If you don't stand together you will all feel the terror

For the Darkest Wizard has returned

As from your train ride you have learned

Remember it's your actions that choose who you are

So put me on your head and I will determine where you can star.

There was a scattered applause accompanied by the sound of the entire Great Hall whispering to each other.

"Hem Hem." All of the students looked up, fearing the worst. Professor McGonagall smiled back at them. "I thought that would work. Anderson, James."

The sorting continued until all of the students were sitting at there respective tables. Dumbledore stood up and the entire hall went silent. "I have an important message, but it will wait. Tuck in." The plates filled themselves with what seemed like more food that Harry had ever seen in one place before. The whole hall ate quietly, Dumbledore's and the Sorting Hat's words still ringing in their ears. Even Hermione wasn't speculating on what Dumbledore might have to say. When the students seemed to be finishing their meal Dumbledore stood up once more.

"As you have undoubtedly realized, term is starting a little late this year. You all know that the Hogwarts Express was attacked by Dementors, What you do now know is that the reason many teachers were late in getting to the train was because the Dementors left Azkaban, allowing the Death Eaters to go free. We did not know the Dementors were attacking until after we got into a battle with this group of Death Eaters. There were casualties on both sides, Voldemort lost two loyal supporters, while we lost one great witch. Some of you may see that as our victory, but it is still too great a price to pay. I ask you all to raise your glasses and salute the memory of the courageous Auror, Nymphadora Tonks."

As the students raised their glasses Harry stood their, horror struck. This wasn't possible, Tonks had been one of the few people from the Order that Harry genuinely liked. Why was it that the people close to Harry always died? His parents because they tried to protect him, Cedric because he happened to be next to Harry, Sirius because he tried to rescue Harry, and now Tonks. Harry didn't realize that his thoughts had carried him all the way to Gryffindor tower, he stood outside the portrait of the fat lady, alone, and clueless of the password.

"Harry, I think you should come with me for a minute." Said Dumbledore in a very quiet voice. Harry simply nodded and followed him to his office. "Voldemort." Harry snapped out of his trance like state, thinking that the Dark Wizard was going to be standing in front of him, his wand was out before he realized that the stone gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office had moved aside. "No, Harry. It's my new password. Come in."

Harry sat down in the chair opposite the headmaster, last time he was in here he had broken almost everything in here. Harry looked around to notice that all of those objects had been put back together. He turned and saw that Dumbledore was looking at him intently, seeming very old. "It's not your fault, Harry."

"Yes it is, Professor." Harry said quietly. "Anyone who is killed by Voldemort or his followers dies because of me. They die because I haven't killed him yet. Everyday I allow him to live I allow more people to die."

Dumbledore looked taken aback by this, he had been expecting some kind of emotional outburst, not this resigned behavior. "I cannot argue with you on that point. But know that you cannot risk your life before you are ready. If you do so, and you die, then it will seal the fate of the entire world, remember that while some people die, you are keeping many more alive."

"You're right." Harry suddenly looked up, Dumbledore saw a fire behind the boy's eyes that he had never seen before, Harry continued quietly but intensely. "I need to be prepared to face Voldemort, but I need to be prepared soon, I'm not letting anyone else die." Harry got up and walked out of the office.