Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter series, or any of the characteror objects from the books, except the ones that I made up myself. If I did own the Harry Potter series, then I'd be making millions every year! ;-)
CHAPTER TWO: BACK TO HOGWARTS
"Happy Birthday, Harry!" Mrs. Weasly said, giving Harry his present. Harry opened it, and saw a very expensive lookinggold-plated celestial watch.
"Wow, thanks Mrs. Weasly, but…"
"Oh, it's okay, Fred and George are bringing home some of their fortunes, so don't worry about how much it costs. Besides, you're of age! You're an adult in the wizarding world!" she said proudly.
Harry opened up the rests of the gifts he had received. From Ron he got a gold chain that looked suspiciously like the one that Lavender gave to Ron last year, only with the part with "My Sweetheart" severed off with a Diffindo spell. He opened up the rest of the presents; Hermione had given him a book titled "A Guide to Non-Verbal Spells."
It was already July 31st. Over a month ago Hogwarts had let out early due to the demise of their headmaster. Harry had to return one last time to the Dursleys, but only for a day and this time he was accompanied by Ron and Hermione.
When Harry was about leave the Dursleys house at the end of the day, Aunt Petunia had emerged carrying an envelope and a necklace.
"Since you're not coming back anymore, you should have these. They came with you when you first arrived here sixteen years ago," she had said. "This is the letter that explained why you were here, and that necklace… I don't really know, but I think your mother used to wear it…" she gestured to the necklace, which looked nothing more than a black piece of string attached with what looked like a broken piece of glass.
"Well, 'bye then," Harry said, turning to leave.
Petunia pursed her lips and muttered, "Good-bye" ever so quietly. Vernon and Dudley had also showed up to see Harry leave.
Harry jumped down the stairs and ran into the night, Ron and Hermione hurrying in his wake. He was free.
"Hey Harry, slow down and tell us what that letter says!" asked Ron.
Harry paused under a streetlight and read out,
"Dear Mrs. Petunia Evans Dursley,
It is with great sorrow that I must inform you that your sister Lily and her husband James have been murdered by the Dark wizard Voldemort. I assume that you are already aware of our world, and so know the significance of the deaths of the Potters. They leave behind their son Harry, who is now parentless. The Dark wizard Voldemort will seek to kill Harry again one day, and for his protection I have placed an ancient and powerful magic upon him to ensure his safety in relation's care. He now looks to you as his last relative, and all I ask is that you take him in and treat him as if he were your own, and that you allow him to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when he turns eleven. He will begin to show signs of magic before that time even; please do not be alarmed, for the academy stated above can help him to control his abilities.
He will turn of age when he is seventeen, and so he will be able to go out into the wizarding world by himself. When that time comes, please give him the attached necklace as he goes for final year at Hogwarts academy, where he will learn of its power. Please honor the above statements and treat Harry like your own until he is of age.
Yours Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had done a Double-Side-Along Apparition with Hermione to the entrance of the Burrow, where they spent the rest of their holidays. And now we go back to the present.
"Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione!" Mrs. Weasly called the fortnight after Harry's birthday. "Hogwarts letters have arrived!"
"What?" Harry exclaimed, "but I thought it shut down!"
"No, McGonagall managed to convince many people and the school board of governors to allow Hogwarts to remain open. She convinced them that Hogwarts was safest for their kids, and now they have even more Aurors to protect you all." Mrs. Weasly explained. "And as this is your final year for you three, you'll be taking N.E.W.T.'s. Now I'll go to Diagon Alley and buy you your books."
"But I'm not going back there!" Harry said.
"You would rather stay at Grimmauld Place for a year?" asked Hermione, "you need protection now that you're no longer with the Dursleys. I'd rather take Hogwarts than go back to the Black House."
"And besides, Dumbledore wants to see you!" Ron said excitedly, reading Harry's letter. "His portrait, I mean. And blimey… they've made you Head Boy!"
A shiny Head Boy's badge fell out of the envelope. Hermione found a Head Girl's badge in her envelope.
"Congratulations, Harry!" Mrs. Weasly beamed, "Now are you convinced to return to Hogwarts?"
Harry had no choice. If Dumbledore wanted to see him, then Harry would have a lot of questions to ask. "Okay then…" he mumbled.
Ginny had her O.W.L. results – she had received five "Outstandings," two "Exceeds Expectations," and two "Acceptables." Mrs. Weasly hugged Ginny and said, "Nine O.W.L.s! That's more than Ron!"
The rest of the holidays passed without much ado, with the exception of Fleur and Bill's wedding and their Apparation tests. After coming out of the Ministry of Magic with his Apparation license, he was now allowed to Apparate legally. He and Ron spent the rest of the holidays Apparating and playing Quidditch. Before he knew it, Harry was back on the train to Hogwarts, the fake locket Horcrux clutched tightly in his hand and the mysterious necklace around his neck.
"C'mon, Harry, you have Head Boy duties," said Ron. They mainly patrolled around the compartments, making sure everything was fine. Harry was surprised that most of the students were returning; the only missing person was Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle were now wandering around dully with confused expressions on their faces.
Especially surprising was Neville. He had lost his plump face and pudginess; he was now taller and more muscular.
"Wow, Neville, what did you do to your arms?" Ron gasped.
"I just did some handstand push-ups and some weight training. Plus, the mimbulus mimbletonia turned out to be able to produce a Strengthening Solution, so it helped me work out without getting tired!"
"Cool," Harry said, grinning, "Muggles do that, too. But they use these things called steroids. Neville seemed to be much more confident now and was showing powerful potential. They sat down and chatted while the train made its way to Hogwarts.
Hogwarts was still as it was for all these years. After settling down in the Great Hall and cheering as the new students were Sorted, They looked up at the staff table. There was an old lady of whom Harry did not know, and a black man with a baldhead that he instantly recognized as Kingsley Shaklebolt.
"It's Kingsley!" Ron hissed. "He must be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!"
"Who is that old lady then?" Harry asked.
"She must be the new Transfiguration teacher, I think," Hermione said. "I think McGonagall's going to be too busy this year with her Headmistress duties to teach her class."
After they were done eating, McGonagall stood up. "Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts!" she said. "Now, we all know of the tragedy that occurred here last year, when Albus Dumbledore was murdered. However, I wish that you take heart and heed his wise words: 'We must be united and strong, never divided lest we all fall.' We shall make sure that this incidence never happen again!"
McGonagall cleared her throat and continued on, "Now, to ensure safety, we have hired more professionally trained Aurors to our side. Two Aurors have also joined our staff. May I please introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Kingsley Shacklebolt!"
Harry clapped hard with Ron and Hermione, and some people who heard of Kingsley before.
"And I am sorry to say that with my new duties as Headmistress I must resign my old post of Transfiguration. I am pleased to announce that the post will be filled by Nymphadora Tonks!" McGonagall said.
"Tonks!" Harry, Ron, and Hermione said in unison. The old lady that Harry had seen changed her apperance back to the young witch with the heart-shaped face and spiked pink hair. There were murmurings in the Great Hall before it broke into applause once again.
"Please remember that the Forbidden Forest lives up to its name; it is forbidden to go inside it. And please remember to follow our new Head Boy and Girl, as well as heeding the list of items that are not allowed here, which can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office. And now you may all go to bed."
After leading the new students into their Common Rooms, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were pulled aside by McGonagall.
She spoke to them in a very low voice. "Come to my office tomorrow, the three of you. Dumbledore wishes to see you."
And with that she swept away, leaving the trio to ponder what was going to happen the next day. As Harry laid on his bed, he remembered the necklace with the piece of broken glass and wondered what was so special about it.