"Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger. Congratulations," said McGonagall stiffly. "You will be receiving your duties in a while. First take this list." She handed them a parchment. "This is the list of students who are coming back to Hogwarts."

Hermione and Harry gave each dark looks. Under the title "Slytherin", there was no name. McGonagall seemed to have perceived their curiosity.

"Oh, none of the Slytherins are coming back this year. They have, ahem, a better education awaiting them."

Hermione and Harry understood.

The prefects of various houses filed in. McGonangall stood up and clapped her hands.

"Good morning, students. As you are aware, you have been called here for prefect duties. Now this year your duties have increased. While you won't be expecting much trouble at school, Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger here can explain you why, nevertheless you have to be on duty. The duties shall be assigned. Each prefect will be at a specific position in the castle thrice a week for 2 hours each time. Anyone failing to do his job will be replaced by someone more capable. Your duties will require of you to check external intrusion and internal harmony. You will have methods of communication with the teachers in case of emergency. Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger, please give the duties to the prefects."

The next half-hour was spent discussing the prefect duties.

"Good. I expect that you will live up to your name and not force me to demote you. Now off to your carriages. I don't think we'll have trouble on board. However, before de-boarding from the train I want all of you to ensure that everyone else has got off. You will only get off after the rest of the students have done so and you will d a full train check."

She briskly walked out of the carriage.

"Let's go, Hermione," Harry said.

The Hogwarts Express was so empty this year. Every second carriage was empty. People looked at Harry in such a way that he was their protector, and without him they'd be lost. They found Ron in a carriage looking vacantly outside the window. Suddenly, Hermione felt weird, like she'd swallowed a whole bottle of Polyjuice Potion.

"Hello, Ron," she said, very well realizing that her face was tomato red.

"Hi, Hermione." His voice sounded oddly constrained.

"So, what did McGonagall say?"

"Oh," remarked Harry. "All nonsense about prefect duties and how we need to take them seriously. As if we already don't have a lot on our minds."

"You mean…?" Ron trailed off.

"Well, Ron. You already know what I mean. I have gotta do it. Or else die in the act."

"No, Harry. You are not alone. Maybe you think you are, but you've forgotten us. Ron and I will always be with you, won't we, ron?"

"Er….yeah…yeah we will." He pointedly looked away from Hermione.

"Let's change the subject. Have you seen? Hogwarts Express is so empty, and the list McGonagall gave us was so short. Looks like many people decided to keep their kids at home this year," Harry said.

"Or probably, neither the kids nor the parents are alive anymore," said Ron bitterly.

"Well, Harry did you see the Daily Prophet on June 11th?" Hermione asked tentatively.

"No. What was it?"

"Umm…well…there was this article tucked in at the corner of one of the back pages. The Death Eaters killed the whole Chang family. Including Cho."

Harry didn't reply. It was not that he was in love with Cho, but she had always been an extremely great girl and a strong supporter of Dumbledore. Her death clearly meant that the Death Eaters were wiping off all innocent wizards; anyone who dared to support the right side.

The rest of the journey passed in silence. The trolley came on time, but the lady was not the same. This time it was a thin, tall young girl who brought the goodies around. Harry, obviously tired, went off to sleep and Hermione took out her Defence against the Dark Arts book, which she had bought last year. Ron, too, had dozed off, but Hermione was his friend since the last seven years. It would take more than fake snores to fool her.

"Hermione, checked all the carriages?"

"Yeah. Found nothing except for a school robe."

"So let's get down before the Thestrals leave us stranded."

Hogsmeade station was deserted but they could see the Thestral-carriages waiting for them.

"Hagrid must have taken the first years away. Quick!" Harry said.

Ron had saved seats for both of them in the last carriage.

The Hogwarts Castle loomed up large and dark, but Hermione knew it wouldn't ever be the same. In the darkness they couldn't see it, but they all knew that Dumbledore's white tomb was there, glistening, as if saying to them "So what if I'm not there?"

The thestrals stopped and they all got down and stretched their legs.

"Back to Home," Harry muttered. Hermione gave him a weak smile.

"Who do you reckon will our Defence against the Dark Arts teacher bee this year?" asked Ron. "Wouldn't mind having Lupin back, or even Moody…"

"Stupid," grinned Hermione, "Lupin has much more important things to do and ditto for Moody."

Ron blushed.

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A/N: Sorry, this chapter is a little short. I mean, the next one is going to be interesting and I could not possibly shift any of its material into this one. Notice the apprehensive shyness?evil laugh at this point I feel like talking a little more because right now I have nothing to do and I'm really bored. For all the DIEHARD harry potter fans like me, visit this site- http/ as the name suggests, this website has theories that Dumbledore is not dead and it is so logical…u'd be amazed…hang on guyz…the fun is yet to begin…and REVIEW plzz…tellme where I can improve (I am not that romantic sorta person, so tellme plz)