DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does. But if I did…oh man…it'd be awesome…

A/N: Mkay, here we go. Chapter 8. Enjoy, and please review.

Chapter 8

The next morning, Harry woke with a start. There was lots of noise out in the hall. Harry walked over to his door, opened it a few inches, and stuck his head out of his room. Ron and Hermione were making all the noise. They were trying to bring their trunks down the stairs, and of course, this wasn't making Mrs. Black happy.

"Filthy Mudbloods! Blood-traitors roaming my house! Disturbing my peace! A woman can't even get the peace she wants even when she's DEAD!"

Harry retreated back into his room, smiling. It was finally the day. It was September First. Time to go back to school. Harry grabbed his trunk, and Hedwig's cage, and joined Hermione and Ron in the hall.

Fred and George retreated from their room to see what all the racket was. They were shortly followed by Ginny, who was carrying her trunk. Fred and George took control of the situation, and one-by-one helped everyone bring their things downstairs.

They ate breakfast quickly and headed to the door. The good byes were shorter than usual, because Lupin, Tonks, and Moody were coming with them. They had one last ride in the horrible limousine, and then they finally arrived at King's Cross Station. They all walked over to the barrier leading to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

Tonks went first. She ran through, considering she's so clumsy, she might screw it up some other way. Next was Lupin and Mad-Eye. The walked through the barrier at a normal pace. Hermione and Ginny went next, leaning casually against the barrier, as they fell through. Then were Harry and Ron. They did the same as Hermione and Ginny, leaning against the barrier. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley followed them.

"Come on, let's go ahead and get on the train, so we can get a good compartment," Hermione said.

Ginny, Ron, and Harry followed her. Lupin, Moody, and Tonks got on the train a back way. Mrs. Weasley was saying good-bye to them all, tears in her eyes as usual, when the train driver blew his horn, to let them know they only had five minutes. Mrs. Weasley rushed them onto the train, waving at them all.

They entered the train, found a compartment, put their stuff inside. Hermione, Ron, and Harry turned to head to the prefect carriage. Ginny followed them soon after, seeing, as she was a new fifth-year prefect. They were greeted in the prefect compartment by none other than Professor McGonaggle.

"Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny," Professor McGonaggle said acknowledging the students, "Welcome back." She ushered them to some seats; not everyone was there yet. One-by-one the compartment filled itself. After a few minutes Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott came over to them.

"Hey guys," Ernie said.

"Hey Ernie," said Harry.

"Wait a minute…when did you become a prefect?" Ernie asked.

"Yeah, what's with that?" Hannah asked.

"It's a long story. One of the Slytherin prefects was 'abusing his privileges,' so they made me a prefect instead. None of the other Slytherins qualified for the position or something like that."

Hannah and Ernie nodded.

"Malfoy?" Hannah asked.

"I'm assuming so," Harry replied.

After a few more minutes, Pansy Parkinson entered the compartment, alone. This confirmed their suspicions that Draco had been demoted from his position as Slytherin prefect. Finally, all of the prefects were there.

"Okay," Professor McGonaggle started, "Welcome all new prefects, and all old ones. As you know, being a prefect is a privilege, and it can be taken away with you. She sent a meaningful glance towards Pansy Parkinson.

"Now let's get down to business," she said as she headed toward the Gryffindor prefects, and handed each of them a piece of paper.

She looked at some guy Harry didn't know, Katie Bell, Ron, Hermione, himself, Ginny, and Collin Creevey. "This paper explains all of your prefect duties this year, and the Gryffindor Tower password."

Harry looked down at the paper. He found the password. It was "Godric's Hollow." Huh, Harry thought, imagine that. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny didn't understand the significance of this village, but Harry did. Remus had told him recently. That was his home until he was taken away to the Dursley's. That was where he and his parents were in hiding. That was where Voldemort came and murdered his parents. That's where he was left in the rubble, with a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt. But Godric's Hollow was also named after Godric Gryffindor, so it made sense to be the password to Gryffindor Tower.

Professor McGonaggle handed out papers to the other house's prefects, and then turned to face everyone.

"Are there any questions?"

The area was silent.

"Okay. Then, if that's all, you're all free to go, except you Mr. Potter. I need to have a word with you."

Everyone piled out of the compartment, but Harry.

"Yes Professor?" Harry asked.

"I need a word with you about the classes you're taking. Now, you know, Professor Snape will not allow anyone in his NEWT Potions class that did not achieve Outstanding on their OWLS."

Harry sighed.

"Well, due to the lack of qualifying grades, Professor Snape will also be allowing the next grade below, which includes you, Potter. So it looks like your aspirations of becoming an Auror can happen."

Harry was beaming as she finished.

"So, Potter, you will be taking Potions this year. You are free to go," she said.

Harry thanked her, and headed out of the compartment. But, surprisingly, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were outside, waiting for him.

"Hey guys, guess what? I'm going to get to—" Harry started.

"Take Potions?" Hermione said excitedly, "We heard."

Harry nodded, as they began to walk back towards their empty compartment. But when they arrived, it wasn't empty. Surprisingly, Neville Longbottom was already inside.

"Oh, hi guys. I'm really sorry, but do you mind if I sit here with you. Everywhere else is full."

"That's fine," Harry replied, walking inside the compartment, followed by the rest of the group.

Ron sat down, opposite Neville. Hermione, seeing this, went to sit next to Ron. Ginny sat next to Hermione. And Harry, being the kind person that he is, sat next to Neville.

"How was your summer, Harry?" Neville asked.

Harry shrugged, "Okay, I guess."

Neville, seeing the look on Harry face, just said, "Oh, yeah. Uh, right. Sorry."

"It's okay."

There was an awkward silence.

Hermione turned to Neville, "So, Neville, what classes are you taking this year?"

"Um…let me think. I'm taking NEWT Herbology, of course. Um, and I'm taking NEWT, um, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, and Potions."

Harry looked at Neville, awestruck. "You're taking Potions? Why?"

Neville sighed, "McGonaggle said during the career advice thing last year that if I wanted to work in the Herbology department, then I needed Potions, because of all the plants used in them."

Harry nodded. "Too bad. I have to take Potions, too."

"What do you want to be?" Neville asked.

"An Auror," Harry replied, casually.

"Wow," Neville said, enviously, "that's cool. I bet you'd be really good at it."

Harry grinned impishly, giving a muttered, "Thanks."

"Harry?" Neville asked, after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah?"

"Are we having the DA this year?"

Harry seemed to ponder the question for a moment, and then said, "Yeah, I suppose so. I mean, it's not like its illegal anymore or anything. Amelia Bones took away the Educational Decrees, so I don't see why not."

Neville smiled brightly, "Good."

About an hour later, the food trolley came. Harry bought a few Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, and Cauldron Cakes, and shared with the rest of the group.

A little later, Luna Lovegood came over to their compartment.

"Hello," she said vaguely.

"Hi Luna," Harry and Ginny said at the exact same time.

Luna looked accusingly at the pair, and vaguely said, "Your auras are pulsing, you know." She then waved good-bye, turned around, and left.

Twenty minutes later, they heard a familiar drawling voice from outside their compartment door.

"So, Potter, you still think you can just land my father in Azkaban?" Draco Malfoy sneered.

Everyone in the compartment shot daggers at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.

"Well, you were wrong," Malfoy continued as he shoved the Daily Prophet in front of Harry's face. Harry looked down at the front page.

Escape From Azkaban

Last night, Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy escaped from the wizard's prison, Azkaban. Due to the lack of security at the prison, more breakouts have been suspected. The dementors, who guard the prison, are now on He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's side. We must advise that all people take caution…

Harry looked up at Malfoy, who smirked.

"I always knew father would get out. The dementors are on our side."

He looked everyone in the compartment.

"Bye Potty, Weasel-Bee, Mudblood, Weasel-Bee's sister, Practically a squib."

He smirked in a superior manner and exited with his cronies.

The group sat in silence for a moment.

"So…" Neville said, "Lucius Malfoy's out of prison?"

Harry nodded slowly.

Neville sighed.

"Well, at least this gives us even more to work for in the DA," said Ginny.

They all nodded, lost in their own thoughts.

Hours passed in mostly silence, with the occasional conversation or game of Exploding Snap.

Finally, Harry said, "Do you guys want to go visit Tonks, Remus, and Mad-Eye, before they have to leave, once we reach school?"

"Sure," Ginny said. Hermione and Ron also nodded eagerly.

Harry looked over at Neville, and raised his eyebrows questioningly.

Neville looked uneasy and said, "I don't really want to. Moody still scares me. I'll just stay here, and watch the stuff."

"Are you sure?" Harry asked.

Neville quickly nodded.

"Okay then, let's go, guys," Harry said as he stood up.

Ginny, Ron, and Hermione followed his lead.

They walked along the train in silence. When they reached the train compartment that said, Out of Order on the door, they slid it open and stood in the doorway, facing Lupin, Tonks, and Moody.

"Hey guys," Harry greeted them.

Ginny stepped forward and said, "We just thought we'd visit."

"Oh, okay. So how are you?"

Harry smiled, "Good, thanks."

Ginny turned to Lupin. "So how are—," Ginny broke off as her voice faded. Harry looked at Ginny inquiringly. Then Harry realized what was going on. His eyes bulged. Hermione gasped quietly.

A/N: Okay, that cliff-hanger kind of sucked but whatever. Sorry. Updating again soon.