Hogwarts, Now History

"Oi, Harry, didn't see you this morning."

Ron sat down next to Harry at the Gryffindor table, his face drawn and somber. Harry simplynodded, pushing his eggs around on his plate. He wasn't very hungry, and although he had tried to eat, he just didn't seem capable. Ron didn't even bother to reach for food as he propped his chin up in his hands, staring thoughtfully at his pumpkin juice.

"You reckon they'll reopen the school for the other students?" Ron asked quietly, drawing Harry's attention. He shrugged, finally giving up and shoving his plate away from him.

"I doubt it. With . . . Dumbledore gone and everything now," Harry said, forcing the words out. Ron got the hint and didn't pursue the subject. He continued to stare at his pumpkin juice, absently playing with the front of his robes. "He told me about a Horcrux," Harry said suddenly, causing Ron's head to fall off of his hand. He stared up at Harry with wide eyes. "Said to contact his brother, the bloke who got his property," Harry finished, watching Ron's face for his reaction.

Ron wrinkled his nose, pursing his lips as he looked thoughtfull at his hands. "That stuffy man who talked to you yesterday?" he asked, turning back to Harry, who nodded. "You reckon it'll be real this time?" Ron asked, lowering his voice when a group of first years trotted by, eager to eat so they could finish packing.

Harry swallowed, remembering what Dumbledore had written. "Yeah," he said, his throat suddenly dry and swollen. "I reckon so." Ron nodded, looking up quickly when Hermione sat on his other side. She reached for a goblet of juice, draining it in one gulp before turning to Harry and Ron with wide, teary eyes.

"Hagrid said he wanted to see us one last time before the train left," she said, her voice sounding clogged and nasaly. Harry swallowed hard, feeling the same, clogging lump in his throat, but he gave a jerky nod, blinking several times and adjusting his glasses. Ron nodded as well, though his freckles seemed to stand out much more on his now pale, drawn face.

They sat in silence for some time, Harry idly picking at the linen on the table while Hermione and Ron took occasional, forced sips of pumpkin juice. After a while, Harry stood up, pulling his legs out from behind the bench. "What do you say we go visit Hagrid now?" he asked quietly, ignoring the startled looks he recieved when he had stood up. Hermione nodded, and she and Ron stood as well, following Harry silently through the doors to the entrance.

Making their way slowly across the grounds, the silence continued, coating them like a thick blanket as they picked their way through the greenhouses. Hagrid, due to the fact that his hut had been burned by the Death Eaters, was staying in the back of the third greenhouse, much to his dislike. The place was crowded and small for a man his size, and Harry could feel for his complaints.

Knocking on the door, they waited patiently as the familiar booming bark of Fang sounded. There was an even louder booming sound, and the glass door to the greenhouse shuddered, it's hinges rattling rather dangerously.

"Fang! What'd I tell ya 'bout runnin' into tha' ruddy door?" Harry couldn't help the small grin that surfaced at the exasperation in Hagrid's voice. It was comforting to know that some things would always stay the same. When the door swung open, Hagrid, with his large frame, slipped out, slamming the door with much force after he was through. He turned back to Harry and the others, a small smile on his face. "Bloody dog," he explained, rubbing his hands together, as though cold. Harry could tell he was exceptionally nervous.

"How've you been, Hagrid?" Hermione asked, placing her hand gently on his arm, though she had to lean up on her toes to do so. Hagrid gave them a watery smile, sniffling slightly. Harry stiffened uncontrollably. He didn't want to talk about Dumbledore, or anything of the sort, but, by Hagrid's nearing sob, it seemed it was inevitable.

"Oh, I bin' hangin' on and everything. How 'bout you lot? Harry?" Hagrid asked, staring at him with obvious concern. Harry blinked several times, stuffing his hands into his pockets, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"Fine," he muttered, staring fixedly at the floor. There was silence for a while, the only sound being Hagrid's choked back sobs. Harry continued to stare at the floor, not trusting himself to look up at his giant friend, afraid that he might cry himself. Hagrid, too, had been as close, if not closer, to Dumbledore, and it was just as bad, if not worse again, for him, too.

"Hagrid," Hermione said softly, and Harry saw her move from the corner of his eyes to Hagrid's side, resting her head on his elbow. Ron and Harry were dragged toward him with considerable force, each resting uncomfortably against the warmth of Hagrid's large, moleskin coat. Harry wrapped his arm awkwardly around Hagrid's torso, feeling his body heave with sobs.

"It's going to be all right, Hagrid," Harry said quietly, rubbing his back. "Dumbledore would've wanted us to be strong," he added, hoping it would work. To his immense relief, Hagrid's tears slowly subsided, and he sniffled once again. He looked down at Harry, nodding firmly.

"Yer right, Harry. Dumbledore . . . he'd a wanted us ter finish what we started," Hagrid added in a choked whisper, his eyes misting over as he squeezed the three of them tighter against him. As if snapping out of dreamland, he turned to them with a bright smile. "So, you lot ready ter go back on home? Harry, only a little to deal with the Muggles, eh?" Hagrid asked, nudging Harry and winking. Harry forced a smile, rubbing the back of his head and ruffling his hair.

"Er, well, Hagrid . . ." Harry trailed off, looking to Ron and Hermione for help. Hermione gave him a stern look, and Ron merely shrugged, looking just as helpless as Harry. "Look, Hagrid, see . . . Ron and Hermione and I, well, we don't plan on coming . . . back," Harry said, finishing it in one quick breath. Hagrid stopped for a moment, his face going completely blank before shock and outrage appeared.

"Now wait jus' a minute, here!" he roared, causing Harry to wince at the tone of voice. "I know yeh miss Dumbledore an' all, Harry, but that's no reason for yeh to miss out on yer schoolin' an' everythin'!" He raged, crossing his arms over his chest and glowering at all three of them. Harry shifted his weight from one foot to the other, not sure how to explain the Horcruxes without giving it all away. After all, he didn't want Hagrid to get involved as well. It would just put him in as much danger.

"Hagrid," Hermione spoke up, coming to their defense, "There's sort of a situation, that we, Harry, Ron, and I, have to take care of," she explained in a reasonable voice. Hagrid's suspicious look increased, and he snorted derisively. Ron paled, scooting behind Hermione when he received the full brunt of the half giant's glare.

"An' what sorta 'situation' is more importan' than yer schoolin'?" Hagrid demanded gruffly. Harry scuffed his toes against the cement floor of the greenhouse front, feeling the weight of his unease increase.

"Well, it's got to do with something Dumbledore told me," Harry said slowly, hoping Hagrid wouldn't pursue the matter. There was a slight pause as Hagrid digested this information. "It's important, Hagrid, really," Harry continued, hoping to convince him. "I wouldn't skip out on Hogwart's if it wasn't," he said, looking up at him. Hagrid sighed, his shoulders sagging heavily as he glanced at Harry and nodded.

"I suppose it's yer business, Harry. Jus' don't go doin' nothin' dangerous. Now, 'bout that visit? What'dya say we go an grab some tea? I jus' made a fresh pot o' it inside," Hagrid said, looking towards his door. Harry smiled, sighing in relief.

"That sounds wonderful, Hagrid," Hermione said, giving Harry a pointed look. He nodded, understanding full and well; don't tell Hagrid anything that could endanger him.

He stepped in after Ron, and they both struggled to close the door. "Well," Ron said conversationally, dropping into an armchair and helping himself to a cup of steaming tea that Hagrid poured. "You reckon Bill and Fleur'll get married on time?"

Harry looked overat Hagrid as Hermione and Ron started a heated debate on whether it would be held before or after Harry's seventeenth birthday. Hagrid gave Harry a reassuring smile, leaning in close to whisper in his ear, "You'll be all righ', Harry. You'll be all righ'."

Harry only smiled, desperately hoping that what Hagrid said was the truth.

Harry sat on the bed in his dormitory, the curtains open, the sunlight shining on his pale face. The train was leaving in close to an hour. He was supposed to have packed as soon as they got back from Hagrid's greenhouse, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Everytime he even so much as picked up a stray sock, he was hit with a nolstalgic feeling, and his strength always seemed to leave him.

It was finally sinking in; he would never come back to Hogwart's. This was his final day as a carefree student, trying to pass O.W.L.'s and N.E.W.T.'s, worrying about when the next Potions essay was due. A large part of him, the one that was currently dominating his head, refused to lose all that. Harry sighed, studying the grounds below him with intense scrutiny. He knew he should get moving, but he just . . . couldn't.

"Oi, mate, you ready?"

Harry looked up at the sound of Ron's voice, shrugging his shoulders as he forced himself to slide off the bed. "Getting there," he muttered, forcing himself to reach down and pick up the sock he had deserted earlier. Ron remained in the doorway for a silent moment before stepping inside and shutting it, sinking down on Neville's bed.

"Strange, isn't it? To know that we're not going to come back here anymore?" Ron asked quietly, looking up at Harry with a serious expression. Harry, who had his back turned, dropped the sock in his trunk, turning around and facing Ron. He nodded, reaching for his books.

"Yeah," he said, his voice sounding constricted. "I reckon so. No more Hermione to copy answers from, eh?" he said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. A grin lit up Ron's face as he gave a weak laugh.

"I bet she probably would've made us do our own for seventh year. N.E.W.T.'s and all," Ron added thoughtfully, the grin still on his face. Harry chuckled, nodding his head. He felt the tension and fear drain from his body as he and Ron continued to make light jabs at Hermione, and all the rest of the Gryffindor House. Especially when Ron tripped over his untied trainers in an attempt to impersonate the frightened first years that fled from Harry.

"Hey, you two," Hermione said, slipping into the dormitory. She raised an eyebrow at Ron's position on the floor, but said nothing. She stepped over him, seating herself in his vacated spot on Neville's bed.

"This is a boy's dormitory, Hermione," Ron said casually, rising to his feet and dusting his robes off, giving Hermione a meaningful look. She rolled her eyes, completely ignoring him as she turned to Harry with a slight frown.

"Harry, how come you haven't packed?" she asked, her frown deepening as she stared at Harry's open trunk. He gave her a sheepish look, ruffling the back of his hair once again.

"Yeah, I . . . forgot," he said evasively, hastily jamming the locks into place on the lid. He turned to her with a weak smile, gesturing at his trunk. "See, all done," he said, gripping his trunk with one hand. "I guess you two have already brought your stuff downstairs?" he asked, trying to avoid anymore questions by Hermione. Ron nodded, seemingly reading Harry's mind as he threw Hermione a cautious glance.

"Yeah, come on, mate, better get that down there," he said, opening the door in a rush. Hermione huffed but stood up as well, following Harry to the door. He stopped, looking back one last time. He tried to memorize every aspect of his dormitory. It had, after all, been more of a home for him than the Dursley's had. He stared at the now blank walls that had once held posters of Dean's favorite teams, and the spot on Neville's nightstand that had once held the plant he had received as a gift.

"Harry?" He looked back at Hermione, nodding his head after a moment before turning and exiting the dormitory. Ron gave him a strange look, but he ignored it, setting his trunk next to their own. He noticed that the common room was relatively empty, save for a few lagging first years, and he looked back at his friends.

"Everyone is already gone, huh?" he asked, staring at the dead coals of the fire. Hermione nodded, walking around the trunks to stand next to him. Ron, as if drawn unconciously by some invisible force, appeared on his other side, towering over him by many inches, and Harry couldn't help but smile.

"Maybe we'll come back and visit someday," Ron said, staring at the mantle. Hermione nodded, still staring ahead, and Harry shrugged.

"Maybe," he said noncommitedly. He never really wanted to come back. Things just wouldn't be the same without Dumbledore. Besides, he had much more to do. "By the way, is the wedding going to be before or after my birthday?" he asked, grinning at the fire when Hermione crossed her arms over her chest.

"I was talking with Mrs. Weasley, and she said it was going to be before-"

"Yeah, well, Fleur told me she wanted to wait so Harry could come-"

"Yes, precious Fleur! I'm surprised your not-"

Harry rolled his eyes, grabbing the handle on his trunk and making his way silently out of the common room. The Fat Lady called goodbye to him as he was descending the stairs, and he stopped for a moment to wave, knowing he would never bother her in the middle of the night to be let in again.

Hermione and Ron joined him sometime when he was on the fourth floor. They both seemed out of breath, and Harry had the feeling that they had run all the way to catch up with him.

"What's with leaving us like that, mate?" Ron asked, panting as he gripped the hand rail to the stairs below. Harry shrugged, grinning at Hermione, who gave him a knowing look in return. Ron, however, remained oblivious as he jogged down the stairs, shaking his head.

Harry suddenly remembered something he had been meaning to bring up since Dumbledore's funeral. "Look, Ron, Hermione," he said, stopping when they passed the entrance to the Great Hall. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you," he said, propping his trunk up against the wall. "Look, about the Dursley's . . ."

"No way, Harry, you're not weaseling your way out of it," Hermione said immediately, ignoring the offended look Ron gave her. He reluctantly turned to Harry as well, nodding his head enthusiastically. "We've already decided we're going, Harry."

"Yeah, mate, we're going with you," Ron added, trying to look as serious as possible. Harry shook his head, not sure how to explain it to them.

"Look, you two, it'll only make things worse if you come. The Dursley's weren't too keen on having Dumbledore or the Order there last year and the year before," he said, lowering his voice in case others were passing by, though the Great Hall was empty, "And I don't reckon they'll be too happy for a visit again," he said, gesturing at the two of them. Hermione pursed her lips, and Ron looked undecided, as if he was waiting for Hermione to agree or not.

"I suppose you have a point, Harry," Hermione said grudgingly. "But, that doesn't mean we won't come to visit. Besides, Bill and Fleur's wedding is before your birthday," she gave Ron a dirty look, "So you'll have to go to Ron's either way."

Ron snorted, looking fit to argue, but Harry held his hand up, nodding his head. "A visit's fine, just as long as you owl me or something first. And-"

"You three! You're going to miss the train!" Harry looked up, slightly annoyed at being interrupted. His annoyance faded, however, when he caught sight of the speaker. Ginny was walking toward them with a hurried stride, slightly panting. Hermione shot him a worried look, but he ignored it, staring at Ginny.

"Well, I suppose we ought to be going," Ron said uncomfortably. Hermione nodded, picking her trunk back up and starting back down the corridor, her hand grasping Ron's elbow as she forcefully dragged him away and down the stairs. Harry grabbed his own trunk from the wall and followed, trying to avoid Ginny's eyes. Unfortunately, she fell in step beside him.

"You know, you don't have to completely ignore me," she said quietly, jogging lightly to keep with his longer gait as they exited the school. Harry swallowed awkwardly, not sure what to say to her. If Voldemort ever found out . . . He felt a constricting pain in his chest, and he threw Ginny a cautious look, only to find her staring back at him.

"I-I know," he said, faltering slightly. "It's just that . . ." He trailed off, looking over Ginny's head. Aberforth Dumbledore was approaching the cross to Hogsmeade, his robes gently sweeping the floor. Harry remembered what Dumbledore had written him, and the words of the letter flashed briefly through his mind. He shoved his trunk in Ginny's hands, muttering a quick 'wait', and he sprinted after the quite lanky man.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" Aberforth looked back at him, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Excuse me, sir," Harry panted, hands on his knees as he fought for breath. Aberforth gave him a searching glance, staring down at him above a familiar crooked nose.

"Harry Potter," Aberforth greeted, his tone lacking the force it had contained from the day before. Harry shifted back to a standing position, reaching into the insides of his robes to extract the letters.

"Please, sir, I have to give you this," he said, fumbling with the letter. He stopped for a moment, looking up at the man, inspecting his face. "Can I trust you not to speak of this?" he asked, the letter stopping on it's way out from the envelope. Aberforth gave him a gaurded look, his blue eyes narrowing even further.

"You are asking a man you just met to trust you, Harry Potter?" Harry paused for a moment, seeing the truth in the wizened man's words. He nodded, though, looking back up at him. "Very well, then," Aberforth said, gripping the letter and tugging it from Harry's hand. Harry waited as he read it, watching as his eyes narrowed nearly to slits before Aberforth's sharp gaze moved to Harry.

"Do you fully understand what Albus has asked me to do, Harry Potter?" Aberforth asked, his voice unusually quiet, considering his previous tones. Harry licked his lips, not sure if he should tell Aberforth that he had no idea what was written in the letter. The older man, however, must have figured it out. "Very well. I will contact you in three days time and give you directions on where to find me. Good day, Harry Potter."

He turned, his robes swishing, and walked down the path, leaving Harry rather dumbfounded, the open envelope still in his hand. He blinked a few times, not sure if he was fully aware of what had just happened. Ginny, however, brought him from his thoughts.

"Harry? Harry, are you feeling well?" she asked, appearing at his side. She looked curiously at the letter in his hands, but Harry stuffed it hurriedly back into it's envelope and then stowed it in his robes, refusing to elaborate. Ginny did not press him for information, and they walked silently toward the carriages.

They both took seats inside the carriage with Ron and Hermione, who were staring at opposite ends of the carriage. Harry figured they had had another row, and he decided to leave it alone. Besides, it would only end up getting him dragged into the middle once again, something he wasn't particularily fond of.

Ginny remained silent as well, keeping a relatively safe distance away from Harry as the carriage lumbered forward with a slight jostle. When they reached the station, Ginny stepped out first, hurrying over to a group of her friends, giving Harry a somber look. He swallowed hard, grabbing his trunk and making his way silently toward the train, Ron and Hermione following closely.

Harry was just getting ready to board the train when a rather booming voice called his name. "Harry! Harry!" He recognized Hagrid's voice immediately, and he looked up, startled to see the giant at a near run, tears streaming down his face. Before Harry could even so much as drop his trunk, he was being swept up into a bone crushing hug, Hagrid's scraggly beard scratching lightly against his face.

He awkwardly hugged him back, wrapping his arms briefly around the half giant's shoulders, aware that the entirety of the departing students were now staring at him and Hagrid in awe. Hagrid dropped him gently, repeating the process with a sniffling Hermione and a much taller Ron. After depositing Ron next to Hermione, he stared down at them, his sobs ringing through the station.

"Thought yeh were leavin' without sayin' goodbye, eh? Ruddy kids, I tell you," he said brokenly, reaching into the pocket of his moleskin coat and withdrawing a handkercheif. He blew his nose loudly, causing Harry's ears to ring, and then wiped the old tears with a clean end. He suddenly looked down at them, his lips trembling with the effort to keep from crying.

"Sorry, Hagrid, but I was late packing and everything. Besides, you're always down at the station when we leave," Harry said quietly, patting Hagrid on the shoulder. Hagrid gave them a teary smile, his beady eyes shining brightly as a stray tear slipped into the tangles in his beard.

"We're going to miss you Hagrid," Hermione said, reaching forward and giving him another quick squeeze. Ron nodded his head, smiling with enthusiasm. Hagrid burst into sobs again, hanging onto Hermione's small frame with a tight grasp, his fresh tears trickling down his cheeks and onto Hermione's hair. "We'll see you again," Hermione said soothingly, looking pointedly at Harry.

He forced a smile, not sure if he could repeat the words without lying. He had no idea what was in store for him . . . "Yeah, Hagrid, it's not like we won't ever see you again," he repeated, smiling even wider, the action hurting his cheek muscles. Hagrid's tears subsided into sniffles once again, and he cleared his throat, letting Hermione go with a sheepish look.

"I'm just goin' to miss yeh lot so much," he said, taking in a deep breath. Harry nodded, blinking rapidly as the conductor leaned his head out of the train.

"All aboard!"

"Well, I suppose yeh should get goin'. Yer trunk, Hermione," he said, taking it as if it weighed nothing and stowing it on the train. Harry and Ron's trunks soon followed, and they all boarded as large puffs of steam started to fill the air. When the train started forward with a start, Hermione gulped, looking back at Hagrid.

Harry forcibly slid the door closed, leaning out the window, waving vigorously at Hagrid. The train gained speed, and Harry heard Hagrid erupt into a new set of sobs, his hand waving madly in the air. "Bye, Hagrid! Send Grawp our regards!" he called, grinning brightly as the train gained even further on the tracks. Hagrid was soon little more than a dot, and Harry had no choice but to slide the window shut and take a seat.

The three of them sat in silence for a while, Ron shifting nervously in his chair. And then Hermione sprang up, pulling Ron with her. "Ron!" she exploded, her eyes wide and frenzied. Ron gave her a startled look, not sure what he had done to offend her. "We were supposed to be in the Prefect's compartment!" she said wildly, disappearing quickly out the door. Ron threw Harry an apologetic look that he waved off with a smile before he was dragged out the door as well.

There was peaceful silence for another few moments before the compartment door slid open, and two familiar faces appeared. "Neville, Luna, have a seat," Harry offered, gesturing across from him. "Ron and Hermione are down at the Prefect's spot, so it should be a while," he explained, noticing Neville's surprised look at the emptiness of the compartment. Luna waved airily, her eyes glazed and distant.

"Hello, Harry. Pleasant weather we're having. I suppose it's due to the Nebulosus Ficeri," Luna added. Harry nodded, as if he understood, careful not to look at Neville when Luna reached blindly to the top of her head, extracting a large, feathery quil. Reaching down below her, she produced an ink bottle, unscrewing it and placing it on the table. Dipping the quil, she began to write in the air, her inkholding on the spot and forming solid, albeit very wet, blank letters.

Neville let out a sound close to admiration and surprise. "That's brilliant, Luna! How'd you do that?" Harry asked, reaching forward to prod one of the letters with his finger. It left an inky stain on the tip, but otherwise remained solid, floating in mid air. Luna gave him an eerie smile.

"My father taught me. He says that when Nebulosus Ficeri are present, the air thickens, allowing you to write on it. They'll evaporate as soon as the air clears," she added absently, stowing the ink bottle back in her robes and placing the large quil behind her ear. Neville gave her a strange look, and Harry managed to turn a laugh into an odd sort of choking noise.

It was then that the compartment door slid open once again, and an exasperated Ron entered, Hermione soon following. "Budge over," Ron told Neville grumpily. He slid into the seat, ignoring Hermione, who was giving him a hearty scowl. "Hermione, just drop it. Zabini deserved every bit of it," Ron added, rolling his eyes when Hermione seated herself next to Harry, arms crossed over her chest.

"I will not drop it, Ronald Weasley. You shouldn't have jinxed him, you know very well-Who did that?" Hermione asked abruptly, stopping mid scold to point curiously at the floating letters. Luna fixed her with a blank stair, her large eyes shining.

"Hello Ronald, Hermione. It's a trick my father taught me. You see, when Nebulosus Ficeri are present-"

Hermione scoffed, cutting Luna off rather rudely. "Oh, spare me. It's a simple thickening charm you put in the ink," she said flippantly. Luna gave her an unnatural scowl, her lips tightening, though she did not pursue the subject.

"So," Neville started awkwardly. "How about the summer? Any plans?" he asked, nudging Ron. Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Harry, Hermione and I have gotta watch Bill marry Fleur. You remember her, right? The pretty blond from the Triwizard?" Ron pointedly ignored Hermione's derisive snort at this comment, but Neville nodded enthusiastically, smiling. "She and Bill are going to tie the knot come July," Ron added.

Neville looked thoughtfully at Hermione, but she ignored him, instead opting to stare moodily out the window. Harry sighed. He had a feeling this was not going to be a pleasant trip.

They spent the rest of the time discussing what they wanted to take for N.E.W.T.'s. The three of them tactfully refrained from voicing that they were not planning on coming back to Hogwart's, though Neville showed a bit of suspicion when Ron fumbled around with an answer.

When they were nearly ten minutes from the King's Cross station, an uninvited guest showed up, completely spoiling any hopes Harry had had for the rest of the train ride. Blaise Zabini stood irately in the doorway, brows arched down in a scowl as he stared at the lot of them.

"Bit of blustering your oaf of a friend did at the station, wouldn't you say, Potter?" Zabini asked, taking a step into the compartment. Harry raised an eyebrow, surprised at the lack of anger he had at this statement.

"Trying to take over now that Malfoy's gone, Zabini?" he asked idly, hiding a grin when the boy's face lit up with anger. "I should think that Slytherin would get the hint by now," Harry added, gripping his wand tightly under the table in case Zabini got any strange ideas.

"You should learn that not all of us are as . . . hesitant as Draco, Potter," Zabini said, the meaning painfully clear in his statement. Harry leapt to his feet, ready to shove Hermione out of the way so he could wring Zabini's useless neck. The boy simply smirked when Hermione restrained Harry, latching onto his arm like a leech. "Manners, Potter, manners. Wouldn't want to end up like your good pal Dumbledore, now would you?"

Neville had to tackle Ron to keep him from throttling the Slytherin, and Zabini finally got the hint. "I'd watch my step if I were you, Potter," Zabini sneered, walking leisurely from the compartment, sliding the door shut. Hermione finally let Harry go, and he scowled down at her.

"What in the bloody hell was that for?" Ron snarled at Neville, hopping to his feet and dusting his robes off with a mulish look. Neville pursed his lips, facing Ron stubbornly.

"It would have only gotten you into trouble," Hermione said reasonably, coming to Neville's defense. "He was only baiting you," she added, though her own hands were trembling violently. Harry said nothing as he flopped back down into his seat, glowering at the table. The rest of the trip was spent in thick silence.

When the train finally rolled into King's Cross, Harry yanked his trunk down from the luggage rack, stomping from the compartment. He didn't see Zabini as he departed the train, and he felt a twinge of disappointment. He would have loved to see the look on the Slytherin's face when he started to sprout tentacles . . .

Hermione and Ron caught up to him after bading Neville and Luna a hasty goodbye. They met up with Mrs. Weasley and Mad Eye Moody, who stared fixedly at Harry as they approached.

"Harry, dear!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, enveloping him in a soft hug. He grinned into her hair, feeling his former tension drain as he drew back. "How have you been?" she asked, grasping his shoulders as she inspected him from every angle. He grinned, shrugging his shoulders.

"Fine, Mrs. Weasley. Professor," Harry added, nodding at Moody. He looked disgruntled at the use of the term 'professor', but said nothing as he nodded in return. Harry saw his magical eye roll back in his head as a figure approached them from behind. Mrs. Weasley tended to Ron and Hermione as Arthur Weasley approached, clapping Harry on the shoulder. He noticed that there was a strained look in the older man's face, and he had the impression that Mr. Weasley wanted to discuss Dumbledore.

"Harry," he said quietly. He suddenly looked past Harry, his smile widening. "Ginny, dear, did you have a good year? How were O.W.L.'s?" he asked, giving Harry a morose look before turning tohis daughter. It left Harry alone with Moody, who simply stood there staring at him with his good eye.

"Potter." It was gruff and heavy, and Harry desperately hoped that Moody, too, did not want to talk about Dumbledore. "Calm down, boy. I don't want to talk about Dumbledore. Wanted to ask if you'll be ready," Moody said, his one eye narrowing in a critical survey. Harry nodded grimly, not sure as to what Moody was reffering to.

"Oi, mate, we better go through now," Ron muttered, appearing with Hermione at Harry's side. Moody nodded, catching the phrase as well.

"You two," he said, pointing at Ron and Hermione. "You go with Molly. Arthur and the girl go next, and then you with me, Potter," he instructed, nodding his head as Ron, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley disappeared through the magical barrier. Ginny and Mr. Weasley went next, leaving the two alone again. "Let's go, Potter," Moody said, clasping his shoulder for a moment before they moved through the barrier as well.

Harry appeared on the other side, the sight of hundreds of Muggles scurrying about greeting him. He looked around for his Aunt and Uncle, knowing they liked to wait by the entrance. Sure enough, they were standing sulkily next to front, Uncle Vernon glaring daggers at anyone who came too close.

He turned to Hermione and Ron. "All right, you two. Remember, I want owls or something first. And Ron, let's wait to tell your Mum till the wedding," Harry added, giving Mrs. Weasley, who was conversing in hushed tones with Moody and her husband, a wary look. Ron nodded, grinning awkwardly.

Hermione rolled her eyes, reaching up to kiss Harry's cheek and give him a quick hug. "We'll visit sometime in a week or so. We'll write before that," she added, squeezing his hand gently. Harry turned to Ron, returning the awkward grin as they shook hands.

"See you soon, mate," Ron said, rolling his eyes when Mrs. Weasley gave him a teary goodbye. Mr. Weasley shook his hand as well, telling him they would be in contact. Moody followed him to his Aunt and Uncle.

"Dursley," Moody growled out. Uncle Vernon gave him a mutinous look, but nodded his head. "I suppose you remember our little agreement, Dursley?" Moody asked calmly, though his voice was filled with warning. Uncle Vernon bristled, but he nodded once again. "Good. Potter, keep in touch with Weasley and Granger. If we don't hear from you within five days, we're sending someone over," he added, giving his Aunt and Uncle a pointed look.

With that, he was limping away, though Harry was sure his magical eye was trained upon them. He turned back to his Aunt and Uncle, who looked livid. "Well, let's be on our way, boy," Uncle Vernon said. Harry sighed, looking back wistfully at the station. At least the stay at the Dursley's wouldn't be that long this year. Though he couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not, considering his circumstances.

So, the troupe leaves Hogwarts. I stick with my opinion that Harry won't go back. I think Rowling emphasised this in the last few chapters of HBP.