A/N: Bet you all thought that that was the end! Fooled you! Actually, I
have a lot more to this story. But no hints here. You'll just have to
continue reading.
September 1st
"Harry, it is time to go and catch your train!" Matthew shouted from the bottom of the stairs. The entire summer had finished, with Harry completely ready for his N.E.W.T.s as a result of their hard work. Matthew heard footsteps from Harry's room and went up to see what was taking the boy so long to come downstairs. He didn't have to pack, because Nellie had been packing for days, rearranging things in his trunk, putting several charms on it so that the trunk's shelves would respond to whatever Harry wanted out of his trunk, and then deciding that she wanted Harry to take something completely different from what she had packed. All of the books that Harry had used in the past few weeks had been included on the list and had found a home in the compartment that Tom had created for them. Harry had smiled when he saw that. All of those books would make Hermione envious. "Harry, are you ready?" Matthew asked, knocking on the door and putting his head into the room.
Harry was sitting on his bed, digging one of his toes into the carpet of the room. He looked up at Matthew, but lowered his head again when he saw who it was that was inhabiting the doorway. "What is it, Harry?" Matthew said, going into what Harry fondly called "shrink mode".
"Nothing." Harry mumbled. Matthew only raised an eyebrow, causing Harry to glare, something at which Harry was getting quite good. "Well, I just don't want to go back. What if something happens and they won't let me come home?" Harry turned back to trying to dig a hole in the carpet. Matthew folded his arms.
"Nothing will happen. If Dumbledore won't let you come home and sends you back to the Dursleys, we will get you back before anything can happen to you, and then you won't ever see Dumbledore again. Also, Professor Snape is at the school, and he feels like an ally." Harry smiled.
"You know, that feels really odd, to think of him as an ally. For the last five years, he made my life at Hogwarts hell. He would find the smallest excuse to get me into trouble and have me up for detentions and expulsion from the school." Matthew chuckled.
"Being away from the service of the Dark Lord must agree with him, then. He has already sent Tom and I a letter in the past few weeks about you and how you were doing and whether or not you would be coming to school." Harry shook his head.
"My coming back to school was a condition of me staying here." Matthew nodded, moving to sit next to Harry.
"I know, but look at it this way. There are Christmas and Easter holidays that you can return here for, and then summer will be here before you know. And if Dumbledore tries anything, like keeping you at Hogwarts for your own good, talk to Professor Snape. I'm sure that he will help you." Matthew got up and pulled Harry to his feet. He mussed Harry's hair up and went to the door. "Either way, we've got ten minutes." Matthew waved his hand and mumbled a word at Harry's trunk. "Hurry now." He turned and the trunk followed. Harry fixed his hair, all the while grumbling to himself about crackpot psychologists who enjoyed messing with people's hair.
Harry went down the stairs and found Tom standing at the foot of them. "Ready to go, Harry?" Tom asked, pulling on his Muggle coat.
"You're going with me?" Harry asked. Tom smiled.
"Yes, I'm not going to let you face all those people alone. Besides, I don't think that anyone will recognize you with the way you've gained about four inches to your height and your hair being so long. Until someone does, neither Matthew nor I are in any danger. If we keep our heads down, we'll be able to see you on the train, firmly established in a compartment, and eagerly awaiting the cart in no time at all." Harry smiled and hugged Tom. "Knew you'd like that." Tom said, mussing Harry's hair.
"Ah, not again!" Harry batted away Tom's hands and frantically tried to fix his hair. Tom reached back and pulled Harry's hair tie out of his hair and handed it to him. He reached up and fixed a lock of hair over his scar.
"There, no more Harry Potter, but Michael Riddle until further notice. What if some of your football friends see you?" Harry smiled and shook his head. Matthew screamed from outside that the car was there and they should get going. From the village, London was only a short hour car ride away. They had all chosen to use Muggle means to get to the station. Since Harry Potter had been seen in the company of wizards, no one would be looking for them in the Muggle section of the train station.
The usual crowds surged through the train station, making it an adventure for two men trying to navigate a tall teenager with his school trunk and pet owl through the busy corridors to the platform needed. All three managed to lean against the wall between platforms nine and ten, allowing them to pass through the barrier to platform nine and three- quarters. Wizards and witches were everywhere, seeing off their children to the school. Some children were surrounded by their Muggle parents, some of which looked vaguely uncomfortable and conspicuous in their Muggle fashions. Tom and Matthew gave the magical folk's stares no mind as they held Harry settle his trunk and bird in the cargo section and helped him find a compartment. Harry wondered if this would have been what his parents would have done, and pushed that thought out of his mind. He had Tom and Matthew now, and they were doing admirable jobs, even though Matthew was playing the part of older brother way too much. He continually messed up Harry's hair, which, thanks in part to the fact that it was not restrained, was now every which way and would need some serious combing to get back to its original state that he had had it in this morning, which was actually neat.
"Here you go, Michael!" Matthew said, finding an empty compartment. Harry followed him in and turned to Tom.
"You guys have to leave now, don't you?" Harry said, amazed at himself for feeling so sad. This was the Hogwarts Express, and he was going to Hogwarts, a place he had loved for the last few years. Why was it so different now?
"I'm afraid so, Harry." Tom said quietly. "But, we are only an owl away should you be absolutely miserable and wish to come home." Tom reassured him. "I would like you to try and do your best though, Harry. Show everyone that you are not a delicate little child."
"I have never been a delicate little child." Harry contradicted, glaring at Tom. Matthew burst out laughing.
"We never said you were, but there have been plenty of others who have! Show them what you're made of and what you know, Harry. We'll be at home waiting for you." Harry smiled and nodded, hugging both men tightly. All three jumped when the whistle blew outside.
"Well, you'd better go. I don't think the headmaster will appreciate you showing up with the students." Harry told them. Both men smiled and left Harry in his compartment, taking a place on the platform with the other parents. Harry put his head out the window and waved as the train lurched forward, and finally started off towards school. Harry saw Matthew waving and jumping up and down, while Tom was more sedate. Both looked like the other parents standing there. "My parents." Harry whispered. "That's why I feel so different. I have parents now." He shook his head and pulled himself back inside once he couldn't see the platform.
Once in his seat, he looked about for something to do. No one was there. Hmm, interesting train ride, with no one to talk to. If he knew Ron and Hermione, they would be walking about looking for just such a compartment, if they hadn't found one by now. He would give them a while and then go off in search of them. He pulled out one of his books, Potions for the Healer, and started to read. He and Tom had long ago shelved this book, but Harry insisted on bringing it out again and again. With the trip into Hogsmeade, Harry planned on stocking up some of the potions ingredients that had not been on the list to make some of the healing draughts in the book. With those, he argued more than once, he would never have to see Madame Pomfrey again. Matthew recalled the territorial nurse from his own days, when she had been a little younger. Matthew warned Harry that she had mellowed in her advancing years, causing the younger of the two to launch into tales of his own experiences with the nurse that had both Tom and Matthew laughing before the end of them.
A noise roused him from his book near an hour later. He looked up, annoyed that his customary silent study time was interrupted before reality caught up with him and he remembered where he was and who he was now. "Oh, sorry." Hermione said. "We didn't know that anyone was in here. Would you mind if we joined you? Some of the Slytherins are being gits." Harry was shocked to hear Hermione call anyone a git, but he supposed that the last year had left her open to corruption from himself and Ron. Mostly Ron.
"I don't mind at all, Hermione." He said, motioning towards the seats across from him. She stopped and looked at him.
"I'm sorry, but have we met? You don't look too familiar. Are you in Ravenclaw?" Harry chuckled and pulled back his hair.
"You guys don't recognize me?" He said, showing his scar once his hair was out of the way.
"HARRY?" she shouted, flying at him. The next Harry knew, a hysterical Hermione was clutching his robes, sobbing about never seeing him again. Behind her, Ron looked absolutely shocked.
"Ron, sit down before you fall down." Harry advised his friend. Ron followed his instructions. Harry raised a hand and shut the door. Hermione pulled back and looked at Harry.
"We thought that you were a prisoner and that you were as good as dead." Hermione said, swallowing her tears. "And now you're here."
"Dumbledore almost lost hope, mate." Ron said quietly from his seat. Harry supposed that the way he had broken the news to his friends must have been a little traumatizing to the both of them. Harry pulled out two Chocolate Frogs and handed one to each.
"Please eat those before you pass out. Neither of you are looking too well." Harry told them. Ron held his numbly in his hands and looked at his best friend.
"Where'd you come from, Harry? Did you escape?" Harry looked at Ron sadly, hating to lie to him.
"I've been out for two weeks now. I was hiding out in Muggle London. If I had shown myself, even in Dumbledore's presence, they would have found me. I barely got on the train." Harry told them. Ron smiled, but Hermione looked at Harry suspiciously.
"That's good, Harry." She said. Ron came over and draped an arm around him.
"We've missed you, mate." Ron said, launching into stories of what summer had been like with Fred and George creeping about the house. "They were so secretive with what they were doing, they didn't even want to test it on anyone in the house. And then when they revealed it, even Mum was impressed." Ron pulled out some Playful Pantomimes from his pocket. "They gave me these to try out on some of the students. They're using me for advertising." Ron smiled and shook his head. "They're great brothers, for being gits and all." Hermione reached down to the floor to where Harry had dropped his book.
"Harry, what's this?" She asked.
"That's one of the books I got in Diagon Alley that day. I took some of them with me because they looked interesting." Harry told her. "I had nothing else to do but read." She nodded and looked at the title.
"This is really advanced. Was someone there a Potions Master?" Harry shrugged.
"I have no idea. I didn't interact much with them, unless they were saying something to me." Harry took his book back, praying that she hadn't sent the marked pages, and put it into his pocket. "What did you do all summer?" he asked.
Hermione launched into the tale of her enforced vacation with her parents all over Europe after the Diagon Alley incident. Her parents had tried to make her forget that one of her friends was missing. The story ended almost near the time when the train would stop. All three got into their robes. Harry adjusted the holster for his wand on his arm, taking care that his friends did not see it. Too many awkward questions that he did not care to answer at the moment. He combed his hair and pulled it back. He turned back around as Hermione came back into the compartment. She stopped and stared at him.
"What is it, Hermione?" Harry asked. She smiled a bit and shook her head.
"You'd better watch yourself this year, Harry. You've grown up, and many girls will notice." Harry blushed while Ron wrapped an arm around Hermione. Harry looked between his two friends.
"Are you guys.?" Ron blushed a deep red that matched his hair while Hermione smiled. "That's great!"
"Yeah, Mione came and stayed with me and the family at the end of the summer. It's been three weeks." Ron told him. Harry congratulated his two friends on their relationship. He couldn't think of anyone better for them than each other. They already acted like they were married with the way they bickered.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione poured out of the train with the other students and headed to the carriages. The threstrals were there, reminding Harry of how much death he had seen, but, as per Matthew's instructions, pushed those thoughts out of his head, reminding himself that none of it was his fault, and climbed into the carriage with his friends. Neville scrambled in with them, finding his seat just before the carriage started moving.
"Hi Ron! Hi Hermione." He said, looking over to Harry. His smiled faded as he looked Harry up and down. "Harry?" he asked. Harry smiled and nodded. "Harry!" Neville gave Harry a small hug and moved back to his seat before he fell over. "Where have you been? Everyone has been looking for you. Everyone!" Harry gave Neville the same story that he had given to Hermione, hoping that Dumbledore wouldn't see through it.
The Great Hall looked exactly as it did the last time Harry had seen it when the Sorting Hat was present. He remembered the deadly warning. He smiled to himself. This year was going to be different. This year was going to be normal. Well, as normal as his year could get. He thought back to his years at Hogwarts. Third year had to be the most normal. No Voldemort attack that year. He smiled to himself and saw Snape at the head table. Snape looked him over and raised an eyebrow. Harry just nodded slightly and took his place at the Gryffindor table. The headmaster stood as the last student sat down.
"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts!" he announced to the students gathered. "The first years will be led here in just a moment." He resumed his seat while the doors opened behind all of the students. The first years, led by Professor McGonagall, looked as scared and nervous as always. The Sorting Hat started in on his song. Harry listened and applauded along with the other students and sat through the Sorting with his usual patience, wondering when he could eat. He smiled to himself as he heard Nellie's voice in his head, talking about growing boys and the need to eat.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore's voice said from the head table. "Just a few words, if you please. Welcome to the first years. We expect great things out of all of you. To the rest of the school, welcome back. I regret to report that your classmate, Harry Potter, has not been found yet, and we are still." Dumbledore was interrupted by Ron, Hermione and Neville all standing and pointing at someone.
"He's here, Headmaster! Snuck in with the rest of us!" Neville told him. Dumbledore came down the walkway and looked at the group. Harry stared up at him and smiled.
"Well, Mr. Potter. You must have had some adventures." He whispered to the boy. Harry shrugged while the Headmaster turned. "All right, for the first time in a long time, I am mistaken. Welcome back to Mr. Potter! And for the rest of you all, tuck in!" Food appeared on the students' plates and everyone fell to them. Ron had a roll in one hand and pumpkin juice in the other. Dumbledore returned to the head table. He continued to stare at Harry, while the boy ignored him and turned to his friends.
"What is wrong, Headmaster?" Snape asked, leaning over a bit to hear the man's replies.
"I just can't take my eyes off him, Severus. We've been searching for him almost the whole summer, and now he just waltzes in with the rest of the students and doesn't even tell anyone where he has been." Dumbledore sighed. "Is this a sign of my getting old, Severus? That I don't even notice a student, one for whom I have been searching for weeks now, even when he is sitting right in front of me?" Snape smiled.
"No, Albus. He has grown and gotten longer hair. I think you're just fine, and the boy was too. We'll hear his story later. Some of the students are looking at you nervously. Please, eat something." Dumbledore started in on his meal. Snape looked over to find Potter looking up at him. Snape raised an eyebrow, causing the boy to go off into laughter. Snape shook his head to himself and returned to his meal.
"Harry?" Dumbledore said, catching up to the trio of friends heading towards Gryffindor tower. "May I see you a moment?" Harry nodded to his friends and followed Dumbledore to his office. "Lemon drop?"
"No thank you." Harry said, taking the seat that Dumbledore had motioned to.
"Well, Harry. We were all quite worried about you. May I ask what happened?" Harry smiled.
"You mean after Diagon Alley?" Dumbledore motioned for Harry to continue. "Well, what happened was they kind of had me under some sort of spell. I couldn't get away from them, even when I tried. After that, I was free to go about the house. One day, the people I was with forgot to reset the wards or something, and I used the time they were down to leave. I didn't want anyone to know where I was and Hedwig was a little conspicuous, so I stayed in a hotel until I it was time to come back to school. My hair had grown, so I was able to walk right past them at the train station to get on the platform and on the train." Dumbledore looked at Harry.
"Are you sure that that was what happened, Harry?" Harry nodded.
"Yes, sir. I thought that if they got me here once, they could get me again until there were more people about." Harry said. "I was hiding because I thought that if no one knew where I was, then I would be safe until the students were back at Hogwarts." Dumbledore sat back and stared at Harry.
"You should have let me know where you were, Harry. I'm glad that you are safe, but I still feel that you put yourself into unnecessary danger." Harry looked at the headmaster.
"Headmaster, no disrespect or anything, but if you couldn't find me, what makes you think that they could have?" Dumbledore froze, looked the student up and down, and then did the one thing that Harry had been hoping for: he laughed.
"All right, Harry. Good job then. I'll let you return to your common room now. I'm sure all of your friends are concerned about you and want to hear of your adventures." Dumbledore gave Harry a small box of jellybeans and saw the boy to the door. Harry smiled, happy that he had fooled Dumbledore.
Snape watched as Harry left the headmaster's office. The boy was obviously good at being an actor, for Dumbledore allowed him out of his sight now. Snape shook his head and returned to his dungeons. He would be seeing Harry tomorrow morning, and then he could see how well the boy did potions.
Harry and Ron ran down the hallway, robes flying out behind them as the rounded a corner. They were late for breakfast. The two of them skidded to a stop outside the doors and went in to find Hermione already there, finished with her meal and reading her schedule. "I got yours for you. I figured that you were up all night talking." She handed each of them their schedule. Ron banged his head against the table.
"Why did I take Divination? Why?" Harry smiled and shook his head at his friend's distress.
"What do you have, Harry?" Hermione asked, ignoring her boyfriend's actions.
"Uh, Magical Creatures, Double Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, History of Magic, and Defense Against the Dark Arts." Harry said, reading off his schedule. "You?"
"Arithmancy, Muggle Relations, Double Potions, and the rest the same as you." Ron sat up and rubbed his head.
"Why did you both take Potions?" Ron asked.
"I need it for Auror training." Harry answered flatly. Hermione just raised an eyebrow. Ron needed no more explanation for her reasons. Her personality was enough. Ron shook his head while muttering something about the two of them being mental and turned to his breakfast.
After breakfast, Ron and Hermione heeded down to the dungeons together while Ron went in the opposite direction towards the Divination classroom. Hermione chattered about her vacation while Harry commented on her adventures. He wondered if Tom had ever been to Italy and how he could get Tom to go there if he hadn't. Harry followed her into the classroom and took his usual seat next to her, greeting the other Gryffindors with a smile.
Snape banged into the room right behind Draco Malfoy, sending the smaller Slytherin towards his seat. "Since you all should know what you are doing, we're going to get started." Snape said without preamble. "Directions are on the board." Snape told them. All of the students jumped to get their supplies. Harry sat and read through the instructions three times, memorizing what he needed to do before he started. He gathered his supplies and settled down next to Hermione and began preparation. He let his mind wander a bit, falling into his old rhythm that he had found while working under Tom. He didn't even notice when Snape came over and leaned over behind him to watch his process. Harry did it all with the precision that Snape used. Harry leaned back and put in his powdered hens' teeth. Smoke burst up and then dissipated. That was a good sign. Hermione had jumped, but Harry had made this potion at least six times this summer. He had a good idea when to jump and when not to.
Harry stirred counter clockwise while adding his next ingredient a little at a time. Smoke and liquid pouring out of a Slytherin's cauldron forced Snape to move away from Harry to take care of the purple boils springing up on the unfortunate girl. He sent her to the hospital wing and went back to Harry. The boy was simmering his potion, allowing the viscosity to thicken up. Snape timed it and at the correct time, Harry removed the potion from the fire and added his final ingredient. The potion turned a deep green with a silver shimmer. Harry smiled. He thought this highly appropriate for Snape and his Slytherins. It was nothing more than a calming draught, used to calm hyperactive children. Harry wondered whom Snape would be using it on. He labeled his vial and turned to his notebook that he had used in the summer, taking notes on the process and the color and texture of what he had made. He compared from the other times he had made it and found them almost the same. It just took less time this attempt. Snape looked at Harry's vial and nodded, setting it back on his desk. Harry finished off his notes and cleaned up his work area. He sat down, taking out the book he had been reading on the train, and proceeded to wait for the rest of the class.
Snape watched the boy focus on his work in front of him. It was amazing. A summer with the right people and Harry had turned into a Ravenclaw. Snape shook his head in amusement and settled back to watching the rest of the students to make sure that they didn't make any mistakes.
September 1st
"Harry, it is time to go and catch your train!" Matthew shouted from the bottom of the stairs. The entire summer had finished, with Harry completely ready for his N.E.W.T.s as a result of their hard work. Matthew heard footsteps from Harry's room and went up to see what was taking the boy so long to come downstairs. He didn't have to pack, because Nellie had been packing for days, rearranging things in his trunk, putting several charms on it so that the trunk's shelves would respond to whatever Harry wanted out of his trunk, and then deciding that she wanted Harry to take something completely different from what she had packed. All of the books that Harry had used in the past few weeks had been included on the list and had found a home in the compartment that Tom had created for them. Harry had smiled when he saw that. All of those books would make Hermione envious. "Harry, are you ready?" Matthew asked, knocking on the door and putting his head into the room.
Harry was sitting on his bed, digging one of his toes into the carpet of the room. He looked up at Matthew, but lowered his head again when he saw who it was that was inhabiting the doorway. "What is it, Harry?" Matthew said, going into what Harry fondly called "shrink mode".
"Nothing." Harry mumbled. Matthew only raised an eyebrow, causing Harry to glare, something at which Harry was getting quite good. "Well, I just don't want to go back. What if something happens and they won't let me come home?" Harry turned back to trying to dig a hole in the carpet. Matthew folded his arms.
"Nothing will happen. If Dumbledore won't let you come home and sends you back to the Dursleys, we will get you back before anything can happen to you, and then you won't ever see Dumbledore again. Also, Professor Snape is at the school, and he feels like an ally." Harry smiled.
"You know, that feels really odd, to think of him as an ally. For the last five years, he made my life at Hogwarts hell. He would find the smallest excuse to get me into trouble and have me up for detentions and expulsion from the school." Matthew chuckled.
"Being away from the service of the Dark Lord must agree with him, then. He has already sent Tom and I a letter in the past few weeks about you and how you were doing and whether or not you would be coming to school." Harry shook his head.
"My coming back to school was a condition of me staying here." Matthew nodded, moving to sit next to Harry.
"I know, but look at it this way. There are Christmas and Easter holidays that you can return here for, and then summer will be here before you know. And if Dumbledore tries anything, like keeping you at Hogwarts for your own good, talk to Professor Snape. I'm sure that he will help you." Matthew got up and pulled Harry to his feet. He mussed Harry's hair up and went to the door. "Either way, we've got ten minutes." Matthew waved his hand and mumbled a word at Harry's trunk. "Hurry now." He turned and the trunk followed. Harry fixed his hair, all the while grumbling to himself about crackpot psychologists who enjoyed messing with people's hair.
Harry went down the stairs and found Tom standing at the foot of them. "Ready to go, Harry?" Tom asked, pulling on his Muggle coat.
"You're going with me?" Harry asked. Tom smiled.
"Yes, I'm not going to let you face all those people alone. Besides, I don't think that anyone will recognize you with the way you've gained about four inches to your height and your hair being so long. Until someone does, neither Matthew nor I are in any danger. If we keep our heads down, we'll be able to see you on the train, firmly established in a compartment, and eagerly awaiting the cart in no time at all." Harry smiled and hugged Tom. "Knew you'd like that." Tom said, mussing Harry's hair.
"Ah, not again!" Harry batted away Tom's hands and frantically tried to fix his hair. Tom reached back and pulled Harry's hair tie out of his hair and handed it to him. He reached up and fixed a lock of hair over his scar.
"There, no more Harry Potter, but Michael Riddle until further notice. What if some of your football friends see you?" Harry smiled and shook his head. Matthew screamed from outside that the car was there and they should get going. From the village, London was only a short hour car ride away. They had all chosen to use Muggle means to get to the station. Since Harry Potter had been seen in the company of wizards, no one would be looking for them in the Muggle section of the train station.
The usual crowds surged through the train station, making it an adventure for two men trying to navigate a tall teenager with his school trunk and pet owl through the busy corridors to the platform needed. All three managed to lean against the wall between platforms nine and ten, allowing them to pass through the barrier to platform nine and three- quarters. Wizards and witches were everywhere, seeing off their children to the school. Some children were surrounded by their Muggle parents, some of which looked vaguely uncomfortable and conspicuous in their Muggle fashions. Tom and Matthew gave the magical folk's stares no mind as they held Harry settle his trunk and bird in the cargo section and helped him find a compartment. Harry wondered if this would have been what his parents would have done, and pushed that thought out of his mind. He had Tom and Matthew now, and they were doing admirable jobs, even though Matthew was playing the part of older brother way too much. He continually messed up Harry's hair, which, thanks in part to the fact that it was not restrained, was now every which way and would need some serious combing to get back to its original state that he had had it in this morning, which was actually neat.
"Here you go, Michael!" Matthew said, finding an empty compartment. Harry followed him in and turned to Tom.
"You guys have to leave now, don't you?" Harry said, amazed at himself for feeling so sad. This was the Hogwarts Express, and he was going to Hogwarts, a place he had loved for the last few years. Why was it so different now?
"I'm afraid so, Harry." Tom said quietly. "But, we are only an owl away should you be absolutely miserable and wish to come home." Tom reassured him. "I would like you to try and do your best though, Harry. Show everyone that you are not a delicate little child."
"I have never been a delicate little child." Harry contradicted, glaring at Tom. Matthew burst out laughing.
"We never said you were, but there have been plenty of others who have! Show them what you're made of and what you know, Harry. We'll be at home waiting for you." Harry smiled and nodded, hugging both men tightly. All three jumped when the whistle blew outside.
"Well, you'd better go. I don't think the headmaster will appreciate you showing up with the students." Harry told them. Both men smiled and left Harry in his compartment, taking a place on the platform with the other parents. Harry put his head out the window and waved as the train lurched forward, and finally started off towards school. Harry saw Matthew waving and jumping up and down, while Tom was more sedate. Both looked like the other parents standing there. "My parents." Harry whispered. "That's why I feel so different. I have parents now." He shook his head and pulled himself back inside once he couldn't see the platform.
Once in his seat, he looked about for something to do. No one was there. Hmm, interesting train ride, with no one to talk to. If he knew Ron and Hermione, they would be walking about looking for just such a compartment, if they hadn't found one by now. He would give them a while and then go off in search of them. He pulled out one of his books, Potions for the Healer, and started to read. He and Tom had long ago shelved this book, but Harry insisted on bringing it out again and again. With the trip into Hogsmeade, Harry planned on stocking up some of the potions ingredients that had not been on the list to make some of the healing draughts in the book. With those, he argued more than once, he would never have to see Madame Pomfrey again. Matthew recalled the territorial nurse from his own days, when she had been a little younger. Matthew warned Harry that she had mellowed in her advancing years, causing the younger of the two to launch into tales of his own experiences with the nurse that had both Tom and Matthew laughing before the end of them.
A noise roused him from his book near an hour later. He looked up, annoyed that his customary silent study time was interrupted before reality caught up with him and he remembered where he was and who he was now. "Oh, sorry." Hermione said. "We didn't know that anyone was in here. Would you mind if we joined you? Some of the Slytherins are being gits." Harry was shocked to hear Hermione call anyone a git, but he supposed that the last year had left her open to corruption from himself and Ron. Mostly Ron.
"I don't mind at all, Hermione." He said, motioning towards the seats across from him. She stopped and looked at him.
"I'm sorry, but have we met? You don't look too familiar. Are you in Ravenclaw?" Harry chuckled and pulled back his hair.
"You guys don't recognize me?" He said, showing his scar once his hair was out of the way.
"HARRY?" she shouted, flying at him. The next Harry knew, a hysterical Hermione was clutching his robes, sobbing about never seeing him again. Behind her, Ron looked absolutely shocked.
"Ron, sit down before you fall down." Harry advised his friend. Ron followed his instructions. Harry raised a hand and shut the door. Hermione pulled back and looked at Harry.
"We thought that you were a prisoner and that you were as good as dead." Hermione said, swallowing her tears. "And now you're here."
"Dumbledore almost lost hope, mate." Ron said quietly from his seat. Harry supposed that the way he had broken the news to his friends must have been a little traumatizing to the both of them. Harry pulled out two Chocolate Frogs and handed one to each.
"Please eat those before you pass out. Neither of you are looking too well." Harry told them. Ron held his numbly in his hands and looked at his best friend.
"Where'd you come from, Harry? Did you escape?" Harry looked at Ron sadly, hating to lie to him.
"I've been out for two weeks now. I was hiding out in Muggle London. If I had shown myself, even in Dumbledore's presence, they would have found me. I barely got on the train." Harry told them. Ron smiled, but Hermione looked at Harry suspiciously.
"That's good, Harry." She said. Ron came over and draped an arm around him.
"We've missed you, mate." Ron said, launching into stories of what summer had been like with Fred and George creeping about the house. "They were so secretive with what they were doing, they didn't even want to test it on anyone in the house. And then when they revealed it, even Mum was impressed." Ron pulled out some Playful Pantomimes from his pocket. "They gave me these to try out on some of the students. They're using me for advertising." Ron smiled and shook his head. "They're great brothers, for being gits and all." Hermione reached down to the floor to where Harry had dropped his book.
"Harry, what's this?" She asked.
"That's one of the books I got in Diagon Alley that day. I took some of them with me because they looked interesting." Harry told her. "I had nothing else to do but read." She nodded and looked at the title.
"This is really advanced. Was someone there a Potions Master?" Harry shrugged.
"I have no idea. I didn't interact much with them, unless they were saying something to me." Harry took his book back, praying that she hadn't sent the marked pages, and put it into his pocket. "What did you do all summer?" he asked.
Hermione launched into the tale of her enforced vacation with her parents all over Europe after the Diagon Alley incident. Her parents had tried to make her forget that one of her friends was missing. The story ended almost near the time when the train would stop. All three got into their robes. Harry adjusted the holster for his wand on his arm, taking care that his friends did not see it. Too many awkward questions that he did not care to answer at the moment. He combed his hair and pulled it back. He turned back around as Hermione came back into the compartment. She stopped and stared at him.
"What is it, Hermione?" Harry asked. She smiled a bit and shook her head.
"You'd better watch yourself this year, Harry. You've grown up, and many girls will notice." Harry blushed while Ron wrapped an arm around Hermione. Harry looked between his two friends.
"Are you guys.?" Ron blushed a deep red that matched his hair while Hermione smiled. "That's great!"
"Yeah, Mione came and stayed with me and the family at the end of the summer. It's been three weeks." Ron told him. Harry congratulated his two friends on their relationship. He couldn't think of anyone better for them than each other. They already acted like they were married with the way they bickered.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione poured out of the train with the other students and headed to the carriages. The threstrals were there, reminding Harry of how much death he had seen, but, as per Matthew's instructions, pushed those thoughts out of his head, reminding himself that none of it was his fault, and climbed into the carriage with his friends. Neville scrambled in with them, finding his seat just before the carriage started moving.
"Hi Ron! Hi Hermione." He said, looking over to Harry. His smiled faded as he looked Harry up and down. "Harry?" he asked. Harry smiled and nodded. "Harry!" Neville gave Harry a small hug and moved back to his seat before he fell over. "Where have you been? Everyone has been looking for you. Everyone!" Harry gave Neville the same story that he had given to Hermione, hoping that Dumbledore wouldn't see through it.
The Great Hall looked exactly as it did the last time Harry had seen it when the Sorting Hat was present. He remembered the deadly warning. He smiled to himself. This year was going to be different. This year was going to be normal. Well, as normal as his year could get. He thought back to his years at Hogwarts. Third year had to be the most normal. No Voldemort attack that year. He smiled to himself and saw Snape at the head table. Snape looked him over and raised an eyebrow. Harry just nodded slightly and took his place at the Gryffindor table. The headmaster stood as the last student sat down.
"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts!" he announced to the students gathered. "The first years will be led here in just a moment." He resumed his seat while the doors opened behind all of the students. The first years, led by Professor McGonagall, looked as scared and nervous as always. The Sorting Hat started in on his song. Harry listened and applauded along with the other students and sat through the Sorting with his usual patience, wondering when he could eat. He smiled to himself as he heard Nellie's voice in his head, talking about growing boys and the need to eat.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore's voice said from the head table. "Just a few words, if you please. Welcome to the first years. We expect great things out of all of you. To the rest of the school, welcome back. I regret to report that your classmate, Harry Potter, has not been found yet, and we are still." Dumbledore was interrupted by Ron, Hermione and Neville all standing and pointing at someone.
"He's here, Headmaster! Snuck in with the rest of us!" Neville told him. Dumbledore came down the walkway and looked at the group. Harry stared up at him and smiled.
"Well, Mr. Potter. You must have had some adventures." He whispered to the boy. Harry shrugged while the Headmaster turned. "All right, for the first time in a long time, I am mistaken. Welcome back to Mr. Potter! And for the rest of you all, tuck in!" Food appeared on the students' plates and everyone fell to them. Ron had a roll in one hand and pumpkin juice in the other. Dumbledore returned to the head table. He continued to stare at Harry, while the boy ignored him and turned to his friends.
"What is wrong, Headmaster?" Snape asked, leaning over a bit to hear the man's replies.
"I just can't take my eyes off him, Severus. We've been searching for him almost the whole summer, and now he just waltzes in with the rest of the students and doesn't even tell anyone where he has been." Dumbledore sighed. "Is this a sign of my getting old, Severus? That I don't even notice a student, one for whom I have been searching for weeks now, even when he is sitting right in front of me?" Snape smiled.
"No, Albus. He has grown and gotten longer hair. I think you're just fine, and the boy was too. We'll hear his story later. Some of the students are looking at you nervously. Please, eat something." Dumbledore started in on his meal. Snape looked over to find Potter looking up at him. Snape raised an eyebrow, causing the boy to go off into laughter. Snape shook his head to himself and returned to his meal.
"Harry?" Dumbledore said, catching up to the trio of friends heading towards Gryffindor tower. "May I see you a moment?" Harry nodded to his friends and followed Dumbledore to his office. "Lemon drop?"
"No thank you." Harry said, taking the seat that Dumbledore had motioned to.
"Well, Harry. We were all quite worried about you. May I ask what happened?" Harry smiled.
"You mean after Diagon Alley?" Dumbledore motioned for Harry to continue. "Well, what happened was they kind of had me under some sort of spell. I couldn't get away from them, even when I tried. After that, I was free to go about the house. One day, the people I was with forgot to reset the wards or something, and I used the time they were down to leave. I didn't want anyone to know where I was and Hedwig was a little conspicuous, so I stayed in a hotel until I it was time to come back to school. My hair had grown, so I was able to walk right past them at the train station to get on the platform and on the train." Dumbledore looked at Harry.
"Are you sure that that was what happened, Harry?" Harry nodded.
"Yes, sir. I thought that if they got me here once, they could get me again until there were more people about." Harry said. "I was hiding because I thought that if no one knew where I was, then I would be safe until the students were back at Hogwarts." Dumbledore sat back and stared at Harry.
"You should have let me know where you were, Harry. I'm glad that you are safe, but I still feel that you put yourself into unnecessary danger." Harry looked at the headmaster.
"Headmaster, no disrespect or anything, but if you couldn't find me, what makes you think that they could have?" Dumbledore froze, looked the student up and down, and then did the one thing that Harry had been hoping for: he laughed.
"All right, Harry. Good job then. I'll let you return to your common room now. I'm sure all of your friends are concerned about you and want to hear of your adventures." Dumbledore gave Harry a small box of jellybeans and saw the boy to the door. Harry smiled, happy that he had fooled Dumbledore.
Snape watched as Harry left the headmaster's office. The boy was obviously good at being an actor, for Dumbledore allowed him out of his sight now. Snape shook his head and returned to his dungeons. He would be seeing Harry tomorrow morning, and then he could see how well the boy did potions.
Harry and Ron ran down the hallway, robes flying out behind them as the rounded a corner. They were late for breakfast. The two of them skidded to a stop outside the doors and went in to find Hermione already there, finished with her meal and reading her schedule. "I got yours for you. I figured that you were up all night talking." She handed each of them their schedule. Ron banged his head against the table.
"Why did I take Divination? Why?" Harry smiled and shook his head at his friend's distress.
"What do you have, Harry?" Hermione asked, ignoring her boyfriend's actions.
"Uh, Magical Creatures, Double Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, History of Magic, and Defense Against the Dark Arts." Harry said, reading off his schedule. "You?"
"Arithmancy, Muggle Relations, Double Potions, and the rest the same as you." Ron sat up and rubbed his head.
"Why did you both take Potions?" Ron asked.
"I need it for Auror training." Harry answered flatly. Hermione just raised an eyebrow. Ron needed no more explanation for her reasons. Her personality was enough. Ron shook his head while muttering something about the two of them being mental and turned to his breakfast.
After breakfast, Ron and Hermione heeded down to the dungeons together while Ron went in the opposite direction towards the Divination classroom. Hermione chattered about her vacation while Harry commented on her adventures. He wondered if Tom had ever been to Italy and how he could get Tom to go there if he hadn't. Harry followed her into the classroom and took his usual seat next to her, greeting the other Gryffindors with a smile.
Snape banged into the room right behind Draco Malfoy, sending the smaller Slytherin towards his seat. "Since you all should know what you are doing, we're going to get started." Snape said without preamble. "Directions are on the board." Snape told them. All of the students jumped to get their supplies. Harry sat and read through the instructions three times, memorizing what he needed to do before he started. He gathered his supplies and settled down next to Hermione and began preparation. He let his mind wander a bit, falling into his old rhythm that he had found while working under Tom. He didn't even notice when Snape came over and leaned over behind him to watch his process. Harry did it all with the precision that Snape used. Harry leaned back and put in his powdered hens' teeth. Smoke burst up and then dissipated. That was a good sign. Hermione had jumped, but Harry had made this potion at least six times this summer. He had a good idea when to jump and when not to.
Harry stirred counter clockwise while adding his next ingredient a little at a time. Smoke and liquid pouring out of a Slytherin's cauldron forced Snape to move away from Harry to take care of the purple boils springing up on the unfortunate girl. He sent her to the hospital wing and went back to Harry. The boy was simmering his potion, allowing the viscosity to thicken up. Snape timed it and at the correct time, Harry removed the potion from the fire and added his final ingredient. The potion turned a deep green with a silver shimmer. Harry smiled. He thought this highly appropriate for Snape and his Slytherins. It was nothing more than a calming draught, used to calm hyperactive children. Harry wondered whom Snape would be using it on. He labeled his vial and turned to his notebook that he had used in the summer, taking notes on the process and the color and texture of what he had made. He compared from the other times he had made it and found them almost the same. It just took less time this attempt. Snape looked at Harry's vial and nodded, setting it back on his desk. Harry finished off his notes and cleaned up his work area. He sat down, taking out the book he had been reading on the train, and proceeded to wait for the rest of the class.
Snape watched the boy focus on his work in front of him. It was amazing. A summer with the right people and Harry had turned into a Ravenclaw. Snape shook his head in amusement and settled back to watching the rest of the students to make sure that they didn't make any mistakes.