"Goodbye, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said, hugging Harry for the third time.
"'Bye, Mrs. Weasley," Harry replied, patting Mrs. Weasley on the back. She had been sobbing since the night before, and now that they were standing on Platform 9 ¾ , she was nearly hysterical.
"Come, Molly," Mr. Weasley said. "They need to board the train." He pulled gently on his wife's arm. Mrs. Weasley nodded as she let go of Harry. She quickly gave another round of hugs to Ron, Hermione and Ginny, and then turned and sobbed into her husband's chest.
"How embarrassing," Ron muttered under his breath as he turned and walked toward the train.
Harry smiled at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, then turned and followed Ron. He didn't mind Mrs. Weasley's behaviour one bit.
The remainder of summer holidays had flown by for Harry. Dumbledore had resumed their daily sessions of Occlumency, wearing Harry down to his very core. With what strength he had in the mornings, Harry helped with a few final tasks on the house. After Remus, Tonks, and Mrs. Weasley had successfully removed Mrs. Black's portrait, everyone helped to peel off the wallpaper in all the main areas of the house. Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, and Remus would shoot steam from their wands, while Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Harry would scrape the wallpaper off. They had then painted the walls, finishing the last room only two days ago.
In addition to housework and Occlumency lessons, Hermione had convinced Ron, Ginny and Harry to read ahead in their classes. Remus and Mrs. Weasley had made a trip one afternoon to Diagon Alley to pick up everyone's school supplies. Every night since, Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny gathered in the drawing room and read until their eyes would no longer stay open. Harry was looking forward to the return to Hogwarts with hopes that he would actually get some rest.
Harry walked along the platform slowly, enjoying the sunshine on his face. He breathed deeply, finding comfort in the fresh air.
"Hey, Harry!"
Harry turned around and saw Neville Longbottom rushing towards him.
"Hi, Neville," Harry said, smiling at his fellow Gryffindor.
Neville stopped in front of Harry, panting slightly. "Hi, Harry. I'm glad I found you. I wanted to thank you," Neville said smiling.
Harry furrowed his eyebrows together. "What for?"
"I got an 'O' in Defense Against the Dark Arts," Neville said proudly. "I would never have managed it without your help."
Harry grinned as he remembered Neville's progress during the secret meetings that Harry and a group of students had held last year to practice Defense Against the Dark Arts. Neville really had come a long way.
"I'm glad I could help," Harry said smiling.
Hermione walked over and smiled at Neville. "Hi, Neville. Did you have a good summer?"
Neville smiled, "Yeah, it was all right. How about you?"
"It was great," Hermione said smiling and turning to Harry. "Ron, Ginny and I have got to get to the prefect's compartment," Hermione said, glancing at her watch. "Why don't you and Neville find a compartment, and we will join you after our meeting."
"Sure," Harry said, moving towards the end of the train. "Let's go, Neville."
Harry pulled his trunk and Hedwig's cage onto the train and looked for an empty compartment. He sighed and shook his head as he walked by a couple of first year students who pointed at him and whispered his name. How he wished for anonymity.
Harry slid open the door of an empty compartment and stowed his trunk and Hedwig's cage. He flopped down on the seat and closed his eyes.
"You don't look that great, Harry," Neville said, sitting down opposite Harry. "Are you feeling all right?"
Harry opened his eyes and smiled faintly. "I'm just tired." He straightened up in his seat, realizing he should try to be social. "Tell me about your summer, Neville."
Neville shrugged. "It was okay. My grandmother took awhile to get over the fact that I broke my dad's wand, but once she saw my OWL results, she rushed out and got me a new one."
Harry nodded, remembering how Neville had broken his wand helping Harry fight the Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries.
"So you did well on your OWLs then?" Harry asked.
Neville shrugged. "I did pretty well. Good for me, anyway. Let's face it, I'm not going to be replacing Hermione any time soon."
"Not that anyone could," Lavender Brown said rolling her eyes as she stood in the doorway. "Isn't that right, Harry?"
Harry looked at Lavender, confused by what she meant.
She smiled at his confused look. "I'm just saying she's always going to be at the top of our class. You two were talking about your OWLs, weren't you?"
"Er...right," Harry said, glancing at Neville and wondering what Lavender wanted.
Lavender rolled her eyes again. "Listen, is it okay if Parvati and I sit with you two? It's either here or with a bunch of first years, and I don't think my nerves can handle that today."
Harry looked at Neville, who shrugged at Harry. Harry had hardly ever spoke to Lavender or Parvati before, and was quite sure that Neville hadn't either. Even though Parvati had been Harry's escort to the Yule Ball in their fourth year, they hadn't exactly had a stimulating conversation. An entire train ride with Parvati and Lavender could be awkward, but he knew he wouldn't want to sit with first years either.
"Sure," Harry said. "You two can sit in here."
Lavender smiled. "Thanks. I'll go rescue Parvati from those whiny little first years."
Harry turned to Neville, expecting to see him in some kind of panic at the prospect of sitting with the girls. However, Neville was still looking out the door that Lavender had just disappeared from with an amused look on his face. He turned to look at Harry and grinned. "This should be interesting. Do those two do anything but giggle when they're together?"
Harry chuckled. "I guess we'll find out."
Lavender and Parvati entered the compartment pulling their trunks behind them.
"Hi, Neville, Harry, " Parvati said smiling.
Harry smiled, "Hi, Parvati."
Neville stood up. "Let me help you with your trunk, Parvati."
Harry stared at Neville curiously. Something seemed different about him.
Lavender cleared her throat. Harry looked at her and saw her looking at him. She nodded her head toward her trunk with her eyebrows raised.
"Oh!" Harry said, getting out of his seat. "I'll get that for you."
The girls sat down as Harry and Neville struggled with their extremely heavy trunks. They eventually got the trunks stowed, and turned to find Lavender and Parvati giggling and whispering quietly to each other.
Neville raised an eyebrow at Harry, shook his head, and sat down opposite the girls. Harry slouched down in the seat beside Neville, closed his eyes, and rubbed his forehead with the heel of his palm. Dumbledore had worked Harry particularly hard the previous day, and Harry's head was still pounding.
Harry felt the train jerk into motion. He opened his eyes and saw Parvati staring at him. She darted her eyes quickly to the window.
Harry pushed himself up straight in his seat and ran his fingers through his hair distractedly.
"So, Neville," Lavender said, "you were saying you did well on your OWLs?"
Neville shrugged. "I did okay. How about you?"
Lavender smiled. "I was quite pleased with my results. Especially my Defense Against the Dark Arts mark. Parvati and I both got 'Outstanding'."
Neville grinned. "I did too, thanks to Harry."
Parvati smiled at Harry. "It's true. Everyone I've talked to that was in the DA did really well."
Harry smiled. "I'm happy to do anything that would drive Umbridge mad."
Lavender's eyes opened wide. "Have you heard what happened to her?"
Neville and Harry shook their heads.
Lavender smiled gleefully and leaned forward. "Supposedly, after she was chased out of Hogwarts, she went running to Fudge. He sent her packing and made sure that no one in the Ministry of Magic hired her. I heard she was seen wandering around Diagon Alley looking for a job."
"I'm just glad she won't be here this year," Harry said, leaning back in his seat. "Any idea who the new teacher is?"
Lavender shook her head. "I haven't heard a thing."
Parvati looked at Harry. "Promise you'll keep teaching us if the new teacher is awful, Harry."
Harry looked at Parvati and frowned. "I would hope that the new teacher is decent, if that's who's giving us battle training."
"Did both of you sign up for training?" Lavender asked.
Neville and Harry nodded.
"We did too," Lavender said. "My mum wasn't too happy about it, but she trusts Dumbledore, so she finally gave in."
"I didn't even think twice about it," Neville said forcefully. "Next time I face Death Eaters, none of them will be getting away."
Harry stared at Neville, surprised by the strength in Neville's voice. Harry realized that Neville was likely thinking of Bellatrix Lestrange, the Death Eater that had put Neville's parents in St. Mungo's Hospital.
Lavender looked at Neville with her eyes wide. "I can't imagine what that was like. You were all so brave."
Neville shrugged. "No braver than you would have been. You're a Gryffindor too."
Lavender studied Neville and smiled. Harry, on the other hand, was staring at Neville with his mouth hanging open. He had never seen Neville sound so sure of himself.
"Well, well, well. Who do we have here?"
Harry groaned as he recognized the drawl that was coming from the doorway. He turned his head to see Draco Malfoy sneering, with Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle flanking him.
"Did you miss me so much that you had to come find me, Malfoy?" Harry snarled.
Draco snorted. "I didn't see your dog at the station, Potter. I was concerned." Draco smirked. "Did something happen to him?"
Harry felt the anger rising inside him. He knew that Draco was referring to Sirius. Draco had obviously found out that Sirius had died.
"I didn't see your dear old dad, Malfoy. Did something happen to him? Oh wait, that's right," Harry said smiling. "He's in Azkaban."
Malfoy's face reddened. "Not for long, Potter," Draco said threateningly, reaching for his wand.
"What's going on here?" a voice asked from the hallway, Harry saw an extremely tall man with dark black hair peering down at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. He had a narrow face with a very sharp jaw line. His thick eyebrows furrowed together as he scowled at Malfoy.
"What's it to you?" Malfoy snarled.
The man took a step toward Malfoy and glared down at him. "You should return to your own compartment."
Draco crossed his arms. "I'm a prefect. I'm just performing my duty."
The man sneered at Malfoy. "Well, Mr. Prefect, your brain is obviously too small to understand your duty, since the prefect meeting started ten minutes ago. I would suggest you attend it."
Draco's face turned scarlet as he stared angrily at the man. Draco pushed Crabbe and Goyle out of his way and marched down the hallway. Crabbe and Goyle shuffled after him.
The man looked into the compartment that Harry, Neville, Lavender, and Parvati were in. "Everything all right in here?"
They all nodded, staring at the stranger.
He smiled formally. "I'm Alexander Brooks. I'm the coordinating officer of the new Hogwarts Security Task Force assigned by the Ministry of Magic. You will see my fellow workers and me around the school this year. For the most part, I hope that you will be able to ignore us. Our job is not to stop you from having good, harmless fun. I will warn you though," he said glancing down the hall behind him. "None of us will put up with snotty little punks."
Harry grinned. He could not wait to tell Ron how Mr. Brooks had cut Malfoy down to size.
"Now, may I ask your names?" Mr. Brooks asked, taking a step into the compartment.
"Parvati Patil," Parvati said, holding out her hand to his. He shook it graciously and continued on.
"Lavender Brown."
"Neville Longbottom."
"Harry Potter."
As Harry had expected, Mr. Brooks's eyes flickered as Harry said his name. Mr. Brooks shook Harry's hand solemnly. "I have heard a lot about you Mr. Potter. I look forward to working with you."
Mr. Brooks bowed to all four students, and then turned and left the compartment, leaving them staring after him.
"What did he mean by 'working with you', Harry?" Neville asked.
Harry shook his head, still staring at the doorway Mr. Brooks had exited. "I have no idea."
Harry turned and saw Neville, Lavender, and Parvati staring at him. He sighed and wished that Hermione, Ron or Ginny were there. They wouldn't be looking at him as though he were some kind of freak.
Parvati seemed to pick up on Harry's discomfort. She turned to Neville. "So what classes are you taking this year, Neville?"
Harry smiled gratefully at Parvati and leaned his head back against his seat. His head was throbbing painfully and he was glad for the opportunity to slip out of the conversation. He closed his eyes and tuned the conversation out. He must have fallen asleep for the next thing he knew, someone was shaking his shoulder.
He blinked his eyes and saw Hermione leaning over him.
"Wake up, Harry," Hermione said smiling at him. "Ron and I would like to sit down."
Harry pushed himself up, realizing that he had stretched over the empty seats beside him.
"Sorry," he said looking around the compartment. He felt his cheeks burn as he noticed Lavender and Parvati smiling at him. How long have I been sleeping?
Ron caught Harry's eye as he sat down beside Parvati. Ron raised his eyebrows and nodded his head toward Lavender and Parvati questioningly. Harry shrugged.
"We've just seen Dumbledore," Hermione said sitting down beside Harry.
"He's here? On the train?" Neville asked.
Ron nodded. "He was at the prefect meeting. He told us about the new procedures and how we're supposed to work with the Task Force."
"That couldn't wait until you got to Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
Hermione studied Harry. "I agree Harry. It's really strange that he came just for that. There must be another reason."
Harry had just noticed that Ginny was not with Ron and Hermione. "Where's Ginny?"
"She's sitting with Dean. We passed his compartment on the way here," Hermione said, looking at Harry.
Harry felt as though a rock had just been dropped in his stomach. He felt Hermione staring at him. He cleared his throat. "How's he doing?"
"Good. We didn't stay long," Hermione said. "Ginny didn't want Ron hovering."
Harry smiled and tried to swallow the lump in his throat. Why should I care where Ginny is, and who she is with?
Harry turned to Ron, determined to change the subject. "Ron, you missed my annual greeting from Malfoy."
Ron rolled his eyes. "What a stupid git! He thought he could skive off the prefect meeting and get away with it. What did he do this time?"
Harry relayed what had happened earlier with Malfoy and Mr. Brooks.
Ron grinned. "About time someone put him in his place."
The train began to slow down, indicating their arrival in Hogsmeade.
Ron stood up and stretched. "I'm so glad only fifth year prefects have to deal with the first years. They're so annoying."
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. "Ronald, you were a first year once too. You could try being a little sympathetic."
"Nah, they're just twitchy little midgets. We were never like that, right Harry?"
Harry smiled. "Sorry mate, I refuse to get involved in one of your squabbles."
Ron put a hand over his chest, pretending to be hurt by Harry's comment.
"I agree with you, Ron," Lavender said. "I can't stand first years."
"Aha! An ally!" Ron said smiling at Lavender.
Harry noticed Hermione pursing her lips as she looked at Lavender. She turned to Ron and said, "We should go back to the prefect compartment for our trunks. The train will be stopping any second now."
Ron shrugged. "Yeah, okay. See you later," Ron said, following Hermione out into the hallway.
Harry sat quietly as he waited for the train to stop. Lavender and Parvati had resumed their whispering and Neville was staring out the window. Even though Harry had slept for a good part of the train ride, it felt as though he had been on the train forever.
He turned to Neville. "Sorry I fell asleep," Harry said quietly. "I didn't mean to leave you on your own with them," Harry continued, nodding his head toward the girls.
Neville glanced at Lavender and Parvati and saw that they were still whispering. "It wasn't too bad, actually. They're okay to talk to." Neville said quietly. He then whispered, "They seem to do that a lot more when you're paying attention."
Harry raised his eyebrows and looked at the girls. They had stopped whispering and were looking at him. Lavender smiled as Parvati blushed and stared at her hands. He looked back at Neville and whispered, "I don't get it."
Neville grinned. "I think you have an admirer."
Harry's face dropped as his head shot back to look at Lavender and Parvati. They had both turned to look out the window. He studied both of them and decided that Neville was mad.
The train rolled to a stop and Harry stood and stretched. He and Neville stepped over to the trunks and pulled down Lavender and Parvati's trunks first.
"You two are such gentlemen!" Lavender said smiling. "Aren't they, Parvati?"
Parvati smiled. "Thanks," she said taking her trunk from Harry.
"No problem," Harry said. He turned and pulled on his own trunk and Hedwig's cage. "Shall we go?"
Parvati nodded and led the way out of the train. The four of them walked together to find an empty carriage. They settled in and were soon joined by Ron and Hermione. They both looked disgruntled.
"What's up with you guys?" Harry asked.
Hermione glanced at Ron and then crossed her arms and glared at the floor. Ron shrugged his shoulders and stared at the ceiling.
The carriage ride to the castle was quiet, the tension between Ron and Hermione filling the air. Harry wondered what his two friends were fighting about now.
The carriages pulled up in front of the castle and came to a stop. Everyone unloaded their trunks silently, and then walked up the stone steps and through the large doors into the Entrance Hall. Harry smiled as he looked around the familiar castle. He was happy to be back.
They stood in the Entrance Hall, waiting for the doors to the Great Hall to be opened. The night outside was cool, and Harry wondered how the first years were enjoying their trip across the lake.
"There you are!" Ginny exclaimed, pulling Dean by the hand toward Harry and his group. Her face was flushed and her eyes were sparkling brilliantly. Harry felt his stomach flip. "The first years have just arrived. They should be letting us in soon."
Harry smiled. Ginny had thrown herself completely into her prefect duties.
"Good!" Ron said, rubbing his stomach. "I'm --"
"Starving!" everyone said in unison.
Ron grinned and shrugged his shoulders.
The doors to the Great Hall swung open, and the crowd of students began to make their way in.
Harry took a few steps. "Mr. Potter!"
Harry turned around to look for the source of the call.
"Mr. Potter!" Professor McGonagall was striding through the crowd toward him.
Harry stepped over to her. "Yes, Professor?"
"The Headmaster would like to see you in his office," Professor McGonagall said in her usual authoritative manner.
"Is everything okay?" Harry asked, trying to stop panic from rising within him.
Professor McGonagall softened her expression. "Yes, Harry. The Headmaster has a few things he'd like to discuss with you. There's no need to worry."
Harry nodded. He then walked over to his friends who were waiting several feet away. "Go on without me. I've got to go see Dumbledore."
Hermione looked at Harry worriedly, "Is something wrong?"
Harry shook his head. "No. I don't think so. I'll see you later."
Harry returned to Professor McGonagall and they walked quickly towards Dumbledore's office. They stopped in front of the stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the headmaster's office.
"Puking Pastilles," Professor McGonagall said, causing the stone gargoyle to jump to the side, revealing the revolving staircase to Dumbledore's office.
Harry couldn't hide his grin. He could not wait to tell Fred and George that Dumbledore had used one of their Skiving Snackboxes's names as his password.
"The Weasley twins live on," Professor McGonagall said under her breath. "I'll leave you here Harry. The headmaster is waiting for you."
Harry nodded and stepped onto the revolving staircase. He arrived at the top and knocked on the large wooden door.