Harry Potter and the Death Eaters Snitch
Harry Potter was sitting in his dark and gloomy room in Number 4 Private drive waiting for his summer holidays to end. He could not wait until he got back to his last year at Hogwarts and see Ron and Hermione again although it would not be the same without Professor Dumbledore. A miserable feeling came to Harry as he remembered his dear departed Headmaster and trying to think of something else more pleasant, Dudley rudely interrupted. Dudley, being as mean as usual, banged on his door so violently that pieces of wood were coming off. "Time to cook my breakfast" he snorted and rudely laughed as he sat down on the couch to watch yet another day of television.
Harry remembering his eventful sixth year of Hogwarts started to cook the bacon. He thought that he would not have to return to Hogwarts after what had happened to his headmaster but was wrong. The new minister of magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, had ordered all Hogwarts students to return to school after the holidays. The school of course had been checked all over for any dangerous substance left by the death eaters and removed. There was now a lot of security around Hogwarts given that Voldemort was on the loose and every Auror in the world was out there searching for Voldemort, Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape and the other death eaters.
Many owls delivered pieces of mail for Harry. One was a note from Mrs Weasley wishing him a good summer followed by a hand knitted (probably done by magic) green jumper and some mince pies and birthday cake. Harry had nearly forgotten that today was his 17th birthday. He was of age at last and could use magic out of school though he realised he would probably get in trouble if he lighted Dudley's bottom. He received birthday cards from Ron, Hermione, Hagrid and the rest of the Weasley's. The last piece of mail was from the school, a list of school equipment list and a letter. Harry opened the letter:
Dear Mr Potter,
I am pleased to inform you that you will be spending your last year of school at Hogwarts. The new head master is Will Maclean and I am sure that he is capable and well suited for this job. I know that you require security and inform you that the security has doubled around Hogwarts, although there will be no dementors, and you will be perfectly safe. I ask you to revise your school subjects and make sure you do not get into any sort of trouble.
Have a great summer break!
Yours Sincerely,
Rufus Scrimgeour
Minister of Magic
Harry laughed at this last letter. They would make him go to Hogwarts anyway whether he liked it or not with another silly man taking on the Headmaster's place. Harry hoped the new headmaster did not turn out as nasty as Professor Umbridge did. That would sure make his year.
Harry boarded the 9 and ¾ train with the rest of the students. He managed to get a ride from his uncle considering that Harry promised not to use any magic on any of them. The students, as usual, were staring at him. Harry realised he was going to have another tough year of students being afraid of him. Harry had to sit next to Ginny, Neville and Luna for Ron and Hermione were in the prefect's carriages. Harry felt a twinge of jealously as he realised his best friends were head boy and girl. He emptied these thoughts as he realised he would be Gryffindor Quiddich Captain. Thank goodness he did not have Draco Malfoy to ruin his year. Things were not going to be so bad after all.
Harry sat next to Ron and Hermione in the Great Hall for the start-of-term-feast. After what seemed a year of waiting through the sorting of first-year-students, and the sorting hat going through hisnew verse, Harry looked up as the new headmaster stood up to say a few words.
"I welcome you all to another year of Hogwarts. I am Professor Maclean, your new headmaster for this school. I assure you all that you will have a safe and academic successful year." Harry looked at the small balding grey man above him. He was obviously sent from the ministry and had no real idea about Lord Voldemort or the death eaters and thought that they weren't really real and only a fragment of Harry's imagination.
Harry saw right through this man and without actually talking to him, knew what his attitude would be like. He wondered how long he would last at his position and who would be next as headmaster. Looking towards a tall brown-haired man, the headmaster said, "On my right we have our new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dimondale. He promises to stay at least one year." Everybody laughed. After a pause of silence Professor Maclean added "Tuck in" and the four house tables filled with the most scrumptious food.
The classes commenced the very next day. Harry, wanting to become an Auror, continued with the classes he needed to become one. Defence against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Potions, Charms and Transfiguration were all that Harry was taking this year. Every class pushed him hard to achieve his best.
The Quiddich team tryouts were the very next day. Surprisingly not many people seemed to want to try out for his team. Harry guessed that people were taking him seriously when he said he only wanted players who could play Quiddich not a bunch of fans wanting autographs. He realised that his final team was consisted of all the players he had last year. 'Oh well' he thought, at least he knew for sure there was not anybody else better for the jobs. The Quiddich team consisted of the chasers – Ginny Weasley, Demelza Robins and Dean Thomas, the beaters - Jimmy Peakes and Ritchie Coote, Ron as the keeper and Harry remained seeker and captain as usual. This year he was defiantly going to have to work them hard to have a reasonable score at the end of the year. He didn't want to be slaughtered and Ron really needed a mind wash if he going to save any goals at all.
Harry noticed a new girl in his classes. He accidentally bumped into her when he was walking out of charms class. Harry said "Sorry ah…." "Sophie" replied the girl in a rather Australian accent. "You must be Harry Potter." Harry laughed. Her silky brown hair and her sparkly blue eyes caught his eye. He fumbled out words "are you new or something" to her and she replied "yeah I'm from Australia, my father moved here this year because of his job". "Couldn't you tell from my tanned face and the amount of warm clothing I have got on, though my tan is going to fade in this country" asked Sophie.Harry smiled. "Well I've got to go to divination now G'd-bye mate" Sophie laughed and headed in the opposite direction. Harry was still in a daze. She was so pretty and he realized he could not endanger her by falling in love with her. Voldemort might use her against him. He had lost his parents, Cedric, Sirius and now Dumbledore. Harry knew he was in trouble but if he stayed at the school everything would probably turn out just fine. Or not.
Hermione started helping Harry on his Potions homework when she realised that he was daydreaming. "Harry, she snarled, you really should concentrate on this homework or you will get into detention. Ron's already completed half of it and you haven't even started. "Sorry, Harry replied, I will start." Harry's scar suddenly seared in pain. He glanced out of the window. He thought he saw a tint of gold outside the window. His pain stopped. Ron noticed Harry and asked "your scar, are you alright". "Fine, perfectly fine" Harry replied but was thinking whether he was really fine and whether he would really be safe here at Hogwarts. His past few years were full of adventure, misery and danger and wondered what on earth would happen to him this year. At least he was not having any of his weird dreams again.