Yo! Thank you to all readers so far!
Harry was seated in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express, munching on various sweets he'd bought off the trolley as he chatted with his friends Neville and Luna. As Prefects, Ron and Hermione were busy patrolling the train. Or at least Hermione was. Ron was probably stuffing his face somewhere. Either way, they would be back soon, he figured.
"You look very handsome without your glasses, Harry," said Luna suddenly, sounding as if she was merely stating a well-known fact.
Unable to help himself, Harry chortled, unobstructed green eyes glittering in contentment. "Thanks, Luna."
"How did you manage to get rid of them anyway?" asked Neville curiously. "I thought Madam Pomfrey said you couldn't because your vision was too bad?"
Harry didn't deny this and nodded in agreement. "She did say that, and honestly, I have no idea how it happened. Voldemort's bloody weird that way."
Though Luna didn't react, Neville stared, his jaw dropping in shock. "What...? What does he have to do with this?" he questioned.
"Well, we've been writing back and forth all summer, and he was the one who fixed my eyesight. Though, to be honest, I have no idea how or why he did it."
"But...but that makes no sense!"
Luna, however, spoke before Harry could. "The Birds weren't worried, were they?" she asked.
"They didn't say a thing about it," Harry said with an incline of his head. "Even though they saw most of the letters-even the ones he actually signed as 'Voldemort'."
"That doesn't make sense either!"
Harry just laughed again. "Probably best not to think about it too much, Nev." After all, hadn't Hermione told him in their first year that wizards lacked all sense of logic?
The compartment door opened just a moment later, revealing Ron and Hermione, who walked in with greetings. For some reason though, Hedwig was perched on Hermione's shoulder, and she too hooted in greeting before she hopped off the girl's shoulder and landed on Harry's lap, nipping his fingers gently.
"Hey there, girl," said Harry, stroking her soft feathers. "Why didn't you come to me directly?" It was strange for her not to have done so.
"I think she just wanted to say 'hi'," said Hermione with a smile, shooting a frown at a red-eared Ron. "She had this for you," she added, holding a roll of parchment out for Harry. "Don't worry! I didn't read it!" And indeed she hadn't, for it was still sealed.
At least someone understood the concept of privacy. "Thanks, Hermione," he replied, giving her a genuine smile, which had Ron glowering. Deciding to ignore his friends and Ron for the time being, Harry unrolled the parchment and began to read.
'Potter,
I must say, it was a surprise seeing you emerging from Gringotts the other day. I thought you were being confined by the fools? Have you finally learned the truth of your birthright? It's about time. Are you still planning on blindly following the old fool like you have been doing thus far? Or are you finally going to begin questioning things?
I do hope you enjoyed your present. Consider it part one of your late birthday gifts, if you will. You will see part two before the night is through. That, I can assure you.
Voldemort'
"...Smug bastard."
Hedwig hooted in agreement, while master and familiar both wondered what this second gift was going to be...
After finally making it to Hogwarts, Harry entered the Great Hall, and after saying goodbye to Luna, made his way over to Gryffindor Table with the others. Once he was seated with his friends and the two Weasleys, he poured himself some water and turned his attention to Hermione, intent on continuing the conversation that had been cut off more than once because of Ron and Ginny's impatience and ignorance.
"I'm still only on the second part of the first one," he was saying. "Thanks for lending it to me by the way. Dudley tore my copy ages ago."
"No problem, Harry. Although, please don't ever take it over there! ...What part are you on?" asked Hermione curiously, simply pleased she at least had one friend who enjoyed reading at times.
"Still in Moria," replied Harry, eyes flickering up to the Staff Table to check if Hagrid had come back from escorting the first years. "They just found Balin's tomb. I completely forgot just how sassy Gandalf i-" he broke off, staring, green eyes wide with shock.
"Harry?"
"...Our new Defence professor..."
"What about him?" Hermione looked now too, along with everyone else within earshot.
Harry didn't have to ask anyone who the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor was, because the man seated next to a deeply scowling Snape was none other than-
"That son of a fuck!"
(^_^') Sorry? Looking forward to reviews! Laterz!
