A/N: Hi, everyone! Sorry I don't update often. My school has crazy homework, I have a case of writer's block, and I'm lazy. A BIG THANKS to the people who reviewed. I always think that my stories suck, so it's nice when people like what I write. I hope you like this chapter.
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The Hogwarts owls arrived a few weeks before school started. They were addressed to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. Harry just set his on the counter, not wanting to look at it. Harry remembered watching Snape kill Dumbledore and the anger and sadness began to boil in him. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny just held theirs, waiting for Harry.
"Best open it, Harry dear," Mrs. Weasly said softly.
Grudgingly, Harry picked up the envelope and opened it carefully. Besides the regular list of books required, there was a letter that Harry handed to Hermione, who read it aloud.
"Dear Hogwarts Student:
This letter is to inform you that there is a new Headmistress of Hogwarts: Minerva McGonagall, the former Transfiguration professor. Taking her place as Transfiguration professor shall be Professor Andrea Kosky. The other new professors are Professor Bartholomew Baines for Potions and Professor Imelda Lithgow for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lithgow shall also be the new Head of Slytherin and Professor Baines shall be the new Head of Gryffindor. I hope you enjoy the remainder of you vacation.
Cordially,
Minerva McGonagall,
Headmistress of Hogwarts School"
Harry looked at Hermione and wondered aloud, "Why did McGonagall send a letter to inform us who's going to be the new professors? Dumbledore never did that."
"Times are different, Harry," Hermione said gently. "Dumbledore is no longer the Headmaster. McGonagall can do as she pleases."
Harry looked at Hermione hard and swallowed. Dumbledore is no longer the Headmaster… the words danced in his head.
"It's hard to believe he's really gone," Harry said, looking away from everyone, out the window. "He was our best shot against Voldemort."
"No, Harry," said Ginny, lightly putting her hand on his back, "you're the best shot against Voldemort that we have."
Harry looked into her eyes which were shining so brightly. Everyone was looking at him expectantly. For some reason, this seemed to annoy Harry. He stood up abruptly and announced that he was going outside for some air. Taking large strides, Harry walked out the door and walked around the Weasly garden, randomly kicking weeds and muttering to himself irritably.
"I have to go back," Harry declared resolutely to nobody in particular. "I must."
Harry repeated this phrase to himself over and over and over and over again.
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Harry, Hermione, and Ron found a compartment for themselves on the Hogwarts Express. Hermione and Ron put their luggage away and went away to do their Prefect duties. The train started going and Harry crossed his arms and looked out the window. It was a gloomy day; gray and rainy. Everyone at the train station had looked depressed and panicky, as if Voldemort would suddenly jump out and attack. Everyone traveled in large groups, whispering incessantly, not daring to raise their voices.
Dumbledore's death has broken everyone's morale, Harry thought. Nobody is unafraid of what will happen next.
Even though there had been no attacks or strange disappearances over the summer, the mood for all Wizards was still extremely ominous. Voldemort was probably scheming something deadly and everyone's hair was on the back of their necks was standing on end, waiting…
Harry's morbid train of thoughts had been interrupted when the compartment door slid open and Harry looked up to see who it was. He nearly gasped. The most beautiful young woman he had ever seen was looking at him and smiling. She had sleek, dark hair up in a casual bun. She was slightly tan and had naturally flushed coral cheeks. But what captured Harry's attention the most was her eyes. They were hazel and seemed to contain some of the greatest sadness in the world. But at the same time, they were also radiant and full of life.
"Hi," she said, slightly out-of-breath.
Harry could only bashfully smile in reply. Her voice sounded sweetly beautiful to him. It was not high-pitched or deep or annoying in any way. It was very clear and melodious.
"Those seats taken?" she nodded towards the seat across from Harry.
"Uh…my friends are Prefects and they're going around, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind another…"
"Great!" she interrupted. "Everywhere else is full, or at least they say it is."
She put her luggage away and sat directly across from Harry.
"I'm Rachel, by the way. Rachel Dalton," she held out her hand as she spoke.
Harry shook her hand and said, "I'm Harry Potter."
Unlike other people, Rachel did not say "Really!" in surprise or shock or stare at him or go "The Harry Potter? It's such an honor…" She simply grinned and looked out the window like he was any other normal passenger. Harry greatly appreciated and took comfort in this small gesture, treating Harry like a normal person.
"So, you must be a new student," Harry began.
"Yeah," she replied, still looking out the window. "I'm in seventh year."
A/N: I know this paragraph sounds cheesy, but too bad. Harry is quite taken with Rachel, so I have to put the cheesiness in. Harry gazed at his beautiful companion, taking in her attitude and appearance. Rachel was special…she was not gloomy like everyone else. She was like a lovely breeze into a stuffy old house or the most attractive rose. Once again the compartment door slid open, disrupting Harry's smitten thoughts. This time it was Ron and Hermione. They were talking amongst themselves and did not instantly notice Rachel.
"Ron, Hermione," Harry said. The pair stopped discussing and looked at Harry.
"This is Rachel Dalton," said Harry, nodding at Rachel. "She's a new student to Hogwarts."
Ron and Hermione turned to Rachel, who got up and shook Ron and Hermione's hand while they revealed their names. Then they sat down next to Harry.
"I have neighbors who have the last name of Granger," Rachel said.
"Yes, my parents," Hermione replied.
Rachel smiled. "We're neighbors, then."
Hermione nodded with a small smile.
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A/N: Brace yourselves for long, boring paragraphs.
The train ride to Hogwarts was spent with occasional small talk and most of the time was spent staring out the window. When the quartet got to Hogwarts, Rachel split away from the trio, finding a carriage on her own. Harry, Ron, and Hermione found a carriage that they shared with Ginny and Neville Longbottom. Neville was telling everyone how his grandmother almost did not permit him to come to Hogwarts because of Dumbledore's death. Harry barely heard a word of what Neville was saying. He could not get Rachel out of his thoughts. She was stuck in his brain now, like an engraving. Just the thought of her made his heart beat more rapidly and his stomach swoon. Harry barely noticed getting out of the carriage and going to the Great Hall. He searched for Rachel in the crowd with no success. She was nowhere to be seen.
Everyone sat down at their house tables. Harry noticed that numerous seats from every table were empty. He looked at the staff table. McGonagall was sitting in the Headmaster's seat (or Headmistress's seat as the case may be) and Harry observed the new teachers. One of the woman teachers had extremely pale skin and straight light blond hair to her shoulder. She had icy blue eyes and had no sign of life's color in her. Even though she was sitting, the woman looked tall and was very thin. The other woman was the polar opposite. Her hair was black and curly, going down to her back. She had dark skin and vivid amber eyes. She was short and had a heavy bone structure. Harry decided that the blond woman was Imelda Lithgow and the other woman was Andrea Kosky. The man was obviously Bartholomew Baines. He had scruffy gray hair peppered with black and exceptionally bushy black eyebrows. His fat lips protruded from his face and his cheeks were large and round. His eyes and nose were small for his face. To Harry, he looked like some kind of sallow insect.
McGonagall tapped on her glass, motioning for everyone in the Great Hall to be quiet. The (awfully small group of) First Years had been looking everywhere with awe, but also apprehensively. They directed their attention to the Headmistress.
"Let the Sorting begin," McGonagall said sternly and quietly.
The Sorting Hat had already been placed on its stool and began to burst into song. However, Harry didn't hear a thing the Hat was singing because Rachel had suddenly whispered in his ear "Hiya, Harry," and sat in the vacant seat next to him. Harry felt a thrill when Rachel whispered into his ear. It made him lose his breath.
The Sorting Hat finished its song and everyone clapped politely. Hagrid was in charge of the Sorting this year. He looked nervous, for his hands shook while he read the Sorting List. The trio waved and he smiled at them weakly.
"That's Hagrid," Harry said softly to Rachel, not daring to look into her eyes.
"I know Hagrid," Rachel replied. "We've met before."
"You have?"
No answer. Rachel had probably nodded, but since Harry was turned away, he didn't see. When the Sorting had finished, McGonagall stood up to make a speech.
"Oh, hurry up," Ron groaned impatiently. "I'm starving over here."
"Hello, everybody," McGonagall began. "As you know from the letter you received, I am the new Headmistress. You also know from my letter that Professor Kosky,"
The black-haired woman stood up and curtsied.
"Professor Lithgow,"
The blond woman nodded her head.
"and Professor Baines are the new professors at our school."
A light smattering of applause for the new teachers occurred.
"You may have wondered why I sent out that letter," the Headmistress continued, "because Dumbledore never did so. However, I felt it was necessary to tell the students and the parents what changes have occurred before school began. In times like these, I believe parents are more anxious than ever to discover exactly who is teaching their children."
Uneasy silence.
McGonagall went on, "On a more cheerful note, I'd like to announce the arrival of a new Gryffindor in seventh year: Rachel Dalton."
Rachel stood up and applause followed, though none from the Slytherin table. She sat back down again and the Headmistress continued with her speech. Harry did not pay attention; it was just a speech about the rules, rules that Harry knew well.
"And now, I'm sure you are all hungry. Let the feast begin," McGonagall finally announced.
"Finally, thank you," Ron said, clutching his stomach.
As always, a feast appeared before the students' eyes and everyone started to eat.
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Once everyone was so full they could barely walk, the Headmistress announced it was time to retire. Ron and Hermione went off to show the First Years where to go and Harry got to spend some time with Rachel as they went to the Gryffindor Tower.
"I'm glad you got into Gryffindor," Harry said as they walked up the first staircase.
"Me too," Rachel smiled. "But I wasn't surprised. I asked the Hat to put me into Gryffindor, so…"
"You asked the Hat?" Harry suddenly stopped and questioned her.
"Yes," Rachel said, continuing to walk. "Don't look so surprised, Harry. The Hat sorts you mostly according to choices."
Harry ran up the second staircase after her.
"I know…it's just that I asked the Hat to put me in Gryffindor as well," Harry said hesitantly.
"It doesn't surprise me," Rachel replied.
More small talk continued and when Harry finally inside the Gryffindor Tower ("Hobgoblin" was the password), he said good night to Rachel and went up the boy's tower to the seventh year dormitory. When he changed and got into bed, Harry did not fall asleep right away. For a whole two minutes, Harry thought about Rachel, hoping he had many classes with her.
A/N: I didn't really like this chapter, but I hope you did. Now, REVIEW.
