The Adventure Continued

Chapter 8: Back to Hogwarts We Go!

A/N: The chapters are getting longer! Might this be because I'm getting more reviews? Well, actually…no. It's because there is more to cram in each chapter as the Hogwarts school year begins (because mine hasn't yet). However, reviews are nice ;) Anyways, I already have the next three chapters finished, the only problem that keeps me from posting is that I need to proofread them all again…

Update: 9 Favorite's and 7 Story Alerts. Thank you, IAMSOAP, 5CANDALOUS, FlameTongue, and IamSiriusgrl for the nice reviews. They were deeply appreciated!

Harry took one last look around Number 12 Grimmauld Place before making the journey to Hogwarts. He never particularly liked the Black's home, especially after Sirius died, and although he vowed never to set foot into the haunted atmosphere, something did draw him to it. It was the only reminder to Harry of his Godfather, of his parents, of everything that had happened during and before the war.

The place still looked as grim as it did the first day Harry arrived before his fifth year, except a bit cleaner, as slowly Mrs. Weasley was beginning to remodel it. Harry even expected that when he would be back for Christmas, the place would look entirely different with Mrs. Weasley free to work "secretly" on it. He smiled at this thought. Mrs. Weasley would definitely take the opportunity to make the place much brighter.

"Good-bye, Mrs. Black," Harry announced to the portrait that still hung there behind a curtain.

"YOU GOOD-FOR-NOTHING HALF-BLOOD, LETTING IN YOUR FILTHY MUD-"

Harry quickly shut the front door behind him. "I don't believe I will miss her."

"Harry! Oh, Harry!"

Hermione ran straight for the black-haired man and nearly knocked him off his feet. Ron followed, but not with nearly the same enthusiasm.

"Hey, mate. We came to say farewell and good luck!" Ron approached with a grin.

Harry returned the grin, glad to see his friends one more time. In fact, he had not seen the pair since the staff meeting at Hogwarts. Each time one of them suggested meeting somewhere, Harry would back out, claiming that he had important work to do. In reality, he would sit by the fire, reading about defensive spells that he could teach or his favorite subject of all: Quidditch.

"We will see you for Christmas, won't we, Harry?" asked Hermione.

Harry shook his head. "I have…err…some plans over the holidays. I'll tell you more about them later!" After saying good-bye, Harry jumped on the train. He'd forgotten the mad rush to find compartments and was disappointed to find them all full. The only one he could find was with a brown-haired second year that was reading eagerly and didn't seem to pay attention to him when he entered.

"Hello," another girl walked in. "All the other compartments are full-"

The girl stopped in mid-sentence, causing the other to look up from her book.

"You're Harry Potter!"

Harry looked quite amused. "Err…yeah."

The girl was obviously fighting whether to continue to stare at him or sit down. Finally, she decided to do both. "I'm Alyssa Wood. My cousin, Oliver, has told me so much about you!"

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Oliver? I haven't heard from him in a while…how's he doing?

"Oh, he's pretty well. You know that his Quidditch team almost made it to the Quidditch Cup?" Alyssa questioned eagerly.

Harry nodded, remembering the finals. "Play Quidditch?" he asked of her.

"Oh yes! Oliver has been teaching me since I was three! I'm not much of a keeper, though. I like being a chaser," the girl chattered on enthusiastically.

Harry listened quietly until he noticed many students crowded outside the door, all wanting to have a first look at the "Great Harry Potter." Students were shouting, shoving, and pressing their noises to the glass to see a glimpse. The squeals and shouts were so loud that some of the teachers came down the train to see what was going on. To Harry's misfortune, Ginny was one of them.

A disgusted look graced Harry's presence. "Is Potter here to sign autographs?"

"You're as bad as Malfoy," Harry muttered. Ginny looked astounded, but didn't respond.

"McGonagall is waiting for you at the front of the train," declared Hannah. "She seems a bit irritated. You had better hurry up."

Harry jumped up at the first opportunity to get away from the group of students. Who cares if McGonagall was angry at him? It was better than an angry Weasley and a group of goggling students…

"Harry, I'm making you Head of Gryffindor," McGonagall proclaimed once Harry was seated in the compartment. "You will also be doing the Quidditch Trials for Gryffindor and Hufflepuff as Professor Sprout has never played Quidditch in her life."

Harry grinned happily. He had entirely forgotten about Quidditch at Hogwarts! However his smile faded when he saw Ginny's dark look. This can't be good…

"Romilda will head Ravenclaw, and Ginny, Slytherin. Ginny, you will also be doing Quidditch Trials for Ravenclaw and Slytherin. I will give you directions upon arrival at Hogwarts of where the houses new dorms are. There will be another meeting next Monday at seven to discuss more school procedures. I will see you all at the feast!" Harry, Hannah, and Romilda took this as their cue to leave, but Ginny stood rooted to the spot, looking absolutely furious.

"Professor, why am I being made the Head of Slytherin? My family is considered blood traitors! We are sworn enemies with Slytherin!" Ginny argued once the door was shut on the compartment.

"Ms. Weasley, you are the only full blood Wizard at the moment that can take on the responsibility as a Head. You should be proud! Perhaps, this will be your opportunity to turn this school around. Since you and Harry are friends, this could be the beginning of a bond between Gryffindor and Slytherin…" McGonagall mused, but Ginny's eyes said nothing of the friendship that she had with Harry. The only feelings Ginny could acknowledge for the famous life-destroyer was anger and hatred. "Ms. Weasley, you swore to carry out your duties and I shall expect nothing less of you. Good day!" McGonagall disapparated from the train, something Ginny never thought you could do, but this left Ginny something to ponder. She may have disliked the Potter boy, but now she was beginning to loath him and everything about him…

Outside, Harry was waiting for Ginny. "Look, Gin, I'm sorry…"

"Well, you know what? I don't care!" Ginny shouted. "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be the Head of Slytherin! Just stay away from me!"

"Well, you know what?" Harry shouted back, unable to hold back his anger any longer. "Perhaps you should be Head of Slytherin! You're acting just like one!"

If glares could kill, they would both be dead on the spot. "Just leave me alone, Potter," Ginny growled and went back into the compartment where she slammed the door in his face.

"No, I won't leave you alone," Harry muttered to nothing but the air, contradicting his previous conclusion."I'm going to get to the bottom of this." With a last look at the closed door, he turned back the compartment, fear etched onhis face as he remembered the crowd of goggling students.