Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. All I own is my original characters and settings that will come up later is the story.

I am rewriting/adding parts of this story to improve it and get rid of inconsistencies. If you see any let me know. Tell me if it's improved if you've read it before. And if you're a 'virgin', so to speak, just drop a line and tell me how it's going.

I'm going to make a calendar and post it on my website to explain the time duration of all this. There are days in between some of the chapters that explain Harry's changing behavior. As time goes by he's adjusting to his environment. I'll post a note when it's up. It might take some time.

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A hand rested on his arm. Harry jumped and the hand disappeared. Ginny bit her lip. "Are you okay Harry?"

He stood and ran his hands through his hair. "Yeah. Yeah I'm fine." The platform was congested. "Wow. I didn't notice all these people arriving." He backed toward the far side of the platform.

"Harry? What's wrong?" Ginny gabbed his arm.

He pushed her off. "I'm fine. I'm fine!" He backed into the corner and wrapped his fist around the cross.

Breathe Harry. Don't go psycho on me now.

Harry smiled. Sorry Cali. You sound sleepy.

It's 5:30 in the bloody morning. Yes. I was in fact asleep.

Sorry Cali.

No problem. I have to take a shower anyway. My hair is all hairspray filled.

I didn't think this thing was supposed to let us talk.

It wasn't. Where are you?

The train station.

So probably not a lot of magic around there, huh?

There are a lot of magical people here.

They could be feeding it. I don't know. My brain isn't working yet.

I'll take the necklace off.

No. Don't bother Harry. I'll just tone it down while I'm in the shower. So while I'm all calm you can feed off of that. Then I'm going to sleep, so try to keep calm.

Bye Cali.

Kisses.

"What's wrong Potter? Scared of the little children?" Malfoy smirked.

"Nope. Just your hair. It's a fire hazard. It should come with a warning." He stepped around him. Okay. That was kind of mean. Do I really want to spend the next year battling Malfoy over who can come up with the best comebacks? "Do you want to get on the train Ginny?"

"Mom wanted to see you before we left Harry." Ginny walked next to him.

"Okay. Where is she? Oh, I see her." He ran over and threw his arms around her. "Hello Mrs. Weasley."

She curled her arms around him and patted his back. She's nervous. "Harry! How are you feeling?"

He pulled back. Must make sure she doesn't worry about me. She has enough to think about. "I'm fine. I'm feeling much better. I've become a bit wary of enclosed spaces but it's not to bad considering before." Oops. I don't think that's going to help her worry any less.

She brushed the hair off his face. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"Yes. They fixed me up just fine. I going to have to watch my speech patterns until they're back to normal, but that's just from spending too much time with the people there. We had so much fun." He couldn't stop the smile that filled his face. "We'd better get on the train. It's going to be leaving soon." He hugged her again. "Thanks for caring." Her eyes were tearing up. Time to give her an out. "Is this your trunk Ginny?"

She tucked her hair behind her ear. "Yeah."

He picked it up and climbed the steps. He squeezed past the people lining the hall and finally made it to the end of the compartment. He set the trunk down and scratched Hedwig's head. Ginny closed the compartment door. "Ron was upset when Mom said you couldn't stay with us at all this summer."

Harry sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I couldn't. It was--stuff." He lowered himself to the seat.

Ginny pulled her lower lip into her mouth and sat next to him. "What happened to you this summer? You said you were claustrophobic." She shifted a little closer. "What did the Dursely's do to you?"

Great. She probably thinks I was locked up again. She'll never believe I'm fine if she thinks I was trapped in my room all summer. Harry stood and opened the window. The number of students left on the platform was minimal. "I wasn't at the Dursely's. I left after a week or so."

Ginny clapped her hand over her mouth. "What? Why? Dumbledore said you had to go back."

Harry crossed his arms over his chest. At this rate I won't be okay for long. "I did go back. Things were bad. I left. It's no big deal."

Ginny grabbed his arm and turned him toward her. "No big deal? You could have been killed."

Harry ripped his arm away. "I could be killed anywhere." Oh crap. I'm going to make her cry and she's going to think I have a death wish. He pushed her hair behind her ear. "Ginny please. Just drop this."

She turned away. Maybe that was a little too personal. "You aren't going to tell me where you were?"

Harry groaned. "I can't. I'm sorry. It would put them in danger. But it's okay. I was okay. I had fun. There were people my own age and lots of muggle fun."

Ginny twisted a strand of hair around her finger. "Okay."

Was that just too easy? "Okay?"

"Yes. I don't want to put anyone in danger. And you deserve to have fun for once." She dropped her arm to her side. "We'd better open the door so people can find somewhere to sit." She pushed the door open.

"Thank goodness. Is there room in here?" Neville dragged his trunk through the door.

Ginny smiled and sat where she'd been before. "Hi Neville. Yeah, it's just Harry and I right now."

He pushed his trunk onto the rack. "Thanks. There are so many first years running around. It's almost too crowded to do anything."

Harry pulled a book out of his bag and dropped into the seat next to Ginny. "Yeah."

Neville plopped down across from him. "What are you reading Harry?"

He turned the cover toward Neville. "It's Shakespeare. Hamlet."

"What's it about?"

How did Cali explain it to me? "Hamlet pretends to be crazy. He's horrible to the girl he likes. He kills a man by accident. Then he kills the man who killed his father and his mother later on." He smiled. I don't think I made any sense. "I've been told it's the parallel of my life, but I think she was joking. It was hard to tell sometimes. She warned me about the end. I'm not supposed to read it while by myself. I think Hamlet dies. It is the tragedy of Hamlet after all."

"Um, all right." Neville glanced at Ginny who shrugged.

They don't understand. Will anyone here be able to understand anything? Harry rubbed his temples. The pressure was building in his head again.

Ginny rested her hand on his arm. "Are you okay Harry?"

Why can't anyone believe that I'm okay? "I guess that depends on whether you're going to keep asking me that."

She jerked her hand back and slid across the seat toward the door. "Sorry."

He sighed. "Don't be. I'm being a prick. Stupid migraines." He pulled the purple makeup case out of his bag. Still not a funny joke Cali. He pulled a pill bottle out. He dumped four different colored pills in his mouth and downed half his bottle of water.

"What are those?" Neville lifted the bottle out of his hand.

He's a pureblood. He couldn't possibly understand the label. Don't yank the bottle back. That's suspicious. He gently took the bottle back and slipped it into the case. He dumped it back into his bag. It's all good. "They're just painkillers."

Why did Neville look so nervous? He picked at his fingers. "They aren't magical are they?"

Maybe the magical equivalent is dangerous and you can't buy them for yourself. "No. Totally muggle. I bought them when we went out for ice cream last week since I figured everything in the wizarding world would be too strong." That should make him feel better. "I've been getting wicked headaches since they reversed the spell, which is a long story I don't want to get into, and they think it screwed something up in my head. They have to find out what could have gone wrong so they can fix it."

Ginny chewed on her fingernail. "That's sounds bad. Why don't you sound worried."

Harry smiled. "She'll figure it out. She figured out what spell was on me, so I don't doubt that she can fix this. Plus, it gives her an excuse to visit."

"Who?" Neville grabbed Trevor as he jumped out of his cage.

He wrapped his hand around the cross. "My savior and the girl that introduced me to the wonders of the muggle world.

"Harry!" Hermione rushed into the compartment.

Harry dropped his book and flung his arms around her. "Hey Hermy. I missed you."

She pulled back, a huge smile on her face. "Me too. Ron was worried about you."

He released her and dropped back into the seat. Isn't everyone? "So I heard."

She sat next to him. "How was you summer? Were the Dursely's all right to you?"

"They were fine. My summer was fine. Everything's fine." He picked up the book.

She frowned at him and took the book out of his hand. "You're reading Hamlet? That's a dark play."

And I'm not allowed to read a dark play? Are you afraid I'll freak out again? "Have you read it?"

She handed it back. "Yes."

Harry slid closer, bouncing up and down. "Hamlet dies, doesn't he? I just know he does."

Hermione laughed. "Well yes. He dies at the end."

Harry clapped his hands. "I knew it! He dies miserable doesn't he? She thinks I'm going to die miserable. Something about a brain aneurysm and swift death. How does Hamlet die?" I'll get Cali. I'll figure out the connections faster than she said I could.

Hermione glanced toward Ginny and Neville. "Um--"

"Harry!" Ron flew in.

Normal time. Harry wrapped him in a hug. "Hey. How was you summer?"

He fell onto the seat next to Neville. "Dreadfully boring. I wish you could have come to visit. Bloody hell, an entire summer with the Dursely's."

Harry closed his eyes and sighed. I spent ten entire years with the Dursely's and no one was worried about me then. "Week."

Ron broke off whatever he was saying. "What?"

Harry set the book on the seat. This was not going to end well. "An entire week. I only spent a week at the Dursely's."

"You--what?" He jumped up. And here we have annoyed Ron. "Where were you the rest of the summer? What did you do?"

Let's ignore the where part and see if he forgets about it. "I studied, I made enough potions to last a lifetime, and I learned how to rebel like a proper teenager."

"How? What? Where?"

Harry chewed on his lip. Damn. There goes that idea. Well I can't say where but the name shouldn't hurt. "The Academy. They thought I'd be better off there. I probably would have killed myself if I'd have stayed at the Dursely's." Uh oh. That didn't help my case.

Hermione laid her hand on his arm. "What happened?"

And we have worrying. Damn. I was trying to avoid this. "It's not important. It was a spell. It's been reversed and it's over. I'm tired of talking about it. Sorry." He leaned against the wall next to the window as the train moved out of the station.

You okay?

This is harder than I thought. I can't tell them what really happened to me this summer or where I was. I just told them the name though. Is that okay?

The name shouldn't make any difference. Now remember Harry. They are your friends. You can tell them. Well you can't tell them most of what you learned because you're not supposed to know it, but you can tell them about the spell and such. They will stand by you.

How can you know that?

Because I've only known you for a few months and I would stand by you. I did stand by you. I'm standing by you right now. A spell Voldemort implanted in your head doesn't change who you are.

You sound like an after school special.

Yes, and let's remember that a few months ago you didn't even know what an after school special was. You've grown as a person. You won't repeat the mistakes of last year. I believe it. You just have to believe it too. Now would you stop talking to yourself and let me go back to sleep?

Sorry. I don't mean to be such a bloody pain in the ass.

Don't be. This is why you have the necklace. And I see your native Englishness is coming back. giggles Night Harry.

Night.

"Harry, can you hear me?" Hermione shook him.

"Sorry." He let go of the necklace.

"What is that? A cross?" She laid it in the palm of her hand. "It's beautiful. Where did you get it?"

He pulled back so it fell off her hand. Couldn't risk her accidentally connecting to Cali. "It was a going away present."

She looked into his eyes. "You didn't want to come back, did you?"

"Of course he wanted to come back! All his friends are here. This is his home." Ron's hands were curled into fists.

Harry walked over and wrapped his arm around Ron's shoulders. "Of course I wanted to come back. What would I do without my best friend?"

"Yeah." He smiled. "Yeah. We should probably patrol the cars. There seem to be a lot of unruly first years running around."

He smacked Ron on the back. "Okay. Have fun. I'll see you later."

Ron left. Hermione walked by. "Liar." The door shut.

Ginny curled her feet next to her on the seat. "She's right you know. You sure sounded like you wanted to stay wherever you were."

He dropped into the seat and pulled his feet up. "That's because I did want to stay. I wasn't given a choice in the matter. Snape came and I had to leave."

Ginny laughed. "They sent Snape to get you? Have they lost their minds?"

Harry shrugged. He did try everything he knew to help me. He gave up his privacy. I know more about him then most other people. "He's not so bad."

Ginny snorted then choked. "You're serious? I thought you hated him?"

"I did. I mean, I do. I just don't think he's as bad as I thought anymore."

Ginny shook her head. "Whatever you say."

Harry yawned, leaned back, and closed his eyes.

Ginny foot connected with his ribs. "Harry, the cart's here. Do you want anything?" Innocent grin my ass.

Harry squinted at the cart. Boxes of Bertie Botts and chocolate frogs were piled high. "No. I'm five by five."

Ginny giggled. "Um--You're what?"

Harry sighed. "I'm fine. I don't want anything."

Neville bought a bottle of pumpkin juice and the cart moved on.

Harry took the CD player out of his bag and slipped the earphones over his head. I just need to escape for a little while. He crossed his fingers and hit play. The first song started. Yes! He leaned back, closed his eyes, and listened to the first six songs of the RENT soundtrack before Ginny kicked his leg. "Ow. What was that for?" Since when was kicking him the answer to everything? And since when did Ginny kick him without even blushing?

Ginny smiled before breaking down into laughter. Even Neville was smiling. "We're going to be there soon. I thought you might want to change."

Harry stood and stretched his arms over his head. "Are you going to blush like crazy if I change my shirt in here?"

Ginny laughed. "Probably."

"Good." Harry pulled off his shirt and stuffed it in his bag. He took his school shirt out of his trunk and pulled it on. He glanced at her. "You aren't blushing. I'm almost disappointed."

Ginny fanned at her face melodramatically. "I'm just trying to figure out where all the muscles came from."

Harry laughed. "Vault, parallel bars, high bar, and floor."

Neville's eyes jumped between the two of them. "What?"

Harry pulled on his robe. "Cali and Michael were teaching me gymnastics."

Ginny stared at him. "I see." She sighed. "No, actually I don't see at all."

Harry ruffled her hair. "I'll show you sometime."

The train pulled to a stop. Harry picked up Hedwig's cage in one hand and draped his bag over his shoulder. He started up the path. The castle wasn't even visible from the station.

Someone pressed against his side. "It all seems quite exciting." Cali smirked as she smoothed the front of her Hogwarts robes.

Harry pulled her out of the stream of students heading for the carriages. "How did you get here? Wait. Stupid question. Let's try how much trouble are you going to get into for this one?"

Cali giggled. "None if I can find a few rare ingredients before I head home."

Harry shook his head. "How are you going to do that? Ask Uncle dearest?"

Cali bumped her hip against his. "I believe the point was to NOT get in trouble."

He inclined his head. "Point taken."

"Who's this Harry?" Ginny walked up with Neville, Ron, and Hermione following her.

Cali laughed. "No one special." She grimaced. "And I'm a no one who's about to get busted."

Snape grabbed her arm. "What do you think you are doing here?" What was Snape doing at the station? Making sure he hadn't throw himself off the train?

She put on her brightest smile. "Hello Severus. It is wonderful to see you again too."

He shook her arm. "You are supposed to be--"

She sighed and dropped the smile. "In another country and not following the boy who wouldn't pierce his tongue."

Harry pushed his hair out of his face. "But why would I want a piece of metal sticking through my tongue. I don't understand."

Snape threw a glare his way. "Mr. Potter be silent." He yanked Cali forward. "I do not know how you got here but you will return home immediately."

Cali folded her arms over her chest. "Fine." She took a step forward and disappeared.

Hermione gasped. "Where did she go?"

"All of you get into a carriage now." He pointed to the line of carriages and stalked off.

Harry hopped into the nearest carriage. The others climbed in behind him.

Ron turned to stare out the window. "Who was that?"

Harry sighed. "That was Cali."

Ron turned back. "Cali who?"

How do you explain Cali? "Just the girl I spent the summer with."

Neville whistled. "That's your new girlfriend?"

"No! No. Just--she's just a friend." Oh man. If Snape heard them he'd be dead. Harry smiled.

Ginny stopped scanning the platform. "A friend that knows Snape and can apparate."

"That wasn't apparating. There was no sound." Hermione hardly blinked as she looked at Harry.

"Then what was it? And how does she know Snape?" Ron plopped back into the seat as the carriage moved forward.

Harry shrugged. I can't be expected to know everything about her. These will just be things that I don't know about her. He leaned his head against the window. As the carriage turned around a corner the castle came into view. It looked dark and foreboding.

"Harry?" Ginny rested her hand on Harry's arm.

The pressure was back. His temples ached from the force of the blood pounding through the vessels and capillaries. "It's not safe here. Why are they putting me in the line of fire?"

Ginny glanced back. Hermione and Ron were laughing with Neville. "You really didn't want to come back."

Harry rubbed his temples. "I was safe there. I felt safe there. I had friends and I even liked sitting through potions class."

She rubbed his arm. "I'm sorry Harry."

"This isn't your fault Ginny. I got too used to being free to make my own choices and go where I wanted. I should have known it couldn't last."

Ginny squeezed his hand. "Harry?"

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Just watch me, okay?"

She kept one eye on Ron. "What?"

He dropped his arm. The last thing I need is Ron thinking I'm trying to put the moves on his sister. "I think I'm going to do something stupid. I feel it."

She dropped his hand as Ron glanced over. "Why?"

"I can do things now. I learned things this summer." Why did I tell her that? I'm not supposed to tell anyone that. He rubbed his forehead. "I just want to get through this feast and see if my laptop will work with all the magic." I need to talk to Cali. And I need another dose. My head is throbbing.

Ginny's head whipped toward him. "Laptop? What's a laptop?"

Harry smiled. "Come to my room tonight and you'll see."

She bit her lip but her lips still curled up at the corners. "My my Harry. That sounds quite suspicious."

He leaned in. "Well, that's because one of the things I learned this summer was the great art of flirting." She giggled again, pursing her lips when Ron looked over and narrowed his eyes.

The carriage stopped. Harry took Hedwig's cage and jumped out. He held out his hand and helped Ginny down. They walked up the steps. Hedwig's cage was put down with the luggage and the other animals. The Great Hall was bright as usual. The teachers at the head table were whispering to each other and glancing at him. Snape stared straight ahead, his arms crossed over his chest.

Ginny sat and pulled Harry down next to her. "Snape does not look happy. I wonder what's going on?"

The students filled the tables and the first years were filed down the center aisle. McGonagall pulled out the scroll and started calling names. There are so many first years. As she continued the group in the center dwindled.

"Recorn, Anna." A thin girl with a long blonde braid sat on the stool. The hat descended on her head. "Ravenclaw." She jumped down amid the applause and joined her table.

"Richardson, Lila." A small girl climbed onto the stool. She was at least a foot shorter than all the other first years. McGonagall held the hat so it didn't drop past her ears. Snape's jaw was clenched as he looked down at her.

"Slytherin." Lila hopped off the stool and walked over to the far table.

"Fuck." Harry dug his fingernails into his palms.

Ginny unclenched his fist. Ron and Hermione were sitting across the table. Their eyes were still locked on the first years. Ron was no doubt complaining that he was hungry. "Harry?"

He leaned closer. "They are going to crucify her. Why is she here?"

Ginny glanced around. "What? Who?"

"Lila. The first year that was just sorted into Slytherin. She's only six years old." Lila was laughing with another first year sitting next to her.

"Do you know her?" Ginny looked over at the Slytherin table. "If she's six then she shouldn't be able to control magic enough to be here. Plus, you know first years are all eleven. You must be wrong."

Harry shook his head. "That's Cali's little sister. That's probably why she risked coming here at all. She wouldn't come just to see me for no reason. She was trying to make sure Lila was safe. That's why Snape's so mad. He doesn't want her here."

Ginny glanced at Snape who was glaring at anyone that dared make eye contact with him. "Why? What could he have against a little girl?"

Lila looked like she was having a ball as another first year joined Slytherin. "He doesn't want to put her in danger."

Dumbledore stood. "Welcome everyone to another year at Hogwarts. This is a dangerous time we are living in and I expect everyone to take care. Do not wander the grounds alone. Everyone should be careful and watch out for one another. And as always the Forbidden Forest is in fact forbidden. Let us enjoy the feast." The plates filled with food and everyone dug in.

"Are you okay Harry?" Ron already had his mouth stuffed with potatoes.

Harry sighed and filled his plate. "Yeah." He looked at Ginny as Ron turned back to his food. "I guess they know what they're doing. I hope." Ginny turned to her food. Harry slipped the bottle out of his bag and shook five pills into his hand. He slipped the bottle back into the bag and tossed the pills into his mouth. He washed them down with his pumpkin juice and started eating as the pain receded.

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