Harry Potter was packing his things, throwing clothes into his suitcase. Hedwig was safely in her cage and sleeping on his desk. Harry felt distressed, realizing the chances of having to fight off Voldemort off once and for all, just by going back to Hogwarts. He still couldn't believe that they were opening up again, despite Dumbledore's death. Mcgonagall had insisted that all the 7th years come back to complete their N.E.W.T.'s. She believed that having them all back to finish up school would help in the face of an oncoming war. Death eaters were surrounding and taking over many of the cities in the magical world, though there were a few captured. The ministry had them guarded by the best aurors they had, that were left. The Death Eaters were almost impossible to round up, but the ministry somehow felt encouraged. Harry was planning on going just to finish learning all that he could about being an auror. It was time to take a new plan of action and join the forces. This way he might have a better chance in at least killing Voldemort, even if it meant dying himself. This thought sent very unpleasent shivers down his spine. Honestly, I don't want to die. Harry thought to himself. But if it means saving the people I care about...He didn't even want to think about it.

He grabbed some of his books, tossed them in and put his writing utensils in their box case, carefully setting them ontop of the clothes. Down the stairs he could hear his uncle Vernon complaining about Harry to his wife. A few months back, Harry had his 17th birthday, which meant to the Dursleys that he no longer had to stay with them and could do as he pleased, since he had come of age. Of course, they all were in a hurry to get rid of him but this all caused a great inconvience for them, worse then they had expected. With Harry now of age and moving out, the Dursleys had to, by law, find a place, not just for their own son Dudley, but Harry has well, for them to live. Harry had the choice of where to live and the place he had picked out was going to cost the family an almost unreasonable amount of money. They still had to put 'Duddy kins' in his own living space and pay for his college, which was out in Ireland. Vernon was rather put out and couldn't believe that he still had to provide for Harry. "Why can't he just buy his own flat?" He had shouted to his wife, while at dinner the other night. "It is by law, dear, the guardians of the child--" She had started, but was interupted by her disturbed, purple faced husband. Dudley had simply sneered across the table at Harry as he pretending to observe his brand new key to his new flat. With a good amount of his parents gold still left and gold turned over to him from Sirus's will, and gold coming in from 12 Grimmuld Place where the Order was still meeting, Harry had the chance to provide well for himself after he moved out. He was quite anxious to get out.

As Harry thought of this new beginning, he began walking towards Hedwig's cage in an absentminded sort of way. Suddenly he heard a crack as he accidently stepped on something below him. The crack brought him back to his room and he looked down to find he had almost broken the glass of a picture frame. He picked it up and looked at it, smiling. It was a picture of his two best friends, Ron and Hermione, with Ron kissing her cheek, passionately. Over the course of the last few months, despite the unavoidable war and sadness of losing one of the greatest headmasters, Ron and Hermione had finally worked things over. On the way home from Hogwarts last semester, on the train, Ron had confessed to Harry his feelings. He had told him that what with the war coming, it made him think and realize that he had to let Hermione know how he felt before it was too late. He of course wasn't surprised at all and encouraged his best friend, who was shaking on nerves. Ron had quietly nodded, and then, hastily turned to walk down to the compartment in which Hermione was speaking to Neville and Luna. Harry watched as Ron brought her out into the narrow alley to speak with her. Hermione's face looked confused and a little worried. She saw Harry a few feet away and her face brightend up. Ron looked over his shoulder and gave Harry a look that seemed to say, "Here goes nothing!". While he watched them speak, he enjoyed seeing the look on her face that she tried to restrain the reaction that she had, from appearing. It was full of joy and her face seemed to glow. She squealed and jumped up into Ron's welcoming arms, wrapping her own around his neck. Harry had to laugh when he saw this, because the narrow walls prevented her from doing such and she ended up banging her knee, fell over and brought Ron down with her. They both started laughing and tried to get up. It took awhile but when they corrected themselves, they were holding hands and made their way towards Harry.

"So you two have finally settled things, I see, by the look on Hermione's face!" Harry teased.

Hermione blushed, "Yeah, he finally did something right."

Ron elbowed her and laughed. "I couldn't wait any longer, who knows what the war holds in store for us!" Ron said, his smile faultering.

"Oh, Ron, don't worry about that right now. What will come will come! We're together now, thats all that matters, right Harry"

She looked at him, smiling the biggest smile Harry had ever seen.

"Of course." He replied warmly. "I'm glad you guys are happy."

Hermione rested her head on Ron's shoulder which made his face turn a light shade of pink.

"Let's go back to the compartment, we should be to Hogwarts soon." Ron said.

"Alright, lets go."

And together they squeezed down the alley, arm over arm, to the compartment were Neville and Luna were happily engaged in a conversation about Herbology.

Suddenly Harry was brought back to reality once again by a hard knock on the door. "You ready?" He heard his uncle shout through the door. "Yeah, sure." Harry answered as he walked toward his suitcase, He shut and locked the case and grabbed Hedwig's cage. Then he headed out the door and followed his uncle slowly down the stairs.

After the drive of 25 mintues, Harry and the Dursleys finally arrived at Kings Cross. There waiting were Ron and Hermione who were wrapped up in each other, trying to stay warm as a hoarse wind blew against them. Harry lugged his things over to them and the Dursleys sped away. "It's great to see you again, Harry." Hermione gushed, scooting even closer to Ron. "Yeah, really great." Ron agreed. "Shall we get on the train?" Harry nodded and smiled at his two happy friends. Together they past through the wall that concealed the way to Platform 9 3/4 and climbed aboard the train. They found a compartment with no body in it and settled in.

Down a few compartments, two good-looking, harsh eyed blondes were sitting uncontendly together. The boy's arms were folding tight to his chest and he was mumbling as his sister was speaking in french to a handsome French boy that was transfering to Hogwarts as well. Apparently by the way they were acting, they knew each other quite well and their intentions were of mutual desire. As his sister gabbed on and on, he kicked her shin with the back of his shoe.

She gasped, "Draco, that hurt!" She said through clenched teeth. Draco refused to look at her. "Good." He muttered.

"I can't believe you. You're 17 years old and you're still a brat. Obviously you haven't changed at all since I left." She hissed.

"What do you expect, I only learned from the best." He smirked smartly at her with cool eyes.

"Don't even try that." She glared at him. "Go find your 'cronies' why don't you. They're probably the only ones who love you on this train."

"Whatever." He muttered again.

Just then Pansy Parkinson opened the compartment door. Seeing Draco, her grim face lightend up a little. She motioned him forward. "Draco, I need to speak with you." She announced, a sly smile on her face. At that moment, he took the opprotunity to get away from his sister. "I'm coming Pansy." He answered, taking his things off the shelf above his sister. "Hurry and get of here, I'm tired of you." She said, giving him a look that reflected his own cold glance. As he brought down his suitcase, he accidently on purpose let it knock the back of her head. "Ow! Gosh Draco, you're such a child!" She sheriked, holding the back of her head. He put his nose in the air and answered, "You're rather lucky that French boy can't understand English, you're sounding like a brat yourself." And with that he shut the sliding door.

"Obviously, your sad excuse for a brother doesn't know of the plan." The french boy spoke.

"Yeah, only my father knows. He is one of Voldemort's most loyal Death Eaters. The only one he has spoken of it to is me, for obvious reasons." She replied confidently.

"I'm actually quite glad your letting me in on the secret, Leah." He said, leaning foward, and taking her hand.

"Why wouldn't I?" She smirked as the boy kissed her hand. "You're my best confident, and I need someone to give me energy."

The boy looked up at her with interest.

"You do it quite nicely too." She added.

He seemed to understand and got up and sat next to her. He grasped her knee and leaned close to her.

"When Lord Voldemort finally takes over, I'm sure he'll award you greatly." He whispered in a suave voice.

His hand went lower. She glanced up at him and took a deep breath.

"I'm so glad that my brother failed his job." She whispered back, as he came closer.

Suddenly their lips sealed into an intimate kiss.