Standard disclaimer: I don't own it, wish I did…and I humbly bow to the genius of the author that created this world and characters.


Once again, there was the last minute rush to the train. Hurrying through the barricade to Platform 9 ¾, they barely made it in time. Harry never thought he would be so glad to see the Hogwart's Express again. Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way along the aisle until they found a cabin where Neville and Luna were already sitting.

Harry opened the door. "Mind if we sit?"

Neville smiled. "Come on in guys. We saved seats for you. I was starting to wonder if you were going to make it."

Harry took a seat across from Luna. Ron and Hermione left their luggage and pets and headed off to the prefect meeting. Neville was sitting next to Luna staring out of the window. His toad, Trevor, was trying to climb out of his grasp, as usual. 'He must have grown 5 or 6 inches over the summer' Harry thought. Luna was, once again, reading her copy of this week's Quibbler upside down. He was lucky to have them as friends, he thought. They had both fought along side him at the Ministry and never backed down.

Luna looked dreamily at him. "You know Harry, we are lucky to have you, too."

"Umm…yeah," Harry said. He could have sworn he had not said that aloud. "How was your summer, Luna?"

"It was good. I helped out at father's newspaper. We were going to go to Sweden to look for a herd of Crumple-Horned Snorkack's; but with the changes at the Ministry, father got a lead that Fudge's army of Heliopaths was on the move. He felt that story was much more important given the current times and all."

"I see," Harry said (although he really didn't), "did he get any photos?"

"No, they must still have connections inside the ministry because he was always just missing them."

Harry nodded his head as if what she was saying was completely reasonable. Neville was looking at Luna with a mixture of confusion and amazement. "How was your summer Neville?"

"Different," Neville started, "Gram couldn't stop telling people about me going with you to the Ministry. I guess since now everyone knows you were telling the truth, she wanted everyone to know we were friends. Got a bit annoying after awhile, actually."

By the time Ron, Hermione and Ginny stepped into the cabin Harry and Neville were mindlessly listening to Luna telling stories of her father's pursuit of Heliopaths all over England over the summer. Neville took this opportunity to ask Luna to walk with him for a bit to stretch. They left the cabin promising to return soon. Ginny sat down next to Harry with Ron and Hermione sitting across.

"How was the meeting?" Harry asked.

Ron sighed and leaned back in his seat. "Same old thing, really. We are supposed to help the first years after the feast find their way to the common rooms…new lists of rules and banned items…the first week's schedule of rounds…so boring. I am starving, has the food trolley come by yet?"

"No, not yet."

"Really, Ron," Hermione said. "You should take these meetings more seriously. There is the Head Boy placement to consider next year, you know."

Ginny stretched. "Oh come on Hermione. Even you have to admit they go a bit over the top over some of these meetings."

Hermione looked scandalized at both of them. "Honestly—"

She looked over at Harry who was sitting quietly staring out of the window apparently in deep thought, slowly twisting his ring around his finger. "Harry, I have been meaning to ask you, where ever did you get that ring?"

Harry snapped his attention back. "Ummm…oh this ring? From Sirius's vault. It was in there with my name on it in a box. Apparently, he was holding it for my parents for safekeeping and was supposed to give it to me. Nice, isn't it?"

Hermione looked closely at it. "Yes, it looks very old. I wonder where it came from."

"No idea," Harry said, "there was a note from Sirius with it explaining that my father wanted to tell him the story of it, but he never got the chance."

Ginny took Harry's hand and held it to see the ring. Harry felt his hand grow warm and start to tingle. Ginny looked a little surprised and let go of it. "It really is quite nice, Harry." She stood up abruptly. "Well, I told Dean I would meet him, I better go. See you all later." And with that, she quickly left the room.

Ron and Hermione picked up their argument over the seriousness of prefect duties and how important the Head Boy or Head Girl position could be to the rest of your life. After a few minutes even Harry couldn't stand it anymore. "Listen guys, I am going to stretch my legs for a minute and maybe see what happened to Neville and Luna. I'll be right back." Ron and Hermione nodded and continued their argument without missing a beat. Harry just shook his head and walked out of the door.

Harry walked down the aisle looking for Neville, Luna, or anyone that wasn't arguing at this point. Unfortunately, all he saw was a tall, thin boy with blonde hair coming towards him. Oh well-Harry thought-at least he is alone, it shouldn't be as bad. Harry stood straight and looked him in the eye. "Malfoy."

Draco stopped and looked at him. "Potter, " he merely shrugged and walked passed.

Harry stared after him. He looked almost afraid for just a second—surely not. Harry just walked on past.

He was starting to think some of the girls on this train had gone crazy. He kept seeing faces peeking through doors and smiling; laughing groups of girls he didn't even know were walking past and saying hello. He had finally decided to give up and go back to his cabin when a door slid open and a small hand came out and grabbed his arm. Harry jumped in surprise and pulled out his wand.

"Harry! It's just me!" said Cho.

Harry blanched. "Oh, Cho. I am so sorry, I guess you startled me. I am starting to think everyone on this train has gone completely mental." He put his wand away. "What can I do for you?"

"I just thought we could talk a minute. Can you come in for a bit? There isn't anyone else here to disturb us."

Harry looked a little nervous about going in there alone with her, but he figured—why not?—He walked in and waited for her to sit down and then sat next to her.

"I'm glad we got a chance to talk at Diagon Alley the other day, Harry. There is a lot I wanted to tell you this summer but I just couldn't find the words." She put her hand over his. "I've thought about you."

Harry's mouth went dry. Was she doing what he thought she was doing? He had been so attracted to her for so long. When they finally did try to make something happen between them after Cedric's death it was just too painful of a reminder. But here she was, holding his hand---looking at him---like that—"I thought about you too. I understood that you needed your space though."

Cho moved closer. "I did Harry, and I appreciate it. I was just so mixed up about it all. I mean, I liked Cedric—but you—I mean, if only you had asked me to the Yule Ball earlier," she sighed and looked up at him.

Harry cleared his throat. She was just—so close—he could see the light little freckles across her nose—"umm…I wanted to, I just couldn't work up the nerve. When I did, it was too late."

"And after Cedric had asked me, I felt bad telling him I had changed my mind because I really would have rather gone with you. Then with what happened at the last challenge, I just felt so guilty—"

"I know," Harry said, "I did too. It was my fault that he was with me. I told him we should share the cup. If only I had just taken it myself— I understand why you blame me." He looked into her eyes and saw the tears start to brim. Oh no, she's going to cry again…

"You don't understand, Harry," Cho sobbed quietly. "When the two of you reappeared and I began to realize that someone was dead I was scared for Cedric—but I was happy it wasn't you—and I felt so guilty for thinking that. I couldn't stand thinking that way; I'm such a horrible person."

Harry couldn't believe it. He didn't know what to do next. So he did the only thing he could. He kissed her. He felt her melt into him and her arm slide up over his chest and around his neck. His head was spinning and he felt his face grow hot. This certainly wasn't like that quick little snog under the mistletoe. He opened his eyes and looked over her shoulder just in time to see Ginny looking through the window to the cabin. He broke away from Cho just as Ginny looked down, turned and walked away.

"Ummm….Cho…I'm sorry. I don't know what made me do that," Harry blushed.

Cho smiled. "That's OK Harry, it was nice. I'm glad you did."

Harry smiled down at her. "I have to get back; we can talk again, soon?"

"I would really like that, Harry," Cho smiled back at him.

Harry stepped back into his cabin with his head still reeling and his lips still tingling. He could almost taste the light peppermint of the gum she had been chewing…

"Oy! Harry! Are you listening to me?" Ron said.

Harry slowly turned his head towards Ron. "Huh? You were talking to me? Sorry, what's up mate?"

Hermione looked up at him, "That's what we were asking you, Harry. Ginny, Neville and Luna came back without you and we were starting to get worried you were gone so long. Ginny went to look for you. She just came back and all she said was that she had found you and that you looked fine to her, and then she left."

"Is everything OK?" Ron asked. "What happened to you?"

Harry gave them an absent smile. "Yeah, everything is fine. We will be there in a few minutes, better get our robes on."


Everyone was gathered in the Great Hall for the Welcoming Feast. The Sorting Hat once again sang its song promoting unity between houses even though they were separated. A group of incredibly small, scared looking 11-year olds were patiently sorted one by one into their respective houses.

Ron looked at Harry, "I don't ever remember being that small."

Harry laughed. "Me either, mate. Hard to believe isn't it?

Everyone quieted as Dumbledore stood to speak again. He once again reminded everyone that the Dark Forest was strictly forbidden. He started to go through Filch's list of forbidden items, but finally gave up and just classified anything purchased at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes to be off limits.

Harry whispered to Ron, "I can't wait to tell Fred and George. They will think that they have finally made the big time now that they have made Filch's list!"

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued. "Finally, I would like to extend a hearty welcome to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for this year. She comes to us after several years of serving as an Auror and I am sure has much in knowledge and experience to share with you. Please welcome Ms. Devyn Cochrann to the staff. Good luck, Professor Cochrann!"

Devyn Cochrann stood up to generous applause; and a few wolf whistles from somewhere in the crowd. She was tall and willowy with long soft curls of red hair cascading down her back. Shining ice blue eyes stared out from a pale, almost luminescent face. It was her eyes that Harry found disturbing. They seemed to be boring into him and he couldn't seem to shake her gaze away.

"Bloody hell," Ron muttered. "Where did they find her? Finally a DADA professor that is more than easy on the eyes, right mate?"

Hermione just rolled her eyes. "Weren't you listening? She is an Auror. I'll bet she takes a much more practical approach than Umbridge did. Hopefully there will be loads to learn this year. If it wasn't for Harry teaching with the DA last year we would all be even further behind. Don't you think so Harry? Harry---"

Harry shook his gaze away from Professor Cochrann. "Did you say something to me, Hermione?"

Hermione sighed and shook her head, "You are just as bad as the rest of them."

Dumbledore once again stood at the podium and wished everyone goodnight. Students began filing out of the Great Hall. Hermione and Ron were busy gathering the first years together to escort them to the Gryffindor common room.

Harry saw Cho staring at him from the Ravenclaw table. He turned to Ron and said, "I will catch up with you guys later, there is something I need to do. What's the password?"

"Grindylow," Ron whispered to him. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing, I will catch you up later." Harry took off towards the Ravenclaw table. As Harry walked through the Great Hall he could hear whispers from the tables as he passed—oh my god, that's Harry Potter—wow, what happened to him over the summer?—he is such a dish, I could just eat him up---Harry thought it must be true, the girls in this school had gone mental over the summer break. Cho whispered something to her girlfriends and walked towards Harry.

"Hi, Cho," Harry smiled. "Walk with you to your common room?"

"Sure, Harry. That would be lovely."

Harry heard the buzzing going around them as he walked Cho out of the Great Hall. Oh well, he thought, at least they can gossip about me for doing something 'normal' for a change. He dropped Cho off in front of her common room door with a promise to get together and talk soon. As he started back to the Gryffindor common room he realized how late it must have gotten. The halls were nearly empty already. Harry was running up one of the endless flights of stairs when it happened—the steps under him rumbled and the entire staircase lurched to the side.

"Damn moving staircases," he muttered. "Now I am going to have to go the long way around."

After what seemed like an eternity, the staircase finally stopped moving. It opened out onto a dark hallway that Harry had never been down before. 'I wonder where this leads to--' Harry took a few tentative steps down the hall. The walls were lined with portraits of the school founders that silently watched as he walked by. 'I am sure I have never seen this part of the castle before---but it seems oddly familiar in a way.' Harry noticed a slight buzzing around his head and a strange tingling feeling in his arm. He looked down at the ring he was wearing and was surprised to see a faint glow radiating from the green-stoned eye of the phoenix. 'Curious' Harry thought to himself..' I wonder where this ring came from and what it has to do with this place..' He stared at the wall in front of him as a door slowly appeared. There was a large symbol of a phoenix on the front of it. As he touched the door, his ring glowed softly and it swung silently open.

Harry cautiously stepped inside, certain that at any minute he would be swooped upon by Filch or his cat Mrs. Norris. He was pretty sure that this room would be on the "forbidden places" list. He walked around the large room looking in amazement. There were shelves of books from the floor to the ceiling. 'Wow, Hermione would go nuts in here...' Harry started looking through books full of old magic spells and history. 'I have to bring Hermione back here, I bet she can find something to use against Voldemort in these.' He walked to the back of the room and saw a large silver and gold shield hanging on the wall. There was a large crest in the center flanked on either side by a griffin and a phoenix. He reached up to touch it when he felt the air around him crackling with magical energy. A bright, white light suddenly engulfed him and he felt himself falling forward; landing face first into a large green meadow.

Harry jumped up and quickly drew his wand looking nervously around him. He spotted a tall man walking slowly towards him; his black robes billowing behind him in the breeze. A golden phoenix with green eyes flew silently by his side. "We have been waiting for you." he said.

"Where am I, how did I get here? And, who," Harry asked, "are you?"

"You can lower your wand; you are in no danger here."

Harry looked at him suspiciously but lowered his wand. "Why do you say you were waiting for me? What is this place?"

"The time must be coming near. I created this place for the time when our champion would be needed. Everything you need to know can be found in the library I placed here. Only you can rid the world of this blackness that threatens to overtake it."

"Who are you?" Harry asked again.

"Don't you know?" The wizard smiled at him. "I have confidence in you and am certain that we have chosen wisely. Only the strongest, bravest and truest of heart would find his way here. I have given you all I can to help you—be strong and remember that love and trust will always conquer all."

Harry stood transfixed as the wizard reached towards him with his wand. The last thing he saw was a shower of golden sparks and then there was nothing.