A/N: Thanks to Jasperite my first reviewer!
A rather painful sounding crash heralded the arrival of Harry Potter in the Leaky Cauldron's fireplace. He searched the pub for any sign of his friends while trying to brush the soot off his clothes. Seemingly out of nowhere, something small and soft landed in his side. Recognizing the bushy, brown curls belonging to his best friend Hermione Granger, he wrapped his arms around her returning the hug.
"Harry! It's so good to finally see you. How was your summer? Of course, your summer was probably awful, but how are you holding up? Did you finish all of you essays? Ron hasn't so he is finishing it tonight, but you have right? Really, as Head Boy you should have done them weeks ago. Oh! Congratulations on making Head Boy? Aren't you exci—"
"Hermione, maybe if you let go of him he could answer your questions." Clapping Harry warmly on the back, Harry's other best friend muttered, "Turning into a miniature version of my Mum, that one is." Unfortunately for him, the subject of Ron Weasley's comment overheard the remark and rewarded him with a smack on arm.
"Honestly Ron, we haven't seen Harry since term let out. If the best you can do is crack jokes then maybe you should let me do the talking"
"But Herms, you were doing all the talking. The poor boy couldn't get a word in edgewise"
The poor boy in question had now disentangled himself from Hermione's grasp and watched the pair argue with a bemused expression on his face. Deciding the three of them had stood there long enough he put an end to dispute.
"Um guys… I'm gonna put my things upstairs and then we can go the Diagon Alley and get our shopping done. Ok?"
Soon after Harry's things had been settled in the room Harry was to share with Ron that night, the three teens entered the magical shopping district.
"Do you boys want to go on ahead to the Quidditch supply store? There are several new volumes out that I wanted to look at and I know how bored you lot get around books. "
"Actually," Harry responded, "we should probably stay together. With everything going on right now wandering about alone probably isn't the safest bet. Besides, I think Ron wanted the new Cannons strategy book"
"Good call mate, I almost forget. How bout we walk around for bit and get the rest of our shopping done. We can hit the bookstore after lunch and that way we don't have to drag about a bunch of heavy parcels."
Several hours later, the three friends sat laughing at a booth in front of Florean Fortesque's. They had already purchased new robes, quills, potions supplies, and parchment and had lingered in Quality Quidditch Supplies to look over the new merchandise. After walking over to the bookstore, Hermione made a beeline for a rack of out-of-print spell books, Ron disappeared into the sports section and Harry was left to wander around on his own.
Coming upon a row of books on magical geneology, he pulled one of the shelf and settled in a nearby armchair to look through it. The book contained a family tree and brief history for over sixty British magical families. Looking up the families of his friends and classmates unearthed a wealth of information. Harry looked forward to telling Lavender about a great-great aunt she had who was famous for charming herself hideous and then frightening the children in her village. His air of good humor quickly vanished when came across the Potter page. House Potter, much like the House of Black, was slowly dying. Harry had always know that he was an orphan, but looking at the words written on the yellowed page it sunk in that he was the last of his line. After him, there would be no more Potters in the wizarding world. Like his godfather before him, Harry's death would mark the end of a once great House.
Harry knew the reality of his situation. Odds were against him living to see twenty. A huge task had been laid at his feet and the fate of the world literally depended on his success. After his fifth year, Harry's vision of victory had changed. He didn't expect to survive his final encounter with the Dark Lord. As long as the world was rid of Voldemort's evil, Harry's mission was complete. He hadn't told anyone how he felt, he didn't want them to think he was giving up. Harry would never give up hope of surviving, but he stopped making career plans all the same.
"There you are! Are you ready to leave? Here, I picked up your books as well." Hermione slid several books off the top of the tower in her arms and began walking towards the front of the store. "Well? Aren't you coming?"
"Right. Hold on a minute" Sliding the book back on it's shelf, he caught up to her and followed her to the register.
After purchasing their books the three teens walked back to the Leaky Cauldron to set down the many packages they had accumulated over the course of the day. After an early dinner, they went up to Harry and Ron's room to talk. The boy's lively discussion on the upcoming Quidditch season was interspersed with comments from Hermione about early revision for the N.E.W.T.s and the duties she and Harry you share as Heads. Harry has declined Ron's offer to co-captain the Quidditch team by saying Ron would be brilliant on his own, and he didn't want to be bogged down with captain and Head boy responsibilities. Although he did an admirable job at hiding it, Ron's pleasure at not having to share the honor with the Boy-Who-Lived was visible.
"Well boys, since we'll have to be up early tomorrow to make the Express, I'm heading to bed. I would suggest you do the same." Bidding he two best friends goodnight, she slipped out the door to her own room.
A/N: If you like, or don't like how the story is going leave me a review and let me know your feelings!