I do...*yawn*...do not own Harry Potter.
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The next morning was hectic, as usual. Just as they had all finally piled into the car, Ginny remembered that she had forgotten to bring her pygmy puff. Then Ron remembered that he hadn't fed Errol, so he ran off to do that. Then Ginny got back to the car and asked where Ron had got to, and then gone to fetch him. Then Ron came back, asking why Ginny hadn't come back yet.
Recognizing the potential for a never-ending cycle, Mr. Weasley had told Ron to get in the car. Then the senior Weasley rand off to find Ginny, using the point me spell to find her quickly.
Eventually, they all were together in the car and ready to go. Mr. Weasley stepped on the gas and sped off to King's Cross station.
There were only ten minutes to spare once they'd reached the station, so Mrs. Weasley shrunk all of their trunks and gave them to Ron, so that he could bring them back to the normal size once they'd gotten on the train.
They entered platform nine and three quarters out of breath from running all the way from the car and through the station.
Harry didn't even notice the stares of absolutely everyone as he signed a quick goodbye to the elder Weasleys and the twins, and then scrambled onto the train with Ron and Ginny.
The train started moving just as Harry, Ron, and Ginny found Hermione sitting in a compartment with Neville and Luna.
Harry led the way into the compartment. It was one of the larger ones, and would fit him with Ron and Ginny easily along with the three already there.
"Nice of you to join us." Hermione commented acerbically as they plopped into the seats and Ron brought all their trunks back to their original sizes.
"Sorry…you know what it is like trying to leave the Burrow." Harry signed, grinning. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Neville and Luna staring at his quickly gesturing hands.
"Yes, I suppose I do." Hermione replied, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Anyway, hi."
"Yeah, hello." Ron greeted everyone as levitated the trunks up into the holding racks.
"Hey." Neville said, still eying Harry. Even Luna had noticed Harry's strange gestures and hadn't drifted back into her dream world.
"Hello. What were you just doing, Harry?" Luna asked.
"Hermione, could you translate?" Harry asked, facing Hermione to make sure she got his message clearly. She nodded.
"It's called sign language. It's how I speak now." Hermione dutifully translated Harry's words.
"So, wait. Harry, you're actually talking…in a way?" Neville asked. Harry nodded.
"Myself, Harry, and most of the Weasleys have learned it. It is a language that muggles invented for the deaf." Hermione clarified.
"Hermione wants to teach the entire Gryffindor house how to use it." Harry signed, grinning. This time Ron translated.
"Well, I'll learn it. I want to be able to talk to you, Harry." Neville said.
"I will too. Maybe the other Ravenclaws will be interested." Luna commented. She was gazing out the window.
"How have you been doing, Harry? There is so much in the papers about you. Is it true you can't use your magic anymore?" Neville asked. No one spoke.
Harry raised his eyebrow and drew his wand. Realizing that Ron had forgotten to stow Hedwig in her cage up on the trunk rack, Harry levitated his owl's cage and slid it onto the rack.
Neville and Luna stared.
"Silent magic…" Neville said. Even though the sixth years got a start in silent magic, very few ever accomplished it. Harry was probably the only student in Hogwarts who could perform silent magic to such a degree that it was practical.
"How did you do it, Harry? I don't think you could do it last semester." Luna said, the Ravenclaw in her showing itself.
"I couldn't. I studied occlumency techniques as well, and they helped a lot." Ginny took her turn to translate, and then added, "He doesn't even need to think the incantation. He just focuses on what he wants to do and it happens."
"So you could transfigure anything into nearly anything?" Luna questioned. There were so many transfiguration spells that it was impossible to remember all of them.
"I guess." Harry signed, and Hermione once again translated.
"Could you show us?" Neville asked.
Harry grabbed a book beside Hermione and aimed his wand at it. It took a few seconds for him to get his focus sharp enough, but he transfigured it into a small trunk.
"Harry…everyone is expecting you to be less than a first year. Shock waves are going to go through Hogwarts when everyone sees you doing this type of thing." Neville said. Hermione simply looked put out that her book had been changed into something that didn't contain words.
Harry changed the little trunk back and handed the book to Hermione.
"I was reading the book you gave me, Hermione. It was really interesting."
"I'm glad. Could I read it after you've finished?" Hermione replied. Harry nodded.
The next few hours were spent in conversation.
Neville brought up the traditional topic: who was going to teach Defense against the Dark Arts?
None of them had heard anything, not even a rumor. Harry personally hoped that McGonagall would bring Remus back, but seeing as how Remus had left of his own volition, Harry doubted the probability that he would come back. Moody was a possibility, but he now had a little bit of a reputation from fourth year when he had been impersonated by a death eater. The best guess Harry could make was that the teacher would be someone from the Order of the Phoenix. Specifically who, though, he couldn't guess.
Then they heard the snack trolley coming, and Harry's stomach rumbled. Ron fished a few knuts out of his pocket and counted them, trying to figure out how many sweets he could buy. Neville, Ginny, and Harry followed his example, drawing from their pockets their knuts. Hermione just buried her nose in her book, and Luna turned to stare dreamily out the window.
The trolley came around, pushed by the same little witch that had been doing the task since Harry could remember.
"Would you like anything, dearies?"
"I'll have a chocolate frog." Ron said, handing the witch two knuts.
"Pumpkin Pastie, please." Ginny requested, also handing a few knuts over. The witch gave the treats out, and then Neville stepped up with Harry right behind him.
"I'll have a chocolate frog, Bertie Bot's every-flavor-beans, and a licorice wand, please." Neville said. He handed over seven knuts, and received his ordered sweets. He had turned back into the compartment as Harry stepped forward.
Then Harry realized that he needed a translator! The witch stared at him for a second.
"Do you want something, dear?" she asked. Harry had always liked her because she never seemed to notice that he was "The-Boy-Who-Lived" or "The Chosen One."
Thankfully Ginny recognized his predicament and stepped up next to him.
"What do you want, Harry?"
"Three chocolate frogs, two pumpkin pasties, and a licorice wand, thanks." Harry signed, relieved. He still felt the usual twinge of guilt for having so much more money than the Weasleys, but it was overpowered by his thankfulness for Ginny.
Ginny put in the large order for him, and he produced a sickle, enough to cover his order and a little more. Considering the money, Harry handed it to the witch and then signed another message to Ginny.
"Add in another chocolate frog."
Harry got his heap of sweets and carried it back to his seat. His friends were already munching around him, and Hermione was eyeing his mountain of treats with disdain.
Harry picked out a chocolate frog and put it in Ginny's lap. She looked up at him.
"Take it. I bought it for you."
"I can't Harry, you bought it…"
"I bought it for you." Harry repeated. Ginny smiled and took the enchanted chocolate creation.
"I'll save it for later, okay?" she said, and Harry nodded, smiling.
The rest of the ride Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione taught Luna and Neville the basics of sign language, and had them finger-spelling before they all had to get changed into their Hogwarts robes.
Ten minutes after they had changed the train slowed, and they knew that they had arrived in Hogsmeade station. It was only then the Harry realized that the Slytherins hadn't been by to taunt him, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
But he knew that the peace wouldn't last for long.
As soon as they joined the throng of students leaving the train, people started to stop in their tracks and watch Harry pass. He tried as hard as he could to ignore the stares, but it was very hard to ignore the fact that the entire train was goggling at him.
He heard a few whispered comments.
"I'm surprised he even came for another year…"
"Why'd he come back? I thought he couldn't do magic anymore…"
"Boy-who-Squibbed…that was a good one."
Harry firmed his lips and tried to keep his face impassive as he passed through the younger students. Every student in the corridor had stopped to watch him. His friends were right behind him, glaring at the younger students. They were seventh years, after all. They presented an imposing picture to the younger years.
Ginny came up right beside Harry and took his hand in hers. He relaxed a little, and gave her a grateful smile.
After what seemed an eternity, they made it out of the train and entered the crowded station platform. Harry relaxed even more at the familiar sights and sounds. It was dark and Harry could remain anonymous to anyone who wasn't close.
"Firs' years, to me! Firs' years, this way!" Hagrid called, his lantern illuminating his huge form. Harry made a note to visit the half-giant as soon as he got the chance.
Harry and his friends made their way over to the carriages and found an empty one. They all managed to squeeze in, and then the thestral started up the road to Hogwarts.
Harry didn't talk with the others on the ride up. The darkness that cloaked his face and made him unrecognizable also cloaked his hands. His friends wouldn't be able to see what he was signing.
In a few minutes the thestral stopped outside the gates of Hogwarts. They all piled out of the cramped carriage and started up the walk to the castle, Harry's friends still talking. As they got closer to the castle light spilled over the road, and Harry began to take part in the conversation again. Ginny gave him another smile and brushed her hand against his. He smiled back.
Finally they entered the Entrance Hall, and Harry paused to take in the castle that he considered home. On the walls, all the familiar portraits waved and chatted amongst themselves, above him the staircases moved, and the hall was crowded with familiar faces.
Harry grinned. He was back, and anyone who thought that they could ruin his last year at Hogwarts was wrong.
He walked into the Great Hall with his friends at sat at the end of the Gryffindor Table closest to the doors, where the other seventh and sixth years had already gathered. Luna said her goodbyes and headed off to join the other Ravenclaws.
They continued to talk about meaningless little things, like who would captain the Slytherin quidditch team this year now that Marcus Flint had graduated, until Headmistress McGonagall stood up and took her place behind the podium.
"Attention please!" She called, not even using the sonorous charm. Her stern tone grabbed the attention of everyone present.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. As usual we will sort the first years before having our meal, so please wait just a bit longer."
Then Professor Flitwick came into the Great Hall, leading a procession of firsties taller than himself. He carried the sorting hat and a small stool, which he placed up besides McGonagall's podium.
The sorting hat sang its song, and the sorting then proceeded as usual, with each house applauding every time a first year was sorted into their house.
"Now that we have welcomed the newest students to Hogwarts, you may all eat." McGonagall announced, and she clapped her hands once. The usual succulent feast appeared on the tables, and McGonagall took her seat at the head table again.
Harry tapped Ron on the shoulder to take his attention away from the bowl of mashed potatoes.
"Ask the others whether they've heard anything about who the new D-A-D-A teacher will be."
"Hey, mates. Harry wants to know if there's any news about who the new DADA teacher will be." Ron announced.
"I haven't heard anything. I don't think anyone knows, and the seat at the head table is empty." Dean replied, looking at Harry.
"Maybe the teacher is late, like the Moody impersonator was in fourth year." Seamus commented.
"I doubt it. They usually come on the train with everyone else." Harry signed, frowning. Ron translated.
"So, what are you doing Harry? Ron apparently understands you, but I don't think anyone else does." Seamus said. His tone wasn't mean, just curious.
"Could you explain, Ron? I haven't even served myself yet." Ron grumbled, but complied and explained the concept of sign language to their house mates. Harry, meanwhile, tuned out of the conversation and focused on the piles of food in front of him. Licking his lips, he gave himself heaping portions of all his favorites and dug in.
"You know that everyone in here is throwing glances at you, right Harry?" Dean said as he cast his own gaze around the room. Harry nodded and continued eating. It was easier to ignore the glances if he had something else to focus on.
"I don't know how you stand it, Harry. If people stared at me this much I'd go out of my mind." Seamus commented.
"I sort of had no choice but to get used to it. Even you and Dean used to stare, remember?" Harry signed quickly, making sure that Ron caught it to translate, and then he resumed eating.
"Yeah, I guess so. It was sort of hard not to. You know, hearing about Harry Potter, vanquisher of You-Know-Who, and then meeting him and not knowing what to expect. It is a little hard to correlate you with the Harry Potter in stories." Lavender said, joining the conversation.
"Well I didn't even know about magic until Hagrid came to bring me to Hogwarts. And even then I didn't know that I was famous until I reached Diagon Alley." Harry decided to eat faster. Maybe he could finish that big pile of potatoes before he had to say something again…or maybe not.
"Really? You must have been in shock!" Neville said. Harry nodded.
"Yeah, I never realized that little, scrawny, me was famous. You have no idea…but second, fourth, and fifth years have been the worst. What with being the heir of Slytherin, then getting all that publicity during the tournament, and then having the whole wizarding world think I was a loony liar…it was tough."
"Yeah, sorry about all that. I know that I didn't help." Seamus said, and Dean nodded in agreement.
"No, you didn't, but we're past that now. What do you think about this…should I start up the DA again?"
"No offense Harry, but…can you? I mean, can you still use magic?" Seamus asked tentatively. Harry smiled confidently and gestured to Neville, inviting the other boy to explain. Neville heartily did, describing Harry's display of silent magic on the train. Harry finally got enough time to finish his dinner.
"What about communication, Harry?" Dean asked.
"At first Ron, Hermione, or Ginny will have to translate for me, like Ron is now. But hopefully enough people will want to learn sign language that I won't need a translator anymore."
"Well, I'd come to the meetings. The DADA teacher still hasn't shown up, and if he's this late then I hate to think of what his classes will be like." Dean said.
"I'll post a notice in the tower tomorrow then, after the school has seen proof that I can still use magic. I think they will need a little convincing after all the lies in the Prophet."
A.N.
I had a roadtrip, so I got two chapters written and posted! So, please review in return!
