Chapter Eleven – Beginnings

Harry was allowed to leave the hospital wing the next morning, to find a subdued quiet greeted him around him around, and found that a lot of the students had left for the summer holidays, one week early, being fetched by parents in fear, this included Malfoy, Crabb and Goyle, once the attack of Voldamort on the castle, had made it's way to the front page of the Daily Prophet. This meant that there only about thirty or forty students left in the entire castle, many unable to get home without the train or like Ron and Herimone, refusing to leave without Harry, which meant that most of the students left were Gryffindors.

This also now meant that there were now more adults at the castle then students as the Ministry of Magic was now combing the place, searching the clues. Harry told them his account of what happened, knowing it wouldn't be much help, and decided that he wanted to spent a quiet last few days with Ron and Herimone, but considering that they were now confined to the Great Hall, to eat and sleep there, Harry had to find something to do, anything, rather then tell the story of the attack over and over again to a group of Gryffindor first years. Then he had a brainwave. No powers required. What he needed to calm him down was a game of Quidditch, but they couldn't go outside, so Harry, Ron and Herimone managed to persuade Professor McGonagall to let them play in the Great Hall, and organised a five day contest, between the students and even a few adults too. Harry main problem was not to crash into the walls of the Great Hall with the Firebolt, of which he was more used to flying on the Quidditch pitch. In the confine space of the Great Hall, it did cause a few difficulties as the other Gryffindors used this against him. Harry didn't mind, he appreciated the friendly rivalry between his friends, it temporarily took his mind off having to go back to the Dursleys, which after the attack on the castle, he knew that Dumbledore would allow him to go nowhere else.

Looking back, Harry could honestly say that it was the best five days of the sixth year at Hogwarts, which had been some what of a roller coaster, of him being in and out of the hospital wing mainly. He also hadn't realised just how much he had missed Quidditch over the year, and that he was back to normal, powerless, he finally realised just how much of a burden they were. To have powers is incredibly thrilling, but you can loose your friends as well as the things you love, and Harry's life in Hogwarts was Quidditch, through and through, and he had really missed it. But having the castle under sedge by Lord Voldamort certainly made the last few days interesting as well as horrifying even if it did prove Harry right about the wizard.

But it was all to soon before it had to pack his trunk along with everyone else to catch the Hogwarts Express back to kings cross station. He had one won one match in the Quidditch, but it didn't seem to matter to Harry who had had is mind on other matters such as his Uncle Kevin and his cousin, Sam, and what the Ministry of Magic would do with her, is she was ever caught. Could Harry trust her anymore? Harry had thought about this long and hard, and to tell you the truth, he didn't know. She was a vampire, but not working for Voldamort, but Harry also knew that vampires had their own dark side too. Herimone had managed to research that they were missionaries, working for the side that produces the most benefit, good or evil, the truest form of selflessness.

'Sometimes worse then evil!' Harry thought in the carriage pulled by the Thestrals, the huge wing horses with white shining eyes, dragonish faces and necks, and skeletal black bodies. He never really got used those creatures, still making him uncomfortable, and neither Ron or Herimone still not understanding this, which slightly annoyed Harry. But this was only a minor thing, thinking of anything else except going to the Dursleys, as he loaded his trunk and Hedwig's cage onto the Hogwarts Express.

As to the train home, it was a very unusual journey, indeed. Because of the lack of students now left at the school, less then forty, it meant that there was enough compartments on the train, for one each, but there were the adults too, including the Weasley family. But Harry, Ron and Herimone had one compartment to themselves and there was a strange quiet on the train as it pasted through the country of Scotland and the north of England. The silence on the train was for two reasons, the lack of students and surviving an attack of on of the most powerful and dangerous wizard, had still left its mark of shock on the students and the adults. Harry sat there, daydreaming, looking out the window, thinking about his cousin, Sam, and where she was, what she was doing, and how he never knew, who or what she really was, during all the time he spent with her. Harry told Ron this what he spotting him, staring at him.

"You never knew!" Ron asked, confirming what he thought as Harry shook his head. "I bet it's really cool to be a vampire!"

"Ron!" Herimone squealed, disapproving. "Vampires kill people for food!"

"Herimone! Their immortal! I would love to have the chance to live forever!" Ron replied, but as Ron and Herimone were just about to argue over this, what Ron had just said, struck a cord with Harry.

Immortality!

"Wait!" Harry finally spoke, silencing the argument.

"What!" Ron and Herimone said together. Harry now had their undivided attention.

"Immortality!" Harry breathed, it all finally seemed to make sense.

"What about it!" Ron asked, he seemed frustrated.

"The one this that Voldamort desires more then anything is immortality!" Harry smiled, as Ron flinched as the name was said but he ignored it, "and it is only Sam who has achieve this, completely by chance, by the way!"

"But wouldn't that put her in danger, now that You-Know-Who know that she is immortal?" Herimone asked.

Harry was brought rapidly back to earth, as she said this, and almost panicked.

"Harry, she's highly experienced, she can handle him, but we have to hope that she can control her dangerous vampire instincts, better then You-Know-Who can!" She signed, "Harry, don't worry!"

Herimone always had the most logical answer to any question but it didn't really help, he was more worried about Sam's safety then his own. But Harry had seen with his own eyes, that she was as dangerous as Voldamort himself. She would be fine.

This train journey back to Kings Cross Station, was one the longest journeys Harry had ever taken, despite the fact that most of the compartments were full of muttering adults, thinking of plans of how to increase Hogwarts security or discussing plans to counteract Voldamort, either way no students were allow in earshot. Harry would have loved to drop in on them, just to give him something to do, but his Silverlight powers were gone, and this was the first time he had missed them.

As them pulled into Platform Nine-And-Three-Quarters, at Kings Cross, not only was it dark, but empty. There were no wizarding parents waiting, students and the smell of fear in the air was thick, Harry could feel it. Harry had never seen such terror in the wizarding world before and it was unsure whether Hogwarts would survive the attack or close it doors permanently, especially if parents refused to sent their children, thinking the school wasn't safe. Harry just didn't know what the future holds, especially since now Lord Voldamort moments have suddenly become so unpredictable.

Mrs. and Mr. Weasley escorted Harry, Ron and Herimone through the barrier between platform nine and ten, on the muggle side of Kings Cross Station and it was extremely busy. Harry jaw dropped, he had never seen the station so busy, and it was a stark contract from Platform Nine-And-Three-Quarters. Harry could barely move with the his trunk and Hedwig's cage and the owl was now looking very disgruntled. The moved through the station towards the main doors, and Harry spotted three people he really didn't want to see. The Dursleys, Dudley, Aunt Petunia, and Uncle Vermin, were all waiting for Harry, looking very displeased, and Uncle Vermin looking extremely angry.

Harry ignored them, he would deal them when he had to. But he looked back at Ron and Herimone, who both just stared at him, unable to say anything again. But Harry wasn't back at them, he was staring at something behind them. Someone almost sit feet tall, wearing a long black coat, black jeans and top, black boots, long red hair, and a grim. Harry spotted a flash of blood red in the eyes, surrounding but a backlash scar, of that person as they faced each other, and Harry knew instantly who it was.

"Sam!" Harry called and barged between a shock Ron and Herimone, and Ran towards where she was just standing but she was gone. Harry looked around, desperate to talk to her, but in that split second, she was gone. Her called her again, but the with no answer.

"Harry!" Ron and Herimone had ran after him, looking confusion.

"Harry, what is it?" Herimone asked, panting.

"Sam! I thought I saw her!" Harry replied, his mouth dry.

"What! Here?" Ron asked, amazed, "I don't think so, Harry, Come on!"

Harry was steering back to Mrs. and Mr. Weasley, who asked what was wrong, of which Harry replied that there was nothing. He looked back to Ron and Herimone and hugged them both. Their friendship with him, was what had kept Harry's sanity and well as his life intact, and he was very greatful.

"Write to me this summer, both of you, I will be in need of your company, especially living the Dursleys!"

Both Ron and Herimone nodded and waved him good-bye, as he headed towards the Dursleys. The hadn't changed much except that Dudley, was even fatter, and Uncle Vernon was even angrier.

"You staying with us then!" He said, as Harry came into earshot.

"Yes!" Harry said, not looking at Uncle Vernon, keeping his eyes to the floor. Uncle Vernon went purple, and Harry knew he would pay for his rudeness when they got home. But he didn't care as the Dursleys, turned their backs on Harry, and walked out of the station, but as Harry was just about to follow them, when some unknown force made him turn right. He eyes met with a pale face under a long red head of hair, blood red eyes. She was grinning.

"Sam!" Harry mouthed.

She nodded and winked. She made an indication with her head to follow the Dursleys, and then Harry understood. She would watch over him there and all of a sudden, he felt a lot safer. He nodded at Sam, and she grinned in returned. He stared at her for a few moments, before he blinked and she was gone.

Harry looked round but with no luck, until he heard his name be called, by Uncle Vernon, who was now severely fuming with him. Harry looked at him, and smiled. He knew that with one message, Sam could be at the Dursleys's house, ready to defend Harry, if Uncle Vernon decided to get Harry down. Harry followed them to car, thinking. The year itself, had been very interesting as well as horrifying. But if there is one thing that has taught Harry anything, during his sixth year, is to be greatful for what you have already got, such as family and friends, not for what you want in life which could sometimes will push you to the limit. Everyone desires power, but having that power can sometimes be more devastating, to yourself or other people, or sometimes even deadly.