A/N: Sorry its taken a while to update I wasn't sure whether I should continue it seems like no one is reading this story. Plus I got a bit dishartened because I know what I want to happen and what I've written never will actually happen (except maybe Ron and Hermione together anyways) and I'm nowhere near as great as JK Rowling, but whatever happens happens and I can't do anything about that... Anyway so here's chapter 7, read and review PLEASE!!!

Chapter Seven: Surprises.

The first of September came all too quickly for Harry and his friends, their trunks were packed, their pets caged and they lined up out the front of the Burrow by ten-thirty. Mr Weasley had returned to work so it was Mrs Weasley who had to usher everyone in to the special ministry car on her own. They were returning to Hogwarts after all.

At Kings Cross they passed through the barrier dividing platforms nine and ten, there stood a magnificent scarlet train with a long line of carriages. Harry and Ginny stowed their luggage in a carriage with two other people Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom while Hermione and Ron headed towards the prefect carriage. After storing their luggage safely Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny all went back to Mrs Weasley to say goodbye. After everyone had been hugged Mrs Weasley said, 'Have a good term dears. See you all soon' They got back on the train, a whistle sounded. They were off.

'There's no where near as many people coming back this year and there are hardly any first years' Neville said five minuets in to the journey.

'The word about the attack at the end of last year and Dumbledore would have gotten out by now. Not a lot of parents would want to send their kids back to a school where the headmaster was murdered in the grounds' Ginny said.

'I suppose but it might also be because of the heard of blubberdingers that are rumoured to be residing at Hogwarts. Vicious creatures they are' Luna spoke up.

Harry didn't ask what blubberdingers were. Instead he just said 'maybe' after that their discussion turned to their holidays. Neville, who had turned seventeen the day before Harry told him that he had managed to pass his apparation test after five goes. Harry congratulated him and they went on with their conversation.

Around mid-day a small witch stuck her head around the door and said 'anything off the trolley dears?' Harry stood up and went to buy some pumpkin pasties and cauldron cakes.

At two o'clock Ron and Hermione came in, Hermione looked peaky and Ron looked worried for some reason 'there aren't many people are there?' Hermione said.

'No, do you know of anyone who's not returning?' Harry asked.

'The Patil twins aren't and Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle aren't either, no surprises there.' She replied.

'Are their any teachers not coming back?' Ginny asked.

'There'll be a new DADA teacher obviously and now that professor McGonagal is headmistress there might be a new transfiguration teacher too. I'm not sure about any one else though.' Hermione answered.

'So Slughorn's still around then?' Harry asked.

'As far as I know,' Hermione said nodding.

The sun set as they pulled on their school robes. The train slowed down and stopped at the Hogsmeade station, the threstral drawn carriages were waiting for them.

'Fis' years follow me please' boomed the voice of Hogwarts gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creatures' teacher. Hagrid waved at Harry and his friends as a significantly smaller group than what Harry was used to crowded around him.

As Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna got in to a carriage a sixth year boy named Colin Creevy bustled up to them and presented Harry with a scroll of parchment 'this is for you' he said and walked away.

Harry opened the letter.

Dear Mr Potter,

Would you please come up to the Headmistresses office prior to the start of term feast?

Sincerely

M. McGonagal
Ps. Password is peanut brittle.

So instead of going to the great hall with the others Harry started up the sweeping marble staircase.

When he got to the statue of the gargoyle Harry said the password, the statue jumped aside revealing a moving spiral staircase, and he went up them. On the door was another note.

Mr Potter,

Please go in, someone would like a word. I have to go and sort the first years.

M. McGonagal.

Harry pushed open the door and entered.

'Ah Harry,' said a voice from somewhere behind the desk, Harry jumped. 'Over here Harry' said a portrait of a tall man with long silver hair and half moon spectacles.

'Professor Dumbledore?' Harry said to the portrait.

'It is I Harry,' the man in the portrait said.

Harry was dumbstruck.

'I know this is a shock to you but please listen. I want you to take the pensive and all the memories I have collected, mine as well as those of other people they'll help you. Professor McGonagal has talked to the other teachers to let them know you might miss a few days this year. They have all agreed to help you in any way they can with your school work' At a look from Harry he added 'don't worry they don't know the real reason' Harry was relieved 'now Harry take the pensive and memories and then go back to the great hall for the feast. If ever you need help or advice you come up here ok.'

'Yes Professor. Thank you' Harry replied, he collected the big stone basin and bottles of memories from the cupboard and was leaving the room when Dumbledore said, 'use magic.'

Harry sent them away with a wave of his wand said thank you again and went back to the great hall.

The main course was nearly over by the time Harry joined the half empty Gryffindor table and grabbed as much as he could. Ginny was sitting with some other friends so Harry sat down next to Ron. Several people greeted him as he shovelled his dinner in to his mouth. When the main was over the puddings appeared.

'So why did McGonagal want you if she was here sorting the first years?' Hermione asked him.

Harry swallowed his mouthful of treacle tart and replied softly 'she didn't want me, Dumbledore's portrait did.'

'You talked to Dumbledore?' Ron said.

'Well his portrait yes' He replied.

'What did he want Harry?' Hermione said.

He leaned down 'he gave me the pensive and memories' he said.

'What for?' Ron asked.

'To help me with the search' he replied.

When pudding was done Professor McGonagal stood up. Harry had been to busy eating to look up at the staff table before but he did now. All the regular teachers were there except for Harry's least favourite person the greasy headed ex-potions and DADA teacher Severus Snape. Harry assumed he was still on the run with Draco Malfoy and the other death eaters who had broken in to Hogwarts on the night Dumbledore had been killed. There was however, a spot where the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher usually sat.

McGonagal had started talking by the time Harry got over the surprise of seeing that no one was going to take over the DADA job 'to our new students welcome and to our old students welcome back. Just a few start of term notices. Firstly, unfortunately there will be no regular Defence against the Dark Arts teacher for now, instead that subject will be taught by various teachers of other subjects until a permanent teacher can be found. Now just because there will be no regular teacher does not mean that you will not get the proper training, teachers here have all undertaken courses in various defence strategies, I believe that students will be given a very wide variety training with this new arrangement.'

'The care taker Mr Filch wants me to remind students again that no magic is to be used outside classes and that all students should view and follow the extensive list of banned items which can be found on his office door. Quidditch tryouts will be held with in the next two months it is up to the captains' to set dates. Hopefuls please give your name to your head of house and they will be passed on to the correct people. Also as the school has halved numbers since the end of last year it has been decided that the older students, that is sixth and seventh years will have their own dormitories, they will no longer be sharing with other people. For now though we all should be heading to bed. Goodnight.' She finished.

There was a lot of banging and scraping as students headed to bed. Harry started up towards Gryffindor tower with Ron and Hermione. Ginny caught up with them at the door to the great hall, when they got up to the portrait of the fat lady Hermione said 'klute' and it swang forward.

When they were in the common room Ron kissed Hermione and headed up the boys' staircase and Hermione headed up the girls' while Harry waited for the room to empty before he kissed Ginny and went up after Ron. Harry found a door that had a sign on it that said H. Potter. He entered and found a handsome, spacious room with a four poster bed hung with thick red curtains in one corner, a bedside table beside it, a chest of draws on the opposite wall, a desk facing another wall and a large arm chair in another corner. There was a big red and gold rug in the middle of the floor. It was different to be in a room by him self. At Hogwarts he was so used to sharing with four other boys. Harry's trunk was sitting at the foot of his bed, Hedwig's cage perched on top, Hedwig wasn't in it though, and Harry knew she'd gone to the owlery with the other owls. The pensive and the memories were sitting on his bed; he went over to them, stored the memories in a draw and the pensive under his bed.

The next day at breakfast new timetables were handed out, Harry and Ron's classes were the same as they had been the previous year; Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration and Charms. That day they had the first lesson off so after Ron said goodbye to Hermione as she headed off to her ancient runes class they headed back to the common room. Harry got a surprise when Ginny joined them because since she was a sixth year she got some lessons off too. Harry, Ron and Ginny passed the time playing exploding snap, After the lesson was over Harry and Ron headed to DADA while Ginny headed too Herbology.

Their DADA class was very small. Only ten or fifteen people were sitting at the desks when Harry and Ron went in. The teacher that day was Professor Sprout, who normally taught Herbology, she greeted them all warmly before outlining what they hoped to cover over the year. Harry was none-to happy with the new DADA arrangements but vowed that he'd stick with it because it would all help him in the long run.