Well chapter two is finally up after a couple incidents ensued that put off the unvieling of the continuation of my story (kind of excessive eh?). I'd like to apologize if I came off to harsh with my introduction at chapter one, I'm really a laid back guy just was kinda stressed out and didn't want be rude and leave you with nothing. I hope you like enjoy my story and please leave reviews, they're much appreciated, bring a smile to my day knowing strangers enjoy my works. Feel free to message me, I could use some good conversations with people I don't see everyday.

Read on, hope you enjoy!

Professor Slughorn had shown up two hours later and unpetrified Harry before escorting him to the Hospital Wing apologizing and wondering aloud who had the nerve to sneak up behind the boy and hex him the whole way there. Harry was glad to see Madam Pomfrey as she pushed the professor out of the wing going on about how her patients needn't be disturbed as they needed their rest, but as he was reacquainted with the practice of her care he felt it was a toss up between the two. After the healing of a broken rib and rather large application of bruise cream he happily accepted the nap she demanded he have before he return to his classes, though he wouldn't be returning to any classes seeing as he had never made it to them in the first place he mused.

Waking up from a wonderfully dreamless sleep, at least he had stopped having nightmares so often. He remembered waking up screaming some nights at the Burrow as he watched his friends fall again and again in the never ending battle that his dream scape had become. Where once he had been only getting a few hours of sleep a night and constantly checking on the sleeping members in the Weasley's home making sure they were indeed still there the nightmares began to taper off as he slowly came to grips with what had happened. Now they only harassed him once or twice a week but he usually slept through them.

He groped the nightstand for his glasses as he sat up in bed, putting them on he noticed someone sitting at the end of his hospital bed watching him with cold, blue eyes. She looked vaguely like the girl he had saved in the dungeons earlier only older and blond hair that was mixed with patches of brown.

"Uh- hello." he said awkwardly as he stretched, the girl said nothing. It was then he noticed the three beds across the wing from him, their occupants were regarding the two with looks of fear. The boy Harry recognized as the Hufflepuff he had hexed kept shifting his eyes between Harry and the girl and Madam Pomfrey who was busy in her office. Harry waved smiling and he waved back feebly.

Returning his attention to the stranger at the foot of his bed their eyes met. He wasn't sure how long they were sitting there, neither of them had said a word, it didn't feel like some kind of staring contest instead it was like they were talking with their eyes. The sound of the hospital doors opening ended their silent conversation.

"Daphne Greengrass." was the only thing she said as she stood up.

"Harry Potter." he said holding out his hand, she ignored it.

Harry watched her as she left then turned his attention back to the three students across from him but found their beds empty. Either they had managed to sneak off, which Madam Pomfrey would have a fit over, or she had released them while Harry was eye locked with Daphne. If they had indeed wandered off Harry didn't want to be in here for the healers wrath, he might end up stuck here for a week. He threw off his sheets and brought his feet over the edge of the bed only to be tackled backward by a red streak.

"Harry I'm so sorry!" Ginny cried into his shoulder giving him a hug that made him wince as his bruises weren't fully healed.

"I should have followed you as soon as you left but I went back and grabbed your bag and when I got to the doors you were gone. I looked all around the lake, I even had Hagrid and Fang help me search."

"Ginny-" Harry said picking the crying red head off of his shoulder. "Its alright, nothing happened to me."

He paused as he said that realizing he was still in the hospital wing.

"Nothing bad anyways, just got some minor bruises."

"What happened to you mate?" Hermione elbowed Ron. "OW! Oh yeah, sorry about earlier, just surprised me is all. I thought you'd be all over the idea of playing Quidditch this year now that no one is trying to kill you."

"So where did you hurry off to after your..." Hermione was looking for the right word, it seemed she was being extra tactful around him and he could only wonder why. Episode was the word she eventually settled on, Ron and Ginny clapped and gave little cheers as they were beginning to think it'd take her forever.

Harry told them the story as he slipped on his shoes and they made their way to the Great Hall for lunch. All three of them were surprised when they heard that it was a pair of Ravenclaws and a Hufflepuff that had been the ones threatening to hurt a lone Slytherin girl. A brief moment of Harry's earlier attitude returned as Ron thought it was brilliant that he had made the comment about Malfoy's mother but was quickly put to rest as Hermione shot him a look and let go of his hand and Ginny sent him running down the hall being attacked by bat boogies. Harry enjoyed the rest of the walk in silence with his arm around Ginny's shoulders staring out the windows they passed at the ocean of green that was the grounds of Hogwarts. Hermione had bewitched a book to float ahead of her so she didn't have to hold it to read earning a smile and a laugh from Harry.

The younger Greengrass hopped up and down in her seat and waved at him as the entered the Great Hall and he waved back, several Slytherins looked between the two and proceeded to talk in low whispers while Malfoy and Daphne pretended he didn't even exist.

Ron managed to join them a few minutes later half covered in chalk dust, when they asked what had happened he mumbled something that sounded like 'Peeves'. Hermione filled Harry in on what he had missed in his classes and he and Ginny charmed their pieces of food to play a game of Quidditch that went the whole length of the table until Headmistress McGonagall incinerated the turkey team because it was drawing too many on lookers that were very enthusiastic whenever either side scored a goal.

"Have any of you seen my schedule?" Harry asked after patting down his his pockets not finding it. He hadn't looked at it when it had been given to him that morning barely even acknowledging the new Head of House as they dropped it off.

"I took the liberty of going over it for you and made you a homework schedule." Hermione answered handing him the two pieces of parchment as well as his school bag.

"Good 'ol Hermione, always has time to make a homework schedule for me and I land myself in the hospital wing on the first day. This is shaping up to be a rather normal year." He said with a smile.

He was sad to discover that he shared no classes with Ginny-yet. Those who had been at Hogwarts the past school year were being given grueling reviews over the material that would have been taught in their respective years and would be tested that Friday and Saturday to determine their academic placements. In the mean time the Harry, Hermione, Ron, and anyone else who would have been in seventh year when Voldemort had taken over the ministry had light classes the first week, those that opted to test out of their seventh year would take their N.E.W.T.S. in a months time.

Kissing Ginny goodbye Harry made his way to the greenhouse with his two best friends. Ron and Hermione were holding hands again, he guessed she had thought being pelted with dirty erasers from Peeves was punishment enough for his earlier comment. The sun felt good on his skin, drying up any remaining gloom he had left and the breeze causing the trees of the forbidden forest to rustle made a serene setting with the soft waves gliding across the lakes surface.

"Why did you two take Herbology N.E.W.T.S.?" He asked, he knew he needed it to become and Auror but he had no idea what Ron and Hermione wanted to do after they graduated, it really hadn't been a topic of much discussion as they had been hunting horcruxes.

"I'm going to go help George with the shop after I get out of here." Ron said. Harry frowned, his good mood dampened at the reminder that Fred had paid the ultimate price to free their world from Voldemort. He remembered wondering if George would close Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes after the war was over since Fred was no longer there for him to come up with ideas with and test out their potential products but he had endured and opened his doors once more bringing a little bit of laughter back to the mourning community.

"Might as well try to learn about as many things as I can, discover some new things we could do. Though George seems to have enough new products stockpiled in the back room waiting to be released to last a year. All the other stuff is still selling strong, even the simplest things, never thought pygmy puffs would be a hit."

Ron was staring off that the forest when he finished looking like he was trying his hardest not to cry. Hermione brought his hand up to her mouth and kissed it bringing his mind back to the present as he smiled at her.

"I was thinking of working for the ministry." Harry and Ron looked at her incredulously, she just ignored them.

"I want to help repair the rifts between wizards and other magical creatures, make sure the next dark wizard won't have anything to take advantage of."

The rest of the walk to the greenhouses was quiet, each of the friends lost in their own thoughts just enjoying each others company and the calm around them. Harry wondered when the next dark wizard would rise, would it be within his life time? He sighed inwardly, he had had enough of fighting and of death but there would always be those that sought power and would take it no matter what the cost. He hoped none would go as far as Voldemort had, ripping his soul to pieces creating Horcruxes so he wouldn't die and could always rise to power again. There was a strange feeling of humor and sadness as he briefly imagined himself as the next Dumbledore, sense of fashion and all, helping a future generation fight against the next dark wizard. He snickered to himself as they joined the crowd of students that was forming outside of the greenhouses.

He was pleased to see that more of the seventh years had returned to the school than he had thought. The Slytherins were grouped off to the side talking in low whispers to their friends next to them or not saying anything at all, instead watching the other houses waiting for someone to start a fight or send a hex their way. Draco was talking to Daphne, she nodded a few times before her eyes flicked over and noticed Harry was looking at her. He noticed a slight change in her stance as she relaxed and the air around her seemed to take on a smile. The male Slytherin followed her gaze and locked eyes with Harry, a small smile tugged at his lips as the air around Daphne shifted back to cold feeling as Draco resumed his conversation with her.

Several others in the gaggle of Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Gryffindors talked excitedly as the three joined them. Some thanked them, some gave them pats on the back, and still others had tears in their eyes and their voices cracked and failed them as they tried their best to convey their gratitude. Strangely enough Harry, Ron and Hermione found themselves at the front of the group though they had been the last to arrive.

The low grumble of voices died out as Professor Sprout made her way to the students from the greenhouse at the end of the row.

"Good afternoon class." She started smiling as she scanned the crowd, lingering on Harry and his friends a moment before she continued.

"It is wonderful to see so many return after last year." Tears started forming in her eyes. No one snickered or whispered sarcastic comments to their house mates to her statement seeing as there was only a fourth of the normal amount of seventh years there. Instead everyone was solemnly quiet. After a moment she continued, the tears gone as she found some inner source of courage.

"We will be working in greenhouse seven this year, and as you no doubt have noticed by now you will be attending your classes with the seventh years from all the other houses." She didn't have to say why. "The majority of the plants you will be dealing with this year will be dangerous, some more so than others, so you must pay strict attention when I tell you how to deal with them. Every couple of weeks we will switch to working with some that won't try to kill, poison or maim you so you don't jump at the sight of normal greenery."

This elicited genuine laughter from the crowd, Professor Sprout smiled even wider.

"Right then, follow me."

They shuffled along behind her, Slytherin falling to the rear seemingly not wanting anyone from another house where they couldn't watch them. Harry had a feeling all of their wands were readily accessible in case someone tried to attack them.

"Alright class," she started as they stopped in front of greenhouse seven. "today we will be dealing with a particularly vicious plant called the called the Barnsuqle. Does anyone know what the Barnsuqle is?"

No one moved, even Hermione didn't raise her hand, though Harry had a feeling it wasn't because she didn't know but rather because she didn't feel like talking.

"I-I do professor." A voice stammered from the back. The group of students parted so the speaker could be seen.

"Its a plant that looks like a budding rose bush." Neville said gaining confidence as he went.

"The top bulbs, or heads, can sense potential prey and shoot thorns or spines at high speeds to wound or kill their target. The lower bulbs stretch out like hands with mouths to drag their meal closer where they begin to devour it."

"Yes, correct. Ten points to Gryffindor." Professor Sprout said, no one grumbled about the points. In fact none of them cared about House points at all. After the lessons they learned last year house points and the prestige of the house cup were trivial.

Professor Sprout continued.

"The simplest defense against the Barnsuqle is the shield charm Protego, that is, of course if there is only one Barnsuqle. If there you happen to be unlucky enough to find yourself in a patch of Barnsuqle I would advise you remove yourself from that situation as quickly as possible. Its weakness, like most other plants is fire, though you cannot truly destroy it unless you remove its roots from the ground a pour salt on them.

Now when we enter the greenhouse you will be behind a glass wall that is charmed to look like a brick one from the other side. You cannot be harmed by it as long as you remain behind the wall. Are there any questions?"

No one raised their hand.

"Right then, in you go."

They spent the next two hours going over the anatomy of the Barnsuqle as well as its prey. Professor Sprout even gave them a demonstration of its hunting capabilities when she tapped on the wall with her wand removing the spelled brick pattern that was on the other side. Almost immediately the top five bulbs whipped around and honed in on their potential prey on the other side of the glass and began a barrage of flying thorns that were shot at such a velocity they buried themselves into the reinforced glass, some nearly coming out the other side. The students in front that weren't prepared jumped and stumbled back to get away from the glass they were sure was going to break. Harry stood there watching, unmoved from his spot, as the Barnsuqle peppered the glass over his torso and face. Ron and Hermione had a distant look in their eyes as they stood there holding hands. With a tap of the professor's wand the charm returned and the Barnsuqle went back to its placid state.

Several of the students laughed at those that had scrambled away from the barrier as the rest talked in low whispers, glancing over at the Gryffindor trio that had yet to move or utter a single sound.

"Its rather sad." Hermione whispered putting what Harry was feeling into words.

The display had reminded him of his entire life. Trying so hard only to arrive back where he had started. Though that wasn't completely true, he had found the best friends a young wizard could ask for and had a girl friend that had stuck by him even when he had broken up with her for her safety. So maybe his was better off than the Barnsuqle, or maybe they were the same. He shook his head, what was going on with him that he compared himself to plants from herbology?

"So what do you want to do now?" Ron asked as the rest of the class filed out of the greenhouse before them.

The Slytherins had once again taken up a defensible position within the crowd of students, a habit that was probably going to last the entire school year. Harry had hoped the house prejudices would've been laid to rest after the display of what they could do to the community but it seemed he had hoped for too much. Somethings you just couldn't change, not yet anyways, he'd have to give it some time to see where it led.

A flash of sunlight off of a head of blond hair drew him from his thoughts. He couldn't take his eyes off the back of Daphne's head as they made their way back up to the castle, her ponytail swung back and forth with each step. Entrancing his eyes like the pendulum of a clock.

"Well the teachers haven't given us any homework today how about we go for a walk Ron?" Hermione said as the trio separated themselves from the rest of the pack, Harry bringing his eyes to meet his best friends.

"Don't we have anymore classes?" Harry asked.

"No mate." Ron said smiling. "Someone above decided to go easy on us, at least for this first week. We only have one or two double classes a day until all the placement tests are done, I don't even want to think or our workload afterward."

"Lucky us." Harry said sarcastically. "Why aren't you pressing Ron and I to pick up a book and get started on studying for our N.E.W.T.S. Hermione?"

She laughed aloud, it was a beautiful sound. He remembered a time when none of them could laugh, not even if they traded their soul for it.

"Getting you two to start studying early, especially before we even have formal classes, is impossible. And no, these don't count as formal classes. They're just something the teachers decided to put together so the rest of the students don't think the Seventh years are getting off easy. Besides, theres other things I would prefer to do."

"Hermione, preferring something over studying? Wheres our Hermione and what have you done with her?" Harry asked shaking her playfully.

"You know what this means Ron."

"We have to-"

"-find out if she-"

"-is indeed our Hermione-"

"-and not some polyjuiced impersonator." They said in a Fred and George-esq manner. It was rather weird having two boys who looked completely different finishing each others sentences like they were twins who hadn't been separated since birth. But then again they had been through more than most wizards could think about together and it was only logical their friendship was something akin to being brothers.

Sensing something was about to happen to her Hermione took off from her friend and boyfriend all three of them laughing as they chased her around. Her flight didn't last long as she doubted she could've actually gotten away from her taller, more athletic counterparts.

She struggled playfully as Ron scooped her up from around her middle and Harry grabbed onto her legs to keep her from kicking either of them in the head. Once she realized that they were carrying her toward the lake she started to struggle more giving both of them a run for their money as they tried to maintain their hold on her. Wading into the water they attempted to toss her in a little further than they were standing. Ron was unlucky as he was holding her upper half and she had wrapped her arms around him in a vice-grip so he went toppling with her.

Harry burst into a side clutching laugh as his two friends were soaked, Hermione's normally bushy hair was matted to her head. He noticed the look in her eyes too late as she sent a wave of water crashing down on him with a flick of her wand. Ron pointed and laughed at Harry until he realized his girlfriend had turned toward him with that same look of an angry, half drowned kneazle. He unsuccessfully tried to scramble away only to receive the same treatment as his friend. With an unspoken declaration of a splash war the trio spent the next hour making sure the others were soaked to the bone.

Harry excused himself from their company when they managed to drag themselves out of the lake. He was happy his two best friends were together and didn't want to intrude on any privacy they wished to have. During the past summer he had learned that neither of them would ask him to no matter much they wanted to be alone so he had learned to recognize the cues and would excuse himself to do other things.

Picking up his school bag from the side of the lake where it had been dropped before they had decided to have their splashing game, Hermione would've killed them if they had gotten their books wet no matter how playful of a mood she was in, and made his way up to the castle.

Having a strange urge to be by himself in a large enclosed space he went to the Great Hall. Neville was sitting by himself at the end of the Gryffindor table as he poured over a hefty tome that would've made Hermione proud and a knot of Hufflepuffs where whispering over a pile of parchment between them. Quietly he made his way to the far end of the Ravenclaw table and laid down on one of the benches using his bag for a pillow and stared at the enchanted cieling. The clouds drifted across the sky lazily weaving a constantly changing tapestry of blue and white. Slowly his eyes began to lose focus as he drifted off to sleep thinking blissfully of nothing.

Thanks oceansong for being the only person to read this story so far! Maybe I should give you a prize, like a cookie. (holds cookie out)