"Hi." Harry said, sounding far more confident than he felt at the moment.

"You're a hard person to find. I've been looking in nearly every compartment. Would you mind if we joined you?" The girl asked politely.

She was much prettier than Harry remembered, not that he'd gotten a very good look at her when she had visited in the hospital wing, as it had been quite dark. Then when she had tried to talk to him on the train, she hadn't stayed long enough to really observe her. But as she stood framed in the door of his compartment, Harry could fully appreciate how attractive this girl was.

Harry noticed that she was not alone. A girl around the same height, but with vibrant blonde hair and sea green eyes stood smiling just behind her. Harry recognized the girl, but couldn't think of her name.

"Sure." Harry said, motioning for the girls to join them. Daphne Greengrass and her friend came in, and Harry saw Luna slide over to allow the girls to sit. Luna stared at the Slytherins, not with loathing as he Harry expected, but with mild curiosity. Neville on the other hand, was staring at them coldly. Neville couldn't blame him. Most Slytherins targeted Neville for bullying.

"How was your summer?" Harry asked as Daphne settled herself. The girl smiled at him and shrugged.

"No complaints. I wanted to write to you, but I was already at home before I thought to ask you."

"That's ok." Harry's mind seemed to grind to a halt. He had no idea what he should say to Daphne, now that she was here in front of him. He knew nothing about her. Harry noticed the girl that had come in with Daphne was nudging her in the side, and giving her pointed looks.

"So, I think you should know." Daphne began, looking a bit apprehensive. "I heard something over the summer, and I really think someone should warn you."

"Warn me?" Harry quirked an eyebrow. He'd been able to garner a bit of information through eavesdropping on the Order meetings, but didn't know much more than the fact that Voldemort was after some kind of weapon.

"Yes. It seems you've ruffled more than a few feathers. My parents were talking about your trial…"

"Trial?" Neville asked sharply. "What trial?"

"I had a trial at the Ministry after I used magic this summer. They wanted to expel me from school."

"You're kidding."

"No, I'm not. But how did you know about it?" Harry turned back to Daphne.

"My father was talking about it. I'm not sure, but I think he is on the Wizengamont." Daphne said.

"What do you mean you're not sure?" Neville asked, his voice faltering a bit.

"Father never talks about his work in front of me and my sister. And we've never asked about it. I sometimes get the feeling my father doesn't like his work. Anyway it seems that the Minister is hell bent on keeping you quiet. He's managed to get someone inside Hogwarts."

"Really? Who?" Harry asked utterly shocked.

"I don't know. I didn't hear a name, or anything. I just felt like I should warn you. You might try to keep your head down this year, if you can." Daphne smiled gently, and Harry smiled back.

"I'll keep it in mind." Harry chuckled.

"I believe you." the other girl said. "About You-Know-Who returning. If you look at things logically, it all makes sense."

"I'm so sorry." Daphne looked thoroughly embarrassed. "This is Tracy Davis. My best friend."

"Nice to meet you." Tracey smiled politely, offering her hand. Harry shook it and sat back.

"I believe you too, Harry." Neville said. "My Gran says the Prophet's become a bigger rag than the Quibbler. She cancelled our subscription."

"Excuse me." Luna spoke up a bit harshly. "My father is the editor of the Quibbler."

"Oh, I'm sorry. That's just what my Gran says." Neville shrank under Luna's cold stare.

"I believe you as well." Luna said, surprising everyone on the compartment. She stared right at Harry as she spoke. "My father believes in Dumbledore, and he says that if Dumbledore believes you, than we should too."

"I don't want to be rude, or anything." Neville said, clearing his throat hoping to change the subject and make Luna stop staring at him. "But why are you two here? Don't all Slytherins hate Harry, and Gryffindors in general?"

Tracey looked at Daphne who couldn't help but smirk.

"Do all Gryffindors hate Slytherins?" She asked.

"Yeah." Harry and Neville said together. Luna even nodded looking at them all in turn. Tracey sighed, while Daphne sat forward in her seat.

"So you both hate us?" Daphne asked, looking as if she might get up. Harry felt a sudden wave of panic that this girl might get up and leave, and he wasn't quite ready for her to go yet.

"I don't hate you." Harry corrected his prior statement. "I don't know anything about you. Either of you. Which I guess is the point you're trying to make. Why do we hate all Slytherins when we don't know any of you?"

"And I thought you might not be that bright." Tracey smiled sweetly. "We started figuring this out in our first year. We asked the older students why they hated Gryffindors, and no one gave any specific reasons for it. It's this strange bitter rivalry that's gone on for the longest time, and no one seems to know what it's about."

"What's worse is that we pass it on to each new group of first years, so they can carry on this empty feud going." Daphne sighed. "The older students make us suspicious and wary of Gryffindors so we don't ever think about trying to make friends with any of you."

"What about in Quidditch? Do you deny that your team cheats during matches?" Neville asked challengingly, which made Harry smirk, as his voice was rather soft, and his face was colored with his embarrassment. Neville never spoke in classes unless he had absolutely no choice. Harry felt a pang of pity for Neville who serious lacked any self confidence.

"No, I don't deny it." Daphne said. "But again, you're basing your judgment based on a few select individuals. Don't you think that's a bit narrow minded?"

"In Neville's defense." Harry interjected. "He might be one of the few who actually has a legitimate reason to not like Slytherins."

"Draco and his flunkies are rather brutal to you, aren't they?" Tracey said, a hint of irritation on her face.

Neville didn't say anything, but the look on his face spoke volumes.

"We're not going to apologize for him, as he's a right git." Daphne said. "But try not to lump us all together with Malfoy. In the end, we're all just people. Once we finish school, will the houses we belonged to really matter?"

Neville looked like he was thinking it over. Harry smiled lightly at Daphne's point.

"So, what did you do that landed you in front of the court?" Tracey asked as she crossed her legs. Daphne eased back in her seat, but kept her eyes on Harry.

"I protected my cousin from Dementors." Harry said, shrugging his shoulders.

"How?" Daphne asked looking torn between curious, and wishing to be respectful of Harry's privacy.

"Patronous charm." Harry said as if it was obvious.

Both girls nearly fell off their seats.

"You can cast a Patronous?" Tracey asked. "A real Patronous, and not just vapor?"

"Yeah." Harry said, looking a bit frightened by their reactions.

"When did you learn that?" Daphne asked. "That's NEWT level. We don't learn it until Seventh year, and most people never get a full corporeal Patronous."

"I learned it in Third year." Harry replied. "I hated how the Dementors affected me, and after that Quidditch match where I fell off my broom, I asked Professor Lupin if he could help me. It took a while but I finally managed to do it."

"Is it true you fought off a hundred of them at the end of third year?" Tracey asked. Daphne elbowed her friend and gave her a pointed look. Tracey actually looked apologetic. She opened her mouth as if she was going to apologize, but Daphne spoke up.

"You don't have to answer that." Daphne said to Harry. It made him feel nice that, while he knew they were both very curious about the rumors that circulated about him, they were trying to make an effort to avoid asking about them.

"I didn't count them." Harry said. "But there were a lot."

Neville's eyes widened at this admission, but he kept quiet. The girls looked quite impressed, and Harry felt a bit of pride in spite of himself. Still, he didn't want to talk anymore about things like that. It was likely to lead to what happened in June, and Harry didn't even like to think about that night, nor was he ready to burden anyone else with that nightmare.

"You said you had a sister?" Harry asked, changing topics. The conversation flowed fairly easily with only a few awkward moments, most of which were instigated by the strange Ravenclaw girl, who seemed to drift in and out of the conversation. When the lunch trolley came by, Harry sprang for snacks for them all, even Luna, who looked truly surprised, which was almost unnoticeable given her perpetually astonished demeanor.

A little while after the trolley had visited them, the compartment door opened, and Harry and the others saw Cho Chang standing there with a couple of her friends.

"Hello Harry." She said, a soft smile on her very pretty face. Daphne quickly turned to look at Harry, who had a slightly silly look on his face. She knew at once that Harry must like the pretty Asian girl, and she felt her stomach drop a bit. She felt a squeeze on her arm, and turned to se Tracey smiling encouragingly at her.

"Well, I-I just wanted to say hello…By then."

And with that, the girl was gone. Harry's face scrunched in confusion, wondering why Cho hadn't stayed. She had looked rather uncomfortable standing there in front of him and his friends, and wondered if she had hoped to find him alone.

"She was very upset when Cedric died." Luna said plainly. Harry's stomach knotted, and he felt like me might be sick. He still felt intense guilt at the mention of Cedric's name. Sirius had worked hard during the summer to help Harry understand who was truly to blame for Cedric's death, and deep down, Harry knew that it wasn't him, but he still felt that if he hadn't suggested that they take the Tri-Wizard cup together, perhaps Cedric would still be alive.

Before anyone could say anything to change the subject, or reprimand Luna for her lack of tact the compartment door opened again and Hermione entered, followed by Ron, both with very puzzled expressions on their face.

"Um, Hello." Hermione said to the two Slytherins, while Ron just glared malevolently.

"Guys, this is Tracey Davis and Daphne Greengrass." Harry said, deciding he should try to keep things calm, not really knowing how his friends would react to the two Slytherin girls. "Also, Luna Lovegood."

"It's very nice to meet you all. Hello, Neville, how are you?"

Harry watched with a bit of mild amusement as Neville turned a light pink as he smiled at Hermione. "I'm alright. H-how was your summer?"

"Eventful." Hermione said, taking a seat next to him. "And yours?"

Harry took that moment to look at Daphne, who seemed to be studying Neville and Hermione. Tracey on the other hand was looking at Ron, who'd yet to say anything.

"You alright Ron?" Harry asked. He knew immediately it was a bad idea when Ron's ears turn a brilliant shade of red.

"Why'd you let them in here?" The red head snarled, not looking away from the two girls.

"Why do you assume he let us in here?" Tracey asked coolly. "Is it not possible that we were here first? If that's the case, why not ask why we would allow Harry and Neville join us?"

Ron continued to glare at her, but Harry thought he saw a bit of confusion in his eyes. Harry thought it was interesting that Tracey had not risen to the argument Ron had obviously wanted to start. Ron's hatred of Slytherins was very well know throughout the school. Harry wondered how things would be different if people like Ron and Malfoy were more open minded.

"Ron." Harry said, getting his friend's attention. Ron turned to look at Harry who tossed him a few chocolate frogs. Harry knew Ron was a bit easier to manage when he was eating. At the very least, most of them wouldn't be able to understand his insults with his mouth full of sticky, gooey sweetness.

"I asked them to join us, and we've been having a good time." Harry said, hoping that would end the tension. "How was the meeting?"

"Who are the other prefects?" Daphne asked interestedly.

"Padma Patil and Anthony Goldstein from Ravenclaw." Hermione said.

"You took Padma to the Yule Ball." Luna said looking at Ron. Again, Harry felt a twinge of guilt for his serious misbehavior toward Parvati the year before. He promised himself that he would try to make it up to her somehow. He wondered if Ron felt any regret for his treatment of his Yule Ball date.

"Yeah, so?" Ron said, shrugging.

"She didn't have a very good time. She thought you should have at least danced with her once."

Ron merely looked at Harry and Hermione. Hermione seemed to be biting her tongue, while Harry gave his best friend a sympathetic look.

"So, Who are the other Prefects again?" Neville asked.

"Hannah Abbott and Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff, and you'll never guess who are the Slytherin Prefects." Hermione's smile melting away.

Harry sank a bit. "Malfoy?"

"Right in one." Ron growled.

"And Pansy Parkinson." Hermione added.

"Oh NO!" Daphne and Tracey all but screamed.

"We hoped it would be Millicent." Daphne explained. "When neither one of us got it, we really wanted it to be Millie. She's at least nice sometimes. Pansy's going to be a nightmare this year."

"But don't you two hang around with her?" Hermione asked puzzled.

"It's more like she hangs out with us." Tracey corrected. "There's only four of us girls in our year, and she's got it in her head that we're all best girlfriends. She tells us things we've never wanted to know. Horrible things."

"Like what?" Harry asked, rather intrigued.

"I don't want to spoil your dinner." Daphne smiled, and Hermione actually chuckled a bit at the joke, while the three boys just looked confused.

"The point is that now we'll have little choice but to listen to her brag about who she sent to detention or who she found snogging in what broom closet, on top of what she normally subjects us to." Tracey groaned.

At that instant, the compartment door slid open again, and Harry knew exactly who it was before he looked up. Draco Malfoy looked as perfectly dressed and groomed as ever. Behind him, the hulking forms of Crabbe and Goyle, who looked like they'd grown a couple of feet and added even more muscle, stood waiting for their leader to entertain them or unleash them of their prey.

Ron puffed up his chest as he turned to face Malfoy, like some kind of guardian. Malfoy merely sneered at Ron's bravado.

"Go away Malfoy." Harry said quickly.

"Well, I see your manners haven't improved." Draco Malfoy drawled. "You need to watch that this year Potter. You see, I have been made a Prefect. That means I have the power to hand out punishments."

"But it's nothing compared to that amazing bouncing ferret trick you helped Moody with last year, is it?" Harry smiled. "Now that was something to brag about."

Draco's face burned scarlet as nearly everyone laughed at Harry's comment. Draco narrowed his steely gray eyes. "You'd better watch your step Potter. I'll be dogging you all year. You can bank on it. And why are you two back here?"

Malfoy had just noticed his two housemates sitting in Potter's compartment. The two girls simply looked back at him, their expressions blank and stoic.

"Having a nice conversation with some new friends." Daphne said rather icily.

"New friends? This …this trash? You must be joking."

"Draco, in the past four years, have you ever heard me utter a joke?" Daphne said, her eyes narrowing. "I assure you it is not a joke. I have decided not to limit myself and expand my network of associates. You should think about that, you could find it useful. "

Harry swore the temperature in the room dropped. Draco simply stared at Daphne and Tracey, who remained unmoved.

"I've no time for your stupid games." Draco snapped. He shut the door and he, Crabbe and Goyle left them alone.

"This isn't over." Tracey sighed.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, feeling concerned.

"He's going to make a big deal out of us sitting with Gryffindors, and how we've betrayed the house or some such rubbish. He'll try to turn the house against us in order for us to realize we have made a mistake."

"So why don't you go hang out with them and leave us alone?" Ron suggested angrily.

"Because we want to be here." Daphne said, trying not to get angry. Her voice was still icy as she stared at the redhead. Harry saw her tense a bit as she spoke.

"Why should they only hang out with other Slytherins, Ron?" Hermione asked.

"Why do they need to hang around us? We don't want them around." Ron asked, his voice rising in volume a bit. "All they ever do is make fun of us, and get us in trouble."

"That's only Malfoy." Hermione pointed out. "To be honest I can't think of a single instance where either of these two have said or done anything to us."

"What about last year?" Ron shouted, his anger rising. "What about those stupid badges?"

"We never wore them." Daphne said, her voice rising a bit. Harry knew he had to be the one to end this argument before everything crumbled. The truth was, though he'd only spent a little time with them, he was beginning to like both Tracey and Daphne. He couldn't say why, exactly, but something about them had captivated him, and he wasn't ready to give it up until he explored it further.

"I want them around." Harry said calmly. "They been nothing but nice the whole trip."

"Then they must be setting us up for something." Ron suggested. "Maybe some big joke when we get off the train."

"Ron?" Harry said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I want to ask you something, and I want you to really think about it before you answer. I mean it. Think before you speak. Why do you hate Slytherins?"

"Because there a bunch of slimy gits who are all going to end up serving You-Know-Who!"

"Wow, you really thought about that." Tracey said snidely. Both Harry and Daphne shot her exasperated looks, which made her look at the floor.

"You didn't think about your answer. How can you be sure their all dark wizards in the making?"

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked incredulously. "Do you not remember all the things Malfoy's done to us?"

"That's exactly what I'm talking about Ron." Harry said pointedly. "Malfoy's done to us, not Slytherins. I've spent a couple hours with Daphne and Tracey here, and not once have they insulted, or tried to hex me or Neville or Luna."

"They've been very nice to me." Luna said plainly. "They haven't even called me Loony."

"Why would we call you that?" Daphne asked, a look of confusion on her face.

"Everybody else does." Luna shrugged.

"The point is that we're all guilty of judging the Slytherins based on Malfoy's example." Harry said, noticing the look Hermione was giving him. She looked almost proud of him.

"You can't assume that every Slytherin is going to follow Voldemort." Harry continued, ignoring the shivers around the compartment at the name of the Dark Lord. "We know first hand that it doesn't matter what house you belong to for a wizard to be dark. Or have you forgotten what happened third year?"

Hermione and Ron gave sharp looks at Harry. He also saw the looks of bewilderment on the Slytherin faces.

"Well, I'm not staying in here with Slytherins." Ron said firmly. "I've got patrols to do. Are you coming, Hermione?"

"In a bit. I'd like to ask Tracey and Daphne a few questions first."

"Fine." Ron huffed and left his friends and the Slytherins.

"I'm very sorry about him." Hermione said sadly. "I think it might be his upbringing."

"It's not that uncommon." Tracey shrugged. "A lot of the Slytherins from older families aren't that different than him."

"What was it you wanted to ask us?" Daphne asked, still looking upset at Ron's accusations.

"Well, first off, why Harry? Surely you could have picked other Gryffindors to try to befriend."

"Interesting question." Daphne smiled. "Out of all the Gryffindors, there are precious few who we thought might be receptive to trying to make friends with us. Thomas and Finnegan were out simply because they might get the wrong idea."

Hermione smiled and nodded understanding Daphne's meaning.

"What do you mean, "the wrong idea'?" Harry asked.

"Honestly Harry. I know boys talk. Surely those two have said things about girls they may or may not have spent time with." Hermione said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Harry saw Neville shrink in his seat a bit.

"Neville?" Harry asked.

"S-seamus told me about what he and Lavender got up to after the Ball last year." The round faced boy blushed furiously, avoid every set of eyes that belonged to a member of the opposite sex.

"They have reputations, Harry." Hermione smiled gently at her friend, who still looked a bit confused. "Reputations not unlike your godfather's."

Suddenly it all clicked, and Harry gave a soft, "Oh."

"Obviously Weasley would be a bad choice, and given his reaction today, we were right." Tracey added.

"That left thee two." Daphne nodded towards Neville and Harry.

"But why only boys?" Hermione asked puzzled, but before either girl asked, Hermione saw a look pass on Daphne's face, and she recognized it at once.

"Girls are sometimes harder to get along with than boys." Tracey said wisely.

"That's true." Hermione nodded, keeping her eyes on Daphne, who shifted a bit uncomfortably under Hermione's gaze.

"We must be getting close to Hogsmeade." Daphne said, looking out the window.

Indeed, a few moments later the Hogwarts Express came to a halt, and every student began to disembark. Harry gathered Hedwig's cage and followed his friends onto the platform. All around him students were heading in one of two directions. All the first years were falling the familiar call of "First Years, Over here Please. All First Years to me."

Except, the voice wasn't Hagrid's. Harry turned to see the prominent chin and Severe haircut of the woman who'd substituted for Hagrid last year. Professor Grubbly-Plank. Harry was about to ask Hermione about Hagrid's absence when he heard Tracey say something that made him angry.

"Looks like they got rid of the oaf."

Harry spun to face Tracey, and cold look in his eye. "Don't ever let me here you insult Hagrid again."

Tracey's eyes widened, and she held up her hands in surrender. "I'm sorry." Tracey looked to Daphne who looked just as surprised as her best friend.

"It's fine, just don't do it around me. I know he's not everyone's favorite, but he's a really good person, and he gets treated so badly. After everything you said on the train, I'd think you'd be a little less judgmental.

"You're right, Harry." Tracey nodded. "I am really sorry."

"Come on, let's get a carriage." Hermione suggested.

The group made it's way up the tiny hill to where the carriages were lined up. Harry spotted Ron waiting for them. He helped Hermione up and Neville climbed in after her.

"Sorry, There's no more room." Ron said coldly to Daphne and Tracey.

"Then we'll get the next one." Harry replied, giving Ron a hard look before he led the two girls to the next carriage. He motioned for Luna to follow, as she had not left their side since getting off the train.

Harry helped each of the girls into the carriage, and just as he was about to get in, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye.

Tethered to the carriage were two very large skeletal, leathery skinned, winged…horses. Harry felt a shiver run up his spine at the sight of these nightmarish beasts. Slowly, he began approaching the closest one. It lowered it's head, peering at him with blood red eyes, and sniffing at him with its partial nose.

"Harry?"

Harry turned to find Daphne had gotten out of the carriage and was looking at him strangely.

"What is it?" Harry asked, turning back to the horse.

"What?" Daphne asked looking around.

"This." Harry said, motioning his head to the animal. Harry lifted his hand, allowing the horse to sniff at it. He was surprised when the horse nudged his hand, almost as if it were asking to be patted.

Daphne watched Harry's hand stroking the air.

"What do you see?" She asked. That got his attention.

"You can't see it?"

Daphne shook her head, and Harry took her hand in his, and placed it upon the beast. Daphne's eyes shone with wonder as she felt the warm soft skin of the animal, though she couldn't see it.

"Morgana." She whispered.

"Hey, Come on." Tracey called out, and Harry and Daphne got into the carriage.

"What were you two doing?" Tracey asked with a silly grin on her face.

"Harry could see what was pulling the carriages. I felt it. It was…" Daphne looked out of the carriage to where there would have been horses on any other carriage.

"I thought they pulled themselves." Tracey looked confused.

"Oh no. They've always been there." Luna said. "They're very gentle things."

"What are they?" Harry asked.

"Thestrals, of course." Luna smiled.