Ch. 7

Susan woke up on September 1st before her alarm went off. She ran threw her morning routine and dressed quickly in comfy muggle clothes. After getting dressed she made one more check of her trunk to make sure that she had all of her things. Satisfied she had everything she picked up her trunk charmed to be feather light by her Auntie and dragged it downstairs. Harry was already there and she joined him at the table and dug into the stack of pancakes Puck placed in front of her.

"Morning Suzy," greeted Harry. "All ready to start our second year?"

"Morning Harry, I sure am. I hope the new headmaster is able to make some much needed changes."

"Me too." Harry took a drink from his apple juice. "I hope one of those changes is we can get apple juice for breakfast. This stuff is way better then pumpkin juice. We should go to the kitchens and see if the elves can stock it."

Susan nodded her head in agreement and the kids went back to eating their breakfast until Amelia and Sirius walked in. Together the four of them finished their food, gathered the trunks and took the floo to the Leaky Cauldron. From there, they caught a cab to Kings Cross Station.

The four walked into the station and waited for a lull in foot traffic before heading through the barrier between platform 9 and 10. "Ok Harry, why don't you go first this time" Amelia said.

Harry nodded and moved his trolley around and took off at a run towards the barrier. Susan watched as Harry approached the barrier but where she expected Harry to disappear he instead crashed with a loud bang with his trunk falling on the ground while he ending up sprawled on his back. Suzy ran up followed quickly by Amelia and Sirius.

"Harry are you ok?" asked Susan worriedly as she knelt down to help him up.

"Yeah I'm fine Suzy. Just got the wind knocked out of me. What happened, why didn't the barrier work?"

"That's a good question Harry." Amelia said as she helped Harry up. Susan watched as her Auntie took a quick look around and discreetly cast a notice-me-not charm on the area. "Now that that's done, let's see what we can see." Again she took out her wand and cast a few spells at the wall. "It seems that there is a foreign magic that is preventing people from going through the barrier." After a few more waves of her wand she scowled again. "That stupid elf again, what is he playing at."

"Auntie, are you saying this is that Dobby again?" asked Harry.

"Who is Dobby?" asked Sirius.

"Dobby is this house elf that is convinced Harry shouldn't return to Hogwarts because of some danger he was unable to tell us about." Susan said.

"Yes, it's the same magical signature that was laced into our wards. Just a second and I will be able to dispel it and the barrier should work just fine again." Amelia waved her wand in a complicated pattern and nodded in satisfaction. "There that should fix it. Let me try." She walked forward and disappeared through the barrier. A minute later she reappeared. "Ok, it's fixed, let's get through and get you on the train." All three nodded and followed Amelia back through the barrier and onto Platform 9¾. "I will head to the ministry and file a report about this after you two leave and see if I can dig up any information."

Amelia and Sirius helped Susan and Harry load their trunks on the train and after another round of hugs and goodbyes the kids bade the two adults' goodbye. "Have a good term you two. Try to stay out of trouble." Amelia said. "And keep me informed if anything out of the ordinary happens."

"Ok Auntie. Love you." Susan gave her aunt a big hug.

"Bye Auntie. Love you too." Harry gave her a goodbye hug also.

"By kids, see you later and remember to keep your eyes out for a certain map I told you about. Last I knew Filtch confiscated it. And do try to have a little fun."

"Will do Padfoot, have a nice time at the resort. Write me when you get there." Harry said giving his godfather a big hug.

"Same for me too Padfoot" said Susan giving Sirius a hug as well. The two kids got on the train as the last whistle blew and started to drag their trunks down the corridors in search of their friends. They found Hannah and Neville sitting in an empty compartment towards the back of the train.

"Hey guys" greeted Harry as he entered the compartment. He stowed his trunk up in the overhead rack and then helped Susan with hers. Together they sat on the bench opposite Hannah and Neville and settled in for the long ride north.

"So are you two ready for second year?" asked Susan.

"Yeah this is going to great. I can't wait for DADA this year. Lockhart is amazing and I'm sure that we're going to learn so much." Hannah said.

Susan rolled her eyes at her friend and her fangirl attitude. She could see Neville beside her also roll his eyes and she knew he was thinking the same thing. She shrugged to herself and figured that Hannah would realize soon enough the truth about Lockhart. She just hoped her friend wasn't too devastated after their first class.

As the train chugged its way north, many of the groups' friends popped their heads in to say hi. About half way through the train ride Daphne and Tracey came into the compartment.

"Do you guys mind if we join you? Our other compartment was invaded by foul pests." Tracy said.

All four nodded and the two girls sat down. "So how was your summer?" Daphne asked the group.

"Pretty good, we spent a lot of time doing things together." Susan said indicating all four of them. "We even spent about 2 weeks at Disney World at the beginning of the summer."

"What's Disney World?" Daphne asked. What followed was a long in depth explanation of the wonderful world of Disney complete with showing photos from Harry's photo album. "That sounds amazing. To think that muggles can do that without the aid of magic, and you said you flew there in giant metal birds over the ocean. You know I'm beginning to think that we don't give muggles enough credit."

"I've been trying to tell you that for years Daphne, you just never believed me" said Tracy in an exasperated tone. "If your parents would just let you come with my family on our trips into Muggle London you wouldn't be so surprised."

The two girls continued to argue back and forth in a good natured way that Susan could tell that this was an argument they had had many times. "Hey Tracey, how about the next time we plan to all go Tracey, maybe with enough of us going we will have a better chance of convincing Daphne's parents."

Tracey shrugged. "It's worth a try. We will have to try that next summer."

"And just what are you two doing hanging around these puffs?" came a slow obnoxious drawl from the door. When Susan looked at the door she was graced with the unpleasant sight of Draco Malfoy standing in the door flanked by his ever present gorillas.

"If you must know Draco" said Daphne in her patented Ice Queen Tone, "an obnoxious pest came into our compartment and we decided to find better company."

Malfoy's face reddened in what Susan thought was anger or embracement. "I don't know Daphne; the pest seemed to have followed you. It can't seem to take a hint." Susan said the others in the compartment completely ignoring Malfoy."

"You better watch out Bones. This year is going to be different, big things are going to happen and I for one am going to enjoy watching what happens. Hopefully the results will be satisfying." Malfoy gloated glancing towards Hannah and Harry.

"Your right Malfoy, things are going to be different" said Neville surprising everyone by speaking up to Malfoy. "The new headmaster won't be turning a blind eye to you and your Junior Death Eater antics."

"Sod off you squib. You're a disgrace to all wizards." Malfoy shot back glaring at Neville.

"A squib am I? I finished 15th overall in our year last year. What was your placement? 25th? Who is the disgrace now Malfoy?"

Malfoy's face grew even reddened and Susan had to hold a hand over her mouth to stop from laughing at the ponce's expression. He finally turned around followed closely by his gorillas. After the door closed the whole group broke into laughter. "Neville mate, that was awesome. Way to go. It's all ways good to see that git taken down a peg or two." Harry told Neville giving him a slap on the back.

"What do you think he meant by something happening. Do you think he knows anything about what that House Elf was trying to tell us?"

"What are you guys talking about?" Tracey asked.

Susan explained "We got a strange visit from a House Elf after Harry's birthday over the summer." She then went into detail about the warnings, the changing of the wards and the problems with the barrier.

"I've never heard of a House Elf acting like that before. Ours is pretty happy, but she is treated like part of the family so I guess that helps." Daphne commented. "I think you're right that it is probably one of the staunch conservative families, they are the only ones I can think of who would treat a House Elf like that. We can keep our ears open in Slytherin and let you know if we hear anything." That decided the conversation switched to lighter topics and a game of Exploding Snap begun. More of the groups' friends popped in from time to time to say hi and talk about summer. Hermione Granger even made an appearance and talked for a few minutes. Susan was happy to see that the bushy haired girl had mellowed out a bit over the summer. Susan had gotten to know the girl a little when she would go to the library on nights that Harry was with Pomfrey and she had tried to get her to calm down and understand the wizarding world a bit better. The weirdest thing though was when a red head first year girl popped her head looked around and spotting Harry, squeaked and ran away her face as red as her hair.

Soon the announcement was made that they would be arriving at Hogsmead Station in 10 minutes. The boys left the compartment in order to give the girls a bit of privacy while they changed. Susan was surprised to see that she had started to develop a bit more than all other her friends. Hannah and she had talked a bit about it over the summer and Hannah had commented that she was a bit jealous of her friend's early growth. Susan just blushed and tried to brush off her friends concerns with comments that she would grow in her own time.

After the girls had all changed they switched places with the boys and they waited out in the corridor while they changed. When the train stopped they all exited the train together and Susan watched as Harry ran over and greeted Hagrid. They talked for a few minutes as Hagrid gathered up the first years then he made his way back and they went to get into one of the horseless carriages. When they approached the carriage Harry froze and had his eyes locked onto the front of the carriage where the horse should be.

"Harry what are you looking at?" asked Susan.

"The thing that's pulling the carriage is probably the ugliest horse I have ever seen." Harry replied

"What thing pulling the carriage. I don't see anything there." Susan said in confusion.

"Sure there are, can't you see them? They are big skeleton like horses with wings. They are kind of creepy to tell you the truth." He walked closer to the front of the carriage and stuck out his hand and seemed to pet something. "They seem nice enough though and he seems to like to be petted."

Susan walked up next to Harry. "I can't see anything Harry."

"Here" He took her hand and placed it next to his. "Now you can at least feel it. You're petting its hindquarters."

Susan could feel something warm and solid under her hand. "That is weird. I wonder what they are and why you can see them and I can't. We'll have to remember to ask Hagrid the next time we see him. But we need to get in the carriage if we want to get to the feast." Susan gave the thing one more pat and Harry and her climbed into the carriage with Hannah, Neville, Daphne and Tracey. When they reached the castle they exited the carriage and walked in separating from their Slytherin friends and Neville at the door to the Great Hall. Susan, Hannah and Harry took seats at the Hufflepuff table and waited for the Sorting. As they were waiting, Susan caught up with Megan Jones and Sally-Anne Perks about how their summer went. Apparently they spent time together going to all the Quidditch games. Both girls seemed like big fans and since Megan's cousin played for the Hollyhead Harpies she was able to get them free tickets.

The first years were finally led in by Professor McGonagall and the Sorting Hat placed on its stool. Once again it sang a song about the four founders and the traits they looked for in their students. After the applause quieted down the sorting commenced. Susan leaned over and whispered in Harry's ear "that was different than the one he sang at our sorting."

"I imagine he sings a new song every year. It must be pretty boring being a hat that is only taken out of the headmaster's office once a year." Harry replied and Susan nodded. When the sorting ended, the new headmaster stood and the hall grew quite.

"Welcome all to another year at Hogwarts. I am Professor Foote your new headmaster. I know you are all probably hungry so I will save my speech for after the dessert. So without further ado, let's eat."

With the last words, food appeared on the table. Susan loved the opening feast as all of her favorite foods were always served and she ate a lot of everything. It might have had something to do with the long train ride with only sweets to eat but she found herself once again eating more of everything then she normally did. Talk resumed around the table as all the Hufflepuffs were happy to be back with their friends after the long break. Tales of summer adventures were swapped back and forth between courses and expectations for what this year would bring rounded off the dessert.

After the last of the cakes disappeared from the plates the Headmaster rose from his chair again. "Once again, let me welcome you all to Hogwarts. As I said earlier, my name is Professor Adam Foote. I was originally a professor at the Salem Institute. Over the summer, I talked with the professors and the school governors and decided that there needs to be a few changes made around here. First of all, there is now a zero tolerance policy in effect for bullying. This goes for both verbal and physical bullying. I will not tolerate any form of bigotry or racism. Use of derogatory names will be punished. Also, I will be assessing all of the teachers throughout the first half of the year and asses there teaching style. I invite students to send me comments and concerns so that we can address these issues and fix them. Also, I would like to introduce our new Defense against the Dark Arts Professor Gilderoy Lockhart." The whole hall erupted in applause and to Susan's chagrin it had a distinct famine sound to it. "Now, it is late and classes start tomorrow so goodnight and welcome back."

With that the hall was filled with the scratching of benches as the students rose to head to their common rooms. Susan and the rest of her friends made their way down to the Badger den with the rest of the Hufflepuffs and waited in the common room for the meeting with their head of house. After waiting a few minutes Professor Sprout walked into the common room.

"Good evening my Badgers. I will make this quick since it is late and I know everyone is anxious to get to sleep. First I would like to welcome our new First Years. I am excited to have you in my house and want you to know that if you need anything at all, my door is always open and any of the older students are also there to help. I have assigned the two fifth year Prefects to help you for the first week find your way around the school as it can get rather confusing. On another note, after the wonderful results of last year, I am instituting a new policy in the house. One night a week, every member of the year group will have a study session. I do not care what night you choose, but it must be one night. Also, I encourage you to branch out to the other houses and invite them to the study session also. Try not to let being in different houses effect your friendship. I know as Hufflepuff House, we don't have the best reputation for achievement, but after last year, I know that we can show everyone just what we Hufflepuffs are made of. Goodnight and I will hand out your schedules in the morning."

With that their plump Head of House turned around and left the common room. Susan looked around the room. She could see that there was a mixed reaction to Professor Sprouts plan to have a mandatory study group. Her year looked the least effected since it was because it was already established as the norm for them. The older students were a different story. Susan could here grumblings of complaints from a few people. Surprisingly it was mostly for Sprouts suggestion of working with other houses. Susan guessed that the separation of houses and biased opinions were already so ingrained that they would be the hardest to convince. The First Years would be the easiest as they had no preconceived notions.

"Well, I think I am going to go write in my journal a bit before going to bed." Harry told the girls.

"I'm glad you like the journal Harry, I can't remember exactly why I got that particular one, I just saw it and thought it was perfect." Susan said.

"It is Suzy, he helps a lot. Well goodnight." And with that Harry turned towards the boys door leaving Susan to wonder what Harry meant by 'he'. Deciding to put it out of her mind as just a slip of the tong or a muggle habit she headed off to bed also.