Chapter 3

Harry,

Glad to here that you arrived safely. This is an important year for you and I don't want you following the example of my final year - the less said about that the better. Well that's what Moony thinks but I reckon you should have fun this year as you only live once

On a more serious note - don't forget you're training you never know when you might need it. Use the map to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, if this happens activate the mirror and I will be there as soon as possible.

Harry, this year please don't block out Draco and Theo again, they are good friends and they only want the best for you and in return they will stop you from brooding and worrying too much. It's been quite here, the wards haven't detected anything so I think we are all clear after the breach.

One again have a fun year and I'll see you a Christmas

Sirius

P.S Burn after reading this

He hadn't been expecting a letter this early into the term. Usually Sirius would write only when he could remember, or if he had important issues to inform Harry of. Most of his letters came from Remus instead. Harry finished reading the letter and mulled it over. He hadn't wanted to leave the Manor to continue his schooling, not this year anyway. It was just more mindless hours of boredom concerning things that he already knew. The only redeeming feature would be the grounds. It was a good place to escape from everything and just think. Theo said he did to much thinking - Harry retorted that he should do more of it.

Harry was snapped out his musing by Draco sitting heavily down next to him and sighing angrily. "Still angry about last night? " Harry asked him distractedly while he watched the letter crumple into a pile of ash.

"Not really, it's Sunday and I should still be in bed but Crabbe and Goyle wouldn't shut the hell up with their snoring. Woke me up and then I couldn't drop off again so the only thing left for me to do was actually get up"

Harry smirked "It'll do you good, don't want to get another detention for hexing your roommates - we all know how that ended last time"

"Well aren't you chipper this morning" Draco replied while he poured himself a glass of pumpkin juice and started to eat. A comfortable silence followed and Harry looked round the Hall. It was still only half full as many of the student were still in bed. Further down the Slytherin table there were a couple of people reading the paper with their breakfast or talking to their friends. Harry and Draco were the only two yet up from Seventh Year. Harry looked up absent mindedly at the Head table and Dumbledore caught his eye. Harry acknowledged him with a nod of his head and then looked away. Dumbledore was as old as forever and was a close family friend yet Harry cared little for him, something that Sirius and Remus disapproved of. If there was one thing that Harry knew for certain it was that Dumbledore was a meddler an he wanted him as far away from him as possible, just to be on the safe side.

"When do you reckon Theo will drag himself out of bed? " Harry asked turning to Draco.

"Surprisingly he was already gone when I got up and I assumed he would be down here. Obviously he's not and I have no idea where he's slinked off to - I highly doubt it' the library to start on some studying" Draco replied with a hint of sarcasm. Harry couldn't be bothered pulling out the map to see where he was so he left it. It's his business to do what ever he wants and I'd know all about privacy, Harry thought to himself. He didn't give his friend a reply and Draco hadn't expected him to, Harry could sometimes be a man of few words.

Tracey woke up later than normal on Sunday working. She stretched and got the clothes she was to wear today from her trunk. She checked that the bathroom was empty. As it was 9 in the morning the rest of the girls were still asleep. Tracey went into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

When Tracey was finished she put on a pair of jeans and a checked shirt. She then brushed her hair, dried it with a quick spell from her wand and braided the front so it was off her face. Seeing that it was only half 9 she decided that she could just wander down to the Hall. She strolled through the halls passing the Friar on the way. He waved in greeting and Tracey smiled in response. The Friar was her favourite of all the ghosts, he always seemed so cheerful - well despite being dead

Tracey entered the Hall and saw that the Slytherin table was nearly empty. She spotted Draco sitting with Harry, and as they were the only seventh years there she went to sit with them. She sat opposite Draco and filled her plate with bacon and eggs. Both looked up as if expecting some one else than when they realised it was someone else Draco scowled and Harry looked away bored.

"Decided to grace us with your presence then Davis?" asked Draco sarcastically

"No wonder you have the girls falling at your feet talking to them like that" Tracey replied cooly. He merely raised his eyebrow in response. No longer feeling in the mood to talk to either of them she looked around for a distraction. It took the shape of the Daily Prophet, which unfortunately was by Harry. Over the course of her seven years at Hogwarts she had little contact with him and she felt slightly awkward when she asked if she could borrow it. He looked up, surprise evident in his eyes and nodded his head in agreement. He then got up and left. Charming - he really likes up to his aloof persona. Draco followed after shooting her a dirty look that Tracey personally thought she hadn't deserved. She then opened the paper and started to read about idiot politicians while she waited for Daphne to get up or Hermione to leave the library