I don't own Harry Potter but I appreciate being allowed to play with the characters.

Chapter 24

Some People Never Change

The train arrived at Hogsmeade station, it was early evening as usual. They departed the train but instead of turning left to where Hagrid was calling all the first years. The new second years turned right with the rest of the student body. As they approached a line if horseless carriages a few students seemed to react to the empty space In front differently.

They climbed in when one became available and were gently driven up to the castle.

"So Harry did you bring your broom, you can try-out for the house team this year."

His sister had been excited like this for the last two weeks.

"Yes I have my broom, no I won't be there on Saturday. I don't want to be compared with him, even worse I don't want to compete with him."

Rolling her eyes she lent back into Neville, boys were so stupid. Hermione cuddled into Harry and he relaxed, her thoughts echoing Sue's.

The carriages deposited the students at the main doors, where they disembarked and made their way to the Great hall. Percy had asked all the new second years to sit near the front, leaving space for the first years after their sorting. He reasoning that they would be the closest in age and therefore less daunting made sense. They watched the sorting with great interest, the experience being very different for them now.

At the Slytherin table, most of the students tried to hide their shock as Draco black clapped politely for every student, not just the new ones to his house. Soon the others around him were joining in, not wanting Draco to look out of place. Seeing this the Gryffindors not wanting to be out done by the snakes starting to cheer for everyone. The Ravenclaws were definitely not stupid so joined in the entertainment. With puffs loving the loyalty the students were showing to the school. By the time the Deputy head had gotten the letter C, the whole school was roaring and cheering for every student. Draco was laughing his head off inside. He had told his two new friends that he could prank the whole school into cheering for them no matter what house they were in. The four at the Gryffindor table were joining in with everyone. The next student to join them was a very excited Colin Creavy, the boy seem to vibrate as if he was occupying to points in space at the same time. He jumped off the stool and near sprinted to the table with Professor McGonagall snatching the sorting had from his head as he passed to avoid the boy taking it with him. Sitting he found himself next to Susan and opposite Hermione, looking to her left he spotted Harry.

"Your the Harry Potter, like 5he real Harry Potter. I mean like wow the Harry Potter."

Susan put her arm around the very excited boy. When it made contact with his wet clothes she looked at the boy in confusion.

"I fell in the lake and the squid lifted me out."

The boy proceeded to tell the whole story, the others looked on waiting for him to take a breath in silent wonder. It seemed like two full minutes before he needed to take on air. Harry started to become uncomfortable when the boy started to talk about him, it was at this point he could breath as Susan interrupted him, with a gentle reminder that her smelly brother didn't particularly like the attention he was getting. The boy blushed and apologised. The sorting continued with the whole school cheering for every new student. Ginny's friend whose name they discovered was Luna Lovegood had joined Ravenclaw, Ginny herself had been conflicted when the had had put her in Gryffindor, she was glad to be with her brother's but worried for her friend would be isolated with the Claws.

"Harry have you got your broom, Luna has done the Arithmancy and you have an 87% probability of a place with the way you fly."

Harry tried not to sound frustrated when replied.

"For personal reasons I have elected not to try out."

There was only one more new student after Ginny and as the school cheered she made eye contact with Luna and gently shook her head. The blond then scanned the room stopped and shook her own head.

The Headmaster lifted himself out of the chair and approached the Dias to address the students.

"I would first like to congratulate you all for the warm welcome you have given the new students. If my old eyes did not deceive me that welcome was started at the Slytherin table. So I think it's only right that that house should receive 100 points to start the year."

Almost all the Slytherins cheered followed by the other tables still enjoying themselves.

"A very warm welcome to our retuning students, just a few quick notifications before we continue."

The headmaster then proceeded to give his usual welcome notices, he then sat and the food appeared.

The feast finished and the perfects arrived at the front of the table. Hermione offered for the four of them to guide the new first years perfects up to the common room if it was of help to them. Percy was very pleased and silently promised he would put it a good word with his head of house about the intelligent a caring young girl. Around the hall at the other table there were more than a few sets of eyes watching the young girl linking arms with the boy who lived. Some because they wanted what she had and others because they hated who she was with. The deputy lent towards the headmaster and whispered to him, he answered her with a smile and suggested they meet for lunch tomorrow. It had been found that in the past starting classes the day after the feast was detrimental to the new students acclimating to their surroundings. This year they arrived on a Tuesday so the first classes would be Thursday.

Percy arrived to the prefect meeting earlier than the others when he explained how he and the other Gryffindor perfects had time to get to their common room before the rest of their house because Miss Granger and the other second years were escorting the new first years for them. By the time they reached the common room they had the time to organise themselves and we're ready to show the first years straight to their doems. The others thought it a great idea and planned to see if they could implement in the next year. Penelope Clearwater one of the Ravenclaw perfects gave Hermione 20 points for her dedication to the school. Percy smiled at his girlfriend silently thanking her.

The following day the group approached the gargoyle ready to meet with Pops and Aunt Mini. Susan and Harry ran to embrace their aunt.

"How was the train ride" she asked. The four proceeded to talk with their adopted family and share all about the holidays they may have missed. Harry was asked if he had his broom and received a raised eyebrow from his Aunt when he informed her he would not be trying out for the team.

"Harry, If your not going to try out because you don't want to that is absolutely fine, but if your not going to because of James take a walk down to the trophy room and have a look. On another matter I believe you ability to educate your fellow students will come in handy this year."

The group returned a confused look.

"Mister Blacks bouts of singing. It seemed someone felt the need to educate him. Alas I feel I have a member of the faculty I have been burdened with."

Hermione growled and Susan smiled.

"Seems you are aware of such a person, Know I can no way condone any attacks on a teacher if one felt the need to leave then that is beyond my control."

The only response he received was Susan's "Excellent." As she rubbed her hands together.

They ate cake and chatted until it was time to leave. Harry sent the others off so he could go for a walk, he waylaid Hermione's worried look with a kiss on the cheek and reassurance that he was fine and wanted to think. As he walked through the room full of memories, he could almost hear cheering and chanting. He stopped when he approached the Quidditch display case.

Harry had known about his father's achievements, seeing them in person was a different experience. The name engraved into the plaque beneath the cup and the moving photo of him being carried on his team's shoulders stirred emotions within him.

"I hear your not trying out for the team. Scared your not as good as Daddy."

Harry turned to see Draco leaning against the wall, legs and arms crossed. A smirk on his face and a gleam in his eye. Harry didn't bother to speak he just turned and marched back to the Griff dorms, he would show that ferrite and everyone else. He was his father's son.

Draco pushed off the wall and strolled back to his dorm, he had managed to wind Potter up and he would also collect on some hefty bets if all goes well. Have fun, make money. The boy was enjoying the Black way of life, just a shame the pipes in the castle were so noisy this year.

The following two days passed without incident, the time tables were handed out, with Potions and Defence at the start of the week Harry had an entire weekend to prepare for the two teacher's he disliked to most.

Saturday arrived and Harry found himself excited. He woke early and snuck down to the common room with his broom. That was a waste of time his best friend, sister and girlfriend were waiting for him.

"ready to get breakfast and go down to try-outs."

"How did you know."

Hermione smiled, kissed him and took his hand leading him to 5he great hall. They all are breakfast and walked down to the Quidditch pitch.

Oliver Wood the Gryffindor team Captain addressed the group of students.

"I would like to thank you for coming today, if you could separate into groups. Beaters here, Chaser's here and Seeker's here."

He motioned to three different areas of the pitch. He had a strong team last year with the exception of Seeker. Jon had been a seventh year Chaser try out who volunteered to fill the Seeker post when he failed to gain a Chaser spot and nobody wanted to play Seeker. First he was going to deal with the 9 new Chaser, when he asked Fred and George to send up the bludgers two dropped out before they started. The other seven were going to take on the three returning girls. It may have looked uneven but the last years trio wiped the floor with them. When they Landed he asked if anyone wanted to challenge any of them head to head. Gryffindors were not stupid if they could not take them at almost 2-1, one on one was a no starter. He then turned to his one new beater candidate only to see him shake his head.

"I like all my limbs working they are dangerous."

Everyone laughed. It was now time for the hard part one second year stood with his broom over his shoulder.

"Are you any good?"

"let it out and we will see."

Oliver smirked at the cocky little shit, grabbed a practice snitch and lobbed it into the air. Harry smiled and started to run with his broom in his hand. Suddenly he threw it In front of himself, jumped on and shot forward. Laying his body along the shaft he increased speed, leaning his body back he curved up in a gentle arc. His eyes were constantly moving search for a glint of gold. The gathered crowd watched in stunned silence. From the ground Hermione was almost chewing her fingers off. Harry had flown over the holidays but not like this, she watched as he turned suddenly and made for the left goal hoop where he flattened his body to the broom again and passed through the hoop at hear top speed. He slowed quickly and returned to the group at a more sedate pace. He landed next to a gob smacked Oliver, handed him the small golden ball and grabbed his girlfriend and kissed her before she could shout at him. The crowd was cheering, Oliver was staring at the ball in his hand and Hermione was trying to look cross while still being a little dazed from the kiss. The team as shouted.

"WE'RE GOING TO WIN"