The children had left to go to Hogwarts hours ago and during that time Sirius had holed himself up in his room. He could hear Molly distantly working away in the kitchen, clearing up the mess from the morning. Ginny was packing her bag. They were returning to their home, the Burrow. Sirius sighed, once again he was to be left on his own. Sure there would be Order meetings and some Order members would turn up from time to time for a bit of chat, but he was going to be sole soul in this vast house. Even if he had patched up things with Kreacher, he yearned for a human contact and besides Kreacher wasn't his house-elf anymore. Thank heavens for small mercies. They were now civil to each other, but there was just too much history between them.

Sirius couldn't go on missions, he couldn't even go outside as a free man. He had long ago accepted this, grudgingly, for he had one aim that he wanted to put above all others - looking after his godson. However, that too was no longer required. He was an adult, with a wife and a child on the way. He wasn't certain what responsibility he would have had for a teenage Harry anyway other than giving him a home. Because even as a teenager, Harry was mature. He had grasped this fact, when he had followed him throughout his third year. He felt bad and guilty as he remembered the talk he had had with Harry when he was leaving for Hogwarts. It was wrong of him to snap at him, when he was clearly looking after his godfather. Perhaps that was why, Sirius was supposed to be the adult; it was his job to look after and not to be looked after.

Well, it wouldn't do to brood. He left his room and emerged back into the kitchen.

"Oh Sirius, we were just leaving," said Molly. She was apparently done with her chores. "I have stocked the pantry with food, so you don't have to worry. If you need anything just send a Patronus."

Sirius grunted as he sat down on the dining table, looking down dejectedly at his hands.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Ginny.

"Are you alright?"

Sirius shrugged.

"Don't be upset with Harry. He only wants you to be safe," she said.

He waved her off, "I am not. I was the one out of line." He swallowed against the feelings that gathered in his chest and throat; he had spent thinking over their conversation this morning and he knew that he should not have behaved the way he had nor should he have made that comment about James. By the time he had calmed down and wanted to apologise to Harry, they had already left for Hogwarts. "It's just hard," he said in a low voice.

Sirius felt himself wrapped in a warm hug of Molly Weasley. "I know."

Ginny understood what Sirius was feeling. He felt trapped and isolated. She bit her lip in contemplation. She would have readily agreed to stay at Grimmauld Place for company. But, she was advised to stay at her home, out in the fresh air, go on walk and keep her body fit. That couldn't be done in this house, where the only form of exercise was climbing the stairs up and down. Nor she could visit him often, the Floo was highly regulated, except for talking with select few outlets, it was closed off for travelling. She could Apparate, but she hated feeling queasy and besides, she was allowed to Apparate only for a month or two; afterwards the Floo was the only means of safe travel for pregnant women.

"Why don't you come with us to the Burrow?" she blurted out.

"What!?"

Her mother was looking at her in surprise, so was Sirius.

"Yeah. It is guarded by wards. We live on the outskirts of Muggle village. So we rarely get visitors."

"Perhaps we should consult with Professor Dumbledore first," said Molly.

Sirius smiled tightly, "Thanks for the offer, Ginny. But you know -"

"Come on, mum. It's better than wandering around the house like a lost ghost. Being cooped up isn't good for you and I know that it will make you more reckless," she teased, as Sirius threw her a look of affront.

"But there will be stipulations. You can't wander off. Stay within the wards, especially in your Animagus form. In the house, it's fine. And if something does happen, Kreacher will be able to get you out within a second."

Molly still looked hesitant, but could see how much it meant to Sirius and in the end she relented. With her boys at school and Arthur at work, she was expecting a quiet house. But with her daughter and Sirius, they could perhaps liven things up a bit.

Sirius gave a childish whoop of joy and hugged Ginny in appreciation. "Do you think Harry will forgive me?"

"I know you didn't mean to say what you did, you were just annoyed at being asked to stay inside. Don't even bother apologising, there is nothing to forgive," she said the last bit in Harry's voice.

"You can talk to him tonight with the mirrors."

They had made it to the train station and onto the Hogwarts Express with no fuss or worries. As it had happened last time, the whispering that had followed him since they had gotten on the train was already getting on Harry's nerves. He was being branded as a liar. Hermione and Ron had left for the prefect carriage as soon as they had boarded the train, leaving Harry alone. He was lucky to spot Neville outside a compartment containing a familiar blonde haired girl.

"Hello Luna," Harry greeted cheerfully as he opened the compartment door and dragged in Neville. Harry put his trunk up on the rack, a nervous Neville following him uncertainly. Harry then realised that he didn't know Luna yet, but she seemed unbothered by his slip. He introduced himself just in case and Neville, who timidly waved.

"Hello," Luna dreamily said, her eyes slightly unfocused, her usual butterbeer cork necklace around her neck and her wand behind her ear. "It is a lovely morning, isn't it?"

"Err, I suppose," Harry answered as politely as he could, a fond smile playing on his lips. He had missed Luna and her eccentricities recently; she was truly a great and loyal friend and her way of viewing the world was just what he needed to help him forget about this morning.

"You're Harry Potter," she added.

"I know I am," said Harry. "How has your holiday been?"

"Oh, rather good. Daddy and I went to Sweden to look for signs of the Crumple Headed Snorkack. They like the cold you, see." She softly said as she stared absentmindedly out of the window. Neville sent her a baffled expression but seemed too nervous to actually say anything - he kept on giving the strange girl a few cautious looks.

Harry hid a snigger.

"How was yours, mate?" Harry asked Neville. He was determined that this year he was going to bring Neville out of his shell a little.

The boy had bloomed in to a likeable leader and Harry was unsure if he needed his friend to step up into that role again. He knew Neville could become the same man, he just needed some encouragement.

The shy boy instantly lit up.

"Oh it was great. Guess what I got for my birthday?" He asked. Harry raised an eyebrow teasingly at him as he answered the same as he had last time.

"Another remembrall?"

"No," he replied, not even noticing the slight joke. "I could do with one, though, I lost the old one ages ago…"

Harry bit his lip slightly in order to not laugh as he watched his friend brag about his new Mimbulus Mimbletonia.

"Neville, don't!" Harry's sharp warning rang out in the compartment; as he saw Neville prodding the plant.

"Don't worry, Harry, it will only do something to protect itself…"

Neville began to explain as he looked at Harry wide-eyed.

"Yeah, but…" Harry began as he tried to come up with a reason to stop Neville from prodding the plant; he did not want a face full of sap. "It looks like it might burst any second and I don't want to be covered in any plant insides…."

Despite the fact that his excuse was pitiful and he had trailed off at the end, Neville nodded and put down the quill and the plant. Harry sighed out a breath of relief.

The compartment door slid open to reveal Harry's former crush, Cho Chang.

"Hello, Harry," she said in a nervous voice.

Harry had thought that she might be popping in, but now that she was here, he had no idea what to say except, "Hello Cho." He squirmed a bit in his seat, aware of the Neville and Luna's stares directed at , Cho herself continued, "Well… just thought I'd say hello… bye then." Rather pink in the face, she closed the door and departed.

Harry slumped back in his seat and groaned. He really was bad when it came to girls. How was he supposed to let her down? He ought to have asked Ginny on tips to rejecting girls. He was used to witches throwing themselves at him, but he would go on about his way, ignoring them and their seductions. But he had sort of a history with Cho. He had fancied her and she him, a bit atleast. That didn't matter anyway, he was Ginny's. He wondered how she was holding up. Three more months..

"Blibbering Humdingers carry the same look on their face when they find their perfect partner," Luna's soft voice broke him out of his thoughts. "But I can't see your partner with you, Harry. Is she alright?"

Harry blinked at the strange perceptiveness of her. He shook his head in amusement. Neville kept darting his eyes between the two, hoping to make some sense of their conversation.

The weather beyond the train windows was as patchy as it had been all summer; they passed through stretches of the chilling mist, then out into weak, clear sunlight. It was during one of the clear spells, when the sun was visible almost directly overhead, that Ron and Hermione entered the compartment at last.

Harry again made the necessary introductions for the newcomers. They continued chatting, with Ron and Hermione finding out what or who Luna was. He had to stuff his knuckles in his mouth numerous times, when his best friends kept sending him looks of both questioning and bemusement.

The compartment door slid open -

"Ah, look who it is. Potty and his little misfit gang," drawled Draco Malfoy, who had made his usual unwanted entrance, with his cronies Crabbe and Goyle in tow.

Harry sighed; he really had no wish to confront Malfoy. It seemed like bullying, a twenty-four year old against a fifteen year old. He kept his mouth shut.

"Tell me, how does it feel being second-best to Weasley, Potter?" he asked.

"Shut up, Malfoy," said Hermione sharply.

"I seem to have touched a nerve. You see, I, unlike you, have been made a prefect, which means that I, unlike you, have the power to hand out punishments." When Harry didn't rise to his taunts, he said, "What, no comebacks. Have you gone soft Potter? Is it because of how you were humiliated at the end of last year? Pity, I would have loved to see you begging for mercy -"

"How was your summer, Malfoy? Must be cheerful having dinners with Voldemort." When they shuddered, Harry smirked, "Hasn't your Dad arranged a meeting with him yet? You will be pissing yourself when he regards you with his red eyes. I hope you are ready to serve him as his worthless servant. But then again, Voldemort has no need for spineless cowards like you."

Malfoy's jaw clenched, "You think you are something special, don't you Potter? Better watch your back - "

Harry stood up, grabbed him by his collar, "I know what type of wizard you are. Your family is a disgrace, licking the boots of whoever is in power, thinking you carry blood which is purer than others. Guess what, if you use this useless brain, you might find out the difference rather accepting your family's antiquated ideologies."

Malfoy paled, as Harry shoved him and his cronies out of compartment, shutting the door. Harry turned to see his mates regarding him.

"Harry, was that necess -," began Hermione.

"That was bloody brilliant!" exclaimed Ron. "He won't trouble us again."

"I gave him chance to beat it, but he was asking for it," said Harry.

Luna had long gone back to reading the Quibbler, while Neville was looking worried.

"Alright, Neville?" Harry asked.

"He's really back, isn't he?" Neville asked in return.

Harry nodded.

But before he could say anything further, the compartment door slid open again for the third time and two people stepped inside - a breathless third-year girl and Michael Corner.

"What is with people barging into our compartment today!" remarked Ron.

"I'm supposed to deliver these to Neville Longbottom and Harry P-Potter," the girl faltered, as her eyes met Harry's and she turned scarlet. She was holding out two scrolls of parchment tied with violet ribbon. Perplexed, Harry and Neville took the scroll addressed to each of them and the girl stumbled back out of the compartment.

"What is it?" Ron demanded, as Harry unrolled his.

"An invitation," said Harry, groaning.

Michael Corner cleared his throat to remind that he too had unfinished business with them. "Weasley."

"Yes. Do I know you?" asked Ron.

"Michael Corner, Ravenclaw."

Ron raised his eyebrows and turned to face Harry, who gave a slight nod.

"I was hoping to talk to Ginny. Searched the train, but she isn't here."

"Right. She isn't coming to Hogwarts this year. Decided to stay home," answered Ron. This was rehearsed by everyone who knew the real situation. There was no mandatory attendance at Hogwarts.

"I see," he stated in a clipped voice. His eyes were blank and his jaw jutted out a bit in defiance and anger. "We had decided to keep in touch during the summer, only she didn't seem keen. Just sent me one letter explaining things couldn't work between us and she wasn't coming back to school. Did your family went away for the summer?"

"You know the reason then. What more do you want?" retorted Ron.

Ignoring Ron, Michael turned his attention to Harry, "Potter, you must've been with them. Heard you spend more time with Weasleys than your Muggle relatives."

"What of it?"

"Nothing. Happy not to waste my time on someone who refuses to move on," Michael gave Harry a last malicious look and departed.

"Git," said Harry and Ron at the same time.

"Is your compartment always so exciting? Can I sit here the next time too?" asked Luna, eyeing them.

"Of course, Luna. Friends always sit together," said Harry.

"Friends," her eyes sparkled at the term. "Never had those before. Must be thrilling," and with that comment she once again disappeared behind her magazine.

Neville asked timidly, "Who's Professor Slughorn?" holding the invitation in hand.

"New teacher," said Harry. "Well, I suppose we'll have to go, won't we?" He knew that the invitation like in his sixth year was a front for the membership to his Slug Club. He didn't really want to go, but he preferred to keep a good relationship with the Potions master. He could always skip out the dinners at Hogwarts later.

"But what does he want me for?" asked Neville nervously, as though he was expecting detention.

"He likes famous people," said Harry without thinking, as they made their way towards their destination.

"Famous," said Neville. "You mean -"

"I uh, I know about your parents. Sorry that happened to you," replied Harry truthfully.

Neville looked alarmed, "You won't -"

Harry assured him that he wouldn't say anything about his parents to others.

Harry readied himself at the fawning that was going to happen, and Slughorn nitpicking students as if diamonds out of coals. They spent an hour in the compartment C, as the professor meandered off into a long-winded reminiscence. On he went with more anecdotes about illustrious wizards he had taught, all of whom had been delighted to join what he called the 'Slug Club' at Hogwarts. They were finally sent off, with promises of another small reunion in the future.

When they stepped out on the station of Hogsmeade they were greeted by the first sting of the night air on their faces and the new voice of Professor Grubbly-Plank, who was going to take the position of Care of Magical Creatures, while Hagrid was off in the mountains befriending giants.

The Entrance Hall was ablaze with torches and echoing with footsteps as the students crossed the flagged stone floor for the double doors to the right, leading to the Great Hall and the start-of-term feast. The four long house tables in the Great Hall were filling up under the starless black ceiling, which was just like the sky they could glimpse through the high windows. Candles floated in midair all along the tables, illuminating the silvery ghosts who were dotted about the Hall and the faces of the students talking eagerly, exchanging summer news, shouting greetings at friends from other houses, eyeing one another's new haircuts and robes. Again, Harry noticed people putting their heads together to whisper as he passed; he gritted his teeth and tried to act as though he neither noticed nor cared.

Luna drifted away from them at the Ravenclaw table. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville found seats together about halfway down the table between Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor house ghost, and Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown.

The Sorting Ceremony quickly followed. Dumbledore only gave a short welcoming message before allowing them to tuck in, the food magically appearing on the tables.

When all the students had finished eating and the noise level in the Hall was starting to creep upwards again, Dumbledore got to his feet once more. Talking ceased immediately as all turned to lace the Headmaster. Harry was feeling pleasantly drowsy now. His four-poster bed was waiting somewhere above, wonderfully warm and soft; though scarce of the loving embrace of his wife.

"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices,' said Dumbledore. "First-years ought to know that the Forest in the grounds is out-of-bounds to students - and a few of our older students ought to know by now, too.' (Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged smirks.)

"Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four-hundred-and-sixty second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr Filch's office door.

"We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons." There was a round of polite but fairly unenthusiastic applause.

"We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn" - Slughorn stood up, his bald head gleaming in the candlelight, his big waist-coated belly casting the table below into shadow — "is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of Potions master."

"Potions?"

"Potions?"

The word echoed all over the Hall as people wondered whether they had heard right.

"Professor Snape, meanwhile," said Dumbledore, raising his voice so that it carried over all the muttering, "will be taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Snape, who was sitting on Dumbledore's right, did not stand up at the mention of his name; he merely raised a hand in lazy acknowledgement of the applause from the Slytherin table. Harry was stunned when he saw that Snape was looking right at him. Something told him that he was going to bear the brunt of it in the class.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. The whole Hall had erupted in a buzz of conversation at the news that Snape had finally achieved his heart's desire.

"Now, as everybody in this Hall was there or at least ware of what had happened at the end last year, when I announced the return of Lord Voldemort."

The whole Hall erupted into noise once again. Harry frowned, he didn't remember Dumbledore making a statement such as this last time. Perhaps it could be attributed to the fact that he had thwarted Fudge's attempt at misleading them by stationing Umbridge at Hogwarts.

The Headmaster raised his hand to curtail the sound, "I do not intend to scare or cause any kind of panic among our world. But this is the truth. You may have heard countless rumours during the summer, many of them adamant on the fact that I have lost my mind. Believe me, I am not in any place to spread lies nor I wish to misuse the importance of my position. The Ministry of Magic, unfortunately, is unwilling to change their stance, no matter the amount of proof that is offered as evidence.

"The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways. Because there is going to be a time, when the dark forces reveal themselves, taking advantage of the ignorance, gathering strength, should we not hasten to listen and open our eyes."

Dumbledore's blue eyes swept over the students before he smiled once more.

"But now, your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority is to be well-rested for your lessons tomorrow. Let us therefore say good night. Pip pip!"

The Gryffindor common room looked as welcoming as ever, a cosy circular tower room full of dilapidated squashy armchairs and rickety old tables. A fire was crackling merrily in the grate and a few people were warming their hands by it before going up to their dormitories.

Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan had reached the dormitory first and were in the process of covering the walls beside their beds with posters and photographs. They had been talking as Harry pushed open the door but stopped abruptly the moment they saw him. Harry wondered whether they had been talking about him, then whether he was being paranoid. He sighed, he was going to have to convince others that he was indeed speaking the truth.

They hadn't made any plans per se regarding that. Harry was no longer that fifteen-year old boy, going through broodiness and unexpected, unwarranted bouts of anger. He supposed better to start as calmly as possible.

"Hi," he said, moving across to his own trunk and opening it.

"Hey, Harry," said Dean, who was putting on a pair of pyjamas in the West Ham colours. "Good holiday?"

"Not what I expected," muttered Harry, "You?"

"Yeah, it was okay," chuckled Dean. "Better than Seamus's, anyway, he was just telling me."

There it was.

Seamus then slowly brought out his mother's concerns in a measured voice. "And now Dumbledore announces at dinner, like last year, that we are supposed to believe that You-know-Who is back. The Daily Prophet - "

"My gran says that's rubbish," piped up Neville. "She says it's the Daily Prophet that's going downhill, not Dumbledore. She's cancelled our subscription. We believe Harry" said Neville simply. He climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to his chin, looking owlishly over them at Seamus. "My gran's always said You-Know-Who would come back one day. She says if Dumbledore says he's back, he's back."

"Neville, he's been sacked from the Wizengamot and the International Confederation of Wizards because he's losing his marbles - "

"What's going on?" Ron had appeared in the doorway.

Harry cut across, "Look, you heard Dumbledore. I am not lying. Think about how I was forced to compete in the tournament. If you believe that Dumbledore, one of the most powerful and respected wizard, has been hoodwinked into spreading panic, then I suggest you try thinking the other way - Why is the Ministry refusing to acknowledge our side?"

"That's what someone who would want to usurp power would say," said Seamus, vanishing behind his bed hangings.

Harry shook his head in despair. Dean got into bed, rolled over and fell silent. Neville, who appeared to have nothing more to say either, was gazing fondly at his moonlit cactus. Harry lay back on his pillows while Ron bustled around the next bed, putting his things away.

He cast a Silencing Charm around his hangings, got out his mirror, that he had shortly asked from Sirius. He had given the other pair to Ginny, so they could talk face-to-face.

"Ginny," he called.

Her smiling face appeared and Harry couldn't help but mirror the same expressions.

"Hey."