Author Notes:
Hi guys, thanks to everyone who has read and interacted with the story so far. And especially to those of you who have left a review - I really appreciate it. Sorry but I'm struggling to keep up with the daily posting, so its now every 2-3 days so look out for that. I know the story's been fairly slow so far, but the foundations need to be in place before you build the house.
Disclaimer: I don't own the world or its characters, I'm just having some fun. All credit to JKR.
Next Update: 2-3 days
Enjoy!
GrumpyBoyBen
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Chapter 8 – Return to Hogwarts
On the day of departure to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Grimmauld Place was a hive of activity, bustling with the members of the Order of the Phoenix, the Weasley family, along with Harry and Hermione. It had been a long summer, and it was evident that all of the students were looking forward to going back to school.
Moody, with his magical eye constantly darting around, called for everyone's attention and gathered them in the kitchen. His gruff voice commanded the room as he addressed the group,
"Listen up, all of you! We need to be vigilant and cautious. Splitting into smaller groups will keep us safer and more alert. We can't be too careful with the likes of You-Know-Who out there."
Sirius, his face etched with concern, nodded in agreement. "Moody's right. It's better to be cautious."
Mad-Eye, with Sirius' help, began to assign the groups. "Kingsley, you take one car with Arthur, Fred, George, and Ginny. Remus, you take the other car with Ron and Hermione. Molly, you and Tonks are in charge of the third car, and Harry will be joining you."
Mrs. Weasley nodded, taking charge of her assigned group. It was always an emotional time of year for the mother of seven, but she tried her best not to show it. "Alright, everyone, go and get your luggage and we'll head off soon."
Fred and George, fuelled by their newfound ability to do magic outside of school, exchanged mischievous glances, looking for a way to lighten the slightly stressful mood. As everyone was packing their trunks and belongings, the twins decided to bewitch their luggage to float alongside them instead of carrying it down the stairs. With a wave of their wands, the trunks soared into the air, causing Ginny to let out a surprised yelp as she almost lost her balance.
Molly was quick to intervene, her motherly instincts taking over. "Boys, that's enough! Stop playing around and help Ginny with her things!"
Fred and George chuckled but obediently reversed the spells, landing their trunks with a thud. Ginny, however, was a little flustered from being caught off guard and tried to regain her balance with a sheepish smile.
"Are you alright, Ginny?" Harry asked, concerned, but also slightly amused.
Ginny smiled and nodded, brushing off her embarrassment. "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks. Just a little caught off guard, that's all."
Mrs. Weasley shot the twins a disapproving look before turning her attention back to the group. "Alright, let's get going. Kingsley, you take the lead."
With the groups organized, they made their way to the cars that the Order had provided. Moody was the first to step into the lead car, his magical eye scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. Kingsley took the driver's seat, and Arthur, Fred, George, and Ginny settled in.
Hestia followed suit, with Ron and Hermione climbing into the car she was in. The group was ready to leave, but before Mrs. Weasley and Tonks could get into their car, Sirius, in his Animagus form, trotted up to them, wagging his tail.
Tonks laughed, patting Padfoot's head. "Well, look who wants to come along to see Harry off too."
The shaggy dog jumped up onto Harry's lap and although Moody disapproved, he gave the signal, and each car pulled away one by one, departing in the direction of King's Cross Station.
When they finally arrived at the station, Moody ordered everyone to stay close and be on high alert until they were safely on the Hogwarts Express. Harry stuck together with Mrs. Weasley and Tonks, his trunks neatly stacked on trolleys, ready to be loaded onto the train.
As they gathered near the platform, Harry spotted Padfoot again, who had followed them discreetly, keeping a watchful eye on his godson. Harry felt a surge of gratitude, knowing that he had the best godfather that anyone could have. He gave Padfoot a small nod and a smile, acknowledging the silent show of support.
By the train, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George stood together, their trunks lined up neatly beside them. The time to depart for another year at Hogwarts had arrived, and though there was a sense of eagerness, there was also an underlying unease in the air.
Mrs. Weasley hugged each of them tightly, her eyes filled with both pride and worry. "Be careful, all of you. Keep an eye on each other, and don't get into any trouble."
"We promise, Mum," Ginny said with a smile, though she couldn't hide a hint of excitement in her eyes.
Mrs. Weasley's gaze shifted to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and she pulled them into a warm embrace, treating them like her own. "Take care, dears. And Harry, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to reach out. You're family too."
Harry felt touched by Mrs. Weasley's words and the love she had shown him throughout the years. "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley. I'll make sure to look out for all of them."
The twins, Fred and George, were grinning mischievously as they exchanged a quick glance. "Don't worry, Mum, we'll keep an eye on Ginny," Fred teased.
"And make sure she doesn't get into too much trouble," George added with a wink.
Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes, though she couldn't suppress a small smile. "I'm trusting all of you to be responsible. And that goes for you two as well," she said, giving a stern look to the twins.
"We'll behave, Mum. We promise," Fred said, holding up a hand as if taking an oath.
"And we'll even try to keep Michael Corner off of Ginny," George added, feigning a look of seriousness, which earned him a slap from his sister.
The group laughed, and Mrs. Weasley gave each of them a final hug before stepping back. As the train whistle blew, signalling it was almost time to leave, she wiped away a tear and called out, "Have a great year! And don't forget to write!"
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George waved goodbye as they boarded the train. Looking through the windows, they could see the Weasley family, along with Tonks and other members of the Order, standing together, their expressions a mix of pride and concern.
Harry spotted Padfoot again, who had followed them discreetly, keeping a watchful eye on his godson. Harry felt a surge of gratitude, knowing that he had the best godfather that anyone could have. He gave Padfoot a small nod and a smile, acknowledging the silent show of support. And not long after, the train pulled away from the platform.
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"Oh, bloody hell, Hermione, we've got to go to the prefects' carriage," Ron groaned, ruffling his hair in frustration.
Hermione rolled her eyes playfully, "Yes, Ron, we do. It's part of our duties now."
Ginny laughed, nudging Harry, "Looks like they're not too thrilled about their new responsibilities."
Harry grinned, "Well, being a prefect comes with its perks, but yeah, I can see how it might be a bit annoying."
Neville chimed in, "I'm sure you two will be great, though. It's an important role, after all."
"Yeah, yeah, we know," Ron said, waving a hand dismissively. "Let's just get it over with."
As Ron and Hermione left the compartment, the remaining group settled back into the conversation, talking about their summer adventures and sharing amusing anecdotes.
As the Hogwarts Express barreled down the tracks, a Ginny introduced a familiar face to Harry and Neville: Luna Lovegood. Neville and Luna hit it off, both of the two being slightly quirky individuals and Harry and Ginny let them have a nice chat. The warm glow of the afternoon sun filtered through the windows, casting dancing shadows on their faces as they chatted excitedly about the upcoming school year.
Harry couldn't help but smile as he saw Luna again. She was unique in every sense of the word, with her striking silver eyes and dreamy aura. He recalled their previous encounters and how her peculiar observations had often made him pause and think about things from a different perspective.
"So Luna, you excited to be coming back to school?," Harry said warmly, trying to initiate the beginnings of a friendship.
Luna returned the smile with a gentle nod. "Hello, Harry. It's quite exciting to be back on the Hogwarts Express, isn't it? Although, I hope all my shoes don't go missing this year."
As they continued their conversation, the compartment door slid open, and Ron and Hermione stepped in, looking pleased with their duties as Gryffindor prefects.
"Hey, everyone!" Ron greeted with a wide grin, taking a seat next to Neville.
Hermione, ever the conscientious one, nodded as she added, "We just found out who the new prefects are for the other houses. For Ravenclaw, it's Terry Boot and Mandy Brocklehurst."
Ginny nodded approvingly, "Terry is a decent bloke, and Mandy is quite competent. Ravenclaw will be in good hands."
Harry turned his attention away from Luna. "And what about Hufflepuff?"
"It's Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott." Ron replied.
Harry smiled, "Good choices, I think. They'll do alright I reckon."
Ron's expression darkened, "Well, I'm not surprised about Slytherin. Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson are the prefects."
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Of course, they were Snape's little favourites."
Harry shook his head, and sarcastically responded. "I wonder if Malfoy will take his job seriously, or be an absolute asshole?"
As the conversation continued, Luna resumed reading The Quibbler, a quirky and eccentric magazine edited by her father. She shared an intriguing article about the latest conspiracy theories surrounding the Triwizard Tournament's return. "My father is the editor of The Quibbler," Luna said with pride.
Harry grinned, remembering his previous encounters with the magazine. "Oh yes, I've read it before. Your father should be proud of the work he does."
Ron and Hermione exchanged puzzled glances, wondering when Harry had taken an interest in such an eccentric publication. "You read The Quibbler, Harry?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.
Harry shrugged, "Well, it's always interesting to see different perspectives on things."
Ginny smirked, "Harry's right. It might not be your usual source of news, but it's definitely entertaining."
Luna beamed, thankful for their acceptance of her family's publication. "I'm glad you think so. The Quibbler isn't afraid to publish stories that others might dismiss as nonsense."
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As the train journey continued, the compartment door slid open, and Draco Malfoy sauntered in, followed by his usual gang of cronies. Harry's heart sank slightly at the sight of him, memories of the war flooding back to him. He couldn't help but remember a time when Draco's heart seemed conflicted, and he had glimpses of goodness in him.
Harry made a mental note to try and reach out to Draco sooner, hoping to prevent him from going down the dark path again. But for now, he had to deal with the current situation. Draco wasted no time in making fun of Harry for not being chosen as prefect instead of Ron.
"Looks like your good ol' friend Dumbledore finally realized that you're not worth the honour, Potter," Draco sneered.
Harry's eyes narrowed, but he kept his composure. "It's not about worth, Malfoy. Ron will make a great prefect, much better than you will, and I've got other things to keep my busy this year."
Draco chuckled, "Responsibilities? What, did the Dumbledore appoint you as his personal liar to the prophet?"
Draco's comments triggered some snickering from his band of bozos behind him. It did remind Harry that he'd have some difficulties at the start of the year with people calling him a liar, but he knew that he'd deal with it much better than last time.
Harry's managed to respond coolly, "You know very well that Voldemort is back, and he's stronger than ever. I bet Daddy's been running around doing jobs for him, probably scared of him I think.
Draco's smirk wavered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Don't be ridiculous, Potter. My father is a Hogwarts governor, philanthropist, and respected man. That's a serious accusation that you have no proof about."
Harry couldn't resist taunting him, "You're just as scared as the rest of us, Malfoy. I can see it in your eyes."
Draco's face turned red with anger, and he took a step closer to Harry. "Watch your mouth, Potter. You have no idea what you're talking about." And he left the compartment not a moment later.
Thankfully, the conversation shifted to lighter topics as Luna shared some of her unusual beliefs and experiences. Harry found himself fascinated by her unique perspective and admired her ability to see things that others couldn't.
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Later, as the Hogwarts Express arrived at Hogsmeade station, Hermione couldn't help but notice that Hagrid wasn't there to greet the first years. Instead, Professor Grubbly-Plank, who had previously substituted for Hagrid during their last school year, was directing the new students to their boats.
"Hey, Ron, Harry, did you see Hagrid?" she asked, scanning the platform for their half-giant friend.
"Hagrid? No, I don't see him," Harry replied, his brow furrowing with concern. Of course, Harry knew that Hagrid was trying to talk to the Giants, but he needed to make sure his acting was up to scratch for moments like this.
Ron shrugged, "Maybe he's busy with something else. We'll catch up with him later."
As they boarded the horseless carriages, Harry's attention was drawn to thestrals pulling them. He had seen them before but knew that Ron and Hermione hadn't experienced the loss required to see the creatures.
"Hey, look! Thestrals!" Harry exclaimed, pointing out the creatures that carry the carriages, he hadn't seen one in a long time.
"Huh? What's that, mate?" Ron asked, looking puzzled.
Hermione squinted, "I don't see anything, Harry."
Harry sighed, "Right, sorry. I keep forgetting. Luna, you can see them, right?" Harry mentally swore at himself, he needed to make sure that he didn't slip up like that too much, or people might start to catch on that he knew more than he was saying.
Luna nodded, her large eyes sparkling, "Oh yes, I've been able to see them ever since my first year. Fascinating creatures, really."
Ron and Hermione exchanged curious glances, but Luna's presence of mind and acceptance of magical anomalies was nothing new to them. And not long after, the group made their way towards the castle, ready to start the new year.
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After the Sorting Hat had done its work and the last student was sorted into their respective houses, the Hogwarts students were treated to a lavish feast in the Great Hall. The tables were laden with all manner of delicious dishes, and the students eagerly dug in, especially Ron, who attacked his food like it was a contest.
Once everyone had their fill, Dumbledore stood up from his seat at the head of the staff table, and the hall fell into a hushed silence. He began with his usual start-of-term announcements, informing the students that Hagrid was on temporary leave and that Professor Grubbly-Plank would be taking over his teaching duties. A murmur of concern and curiosity rippled through the students. Hagrid was beloved by many, and his absence was felt.
Dumbledore continued, introducing the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge. Harry's frown deepened as he recalled his previous encounter with her in the other timeline. He knew exactly what was about to unfold.
As if on cue, Professor Umbridge stood up, her toad-like appearance only adding to Harry's apprehension. She moved to the front of the hall, and with an air of self-importance, she cleared her throat and hit her glass with a spoon to get everyone's attention.
"May I have your attention, please?" she said, her voice sugary sweet, but there was a coldness in her eyes that sent shivers down Harry's spine.
Umbridge began her speech, just as she had in the other timeline. She spoke of the Ministry's involvement in Hogwarts and the importance of maintaining strict standards. Harry particularly remembered, "Progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved and prune practices that ought to be prohibited!" Her words were like nails on a chalkboard to him, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.
As she rambled on, Hermione's face grew visibly upset. She turned to Ron and Harry, her eyes filled with concern. "It seems like the Ministry is interfering at Hogwarts," she whispered, her voice tinged with frustration.
Ron scowled, "I knew it! They always stick their noses where they don't belong."
Harry nodded, "We'll have to be careful. Umbridge won't make things easy for us."
The rest of her speech went on, but Harry's mind was elsewhere. He knew that they were in for a tough year, and Umbridge's presence wouldn't help his plans. The locket was safely stored in a hidden compartment in his trunk, but he knew it would be wise to move it quickly. A few weeks ago, he'd made the decision to use the Chamber of Secrets as his hideout if you will, for a few reasons. Firstly, he was literally the only person in the school that could open the chamber. Secondly, it was adequately big that he could practice his magic and complete some training away from his teachers. And finally, Harry had realised that he could take some teeth from the skeleton of the basilisk. He was confident that they would still contain residue of its venom that he could extract, and potentially use to destroy Horcruxes - when the time was right. He'd have to hold off until the weekend to go to the chamber though, not to arouse suspicion of his whereabouts.
As Umbridge finally concluded her speech with her customary high-pitched squeal, Harry felt a sinking feeling in his chest. He knew that things were going to be different this time around, and he was determined to face whatever challenges came their way.
The students applauded out of politeness, but Harry sensed the unease in the hall. He exchanged a knowing glance with Hermione and Ron. They were in for a rough ride, but they had each other and Dumbledore on their side. As the feast concluded and the students made their way back to their respective common rooms
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Later, Harry made his way to Gryffindor Tower with Neville, who knew the new password. The common room was bustling with excitement as students chatted about the Sorting and the new school year, and mainly about this mysterious ministry woman. Harry tried to keep his mind off the encounter he knew was coming, but he couldn't shake the sense of unease that had settled in his chest.
As he climbed up to the dormitory, memories of past events flooded his mind. He had been through this before, but that didn't make it any easier. He felt a mix of frustration and sadness, knowing that not everyone believed Voldemort was back. It was like fighting an uphill battle against scepticism and ignorance.
As he entered the dormitory, he was met with the familiar sight of his roommates, including Seamus Finnigan, who had been one of the most vocal doubters in the past. Without hesitation, Seamus started taunting Harry, questioning his claims about Voldemort's return.
Harry took a deep breath, trying to control his emotions, but it was difficult. The horcrux in his head seemed to amplify his anger and frustration. He knew he couldn't lose his temper, but it was hard to keep calm in the face of such disbelief.
"You still going on about You-Know-Who being back?" Seamus sneered, a smirk on his face.
Harry felt his hands clench into fists. "Yes, because it's the truth," he replied, his voice tinged with irritation. "I saw him with my own eyes."
Seamus rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on! The Daily Prophet says it's all a load of rubbish. My mum believes them, and she's not the only one."
That's when Harry lost his composure. He snapped back, "Your mum believes everything she reads in that pathetic excuse for a newspaper?"
The words were out before he could stop them, and he immediately regretted it. Ron appeared in the doorway just in time to witness the heated exchange. He quickly intervened, trying to diffuse the tension.
"Alright, that's enough, you two," Ron said firmly, looking between Harry and Seamus. "Let's not start a row on the first night back."
Feeling guilty, Harry sighed and said, "I'm sorry, Seamus. I shouldn't have insulted your mum. It's just hard when people don't believe me."
Seamus seemed taken aback by Harry's apology but didn't respond.
Dean Thomas, who had been sitting quietly on his bed, spoke up. "My mum doesn't even get the Prophet. She's a Muggle, so she doesn't know much about all this."
Neville nodded in agreement. "My grandmother cancelled our subscription. She's always supported you and Dumbledore, Harry."
Harry felt a mix of gratitude and guilt. He appreciated their support, but he didn't want them to face any backlash because of him. He took a deep breath and forced himself to regain control of his emotions. Before he went to sleep that night, he reminded himself to be patient and composed. He couldn't let emotions get the better of him and dictate his actions. He even knew that Seamus would say that, yet he still acted out. 'Stupid idiot' he though. He knew from his past experiences that eventually; people would come to believe him. It was just a matter of time and persistence.