1995
Over the next few weeks, Harry was quite busy.
Every night he was in the cellar with his 'uncles' learning new spells, practicing those spells, being quizzed on his books, and working on his body. The residents of the house wondered why he was never around and always sleeping. Always coming to wake him up to help around the house.
He also spent his time thinking about the letters he'd been sending and receiving. Sirius's owl now just flew to his bedroom window and not the kitchen. His conversations with his new pen pal was always at the front of his thoughts. Enough so that even Sirius and Remus had questioned him about it.
He'd told them it was a friend but they wanted to know every detail.
"Is it a she? Oh is it your girlfriend?"
"Do they want to know where you are? Who you are with?"
"Do they send any pictures?"
Harry laughed at their interrogation, only saying that it was a good friend. But all too quickly came the beginning of September, and the end of his time with his 'uncles'.
Harry was packing everything in his room, about to head down and floo to the platform with the Weasleys. He was excited about beginning a new year at Hogwarts, but also, it tried to kill him every year.
His thoughts were cut short by a sudden knock on his open bedroom door. He looked up and saw Sirius standing there smiling.
"Hey pup, everything packed?"
"Almost, just need to finish putting my trousers in and then we are good."
Sirius laughed and moved to grab some and stuff them in the truck. Together they finished the packing before Sirius turned to Harry.
"Sit down pup, I brought you something."
"What is it?" Harry questioned, sitting on his bed.
Sirius reached into his back pocket and pulled out an object covered in a cloth. Unraveling it, Sirius gifted it to Harry.
"It's a mirror." Sirius said, excitedly.
"Oh?" Harry questioned, scrunching his eyebrows.
"Isn't it amazing?"
"Uh, yeah? Awesome."
Sirius laughed. "Im only joking pup, it's an enchanted mirror. Its apart of a set. I have one, and Remus has the other. Whenever you wish, say either of our names into the mirror and it will vibrate ours. We can then answer it and we will see and hear each other! Isn't it amazing?"
"Wow Sirius! That is amazing! I can still talk to you at Hogwarts!"
"Yea, but be careful with it. If anyone see's you talking to a wanted criminal, things will get very long for all of us." He warned his godson.
"Of course Sirius, wow!"
"Harry!" A shout rung from down below.
"About that time pup, come on. Don't want to be late eh?"
They both stood and hugged again before beginning to make their way downstairs into the kitchen, Sirius levitating his truck behind him.
A sudden knocking sound at the window made the pair pause. Looking over and seeing Sirius's owl standing in the open windowsill with a letter, they both rushed over.
Harry untied the letter and hid it quickly behind him as Sirius raced to grab it.
Fighting for a bit over it, Harry emerged victorious! Sirius raised his hands in defeat and told Harry he'd be downstairs and to not take too long.
Waiting until Sirius was gone, Harry quickly opened the letter and began to read it. He slowed down when he realized it wasn't from the person he thought it was from.
Looking down at the bottom of the letter, his eyes widened when he read who sent it. Seeing the name and a small drop of what appeared to be blood beside it.
'Maybe ink, but how did she send this?' He wondered to himself. He shrugged it off as something he had yet to understand and stuffed the letter into his pants pocket and rushed to meet the rest of his friends downstairs.
But a thought kept circling in his mind.
'How did Sarah find me?'
Making his way to the bottom of the stairs, he saw all the Weasleys were there, making sure they got everything. The clock on the wall read 10:15.
"There you are Harry, everything packed?" Hermione asked, coming over to him giving him a quick hug.
"Yea Hermione, everything is sorted. How is Crookshanks?" Harry asked, not seeing the weird cat anywhere.
"Hiding in his cage, upset at the world. The regular." She joked as they both laughed.
"Alright everyone! Time to go!" Molly shouted, making sure everyone was there.
"Excited Harry?" Ron asked, coming up to him.
"You know it Ron." Harry responded, smiling.
Then the Weasleys started to leave one by one through the green flame, Harry going with Molly. Not being great at magical travel, he needed a travel buddy. Looking one last time at Sirius, he grabbed his truck and entered the flames with Molly, leaving grimmauld place.
Same Time
Dolores Umbridge was furious.
Sitting behind her desk, she had just finished reading a report about a strange dementor attack in a urban muggle neighborhood. Her paid guard at Azkaban had reported back that the dementor had returned to it's post with TWO souls, not the one she requested. To make matters worse, they were MUGGLE souls. She was already making plans to have this incompetent guard have an 'accident' before having a chance to confess to their crime. But the cherry on top, Harry Potter still lived. The boy threatening the Minister's post.
"Pest." Dolores whispered to herself, hate filling the word.
She looked down at all the paperwork littering her desk, papers and books and old assignments from her Hogwarts days. The Minister had came to her earlier and told her she was going to be sent to Hogwarts this school year. She was to keep a very close eye on the Potter boy and his friends. Keep note on the lies they were spreading. Any news she brought back to the Minister would help him get this whole scandal under wraps.
'It's about time someone competent went to that school and turned it around.' she thought to herself, smirking. She was going to show that entire school what was allowed and what wasn't.
She smiled darkly at the thought. This would definitely show those around her that she was not to be messed with. They stood on her shoulders to get to her beloved Minister, but she would show them what happens if they try again. Dolores Umbridge will stop this blasphemy at the source and rise to the top of their world. Then everyone will see who she REALLY is.
But first, some tea.
Later
Harry sat alone in his compartment, glumly staring outside the windows at the fields rolling by. His friends had to leave him to attend the prefect meeting for awhile, then after they would have to patrol the train and make sure everyone was comfortable and good. Hermione told him they would make sure to sit with him for the end of the ride though.
A sudden knock interrupted his depressing thoughts. Harry's eyes jumped to the door to his compartment when a voice sounded behind it.
"Harry? It's Neville! Hermione and Ron said you'd be in here!"
Harry stood and opened the door, smiling at his friend standing there.
The shy, nervous boy that Harry had last seen on the platform had miraculously grown even taller than Harry. At the end of their fourth year Neville had stood at 5'10 and weighed about 65 kg, but now, after a long summer he stood at 6'1 and weighing close to 80 kg. His once long shaggy hair was cut shorter and combed, and his face was still slightly pudgy.
"Bloody hell Nev! How do you manage to grow every single time you disappear for the summer?" Harry asked his much larger friend.
Neville laughed, "You know, we all grow. It's why we call it 'growing up'." Neville said, looking down on Harry.
Harry moved out of the way of the compartment and Neville walked in, dragging his large trunk in behind him, before they pushing it underneath the bench.
"It's not fair." Harry joked. "Everyone is getting so much taller and wider and I stay almost exactly the same."
"Well I got some help, this summer Gran let me rebuild and refurbish the old greenhouse on our property. I spent everyday out there, tearing it down and building it up again. It was back-breaking." Neville explained while stretching his back for effect.
"That work along with some nutrient-boosting potions with every meal really helped me." Neville finished with a satisfied proud smile.
"Nutrient potion? Why don't we drink those with every meal? Seems like it would help a ton." Harry wondered aloud.
"Well that would over-do it. You have to take a break for it to catch up. That's why we only drink them over the summer holidays." Neville explained. "Do you drink them Harry?"
"Never. Nobody has ever told me about that. I was raised with muggles, remember?" Harry said, thinking back. 'Why had Sirius not told him anything? Or his friends? Or Dumbledore?'.
"Oh wow, I guess we'll have to go see Madam Pomfrey when we arrive. You have a lot of catching up to do." Neville said, looking at his friend.
"Alright, you'll go with me?" Harry asked.
Neville looked at his friend with a smile. "Of course."
Harry smiled back at his friend and leaned back against the cushions. They settled into a comfortable silence while both reading their own school books. Eventually Ron came and later on Hermione followed. They sat and talked for the rest of the trip, excited about a new year at Hogwarts.
But when Harry asked Ron and Hermione about the nutrient potion, they both looked confused and dazed, as if they had no idea what he was on about.
Later
A great hall was abuzz with chatter and laughter as all the students of Hogwarts filed in and sat at their house tables. Friends catching up about what happened in the summer, and how they were ready for the new year.
Harry sat beside Hermione, with Ron and Neville across from them. Further down the table, Ginny sat with her housemates, and even further, the twins sat with their friends.
Harry couldn't help but smile. He felt like he was finally back home. Sure, every year tried to kill him, but he overcame it.
Except, last year he almost didn't. Due to his actions, and who he was, a student died.
His friend.
Shaking his head to clear those thoughts, Harry tried to focus on the conversation around him. If he thought on it too long, he'd be a mess.
"Hey where do ya reckon that prick Malfoy is at? He isn't at their house table?" Ron asked, looking over everyone's heads and scanning along the table across the hall from them.
Harry looked up in interest and scanned the table as well, not noticing his 'arch-nemesis' as Ron would call him.
"No idea mate, maybe his dickhead father took him out this year." Harry said with spite in his voice.
"Harry." Hermione admonished him.
"What Hermione? It could be true." Ron said, defending Harry's statement.
Harry got a grim thought, "What if his father took him out to train him for Voldemort."
Hermione opened her mouth to ask them to quiet down but was cut off by a grunt. Looking over and seeing a sour-faced Seamus staring Harry down.
Before he or Harry could ask him what was going on with him, Neville cut in.
"Who do you think the empty chair is for?" Neville asked, looking over at the end of the great hall at where the professors sat. Between Mcgonagall and Sprout sat an empty throne.
"A new professor I'd assume." Harry answered.
"Yeah no shit Harry." Ron replied, picking up a roll and tossing it to him. Harry's seeker instincts caught it in a flash and he took a bite out of it.
"Mhmmm." Harry dramatically moaned, mouth full of bread. Ron and Neville laughed and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Do we know who the new professor of Defense is?" Hermione asked the group.
"My gran said that Headmaster Dumbledore was forced into hiring a professor from the ministry. Said he wasn't to happy about it." Neville answered looking up at Dumbledore, who sat behind the table in his large throne. Although he sat with a big joyous smile, looking over his students.
"Well, as long as they are even a bit competent, we should be good." Harry said.
"Maybe like Professor Lupin was!" Ron exclaimed.
"Definitely." Hermione agreed.
They continued their conversation for a few more moments before Dumbledore started to clap his hands and shush the mass. After a moment, the hall was silent.
"Welcome students to another year at Hogwarts, I am overjoyed to see all your smiling faces, but saddened to see all those who graduated leave. But I do know, that they will all be alright and make the future of our world their own. I see all the first years ahead of me, and I am so excited to welcome you. Please, enjoy our school. Here you will learn all there is to know about magic. You will be able to turn a cup into a mouse, and shrink a dragon into a small lizard. But first, please enjoy our amazing anthem directed by my friend and your professor, Professor Flitwick."
The school all began to sing it's anthem, but none louder than the twins to everyone's annoyance or amusement. After it ended everyone sat again and Dumbledore again rose to speak.
"Now, Professor Mcgonagall to my left will call up your name, and when it is your turn you will walk up here with us and sit on this chair. We will then sort you into whichever house fits you best, and you will make your way to your table. Now! Lets begin!" Dumbledore finished.
As the sorting began Harry thought back on his own sorting a few years back. How the hat wished to put him in Slytherin but he had pleaded with it to place him away from Malfoy and his goons. He wondered if any of these kids also felt that way. He hoped not.
Focusing on the sorting again, he realized he'd missed almost all of it. After a small boy with dirty brown hair was sorted into Ravenclaw and another tiny girl with dark black hair being sorted into Slytherin, it was over.
Once again Dumbledore took to the podium and clapped along with everyone.
"Amazing! There you are! Everyone in their proper spot. Lovely, now before we eat, and I know you all are very hungry, I have one more announcement to make. This year, your professor for Defense against the Dark Arts will be…Madam Umbridge." Dumbledore announced, stepping back to let a woman Harry had never seen before stand in front of the podium and smile at everyone in the hall.
Immediately Harry felt uneasy looking at her sick smile. It felt fake and forced, but when she spoke, Harry realized her voice was worse. Her voice felt like nails scratching a board in his ears.
"Professor Umbridge actually." Umbridge corrected Dumbledore, looking over the crowd.
"Now, as I look over all your eager faces, I realize that my work here will not be wasted. That you ALL will appreciate what I have to offer. Recently there has been lies and rumors spreading that are harming all of you." She said, now directly looking at Harry.
Harry was already starting to hate this bitch.
"But! The Ministry and I will help rid the world of these lies and bring order back! I am so happy to-"
"Alright I believe that is enough Professor. No need to scare them on their first night back right?" Dumbledore interrupted, walking back up to the podium.
"No no I do believe we should. They deserve to know that the lies from an attention seeking young man are just that. Lies." Her sickly sweet voice crooned.
"Enough. I believe it is time for dinner. Eat, please." Dumbledore replied, not breaking eye contact with the smiling woman. With a wave of his hand food appeared on every plate and the smell took everyone's attention from the fiasco happening at the front.
With a smirk, Umbridge walked and took a seat between the professors and loaded up her plate. Mcgonagall and Sprout just stared at her with hatred.
Sitting at the table, Harry suddenly didn't feel like eating anymore. Seeing people all around the hall look over at him with mixed expressions, some sadness and some smiles, but most were anger and distrust.
'They don't believe me. They think I'm lying about Voldemort! About Cedric!' He thought, looking around.
"Don't mind them Harry, we know the truth." Hermione tried comforting him.
"Yea mate, they'll all know soon enough." Ron agreed, looking at his friend concerned.
"Know what?" Seamus asked, sitting a few seats away from the group. "Know that your lying? We already know that mate."
"Stuff it Seamus. Don't fall for that bollocks, you know Harry wouldn't lie!" Ron exclaimed at the Irish boy.
"HA! He lies every year! Are we supposed to believe he killed a professor? Or killed a basilisk? Or fought of a HUNDRED DEMENTOR'S? Yea right." He yelled at them.
Harry slammed his hand into the table and stood suddenly, moving to face the sitting boy.
"Oh what Harry? Gonna kill me like Diggory?" He challenged Harry.
A hand around Harry's arm stopped him from lunging at the boy, looking down and seeing Hermione's hand around his wrist. He looked into her eyes and saw her pleading with him to stop. Harry's eyes softened. Staring into her brown one's, he relaxed.
With a nod she let go. Harry turned to look at Seamus again and saw that the hall was deathly silent, all watching him. With a sigh, Harry turned and walked to the front doors. Before reaching them though, a voice he was starting to hate stopped him.
"Hem hem, where do you think you are going young man? If I am correct, all student's are dismissed by the headmaster or a professor. Seeing as you are neither, I will be forced to take away house points." Umbridge's voice echoed around the room.
Harry turned and looked up at her with a withering glare. All around he could here a bit of laughter or whispering. With his head held high, he marched proudly back to his seat. But instead of sitting, he grabbed a handful of bacon and neatly placed and folded them with napkins. He then began to walk to the high table. Moving to stand in front of Professor Mcgonagall, he bowed his head.
"Professor, may I be excused? My head is royally pounding from a sudden irking noise."
A smirking Mcgonagall was about to answer when a loud yell interrupted them.
"POTTER! ENOUGH OF YOUR LITTLE GAMES! FIFTY POINTS TAKEN FROM GRYFFINDOR! RETURN TO YOUR SEAT IMMEDIATELY!" Professor Snape shouted from the other end of the table. His face red with rage.
Harry sent another glare his way before looking back at a furious Mcgonagall.
"Yes you may Mr. Potter. Will one of the prefects please lead him to the dormitories?" She answered, looking at Harry.
"I will Professor!" Hermione jumped up and answered.
"Excellent then. On your way." Professor Mcgonagall finished.
Harry moved over to Hermione and gave her a small smile, extending his hand towards her's. She took it and they made their way out of the silent great hall and up the castle to their common room.
Same Time
The streets of Dragon Alley were near empty as she made her way down to the pub. The only people still milling around were the shop owners and employees closing up and heading home.
Waving at a few of them, she walked over to the brick wall and tapped her wand in a sequence to open the wall up.
Making her way through and into the pub, she smiled and walked over to a man behind the counter. The pub wasn't as full as it would have been hours ago, but there was still a few patrons sat at tables or making their way up the stairs.
"Hello Tom." She said with her thick accent, surprising the man sat behind reading a novel of some kind.
"Oh! Hello dear, scared the lights out of me." Tom said, laughing at the sudden interruption. "What could I help you with Miss?"
"Would you sent up some dinner in around fifteen minutes? Something light, along with a pitcher of lemonade please?" She asked the innkeeper, making her order as she'd done over the past few days.
"Of course, I'll have it right up." Tom nodded, turning to start preparing it.
She smiled again and turned to make her way up the stairs and into her room she was renting out.
Taking her coat off and hanging it up, she moved over and sat on the couch heavily, exhausted from her job.
Closing her eyes for a second, she was interrupted by an owl knocking on the window. Opening her eyes, she looked over and saw the owl, and the letter.
Immediately she jumped up and rushed over, opening the window and letting in the owl.
Letting the owl settle, she hurriedly unwrapped the letter and sent the owl away, only focused on the parchment in front of her.
Reading it once, then again, and again. Her face broke into a large smile.
'Where's my parchment?!'