Harry Potter and the Book of Shadows

Prologue

1679

He would not survive. The knowledge did not bring sorrow, but rather a sort of relief. Too long he had borne this life, this duty, this curse. The Clan Wars would be the end of his kind, perhaps not as a whole, but as the power they had become. Survivors, so few left, would hide, regroup, and fade into the darkness, mere shadows of what they had been. So few had known of the truth, and if he accomplished this last task, it would die with him. The one other during their time, his shelter, his heart, was already gone, lost to the passion that was the beauty and bane of his kind. And alone, he could not go on.

Keeping to the dark mists of the night, he soundlessly made his way through the shadows. He would not find peace until he had finished this. Ahead, under light of a full moon, a figure knelt low, gathering herbs. A courageous heart beat in that form, he knew. It called to him, even now, even as he hungered for more than the fleeting release of lifeblood. No, the steady pulse drew him, promising that this would be the end, this was who he sought.

Only once before had they met: a meeting of fascination, fear, and bravery. Yes, the Book he held tight to his body, as though loath to let it go, would be passed. Mortal souls were not as weak as his kind believed. Far from it, they were the power, glorious in their fragility, beautiful in their fleeting hold on earthly flesh. Deep within his own fractured soul, he understood. This was what had drawn them all this time.

In the light of a full moon it was done. Mortal life bound to Immortal duty.

The Book of Shadows had been passed on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An Inauspicious Beginning

"Harry! Harry!" Hermione's voice sounded from somewhere inside the kitchen of the Burrow.

Sitting outside in the warm sun, Harry ignored her insistent chanting of his name. She'd either give up and leave him in peace, or come out to where he was, so there was no need for him to move. When Ron's voice joined hers, Harry sighed, whatever they were hollering about was either important or Mrs. Weasley had seem him brooding alone again and sent the others to bully him into some activity. He had hoped to head off another such attempt by sitting outside in the sunshine instead of his usual spot, holed up in Ron's room, but it seemed as though his plan had not worked.

The Dursleys, of course, had never bothered wondering if he was all right. In fact, they had not once asked Harry how he was. They had not even demanded he do chores or spoken more than one or two words to him. The Order's warnings at King's Cross might have kept them quiet for the first day or two, but Harry had thought their indifference more due to his uncle's big promotion at Grunnings a few days after Harry returned, and the resulting celebrations thereof. Harry, of course, had not been invited to join in the fancy dinner party his aunt had hosted the weekend following, or the celebratory dinner out the family had gone to when Uncle Vernon had first arrived home, beaming and blustering about his new title and substantial raise. Not that Harry minded. He more than welcomed the silence of an empty house and the cessation of people asking him if he was all right.

In the days following, Harry's family seemed to have completely forgotten about him as they oohed and ahhed over the new company car, leaving him in blessed peace when they'd gone for a congratulatory drive around town to show off the luxury vehicle. His aunt had even forgone an afternoon of peering thorough the runner beans at the neighbors to help Uncle Vernon decide on the best ring tones to assign to different people on his brand-new company cell phone. A brief discussion over one symphonic tune almost made Harry smile, thinking 'The Ride of the Valkyries' just might be the right one to indicate his aunt had rung. No one had noticed Harry escaping the incessant beeping and tweedling of the various tunes and tones the phone had come equipped with to hide in his room for the rest of the day.

Not surprisingly, Dudley had immediately demanded a new phone of his own, completely ignoring the fact he'd just gotten one as a congratulations for not failing or getting kicked out of school for another year. The day they'd raced off to placate him Harry had spent in the cupboard under the stairs. For some reason he'd thought the old familiarity of the tiny space might ease his pain or remind him of the happy glow and rush of hope he'd had when he'd first started at Hogwarts, before everything went so wrong. It didn't work.

For once, when the Weasleys arrived to take him to the Burrow, Harry didn't feel the elation he usually would to be escaping Privet Drive. He'd gotten a letter from Ron, saying his parents would be arriving by 'some kind of car or something- I'll have to ask Dad again.' Mildly surprised he'd be going to the Burrow and not Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, as he had the previous year, Harry felt an odd sense of relief that he wouldn't have to face Sirius' empty house just yet.

To his surprise, not only did Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arrive in the shiny black SUV, but upon entering the obviously magically-modified car, Harry saw Bill, Charlie, the twins, Ron, and Ginny had also come along. Percy was conspicuously absent, but Harry was too lost in his own thoughts to notice or care. Their forced smiles had no effect on Harry and the initial attempts to get him to join in the conversation eventually petered out into an uncomfortable silence. As they pulled into the Burrow's dirt lane, Harry realized he had never said goodbye to his aunt and uncle and not even left a note he'd be gone for the rest of the summer and the entire school year. The thought passed unsaid as Harry knew they wouldn't care, and neither did he. The thought it had been too bad none of the Dursleys had been home to see Harry whisked away in something larger and more extravagant than Uncle Vernon's new car came and went with little satisfaction.

Harry was mildly interested in hearing how the Weasleys had come to have the brand-new and rather fancy vehicle, hoping the family had finally gotten a break. However, he was disappointed to find they were merely borrowing the car to rescue Harry, from someone Mrs. Weasley obviously didn't care to have accepted a favor. When he asked Ron, and subsequently other Weasleys, no one aside from their parents seemed to know exactly where the car had come from or why Mr. Weasley was allowed to use it. It disappeared three days after Harry arrived at the Burrow and no one brought it up again.

His first week at the Burrow had Harry almost wishing he could go back to the Dursleys' for the first time in his life. While it had certainly not been pleasant on Privet Drive, they had at least left him alone. Harry knew Mrs. Weasley fussed over him because she was worried, but the constant questions if he was feeling all right only reminded him of why he wasn't. While he didn't pester Harry, Ron's constant expression of silent concern only made him feel worse. The over-exuberance of the oft-visiting twins failed to cheer Harry as well, making them try harder each time, much to the annoyance of their siblings and parents.

Order members occasionally passed through, though Harry tended to avoid them. Mr. Weasley had arrived home one evening a few days after Harry had arrived, in a temper he had never imagined Ron's father to be capable of. The entire assembled family had exclaimed over some business at the Ministry, pointing at a copy of the day's newspaper. Though he was concerned it was about Voldemort's return, the chatter died down quickly when he stepped in the kitchen and Harry assumed it was nothing that concerned him. When no one mentioned it at dinner, Harry poked at his food until he was allowed to retreat to Ron's room again, for once not urged to at least try some dessert. Mrs. Weasley looked more concerned than usual as he left, and Mr. Weasley almost stopped him, but they didn't and Harry forgot about the commotion soon after.

The bad news continued into the next day when Mr. Weasley arrived home virtually shaking with rage. Lucius Malfoy had been caught that awful night at the Ministry and sent to jail, but for some inexplicable reason had been let go without a trial. Even Harry had roused himself out of his misery long enough to add his angry disbelief to the commotion. Though Order members scrambled in and out all night, Harry didn't hear anything useful about what had happened or what they planned to do about it. Dumbledore had stopped in to reassure the members present that nothing in their plans had changed. Since Harry had no idea what those plans were to begin with, he wasn't terribly comforted.

The following day Lupin stopped by, looking more pale and awful than Harry had ever seen him. Harry almost couldn't bear to face him, but accepted Lupin's hollow assurances that things were going to be all right. To his surprise, Lupin announced was leaving the country for an indefinite period of time to see Buckbeak to an animal refuge somewhere in the United States. Alarmed enough to ask why he'd abandon the Order when they needed him most, Harry regretted it instantly when Lupin's expression flickered from anger to pain and back in the span of a second. With a miserable goodbye, Harry watched Lupin Disapparate. Thinking back on it that night, Harry felt the need to flee as well, but with nowhere to go, willed his mind blank instead.

Eventually, the Weasleys seemed to realize 'fine' was the only answer Harry would ever give, and had finally stopped asking if he was all right. By the mid-July, they'd even started to accept his brooding silences. That was, until Hermione had shown up and pestered him incessantly about how he was doing. Everyone seemed to suddenly agree Harry had moped long enough and resumed trying to get him to perk up. Irritated at their efforts, Harry resisted almost every attempt to draw him out.

For the first time Harry could remember, he had a proper birthday party. In no mood to celebrate, he still appreciated the effort his friends had made and spent the day trying to smile and pretend he was happy. Mrs. Weasley baked a delicious chocolate cake and he even managed to eat almost an entire slice. Hermione and Ron gave him presents as usual, and even Hagrid sent him a package full of Honeydukes' candy. In a rare moment away from the rest of the family, Ginny gave him a book titled 'Muddled Magic- Tricks and Tips for Co-Existing with Muggles' along with a handful of Chocolate Frogs. While she admitted the actual point of the book was to help mixed families work together, she thought Harry might get a kick out of some of the 'Don'ts.' The twins showed up later in the evening with a full array of their fireworks and set them off in honor of Harry. Under different circumstances, Harry would have thought it had been the best day ever.

The only time Harry did feel somewhat normal was when he, Ron, Ginny, and occasionally Hermione, practiced quidditch or when they were busy working on their summer homework. Ginny was the only one he didn't really mind talking to, mostly about quidditch or Hogwarts, because she was the only one who didn't give him uneasy sideways glances when she thought he wasn't looking. As time went on, his nightmares ebbed and flowed, leaving Harry in a perpetual state of half-asleep weariness. Though everyone continued to watch him with growing concern, Harry welcomed the hazy feeling since it dulled the persistent ache of loss.

"There you are!" Hermione looked down at him from the doorway.

Turning his head, Harry looked up at her in silent question. Catching Ron's worried face in the darker shadows inside the house, Harry wondered if something was wrong. He quickly dismissed the idea since there was no way for things to be any more wrong than they already were. Besides, Hermione seemed to be full of excitement, not worry.

Holding out a letter, Hermione stated, "OWLs just arrived."

Harry looked at the letter indifferently. "Owls arrive every day."

He almost smirked to himself when Hermione's lips pressed into a thin line of annoyance. Ron snickered but quickly turned it into a cough, smiling at Harry when he saw Harry seemed to have cheered up a bit, at least enough to poke fun at Hermione.

"OWL results," Hermione reminded him. "Come on, don't you want to know how you did?"

Shrugging, Harry took the letter. While somewhere in his mind he still had vague ideas concerning what he would do after Hogwarts, he hadn't thought about them much since the end of the previous school year. In fact, he'd tried not to think about much of anything at all since then. Staring at the cream-colored envelope in his hand, Harry didn't feel Hermione's excitement, or Ron's apparent dread. Instead, he felt a disappointing, yet somehow comforting, certainty that whatever OWLs he had managed, he most definitely had not received and O in Potions. That meant his Auror dreams were dead, since Snape only took O level OWL students past fifth year and a Potions NEWT exam was required for the Auror entrance application. With the apathetic attitude he'd acquired over the summer, he figured he'd at least be spared lessons with Snape that year.

"Let's open them together!" Hermione suggested.

Ron looked as though Hermione had just handed him a large, hairy spider. "I think I'd rather not know."

Breaking the bright red seal on her envelope, Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron. "Oh, stop being such a wimp. Not knowing isn't going to change anything anyway."

Seeing she wasn't going to quit bullying them until they agreed, both Ron and Harry opened their letters and pulled out the sheets of parchment listing their OWL scores.

Ordinary Wizarding Level Exam Results

Harry James Potter

Astronomy A

Care of Magical Creatures E

Charms A

Defense Against the Dark Arts O

Divination P

Herbology E

History of Magic D

Potions O

Transfiguration E

________________________________

Passing Marks: Outstanding (O) Exceeds Expectations (E) Acceptable (A)

Failing Marks: Poor (P) Dreadful (D)

Harry blinked. This was far better than he had expected. He'd even done well in Astronomy, something his horrified witness to Professor McGonagall's attack he would have thought would have earned him a P or less. Having passed out halfway through his History of Magic exam, he wasn't surprised to see a D there. He was about to ask Ron how he had done when something made him peer more closely at the page. He'd sort of expected an O in Defense, but there was another O mark. Holding the page mere inches from his face, Harry was sure it must be a mistake. How had he managed an O in Potions?

"Not bad!" Ron exclaimed happily.

"See?" Hermione leaned over to see. "A D in Divination? Ron, really!"

"Oh come off it, you said yourself that class was a waste of time," Ron insisted. "I bet Harry didn't do much better on that one."

Harry looked up and shrugged. "P in that."

Ron had snatched Hermione's grades and she blushed furiously as he read them. Smirking at Harry, Ron said, "No surprises there. All Os, except for that one-"

"Give me that!" Hermione grabbed the letter from him.

"Got an E in Astronomy," Ron whispered loudly.

Hermione huffed indignantly. "Well, if you recall, that horrible Umbridge woman was trying to arrest Hagrid and Professor McGonagall had been attacked-"

"We know, Mione. It's okay to get an E you know," Ron said trying to placate her. Even Harry laughed a bit at her flustered explanation.

Ignoring him, Hermione turned to Harry. "So how did you do?" Harry handed her the letter and felt a bit of satisfaction in seeing her eyebrows rise. "Well done, Harry!" She was about to hand the letter to Ron, but whipped it back and looked at it again. "An O in... but... an O?"

Ron snatched the paper from her. "An O in wha- Potions? How the bloody hell did you get an O in Potions?"

"Maybe it was a mistake," Harry guessed.

"Maybe," Hermione muttered, unconvinced, handing it back.

A memory surfaced in Harry's mind. McGonagall had been attempting to give Harry career advice in her office while Umbridge declared Harry would never achieve the grades he needed to even apply to the Auror Academy. Hadn't McGonagall shouted she'd see Harry as an Auror if it was the last thing she did? Had Professor McGonagall somehow managed to get Harry an O on his Potions OWL? Mistake or not, Harry couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope that maybe his Auror hopes might not be dashed after all. It was replaced by the usual dread when he realized that he hadn't been spared classes with Snape.

Ron had read one of the additional parchments that had been in the envelope. "We get to drop two classes! Excellent!"

"Ron, really," Hermione admonished. Harry figured she didn't plan on dropping any at all.

"Goodbye Potions and Divination!" Ron exclaimed happily. "No more classes with Snape."

Harry pondered a moment after reading the second half of the letter. Obviously it suggested dropping those classes in which the student did not receive passing marks, but aside from Snape's restriction of O level students or higher after fifth year, students could keep whichever classes they chose. Harry supposed that logically, most students would only continue with classes they had done well in since they would only become more difficult in sixth and seventh year. So which two should he drop? Divination, definitely. But the other? History of Magic, maybe?

He changed his mind when Ron said, "Well, at least we still have History of Magic together, right?"

"I suppose I'll drop Divination and Astronomy, then," Harry said.

"Astronomy?" Hermione asked. "Really? But you did all right in that."

Harry raised one shoulder unconcernedly. "I'd rather get the chance to sleep through History of Magic than have to stay up for-"

"Well why not?" A despondent cry from within the house interrupted his reply.

The trio exchanged glances and simultaneously looked into the open doorway. They couldn't hear Mrs. Weasley's reply but by Ginny's shriek of outrage, they guessed it wasn't what she'd been hoping to hear.

"Well, I don't want to go then! What's the point?" Angry footsteps clomped in their direction. "It's not fair!"

Ginny stopped when she saw Ron, Hermione, and Harry standing just outside the door, watching her with expressions of amusement, concern, and confusion. Harry thought she might have blushed to have been caught in such an outburst, but it was hard to tell if she wasn't just flushed from anger.

"Oh, sorry." She turned to go back inside.

"What's got you all in a state?' Ron asked before she could escape.

"Nothing," Ginny muttered. Eying the letters in their hands she said, "Since you've got your OWLs, Mum's going to Diagon Alley to get our school things if you wanted to go."

"You're not going?" Hermione ventured.

Ginny plopped down on the sun-warm steps with a theatrical sigh. "What's the point? I already know what I'll get, secondhand spell books and a new pot of black ink. I won't even get new old robes this year because last year's still fit."

She crossed her arms over her knees and laid her chin on them, staring off into the field beyond the garden. Ron's amusement faded and Hermione and Harry shifted uncomfortably.

"Oh, um, I had wanted to go..." Hermione looked torn. "You're sure you don't want to?"

"Don't let me stop you." Ginny waved her off.

Ron exchanged a look with Hermione, who was still looking at Ginny as though she wasn't sure if Ginny really meant for her to go. "Do you want to come, Harry?"

Harry sat back where he had been before the OWL letters had arrived. With the distraction of his OWL results over, he felt his mood slipping back into his usual uninterested gloominess. "I think I'll stay here."

"Are you all right?" she asked worriedly.

Ron motioned for her to shut up but she ignored him. Harry ignored them both.

"Harry, I really think you ought to come out with us," Hermione cajoled. "Come on, it's such a nice day and-" She was silenced by a warning glare from Ginny. "All right. Is there anything you need?"

When Harry just shook his head in reply, Hermione and Ron left, both frowning. Once it was clear Ron and Hermione had left with Mrs. Weasley, Ginny asked, "So how did you do on your OWLs?"

Staring out over the field, Harry's mind had been blissfully blank for the past few minutes. Shaking himself when he realized Ginny had asked him something, he replied, "What? Oh, OWLs. I did all right."

Ginny took the paper and read it over. "All right? That's pretty good, I think. You got an O in Potions?" Obviously not expecting a reply, she sighed again. "I hope I do all right on mine. Were they really terrible?"

Harry shook his head and tried to sound reassuring. "You'll do all right. I mean Ron managed seven OWLs, right?"

Happy to hear Harry make a joke, she smiled and stood. "Yeah. Let's go have some quidditch practice. Not like there's much else to do."

Harry remained where he was. "What did you want in Diagon Alley?"

This time, Ginny did blush. "It doesn't matter." Raising his eyebrows, Harry just waited. Finally, Ginny admitted, "I wanted an owl."

Before Harry could say she was free to use Hedwig whenever she liked, Ginny added, "Or a cat, or...well, anything really. Just something of my own." She looked off into the distance. "Ron thinks he's got it bad, he should try being the last. And the only girl."

She seemed to have forgotten Harry was even there, judging by her expression when she looked back to where Harry had finally stood up. "Never mind. Let's go practice. Moping around here isn't going to change my mood any."

"Going for Chaser this year?" Harry asked as they walked to the shed that held the odd assortment of Weasley brooms and Harry's beloved Firebolt.

Ginny had replaced him as Seeker on the Gryffindor House team after he'd been banished the year before, but she hadn't really taken to it. Vaguely, Harry remembered her mentioning something about trying out for Chaser. Would the Gryffindor team need a Seeker to replace Ginny? Harry wondered if he was still banned from playing at Hogwarts since Umbridge was gone.

Shaking her head, Ginny laughed. "Nah. Fred and George had it right, hitting stuff with bats is more fun."

When the Weasleys and Hermione returned later that day, they were pleased to hear Harry had spent the afternoon outside. The day took a decided downturn when Ron presented his mother with the form that would allow him to take Appartion lessons in the second half of the year since he was sixteen and eligible with her permission. Harry had skimmed the permission form included with their OWL scores, disappointed he would not be allowed the lessons until the following school year since there was no way he was going to get any of the Dursleys to sign it. Somehow, he didn't think Professor McGonagall would accept Mrs. Weasley's signature. Ron's outrage when his mother inexplicably refused to sign his was understandable and brought Harry out of his funk long enough to sympathize over the unfairness of it. Neither could fathom why Mrs. Weasley had refused, but it was no use arguing with her. In a surprising show of solidarity, Hermione declined Mr. Weasley's offer of an escort to her parents' to have her own form signed. Confused but pleased by her support, the trio spent the rest of the evening playing Exploding Snap with Ginny.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A month later, as Harry and Ginny found and empty compartment on the Hogwarts Express, Ginny commented on the rampant speculation about who the next Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would be. From the sounds of it, he Slytherins were sure Snape would get it this year, though the other three-quarters of the school were hoping against hope that someone, anyone, else would get it. Idly, Harry wondered if Snape did get the Dark Arts job, if Ron would be able to take Potions with him. He'd seen Ron sighing over his grade, knowing Ron, too had wanted to try for the Auror Academy after Hogwarts.

Pigwidgeon hooted and flitted about his cage, Ginny having taken him from Ron when he and Hermione had gone on ahead to the prefects' compartment. In her cage on the seat next to Harry, Hedwig regally placed her head under her wing as though to set an example for the twittering bit of fluff in the cage opposite. Ginny sat across from Harry and, after a moment of watching him, sighed and joined him in staring silently out the window. She was glad when Ron and Hermione rejoined them, bringing with them the chatter of voices from the corridor.

"If Snape got the Dark Arts job, I'm getting right back on the train and going home," Ron stated as he slid the compartment door shut.

"No you won't, you'll just complain even more than usual," Ginny retorted. "Besides, maybe if he finally gets the job, he'll lighten up."

Ron looked at her disbelievingly. "Use it as an excuse to hex Gryffindor into oblivion, more like."

"I don't see the point of discussing it, it's not like we have any influence on who gets what," Hermione broke in. She had immediately shifted Hedwig's cage to the luggage rack and sat down next to Harry. Withdrawing a very old-looking spell book from her bag, she added, "I just hope the new professor is better than that horrid Umbridge woman."

"So then you are hoping it's not Snape?" Ginny snickered at Ron's joke. Hermione didn't answer from behind the tome, but Ron could feel her disapproving gaze piercing him through the yellowed pages. "Hermione, we're not even at school yet and you're already studying? Don't you ever take a break?"

"I'm looking up new spells for DA Club, if you must know. We are continuing it right, Harry? Harry?"

Through this whole exchange, Harry had been staring disconsolately out the window. "What?"

"Harry, are you all right?" Hermione asked, looking concerned. Harry almost wanted to congratulate her because he was pretty sure that was the one-thousandth time she'd asked since she'd arrived at the Burrow.

"Fine." It was the only answer he'd given since the beginning of the summer and he saw no reason to come up with something new.

"Are we keeping on with DA Club then?" Ron asked, hoping to lure Harry into the conversation. They were all hoping if Harry got back into teaching the defense class, he'd come out of his depression, or at least be distracted from it for a while.

"I guess. It really depends on the new professor, doesn't it?" Harry answered without enthusiasm.

"I think we should do it either way, it's good practice," Hermione replied

"Maybe you should take over, Hermione." Harry turned back to the window.

Harry's disinterest was not a good sign. Hermione exchanged a worried glance with Ron. "But, why? I mean you're a great teacher and you know more-"

"I'M NOT A GREAT ANYTHING!" Harry shouted, glaring at them. "And I don't know anything about Defense Against the Dark Arts, either. If I was any good then..." he stopped and turned angrily back to the window.

A ringing silence followed his outburst. It wasn't the first time, but the others still didn't know what to say. Usually, this was where Harry would storm off for a few hours and return as withdrawn as before, but on the train he didn't have anywhere else to go.

"Harry -" Hermione started.

"Why can't you just leave it?" Harry shot at her.

Ginny put her hand on Hermione's sleeve and shook her head, seeing the tears welling up in her eyes. Ron looked uncomfortably between Harry and Hermione but eventually decided saying nothing at all was probably best. The remainder of the ride passed in uncomfortable silence.

They shared a carriage to the castle. Snorting as he saw the thestrals, Harry glanced at Hermione, remembering her thoughtless comment that she wished she could see them. The uneasy silence from the train continued as the bumped along to the castle entrance. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny fervently hoped Mrs. Weasley was right when she said that going back to Hogwarts would probably be the best thing for Harry.

Students milled around the entryway waiting to be let into the Great Hall for the Sorting and the Welcoming Feast. Professor McGonagall had pulled Ron and Hermione aside briefly and Harry assumed they were getting the common room password and whatever other information prefects needed on the first day back. They returned quickly, but Harry wasn't really paying attention. He didn't see the concerned look Professor McGonagall gave him, either. Tuning out the chatter around him, mainly about who the new Dark Arts teacher would be, Harry watched while students who hadn't seen each other on the train exchanged ideas and hopes.

"Of course, there's not just a new professor starting this year."

Ron turned at the voice that always made his blood boil. "What are you shooting your mouth off about now, Malfoy?" he demanded. If they had been enemies before, it was nothing to how Ron felt about Malfoy now.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Weasel King. Where's Potty? Or did you two break up over the summer?" Draco sneered.

Ron flushed red and went to grab his wand but Hermione stopped him. Harry, facing the other direction, was lost in his own thoughts, oblivious to the whole exchange.

"We haven't even gotten to dinner yet!" Hermione hissed.

"Since your family obviously still hasn't the... and it's not even like it's big news." Malfoy eyed Ron's shabby robes contemptuously. "People like your father don't belong in the Ministry."

"People like your father belong in jail," Ron spat.

Crabbe and Goyle had loomed up menacingly behind Malfoy, and Harry had finally taken notice.

"Either say what you were going to say or stop wasting everyone's time," Hermione hissed at Malfoy.

Malfoy raised a haughty eyebrow. "Commands from the Mudblood? I'll humor you this once, Granger. Seems as though there'll be a new Caretaker this year, too," he said with a smug smile.

Ron shook the girls off. "Filch is gone?"

"Hardly. But he is rather old, don't you think? Looks like they thought he needed help, so they brought in someone new. A woman, and she happens to be Filch's niece," Draco said in a superior tone. He was clearly enjoying the feeling of knowing more than everyone else.

"He has a niece?" Ron said incredulously.

Initially drawn by the argument, the other students that had gathered around Ron and Malfoy murmured excitedly after hearing this bit of unexpected news. It hadn't ever occurred to any of the students that Filch might have anything as normal as a family.

"You are thick, Weasley. Yeah, I bet she's a Squib, too." He laughed with Crabbe and Goyle as they moved into the Great Hall.

"I bet she's twice as ugly," Ron commented, venting some of his anger as he glared at Malfoy's retreating back.

"And three times as mean," Ginny contributed, trying to soothe him.

"Honestly, you haven't even met her yet," Hermione said, exasperated, though she was relieved the argument hadn't escalated further. She turned to Harry, hoping he would join in, but was disappointed.

"I heard she's so mean, they kicked her out of America and she had no choice but to come here. And Dumbledore felt so bad because she was so ugly that he gave her a job."

All four turned at the unfamiliar voice behind them. It came from a woman with long honey-blonde hair, her gold eyes dancing with laughter as she moved past them into the dining hall.

Ron stared after her. "Tell me that was the new Dark Arts teacher."

Harry followed Ron's gaze. "That would be so much better than Snape."

"She looks way too young," Hermione sniffed as they headed into the Great Hall and the Gryffindor table.

"Tonks is young and she's an Auror," Ginny replied, looking to see who was at the Head Table as they sat.

Sure enough, the mystery woman was sitting among the rest of the staff, but not in the seat once occupied by previous Defense Against the Dark Arts professors. Rather, she sat at the far end, next to Hagrid, looking positively tiny next to him. A pleasant-looking man in dark brown robes filled the Dark Arts professor's seat.

"Looks like she's not the new Dark Arts professor after all," Hermione stated.

"But then who..." Ron continued to stare.

"You are dense. She's obviously Filch's niece." Ginny laughed.

"No way. She looks..." Ron caught Hermione's glare, "...normal."

Professor McGonagall led the new crop of first years into the hall, interrupting the chatter of the seated students. They clustered together looking terrified. Harry remembered when he first arrived at Hogwarts, nervous yes, but full of excitement at all the possibilities before him. So much had happened since that day, and undoubtedly things were far from over. Trying to keep his thoughts from drifting toward things he'd rather not think about, Harry focused on Professor McGonagall and the Sorting.

An expectant hush fell over the room as Professor McGonagall set out the old three-legged stool and carefully placed the Sorting Hat upon it. After a moment, a rip in the brim opened like a mouth and the Sorting Hat began its new song.

On the turning away

From the pale and downtrodden

And the words they say

Which we won't understand

Don't accept that what's happening

Is just a case of others' suffering

Or you'll find that you're joining in

The turning away

It's a sin that somehow

Light is changing to shadow

And casting its shroud

Over all we have known

Unaware how the ranks have grown

Driven on by a heart of stone

We could find that we're all alone

In the dream of the proud

On the wings of the night

As the daytime is stirring

Where the speechless unite

In a silent accord

Using words you will find are strange

Mesmerized as they light the flame

Feel the new wind of change

On the wings of the night

With our strengths we will stand

Clever, cunning and bravely

Loyal friends we'll remain

As we stand here as one

Never rest 'til our work is done

Holding strong when the rest have run

Join us now and there'll be no more turning away

No more turning away

From the weak and the weary

No more turning away from the coldness inside

Just a world that we all must share

It's not enough just to stand and stare

Is it only a dream that there'll be

No more turning away?

Students exchanged confused glances. The Sorting Hat's song the previous year had also been strange but it had at least kept to the story of the school's founders. This song had very little to do with the individual Houses at all, though it did reinforce the hat's usual hint that the Houses work together rather than compete with one another.

"What do you suppose that was all about?" Harry asked. "Turning away from what?"

"Don't you remember when the Ministry-" Ron began in a whisper, but stopped and let out a yelp of pain, presumably from the kick Ginny had aimed at his shin.

Ron shot his sister a dirty look, but Harry had already lost interest. Figuring it was simply like the previous year when the Sorting Hat had promoted unity between Houses in times of danger, Harry clapped halfheartedly for the new Gryffindors as Professor McGonagall commenced with the Sorting. It was easy to let his mind slip into the half-numb state he'd perfected over the summer. Names drifted by and Harry clapped when the students around him did, not really paying attention.

When the last student had been Sorted, Dumbledore stood. "Before we are all too relaxed by fine food and drink, I have a few start of term announcements. Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you, yet again, that magic in the corridors is prohibited. Also, an additional fifteen items, as well as the entire inventory of the new joke store, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, have been added to the extensive list of forbidden items, which can be found attached to his office door." He paused and turned slightly. "Additionally, we have two new staff assignments this year. First, I would like you all to welcome our new Assistant Caretaker, Persephone Hade."

All eyes turned to the end of the Head table, and Persephone smiled. Filch, standing at the back of the Hall, glowered at her. She caught his eye and her smile vanished as she glared back.

"Looks like they don't get along," Ginny observed. "Maybe she'll be nicer than Filch."

Harry considered. He knew what it was like to live with relatives who didn't like you and didn't want you, though he wondered why she had come here if they disliked each other as much as they seemed to.

"I would also like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dunn. I'm sure he will be a fine addition to the staff." Scattered clapping followed. Dunn seemed indifferent to the whole process and didn't seem to notice the evil look Snape cast his way.

"There's a brave soul," Ron muttered peering over Harry's shoulder for a better look at the new professor.

Harry almost laughed; Snape had been passed over, yet again. Potions was sure to be difficult and miserable, he thought, his amusement fading. Especially without Ron. Feeling lucky at least Hermione would be there to help him, Harry turned his attention back to the Headmaster.

"A schedule for quidditch tryouts for the house teams will be posted in the common rooms by the team captains." Dumbledore looked over the Hall with his twinkling blue gaze. "And I do believe I have blathered on long enough. Let the feast begin!"

Plates and platters filled magically with food. Enticing scents of roast chicken and buttery potatoes filled the air. A massive tureen of bright green peas appeared in front of Harry, who merely stared vacantly at it. A roll appeared on his plate, placed there by Hermione. Several other selections of meat and vegetables also made their way in front of him, but Harry had little interest. Ron dove in as usual, while Hermione and Ginny took the time to actually chew. Harry prodded at his food, pushing it listlessly across his plate in an attempt to fool his friends into thinking he'd actually eaten some of it.

"Harry, you've got to eat something," Hermione implored when they reached the dessert course and Harry still hadn't done any more than poke at what she'd served him. "Look, treacle tart, your favorite."

Harry took it from her but just stared at it. "I'm not hungry."

"How can you not be hungry? You've hardly eaten anything in the last three months." Ron was hungry if he hadn't eaten anything in the last three minutes. Harry glared at him and doggedly took a few bites.

As the feast wound down, students began to trickle out of the Great Hall. Among a smattering of other Gryffindors at their table, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Harry remained. Ron was having a third helping of trifle, Hermione was still prodding Harry to eat, and Harry was still trying to ignore her. Disregarding the three of them, Ginny was watching the Head Table with interest.

"Think he'll be any good?" she asked.

"Who?" Ron asked, debating if he should take a cookie or two in case Harry might be hungry later.

"The new Dark Arts professor, who else?" Ginny replied, rolling her eyes.

Ron shrugged. "Couldn't say. I wonder if Dad knows anything about him."

"You don't think the Ministry assigned him, do you?" Hermione asked with dismay.

Folding a napkin around a handful of oatmeal cookies, Ron said, "He didn't give a long insufferable speech, so I'd say no."

"What do you think, Harry?" Hermione made an attempt to draw him into the conversation.

"Can't be worse than Umbridge." Harry shrugged as they got up to leave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The evening sky had darkened to a deep purplish-blue outside the window of the Headmaster's circular office. Dumbledore regarded Snape from across his desk, patiently waiting for him to begin.

"I assume you know why I'm here," Snape said, a slight edge to his voice.

"I have several theories, but am anxious to see which is correct," he replied with a slight smile.

It did nothing to improve Snape's mood. "I am requesting you reconsider your addition to my NEWT potions class. As in past years, I only accept those students who have received an O on their OWL exams. While Potter may have scraped by," Snape paused to dispel the irritation that arose with the thought that Potter had somehow managed an O, "I don't see how-"

Dumbledore's gaze hardened slightly as he interrupted, "I believe we have discussed this. One additional student will hardly make a difference."

Snape only glared in response, seeing Dumbledore would not be swayed. Without another word, the Potions Master swept from the room and down the spiral stairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Want a game of Exploding Snap, Harry?" Neville asked. He had finished organizing his trunk and was headed to the Gryffindor common room with a deck of cards. He'd noticed Harry's gloomy mood at dinner and suspected its cause. Thinking a game might bring him out of it, Neville waited nervously for Harry to answer.

Harry did not move his gaze from the space above his bed, at which he'd been staring since arriving there after dinner, nor did he reply. Ron watched him worriedly from his position in front of his own messy trunk.

"Sure, Neville. We'd love to play." Ron stood suddenly. Harry turned his head slightly and opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Ron grabbed his arm and dragged him into a sitting position, whispering, "I'm not going to let you brood up here all year. You've done enough of that. Come on, it'll get your mind off... things."

Harry tried to think of an appropriate reply but decided they might leave him in peace after a game or two. "Yeah, all right." He plodded past Neville and down the stairs.

"Is he all right?" Neville asked in a concerned tone.

Ron shook his head and sighed. "Would you be?" Neville looked sorry he'd brought it up, but Ron plastered on a smile. "Come on. Let's go see if we can bring him out of it for a little while, at least."

Hermione looked up and saw Harry walk into the common room. "Harry! I didn't think you were coming down."

"Neville wants a game of Exploding Snap." Harry plopped into an armchair.

"Oh, sounds like fun." Hermione looked to Ron, who shrugged and tried to look encouraging.

"Hey Ginny. Wanna play?" Harry half-smiled. Ginny was usually good at keeping the others from trying too hard to cheer him up.

Ginny smiled back. "Sure."

Ron and Neville came in and sat by Harry as Ginny walked over, and they started the game. Hermione seemed content enough to read nearby, only occasionally peering concernedly at Harry. Later that night, as Harry tried to fall asleep, he had to admit that Ron was right- for a few moments here and there, he had forgotten. He closed his eyes and hoped the day had worn him out enough to keep the nightmares at bay.