A Year Away

A few months back, he had received a letter from Dumbledore asking him to be present at Hogwarts on September 1^st. The letter had gone on to ask that he be sure to arrive just before the opening feast. They would be joining their houses after a short introduction.

Honestly, he was a bit apprehensive about it.

Opening the door to the back entrance of the same room he had been in only a year before, he quickly took in his surroundings. The room hadn't changed much. The occupants of the room, however, were surprisingly different. Three others had arrived before him and seemed to have made themselves fairly comfortable.

One chair was set in front of the roaring fire. Sprawled in it was a tall boy who had his long brown hair tied back. He seemed to have forgotten everyone else in the room as he twirled his wand between his fingers and stared into the flames.

A girl with short black hair looked up from the only other chair in the room. She offered a quick smile before turning back to the thick novel in her lap. A small reading lamp and end table had also been conjured.

The last occupant of the room was another young man, who had claimed one of the corners for himself. The teen wasn't sitting in a chair, or even on the plush carpet that covered the floor. Instead he stood leaning against the wall. His white blonde hair fell in his face and grey eyes continually swept the room. They stopped on the boy who had just walked through the door. After looking him up and down, a look of recognition crossed his face.

"Good of you to finally join us, Potter," He said with a familiar smirk. "We were beginning to wonder when you would feel fit to grace us with your presence."

The boy in front of the fire seemed to snap out of his trance as Harry set his trunk down by the door. He had already donned his jacket when he had walked into the entrance hall. He'd forgotten how cold the castle could get.

"Nice to see you too, Malfoy." Harry had worked on keeping his anger in check over the last year. He knew Malfoy was just trying to get a rise out of him. Harry wasn't about to give him that satisfaction this early in the year. Seeing that there wasn't going to be a fight, whether verbal or physical, the boy in the chair turned back and began twirling again.

The door opened again as Dumbledore stepped into the room. "Ah, Mr. Potter. I'm glad you made it."

"Sorry I'm a bit late Professor," Harry said, pulling his wand from his jacket pocket. "My friends decided it was necessary to make my luggage explode just as I was leaving. It took me an extra hour to find and repack everything," he explained. Harry plopped himself down onto the giant red and silver striped beanbag chair he had just conjured. The teen laughed a bit, remembering the look on Pete's face. He'd retaliated by turning his hair a bright purple and transfiguring his jeans and t-shirt into a tutu and leotard. His friend hadn't thought it was as funny as he had.

"That's quite alright. We haven't been waiting for very long," Dumbledore said giving him a warm smile. "Now, once the students are all seated and the first-years are sorted into their houses, Professor McGonagall will lead you into the Great Hall. You will then be re-introduced to your friends and classmates."

Looking around the room to all of them, he smiled once more. "Well then, I must be getting back to the feast. Welcome back. All of you." The headmaster let himself out through the door that led into the hall. Harry caught a quick glimpse of the large room before the door closed again and noticed that students were already seated at the four house tables. It seemed Dumbledore had left just in time for the first-years to enter the hall.

----------

Fifteen minutes later, Hannah Abbott closed her book and stood. The Headmaster could be heard welcoming the students, just as he always did after the sorting. Her chair, table and lamp disappeared. Noticing that the boy by the fire hadn't taken the hint, she made his chair vanish as well.

A startled Terry Boot suddenly found himself lying flat on his back on the floor, looking up at the laughing faces of Hannah and Harry. Draco smiled as well, but stayed where he was, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

Dumbledore was still talking to the mass of students in front of him. The four in the back room heard enough to be able to tell that he was in the middle of his speech about Filch and the Forbidden Forest.

McGonagall entered the room, interrupting their thoughts. She set the Sorting Hat on a table that had appeared in the middle of the room. Harry noticed that Terry had picked himself up off the floor and Malfoy had finally ventured out of his corner.

"Well now," McGonagall said briskly, giving them a rare tight-lipped smile. "It's good to see you all again." Clasping her hands behind her back, the Deputy Headmistress explained that they would be entering the hall one by one. They would then stand in front of the staff table facing their houses while the Headmaster said a short bit about them.

Harry took a deep breath as McGonagall opened the door. He'd spent the majority of the last week, between packing and repacking, convincing himself that he was ready to come back. Now, with that door opening in front of him, he wasn't so sure. Unconsciously, he shifted into place behind Terry. Noticing afterwards that he had just inadvertently made himself the last one in line.

All of them could hear the level of voices suddenly rise in volume as whispers wound through the crowd. Dumbledore had just announced that the students from the culture exchange had returned.

Hannah was the first to walk into the hall, book in hand, and was greeted with applause and a few cheers and whistles as the Headmaster spoke about a few of the things she had done in China.

Malfoy was next. He strode through the door, black robe flapping. Coming to a stop in front of the Slytherins, he crossed his arms and glared at the rest of the school defiantly. Draco was also greeted with enthusiasm, but far less than Hannah had been. The students at Hogwarts hadn't forgotten how he had always thrown snide remarks and insults at them. Harry even noticed that a few of the Slytherins didn't seem to appreciate his return.

As Terry shuffled his way into the crowded room, Harry noticed how tired he looked. He wondered if the Ravenclaw was as nervous about this as he was. While Dumbledore read off the list of things he had done while in Brazil, Terry picked at the edge of his sleeve.

Harry's name was called, and after taking another deep breath, he entered the Great Hall. Appearing confident, even if he didn't feel like it, he walked across to a spot in front of the Gryffindor table. He stood with his hands in the pockets of his jeans, oblivious to the whistles and hollers he was getting, while Dumbledore talked about his experience in the states. It was then that he realized that he had forgotten to wear robes and was instead dressed in black jeans, boots, his jacket and a red t-shirt with a silver dragon on it, one of his Quidditch shirts from California.

Harry looked back up from his clothing as Dumbledore yet again welcomed them back and told them that they were allowed to join their houses. Immediately, people began shifting themselves so that there was an empty seat. Harry made his way over to Ron and Hermione. His two best friends were sitting across from Seamus, Neville and Dean. Harry was unaware of the many eyes following his path.

As he walked towards his group of friends, he took the time to take in the changes they had all gone through.

Ron had grown quite a bit, and looked like he would be well over six feet when he stood. He was at least an inch taller than Harry, if not more. He'd also let his hair grow out to his collar, that combined with the muscle mass he'd gained through Quidditch, and Harry's best friend looked quite unlike the kid he had been only a year before.

Hermione had also changed. She had apparently discovered a spell or potion that had tamed her hair. It was now straight and hung down to the middle of her back. Harry smiled when he caught a glimpse of the Head Girl badge on her robes. The grin grew even wider when he noticed that his two best friends were holding hands.

Wonder when that happened? It certainly took them long enough.

Neville had also gotten taller and had filled out. He didn't even remotely seem like the same clumsy kid that repeatedly blew up his cauldron and tripped over his own robes; he looked stronger and more sure of himself.

Dean didn't seem to have changed at all, at least not physically. He'd always been taller than his other dorm mates. But he did seem more confident. He wasn't even fazed when a Ravenclaw boy, who was clearly his boyfriend, leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. The Dean he remembered would have been completely embarrassed and probably would have run out of the hall.

While Harry had been taking his time, Ron and Hermione had moved to make a spot for him between them. Sitting down, Ron clapped him on the back and Hermione gave him a crushing hug. Finally able to breathe again, he looked around at his other friends. Seamus was directly across from him and Neville and Dean were on either side.

After a round of welcoming, Seamus immediately piped up. "So, shag any of those beach girls while you were there?" asked the boisterous Irishman.

Harry laughed, drawing a few more looks from the people around him. Seamus evidently hadn't changed a bit. "I think that's a topic for later." He tilted his head towards Hermione.

"Ay, I gotcha mate."

"Seamus, really. Is that necessary?" Hermione glared at him.

"Tanned, blonde beach girls runnin' around in nothin' but bikinis? Yes Hermione, it is completely necessary."

"Really, you boys," she huffed as the food appeared. "You need to grow up. Honestly, you're seventh years now, can't you all think about anything besides girls?"

"Hey! I resent that very much Hermione." Dean pretended to be hurt. Harry chuckled. Dean wasn't a very good actor, and from the look on Hermione's face she wasn't buying it either.

Feeling the anger radiating from his girlfriend, Ron broke the silence, "I for one am going to think of nothing but food for the next hour. Care to join me Mr. Potter?"

Catching what his friend was trying to do, Harry smiled at him. "Gladly Mr. Weasley. Would you mind passing me the buns, if it's not too much trouble?"

"Of course, of course, old chap. No trouble at all."

"That is most gracious of you."

"Think nothing of it. Miss Granger, if you could just pass the gravy please?"

"I say, I do believe Miss Granger is indisposed at the moment. She seems to have been overcome with a fit of the giggles."

"Oh come off it you two!" Dean gasped, clutching his stomach. By now the rest of the group was laughing as well. Harry thought he even heard Neville snort into his goblet. The other tables shot them odd looks, which just made them all start again.

"Good to have ya back 'arry!" Seamus threw a roll at him, which Harry caught deftly in his left hand.

Taking a bite of the roll, he resumed looking around the hall, just taking the time to think about the differences, but more importantly, the similarities. Harry was grateful that Hogwarts and his friends had not changed too much. It's good to be back. I have a feeling that this is going to be one interesting year.

----------

They had all trooped back to the common room together after the feast, trailing a bit behind the rest of the Gryffindor group. Except for Hermione, of course. She had the duty of leading the new students on their first trip to the Gryffindor dorms. After giving the new password and directing the first years towards their dorms, the groups dispersed at the blink of an eye.

The first years all huddled together, still standing in front of the portrait hole. The second years tried their best to scare them with stories of horrible goings-on in classes. Third and fourth year students were on one side of the room, talking and joking loudly. The fifth years weren't so animated. Harry heard many of them already groaning about the OWLs they would have to take. The other side of the large room was occupied by the sixth and seventh years, which were also laughing and chatting energetically.

Harry set his trunk down next to an overstuffed chair. Since he hadn't been on the train, the house elves didn't bring it up with the rest of the luggage. Ron was telling the other boys about the Dynamic Duo's latest prank.

"Ginny rigged up the twins' room with booby traps at the beginning of the break. So Fred and George have been trying to get her back for a while. First, they made her forget something so she'd have to go back inside. But mum decided to go with her to help her find whatever it was faster. You know mum, always thinking we're going to be late for everything." Ron stopped to take a breath, "Anyway, the twins had charmed the door to Ginny's room to pour paint all over her when she left holding whatever it was that she'd forgotten. Unfortunately for mum, she and Ginny were both in the doorway at the same time. They were covered in all different colors of paint." All the guys were laughing by now.

"The best part was that the paint didn't come off! It was some new product the twins are working on. It stays on for a week or so and starts singing Muggle show tunes when you try to scrub it off. That's why Ginny isn't here yet. Mum made her stay home until Fred and George got back and gave them the potion to get it off. Mum's in for a shock though, 'cause I don't think they made one."

"That's bloody brilliant," Dean laughed and wiped a tear from his eye. "Sometimes I wish those two were still at Hogwarts. It would certainly liven the place up a bit."

"Well, they've set up a shop in Hogsmeade, so we'll be able to buy some of their stuff when we go in a few weeks."

The group went back to talking about everything they'd done over the summer. Harry, however, chose to just listen. He knew he'd have plenty of time to tell about everything that he had been doing the last year.

In the end, it was nearly midnight before the group split up. Even then, Harry and Ron stayed up for awhile longer. Ron filled him in on what the rest of the Weasley family had been doing.

According to Ron, Bill had asked for a transfer to the Diagon Alley branch of Gringotts. He was now only going to Egypt when there was a particularly nasty curse that needed breaking. Charlie was still working in Romania and Percy hadn't spoken to the family since the blow up. Mr. Weasley had a bit of a hard time at work during the beginning of last year, but it seemed that more of the wizards at the Ministry were starting to see how incompetent Fudge was.

"I'm going to bed. You coming Harry?" The red haired teen stretched, his arms were sore from his mother making him pack all of Hermione's, his sister's and his own luggage into the car. Who knew those two brought so much with them?

"Yeah, I'll be up in a few minutes," Harry mumbled absently. "I'm just going to sit down here for a few minutes."

"Alright then, see you in the morning. Oh, and Harry?"

"Hmm..."

"I know everyone has already said it, but it's good to see you again, mate."

"Thanks Ron. Night"

"Night Harry. Don't stay down too long."

Harry closed his eyes, listening to his friend make his way up the staircase.

---------

It was morning when he opened them again. Something was poking into the small of his back. Pulling it out, he found that the object was actually his glasses, which were cracked and bent from his weight. Damn. Harry sat up, only to be greeted by Hermione's intense glare.

"Come on Harry, if you don't move it we're going to be late for breakfast. Do you want me to fix those?"

"No, I got it. How much time to I have?" He yawned.

"About ten minutes."

"Well then a shower is out of the question," he grumbled. He'd have to wait until after he ate to wash up. "Just gimme a second to change and use the loo and I'll be ready." Harry pulled himself off the couch and went into the bathroom, fixing his glasses as he walked. Splashing some water on his face to wake himself up, he ran a wet hand through his hair, trying to tame it somewhat.

He'd tried growing it out, thinking that it would help him keep it under control if it was long enough to tie back, but that hadn't worked. Plus, long hair and the California heat didn't agree with each other. Instead he had opted for a cut that was only a bit shorter than his usual. Like Hermione, he'd also discovered something that made his hair at least stay where he wanted it to, if not completely under control. Although he figured she used a spell, while he had just let Elana talk him into using a Muggle product. I'll have to remember to send her an owl and ask her what the name of that was.

No time for that though. He sighed, wiping his hand off on one of the towels. Looking down at his clothes, the same ones from yesterday, he realized that he hadn't brought any others in with him.

Making a quick trip out to the common room, were he had left his trunk the night before, he assured Hermione that he would be done in just a moment and that they wouldn't be late. I think she might have been spending a little too much time with Mrs. Weasley.

Back in the bathroom, Harry swapped his black jeans for a pair of khakis and his red and silver shirt for a dark blue one with the California Institute crest on the front and his name and house on the back.

The shirt had been the Dragon's uniform during one of the school-wide competitions called MudFest. Harry smiled at the memory of the sack races and tug-of-war, all carried out on a massive field covered in literally tons of mud. The CI had many different inter-house challenges throughout the year, and not all magical. Slipping on his boots again, he rejoined Hermione who was now talking with Ron.

"... Can't put off your N.E.W.T. study time. I'm going to make up a timetable so that we'll keep up with all our work."

"Hermione," Ron whined exasperatedly. "We've only been here one day, classes haven't even started yet! I really don't think I'm in danger of getting behind just yet."

"That's the attitude that is going to get you behind Ron."

"Harry? Tell her we don't need any time tables or other schedules to keep up with our work."

Finally noticing that Harry was ready, the Head Girl didn't wait for his answer, and instead immediately hopped up and dragged the two of them out of the common room and towards the Great Hall.

----------

Seamus let out a loud laugh as Ron quite literally fell through the portrait hole. "I've been waiting for ya to show up for the past ten minutes just so I could see yer face while you fell. It was worth the waitin' though." Seamus walked over to one of the fireplaces still laughing.

"I hate it when he does that," Ron grumbled, and lifted himself up off the floor before a group of rowdy third years trampled across the spot he'd just been lying in.

"Does it often then?" Harry laughed at the look his friend shot him in response. "Oh c'mon Ron, it was pretty funny."

"Excuse me, excuse me." Harry moved out of the way as Hermione pushed her way through the crowd. "Here are your schedules."

"Urgh. I was hoping I wouldn't have to think about class until I got there tomorrow morning." Ron looked at the paper in his hands.

Harry looked at his as well and grimaced. "Potions, DADA, History of Magic, Transfiguration and Charms with the Slytherins... What, is Dumbledore trying to get us to kill each other off?"

"Of course not, he's just trying to strengthen the school by promoting inter-house relations, that's all."

"Then why don't we have more classes with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff?"

"Well, we don't usually have a problem with them now do we?"

Harry shrugged; it seemed logical. He just wasn't looking forward to so many classes with the Slytherins. Although, it did seem as though there's a rift between some of them. He'd noticed that there had been a noticeable difference in the way many of the Slytherins were acting. Many of the older students were keeping away from the younger ones. That's something to look into. He slipped his schedule into his pocket and headed towards the showers.

"Where you going Harry? Neville's starting a game of Exploding Snap, you want to join in?" Ron asked.

"Yeah Harry. We could use another player."

"Maybe later Neville, I didn't get a chance to take a shower this morning." He stopped to grab a few things from his trunk, which was still sitting next to the couch.

----------

Twenty minutes later, Harry walked back into the common room. There he was met with the sound of his friends laughing loudly. Walking over to them, he noticed that another had joined the group.

Ginny stood up as she saw him coming. "Harry! It's great to see you!" She threw her arms around his neck, which was kind of difficult since she was a good deal shorter than him.

"I see you got the paint out of your hair," he said as she pulled away.

Ginny glared at him. "Yes. Fred and George hadn't made anything to take it off, so mum told them they had to figure it out fast if they wanted any food." She smiled as she sat back down next to Dean. "She didn't feed them for almost a day before they realized she was serious and got to work. After that it only took them a few hours."

Harry smiled back at her and took the spot beside Ron.

Everyone was silent for a moment. Harry had the feeling that they were all thinking about the reaming Fred and George got from Mrs. Weasley.

"So, Harry," Neville broke the silence, "are you planning on restarting the DA?"

"What? You guys didn't do it last year?" he asked, surprised at his friends.

"Well, we all practiced a little..." Hermione started.

"But we didn't hold actual meetings or anything," Ron finished for her.

"Why not?"

"First of all, we didn't have anyway to contact all the members secretly, since you had the only galleon that could trigger all of the others," the Head Girl said matter-of-factly. "Second, none of us really knows how to teach this stuff. Plus, people are much more willing to learn from someone who's actually used the spells in a fight."

"So 'ow 'bout it 'arry?" Seamus looked around at everyone else, "I can tell ya that we're goin' to need it 'fore the years out."

"What makes you say that, Sea?" Dean asked him nervously.

"I've 'eard rumors." Seamus leaned in conspiratorially. Everyone else did the same, it wasn't often that the Irishman was serious, but all of them knew to pay attention when he was. "People 'ave been sayin' that You-Know-Who..."

"Voldemort, Seamus."

"Right, 'im. Anyway, they've been sayin' that 'e might be plannin' more attacks. And not just 'round 'ere, but all over. France, Spain, Russia. Everywhere. People think 'e is tryin' to get more followers. There's even talk of an attack on 'ogwarts, but not until after a few more people 'ave joined 'im mind you. No, 'e wouldn't attack until 'e had enough people 'elpin' 'im."

"Where did you hear all of this, Seamus?" Hermione asked, her voice wavering a bit.

"I overheard me mum and da talkin' one night. Me mum 'as a friend who works in a pub in town, one that a lot of You-Know-Who's supporters go to. They aren't too concerned about a bartender listenin' in on their talk. At first me mum didn't believe 'er, but the same blokes kept comin' back and sayin' the same things. Then one of the attacks she 'eard 'em talkin' about actually 'appened."

"That settles it then. I'll talk to Dumbledore and see if we can keep going with meetings."

"It's not the Headmaster we should be worried about, Harry," Hermione said, looking up at her raven-haired friend. "The Minister will oppose it, you know that."

"Aww, I wouldn't worry about Fudge, mate. He's a pompous git and everyone knows it."

"Ron!"

"What? He's a bastard 'Mione."

"Still, you shouldn't talk about the Minister of Magic like that."

"Hermione..."

Harry smiled as his two best friends began arguing again. Glancing around the group, he could tell that their fighting hadn't let up any since they'd gotten together.

Neville rolled his eyes. "Honestly, would you two just go shag and get it over with!"

The argument ceased as everyone looked over at the normally quiet boy, and promptly began laughing.

"Neville, I never thought I'd ever hear you say something like that." Dean said after catching his breath.

"Hey, it got them to stop, didn't it?"

This just made Harry laugh louder. "I'm going to have to remember that Neville."

"Well," Hermione huffed. She hadn't thought Neville's comment was very funny. "I'm going to bed."

"Hermione!" Ron groaned. "It's only eight o'clock."

"I know, but we have classes in the morning and I for one am planning on being awake for them. We do have N.E.W.T.s this year you know."

Ron just looked at her like she had a hippogriff growing out of her head. "N.E.W.T.s aren't until the end of the term, you can't be studying already."

Hermione ignored him as she picked up her books and headed upstairs.

"I think her Head Girl status has made her resort back to the same mentality she had at the start of first year."

"Well, let's just hope that we don't have to fight another troll to get her to loosen up."

My high school did this. It was really fun... and messy.

Okay, I know I really messed up Seamus' accent. It was the best I could do, hope it isn't too horrible!