A Different World

When Harry went down to the kitchen on the morning they were to go to Hogwarts, the Weasley house was in mayhem. Fred and George could be heard trying to persuade Ginny to try one of their new products. Harry thought they were pushing it just a tad, as Ginny was far too old to fall for any explanation they could come up with. Ron, who was not yet packed, was hurriedly trying to get the job done before his mother found out. Mrs. Weasley was yelling at everyone to hurry up or they would most surely be late. The only one not bustling around the house was Hermione. Harry was not surprised to see this, as she was the most organized of any of them.

Harry grabbed a piece of toast and joined Hermione at the kitchen table. He too, was ready and for once had not procrastinated. Hermione was reading the Daily Prophet; her eyes had a saddened look to them. "What's Wrong?" Harry inquired her, not really sure if anything was wrong, but he figured he should ask just the same.

"Huh? Oh...its just...another Muggle family with a wizard child was killed." Harry could see worry etched on her face. "The Prophet says their house fell in a sinkhole that formed due to excess amounts of rain, but really there are a number of spells that even a first year could perform to get out of a sinkhole and this kid was our age! Fudge is doing a bad job of covering this up." She shook her head with a sigh and Harry wondered if maybe she was concerned about her own family.

"What school did he go to? The kid I mean," Harry asked her.

Hermione looked up, perhaps a little surprised about the question. "Well, it says in the article that he went to Durmstrang," she said slowly, as if not wanting to say the name of the school at all.

"I wonder if Krum knew him," Harry thought out loud. At that moment Ron walked into the room.

"What are you talking about that bloody idiot for?" Ron asked. He was questioning Harry, but he glared at Hermione as he spoke. Hermione chose not to comment on his description of Krum, instead feeling contented to roll her eyes and let Harry explain.

"Some kid and his family were killed by Death Eaters. The kid went to Durmstrang and I was just wondering of Krum knew him." Harry clarified. Ron just shrugged his shoulders while buttering a piece of toast and did not give any further enlightenment on what qualities made Viktor Krum such a bloody idiot.

A half hour later, the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione were packed into an expanded Ministry car that had been lent to Mr. Weasley for the day. For once, they were on time and had no trouble getting to King's Cross before the train left its post. One by one they went through the barrier to get to Platform nine and three-quarters. "Please be careful, all of you. And I don't want any trouble from either of you," Mrs. Weasley warned pointing a finger at Fred and George.

"Who us?" Fred said sounding shocked, pointing to himself and his twin. "The year hasn't even started yet and you're already scolding us!"

"Yes, well if you cause half as much trouble as you have the other six years of your education then I'm sure that scolding will be well deserved," Mrs. Weasley shot back at her son trying to sound irritated, but a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She kissed each one of her children in turn, then Hermione and finally Harry. He and Hermione thanked Mrs. Weasley for letting them stay.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all dears. It's them who should be thanking me for letting them stay." She told them jerking a finger at her own children.

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Harry, Ron, and Hermione were able to get a train compartment to themselves. "Oh, I've just remembered!" Hermione shouted a few minutes into the train ride. "I have to sit with the prefects for a little bit. I think its just for orientation and information about our responsibilities." With that she disappeared from the compartment.

"Wonder who the other Gryffindor prefect is?" Ron questioned Harry.

"Dunno. Seamus or Dean." Harry and Ron thought about this for a second.

"Dean," they both said simultaneously. Seamus was infamous for procrastination and often "forgot" to do homework, while Dean was a very good student. Harry and Ron made small talk as the train sped closer to Hogwarts, discussing Quidditch, chess, and the secret meetings that the Weasleys had been hosting over the summer.

"I know those meetings were about You Know Who, but I wonder what exactly they were talking about," Ron said. As they had no real information on the meetings, the topic didn't last long. Soon Hermione entered their compartment, this time holding a rather thick looking packet. If Harry had been given a packet of that stature he probably wouldn't be wearing the wide smile that was now plastered on Hermione's face.

"Oh, this is just so great! We have so much responsibility!" she exclaimed with relish as though one could never have too many responsibilities or rules to follow. Ron raised his eyebrows at Harry, but chose not to comment.

"Anything from the cart dearies?" The plump witch with the food cart arrived in their compartment, thankfully interrupting Hermione's ramblings about prefect duties. Harry purchased a large stack of chocolate frogs and the three were content to talk and eat amongst themselves as the scarlet train snaked its way through the countryside. Upon arrival at Hogwarts, Harry, Ron and Hermione took their seats at the Gryffindor table. Professor McGonagall set the Sorting Hat on its respective stool and the hat began to sing:

Four Founders of great wisdom, started this school together

By first enchanting the great hall sky to display all sorts of weather

They then handpicked their students that they wanted to educate

By finding the ones with whom they could most relate

Salazar Slytherin liked those who had a thirst for power and control

He didn't care much for compassion, heart, or soul

Helga Hufflepuff prized those that always tried their best

She liked the diligent ones, who never took a rest

Godric Gryffindor cherished students who were courageous and bold

He valued the daring ones who always broke the mold

Rowena Ravenclaw respected those who were intelligent and smart

Their skills at wit and learning set Ravenclaws apart

So go ahead and put me on, I'll have a look inside

And give you a taste of the guidance I provide

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Harry clapped along with the rest of the Great Hall thinking that the song had been better in previous years. Maybe the hat was running out of ideas. The Sorting began with Alconic, Jake who was deemed the first Gryffindor. Bubbles, Bobby was made the first Slytherin. And so the list went on and on. Harry thought it would never end and was acutely aware of the grumbling in his stomach. He looked wishfully at the plate in front of him, wishing he were the one that made the food appear there. Finally with Zappy, Rachel (RAVENCLAW!) the sorting ended. Harry picked up his silverware staring at the dishes in front of him, but Dumbledore stood up and appeared to want to make some sort of proclamation.

"Welcome new students! I have a few announcements to make. The Forbidden Forest is as its title suggests Forbidden to all students," he began. "The village of Hogsmeade is open only to those in third year or above. Also I would like to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher: Miss Arabella Figg!" And for the first time Harry noticed a new teacher sitting up at the staff table with the rest. She stood up and waved to the student body as polite applause sounded around her. Harry squinted not believing what he had thought he had seen the first time he had taken a glimpse at the new teacher. He looked at her again and his eyes were not deceiving him! It was Mrs. Figg! The neighbor who babysat him at the Dursleys. His jaw dropped open. Ron gave him a weird look.

"What's wrong Harry?" he asked, giving Harry an inquisitive look.

"That's the neighbor that used to take care of me at the Dursleys. You know, whenever they were going to do something fun and didn't want me coming along." Harry had two different reactions to this being the same person as his old neighbor. The first was resentment. This lady obviously was a wizard and known him to be a wizard and had never said one word to him about it in the many hours he had spent with her in the confines of her musty home. The second was relief. Harry was not stupid. Arabella Figg did not end up living near him by accident. Maybe this was part of the protection that Dumbledore seemed to constantly feel Harry was under at the Dursleys? Perhaps Miss Figg had been watching Harry, making sure no danger ever came to him.

Ron and Hermione looked at him strangely. "Really?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, that's her," Harry said, once again eyeing her at the staff table. His friends shrugged their shoulders not really sure what to make of this and they all started eating the delicious food that had appeared right before their eyes.

That night, Harry lay in bed with a new set of questions to ponder, all surrounding this mysterious woman: Arabella Figg. Maybe she would clue him in when they had their first Defense Against the Dark Arts Class. Harry decided that he needed to take some initiative if he wanted to know what was going on. He had a plan. After their first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, he would stay after class and have a talk with Miss Figg. Hopefully he would get some answers.