Tears of Loss, Joy of Gain

"Like what?"

"If you would let me speak, Professor Gran... I mean Green, I could tell you like what. Now where was I before I was so rudely interrupted?"

"I believe you were about to tell us how you knew who they were, Joshua," Professor Dumbledore said.

Josh made a face. "Do you really have to call me Joshua? You know I prefer Josh, because you are all-knowing, after all."

"Would you care to show Professor Dumbledore some respect?" Harry asked.

"I would, but it's six o'clock in the morning, and forgive me if I'm a bit cranky!"

"Not my fault."

"Actually, it kinda is, Mister Hero. You see, I'm very talented."

"Yes, we were already told that."

"You weren't told how talented, Professor Granger. You see, I have many talents. I can read minds, I can perform wandless magic, and there's much more besides that that I can do."

"So you read my mind?"

"Not completely. You were somewhat blocking it, but I found out that you had a secret identity you wanted to hide. Then, this morning I woke up with somewhat of a bolt of electricity. I know when people are awake, and naturally I never get enough sleep because of this particular 'gift.' I can also see the person who was awake if I look hard enough, and naturally I saw you."

"That's sick!"

"But useful, Professor Granger. Now, I believe that Professor Dumbledore had already known about my gifts, seeing as I talked about them to him many times in school."

"Wait a second! School! Does that mean you didn't get your excellent grades by yourself?"

"I'm insulted, Professor Potter! I was a Ravenclaw after all, who do you take me for, a common cheater? Sorry to say it because that means I topped Professor Granger here, but I got those grades from hard work."

"Darn. And I was so hoping to regain my title of Person-Who-Had-No-Life-So-They-Were-The-Smartest-Person-To-Ever-Go-To-Hogwarts!"

"Too bad, Miss Granger......or, wait a second." Josh was silent for a second before saying, "Maybe I was wrong in calling you Miss Granger. Would you prefer Mrs. Potter?"

"Sir is married?" Dobby squeaked happily, and once again, he wrapped his tiny arms around Harry's knees.

"Not yet, but we're engaged," Hermione said.

Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Not to be rude, professors, but I am actually quite hungry, so what say you about going to breakfast?"

Harry and Hermione looked embarrassed while Josh chuckled. "Okay," they said.

Later that day:

"I'm nervous!"

"Why? You were the smartest person to ever go to Hogwarts, after all!"

"Second smartest! Josh was the smartest!"

"Okay, so you were the smartest woman!"

Hagrid poked his head in. "Though' I'd say hello b'fore goin' to ge' the firs' years."

"Oh, hello Hagrid!" Hermione said.

"Hello, Professor Green, how are yeh today?"

"Pretty good, pretty good."

Hagrid frowned.

Hermione asked worriedly, "What's the problem, Hagrid?"

"It's jus' tha' yeh remind me of Hermione, and he reminds me of Harry. It's like yeh're one an' the same."

Harry and Hermione exchanged worried glances before Harry said, "Well, it's just about time that we should be going to the Great Hall. See you later, Hagrid!"

Hagrid shook his full head of hair as he watched the two basically running to the Great Hall. Either they were really hungry, which he doubted, or they were hiding something, something important, from him. He once again shook his head as he walked to the doors of Hogwarts, stepped outside, and took a boat to get to the platform where the Hogwarts Express would be arriving soon.

On the Hogwarts Express:

Rich Weasley sat on the Hogwarts Express talking to his two cousins, one a fifth year and one a first year, his three best friends, and his girlfriend. His two cousins were named Michael and Gabrielle Weasley, and Gabrielle was the first year. Both of their parents were Bill and Fleur Weasley. His best friends were Patrick Finnegan, Jim Boot and Luke Goldstein, and his girlfriend, or at least he liked to think so, was named Linda Finch-Fletchley.

They were discussing what the year would be like, and Gabrielle was very scared of what she had to do to be sorted.

"But how can you fight a troll?" she asked.

"Easy," Patrick said. "You don't fight it. It fights you." The group gave a large nod at this.

"Anyway, who do you suppose will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Linda asked.

"I wish it were Harry Potter," Luke said.

"But why? My dad almost killed a man because he looked like Harry Potter, so he must be bad somehow. He never told me why he did that."

"Are you completely daft?" Jim said. "Harry Potter isn't bad at all, in fact he, Professor Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix is why we're safe these days. They killed Lord Voldemort."

"But then why does my father hate him?"

"Because he ruined Uncle Ron's first wedding," Michael said.

"How?"

"Well, he was best man but he loved who Uncle Ron was going to marry, Hermione Granger, and he spoke up at the wedding. He ran out, but Hermione followed, and nobody's seen either of them since it happened. That's why Uncle George hates him so much, in fact the entire family except for Uncle Ron hates him."

The group all said, "Wow," at this, and at that time, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station.