Harry Potter and the Sixth Year Secrets

Harry, Hermione, and Tonks were hurrying through the crowds at King's Cross Station and pushing their way towards Platform 9 ¾. They were extremely early for the train because Tonks had insisted on being able to check everything out before hand. It was only half past ten when they finally pushed through the barrier and got themselves into the prefects' car.

"Wow," said Harry, after sliding open the door. It was actually quite larger inside than it appeared, and decorated in Gryffindor colors. It also had extremely comfortable sofas and a stock of treats. Hermione, accustomed to this all ready, walked straight through and put her things up, while Harry remained behind, still taking in the difference from the regular cars.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked. She had turned around and still found him standing in the doorway.

"It's quite different," he responded simply. "Why's it in Gryffindor colors?"

"Did Ron and I never tell you?" she asked, surprised at herself. She wasn't usually one to leave out a detail. "Prefects aren't in one car. Each house has their own car, and if the head boy or girl is from that house, he or she sits with you also."

"Oh," Harry responded, finally walking through the door and putting his things away. Tonks had told them to not take too long. "We best be hurrying outside." He then strode towards the door and slid it open, waiting for Hermione to exit first.

"Thanks, Harry," Hermione said, passing him by. They then walked back together, hand in hand, down the train and back out, looking for Tonks.

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"About time you two got here," Tonks said, looking at them mischievously.

"Oh, no," Hermione said, slightly scandalized. "It wasn't that. Harry was admiring the prefect's car."

Tonks simply smiled at the two, neither showing that she believed them or not. She had checked the train over pretty thoroughly. Some of the Order had been here earlier and had taken a good while more checking it, so she felt confident the train was all right. By the time that Harry and Hermione had come out, more students and their families had arrived.

"Oh, look, there's Ron and Ginny," Hermione said nervously. The two and Mrs. Weasley had just emerged from the Muggle side of the platform. "Do you think we should go over there?" Hermione asked, but she needn't have. They had also just been spotted by Ron who coldly glared at them and turned his attention to his mother. Moments later he took off towards the train with his luggage.

"Same old Ron," Harry said darkly. He went quiet for a few seconds and then turned towards Hermione and said, "I would like to say hullo to Mrs. Weasley, though."

"Yes," Hermione agreed, beginning to walk. "I would like a chance to speak to Ginny too."

They walked the short length towards Mrs. Weasley, who practically broke Harry and Hermione's back with her Hagrid-like hug, and towards Ginny who looked a little nervous, as if she wasn't sure what was about to happen.

"Oh, my, you two have grown!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed happily. "It's been such a long time since I've seen you two! Dumbledore practically kept you away from us this summer, but you must come for Christmas, shouldn't they, Ginny?" she asked, turning towards her daughter who turned slightly pink.

"Oh, yes, mum," Ginny answered, avoiding the eyes of Harry and Hermione, who were looking at her surprisingly.

"Umm......of course Mrs. Weasley," Harry answered. "We would love that, wouldn't we, Hermione?" Harry asked, taking her hand in his unconsciously.

Mrs. Weasley couldn't help but notice that Harry had taken hold of Hermione's hand, and that neither two had reacted too it. "Great Merlin," she whispered to herself. "Are you two....?"

"Oh," Hermione said surprised. She had momentarily forgotten that Mrs. Weasley wasn't privy to everything that had gone on at Harry's house. "Yes, we actually are, Mrs. Weasley. I hope you aren't disappointed."

"Disappointed?" she asked, surprised. "Why would I be disappointed? Everyone was expecting it."

"What do you mean?" asked Harry. "How was everyone expecting it?"

"Well, I didn't mean everyone," Mrs. Weasley replied, "just everyone in the Order."

"But, why would they?" Hermione began as the train blew its leaving whistle.

"Oh, not now, dears," Mrs. Weasley said, pushing them towards the train along with Ginny, who was equally confused. "I love you all," she said, once again giving them hugs and kisses on the cheeks. "Now be good at school!" The train began to move and all three of them still stood there confused. "Hurry now!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "You'll miss the train!"

As if they had finally come to their senses, the three ran and jumped onto the train, and once safely inside, they got very quiet. The three hadn't talked alone since that night at Harry's.

"Err....." Hermione said, turning to Ginny, who was leaning against the side of the wall. Ginny neither looked mad or surprised at seeing the two of them. "Does she not know? Your mum, I mean?"

"Know?" Ginny asked, leaning forward. "Know what?" she asked again, a little coldly. "That you turned down Ron and that his stupid self ended you lots famed friendship?" She then waited for either of them to respond but seeing that they wouldn't, she continued. "Oh, no, she doesn't know that."

"She'd better not," Harry said sarcastically. It wasn't their fault Ron had gone off the deep end. "You know we never meant to hurt you or Ron."

"No, Harry," she responded, albeit nicely now. "I know you didn't intentionally try and hurt either of us, but do try and understand that it did happen. I can take it more easily because you made it quite plain that you never had feelings for me, and because you have finally gotten together with Hermione I've been able to let go, but Ron is a completely different person. You can't expect him to just forgive and try and forget as I have."

"I don't just expect him..." Harry began hotly.

"No, Harry," Ginny said calmly, yet forcefully as she walked a little ways to the corner. "I'm afraid you do. He might eventually come around, but, if he doesn't, don't be shocked. He is Ron after all. A stubborn git." She then turned the corner and went to find some friends to sit with, leaving Harry and Hermione to stand there quietly, thinking about what Ginny had said.

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Harry and Hermione eventually got up and returned to their cabin where they got instructions from the new Head Boy and Head Girl, both of Ravenclaw. They were to patrol the corridors at least once every hour, and that's what they did, talking and catching up with friends along the way, and by the time the Hogwarts express was rolling into Hogsmeade Station everyone on the train seemed to have found out that Harry Potter, The Chosen One, and Hermione Granger, the brightest witch in school, were now a couple, and nobody seemed to withhold any questions they had about the two. They were asked questions on the train and even from Luna and Neville, who had joined Harry and Hermione in their carriage up to the school. They were actually quite happy to sit down at the Gryffindor table in front of Parvati and Lavander and between Neville and Ginny, who was still only talking occasionally. It seemed Ginny had decided herself to completely forgive them, she just wasn't yet sure how to do it. Ron, on the other hand, had seated himself a good distance down the table with Seamus and Dean.

Harry and Hermione talked happily to those around them, not even noticing two empty seats at the professor's table, until McGonagall called everyone to order for the sorting ceremony, and everyone turned their attention to the new first years. The Sorting Hat's 'mouth' opened and it began to speak

Before I became what you see

I sat upon Gryffindor head quite happily

For he plus three began this school

Until that fateful tragedy;

There was an argument among the four,

Such an argument as never before

Neither believed the other had it right

And so they began a quarrel;

Ol' Slytherin departed,

Leaving the other three quite downhearted

The foundation of this school had been weakened

And with that the three had also;

For now they had lost a brother,

Someone they had regarded as no other

And weakened this school started to fall

And has never quite recovered;

For as long as we are separate still

Evil may roam and silently kill

For brother will turn on brother

And friend will turn on friend;

So, a warning I give you tonight,

We must stand finally together and fight

Now, I have had my say,

Let the sorting surely begin.

The Great Hall was deathly silent as the Sorting Hat's speech came to a close. It was one of the shortest and most direct speeches it had given to date, and even some of the professors looked worried, Professor Dumbledore among them. It was quieter now that even when Dumbledore spoke, for at least then someone was speaking. Finally, a shaky voice called out, "Anchorage, Bailey." The voice of Professor McGonagall was of sweet bliss to some people present. It lifted some of the somberness that had set in and allowed a few whispers to penetrate the air as they discussed quietly what they hard heard. The Sorting continued and concluded with nine people joining Hufflepuff, eight joining Ravenclaw and Gryffndor, and only two lone girls joining Slytherin, which had over the summer become an almost empty house. Only about twenty of the other Slytherins had returned. (It seemed most of the rest had been taken out of school probably to start training for Voldemort.)

"Well," Professor Dumbledore said, rising from his chair. "That was a very unique sorting ceremony if I must say. And now," he said, waving his hands around the room so that food appeared instantly, "let the feast begin."

"I don't believe the hat has even been more direct," Hermione told those around her. "I read a book last year that said the hat usually preferred to be a little more mysterious with his speeches, never so direct."

"It was weird," said Lavender, reaching out for some more roasted lamb. "It kind of scared me."

"It isn't that unexpected though is it?" asked Ginny. "I mean with You-Know-Who at large."

"No," Hermione answered. "I had kind of expected something like this. It seems to be trying direly to get us all to unite as one school."

"But that's impossible, isn't it?" asked Parvati. "I mean how you just become one school instead of four houses?"

"Well," Neville interrupted unexpectantly, "My gran thinks it's Quidditch that causes all of this rivalry."

"That's rubbish," Harry said.

"Is it, Harry?" Ginny asked. "What's the one thing people get so excited about and mad about if they loose? Quidditch. It does cause a lot of controversy, as much as I hate to admit it."

"I agree," Hermione answered instead, setting her goblet of pumpkin juice back onto the table. "And I think the House Cup hurts a little too."

It was at that moment that Professor Dumbledore chose to again rise from his chair in the middle of the table. "I would just like to take this opportunity to welcome the new students!" he exclaimed warmly. "And, once again, to the returning students, welcome back!"

"Now," he continued, a little more seriously, as McGonagall rose unnoticed and slipped into the small room beside the teachers' table, "as some of you might have noticed, we again have some changes in the teaching staff this year. Professor Umbridge is no longer with us, nor is Professor Snape." He then continued, raising his voice slightly, for upon that announcement several yells of approval were heard around the halls. McGonagall then entered with two people behind them. One whom Harry and Hermione both knew.

"Great Merlin!" Hermione exclaimed quietly to Harry. "Why didn't she tell us?"

"I would now like to welcome," Professor Dumbledore continued, "Professor Nymphadora Tonks, an Auror from the ministry, and Professor Aberfoth Dumbledore, my brother." This announcement was made to extremely loud applause from the students, and from Harry, Hermione, and Ginny, for they were three of the only four students at school who knew one of them.

"Did you know?" Ginny asked Hermione hurriedly.

"No," Hermione answered her truthfully, smiling brilliantly at Tonks who had just looked their way. "She never told us."

"I wonder why Snape is gone," Harry asked the table.

"I dunno," Neville answered happily. "But this is going to be the best year at Hogwarts ever!"

"Now, now, students," Professor Dumbledore continued again, chuckling slightly. "I'm glad to see you all approve of my choices this year. I hope you show as much enthusiasm in your classes tomorrow. Now, it is time for bed. I will see you all in the morning." He then sat back down in his seat and began talking animatedly with the new Professor Dumbledore.

"Harry, come on," Hermione said, pulling him out if his seat. "We have to show the new first years to the common room!"

"All right," Harry agreed, getting up and calling out, "First years! First year Gryffindors over here please!"

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The next morning Hermione walked down the stairs with Ginny and met up with Harry and Neville who had been waiting with Harry. They walked down the staircases and into the Great Hall where they had an uneventful breakfast.

"Oh, look, here comes McGonagall," Hermione whispered, but McGonagall ended up passing over all of the sixth years until she had finished with everyone else.

"Professor?" Hermione asked. "May I ask why you skipped us till last?"

"Certainly," Professor McGonagall answered, riffling through her papers. "Your year takes up more time, so we usually leave your schedules till last. Actually, you signed up for so many classes I am going to have to check your classes last. Now, Miss Brown," she said, turning her attention to her. "It says here you wish to continue with Charms, Divination, and Transfiguration. You have passed the required OWLs and may do so. Here is your schedule and you may now leave." She then proceeded to figure out Seamus's, Neville's, and Parvati's schedules and then came to Harry. "And you Mr. Potter have signed up for Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and Transfiguration,"

"That is correct, Professor," Harry answered.

"As I do believe you want to become an Auror," Professor McGonagall said, "you might want to take Potions as well. According to your OWL results you qualify for the NEWT course."

"But, Professor," Harry answered, "I did not make an O on my Potions OWL."

"Nor do you have to," Professor McGonagall continued. "Professor A. Dumbledore does not require an outstanding as Professor Snape did. He is quite fine with an exceeds expectations. Therefore, it is up to you if you would like to try for a NEWT in Potions."

"Yes, Professor," Harry answered. "Sign me up for Potions."

"Very well," she answered, tapping a blank schedule. "Here is your schedule, but please remain behind. I wish to speak with you about your new duties as prefect and Quidditch captain." She then turned her attention to Dean Thomas and Ron, while Harry stepped back and waited patiently with Hermione. As soon as they had left McGonagall handed Hermione her schedule. "You will find that it is correct. I did it last night because you have so many classes.

"Then," Hermione asked, "why did I have to remain behind, Professor?"

"I had something to tell you and Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall continued. "You both were made aware of some special classes you would be taking this year, and I needed to talk to you in private. Firstly, Professor Dumbledore has decided to not teach all the classes himself. He needs time to do other things... You will be taking special classes with Professor Dumbledore, Professor Aberforth Dumbledore, Professor Tonks and myself."

"And what will they be teaching us, Professor?" Harry interrupted.

"Professor Dumbledore will be teaching you Occlumency and Legilimency on Monday nights, Professor Tonks will be teaching you Auror level Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms on Tuesday, Professor Aberforth Dumbledore will be teaching and perfecting you dueling techniques on Wednesday, and myself will be teaching you how to become an Animagus on Thursday. You will have Friday nights off."

"Why me though, Professor?" asked Hermione. "Why just me and not Ron and Ginny?"

"They will be taught," said Professor McGonagall. "They just aren't being pushed as hard as you and Harry will be. You are a more serious target. You are not only Harry's....closest friend, but you are also from a muggle family. There are several reasons that seem to indicate that you would benefit from the accelerated teachings. Ginny and Ron will be being taught just not on the same nights as Harry and you."

"Now," Professor McGonagall said. "I must be going. I have a class soon."

"Oh, I almost forgot," she said, after walking a few feet away, "the lessons will be taught in the Room of Requirement every night at six. You may say you are doing Prefect duties. Have a nice day." And with that she walked swiftly through the doors to the Great Hall and left Harry and Hermione standing there, thinking of what this year would hold.

~~~