Harry Potter and the Heart of Darkness

Chapter 4 -- The People That You Meet Each Day

To Harry, it seemed as though the rest of the holidays had simply flown by. He found himself wishing that the Summer at Ron's would never end. While it was true he usually anticipated his return to Hogwarts at the Dursleys where one fairly expected life to be miserable, life at Ron's was filled with Quidditch practice, impromptu broomstick races and sleepovers with Hermione. He still loved Hogwarts to be sure, but he really enjoyed spending the sort of carefree summer that he had never had at Number 4 Privet Drive.

Time however had passed as Time had a way of doing and soon Harry found himself staring at the wall dividing platforms 9 and 10, boarding pass in hand and luggage on a cart in front of him. He looked around carefully as first Fred, George and Ginny slipped through the barrier to Platform 9 ¾, taking it a dead run. Next came Harry and Ron -- both of whom had never liked the running method since second year where they had made a spectacle of themselves by crashing their luggage carts after the barrier was sealed off. They leaned against the wall and pretended to have a casual conversation, before leaning over just a little too far to fall sideways through the barrier.

Mrs. Weasely and Mr. Weasley appeared as well and immediately started helping them maneuver their carts through the crowd towards empty luggage compartments. As Harry wheeled his cart around an elderly lady in a green dress and vulture-topped hat, he waved at Neville Longbottom who returned the silent greeting looking flustered. Harry caught a snatch of conversation about Neville promising he wouldn't forget something. What Neville might forget, Harry hadn't heard. Not because of the noisy and jostling crowd of students and parents, but rather because the man who had just brushed by him had triggered an unmistakable but not entirely unpleasant twinge of recognition. He tried to get a better look, but his plans were thwarted by a yell from Ron, who apparently had found Hermione.

"Come on Harry! We'd better help you get your stuff on board. I want a compartment to ourselves this time!"

Harry nodded and pushed his cart over to Ron. "Hey...you guys didn't happen to get a look at who walked by me, right before you called did you?"

Ron pulled his head out of the compartment he had been shoving Harry's trunk into. "Err..nope. Did you Hermione?"

Hermione shrugged. "Why?"

"Oh, just thought I recognized him, that's all."

Hermione seemed to be pondering this. "It...wasn't..."

"No Hermione" Harry said a little exasperatedly. "My scar didn't hurt." He hoped to see the person again though. As they boarded the train, he took a good long look down the corridor between the right hand and left hand compartments. Nobody was there though, and Ron had already found them empty seats.

During the ride, Harry was still eager to catch a glimpse of the mysterious stranger. It was just haunting him that badly. He didn't know many of the student's parents outside of Ron and Hermione's so he was pretty sure this was somebody else. During the ride, he took every opportunity possible to get outside of his compartment -- the bathroom first, then helping Neville on his yearly Trevor search...unfortunately the toad had turned up three compartments down with Lavander and Pavarti who had screamed rather loudly, attracting the attention of Draco Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle across the way. Therein had followed yet another ridiculous squabble that ended quite satisfactorily with Draco at the receiving end of a few choice curses -- not, Harry had noted with a great deal of pleasure from his own wand, but from those of the girls. However, he had still not uncovered the identity of the mysterious stranger from the train platform, and at long last gave it up until they arrived at Hogsmeade station.

"See anyone now?" he asked Ron, glancing wildly around.

"Nope...just Hagrid. Hey Hagrid!"

"'ello ther' Ron, Harry, Hermione!" the Hogwarts gamekeeper bellowed, herding a flock of nervous looking first years around him. "Two t' a boat...that's th' way..." he looked back over at the three quickly once more. "I'll be seein' you back up a' th' castle!"

"Let's go...err...Bye guys! Hope you all get sorted into Gryffindor!" Ron hollered at the first years. "Just think!" he added to Harry as they climbed into the horseless carriage that took them up to the castle. "We're going to be the ones who get to show all the new Gryffindors the ropes this year! The moving staircases and the passwords, and everything!"

"Oh but it's an awful lot of responsibility too isn't it?" Hermione added.

"I guess..." Harry mumbled. He really preferred Ron's way of thinking about it. It was hard not to feel excited about all of it when he remembered the thrill he felt when Percy Weasely -- who had been the Gryffindor prefect in his first year had showed HIM all those things. He rode the coattails of that excitement all the way up to the castle where he, and the other students made their way over to the great hall, partitioning off to their respective house tables.

"Do you remember it? Do you?" Very loud, the unexpected voice rang out across the hall, causing several of the straggling students, including Harry, Ron and Hermione to jump and look around. It was followed by a high-pitched tittering laugh.

"Yes...I remember." The second voice was unmistakable. Silky and cold, Potions Master Severus Snape proved their guess to be completely right as he -- looking just as menacing, hook-nosed and sallow-skinned as ever swept into view around the end of the staircase. At his side, a middle-aged witch with mousey blonde hair wearing green floor-length, long-sleeved and high collared robes hurried along, making to try and keep up with his long strides. Predictably, Snape stopped in front of the trio, his eyes suddenly going cold with revulsion. "Potter, Weasely and Granger. I might have known you'd be trying to cause some form of deviltry even before the year starts. Into the Great Hall. Now."

Unwilling to get into a disagreement with Professor Snape before they'd even had their first Potions lesson, all three turned in unison to do as commanded.

"Wait a moment there Severus." The witch spoke up again, walking swiftly around to cut the three of them off. "Potter...right? As in...Harry Potter?"

"Yes..." Harry sighed. "That's right."

"Well, I'll be." She laughed her tittering laugh again, "Ah, I'm sure you don't get into as much mischief as Professor Snape here makes out that you do. I'll bet you're a right good student...am I right?"

Harry didn't reply. He was far too sick of having people he didn't know introduce themselves to him like he was some kind of celebrity giving out signed autographs. Instead, he looked hard at her -- trying to give the same 'Where's your scar Harry?' stare that the rest of the world was always giving him.

"Cat got your tongue huh? Well, I'll bet you I could tell you some great stories about your Dad when he went to Hogwarts. Of course, mainly the outcomes of those stories, as our common room usually got the brunt of it...but..."

"Come along Florence..." Snape hissed, grabbing the sleeve of her robes. "The staff table is this way."

"Reckon she's our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher?" Ron asked him as they made their way to the Gryffindor table, taking a seat at the end -- the only space left now that the rest of the table had filled.

"Uh-uh." Harry shook his head. "Snape seemed to be on pretty friendly terms with her. Friendly for Snape I mean. Anyway, he rarely even spoke to any of our other Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers." He strained to get a better look at the teacher's table, but was blocked by the heads of all the other Gryffindor Students. "Hermione? Any ideas on who she is? Anyone famous?"

"Nope." Hermione said, also straining to see. "But I do know who we've got for Defense against the Dark Arts."

"It's not Snape is it?" Harry crossed his fingers under the table.

"No, no it's not Professor Snape." Hermione said smiling.

"Then WHO?"

Hermione opened her mouth but was completely silenced as Professor Dumbledore stood up. All Ron and Harry could see from their vantage point was the tip of his purple, star-spangled pointed Wizard's hat. They tried poking Hermione to get her to finish telling them, but she merely put a finger across her lips and turned her head infuriatingly back towards Dumbledore who was just now inviting the first year students in. A couple of them recognized and waved at Ron as they traipsed past the Gryffindor table. Ron waved gleefully back.

Harry was eager to get through the sorting this year, but Ron fairly bounced in his seat, looking a fair bit like Hermione when she knew the answer. Every time the hat yelled out "GRYFFINDOR!" Ron would clap and cheer particularly loud and bang his glass on the table top. It looked as though he was really getting into his role as Prefect. But eventually...finally, in Harry's opinion when Wendel, Yvonne had been pronounced a Ravenclaw, Professor McGonagall took the stool away and the tip of Dumbledore's hat appeared to Harry above the crowd once more.

"Before we begin our feast, I have a great deal of announcements to make. I'll only be saying it once, so you would all do well to listen closely. First of all, as per usual the Forbidden Forest is -- as it's name implies, Forbidden. All students who enjoy having their bodies in one piece will do well to remember this. All third years and above with signed permission slips are allowed to visit the village of Hogsmeade on appointed weekends." There was a great roar of approval from the third years at this -- especially Collin Creevey, who leaned way out across the table. "Did you hear that Harry! Now I can go too!"

Harry nodded politely at Collin, trying to look more enthusiastic about that idea than he felt. Dumbledore was speaking again though, so he had an excuse to shift his attention.

"Secondly, I would like to introduce both new and returning staff this year." There was a ripple of excitement from those sitting closer to the teachers table, and Harry strained uselessly a second time. "I hope you will all be able to welcome back to our ranks, Professor Lupin..." Dumbledore was drowned out immediately in a roar of approval. Harry, Ron and Hermione leapt to their feet to applaud along with the rest of the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students. Even the Slytherins were looking hard-pressed to show that they really hadn't liked Professor Lupin's classes, but they grudgingly remained seated in respect for their Head of House. Harry edged out into the isle to get a better look. Indeed, Lupin was standing up at the staff table, looking just as Harry remembered him -- patched robes and all. He sat down rather quickly, but was unable to hide the fact his cheeks were flushed slightly red at the enormously warm welcome.

Eventually, everyone did have to sit back down to let Dumbledore continue. "And, as you may have heard -- Professor Marurite of Muggle Studies received a very generous job offer at the Magic Repository in Wales last year, and has since decided to accept it. I hope you will all welcome Professor Berendoyl as her replacement."

There was scattered clapping around the hall -- a far cry from the standing ovation Lupin had received. Professor Berendoyl on the other hand, didn't seem to mind. As Harry leaned out over the isle, she too stood briefly, raised her hand in a wave to the seated students before tugging down the long sleeves of her green robes and sitting down again next to Professor Snape.

"Thirdly," Dumbledore went on, "Those of you in Fifth year, will have the opportunity to participate in the Hogwarts Founder's Essay Contest. Each of you will have a chance to enter, but this is not mandatory. Anyone in 5th Year may enter one essay about the founding Witch or Wizard whom their house is named after -- and what he or she was able to contribute to making Hogwarts what it is today. One essay will be chosen from each house, and out of the four, there will be one essay overall that will win the grand prize of 10, 000 Galleons Scholarship money as well as the Founders' Plaque -- found in the trophy case on the second floor. Good luck."

It was no surprise that the response to this at the Gryffindor table was a great shuffling around to stare at Hermione -- who had indeed whipped out a scrap of parchment and spare quill to scribble down the topic of the essay. Every Gryffindor student who knew her was fairly sure that by the end of the year, their house would be printed on the Founders' Plaque underneath the name "Hermione Granger".

"Finally." Dumbledore said at long last, "I am pleased to announce that our very own Professor McGonagall has been asked to head an important conference on Transfiguration early in third term." He paused for the further applause that followed. "This will not interfere with your exams, however will give you all a few spare periods for about a week. Professor Berendoyl has very kindly offered to head up Gryffindor House for that amount of time. And now that all the announcements have been made, let us eat!"

Dumbledore sat down, and the plates on the tables filled as they always did with food. Hermione was squinting up towards the table. "Oh boy..." she mumbled. "Professor Snape looks really mad."

"Probably can't stand the idea that Professor Lupin's back." Chuckled Ron. "Hello good Dark Arts lessons!"

Harry nodded around a mouthful of roast beef. "Yep. Should have guessed really. I'll bet that's who was there at the Train Station...you know, the person I recognized? And who else...(well, with the exception of Snape out of malice) would have assigned us dark creatures...and still included Werewolves in the itinerary?"

The conversation went downhill from there, as there was just too many different kinds of food to try and so many other students shifting around and pushing elbows to talk to all the friends they hadn't been able to see over the summer at once. Eventually however, the feast came to an end and as the food disappeared from the plates, Dumbledore stood up once more.

"Now that we have all refueled ourselves, I would like to ask the House Prefects to take the new students to their dorms, and then report back to the Prefects' common room directly afterwards. Good Night!"

"This way!! This way!" Ron bounded out of his seat, hurrying to the head of the table. Come on you guys! Come on Harry!"

Harry shrugged at Hermione who was already leaving for the Prefects Common Room and stood beside Ron, who was still looking excited. Once again, Harry noticed some of the same first years that Ron had waved to in the Dining Hall, crowd into the front row.

Harry was mildly distracted for a moment as he heard a cry of "Traitor!" out in the Great Hall...but...all was silent after that, and all the students were still out there...so he was sure he'd probably misheard. Ron was saying something now though, so he listened to that instead.

"I'm Ron, and this is Harry. We're your Prefects...so uh, we'll show you up to your dorms tonight, and then in the future you can come and ask us if you have any problems at all!"

"Hi!" Harry said, waving too. Ron was right -- this was pretty cool. Every first year there was hanging on the two prefect's every word, as they were warned about moving staircases in Gryffindor Tower and told the special password (requiem) that would open up the fat lady's portrait to allow them entrance. They allowed the students a few 'oohs' and 'ahhs' before Harry pointed the way to the girls dormitories and Ron took the boys up to theirs. The two boys rejoined each other in the common room afterwards and let themselves out through the portrait hole to make their way to the Prefect's Common Room.

The Common room itself was a luxury that even Draco Malfoy's father could not have provided the whole of Slytherin with. Bookcases and mahogany tables with sets of comfortable, over-stuffed armchairs were strategically places around a great marble fireplace with a jumping and crackling fire roaring merrily in it's gate. Professors Snape, McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick and Dumbledore stood by one of the windows while the prefects -- fifteen in all, made their way into the room.

Harry and Ron found Hermione who had saved them seats right by the fire, as she had no first year students to attend to, and had more than likely have been the first one there.

"How'd it go?" she asked them, looking with concern at Ron, who's face had just taken on a sincerely angry scowl. "Not good?"

"It went fine!" Harry assured her. "Those first years thought Ron was great! You saw them...what's up Ron?"

"What in Merlin's name is HE doing here?" Ron hissed, jabbing a finger across the room at a lone armchair.

Harry and Hermione followed Ron's gaze. Seated there, looking haughty, but decidedly diminished and very alone without Crabbe and Goyle was Draco Malfoy. There was no mistaking it, and he did very much belong here -- the proof was glittering on the front of his robes in the form of a very shiny silver prefect badge.