Harry Potter & The Knights Of Merlin's Keep

Fan fiction: Harry Potter

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter. I own the original characters. Any similarities to persons living or dead are coincidental.

Rated R: For violence, some language, mature content, and eventual slash. Though I haven't decided how much, you have been warned.

AN: This is a revised version of the story. It is not complete and though I am working on completing it, I have many other things of higher priority (like school) that I must do first. Please read & review.

Sorry this took so long to get done, but school is a much higher priority for me. Hopefully I will have chapter 9 up relatively soon, but don't hold your breath. Thanks again for those of you who reviewed.

---

"You're welcome." Harry replied to the quickly retreating back of Simon.

"Ron, I can't believe you are so thick!" Hermione snapped, "Can't you be a little more sincere and act less like a storm trooper?"

"A what?" Ron asked, perplexed at her statement.

"Oh never mind," Hermione gave up, "Just try to be less intimidating and a little friendlier, okay?"

"I don't do it intentionally." Ron said meekly. He was rewarded with a kiss on the cheek and subsequently some catcalls from George and Fred.

"I know, but try anyway." Hermione said, ignoring the two pranksters.

"Come on, you two. Let's get on board before there aren't any compartments left."

The three chatted about nothing in particular as they walked to the train. Harry felt a pair of eyes on him and turned just in time to see Simon turn away from him.

'Simon is a very complex boy.' Harry thought to himself, 'I hope he doesn't have an episode like the one in Diagon Alley. The other students would laugh him into an early grave. I think I'll make it a point to help him out as much as possible.'

"Earth to Harry!" Hermione broke his introspect.

"I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

"I was asking you about Simon." she said with exasperation, though her tone became more teasing. "It's obvious you're taken with him. You haven't stopped staring at him since you got here."

Harry turned pink at her comment, proving that he was taken with the boy.

"I knew it!" Hermione squealed.

"Shhh!" Ron silenced her, "This is not the place to be talking about such things. Wait until we get to our compartment where we'll have some privacy."

Hermione looked around quickly to see if anyone might have noticed her outburst, but if they had, they obviously thought nothing of it.

The three friends got their trunks loaded and stowed and soon settled themselves in their compartment, Ron sitting very close to Hermione. She smiled, picked up his arm and put it around her shoulder. Ron went pink and inhaled sharply, but soon relaxed and pulled her in closer to him.

"So is it true, do you like Simon?" Ron asked.

Harry went pink again, "We have a lot in common in the fact that we grew up friendless, among other things."

"Yeah, but that shade of red all over your face tells a different story." Hermione teased a little bit.

"Well... He's kind of cute," Harry admitted to Hermione's delight, "But it's not like I've fallen completely in love with him. I don't even know if he's gay much less gay friendly."

"That reminds me," Ron interjected, "I told you this before, but I think I should say it again. Be very careful about what you do. I'm not sure how most Muggles react to homosexuals, but in the wizarding world, it's almost as bad as being a Death Eater. Worse if you're facing a Death Eater. I heard stories about attacks on people just rumored to be gay."

"God, what is wrong with society? It's not like being gay is a disease." Hermione groused.

"I agree with you, but my family is in the strict minority. Even the wizards who are Muggle-friendly tend to distance themselves from it if they can. Though they're more likely to accept it than some of the older pureblood families."

"I'm not about to come out at dinner just for the fun of it, Ron" Harry assured his friend, "A lot of Muggles share that sentiment even in this day and age."

"That's good." Ron sighed in relief.

"But what if it comes out anyway, Ron? What would you do?"

Ron looked at his girlfriend with hurt in his eyes at her unsaid inference that he might abandon Harry, "I would support him to no end."

Hermione's eyes watered when she saw the emotion her question evoked. She pulled him into her embrace and kissed him full on the mouth. He instantly forgot why he was upset. In fact he forgot about a lot of things in that moment. Breathing was one of them.

Finally she broke the kiss and he inhaled deeply, his face going from purple to just red. Harry couldn't help but laugh hysterically at the blank yet satisfied look on Ron's flushed face. Hermione stifled some giggles herself. Ron just smiled and pulled Hermione back into his arms as the train gave its departing whistle.

---

Shortly before lunch, Harry wandered his way around the train, mostly to give Ron and Hermione some "snogging time" as he would put it. He wisely kept that comment to himself, however. Hermione could have as short if not shorter temper than Ron.

He ran into a lot of his fellow students. Most just said hello and then went back to their own conversations. As he passed one compartment, he noticed that Simon was in it, reading. Harry decided he'd get to know Simon a little bit better.

He knocked quietly on the door then opened it. Simon looked up and smiled when he saw it was Harry.

"Hi," He said pleasantly, "Come on in."

Harry shut the door behind him, and it was then that he noticed Kim sleeping on the bench across from Simon.

"He fell asleep about half an hour ago," Simon explained, "From our conversation, he woke up too early this morning because he was so excited."

"I remember my first day. I was so nervous. I thought someone made a huge mistake by picking me to go to Hogwarts." Harry sat down on the other side of the bench Simon was sitting on.

"I can empathize. I'm still not sure if this was the right decision."

"It is, you'll see." Harry said confidently, hoping he'd give Simon more confidence in himself. "What are you reading?"

"Hogwarts: A History," Harry caught his laugh before he could embarrass Simon or himself, "I figured I should learn as much as possible, that way, hopefully I won't be too much out of place."

With a smile, Harry replied diplomatically, "You and Hermione are probably the only students in this generation who've read that book. At least, the only two who admit it."

Simon looked perplexed.

"Don't worry. We always make fun of Hermione about it, but more often than not, it comes back to haunt us as she's proven right. I think you and her would get along pretty good."

"Maybe," Simon said delicately. He didn't want to offend Harry by saying anything rude about his friends.

"Why do you dislike them?" Harry asked.

"Who?"

"Ron and Hermione. They were trying to be friendly and you ran off like they were going to eat you."

Simon inhaled deeply and pondered just how much he should say to Harry. It wasn't that Harry didn't already know about Simon's panic attacks or why he got them, but he really liked Harry and didn't want to anger him because he wasn't comfortable around them. After a brief but intense mental argument, he decided that honesty was the best policy in this case.

"Well... They scare me. At least Ron does. I know he apologized and I believe he meant it, but I'm just not comfortable around him. Truthfully, I'm not really comfortable around most people. Just the ones I know and like well."

Harry wasn't offended. In fact he could understand a little where Simon was coming from, but he knew that Simon needed to break out of that shell if he was going to survive Hogwarts. So he acted slightly offended.

"Oh," Harry said sadly, getting up to leave, "I didn't realize I made you uncomfortable. I'll go now."

"No, Wait!" Simon paused, "Um... I'm not really uncomfortable around you. I just.."

"Just what?" Harry asked passively.

"It's just that... I'd like you to stay and talk. If you wouldn't mind that is. I want to get to know you better. I mean, we already know a lot about each other's past, but that's it. We don't really KNOW each other."

"To know me is to know my friends, Simon," Harry said seriously, "I know it's difficult for you and you know I know why. But you've got to learn to trust sometime."

He turned to leave again.

"Please stay," Simon almost pleaded. Almost. "I could use the practice."

Harry pondered for a second. Here he had a perfect opportunity to force Simon out of his shell. But he had to be careful about it or Simon would retreat even further.

After some quick thinking, Harry decided on a course that he hoped would benefit everyone, though it would mean giving an ultimatum. Harry knew that friendships didn't do well under ultimatums. But he knew that this would be worth the risk. Simon looked like he wanted friends so badly.

"Okay," He said, sitting back down on the bench, "I'll stay, but on one condition: You have to try and make friends with Ron and Hermione during lunch. If it doesn't work out, so be it. I'll still be your friend but it's a two way street. You have to at least make an effort. I know Ron and Hermione will do the same."

Simon thought for a moment. He knew this was a test of trust. If he said no, then Harry would assume that he didn't trust him. That wouldn't necessarily end their friendship right there, but it would seriously strain the seeds planted just two days earlier.

On the other hand, did Simon really trust Harry? He wasn't completely sure. He reviewed how they met in his mind, how Harry had sat and talked with him about his life. After mere moments, Simon decided that although he didn't trust Harry implicitly, he was worth the risk.

"O-okay. I'll try."

Harry beamed. "Excellent! I'll go and get them and we can all have lunch together."

Simon smiled and nodded, though once Harry had left, he exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He put his book aside and then dug through his trunk and pulled out a brown paper bag containing his lunch. He opened it up to discover not only sandwiches and some fruit, but also a small bag of candies.

Simon smiled at the warm thought the candies provoked. His foster mother always said he was sweeter than a bag of candy and packed one in his lunch every time he went away for an extended time, namely summer computer camp and university. He would wait to open the bag until after lunch though. That way he could share it with Harry and perhaps Ron and Hermione as well.

When the compartment door opened, Simon turned to see three figures standing in the doorway. Only the were not the three he was expecting...

---

"Oh, hello," Simon said with a surprised smile.

Two of the three figures were very large and menacing whereas the third looked to be only slightly bigger than Simon. However, the sneer on his face indicated that he was the most menacing of all.

"I've never seen you on this train before," The platinum blond boy drawled, "I know everyone in my year and you're not one of them."

"No," Simon said truthfully, "I'm new."

"You don't sound like a transfer student from Beaubatons or Durmstrang. What school are you transferring in from?"

"Oxford," Simon said plainly, as if it were nothing special.

"Oxford! That's a Muggle school!" The blond exclaimed, disgust apparent on his face.

"Well... yes. University to be more specific." Simon replied.

"University? I don't believe it. How old are you?"

"I'm fifteen."

"And you were in university?"

"Yes," Simon answered, getting just a little nervous, though he was careful not to let it show, "Though I was only in for one year. Since I got my acceptance letter to Hogwarts this summer, I decided that it would be better to wait until I'm older before I go back."

"You got your letter this year? Impossible."

Simon shrugged, "I don't know how it's supposed to work. All I know is I got a letter dated this year saying I was accepted as a first year student."

The two large boys behind the smaller blond snickered. Simon sighed slightly but otherwise showed little reaction.

"Well I can't help that they didn't send me an acceptance letter until this year. Snicker all you want but I plan to graduate with my intended class. I suppose that means your class."

"A mudblood such as yourself will never be in the same class as us purebloods." The blond drawled viciously.

Simon's heart jumped at the venomous look coming from the boys now. He thought quickly, trying to come up with a reply that would get them to ease off. He didn't have to think long, as a voice from outside the compartment caught everyone's attention.

"MALFOY!" Harry yelled, causing all three bullies and even Simon to jump in surprise.

Draco turned to see his nemesis just outside the compartment, fuming. Draco paused for a second to collect himself. Harry had never looked at him with such hostility before.

"Well if it isn't Potty and..." Draco began to drawl out his usual opening insult but was interrupted by Harry putting his wand not three centimeters away from Draco's face.

"I had hoped you would have learned your lesson last year, Malfoy," Harry said with conviction and a cold seriousness, "You and your attitude are in the distinct minority, and I will not put up with it any longer."

Draco's eyes narrowed at being reminded of the humiliation he and his two bodyguards had experienced when they were all hit by various curses and hexes. And he absolutely seethed at Harry's threat. Crabbe and Goyle weren't too happy about it either.

"Big words, Potter. Perhaps if you backed them up in a real wizard's duel, I might begin to respect you."

"I'm not going to fall for your juvenile tricks this time, Malfoy. This game is old and I'm tired of playing. Now leave." Harry's tone was harsh.

Draco wasn't stupid. He was a predator, and as such, he could see the hunger in Harry's eyes. Hunger for blood. He noticed that Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger had their wands out, too, looking ready and very willing for a fight.

Overall, it was a bad situation for Draco, but mainly because Harry's wand was poised at point blank range. Draco would have no time to dodge.

"Suit yourself, Potter," He said with a slow grin that even the devil would fear, motioning for Vincent and Gregory to back down, "No more games." His eyes seemed to turn an even colder grey.

Harry's lip twitched at the inferred threat, but his wand hand was steady, and he didn't lower it until Malfoy and his goons were well into the next train car.

Simon cleared his throat, breaking the silence that was pressing against everyone. Harry looked at him with concern.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Simon told the half-truth. He wasn't hurt nor was he having a panic attack, but he was beginning to doubt if coming to Hogwarts was a good idea in the first place.

"Sorry you had to witness that," Harry said finally coming into the compartment all the way with Hermione and Ron following.

"Bloody git, he is." Ron seethed.

"Who is he anyway?" Simon asked.

"That was Draco Malfoy," Hermione explained before Harry and Ron could start throwing out their profane nicknames for the blond Slytherin, "The two goons with him are Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. Bad lot, all of them. They're all in Slytherin house and well they should be."

"Too right," Ron agreed, "That ferret is slimier than a slug."

Harry nodded in agreement and Hermione couldn't find a legitimate reason to dispute her boyfriend's claim.

"Well I agree he was rather unpleasant. What's a mudblood anyway?"

Ron scowled even more giving pause to Simon continuing this conversation.

"It's the worst thing you can call wizard or witch who isn't a pureblood."

"Ah, well then I will refrain from using it," Simon replied, "It seemed rather derogatory. Won't you sit down?"

Harry sat next to Simon while Hermione and Ron sat across from them, squeezed in close as Kim Vermont was still sprawled out on the bench, asleep.

"Looks like you have competition for deadest sleeper, Ron." Hermione teased.

"He slept through that whole thing?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Well it's not like he heard anything," his girlfriend explained, "Should we wake him for lunch?"

"Probably a good idea. I will, I know a little sign language." Simon volunteered.

He reached over and tapped Kim on the foot, lightly. Kim stirred and stretched, opening his eyes to see who disturbed his slumber. Simon signed something that the others couldn't really understand. Kim nodded then sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes. It was then that he noticed the compartment was fuller than before.

He smiled at everyone, though he did a double take when he saw Harry. He tried to keep himself from acting to shocked, but he was a waking eleven year old so he was not entirely cognizant. He blushed and turned away when it as obvious that he'd been staring.

Instead, he dug through his things and brought out his lunch. He tore into it as if he'd not eaten in days.

"Hungry kid." Ron commented.

Everyone else broke open their lunches. Hermione had simple peanut butter and marmalade while Harry and Ron both had bologna. Ron was pleased that he didn't get corned beef this year.

"One more good thing about having you stay with us, Harry, is that mom won't give either one of us corned beef."

Harry smiled, his mouth full of sandwich. Simon ate his own ham sandwich and Kim also had a peanut butter and marmalade sandwich.

The plump witch with the food cart was soon passing by.

"Anything off the cart dears?" She asked pleasantly.

Harry went straight for the cart and bought an assortment of pasties, Cauldron Cakes and other sweets for himself, Ron and Hermione. Hermione bought some pumpkin juice for everyone including Simon and Kim. Simon bought one Cauldron cake and a pumpkin pasty for himself.

When Kim looked at the cart, he considered buying a couple of the candies, but then Simon's cat Othello brushed by him, reminding him that he was saving his pocket money for an owl. He bought only one piece of candy off the cart.

The plump woman continued her trek down the rest of the train as the five students finished their lunch. Kim gave a thank you to Hermione, which caused her to blush. She had thought he was blowing her a kiss. Simon noticed it instantly and explained it, saving her and Kim from embarrassment.

The five talked about all the various things they had to talk about. Ron and Hermione were fascinated to find out that Simon was a first year despite his age. However, everyone was shocked to hear that Simon had gone to Oxford University, even if it was only for his freshman year.

"You'll definitely be the smartest in your year, probably in the whole school even." Hermione said with honesty.

"Do my ears deceive me? Hermione Granger admitting that she's not the smartest person in school?"

Ron got a playful slap in the arm for his comment though chuckling along with him and Harry.

"I never recall actually ever saying that I was the smartest student... even though it was true."

"Was being the operative word." Harry added. Simon blushed and tried to remain inconspicuous.

"Oh now look what you've done, Harry." Hermione glared lightly in jest, "Simon, don't mind them. They just can't appreciate what it means to actually have intelligence."

Ron and Harry both looked properly scandalized. Ron immediately retaliated by tickling her.

"I'll give you intelligent!"

After a few moments, she was begging for mercy lest she relieve herself. Ron normally would have continued, but this was his girlfriend and it wouldn't do well to make her soil her self. She tried to feign offense, but her ear-to-ear grin and occasional giggle gave her away. Finally she just reached over and grabbed Ron into a very deep kiss. Ron went as red as his hair.

Kim couldn't help but giggle and the other boys in the compartment followed suit, going into outright guffaws when the couple finally came up for air and both of them were in a blissful stupor.

---

As the Hogwarts Express continued its journey, Simon met a lot of Harry's friends and family as they popped in and out of the compartment. He and Hermione found that they had a lot of common interests academic wise. Ron couldn't help but snicker when he saw Simon's copy of Hogwarts: A History. Hermione rolled her eyes and ignored him.

By the time the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station, Simon had definitely made three new friends in Ron, Hermione and Kim.

The train pulled to a stop and a voice was heard over a non-existent speaker system.

"All students may now leave the train. Please leave your luggage, they will be taken to the castle separately."

Simon had to translate that for Kim, who was trying to grab his trunk from underneath the bench. With a mildly red face, Kim smiled then went towards the exit.

A gargantuan man easily the size of three men wide and two tall was over at one end of the platform yelling "Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" Simon took Kim by the hand and walked him over to the hulking man.

"Firs' years only, lad. You should know tha' by now."

"I am a first year, sir." Simon said meekly.

Hagrid gave the boy a sizing up.

"So yer Simon. Heard about yeh. Well C'mon, then. Firs' years! All firs' years this way!"

An average looking man came up to Simon and Kim and started signing.

[Kim, I'm going up to the castle with the older students. Will you be okay?]

Kim nodded then pointed to Simon. [He knows some sign language. If I need anything, he'll help me.]

Simon nodded his agreement. Aaron just smiled and waved as he went off to the carriages.

"Firs' years, this way! Mind yer step now!" As soon as Hagrid had all of the first years following him, he walked them down a steep narrow path.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec. Jus' round this bend here."

All the new students let out a very audible "Oooooh!"

The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore.

"C'mon, then. Mind yer step. All right there, Simon? How bout you, lad? Careful now. All right, everyone safely aboard? Right then ¯ FORWARD!"

The fleet of boats smoothly glided across the lake despite the small waves made by the light wind. All the students were silently staring in awe at the castle in front and above them.

"Heads down!" Hagrid called out. They all ducked their as the passed through a curtain of ivy that hid a secret tunnel underneath the castle. Soon they stopped at a small harbor.

"All right then, everyone okay? This way!" Hagrid led them up a path in the rocks until they came out onto a grass field, the castle before them. One flight of stone steps later and the first years were standing at a huge oak door.

"Everyone here. Good." Hagrid knocked loudly three times on the heavy door.

The door swung open at once and before them stood a tall, black-haired witch, looking very stern.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid said.

"Thank you, Hagrid, I will take them from here." She said as she opened the door fully. The entrance hall lay before them and astonished the new students even more.

They heard voices from the Great Hall and Simon figured that they went the long way so that the upperclassmen could have time to get seated properly. Professor McGonagall led them to a small side chamber of the hall. They crowded in closely, some of them braving peeks through the curtain separating the small room from the hall.

Simon saw Aaron Devlin enter the room and walk up to him and Kim. He waved and said he would be translating for Kim the rest of the evening, so Simon could relax. Simon knew he couldn't, but it had nothing to do with interpreting for Kim.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat grabbing all of the student's attention, save for Kim, who was splitting between her and Aaron.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," McGonagall started her usual speech. Aaron paid close attention to her mouth and translated everything for Kim. She, in turn, made sure that Aaron could see her mouth at all times, even though she would look at the other students.

When she was finished, she disappeared out into the Great Hall while the first years lined up. Soon, they were all brought out into the hall. Aaron pointed out where he would be standing to Kim. That way, he could see what was being said and then translate for Kim.

Then Professor Dumbledore stood and said a few words.

"Good evening, students. I know that I usually speak after the sorting ceremony and feast, however as time is ever changing, so too must we be.

"I will start by bringing mention to the gentleman standing on the main floor here. His name is Aaron Devlin and he is an interpreter. As you can see, he is using what Muggles call sign language. It is a form of communication so that those without voice may speak and those without hearing may listen.

"Which brings me to one of our newest students. He is deaf. He cannot hear and subsequently has difficulty speaking with great clarity. However, like all of you he has the power to become a great wizard, and as it is Hogwarts charter to educate young wizards and witches, regardless of background, so too shall we teach him. I expect that every courtesy will be made for him.

"So now that we have that out of the way, let us begin the sorting ceremony."

Professor McGonagall brought forth a three-legged stool, upon which sat the infamous sorting hat.

The hat broke out into its annual song and was greeted by excited applause. Then McGonagall called out the first name.

"Avalon, Katrina!"

The young girl stepped forward and sat on the stool and had the hat placed upon her head. After a few seconds the hat shouted "SLYTHERIN!" Katrina Anderson was treated to a wild applause by the Slytherin table as she joined them.

Several students were called and sorted before it was Simon's turn.

"Bergstead, Simon!" Professor McGonagall called out.

Simon noticed there was a lot of gossiping going about, but he figured that was because of his age, though he heard a snippet of Hufflepuff conversation nearby.

"..as in THE Bergsteads?"

He didn't have time to ponder it before the hat was placed on his head. Unlike the eleven-year-olds, Simon's head was large enough so that the hat did not engulf him.

"Ah, young Simon Bergstead," The hat thought to him, causing Simon to flinch a little, "It's a pleasure to see your family tree still has some life in it yet. Though if what I see is true, perhaps you will truly be the last Bergstead. You are quite taken with Harry Potter."

"How.."

"Not that I blame you," the hat interrupted Simon's thought, "He's quite an interesting lad. A word of advice: Be careful whom you tell. Your kind is not regarded well in this world. An unfortunate fact that no mere hat may change. But be that as it may, you are doubtlessly a RAVENCLAW!"

Simon removed the hat with a bewildered look on his face. The Ravenclaw table was bursting with applause at their new addition. Most of the Slytherin table was staring death at him, but he barley noticed. He was too nervous about everything the hat had said.

He watched the rest of the sorting ceremony with a certain detachment. Eventually he relaxed and was cheering with the rest of the table when Rogassi, Angelino was sorted into their house.

Soon it became time for Kim's sorting.

"Vermont, Kimber!" The professor called out. Aaron pointed to Kim and the boy wandered over to the three-legged stool. As the hat was being placed upon his head it jumped slightly in McGonagall's hand.

"Great Merlin!" It said almost inaudibly. Only McGonagall heard it and she dropped the hat the rest of the way, not sure exactly what was going on.

"By Merlin's ghost," it thought, causing the small boy to start, "I had not expected one of your kind here, sire."

This confused Kim. Aaron told him the hat could read minds but he wasn't expecting this.

"Forgive me, sire. I am just startled to see one of your kind after all this time. I had thought the Knights of Merlin's Keep all dead."

Kim was even more shocked. No one was supposed to know about the Knights.

"I am no one, sire. I am merely a hat. A hat that once belonged to Godric Gryffindor himself. One of the founders of your knight's order. I know all that he knew about the Knights."

"Then you know why I am here." Kim thought back.

"I know why you think you're here. You are torn, sire. You have two desires. One is to become a wizard; the other is to fulfill your duty to the Knights. To watch and protect Harry Potter. However, there is a small problem. Harry is not everything you think him to be, sire."

"He wears a crown of lightning."

"In one point of view, but it may not mean everything you believe it to mean."

"What else could it mean?" Kim was perplexed.

"Such is the quandary of all who study legends; No one really knows. But I do know one thing, you are unique among the Knights. You are the first and only true wizard to ever be born of their blood. Such an event should not go to waste."

"I need to protect Harry," Kim was firm in his thoughts.

"You do not belong in Gryffindor, sire. You are brave, but your loyalty and willingness to work for yourself shadows that. You would be best suited for Hufflepuff. It is there that you will become all that you can become, and it is there that you will serve the Knights best."

"Is Harry in Hufflepuff?"

"No, he is in Gryffindor..." Kim managed to cut the hat off for once.

"Then that is where I should be."

"But, sire..."

"NOW!" Kim thought hard, having no concept of loud.

The hat squeaked audibly, but before anyone could register it, the hat shouted louder than it ever had in recent history "GRYFFINDOR!"

When McGonagall picked the hat off the boy's head, the hat seemed to scramble away from him as much as possible, almost folding itself inside out.

Aaron need not have pointed to the Gryffindor table, as everyone there was cheering and waving him over. Kim had a strong sense of foreboding, that perhaps he made the wrong choice, but he decided that it was just nerves and that his duty to the Knights was to important to worry about such things. What's done is done.

Professor McGonagall took the Sorting Hat and the three-legged stool out of the hall while Professor Dumbledore stood once again.

"Now that we have all our new students sorted and settled, it is time we introduced our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, William Weasley."

There was a healthy amount of applause when Bill stood up, and even a few cat calls from some of the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor girls. Bill was suitably red faced in typical Weasley fashion, but smiled nonetheless before siting back down."

"And on that note, tuck in!"

A thousand students dug into the wonderful meal that suddenly appeared in front of them. Simon was asked the obvious question about why he was starting so late, but no one at his table reacted negatively. In fact, they all encouraged him on, especially after finding out that he'd gone to Oxford.

Kim on the other hand was doing his best to fit in, but it was extremely difficult having to sign and try and eat as well. Aaron was having difficulty keeping up with all the students who were talking to Kim, but the Gryffindors were patient and waited their turns to talk.

After dessert was cleared away and the plates were left clean, Dumbledore stood once again for his usual beginning of the year speech. His face was grim and everyone but the first years knew what he was about to say.

"As I told most of you last year, Voldemort has returned."

Even knowing he was going to say it, a lot of the students gasped or cringed when he said the Dark Lord's name.

"He rose again and killed one of your classmates for no other reason than he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I tell you again, not only so that the first years may hear it, but also to also remind you why you are here.

"We must remain ever vigilant lest the darkness consume all that is good.

"Having said that, I have the usual announcements. Mr. Filch, the caretaker has added self-hurling water balloons and Focet Lawcett's Pocket Rockets to the list of banned items. The list is available for viewing in Mr. Filch's office. He also reminds you that there is to be no magic cast in the hallways between classes.

"A reminder that Hogsmeade weekend visits are open to third years and above only, and lastly, the forest beyond the grounds is strictly forbidden.

"Now that we are all fed and watered, off to bed with the lot of you."

The Great Hall emptied as the Prefects took their respective houses to their dorms. Ron and Harry were shocked to see that Hermione had been made a prefect, but it was more because she hadn't told them.

"I wanted to surprise you. Relax, I'm not going to turn into a walking rule book like Percy."

"That'll be the day." A fourth year girl muttered to her one of her friends. It was overheard by some of the Ravenclaws who were walking with them part way to their own dorm, and the sentiment was received with proper amusement. Hermione just ignored all of it.

As the two houses separated, Harry smiled at Simon.

"See you around, Simon."

"Bye, Harry." Simon smiled and waved back.

Soon the students of Hogwarts were all snuggled in bed, dreaming of the days to come.

---

"Mr. Potter, a moment of your time, please." Professor McGonagall had intercepted Harry before he could climb the stairs to his dormitory.

"Yes, Professor?" Harry asked cautiously. He couldn't have gotten into trouble already, could he?

"Professor Dumbledore would like to speak with you." She said passively.

"Yes, Professor." Harry said as he fell behind Professor McGonagall.

Harry internally blanched that he couldn't get some well-needed sleep, but knew that Dumbledore wanted to know more details on the summer's events. Best to get it out now then have to deal with it in the morning when he had classes.

Harry thought he knew most of the ins and outs of Hogwarts, yet McGonagall took him through hallways and corridors that he swore he'd never seen before, and they had reached the Gargoyle guarding Professor Dumbledore's office in record time.

"Drooble's Best Blowing Gum." McGonagall said with some exasperation. Harry had the feeling that she thought Professor Dumbledore's obsession with sweets was rather childish. The gargoyle stepped aside with speed and deftness that Harry thought not possible from a stone statue. They rode the moving stairs up to Dumbledore's office where the door was already open. Albus was sitting at his desk, waiting patiently.

"Harry Potter as requested, Professor." McGonagall announced leaving the moment Albus nodded his acknowledgement. He motioned for Harry to take a seat. When he did so, Fawkes, Dumbledore's Phoenix familiar flew up and perched on Harry's shoulder.

"Hello, Fawkes." Harry said with a smile, gently petting the bird's soft plumage. The bird made odd cooing noises but Harry could tell they were signs of contentment.

"I think you know why I called you up here." Professor Dumbledore said with concern, though the twinkle in his eyes was ever present at seeing his familiar and student bonding so comfortably.

"Yes sir," Harry answered emotionlessly, "You want to know more about what happened over the summer."

"To start with. Why don't you go ahead and tell me everything that happened."

Harry sighed, but before Dumbledore could try and convince him the importance of it, Harry launched into everything that happened that summer, including his run in with Simon at Diagon Alley. He omitted the fact that he was bisexual and the part about his more pleasurable dreams. After he was finished, Harry felt as if a weight had been lifted off his heart.

"I see," Dumbledore said, "The world does seem to conspire against you, Harry. I fear that this year may be your most difficult yet."

Harry's heart fell. He was expecting consolation, but instead got confirmation.

"Why can't I just have a normal life?" he said in frustration.

"Those who are bound by destiny have the hardest lives of all," The wise professor replied sympathetically, "It is unfortunate that you must suffer the burden of destiny, but there is little I can do about it."

Harry sighed and steeled himself against getting even more upset. He was fifteen now and he wanted to show Dumbledore that he was strong. If he were meant to be 'The-Boy-Who-Lived' then by god he'd do it properly. Though truth be told, he was scared out of his wits.

Dumbledore's lips twitched into an unnoticed smile for the briefest of seconds as he saw Harry trying to be brave.

"So what does all of this mean?" Harry asked, sounding surer than he felt, "It can't have had anything to do with Voldemort, my scar never hurt."

"It does not, as yet," The headmaster shook his head slightly, "However, knowing that he now has a new body, you can be sure that he will make every effort to come after you again. It would seem likely that he will find out about it soon enough, however, we will have to deal with that later.

"For now, I want you to rest and concentrate on your studies. I must look into these events further before I can tell you more."

Harry suppressed his complaints as the soft look on Dumbledore's face told him that he understood completely. Instead he nodded.

"If there's nothing more, Professor?" Harry asked to be dismissed.

"Not a this time, Harry. Sleep well."

"Thank you, Professor. You, too." Fawkes fluttered of Harry's shoulder as he stood and left for bed.

When they were completely alone, Albus turned to his familiar.

"It looks possible that we may venturing on a three front war, Fawkes." He said sadly.

Fawkes cooed remorsefully, but soon he was singing softly, his song sending waves of comfort throughout the professor's old body.