Harry Potter and the Ancient Secret of War

Chapter Seven

Getting Back to Normal

Harry wanted to inform the Order of Emmeline Vance's murder immediately. He tried to get up from the floor, where he had involuntarily ended up sometime during the vision. But he found that he could not do so. He was tired, no that wasn't the right word, he was exhausted. Before he could try to get up one more time or call out to someone or even think about what he had to do, he found himself dropping back to bed and passing into a deep, dreamless slumber.

Harry did not hear as two hurried pair of feet entered the room and knelt down beside him. He did not know that those two persons were Lupin and Hermione. He did not hear Lupin cast the 'Mobilicorpus' charm on him and transfer him to the bed. He did not feel Hermione's touch as she grasped his hand and willed him to wake up. He was trapped in dreamland, only his dreams were all filled with an unknown emptiness.

It was nearly an hour before Lupin and Hermione succeeded in waking Harry up. He looked around, with a dazed look on his face as he tried to ascertain what was happening.

Suddenly, the vision that he had earlier in the night came to Harry's mind. He got up quickly and said in a hoarse voice, "Voldemort! Voldemort killed her!"

"Who, Harry?" Lupin asked him, with a concerned look on his face.

"Emmeline...Emmeline Vance."

"What? Are you sure?" Lupin asked him again.

Harry nodded. Lupin looked at him for a brief second while he decided what to do. He said, "I will just inform the Order about this. You two, try to get some rest."

With that he went out of the door and disappeared downstairs. They could hear some sounds coming, as if a conversation was going on. After some time, Lupin came back up only to see Harry sleeping in his bed, while Hermione sat beside him.

Seeing Lupin, Hermione got up and asked, "What happened?"

"I informed the Headquarters about what Harry just said," he replied, "They are going over to check on Emmeline."

"What if this is true?" Hermione asked, with fear in her eyes.

"I don't know. I can't think about this," Lupin replied, with his brows furrowed. "I mean I don't think even Dumbledore counted on Voldemort springing to action so quickly. I think this may mean that the war is now days away from beginning."

"What do you mean - the war?" Hermione asked him again, "That's what all of us have been engaged in the last year or so."

"No," Lupin said, "That was just a prelude, I think. I am sure that the real war is going to start now. And not just with unexplained disappearances or massacres or things like that, I think maybe Voldemort has decided to come out openly."

"In that case, we have to be careful," Hermione said, worry clouding her hazel eyes.

"Yes," Lupin said, "We always have to be careful, but I think you don't need to worry about this, just yet. All of you will be safe at Hogwarts. You know, it is the safest place there is."

"And the last place you would expect Voldemort to attack," Hermione continued from where Lupin had left off, "and hence, probably the place we should expect him to attack first."

"Now, now Hermione," Lupin said, "I know you are worried, but that's no need to become paranoid like Moody. I think you just need some rest. I would advise you to go back to your room and get some sleep."

Hermione nodded as Lupin turned and made his way back downstairs, into the living room. She knew he would stay there the entire night, keeping vigil, trying to listen out for anything that might be out of the normal.

Hermione considered going back to her room, but she decided against it. She went to where Harry was sleeping and snuggled into the bed along with him. Just as she entered the bed, Harry rolled about onto his side and pulled her in tightly against him. The last thought that she had in mind before she fell asleep was how warm Harry's body felt against hers.

* * * * *

Ron rolled about in his bed that night, thinking about what had happened earlier at Hermione's house. He was carrying out an impromptu synopsis of all that was going on in his head. Normally, it was not in his nature to analyse anything. Those things were best left for Hermione, but now, at this time, he couldn't help it. He was confused, and that was saying a lot, considering that Prefect duties, Quidditch practice, homework and all such things always confused him at school.

But as he lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking out everything, Ron didn't want to think about all that. All that he thought about was what was going on. What was happening? How did things end up like this? He had no idea, but he had resolved to find that out, before the night was over.

Ron thought about all that he had shared with Harry and Hermione over the past five years. These years had been the best of his life as far as he could remember. He had not been like Harry, who had never had friends or shared his feeling with anyone in the ten years before he had come to Hogwarts. He had not even been lonely as the only child of his parents like Hermione was. He had a perfect childhood - lots of siblings, loving parents and a very happy family indeed. But somehow, the last five years, they were different.

He could not explain it. Maybe, it was because he had grown out of the shadows of his brothers and found for himself that niche, he had always sought. Maybe it was because he got two of the best friends that anyone could ever dream of in his life. Maybe it was because his friends accepted him for what he was, instead of ranting about the legacy that his elder brothers had left for him to try and emulate. Whatever, be the reason, Ron was sure that he could not imagine his life without the presence of either Harry or Hermione.

That brought him back to the present question, "How did things get to this?"

Ron knew that he should be happy today, especially after what had happened after he had come back to Grimmauld Place. His Hogwarts letter had come that day, and Ron found that he had received 9 OWLs. Okay, so that was only half of what Hermione had got, and even three less than the number Harry had managed to secure, but at least his performance was far better than the three OWLs secured by the twins. But more than the exam results, he was flattered by another note that accompanied the envelope. It read-

Dear Mr Weasley,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been appointed Quidditch Captain for Gryffindor house for this year. We hope that you will take serious regard of your responsibilities as Gryffindor Quidditch Captain.

Team Trials will start in the second week of term. We hope that you can take your Quidditch team to new heights after this appointment.

Sincerely yours,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress,

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Ron had never stopped to wonder why he had been appointed Quidditch captain instead of Harry. After all, he had been on the team for only one year and Harry had been on the team ever since his first year at Hogwarts, and was the youngest player to play for a Hogwarts Quidditch team in hundred years.

He had only taken in this news with glee as he gloated on the fact that he had been made Captain ahead of Harry, just like he had been made a Prefect last year. This gave him more fuel to add to the fire that was raging inside of him, as he thought of the argument they had earlier in the morning.

However, that night all these seemingly small things caught up with him. He was thinking, thinking as he had never thought before. He wondered why Hermione had chosen Harry over him, especially since Harry never had shown any interest in her, at least not in public. Then maybe, there was something in the name 'Harry Potter' or the title 'The Boy Who Lived' that added charisma to his persona.

Ron couldn't understand. Even though he was brought up in such a large family, even he couldn't deny that emotions were something that he did not understand and sensitivity was something that could not be associated with him. But he still tried his best to fathom the current situation.

He was shocked at what he had said to Harry, at what he had done to Hermione. He was ashamed of what he had done, but somewhere in his mind, some unknown feeling, (he put it down to his own pride) prevented him from admitting it. He thought about it, and concluded that it was his feeling that he was better than Harry. But then, he obviously was. He had been made a prefect when Harry hadn't. He had been made Quidditch captain when Harry hadn't. In fact, as far as he could remember, every time when the choice was between him and Harry, he had been chosen as the one. Except by Hermione, which confused him even more than ever.

In the end, Ron resolved to mend his friendship with his two best friends. He realized that his life at Hogwarts wouldn't be worth it, if he did not have them in his life. And then maybe, things would not work out between the two of them, and he might still have a chance to win Hermione back. With that thought, he saw a flicker of hope in the surrounding darkness and drifted off to sleep.

* * * * *

The next few days passed in a pleasant blur for Harry. That morning, he had woken up to a handful of curly, light brown hair in his face. Hermione's face was inches from his own as she slept soundly, never once getting disturbed in her sleep. Harry had watched her for a long time, with the dazed and blissful look of watching an angel. And truth be told, she did look like an angel, especially since all her innocence and raw beauty came to the fore as she slept with a peaceful and contented expression on her face. Her parents were getting better with every passing moment; she had a boyfriend who happened to be her best friend, who cared for her a lot and who undoubtedly was the 'love of her life'; she had scored eighteen OWLs - things were definitely starting to look up for her.

Hermione had taken to snuggling into bed with Harry each night. They did not have a physical relationship, not yet, although both of them would have admitted that such an occurrence was impossible in the circumstances that prevailed. However, despite all this, both of them had silently agreed not to make a move until they were ready, until both of them were ready. Harry, for his part, was still not sure if he loved Hermione completely in that way, and even if he did, he didn't want to leave her with something as unforgettable as this, knowing very well that there may soon be a time when he may be dead. At the present, he was satisfied with the way their relationship was evolving slowly, based on trust and understanding and not just a sudden upsurge of hormones. He had come to look at Hermione in a different light over the last few days. Ordinarily, she would've been one to control her feelings and put on a brave face in the wake of everything that had happened, but now she was more open to him. She laughed and she cried (especially when Ron was mentioned - she was still scared of him, Harry thought). She was more easy-going than usual and although everything did not stop her from studying and all the 'Hermione' stuff that she did, Harry had to admit that she had somehow changed into a more relaxed and secure person, a person who he was, in all probability, beginning to love, more than as a friend.

As far as Hermione was concerned, being the sensible person that she was, she had decided long back to wait until her marriage, even if that meant waiting for years together, for her to be physically intimate with someone. It was one of her unspoken principles, that she wanted to be with one person all her life, and no other. She had wanted her first experience to be special - she had wanted it to be both emotionally and physically satisfying and although she was sure she loved Harry and that he was the only one for her, she felt that she was not ready to take that big step which would change her life for ever - at least not for the time being.

Their daily routine was pretty much the same - Hermione would visit her parents in the hospital (they were well and good but the Muggle doctor still insisted that they stay since he wanted to find out the reasons for this miracle discovery). Harry would always accompany her. Often, he would just sit in the waiting area, giving Hermione the time she needed to be alone with her parents. However, these times were not much because Bob and Julia Granger were always careful to include him in whatever they did with Hermione. Harry believed it was partly because of pity but he was still grateful for what they did.

Harry found Hermione's parents very interesting and endearing. His father, Bob, loved to joke and laugh aloud. Meanwhile, her mother, Julia, was a bit more serious, yet he could tell that she loved a good laugh as well. They had this quality of making anyone feel like one of them and Harry was really glad for that. However, one thing did startle him quite a bit. Whenever Harry had met Bob and Julia Grangers, they came across as nervous and timid persons to him. But he could see now that it was in all probability due to a fear of the magical world.

Days started to pass like this and soon, it was only a week before Harry and Hermione had to return to Hogwarts. Harry was glad that he was with Hermione, all this time, with everything that was going on. He believed that if it were not for his relationship with Hermione which was better than it had ever been and every day made it more wonderful still, it would have been for the fact that she had ensured that Harry too, like her, completed the school work well before time. She had even ordered some extra books regarding careers and was searching through them for something appropriate for her (and Harry).

For the most part, while she worked on all this, Harry would watch her, fascinated at her dedication and concentration. He had begun loving the way she bit her lip as she turned pages of the book and the way her eyebrows contracted as she thought about something she'd read.

It was the evening before the big day, when Hermione's parents would finally be discharged from hospital. Nick had jokingly told Harry the day before that he had to administer a Co-operating Potion to the doctor in charge of the Grangers' treatment so as to get him to let go of them.

Hermione was poring over a certain book regarding Healers. (She had, since the last two days, begun to pay more attention to the Healing profession than all others.) Harry was looking at her dreamily.

Suddenly Hermione looked up and saw Harry gazing at her.

"What?" she asked, suddenly self-conscious and wondering if there was something wrong with her appearance.

"Nothing...," Harry began, but then with a smile on his face, continued, "It's just that...you are...you are so beautiful."

Yes! He said it. He had wanted to say that so much for the last week or so, and he had finally said it.

"You're just flattering me," Hermione said, with a blush, looking down into the floor.

"No," Harry replied. "It's true...You're beautiful."

After that, both went back to what they were doing earlier. After some time, Harry asked, "What are you going to take up when we get back to Hogwarts?"

Hermione looked up and said, "I am beginning to think quite a lot about pursuing Healing. I have read this book and a few more, and I think it really appeals to me, you know, saving people's lives, watching the joy on their faces when they come to know that their loved ones are safe...Besides, when I didn't know about being a witch, I always imagined being a doctor when I grew up. So, I think its magical counterpart is not going to be that bad either."

Harry leant closer to her as he tried to get a proper view of the page that she had been reading. He said, "Doesn't it require a three-year course after Hogwarts?"

"Yes," she replied, "I even talked to Nick about this yesterday and he gave me some insider stuff on all that they teach. He said that the classes are conducted at St. Mungo's, and he also told me some things about the potions and spells that are taught. I daresay that I think I will be able to manage all this."

"You can manage anything," Harry said, with a sincerity in his voice, that made Hermione blush bright pink.

"Anyway, the time required after Hogwarts is the same as that for an Auror. So, that means that both of us will have to study for three years after Hogwarts...That is of course, if you still want to be an Auror," Hermione said.

"Yes, I still want to. And then after the OWLs, I am glad that I will be able to be one," he said, "I wonder, though, what Ron will take up..."

As soon as he said this, he wished that he hadn't. At the mention of Ron's name, Hermione's expression became impassive and she went back to the book that she was reading. Nothing was said between them for the rest of the time they were in the room.

Harry sighed. The only dampener on their spirit over the holidays had been the state of their friendship with Ron. Harry was still enraged over the way Ron had treated Hermione. As for Hermione, she felt scared of Ron, she felt scared of the way he'd reacted. She still needed some time to recover from the shock and in the meantime, both she and Harry made conscious efforts not to let their conversations or memories veer onto anything connected remotely to Ron. It was really difficult, since Ron was a part of both of them, and as such, occasional slip-ups did occur, which usually resulted in silence. Hermione knew that running away like this from the problem wasn't a solution, but for the first time in her life, she was happy to just ignore an impending issue.

That night, as they were downstairs for dinner (Tonks was with them), Harry asked Tonks, "Do you think Dumbledore will give his permission to visit Diagon Alley?"

Tonks said mildly, "Why?" (She was still preoccupied with her food.)

"Well," Harry began, "I needed to buy some things there."

Tonks looked up from her plate and said, "Like?"

"Like robes, parchment, potions equipment, quills, ink. And yes, I have to take some money out from my Gringotts vault as well," Harry said, rolling his eyes, "Honestly, Tonks, the way you talk anyone would believe that I was a nine year old."

"Sorry Harry," Tonks said sheepishly, "But you know it is my job to ask. They assigned me to look after both of you for no reason. Anyway, I don't think your visit to Diagon Alley will be a problem with Dumbledore. After all, what can go wrong with a streetful of wizards to look after you. Anyway, when do you want to go?"

"I think day after tomorrow will be good. Tomorrow, if you can manage it," Harry replied.

"And Hermione?" Tonks asked. Hermione looked at Tonks as she said her name, "Will you be going too?"

"I think I will," Hermione replied, "My parents won't be able to this year, so obviously I will need to visit Gringotts."

"Okay then," Tonks said, "I will ask Dumbledore. I don't think it will be a problem. But for now, I think we should return to our food."

With that, she began ploughing all the food in her plate into her mouth, not unlike the way Ron usually did. Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes at her and went back to their own food, albeit in a far more civilized manner.

After dinner, Tonks asked them what they were going to do. Harry wanted to sleep, but Hermione insisted that they should complete the last remnants of their holiday work that night itself. It was a nasty Potions essay on 'Safeguards to be Taken While Brewing Advanced Potions'. Snape had set this essay, saying that he wanted a roll of parchment from each student, irrespective of whether they would be 'admitted' to the NEWT classes for Potions; since he did not want anyone's foolishness or ignorance dent his reputation as a teacher.

Neville had positively squeaked at this declaration. Although his fear of Snape had considerably diminished since the OWLs and the events at the Department of Mysteries, the venom that Snape had packed into the remark was enough to make him the old Neville, one more time.

While Hermione were poring over 'Wizard's Guide to Advanced Potions' written by Jeremy Wizardsmith, later that night to find some suitable material for the essay, Harry looked up from another book that he was reading and said, "Hermione?"

"Huh?" came the reply.

"I was just wondering," Harry began, "since we will both be going to Diagon Alley together, if we could make it a date."

Hermione looked up from the book that she was reading and stared at Harry. After a moment, her face broke into this big, wide smile and she said, "It's a date, Harry."

And with that, Harry felt his heart rising within his chest. Clearly, he was starting to fall for Hermione.

* * * * *

Harry and Hermione made ready to go to Diagon Alley, the day after next. Tonks had informed them of Dumbledore's permission for the visit. Personally, Harry couldn't have cared less for himself. His trust for Dumbledore had received a major setback even since Sirius' death. He had decided to visit Diagon Alley by himself, irrespective of whether Dumbledore agreed or not. However, he couldn't deny that the ancient wizard's permission made him feel a whole lot better, especially now that Hermione was coming along.

It was against such a backdrop that Harry and Hermione flooed from a shop nearby to the Leaky Cauldron. (It was the same fireplace that Ron had used a few weeks earlier). They were told that it was owned by a wizard, who had 'ethically' decided to renounce magic. Hermione had snorted at this, saying that if it was indeed, the case, why on earth, had he still maintained a Floo connection. Still, Harry was glad that there was a way to reach Diagon Alley within a short time. Although he hated travelling by Floo powder, Harry couldn't deny that it was the only way he could spend the maximum possible time in Diagon Alley with Hermione.

Lupin accompanied them to the shop and watched them go. Harry was personally glad to see Lupin, even though he looked a bit worn out. He had been especially worried about his old teacher and friend during the past few days, since a full moon had just passed.

Harry was the first to step into the fire and was afterwards, followed by Hermione. He took a handful of Floo powder and (fortunately) shouted out the name of the Leaky Cauldron clearly. He was greeted at the other end by the toothy grin of Tom, the landlord of the inn.

"Hello there, Harry! Are you alright?" Tom asked as he helped Harry on to his feet. Harry had never mastered the 'art' of travelling by Floo powder and this time was no exception either as he found himself on the floor instead of on his feet.

"Got the message from Dumbledore yesterday. Told me to look out for both of you, you know, both you and Miss Granger," Tom continued, with a hint of pride in his voice, which clearly stemmed from the personal request made to him by the greatest wizard alive, so as to ensure the protection of 'The Boy Who Lived'. Harry, however, was not impressed.

But he was interrupted in his musings (and fortunately saved from further talk by Tom) at that precise moment as the fireplace burst into life once more and Hermione stepped through smoothly and elegantly, into the confines of the Leaky Cauldron. Harry couldn't admire her more. Even though she still didn't like flying which Harry thought was a hell lot easier than this, she travelled by Floo powder as if she had done that all her life.

'Trust Hermione to do make difficult things easy and easy things difficult,' Harry thought with a light smile lingering at the corners of his mouth.

"Welcome, Miss Granger! Long time no see!" Tom greeted her as if he had just met a very old friend. This was starting to really affect Harry's nerves. But relief came over him when Tom said, "Well, must go back to the pub now. Great business today! Can't afford to wait a moment longer! I think you two should hurry up as well. You don't have all day, you know. Dumbledore told to send you back before seven."

With that, he left both Harry and Hermione alone. They walked towards the opening to the secret wizarding marketplace. Harry tapped the wall three times with his wand and the bricks parted, revealing before them the entrance to Diagon Alley.

Diagon Alley was just as Harry remembered - a streetful of wizards where you want to go everywhere and anywhere - as Sirius had told him last year when they had had a chance to speak of lighter matters (for once). Harry tried desperately not to think about all that. He offered his hand to Hermione, who laced her fingers through his and they made their way up the crooked street towards a white building shining in the distance. It was the Gringotts Wizard Bank. Both Harry and Hermione passed the goblins at the entrance, without second thoughts (or, looks for that matter) and made their way back to one of the counters.

While Harry was accompanied by a goblin (his name was Griphook, Harry remembered him as the one who had taken him to his vault for the first time, but Griphook did not show any sign of recognition). Meanwhile, Hermione was exchanging Muggle money into galleons and sickles. It was indeed fortunate that Gringotts didn't worry about underage wizards carrying out their transactions, otherwise it would have been a bother for both of them.

Half an hour later, Harry stood outside Gringotts, waiting for Hermione, who had told him to wait outside for a moment. Since this had happened at the time they were passing by the watchgoblin at the entrance, Harry had a sneaking suspicion about what she was going to do. After about two minutes, Hermione came skipping down the steps, seemingly very happy.

"What?" she asked, as Harry stood there, looking critically at her, his brows furrowed.

"Hermione," he replied, "Please tell me that whatever you did back there was not concerned with SPEW."

"It isn't SPEW, it is S.P.E.W. - Society for Promotion of Elfish Welfare," she argued.

"Yeah, yeah but at least you could change the name," Harry said in a resigned tone.

"Don't speak like Ron," she said without thinking and immediately after realizing that she had mentioned Ron, her face quickly fell and she became grim.

A similar change came over Harry's countenance. Although he knew how much Ron was a part of their lives, he wasn't ready to forgive him for what he'd done to Hermione, not yet. However, he soon regained his composure.

"Come, now for our date, and I pay for everything," he said and taking her hand, led the way.

Hermione gave him a watery sort of a smile and followed. Still, things did get better and more enjoyable as the day passed.

Their first stop was Madam Malkin's robes for All Occasions'. Harry had to buy some new robes, as did Hermione. Hermione modelled the designs for him.

"How do I look?" she asked as she stood before him, wearing the newest design.

"Wonderful!" Harry replied, his gaze fixed on her face, instead of on her robes.

"Harry!" Hermione said disapprovingly, "Each time I've asked you for your opinion, you've said 'wonderful' and nothing else. You are not even looking."

"What's there to look?" Harry said dreamily, "You look wonderful in whatever you wear."

"Boys!" Hermione gave an exasperated sigh as she said this loudly, shaking her head. However, she could not help but feel pleased as she walked back towards the changing area.

"Excuse me! It's men," Harry called out after her.

"Oh yeah, I forgot. Men!" Hermione rolled her eyes to herself as she shouted back.

Twenty minutes later, it was Harry's turn as Madam Malkin herself took up his case. He had just fallen asleep, wondering why women took so long to pick out a simple robe for the school, when he had been woken by a very amused-looking Hermione.

Hermione then had a long discussion with Madam Malkin regarding how she wanted Harry's robes to be made (Harry, of course, was completely oblivious to all that was being discussed). Now, the elderly witch was pinning the measuring robe accordingly.

"I didn't know you were so deep into fashion," Harry said. "Ow!" he winced. One of the pins had just pricked him in the midriff.

"Sorry!" Madam Malkin said apologetically but sternly, "However, I must admit, Mr Potter that it would, indeed, be a great help if you stopped moving and stood still for a moment. This'll take only a minute and I don't think I need to tell a sixteen year old wizard that."

Hermione burst into laughter as she heard this, while Harry stood still. He had turned a bright crimson, at being chided at by the elderly witch.

"So you didn't answer my question," Harry said, as he sat down beside Hermione, waiting for his robes to be made ready.

"What?" she asked absentmindedly, as she pored over the catalogue of dress robes of various designs.

"I'd asked you since when have you had such an interest in fashion," he said.

Hermione looked up from the catalogue to see his emerald green eyes dancing merrily, as they looked at her. She replied, "Just because I don't flaunt something doesn't mean that I don't have a healthy interest in it. It's only the first time that I have used my knowledge though. You know, drawbacks of having a completely clueless boyfriend."

Harry rolled his eyes at her and was about to retort, when a witch came out and handed over their packages. Harry paid for both of them (at least he tried to) but Hermione insisted on paying for her robes herself. ("No you don't," she said, "This is my uniform.") So, Harry contented himself with passing on the money she handed him over to the witch on the cash counter. That meant he would have to think of something else to give her as a gift.

"You know, I think we should pay a visit to Fred and George's shop now," Harry said as they made their way from Madam Malkin's shop, "After all, I am still their financial backer, you know."

"No, I'd rather not go," Hermione said firmly.

"Why?" Harry inquired. "I heard they have gone for every possible protection charm to protect their establishment. Ginny told me personally at Mrs Figg's."

"Many things can happen," Hermione replied, "Knowing Fred and George..." she trailed off as she visibly shuddered.

"I don't know why you are so afraid of those two," Harry teased her, "They are our friends, after all."

"Yes, they are," Hermione said, "And I'm not afraid of them, I am just...I just am worried of what they might be up to."

"But you've always succeeded in controlling them. Remember, last year in the common room?"

"Only too well," Hermione replied, "But that was different, that was back at Hogwarts. There I had the option of threatening them with telling Mrs Weasley. She knows now and I do not have that luxury anymore."

"And?" Harry asked, looking on amused and willing her to continue at the same time.

"Remember what they did at the party?" Hermione continued, "Who do you think was their number one target with the ghost lines?"

"Neville," Harry replied, not knowing where she was getting to.

"Yes," Hermione said, "But the thing is, I sort of manipulated Neville so that he'd be the target and not me."

"Don't tell me," Harry groaned, "How could you?"

"I was just a little scared," she said, "I think they are still trying to pull off some pranks on me." She added the last part with a nervous twinge to her voice.

"Hey," Harry complained, "And I thought you were a Gryffindor!"

"I am...it's just that..." she began uncertainly, not willing to meet his eyes.

"No, you're obviously not," he said, "Otherwise, you wouldn't be chickening out on this. Hell, you're just going to meet your friends and you go on ranting about them trying to get back at you."

"Fine!" she snapped. "But let's just make it the last and the shortest stop."

"Bravo!" Harry tried to control his laughter at the sight of an unnerved Hermione. "That's my girl!"

"But mind well, Potter!" she threatened him, "If I get even one prank pulled up on me, you will have to pay for it."

Harry grinned at her and going close to her, whispered in her ear, "Anytime, Miss Granger, anytime."

* * * * *

Thereafter, Hermione dragged Harry to Flourish and Blotts. It was probably the first time that Hermione had ever been recognised before the famous Harry Potter. The owner of the shop had personally come forward to attend to their needs (or to Hermione's needs, to be more precise). Hermione bought book after book and Harry just followed her around. She had told him that these were books that she would not be able to find at Hogwarts - they dealt with very advanced Healing. Finally, while she was busy with the billing, Harry's eyes saw it - a dark grey coloured book with seemingly yellow pages. He went near it and took it in his hands. It read in thin, golden letters - 'THE ANCIENT SECRET OF WAR'.

Harry did not know why he wanted that book so badly, it was as if something unknown inside him was telling him to do so. He had never so much as bought another book for what Hermione would call 'light reading' (that of course, if you could discount the Quidditch magazines and manuals he had or the Defense books he was given by Lupin last Christmas).

He thought of telling Hermione, but decided against it. He went out and told her, "Can you please wait a minute?" She nodded, and promptly went off to scan another part of the bookstore.

Harry turned to the store owner and asked, "Mr....?"

"Greenwitch. May I help you, Mr...?"

Harry was stunned. Did this man not know his name? To Harry, it was a welcome relief that somebody in the wizarding world did not recognise him. Then he remembered that it had been three years since he'd last appeared in the book store and hence, maybe the owner did not recognise him.

"Potter," Harry replied.

"Ah yes! Now I remember! Thought I'd seen you before!" His eyes lingered upon the edge of Harry's bangs where he hid his famous scar.

"Mr Greenwitch, I was just wondering whether you could help me with something."

"Sure, Mr Potter."

"Actually, I want to buy this book," Harry said, bringing up the book from underneath his armpit. "But I want it delivered by evening post today, to Hermione's address. Think you can manage that?"

Mr Greenwitch nodded. He said, "You want it to be sent to Miss Granger?"

"No," Harry replied, "I want it in my name."

"You are staying with Miss Granger, I suppose," Mr Greenwitch asked. It was Harry's turn to nod this time.

"Well, I daresay that can be managed. Anyways, we have to send some new books to the same address tonight," he said.

"No, no," Harry shook his head. "I want this book to be sent separately. You know what I mean." He looked meaningfully at the store owner.

He nodded. He took the package from Harry and kept it on the table. He looked once at the book and said, "You know, Mr Potter, I know every book that we keep here at Flourish and Blotts, and your choice, to me, is indeed, a strange one. This is an ancient bookstore started by my grandfather and although I must admit I've never opened this text, I know that this has been here ever since the store was opened. But no one has ever bought it before. Are you really sure then that you want to buy it?"

"Yes, please," Harry said testily, making sure that he conveyed his desire not to answer any more questions that might be directed at him.

"Very well then," Mr Greenwitch replied, "Will you be paying for this in advance or upon delivery?"

"Now please." Harry replied.

* * * * *

"Hermione, can I say something?" Harry asked as they exited Flourish and Blotts. Harry was now holding the huge packages that contained Hermione's books.

She nodded at his question.

"Next time we go out," he said, "please try not to leave me alone."

Hermione blushed. She muttered, "Sorry about that, Harry, but you know, when I walk into a bookstore..." she trailed off and Harry picked up from where she'd left.

"...when you walk into a bookstore, you cannot stop yourself from running to the nearest shelf and scanning through all those heavy volumes, yeah, I know," Harry said as Hermione rolled her eyes at him.

"So what do you say about lunch?" Harry asked her. "I must say I'm starving with all this stuff that you've made me carry."

"Stuff I made you carry?" Hermione said faintly and shook her head in disbelief, "It wouldn't be so if you didn't insist upon being so chivalrous. Stuff I made you carry! Honestly!" She rolled her eyes at Harry.

They continued their good-natured banter as they made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. Once there, Harry was met with great relief as Tom agreed to keep their packages safe till such time when they were to return to the Granger home.

After lunch, Harry and Hermione went back to Diagon Alley. It was a warm afternoon and Harry was thankful that he had chosen to wear plain Muggle clothing instead of normal wizarding clothes. Admittedly, it did grow stifling hot underneath those heavy layers of robes.

Even as they walked into the Apothecary for replenishing their potions supply, they ran into Neville who was hurrying off somewhere.

"Oi Neville!" Harry cried out as Neville literally ran right into him, "Watch where you are going!"

"Sorry Harry," Neville apologised, "By the way, nice to see you. You too, Hermione."

Neville smiled at them both. It was quite clear that he had changed a bit ever since they had last met at Hogwarts. To Harry, it seemed that he was a lot more relaxed and cheerful than usual (although that did not mean an extrovertly confident guy, by any means).

"Hermione, how are your parents?" Neville asked her.

"Fine! They'll be home in a couple of days," she replied.

"So, what are you doing here?" Harry asked Neville, "and how is your grandmother?"

Harry, Ron and Hermione had grown very close with Ginny, Luna and Neville ever since the night in the Department of Mysteries. The adventures that they had shared and the chaos that they survived had firmly cemented their friendship.

"I just came to buy some dung beetles and unicorn hair," Neville replied, ""My gran told me to bring some when I go home tonight."

"What? Isn't she here?" Hermione asked, absentmindedly spilling some of the powdered asphodel that she was examining closely. The store owner, however, saw this and cleaned it up with a wave of his wand.

"No," Neville replied, "Actually, I've taken a summer job at Fred and George's." Neville tried not to look too embarrassed as he said this and Harry suspected that there was something more going on than that met the eye.

"Well, I'll get going then," Neville said as he paid his bill. "Shall I tell everyone the twins that you too will be coming over soon?"

"Yeah," Harry replied, ignoring Hermione's rather pleading expression. "Tell them we'll be there in about an hour or so."

"What?" he asked as Neville departed and Hermione held his gaze.

"You could have made an excuse," she said, a hint of accusation in her voice.

"Hermione!" Harry said exasperatedly, "You promised."

"Fine!" she snapped at him. No words were spoken as they silently paid the bill and left the apothecary.

* * * * *

About an hour and a half later, Harry and Hermione made their way towards Number 92, Diagon Alley. They had spent the better part of their time wandering about various stores in the alley. They had visited the stationer's, and 'Quality Quidditch Supplies' (which was Harry's personal favourite). They had even visited a wizarding departmental store which was named 'Wizard-Mart'. 'Not very original!' Harry thought. He had heard a few mentions of 'Wal-Mart' on television during his times with the Dursleys and the name of this store was only too clearly influenced by that. 'Maybe it's run by a Muggle-born!' he thought.

Hermione had to buy material for her, well, project for S.P.E.W. Harry still hadn't told her that all the hats and socks she'd made last year were now the exclusive property of Dobby. At the Wizard-Mart, Hermione also forced Harry to buy a shaving machine for himself.

"You really should buy that," she'd said, "Your appearance looks nearly hideous in all that." She was only too clearly referring to the visible portions of facial hair on Harry.

"But it won't work at Hogwarts, it looks like it is electronic," Harry reasoned. He knew that Uncle Vernon had a similar machine, although he rarely used it.

"No, it works on magic. You have to hold it in your wand hand and it uses a very small portion of your magical powers to work itself," she explained.

"How do you know?" Harry had asked curiously.

"It's written on this manual," she had said, rolling her eyes. Harry could really be dumb sometimes.

Now, after all their purchases had been made they were on their way to Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes.

They reached the store and looked at it from the outside. It seemed normal enough. They stepped inside and even as they heard a bell going off somewhere, the world seemed to turn upside down and Harry was finding himself hanging down from the floor and looking down at the ceiling. If it hadn't been for the fact that he had encountered a similar situation (albeit in a far more tense situation) during the third task of the Triwizard Tournament, he'd very well have shrieked, just in the way Hermione had.

By his calculations, they had been hanging upside down like that for about a minute, and Harry was beginning to start thinking of a way to cure them of this dilemma when he felt the world righting itself and he landed on the ground on his feet. He heard the same thing happen to Hermione by his side.

Harry looked around everywhere as he reached the ground. The whole store was painted bright red - all the shelves, the walls, the billing counter, everything - so much so that it was almost hurtful to the eyes. And above all this, suspended from the ceiling was a huge blue banner that proclaimed in fiery, yellow letter -

We come to turn your world upside down

WEASLEYS' WIZARDING WHEEZES

We help you paint the whole town red

To top it all off, there was a photo of each of the twins on either corner of the banner. Of course, if you were an outsider, you could hardly tell who was who, yet since Harry knew the two pranksters well, he had an idea as to what was the answer to that.

Harry noticed that the store was almost jam-packed. It was filled with children of all ages, and even some young adults. However, Harry's eyes nearly fell open out of their sockets (not unlike Mad-Eye) when he saw that a sea of middle-aged women, not unlike Mrs Weasley, was gathered around one particular corner of the store.

Just as he planned to go towards the crowd and see what they could possibly be up to, he heard George's voice over the din, "Ten Galleons to the one who guesses correctly which photo is mine and which is Fred's."

George made his way through the crowd and came upon Harry and Hermione.

"Hello Harry! Hi, Hermione!" he said, "Nice to see both of you and that too, together, you know." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at Harry.

"Stuff it, George," Harry replied as Hermione blushed a deep crimson, "Anyway, where is Fred?"

"Down there somewhere," George replied, making a vague gesture in the direction of one particular group of teenagers that was assembled (in a conspiratorial way) beneath a shelf that read 'Skiving Snackboxes' ('Stacking up for term!' Harry thought.)

Harry turned back to George to find that Hermione was asking him, "Nice trick there," she motioned towards the entrance as she said this. Clearly, she was talking about 'the-world-turning-upside-down-trick'. "That was the Reversal Charm wasn't it?" George nodded. "But I think you really shouldn't use that at the entrance. That could give any poor customer a heart attack." Hermione's voice had assumed her know-it-all tone now.

"Do hell with it!" George exclaimed irritatingly, "They might as well know that they are risking a heart attack even venturing near this place."

Hermione snorted but regaining her usual brisk manner, she said, "So, did I hear you say that it's ten galleons for the one who recognises which is your photo and which is Fred's?"

George nodded.

"All right then," she rubbed her hands together and said, "You might as well keep those galleons ready."

She looked closely at the photos and then looking at George, she said, "You are the one on the topmost corner and Fred in the bottom-right corner."

George waited a moment and said in his sweetest voice, "As much as you think you are correct Hermione, I am afraid I must disappoint you with the news that you are wrong."

Hermione was about to open her mouth to argue but instead she changed her mind, and looked at the banner once more and at the photos in each corner. But whoa! The photos had seemingly shifted their positions and were now occupying the same flank of the banner.

Hermione looked indignant. "What the..." she began, but was cut off by George.

"Relax sis," George said (he and Fred as well as all the Weasley siblings, with the exception of Ron regarded Hermione as a sister, just as they regarded Harry as one of their brothers.)

Hermione's face was contorted with what Harry recognised as a mix of amusement and disapproval. Both he and George burst out laughing, while Hermione looked on, mollified.

George said, "Come, I'll show you around. After all, we owe you for this."

"Don't mention it," Harry began.

They spent the rest of the afternoon looking around the joke shop. Harry was impressed. He bought a liberal supply of everything, determined to test them out when they got back to Hogwarts. What a pity he wouldn't meet Dudley till the next summer! Otherwise some of the joke shop items like Flowering Pasties and Role Reversal Jelly would have been worth trying on his cousin. Even though he wanted to pay for everything, George refused to accept even a single knut from him. (They had seen Fred here and there, but he hardly had time to say anything beyond 'Hello'. Clearly, the shop was moving.)

"You know, Harry," George had told him as he piled all his purchases on to the counter, "You still remain our financial backer and in case you didn't notice, you are trying to pay for the very things that are made using the capital you supplied."

As for Hermione, she'd seen the products on display and realized all too well that it was all the 'showy' sort of magic, as she put it. Okay, maybe with a few slight modifications here and there, it could really prove useful but it was still flashy stuff. However, she couldn't deny that she wasn't impressed.

However, she wasn't in the least bit interested when Fred (he'd suddenly appeared out of nowhere and was now leading them on while George attended to the wails of a little girl who'd just swallowed a 'Banshee Treat') offered her a Squawking Toffee. This made Hermione squawk loudly every time a sound escaped her lips. She'd taken the toffee without question and realised only too late that it was one of the Weasley twins who'd offered her the same. She'd opened her mouth only to find a weird squawk emitting from her throat. Fred had whooped loudly at this while Harry had snorted in a bid to control his laughter.

However, the spell wore off after a minute and Hermione treated Fred to a long lecture about not giving such 'dangerous' things to people who don't have the least idea about the same. However, one couldn't deny that Fred and George's abilities of timing their magic had improved since all the effects of their products wore off in precisely the same time as they claimed. ("Of course," Fred had told Harry, "we accept special orders for making stronger doses, but don't tell Hermione that.")

"Come, since the store part is now over, let's just hang out at the back," George said.

"Yeah, I presume that's were Ginny and Neville are, aren't they?" Harry asked.

George nodded. "So what are they doing there?" Harry asked George.

"There are more things in a shop than only making and selling goods, Harry," Hermione interjected, making it distinctly clear that she had a very good idea as to what job Ginny and Neville did, albeit she was explaining everything to Harry in a very motherly tone, as if he was a small boy of about four or five years. "You have to fill out mailing orders, address the feedback of customers, give orders for the raw material and all those things. Ginny is working in those departments."

"And so is Neville-" Fred picked up from where Hermione had left off.

"-Although we think that he might be here for reasons other than earning a few extra galleons and so, he needs to be watched for," George had come up to them by now and finished what Fred had wanted to say.

Suddenly, it dawned upon Harry as to why Neville was there. Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley! Together! Didn't sound all that bad! But there certainly was the impending problem of Dean Thomas, Ginny's current boyfriend.

As if he had read his mind, Fred told him almost gleefully, "They broke up a week ago. Apparently, he was eager to-"

"I think you should stop at that," Hermione interrupted, "or I'll tell your Mum that you have been using the Extendable Ears again."

"What?" Harry asked, apparently unaware of everything that was going on around him.

"Sorry Harry," George said, "but I don't think we can tell you anything about this, not with the twin threats of Miss Granger and our Mum hanging over our heads."

They had by now reached a particularly crowded area of the shop and since they had to go to the back of the store, it meant that their only way onward was to dissect the narrow gaps that the people standing their provided.

"All right, buckle up everybody!" Fred shouted over the din. Harry smiled to himself. Without doubt, the Weasley twins had no comparison in theatrics. Fred shouted again, "Let's get through this crowd." He signalled towards the crowd of middle-aged women gathered near a particular product.

"What are they doing here?" Hermione shouted into Harry's ear (unfortunately, that was the only way to speak otherwise audibility would have been hampered considerably, considering the noise that emanated from the talk of those women) "I mean, aren't they mature enough for this?"

They had by now reached the door that led to the back of the store. "This is something that happens when you spill a simple sleeping draught on our Ton Tongue Toffees," George explained, with a wide flourish of his arms towards the shelves. He had somehow inexplicably, managed to hear Hermione even amidst the din, and was answering her, now that they had the time and the space to catch some breath.

Fred joined in and said, "This, my friends, is the latest and the most effective tool for de-gnoming gardens. This is the future of de-gnoming," He joined George with similar flourishes of his arms and it would have appeared to an outsider as if the twins had given up their pranks and taken up dancing.

"This is the revolution that the world of de-gnoming always needed," George finished off.

Harry snorted as the twins continued their charade (albeit in very loud tones) as Hermione reached for the door and yanked it open.

"So how does it work?" Hermione looked mildly interested as they walked into a quite spacious and well-ventilated working area.

"Well, the gnomes swell to many times their size and then drop off into a deep sleep, from which it takes them about a month to wake up," Fred answered.

"-by which time you can banish them to pretty much anywhere that you may wish," George finished.

"That's interesting, but how did...well, hi Ginny!" Hermione waved at the redheaded girl who'd just walked into the office with a stack of envelopes under her arms and a small package in her hands.

"Hi Hermione! Hi Harry!" she greeted as her eyes landed on her friends. "Will be back here in a moment!"

Hermione waved the younger girl off. She then turned back to the twins and said, "So, how did you find all this out?"

"Actually, we've got to give credit to Mum for that," George replied.

"How?" Harry asked, wondering if he was really imagining this or Mrs Weasley had really helped Fred and George make one of their products and the most popular one at that.

"When we apparated into our kitchen at the Burrow that fine evening with our brooms clutched into our hands and recuperating after a severe bout of Umbridgitis, she got really worked up and started ranting off at us-" Fred said.

"-we told her that our future had outgrown that of our NEWTs, and that we'd got our resources together for opening the store. However, believe it or not, she got even angrier than usual, and waved her wand at the shelf a little too vigorously as she tried to summon a jar. However as it happened, a bottle of sleeping potion fell onto a pile of chocolates that we later saw actually were the Ton Tongue Toffees. And the rest as they say is wizarding history," George ended from where his twin had left off and Harry was faced to snort.

"But where do the gnomes come in all this," Fred said, as he put what Harry had been thinking into words (if Harry didn't know better, he would have thought that the twins had learnt Leglimens), "As it happened, we asked Mum what our toffees were doing out there, normally, she wouldn't stand the sight of them. But she ignored us and just banished them to the garden. The next day, we saw the gnomes and well, the conclusions weren't very difficult to reach to."

"Anyway, when Mum found that this stuff was really useful for de-gnoming the garden," George took up the narration, "she thought that we were really doing something useful (The other twin snickered at this) and we've been pretty much flooded with these customers since we formally introduced this product about a month ago."

"Not that we are complaining though," George continued, "Business is perfect." He gave a contented sigh as Ginny came down and sank down into one of the chairs near them.

"It wouldn't be perfect, if it weren't for me and Neville. I am the one who does all this office work and Neville sits at the billing counter," Ginny said dully.

"Yeah, yeah, as if you would be working here if our business was not here!" Fred exclaimed. "Well Harry, we'd better be off. There might be customers out there who need help." He said this with a sly grin and Harry couldn't help but think that whatever happened, no one in their right mind would try to ask the Weasley twins for help.

"I think I'll go meet Neville," Harry said.

"But you just met him," Hermione interjected.

"Well, I want to meet him again. Some reason, you know," Harry said and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, but come back soon," her voice assumed a softer tone as she said this.

"Hermione, I'm not even going out of the store. What do you think can happen?" Harry said exasperatedly.

"Okay," Hermione said a bit sheepishly as Harry gave her a peck on the cheek before going out to search for Neville. This surprised Hermione, since Harry had never kissed her in public before.

Ginny was watching this exchange between her friends with great interest. Immediately after Harry left the room, she asked Hermione, "So what was all that about? Spill the beans quickly."

"What?" Hermione asked her in return trying to sound innocent and nonchalant.

"About you and Harry?" the younger girl asked her again.

"Nothing." Hermione said quickly, too quickly, perhaps, but if it did not betray her attempts at concealment, the fact that her cheeks turned a bright crimson gave her away.

"Is that so?" Ginny asked, a wicked smile playing at the corner of her lips.

"Yes," Hermione nodded.

"I don't believe it," she replied simply. She now had a very good idea as to what was going on and was wickedly enjoying the sight of Hermione fidgeting about in her chair, clearly embarrassed.

She said, "All right then, let me take a wild guess. You and Harry got together, didn't you?"

Hermione looked shyly at her friend and nodded.

"Whoa!" Ginny squealed loudly, "This is some news. I knew this happened."

"Why? Are we that obvious together?" Hermione asked quickly.

"No," Ginny replied, "But they don't call me Miss Observant for nothing...Now, tell me everything."

So, Hermione told her everything that had transpired between her and Harry that summer. Of course, there weren't any lurid details, so she could afford to do that.

"Wow!" Ginny exclaimed as Hermione finished. However, her voice took a serious tone as she spoke again, "Does Ron know?"

Hermione nodded again.

"I guessed so," Ginny said, then seeing the questioning look on Hermione's face, she explained, "Ever since he came back from your house, he's been, well, just not Ron. Even his appetite has lessened, if you can believe that." Hermione smiled weakly at this joke.

"So Ron knows..." Ginny began again, "And...?"

"And what?" Hermione responded.

"And how did he respond to your revelation?" Ginny asked patiently.

"Hermione hesitated a bit before speaking. She was not sure if telling Ginny of Ron's behaviour would be a good idea. Yet she couldn't deny that she needed to talk to someone about all this. Normally, she would have talked to her mother, but that wasn't a good idea considering the circumstances. Harry didn't help either. He kept going completely rigid and silent, like a stone, every time Ron's name was mentioned. However, she couldn't blame him either. Ron had been a prat and deserved the silent treatment that they were giving him.

All these thoughts raced through Hermione's mind as she dwelled upon whether and how much to reveal to Ginny. Finally, she decided to tell her the complete truth. Maybe, she could help in making Ron see sense regarding her and Harry.

So, Hermione began after a few moments' silence, "He did not take it well at all," She shook her head at this.

"Why? What did he do?" Ginny asked.

"He said a lot of nasty things, he and Harry had a huge blow-up and then...and he hit me."

"Whoa, the git! How dare he do that?" Ginny's eyes shone angrily as she said, "No wonder Mum was so hacked off at him and shouted at him for hours together!"

"What?" Hermione asked faintly.

"After they reached Headquarters," Ginny replied, "Mum asked Ron to accompany her to the kitchen. They were there for an hour at the least and when the door opened Ron was really red in the face and Mum seemed too angry for words. I did not know about what though, she'd cast an Imperturbable Charm on the kitchen door. But she has hardly spoken to Ron since. We reckoned it was because of how recklessly he'd gone to your home, but I know now, that it was indeed, something else."

"But how could Mrs Weasley possibly have known? Okay, so it was she who healed me, but I told her that I'd just had a fall, nothing more."

"Do you think she'd have bought that? She must've heard the shouting match that you told me of," Ginny said quietly, "Were they loud?"

"Yeah, I could hear them down in the living room pretty much as if they were in the same room. So I don't think that their voices would not have reached the kitchen," Hermione replied thoughtfully, "But then it's just not like Mrs Weasley! Sorry to say that, but I would have thought that she'd have gone up to stop the shouting, had she heard."

"I don't know," Ginny replied, "But Mum has somehow changed over the summer, if you can believe it."

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since Fred and George joined the Order - you know about that, don't you?" Ginny glanced at the window-sill as she said this. An owl had just appeared on the window-sill and she got up to untie the letter that it held up for him. She took the letter and the owl flew off with a flutter of its wings.

Ginny scanned the letter and sighed, "Letter from Dean! Honestly! (she rolled her eyes) Apparently, he's sorry and wants us to get back together! The git! When will he realize that I am ready to move on and will not reconsider anything even if he sends apologies daily?"

She went over to the desk and scribbled a note and tied it to the leg of one of the office delivery owls and told it to deliver the letter to her ex-boyfriend.

"So when did the twins join the Order?" Hermione asked Ginny, as the younger girl was packing up the writing material that was on the desk.

"About two months ago. Mum had a big blow-up on the issue. She did not want them to join, but they were adamant and prevailed over her in the end. Ever since, Mum has been less bossy than usual. She's let us do whatever we want. She's given us more freedom. That's one of the reasons why I was allowed to take this summer job. Of course, it doesn't help that Dad refuses to forgive Percy," Ginny shook her head as she reached the last part of her reply, "Percy has done practically everything but beg for forgiveness on his knees, but still, Dad did not forgive him. I never believed that I would ever see Dad being so unbecoming and unforgiving."

Hermione nodded, to convey that she understood what Ginny was implying. She thought inwardly about this 'Second War'. Already before the war had begun in earnest, it was bringing about great changes in the people that she'd come to know over the years. She shuddered to think about what could happen if things went further.

Hermione spent the remaining part of the afternoon talking to Ginny about more pleasant things, like the OWLs and Ginny's appointment as a fifth-year prefect. Finally, after an hour and a half, Harry appeared with Neville. Harry, especially, looked very pleased with himself.

As they made ready to leave, Hermione whispered to Ginny, "Ginny, please, everything I told you about Harry and me, please don't tell anyone. I...we want to keep it a secret."

Ginny looked sceptical but nodded nevertheless. "Okay, if you want that, I promise I won't tell anyone."

With that Harry and Hermione made their way back down Diagon Alley to the Leaky Cauldron. They were relieved to find that Lupin was talking to Tom, the landlord, waiting for them with a portkey. They thankfully took hold of their purchases and safely reached the Granger home.

* * * * *

Hermione's parents were discharged from the hospital the evening before the teenagers were to return to Hogwarts (Ironically, their doctor had succeeded in delaying their return by three days under the pretext of awaiting a blood report). The night they came home, there was a big celebration in the house. Lupin and Nick were the Order members present as Hermione (she was helped by Harry) made all the arrangements for her parents homecoming. There was lots of food that Hermione had cooked up. (Harry had found out over the summer that Hermione was a brilliant cook, something that he had never expected from this studious witch). Like everything else, except maybe for flying, Harry thought this facet of her persona very wonderful. However, the one thing that really irked him about all this was that he had had to carry the tonnes of food behind Hermione as they made their way from the supermarket to the Granger home. Evidently, she had planned on packing the refrigerator and the larder with all that she could.

It was not a very complicated course or anything remotely like the feasts that Harry was used to at Hogwarts. For one, Hermione had done all this alone, (she had insisted firmly on not being disturbed in the kitchen as she cooked) and secondly, the condition of Hermione's parents did not allow for them to eat anything exotic for sometime to come. Nick had informed them that certain spices could interfere with the working of the Healing Potions that they were still being administered.

The beauty of the dinner was in its simplicity and in the gay atmosphere that prevailed. Everyone talked nineteen to the dozen, especially Bob and Julia (They had made Harry call them that instead of Mr and Mrs Granger). Hermione had used her limited resources well to churn out something as fantastic as what she'd done. Even as they sat down to eat, Lupin proposed a toast to Hermione's parents.

"For the health of Bob and Julia Granger, two wonderful people and parents to the most brilliant witch I've ever had the privilege of meeting," Lupin said.

Hermione's parents looked very pleased with this toast. Hermione blushed pink at this declaration. Everyone lifted their glasses (which were filled with water) and took a sip. Any form of fluid except for water (and the Healing Potions) was a strict no-no for the Grangers for some days, and everyone else had decided to follow the same menu for the night. Harry smiled to himself as he remembered Lupin's seemingly serious yet playful smile while he proposed the toast. Clearly, once a Marauder, always a Marauder.

The rest of the night passed in a blur. It was filled with food, merry-making and lots of light talk. As Harry went up to bed and kissed Hermione before he went to his own room (they had decided to sleep in different rooms that night, even though what they had been doing was nothing beyond snuggling together), he couldn't help thinking, Tomorrow, he'd going to Hogwarts. Tomorrow, he'd be back where he belonged. Yet he could not deny that despite all the things that had happened over this summer, it had been simply, the most amazing summer of his life.

* * * * *

Chapter Eight

Hogwarts At Long Last

"Aunt Petunia, if you disturb me any more, I will go send Hedwig to inform the Order," Harry mumbled groggily in his sleep. There was a giggling noise somewhere in the room and Harry felt someone shaking him vigorously.

He opened his eyes to see Hermione perched on the edge of the bed and looking positively elated at the thought of returning to Hogwarts the same day. In fact, Harry shared this elation with her, but just not now, that he was in the midst of an unusually long slumber.

"Uh! Hermione! Why do you have to wake me up so early? It's only..." Harry rubbed his eyes and said sleepily, while trying to determine the time by squinting at the clock on the left wall.

"It's eight and it's not early. Honestly Harry!" Hermione rolled her eyes at him, "We've to be ready and floo over to Headquarters in the next hour and a half. You've got to get a move on."

With that, Hermione yanked the sheets off Harry, leaving him exposed before her, scantily clad in only his boxer shorts.

"Hermione, that's gross! You're not supposed to see me like this," Harry complained.

"No, Mr Potter! I may not be!" she replied, "But in case I must remind you, I've seen you exactly like this over the last one month when I had been sleeping with you."

No sooner did she say this than Hermione turned a dark shade of red. Harry too, found himself, blushing, and there was a sudden strange feeling in the extreme lower end of his abdomen.

"Sorry!" Hermione said, blushing even more furiously, "That didn't come out right!"

"It's okay," Harry told her although he looked abashed as well, "But I still think you should go downstairs before anyone comes in and incriminates us for nothing."

"Well, you're right about going downstairs, but don't worry! No one will come upstairs. Everyone is having their breakfast at the moment," Hermione paused and said, "Speaking of breakfast, that's why I came to wake you up. You must get ready and appear in the kitchen immediately within the next half hour, or you won't get your breakfast."

"Oh! Talk about a tyrant," Harry teased her and then assumed an oily, almost seductive tone, "But you could fix up something for me later."

"Yes, maybe Mr Potter! But then again, maybe no!" Hermione retorted as she paused while pushing open the door and exiting the room, "But I wouldn't want anyone to take the chance." And with this good-natured teasing remark, she left the room, leaving behind Harry to tidy himself up.

Harry sighed as Hermione closed the door and looked around fondly at the room which he had called his own for the past one month. He looked around searching for the right words to describe in his mind what he was feeling. Well, for one, nostalgia would be an appropriate word. Harry had come to regard the house as a real home, a place he wanted to come more often to. This was the place where he had crossed the line of friendship with Hermione and grown emotionally dependent on her. The house, the room, had now created for themselves a special place in Harry's heart and he doubted whether he could forsake that place inside of him after all that had happened in the past month. And it was not only for the fact that it was Hermione's home but Harry also believed that it was in part due to his own firm belief that the house had somehow contributed towards making him a stronger person than he had once been. He couldn't place his finger on the exact reason, as to 'why', but he knew in his heart that it was true.

Exactly twenty-five minutes later, Harry walked into the Granger kitchen, only to see Hermione talking to her parents quietly. Remus Lupin was sitting immersed in the Daily Prophet as he sat in the living room. However, it was clear to Harry as he walked by that he was paying more attention to his watch that to the newspaper.

Hermione broke off the conversation and smiled at Harry as he entered the kitchen and sat down, "Hello, Harry. Good morning!"

Harry smiled back at her and wished her back, "Good morning, Hermione! Good morning, Mr Granger, Mrs Granger!"

"For god's sake Harry, how many times do we have to tell you that it's Bob and Julia and not Mr and Mrs Graner," Hermione's father said with an unmistakeable twinkle in his eyes, "And yes, good morning to you too. Ready to go back to school, I presume?"

"Yeah, more than ever," Harry said with a grim that made Hermione melt right where she sat. ("They're getting along," she thought of Harry and her parents, "That'll help when I break the news to them.")

"Well, but you'll first have to bear with Hermione's cooking," Julia Granger said with a laugh as she motioned for Hermione to bring Harry some breakfast. Before he could even try to say that he'd help himself, Harry saw a large pile of bacon, eggs and sausages along with toast, marmalade brought before him and he started wolfing down the lot at a speed which was just about less enough so as not to be called unmannered.

As he ate, Harry reflected on the apparent difference between the Grangers and the Weasleys - his favourite family. With the Weasleys, it was more crowded and merrier and you got the impression that everything happened exactly at one and the same moment. It was as if 'Chaos' was the rule of the house. But with the Grangers, everything was far more relaxed in a way (not laid back, mind you), more organised, in a manner of speaking.

One of the effects was very apparent to Harry. Over the past years, the morning of Harry's return to Hogwarts was spent in the midst of a whole houseful of Weasleys and he couldn't deny that things usually were very disorganised and confusing. But then that was the nature of the Weasleys. (Of course, Harry conveniently forgot that it was he should have packed his stuff up earlier each time). The Weasleys had this lovable 'large-family-living-very-happily-together-inspite-of-getting-disgusted-with-other-members-of-the-family-more-often-than-not' air about them, which was all the more reason why they were Harry's favourite family in the world.

However, Harry couldn't deny that it was nice for a change to be sitting quietly, enjoying his breakfast without the thought of packing and re-packing entering his mind even once. Of course, Hermione had nagged him to death until he finished his packing the previous afternoon and although he'd protested then, he was glad for it now.

* * * * *

About roughly an hour later, Harry found himself taking a portkey into 12, Grimmauld Place - the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix - from where they were to go across to the King's Cross Station. Dumbledore had apparently insisted on all Order movements occurring using Undetectable Portkeys (one of his latest inventions, Lupin had told Harry, to add to an already long list) He had reinforced the security arrangements around Sirius' ancestral home even further by revoking the Floo connection from there.

Harry braced himself up as he felt the jerk behind his navel, and seconds later, he found himself standing on the kitchen floor of Grimmauld Place.

There was no one in the kitchen and this struck Harry as odd. But that oddness vanished the moment he concentrated on the precincts of the kitchen of the old, ragged house where he'd last had a peaceful and merry talk with his beloved godfather. Indeed, every fibre in Harry's body felt as if it would dissolve into oblivion as he felt himself uneasily looking around for any sign of life in the room.

As he considered everything, he felt a light touch on his arm and turned around to see Lupin looking sombrely and sadly at him.

"Sort of reminds you of Sirius, doesn't it?" he asked, a small smile on his face as he remembered his old friend fondly.

Harry said nothing, absolutely nothing. After all, there was nothing to be said. Perhaps Lupin would have understood if Harry had explained to him how Sirius' death affected him. Perhaps he could understand this turmoil; after all Sirius had been Lupin's only surviving best friend, who for the Marauder, was equivalent to his family (Pettigrew did not count, of course, after all no person on the side of the good would be naïve enough to associate himself with one of Voldemort's minions) But Harry's case was just, well, completely different. He and Sirius had shared a special bond; both were once outcasts in the world they were forced to live in. Both were hated in that world for things that were no fault of theirs. Both had faced enormous trials and tribulations before being accepted by friends who judged them for what they were instead of for what they were believed to be and for what it was believed they had done. No one could penetrate that bond, no, not even Lupin. So, like the Mr Repressed Feelings that he nearly always was, Harry decided to remain passive.

"Harry, are you all right?" Lupin asked, concern lighting his tired-looking eyes.

"Yeah, I am fine," Harry replied in an unconvincing tone. "Just feeling a bit dizzy after the Portkey. I think I'll just sit here for a bit. You go and round up the Weasleys."

Lupin appeared unconvinced, but didn't question anything. He nodded to Harry and strode out of the room and on upstairs, taking care to be quiet so as not to wake up Sirius' 'sweet-tempered and extremely polite mother immortalised in an irremovable portrait.' (Sirius had used these exact words to describe his mother to Harry once last year in what was a fine moment of wit and satirical dialogue.)

Harry took his seat at the kitchen table at the same place where he used to sit every single time last year, during his stay in this old house. His eyes fell upon the place where Sirius usually sat, joking, laughter and mirth clearly evident in his eyes. To Harry, it seemed as if Sirius would return at that very moment to his old place; but he knew, in his heart of hearts that he was hoping for the impossible. Sirius was not coming back, no never, and Harry...he was just not ready to accept that, even though he knew it was true.

"Harry...Harry?" he heard Hermione calling his name from across the table and brought Harry out of his musings and back into reality. For one, it just made the resurgent feeling of guilt in the pit of his stomach subside marginally.

"I knew this would happen. The moment you stepped into this house, you would go back into your shell and forget about everything but yourself and your grief," Hermione said, shaking her head. "You can't go on like this, Harry, being mute about what happened in the Department of Mysteries last summer. We all loved Sirius. A part of every one of us died with him that night. You need to understand this, Harry. You must move this load off your chest and stop this self-pitying and wallowing."

"Don't tell me about what I must do," Harry replied, indeed more fiercely that he should have, "You don't know even half of the truth. You don't know what I am destined to do. You don't know anything about the pro..."

At this, Harry stopped abruptly. He'd gone on too far, and he knew Hermione would be quick to catch up on this. Sure enough, she'd raised her eyebrows at him. At the same time, though, there was a loud crashing sound in the living room, followed by equally loud, rude cries. Evidently, someone had dropped a trunk while carrying it downstairs and this had set off Sirius' mother should for all she was worth. (Apparently, her son's death had hardly fazed her.)

"FILTHY SCUM, INHABITING MY HOUSE AGAIN LIKE LEECHES. EVEN WITH MY WORTHLESS SON DEAD, YOU COME TO MY HOUSE, SEEKING SHELTER FOR HALF-BLOODS, MUDBLOODS AND HALF-BREEDS..." came the slightly slurred voice of Sirius' mother from beyond the closed door.

But Harry heard none of this. He looked down at the table, at his hands, at his fingers and at the floor, at the walls - everywhere except directly at Hermione. Ashamed of how he'd talked to her, he broke the brief silence on the part of the both of them and said slowly and softly, "Hermione, I'm sorry. But I don't think I'm ready. I don't think I could talk about this, not yet."

Hermione nodded in understanding, her brown eyes glazed with a couple of tears. She brought her hands across the table to Harry's and squeezed his hands.

"It's okay, Harry. I understand. But never feel that you're alone. I'm with you and shall always be. Do you understand?"

Harry nodded and immediately he felt the mixed feelings of anger and guilt subsiding rapidly inside of him. He knew it was temporary; they would be back again after a while, but as long as he'd Hermione to comfort his like that, he felt he could overcome them.

However, he felt all his grievances ebbing away as he discerned Ron standing in the living room with them later on. Mrs Weasley had earlier come into the kitchen and after greeting both Harry and Hermione with her trademark bone-crunching embrace, told them to go and wait with their luggage in the living room for the Ministry cars to arrive. Harry had asked her to repeat what she'd said. Apparently, Harry found out, that the Ministry had finally retreated from its hostile stand against himself, although Fudge did still carry on a hidden propaganda against Dumbledore, perceivably to thwart what he still believed was the attempt at the creation of two power centres in the wizarding world. (Of course, Fudge was forgetting that Lord Voldemort had already done that job by polarizing the magical community). Anyways, the Ministry had evidently accorded to Harry, the status of an A1 secure wizard which was equivalent to the highest level of security a wizard could receive while being in the Muggle world. As a result, the Ministry was sending a car to pick them up.

As a result of all these developments, Harry was now sitting in the living room, with Hermione, Ginny, Lupin and Mundungus Fletcher, who'd evidently come the night before for an Order meeting and had since not stopped snoring, despite all the noises that were being made around him. Ginny told Harry that she suspected that the twins had slipped a sleeping potion into Mundungus' juice at dinner in order to get back at him for selling them Neekerbreekers (A/N: This term belongs to JRR Tolkien and Samwise Gamgee. I don't own it. I am just using it for a bit of fun, with the fun being the only profit) at what they'd reckoned was double the market price. Harry did not believe this though. He didn't think that the twins were so foolish that they'd show the audacity to prank on their major supplier. He personally suspected that Mundungus' mysterious 'nap' was something to do more with his 'dealings' than with anyone else.

There was also Mrs Weasley, who was, as usual, bustling here and there, doing this or that, completing what seemed to Harry an endless list of seemingly unimportant chores. Ginny was relaxing in one of the chairs while Ron was standing back in the shadows. To Harry, he looked eerily silent and thoughtful.

Finally, the doorbell rang and the loud cries of Sirius' mother accompanied it. At the same time, Lupin whipped out his wand and muttered a silencing charm over the whole room so that they could only see Mrs Black's face moving. No sound could be heard. Of course, that also meant that they were all dragging their luggage along with them in silence as well. But no one complained.

They made their way outside only to find a yellow-coloured battered looking car standing outside on the street with Kingsley Shacklebolt at the helm. "Hi there, everyone!" he said quite jovially (which was frankly a bit out of character for Kingsley) as they made their way to the car. "Hop in now!"

Harry would ordinarily have thought in the first eleven years of his life (ten of them with the Dursleys) that fitting so many people in one small car would have been impossible but with five years worth of experience of the magical world now behind him, he knew that looks could indeed be very deceptive. Sure enough, every one of them fitted quite easily in the car with the luggage sagely stowed in the boot.

"Wow, Kingsley!" Ginny exclaimed. "I didn't expect you to be driving us."

"Yes, Kingsley," Mrs Weasley echoed, "How come you are here?"

"Well Molly," Kingsley replied, "You know how it is. Dumbledore doesn't want the Ministry to know anything about Headquarters and the Ministry insisted on chauffeuring Harry and his friends themselves. So, I volunteered to appease both parties. Fudge actually didn't want me to do this, but you know how it is now, he is getting over-ruled for even the most trivial decision by the Warlocks."

At this, Harry noticed a significant look upon Hermione's face which meant that she had just comprehended something very important. But Harry knew it wasn't the right time to ask her about it. He'd have to remember to ask her later.

The journey from Grimmauld Place to King's Cross was spent in silence as everyone dealt with their own inner musings. Harry thought about Hermione, Ron, Voldemort...just about everyone and everything. Hermione thought about Harry and Ron and the upcoming year at Hogwarts. As for Ron...well for the first time in days, he'd finally reached a decision on his desire to maintain his friendship with his two best friends. Although the decision he took was not without debate and moments of withdrawal, he knew he must do it. And he was intent upon doing it.

About half and hour later a few moments prior to the departure of the Hogwarts Express, customary goodbyes were being said by the adults to the teenagers (In Harry's case, there were a good many 'be careful's thrusted in with the rest of the words) He'd approached Platform Nine and Three Quarters with a sense of foreboding, fearing whether it would be the same as before, especially with Voldemort now out in the open. But much to his immense relief, Harry noticed upon passing through the barrier to the entrance of the platform at a relatively easy pace, that the platform was just the same as before, the Hogwarts Express looked no better nor any worse for wear and there was still the same old crowd of Hogwarts students swarming about the place.

As the train set off, Hermione whispered to Harry that she needed to go to the Prefects' meeting and would be back later. She left along with Ginny who was the sixth-year Gryffindor prefect and Harry was left alone with no one to keep him company.

He gazed steadily outside the window. The settlements were passing by swiftly and Harry knew that in a matter of no time, they would leave these scattered dwelling behind and the Hogwarts Express would pass through dense woodlands, all the while advancing towards the Hogsmeade station and the stone ramparts of Hogwarts castle.

As he sat there alone staring outside, Harry remembered that day in his third year when Sirius had sent Pigwidgeon with his first letter to Harry. The thought of his godfather was growing on Harry's mind ever since his brief visit to the ancient Black home and he tried his best to ignore those thoughts.

Some time later, Harry heard the door of his compartment opening. Presuming it to be one of the students moving around the train, he continued staring outside the window. But soon he felt that someone who'd entered the compartment staring at him earnestly. Harry turned around slowly, and was immensely relieved to find that that person was none other than Luna Lovegood, already dressed in her Hogwarts robes and still sporting the Butterbeer cork necklace (The earrings were done away with).

"Hi, Luna!" Harry greeted her. "Why don't you have a seat?"

Luna looked at Harry as though he were a tiny spider she wanted to take a closer look at. Then she abruptly stopped staring and said in a mystic, ethereal voice not unlike that of Trelawney's. "Hi Harry! Hope you enjoyed the summer. Ginny told me you are seeing Hermione."

Harry felt a bit awkward. He never thought that he'd have to discuss his love life with Looney Lovegood, of all the people. He shifted a bit uncomfortably in his seat and was saved from further embarrassment by the sound of Hermione and Ginny walking into the compartment, with Ron close behind them, his face red and looking like he'd just been subjected to a lot of stress or pressure.

Hermione greeted Luna (a little tensely, it seemed to Harry) as she took her seat besides Harry and Ginny took the one on the opposite side. But Luna hardly seemed to notice. She just looked around straight past them and at Ron and said in her same dreamy voice, "Hello Ronald! Hope you had a good summer!"

Ron grimaced inwardly at her words. His summer had been anything but good. His fights with his best friends, his failed relationship with Hermione, the cold shoulder that he received from his mother and sister and the incessant time he had spent in the dark and dreary Black home alone...well, things hadn't been good by any means.

However, he was jolted out of his thoughts by Ginny clearing her throat significantly, "Ron, I believe you wanted to day something."

"Not before her," Ron pointed to Luna.

"You know, Ronald, it's rude to point at anyone," Luna appeared unfazed by what Ron was implying for her to do.

"Don't mind Luna, Ron," Ginny said, "She's a friend. Just say what you want to."

At this, Harry gave a very out-of-character false laugh and said harshly, "What does he want to say? Didn't he say enough during our last meeting?"

Ron's intentions received a big blow as Harry said this. He'd expected to say his apologies and to have them accepted immediately by his best friends. But he realized now that it wound have been too easy to be possible. He remembered vaguely about what someone had said about choosing between the good and the easy (most probably, it was Dumbledore. The old guy always seemed to have the craziest ideas about everything)

Driving these latest thoughts from his mind, Ron focussed on his best friends sitting side by side in the compartment and said, "Harry, Hermione, it's just that...well...I'm very sorry for...I mean, I know I acted like a big fool...like the biggest prat in the world but believe me...I didn't mean to do either of you any harm. I guess I was just...just peeved at you both...jealous more likely and I'm very sorry for everything I did. I thought about this and realized that both of your friendship means much more to me than anything and I couldn't afford to ruin it over the mere fact that you and Hermione are seeing each other."

Ron was initially stuttering as he started saying this, but as he progressed, he felt the right words coming out of his mouth in the right manner and felt more confident.

After he finished, an eerie silence descended upon the compartment. It seemed that even Luna was watching the proceeding with great interest.

At last, Ron broke the pregnant silence and said, "Look Harry, I value both of your friendships more than everything. I am sorry for what I said or did, but I really want to be your friend again."

There was another silence that followed and finally, Harry said, "So do I, Ron. So do I. But I don't know whether I can ever forget what you did, Ron. I don't think I ever shall. But I'll admit this. You were the first friend I had and also my best friend all this while ever since I came to Hogwarts and I love you for that. As far as your apology is concerned, it's more to do with Hermione than with me. If she accepts your apology, so shall I."

At this Ron looked expectedly at Hermione. She was looking at the floor, biting her lower lip, obviously thinking hard.

At last, she said, "I forgive you, Ron. Although it will be hard for me to forget everything, I agree that your friendship is much more important than anything else."

With that, she got up and walked over to Ron and hugged him lightly. Ron hugged her back and a smile appeared on his face. Hermione pulled back from the embrace and Ron got the chance to see Harry's reaction. To his relief, Harry was smiling as well. Ron walked over to him and shook his hand.

"Nice to have you back, mate," Harry grinned at him.

But immediately as he said this, there was a loud sob in the compartment and everyone looked up amused, in the direction of Luna who was gently dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief saying, "You guys are so sweet." At this, the tension that had been imminent in the compartment all that while dissipated into thin air and the rest of the journey was spent in peace, happiness and great expectations with the upcoming year at Hogwarts, much like the previous times they had rode the Hogwarts Express.

* * * * *

That evening, the train slowly pulled into the quaint little Hogsmeade station and everyone got out in midst of the familiar hustle and bustle of students getting down the train and making their way towards the Thestral-pulled school carriages. Hagrid, meanwhile, was there as well. Harry didn't really get to meet him up close since he was at the opposite end of the platform, but he knew that Hagrid would take the first years to Hogwarts via a boat ride over the lake. Sure enough, he was shouting, "Firs'-years! Over 'ere!" to that effect.

Harry waved his hand to his first real acquaintance in the wizarding world and moved over to one of the carriages along with Luna and Neville. Harry felt a bit sick as he saw the Thestrals. They definitely reminded him of the night Sirius had died.

He got into the carriage and closing his eyes, he tried to rid his brain of those very depressing thoughts. He tried to bring into force, every bit of Occlumency that he'd learnt from Snape. He tried to empty his mind but to no avail.

Suddenly, Luna's voice broke in onto his thoughts as she said, "Makes you sad, doesn't it? Sort of reminds you of that night."

Neville looked at Luna and a look of comprehension dawned upon his face. But Harry remained rather impassive. Over the summer, he'd tried to avoid thinking about Sirius' death. At that time, it had been relatively easy since he was in the Muggle world; but now, in the wizarding world, he realized that it would be far more difficult that he'd imagined.

However, Harry was saved from answering Luna's rather, rhetorical question as the carriage rattled onto the Hogwarts grounds and entered the gates flanked on either side by the vision of two winged boars. The castle loomed closer and closer and finally the carriage stopped in front of the entrance. Harry got down and with a last pat on the mane of one of the Thestrals drawing their carriage, he made his way towards the Great Hall where the sorting ceremony and the subsequent Opening Feast would be held.

Harry took his regular place at the Gryffindor table and was soon joined by Hermione and Ron both looking very happy indeed. Hermione told Harry about Malfoy being the bullying git that he always had been and at the same time, wondering why he hadn't made his customary appearance to taunt Harry during the train ride. But just as Ron was saying, "Maybe he realised Harry isn't someone to mess around with!" the doors to the Great Hall burst open once again and Professor McGonagall walked in with the Sorting Hat and a whole line of frightened looking children in tow. Harry, meanwhile, thought that they looked more like toddlers than children.

Professor McGonagall was looking quite fit. She had probably recovered from the attack on her last year and as she place the old, battered looking Sorting Hat on a stool near the teachers' table, everyone saw a mouth open near the brim of the hat and subsequently, everyone heard what was probably the worst rhyme, composed by the Hat:

Long ago, foundations of stone

Were laid upon the hard work of bone

And thus was born

In a world bleak and forlorn

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Famous and alive for years far more than a century

The founders were great

They made wizardry an art

They worked hard in unison

And taught everyone on their part

But the future of the school seemed doomed

When differences between the founders arose

Such a quarrel there was

As cannot be expressed in song or prose

That time Hogwarts survived

Even though it was torn asunder

Yet everyone was relieved to see

That the school continued doing its wonder

But once again threat loom

When the date of our doom

Lingers over our head

When no longer can we have peace in our bed

With the enemy now out in the open

It's time for the war to begin

Remember what always I've been saying

For that is the only key to winning

I'll sort you into your houses

But you need to stand together as a wall

For the only truth apparent is

United we stand, Divided we fall

There was only a semblance of rippled applause across the Hall as the Sorting Hat finished its song, or rather its cryptic warning. Of course, it wasn't all that unexpected since it felt to Harry, rather expected after a similar occurrence last year.

It was now time for the Sorting Ceremony and as Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on the head of a little boy having brown hair and wide brown eyes (his name was read out to be Ackerman, Alvin and by the looks of it, Harry could hardly tell whether his eyes were really so wide or they had grown so on seeing such wondrous feats of magic) The Sorting Hat shouted out Gryffindor and Harry joined his fellow housemates in greeting the new boy, who seemed to Harry, a Muggle-born by all means, especially since he did not make out anything spectacular of his lightning bolt scar, at least not for now.

However, as the Sorting progressed, Harry found his attention gradually waning. He now diverted his attention to the staff table. Dumbledore was sitting there serenely watching his newest charges getting sorted into their respective houses. Everyone else seemed to be there as well, including Snape who shot Harry one of his trademark looks of pure venom, Harry sighed at this. Some things would never change. Harry had no doubt in his mind that his 'OUTSTANDING' Potions OWL had indeed increased Snape's loathing of him and incensed the Potions master to seeking out new heights of revenge.

But it was not Snape that caught Harry's eye, it was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, who was sitting beside Snape and surveying the students with a cool, calculated look. Yes, Harry knew that he was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher since there were no other real vacancies left on the Hogwarts payroll.

The new teacher, was well, in one work, he looked to Harry like an ex-Colonel or something or that sort who had retired from the army. He had a few soft features on his face that seemed accentuated by the wear and tear it had seen. His hair was like salt and pepper as was his bushy moustache that reminded Harry distinctly of Uncle Vernon. His dull blue eyes were covered by a pair of horn-rimmed spectacles. He was wearing black robes, almost like the students and had a very interested look in his eyes that seemed to breathe life into their dull blue colour.

By the time Harry finished his minute observations, the Sorting was over and he saw Professor McGonagall remover the Sorting Hat from the stool. Finally when everyone was seated, Dumbledore got up and announced, "Let the feast begin!"

At this the empty plates in front of the students filled themselves with food and like every year, Harry spent his first two hours back at Hogwarts eating up his fill to his heart's content. The food was excellent as usual and as Harry rounded off his dinner with his favourite treacle tart; he silently thanked the Hogwarts House Elves for being so efficient that even amidst all the upheaval in the wizarding world, the nature of their work had never changed. Some things never really did change.

Finally after the dinner was over and everyone was chattering across the Great Hall catching up on the news of their friends, Professor Dumbledore got up and cleared his throat.

"Welcome, welcome, to another year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore began and the Great Hall immediately went silent. "I will take this opportunity to welcome all of you back from the summer holidays, especially the first years who will be spending the next seven years of their life at Hogwarts and the seventh years for whom this is the opportunity to be at Hogwarts as students for the last time."

Harry was a little amused at this. What Dumbledore said didn't make sense especially when you had your stomach full and your body tired. He caught a glimpse of Cho Chang at the Ravenclaw table and saw that she was listening, enamoured. He remembered that this was Cho's last year at Hogwarts and that she might be trying to soak up the atmosphere, one last time.

"First let me get a few of the usual start-of-the-term announcements out of the way. The students need to note that the Forbidden Forest on the edge of the grounds are forbidden for each one of them, irrespective of which year they belong to and how much advanced magic they know. In case anyone has any urgent need to go into the forest, I would advise them to inform their teachers about that," Dumbledore said dryly, at which there were sounds of scattered laughing at what many thought of as a joke. But Harry knew otherwise. He was hit by a pang of guilt as he remembered all that had happened when he last ventured into the Forbidden Forest, and knew that Dumbledore was indirectly referring to that incident. He tried to ignore that guilty feeling and forced himself to concentrate on what Dumbledore was saying.

"Secondly, Quidditch tryouts will be held in the week beginning next Monday and the Quidditch captains are to ensure that the schedules are prepared for the same," Dumbledore continued in a cheery voice. The students at the Gryffindor table broke out into loud whispers at this, since there were five vacancies left on the Quidditch team. However, Harry wondered about the Quidditch captain. The only senior members of the team were Ron and Harry and he would have willingly bet all his money on himself as being the next Quidditch captain.

Dumbledore however, did not pay heed to all the chattering that had broken out at this announcement. "We are also very happy to welcome a new staff member this year to our fold for the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I am pleased to welcome Professor Elijah Bickerstaff." At this Harry diverted his attention, to the middle-aged man with hair like salt and pepper sitting beside Snape. Dumbledore gave a short nod of his head towards the direction in which the new professor was sitting. In fact, Harry got the feeling that Dumbledore was quite pleased with this appointment. Professor Bickerstaff gave only a curt nod of his head to acknowledge the polite applause that the students were giving him.

"Before I let all of you off though, I've one more thing to say, the same thing that I told all of you during the Leaving Feast last year," Dumbledore said, (Harry's ears pricked up, he hadn't attended the Feast last year and had no idea of what Dumbledore had told the school of), "Things are now in motion that cannot be undone. (A/N: Thank you, Peter Jackson and LOTR) Lord Voldemort is now out in the open and he will not stop until he gains absolute power or perishes. We are now at war and everything that we have created for the good of our world in now in danger. So, why am I telling you all this when it undoubtedly creates fear in your mind? I am telling you this, because each and every one of you needs to be ready. Every one of you is involved in this war, and somehow everything will change, when it will end, either for good or for evil. I have always said that Hogwarts is the safest place there is for any of you, but remember that even though that may be true, it is not unbreakable. The only way we can protect Hogwarts and ourselves is to be united. That's what it will require to resist the evil that currently surrounds us and I hope each and every one of you will keep this in mind as you go about staying here at Hogwarts this year. Now off you go!"

With that, Dumbledore sat back down and the Great Hall witnessed a stunned silence, trying to understand what Dumbledore had said. 'Hogwarts is not safe?' was the subject of the panicked whispers of most students. No one got up from their seats and panicked whispers arose across the hall among students.

All this forced Dumbledore to get up from his seat and explain his statement with the air of a tired man, "There is no reason to panic. I still maintain that Hogwarts is the safest place there is. However, know this. If everything else in the magical world falls prey to Lord Voldemort, Hogwarts will most certainly fall. I will hence, reiterate that the only way of preventing such an eventuality is to remain united and fearless. We must learn to overcome our fears; we must learn to look beyond them and live our lives on the path of good. That's why I told you what you did, because the time to keep secrets is past."

With that Dumbledore sat down again. The panic among the students had subsided a bit and this caused Harry to wonder whether this year might just turn out to be like his second year when everyone lived under the cloud of fear regarding the monster residing in the Chamber of Secrets. However, there was indeed, one group which looked positively gleeful at the prospect of a weakened Hogwarts. It was of course, Draco Malfoy and his equally snobbish Slytherin mates, most of whose families were entrenched in the Dark movement upto their noses.

Finally, everyone started getting up from their seats and making their way towards the exit of the Great Hall. Harry saw Ginny and Hermione lead the first year girls towards the Gryffindor common room, while Ron and Rowan (the fifth-year Gryffindor prefect, Harry was struck by the likeness of their names) led the boys in the same direction.

Harry took a few shortcuts here and there and found himself in one of the many corridors at Hogwarts. He had covered about three-fourths of the distance to the Gryffindor common room within no time, by taking these shortcuts and was strolling along at an easy pace. He had almost turned the corner to the next corridor, when he felt the hair on the back of his throat rising and he ducked just as he felt the purple light of a spell pass over him. Harry was just about to roll over and shoot a counter spell on the person who'd attacked him from behind, when someone called to him in a smooth, silky tone, "Mr Potter, a word please."

* * * * *