Harry Potter and the Lost Prophecy

Chapter 7

Prefects, Pride and Prejudice.

The rest of the summer passed far too quickly. Ron, Harry and the twins spent their days flying in the meadow, perfecting Quidditch moves. Hermione spent her summer reading over the textbooks for the year. She'd also bought a number of extra- curricular texts, including several on premonitions, which she intended to read for Harry's benefit.

The week before they were due to return to Hogwarts, Harry received a letter. He was sitting in Ron's bedroom, searching for his missing trainer. The others had headed down to the meadow, Hermione lugging a huge book which she claimed was extremely interesting. Ron claimed Hermione was crazy.

Harry tore open the envelope, which proclaimed the familiar Hogwarts crest, and read:

Dear Mister Potter,

I am pleased to inform you that you have been named Prefect for Gryffindor House. Your outstanding qualities of leadership you have demonstrated in the past have influenced this decision. We trust you will respect this privilege. Enclosed is your prefect badge, which you will be expected to wear at all times. As a prefect you will have certain duties to perform; these will be explained during your first prefects meeting, which will take place in the Prefects compartment of the Hogwarts Express, on Sept 1^st.

Enclosed is a full list of fifth year prefects. You are all expected to stand as an example to your fellow students.

Once again, congratulations.

Minerva McGonagall.

Deputy Headmistress.

Fifth Year Prefects.

Gryffindor: Harry Potter

Hermione Granger

Slytherin: Draco Malfoy

Pansy Parkinson

Ravenclaw: Terence Boot

Padma Patil

Hufflepuff: Justin Finch-Fletchley

Hannah Abbott.

Harry felt a swell of pride. A prefect! Him! Just like his father had been! He couldn't wait to tell Sirius. And Hermione was prefect too. Harry was extremely happy for her, not that there had been any doubt in anyone's mind but hers. He wandered to the window and saw a second owl swoop down, landing on Hermione's shoulder. Ron came running up to her and Harry felt a lurch of guilt in his stomach. Ron. His best friend. Who wasn't a prefect. Harry suddenly felt sick as he thought of Ron's reaction. He remembered what Ron had seen in the Mirror of Erised: himself as Quidditch captain and Head Boy. But he had no chance of living his dream. First Harry had been made (unofficially) captain of the Gryffindor team, and now he'd been named prefect.

Down in the field Hermione was reading her letter, a huge smile breaking over her face. Ginny hugged her tightly as she read, and Ron was smiling happily at her. Suddenly Hermione's smile faltered. She stole a quick glance at Ron, then looked up at the house. Her eyes met Harry's and she broke into a run. The letter fluttered slowly to the ground behind her. Harry watched as Ginny bent down and picked it up. She was handing it to Ron--

Hermione burst into the room.

"Did you get your letter?" she asked, already knowing the answer as she saw Harry's expression.

Harry grinned at her.

"I'm so proud of you!!" she exclaimed, throwing herself onto the bed beside him.

Neither of them said anything for a moment, and they sat in overwhelmed silence.

"I can't believe I'm a prefect!" Hermione squealed suddenly.

"Who else would it be?" asked a voice from the doorway. They looked up to see Ron's lanky frame leaning against the wall, Hermione's fallen letter clutched in his fist. He was smiling, but it didn't seem to reach his eyes. Harry stood nervously, unsure how Ron would react. Hermione glanced back and forth between the two of them, biting her lip. Suddenly Ron broke into a grin.

"Congratulations, mate!" he said, slapping Harry on the back, "Knew it'd be you!"

"You-you don't mind, do you?" Harry asked nervously. Ron had a tendency towards jealousy, which occasionally made Harry feel guilty.

Ron shook his head "Mind? I'll never have to sneak around again! No more detention, no more hiding from Filch," he glanced down at the letter and his grin widened, "and I can't wait to see Malfoy's face! I can't believe I'm best friends with the Head Boy and Girl."

"Oh, don't be silly, Ron!" Hermione protested.

Ron raised one red eyebrow "Oh yeah? Then who? I can't really see Malfoy and Hannah Abbot as Head prefects, can you?"

The twins tumbled through the door in a cacophony of noise. Ginny was close behind, smiling shyly.

"Is it true?" George asked, trying unsuccessfully not to laugh.

Hermione nodded suspiciously.

Fred groaned. "It's gonna be like Percy all over again!" he moaned, punching Harry playfully in the shoulder.

Harry smiled thoughtfully. "Hmm, I guess we'll have the power to hand out detentions to any trouble makers," he said, nodding pointedly at the twins.

"You wouldn't dare!" George shouted in mock anger.

Hermione smiled evilly, then shrieked as Fred lobbed a pillow at her head with impeccable aim.

Pillows flew across the room, feathers spilling everywhere as the pillow fight quickly became a full-on war. They subsided briefly only when Percy stuck his head around the door and yelled at them for being noisy. As soon as he left they all spluttered with laughter once more. Harry laughed, ducking as Ginny chucked a pillow at him, shyness apparently forgotten in the excitement.

If only this was the way things could always stay.

* * *

September the first rolled around all too quickly, in Harry's opinion. For the first time in his life he was not looking forward to their return to Hogwarts. Here at the Burrow, in the company of his friends, he could forget the horror of the previous year. But to face the other students again, to listen to their whispered comments, to hear the Slytherin taunts, to see Cedric's seat empty at the Hufflepuff table, to see Cho Chang cry...

He didn't know if he could handle it.

And so, as the others rushed around, shouting they'd lost such and such a book and this or that quill, Harry sat on his trunk in front of the Burrow, chin on his hands, gazing out across the woodland, dreading riding the Hogwarts express. He heard the door open behind him, and looked up as Ron sat down next to him.

"You okay?" Ron asked.

Harry sighed, shaking his head slowly.

"You know, no one blames you. And no one would dare say anything, except maybe Malfoy. And he's the twitchiest little ferret that ever walked the earth."

Harry smiled. Ron's eyes crinkled with suppressed laughter. Suddenly they both guffawed.

"For as long as I live," Ron said, sniggering into his hand, "I will never forget Malfoy being bounced down that corridor!"

Harry clutched his sides, and doubled up, laughing. The previous year Professor Moody had turned Malfoy into a ferret and bounced him from floor and ceiling for two delightful minutes until Professor McGonagall had stopped him. Suddenly Harry sobered. Moody had really been Barty Crouch Jr, a Death Eater in disguise. And because of him, Voldemort had been resurrected, using Harry's blood.

Ron had stopped laughing and was looking at his best friend in sympathy.

"I know what you're thinking about Harry," he said quietly, "And it isn't your fault."

Harry nodded miserably. Ron was right, of course, but there was still that niggling guilt inside him. Voldemort had his powers again. He had killed Cedric, and all those Muggles. And it was all because of him.

"You've always got us," Ron added, "Me, Hermione, my family, the other Gryffindors. We all believe in you. And we trust in you. And we know none of this is your fault."

Harry looked away, tears stinging at his eyes.

Ron stood up and started to walk back to the house. Then he turned and spoke, so quietly Harry had to strain to hear him.

"If it wasn't for you, we'd all be dead by now. We owe you our lives. And we are so lucky to know you."

The he disappeared inside, leaving Harry with his thoughts and his tears.

* * *

Surprisingly, the Ministry had once again provided cars for them, and they rode to King's Cross in relative comfort. Harry was sandwiched between Ron and Hermione, who were chattering excitedly with Charlie. He was accompanying them to the station, along with Mrs. Weasley who was riding in a car with the twins and Ginny. Everyone was excited to be returning to Hogwarts, especially the twins who would be starting their 7^th year. After his chat with Ron earlier, which neither had mentioned since, Harry's spirits had raised somewhat. But he still felt like he'd swallowed a snitch; his stomach was fluttering uneasily.

As they had done in third year, the Ministry drivers helped them locate trolleys once they reached the station, then zipped away quickly into the traffic.

King's Cross Station was crowded, so they passed unnoticed by the Muggles, despite having two rather noisy owls and a spitting cat with them. Ron, Hermione and Harry casually walked towards the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10, passing through it and finding themselves surrounded by the reassuring bustle of platform 9 and 3/4. They hurried into their usual carriage, finding it occupied by Neville Longbottom, another 5^th year Gryffindor. He greeted them cheerfully as they stowed away their luggage, then headed to the nearest door, to bid Mrs. Weasley and Charlie farewell.

Mrs. Weasley hugged them all tightly, causing the twins and Ron to squirm in embarrassment. Harry rather enjoyed this show of affection. It made him feel almost as if his own mum was there. When Mrs. Weasley released him, he clutched at the silver pendant which he now wore around his neck. Feeling eyes on him, he looked up to se Hermione watching him. Her eyes moved from the pendant to give him a questioning look, and Harry quickly looked away. He had managed to hide it while at the Burrow, wanting to keep it private for a time. He thought suddenly of the book Voldemort had given him over a month ago. It still lay, unread, at the bottom of his trunk. Curiosity had not overwhelmed his suspicions and he planned to show it to Dumbledore at their meeting after the Welcome Feast.

The train whistle blew and they jumped back on the train, waving and calling goodbye as they pulled out of the station. They walked slowly back to their compartment, and looked at each other awkwardly.

"Well," Hermione said finally, breaking the silence. "I guess Harry and I need to change and head down to the, erm, prefect's compartment." She said this quickly, but Ron still seemed fine with it, laughing loudly as Harry pinned his prefect badge onto his new robes.

"Well if it isn't Prefect Percy the Second!" he sniggered.

Harry shot him a death-look. He hoped he didn't look as haughty as Hermione now did. He felt sorry for any unsuspecting student who dared to break a rule in front of her.

"Come on Harry!" she said impatiently, glancing pointedly at her watch. "We'll be late."

They hastily said goodbye to Ron, Neville and Ginny and headed down the narrow passage towards the front of the train, where the prefect carriage was located.

On the way there they encountered a number of classmates, including Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan who were sitting with Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. They were all fifth year Gryffindors. Seamus gave Harry a funny look, then joined in with his classmates jeers and joking taunts, until Hermione grabbed Harry by the arm and crossly dragged him away.

They reached the carriage and slipped inside.

"Thank you for joining us," Professor McGonagall said dryly as they sat down. "We're just waiting for our new Head Boy, Roger Davies. He is clearly not setting a good example."

She fixed her beady eye on the crowd of students, then added, "I think I shall go and see what's keeping him."

As soon as she left the carriage Malfoy spoke up. "I'm surprised they let a murderer become a prefect," he drawled, cold grey eyes gazing across at Harry. The quiet chatter that had filled the carriage subsided immediately. The shocked silence was deafening. Harry looked at Hermione, who seemed as stunned as he was.

"Shut up, Malfoy," a quiet voice retorted.

Harry looked up to see Justin Finch-Fletchley glaring at the Slytherin.

"Even a Mudblood like you should have some standards," Malfoy shot back, sneering. "Potter killed a member of your house. And now he's been rewarded for it.

I wouldn't stand for it myself."

Pansy Parkinson nodded in agreement and scowled at Harry in what she obviously thought to be an intimidating manner.

"Cedric's death was a terrible accident," replied an older Hufflepuff, whose name Harry didn't know. "We don't blame Harry. The only person to blame is You-Know-Who. He's the enemy. We shouldn't waste our time fighting amongst each other."

The other prefects murmured in agreement and Harry felt a swell of gratitude as he looked around at the friendly faces. He glanced over at Justin who was nodding at his housemate's speech. Even the older Slytherin prefects were nodding in agreement. Draco Malfoy had the grace to look abashed.

McGonagall returned to the carriage to find the prefects sitting in companionable silence. She glared at them suspiciously, then turned her eye to Roger Davies who slunk in behind her.

"Now that we are all present," she began, glaring once more at Davies, who coloured slightly, "There are a few matters we need to discuss before you can return to your own compartments." She paused to ascertain she had their undivided attention and then continued.

"Firstly, Hogsmeade visits this year will be restricted to students 5^th year and above, although 3^rd and 4^th years may visit on scheduled occasions. These occasions will be supervised by yourselves, and you will be responsible for your own housemates safety. Secondly, security has been increased this year. Dragons are to be stationed at the school gates and students may not be out of their Common rooms after eight in the evening, and before seven in the morning. And lastly, we are all to be on alert. We are facing dangerous times, the likes of which your parents surely remember. Whatever may happen over the course of the year, prefects are expected to show outstanding leadership qualities and level heads in times of crisis. I expect you to all be role models to the younger students and to look out for the first years.

"Now, as you leave I will tell you your common room passwords, and you will be expected to inform the other students. Our next meeting will take place at this Sunday at 3.30 pm sharp, in the Prefect meeting room. I accept no excuses for tardiness."

She fixed her eyes on Davies again who looked down at the floor.

Harry and Hermione headed out of the door, having been told the password as they passed McGonagall. They were walking back to their carriage when someone called Harry's name behind him.

They turned to see Cho Chang hurrying to catch up. Harry glanced at Hermione, who smiled reassuringly.

"Hi, Harry," Cho said with a shy smile as she reached them.

"Hi," Harry replied awkwardly. Cho had been Cedric's girlfriend, and Harry had had a small crush on her the previous year. He noticed with relief that he no longer felt the strange flutter in his stomach when she looked at him. This cheered him slightly, but still left him unprepared for what Cho said next.

"I was wondering," she began, shooting Hermione a strange look, "if you'd like to go with me on the next Hogsmeade day."

Harry stared at her. Last year he would have given anything to hear her say that, but now it had actually happened he found himself shaking his head. Cho looked surprised.

"I don't think so, Cho," he replied slowly, trying to put an explanation into words. "It wouldn't feel right," he said simply.

Cho nodded slowly. She seemed to understand how he felt and smiled at him. "I understand. But if you ever change your mind..." she trailed off with a shrug, then turned and walked away.

Harry glanced at Hermione who was smirking at him in a self-satisfied way. He glared at her and they walked back to their carriage in silence.

As he closed the door behind him and sank into a seat Hermione burst out,

"Cho Chang asked Harry out, and he said no!"

Ron stared at Harry as if he were mad. "You- you turned her down? What did she say? What did you say?"

Hermione gleefully retold the whole incident, much to Harry's embarrassment. Neville chuckled softly to himself until Harry glared at him, and Ginny was smiling an awful lot.

Ron shook his head sadly. "You're a hopeless case."

"Thanks," Harry replied dryly. "Now, can we please change the subject?"

Ron shrugged and obliged, nattering away to Neville about the Chudley Cannon's recent match against Puddlemere United (They had lost by only 70 points which, considering the Cannon's 100 year losing streak, was almost as good as a win.).

Occasionally he glanced over at Harry, who was reluctantly discussing homework with the girls, and shook his head in disbelief.

* * *

Night had fallen by the time the train ground to a halt at Hogsmeade station. They disembarked, joining a group of fellow Gryffindors and headed to the horseless carriages that would take them up to the school. Harry paused to wave to Hagrid, who was busy ushering the terrified first years into the small boats they would ride across the lake. Harry clambered into a carriage with Ron, Hermione and Neville and they rode up to Hogwarts talking excitedly. Harry's spirits has improved exceedingly since the prefect's meeting.

Together they hurried up the stone steps, through the entrance hall and to the entrance of the Great Hall. Harry was about to follow his friends to the Gryffindor table when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around, finding himself face to face with Professor McGonagall.

"Come with me please, Potter," she said, motioning him to follow her as she moved away from the tide of students.

She stopped a short distance away, waiting until the last student had hurried into the Great Hall.

"How are you feeling, Potter?" she asked, surprising Harry. He just stared at her.

"I'm, well, I'm worried about how you're dealing with the events of last year. You mustn't blame yourself. And if any of the students give you a hard time about it, I want you to come straight to me. Don't try and deal with them yourself."

Harry nodded slowly.

The huge entrance doors flew open and a group of dishevelled first years traipsed inside.

"You'd better get back inside Potter, the sorting is about to begin. But I thought you might like this." She handed him a black armband with the Hufflepuff crest emblazoned on it.

Harry swallowed, a lump forming in his throat.

"Thank you." He whispered, smiling up at his head of house. He pulled the armband onto his left arm.

She nodded down at him, and he hurried into the Hall where Dumbledore had already begun his welcome speech. A number of students turned to stare as Harry passed but he ignored their whispering and slid into his seat.

"Where were you?" Hermione hissed.

Harry pointed at the armband. "McGonagall gave me this. What did I miss?"

"Not much," Ron whispered, watching as McGonagall placed the familiar three legged stool in front of the terrified looking first years. "Dumbledore just announced that the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher couldn't be here until next week, so Snape would be taking the classes." He scowled and shot a dirty look at the hook-nosed Potions professor, who was rumoured to be desperate for the Dark Arts job. He was also head of Slytherin house and hated Harry with the fire of a thousand suns.

Snape seemed to sense their gaze and turned to sneer at them. Harry looked away first, turning to listen to the sorting hat's latest song.

Please don't let me shock you

That's not what I'm here to do

I'm simply an ingenious hat

Who can see the real you

For when you place me on your head

I'll see down deep inside

All your secrets and hidden thoughts

From me you cannot hide.

I search through all your qualities

To find in which house you'll be

You may not quite believe me

But put me on and see

Perhaps you are a Hufflepuff

Where work and loyalty never part

Or a brave young Gryffindor

Full of noble courage at heart.

Perhaps you belong in Ravenclaw,

Where intelligence is highly prized

Or in sly old Slytherin

Where cunning plots are devised

To which ever house you may belong

I'm sure that there you will find

People, who will be your family

Alike of spirit and mind

Now come and place me on your head

It doesn't take much nerve

So sit down and let me in your mind

And I'll put you where you deserve!

The Hall burst into applause and McGonagall called the first student forward.

"Andrews, Albert"

A small black-haired boy stepped forward nervously, but the hat was barely on his head before it shouted "RAVENCLAW!"

The boy jumped off the stool and hurried over to the Ravenclaw table which had exploded in applause. McGonagall called forward the next victim, who sidled up to the stool slowly.

Seamus elbowed Harry in the ribs. "My brother's up there!" he said excitedly, "I hope he's a Gryffindor. I'd die if he ended up in Slytherin."

"Finnegan, Dermot!"

Dermot was sandy haired like his older brother, and seemed to possess Seamus' self confidence too. He strolled up to the hat, sat down and plopped it on his head. It was a good minute before the hat opened the rip that served as its mouth and shouted

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The table around Harry exploded with applause and cheers. Seamus looked beside himself. There was a strange sort of pride which ran through the house whenever a first year was sorted into Gryffindor, and an even greater pride when that first year was the sibling of another house member.

Dermot slid into a seat at the far end of the table and gave his brother the thumbs up.

The rest of the sorting passed quickly, and soon they were all eating heartily.

As the last morsel disappeared from the plates, Dumbledore stood, silencing the room.

"I have just a few notices to give before we all retire for the evening," he said, "The Forbidden Forest is, as always, off limits to students from all years. Due to circumstances that arose last year, Hogsmeade visits are now restricted to senior students, those in fifth year and above."

An indignant yell echoed around the Hall as third and fourth years responded to this news. Harry looked around at the disappointed faces along the Gryffindor table. Yet another sadness, caused by him. Colin Creevey looked heartbroken and Harry smiled at him sympathetically.

Dumbledore raised his hand, silencing the outcry.

"This is for your own safety. However, there will be organised visits for third and fourth years which will be supervised by the prefects, so you will not be completely excluded."

His smile faded and he glanced at the Hufflepuff table.

"We will also be having the added safety of dragons guarding the school gates. As many of you already know, Lord Voldemort has again risen. Last year a brave and intelligent boy was murdered by him. I ask you all to honour the memory of Cedric Diggory. Remember him. Keep yourselves safe for him. In the coming days we will all be forced to choose our path. Remember him when it is your turn to choose."

He paused, and the Great Hall rustled. Then he spoke again, "Now, I suggest we all return to our common rooms."

There was silence in the Great Hall. No one moved. The Hufflepuff table stood as one and left the Hall, and the other tables followed suit.

Alicia Spinnet, who was this year's Head Girl, came up beside Harry and Hermione.

"It's your job to lead the first years up to the Common Room. Get them settled in, answer any questions they may have. Just make them feel at home. Oh, and let everyone else know the password."

Harry nodded and walked over to the first year boys who were standing unsurely by the stair case. He waved to Ron, who was heading upstairs with Neville and Ginny, then turned to the boys.

"Hi, I'm Harry," he said, smiling at them. "I'm one of the fifth year prefects for Gryffindor, and I'm going to show you your way to the Common Room, and tell you everything you need to know."

The boys nodded, following closely behind as he made his way up to Gryffindor tower. He pointed out trick steps, and moving staircases to them, as they glanced around in awe. Harry remembered with a smile how he'd felt on his first day.

They reached the painting of the Fat Lady, which marked the entrance. A number of students were milling around, unsure of the password. Harry made his way to the front, making sure the first years were still by his side. The fat lady smiled at him.

"The password is Higgledy-piggledy," he said clearly, so everyone could hear, and the painting swung open. He climbed through the portrait hole and helped the first years inside. Harry waved to the other members of the Quidditch team who were already lounging by the fire. Then he led his charges up the spiral staircase which lead to the boy's dorms.

He pointed out his own dorm as they passed by; the sign now read Fifth Years.

"That's where I sleep, so if you ever need anything, you know where to find me."

He paused outside a door labelled 'First Years' and pushed it open dramatically. Eight eager faces peered around him into the room.

"Cool!" Dermot Finnigan exclaimed, hurrying over to the four-poster bed that his trunk sat beside. The other boys followed his lead and were soon exploring every corner of the room.

A small blond-haired boy turned to Harry shyly.

"Are-are you Harry Potter?" he asked in a rush.

The other boys paused their explorations and listened with interest.

"It's just that Dermot said you were, but we didn't believe him," an Asian boy explained.

Harry smiled and nodded, "Yep, that's me. Wanna see my scar?" he asked, pushing his fringe off his forehead to reveal the jagged scar. Dermot turned to the other boys and said," See, I told you so! He's friends with my big brother." He seemed to find this very important and Harry had to try hard not to laugh.

The blond boy looked up at him.

"Is it true what the Headmaster said about You-Know-Who?" he whispered.

Harry smiled sadly. "What's your name?"

"William Keddle"

"Well, William, I'm afraid it's true. These are dangerous times"

"But you can stop him, can't you? You've already stopped him once. You can keep us safe."

Harry looked around at the eight pairs of eyes, all looking up at him trustingly.

"Yes," he replied, trying to convince himself as much as he was trying to convince them, "I'll keep you safe."