A Reflection of Himself

Chapter Nine

In the still, early hours of the morning, beams of dim sunlight shone through the curtained window, warming Harry's resting face as he slept. His sleep had been sound, and for one night, at least, he was left to dream like any other boy his age. Not too far away, Ron shuffled in his bed, ruffling the bed covers as he moved, but Harry was not disturbed. A small clock on the wall ticked away, the minutes passing one by one, until the sun had at last risen to its full glory. Its rays now poured into the room full-force, and when it became too bright for Harry to sleep any longer, he opened his eyes, immediately reaching for his glasses on the nightstand next to the cot on which he slept. He winced at the sheer brightness of the sunlight and looked around the room for any sign of life from Ron, but the other boy was snoring peacefully away.

Harry grinned at his friend and shook his head in amusement. He sat up in bed, pushing away the covers and stretched, yawning just once. He noticed his reflection in the mirror that was on the wall across from him, and he realized that his hair needed a good combing, which was not surprising in the least. Harry stood up and shuffled over to the dresser and grabbed his comb, trying his best to tame his relentlessly unruly black hair. When he thought it would do no good to try any longer, he packed the comb away in his luggage and pulled out a pair of tattered jeans (obvious hand-me-downs from Dudley) and a wrinkled red shirt. As Harry pulled some socks over his feet, he thought of the house elf Dobby and how much the little fellow would be happy to see Harry again. Harry smiled at the thought of seeing the ecstatic look on Dobby's face when Harry would give him more old socks when he saw him again.

In her cage near the window, Hedwig, Harry's snowy owl, screeched softly, wanting to be let out of her cage. Harry walked over to his pet and friend and opened the cage door. The owl perched on his extended right arm as Harry gently stroked the lovely bird's soft feathers.

"We don't have very long, girl," he muttered to Hedwig. "I wish I could leave you out of your cage longer, but we've only got two hours before we have to leave for London. Go out and catch your breakfast, but just be sure to return by ten o'clock."

Hedwig would have rolled her eyes if she could, for she was more than intelligent enough to know everything that Harry had just explained to her as if she were a little child. The owl flew off, Harry watching her from the window. Another screeching noise came from within the room, only this one from a little, excited owl. Ron's owl, Pigwidgeon, was anxiously awaiting his release from his cage as well. The pint-sized owl's noises grew in intensity, finally forcing Ron out of slumber.

"Oh, you ruddy bird," Ron complained, rubbing his eyes. "Okay, okay, I'm coming."

Ron stood up, still very much half-asleep, and opened Pig's cage. The little owl flew out the window with sheer excitement and pent-up energy. Harry grinned at Ron, saying, "Good morning, Ron."

"Wha-?" Ron asked, rubbing his eyes. "Oh, yeah. Good morning, Harry. Er, d'you know what time it is?"

"About eight o'clock, I think."

"Thanks," Ron mumbled, reaching for a shirt that was draped carelessly over a chair nearby.

The redheaded boy pulled the shirt over his head and began to scrounge around for socks and trousers, and before long, Ron was dressed. His stomach growled fiercely, and Ron looked down at his abdomen, remarking that he was hungry. Harry quickly agreed that it was definitely time for breakfast, and together, the two of them headed downstairs to the kitchen, where Mrs. Weasley was already hard at work. She moved swiftly from the stove to the sink and back again, several times, and also shifting over to the table on occasion.

"Sit down, sit down now," she said hastily. "Give me just a minute here, and you'll have yourselves a good, hardy meal to get you ready to go and face a new year at Hogwarts."

Harry and Ron had actually beaten the girls to the table, as well as the rest of the Weasley family, but it wasn't long before everyone was tucked in and ready for breakfast. Mrs. Weasley covered the table with eggs, bacon, sausages, muffins, practically anything that anyone could ever want for a full English breakfast. The boys devoured their food, acting like it would be taken away from them if they didn't eat it fast enough. The girls rolled their eyes at the lack of proper table manners from the male components of the table.

"Honestly," Hermione muttered to Ginny, "you'd think they were starving to death."

"I know," Ginny remarked wryly, eyeing Ron with disgust. "Just feel lucky that you don't have to live with them." Her gaze drifted to the twins as she spoke.

"There's no need to hurry now," Mrs. Weasley intoned in her very best motherly voice. "We still have an hour before we need to leave. When you're finished, I'd like everyone to make sure that they have everything packed. There'll be no stoppin' back here for anything that's left behind."

After eating about as many helpings as his cousin Dudley would have probably consumed, Harry stopped, full to the brim. He certainly never had the opportunity to enjoy any decent meals in the earlier part of the summer when he was at the Dursley's house, so whatever time he spent with the Weasleys always guaranteed good times and good food.

Everyone actually excused themselves from the table, unlike several occasions, and Harry and his friends headed back upstairs to gather together their things. Ron and Harry were checking over their bags to make sure they had everything packed when Hermione, followed closely by Ginny, came prancing into the room. She planted herself in the chair by Ron's desk and stared them down for several moments, taking in every little move they made. Ron cast several glances, which grew ever more annoyed, in her direction, and when she still didn't speak, he rolled her eyes and exclaimed, "What is it now, Hermione?"

"Oh, nothing," she replied overly-sweetly. "I just wanted to make sure that you had everything packed, is all."

From the floor by the foot of the bed, Ginny stifled a laugh. Ron's ears turned red, and he groaned, "Isn't it bad enough I've gotta hear it from my mum? Now you, too?"

Hermione giggled, shaking her head. "Oh, you're hopeless, Ron, really."

"What?" Ron asked exasperately, totally perplexed.

Harry looked from Ron to Hermione, Hermione to Ron, and smiled.

"You two are something else," Harry remarked sarcastically.

"Oh, is it funny to you?" Ron asked, take a bit aback.

"Ron," Hermione said, standing up, "I can't help you with your cluelessness, but maybe one day you'll actually open your eyes."

That said, she walked casually out of the room, and Ginny followed, glaring at her brother.

"What was that all about?" Ron questioned Harry.

"You'll have to figure that one out for yourself, mate," Harry replied, still smiling. "C'mon, let's go."

Harry wondered when his two best friends would stop playing games with each other and actually admit their feelings for one another. He had watched Ron on several occasions over the past couple of years as he burned with jealously to see Hermione with another guy, or whenever it came to issues of dating and girls, Ron seemed to be clueless. Harry was nearly as bad, but he knew that Ron and Hermione, although they could be as different as night and day, would make the cliche perfect couple. Hermione seemed to take pleasure out of teasing Ron, which was her own way of flirting, and Ron's confused reaction was the result every time.

As everyone gathered downstairs, Harry found himself wondering how they would be travelling to Kings Cross Station in London this year. They exited through the front door and began to walk around the side of the house, Harry's curiosity growing ever larger. Just as he was about to ask Ron if he knew their mode of transportation, Mr. Weasley stopped in midstride, turning around to face them with a beaming smile on his face.

"I've got a surprise to show you all," he announced proudly. "Just follow me a little further, and you'll see what I mean."

Ron merely shrugged, and everyone resumed their trip around another corner of the house. Mr. Weasley stopped in front of a bright purple van and remarked glowingly, gently patting the van on the hood, "Isn't she a beauty?"

"Er, yeah, Dad," Ron replied, eyeing the vehicle cautiously. Ever since Ron's not so wonderful experience with the enchanted Ford Anglia four years prior, he had been weary of enchanted vehicles.

"Well, come on, then," Mr. Weasley insisted with excitement. "Get in! Get in!"

Harry approached the strange vehicle and took a seat between Ron and Hermione, and Ginny was seated between Fred and George behind them. Mr. Weasley took the driver's seat, and Mrs. Weasley took the front seat next to him. Arthur Weasley's extreme love for anything Muggle had proven to be the ultimate test of Molly Weasley's patience time and again, but as they drove down the road toward London, Harry found himself staring out the window, lost in thought.

Green fields and trees passed by as they journeyed, and the sun was high in the sky, saturating the late summer landscape in all its brilliance. Not a cloud was in the vibrant blue sky, but Harry's mind was elsewhere. He recalled his trip last year to Kings Cross and how they had left Grimmauld Place and simply taken a twenty minute walk to the train station. A certain big, black dog came along, wagging his tail the whole way. The memory was just another reason for Harry to feel the loss of Sirius. He turned his head away from the window and stared aimlessly at his lap, watching his fingers play, locking and unlocking.

Before long, they had arrived at the train station, and once everyone had removed themselves and their baggage from the van, they ventured into the bustling station and found Platform 9 3/4. With no problems, they went through the invisible barrier and found themselves surrounded by wizards. Harry watched parents wish their children good bye, and some of the youngest children, probably first years, appeared scared and weary of leaving their parents for the first time. Mrs. Weasley glanced at the clock and urged them toward the train.

"You haven't got very long," she remarked hastily. She quickly hugged and kissed them each good bye, wishing them the best of luck and telling them to stay out of trouble. Harry found himself in a bone-crushing hug, and Mrs. Weasley firmly and affectionately kissed him on the cheek, whispering into his ear, "Do be careful, Harry, love."

"I will, Molly," Harry smiled, trying to sound reassuring to both himself and his surrogate mother.

Harry joined his friends on the train, but Ron and Hermione reminded him that they would have to sit in the section reserved specifically for Prefects again this year. Harry merely nodded, remembering all too well from the previous year. A part of him was still jealous that both of his best friends had been made Prefects, leaving him to sit with his other friends. Ginny pulled Harry into an empty compartment and sat down next to him.

"I wonder if Neville and Luna will join us," she said off-handedly.

"I guess so," Harry mumbled.

If he were to be honest with himself, Harry wasn't sure he was looking forward to seeing them. He felt that by seeing them, it would only serve as another reminder of that fateful, horrible night back in June at the Department of Mysteries. They had been there with him, fighting Death Eaters and risking their lives, and Harry felt a twinge of guilt well up inside of him. They had proven to be true friends, yet here he was, not sure he could handle seeing them again, but when Neville popped his head in, Harry tried his best to appear calm and polite.

"Hullo, Harry... Ginny," the round-faced boy greeted them. "Can I sit with you?"

"Of course, Neville," Ginny smiled. "Do have a seat. How was your summer?"

As Neville took the seat across from Harry and Ginny, Harry stopped paying attention to them as they became lost in a conversation between the two of them. Suddenly, Luna Lovegood appeared out of nowhere and plopped down on the seat next to Neville.

"Whew!" she exclaimed, out of breath. "I thought I wouldn't make it!"

The fifth year Ravenclaw's already constantly surprised face was gaping at them with even larger eyes. They all regarded her as if she had lost her mind, but before long, the train began to move, and Harry actually found himself able to settle down a bit. Perhaps the familiar surroundings of the train were doing him some good.

A few hours later, the Hogwarts Express pulled up to the station in Hogsmeade, the small wizarding town near Hogwarts. The students left the train and boarded the "horseless" carriages that where waiting to take them to the school. Harry knew that these carriages were not really "horseless," though, for he could see clear as day that there were thestrals pulling them along. The invisible creatures could be seen by anyone would had seen death before, and it was yet another reminder of Sirius's death to Harry. Harry remembered watching his godfather's body gracefully falling through the veil... slowly... seemingly taking an eternity to disappear... and then followed by his desperate and painful cries.

As the towers of Hogwarts that loomed in the distance grew ever larger by the moment, Harry felt his stomach twisting inside himself. He really was here at Hogwarts, and this really was the beginning on his sixth year. Thoughts of what would happen this year, what enemies he would fight, what challenges he would face, who would die... all these thoughts drifted mercilessly through his mind as Harry found himself stepping off the carriage and ascending the steps to the main entrance.

Upon entering the school, the students filtered in the Great Hall for the welcoming feast, all taking seats at their respective house tables. The hall was decorated with colorful and bright banners of each house, and behind the Head Table, a large banner spanned the entire wall that bore the Hogwarts Crest upon it. High above them, the enchanted ceiling was jet, velvety, star-studded black, perfectly reflecting the clear night sky outside. The sound of excited students filled the atmosphere, but from his seat, Harry watched with a feeling of familiarity as the nervous first years were led into the Great Hall by Professor McGonagall to be sorted.

"Your attention, please!" she announced loudly. Slowly, the noise levels died down.

Perched on a stool in front of the Head Table, the ancient, worn Sorting Hat came to life and began to sing this year's new Sorting Hat Song:

The Sorting Hat stopped singing, and silence rested heavily in the air. Professor McGonagall lifted the hat with ease and held up a piece of parchment in her other hand with the list of the new students' names on it.

"Now," the stern witch began, "when I call out your name, I want you to step forward and take a seat here. The Sorting Hat will be placed on your head, and you will be sorted into the correct house." She paused only briefly and then read the first student's name, "Anderson, Holly!"

A short girl with curly blonde hair stepped forward, wary of all the eyes that were on her. She sat on the stool timidly, and McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head.

"Hufflepuff!" the hat exclaimed.

The girl smiled from ear to ear and breathed a sigh of relief as she headed toward the Hufflepuff table, where she was welcomed with joyful applause.

"Boykin, Edward!"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Carlson, Janice!"

"Slytherin!"

"Eddington, Constance!"

"Gryffindor!"

The rest of the Sorting Ceremony passed rather quickly, and from his bejeweled seat in the center of the Head Table, Professor Dumbledore stood up.

He held out his arms valiantly, saying cheerfully, "Welcome to yet another year at Hogwarts!" He brought his arms down and continued, "Before the feast is underway, I would like to go over a few school rules. No student is to go into the Forbidden Forest and with the exception of Prefects, to be out after curfew..." He listed off a few other things, but then his tone became very grave indeed. "There is one more matter that I would like to inform you all about tonight. The Ministry of Magic now knows firsthand of Voldemort's return to power, yet nothing, and I repeat, nothing, has been done by the Ministry to ensure the protection of the wizarding world. I am telling you all now that these are dark times indeed in which we are being forced to live. Take heed to the Sorting Hat's advice, and unlike the failures of last year, let us hope with a renewed sense of duty to our fellow man, both wizard and Muggle alike, and we can all work together as one against the dark forces that are at work in this world."

The ancient, wise wizard paused again, but his expression turned happier and more pleased as he concluded, "And with all that said, there is one more thing I would like to say. I rewelcome Professor Remus Lupin as our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to Hogwarts! That said, enjoy the feast and this year at Hogwarts!"

Dumbledore resumed his seat, and Harry's eyes wandered to the Head Table. He almost couldn't believe it was true, but when his eyes came to rest upon Lupin, he beamed at his friend and teacher. Lupin was sitting next to Snape of all people, to which Harry grimaced, feeling sorry for Lupin. From his seat at Gryffindor's table, Harry stared long and hard at Lupin, hoping that the werewolf would notice him, but Lupin was lost in a conversation with Snape. Harry frowned and looked down at his plate. This was far from a perfect world to The Boy Who Lived.