Seven

Seven

by: Hadder

Chapter 2 ~ Shadow

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Harry, although dreading leaving the Weasley's cozy home was missing Hogwarts. When September 1 came around he was the first one up because of his nightmare with Sirius; he was also the first one packed, with everything ready to go. Hermione and Mrs. Weasley were up when he was. Mr. Weasley was always at work; he must have been up very early because he was gone. When Harry went down into the kitchen at 6 he heard Mrs. Weasley and Hermione making breakfast in the kitchen.

Hermione looked at him when he entered the kitchen. "My, you're up early; are you excited also?" she asked.

Harry nodded as he washed his hands, then helped her lay out the bread to be toasted. "I really miss Hogwarts, so of course I'm excited about going back." He turned and looked at her. "Do you always get up this early on the first day of school?"

Hermione nodded. "Even when I was in Muggle school I got up early, but my family and I live out in the country, so I always had to get up at this time to catch the bus."

Harry smiled at her, he had to get up at 7 to catch the bus, but he lived in town with the Dursleys. "I didn't have to get up until 7," he said in a teasing voice.

Hermione smiled and punched his shoulder playfully. "Lucky duck."

Mrs. Weasley went upstairs to wake the others and they sat at the table smelling the aroma of freshly baked muffins in the air. Ginny was down before Ron; she sat at the table and wolfed down her breakfast. Hermione looked at her as she was crazy.

"Hungry, are you?"

Harry, himself, had never seen even Ron eat at such a fast pace as that and he was literally a bottomless pit. Ginny looked up at them and smiled while she scooped more food on her plate.

"I am famished; I feel like I haven't eaten in months," she said while gobbling up yet another plate of food.

Harry ate at a much slower pace as Ron came and wolfed down a few plates of food and ten pieces of toast. Bill came next into the room and obviously didn't have that big of stomach as Ron or Ginny did, because he ate one plate of food and was full.

By the time all the people that were staying in the house (Fred, George, Remus, and Tonks) were done eating it was time to pack the car and leave for Kings Cross.

Remus drove because he was the only one with the drivers' license other than Moody but he had to go on a late night call, so he would be meeting them there.

They pulled up to Kings Cross and went to get the carts that they needed to hold all of there stuff for the trek to Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Mrs. Weasley and Tonks went to get those while they sat in the parking lot by the car watching various people passing. Something caught Remus' attention because he turned his head abruptly. Harry followed his gaze and saw him staring at an extremely nice car that was a few spots away from them.

It was a silver Viper with black tinted windows. The door to the drivers' side opened and out stepped a well tanned blond in dark black sunglasses, gelled hair and was dressed in an expensive black Muggle suit.

Harry watched him open the boot of the car and get out a trunk and an owl in a cage. He almost passed out from shock when 'said' person took of his sunglasses revealing his identity.

"Malfoy?" Hermione called over to him in a teasing and yet, confused tone.

Harry couldn't believe his eyes; he would never think Malfoy would use Muggle transportation because of his anti-Muggle attitude.

"I never knew that you got a drivers license!" Hermione called.

Malfoy glared. "What's it to you if I enjoy the luxury of a nice car?" he asked, patting the top of his Viper. "Looks as if you guys don't have a license because wouldn't you be driving?" He paused and smirked. "All I see is Lupin on the drivers' side."

He lifted his trunk and owl effortlessly before disappearing into the train station. The group watched him with both angry and envious glares.

Harry sighed madly. And I thought Dudley was horrible. He thought remembering at the beginning of summer when Dudley got a new truck after passing Drivers Education. Dudley teased him for a few minutes while Uncle Vernon was getting the keys, but once he got the keys he was gone without another word.

Harry laughed a bit at the thought and saw Remus turn back to the car. "My god is that a nice car!" he said, his eyes widening at the Viper.

Harry agreed. Malfoy did have a nice car--not a scratch on it. Dudley would be very jealous and Uncle Vernon would be mad if they knew that a wizard owned a Viper.

Hermione sighed madly. "All men are the same--even wizards--they think cars are one of their greatest possessions."

I prefer a broom, but cars are cool.

Mrs. Weasley and Tonks came back with the carts and they loaded their stuff onto it, starting their trek to Platform Nine and Three Quarters.

Ron was laughing at Tonks who was getting some looks with her fluorescent green hair. Hermione was trying to keep her wild cat inside the basket that she was carrying, because if she put it down on the cart, it would jump out of it. There was no sign of Moody, but Bill said that the late night call was an important one when Harry overheard him talking to Remus.

When the Group arrived at the platform, they had it all planned out and followed through. Hermione went through with Crookshanks, followed closely by Ginny, and Harry went next with Remus. After him came Tonks and Mrs. Weasley, then Bill and Ron.

Harry stepped through to the platform and sighed when seeing the scarlet engine that he longed to see for two months ever since he left Hogwarts. He hoped that this year would be better than the last, but he had a feeling that it wasn't going to be such a great year.

Once Ron came stepped on the platform, he, Ginny, and Hermione said goodbye to Mrs. Weasley and the rest. Hermione said that she would see Harry soon, and they trotted off to the prefects' compartment. Ron looked at him like he was regretting being a prefect, but was dragged away by Hermione.

Harry was left alone again to find a compartment after saying goodbye to Tonks, Mrs. Weasley, Remus and Moody, who just stumbled through the platform out of breath to say goodbye as he got onto the train.

He looked in about every compartment but all were full to the brim with people. One of them in the middle was so full of first years you probably couldn't even fit Ron's owl in it without having the Compartment burst. He sighed as he opened the door to the last compartment on the train and it was the only one that still had room in it, but he regretted to sit next to Blaise Zabini and the bitchiest Ravenclaw ever made: Carmen Rose.

What a fun train ride this will be. I wish Luna could have squeezed me in their compartment--but I don't think I could fit in the overhead rack.

He looked back at the two seeing they were pretty occupied. Zabini was writing something in a diary type thing and Carmen was rummaging through her trunk for shoes because she was bare footed. Harry saw that she didn't change as much as Hermione or Blaise over the summer. She still was the same small girl with Strawberry blonde hair and hazel eyes. He stifled a sigh.

Well, here it goes.

"Mind if I sit here?" he asked them pointing to the empty seat in much regret. "Everywhere else is full."

Blaise looked at him with her reading eyes and nodded. Carmen smiled at him as she put on her shoes. "We don't mind if you sit there," she said, flirty like, while looking him over.

Blaise looked at him again then at Carmen. "He's way too nice for you, Carmen. I didn't think that you would be the type for nice boys," she said giving him a side glance.

Harry sat down a bit hesitantly, while Carmen glared at Blaise. "So how's your summer going?" Blaise asked him, looking him straight into the eyes. They bored into his, making him feel like an open book and very intimidated.

I better get used to it.

"It was okay, nothing unusual. Yours?" he asked.

Why is she being so nice?

Blaise sighed. "Nothing new but Victoria Macnair getting her fathers mansion the lucky dog," she said with a little envy. "I bet she's sitting on her high horse about now. She'll probably be able to do anything with all of that money."

Carmen snorted. "My grandfather wanted to buy it because of it's dirt cheap price but," she paused with a smirk. "it seems that your uncle beat him to it."

"Which one?" Blaise asked with furrowed eyebrows.

Carmen shrugged. "Carmine, I think."

Blaise had a surprised look on her face. "So Carmine bought it...? I knew Narcissa Malfoy was interested, but she had to get the old Black manor fixed up. That old place has gone to shambles nowadays."

Carmen nodded. "I agree."

Zabini turned to Harry. "So, are you looking forward to the new Dueling Class that Dumbledore assigned for us? I hear they're going to be excellent. An Auror is teaching them, but I kind of hoped the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher would teach them. That would be great."

Harry shrugged and asked, "You know the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher already?"

Carmen and Blaise nodded. Carmen smiled and looked at him with heavy hooded, lusty eyes as she did so. "Who is she?" he asked.

Blaise shook her head. "We can't tell you; we promised to keep it a secret."

Harry sighed. Carmen was still looking at him like he was a piece of chocolate. He shifted under her gaze. "So, how did you like the trip to Knockturn? Was it interesting to see all the stuff down there?" she asked while writing a bit in the diary in her lap.

Harry shrugged. "It was nothing big; I've been down there before. It was nothing new."

Carmen looked at him in more interest. "You've been down there? I thought people like yourself didn't go down there because it's dark?" she asked in a flirty voice.

"It is against the rules of the Weasley family but we went together--though the first time was a bit unplanned. Why do you ask?" he asked, being very confused.

Carmen smiled seductively and moved closer to him, whispering into his ear, "I love rule breakers."

Harry was so startled that when he tried to jump into the next seat, he stumbled and fell into Blaise's lap instead (and was hurting because the diary in her lap was poking into his ribs). Blaise pulled the book from beneath him and sighed. "Honestly, Carmen--Can't you see your scaring the boy? He's too young for that-- yet," she said smirking. He quickly jumped into the seat next to Blaise.

Carmen sighed. "Don't tell me Mr. I-am-loyal. You must have a girlfriend and I bet she wouldn't like you playing around; would she?" Carmen asked.

Now I know why they say that she should be a Slytherin.

Harry shook his head. "I don't want a girlfriend."

"Playing hard to get, are you?" Carmen started to move closer but Zabini muttered something and red light shot out of her wand, hitting Carmen straight in the chest and making her freeze in the chair.

Harry looked at her; giving her a both relieved and thankful look.

"She'll be out for a few hours, no worries," Harry looked at Carmen then back at Blaise, who continued. "I know that you and Chang are together, she just wants her to break up with you or vise verse. She and Chang don't really get along very well. Family rivalry."

Harry shook his head. "I don't have a girlfriend. Cho and I were never together either; we just went out once," he shrugged.

Blaise nodded. "Yeah, I guess that wouldn't count..." she trailed off as Draco walked into the compartment muttering irritably about Pansy.

He stopped and looked at them. "Blaise?" he asked slowly. "What is Potter doing in here?" he glared at Harry to let her know that he didn't approve of him being there.

Zabini gave Malfoy a piercing look. "There is nowhere else on the train to sit and I let him in. You got a problem with that?" she asked.

"Yes." he said with gritted teeth keeping his glaring eyes on Harry.

Harry glared back matching the anger. Zabini made a noise getting their attention. "Okay how about for one train ride we call a truce; I mean unless one of you wants to sit out in the halls? Potter and I seemed to be in the same agreement to be civil."

Harry sighed in defeat and nodded. I'll sit in here with them any day than in that cramped hall. It's worse than the overhead rack with Luna.

Draco backed off, putting up his hands in defeat and looked at Carmen, muttering, "Fine." He walked over and felt her pulse.

"Good one.... Frieren curse?" he asked Blaise.

She nodded once. "The light one; I didn't want to use anything that causes dire consequences."

Hermione and Ron came into the compartment next and looked like fish out of water when they saw the sight before them.

Zabini looked up at the two and got up, sitting by Malfoy and Carmen. Harry looked quizzically at her but then noticed that she got up so Ron and Hermione could sit by him.

"Sit down you two. We have enough room if you don't mind sitting by Slytherin's," she said smirking a bit.

Hermione looked at Harry and he shrugged. Ron on the other hand was glaring Malfoy. "I don't want to share a compartment with them," he said rudely. "I'd rather be tied to the top of the top of the train."

Malfoy took out his wand and produced a large amount of rope. "By any means," he said gesturing the rope. "go ahead. I would enjoy watching you get blown off and ran over."

Ron glared and took a seat next to Hermione. Harry looked at them. "How was the prefects' meeting?" he asked trying to change the subject.

"He disagreed with everything that we said," Ron said pointing at Draco.

Malfoy glared. "Well if your ideas had a reason, then I wouldn't, but even Crabbe isn't as thick as you."

Ron stood up and pulled out his wand. "Say that again Malfoy and I'll.... I'll...."

Malfoy got up smirking, and crossing his arms. "You'll what?" he paused. "You don't have the guts to curse me because if you did, I have Blaise to back me up."

Blaise snorted as she turned a page in her diary. "No fricken way."

Hermione touched Ron's arm giving him a warning look and she looked like she was thinking about something because she had a bit of a distant look on her face. Ron growled and sat down, but kept his wand out.

Hermione looked at everybody glaring at each other and pulled out her wand; she gave it a quick wave making all the wands fly up to her. "I'll feel safer, if we all are disarmed for the train ride," She explained.

Blaise jumped up and caught her wand right before Hermione was about to grab it. "I think I can be civil unless provoked--I'll just keep mine, thank you."

Hermione glared. "Fine and I'll keep mine to keep you in check."

"Fine."

Ron, Harry and Draco stared at her as she put a golden shield around their wands and levitated it up to the top of the compartment. "There."

Blaise smirked at her and put her wand in her pocket before grabbing her diary from the floor, where it was dropped.

Hermione glared at Blaise and pulled a book out of her trunk that she brought with her. Ron looked at them with a glare and grabbed his bag full of chocolate frogs that he must have bought from the trolley witch. Draco followed Hermione's idea and pulled out a book after giving Harry a mean glare.

I think I should get changed--I could definitely use the break from Malfoy.

Harry pulled his robes out of his trunk. "I'm going to go change," he said to Hermione and Ron.

They looked up at him. "We have to change too--wait," Hermione said grabbing her uniform. Ron followed suit and they exited the compartment.

They found the bathrooms and took turns changing. Hermione was the first one done, then Ron, and at last Harry.

Ron groaned as the started to trek back to the compartment that they had to share with Blaise and Draco; taking the longest time possible. "I don't believe that we have to go back; those two are insufferable."

Harry shrugged. "Zabini seems human to say the least," he paused. "Carmen made a pass at me and that's why she's in there frozen. Zabini cursed her to get her off my back--literally."

Hermione looked at him, surprised. "She did?"

Harry nodded, and Ron muttered complaints about Malfoy, not mentioning Blaise. Once back at the compartment doors that were now shut, they dreaded opening them because they didn't want to spend much more time with Malfoy.

She pulled the door ajar and saw that Malfoy and Zabini were fighting.

".... Gryffindors are you now?" Malfoy asked Blaise, raising his hand and making the wands levitate down from the ceiling, and taking the globe off them with the flick of the wrist.

Blaise pulled out her wand quickly. "I don't side with Gryffindors, Slytherins, Ravenclaws, nor Hufflepuffs. I agree with Granger on making sure we don't kill each other. I would like to be alive when we pull up to Hogwarts," she said with anger seeping through her voice.

"You call being friendly and/or civil with fricken Harry Potter, not writing a one way ticket to the Grim Reaper?" Draco asked.

Blaise smirked menacingly. "Grim Reaper you say, eh? Are you sure tis' him that decides who dies or not? You're talking about things that, I know, only the immortal can explain and I don't think you are immortal, my dear," her voice turned threatening as she pointed her wand at his heart. "Want me to check that for you?"

She had Malfoy backed into a corner, but he had his wand pointed at her, and a confidant look on his face. "I know I am not immortal. Kill me if you have the guts, but I too would like to live through this year," he said smirking.

Blaise pulled her wand away from his heart. "Smart move to throw my words back at me but I wasn't going to kill you," she said putting away her wand. "I'd have to go to Azkaban and I don't look forward to doing so anytime soon."

She looked back up at him. "Just one request," she said forcefully. "Don't kill Potter and/or the rest of the Golden Trio."

Malfoy smirked and put away his wand. "Fine, but just for the train ride. In the future I would take the offer in a second," he said as he sat down.

Blaise sat by him. "I can believe that, but they have gotten the warning," she said then turned to the ajar door.

"I know you guys are out there," she said in a mean and annoyed tone.

Hermione opened the whole door. "How in the world did you know that we were here?"

Harry looked at them speechless about what he just saw. "I could here you three breathing," she said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Breathing?

"You heard us breathing?" Ron asked as the trio sat down far away from them.

Blaise gave him a curt nod and turned back to Draco. "Be nice or you'll end up like Carmen; I am not taking sides either."

Malfoy rolled his eyes and backed up to the corner of the compartment, pulling out a book to read, muttering to himself.

Blaise handed the trio their wands. "Just don't pay attention to us; we won't say anything if you won't. Let's just say that this is our final truce for a train ride," she told them and the trio nodded.

Zabini pulled out her book and started reading what was wrote down; soon they were all reading books, even Ron. Harry looked around the room after a half hour passed, he wanted noise--he was one that couldn't stand silence for too long. Ron was just through his chocolate frogs and now starting on the Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, while reading his copy of Quidditch Through the Ages. Hermione was reading the new book called Advanced Defense. Malfoy seemed to be occupied with the book called Dueling with Dark Wizards and had a smirk on his face while shaking his head, as if disagreeing with the contents.

He looked up at Zabini, she was writing hastily and she tapped her finger on the book every time she stopped. Harry sat up and tried to read what she was writing but she snapped her head up and looked at him; he turned his gaze and went back to reading his book; it was the new one called Defense Against the Dark (Curses, Hexes, and Charms).

The trolley witch came by and he bought some Cauldron Cakes for himself, Ron and, Hermione. Malfoy bought a bag of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans that Zabini sneaked a few out of.

Most of the train ride was pleasant until Carmen thawed out.

"Blaise, you are such a bitch!" she screamed, jumping out of her seat and lunging straight at Zabini but in mid lunge, she was flung backwards like she was being restrained by invisible strings.

"Nice touch Blaise," Draco said smirking.

Zabini nodded. "I find it a simple subject to learn, it surly is one of my favorites."

Harry's eyebrows furrowed. "Subject?" he asked.

"Subject?! Blaise, please don't tell me that this is one of your crazy experiments!" Carmen screamed.

Zabini nodded. "Don't worry, no side effects. It's just a freezing spell mixed with a simple restraint spell. I've been waiting to test that one for months."

"Blaise I am going to hurt you horribly, once..." Carmen reached down and groped in her pocket for her wand. "I... get..."

Zabini smirked and pulled out her wand and then Carmen's. "How can you? You don't have a wand," she said in a voice that had a hint of evil.

Carmon glared and sat back in her seat. "Fine! I won't hurt you." he held out her hand. "Could you please give me my wand?"

Blaise sighed. "Fine Carmen, I know if Draco can get along with Potter--or at least be in the same room without killing him--you can deal without any violence toward me. Reading a book makes you forget all of that," she paused and handed Carmen her wand. "There."

Carmen sighed while putting away her wand and pulled out the book called Helas J'ai Transfigure Mes Pieds. It was no time before the train pulled up to Hogwarts. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were out of there with their stuff in no time, closely followed by Carmen. "God, I can't stand her!" she exclaimed.

Hermione shrugged. "I think she had the right way of handling things--you didn't kill each other, so it was only best."

Ron growled. "I can't stand Malfoy. He sure has a stick up his ass (Hermione exclaimed "Ron!") about everything."

Harry agreed with both of them by nodding and he waved at Hagrid who was looking a bit tired; probably from taking care of Grawp his little brother who was a pure-blooded giant.

They got into a carriage, without Carmen because she joined her friends Fritz Baker--a skinny Hufflepuff boy and Scarlet Moon--a dark blonde-haired girl from Slytherin.

"Well, I have to say that was the most interesting trip to school that we ever had," Hermione said as the carriage stated to move up to the castle.

Harry looked out the window and saw Cho Chang looking out the window of another carriage. She had no expression on her face and looked up at him, giving him a small smile. He gave her a reluctant smile back.

"At least we didn't have to ride in the same carriage with them, I don't think I could stand Malfoy any longer, he gets on my nerves. He mutters to himself when he reads and it bugs me!" Ron exclaimed madly.

Hermione laughed. "Yeah, and I thought I herd him say 'giant taco salad' which is kind of different."

Ron laughed. "I herd him say 'parade float driver' and 'lovely pork queen'."

Harry had to laugh at this because he herd him say the exact same things.

Malfoy is nuts, I wonder what he was thinking about--or reading for that matter, because who would read a book about Dueling and mutter about pork queens and parade float drivers.

They pulled up to the castle and were greeted by McGonagall in the Entrance Hall. "Evening, students. Welcome back," she said to them as they went into the Great Hall to wait for the sorting to start.

Harry, Hermione and Ron sat down next to Dean Thomas and a girl with light sandy brown hair, she was a 5^th year named Margaret Thackeray.

Hermione smiled at her. "Hi Margaret, how are you?"

"I'm fine; you know, my brother is going to be in Hogwarts this year and my mother told me I had to look after the annoying brat. I swear he's a perfect candidate for Slytherin," she said to Hermione.

Dean looked and Harry and Ron. "So I heard from Carmen Rose that you got stuck with Malfoy and Zabini on the train, but as I see you both don't have any hex marks..."

Harry shook his head. "No, Malfoy was annoying, but Zabini and Hermione ended up keeping the peace, surprisingly." He sighed.

Ron laughed. "You know, we went to get changed and when we came back we found them fighting, I actually thought Zabini was going to kill Malfoy."

Dean looked at the Slytherin table where Draco was sitting at one end with Crabbe and Blaise sitting alone on the other. "I didn't know that Slytherin's fought. You should have sold tickets, that would have been great to see--within house rivalry," Dean said laughing.

Harry grinned; he looked up at the Staff table and saw that three chairs have been added. The place were the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher usually sat a young witch with dark red hair. She had mean looking dark green eyes and was dressed in robes of green.

In one of the extra chairs sat a happy looking man that had curly black hair and kind hazel eyes; his robes were a bit different, they reminded him of a Muggle business suit.

The other chair had a small girl that looked like she was no more than fourteen in it; she had blonde hair and black eyes full of warmth and welcoming and was dressed in robes of gray. Harry thought that she looked a bit young to teach, but wasn't going to argue on the issue.

Professor Flitwick came into the Hall carrying a small stool and an old tattered hat known as the Sorting Hat. He sat them down in the front of the hall and walked to his seat. Soon McGonagall came in with a huge line of frightened first years behind her.

Margaret pointed to a tall boy on the end that had a smug look on his face and black hair that looked like it was blue when the light hit it. "That's my brother; he is going to be in Slytherin for sure," she whispered.

The Sorting Hat's brim opened and started rapping.

I'm the Sorting Hat

Put together by the Hogwarts four

Try me on and see what's in store

Maybe you'll walk down Ravenclaws aisle

If wit and chic are your style

Then there's Gryffindor, the bravest of the four

If you're courageous and bold, that's what's in store

Hufflepuff might be your thing

People who are responsible and hard working

Sly and cunning, if that's what you're about

Then Slytherin you're in, without a doubt

Just to make a long story short

Pull me atop your head and I will sort

The Great Hall burst into applause and McGonagall pulled out a scroll. "Anders, Wesley," she called.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Braddock, Signe."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Boltoph, Marine."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Carry, Marshal."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Eris, Odette."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Harry looked at the Slytherin table when "Finnius, Jerome," joined them; he took a seat next to Theodore Nott.

He looked up at the sorting to see, "Kaufman, Fern," go to Hufflepuff and then, "Kotcher, Mel," join Gryffindor.

Margaret's brother came up after what seemed like forever because of the amount of first years to be sorted.

"Thackeray, Jacob."

Jacob raised an eyebrow and gracefully put on the Sorting Hat. It took a long time on his head before shouting, "SLYTHERIN!" which Jacob seemed happy about.

Margaret turned to Dean. "Told you," she said with a triumphant smile.

After the last person was sorted. "Zimmer, Tasse." Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome to a new term. We hope your summers were enjoyable as they could be. First we must welcome our new teachers to Hogwarts. Our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is Professor Victoria Macnair," he said gesturing to Macnair and the Great Hall applauded; the Slytherin table applauded the loudest. Harry gave Dumbledore and skeptical look and turned to Ron and Hermione.

"Is he nuts?" he asked them. "She's related to a Death Eater." Hermione and Ron shrugged, just as perplexed as him.

Dumbledore continued. "Our next two Professors will be for the new dueling class, that shall be taught this year for third year and above to protect yourselves against the Dark Side. Please give a round of applause for Professor Cecilia Waters and Professor Garrison Dorium."

Harry clapped and Ron turned to him. "Is she old enough to be a Professor? She seems a little young--don't you think?"

Harry sighed and nodded. "Why not? We already have had a Werewolf and I swear Snape is a Vampire."

Hermione turned to them. "Oh be quiet you two, she's older than fourteen; Dumbledore wouldn't let a fourteen year old teach us."

Dumbledore continued his speech, "Okay now that we are all introduced, tryouts for Quidditch will be held in two weeks. I like to inform that the Forbidden Forest is like it's name--Forbidden. We will be having our wands weighed by Mr. Olivander, because of the dark times we cannot take any risks of an improper wand. This will all be held next Saturday. Now let the feast begin." Dumbledore sat down and food appeared out of nowhere on the tables.

Margaret was watching her brother, who was sitting right by Draco Malfoy. "I swear, if he gets into any trouble I am not bailing him out of it. I told him Malfoy is trouble and look what he does, goes right over to him and makes friends!"

Dean laughed. "Don't worry about him, let himself get in trouble and pay for it. You don't need to look after him, let him destroy himself," he said smiling.

Hermione agreed with a nod. Harry looked over at the Ravenclaw table at Cho; she seemed to be bored. Who cares about her, she gets the wrong idea when I hang out with Hermione, so why should I care?

He started to load his plate with various foods and watched as Luna Lovegood danced in the air with the Fat Friar. He smiled and waved at her as they waltzed passed him, waving. Ron looked at him. "Well, she's being her usual self. At least one thing is still the same, other than that everything has changed," he paused and counted off his fingers. "Malfoy got even more evil, Zabini turned from being creepy to creepier than before; Hermione got a makeover, and seemed to have become Justin's fancy," he said glaring at Justin Finch-Fletchley, who was staring at Hermione.

Harry laughed. "Yeah, but I don't think that Luna will ever change and, you forgot that Dean grew another six inches."

Ron nodded and whistled while counting off another finger. "6' 9", that is tall," he said looking at Dean.

Harry laughed. "Yeah and his girlfriend is 5'2"; aren't they a perfect couple?"

Ron gave him a questioning look. "Who's his girlfriend?"

"Margaret," he said pointing to her and Dean, who currently had his arm wrapped around her waist protectively. "isn't it obvious?"

Ron shrugged and glared at Colin Creevey who had his camera out and was taking pictures of Hermione.

"Creevey, you little--" Ron said chasing after him under the table.

Hermione was sitting there laughing at them and talking to Richard Remington, the Head Boy. Margaret and Dean were flirting with each other, and Seamus was participating in a Mashed Potato eating contest with Dennis Creevey, who had seemed to have grown quite a bit. Harry didn't really recognize him until he took a closer look.

He looked over at the Ravenclaw table and saw Cho sitting next to Roger Davies; they were in a heated discussion about something with Su Li and Lisa Turpin. Harry took a glance at the Hufflepuff table. Justin Finch-Fletchley was talking to Carmen Rose, who must have moved from the Ravenclaw table to sit by the Hufflepuffs. Fritz Baker was talking to Hannah Abbot and attacking the chicken; he seemed to be trying to get the leg off.

Harry looked over to the Slytherin table. Crabbe was sitting by Malfoy. Where's Goyle, usually he's right there... He looked down the table and his eyes widened.

Goyle had changed; he lost a lot of weight. He still had his muscles, but now they were more defined. He's been working out. Goyle's once slumped over posture changed too; he was sitting upright next to Scarlet Moon and Tracy Davis.

Harry looked down the table and saw Zabini was sitting next to Gegen Quinn. He watched her raise her glass to the Staff table; he looked at the place she was raising her glass at and saw Professor Macnair raise her glass then take a huge swig out of it.

Snape was sitting right next to her and engaged in a conversation with Madame Hooch. Harry's attention turned back to the Gryffindor table when Ron came flying out from under it after Colin Creevey.

"Ron!" Hermione screamed over the chatter; getting his attention.

Ron paused and looked at her. Harry held back laughter, as he watched Ron sit down in between him and Hermione while Colin Creevey got away.

"That is not Prefect like behavior and we need to get the first years situated in about fifteen minutes," Hermione told him.

Ron turned to Harry. "Merlin, I was only trying to get Colin away from her and she yells at me," he whispered.

Harry held back even more laughter and Ron looked over at Ginny and saw her talking to Alex Knowles, and flipping her hair over her shoulder every so often.

Ron scowled. "She's flirting with him. I wish she would just settle on one boy because she is starting to drive me nuts with the constant flirting that she does with every boy that walks past her almost every where we go." Ron fumed.

"You know, you should just let her live; she'll settle," Margaret cut in.

Ron turned to her. "Really?"

"Of course she will, we all do once we find someone," Margaret said, putting her hand on Dean's shoulder.

Dean smiled and kissed her cheek before going back to eating his Jell-O. Harry sighed.

I probably won't live through my seventh year and that isn't long enough to find someone. Damn Prophecy--I wonder if there's a different way to get rid of Voldemort.... Harry looked out the Great Hall window and sighed. I wonder what he's up to now...

While lost in deep thought Harry never noticed that Dumbledore stood up from the Staff table and the tables cleared in front of them.

"I all expect you to be tired from a long journey, so I shall bid you ado. Prefects will lead the first years to the Common Rooms."

Harry snapped out of his trance a sighed as the Great Hall started to clear. He felt his stomach rumble and he rolled his eyes.

He, Ron and Hermione got up from the table. Hermione turned to him. "See you later; we have duty of watching the halls tonight. I think Ginny and Alex can handle the First years," she said grabbing Ron's hand and leading him out of the Great Hall. Ron seemed reluctant to go but went anyway or else he would risk being dragged by Hermione's strong grip.

Harry sighed as he watched the Great Hall empty, and felt his stomach grumble again because he didn't eat much. I think I'll visit Dobby, and get some food while I'm at it.

He walked out of the Great Hall and towards the kitchen careful to avoid the Hufflepuffs, who were getting into their common room. Harry saw that it was hidden behind a portrait of a Hippogriff. He walked down to the kitchen and tickled the pear and opened the portrait.

".... Dobby. So Vic are you going to be here for a long time or are you going back to Durmstrang to teach next year after the war is over?" Harry heard a girl's voice ask.

"No, I'm staying here; I vould never go back to Durmstrang. I hate that place," an English accent mixed with a bit of a Bulgarian accent said.

"Yes!!" a boy's voice exclaimed.

"Fritz, you just want her here because you can skip class," Harry heard another girl's voice say.

"Do not."

"Do to."

"Do not"

"Vell isn't this a nice conversation?" the English/Bulgarian accent asked in a sarcastic tone.

Harry peeked around the corner and saw Professor Victoria Macnair, Draco Malfoy, Carmon Rose, Fritz Baker, and Blaise Zabini sitting at a table.

"So vhere is Scarlet; I thought I saw her at dinner?" Macnair asked.

Zabini gave a snort of laughter. "Who's her boyfriend?"

Malfoy looked at her. "Goyle," his tone was not a happy one.

Carmen laughed. "She's actually going out with him? I thought she was kidding when she told me."

"Well, she's probably out for a midnight stroll with him," Blaise said.

Dobby then came into the room carrying a large tray of tea. Fritz got up and helped him, along with Malfoy.

Malfoy helping Dobby? I must be seeing things...

Victoria Macnair took the teacup and got up from the table. "Vell, I think I should go to sleep, cause I am so tiered. I had to travel from Cylon today on a broom and Merlin that is uncomfortable," she said yawning and heading out a door to the left of the fireplace.

Fritz and Carmen got up taking their teacups. "I think we should go too, I mean we do have to be awake for classes," Carmen said.

"Yeah and I think that I might have Care of Magical Creatures tomorrow--well, I'm hoping--so I am definitely going to sleep now so I can be awake to get that schedule," Fritz said following Carmen out of the door next to the fireplace.

Dobby came back in the room. "Dobby is going to go do his other duties if sir and miss don't need anything else?"

"No we don't need anything; thanks Dobby," Malfoy said to the house elf.

Blaise nodded. "You can go; we'll be fine."

Dobby grinned at them and left with a small pop.

Malfoy turned to Zabini with a sly look on his face. "So you think that we can head to the Astronomy Tower tonight?" he asked putting his arm around Blaise.

She looked up at him. "No."

Malfoy looked down at her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing Draco, I'm fine. I just don't want to go to the tower, is that all right with you?" she asked stirring her tea wildly.

Malfoy nodded. "Fine, I'm going to go to bed then. See you in the morning," he said, giving her quick kiss on the cheek and leaving out the same door that the others left out of.

Harry watched Zabini sit up and stirred her tea some more after the door was shut.

"Damn it!" she growled.

She looked in deep thought as she took a large swig of tea out of her mug. "I know. I know," she said to herself before slamming her mug down on the table.

Harry watched her very confused as she got up and paced the room.

"Okay if Terence is gone and then Draco is here then is that cheating, or is it? Hmmm..." she muttered to herself.

Harry's eyebrows furrowed. Terence? What in the world is she talking about?

"Shut up!" she screamed gripping her hair with her fingers.

She spun around in a circle about fifty times then paused and turned looking straight at him with a confused look. She blinked a few times and tilted her head to the side.

"Potter?" she asked in a mean voice tilting her head up right again. Her eyes read over him.

Harry walked out from behind the wall wondering how she could know that he was there and feeling stupid because he still was watching her. "Hello, Zabini. So Malfoy your new boyfriend?" he asked, trying to mock her a bit.

Zabini sighed and cracked her neck. "Why would you want to know?" she asked sitting down and drinking more tea.

Harry shrugged. "I don't know..."

"Then why did you ask?" she looked at him with her reading eyes that seemed to be tired and dull at the moment.

Harry shrugged again. They sat there in more silence; Zabini sipped her tea every so often and Harry just stood there think of various things. Zabini was the one to break the silence.

"How do you deal with it?" she asked taking a sip of her tea. "How do you deal with being hunted by the Dark Lord?"

Harry's eyebrows furrowed. "I'm not being hunted, he just--I don't know, but I wouldn't call it being hunted. Why do you ask?"

Zabini gave short laugh and looked up at him once more with her eyes now looking less tired from the caffeine in the tea. "I ask because I want to know. It isn't a crime to be curious, tis only a crime to be meddlesome."

Harry shrugged. "I have no idea how to deal with it, okay. I don't have any plans of anything, I have no clue what he will do next! And I don't think that I'm being hunted for a start!" He started to get angrier as he talked about Voldemort and thinking about him made it worse. "I'm not going to be hunted forever because the pro--I mean, one of us will have to die sooner or later and--I don't know!" he sat down across from her and a sighed angrily.

Zabini looked at him with wide eyes and seemed shocked. "You really need a Psychiatrist, Potter. Sooner or later that anger isn't going to hold in anymore. Have you ever heard of Duncan Fidel?" she asked nicely.

Harry looked up at her and shook his head. "No, and I doubt I want to know him."

"Yeah--well anyway, he had the kind of anger that you display and he ended up with his magic going haywire, so if I were you I would seek help; cause you need it desperately," she said nodding.

Harry sighed. "What would you know Miss. Spin-Around-In-Circles-and-Talk-to-Myself?"

Zabini rolled her eyes. "The same as you Mr. Yell-Myself-Till-I'm-Red-In-the-Face."

Harry smiled a bit. Do I do that? He watched Zabini take a sip of her drink and a question popped in his head. "Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?"

Zabini gave a short laugh. "What are you talking about? I'm usually the nice one," she said smirking as she got up and left the room.

Harry watched her then sighed as he rubbed his face with his hands. She's not nice--well, she certainly isn't pure evil. I can give her that much credit, but it isn't much. Though I can't believe that I had a civil conversation with a Slytherin.

He got up from the table and walked out of the kitchen upon hearing the clock strike ten times and hoping that Filch doesn't catch him. He made it up a few flights and saw that Ron was on duty with Pansy in the west corridor of the 5^th floor.

He walked by trying to be inconspicuous but was spotted by Ron. "Harry? What are you doing out at this time of night?" he asked and Pansy gave him a suspicious look as they walked up to him.

"I went to the kitchens to get something to eat because I didn't eat much at the feast," Harry explained.

Ron grinned and looked down at Pansy. "Is it okay that we let him off since we let Zabini off?"

Pansy sighed. "Fine, since he's your friend I'll let you."

Ron's grin turned into a smile and he turned back to Harry. "Well the passwords Buttercup, see you Harry; we must get back to work," Ron said as the two retreated back down the hall.

Harry smiled and nodded the two before leaving with a simple, "Thanks, goodbye."

He climbed a few more steps and made it to the Fat Lady portrait before muttering the password. He entered the bare Common Room and headed straight for the boys dormitories. He definitely needed some sleep despite how hungry he was; drowsiness hit him so fast that he didn't know if he could keep awake to even pour a glass of water to quench his thirst.

Harry walked over to the night stand by the window and grabbed a glass with a yawn. He saw that all of his dorm-mates (minus Ron) were asleep as he poured the glass. He looked out the window at the Whomping Willow, remembering Sirius and how he thought that he was a Grim in third year. He sat there in deep thought, almost falling asleep. He spilt some water because he over poured his glass and he didn't have the energy to do a cleaning spell.

Harry walked over by Neville's bed to get some paper towels because Neville always spilt water, so he kept them on his night stand (he also couldn't get the cleaning spell correct without lighting a fire). He pulled a few off the roll and looked out at the Forbidden Forest; he saw Fang, Hagrid's Boar hound stalking around the Forest. Then he saw something come out of the forest (probably an animal) that made Fang run back to Hagrid's Hut with it's tail between it's legs.

Harry squinted to look at it; it looked like a human, then it disappeared into the forest again. He looked at Dean's Magical Alarm Clock and saw that it was almost quarter to eleven. Who would be out there, now? His eyebrows furrowed. Possibly Voldemort--I better sleep with my wand right next to me tonight. I bet that was Voldemort--but Voldemort is taller than that. Wormtail? No, Wormtail is shorter than that. It's probably just a centaur--I'm just jumping to conclusions. Harry cleaned up the spilt water and drank the glass, before stripping down to his boxers and hoping into bed with his wand; drifting to sleep in deep thought.

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