Candles in the Dark

Chapter 1

Old Friends and New

Harry got up slowly and looked out of the window at the dark sky dotted with stars. He was always waking up like this now. Ever since he'd come back to the Dursleys, he'd only been getting a few hours sleep a night. The haunting image of Cedric Diggory's dead body flickered in front of Harry's eyes as he thought about it.

He sighed and climbed back into bed. He knew he wouldn't sleep but huddled down under the covers all the same. It was August 31st and tomorrow he would be returning to school. Harry tried to feel more enthusiastic about going back to the castle and felt angry with himself for failing miserably. The events of the last year had been plaguing Harry's mind for nearly eight weeks and tomorrow he would have to face up to them...and the rest of the school.

His only small shred of comfort for the whole summer (apart from the constant updates from Ron about the goings on in the Magical World and Hermione's letters of reassurance), Harry had received a letter from Cho Chang about two weeks into the holiday.

Harry felt deeply for Cho. She played Seeker on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team and apart from being extremely popular, was also very pretty. Just thinking about her letter, Harry had conjured up a perfect picture of her oval face and long black hair. The one drawback was that Cho was Cedric Diggory's old girlfriend and Harry knew better than to make his feelings for Cho public after what had happened.

Harry had no idea how Cho had got his address but supposed it didn't matter as his own owl, Hedwig had managed to find his godfather, Sirius when Harry hadn't even known what country he was in.

Dear Harry,

I know you must be wondering why I'm writing to you but with all that happened last term I never got a chance to speak to you. I wanted to say thank you for what you did that night and for bringing Cedric back. That's all really but I hope you're OK and I'll see you at school.

Cho Chang.

Harry had re-read it several times, then stuffed it in his trunk with his other belongings. He didn't quite know how he felt about the letter and this added to his worries about going back to Hogwarts: He would be seeing Cho again.

He rolled onto his stomach and tried to empty his mind of his confused thoughts. He felt a limited reassurance about re-entering the magical world. Since the night Voldemort had returned, Harry had found himself with a high level of paranoia. He often double-checked the locks on his windows at night even though he knew this was ridiculous: If Lord Voldemort planned to attack him at the Dursleys, Harry doubted whether the most feared wizard in history was going to worry about a locked window!

He finally dozed off and awoke in the morning to find all three of the Dursleys up and downstairs in the kitchen. The Dursleys were always tense and seemingly irritated whenever Harry entered the room but Harry was too used to their less than friendly relationship to care.

As soon as he got up, he checked Hedwig's cage to see if she had returned. He had sent her to Sirius just over a week ago as he had been doing all Summer. He knew Sirius had been sent by Dumbledore to round up an alliance against Voldemort but he felt cut off from him especially when stuck at the Dursleys.

Sirius Black was Harry's godfather and James Potter's best friend. When Harry's parents were murdered, Sirius was blamed and locked in Azkaban, the feared wizard prison for twelve years. But Sirius escaped and proclaimed his innocence to Harry, naming another of James Potter's friends as the culprit. Peter Pettigrew had faked his own death to escape from the Ministry of Magic and had been on the run until Sirius caught up with him twelve years later, at Hogwarts, where Pettigrew who was posing as Ron's rat was hiding. James Potter, Sirius, Pettigrew and another of James' friends, Remus Lupin, had all become animagi (they could turn into animals at will) when they were pupils at Hogwarts and Sirius has found it easy to disguise himself when meeting in secret with Harry, by turning into a huge black dog.

Pettigrew escaped Sirius's judgement however and rejoined the powerless Voldemort, then helped return him to power. Harry recounted all this in his head while controlling his disappointment at finding a sleeping Hedwig but no letter from Sirius.

It had been the same all Summer. Despite at least four letters from Harry, he had had no reply from his godfather. Harry supposed he was busy but really wanted to hear from him and went down to breakfast feeling more depressed than ever.

The Dursleys were sat stiffly around the kitchen table munching toast, with the exception of Dudley who was resentfully chewing a carrot stick - still being on strict orders from the nurse at his school to lose weight.

Uncle Vernon had refused to spend another summer eating 'rabbit food' though and so he and Aunt Petunia had reverted to toast with liberal amounts of jam and butter.

Harry didn't feel hungry, however, and sat in silence with his latest letter from Ron, re-reading it for the thirteenth time, just to make sure of its contents.

Hi Harry, how are you.

You asked me to keep you posted so here goes. The Ministry of Magic's in chaos. Dumbledore's announced at the International Confederation of Wizards Conference that You-Know-Who's back and no one knows what to believe. Half of them just think it's a rumour while the rest are either disbelieving it outright or have already been in contact with Dumbledore. And do you know what? Dumbledore wants my dad to become temporary Minister for Magic if Cornelius Fudge steps down! I can't believe it. Mum says that Dumbledore thinks that once Voldemort starts doing stuff, it'll be obvious he's back and then Fudge will either have to do something or resign.

I'm really sorry you couldn't stay this summer but Mum says you wouldn't be safe here and that Dumbledore agrees. You know what they're like. I've had a reply from Hermione. She's just got back from Bulgaria. You know, Victor asked her to stay. Hope you liked your birthday present. What did Hermione get you? Mum got all your stuff in Diagon Alley. I'll see you on the train.

Ron.

P.S. Percy was distraught about Mr Crouch's death. He says he can't face it in Crouch's old department and old Perkins in my dad's office had retired so Percy's taking over there. He's been really quiet all summer.

Harry folded the letter away and went back upstairs. Hedwig hooted softly at his arrival, her large amber eyes watchful. He picked up Ron's birthday present - a brand new chess set, with ornately carved wooden pieces and grinned. He guessed Ron, who was one of the best wizard chess players Harry knew, was looking forward to beating Harry on a new board.

Hermione's present glinted at him from the windowsill. They were magical binoculars, able to see hidden doorways and objects. Harry was looking forward to trying them out on the many Hogwarts secrets they had yet to discover. Combined with the Marauder's Map and Invisibility cloak, it was going to prove an interesting year at the castle.

Oddly though, Harry hadn't received a present from Sirius. He knew he was busy but no word from him all summer was making him very uneasy.

The Dursleys had of course, ignored his birthday, as Harry had expected them to do but Mrs Weasley had insisted on sending him a large birthday cake, covered in emerald green icing, which twinkled magnificently. He had kept hidden under his bed, even though aunt Petunia refused come in his room to clean anymore because of what she called his 'abnormal possessions'.

Despite there being no murders over the summer, Harry's scar had continued to hurt him, though this had died down as the weeks progressed. He often wondered what Voldemort was doing - how many murders he was plotting. His dreams were always full of Voldemort's snake-like face and chill voice and Harry shivered at the thought.

Harry lay in bed that night, watching the moon rise above the neat rooftops of Privet Drive and wondered even more where his godfather was. Harry had known him just over a year, just over a year since he found out he had a godfather and yet he felt he'd known him since he was a very small child. Harry rolled onto his stomach and fell asleep, the vision of a big, black dog foremost in his troubled mind. And far away, Sirius Black was looking at the very same moon and fearing for his godson's safety in the fight that was about to begin.

*

Harry went down to breakfast on September the first, his trunk packed and Hedwig safely locked in her cage. The Dursleys were unusually quiet and watchful whenever Harry went to King's Cross, lest any of the neighbours should see Hedwig being loaded into the boot of the car.

Harry helped himself to bacon, ignoring Dudley's furious glares and sat quietly, eating his breakfast, waiting for Uncle Vernon to finish his paper.

Finally Uncle Vernon stood up.

'I'm off then Petunia', he announced in a loud voice. 'See you later. Come on you!' he snarled unpleasantly at Harry, who immediately left the kitchen, climbed the stairs and locked his trunk. He picked up Hedwig's cage, checked his room for possessions, remembered his moneybag on his bedside table, then trudged downstairs, dragging his trunk and although dreading seeing the rest of the school again, saw a tiny glimmer of hope. After all, there weren't many places worse than the Dursleys.

*

An hour later, Harry found himself outside King's Cross Station, watching the back of Uncle Vernon's Estate drive out of sight. Uncle Vernon hadn't said a word to him throughout the journey and not even a good bye but as if Harry cared. To him, the Dursleys were just people he stayed with. They never acted like proper relations should, in Harry's opinion and had despised him since the day he turned up on their doorstep so why should Harry feel anything for them.

He turned wearily towards the station only to find Ron striding towards him. 'All right Harry' he said with a grin. Harry noticed that Ron had grown much taller over the summer and his voice had deepened. Harry said 'hi' back only to find that his own voice was much deeper too. He'd never given it a thought before now.

He looked over Ron's shoulder to see the rest of the particularly large Weasley family hurrying towards him with their laden trolleys. Mrs Weasley immediately gave Harry a hug and handed him a small package, wrapped in silver paper.

'What's this?' Harry asked, feeling his face going red. He carefully unwrapped the silk to find a box containing a huge assortment of sweets he'd never seen before.

'We invented them,' said George loudly. Harry looked into Mrs Weasley's face for some sign of disapproval but she was actually smiling.

'Wow, these look great', Harry said to the twins, genuinely pleased. Fred and George, Ron's older twin brothers had been inventing trick sweets all last year and wanted to set up as joke shop when they left Hogwarts, much to Mrs Weasley's disapproval. It now seemed, however, that she'd come round to the idea.

'Oh dear, we'd better get to the platform or we'll miss the train,' Mrs Weasley said worriedly, glancing nervously around. Harry looked at his watch: It was only half past ten and the train didn't leave until eleven. Harry knew all the Weasleys would be on strict orders from Dumbledore to keep an eye on him though and decided not to say anything.

They set off into the station, reached the ticket barrier between platforms nine and ten and were soon on Platform 9 3/4, where the scarlet Hogwarts Express was waiting.

Harry noticed immediately that there were two guards standing at the entrance to the platform wearing long blue cloaks even though it was a warm day.

Harry was feeling reminiscent of two years ago when Sirius was supposed to have been trying to kill him. Harry had been kept a close eye on then too and he had resigned himself to another year with teachers watching his every move.

It was just then that Harry noticed Mr Weasley wasn't present. 'Where's your dad?' he muttered to Ron while Mrs Weasley was handing out large bundles of sandwiches.

'Working. He's been at it all Summer. See, he's got to try and stop all the muggle killings happening again so he's been going round the whole of Britain, putting charms on buildings. We've barely seen him,' Ron murmured, picking at a hole in his jumper.

'Here you are, Harry dear, Mrs Weasley said, pressing a package of sandwiches into his hand.

'Right, have a good year all of you. And be careful. I don't need to say anymore.' Harry dragged his trunk onto the train with Ron, then went to say good bye to Mrs Weasley.

'Well bye then, and thanks a lot.' He didn't know what else to say.'

Mrs Weasley lowered her voice and said in a whisper 'Careful Harry. Hogwarts is the safest place all of you can be but even Dumbledore cannot see every traitor. There are evil people even at the school.' She gave him a squeeze on the shoulder and Harry saw that her usually kind face was alert with fear.

'Harry climbed back onto the train, pondering Mrs Weasley's words. He already knew there were people at Hogwarts that were right in with Voldemort. Draco Malfoy, his arch enemy was one of them. But maybe Mrs Weasley didn't mean the students.

Just then, Harry looked up and saw Hermione hurtling down the corridor towards him. Harry thought she was going to kiss him again but instead she gave him a big hug and said in a falsely bright voice 'Did you have a good summer?'

Harry gave a snort and went into his compartment. Hermione followed him.

'I heard you went to Bulgaria to visit Victor' he said, trying to discern Hermione's face. She was smiling but her eyes, like Mrs Weasley's were full of silent fear.

'Yes, I had a lovely time. Victor's thinking of coming to England for a job now he's left school.'

It was then that Harry noticed the shiny silver badge, pinned to Hermione's robes. 'You're a prefect?' Harry said in both surprise and happiness for Hermione, who nodded, beaming.

'I got the letter over the summer. Mum and Dad were really pleased!' Hermione gushed, fingering the edge of the metal, absent-mindedly.

Ron walked in at that moment and flopped down next to Hermione.

'Good summer Ron?' Hermione asked timidly, seeing the scowl on Ron's face.

'What do you think. Dad's barely been at home, Fred and George are in Mum's good books because they invented an eyelash-curling sweet and all Percy's been doing is writing reports on Muggle security.'

Harry stared at Ron in amazement. Ron never usually vented his feelings like that. But Harry was beginning to see that a lot had changed over the summer in the magical world while he'd been at the Dursleys. And no matter how they tried to act normally, something had changed in Ron and Hermione too. They acted older, little like Harry remembered them.

'Have you seen the paper today?' Ron asked Harry.

'No but I've been getting a daily issue by owl post' Harry said wearily. The news in the Daily Prophet hadn't exactly given him much hope over the summer.

Ron shot a worried look at Hermione, then dug the paper out of his trunk. Harry took it uneasily and read:

FIRST MURDERS: NO ONE IS SAFE!

Albus Dumbledore, controversial headmaster of Hogwarts, confirmed this morning that the deaths of Matilda and Edmund Stringold were the works of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

The newly married couple were murdered last night three days after returning from their honeymoon in Dubai. The ministry of Magic has described their deaths as tragic but has declined to comment on the movements of You-Know-Who.

It is rumoured that Albus Dumbledore is forming an alliance against the Dark Lord and that several ministry members have already been in contact with him. Witches and wizards all over the world, though, are entering a period of uncertainty and fear. Cornelius Fudge has declined to comment about these rumours though but a rift has said to have grown between Dumbledore and the Minister for Magic. Surely this is a deep blow for an alliance against You-Know-Who and Britain's magical community is divided over action against the Dark Lord's remaining supporters or for him to strike his first blow..

But can we wait. Judging by these -the first murders, the wizarding world is on borrowed time.

Harry finished the article and looked warily at Ron and Hermione who were both looking at him worriedly.

'What are they waiting for?' Harry asked angrily, throwing the newspaper onto an empty seat. 'They should have kicked Fudge out of office eight weeks ago! We all saw what he was like at the end of last year!'

Neither Ron nor Hermione replied. Harry scowled at his lap furiously. He thought about the murdered couple and then back to fourteen years ago, when his own parents had been murdered. And now it was happening again. How many times would he have to see another picture of a murdered person on the front page of the paper before something was done?

In an effort to distract himself from the article, Harry suggested a game of wizarding chess while Hermione buried herself in a book: A Guide to Passing O.W.Ls.

It was nearing midday and the lady with the lunch trolley appeared at the compartment door offering them an assortment of cakes and sweets. While Hermione paid for their purchases, Harry couldn't help noticing Draco Malfoy and his cronies Crabbe and Goyle talking animatedly in the opposite compartment.

Harry felt a hot stab of anger at seeing Malfoy's smirk firmly in place on his pale face. Harry wondered aloud whether Malfoy's father, who was one of Voldemort's closest supporters, had anything to do with the Stingolds' murders.

Ron shrugged and said he had no idea. Hermione looked up from her book but said nothing.

'I'll tell you something though Harry,' Ron announced suddenly, as though seized by a sudden thought. 'The Slytherins are going to be even more unbearable than usual now half their parents are running around after You-Know-Who. You're gonna have to watch your step Harry. Have to be careful.'

'We all will,' Hermione muttered resignedly. At this, Ron fell silent and looked deliberately out of the window. Wild green hills were rolling past and Harry could just make out purple mountains in the distance.

The rest of the afternoon passed pleasantly enough. Many of their friends dropped by to say hello, and occasionally take part in a game of Exploding Snap but Harry noticed that all of them were avoiding his eye, as if wary he might do something.

Ever since Dumbledore had honoured Harry at the Farewell Feast for bringing back Cedric's body and fighting of Lord Voldemort, people had been skirting him in the corridors.

At last they arrived at the tiny platform at Hogsmeade station and Harry clambered out of the train. He looked up at the huge castle, perched on the hilltop above the village and felt really safe for the first time in eight weeks.

*

The platform was packed with students but Hagrid was easily recognisable above all the heads, a massive silhouette against the bright lights of the castle.

Harry pushed through the crowd towards him, closely followed by Ron and Hermione. Hagrid looked down on him and, Harry could see his ruddy face illuminated in the platform lamp. He was beaming at him.

'We'll see you after the feast', Ron called as Hagrid called all the new students towards him. All three of them were very interested to know what had happened at Hogwarts over the summer.

They climbed awkwardly into the carriages that would take them up to the castle and Seamus Finnigan joined them. Harry was relieved to find that Seamus was neither avoiding him nor not talking to him and filled Harry in with the current state of the Quidditch league table, adding enthusiastic comments about Gryffindor's chances of the cup this year.

'If it's back on,' Harry muttered gloomily, remembering the Triwizard Tournament last year when Cedric was killed. He had really missed Quidditch that year and hoped that Dumbledore really wasn't contemplating cancelling it again.

'They can't find another excuse to stop it. Not after what happened with Diggory,' Seamus said reassuringly and Harry had to agree with him.

'You know, I might try out this year,' Ron said thoughtfully and Seamus and Harry both stared at him. 'You know, now that Wood's gone. You never know.'

They all piled out of the carriage at the door to the Entrance Hall and Harry immediately saw Peeves sliding up and down the staircase, apparently in a high state of glee.

They shoved and pushed their way into the Great Hall, which looked as splendid as ever. Harry noticed that all the tables were bedecked in long gold cloths with silver stars on and huge, candle-filled chandeliers hung magnificently from the enchanted ceiling.

It was then that he glimpsed Cho in a crowd of Ravenclaws but her head was bowed and Harry didn't see her face. He guessed, though, that she had been dreading the return to school too.

They all sat down, to the accompaniment of many benches scraping as the hall filled with masses of students. Harry scanned the top table for Dumbledore and found him sitting in his usual chair, smiling widely at the students piling into the Great Hall.

Harry couldn't help smiling too, seeing Dumbledore, so old, yet so alive too. The lines he had gained last year, after the death of Cedric had vanished again over the summer. In fact, Dumbledore looked more energetic than Harry had ever seen him, talking and laughing with the other teachers.

Harry suddenly remembered to look for the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers and looked again towards the Top Table: Snape, Flitwick, Sprout and...it couldn't be! Professor Lupin.

Harry nudged Ron hard in the ribs and pointed at Lupin, sitting serenely between Professors Sprout and Sinistra. Ron, Hermione and Seamus gaped open-mouthed.

Harry, however, positively beamed, the first time he'd done so all summer. Having Lupin and Sirius around, his father's best friends, along with Dumbledore, made Harry feel better than ever.

A hush fell over the Great Hall as the doors banged open and Professor McGonagall walked in, followed by a straggled line of first years. Behind them came Hagrid in his huge Moleskin overcoat and beaverskin boots.

The Sorting began. As each new student sat on the stool and put the old hat on, down well over their eyes, Harry smiled and his mind wandered back to his own sorting, five years ago. Had life at Hogwarts really gone that quickly? Yet so much had happened.

Neville Longbottom suddenly nudged Hermione a few places along and whispered 'It's my cousin next - look!' Harry looked up and saw a plump girl hurry forward.

'I reckon she's got to be in Gryffindor but Gran reckons she's a Hufflepuff like her.' Neville whispered nervously. They waited and after a few tentative seconds, the Sorting Hat yelled 'Gryffindor'.

'Brilliant' Neville shouted over the noise and the girl hurried over and flopped down next to Neville.

'Well done Audrey. Looks like I've won my bet too' Neville said encouragingly to her.

'I never knew you had a cousin, Neville' said Hermione in mild surprise.

'No, well she lived in Australia but Gran insisted she go to school here,' Neville muttered just as Dumbledore stood up.

'Welcome students,' announced Dumbledore, his long silver beard shining in the candlelight. 'I am happy to see so many of you sitting in front of me tonight...united.' He seemed to add the last word as an afterthought.

'I'd like to announce the return of Professor Lupin, who is more than happy to refill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.' Most of the students gave Lupin a heart-warming round of applause, remembering his excellent lessons two years ago. Harry joined in, wanting more than ever to talk to Lupin, to ask him where he'd been. And, more importantly, whether he'd been in touch with Sirius. Snape looked as sour as ever but less venomous than he usually was. Lupin and he had been enemies since their schooldays.

Dumbledore was speaking again. 'It is a great pleasure to see you all here - new faces and old. I have -er- a few notices to give out before your attention wanders to your stomachs. Mr Filch would like to remind you that all cleaning equipment should be for that purpose only and not used for more - inappropriate use.' Ron gave Harry a quizzical look but Harry could see Fred and George doubled up further down the table. 'I would like to point out that our new Head Boy and Girl will be enforcing this rule.' Dumbledore added and everyone swivelled in their chair to see who Dumbledore was referring too.

'It's Angelina!' Hermione said happily and both Harry and Ron craned their necks to see down the table where Angelina was sitting proudly, having her hand shaken by several of her contemporaries, the silver badge pinned neatly to her robes. On the other side of the hall, Harry saw a crowd of Ravenclaws surrounding a seventh year boy. The noise died down gradually and Dumbledore continued.

'Secondly, the Quidditch Cup will take place again this year and trials for team places will be organised by the captains. This may be a difficult year for us -' Dumbledore paused as he looked around the hall, then smiled widely and said 'But I cannot bore you with my elderly sentiments - or not for too long, at any rate. Let the feast begin!' The plates filled with food but Harry was too excited at seeing Lupin to eat much. Apart from Pumpkin Tart of course, which was easily his favourite. Ron was shovelling down apple pie and Harry wondered whether Hermione, who last year had campaigned for house elf rights, had changed her stance on elf enslavement. She seemed to be eating normally, as opposed to last year when she refused to eat anything at the Welcoming Feast, then shovelled down food faster than anyone for the next three days.

'Hermione,' he began uncertainly. 'Are you still doing this campaign thing for house-elves?' Ron grinned into his pie but said nothing.

'Well, no, I've given up,' she admitted matter-of-factly. 'With the O.W.Ls this year, I really can't spare any time.' Harry felt the whole of Gryffindor table breathe a sigh of relief. Hermione had taken to rattling around the Common Room every evening, demanding people buy her campaign badges. Hermione though, who had begun chatting to Neville's cousin, Audrey, seemed not to notice.

'So what's it like at Hogwarts?' Audrey asked Hermione. Her Australian accent was recognisable even through a sizeable chunk or dewberry gateau.

'It's... good', Hermione replied meaningfully. Most people like it here. There are some really interesting lessons.' Harry stopped listening at that point. Most of his lessons weren't that interesting at all in his opinion. Quidditch on the other hand - He was distracted for a moment by a large Filibuster firework going off at Fred and George's end of the table.

'Matches the tablecloth, doesn't it?' George called down the table as the Gryffindors were showered in gold sparks.

It was, in all, a very enjoyable evening. Harry still felt anxious about the coming year but he was sure that seeing what Hagrid had to say would reassure him.

The feast ended and Harry, Ron and Hermione pushed their way over to the Top Table. Ron and Hermione immediately engaged themselves in conversation with Hagrid while Harry stood in front of Lupin, with no idea what to say.

'I told you we'd see each other again, didn't I,' Lupin said calmly.

'I thought you said that the parents wouldn't be happy knowing you were a werewolf and having you teach here.' Harry said, frowning.

'Yes, well things have changed. No one else will take the post except for Mad-Eye Moody -'

'The real Moody?' Harry asked, smiling wryly.

'Yes the real Mad-Eye but he's tied up with helping Dumbledore so it's down to me.'

'It's good to see you again,' Harry said, awkwardly.

'And a pleasure to see you Harry. I heard about last summer. You get more like James every year. He'd be very proud.'