Author's Note: I suffered through an incredibly major crisis while writing this chapter. Yes, I'm on summer vacation and thus have plenty of time to write, but the problem was that I wouldn't see my beta readers as often, which meant horrendous delays. But thanks to my level-headed friend Jessica, we're all set. Thanks again everyone for reviewing! There's now this cool little feature that lets me reply to your reviews, so I may do that. So don't be afraid to ask questions. If I deem them harmless, I'll answer them. Anyway, on with the next chapter!
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHANGES
Upon exiting the Hogwarts Express, the first thing Harry heard was the voice of Rubeus Hagrid yelling, "Firs' years, firs' years come forth!" Harry caught Hagrid's eye and waved. The Care of Magical Creatures teacher and gamekeeper grinned and waved back. "Hullo, Harry!" he called.
"Hey Hagrid!" Harry called back as he followed Ron, Hermione, and Ginny over to an empty stagecoach. He turned in time to see the black horse-like creatures called thestrals.
"You okay Harry?" Hermione asked, poking her head out of the coach as Ron helped pull Harry's trunk inside and Ginny grabbed both Hedwig and Pigwidgeon.
Harry eyed the black horses and climbed inside. "It's the thestrals. I doubt I'll ever get used to them."
The coach took off and headed for Hogwarts. "If I could see them," Ron was saying, "I doubt I'd get used to them either."
The ride up to the school was marginally quiet. Hermione was peering inside of Crookshanks' cage and cooing, "We're almost there."
Ron scowled at her and turned to Harry. "Well, I suppose the big mystery about who the new Dark Arts teacher will be solved soon."
Harry nodded as he coach came to a stop. "Time to get out," he said and opened up the door.
They climbed out and grabbed their trunks and cages. Ahead of them, Harry saw Malfoy look back and scowl. Ginny adjusted her robes and looked up at Malfoy too.
"What an asshole," she muttered and grabbed her trunk, heading towards the large oak front doors.
"Let's get in," Ron murmured as he dragged his trunk towards the doors. "I'm starving."
Hermione rolled her eyes and followed him, while Harry turned his head, looking back at the thestrals. He didn't suppose they were that bad, especially after they took him to the Department of Mysteries last June.
"Hey, Harry! Are you coming?" Ron called.
Harry looked back to see Ron and Hermione waiting for him by the door. "Come on," Ron urged, "the feast!"
As they entered through the large oak doors, they heard someone ahead of them squeal and cry, "Ewwww!"
Harry looked ahead and saw a forth year girl trying to pull what looked to be gum out of her hair. A second later, another person was yelling, also with gum in their hair.
"Peeves," Hermione muttered, gesturing towards the ceiling. She walked towards him with a purposeful stride. "Peeves! Stop that immediately!"
Next to Harry, Ron whispered, "Yep, that will do loads of good right there." Harry laughed.
"Why look at Perfect Prefect Granger!" Peeves boomed joyously. He popped another piece of gum into his mouth and chewed.
Hermione removed her wand from her robes cautiously as Harry and Ron watched from the other side of the entrance hall. "Leave us all alone, Peeves," Hermione demanded. "You've plenty of other chances to pick on us, so leave us alone for now."
"Oh no, Hermy, I must give the lil'uns a taste," he said while he chewed, "of what it is like to be at Hogwarts. And the big'uns could do with a reminder," he finished and spat out his gum right at Hermione.
But Hermione was ready. Raising her wand, she yelled, "Waddiwasi!" and sent the gum flying back up at Peeves and straight into his nose. Hermione smirked. "Now go!"
Peeves cursed violently and flew off, knocking over a suit of armor on the way. Hermione turned back and was just about to be congratulated by Harry and Ron when Professor McGonagall yell, "Miss Granger!"
Hermione froze dead in her tracks as Professor McGonagall stalked over towards her. "I can't believe it-you know the rules-a prefect no less-" she muttered.
"But Professor," Ron said, "all Hermione did was get Peeves to go away so he wouldn't bother us. You can't possibly punish her for that."
"You know the rules, Weasley," McGonagall said severely.
"But she was just doing her prefect duties," Ron said imploringly.
"If Hermione hadn't done what she did," Harry said reasonably, "more people would be walking into the Great Hall with gum in their hair. Now surely that must count for something."
Professor McGonagall sighed. "Very well. Miss Granger, while I thank you for getting Peeves out of here, please let a teacher handle it next time."
"Yes, ma'am," Hermione said quietly.
"Professor McGonagall?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Potter?"
"I-er-wanted to thank you for making me Quidditch captain," he said quietly.
Professor McGonagall's face formed a slight grin. "You're welcome, Mr. Potter. Now, all of you, get into the Great Hall. I must meet the first years."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione quickly slid off into the Great Hall, where they sat down near Neville, Lavender Brown, and Parvati Patil.
"You could say thank you, y'know, Hermione," Ron said.
"For whatever help you did, Ron, thank you," she muttered and then turned to Harry. "Thanks for your help too."
Harry shrugged. "I never thought I'd see that day that I would be trying to get you out of trouble," he murmured with a smirk. Hermione smiled.
"So," Parvati was saying to Lavender, "your little brother is being sorted?"
"Yes," Lavender said with a scowl. "That boy's a menace. I sort of hope that he isn't in Gryffindor."
"You have a little brother?" Ron asked.
"Yes, and he idolizes your brothers, Weasley. He thinks that those twins were the coolest people to ever walk this earth. He's already bought loads of their products in Diagon Alley. Rotten little bugger, that's what he is," Lavender said.
"That's just what we need," Ron said with a grin, "another Fred and George around here. What's his name?"
"Dylan. I'd bet you anything the first chance he gets he'll jump into the lake. The boy loves to swim and doesn't fear anything," Lavender said. "He once jumped off the roof of our house. The idiot broke his leg. Mum was furious. She hates taking trips to St. Mungo's."
Ron snickered as Hermione looked up at the staff table. "Lupin!" she whispered excitedly.
"What?" Ron said, turning.
"It's Lupin! He's back!" Hermione squealed in delight.
Harry looked up at the staff table and sure enough, there sat Remus Lupin next to Professor Severus Snape, who was scowling.
"Snape doesn't look to happy about all of this," Ron commented. "But it's great to have Lupin back. Defense Against the Dark Arts will be interesting again."
"Yeah," Harry agreed, "but I wonder why he's here. The last time he was our teacher, he quit after everyone found out he was a werewolf so people wouldn't complain. Wouldn't people just complain again?"
"Maybe Dumbledore doesn't care," Hermione said. "Professor Lupin is the best person for the job and maybe Dumbledore was able to persuade Lupin to come back."
"But what about the Order?" Harry asked, dropping his voice to a whisper.
Hermione could only shrug. "I don't know."
Harry looked back up at the staff table and scanned it before receiving another shock. "Kingsley!"
"Kingsley?" Ron murmured. "You mean that bloke in the Order who has the earring?"
Hermione smacked him. "Not so loud!"
Harry stared up at Kingsley Shacklebolt, who was sitting between two other people that Harry didn't recognize. The one, a man, had long flowing black hair, immensely deep blue eyes, and had a beautiful golden brown tan. He was examining the students with great interest. The other was a woman with short, dark blonde hair, and icy blue eyes. The difference in the look in her eyes and the other man's was remarkable. The man had a warm look in his while the woman looked as through she could smash a brick wall with just one glance. She terrified Harry.
"Who d'you suppose those other two are?" he asked Ron and Hermione.
Ron shrugged while Hermione studied them. "Perhaps they are the 'guests' that we were told about during the prefect's meeting."
Lavender and Parvati were looking up at the staff table too. "Oooh," Lavender whispered, "who's that guy with the long black hair? He's cute."
Suddenly, the doors to the Great Hall opened and Professor McGonagall entered, leading a line of nervous looking first years.
"It's about time," Ron hissed. "Some of us are really hungry."
Hermione rolled her eyes and watched the first years as they passed. "We've got a lot of them this year," she commented.
Professor McGonagall brought out a four-legged stool along with a patched and frayed hat. This was the infamous Hogwarts Sorting Hat. She set the hat on the stool and waited along with the rest of the school. Suddenly, the brim of the hat opened like a mouth and it sang:
Oh, we are living in times of peril
That most of you have yet to see,
It is time for you to find
Where you ought to be.
Whether you belong in Gryffindor
And are brave at heart
Remember it is at Hogwarts where
You made your start.
If I put you in Hufflepuff
You must be very loyal,
Either that or hard-working,
Willing to dig through the soil.
Ravenclaw is where you may belong
If you are truly bright,
With words of great wisdom,
You'll find it hard to be in a fight.
Yet perhaps you belong in Slytherin
Where they value blood.
'Twas Slytherin who left this school
And tried to drag it through the mud!
But what I tell you next is true
And please be kind to listen,
For if you don't pay heed to my words
This school shall never glisten.
We are in very dark times
And must do the best we can,
So I beg of each and every one of you,
Respect your fellow man!
If you don't then we shall be
At Mercy's hand
Because if you split right now
It may destroy the land!
So, before I bore you anymore
With my simple song
Let's begin the Sorting, shall we please
And find where the first years belong!
When the Sorting Hat finished, everyone clapped. "It wasn't as long as last year's song, thank Merlin," Ron muttered.
"Yes, but the message is still the same," Hermione said.
Harry nodded in agreement as Professor McGonagall unrolled a scroll of parchment and said, "When I call you name you will step forward, sit down, and place the Sorting Hat on your head. Then, when you are sorted into your Houses, you will join them at their table." She looked at her list. "Ashland, Diana!"
A small girl with brown hair and freckles stepped forward. Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head when she sat down and Harry watched as it fell below her eyes. There was a moment's pause before the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"
The table next to Harry's cheered and he watched as Cho Chang clapped happily as the girl walked over to her table and sat down.
"Auckland, Henry," became a Hufflepuff while "Bowman, Paul," became the first new Slytherin. Harry scowled as he saw Malfoy pat the young first year on the back. Lavender groaned when "Brown, Dylan," was proclaimed the first new Gryffindor when the hat barely touched his head.
"I hope this year's new batch of Gryffindors are a good bunch," said somebody next to Harry.
"Hello Nick," Hermione said as "Cranston, Victoria," was made a Hufflepuff, "how are you?"
Nearly Headless Nick floated in a sitting position and smiled. "Excellent. Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore is no longer the leader of the Headless Hunt."
"Does that mean they'll let you join?" she asked anxiously.
"I'll find out next month," he said, beaming as "Eastley, James," was made a Slytherin.
They went silent and watched the sorting. Harry took a particular interest in "Farrell, Hunter," who did not look nervous at all, unlike the rest of the first years. He looked rather somber and Harry noticed that the Sorting Hat took awhile to decide which House he would belong to, reminding Harry somewhat of himself. Finally, the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" and the table cheered.
They continued to watch and as "Matthews, Jessica," was sorted into Gryffindor. Ron's stomach gave a loud grumble. "Come on, come on," he muttered, "some of us are hungry."
At last, after sorting "Warrick, Alison," into Gryffindor and "Winters, June," into Hufflepuff, "Zucker, Adam," was placed in Ravenclaw and Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll, taking the Sorting Hat and stool away. By the time she returned, Professor Dumbledore was standing up and calling the assembly to silence.
"Welcome, first years, welcome to Hogwarts! And for everyone else, welcome back!" He beamed down at the hall. "Unfortunately for your stomachs, I have quiet a few announcements to make, so I beg of you to please bear with me.
"First, I would like to announce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. The fourth years on up may remember him well. I am pleased to announce the return of Professor Remus J. Lupin to Hogwarts!"
Everyone fourth year and up cheered and clapped heartily, as many would say that Professor Lupin was the greatest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher that Hogwarts had ever had. Harry, Ron, and Hermione clapped the loudest while Dean Thomas whistled loudly.
After the cheering died down, Professor Dumbledore continued. "Now, as some of you have noticed, we also have three more people who aren't usually in our number among us. Due to recent events, the Ministry of Magic saw fit to summon three Aurors to help protect Hogwarts from the evils outside this school. I would like you all to welcome our three Aurors: Kingsley Shacklebolt, Joaquin Crow, and Mara Frost."
There was a polite spatter of applause as the man with long hair, Joaquin Crow, flashed a smile and Kingsley raised his goblet. The woman, Mara Frost, did nothing but stare out at the students. Harry felt a cold chill run down his spine.
Dumbledore called for silence as murmurs ran throughout the hall. "This year will be very different," he told them. "As the prefects and also our Head Boy and Girl already know, there will be several different events happening this year as I see fit. I feel we need to have a little more fun." Many more started murmuring after that. "However," Dumbledore said louder, "we must also stick together. The older must help guide the younger. That is why I have decided to implement a mentorship program between the first and sixth years, and also the second and seventh years."
"What?" Ron hissed.
"Next Monday," Dumbledore said, "the first, second, sixth, and seventh years will return here after dinner and each first year will be given a sixth year mentor, someone they can ask for help and guidance. The second years shall be matched up with the seventh years. I will explain this more when you are all paired up.
"Well, enough of this old man's wheezing. Tuck in!"
With that, every plate in the Great Hall was filled with an assortment of food.
"Can you believe that?" Ron groaned. "We're going to have to baby-sit some little first year."
"I think it's a good idea," Hermione said. "Lord knows I wouldn't have minded an older student helping me."
"But why us?" Ron moaned.
"Because the seventh years are mentoring the second years," Hermione said.
"This is all very stupid," Ron muttered and started in on his steak.
"It's all in how you look at it," Hermione murmured. "But you're going to have to participate, Ron. We were told on the train that everyone has to participate."
"I suddenly wish I were a fifth year again," Ron said around a mouthful of steak.
"Then you'd be taking your O.W.L.s again," Hermione said, buttering a roll. "Maybe this time you could get more."
Ron's ears went very pink. "Hey, eight is pretty good." Hermione frowned. "Eight's good." He looked desperately at Harry. "Isn't eight O.W.L.s good?"
Harry was starting to get sick of their bickering. "Don't try to drag me into this conversation. I wouldn't want to sound like an old man bickering with his wife." Both Ron and Hermione turned to Harry with stunned looks on their faces. "Just leave it alone, would you?"
Hermione looked taken aback, but said, "Okay Harry."
Ron looked at Hermione, and then had a look of pain on his face. "Sure Harry. Whatever you want."
After the standard warnings about the Forbidden Forest and a reminder to follow the rules, Harry followed Ron and Hermione out of the Great Hall and up the marble staircases.
"It's good that we don't have to escort the midgets up this year," Ron said, to which Hermione scowled, yet she remained quiet, to Harry's surprise.
They climbed up several flights of stairs and walked down several corridors before coming to a stop in front of a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress.
"Phoenix ashes," Hermione said and the portrait opened to reveal the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.
After they climbed in, Ron yawned. "I'm exhausted. I think I'll head off to bed."
"'Night, Ron," Harry and Hermione said in unison.
Harry sat down by the fire as Hermione waited for other Gryffindors to enter, probably to tell them to get off to bed. As Harry sat there, he had a sudden urge to read something. Quietly, he slipped upstairs to the boys dormitories and retrieved his mother's diary from his trunk. Then, settling down in front of the fire, he opened up the small book to reveal that its first entry was written on that day twenty-five years ago. His mother's first day at Hogwarts.
"What are you reading, Harry?" asked Hermione as she settled down in front of the fire next to him.
He turned to her and then noticed that they were alone in the common room. "My mother's diary," he murmured. "I've just started. I thought tonight would be a good night to finally start reading it."
She gave an understanding smile and then eyed something around his neck. Before he could ask what she was looking at, she reached over and pulled a gold chain from underneath his robes.
"You're wearing it," she said in awe as the little golden pendant snitch gleamed in the firelight.
"I always wear it. Didn't you notice?" he said as he took the chain back from her and placed it underneath his robes again. "I wear it underneath my clothes so no one tries to snatch it." He opened up his mother's diary again.
Hermione shifted uncomfortably and started to rise. "Well, I'm sure you want to read this alone, so I'll-"
"No, you can stay if you want," Harry replied.
"Really?" He nodded and she settled herself back down onto the floor.
"Here," he said, moving closer to her so she could read. "Better?"
"A little," she said. She adjusted one more time so that their shoulders were brushing up against each others. "There."
Leaning in a little closer to her so she could read even better, they began. They read all about Lily Evan's train ride to Hogwarts on 1 September 1971, about how the Sorting Hat considered briefly about putting her in Ravenclaw (which really sparked Hermione's attention), about how unsure she was that she was going to succeed because she was a Muggle-born, and how she had met two mischievous boys by the names of James Potter and Sirius Black. They continued reading about her first week at Hogwarts and about how she really liked her Charms class, when the clock stuck midnight and Hermione suggested that they had better get off to bed so that they would be able to survive through classes the next day.
"Your mother sounds like a really lovely person," Hermione commented as she opened the door leading up the girls' dormitories.
"She was, at least, that's what everyone says," he said with a smile. "Good night, Hermione."
"Good night, Harry," she replied and headed up to her dormitory.
Harry looked down at the book one more time and headed up to his own dormitory, now marked SIXTH YEARS, and went inside. He was back at Hogwarts. He was home.