Harry Potter and the Alucinor Dicio

Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter, nor am I in any way associated with J.K. Rowling, or Scholastic books.

Chapter 8 - Sing for Survival

Harry had a restful night's sleep. The meeting had adjourned soon after his initiation, with nothing more exciting happening other than discussions of assignments and mundane reports. After everything that had happened thus far, Harry had somewhat expected the meeting to be more exciting than this.

Afterwards, in his room, Ron had expressed vocal disappointment at Harry's not being able to tell them of the meeting, although Harry's slight details of the initiation somewhat mollified him. Hermione just tutted at Ron, “ Honestly Ron, he's bound by magic!” Ron just rolled his eyes and tuned her out as usual.

After a rushed breakfast, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione once again set out on foot to King's Cross Station, much as they had last year. They were accompanied by Remus, Tonks, Rowen and Mr. And Mrs. Weasley. Upon arriving at the station, they all dispersed into small groups to casually disappear through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.

Once on Platform 9 3/4's it was the usual flurry of finding belongings while Mrs. Weasley hovered around, making sure they had everything they needed. She gave Harry a fierce hug before boarding, which Harry returned, wanting to leave things on a good note after her disagreement withRowen. Harry waved goodbye to Remus, Tonks, and Mr. Weasley. With a last nod to Rowen, who would be apperating ahead of them, the four of them clambered aboard the train and went in search of an empty compartment.

They found one at the end of the last car, and were soon joined by Luna ( who smiled dreamily at them all and then proceeded to sit as close to a flustered Ron as possible ) and Neville, who came in and collapsed next to Hermione in the last available seat, chatting about his new wand and his O.W.L. Results ( he received a shocking E in Potions. Potions! )

After a short while, Hermione and Ron had to leave for their prefect meeting, leaving Harry , Ginny, Luna and Neville alone. Harry fell into conversation with Neville about his Gran, and his summer while Ginny leafed through her copy of Witch Weekly and Luna promptly turned the latest edition of The Quibbler upside down and began to read. Harry found himself quite impressed by the changes in Neville over the summer, not only had he slimmed down and grown a few inches, but his overall confidence seemed to have vastly improved.

After a few games of exploding snap, and a visit from the sweet trolley, Hermione and Ron returned, Hermione complaining about ' that cow ' Pansy Parkinson. Harry just smiled at her and handed her the Sugar Quills he had gotten for her, she shot him a small smile of gratitude and sank down to sit between he and Neville.

Before long, they had the usual expected, if completely unwelcome, visit from Malfoy and his cronies. “ Still running around with this lot, eh Potter? You'll see what the likes of Mudblood lovers like you will get!” Malfoy sneered at them all. Ron leapt up, pulling out his wand, but Harry just smiled nastily in Malfoy's direction.

“And how's your daddy doing in Azkaban, Malfoy? Have you had many penitentiary visits with your Mum?” Harry asked in a sarcastic tone.

“ Just you wait, Potter! If you think what happened to your little friends last year was bad ... I'm sure the Dark Lord will be happy to kill your little Mudblood girlfriend first..” Malfoy was cut off as Harry launched himself at Draco, hitting him anywhere he could. Apparently my working out did a lot for me this summer, Harry thought to himself. Eventually Hermione pulled him off of Malfoy, and Harry saw that Ron and Neville had been holding Crabbe and Goyle back. “ You'll pay for this, Potter!” screamed Malfoy, blood running down his chin, glaring at Harry through his rapidly swelling eye.

“ That one's getting a little old Malfoy! Try coming up with some new material.” Harry shouted after Malfoy's retreating back.

“ Harry,” Hermione admonished “ you know you are better than this, than him!” she said severely. Harry at least had the grace to look ashamed as she examined his split lip. She dabbed at it with her handkerchief, while holding his chin with her other hand. For a brief moment their eyes met, and Harry felt as though he were falling into the cinnamon depths. Just then the train lurched to a stop, announcing their arrival, and jerking Harry and Hermione out of their thoughts.

They piled out onto the platform, dragging their belongings behind them when Harry heard the familiar refrain of “ Firs'-years over 'ere. Firs'–years, follow me!” Harry looked up to see a beaming Hagrid standing with his lantern, herding the first years over to the boats. He gave Harry a large wave, before turning to his task of guiding them across the lake. Harry rushed on with his friends to the Thestral driven coaches, momentarily squeezing Neville's shoulder as he got his first glimpse of the beasts. With a jerk their carriage was off, heading towards Hogwarts.

The group entered the Great Hall to take their seats, waving goodbye to Luna ( although none as enthusiastically as Ron ) as she made her way over to the Ravenclaw table. The remaining five took their seats at the Gryffindor table to await the sorting ceremony. Harry caught Rowen's eye at the head table and gave her a small smile. Just then, Professor McGonagall lead a group of terrified first years into the Hall. She placed the worn old stool on the dais in front of the Hall and placed the worn out, patched hat on top of it. A hush fell over the crowd as the hat opened it's brim and began to sing.

When I was young, and quite unused

Hogwarts had just begun it's rule,

I was made of thoughts and stuff To do the bidding of the School.

The founders four quite falsely thought

They were united, never to part.

Before too long their true intentions

Became clear, and so they fought.

Dived by the principles

That separated these four friends

Different houses did they seek

And it destroyed them in the end.

For all the brave were Gryffindor

they were the pure of heart.

And Slytherin's cunning ways

set them quite apart.

Whilst Ravenclaw sought intelligence

only the very best.

And Hufflepuff said come I'll teach

all of the rest.

So though my task is once again

to divide you as I speak.

As once before, I implore

my wisdom you should seek.

I have seen the rise and fall

of these four great founders.

So united you should stand

So that none of you flounder.

For in this time of great peril

Together must you stand.

As Darkness reigns among the mass

And war comes to our land.

I'm just a hat, imagine that,

My words will be forgotten.

And house rivalry shall exist

though it really oughtn't.

So heed my words,

don't be a fool.

Divided you will never win

As one support the school!

With that the hat closed it's mouth, it's song over for another year. “ Two warnings, two years in a row.” Hermione said looking at Harry significantly. “ Perhaps we should give its words more thought, eh Harry?” Harry nodded in response, as he had been thinking much along these lines himself. Ron seemed not to have heard them, as he was watching the line of first years progress, waiting for the feast.

Dumbledore's speech was much as many other years, introducing the rules of the school, and pointing out Rowen as the new Defense against the Dark Arts professor. They were then told to ' tuck in!' But Harry's thoughts were distracted by the hat's words, and thoughts of his classes beginning tomorrow.

The next morning Harry's classes for the day were double Transfiguration with Hermione and Ron, lunch, and then a double helping of Charms in the afternoon. Harry was amazed at the amount of work they would be covering in their Advanced classes. Both professors started their class with lectures of how much they had to cover this year, as N.E.W.T's were only a year away. Harry, Ron and Hermione were seated around the common room fire, as Hermione lectured them on their academics.

“ I really hope that you two will get it together this year, to study properly and prepare for our N.E.W.T's” she lectured sternly.

“ But they aren't until the end of next year!” Ron protested.

“ Which is exactly the type of attitude that got you only 8 O.W.L's Ron!” stated Hermione. “ We need to be prepared, not just for our tests but for the war! What we are taught in the next year or two could very well save our lives!” Ron seemed to have zoned out at the mention of his O.W.L's, and was gazing into the fire. Harry was just watching Hermione as she worked herself up into a tizzy about revision and homework schedules, not to mention their separate training for Harry's new powers. God, she's beautiful when she gets all in a rage like this. Wait, .. beautiful? Harry had been avoiding thoughts like this one all summer.

To be honest Harry had been quite worried by his reactions to Hermione all summer long. Something had changed for him last year when he had thought she'd been killed, and his realization was pushed aside by his grief for Sirius. Now that Harry was moving past this, although he was far from over it, he had begun to meditate on the differences he felt when around Hermione. At first Harry had been worried about Ron, since he had thought after the Yule Ball in 4^th year that Ron had liked her. But clearly Ron had gotten over it if he had, as his thoughts seemed to largely center around a certain Ravenclaw lately. Now the only thing holding Harry back from his growing feelings for Hermione was the terrifying thought that she just considered them friends. Harry had no definitive proof, to his mind, that Hermione thought of him any more than she did of Ron. Harry did not want to risk their friendship until he could be sure. And at times, he felt that time would never come.

“ Harry, what are you staring at?' asked Hermione in an embarrassed tone. Harry jerked realizing that Ron had gone and he had been staring at Hermione for quite some time.

“ Sorry, Mione, my thoughts just kind of ... drifted there. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.” Harry immediately apologized. “ where's Ron gone to?” he asked.

“ He's gone to do his patrol, although personally, I think he's gone to meet Luna.” Hermione chuckled. “ So we have double Potions and double DADA tomorrow, are you looking forward to Rowen's lesson? I wonder what she'll start off teaching us?” Hermione mused. Harry mentally shuddered at the thought of Snape's class tomorrow.

“ I'm sure she will have a good lesson planned, but I can't say I'm looking forward to Potions. Thank Merlin you are in Potions with me, Mione, I don't know what I'd do without you.” As Harry was speaking Hermione's face turned thoughtful.

“ May I ask you a question Harry?” she asked.

“ Anything at all, Mione, you know that.” he replied.

“ Why is it that you only call me Mione when we are alone? Not that I'm objecting to it, I quite like the nickname, it's better than Hermy anyway.” she grimaced, referring to the nickname Hagrid had given her when introducing them to Grawp. “ It just seemed .. odd, that's all.” She looked to Harry clearly expecting an answer, one that Harry couldn't give. He couldn't tell her that when they were alone, he felt closer, more intimate with her, and it just tended to slip out, an unbidden sign of his affection for her. So he did the only thing her could. He lied. Badly.

“ I – uh- that is, I've nev, never really thought about it Hermione. I, uh, I guess it's just like an... unconscious type thing!” said Harry, finally hitting on a plausible excuse. A slight frown flitted across Hermione's face at his statement, but Harry was too preoccupied with escape to notice.

“ Well, it's late, and, we have early class tomorrow. Potions, first thing! So I, uh, I'll just be going..” Harry stumbled over this as he gathered his things and backed up to the stairs of the boys dormitory. Hermione watched him retreat with a sad look in her eyes that Harry never saw.