Note: Thank you to those of you who reviewed hbraveheartp, Looney Warner Mouse., choccy2604. Thank you to everyone who read this and I thunk should start seeing a bit more plot and H/Hr fluff. Hope you all enjoy.
Harry swerved missing the Bludger then spun the broom so he was hanging from it upside down. He then went into a steep dive grabbing the Snitch before righting himself only feet from the ground.
"Potter's got the Snitch; Gryffindor wins!" shouted out Lee Jordan's voice. "What a victory for the new captain and here comes his teammates to make sure you suffer pain beyond imagining before you die." Harry looked up as Lee's voice changed into cold tones that were hauntingly familiar. Harry looked around he was still on his broom, but he was no longer circling the Quidditch pitch.
The town below him looked old with cobbled roads and stone buildings. The style was different from what he was used to seeing. Harry scanned the streets trying to find what he knew was there. It took him a few minutes to find it, but there at the mouth of a street he saw them. Voldemort was standing over a man who was on his knees begging for his life; two Death Eaters stood on either side of Voldemort while a third stood behind the begging man. Harry took a good look at the man finding something familiar about him. It was Karkaroff, but his hair was longer and ragged, and his once fine clothes were now ripped and dirty. Harry assumed he hadn't stopped running since the night of Voldemort's rebirth. When the Dark Mark had once again burned his arm.
"You have betrayed me and helped send those loyal to me to Azkaban. For this you are sentenced to death," said Voldemort before tuning his back on Karkaroff and walking past the two Death Eaters. Without turning around, he spoke to the three Death Eaters who now stood around Karkaroff. "Have as much fun as you like, just make sure it's dead before the sun rises." He suddenly looked up as if he could sense Harry was there, a slight smile played across his face before he Apperated away.
"Harry, Harry wake up!" Harry came awake with Ron shouting at him and shaking him. Harry screamed out in pain as he curled up into the fetus position, and held is forehead that was burning after his vision of Voldemort. "Harry what's wrong?" asked Ron the panic in his voice rising by the second.
"I'll be okay, I just need a minute. I'm not used to this anymore," said Harry in a voice thick with fatigue and on the verge of cracking.
"This wasn't another nightmare was it?"
"No. It was a vision," Harry said while shaking his head. "I saw Voldemort; he'd found Karkaroff and sentenced him to death. He left some Death Eaters to do it. He told them they could have some fun first," explained Harry his voice slowly regaining strength as he uncurled from the ball he was in.
"Look Harry we've got to get down stairs Hermione's looking for you and I think she's starting to get worried," As he spoke, he noticed that Harry had paled at the news that Hermione was looking for him. "You still haven't told her yet have you?"
"I've not found the right time yet."
"Harry you've been having nightmares since you got here. Merlin only knows how no one else has as found out with all the screaming, and now you're seeing You-Know-Who." Ron still refused to say Voldemort's name. "If she finds out you've been keeping things from her, she'll nail your arse to the wall and then she's going to get nasty and that's if you're lucky."
"And that would be lucky because?" asked Harry genuinely not seeing how it could be worse.
"If your unlucky she could play the 'I can't be in a relationship with someone who doesn't trust me' card," explained Ron. Harry noticed the slightly odd tone in Ron's voice that only entered it when he was talking about Harry and Hermione going out. The tense air of when Ron had first found out about their relationship had lessened over the weeks they had spent at the Burrow. Thing's were almost back to normal between the three of them, but Harry and Hermione still toned down their behavior when Ron was around out of respect for his feelings.
"You're right I'll tell her tonight."
"You forgotten what day it is?" asked Ron with a smile.
"It's Tuesday," said Harry with the air of someone answering an easy question correctly but still knowing that he was wrong.
"September first, were going back to school and Hermione's a prefect. That means she has to look after the first-years." Ron's answer wasn't just laced with smugness, but made of it.
"Okay tomorrow night then."
"Do you want me to be there?" asked Ron loosing all trace of happiness at the situation. "I could say that it was my idea not to tell her."
"No. Thanks for the offer, but I'm a brave Gryffindor and I'll face it like a man."
"What change your name and move to Mexico?" Harry couldn't help but laugh as he got ready to have a shower before breakfast.
Hours later, after a huge breakfast and a taxi ride that consisted of trying to keep both Hedwig and Pig calm, they had finally reached Kings Cross. Harry knew most people would find the huge press of humanity a nuisance, but for Harry it was always a bittersweet experience. Not only did it herald the happiness he felt at his return to Hogwarts, but it was also marked his return to the Dursleys. This year he felt very little of his normal happiness; Cedric's death hung over his head. Would people blame him? Would they believe the truth when he told it?
"It's okay Harry we're all here for you," whispered Hermione. She'd noticed his reluctance and was now standing next to him holding his hand.
"I know it's just… What if they blame me? I know it's not my fault, but people keep saying I did everything I could. I'm just not sure about that anymore." Harry's words were so quiet that she almost didn't hear him over the noise of the station. She looked into his eyes and saw so much pain that she couldn't stop herself from pulling him into a tight hug. Unseen and unknown to both of them Ron had heard Harry's words and had quietly moved his family along to the barrier between platforms nine and ten so that the two could be alone. He knew that they needed one last moment to be just Harry and Hermione; he also knew that this would be their last chance in a long time.
They broke apart a few minutes later to see the Weasley's had gone and only Ron remained on the Muggle side of the barrier. Ron looked up at them and gave a quick nod and a grin before disappearing through the barrier.
"Come on we had better hurry; we can't have a Prefect being late. What sort of message would that send to the first-years?" said Harry pushing his trolley towards the barrier. Hermione paled noticeably at his words and hurried after him.
"You're right, if I'm late they might think that's acceptable behavior. I need to set an example to the younger students," said Hermione in her bossiest voice.
"Cough Baby dragon cough." Hermione's face seemed to light up at the memory of their shared adventure from first year. They walked through the barrier with matching grins and were assaulted by the noise that could only ever be generated by Hogwarts students.
"Good you're all here, now be careful, and you two had better stay out of trouble," said Mrs. Weasley looking right at the twins who were doing a very good job of looking innocent. It was so good it would have fooled anyone who hadn't met them before. Mrs. Weasley then proceeded to hug all her children and Harry before pulling Hermione close and whispering in her ear. "Look after him; you need each other more than even you realize." With one last look at her children, by blood and adoption, she turned and left the platform with her eyes filled with unshed tears.
"I've have to go to the Prefects carriage, so I'll see you all later," said Hermione breaking the slightly awkward silence that had descended upon the group.
"Yeah we'll save you a seat, and I'll take your stuff for you," replied Harry; as the twins' 'awwed' in the background.
"Thanks Harry." Hermione then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before going toward the front of the train. The twins stood in the background and pretended to be sick.
"It's so beautiful," said George as he made a sniffing noises as if he was trying not to cry.
"Young love. Gets you right there," said Fred putting his hand over his heart.
"Shut up and help me with the trunks," replied Harry with a badly hidden grin.
"If one of you will take my trunk I'll go and get us an compartment," offered Ginny.
"Sure, but just let me change my name to 'Baggage porters are us' first," said Ron as he picked up his sisters trunk as she ran ahead of them.
Twenty minutes and a lot of work later the five of them had settled into a compartment of their own. It was a couple of hours until Hermione was able to come and see them. But Harry had barely noticed the time passing as a steady stream of Gryffindors had been visiting. Thankfully none of them had brought up what had happened after the third task, but the subject had hung in the room like a Hippogriff that everyone pretended not to see.
When Hermione arrived she sat down right next to Harry and leaned into him, Ron noticed that this wasn't deliberate and seemed entirely unforced. Seeing this confirmed what he had realized at the station, that his two friends really did need each other.
He was happy that his friends had found each other and hoped that they would stay together, but they were only fifteen and sixteen, and people changed. If things ended between them he hoped they could stay friends. Under his joy there was a small hard knot of jealously, but he knew that it was manufactured to try and hide something else. Fear. He was scared that he would be cut out of their lives or even worse they would try too hard at including him. He didn't want to be pitied, but he didn't want to lose his best friends either. He truly loved them both as much as his any member of his family; they also had something that no one else could have. A bond forged under their shared fights and the secrets that only they three knew.
"Hey Ron; time to get ready," said Harry pulling Ron out of his musings. He noticed that they were nearing Hogwarts and that he'd missed the whole trip to his wondering thoughts.
"Yeah sure."
"Are you okay? You've been quiet for the whole trip," asked Harry concern etched onto his features.
"Yeah I'm okay; just been thinking about some stuff. Nothing important."
Harry saw through the lie as soon as it was told. "I'm here for you when you want to talk; okay."
"Yeah I know. Thanks mate," said Ron not even bothering to try and persuade Harry there was nothing wrong. He could never lie to Harry or Hermione.
"Are you lot ready?" shouted Ginny through the closed door.
"Yeah!" shouted back George as he straightened out his robes.
Hermione and Ginny then came in and they spent the last few minutes checking that all their stuff was put away in their trunks. As they stepped on to the platform Harry couldn't stop himself from grinning as Hagrid's familiar voice rang out.
"Firs'-years over here!" Then turning around he spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione and his face was split by a huge grin. "All righ' you three. Had a good summer?" asked Hagrid.
Harry almost didn't respond because he thought that some one had stolen Hagrid's voice. The man that was talking to him was a complete stranger. Then he understood; Hagrid had shaved his beard.
"What happened to your beard?" asked Ron before Harry had could open his mouth.
"Long story," said Hagrid with a slight frown. "I'll see ye' later, Firs'-years this way!"
The shock of how he looked and the flow of the crowd stopped Harry from being able to speak to Hagrid. As usual the horse-less carriages were waiting to take the students to the school, and it wasn't long until every one was in the great hall waiting for the first-years to arrive and the sorting to begin. Harry took the time before the first-years arrived to scan the high table. The usual teachers were there except for McGonagall and Hagrid; who hadn't arrived yet. It only took him a second to find the face of what had to be the new DADA professor. She was in deep conversation with Professor Flitwick. She looked young, and had long dark red hair that was pulled into a ponytail with dark eyes.
"New Defense teacher?" asked Ron when he noticed were Harry was looking.
"Assume so. I was hoping Professor Lupin would come back," said Harry.
"Not with Fudge on the warpath. He'd take any excuse to try and get rid of Dumbledore," answered Ron.
"Let's just hope she's competent. I mean this is our O.W.L year," said Hermione causing knowing smirks to be shared between Harry and Ron.
The sorting took it's normal course as the bunch of terrified first-years were lead in by Professor McGonagall. She was carrying a stool along with the sorting hat; she placed both down and then stepped back as the hat began it's song. As normal, the hat sang it's song describing the house's and their virtues, but Harry found it odd that it also sang about the founders, giving a very brief history of each one and highlighting a part of their lives were thy had fought against a great evil. Harry wondered weather Dumbledore had influenced the hat to put that in or whether the hat knew about what was happening in the world.
The sorting proceeded quickly with the new students being spread out between the houses almost equally except that Hufflepuff seemed to have gotten slightly more new students. As Professor McGonagall sat down at the high table Dumbledore stood to give his speech.
"Welcome all. Some speeches are very long this one isn't." He then sat straight down as the food began to appear. It was several hours later that the feast was beginning to wind down and Dumbledore stood up again. "Now that we've all eaten, I'll take this chance to make a few announcements before you go to bed. First off the Forbidden Forest is strictly out of bounds to all pupils and only third-years and above can visit Hogsmeade. I'd also like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor MacLeod. I'm sure you will all make her welcome. Quidditch trials will take place this Friday, any one wishing to take part should speak with their head of house and now off to bed."
Harry began to rise with the rest of the Gryffindors, but stayed behind to watch Hermione and Dean corral the first-years together before leading them towards Gryffindor tower. He waited a few minutes before heading to the tower with the hope that Hermione would have spotted that he was missing, and would wait outside the common room for him.
"You're lucky I waited for you. I do have better things to do with my time," said Hermione as he walked along the corridor.
"Yeah so many books, and so little time," said Harry with a smile that he knew made him look stupid, but he didn't mind.
"That's right." Hermione looked completely serious, but Harry could hear the smile in her voice.
"So you don't need me anymore? Fair enough."
"Now I didn't say that, I still need someone to carry my books." They both laughed before melting into each other's arms and kissing. Harry had only intended for a short kiss but the passion that was evoked made him forget all about time.
"You shouldn't be doing that in the corridor you know." Harry and Hermione jumped apart both of the turning crimson at the sound of the voice. Which both of them identified as the Fat Lady's.
"Come on we had better get going before we're missed," said Hermione after her heart was beating at the right speed and her face had returned to its normal colour.
"You're right."
"Chimaera," she said to the Fat lady allowing them access to the common room.
"Night Hermione."
"Goodnight Harry" Hermione's voice was so tender that he almost broke down and told her everything about his nightmares, but he didn't. Just one more night. He'd give her one last night of peace. One last night free from worry about him. It was the least he could do.