A/N: This is definitely not a sequel to my first story. It is a completely different world. Please try not to confuse them. This will be a slash story. Also, this fic was started in 2003, so does not take in to account books 5, 6, or 7.

The late summer sun was slowly receding behind the trees on Privet drive and a raven-haired boy sat outside relaxing as a soft wind blew through the trees. He was pleased that school would be starting in a few days and that after this school year he would never have to come back to this muggle neighborhood. He certainly wouldn't miss the Dursleys, his muggle relatives who were perfectly normal 'thank you very much.'

Harry was going into his seventh and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which is anything but normal by Dursley standards. He was finally an adult wizard as he had turned 17 a few weeks ago and he was allowed to do magic outside of school now. The first magic he did was to fix up his overly muggle bedroom, transfiguring the bed to be bigger and the blankets more plush. He also put a nice notice-me-not spell on the room to keep his prying Aunt Petunia from entering it. Going to the ministry last weekend to take his Apparating test and going to Diagon Alley to get his supplies were the highlights of the summer.

His sixth year was probably the most normal one he had had. He was reinstated on the quidditch team where he won the quidditch cup last year. Remus Lupin had returned as the DADA teacher. Voldemort had attacked at the end of the school year, but Harry was once again able to escape. He had started taking extra lessons in defense last year to prepare. Of course Voldemort had gotten away again, but the monster had at least stayed quiet all summer.

Harry finally went inside to go to bed. That night he laid in bed smiling, knowing he only had a couple more nights at this hellish house.

Harry carefully packed everything into his trunk on September first. He had decided to Apparate to Kings Cross and he would need to be going soon. He didn't even bother saying goodbye as he disappeared from Privet drive forever. He reappeared in an alley down the street from the train station and walked to the station, going through the barrier to platform 9 3/4.

It didn't take him long to find the Weasleys, who were standing by the train saying their goodbyes.

"Harry, look at you, your all grown up" shrieked Mrs. Weasley.

It was true. Harry had grown several inches in the past year and his hair was now chin length, framing his face handsomely. He had started letting his hair grow last year when he was tired of people saying how much he looked like his father. After seeing how cruel his father was in Snape's memory, Harry didn't want to be compared with him any more. He wanted to be his own person.

After hugging Molly and Arthur, as he was instructed to address them now, he ran a hand through his hair and sighed sadly, 'last time for all of this.' He would miss Hogwarts and planned to make this year memorable. He swiftly turned and made his way onto the train and found a compartment with Ron and Ginny near the back of the train. Hermione, who was running late, joined them soon after.

The ride to school was filled with the three seventh years talking about their holiday magic use and Apparation tests. Ron was thrilled to be able to Apparate away from his brother's tricks. Hermione had the best story about how her parents had reacted to her making her room bigger on the inside without making the house bigger. Apparently they were a little too shocked and when Hermione's dad fainted he hit his head on a table. Luckily Hermione had learned a couple minor healing spells.

They continued discussing the summer holiday while they rode to the school in the thestral drawn carriages. The sorting came and went with each house getting about fifteen new students. The amount of students had increased gradually every year with these kids having been born when all threat of Voldemort was forgotten back in the late eighties. The headmaster made his usual statements and congratulated Remus Lupin on breaking the Defense Against the Dark Arts curse. This brought applause from almost everyone but a few of the Slytherins.

Hermione gave him the password to Gryffindor tower before she led the first years up. Harry found his bed where it is every year and sank into it.

Basically, the year started just as normally as any other for Harry Potter. But he knew it was only a matter of time before the other shoe dropped, so to speak.

Voldemort had been too quiet.