The Hogwarts Express, roaring with children. Some of them taking their favorites seats, and some anxiously awaiting the Sorting Hat, to put them in their houses, where they will be the next seven years. For Harry Potter, it was the final time that he would be riding in the compartment with his two best friends, Ron and Hermione, and his girlfriend, Ginny. Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter, the couple that, "rose out of thin air," as most described it, but to Harry, it was something he claimed was built up inside him these past few years. Harry sat next to her, hands interlocked, as he gazed out of the window. Across from him, he noticed that Ron and Hermione were doing the same thing, as he saw through the corner of his eye. Harry wasn't really focused on what was going on though, his mind was still on Sirius, and on Dumbledore. He didn't know what to expect coming to Hogwarts this year. All throughout the summer, there were threats of the school being shut down, it was all over the Daily Prophet. Children were worried, and parents were very apprehensive about letting their children stay at Hogwarts this year. Fortunately Professor McGonnagal was able to convince the Wizengamot about the safety of Hogwarts this year. Not Surprisingly, Dolores Umbridge was still the only one who voted against the majority of the council.

As the train made a sharp turn to the right, Harry broke from his daydreaming to see that Ginny and himself were alone. It made sense, as both Ron and Hermione were appointed Head Boy and Girl positions from McGonnagal over the summer. Never in the history of Hogwarts has the positions both gone to the same house, but with no argument from the staff, they agreed both did a splendid job. Ginny looked towards Harry. "Is something bothering you?", she asked. Something about the way she worded that seemed to annoy Harry. "Nothing, I just...well you know what I've been through, I just have a lot on my mind," Harry said. "I can't say that I understand, but I know that in the end of all of this, I know that whatever happens, is the way it was meant to be," she continued. Harry looked at Ginny for a minute. Wondering what she had meant, but waved it off and held on to her hand tighter.

"I think I'm gonna head off for a while, to clear my head," Harry said. He kissed her forehead and slid open the door to the main walkway.

As he walked around, he noticed a lot of giggles up and down the hallway, some loud and some quiet. Harry ignored them, as he could care less anymore. "The Boy King" and "The Chosen One" was starting to annoy him anyway. As he turned the corner he stopped dead, as he saw Ron, tongue-tied with none other than Pansy Parkinson. Harry's jaw dropped.

"What...the...heck!" Harry exclaimed. Ron jumped around, with Pansy's head peeking over his shoulder. Harry tried his hardest to hide his grin, and Ron tried his hardest not to blush, but his face was almost as red as his hair;. Ron thought hard for something intelligent to say, and then he said something a little worse.

"Oi Harry! Eh, well you know me. I'm just trying to eliminate the competition for House Cup this year." WIth that a slap from Parkinson and a kick in the shins, with a sneer at Harry. "It seems she likes you, Ron." Harry managed to say. "It's okay, Ron said, clearly unaffected, at least she's taken a liking to me." he continued. "What makes you say that," Harry said, bewildered. Ron pulled out a piece of parchment, which was crippled, as if someone just managed to shove it in his robe, it said:

Compartment C. third door on your left, five minutes.

Harry grinned. And Ron bolted out, checking his watch to see how many minutes he had wasted talking to Harry.

Ron had changed a lot over the summer, Harry thought. He was never this devilish, if that's the perfect word. He thought of Ron as a quiet person, not eager to get into anything serious. But then Lavender happened, and he's suddenly become the "pimp" of Hogwarts. It might also be the Head Boy position, I mean Percy was a Head Boy once as well, but his reputation with women wasn't as well known or even on the edge, as Ron's is. Harry brushed those thoughts aside, wondering where Hermione had run off to.

Harry turned to the staff compartment, where a few of the staff members who had returned home during the summer had been returning to Hogwarts this year. As he walked by one of the areas, he paused. He looked through the window to see Hermione, talking rapidly with a teacher, Professor Trelawny. Harry was really curious about the occasion of this "chat", so he knocked, wondering what would happen next. Hermione was the first to look, and with a grin on her face she opened the door. "Hey Harry, great to see you, Professor Trelawny and I were having a great discussion on fortunes, and their meanings, surprising some of the things she's said actually, don't you think Harry?" she said. "Yea, it's actually very surprising in fact, Hermione," said Harry, very aware of the differences between the two over the years. "Professor Trelawny was just telling me about my love life, my fortune. she said I would meet a man with Leadership abilities, and who will work with the Ministry." she continued. Harry muttered, "Ron is Head Boy, too...and he will probably work with his dad at the Ministry..." "What was that Harry?" Hermione asked. Harry shook his head, saying it was nothing, looking at Professor Trelawny, who happened to shoot a quick smile at him. "Fortunately Mr. Potter, I don't have any fortunes of you dying this year." Trelawny stated. "Well thank goodness," said Harry. "I was getting a little down because of the absence of that." he said, sarcastically. Trelawny ignored his comment, staring at Hermione's palm, and then she spoke softly, "My dear, it seems as though you are confused though with the one you love. You feel like you are undeserving, that you arent his equal...a tall man he is though darling, I think I know who this could be, but alas, that is for you own finding." Hermione began to choke, and Harry quickly ran over to see if she was alright. "Haha no worries, Harry, I just choked on my own spit." Hermione chuckled. Harry, relieved, bid them well and headed out, watching as Trelawny let out a sort of kiddish giggle.

As the Hogwarts Express started its final approach, Harry quickly ran back to his compartment, to find Ginny gone, and only Ron, staring out the window. "So how was Pansy?" Harry kidded. Ron gave a motion that seemed like a so-so. "Something the matter, Ron" Harry inquired. "Do you ever feel like you try so hard for someone to fall for you, but all the time you think that maybe its just not for you?" Ron stammered. "Li-Like, it just won't happen" he stammered some more. "I'm sure the one you care about will find out, and hold you for as long as you want, man. come on, toughen up. she'll come, I know it," said Harry begrudgedly, suddenly thinking about what Trelawny said about Hermione and Ron. He shouldn't be upset, he thought. He had Ginny, why even think of Hermione? He quickly brushed those thoughts off of him, as the Express stopped, and he hurried Ron out, hearing the roar of Hagrid calling the "Firs Yea's" out to line up.

As Harry walked off of the Hogwarts Express, he saw that Hermione was off in the distance. What surpised Harry even more was the fact that she was holding hands with someone else. Harry was confused. He swore he saw Ron and Hermione holding hands. He was sure of it. Had he been hallucinating? Harry shook the thought from his mind, and began walking towards the school.

Hogwarts looked different to most students this year. As students walked into the Great Hall, they saw how much different the atmosphere had been. Once, where it had been bustling with students yelling and cheering, now was in almost complete silence, with hushed and hurried whispers. Harry was feeling a bit uncomfortable, but he was looking forward to hearing the Sorting Hat. It has seemed like years since he's heard the great lyrical hymns that erupt from the hat before separating the first years into their houses. But as Harry began to take his seat, Hermione jogged by and grabbed him by the arm, pulling him outside the two large doors leading to the Great Hall.

Hermione let go of Harry's arm, and took a deep sigh. "Harry, you do trust me right?" she said. Harry, puzzled, said, "Of course, when has their been a time when I haven't?" Hermione took another deep sigh. "I think there is something you need to know about me and Ron, and what we've been up to lately." Harry, oddly enough, was a little red in the ears. He seemed a bit more upset, but he couldn't understand why for the life of him. "I think I know what it is," Harry muttered. "Really?" Hermione whispered. "Who told you? I mean, it was supposed to be a surprise for you." she continued. Harry let it out. "Surprised? Why in the world who I be surprised about something like that?" he bellowed. Hermione took a step back, cleary surprised about Harry's outburst. She quickly regained her composure. "Well, we knew that you got your Apparation license over the summer, so we wanted to surprise you with ours." Hermione pulled out her Apparation license, her teeth grinned as the moving picture showed her face, in all kinds of funny expressions. It seems the Department of Apparation employees have a sense of humor. Harry looked at the card, and then slowly, let out a chuckle similiar to that of someone who knew they had said the dumbest thing, or thought the dumbest thought. "I...see." Harry chuckled. "Congradulations, I just wished you would of told me earlier, that's the reason behind my outburst." he continued. Hermione showed a sort of devilish grin, where she said "We should see what crazy things the Sorting Hat is going to say this year, come on." Hermione and Harry both headed off into the Great Hall to see the ceremonies.

As the students silenced themselves, Headmaster McGonnagall rose reluctancly from the seat that was once the Great Dumbledores. Many Gryffindors shedded some soft tears when McGonnagall rose from the center seat. She walked down and grabbed the Sorting Hat from its casing, and placed it on its fabled stool, and walked back. "We will now sort the first year students." Harry looked around, almost routinely, to hear Draco Malfoy making some ridiculous comment, but quickly realized the truth. That was something Harry hasn't forgotten about since the summer past. The Sorting Hat, finally rose up and began its tune:

Welcome all to Hogwarts,

where wizards become darker,

well, only in harsh Slytherin,

where students are much harsher,

And who cares about Hufflepuff,

those ordinary vermin,

whos head of house, is just a plant,

no talent and no learning,

Yet all nerds flee to Ravenclaw,

Except for young bright Granger,

but they all end up missing dates,

and taking tips from strangers,

And oh alas its Gryffindor!

Without Potter, their a bore,

I will not sort out anyone,

Without Great Dumbledore.

The students all gaped at the Hat, unable to understand what called for the comments just made. McGonnagall stood

among them, stepping up to examine the Hat, which seemed to return to its ordinary self. McGonnagall just stared at the Hat, and them back at the students, until finally walking back to the vacant chair to the left of Dumbledore. She finally spoke. "Alas, Albus, I do not know how you do this. Students in their second to seventh year, please return with your Prefects to your respective Houses, Head Boy and Head Girl, please follow me to my office, Professor Hagrid, please escort the first years in a single file line to my office. I'll deal with the Hat." With that the students, headed off with their Prefects. And Harry, while walking with the other seventh years, let out a big sigh of relief.

Harry Potter and the Girl who Lived. Copyright 2005 Chris Plasterer. All Rights Reserved.