Disclaimer: I don't own Hp and Co., but if I did I think I would be in Heaven.

A/N: Ello lovely's great news, I am revamping the story to maybe inspire myself and find the direction for the story that I seem to have lost. So here you go Chapter one…may the rest of the story come to me quickly.

Harry Potter sat on the steps outside the Dursley's home. Petunia Dursleys was not happy about it as evident by her constant peeping through the current. And he could still hear the ranting of Uncle about those freaks coming to his house and the neighbors seeing their abnormalness. His trunk was sitting beside him as was Hedwig's cage, while he waited for some one –anyone- to rescue him from his own personal hell. Harry shifted uncomfortably on the cold cement stair. All summer thoughts of Sirius and images of the man falling through the veil had filled his tormented mind. Guilt and blame had settled it's self in his stomach making it churn like he was ill. Harry's heart was so heavy with emotions he thought he would never feel free again. No matter what anyone said he was to blame for Sirius' death, even if that bloody house elf Kreacher had lied to him. It was still his fault, he knew he should have thought his actions though, but Sirius was the only true family he had. Who wouldn't rush into danger to save someone they loved?

With another uncomfortable shift his thoughts of Sirius changed into thoughts of Dumbledore. The man had kept a lot of information from Harry, information that could have saved Sirius. Harry wasn't sure how he felt about the headmaster; he was another small link to his parents. But was being thrown into crazy situations every year worth the few memories of Harry's parents Dumbledore may or may not share with him? For years the man had kept information from him that would have saved the boy a lot of run-ins with Voldermort. Not that fighting Voldermort was something Harry could avoid; he was the boy-who-lived after all. They did have a history, and would forever be connected to each other. Harry shifted again, uncomfortable on his perch and with his thoughts. Harry was unsure if staying under Dumbledore's controlling thumb would be safe. For 5 years now he had been put in dangers path and if could only pray that this year would be different. He didn't want to dread going back to Hogwarts.

Harry's heart and thoughts lightened a bit as he pictured Hogwarts. He could see the lake, and the forbidden forest, Hagrid's hut with fang out sit barking happily at the crows. Harry could see Ron and Hermione sitting at the fire place arguing. Ron and Hermione are his best friends. At least that's how he thought of them, but maybe they no longer felt the same way. He hadn't heard from them all summer. No surprise really, they had gotten together as a couple recently, much to everyone's relief. Gryffindor tower couldn't handle another year of rows, and tears, they had barely survived the last one. What hurt the most was finding out in a letter from Remus. The werewolf had written him almost daily, not that Harry had written back, he couldn't face the blame or disappointment from the man who was his father's best friend. In fact the boy-who-lived hadn't written to anyone all summer not even Ginny. No one seemed to think he was in danger, though, because no one came to check on him, and surprisingly he didn't even have a guard on him. Not that it mattered; he barely left his room only coming out when he had no choice.

The teen sighed again, he had been waiting for an hour and still no one had come to take him to Hogwarts. It looked like he was truly on his own this year. Not even the headmaster could be bothered to make sure he arrived at the school safely. Vernon and Petunia were taking Dudley shopping for a new Smelting's uniform but Harry knew they would never willingly give him a ride to the train station. And since he wasn't seventeen yet he could use magic to force them to give him a lift. The whale like boy, named Dudley, had grown out of his current one, making this the 4th trip for a uniform this summer. The thought made Harry chuckle for a moment. His laughter died when he heard movement behind the front door he was sitting in front of. Harry stood up quickly when the front door of Number 4 Privet Drive opened.

"None of those freaks come to get you yet? Figures they wouldn't want you either. Hope you aren't expecting to stay here for the school year." Vernon said looming over the boy on his front stairs.

"Of course I don't want to stay here with you lot. Can't you just give me a lift to the station on your way to the store?" Harry asked.

Vernon eyed him for a moment. "You'll load that trunk yourself and keep that bloody bird quiet."

"Yes Uncle Vernon." Harry replied automatically, as he moved quickly out of his uncle's way. Harry dragged his trunk to the car and loaded it in as quickly as possible, before he slid into the back seat.

The drive into London seemed shorter then it usually was, not that Harry paid much attention to scenery. Before Harry knew it he was standing outside the train station watching Vernon drive off. Harry mentally rolled his eyes and began pulling his trunk through the station to platform 9 ¾, Hedwig hooting in her cage as she was jostled about. With a deep breath he steeled himself for whatever lied on the other side of the wall before him.

After stepping through the barrier between the muggle station and the wizarding one, Harry once again got lost in thought. Surprisingly, his thoughts did not go straight to Sirius but back to his friends. Harry was upset that they hadn't written him at all this summer; Ron hadn't even invited him to the burrow for a stay. His thoughts made him feel even more alone then he had before. Perhaps Ron had been waiting for a letter from Harry, and since Harry hadn't written him it was just a big misunderstanding. As he continued to make his way down the platform, his loneliness was made stronger when he noticed the other students talking to their family and friends. A pang his rippled through his heart at the loss of his godfather and parents. Still lost on though the teenage boy kept walking unaware of where he was going.

Harry was startled when he collided with a warm body and was unable to stop himself from falling to the ground.

"Watch where you are going, Potter."

Harry sighed at the drawling voice he knew so well. "I'm sorry Malfoy, it won't happen again." Harry said focusing on the shocking blonde hair when he looked up at the other boy from his spot on the ground. The raven-haired boy picked himself off the ground and brushed the dirt and dust from his clothes.

Ignoring the glare he knew Draco Malfoy was throwing his way, Harry moved away from the blonde boy and continued down the platform attempting to put as much space as he could between himself and Malfoy. Harry boarded the train and sighed in relief when he found an empty compartment away from where his year normally sat . After putting his trunk away and getting Hedwig settled, Harry sat down next to the window. He watched the other students still bidding goodbye to their families. And the familiar pang of emptiness and loss rippled through him again. That's what Harry had wished for since he could remember, a family of his own, the one thing in the world that he could not make for himself.

He spent most of the train ride alone in silence, for which he was grateful. He was even more relieved when Ron and Hermione hadn't come looking for him. The last thing he needed was another lecture from 'Moine about how thin he had gotten and the silent fuming of Ron for not writing him and making Hermione worry. Sometimes he just couldn't take her mothering or his jealously and anger. The compartment door slid open, startling Harry from his thoughts . The boy stood up quickly, and drew his wand, pointing at the person who opened the door.

"It's only me Harry. No need to hex me or anything. I'm sorry if I startled you. I was trying to get away from Hermione; she was lecturing me about asking Ginny on a date. Seems to think I fancy the girl or something. If only she knew. Mind if I sit down and hide for a while?" Neville said stepping into the compartment door way, waiting on a response from the other boy.

Harry dropped his wand, at Neville's words and gave the boy a small smile. "Sorry Neville. It's just a reaction. With meeting Voldermort every year, you sort of have to be prepared for the worst. You understand, don't you? It's nothing personal, I swear." Harry said almost pleading with the boy to understand.

Neville sat down and motioned for Harry to do the same. "Of course I understand, Harry. Well not about the meeting Voldermort part, but I understand about being prepared. It's very important to have those skills. I could never be that ready for anything. I am bit clumsy you see, its genetic I think. Gram always says the only thing I got from Dad was his klutziness. No matter though, how was your summer Harry? Did you stay with Ron at the Burrow? Why are you sitting alone? I thought for sure you would be with Ron and Hermione. Not that I blame you for getting away from them for a while. They are really unbearable at times; the whole lot of them is really. Hermione's always going on and on about education and the latest book she has read .Sometimes you just don't care about what happened in Hogwarts 20 years ago. She needs to get out more. And now that Ron and she are dating, it's ridiculous really how much they fight. And they fight over nothing really. Oh I'm sorry Harry I was rambling." Neville finished with a blush.

Harry smiled at him and said. "It's alright Nev. I think they are unbearable at times too. My summer was all right. How was yours? Do anything exciting? I didn't stay with Ron at the Burrow. He didn't invite me actually. But no matter, I wasn't much in the mood for friends you see., what with Sirius falling through the veil and all. As for sitting alone, I didn't want to be smothered by Moine. You know how she gets. And I'm sure Ron is upset with me as well for not writing him all summer."

Neville nodded his agreement at Harry's statement. The two boys were quiet for a while, neither one knowing what to say. Neville was the first to speak again. "Harry have you ever learned something about someone you thought you knew, but it turned out you really didn't know them at all. Not a secret really, but like you thought someone was one way and turns out they were another way completely."

Harry frowned, "What do you mean Neville?"

"Let's take Ron for instance. Let's say you know everything there is to know about him and you know he's a certain type of person. And then one day you learn something about him, something that doesn't seem to fit the type of person you thought he was. You learn something that changes how you not only see him, but yourself as well. Have you ever been in that situation?" Neville asked.

"I'd like to say I haven't but I think I have. With Dumbledore for instance, he seemed to be this big powerful wizard who knew everything. I thought he was the best thing in the world; that I could always count on him for anything, that he would always tell me the truth. And then last year when Sirius died, I found out he had been keeping things from me. I was so shocked. The person I looked up to all these years had lied to me. I guess it made me look at others and myself differently. I began to question who was telling me the truth and who wasn't. Are you talking about something like that?" Harry asked Neville.

"Yes, I am. How do you get over that? How do you move on?" Neville asked looking out the train window at the moving skyline,

Harry looked at the boy across from him and replied, "I don't think you can Neville. I mean you can move on sure, but I don't think you would ever be able to see that person the way you did before."

"Thanks Harry, you gave me a lot to think about." Neville said keeping his gaze on the country side zooming past the window.

Harry was worried about Neville, the boy seemed more reserved then he usually was. And the questions he had asked were deep and emotional things. Harry was confused and worried that perhaps something was going on with Neville. He vowed to be a better friend to the other young wizard and to watch him in case something happened, not that it would mind you. But one could never be sure what the future held. Harry continued to watch Neville as train continued to Hogwarts.

Neville's thought didn't stay in one place; they were a jumbled mix of feelings and people. If one were to go inside Neville's head, they would most likely get dizzy and fall over from the sudden changes and constant circles his thoughts were in. And Neville felt the same way; he was dizzy and almost ill from the thoughts and emotions churning inside his head. This year was going to be different at school, not only for him but for Harry as well. Neville only hoped it wouldn't turn out for the worst.

Before they knew it the boys the train was arriving at Hogwarts. After getting into the horseless carriages and arriving at the school, they were glad to step into the warmth of the Great Hall. The two boys sat away from the other 6th years without a word to each other, causing their classmates to give them funny looks and wonder what was going on. The 6th years had always sat with each other even when a two of them were fighting.

The two boys were silent as they watched the new first years being sorted. After the last first year was sorted and McGonagall went to remove the hat from it's stool something strange happened, the sorting hat refused to be removed from its perch. The entire hall was surprised when the Sorting Hat began to speak again.

"Six years ago I sorted a group of 1st years like I always do

When we parted I realized sadly I was blue.

For the first time in all my years I made a grave mistake

I allowed some students to have and eat their cake

I thought long and hard about the results that came

And now I realize the fights within the halls are all my blame.

So come back up when I call your name and get sorted once more

Perhaps this decision will aid in the end of war

This time you will go where you belong

And never again will I be wrong."

When the hat was done with its song the great hall was dead silent unsure of what the hat was talking about. Professor McGonagall was looking at Dumbledore for direction on what to do next, but Dumbledore seemed just as confused as the rest of the school.

After what seemed like hours, the Hat opened up and called out it's first name, "Neville Longbottom!"