It was 10pm when Harry chose to knock on his father's door.

"Harry didn't we have words about this?" Snape stated answering the door, "you were meant to spend tonight in Gryffindor tower with the others so that you will be ready for it as of tomorrow. I can't allow you to stay tonight with me." It was hard for Snape to take this stand but as pointed out by McGonagal earlier that day, it would be easier on Harry if there were less people in his dorm the first night he spent away from Snape's quarters.

"I know you did Dad, but I just wanted to say thank you for everything you have given me this summer and I didn't think I'd have another chance to say so," he said and he gave Snape a hug.

Snape just stood there, in his doorway in total shock for a minute before allowing himself to wrap his arms around his son.

"Now go to bed son!" Snape stated with a mock furious glance in his direction. Harry smiled at Snape saying "I will goodnight see you tomorrow!"

"Remember son,"Snape said seriously, "you can't see me until I can arrange it but I will let you know when that might be. So it most likely won't be tomorrow,. But you'll be so busy anyway you won't have time to miss me. Here you're going to need this." He handed Harry a signed copy of the Hogsmeade form. "give it to Professor McGonagal when she asks for it."

Harry threw himself at Snape holding him tight and Snape held him for a minute knowing that the boy needed the comfort and reassurance of his ongoing love if only for a minute. "Now off you go," Snape stated letting go and walking back into his study.

Harry walked away with a smile knowing that he would be up with the others Fred and George had managed to get some marshmellows and naquio (a sort of wizarding bread that was lovely on a stick over a fire as Harry soon discovered) and they all sat in the common room talking about plans for the new year and how the summer had turned out whilst roasting food over the fire. Hermione had cleverly bewitched the sticks to go light themselves in the fireplace which left her arms open to hold Ginny and chatting with Ron til they all fell asleep in front of the fire in the late hours of the morning.

"Come on children, come on quick now!" Molly Weasley was standing by the door and a few of the others were sitting around the room chatting happily.

"Oh you poor dear, did you fall asleep next to the fireplace?" Molly said as Harry stood up and she started to wipe down his clothes. "Oh and Hermione, I ran into your parents just outside Diagon Alley, Arthur wanted to show me some things, you know how he is with muggle gadgets. Well of course I helped them through and we had a great cup of coffee together and your parents bought this beautiful creature for you! Harry your father has already sent your supplies on."

Hermione squealed with delight as a beautiful ginger cat jumped down from Molly's shoulder and started rubbing itself against Hermione's leg. She stroked it gently as happy as any child could be.

"Ronald, you were trying to help him up? How lovely!" Molly said with a knowing smile. She had a feeling that the two boy s had fallen asleep next to the fire together but now was not the time to be upset with them for it. It was the time to get them all off on the train to Hogwarts. "Your things have already been sent onto the train, all that remains is for you to return by portkey, you remember how to get there still boys?"

"Yes mother," Fred said, "you only told us five times over breakfast."

"And before you ask," added Fred, "yes we will make sure that everyone gets to Hogwarts safely. Sheesh!"

Molly looked concerned for a while but swept it away with a smile. "Ok boys then lead the way!"

She watched as they all went through the floo network. They weren't the only ones that had chosen that particular way of transportation that day as several wizarding families were walking from the fire room through to the platform that day. They just followed the others onto the train and started to look for a compartment.

But being slightly late didn't help matters and the only compartment that they could find had an older man already sleeping inside it.

"I don't think he'd mind," Hermione said, "he's a teacher."

"How do you know?" Harry asked.

"Because it's there on his suitcase," Ginny answered, "Professor Remus Lupin,"

"Oh," said a slightly embarrassed Harry. Ron just shrugged.

"Hey Fred! George! In here!" Lee called from another carriage. The twins chose to join them in their compartment, after all the others were on the train now and there was little that could happen on the Hogwarts Express…wasn't there?

Hermione sat calmly against the window wrapping her arms around Ginny until the owl post arrived pecking at her window delivering a newspaper to her. She calmly paid it and took the newspaper from its little carry bag and opened it. On the front page was a picture of Sirius Black, recent dangerous escapee from Azkaban prison.

"Dad mentioned that I was to have nothing to do with him," Harry said, "although I don't know what I'd want with a murderous lunatic,"

Ron shrugged, "maybe he's just being protective Harry, my parents can be like that too."

"Yeah and," Hermione said standing up to find her carry on bag to put the newspaper away. Her new cat, Crookshanks, had sat up and started hissing and spitting at the window as the train suddenly came to a stop.

"Huh what?" a tired Ginny said, "it can't be, we haven't…we can't be there yet why is the train stopping?"

The answer was soon found when Hermione said "oh my goodness look!" and pointed out the window, "something is moving!" A black figure soon appeared at their carriage door towering over the top of them. All the fur on Crookshanks neck stood up as it jumped off yowling at the creature but it ignored the cat as it leaned over Harry getting closer and closer.

Harry couldn't help it he started thinking of his mother, of how he wished she was still there and how he missed her. All the bad things that had ever happened to him started flashing before his eyes and a woman's SCREAM before he passed out.

"Harry! Oh my god Harry!" Ron grabbed him holding him close to him before he hit the floor and the professor jumped up holding his wand in front of him.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" he yelled a white light emmited from his wand and started moving towards the creature pushing it away.

"That was a dementor, fiersome creature, here have some chocolate, it will make you feel better," Lupin said giving Harry a block of chocolate from his robes. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go speak with the conductor." He left the room leaving the children to make their way to Hogwarts alone.

A few games of exploding snap later and munching on some sugar free crisps that Hermione had brought with her from home as well as sharing some of the block of chocolate between them and they were at the horseless carriages of Hogwarts. Watching other students getting onto the stage coaches. "Oh this is enough!" Ginny said getting impatient. "Oh look guys there's this one it just has Luna in it I'm sure we can squeeze in!"

Whilst there were just four spots in the carriage Hermione did a quick enlargement charm and there was enough room for all whilst still not having any extra wait for the horses. Watching Hermione cast her spell Ginny smiled still finding the young witches talents truly incredible.

"Your Harry Potter!" Luna said looking at Harry's scar. This was a common reaction from a lot of people and at times Harry found it quite frustrating. "Yes I am so what?"

Luna shrugged. "Don't mind her Harry she means nothing of it, everybody this is Luna Lovegood, she's in Ravenclaw, we've had several classes together, but of course we won't be having any together anymore. Luna they passed me onto third year!"

"That's nice," Luna said turning her copy of the quibbler upset down, "hope you don't make the swirling pixies angry," and staring at the page. Ron pointed at her and indicated with his finger that he thought she was a little crazy. But Harry found her fascinating as she seemed to be speaking of pixies, something Mel had mentioned to him at one time, but swirling pixies he hadn't heard of. But he figured there must be several different types of pixies in the world after all there were a few different kinds of gnomes. They completed the trip in silence with Ginny absent mindedly rubbing Hermione's hand and looking out the window.

Harry soon followed Ron into the great hall and they sat at the Gryffindor table and waited for Professor Dumbledore to start making the announcements.

"As always you are reminded that the dark forest is out of bounds to all students. Professor Grubbly Plank, has chosen to retire at the end of last year due to unforseen family issues and has therefore been replaced by none other than our groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid!" A loud explosion of applause erupted from all but the Slytherin classes. Harry overheard Malfoy stating "they have HIM! Teaching classes! Wait til my father finds out about this!" Harry turned with a face full of furry the giant man had only ever been so kind to him (at least the one time he remembered seeing him!)

Malfoys face went ashen white completely shocked to see Harry there.

"You alright scarhead?" Malfoy asked loudly, "I heard you actually fainted on the train! Your pathetic! Ooooh the big scary dementor is coming to get me oooooh! Pfft fainted!" That was quickly echoed by the guffaws of his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.

"And further to this I would like us all to welcome our new defence against the dark arts teacher!" Dumbledore stated quieting the murmers of conversation, "Professor Remus Lupin! Who has graciously chosen to take on the job." Dumbledore started to clap and was joined in quickly by the rest of the students at the assembly although the Slytherins did not seem to show much enthusiasm copying the behaviour of their head of house, Snape, who was sitting next to the professor with a look that screamed that he would rather be seated anywhere else in the world than where he was.

Harry was surprised to see his father looking like that at anybody but he thought he'd just ask about it later and finished his dinner listening to Ron talk about how his favourite quidditch team had been going across the summer. Having a highly animated conversation with Dean who went for an opposing team. "I don't know where he gets off thinking that anybody but the canons are going to take the cup this season!" Ron stated as he walked towards the dorms with Harry.

"Hello Weasel!" Draco Malfoys voice sounded from nearby "and Potter," he pointed his wand at Harry's chest. "What? Is paradise too good for you? I thought you would be far away from here by now. It's so difficult to get an old charm to stick!"

"What on earth are you on about Malfoy!" Ron said angrily.

"Mr Malfoy," a silky voice said from behind, "a word if you will. Harry I shall summon you for your detention later this evening."

Snape had been standing right behind them and heard the entire conversation. His heart beat quickly as the words fell from Draco's mouth. Son of Lucius and Narcissa could he expect anything else? But the biggest question of all was how to extract the information from Draco without divulging the relationship that he had with Harry.