Somewhere

I sat up 3:37am this morning copying out this chapter and the next one ready for you!
You weren't going to get this so early but Dragonsnurse has me over the proverbial barrel and she upped the snit again.... I don't think it can get any higher though!
So in a way you should all thank her and her understanding of how my devious little mind works!
So last one for a day or two and you can have another one maybe wednesday


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“HARRY!” came a cry, seconds before he was struck by a human cannon ball with fuzzy brown hair.

“Ow, Hermione… ribs!” he squeaked as she hugged him.

He’d been stood on the platform at the station for the last half an hour, waiting for the Hogwarts Express to get in. Finally with a toot and a puff of smoke it rolled up and now he was being crushed rather effectively by Hermione. Prying her off him he turned to see Ron coming towards them and behind him he could see Hagrid shepherding the new first years towards the boats.

“Where the hell have you been?!” shouted Hermione, hitting him hard on the arm.

“You were supposed to be coming to mine,” said Ron when he got to them.

“Didn’t Dumbledore tell you?” he asked.

“He just told us that you were safe and not to worry,” replied Hermione.

“I’ll tell you everything later but right now we need to get a carriage before they’re all gone,” he said dragging them towards the rows of carriages.

Eventually they found an empty one and clambered inside. A few seconds later a scaly head poked through the window as a thestral started to snuffle at Harry’s hair. Giving it a pat he spoke to Ron and Hermione about the year to come.

“You’re hairs gotten really long but you look good Harry,” she said, used to seeing him in bad shape when he got back at the beginning of each year, pale and malnourished.

“Thanks. My hair’s a lot easier to manage when it’s this long although you do get annoying thestrals trying to eat it,” he said, shooting a glare at the one currently nibbling on a tendril right now.

“Potter,” came a voice making him jump.

Turning he saw Severus stood at the door of the carriage. Back in his usual robes he was in full teacher mode again and Harry had to suppress a grin at remembering some of the things that had happened over the summer.

“Sir?” he asked innocently.

“It would appear that all of the other carriages are full. I wondered if I might be able to ride with you and your… friends?” he sneered.

“Certainly Sir,” he smiled, moving along the bench so that the other man could sit down next to him.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome Sir. Did you have a good summer?” he smiled.

“Bearable. I had somewhat of a pest problem,” he muttered, making Harry snort into his hand as the carriages jolted forward on their way up to the castle.

“Oh.”

“Yes. Just what is so funny Potter?” he asked with a raised brow.

“Nothing Sir, nothing,” he snickered while Ron and Hermione watched the strange play of events, oblivious to the underlying message.

They travelled the rest of the journey in silence, again reminding Harry of some of the evenings he’d spent at the cottage with Severus, sat in front of the fire doing his homework or reading a book in silence. Finally the carriages stopped and they got out, Harry, Ron and Hermione entering the great hall through the huge front doors and Severus leaving them to enter at the back through the teachers entrance. Settling onto a bench about halfway down the hall they looked at the faces around them. As with every year since the incident at the Tri-Wizard cup, there were some people missing. People they knew, people they didn’t, friends, family, enemies. Every year more and more lives were lost. He’d win this war, for everyone here, for every parent and child, every lover, every friend and enemy, every one that had lost someone and every witch, wizard and muggle. He’d win it for Severus, for the hope of happiness and a dream of love.

Soon enough the new first years appeared with Professor McGonagall at the head of the procession. As usual the sorting hat was placed at the front of the hall on a stool. Unlike in previous years he wasn’t subjected to the stares of the nervous new first years, what with his hair covering his scar and with having his eyes fixed last year he was also minus his trademark glasses. As they watched the hat began its song.


“Every year I sort you
into the house that’s best,
but rivalry is rife within
to that I do not jest.
The houses must unite as one
for danger’s oh so near,
but if we work together
there is no need to fear.
Gryffindor is brave and strong
and with the enemy in sight,
they will do all they can
to try and win the fight.
Ravenclaw is full of smarts
they will help you form a plan,
if you ask them for advice
they’ll do whatever they can.
Hufflepuffs are kind and loyal
always there for a friend,
so if you need some love and help
on them you can depend.
Slytherins can be wicked it’s true
of that there’s no denying,
but their cunning can be helpful too
so be friends with them, it’s well worth trying.
All together we’ll beat this evil
with the help of friends and family,
and with our saviour at the front of the fight
maybe soon we’ll all live happily.
Now that’s over, my song is done
take into account my warning,
be good to each and form new bonds
and look to the new world that’s dawning.”


Harry dropped his head to the table with a thud and a groan at the mention of their ‘saviour’. There were a few claps that petered out into an awkward silence. Everyone seemed unsure of how exactly to take this so called warning. The uneasy quiet was broken however when Professor McGonagall called the first name.

“Anderson, Andrew,”

a tall lanky boy with longish blonde hair detached himself from the crowd and made his way up to sit on the stool. He was visibly shaking when the hat was put on his head and a few seconds later an answer filled the hall.

“Hufflepuff.”

With a sigh of relief he jumped off the stool, almost taking the hat with him, ran to the Hufflepuff table and took his seat, amid claps, cheers and pats on the back. As they sat and watched Harry could see two young girls stood next to each other, holding one another's hands. When one was called for, the other had to nudge her forward.

“Foster, Alexandra.”

The girl with shoulder length black hair was pushed to the front by her friend. Slowly she walked to the stool and sat down, Professor McGonagall placing the hat on her head. It took a few minutes for the hat to make a decision and Harry had to sympathise with her.

“Slytherin.”

Taking a look at her friend she put the hat back on the stool and moved nervously towards the Slytherin table. Soon enough it was her friends turn to sit on the stool.

“Rowinski, Natasha.”

The hat had barely touched her head when its answer rang around the hall.

“Ravenclaw.”

“No!” came a cry from across the room.

Her friend had stood up as was looking distraught at the fact that they had been separated. She just looked at her and smiled though, moving to sit at her new house table. That image of those two friends would stay with Harry for a long time to come. This was happening all over, friends and family being torn apart because of one mad man’s quest for glory and ever lasting life. It was just one more reason for him to win this war quickly. As the last person finally took their seat Dumbledore stood up to make his speech.

“Welcome everyone to a new year. I have only one thing to say to you… enjoy!” he said with a clap of his hands as the tables filled with food,

Beside him Ron dug in, piling his plate high with food. Reaching out to put some beef and potatoes on his plate he caught the roll that Seamus threw at him. Although Severus was a great cook, he’d missed the atmosphere here, although at the same time he was already starting to miss the other man’s company. Risking a quick glance he saw that he was deep in conversation with Dumbledore and he smiled.

“So what did you get up to over the summer that was so important that you couldn’t come to mine for your birthday?” asked Ron.

“I was training. I can’t tell you here so I’ll tell you later ok?” he said.

“Sure, whatever but I want to know every little detail, ok?” came a reply.

“Not every one you won’t,” he mumbled under his breath. With a sigh he thought about the year to come and with that in mind, he joined the idle chatter around him.


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to the reviwers..... *snore* zzzzzzzzz

ladyroo 88 -- lol isn't a lemondrop loving mouse just cute?! harry/sev get together in 4 or 5 chapters and counting!

Dragonsnurse -- at this rate knowing what's going to be tied to my bed i'm not going to go and pick my results up!! it's TWINS roderick! ahahahaha *laughs her ass off... literally* oops my bad! lol yeah well i don't have to worry about college too much at the min but things will slow down if i get in to do my degree so i'm making up for it a bit now!
as for him exploring his powers, i didn't really do that enough after a point in my other one so i've learnt from my mistakes... besides it's dead fun to wright! i added you to the mailing list as well

Mie -- lol you should see me dancing! i love dancing but i tend to dad dance. it's like 'everyone please stand back. warning white girl dancing!!' lol as for the little button.... shhhhhh, it's a secret! harry phoenix tears isn't something i'd thought about actually.... although that may bequire further investigation... in fact i think you may have just solved a problem for me!! *glomps you* squeeee!

mis -- sorry no sevvie in this chapter or the next one but after that i think he's in all or at least most of them and i don't think i'd ever get used to JD... urgh i just got reminded of this 78% proof rum i tried at the bar one night... it was the strongest thing they had... made me gag! ick!

Amanda Rose -- I'd do the tango with him anywhere! in a morgue for all i care!! lol bunny ears! i might try and work that in now just for you lol. first kiss in 4/5 chappys

kunitso -- thankies :D i've enjoyed writing this one so much and i haven't got tired of it unlike with the other one which kind of became a chore to wright. the harry/sev intreaction and training scenes were my favorites to do though. as for ron and hermiones reactions... you'll have to wait and see!

bumblebee -- lol i likely won't put 'IMHBL' up for quite a while as it needs to HEAVY editing! if i put it back up though i'll let you know! as for dancing singing rickman... OMG i forgot sweeney! i spent the entire film soing 'sing dammit sing!' i have it on my MP3 player... and the whistly bit as a ringtone on my phone... and i have him as my wallpaper... yeah little obsessive but never mind!


anyway enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think of the hat's song
i was really unhappy with the last bit for a long time but i managed to change it last night so that it fits better now so i hope it's alright!

R&R please!