Harry Potter and the Fight For Freedom

The rest of the summer was spent cleaning headquarters and reviewing criteria that they learned in their sixth year. August twenty fourth was a day of celebrating as that was the day Bill and Fleur got married. The day turned out to be more than they could have hoped for; the weather was perfect with just the occasional cloud to offer a brief respite from the glaring late summer sun to the gathered crowd. As well the ceremony itself went off flawlessly. The reception that followed went on well into the night and all present seemed to have enjoyed themselves despite the ever present loom of impending war. The eastern horizon was starting to show a light greenish tinge before the last of those staying at the lake house finally conceded defeat to their exhaustion and made their way to their respective sleeping quarters. The last week of summer was spent playing a few exciting games of Quidditch and a few afternoons on the lake.

“Come on you two, get up. Don’t make us dump water on you again.” Hermione said.
Harry and Ron got sluggishly out of bed. It was 10 o’clock; one hour till the Hogwarts Express left the station.
“Hurry up, get dressed and trunk packed and get down here.” Mrs. Weasley yelled up the stairs.
Ron and Harry searched their entire room for their textbooks, robes and other things. Ten minutes later Ron and Harry with their packed trunks and their owl in their cages went downstairs. They put the owls and the trunks by the door with Hermione’s and Ginny’s ad went into the kitchen. Hurry up and eat, let’s try not to be late for once.” Mrs. Weasley said putting a plate of eggs and toast in front of them.

Half an hour later they were running through Kings Cross Station towards the stone barrier between platforms nine and ten.
“Hurry up, Hermione, Ginny, you two first” Mrs. Weasley said as they reached the barrier.
Hermione and Ginny ran at the barrier and disappeared.
“Ron, Harry you’re next” she said.
Ron and Harry ran right into the barrier and disappeared through it with Mrs. Weasley right behind them. They were greeted on the other side by Moody and Tonks.
“What are you guys doing here?” Ron asked when he saw them.
“Seeing you off of course, what else would we be doing here?” Tonks said
“Now you guys be careful this year, no running off and sticking you nose into places where it doesn’t belong” Moody growled “You guys work together and watch each other’s backs, understand.”
“We understand” they all said together
“No go” Tonks said as the clock chimed 11 o’clock
“Stay out of trouble this year” Mrs. Weasley yelled after them
“We will” they shouted over their shoulders
Harry, Ron and Hermione boarded the train a waved till could no longer see Moody, Tonks or Mrs. Weasley.
“Well come on, let’s find Ginny. She saved us a compartment. Hermione said turning and heading down the corridor.
They found Ginny in a compartment a few doors away, but surprisingly she wasn’t alone.
“Hey Luna” Hermione said
Luna Lovegood was sitting by the window across from Ginny. She was reading the Quibbler the same was she was reading when they first met her in their fifth year, upside down.
“Hello” Luna replied without looking up from her magazine.
Ginny got up and sat down between Hermione and Luna while Harry and Ron took the seat opposite them.

Harry and Ron spent most of the ride playing chess and much to the surprise of Hermione a bit of reviewing. Hermione, Ginny, and Luna also did a bit of reviewing but mostly just sat there chatting among themselves having fits of laughter now and then.
“Look if you guys keep laughing like that, we’re going to make you tell us what is so funny, alright?” Ron said annoyed
Just then the compartment door opened and the trolley lady was standing in the doorway.
“Interested in anything off the trolley?” she asked
They all looked at the trolley.
“I’ll take three pumpkin pasties, two chocolate frogs and one box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans” Harry said standing up and extracting his money from his pant’s pocket.
Five minutes later everyone was settled back down in their seats with their goodies carrying on with either chatting or playing chess. Half an hour later all the peace and happiness had departed from the compartment with the arrival of Malfoy.
“What are you doing here Malfoy?” Harry demanded drawing out his wand.
“What’s the matter Potter? Paranoid” asked Malfoy with a smirk
“Leave Malfoy, now.” Harry said pointing his wand at Malfoy.
“No I think we’ll stay here a little longer.” He said pulling out his own wand.
“Malfoy, don’t think I wont do it, cause I will. Also your pathetic mother isn’t here to protect you” Harry said
“Why you little…”
Draco raised his wand and brought it down like a whip. Blood spotted the windows and wall, Harry staggered backwards and hit the wall sliding to the floor. Screams from the girls filled the compartment.
“Well Potter, you have no protection either now that Sirius and Dumbledore are…” Draco never finished what he was going to say, as both Ginny and Hermione at the exact same moment spun around and punched him in the face, knocking him out cold.
“What do you want?” Hermione asked Crabbe and Goyle who were standing in the corridor with shocked expressions on their faces.
Crabbe and Goyle shook their heads, grabbed Draco and dragged him away back to their compartment. Hermione turned back to Harry who was still sitting on the floor against the wall. He had blood all over his face, hands and clothes.
“Here Harry let me look at it” Hermione said kneeling down next to Harry. Harry had on his check a long deep gash.
“You’ll have to see Madame Pomfrey when we get to Hogwarts.” Hermione said pulling out her wand. “For now put this on the cut and hold it there.” Hermione conjured up a bandage and handed it to Harry.

About half an hour later the train pulled into the Hogsmeade station. They got off the train and grabbed a carriage.
“Ginny save us a seat, Ron grabbed Harry’s robes off the seat next to you.” Hermione told them while she helped a slightly light headed Harry out of the carriage. “Wait, Ginny go to the Professors table and get Madame Pomfrey, I doubt she’ll be in the Hospital wing and notify Professor McGonagall of what has happened as soon as possible. We’ll be in the Hospital wing”
Everyone getting out of carriages around them stared at Harry with blood all down the front of his clothes. Those who saw him last year running with blood on his robes wondered if he had attacked anyone again. As Draco passed by with a black eye he shot Harry a smirk while Pansy gave Hermione a very cold glare and continued on with Draco. Harry, Hermione and Ron entered the school and made their way towards the hospital wing.
“What are you three doing here? And why Potter, are you not in your school robes?” said a voice behind them
All three of them turned around to face a stern looking Professor McGonagall who had just come out of her office behind the stone gargoyle holding a stool and a very old patched hat with a rip near the brim which all three of them recognized as the Sorting Hat. The stern look on McGonagall’s face was replaced by a look of shock when Harry turned around.
“Dear God Potter! What happened? McGonagall exclaimed
“Malfoy attacked me on the train.” Harry told her
“Well, I’ll personally deal with Mr. Malfoy later. Looks like you’re going to need Madame Pomfrey,” McGonagall said
“We sent Ginny to get her” Hermione said
Just then Madame Pomfrey and Ginny came around the corner.
“Good Lord!” Madame Pomfrey exclaimed when she saw Harry “Come, come, I need to look at that.”
“Hermione, Ginny save us some seats, all right?” Harry said
Hermione and Ginny nodded and started to walk off.
“By the way Miss. Granger, you may want to clean your self off,” McGonagall said
Hermione looked down at her robes. She was covered in Harry’s blood from supporting him.
“ Scourgify” she said and all the blood disappeared off her robes.
She smiled back at Harry and continued on with Ginny towards the Great Hall.

Ten minutes later Harry and Ron entered the Great Hall. They found Hermione and Ginny sitting somewhere near the middle of the long Gryffindor table.
“So what have we missed?” Ron asked
“Nothing,” Hermione said casually
“Nothing?” Harry asked surprised “Not even the Sorting?”
“Nope, the first years haven’t even arrived yet. So no first years no Sorting” Ginny said
Then like they were waiting for the que, the Great Hall doors opened and in walked the first years led by…
“Wait a minute” Harry whispered
Harry looked up at the staff table, where Dumbledore used to sit was Professor McGonagall.
“Lupin accepted the position” said Harry
Sure enough there leading the young, frightened first years was Lupin.
‘Well I guess its back to calling ‘Professor Lupin’” Ron joked
‘Now will you all line up in front of the steps.” They heard Professor Lupin tell the first years. “When I call your name, you will come up here, sit on the stool and I will place the Sorting Hat on you head.”
Lupin reached inside his robes and pulled out a piece of parchment. He unrolled and began to read the names.
“Alket, John”
A small boy with light brown hair walked up to the stool and Professor Lupin placed the hat on his head.
“I see” the Sorting Hat said. “Yes…Hufflepuff!”
Loud cheer and clapping filled the hall as the boy headed for the Hufflepuff table.
“Baker, Kim” Lupin said reading the next name on the list
A girl with silky wavy hair approached the stool.
”Gryffindor!” The Hat shouted
“Belthis, Calish” Professor Lupin said above the roar of the Gryffindor table.
A boy with black slick hair approached the stool.
‘Reminds somewhat of Malfoy in our first year, all slick, except his hair is blond not black.” Ron whispered.
Just then the Hat shouted “Slytherin.”
Maria Bennet went to Gryffindor while Thomas Kilton went to Ravenclaw.
“I wish it would hurry up, I’m starving” Ron complained.
“Seriously Ron I believe you are the most expensive child your parents ever had, eating every five minutes.” Hermione joked “Is there ever a moment when you not eating?”
Ron thought about that for a moment and then said “When I’m eating”
Hermione shook her head and Harry smiled and looked back towards the Sorting. A girl named Sydney Melstone was just sorted into Slytherin, and Proffesor Lupin was calling the next name off the list.
“Prewitt, Zack”
A boy slightly bigger and meaner looking than the rest, ambled out of the crowd of the remaing first years to be sorted. With no surprise to Harry, Ron, Hermione or Ginny he was sorted into Slytherin. Ron was now imagining that there was food on his plate to keep him from dying from starvation. A girl named Christina Tealton was sent to Hufflepuff as Ron asked Harry to pass the plate of chicken legs.
“He’s off his bloody rocker” Harry whispered to Hermione.
Finally, much to the liking of Ron and many other students, there was one student left to be sorted.
“Zakier, Jamie” The boy walked up to the stool and was soon placed into Gryffindor.
Professor Lupin picked up the stool and the Hat and left. Professor McGonagall stood up.
“I’d like to welcome our new student to Hogwarts and our old student back. There are a few start of term reminders and some announcements but they can wait until after the feast. Enjoy.” McGonagall said
McGonagall sat down and the food appeared on the tables.
“It’s about bloody time” Ron said when he noticed the food in front of him.

The feast went wonderfully; everyone had a great time catching up on gossip and what their friends had done over the summer. After everyone had their fill of supper and dessert, the plates of food cleared away and McGonagall stood up again tapping her glass with the golden spoon on her goblet as usual and said “Could I have everyone’s attention please?”
The hall quieted down and McGonagall spoke. “For some start of term notices and reminders, Mr. Filch has asked me to tell you that for no reason is magic to be done in the corridors between classes. Also for the first years and to some of our older students The Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. Now on to other matters, I will sadly be taking the place as Headmistress as our previous headmaster Albus Dumbledore…” At this she looked directly at Harry “…is unable to do so due to events at the end of lat year. Also taking my place as Deputy Headmaster is our own previous Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Remus Lupin”
Lupin stood up and made a small bow, while many of the students gave a loud round of applause, happy to see him back at the school, even if they knew what he was.
McGonagall smiled, and continued “As I will not be continuing teaching Transfiguration class, I’m happy to introduce Professor Lauren Brackshaw.”
More applause filled the Great Hall as the blonde haired woman stood up, then sat back down.
“Now taking the position of Defense Against Dark Arts is Hogwarts own Potion’s Master, Professor Severus Snape.”
Snape did not stand up, but a sly smile crept across his face. “SNAPE!” Harry shouted so loud that half the hall heard him. “You have got to be kidding” he said lowering his voice after he noticed half of the school looking at him.
“Which means that our new potions teacher is Professor Harlan Hawthorn” McGonagall finished. A man stood up. His looks reminded many of them of Moody, but the expression on his face was more like Lupin. “Now for the last bit of news, The new Head Boy and Girl for this year will be Hermione Granger from Gryffindor and Draco Malfoy from Slytherin”
“Oh no” Hermione groaned, her head slumping down into her hands.
“‘Oh no’ because you head girl or because your head girl with Draco Malfoy?” Ron asked
“Head girl with Malfoy” Hermione said
“And lastly” McGonagall said “Gryffindor is in need of a new Quidditch captain, so I am pleased to announce that the new Quidditch captain is their own seeker Harry Potter.”
A wide smile spread across all their faces at that announcement.
“Harry!” Ron exclaimed “ Quidditch captain. Good job mate” Ron said from across the table.
Hermione gave Harry a hug and kissed him on the check “ Congratulation’s Harry, I know you’ll make a great captain.” She said
The students in the Hall all started to get up and leave. After a few minutes and many flights of stairs, they came to the portrait of the Fat Lady.
“Mandrake root” Hermione said approaching the portrait. The portrait swung open to reveal the hallway leading to the Gryffindor Common room.
‘Welcome home Harry,” Hermione whispered in his ear.