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For the first time since I started attending Hogwarts, our family's departure from the house to Platform 9 ¾ went smoothly. Having learned from previous years, most of my belongings had been packed for weeks. All I had to do to prepare was add a few things the night before and move my trunk downstairs.

I could tell Athena was excited to return to Hogwarts. She had been pretty restless ever since she had 'accidentally' woke me up early this morning.

Soon, it was time to leave. I said my goodbyes to Sasha and Rebecca at the house. They were staying behind with Grandma. Over the past couple of years, we had discovered that the trip to the Hogwarts Express was more relaxed if there were fewer of us.

Making our way outside, Dad summoned the Knight Bus when we got out to the main road. The bus was packed full of families who were also heading to the train station.

When we got to the train station, I kept my eyes out for my friends. With the families at the station, it could be challenging to find one another. Not seeing anyone, I said my goodbyes to my parents and boarded the Hogwarts Express.

I headed to the third rail-car. My friends and I had an understanding that if we didn't see each other on the platform, we would always meet up there. After checking the compartments and not finding my friends, I selected an empty one and slid the door open.

I felt a weight leave my shoulder as Athena hopped off and inspected the seats. Finding a spot on the seats with plenty of sunshine, she curled up and promptly shut her eyes. Athena wasn't too happy with the new collar Dad made her. After destroying the old one at the dueling arena, she needed a new one. Her new bronze collar functioned similarly to her old one. It hid her wings and horns, allowing her to blend in with other cats. However, ever since her growth spurt, anyone who looked at her would know she wasn't a normal cat.

Athena was almost twice the size of a normal house cat. So, Dad took it upon himself to add a new function to her collar. When I put the collar on her for the first time, Athena quickly shrunk to the size of a house cat. It had some sort of a shrinking charm attached to it. As amazing as the collar was, Athena wasn't too happy with it reducing her size. Only after a promise to take it off whenever we were alone did she calm down.

Distracting me from my thoughts was a cheerful voice that had a trace of an Egyptian accent, "Yo Alex,"

Looking up from Athena, I saw a familiar girl with thick black hair and caramel skin smiling down at me. "Alicia," I replied. "It's good to see you. It feels like it's been forever."

Giving me a reproachful look, she scolded with a wagging finger, "If you could pull your head out of those books of yours, you could have visited more during the summer."

A flash of guilt ran through me for ignoring my friends. We had only hung out a few times this summer.

"I'm sorry," I apologized. "I was swamped this summer, between going to France and working with my Dad. I'll make it up to you guys."

Alicia's mock glare faded away, and she grinned, "I was hoping you would say that. You can make it up by playing keeper for me. I need to get some more practice in."

I groaned, "I thought being on the Gryffindor quidditch team meant you would have plenty of people that could help you practice."

"Yeah, but practicing against the same people over and over gets repetitive and boring. It's better to practice against a wide variety of people." She explained.

Sensing my reluctance, she sniffed dramatically, "But, if you're too busy to help a friend in need, I understand."

I rolled my eyes at her antics, "Fine. But, only if the others agree to play as well."

Alicia took a seat next to Athena and scooped her up and started stroking her fur. Shooting me a smile, she replied, "They already have."

It didn't take long before Cedric and Anna arrived. After getting their trunks put away, Cedric asked, "Did you guys hear who was starting school this year?"

Anna and Alicia turned to Cedric in curiosity. Cedric pushed his dark hair away from his grey eyes and whispered, "Harry Potter."

Anna and Alicia's eyes widened, "What?" They said at the exact same time.

"How do you know?" Anna demanded.

"My Dad told me," Cedric explained. "Apparently, it's all anyone has been talking about at the Ministry for the last few months."

Alicia pointed out, "But, those could just be rumors."

Before Cedric could reply, I weighed in, "They're not rumors."

Everyone turned to me for an explanation, and I smirked at their eager faces. I should have expected this. Harry Potter was both an urban legend and hero to the wizarding world.

I can't really blame them for being so curious. The war Voldemort waged was so severe that it touched the lives of nearly every witch and wizard. Naturally, the cause of his defeat would be the topic of wide discussion.

Many people have tried to explain what happened the night Voldemort disappeared. Most people think that Voldemort died and that Harry was responsible. This led to many people speculating about the powers Harry Potter possessed.

Some thought Harry was the second coming of Merlin and was so strong in magic that his magic lashed out and broke Voldemort. Others argued that Harry had unique magical power and was somehow immune to the death curse. There were dozens of theories out there, and they had been the topic at many people's dinner tables.

Of courses, having read the fifth book. I knew the real reason, and it didn't have anything to do with Harry or his magic. The reason Harry survived that night was solely due to his mother's sacrifice. Her love for her son, combined with her willingness to die, enacted an ancient and powerful magic.

It wasn't a real spell like we learn at school. It had more in common with wild and untamed magic, the sort of magic that reads your soul's intent. That night, Lily's soul cried out with every inch of her being to protect and save her son's life. Her love and life fueled the spell, and so, the most potent protective spell in existence took root within Harry.

Curiously, it was the strongest protection spell imaginable, but also the weakest. It was the most powerful because it granted Harry absolute protection from Voldemort. It didn't matter what spell Voldemort tried. They would all be useless against Harry. Voldemort would soon learn this firsthand later this year, even the mere touch of Harry could cause him unimaginable pain, and lead to the disintegration of his vessel, Professor Quirrell.

But, the protective magic also had one gaping hole in its protection. It would do nothing to stop any of Voldemort's followers from acting against him. If Voldemort wasn't so determined to deal with Harry himself, he could have had one of his followers simply kill Harry and be done with it, but I guess it's a good thing for Harry that he doesn't.

For now, the spell lives on. As long as Harry lives with a blood relative of his mother, the protection will last until he reaches the age of 17. Although Voldemort used Harry's blood to resurrect himself and create a new body, he was finally able to get around that restriction. I'm not sure why, but the fifth book seemed to imply that Dumbledore counted on Voldemort using Harry's blood. But, that was a puzzle for another day.

An impatient grunt brought me out of my thoughts to find my friends staring impatiently at me. Anna flicked her blond hair to the side and demanded. "Well, how do you know it's not a rumor?"

Returning her impatient look with a smug smile, I teased, "That's because I met him this summer."

I was content to sit in silence while everyone seemed to process that Harry Potter was coming to Hogwarts. After a minute, Alicia asked, "Well, what was he like?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. He seemed like a normal kid."

Everyone seemed a little disappointed with my response. It can be difficult meeting famous people. Ninety-nine percent of the time, they fail to meet your expectations because, most of the time, you build up an unrealistic image of them that crumbles when you actually meet them.

As the train pulled away from the station, my friends wrote debating what house Harry would end up being sorted. Somewhere along the line, it became a friendly argument of which house was the best, which naturally led right into what quidditch team was the best.

Cedric was so excited about the upcoming year. He had dreams of winning the house cup. I didn't have the heart to tell him that the Gryffindor team was getting ready to acquire a talented seeker, who would also have access to one of the fastest brooms on the market.

Well, fastest for now. If I can get this spell to work and work out a deal with the Cleansweep and Comet Broom Companies. The Nimbus may go from being the fastest to the middle of the pack. Now that I think about it, it will be interesting to see how Harry competes with others when they have faster brooms than him. I suppose he should be fine. He was able to beat Malfoy, even though the Nimbus 2001 was slightly faster than the 2000.

In my opinion, it was completely unfair when he got the Firebolt. He was going up against other seekers whose top speed was 50 to 70 miles per hour slower than him. I made a mental note to make sure Cedric got his hands on a Firebolt. If Harry was going to get one, then it was only fair for my best friend to get one as well. Maybe we'll finally see a fair competition between the two of them.

About midway through the trip, I saw a familiar curly blond-haired kid nervously opening compartment doors, sticking his head in and asking something, only to leave disappointed.

I slid the door open and called out, "Neville."

Neville turned his cherub cheeks towards me. His eyes lit up when he recognized me. We had met a few more times since our first meeting. At each gathering, his grandmother had pushed him towards me. I didn't mind, mostly Neville was quiet, content to listen and observe.

Neville approached our compartment and asked in a desperate voice. "Have you seen a toad? I lost mine. His name is Trevor. He was a gift from my uncle. He keeps getting away from me."

The more Neville spoke, the faster the words tumbled out of his mouth, and he didn't seem like he was going to stop talking. Holding up a hand, I said, "Wow, slow down, Neville."

A hint of red appeared on Neville's round face as embarrassment set in. I had been wondering if this was going to happen. It happened in the books, but you never know.

After shooting a quick glance around the cabin, I said,

"Sorry, Neville, it doesn't look like your toad is here."

As Neville's face fell in disappointment, I pulled out my wand with a smile. "Neville," I chided. "We're wizards. We work smarter, not harder."

I motioned for Neville to sit, and I pointed my aspen wand towards the open door. "Accio Neville's Toad."

It didn't take long before we heard something. The first indication that my spell was working was a high pitched yelp. I had a feeling that someone had nearly been smacked in the face with a fast-moving, floating toad.

Sure enough, a large toad came soaring into the compartment and before it could land on my lap, I snatched it out of the air. Everyone seemed to have a different reaction to the toad. Cedric looked at the toad with interest, but I think that was him just being polite.

Alicia didn't react at all. I guess toads magically entering compartments was just another day for her.

Anna made her feelings on the toad quite clear, "Eww, gross."

Athena, on the other hand, simply licked her lips in anticipation. She gave me a look of betrayal when I returned Trevor to Neville rather than feeding her a snack.

While Neville looked relieved to have Trevor back, I could swear the toad gave me a disgruntled look and seemed to be annoyed that I had used magic to retrieve him. Apparently, I was cheating and interfering with its desire to escape.

I'm not sure why, but I was pretty sure there was a basic intelligence to the toad. Not at a human level, more along the lines of a magical creature. I smirked at the grumpy toad before I looked up at Neville. "You know, there is a spell that will prevent him from leaving your side."

Hope appeared in Neville's blue eyes. "Really? That would be amazing. If I lose him before Christmas, Gran is going to kill me."

I pointed my wand at Neville's toad, who croaked in protest. "Reillgo."

A pale blue tether of light attached itself to Trevor. Once that was done, I snapped my wand towards Neville, and the other end of the tether attached itself to Neville.

"That will keep him within five feet of you," I explained. "It should last until tonight. If you want to dispel it, just tap the tether with your wand and say, "Eximo."

Neville repeated the spell several times, trying to commit the spell and counter-spell to memory. I remembered from the books that Neville sometimes forgot things. So, I pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled the spells down and handed it to him.

Having successfully retrieved his toad, Neville left to rejoin the other first years where the rest of his belongings were. The rest of the trip passed smoothly, and before I knew it, we were at the great hall, waiting for the sorting ceremony to begin. I got my first glimpse at Professor Quirrell and his purple turban.

Although I was sure Voldemort wouldn't be stupid enough to snoop around Professor Dumbledore, it never hurts to be careful. The books described Voldemort as one of the most accomplished Legilimency users in the world, and I was taking no chances. My mental shields were at full strength, and I wasn't planning to lower them this year.

Not wanting to draw his attention, I forced myself to not look in his direction. Luckily, it didn't take long for Professor McGonagall to open the doors to the Great Hall and stride inside, followed by the nervous first years.

At the front of the Great Hall, the frayed and patched sorting hat sat atop a small four-legged stool. Once the first years had gathered in front of the hat, a rip near the brim opened, and the hat began to sing.

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

After the applause was finished, Professor McGonagall strode forward and began to call out names one at a time. Some of the names I recognized from the books, and others I didn't. They were the students who, for whatever reason, didn't make it into the story. There weren't any real surprises during the sorting. The names I recognized were sorted into the houses that I remember from the books. It was nice to see everything was going according to plan.

The only real thing of note was when Harry was sorted. All the students in the Great Hall seemed to hold their breath in anticipation. When the sorting hat called out Gryffindor, their table gave a louder than usual applause, and I could hear Fred and George yelling, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

The rest of the sorting went by smoothly, and before the feast could begin, Professor Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.

"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

"Thank you!"

Most of the students clapped and cheered with grins on their faces. Professor Dumbledore had a gift at making students feel disarmed in his presence. It was hard to view him as anything other than a goofy headmaster when he pulled stunts like that.

Once he was finished, the feast appeared, and everyone dug in. There was nothing quite like the feast at the beginning and end of the term. Knowing that the year's upcoming meals wouldn't offer as many options, I eagerly filled my plate.

As the feast went on, my eyes roamed the Gryffindor table. Sir Nearly-Headless Nick appeared to be speaking with Harry. It seemed as though everything over there was going according to the script.

Seeing Nick made my thoughts turn to the Ravenclaw ghost. Most Hogwarts students assumed she refuses to speak to anyone, but the truth is that she does, just only to Ravenclaw students. She can be particularly helpful if you've lost something or need help finding your way.

I haven't had much interaction with her. I think it was something to do with Athena. Every since she attacked Peeves back in my first year, most ghosts avoid her like the plague.

At last, the desserts too disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.

"Ahem - just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors."

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch."

"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

"Is he serious?" Roger Davis asked in a whisper.

Thoughts of a giant three-headed dog flooded my mind. Turning to Roger, I replied, "Have you ever known Professor Dumbledore to lie."

Across the table, William asked, "What could be so bad in the right-hand side corridor on the third floor that it will kill you?"

Everyone seemed to ponder the question. I couldn't blame them for being curious. It was the first warning of its kind, and judging from the older student's response, they were just as confused. I kept my mouth shut and put the third floor far from my mind. It was none of my business. I already had a full plate to deal with this year, Harry could deal with the stone and Quirrell.

It may sound cruel to leave Harry to face Quirrell and Voldemort. But, this was an essential milestone for Harry. It was the first time he would confront Voldemort face to face. After all, it wouldn't do Harry any good to hold his hand. If Harry had all his problems solved for him, it would turn him into a paper-tiger, which would only lead him to be killed by Voldemort. Besides, as long as everything goes according to plan, nobody will get hurt, well, at least permanently.

Before anyone could start guessing, Professor Dumbledore continues, "And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!"

Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.

"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"

And the school bellowed:

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot, just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot."

Throughout the song, Professor Dumbledore used his wand like he was conducting an orchestra. When it came to an end, most students fell silent, but the Wesley twins dragged out the final line in a low, slow tenor.

Professor Dumbledore didn't seem to mind as his eyes twinkled in delight.

As the song finally came to a close, Professor Dumbledore wiped his eyes and mused, "Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

After being dismissed, there was a familiar mad dash of students who didn't want to get stuck in the slow-moving crowd.

When we got to the tower, I made my way to my room. Having kept the top spot, the luxurious apartment was still mine to enjoy.

I found Athena inside like always. She had claimed a spot on my bed and sprawled out, trying to take up as much space as possible. The best thing about her collar is it made sure she wouldn't hog the bed. If she got any bigger, I would have to get a new mattress at home or force her to sleep elsewhere.

As I laid in my bed, I started narrowing down the elective classes I would be taking this year. There were five options to choose from, Arithmancy, Divination, Muggle Studies, Care of Magical Creatures, and the Study of Ancient Runes. We were required to select a minimum of two electives this year. I needed to come to a decision quickly as I needed to turn in my choices to Professor Flitwick after breakfast in the morning.

I knew off the bat that there was no way on earth I was taking Divination. A lot of students choose this class because it had become infamous as a blow-off class. But after reading about it in the books, there was no way I was going to was my time in Divination. I had too much to learn to waste my time in a class that would be useless to me.

After some more thought, I also discarded Muggle Studies. It may be an interesting course, but ultimately it would do nothing to advance my power. Seeing Harry at Hogwarts was like being constantly reminded that Voldemort was coming. Between the Dark Lord, and the Whithorns, I was feeling the pressure.

As for the remaining three, they all had good points. I knew from my conversations with Nicolas that I would be taking Arithmancy no matter what, as for the remaining two, they both had their pros and cons.

Learning how to deal with Magical Creatures would be useful. My recent brush with magical creatures in China showed me that. But, as much as I hate to say it, Hagrid would soon be taking over, and if he teaches like he did in the books. The class could prove to be unpleasant.

The study of Ancient Runes could also be useful. Half of Rowena's collection was ancient. If I wanted to translate them, I would need to learn the ancient written wizarding language. Who knows what I could find in all that ancient knowledge.

After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to take the three classes that interested me. I will only experience Hogwarts once. I might as well learn everything I can.