The Secret Destroyed

Chapter 2

Harry checked to make sure he had everything in his trunk. When he was sure that he had, he unloaded his trunk. He had been doing this for...he'd lost track. It wasn't like he enjoyed packing and unpacking his trunk but that he felt he'd go insane if he wasn't doing anything. He didn't want to think, he didn't want to live.

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Hermione rang the doorbell yet again. No one answered.

"May we try my idea now?" Ginny asked.

"Yes," Hermione said, sighing. They walked directly beneath Harry's window. Ron took his broom and set it on the ground. He stood on top of it and commanded, "Up!" The broom shot up. Ron stabled it at Harry's window. Ginny and Hermione watched as he knocked on the window.

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Harry slowly turned his head to the window. He saw Ron wave at him. He went back to his packing. Ron knocked again; louder this time. Harry walked over to the window and opened it.

"Hey, mate."

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"Care for a walk?"

Harry opened his mouth to say no, and then closed it. Ron would probably force him like Ginny had. "Fine." Ron moved out of the way and Harry jumped down.

When they were all on the ground, Ginny immediately prompted, "It was their idea for the walk. I told them you already went on one with me, but...." No one said anything, unsure how to respond.

"Anyway," Ron said as they started to walk, "how have you been?" This was the start of many questions Ron started to ask Harry. Unlike Ginny, he didn't allow Harry to brew in his own mind. He asked Harry questions and probed him for an answer when he didn't respond. This kept on till Hermione rammed Ron with her elbow. She did the talking from there.

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When Harry got home again, he retired to bed, happy the walk was over. But the next day, the three were at his window again. This event pursued to the end of summer; they were going to cheer Harry up no matter what was their train of thought.

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Again he was bustling for platform 9 and three quarters with the Weasleys, who were escorting him. The walks had impressed a difference: Harry wasn't gloomy all the time anymore and he wasn't blaming himself anymore. He wasn't entirely healed but enough so he could go on. This was why excitement had flickered up in him at the prospect of going back to Hogwarts.

As soon as they were on the train though, Ron and Hermione had prefect duties so Harry sat in his car alone.

He sat, staring out the window when he heard someone say, "Hullo Harry." Harry turned around and saw Neville Longbottom standing at the door of the car. Neville hadn't changed at all, with a round a face and still probably a poor memory. "Is room for me?" he asked.

"Yeah Neville, there is," Harry responded. Neville put his stuff away and sat across, facing him.

"Are you okay?" he asked tentatively.

Harry didn't want to talk about it. "Yeah, just leave it alone."

"Alright."

Neville did leave it alone. For most of the train ride they talked about a bunch of things that didn't have to do with Sirius. Most meaning something interfered along the way.

Ron and Hermione walked into the car. "Hullo Hermione, hullo Ron," Neville greeted them on there way in. "Hullo Neville. Harry, look at this." She handed him a copy of the Daily Prophet. The article said:

Giants Attack Village

A village was recently attacked by a hoard of

giant. Luckily, a majority of the population there

were wizards and witches, making it easy for the

muggles' present brains to be erased of the event.

It is believed that You-Know-Who is behind

this. It has also been reported that the number of

Dementors at Azkaban have been decreasing. The

Minister says that everything is in control at Azkaban

and the giant affair shall be sorted out soon.

Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. "So it's started."

"Yes, I'm worried," Hermione answered.

"There's nothing we can do about it," Harry told her simply.

"That's what I said!" Ron told him.

"Yes, but -"

"Do you want us to do something again," Harry asked her slowly.

"Right Harry. Sorry," she said as she sat down next to Neville. Ron took a seat next to Harry. That subject wasn't mentioned again throughout the ride.

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Harry sat at the Gryffindor table, waiting for the sorting to begin. The hat had already sung its song, it being the usual. He heard Professor McGonagall call, "Jordan Mindevol." Harry watched as a kid who looked like he should be in Harry's year walked to the professor. He sat down and she placed the sorting hat on his head. The hat was silent for a while, and then exclaimed, "Gryffindor!" Smiling, an outburst of applause and cheers greeted him from the Gryffindor table. He sat down in a place next to Harry.

"Why are you being sorted at this year?" Seamus asked him.

"I just transferred," he told him. Everyone could tell immediately that he wasn't from England.

"What country are you from?"

"United States of America. Anyone happen to watch the election by any chance?" He looked at the bewildered faces. "Damn, was hoping to find a Bush hater here. I can't believe he won, fucking idiot. Lands the country in a war when the economy's already bad, thanks to him," he said, more to himself than anything. "Anyway, nice to meet all of you."

"Eh, yeah, same here," Seamus said back.

When the rest of the sorting was over, Professor Dumbledor stood up. "Welcome back, students and staff. As usual, I'd like to remind everyone one that the forbidden forest still is off limits and this does not exclude anyone. I would also like to introduce two new professors of ours. Our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher: Professor Zimbartra." A very stern faced witch stood up as the hall applauded.

"She looks like loads of fun," Ron muttered to Harry. Once she had sat down, Professor Dumbledor continued, saying, "And teaching our newest class, our new Muggle Lessons teacher: Professor Crim."

Dead silence.