Jenna stared in astonishment as a ragged looking hat was placed on a stool in front of the school. As Lupin quickly got all of the first years standing in a line, the hat suddenly moved and opened it’s brim. Jenna blinked as the hat suddenly started singing. As it finished, the hall gave it a round of applause and it bowed.

Professor Tonks opened a scroll and called out the first name with a cheerful voice. “Adams, Chris.”

A small boy with brown hair walked nervously up. He sat on the stool as instructed and placed the hat on his head. After a few seconds, it opened its brim and screamed, “RAVENCLAW!”

The boy, Jeffery, quickly got off the stool and placed the hat back on before rushing to the table that was applauding the loudest, the Ravenclaw table with the blue and silver hangings.

“Aimbrage, Meagan.” Professor Tonks called. A girl from the line went up to be sorted. As she was sorted into Slytherin, Jenna’s eyes wondered over the Head table. There were two seats empty at the end, most likely for Tonks and Lupin. Professor Green was sitting next to the Auror Commander. The Auror’s themselves were seated at another table next to Ravenclaw table. A blonde haired woman with owlish eyes and a placid look on her face was staring at the sky with interest. She seemed to be muttering under her breath and talking to herself.

“That’s Professor Luna Lovegood.” Somebody whispered into her ear. She almost shrieked as she quickly turned her head, only to see a grinning Julie next to her. “She’s a True Seer- able to see into the future, but she’s a little strange. Nice, but strange. My Mum was a student of hers.” Julie whispered softly as yet another student was sorted. Jenna nodded absently as she looked at the teacher next to Lovegood. It was a thin man, with red cheeks and stern brown eyes. His hair was stringy and damp and he looked very intimidating but he projected an aura of control and protection around him.

“That’s Professor Lucas. He’s a real strict potions teacher.” Julie whispered again, seeing Jenna look at the man. “The woman next to him is Professor Sprout. She’s the daughter of the last Herbology professor that worked here. Suddenly the loud voice of Tonks caught both of their attention.

“Madison, Julie.”

Julie paled a bit and Jenna gave a pat on the back as encouragement. With a deep breath, Julie walked up and jammed the hat on her head. There was a ten second silence as the hat considered where to place her, before…

“HUFFLEPUFF!” The hat screamed.

Julie put the hat back on the stool and moved towards the Hufflepuff, giving Jenna and huge beaming smile as she passed her. Jenna smiled back and gave her a thumbs-up. Her eyes travelled back to the Head table automatically as the sorting went on and she finally looked at the two figures at the Head of the table. A beautiful woman with silver eyes and raven black hair was sitting stiffly on the chair. She was darting cautious looks to the person two seats on her right. This said person as Ron Weasley, the Auror Commander, who was also sending looks that Jenna couldn’t decipher. The person sitting between them was the one she was really interested in. Headmaster Potter. Harry Potter. Harry.

Harry suddenly looked at her, as if he had sensed her gaze on him. Jenna stared back and allowed the hurt and pain she felt towards him drift over to his mind.

Harry mentally sighed as he saw the looks Ron and Melissa were shooting each other. He just hoped that none of them would cause a scene. Suddenly he became aware of a very familiar presence watching him. He tilted his head slightly and stared back into the green-blue eyes of Jenna. He felt a strong wave of emotion that he identified as pain and hurt that washed over his mental shields. He suppressed a flinch as gently slowed down the mental link that Jenna had created, and sending back feelings of comfort, apologies and a strong sense of patience, that everything would be explained later on.

Jenna felt the emotions come back at her and slightly nodded, before jumping as Professor Tonks called her name.

“Smith, Jennifer.”

Jenna swallowed and made her way up. She suddenly felt herself become the sight of the many students at the school and repressed a shudder. She quickly sat down and jammed the hat on her head. The brim went over her eyes and she stared in blackness. Suddenly she felt a mental voice speak to her.

“Hello young child.” A wise old voice echoed in her head.

“Um…who are you?” Jenna mentally questioned.

“I am the Sorting Hat. If it’s not too much trouble then I would like to ask you to drop your Occlumency shields. It would make my job easier.”

“Occlu-what?” Jenna mentally asked in confusion.

“I see. How could you possibly…Ah, Mr Potter has taught you it.”

“He taught me magic?” Now Jenna was surprised.

“A form of it, yes. It doesn’t matter, I can bypass them but it will take some time.”

“Okay.” Jenna said, not knowing what else to say. She sat there for a few minutes in silence as she felt the hat worming it’s way past her shields. Her instincts told her to eject the foreign presence but she resisted.

“So, you are acquainted with our Mr Potter then?”

“I thought I knew him, but he left three years ago.”

“I see…Ah, here we go.” The Hat seemed pleased with itself.

“Really? So how does this work?”

“I will examine your personality, then your emotions and abilities. Let’s start. You are not ambitious or cunning, happy enough to live life normally. You are brave when you need to be, but rational enough to not be too courageous, Intelligent as well and loyal. You have average magical power, but an astounding array of mental gifts. It better be…HUFFLEPUFF!” The Hat screamed at the end.

Jenna slipped the hat off and stood up. Her eyes spotted Julie, who was waving enthusiastically over all of the applause. Jenna flushed and quickly made her way to the Hufflepuff table. Julie gave her a high five and Jenna laughed happily as she sat down, beaming.

Maria watched her daughter laugh happily with her new friend and smiled. Jenna seemed very happy at this magic school, and Maria knew that she would be protected. Her eyes wandered to the Headmaster, who was watching the proceedings with a content look. Maria made her decision. Jenna would stay.

As the sorting finished, Harry stood up once again. His eyes scanned the room with a sea of expectant faces and his lips curved. “Welcome back to Hogwarts for another year. I hope that you are ready to start learning and working again…but I doubt it.”

There was a round of chuckling and Harry raised his hands for silence.

“As you know, the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds for all students. Anybody caught in there will be punished heavily, if not expelled. There are creatures in there that do not like to be disturbed.” Harry let his gaze wander the room, making sure that everybody understood the severity of his statement. Finally, he relaxed. “Now, I know that everybody is tired and a little shocked of the terrorist attack on the platform, so I am giving you all the day off.”

The hall erupted in cheers and yells of joy. Harry snickered slightly himself. “Now, Now. Surely you don’t hate my class that much?”

“Hey Headmaster, when are you going to teach us that?” A fifth year boy from Slytherin yelled in humour.

“The day you hand in your work on time Mr Mathews.” Harry shot back.

“Touché.” The Slytherin smirked.

“Anyway, off to bed for the lot of you.” Harry dismissed them. “Prefects, please escort the first years back to their new dorms. Ron, Melissa…”

“My name is Liaden!” Liaden snapped angrily.

“Remus, Nymphadora…” Harry continued on as if he had heard nothing.

“My name is Tonks!” This time it was Tonks who growled at him.

“Please see me in my office. Goodnight everybody.” Harry finished, aware of the dirty looks that the two women were sending him.

Harry opened his office and strode up the stairs. Following him were Remus Tonks and Liaden. As he sat down in his chair, the other three took a seat. Liaden was staring around his office was barely disguised interest- being one of the few times she had seen it.

“As you are aware, Athanasius is claiming to be the son of Voldemort and Bellatrix.” Harry said tiredly. His exhaustion finally seeped through, a product of a combination between the duels with Athanasius and late nights. “What we need to do is to find out if that is true?”

“As much as it sickens me, because Bellatrix was my Aunt, She would have done anything for Voldemort…” Tonks trailed off.

“I can look up some Genealogy reports for you, see if any of the records or family trees show anything.” Remus offered.

“Thankyou.” Harry said gratefully, before focusing his gaze on Liaden. “I know that you don’t like me, but I think you would agree that you don’t like Athanasius just as much, if not more. I still don’t know why…”

Liaden shifted, glancing sideways at Remus and Tonks. Harry understood and cleared his throat.

“Tonks, Remus, you must be tired. Why don’t you get some sleep for tomorrow?” Harry offered kindly.

Remus and Tonks understood the subtle command to give Harry space and quickly left, saying goodnights to both Harry and Liaden. It was just Harry and Liaden alone in the office. Finally, Liaden sighed.

“Look Headmaster…” She started.

“Harry.” Harry cut in. “That’s my name.”

Liaden rolled her eyes. “Fine, Harry. The reason I hate Athanasius because he has in his service an Aden Abreski. His son, Abraham, was the one who…” She trailed off as a pained look came over her eyes.

“Ah.” Harry said, a look of understanding and sympathy dawning in his eyes. “Yes, I know what Abraham did to you.”

“Aden made several choice comments to me. I almost him killed but was stopped by Athanasius. I left, stating to Athanasius that I wouldn’t be part of anything with Aden in it.” Liaden said smoothly. “So it seems that I’m on your side…for now.” She added afterwards.

Harry nodded thoughtfully. “I need you to look up some of your contacts you must surely have. See if you can find anything interesting.”

Liaden suddenly scowled, standing up to tower over Harry. “I won’t be one of your pawns!” she hissed.

Harry blinked, actually quite startled. “Pawns?” He murmured. “Now where have I heard that before?”

As Liaden made her way to leave, Harry quickly stood. “Wait.” He called. Liaden stopped, her back turned. “Melissa, I don’t want to ‘use’ you. I need your help and I’m asking for it.”

Liaden turned around, her eyes flashing silver. “Youwant my help? After what happened?” She shouted in rage. A cackle ripped through the air and one of the chairs suddenly exploded in a shower of wooden shards. Harry looked undisturbed, but he bought his magic into alert. A flash ran through the air, and a bolt of silver lightning shot at Harry. Suddenly a wave of compressed golden weaves shimmered in front of Harry and the lightning erupted on it. Harry stood there; power emanating from his figure as he straightened, a look of anger in his emerald eyes.

“MELISSA!” He shouted angrily. Liaden actually paused, giving him a chance to talk. “Despite what you may think of me, I would never have let that happen if I knew about it!”

“BULLSHIT!” Liaden roared. “AND DON’T CALL ME MELISSA!”

“I WILL CALL YOU BY THE NAME THAT YOU LET ME CALL YOU EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO!” Harry shouted. He strode over to Melissa, who raised her hands in defence and when Harry came close, she roared an incantation. Harry quickly raised his shield, but the force of the blow blew him off his feet and into one of his shelves. He quickly apparated out as another blast blew his shelf into pieces. He reappeared behind Liaden, who whirled around with fear in her eyes. Harry quickly put his arms around her and drew her close.

“You have to stop blaming me. Despite popular belief, I can’t change time, raise the dead or blow up the moon.” Harry said quietly as Liaden struggled in his arms. Liaden continued to struggle, seemingly forgetting about her magic before she grew tired. As she lay in his arms, Harry led her to a newly conjured couch and sat her down. Liaden sank into the sofa, her eyes moist and her posture betraying her pain and weakness. Harry went back and sat in his chair, putting his head in his arms. This night was just never ending. Liaden seemed to be having an inner debate with her posture suddenly regaining its strength and she looked up.

“You know,” Liaden said after a few moments. Harry looked up from his chair. “I bet you could blow up the moon if you tried.”

Harry stared, almost speechless, before he let out a great long laugh. Liaden joined him and he sat with her on the sofa, an arm around her and a fond look directed towards her. He knew that while she may not have fully forgiven him, there was at least some fragment of the bond they once had that was repaired. The nice moment was interrupted as his fireplace glowed green, and Harry felt the presence of Ginny Weasley coming through.

“Who is it?” Liaden asked as he stood up.

“The Minister.” Harry replied.

“Shit.”