Summary: It's been one year since Harry Potter's great defeat of Voldemort. There has been enough time for both mourning and celebrations. Harry, Ron and Hermione survived unscratched as well as all of their professors. They all decided to finish their last school year at Hogwarts and take their NEWT'S (thanks to Hermione's never-ending whining). It was meant to be a year of being normal teenagers and having fun. No one expected the dark clouds and great evil coming their way. Fortunately Prof. Dumbledore found a way to save the magical world once again with the help of a prophecy, the resident Potions Master and one insufferable Know-It-All.

Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize is mine. I own only a plot. Harry Potter belongs to Queen Rowling

This story is edited by my great Beta Esrelda Snape, thank you so much for your help :)

~3rd of August 1998, Hogwarts~

"Sybil, please take a seat," said Professor Dumbledore, gesturing to the old, comfortable armchair placed near the fireplace in his office. "You told me that you wish to speak with me about a matter of great importance. Whatever could that be?" he asked as he folded his hands under his chin.

Professor Trelawney took the seat and looked at the headmaster through her thick spectacles, her fingers worrying at the frayed edges of her shawl. "Yes, Albus," she started, then stopped to take a deep breath before continuing.

"Would you care for some tea?" Dumbledore offered. "It might help settle the nerves."

"Oh, no, thank you dear. I don't think it'll help right at the moment. You see... I'm afraid that I'm no longer needed in Hogwarts."

"And why is that, my dear?" The older man seemed amused.

"My students have no respect for me or my subject! It all started with that Granger girl..." Suddenly she stopped her babbling, and her gaze became unfocused as her body went rigid. When she spoke next, her voice sounded strange, as if someone else were talking through her body.

"Two dark wizards were defeated, one stronger than the other. However, an even stronger evil will rise anew from the ashes during this time of peace and prosperity. In order to survive, you need to seek Salazar Slytherin's great wisdom and return to the old order. There is only one pure creature that can conquer the darkness..."

Trelawney's head drooped down to her chest, and then she looked up, blinking her eyes owlishly. "Oh, my, I think I nodded off there."

The Headmaster smiled at her. "It's quite all right, Sybil. You should know by now that you are one of the greatest seers in our century, so don't doubt yourself. The students will behave themselves this year."

"But..."

"But," Dumbledore interrupted her, "for now, I've got some important issues that need my attention. If you will excuse me." Dumbledore's demeanor had become more serious, and he no longer smiled as he stood. After a quick 'goodbye' and a short floo call, Dumbledore was ready to accept a different guest that evening.

"Severus, I have a request to make of you," Dumbledore began.

"Of course."

"I'm afraid something terrible is heading our way, and I'd like you to start doing some research to help stop it."

"What's going on?" Severus asked, "What am I supposed to find?" The Head of Slytherin looked concerned.

"I need you to find out everything you can about one of Hogwart's founders. I want to know about every discovery or invention he ever created, or anything unusual about him at all."

"Whom would you like me to research?"

"Salazar Slytherin, of course. But first, I need to show you something."

The old man pulled out his pensieve.

~First of September, on the way to Hogwarts~

"Harry! Ron! I'm so glad you made it! For a second I thought that you'd chickened out!" called a tall, lithe brunette with huge grin on her face as she pushed past other passengers on the train to meet with her best friends.

"Hermione! Wow…" those were the only words that redhead was able to produce. In fact, even Harry was stunned. That wasn't exactly the reaction she'd expected, but it was flattering that they had finally noticed she was a woman.

"Hermione, you look great! You completely changed this summer," Harry noted as they started searching for an empty compartment.

"Yeah, Mum wanted some quality time with her daughter, so we spent a bunch of time at the local spa. We even took dancing classes together and went shopping almost every day! It was fun. But not in the first week, I can tell you. My parents were furious that I erased their memories and participated in the war but I manged to fix things back up. Please tell me everything you did in the burrow though!" she demanded. Her delicate and very feminine laughter filled the hallway as she listened to the boys' tales. In that exact moment Golden Trio bumped into their worst enemies: Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe.

"Well, well, well...what do we have here? Silvery duo with one hell of a sexy chick. Don't worry babe, you can still sit with us. Are you a transfer?" asked the blonde as he wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist and ogled her long bare legs and full décolletage.

"Oi Malfoy! Get your bloody hands away from our Hermione!" ordered Ron. Malfoy recoiled from Hermione as if he'd been burned.

"No fucking way. Mudblood? What have you done to look like that? Some muggle treatments? Did you let some freak to cut you on the operating table?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Harry gave him a flippant smile while he held his wand, ready to hex him.

Malfoy's eyes narrowed. "You can be sure that everyone will know about your disguise, Mudblood. We can't let the purebloods be affected by your deciet, can we?" He schooled his features into his signature smirk and walked away, his bodyguards following along behind.

"Guys, don't let him spoil our last trip to Hogwarts. Come on, let's find an empty compartment. Then you can tell me all about your vacation." Hermione ushered them back down the hall in the opposite direction.

None of them saw that Malfoy turned his head and looked back one last time at Hermione, his eyes filled with lust.