The thought of going back to Hogwarts was one of the few things that kept Harry going that summer. There just didn't seem to be anything to smile about these days. Even the Durselys who didn't pay that much attention to him noticed that he seemed to be quieter with a sadder expression in his eyes, not that that changed anything. They still treated him as they always had. Well, not always because since the talking to, that some of the members of the Order of the Phoenix had given the Durselys, they were more inclined to leave him alone.

    Which had been more than fine for Harry because since Sirius's death he hadn't felt like talking much. Some days he didn't even speak a word. The bright days had been the ones when he had received a letter from Ron or Hermione. But that was all over now because Harry was on the train back to Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione.

    He still felt Sirius's death but not as badly as he had when he was alone. Hermione and Ron knew Harry had been feeling bad so they had begun to try to distract him; at the moment Harry and Ron were playing chess.

    "Queen to knight-'' Ron had begun to say but was interrupted.

    "You two that's enough,'' said Hermione as she entered their compartment on the train, "We're almost there. Shouldn't you guys be changing now?''

    "You're right.'' Said Harry quickly as he got to his feet.

    "Oy, you, were not done yet.'' Said Ron looking at Harry.

    "Err … we have to change, we don't want to be late, you know.'' Said Harry while looking for his robes.

    "You're just saying that because you know you were losing.'' Ron grumbled, but he too began to look for his robes.

    "I was not.'' Harry said.

    "You were too.'' Replied Ron.

    "Just hurry you two.'' Said Hermione.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    *Some other students on the way to Hogwarts, in the past.*

    "Hey you guys look at this.'' Said James Potter as he threw and caught what appeared to be an orb with gold smoke inside.

    "What's that?'' Remus asked eyeing the ball that his friend was playing with.

    "Have no idea.'' Replied James throwing it higher.

    "What do you mean, you have no idea?'' Said Sirius who had just finished pulling on his robes.

    "Some bloke just handed it to me and told me to break it when I was alone.'' James said.

    "Prongs, you git, didn't your mother ever tell you not to take things from strangers?'' Sirius said while catching the orb on its way up.

    Examining it, in his hand, he thought it looked harmless enough and threw it back to James who caught it.

    "Why would someone give it to you?'' asked Remus, musing out loud.

    "Calm down mother,'' said James sarcastically, "he looked to be in a hurry, probably trying to get rid of it before someone caught him.''

    "Yeah, besides who would want to hurt James?'' said Peter who looked up from the mists of his chocolate frogs.

    "Wormtail you disgust me. We're going to the castle to eat you know.'' Said Sirius who was now sitting sprawled out in his seat.

    "Maybe you should just throw it-'' Began Remus.

    "Oh, calm down Moony, besides we're here already.'' Said James pocketing the ball and standing up as the train came to a stop.

    "Ahhh … the sweet smell of a new school year. What should our goal be this year to make our good friend Snivellus cry in front of everyone or should we go for the gold and try to get the most detentions we have ever had this year? Sirius asked as he opened the compartment door.

    Just then a redhead walked by on her way off the train.

    Turning back to the others Sirius smirked at James and said, "Or should we try for a miracle?''

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    * Present time, before the feast but after the sorting. *

    "Welcome to yet another year at Hogwarts,'' Professor Dumbledore, "Luckily for all of you already this year is looking better than the last. For those of you wondering the people who happened to be banned from quidditch last year, you are no longer banned.'' Said Dumbledore with a wink in Harry's direction.

    Upon hearing this, the Gryffindor table erupted with cheers and applauses. They all remembered how bad they lost last year.

    When the cheers died down Dumbledore continued, " I know your all hungry but I must introduce you to your new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher. Professor Kraus.

    A middle aged short woman stood up as the students gave her a scattered applause.

    "Well she looks O.K.'' said Ron.

    "She has to be better than Umbridge.'' Harry muttered.

    "Now you may-'' Dumbledore started to say but was interrupted by a loud explosion and a blinding gold light that came from the Gryffindor table.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    * In the past, with a different speech being made by Dumbledore. *

    "I welcome you all back to Hogwarts. As usual I would like to remind you that the forest is off limits.'' Said Dumbledore while looking in the Marauders general direction, who all had innocent looks on their faces.

    Dumbledore began to talk again but three of the Marauders were busy looking at James.

    "What's the mater Prongs?'' asked Sirius after his best friend gave a yelp.

    "I don't know, it just burned me.'' James told Sirius who sat on his right side.

    "What just burned you?'' asked Remus.

    "The ball thing.'' James said as he took it out of his pocket.

    Remus who sat on James's left side leaned over to get a better look at the ball, as did Sirius.

    The gold smoke, which had been inside the ball, was now gathering and forming what looked to be a tornado.

    "What is it doing?'' Sirius asked with a frown on his face.

    "I don't Ahhh!'' yelled James and threw the ball in the air. It had just burned his fingers.

    Out of instinct all three guys reached backwards towards the ball and ended up knocking each other's hands out of the way. The ball that they had all been trying to catch hit the floor and shattered. The three Marauders fell a few seconds later, having lost balance when they knocked each others hands out of the way, and landed into a whirl-wind of golden light.

    Falling into it they felt like it was pulling them forwards and not at all gently. They also felt like they were being turned inside out, which is not at all a good feeling. When the pushing and everything finally stopped it wasn't a happy ending because when it stopped they were slammed into the floor.

    "Damn it James!'' Sirius yelled while panting for air, "Next time a stranger gives you something don't take it. And you're supposed to be the top of the class, huh.''

    "He was probably trying to kill you.'' Rasped Remus while trying to stand up.

    "If I see that git again I'll-'' James was starting to say while trying to rise.

    "I don't know about you two,'' Sirius interrupted, "but I seem to remember a date with a certain nurse in the hospital wing.''

    "Yeah, you're right, I feel like I've just been chewed on and spit back out.'' Remus said as he finally got to his feet.

    The other two followed his example and shakily climbed to their feet.

    "I don't think I can make it Padfoot,'' said James as his vision swam before him, "carry me.''

    "Carry you? You should be the one carrying me you brainless git.''

    "Awe that hurts Sirius but I'll make an exception because of your condition.'' Said James as he started to walk the blurry path between the tables.

    "I'm making an exception too,'' said Sirius following James, "If I wasn't in this condition I'd do you some serious bodily damage.''

    The three Marauders didn't notice that they knew none of the faces around them or the fact that everyone in there was staring at them. They were used to people staring at them all the time.

    When the three Marauders finally got to the door Professor McGonagall had recovered herself enough to yell, "'Potter, Lupin, Black?'' 

    Upon hearing his name Black, always the charmer, turned to the general direction of Professor McGonagall's voice and while bowing said, "Lovely to hear from you Professor McGonagall, I've missed you this summer too. But at the moment and under the circumstances I would really like to see Madam Pomfrey right now, you know drop by, say hi and ask her if I'll ever feel normal again.''

    With that the three Marauders turned, walked out of the great hall and stumbled in the direction of the hospital wing. 

    I would really like for you to review and tell me what you think. Please remember I'm not the real writer of Harry Potter, sadly.