A new year like no other

// THIS IS AN OLD CHAPTER. THE NEW CHAPTERS ARE IN VOLUME 2. YOU CAN READ THESE CHAPTERS IF YOU WANT SOME INSIGHT ON WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN LATER BUT SOME EVENTS CAN BE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW CHAPTERS.

I'm on the train back to Hogwarts, and nothing seems to interfere with the journey this year.

In the few days that have passed since my reunion with the ex-Death Eaters who almost all joined us voluntarily with the exception of Rowle and Selwyn who ended up having the same fate as their five friends who suffered my mark, we have accomplished some of our objectives that will eventually allow us to defeat Voldemort.

First, we recruited Narcissa Malfoy at the request of Lucius who didn't want to hide his activities from his wife. I don't mind when you consider that she is a descendant of the Black family, which could be to our advantage later.

Lucius along with Crabbe and Goyle went to lend a hand to Barty Crouch Junior who thinks we all work for Voldemort without realizing that we are manipulating him. After kidnapping Alastor Moody and taking his place, Snape's influence was used to get him accepted as security personnel for the castle during the Triwizard Tournament.

And finally, I proposed a project that got some recalcitrance concerning werewolves. I offered to increase the production of Wolfsbane Potion and start hiring werewolves at the Herb Farms and Workshops. By purchasing our Wolfsbane Potions, they will be able to start working. And in order to work, they will need jobs that accept them. Two birds with one stone, we get cheap labor, and we increase our profits generated by wolfsbane potions. Despite the flawless logic of this plan, it received a lot of resistance from some members who refused to hire the werewolves. Too bad for them, it will make a bigger margin for me.

It didn't take long to convince my mother of the additional income that such opportunity would generate. She bought additional farmland to separate the werewolves from the normal wizards while people got used to their presence.

So, I'm in a very good mood during the trip to Hogwarts with Blaise, Edward and Draco. Strangely Crabbe and Goyle have joined us even if they didn't say a word, I bet their fathers asked them to make friends with me.

"Have you heard of the latest news? Harry Potter is back, we saw him get on the train accompanied by a Prefect with Blaise." So according to Edward, Potter is back. Well, I didn't particularly want to negotiate his return with Albus, his bias is in my favor for once.

"Really? And who cares about Harry Potter's little life?" Draco no longer hides his hatred for Harry since he fell from grace.

"It's just that he was super creepy when we saw him. I had never seen someone so scary. He had a kind of weird aura that made me feel uncomfortable. " Edward is pale just thinking about the scene.

"People say that Lilly and James Potter divorced during the holidays and Lilly left the house with Rose. I think Potter has definitely gone crazy." Long live Edward and his passion for gossip. More good news today, now that Rose no longer lives under the same roof as her brother, she may finally be able to take the time to heal properly.

I let them discuss the latest gossip about the Potter family with each other. But what worries me is this aura story. Did Harry started to play with black magic?

The train finally arrives at the Hogsmeade station, where the carriages are waiting for us. I go upstairs with Blaise and Edward. The carriage is about to start when the door reopens to let Daphne in. Why do I already feel like I've seen this scenario?

"Hi boys, can I join you?"

"Of course, we still have a seat free anyway." I don't see why we wouldn't let Daphne sit with us.

"You saw who was on the train today. Alastor Moody! Something huge has to happen if the most dangerous of former Aurors shows up at Hogwarts." I don't intend to spoil her surprise, not many people know about the Triwizard Tournament.

"We might have a good surprise this year." I try to be reassuring, people tend to be paranoid since the reappearance of the Dark Mark.

The horse-drawn carriage sets off, going up the path towards the castle in the silence of the night only interrupted by the sound of hooves hitting the ground and the sound of the driving rain falling on the region. By the time we arrive at the castle, we are among the first to sit at the Slytherin table. We continue to discuss while the tables of the castle fill up quietly when, suddenly the room becomes silent with the arrival of Potter, escorted to the end of the table by two prefects. Nobody really knows what is going on but everyone knows it has something to do with Rose, which led to the craziest rumors that are not so far from the truth when you think about it.

Now that I get a closer look, I realize that Edward was far from the truth in his description. Harry is really scary to see, dark pockets are looming under his eyes and he is looking in every direction as if he is watching for any danger who may come his way. How could Dumbledore let him come back in this state?

Suddenly his gaze catches mine and I tell myself that it's not a bad idea to take a look at what's going on in Potter's head right now. But something cold pushes me away, my dementor sight instinctively kicks in and all the colors in the world fade away. The only things that still retain any color are the souls of the sad people and the ghosts in the hall.

But the most terrifying thing is the ghost of the man who holds Harry's head in his two hands.