Harry Potter and the Silent Guardian

A couple of days after his conversation with Sirius, Harry stood in the ruins of what had once been one of Voldemort's secret strongholds, his expression grim. Macnair's memories had led him here, but instead of an active hub, he'd found only emptiness and deadly traps.

"Clever, Tom," Harry muttered, his wand hovering over the intricate web of ancient dark curses that crisscrossed the site. "Very clever."

The new, calculated Voldemort was proving far more cautious than the unhinged maniac Harry remembered from the books. Every hideout Harry had scouted over the past few days had been methodically abandoned, leaving behind nothing but lethal surprises for unwary intruders. The Schwarzwald Zirkel's deep coffers had afforded Voldemort the luxury of discarding these locations without hesitation.

Harry's lips twisted into a cold smile as he raised his wand. "Still, waste not, want not."

With a precisely controlled surge of power, he unleashed a spell that reduced the building to rubble. Dust and debris billowed outward, leaving the site unusable for anyone. If the Zirkel wanted to reestablish these sanctuaries, they'd have to pay dearly for it. Every loss Harry inflicted would bleed their resources further.

But time was running short. September first was fast approaching, bringing with it Harry's final year at Hogwarts. His NEWT studies and duties as Head Boy would demand his attention, even as the dark forces gathering beyond the castle walls loomed ever larger. This year, however, brought an additional complication: Dolores Umbridge.

In line with canon events, Minister Fudge—now bolstered by the Schwarzwald Zirkel's influence—had secured Umbridge's position as Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. The move was calculated to diminish Dumbledore's authority within the school, and the headmaster could do nothing to prevent it.

Harry scowled at the thought. Umbridge's presence would undoubtedly bring chaos to the school. He knew her tactics from the canon: oppressive rules, cruel punishments, and a relentless agenda to serve Fudge's interests. The Hogwarts professors, intimidated by her Ministry backing, would likely hesitate to confront her directly. That left the responsibility of standing against her squarely on Harry's shoulders.

As Head Boy, Harry took his duty to protect the students seriously. He wouldn't allow Umbridge to harm or manipulate them unchecked.

"At least we're prepared for her," Harry thought, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He and Sirius had spent hours devising ways to make ensure Umbridge enjoyed her time at Hogwarts. Sirius, whose hatred for the woman burned fiercely, had thrown himself enthusiastically into planning her "welcome." The traps and pranks they'd prepared were as creative as they were effective—Harry felt a flicker of satisfaction imagining the chaos they'd cause.

The ruins before him crumbled further under the weight of his final spell. Harry dusted off his hands, satisfied with the work. As he turned to leave, his thoughts drifted back to Hogwarts. It was going to be a busy year—a challenging one—but Harry was ready.

---

September first dawned bright and clear. Harry stood in front of the mirror in Black Castle, adjusting his pristine new Ravenclaw robes and the gleaming Head Boy badge pinned to his chest. His reflection showed a young man transformed—more mature, confident, and undeniably handsome compared to the boy who had first stepped onto Platform 9¾ all those years ago.

Behind him, Arcturus Black's imposing figure loomed. The elder wizard's expression was stern but tinged with a hint of pride. "Remember to keep up with your studies while at school," Arcturus instructed. "And visit a few times so I can monitor your progress and ensure everything is going according to plan. Also, be cautious on your hunts."

Harry turned to face him and nodded, a small smile softening his features. "I will. Take care, Grandfather."

Arcturus nodded in approval, watching as Harry disappeared with a confident stride.

Moments later, Harry appeared at King's Cross Station, the familiar chaos of September first unfolding around him. The scarlet Hogwarts Express stood proudly on the tracks, steam billowing into the air as students and families bustled about. For a moment, Harry simply observed the scene, allowing himself a rare moment of nostalgia.

"This is it," he thought, his gaze shifting toward the train. His final year awaited—a year that promised to test his magical skills, his resilience, and his ability to balance his vigilante work against the dark forces with the responsibilities of being Head Boy and a NEWT student.

It was going to be a memorable year.

---

Harry found his usual compartment quickly, unsurprised to see most of his friends already gathered inside. Cedric and Roger were animatedly debating Quidditch prospects, while the Whitlock twins had their noses buried in the latest issue of Transfiguration Today. The scene was comfortably familiar, a welcome respite from the weight of the tasks ahead.

"Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence!" Angelina called out as Harry entered. "If it isn't our illustrious Head Boy!"

"Don't forget our Head Girl," Alicia chimed in, nudging Elvinia, who tried and failed to suppress a proud smile.

Reggy, sprawled dramatically across his seat, groaned. "Leave it to my sister to steal all the glory. First prefect, now Head Girl. I'm officially the forgotten Whitlock."

Arabella snorted, flashing her prefect badge. "Poor Reggy. At least you can bask in the reflected glory of your twin sister and your best friend. That's practically a badge in itself."

Reggy sighed theatrically. "Fantastic. I'll just embroider 'Friend of Important People' on my robes. That should turn heads."

Cedric leaned back, grinning. "At least no one can accuse you of being power-hungry, Reggy."

"I'll just have to settle for fame by association," Reggy said with mock resignation, prompting laughter from the entire group.

Harry slid into his seat, the warmth of being among friends washing over him. "How was everyone's summer?"

"Besides listening to my sister practice her Head Girl speech in front of a mirror every morning?" Reggy quipped, narrowly dodging a playful hex from Elvinia.

"Speaking of which," Roger cut in, raising an eyebrow, "did you two coordinate your speeches for the prefect meeting, or are we about to witness a power struggle?"

Harry glanced at Elvinia and shrugged. "I handed it off to her. You know me—I accepted the Head Boy job purely for the separate room. All just to escape Roger's snoring."

"Lucky you," Reggy muttered enviously.

Roger spluttered indignantly. "Hey! I silence my bed with spells! There's no way I snore."

"Sure, Roger," Harry replied with a grin, earning a chuckle from Cedric and Arabella.

Arabella turned to Elvinia. "You okay with that? Taking all the responsibility, I mean."

Elvinia sniffed, though her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Do I have a choice? Someone has to maintain standards."

Cedric checked his watch. "Speaking of standards, shouldn't we be heading to the prefects' compartment? Can't have the Head Boy and Girl showing up late to their first meeting."

Reluctantly, the group began gathering their things. Harry stood, feeling a pang of nostalgia even as he smiled. Moments like these, filled with laughter and banter, felt rare and precious in the shadow of the dangers outside Hogwarts' walls.

"Right then," Harry announced, smoothing his robes. "Time to go terrify some fifth-year prefects."

"Oh, please," Elvinia rolled her eyes, leading the way out of the compartment. "Save the terrifying for our new DADA professor."

The mention of their new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor—Dolores Umbridge—cast a brief shadow over the group. The Ministry's interference loomed over their thoughts, but they pushed it aside. They had a meeting to run, and the year was just beginning.