The train jolted and roared out of the station. I kept waving to my parents until they were only a distant point among all the people wishing us goodbye. I chuckled a little and turned to my friends.

"Hey, this is the last time we'll be waving goodbye."

"Well, not really. What about the holidays and seeing other people off in the future?" Caleb replied, his disheveled blond hair peering over Seeker Weekly.

"Oh shush Callie, I know what you mean, Kensley. It's odd, isn't it? Us being 7th years, surreal really. This is the last time we're heading off to start school," Spencer said with a grin as she turned and rested her feet on me, "and that was our last summer holiday, where I might add one Ms. Fawcett did not see either of her terrible friends even once. Just how was the Spencer-less summer for you two?

I grimaced. I'd spent the majority of break with my dad as the temporary assistant team manager for the Montrose Magpies after the last one was fired. It was quidditch pitch after quidditch pitch all summer. Not that it was a new thing for me, with my dad being a coach and my brother being a professional player. My whole life has revolved around quidditch, but still, the hopes of traveling back to the states to visit Aidan or accepting the invitation to vacation in France with Spencer were thrown in the trash along with my relationship. My boyfriend and I had broken up after my long term absence had finally taken its toll. This last summer was not a good one.

"Don't tease me, Spence, you know how it was, just dad and the magpies. I barely even got to see mom, she had a summer teaching position over at St. Andrew's… and you already know about Grant."

Spencer frowned slightly, but quickly dismissed it and giggled with her light brown curls falling onto her face, "I don't think I am ever getting over how you say mum."

I was grateful for Spencer's smooth transition and laughed, "Well it's not my fault that my veins run with red, white, and blue!" I teased.

I was used to being given a bit of a hard time with my accent, or lack of one, from my friends. I was originally born in Boston and grew up there fully expecting to attend the Salem Institute where my brother had already gone to. Unfortunately for my childhood self, though, my mom received a job offer at St. Andrew's University and my dad became the head coach for the Montrose Magpies right before I turned 11. We packed up, moved to Scotland, and I ended up at Britain's leading academy of magic, Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Caleb looked up from his magazine and smirked, "Honestly, you and your complaints, woman. I just visited my grandmum in Bath and saw a bit of the sights, nothing really. Laying about, acting like a muggle while I visited family. Merlin, Kensley, I would kill - kill being the important word here - to spend my holiday with Coach and the Magpies."

He proceeded to throw his magazine at me and I scowled, preparing to throw it back.

"Grass is always greener," I scoffed.

Caleb rolled his eyes at me, "Oh, I'm not sure if it's really important to you or anything, but your brother is in a snippet on page 25."

I jumped in my seat and quickly flipped through pages, finding his name under "Overseas News." Just a small article mentioning him as a promising up-and-comer for the Fitchburg Finches and a replay on his most recent match, not even a picture was published. Though I wasn't surprised, It was only his second year as a professional player, and Aidan could care less for publicity, even going as far as changing his last name to remove himself from dad's fame. But it was still nice seeing that he was slowly getting recognized.

Spencer squealed, "Let me see! I miss that handsome face of his."

"Will you relax, there's no picture. Seriously what's with you two and hitting my sore spots? First summer break and then mentioning Aidan? It's been more than a year since I saw him last. He said he might not even make it back for Christmas. I'm being stabbed in the heart with your words!" I jokingly flailed around, "I am dying, and you two are my murderers! Just how long have you two conspired against me?"

"Oh calm your ass. Speaking of murderers, you have heard about it right?" Caleb said, a little more serious. "About Black and his escape?"

"Of course I have, I don't know anyone in the wizarding world who hasn't."

"It's frightening, knowing he's out there." Spencer shivered, "Gives me the chills a bit… and I don't know if it's just me, but does the train seem colder?"

Spencer removed her legs from my lap, folding them under her chin.

"A little," I replied, rubbing my nose, "And it feels a little off, too."

"You guys are being ridic-"

Caleb was cut off by the abrupt halt of the train followed by immediate darkness.

"Okay, so maybe not that ridiculous, but it's probably something mechanical. We'll be up and running in no time," he not-so-confidently assured us, getting up to open the compartment door, "I'll go ask someone."

"Mechanical!?" Spencer exclaimed, "The train is run by magic! Magic! Oh bleeding bollocks, I have a bad feeling about this."

"You might actually be right about something, Spence," Caleb quickly closed the door and sat back down.

"What exactly are you getting at?" I quietly muttered to no reply, "Caleb!"

"So you know that off-bad feeling you both have? Well it's... um... most likely due to the dementors walking or uh floating down the corridor."

"Wait, wait, wait, dementors? You're not joking, are you?"

He gave me a weak smile, "I wish I was."

Spencer gave a squeal of fright and I just groaned.

Then, the aforementioned creature appeared. A mysterious cloaked figure, shrouded in a black smoky fog slowly, painfully, floated its way across our compartment. We'd learned about dementors already in school, but no amount of reading could have ever prepared us for the actual feeling of having one near.

Any trace of happiness escaped like a flood and I was paralyzed. Memories, repressed by my mind, resurfaced. I could only remember the pain that seared through my body and the helplessness I had felt that day. Trapped on that forest floor, alone, and my world coming to an end; I could only watch as my mother found me, eyes filling with panic. My own welled over with hot moisture and my words struggled with a plea to stop the pain...

"Ken, Kensley, KENSLEY!"

A hand violently shook my shoulder, and my consciousness was brought back into reality.

"Here. Take a piece," Spencer said as she divided her chocolate bar. "Are you alright? I was so terribly worried that you fainted. If your eyes hadn't been open I really would've thought you had."

I gave her a sheepish half-smile. "No, I'm fine, really. I sorta spaced out there, though, didn't I?"

"That's a bit of an understatement. Are you really alright?"

Spencer had that worried motherly look in her eyes, and I didn't want to say anything that would increase it, but honestly, some things had come up that I had not thought about for a very long time. To say it wasn't pleasant, now that would've been the understatement.

"Yeah, no, really I'm fine."

"That's good then, you gave us a right good scare there, little Li Li," Caleb said with a crooked grin.

"Please, please, I have said this so many times! Don't call me Li Li. It's so vile, it makes me want to throw up. And don't think I can't hear those racist Asian undertones."

"Don't get that on me, these are new shoes!"

"I won't, Spencer my dear, as long as Callie refrains from calling me by that awful nickname."

"Ugh! I am so offended! I think Li Li is a elegant and beautiful nickname, and you are Asian, well part at least!"

Recovered from before, I laughed and continued the thankfully contrasting light-hearted conversation. We were all glad to have quickly changed the tone in the compartment from the previous somber ordeal and continued to talk, happy to not discuss the more grim topic.

I laid awake in the familiar Ravenclaw dormitory thinking about what had happened tonight. My eyes traced the random patterns of the maple-colored wood of my four poster. The silk curtains softly billowed onto my bed and the wind soundly blew outside the windows. These were generally good conditions, but there was a knot of anxiety in my stomach that prevented me from falling asleep.

I really didn't have much to worry about. The dementors being placed around the school was just a precautionary measure. I did have a small freak out, but the Potter kid had actually fainted. I was still a little annoyed at those Slytherins for belittling him like that. He had more than enough on his plate to cause that reaction. But that was my point, there was no sound reason for me to be worried.

I laid there for a little longer until I couldn't bear my own body heat any more. If I'm going to be up, I should at least be doing something. Trying the hardest to be quiet as I could, I stepped down to the ravenclaw common room. Sitting on the lush velvet couch I began to write a letter.

Dear Aidan,

I think it's around 2 in the morning while I'm writing this. I'm sitting in the common room, on the couch next to the big window I really like. I really can't sleep, so I thought writing to you would be more productive.

Tomorrow is the first day of my last year. It really sounds more momentous than it actually will be I imagine. Do you remember when I heard that I wouldn't be going to Salem like you, I got so upset I wouldn't talk to mom and dad for like a week? Things really do change. I got a little nostalgic today about the past, I'm glad to be growing up and all, but it's scary isn't? Knowing directly that when the time comes everything will change.

I hope you're doing well, Caleb found a snippet of you in Seeker Weekly. I miss you and so does mom and dad. You really should write more.

Lots and lots of love,

Kensley Everett

"Get up. Hey, you're going to be late to breakfast. Get up!"

I opened my eyes and was met with a hazel colored glare from Spencer.

"Wah-wah? Oh shit!"

"That's right, 'Oh shit!' Come on, you are so lucky I like to get up early. I can't believe you already fell asleep in the common room and it's only the first day of school!"

"Spencer, stop mothering me."

"I wouldn't have to if you weren't such a child."

I shot her a smile, "What would I do without you mother dearest?"

"You would probably be off living in the forbidden forest foraging for food."

I laughed and ran up to our room before anyone else could see me.

"Goodmorning everyone!" I chimed as I opened the dorm door.

"Goodmorning." Aurelia muffled through her sweater. "Penelope is in the shower and I'm still trying to wake Shea up."

"I can probably help with that." I sauntered over to She's bed, "Shea, oh Shea, sweet pea it's time to wake up," I mockingly sang to her.

"Never," she replied from under her covers.

"But you have such a big day, it's the first day of school my dearie!"

She proceeded to hit me in the face like an alarm clock.

"Alright. I tried the gentle way, but you resorted to violence. Aurelia is a witness," I said as I jumped onto her bed, sticking my cold feet inside her warm blankets. She shrieked, as per protocol and pushed me off the bed, "FINE! I'm getting up! Can't find a moments peace with you lot."

"Success," I smirked to Aurelia as Shea's tired form slowly sat up.

I jolted awake again for about the 50th time today. Yawning, I rubbed my palms into my eyes. It wasn't Professor Flitwick's fault I was falling asleep, charms was one of my favorite subjects, but the late night had turned my eyes into weights and it was the last class of the day. I couldn't blink without risking bashing my head onto the table. I repeated my mantra, "30 minutes till class ends… 20 minutes… 10 minutes," until finally, he had dismissed us for the day.

I yawned again, but this time someone poked me in the stomach.

"Caleb, is it your job to irritate me?"

Curling his hand around his chin, "I find it more of a calling really, you could even say it was destiny. Also, you might want to look in a mirror."

"I know I look horrible, I'm dead tired. I went to bed late last night and this pile of homework isn't helping my mood, not to mention the extra homework dad sent me this morning at breakfast," I managed to grumble out.

At my expense Caleb smiled, "From your father you say? Mind if I take a look, because you know, you're stressed and tired and all."

"Not a chance," I started walking away, "And don't follow me!"

Sitting in the stands of the Hogwart's quidditch pitch, I breathed the air in. Fresh, slightly brisk from the incoming fall and still a little warm from the departing summer. I relaxed as the wind brushed through my hair and the smell of the grass wafted throughout the field. Although complaining about the immense amount of time I spent on quidditch pitches was something of a habit, it was one of my favorite places to unwind. Something about the emptiness of the stands and the high altitude made me feel so still and at peace.

I laid down on the bench, taking out the plays my dad had sent this morning. Looking over them I tried to envision each one being used out in the pitch while thinking of comments to add on. Sifting through the pile, I didn't notice my eyes slowly drifting to a close.

"WAKE UP!"

Jolted awake, the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain looked down at me angrily.