Ernie Macmillan leaned out of the compartment window and waved goodbye to his parents. He knew that he was too old for this, but while being an only child had its advantages; it also had its responsibilities. He and his Mum had started this ritual in his first year, and while he would rather sit with his friends before the Hogwarts Express departed, he indulged his mother's desire for that extra goodbye.

He was feeling especially indulgent as he glanced at Hannah Abbott in the seat opposite his. Usually, she joined him at the window in saying goodbye to both her parents as well as his, but all that had changed. Her father was barely there this year, and Ernie was happy she was returning to school for their seventh year. He grimaced as he remembered that she had missed the second half of last year when her mother had been murdered by Death Eaters.

There had been very little contact between them over the summer – very unusual for their close friendship -- but there had still been plenty of contact with the third part of their trio, Justin Finch-Fletchley, whom he knew would not be returning to Hogwarts. Justin was Muggle-Born, and with the changes at the school, he was not one of the students required to attend like the Purebloods or even Half Blood wizards. In fact, Muggle-Born wizards were banned entirely.

Ernie turned back to his parents, quickly changing his frown to one last smile, waving one last time as the train lurched forward. He dropped himself down into the seat across from Hannah and settled his legs on her lap, laughing as she shoved his big feet away. It was good to see a smile on her face. He really had missed her this summer. Ernie leaned forward, putting his hand on her knee and she nodded, returning his warm look.

The compartment door slid open, and they glanced up as more of their year joined them. Susan Bones, a tiny slip of a girl, and Wayne Hopkins, tie undone as usual, came in together, settling next to Ernie, and Zacharias Smith and Megan Jones followed right behind them, barely squeezing into the edge of the seat next to Hannah. Ernie rolled his eyes as they pulled their lips apart, laughing. Outside the compartment, Fritz Bagman and Derek Adams waved but continued past as Morag hesitated in the doorway, seemingly thinking, but before she could make any decision either way, she was pushed in by Sally-Anne.

The door slammed closed, the train lurching at the same time, and Ernie was quite surprised to find Morag abruptly in his lap. He steadied her with a firm hand on her back, and Hannah's eyes widened as Morag's arm went around his neck.

"Morag," he said quietly.

"Oh, dunnae git yer knickers in a twist, I'm just waiting fer the lovebirds tae settle some."

Megan blushed deeply as everyone in the compartment turned to her and Zach. They were still sitting close together, but Morag, with a helpful push from Susan, squeezed in between Megan and Hannah.

The corridor outside of their compartment remained steadily busy and noisy despite the absent trolley car, but a dark shadow fell briefly along the glass, and Susan let out a tiny gasp. "Is that…"

"It is," Zach answered quietly. "Death Eaters. Didn't you see them on the platform?"

"I did, but on the train?"

"Will they be at school?" Sally-Anne asked worriedly.

Wayne nodded. "I think so. Snape's headmaster, after all."

"My Da expects them tae be everywhere now," Morag added. "What was that?" She looked pointedly at Megan, who was carefully putting her wand away.

"Concealment charm," she said as the glass now shimmered silver. "When they look in, they'll think we're all sleeping."

"Where did you learn that?" Wayne was looking at Zach with wonder, yet still conveying a leer at which Zach just grinned, letting his nearest hand settle on Megan's knee. Hannah laughed as Megan took it and dropped it back on Zach's own lap.

Ernie leaned back in his seat, inadvertently pushing Susan with his shoulder, and he blushed, embarrassed. Tightly packed and already small train compartments sometimes were not the best suited for someone like him. "Sorry, Susan."

"It's fine, Ernie." She patted his shoulder, letting her hand smooth over his robe to rest on his elbow. Ernie noticed an odd look on Hannah's face, but then it was gone, and Wayne was asking about Quidditch practice, which he had spent all summer thinking about. He leaned across Susan, glad to talk to his teammate about his plans. The first practice would actually be at the end of their first week of classes. Just training and preparing for try-outs, but they usually faced Slytherin first match of the season, and he wanted to be prepared.

If not for the Death Eaters and the changes at Hogwarts, he might have been looking forward to his last year at school. He glanced at Sally-Anne as she adjusted the collar of her robe, closing the flowing layers over her more tightly-fitting uniform. He didn't realize that he was staring so openly until he caught Susan's disapproving eye and Hannah's foot struck him in the ankle. He returned the silent admonishment with a shrug at Hannah, letting his eyes continue to wander over Sally-Anne, despite that she didn't have the time of day for him anymore, as if she ever had.

He thought back to when he had really fancied her, but that had been back in fourth year, and now that he was of age, he had a different woman in mind. Well, no one really in mind, but he was certainly young enough to date a few more. Still, after the disaster that was last year and Morag MacDougal, he decided he should be a bit pickier. In some ways, they had been great together, and he smirked a little to himself as he recalled those ways with a quick glance in her direction, but in other ways, everything was a battle, and he didn't want to live his life in a battle. He was in no hurry, though. After all, his father had been more than twenty years older than Ernie was now when he and his mother were married.

He shifted in the seat, jostling Susan again, and silently apologizing again with a small smile, wondering for a moment why she was still sitting so close, but then he quickly stretched his legs out and turned his attention to Hannah. "Shouldn't we be going to the Prefects' car?"

He adjusted his tie officially as he waited for her answer, but Hannah's brow was furrowed. "No prefects this year, Ernie."

"Sorry? No prefects?"

"I heard that as well," Megan confirmed.

Ernie shook his head in disbelief. "That's simply… I mean it's unheard of…no prefects. I'll just go and see." Fastening the clasp on his robe, he slid the compartment door open. He hadn't gone very far when he came nose to hairline with a doughy–faced, black-robed man who appeared to have a Gryffindor boy by the scruff of the neck.

The Death Eater gave his smaller charge a push and stood toe to toe with Ernie, pulling himself up to his full height, though still nearly a foot shorter. "And where might you be goin'?"

Ernie hesitated, not knowing who this caustic man was. "I…I was heading down to the Prefect's car. We usually meet there to discuss and become familiar with any new rules. Sometimes we have a bite to eat before we arrive at Hogwarts and assume our duties. Is this the correct direction?"

Ernie motioned past the man, but his way was blocked. The thin lips turned up into a sort of deranged smile. "There are no Prefects this year. Go back to your compartment, Mr…"

"Macmillan. Ernest Macmillan."

"I see that you're a Hufflepuff. Like the rules, don't ya? Well, there'll be plenty of new rules for everyone. Things have changed." He put one thick finger on Ernie's black and yellow tie and pressed the knot against his throat. "Back to yer place, Mr. Macmillan."

Ernie stared for a moment, but quickly returned to his friends, sliding the door shut and watching more black-robed Death Eaters patrolling in the train corridor. He shook his head at Hannah, silently answering her question about their Prefect status, as he resumed his seat. He recounted his encounter, to the others, but when asked, he realized that he had no idea who the man was. Whoever it was, he hoped that he would remain on the train when the students disembarked, but Ernie had a feeling that that was just wishful thinking.

Upon arriving at Hogsmeade station, things were different. There were more black-robed figures keeping watch on the platform, several more than there had been at Kings Cross. It was quiet in the carriages on the way to the castle. Dark as usual upon their arrival, it gave an ominous feeling, and coupled with no wind, no rustling leaves, it made Ernie uneasy. Well, not uneasy so much as uncomfortable. It felt strange, but he couldn't place exactly what it was, and he glanced at Hannah and then Susan and Wayne, giving them each a small smile as he wondered what awaited them this term at Hogwarts.

A normal arrival would have included all of the students second-year and higher already being in the Great Hall and waiting for the first-years to arrive for their Sorting. Their trunks, brooms, pets, and other things would have been taken by the House-Elves during that time and placed in their rooms beside their beds.

They had been informed by owl that summer that pets would not be allowed this year. And on the train, he discovered that there would be no Prefects. What else could he expect? As they stood in three even lines, their trunks at their feet, Ernie knew that the Death Eater he'd encountered in the train corridor was correct. Things had changed.

He wasn't paying attention as another group of students jostled by, and he stumbled forward into Derek. Hitting Derek was like hitting a brick wall, and Ernie was no small lad himself, and he scowled as he recognized Eric Vaisey's voice dryly lamenting the other House's inspection and realized who had bumped into him so hard. Slytherins. But…inspections? Ernie nudged Derek, questioning him with a look, noticing more openly that there wasn't a line for the Slytherins as they entered the Great Hall ahead of everyone else.

Derek shrugged, but stared past Ernie. A tall black-robed figure was walking through the Slytherin wake. Ernie recognized him immediately from the train. Ernie tugged on one of Hannah's pigtails and she yelped, startled.

The Death Eater stopped, turning to glare at them. "You're to stand quietly until it's your turn for inspection. Is that understood?"

Derek simply nodded, but Ernie spoke as the man turned to leave. "Inspections?"

"Inspections. Are you hard of hearing, boy?"

Ernie raised himself to his full height, pulling his shoulders back to quietly but deliberately show off their width. He was no boy. He would be eighteen in a few weeks. "I hear just fine." There was a slight snarl, a faint roll to the 'r' as his burr almost escaped his usual careful diction.

"Then hear this…Macmillan, wasn't it? Things are different now. At the Ministry. At Diagon Alley. At Hogwarts. It would do you well to remember who's in charge."

"Who exactly are you?"

"I'm your new Dark Arts teacher; Professor Carrow."

"Dark Arts?"

"Dark Arts," Professor Carrow repeated. Ernie met his stiff gaze unflinching; eyes steady, but he said no more to their new Professor.

Carrow continued down the queue as Ernie and Derek exchanged another look. Hannah slid back to stand next to Ernie, poking him in the ribs, and he gave her a small smile as they continued to watch their new Dark Arts teacher make his way down the Hufflepuff queue.

"You've made quite an impression," Hannah smirked at him, but at almost the same moment, Carrow turned around suddenly. "Silence!" he boomed.

Ernie stood straight up, abruptly displacing Hannah, who had been leaning on his shoulder, and eyed Carrow coldly as he kicked Ernie's trunk. "Open it!" For a moment, he just stared back, but finally deciding that there really was no reason to disobey, he squatted down, tapping the lock with his wand and flipping the lid over.

Carrow used his wand to move things around, grunting and muttering, but after a while, he tapped his wand against Ernie's chest for a second time. Ernie knew he was trying to be threatening, but he only felt a sad, even pathetic dislike for the man, "I'll be watching you, Macmillan."

He again moved away down the queue, and Hannah leaned forward again, her voice carefully low. "Does he know you?"

Ernie chuckled and shook his head. "Only from earlier. I would doubt –"

He stopped immediately as they both turned at the sound of a shriek further down the queue.

"No!" a girl's voice wailed. "He's just a bird, an innocent baby!" Trying not to attract attention to themselves, Ernie and Hannah moved down the queue closer to the ruckus, and now Ernie could see that the girl was in tears, her hands fisted in Carrow's robes. It was Susan, her dark hair usually braided so neatly in its single plait beginning to come undone. Carrow pushed her down harshly, but she got up again almost immediately. "Please don't hurt him!"

Ernie took a step forward, but Wayne grabbed his arm to stop him, shaking his head. Professor Sprout had joined Susan and Carrow, and Ernie could see a small bundle in the Death Eater's thick hands, as he unwrapped what was hidden inside. Susan's face was tear-streaked, flushed crimson as she spoke again, almost whispering.

"He's hurt. He'll be well soon. He's not really a pet. I'm only taking care of him, and then I'll release him. That's all. I didn't have anyone to leave him with. I couldn't leave him alone. He'd die."

Carrow stared at her angrily. "Name?"

"Denby."

"You were given the list of banned items for this school term, and pets were on the list, especially owls. Didn't you read the list, Miss Denby?"

"Yes, of course, I…" she said quickly, then paused, realizing his mistake. "Sorry? No, I'm not -- I'm Susan Bones. The owl's name is Denby." There was a smattering of snickering around them. Ernie smiled too, but only briefly. The new Professor did not seem amused by the mistake, and his face was twisted in an ugly, dangerously distorted look.

Ernie took another step forward, but although he easily shook off Wayne's tightened grip of warning, Susan's gasp stopped him as the small, bundled owl was flung back into the still-opened trunk at her feet. She reached for it at once, but Carrow's wand was already out and aimed.

"Avada Kedavra." A green flash, and the entryway was filled with silence.

Susan dropped to her knees, her body shaking, tears falling as she stared down at the dead bird. Her voice, however, was completely steady as it echoed in the stunned entry hall. "You didn't have to kill him. He would have been healthy enough to leave in a few days."

Carrow lifted her chin with the tip of his wand. "With a message, no doubt. What was your name again, girl?"

"Susan Bones."

He looked thoughtful for a moment, twirling the wand as it pressed against her porcelain skin. "Any relation to Amelia Bones?"

Susan's eyes remained locked on Carrow's as she answered. "She was my aunt. She died."

"Unpleasantly, if I recall. One year ago, wasn't it? Or thereabouts. You should do well to remember that, Miss Bones. I'll certainly remember you." Carrow removed his wand and moved further down the queue until the Hufflepuffs had all been searched, even the most innocuous of prohibited items confiscated. Ernie couldn't see down the queue very well, but there was one more flash of green light, another burst of weeping, and he knew that Susan hadn't been the only one to lose an illicit pet.

Susan remained kneeling next to her trunk for the remainder of the inspections, Hannah beside her, one arm around her friend's shoulders as she cradled the little bundle gently, holding him close and rocking back and forth as she whispered into his stilled feathers. Ernie thought back to their second year, when he had helped Susan rescue a rabbit that had been attacked by Mrs. Norris. He hadn't thought it would survive, but he'd done what he could anyway, and she'd been so determined in her caring and healing skills that the little animal had defied his expectations and recovered fully.

At last, the inspections concluded, they were directed into the Great Hall, their trunks and brooms left in the entryway. Ernie and Hannah exchanged a look as he passed, leaning down to put a hand on Susan's small shoulder, squeezing it gently, trying to offer some measure of comfort . Hannah remained behind with Susan, and Ernie glanced back only once before taking his seat between fellow Quidditch players Fritz and Derek.

He barely acknowledged his teammates, glaring up at the staff table where Professor Carrow laughed quietly, his uneven teeth showing like a feral cat that had just caught and released his prey for another day. Everyone in the Great Hall was oddly quiet, except the Slytherins, who appeared quite unbothered as they caught up on old times and new rules that they either didn't mind or knew wouldn't affect them greatly. He saw a couple of figures in green-trimmed robes pointing at his table, grins wide, but he ignored them, waiting for the welcoming speech.

Snape sounded pleasant enough, droning through the usual niceties that he and the others had heard for the past six years. He mentioned the new organization of the Ministry, the new Minister. He was amiable, even genial-sounding in his expectations. He reiterated the no pets policy, but expected that this year would run as smoothly - if not more so - than any previous years. Ernie watched the other professors sitting behind the new Headmaster as he went on. Professor Sprout looked grim as she stared at Snape's back, Professor McGonagall looking apoplectic at his relish for his new duties as Headmaster.

Snape then introduced the new professors: Amycus Carrow for Dark Arts and his equally repulsive sister, Alecto, for Muggle Studies. There were a couple sounds of surprise at the title of Dark Arts. At least, he wasn't the only one who hadn't heard that change. Muggle Studies was now mandatory. There would be no Prefects, but there would be a Head Boy and Girl. Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson. Ernie shook his head slowly, as if trying to empty it of cobwebs as he realized that the appointment was all the stranger because Draco Malfoy was nowhere to be seen, certainly not in what should have been his place as Prefect opposite Pansy at the head of the Slytherin table.

The feast was unusually quiet, especially after the announcements. Despite not being official Prefects any more, Hannah and Ernie were asked by Professor Sprout to show the first years around on the way to the Common Room from the Great Hall. After an uneventful sorting ceremony, the new Hufflepuffs were welcomed. Their ties and scarves would be waiting for them on their new beds. They paused at the still life painting that hung over the Hufflepuff common room door. For this term, they were to peel the banana. The young first-years giggled. Ernie almost laughed, wondering if he had ever been that young or that small.

They filed in after Hannah, and as they entered, they were greeted by the portraits of former Hufflepuff witches and wizards filling their common room, the most prominent one being Helga Hufflepuff herself, who greeted the new and returning students with a smile. Hannah took the five girls to their dormitory to get them settled and Ernie did the same for his five boys. When they finished, they met in the common room, landing on the sofa side by side with a thud and two exhausted sighs.

The common room wasn't crowded and the mood subdued, everyone having heard about Susan's owl. Hers, as they had suspected, hadn't been the only pet to meet an unfortunate end this evening; Emma's kneazle had also been killed. Ernie didn't know what they could do about their new Professor, but he disagreed with Zacharias' statement that they should get used to it; that there really wasn't anything that they could do. He nodded, but in his heart, he didn't agree.

There had to be something.

***

Ernie was sitting alone in the common room, which was unusual, but he had been tiptoeing around Hannah all day. He was fortunate not to have witnessed the argument she had had with Neville after Herbology, and he dipped his quill into the ink bottle, making scratches on the parchment.

He had an informal meeting with the current Quidditch team coming up, but it was still more important than whatever spat there had been between Hannah and her Herbology partner. Try-outs for the open spots weren't until next week, but until they had a fully formed team, he expected them to work out and practice. He didn't like the idea of their winning with the other teams having missing players, but they were still the most physically fit, and they had a really good chance at winning the Quidditch Cup this year, or at least, that was how it looked as he had surveyed the other teams' players who had returned to Hogwarts. The Hufflepuff players were older, for one thing, and they had been playing together for awhile.

Ernie didn't even see Hannah approaching until she sat on the foot rest across from him. "Homework already?" she asked, peering over his parchment.

Ernie looked up from his scribbling with a smile. "I am in NEWT potions, Hannah. It's not as though it's the first day of classes for us in NEWT levels."

She stood and quickly plopped herself down on the sofa next to him, looking over his arm, to see more clearly what he was doing. "Ernie. That's not potions. That's Quidditch."

"I didn't say it was potions, did I?" He nudged her with his elbow. "How's Susan?"

"She's still upset. She loves her animals."

"I know." At Hannah's silence, he glanced up again. "Everything all right?"

She leaned in across the table towards him, her expression oddly serious for the almost gossipy pose. "Did you hear what happened to Seamus; about what he did yesterday? About what Carrow did to him?"

Zach was walking by with Wayne, but stopped when he heard Hannah's voice, sitting down Ernie's other side. "Seamus? He's a hothead. I heard he egged her on."

"Maybe he did," Wayne added, sitting on the abandoned footrest, "but he didn't deserve to be beaten like that. And Cruciated! Do you know that they wouldn't let him go to hospital wing?"

Ernie nodded gravely. "Is he any better?"

She nodded. "A bit, but that's started a lot of talk over in Gryffindor. Neville –"

"Neville? Didn't you and he have a…" Ernie hesitated, "a thing, earlier today?"

"It was a misunderstanding," she said coldly, effectively cutting off any other comment he may have been considering. "He and Ginny are restarting the DA. There's a meeting tomorrow. Are any of you interested?"

He sat up straight, looking first at Zach, then at Wayne, and then finally meeting Hannah's gaze. "Are they serious?" When Hannah nodded, he stated, "Harry's not back this term. Who will lead it? Ginny, I suppose?"

Hannah shrugged. "They didn't say. Could be Ginny. Could be Neville, maybe. I don't know. Who else should we tell?"

"Neville?" Ernie couldn't keep the surprise out of his voice as his eyes widened.

"What's that look mean, Ernie? What's wrong with Neville?"

"Nothing's wrong with Neville." Ernie went back to his parchment, not looking up as he continued, "Do you really think he can take Harry's place?"

"Yes," she said quickly. "Why? Wouldn't you follow Neville?"

"I didn't say that. It's not that. I would. I like Neville, but that doesn't much matter, I expect. I didn't like Harry, and I followed him just fine."

"Who else should we tell?" Hannah repeated, ignoring Ernie's last comment.

"Aside from the four of us? Zach, would you join?"

"I wouldn't mind having a listen. I don't know, though. I wasn't too keen on it when it was Harry, and Neville…" His voice trailed off, and he glanced at Hannah, then back to Ernie. "I know he's your friend, Hannah, and I really don't know him that well, but…he's not exactly leader material. You know what I mean?"

Ernie shrugged as Hannah remained silent, then Wayne spoke up. "Well, I'm willing to listen to what they have to say. I saw Seamus right after, and there was no reason to beat him almost to death, even if he did bring it on himself. On her worst day, Umbridge wouldn't have gone that far." He stood up to walk away, then turned back, speaking in a low voice. "They killed two pets yesterday; from this House. They killed Cedric. I'm joining. I don't care if Colin Creevey is running it. Don't forget, though – ask Susan."

"Susan?" Ernie asked, adding, "she wasn't that interested the last time."

"That's not true," Hannah stated quickly. "You don't know her very well, Ernie, but I would think after what happened to Denby, she'd be right at the top of the list to join."

Ernie squinted at Hannah. "Denby?"

"Her owl."

"Oh. Denby. I didn't remember his name. Just seventh-years, then?"
"I don't know, but it's a start. I suppose I'll tell the girls."

"I'll tell the boys, although it seems half of them already know," he said, pointing at Wayne's and now Zach's retreating backs. "And I'll invite the Quidditch team at tomorrow's practice."