A/N: Essentially, what you recognize belongs to the goddess that is J.K. Rowling, and what you don't belongs to lil' ol' me.
•~0~•
Genevieve flipped through the latest edition of the Daily Prophet, right to the crossword section, and sighed. The skeletal face of Sirius Black graced the front page. Only a day earlier her father had sat her down and explained his escape from Azkaban and what it could mean for the Wizarding World.
"Thirteen Muggles died as a result of a single curse," Genevieve's father had said. "You need to be careful."
"Wait - why do I have to be careful?" Genevieve had asked, confused. "I'm off to Hogwarts soon; it's the safest place in the world."
Her father sighed. "You mustn't repeat this to anyone, Gen. I only know because Fudge thought it best for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to know exactly who they were dealing with." Her father had joined the Department after her mother's death as a way of honoring her.
"You, of course, know the story of Harry Potter. You-Know-Who was after his family, but he couldn't kill Harry himself. What you don't know is that the Potters knew he was after them. They used a highly protective spell called the Fidelius Charm - "
"Wait - the Fidelius Charm?" Genevieve had interrupted in amazement. "They hid their location inside of a person?"
"Yes," her father replied grimly. "And who else could they possibly make their Secret Keeper but James', Harry's father, best friend - Sirius Black?"
Genevieve gaped. "He was their best mate?"
"Indeed. But they didn't know Black had betrayed them. He was working for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named by then. And so, he told of their location, and you know the rest. When another one of James' friends, Peter Pettigrew, confronted him, Black murdered him and the other thirteen Muggles before getting sent to Azkaban. And now that he's out, Fudge reckons he's going to go after Harry - finish the job for his Master."
"Merlin," muttered Genevieve. "That bloke can't catch a break."
Now, as she began the crossword, she pondered what Sirius Black might attempt and swore to herself that she'd protect Harry at all costs.
Meanwhile, she glanced over at a saved clipping of the Daily Prophet and grinned. The twins and Charlie seemed to be having a great time in Egypt, visiting Bill, the oldest Weasley kid. Fred and George had written her a letter, detailing their adventures, which included putting beetles in an oblivious Bill's soup. Charlie had also written, laughing at the fact that Bill never figured out he was eating beetles.
She peered at the photograph in the paper, all the Weasleys waving enthusiastically. For some reason, she seemed to focus on Charlie more than anyone else. Even in the black and white of the picture, she could tell he was tanner from studying dragons in Romania, and more muscular too. Stop it, she told herself, he's much too old for you. Charlie had been a sixth year when she'd been in her first year at Hogwarts.
But still, she couldn't seem to push the boy out of her mind. What's the matter with me? She thought internally. Genevieve had never considered Charlie in this manner before. But then again, the voice in her head reasoned. You haven't seen him since he graduated. True, in their letters, he'd always been sweet, thoughtful, bantering Charlie Weasley, and it'd never crossed her mind what he looked like, how he'd changed. But to act on such imaginings would be foolish and reckless, and it would ruin an a friendship she truly cherished. Right?
•~0~•
The ride to Hogwarts was rather the same as so many others. It was marked by playing Exploding Snap, and, for Genevieve, studying. This was O.W.L. year, a year that essentially determined their lives after Hogwarts, a fact that didn't seem to concern Fred, George, or Lee nearly as much as it concerned her. Genevieve felt slightly guilty, not telling her friends about Sirius Black. She had made it a point to keep as few secrets from them as she could since the death of her grandfather.
Then the train began to slow down. Genevieve looked out the the window in surprise; it was too early for them to be at Hogwarts. There was a sudden stop, and the world went dark.
"Oi!" shouted the twins and Lee, who were still immersed in a round of Exploding Snap.
"Hold on," said Genevieve, creating and holding a ball of fire in her hand. "Now we can see."
But just then, something happened that made her wish they couldn't. For in that instant, a chill filled the air, and every sad or horrible thing Genevieve had ever experienced raced to the forefront of her mind. The sight of the big yellow eye before getting Petrified the year before, her grandfather dying before her, and something she didn't recognize. A woman dashing madly, barely ducking curses and sending a few of her own back at the masked faces. A baby cried. Except Genevieve wasn't seeing this woman from an outsider's point of view; it was almost like the woman was holding her, like Genevieve was looking up at her. Then, with startling realization, she recognized the woman as her mother. Genevieve clutched her locket in her free hand, the photo of Allie inside.
Malfoy rushed into their compartment, terrified, but Genevieve hardly noticed him, too consumed by her own thoughts. Dementors. They were the only things that could spur this type of reaction. There had to be one nearby. But, just as quickly aseverything had begun, it ended, and they were left sitting in the aftermath. The lights flickered back on, and the train continued, nearly as though nothing had happened. Genevieve looked around, vaguely aware of the fact that she was shuddering.
Katie and the others appeared affected too, with almost blank faces. No one was able to speak, as though their mouths had been glued shut. Someone came into their compartment and passed out chocolate. Genevieve gnawed on it, warmth slowly returning to her body. The people around her seemed to find the strength to talk, albeit croakily, and Malfoy left, still pale.
"What was that?"
"A dementor."
"I heard they were going to be guarding Hogwarts this year, watching for Sirius Black."
"Remind me not to go outside."
"I can't imagine a whole year with those - things."
"We've only got to deal with them till Black gets caught."
"But that's the problem - how do you find someone who escaped an inescapable prison?"
That question stumped everyone, and they remained in silence for a good while, thinking.
•~0~•
At the feast, Dumbledore warned the students about the dementors, saying:
"It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors."
Percy threw his chest out in silent bragging, and Genevieve snorted, earning her a glare from the egotistic Weasley. So it was true. Fred and George hadn't been kidding when they'd complained about Percy being made Head Boy. This was going to be an interesting year, she mused as Dumbledore also introduced Professor Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and Hagrid(?!) as the Care of Magical Creatures professor. That would certainly explain the textbook. It had tried to take her hand off, Genevieve only just managing to tie it shut. She clapped vehemently, though slightly apprehensive as to what Hagrid was planning on teaching them, as he had an affinity for dangerous creatures, something Genevieve found herself not to mind much, especially when they involved dragons.
Still, she couldn't help but wonder, with Harry Potter back once again, what was to come this year.