Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter etc.

Chapter 1:

Alison was nervous as she stepped onto the Hogwarts' Express. She had spent the summer with Lucian and his family again but had not seen anyone else from the school at all. She hadn't even written to anyone. Instead, she just enjoyed not having the stress of school weighing down upon her.

She spotted a head of shining blonde hair and her nerves increased. She had no idea where she stood with Draco Malfoy. At the end of the previous year, Malfoy had hugged her once she was revived from being petrified. She had also discovered from two of her Gryffindor friends, Harry and Ron, that Malfoy had helped them figure out some of the information about the monster in the Chamber of Secrets, and had encouraged them to find out who had done it, for her sake.

"Hurry up, Ali!" said Lucian, pushing her along the train, gently.

Alison snapped out of her thoughts and searched for a compartment. She spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione shuffle into a compartment near the end of the train and was about to rush over to them when she heard her name being called along with Lucian's. She turned to see Marcus Flint leaning out of a compartment.

"We saved you a seat!" he said as he waved them over.

Alison followed Lucian to the compartment and froze in the doorway when she spotted Malfoy sitting next to the window. Crabbe and Goyle sat next to him, whilst Marcus sat opposite him, next to Lucian. The train began to move so Alison sat next to Lucian as Malfoy noticed her presence. He looked at her for a few seconds then looked back out the window.

It started to rain heavily and the sky was getting dark. Everyone in the compartment was silent. It seemed like they were all too tired to hold a conversation. However, something made Alison speak up.

"We're slowing down," she said as the train screeched to a halt.

She stood up to look outside the door. People in other compartments were doing the same. She spotted Harry not too far away. She was about to shout his name when the train lurched violently, sending her flying back on the floor. Lucian knelt down next to her to help her up.

"Are you alright?" he asked frantically.

Alison nodded as the lights went off.

"What's going on?" asked Malfoy, his voice full of fear.

The compartment got suddenly cold. The windows steamed up slightly and when Alison breathed she could see the mist floating from her mouth. A dark figure floated into the doorway. Malfoy squeaked and hid behind Alison shaking with Crabbe and Goyle. Marcus knelt down next to Lucian.

"What is that?" he asked.

Alison noticed the dark, tattered cloak and scabby hands. She had seen one before in one of her books.

"It's a dementor!" she whispered as it slid the door open.

Alison could hear screaming. She was unsure where it was coming from and looked around in panic. Lucian took out his wand and sent a jinx towards the dementor. It stumbled back only slightly then began to advance on them again. The six of them began to scream, holding onto each other tightly. The dementor stopped suddenly, like it was distracted by something and flew off down the hall. Five minutes later, the lights flickered back on and the train began to move again. The Slytherins were still huddled together on the floor.

Someone stopped at the door, having spotted the six cowering on the floor. It was a man in shabby clothing. He had a few scars across his face but he had kind eyes. He opened the door.

"Are you all okay? Did you get attacked too?" he asked.

"Almost," squeaked Alison, "the dementor got distracted by something."

"It was probably my patronus charm," the man mumbled to himself. He put out a hand to help Alison and the others to their feet, "I am Professor Lupin, your new defence-against-the-dark-arts teacher." He reached into his pocket and brought out three chocolate frogs, "You should eat these, they will help. I need to go and talk to the driver."

Professor Lupin left, closing the door behind him. The six looked at each other and then began to split the chocolate frogs. As Alison regained her strength she remembered the sound she had heard when the dementor had approached them.

"Did you guys hear the woman screaming too?" she asked the others.

They all shook their heads.

"I did hear Malfoy screaming though!" chuckled Lucian.

Malfoy glared at him, "Hey! Flint was screaming the loudest!"

The five boys got into an argument about who was screaming whilst Alison slouched down in her seat, thinking about the haunting sounds that she had heard.

Alison sat uncomfortably at the Slytherin table, listening to the Hogwarts' choir sing. Crabbe and Goyle sat on either side of her and bobbed up and down in their seats in an attempt to begin a strange dance routine. Malfoy who was sitting opposite Alison shot disgusted looks at the boys. He looked at Alison for a second then turned to Pansy, who was sitting next to Goyle, and smiled slightly at her.

The choir finished and everyone clapped. Alison did so half-heartedly. She just wanted to go to her nice warm bed in her dormitory or sit in front of the green fire in the Slytherin common room. Dumbledore began his welcome speech and introduced Professor Lupin. Alison clapped a little louder for him, as the chocolate frogs that he had given out worked quite well. As Dumbledore continued with his speech, Malfoy leant towards the Gryffindor table and called for Harry's attention.

"Is it true you fainted?" he asked, with a sly laugh as the boy next to him mocked Harry, "You actually fainted?"

Alison frowned at him and spoke up, "You weren't exactly a knight in shining armour yourself, Malfoy, so I suggest you shut up!"

Ron smiled at Alison and turned back to Dumbledore along with Harry who had nodded a thanks in Alison's direction. Malfoy glared at her.

"Who asked you, Mudblood!" snapped Crabbe, jumping to Malfoy's defence.

Crabbe received two kicks under the table, one from Lucian and one from Marcus, and a shove from Malfoy. Crabbe frowned at Malfoy, whilst Alison looked at him, half angry, half grateful. She was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the word dementors. She turned to Lucian.

"What about dementors?" she asked him.

"They're staying at the school," he whispered back.

"Well this is going to be a fun year," muttered Alison with her head in her hands.

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