Terence roused slowly from his deep slumber, he had been dreaming vividly about the talk he'd had with Robert Burtleton but everything was tinted grey and flashing images of his dad lying beaten and bruised with wide open eyes kept overlapping. A dark cloaked figure had loomed behind Robert as he spoke and looked down on Terence with dark red eyes piercing through the empty hooded face, raising a robed arm up and pointing a bony hand towards him, the finger nails curling like a claw.

It was quite comforting that the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was the complete contrast of the unsettling images that had plague his restless mind, it was Hermione sat opposite him, her legs stretched across the seat next to her resting on top of his and her head laid upon the soft armrest next to the window. Her hair brushed behind her ears her eyes tightly shut and her breathing slow and peaceful as she slept on.

They had been talking for hours after he had convinced her to stay. Speaking in great detail about what they had done over the holidays. Hermione had spent the summer with her parents on holiday in Italy, she spoke with great enthusiasm about the places she had been to and the people she had met. She spoke about how she'd love to learn Italian and go back again some day to discover the places she had not yet been to. She spoke about the food, music and style adopted over there, she described the buildings and the history of all the towns she'd visited and places she'd liked the most.

Terence watched her happily, noting how easily she forgot about herself when she was avidly talking about something, he liked the way she would describe things by using her hands to shape them out and how she would laugh to herself every so often as if she had remembered something or someone she had forgotten. Lost in a world of her own, completely engrossed.

Terence had never been to Italy before in his life but just from watching Hermione he suddenly had a great urge to go there right now. He liked the way every time she would talk about something she'd seen or learned she'd start the sentence with "You'll probably not find this that interesting but…" and would then proceed to tell him something amazing or funny.

He felt rather dull in comparison, considering all he'd done over the holiday was spend it at home doing normal every day things like going to the cinema or playing football in the park, having to eat out every night because his father wasn't at home and his own cooking the worst thing known to man. He felt stupid recalling things he had done that paled in comparison to the sights and sounds of Rome or Michelangelo's Tondo Doni but still Hermione hung on every word like he was reading the bible, she laughed and smiled along with him and took great interest in the things he had done just as much as he had with her.

Conversation like this shared with school friends was usually just a formality over in a matter of minutes but with Hermione he felt like he didn't ever want to stop, they had spoken at great length about the subjects they were taking this year and what they hoped their results would be. He explained to her what she was to expect, having taken the classes the previous year and told her about the new teachers she'd meet and what books made good exam reading material.

Upon mention of this, to Terence's amusement she had instantly jumped to her feet and frantically searched for a piece of paper to jot down the book titles. So when he pulled out a few books he happened to have with him in his case and handed them to her she nearly sent him flying as she jumped into him before remembering where she was and turning yet another brilliant shade of red and apologising. She told him all about the things she had done with Harry and Ron over the last few years such as playing a giant game of wizards chess (with life or death consequences), taming a massive three headed dog, coming face to face with a real life werewolf or how Harry had to fight a monster sized Basilisk in the much rumoured Chamber Of Secrets.

Terence had of course heard all these stories before from various students but to hear them first hand from someone who had actually been there was gripping and he marvelled at how amazing this girl truly was. He tried to imagine himself going through such trials and tribulations and shuddered to think how he would have coped. They discussed more trivial things as well and were surprised to find they shared the same taste in food, films and music. Not to mention that they both adored the band "The Familiars" a rather acquired taste in the wizarding world, to find someone who enjoyed their music as much as he did was unheard of to Terence. He noticed how happy she seemed when discussing Harry or Ron and had to admit he felt a strong course of green blood flow through him every time but also felt happy that she had friends as good as the ones she described. This sort of conversation went on for hours with them laughing and joking until finally somewhere between discussion of the giant trolls of Sweden and the unheard methods of creating a perfect "silence" potion they had drifted off to sleep with only the thin veil of glow from the moon shining through their pitch black carriage for light.

As Terence stretched his arms up high, shaking off the last remnants of drowsiness that still covered his joints he sat back and gazed at the girl sleeping quietly in front of him. He can't have been sure how long he had sat there looking at her but was brought to when he spotted the familiar lamp lights from the platform of the schools station looming in the distance. The whole train seemed deathly silent but he knew it wouldn't last long when the train came to a stop and everyone would have to pile out again just like they had piled in. Terence slowly stood up and switched on one of the lamp lights above his seat casting the once dark carriage into clarity. He knelt down in front of Hermione and lightly shook her shoulder but to no avail, she slept on happily and just wrinkled her nose slightly as if she was dreaming. Terence smiled and shook her again this time calling lightly "Hermione, Hermione time to get up." but yet again apart from a sleepy sigh murmured from her lips no sign of her waking up was shown. Terence knew he'd have to resort to desperate measures and so leaned in closer and whispered in her ear, "Hermione you've just handed in your "Transfiguration" paper but you haven't put your house name on the page, that'll be at least 2 marks you've missed." And with that Hermione sprung to life and sat straight up rubbing her eyes and looking down at her lap as if searching for a desk of some kind. "Good to see you're still with us." greeted Terence as he lugged his Trunk off the top of the carriage and pulled his school robe from it which he put on noting the cold bite of the air coming in through the open window.

Hermione looked around and then spotting Terence she smiled and stretch up and out shaking her head and pulling her hair behind her head and tying it back with a simple hair band she had over her wrist. "How long have I been asleep?" asked Hermione, glancing toward her watch and then back at Terence.

"Oh hours Hermione, in fact we've had to go round the route twice just because I couldn't wake you up." joked Terence pointing towards the station up ahead.

"Really? That's odd because the last thing I remember before drifting off was you slouched back with your head hanging to one side fast asleep." came her reply as she smiled, then bent down to put her shoes back on.

"Oh no I wasn't snoring was I? I'd hate to find out I was a snorer, I could handle many things in life but to branded a nocturnal noise factory would be top of my list of things I never want to be." Terence helped the girl to her feet and held out her robe as she turned around and slipped her arms into it.

"Thanks. No you weren't snoring but you were drooling and pulling an odd face that resembled a Goldfish." she explained as she neatened up the front of her robes.

"Oh that's ok then." replied Terence as he watched her take the books he had given her and stuff them into her robe pockets and then give them a reassuring pat.

At that moment the door to their carriage slid open with a thud and stood there with a face like thunder was the red headed boy Terence assumed was called Ron. Harry stood behind him talking to another red headed girl before she disappeared down the train. "Where the bloody hell have you been?" inquired Ron as he looked from Hermione to Terence and then back to Hermione. "The train's stopped and it'll take us ages to get through the crowds on the platform, you're usually the first one off most the time."

Hermione merely grinned back and replied, "No need to panic Ronald, it's only a few hundred people I'm sure it'll die down soon enough." and with that she turned to Terence and placed a hand on his arm. "Thank you for the books, I had so much fun tonight." she smiled up at him and then leant on tip toes and whispered in his ear. "I really hope your father is ok, if you need someone to talk to let me know." She then went to turn to leave but Terence quickly grabbed her by the hand and gave it a light squeeze. "Thank you Hermione, I'm glad you were here when I need someone to talk to. You'll never know how much help you were to me, I'm really grateful." he thanked her from the bottom of his heart and then let go of her hand. If shades of red came any darker then he didn't know they existed but the reddened face of Hermione had looked happier than he had ever seen it as she turned and headed towards the door. She took her case off Ron and thanked him and then headed for the train's exit giving a wave to him as she left. Ron just stood there eyeing the boy in front of him suspiciously before giving a slight nod and heading after her. The other boy "Harry" walked past and gave him a nod and a grin before calling after Ron to wait up.

Terence waited in his carriage for a few more minutes until the throng of people had wandered off and then walked slowly down the empty train with his heavy trunk floating behind him. He dropped off his luggage at the drop point and then made his way down the old path from the station to a gathering of students waiting around what looked like horse carriages but with no horses. Terence stood there with his hands in his robe pockets watching the crowd chatter and lark about. He turned his gaze to the sky and noted the amount of stars on view tonight, he let the cold night air cleanse his mind and senses as he remembered the train journey he had spent with Hermione, he was so thankful she had been there, if not that journey would have been among the worst hours of his life, full of worry, fretting and confusion. Instead it was probably now the fondest memory he had ever had about school.

He walked up to the front of the last carriage and stroked the head of the black horse like creature much to the confusion of half the students who were watching him. He didn't care and continued to slowly run his hand over the creature's neck as it closed its eyes and swayed towards his touch. He hadn't noticed the boy who had wandered over and stood yards away from him. "You can see them too I take it?" It was Harry, he peered over at the horse and then back at Terence with a smile on his face.

"Yep you'd be right… and were not the only ones I guess." replied Terence nodding towards a rather odd looking girl with blonde hair who was hugging one of the other creatures around the neck, to be honest it didn't look too pleased with the girls show of affection but stood still and took it all the same. They both burst out laughing and watched her try to clamber onto the back of the creature before being restrained from doing so by a frantic looking Hermione backed up by Ron who looked less frantic and more confused with this girl who appeared to be climbing onto thin air.

"I see you've not met Luna yet." chuckled Harry taking a step forward and bringing his hand softly down the horse's snout.

"Luna huh, her second name wouldn't be Lovegood would it?" asked Terence putting his hands back into his pockets.

"Yeah how did you know?"

"Well she looks familiar, I think it's the same girl who handed me this at the station back in London. He took out a bright green flyer and handed it to Harry. Harry looked down at the note and read it.


"Interested in the wild and weird side of the wizarding world?

Ever wondered who or what resided in the Shrieking Shack?

Ever wanted to find the whereabouts of Bigfoot?

Want to learn how to create a Furtle Buzzmarker?

Do you feel the urge to discuss the hidden messages in Merlin's Autobiography?

Then come to Luna Lovegood's after class group meetings. You'll be welcome with

Open arms and a fresh cup of Bastrel Sludge Juice.

All species welcome. You won't find us we'll find you"
Harry burst out laughing again and glanced back at Luna now being lectured like a naughty child by Hermione.

"You can't help thinking she added the last part so she could explain the poor attendance." noted Harry as he handed back the piece of paper. "So how come you can see these things as well?" asked Harry "I guess you know why I can, I think the whole world knows that one." sighed Harry looking back into the creatures eyes.

"To be honest mate, I have no idea. I only found out last year that I could see them when Hagrid was feeding them outside the school near the woods. When I asked him about them he looked as shocked as I did but was quick to ask for help as he found it hard to know where they were half the time. He explained how only a select number of people could see them but I've never had a brush with death in my life. I asked my father about it and he assured me that I was always a healthy happy child and never in any danger but he did seem concerned that I could see them, I suppose he would." He looked backed at a puzzled Harry and then back at the horse.

"That is odd." was all Harry could say before the voice of Professor McGonagall came out from over the crowd. "Right ladies and gentlemen, if you would kindly make your way to a carriage, please don't be alarmed they are perfectly safe. Just don't lean out over the edge as they are moving, we don't want a repeat of last year's fiasco." with this she gave a disapproving glance over at a boy in Terence's year who sheepishly shrunk back into the crowd. Terence could remember how long the boy had been in hospital with his broken arm. It was the talk of the school for a while.

As the students all piled one by one onto the carriages Harry tapped Terence on the arm and asked, "If you want, you can share our carriage?" as he motioned towards the one which Ron was now struggling to clamber into, being helped in by Hermione and Luna.

"Thanks Harry, I appreciate it but I think I'll pass." He nodded to Ron. "I think your mate might be a bit annoyed if I barge in on your group, I thought he was going to thump me back at the train." Terence chuckled.

"Ah yeah I forgot about Ron, I wouldn't worry too much about him. He's a good bloke once you get to know him, just a little protective when it comes to Hermione… although he'd never admit it." explained Harry scratching his head.

"Yeah I guessed it might be that… but I understand why." Terence stood in silence for a bit looking at Hermione before coming back to his senses. "No, thanks Harry but I'd be a bit worried about being chucked over the side half way there." Terence and Harry grinned. "But I do appreciate the offer though, not everyone is so accepting of us Slytherins." finished Terence.

With that said Harry looked down at the colour of the boy's robes and his eyes opened wide in realisation. Having noticed his mistake Terence chuckled again. "I suppose it helps if that person hasn't noticed it yet." he smiled and patted Harry on the shoulder before wandering off to find another carriage waving his hand behind his back leaving Harry to head back to his group of friends.

The carriage journey was fairly uneventful albeit for a few Hufflepuff boys who thought it would be funny to stand up when going over the bumpy road to then be thrown almost off the back of the carriage headfirst if it wasn't for a few lunged grabs from their friends. Terence had managed to find a carriage mainly comprised of Slytherins and a few Ravenclaws. They all sat in silence as the wheels bounced off the hard soil surface. Terence leaned on the edge of the carriage and looked out across to the distance boats of first years making their way across the lake, only a single lamp light shining from each one. They glowed off the waters surface and looked like a pattern of stars slowly floating towards the school. After a while the carriages pulled to a halt outside the castle grounds and everyone piled out chatting and laughing. They had a short journey across the school's large field and then across the courtyard before they could get inside. Terence hung behind the rest and took his time, savouring the fresh air and the cool nightly breeze. He looked for Hermione but she was no where to be seen, she must have been further towards the front with Harry and Ron. Suddenly behind him he heard a faint noise, it was like light footsteps crunching the grass behind him. He spun round and looked out into the pitch black distance but there was nothing. He stood there peering out convinced of the noise he'd heard and then spotted a dark shadow someway off in the distance making it's way into the Forbidden Forest. After a while the dark shape disappeared lost inside the tangle of trees. Even though Terence was curious he knew it would be madness to try and follow the shadow… it was after all just a shadow. He gave it one last look and then turned back realising he was now well behind everyone else as they were already inside the courtyard and making their way into the school.

Terence hurriedly made his way across the field and into the yard with only a few helpful lamp lights to guide the way. He was about to head up the steps and into the school when he heard a loud voice coming from one corner of the yard. He looked over and noticed a crowd of students gathered in a circle. On closer inspection he noted that they were all from Slytherin, probably up to no good thought Terence but he didn't see the point in going over there for no reason so he started back up the stairs but froze when he heard another voice… a girl's voice, unfamiliar but she sounded frightened. Again Terence looked out across the courtyard and spotted Malfoy in the middle of the group standing in front of the girl who'd handed him the flyer earlier… Luna Lovegood. Malfoy was waving his wand in her face and shouting all sorts of things at her. He couldn't make them out but knew that the only reason someone like Malfoy would speak to someone like Luna would be for trouble. Terence quickly jumped down the stairs and strode over to the group that had gathered around her. He barged his way through the 10 strong group and approached the two in the middle. Luna spotted him approaching and took a frightful step back, she appeared to think he was there to join in with the foray but instead Terence stepped in between the two and came face to face with Malfoy.

"Hello sunshine, don't mind if I cut in for a second do you?" Terence glared at the squinty eyed little twerp in front of him. Malfoy looked outraged and stepped forward. "Get lost Terence, this has nothing to do with you." He snarled and stood almost nose to nose with the boy. "Just get lost, I'll deal with you later. My problem is with this one." Draco then pointed over to the girl who had now clung to the back of Terence's robes in fright.

"Why what's she done Malfoy? Didn't she curtsey when you passed or something?" Terence didn't back down but instead curled his fists up as tight as he could.

"Shut up you idiot, this stupid girl was handing out this rubbish." and with that Draco chucked what looked like one of Luna's flyers at his chest. "I'm not having this school turned into some sort of freak show by a psychotic half-breed like that." he again waved his wand at the girl and curled his thin cold lips. "Now get out the way Terence unless you want to watch as I turn her into the rat that she so clearly deserves to be." The crowd of Slytherins gathered closer and Draco's wand sparked and whizzed, this was clearly getting out of hand and Terence knew that Draco was serious.

He didn't have many options and knew that he would probably have to get himself dirty on this occasion. With his mind made up he reached around his back and grabbed hold of Luna's hand. She held it tightly with both hands not knowing what was going to happen next. Malfoy advanced forward on him with the rest of his gang and Terence knew it was now or never. Terence looked just over Malfoy's shoulder and opened his eye's wide in surprise. Noticing Terence's stare Malfoy turned his head to see what he had seen and with that Terence swung his fist as hard as he could and punched Draco square in the face and sent the boy flying backwards into the group, he landed on his back completely motionless. The other 9 gawped at Malfoy in shock and Terence took this chance, turned around and ran full pelt towards the school with Luna dragging behind him. He broke through two burley lads and sprinted for all he was worth across the yard. He could hear the sound of the group now charging after him shouting at him and screaming at the top of their lungs.

The courtyard now seemed ten times the size it was just a while ago and the doors of the school loomed far off in the distance. Suddenly he felt a fizz of light whiz by just above his head, then another came shooting past barely missing his arm by inches. The spells were so close he knew they could only be yards behind, he also knew that it meant there was no chance they would make it back to the school in one piece. With this in mind he pulled Luna's arm in front of him and slung her forward. "Just run!" he screamed at her as she looked back confused. "Get help." then he turned and ran full pelt at the 9 large boys baying for his blood.

He crashed shoulder first into the first one and sent him falling to the ground. The second boy came flying at him but missed with his curse and wasn't prepared so Terence swung his right arm at him and landed a blow to the back of his head. He then grabbed his wand out of his pocket and pointed it at the other two coming from his left. Without a word he sent a streak of light towards the two boys and hit the first one square in the chest which sent him flying back into the other boy. He then spun around dodging yet another curse and sent another one into a large boy who had dropped his wand.

Terence then felt a surge of power hit his back and it ran like electricity all the way through his body and pushed out off his stomach which sent him face forward into the ground. He turned around to spot another Slytherin boy standing with his wand pointing at him.

He scrabbled to his feet and with all his might sent another shot straight at the boys face but it missed and flew by in the distance. It was too late to hear the sound of breaking air that came from his left side and only felt the connection of a fist to his jaw. He could taste blood but not much pain, the blow didn't even knock him down. He turned to the culprit and tackled him to the ground, he then rolled forward and stunned yet another lad who had approached behind and raised his wand. The boy fell to his knees in pain and collapsed.

Then from behind him another boy had grabbed his collar, Terence spun around to see a fist careering towards his face, he ducked the punch and brought his own sailing up and running through the boys chin knocking the sneaky git onto his back. Now completely disorientated and exhausted Terence turned around looking at 5 or 6 bodies on the floor, but he wasn't sure how many he had taken out. He spotted one more sending a spell towards him but it was inaccurate and just fizzled out in the air, Terence wasted no time and cracked off another spell and landed it onto the boy's legs which swung out from under him, he landed with a thud on his shoulder and lay still. 7 Terence thought to himself… if he was lucky… but it was too much.

Again he felt a surge of pain hit him in the ribs in the form of a spell which this time hit hard and sent him off his feet and onto the hard ground. He winced in pain and fumbled for his wand but it was no where in sight. He felt another surge of pain this time from a kick to the stomach and rolled over to be confronted by two boys standing menacingly over him. They glared down like rabid dogs enraged and hungry for revenge. The boy on the left which he realised was Crabbe curled his lips into an evil grin licking away the blood that dripped from his nose. He pushed the other boy aside and raised his wand in the air, it crackled and burned with rage, the end of it glowing like hot lava. With an almighty cry he pointed it toward the fallen boy. Terence knew this time he wouldn't miss.