A/N Next Chapter! :) It's slightly longer, so that's why it took so long to get put up. Please R&R - thanks for all the reviews/alerts/favourites so far! It makes me very pleased! Hopefully you will all like the Sorting Hat song as well - they're so hard, I don't know how J.K did it!

Disclaimer for the rest of the chapters of this book:All rights belong to J.K Rowling and other affiliations, such as WB Studios etc. Amara and her family, as well as people not recognizable are mine :)

Chapter Four

The Dementor

Eventhough they had packed the night before, there was a mad rush the next morning to get ready before the Ministry cars arrived. The morning started off rather well, for they went down to breakfast and Mrs Weasley told them about a Love Potion she had made when she was their age, which made Amara, Hermione, Ginny and Tally rather giggly whilst eating which seemed to infuriate an already-annoyed Ron, because Percy had accused him of many things during the night. However they had no chance to speak again when trying to get all their trunks down the narrow staircase and piling them up by the door where Archimedes, Hedwig and Hermes (Percy's owl) sat on top of them in their cages, and Crookshanks in a small wickerwork basket on the floor. He did not like it in there, for he kept spitting and hissing, which made anyone coming in skirt around it in fright.

"It's all right, Crookshanks," Hermione cooed. "I'll let you out on the train."

"You won't," snapped Ron. "What about poor Scabbers, eh?" he pointed at a large lump in his pocket.

Whilst Mr Weasley marched Harry over to the awaiting cars, Amara squeezed through the crowds to say goodbye to Jesse, Noah and Tally, who had been lounging on chairs and laughing at the struggles they faced. They had actually offered to help, but had found it was safer not to.

"Bye, Amara," said Tally.

"Are you sure you'll be alright getting back?" Amara asked.

"Sure, your mum knows where to find us," said Jesse. "You'd better get going though."

"See you soon, then?"

"Yes," said Noah. "But hurry up."

"Good luck, Jesse!" Amara said as she hurried away, back to her trunk and hurried into the car that held Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Thank Merlin," said Ron. "I thought you were going to be Percy."

Amara laughed. "Well, good riddance that it's me, then!"

Nothing happened on the way to Kings Cross, but the cars seemed to squeeze between gaps that no other cars could, which made them have twenty minutes to spare when they arrived. They all got trolleys and wheeled their way through the station, Mr Weasley and Harry going through first, then Percy and Ginny, who decided to run it. Amara and Hermione went after Fred and George (who decided to run too) and Ron and Mrs Weasley brought up the rear.

They all went down the train to an end carriage that looked empty. They loaded all the trunks onto the train and put Hedwig, Crookshanks and Archimedes on the luggage rack. Then, they hopped off the train to say goodbye.

Mrs Weasley kissed all her children, then Hermione, then Amara and then Harry. Amara was quite startled but pleased that she did, because it proved Mrs Weasley liked her.

"I've made you all sandwiches," she said as she opened her enormous bag. "Here you are, Ron … no, they're not corned beef … Fred? Where's Fred? Here you are, dear …"

She had made Amara and Hermione some too, which they were pleased with.

The train was getting ready to leave when they all marched on, but Harry was off talking to Mr Weasley.

"Did you say goodbye to your cousins?" asked Hermione when they were waiting.

Amara nodded. "Did you?"

"Yes, I did it last night," she said.

As the train finally started to move, Ron flung open the door so that Harry could jump on too. They all waved out the window until Mr and Mrs Weasley had disappeared from view. Percy, Fred and George wandered off as they went round the bend.

"I need to talk to you in private," said Harry quietly.

"Go away, Ginny," said Ron.

"Oh, that's nice," Ginny huffed and stalked off.

They all went down the train to look for an empty compartment. Amara spotted Ethan in one, with two other first-years. They seemed to be twins, a boy and a girl, each with dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Ethan introduced them as Edward and Piper McKenzie, and they turned out to be very sweet. Amara told them that they were going to be in a compartment down the end of the train.

They did not find an empty compartment until the very last one, where a man was sitting, fast asleep by the window. Amara was surprised, for she hadn't seen an adult on there before, except the dear old witch who had the food trolley. The adult was wearing shabby robes and looked ill. He was young though, with brown hair with grey strands peaking though. There was a battered old case in the luggage rack that said 'Professor R.J. Lupin' on the side.

"Who d'you reckon he is?" Ron whispered as they sat down away from the window.

"Professor R. J. Lupin," said Hermione.

"How d'you know that?"

"It's on his case," said Hermione, making Amara snort.

"Wonder what he teaches?" Ron asked.

"Defence Against the Dark Arts, I guess," said Amara. "That's the only empty slot, isn't it?"

"Well, I hope he's up to it," said Ron, looking doubtful. "He looks like on good hex would finish him off, doesn't he? Anyway … Harry, what we you going to tell us?"

Harry told them about the conversation he had overheard from Mr and Mrs Weasley the night before. The news was, that Sirius Black, the mass-murderer and escapee was after Harry, and that's why he had escaped Azkaban – to track him down at Hogwarts to finish him off.

"Sirius Black escaped to come after you? Oh, Harry … you'll have to be really, really careful. Don't go looking for trouble, Harry …" said Hermione.

"I don't go looking for trouble," said Harry. "Trouble usually finds me."

"How thick would Harry have to be, to go looking for a nutter who wants to kill him?" said Ron.

"Pretty idiotic," Amara said hollowly. "Nobody's ever escaped before, and considering he's a mass-murderer, I suspect he was in a high-security prisoner."

"But they'll catch him, won't they?" said Hermione. "I mean, they've got all the Muggles looking out for him, too …"

"What's that noise?" asked Ron suddenly.

A faint whistling was coming from somewhere in the compartment.

"It's coming from your trunk, Harry," said Ron, standing up and rummaging through it. He brought out what looked like a small, glass spinning top that was spinning very fast and glowing.

"Is that a Sneakoscope?" asked Hermione and Amara got up to see what it did.

"Yeah … mind you, it's a very cheap one," said Ron. "It went haywire just as I was tying it to Errol's leg to send it to Harry."

"Were you doing anything untrustworthy at the time?" asked Hermione.

"No! Well … I wasn't supposed to be using Errol. You know he's not really up to long journeys … but how else was I supposed to get Harry's present to him?"

"What does it do?" asked Amara.

"It tells you when something bad is happening," said Ron, shoving it in some horrible socks in Harry's trunk to make it shut up.

"We could get it checked in Hogsmeade," said Ron. "They sell that sort of stuff in Dervish and Banges, magical instruments and stuff, Fred and George told me."

"DO you know much about Hogsmeade?" asked Hermione. "I've read it's the only entirely non-Muggle settlement in Britain …"

"Yeah, I think it is," said Ron, "but that's not why I want to go. I just want to get inside Honeydukes!"

"What's that?" asked Amara eagerly.

"It's this sweetshop," said Ron dreamily. "Where they've got everything … Pepper Imps – they make you smoke at the mouth – and great fat Chocoballs full of strawberry mousse and clotted cream, and really excellent sugar quills which you can suck in class and just look like you're thinking what to write next …"

Amara's stomach growled at the thought.

"I can't wait to get there," she sighed. "It sounds amazing."

"But Hogsmeade's a very interesting place, isn't it?" said Hermione.

Amara did not listen to her historic talk as Ron carried on with his sweet talk.

"Massive sherbet balls that make you levitate a few inches off the ground while you're sucking them," Ron was saying.

"Won't it be nice to get out of school for a bit and explore Hogsmeade?"

"'Spect it will," said Harry. "You'll have to tell me when you've found out."herH

"What?" Amara said.

"I can't go, the Dursleys didn't sign my permission form, and Fudge wouldn't either."

"You're not allowed to come? But – no way – McGonagall or someone will give you permission."

Harry laughed hollowly.

"or we can asked Fred and George, they know every secret passageway out of the castle."

"Ron!" said Hermione. "I don't think Harry should be sneaking out of school with Black on the loose –"

"But if we're with him," said Ron. "Black wouldn't dare!"

"Don't be stupid," said Amara. "We're not going to stop Black – he's killed a whole bunch of people, I don't think he'd stop just because three thirteen year olds are with him."

Hermione was opening Crookshanks basket.

"Don't let that thing out!" Ron said, just as Crookshanks leapt out, stretched, yawned and jumped onto Ron's knees.

"Get out of it!" Ron said angrily, swatting him away.

"Ron, don't!" Hermione said, just as angrily.

They were about to continue, but Professor Lupin stirred. They all watched apprehensively, but he just shifted and carried on sleeping.

The journey carried on steadily, the clouds thickening and the people outside were racing back and forth. Amara went to check up on Ethan once before deciding that he looked uncomfortable with her there (much to her amusement) so she hurried back to her compartment in time to catch the trolley to buy some food to go with the sandwiches.

"D'you think we should wake him up?" Ron asked. "He looks like he could so with some food." He was talking about Professor Lupin.

"Er – Professor?" Hermione asked. "Excuse me – Professor?"

He carried on sleeping.

"Don't worry dear," said the witch as she gave Harry his food. "If he's hungry when he wakes, I'll be up front with the driver."

"I suppose he is asleep?" Ron said once they were by themselves. "I mean – he hasn't died has he?"

"I think we could tell if he was dead," Amara said, munching on a Chocolate frog. "Look – his chest is moving."

Once it started to rain, about Mid-Afternoon, they experienced some not very welcome guests who walked into their compartment, as if they owned the whole train. It was Draco Malfoy, with his usual bodyguards, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.

Amara hated all of them – especially Malfoy, who was intent on beating Harry in whatever way he could.

"Well look who it is," he drawled immediately. "Potty and the Weasel."

"Very clever," Amara snapped.

"Shut it, Mudblood," Malfoy bit back. "I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley. Did your mother die of shock?"

All three of them stood up, eventhough Amara was nearly half the size of Crabbe and Goyle, who seemed to have got wider during the summer.

Lupin gave a snort.

"Who's that?" Malfoy said, taking a step back.

"New teacher," said Harry, getting ready to hold Ron back. "What were you saying, Malfoy?"

Malfoy scowled and stalked away down the corridor.

They all sat down again, Ron looking furious.

"I'm not going to take any rubbish from Malfoy this year," he said. "I mean it. If he makes one more crack about my family, I'm going to get hold of his head and –"

He made a particularly violent gesture.

"Ron!" Hermione hissed. "Be careful …"

"C'mon Hermione, he's dead asleep," Amara said, peering over to a still sleeping Professor Lupin.

They didn't speak much after that, and Amara nearly fell into a doze, but was jolted out when the train started slowing down.

"Brilliant," said Ron, walking to the window. "I'm starving, I wasn't to get to the feast."

"We can't be there yet," said Hermione.

"But then, why's the train slowing down?" Amara asked, walking to the window too.

The train's speed continued to decrease, and finally the piston noise fell away, leaving the thunder of the wind and rain.

Amara went back over to the door, where Harry was sticking his head out.

"What –" she began to say, but the whole train stopped with a jolt and several thumps told them that the trunks had fallen off the luggage rack. Then they were all plunged into darkness for the lamps went out.

"What's going on?" said Ron's voice from behind them.

The compartment door opened and a small figure stood in the threshold.

"Amara?" it whispered and Amara suddenly knew it was Ethan.

"Ethan!" she said. "Come sit down – where are your friends?"

"They went to find their brother, do you know what's going on?" he sounded tearful.

"It's alright, but we don't know yet," Amara said reassuringly.

Ron wiped a patch clean on the window so he could see through.

"There's something moving out there," said Ron. "I think people are coming aboard …"

The door opened again and someone fell over Harry's legs.

"Sorry! D'you know what's going on? Ouch! Sorry …"

"Hello, Neville," said Harry.

"Harry? Is that you? What's happening?"

"No idea! Sit down …"

There was a hiss and a squeak as Neville sat down on the seat Crookshanks had decided to occupy.

"I'm going to go ask the driver what's going on," said Hermione. Amara put her arms around Ethan, who was shivering slightly.

The door slid open and then there was a thud with two squeals.

"Who's that?"

"Who's that?"

"Ginny?"

"Hermione?"

"What are you doing?"

"I was looking for Ron –"

"Come in and sit down –"

"Mind Crookshanks!" Amara said.

"No here! I'm here!"

"Ouch!"

"Quiet!" said a hoarse voice that made everyone freeze.

It was Lupin, awake and holding a handful of flames in his hand.

"Stay where you are," he said. Then, he made his way over to the door.

The door, however, opened before he'd reached it.

A cloaked figure was in the doorway, reaching high up and in a long black cloak. Amara shook as she saw that its face was completely covered.

It drew in a huge, rattling breath and an intense coldness swept through the compartment. Amara started shaking, not able to produce a happy thought or memory – everything horrible suddenly came back to her. She good hardly see as she heard a thump next to her.

"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go," said Professor Lupin through the dim light. Amara watched, shaking, with Ethan clinging onto her, as the figure did not move. Then, Professor Lupin got his wand out and muttered under his breath. Something silver shot out of his wand, straight at the figure. The figure turned and glided away, all in the matter of a few minutes.

Suddenly, the lamps flickered back on and the engine roared into life again. Amara shook off the feeling of coldness as the familiar movements of the train got back into motion.

She saw Harry lying on the floor, looking as though he had fainted. Ron, knelt down next to him a slapped his face.

"Harry! Harry! Are you alright?"

"W-what?"

Harry seemed to have opened his eyes.

Ron and Hermione managed to heave him back in his seat.

"Are you alright, Harry?" asked Amara

"Yeah," said Harry, moving to the door. "What happened? Where's that – that thing? Who screamed?"

"No one screamed," said Ron.

"But I heard screaming –"

There was a loud snap that made everyone start, but it turned out to be Lupin breaking an enormous piece of chocolate into pieces.

"Here," he said, giving a big bit to Harry. "Eat it. It'll help."

"What was that thing?"

"A Dementor," said Lupin, handing around the chocolate to everyone, including Amara and Ethan. "One of the Dementors of Azkaban."

Nobody ate the chocolate. Lupin crumpled up the wrapper.

"Eat," he instructed. "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me …"

He disappeared through the door.

"Are you sure you're OK, Harry?" asked Hermione anxiously.

"I don't get it, what happened?"

"Well – that thing – the Dementor – stood there and looked around (I mean, I think it did, I couldn't see its face) – and you – you –"

Feeling rather sick, Amara tried to tune the explanation out so she didn't have to go through it again.

"It was horrible," said Neville in a high voice. "Did you feel how cold it went when it came in?"

"I felt weird," said Ron. "Like I'd never be cheerful again …"

Ginny gave a small sob, so Amara put her other arm around her, hugging her too.

"Everything nice just went away," Amara said quietly. "All the bad memories remained."

"But didn't any of you – fall off your seats?" said Harry.

"No," said Ron. "Ginny was shaking like mad though, and Amara."

Lupin came back for a little while, and Amara found that the chocolate helped tremendously. Ethan eventually went back to find Edward and Piper, after being reassured that everything was fine – but other than that, they did not speak much at all. When they finally arrived, they all trooped out onto the noisy and tiny station. The rain was pouring down, making them get soaked through. Amara felt sorry for Ethan, who had to travel on the boats in the horrible weather. They made their way up the mud track and into one of the carriages that were pulled by Thestrals. Amara was able to see them, for she had seen her Great-Grandmother pass away in her sleep when she was ten. Hermione peered at the shafts, but could not see them, so she ended up giving harry nervous glances the entire ride.

Two Dementors were floating outside the gates when they passed through, a horrible coldness sweeping through the carriage like it had on the train.

Hermione leant out the tiny window, watching as the castle got nearer, whilst Ron and Amara sat on the seats, watching Harry.

"You fainted, Potter?" came a drawling, delighted voice as soon as they had gotten out of the carriage. "Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?"

Draco Malfoy was once again in their presence, looking positively gleeful at the prospect of Harry being 'weak'.

"Shove off, Malfoy," said Ron.

"Did you faint as well, Weasley? Did the scary old Dementor frighten you, too, Weasley?"

Amara nearly stepped forwards to punch him one, but Professor Lupin's mild voice interrupted.

"Is there a problem?"

"Oh, no – er – Professor," Malfoy said, with sarcasm laced in his words.

They followed the now-vanished Slytherins into the Entrance Hall. They had barely reached the Great Hall when a voice sounded out behind them. "Potter! Granger! I want to see you both!"

Amara turned around with Harry and Hermione, who were looking very surprised as Professor McGonagall came striding towards them.

"There's no need to look so worried – I just want a word in my office," she said. "Move along there, Weasley, Miss Matthews."

Sharing a glance, Ron and Amara headed into the Great Hall without Harry and Hermione.

They sat across from each other at the Gryffindor table, waiting for the sorting to begin.

"Siblings do get into the same house, don't they?" asked Amara as she adjusted her hat, which was slipping down her forehead. She was glad that she only had to wear it at feasts like these (she usually kept it in her bag for her lessons).

"I'm not sure," said Ron thoughtfully. "I mean, Parvati and her sister aren't, are they?"

Amara nodded. "I suppose,"

Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, strolled into the hall with the small crowd of nervous-looking first years traipsing behind. Amara saw Ethan in the middle of Edward and Piper, the twins, all of which were looking rather pale.

The Sorting Hat was placed on the stool and everyone waited expectantly.

'You may think I'm just a hat,
But how can you be sure?
Just sit down on this stool with me,
Are you brave or loyal or pure?

I can sort you in a house,
Where you most belong.
Get your head up, open your ears,
Listen clearly to my song:

The first house belongs to Gryffindor,
Which is the house of brave.
Their daring reaches to their roots,
And thrills are what they really crave.

The next house is Hufflepuff,
They are hardworking and true.
This kind-hearted clan are loyal,
And treachery, they'll never do!

The third house is Ravenclaw,
These folk always seek more learning.
They study hard and most are smart,
But they're always yearning.

The last house is Slytherin;
This is the place of craft.
These cunning people always achieve,
And never show they're daft.

So put me on and don't be scared,
As I know where you belong.
There is only one thing left to do,
Because I have finished with my song.'

Amara clapped along with the rest, eager to see where her brother was going to be.

"Abraham Keith!"

"Ravenclaw!"

The small, black-haired boy tripped his way over to where the Ravenclaws were clapping. Amara waited impatiently for the sorting to move on.

The first Gryffindor did not arrive until 'Evergreen Georgia', and this made the Gryffindor table clap hardest of all.

'Greengrass, Astoria' was sorted into Slytherin, like her sister and 'Higgins Lucinda' was put into Hufflepuff.

After ages of waiting 'Matthews, Ethan' was called up by Professor Flitwick.

Ethan looked as though he was shaking as Piper pushed him forwards. He walked up to the stool and sat down, the hat covering his face.

The students waited for the Sorting hat to deliver its answer. Amara waited with bated breath … and waited.

"He's going to be a Hat Stool if he's on there for another minute," said a fifth-year down the table.

Finally, the Sorting Hat opened its mouth and said:

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Amara clapped widely with the rest as Ethan flopped down, looking exhausted, near them.

"You alright?" asked Amara over the noise. Ethan nodded, looking happier.

"It couldn't decide over Ravenclaw or Gryffindor," he said, before turning to watch Edward being sorted.

Edward McKenzie's sorting took a fraction of a second – as soon as it was placed on his head, the Sorting Hat yelled 'Gryffindor!', and Edward joined Ethan at their table.

"McKenzie, Piper!"

"Ravenclaw!"

Edward seemed to sigh slightly as Piper gave a mighty grin and hopped off towards the Ravenclaw table. She gave her twin thumbs up on the way.

"She seems too bouncy for Ravenclaw," Ron observed as 'Payne Jessica' became a Gryffindor.

"It's weird, that isn't it? She must be clever, then," Amara said. The Sorting was now down to the 'R's. "I wonder where Harry and Hermione are?"

"I want to know what McGonagall wanted with them," said Ron.

"Hmm, it's strange, maybe they're asking him about the events in the summer? Or about Sirius Black?"

"What about Hermione?"

"School work is my only guess – have you seen how many extra subjects she's taking?" Amara said as 'Vane, Romilda' became a Gryffindor.

Harry and Hermione did not show up until Flitwick was putting the stool away.

"Where have you been?" asked Amara as Harry sat down next to her, with Hermione across, next to Ron.

But Professor Dumbledore chose that moment to stand, so the noise died down as everyone looked at him.

"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things o say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast ..."

Dumbledore paused slightly before he continued: "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some if the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry business. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises - or even Invisibility Cloaks," Amara gulped slightly. "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 foul of Dementors."

Percy puffed out his chest in a rather sickening manor, so Amara turned away, wrinkling her nose.

"On a happier note," Dumbledore said. "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to the ranks this year.
Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

There was a slightly unenthusiastic applause at that, but Amara and the rest of the people in their compartment clapped hard.

Snape was looking at Lupin with upmost loathing when Amara glanced at him.

"As to our second appointment," Dumbledore carried on. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."

Amara was stunned at this news, but clapped hard along with the rest of the Gryffindor table, who had put it on themselves to make the most noise.

"We should have known!" Ron roared, adding to the noise. "Who else would have set us a biting book?"

"Well, I think that's everything of importance," Dumbledore said. "Let the feast begin!"

Amara grinned as the plates filled with food. She piled her plate high and began to devour it, along with Ron. Harry and Hermione ate smaller portions and kept looking over to where Hagrid was eating. During the course of the meal, Ethan introduced Edward properly to her.

"You can call me Ed, or Eddie," Edward said, grinning as he swallowed some food. "Everyone does. I love it here at Hogwarts, been wanting to go ever since Alec did – he's in fourth year, Hufflepuff. All our family have been in different houses – my mum was a Slytherin, Dad was a Ravenclaw – like Pip, though. I take after my Grandfather – he was a Gryffindor too."

Amara grinned at the boy's excitement.

"It's a shame, though, that Pip isn't in the same house," he carried on. "I mean, I always knew she was cleverer than me – but she was more like a Gryffindor than me, as well! Everyone said she'd go into this house – Alec said I'd make a good Hufflepuff, but," Eddie smirked. "Obviously not."

Finally, the last remains of the puddings vanished and Dumbledore let them go to bed. Amara, Harry, Ron and Hermione (after instructing Ethan to follow a prefect) hurried up to the teachers table to congratulate Hagrid.

"Congratulations, Hagrid!" Amara and Hermione squealed together.

"All down ter you four," Hagrid beamed. "Can' believe it … great man, Dumbledore … came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough … it's what I always wanted …"

He buried his face in his napkin, and McGonagall shooed them off.

Amara, Harry, Ron and Hermione joined the left over Gryffindors up the marble staircase, along corridors and finally to the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Coming through, coming through!" Percy called. "The new password's Fortuna Major!"

"Oh no," said Neville, rather sadly.

Ethan and Eddie were waiting in the common room to say goodnight, and after they had, Amara dragged herself upstairs and flopped onto her bed, half-heartedly changing into her pyjamas.

After bidding the other girls, Hermione, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown and Sophie Roper, good night, Amara closed her curtains and smiled contently, ready for a new year to begin.