Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry for not posting, but I have been extremely busy these past months. But, here's a short, transition chapter for you. There will be a lot more drama in the next one. Please leave a review with any ideas and suggestions. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter VII: Dementors and Werewolves

"AND THEY'RE OFF!" Lee Jordan shouted as the Gryffindor Hufflepuff game started. James, Hermione, and Neville were together in the stands as rain poured down on them and the wind smashed brutally against them.

"How do they fly in this weather?" Hermione asked.

"With lots of difficulty," James responded. "I'm hoping Harry catches the snitch in record time."

"Me two," Neville piped in. They turned their attention back to the game.

"And another goal for Gryffindor! They lead 30-0! These chasers seem unstoppable!"

The group continued to watch as Gryffindor started running up the score. It was 60-0 when Malcom Preece finally got one past Wood. The teams began to trade goals. It was 80-20 when Neville nudged James on the shoulder.

"What is it, Nev?"

"That dog over there, that's the same one we saw at practice," Neville said, pointing to the right of them. Sure enough, there it was.

"Okay, let's go get him. Hermione, you coming?"

"This isn't a good idea."

James chuckled. "You're probably right, but I'm doing it." With that, he began to walk over to the dog. Neville and Hermione followed. They got halfway when James suddenly stopped. The air became cold, and it felt as if happiness never existed. "Shit."

"James, language," scolded Hermione.

"There are dementors, Hermione," James responded angrily.

Hermione gasped. "Remember the effect they had on Harry on the Express?"

James pulled out his wand. "Expecto Patronum!" A silvery mist shot out. He ended the spell. "Damn, I need a happier memory."

"Since when did you learn the Patronus Charm?" Hermione asked.

"Remus began teaching me when he found out dementors were guarding the school this year. If I was able to get a corporeal patronus, I would be able to send it to protect Harry, but I can't yet." As soon he finished there was gasp in the audience. The three turned to see Harry plummeting to the Earth.

"HARRY!" Hermione gave a scream.

The three stood there helpless until he dropped far enough that the crowd blocked their view.

Harry woke up with a massive headache. He noticed his surroundings were different, but familiar enough to recognize it as the hospital wing.

"Look guys, he's up!" George exclaimed.

Fred, Alicia, Wood, Katie, Angelina, Hermione, Neville, and James looked up.

"HARRY!" Hermione exclaimed.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

"You fell off your broom," said Fred. Or George, no one could tell.

"Gave us quite the scare," said the other twin.

"Dumbledore was furious. He was like a madman after the dementors attacked you." Hermione said. James snorted. "James, I'm sure Professor Dumbledore knows what he's doing."

"And Harry is living proof," James muttered under his breath. Hermione heard him, and glared at him.

"Did we win?" Harry asked.

"Nope" Alicia said.

"Nada" Katie added.

"190-90," said James.

"Ouch," said Harry. "It's my fault."

"Like bloody hell it is," Wood piped in.

"It is," Harry tried to protest, but Wood wouldn't have it.

"If you want to blame someone, blame the dementors."

"Or Fudge," added in Angelina.

"Right."

"But I shouldn't have fallen…"

"Shut. Up. Harry." All eyes looked towards Neville, who was quiet the whole time until now. "Throw yourself a pity party later. Dementors tried to give you the Kiss, it might have been best you fell off your bloody broom."

"Neville, language!" scolded Hermione.

"We have bigger fish to fry than Nev's tongue, Hermione," James said, glaring at her. She has been scolding the boys about language for the entire year and he was growing tired of it. James turned to Harry. "Neville is right. While that fall could have been deadly, even death is better than the Dementor's Kiss."

"Fine," Harry mumbled.

"Good," they all said.

"One more thing, where is my broom?" Harry asked.

Everyone was silent. Finally, Hermione spoke. "Harry, when you fell off your broom, it kind of flew into the Whomping Willow. It was badly damaged"

"Could you repair it?"

"Already asked McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout, and Lupin. They all said they couldn't do anything. Sorry, Harry," Wood said.

"Just brilliant," replied Harry sarcastically. Just then Ron came in. Neville and James gave him the death stare. Hermione looked at him sheepishly. Fred and George ignored him, while the rest of the Gryffindor team nodded slightly. Harry had a blank look on his face.

"How are you Harry? That was quite a fall," He said as he got closer. He didn't notice that both James and Neville had their hands on their wands. The two weren't planning on hexing him, just preparing for the worst.

"I'm fine, Ron," Harry said bluntly.

"Excellent, mate. When do you get out of here?"

Fred and George laughed, while the rest rolled their eyes. Ron looked at them, and then noticed James was standing there. "James, I guess I should apologize for my actions."

"Ya think?"

Ron was infuriated by James's response. Here he was trying to apologize and James was being a prick. "Hey, I'm trying to do the right thing, don't be a git. Don't you want an apology?"

James laughed. "Frankly, I don't give a rat's ass if you apologize or not. Point is, I'm never forgiving you for that. However, apologize to me and make a vow never to attack me again, and then we could be civil, I suppose."

Ron's mouth dropped so far James thought it put a dent in the floor. After a minute of silence, Ron finally submitted.

"Ron, you made us proud," Fred said, fake crying.

"Yeah, owning up to your mistake," added in George.

"Well, one of them."

"One of many."

"Too many."

"But one's a start."

Before they could continue, Madam Pomfrey came in and ushered them out.

The next day, James and Neville found themselves in the library. Neville wanted to get a jumpstart on the latest Herbology assignment, while James just wanted to escape everyone else. It all started when Snape started deducting points by the dozens for "endangering the students". Then all the Slytherins began their tirade, which didn't really bother him. Then the Ravenclaws began to distance themselves from him. Once again, that didn't bother him too much. What really struck home was when Gryffindor House turned on him, mainly because of all the points he was costing them. Of course, some, namely Harry, Hermione, the entire quidditch team, and Neville, stuck with him.

So there the two were, at one of the corners of the library. Neville was at the table working, while James sitting on the window ledge, staring out into the grounds. They sat in silence for a while, the only sound heard being the scratching of Neville's quill against the parchment. After about an hour of this, someone found the two sitting there.

"James?"

James jumped and turned. "Hey Katie, what's up?"

"Bored. You?"

"About the same. Want a seat?" James asked. When she nodded her head, James removed his legs from the ledge to make room for her. "I'm surprised you're not with Angelina and Alicia," he said when she sat down.

"Why? Don't you want me around?"

"Of course, I do. I was just curious."

"They have Potions right now," Katie said. James grimaced.

"One of these days I'm going to dissect Snape. Maybe Neville could use his remains as fertilizer for his plants."

"That's mean," Katie said laughing as Neville threw a quill at James, who laughed even harder.

Once they calmed down, Katie asked, "So, why are two here alone?"

James shrugged. "Where else is there to go?"

"What about the common room?"

"I'm sick of everyone looking at me like I'm the devil himself," he said flatly.

"I'm sorry. If it helps, it'll get better," she said.

James turned to face Katie. She was 5'4" and had fair, white skin. She had a button nose with big, brown eyes and long, flowing brown hair. James had to admit she was beautiful.

"How do you know?" he asked.

"Because you have your friends that stand beside you."

James smiled. "I do. Thank you, Katie."

"Anytime."

For the next hour, the two sat on the ledge, enjoying each other's company. All was not well for James, but it felt close enough to it.