A/N: Well, now that I've torn the idiots out there a new one, and listening to a lot of Pink Floyd and The Mars Volta, and even the song Green Onions, I've gotten a bit of motivation back. I was pretty angry at how needlessly rude some people could be, but the support from most of you (whom are obviously able to pick up the subtly I've written into the story) has spurred me forward, albeit at a diminished pace.
In fact, my rant gave me an idea for what the Marauder's Map will say to old Snivellus when he taps his wand to it. Haha! XD

You'll have to wait and see. I couldn't stop laughing for ten minutes when I imagined Alan Rickman and Daniel Radcliff acting out the scene.

Chapter Eight

He was standing on a hillside, in the moor. The sky was darkened by clouds of grey. The wind whipped around him.

He could feel danger all round as he circled in place.

Suddenly thundering cracks sounded all around him.

He was surrounded.

He felt fear, but did not let it show.

A monstrous figure loomed closer, face covered by a grotesque mask resembling a demon.

The young Myrddin stood firm, staff in his hand, ready to strike….

A maniacal laugh, a woman's screams….

A green flash….

Blackness…

He could feel a soft hand caressing his face.

"Harry! Harry! Wake up!" he heard Hermione's voice, calling him softly.

When he opened his eyes, he could see the lights in the cabin were back on and the train in motion. He noticed that his head was cradled in Hermione's lap. Blushing bright red, he sat up quickly.

Looking around, he noticed Ron was not with them.

"Where's Ron?" he asked Hermione.

"He," she hesitated. "When the lights came back on, I saw you were unconscious, so I -"
She looked away as she blushed, then continued. "I cradled your head on my lap, trying to wake you up to make sure you were alright. Ron got angry for some reason and left. That was ten minutes ago."

"What's his problem?" he asked confused.

"I have no idea." she replied.

Jumping up suddenly, she hurriedly picked up what appeared to be a large piece of chocolate wrapped in a napkin.

"Here," she said handing him the sweet. 'Professor Lupin said to eat this when you woke up."

Harry stared at her blankly.

"It's okay." she said softly. "It'll make you feel better. Trust me."

Harry had never really been a fan of chocolates, he preferred things like sugar quills and other assorted hard candies.

He did what she asked anyway. Hesitantly, he took a small nibble of the hunk of chocolate. Immediately, he began feeling warmth spreading though his body. Looking up at Hermione in surprise, he took another larger bite. Hermione simply smiled.

"So what was that thing?" he asked, looking fearfully out the compartment window, into the corridor.

"Professor Lupin said they were Dementors." she said, shivering slightly. "They're the guards of Azkaban. Apparently they were searching the train for Sirius Black."

Harry looked at her incredulously.

"That's rather stupid of them!" he said. " What, did they think Black might just be hiding under some one's robes?"

"I know Harry," said Hermione. "It was a foolish thing to do, especially with so many muggle-born first years on board. Imagine, being exposed to those vile creatures as your introduction into the Wizarding world. I wouldn't be surprised if half of them wrote their parents to withdraw them from school."

"Did you see how they were driven off?" he asked her.

"Some one in the corridor shot fire spells at them," she said. 'Then Professor Lupin made some kind of bright white light come out of his wand. They both somehow managed to drive them off."

She looked at him, before she continued, "You shot an incendio spell at the one in the doorway."

"Where is Professor Lupin?" he asked.

"He said he was going to talk to the driver, and look for whom ever it was that set the Dementor in fire." said Hermione. "It was definitely a she, couldn't have been any taller than I am. I wonder who it was?"

Harry looked back out the window to the corridor. He had a suspicion of who it was. It felt like their presence kept him conscious long enough for his wand to fart a spell at the Dementor.

He'd just have to wait until he saw her alone to see if his suspicions were correct.

X x x x x x x x x

Very soon, Harry found himself in the Great Hall after being fussed over by Madam Pomfrey, and Professor McGonagall. He was seated next to Hermione as the sorting finished. Looking down the length of the table, he spotted Ron seated with Dean and Seamus. He would occasionally glance over at Harry and Hermione and scowl.

Shaking his head, Harry looked around for the person he wanted to see the most. He found her seated directly across from him at the Slytherin table, as she always seemed to be. She had a mask of indifference on her face, except for when they made eye contact, she gave him a slight smile, before looking away again, mask firmly in place.

"Welcome!" said Dumbledore from behind his golden podium.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Now, I have a few important announcements I'd like to make, before we all become to befuddled, by our excellent feast….."

Harry thought there was something…off about the Headmaster.

He tapped Hermione on the shoulder, "Does Dumbledore look different to you?" he said when she turned to look at him. " I don't know what it is, but he doesn't look quite the same this year."
"I would have thought it was obvious what the difference was Harry," she said quietly.

He stared at her blankly.

"It's obvious he's gone with the fez this year instead of the pointy hat." said Hermione. "It looks like he's also gotten a new wardrobe as well."

"Oh!" said Harry. " You're right he-" his reply was cut off.

"Psst! Pssst!" came a sound from the Slytherin table. "Potter!"

It was Draco Malfoy, from a few seats down.

Looking over at him, Draco continued. "Is it true you fainted? You actually fainted?" he laughed as one of his snaggletooth cronies pretended to faint in a dramatic fashion, as Daphne sent a discrete glare in Draco's direction.

Though he wasn't seated in front of Harry, unfortunately for Draco, he was seated in front of Fred and George.

"This coming from the blond tosspot" began Fred.
"Who wet himself while crying for daddy." finished George, as the students within earshot laughed. Draco's face was red with fury.

As he opened his mouth to retort "My-" he was cut off by Harry.

"-Father will hear about this!" Harry completed in a mocking tone. "Honestly Malfoy, you're such a child. Stop suckling on your father's breasts already."

Harry turned away as every Gryffindor with in earshot laughed, earning them a hard look from their head of house. He missed the gentle smile Daphne sent his way.

As the opening feast ended, Harry joined the mass of students waiting to exit the hall. As he walked, he felt a hand slip in and out of his robe pocket. Looking around casually, he didn't see Daphne near him, but Tracey Davis.

As he walked up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower, he made sure he was relatively alone before pulling the note out of his pocket. It read:

Second classroom on the left, third floor corridor, midnight.

D.

He looked at his watch, 9:33.

With a smile, he made his way to the tower and up to his dorm to prepare for his meeting with Daphne.

Unbeknownst to Harry, but knownst to us; a pair of whiskey coloured eyes that belong to a certain bushy haired witch, had been walking behind him, trying to catch up, and had seen him pull the note from his pocket, and check his watch before he rushed off to the tower.

She was going to have to see what Harry was up to, and maybe try to follow him and see where he goes tonight.

A/N: There you have it. It was much shorter than the rest. I'm wondering if anyone caught the references to a couple of movies I've placed in two chapters, this one included. Ten points for each correct reference found, you must state your house. lol