Grim defeat

Professor Dumbledore sent all the Gryffindors back to the Great Hall, where we were joined ten minutes later by the students from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, who all looked extremely confused.

"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," he told us all as Professors McGonagall and Flitwick closed all doors into the hall. "I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately," he added to Percy, who was looking immensely proud and important. "Send word with one of the ghosts."

Professor Dumbledore paused, about to leave the hall, and said, "Oh, yes, you'll be needing..."

One casual wave of his wand and the long tables flew to the edges of the hall and stood themselves against the walls; another wave, and the floor was covered with hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags.

"Sleep well," said Professor Dumbledore, closing the door behind him.

The hall immediately began to buzz excitedly; the Gryffindors were telling the rest of the school what had just happened.

"Everyone into their sleeping bags!" shouted Percy. "Come on, now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!"

"C'mon," Ron said to Harry, Hermione and I; we seized four sleeping bags and dragged them into a corner.

I looked around anxiously and finally caught sight of Seth. I only whispered his name, knowing he could perfectly hear me even through all the noise and him being a few 20 people behind me. I nodded my head for him to come over and he obliged, grabbing a sleeping bag and making his way through to me.

"Please stay close to me, okay?" I murmured as he stood before me. He eyed me curiously and questioningly. "If something happens, I don't want you to get hurt." He grinned. "Oh, shut up," I grumbled.

"I didn't say anything." He was still grinning.

"You were about to," I replied before rolling my eyes as his grin only widened. "Now, come on. And stop grinning or I'll make you."

"You know, your threats don't really work when you were all 'I don't want you to get hurt' a few seconds ago."

I rolled my eyes and bumped my shoulder against his. "Shut up, kid."

We settled down in the corner and climbed into our bags.

"Do you think Black's still in the castle?" Hermione whispered anxiously.

"Dumbledore obviously thinks he might be," said Ron.

"It's very lucky he picked tonight, you know," said Hermione as they climbed fully dressed into their sleeping bags and propped themselves on their elbows to talk. "The one night we weren't in the tower..."

"I reckon he's lost track of time, being on the run," said Ron. "Didn't realize it was Halloween. Otherwise, he'd have come bursting in here." Hermione shuddered.

All around us, people were asking one another the same question: "How did he get in?"

"Maybe he knows how to Apparate," said a Ravenclaw a few feet away, "Just appear out of thin air, you know."

"Disguised himself, probably," said a Hufflepuff fifth year. "He could've flown in," suggested Dean.

Annoyed, all I did was lay there, staring at the ceiling and listen, uninterestedly, to the others. The room was dark and I couldn't sleep so that was pretty much the only thing I could do. I felt a bit better knowing that I had Harry, Ron, and Hermione by my side, but even they were starting to annoy me pretty badly. Seth was surprisingly calm; maybe he was already asleep.

"Deli," I heard someone whisper. "Deli, are you asleep?"

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "I can't exactly sleep with everyone here talking and you whisper-yelling out my name, Hermione," I pointed out.

Seth snickered, making me kick him. "Ow!"

"Then stop laughing," I muttered before turning my attention to Hermione. "What, Browny?"

"Sorry," she said, and I was pretty sure she was blushing right now even if I wasn't looking at her. "I just wanted to know what you think. How do you think he got in, I mean."

I cursed under my breath, rolling over to face Hermione, knowing I'll regret saying what I was about to say. "He's an Animagus," I whispered.

Her eyes widened. "How do you—" she cut herself off, understanding crossing her face, seeing the look I was giving her. "The promise."

I nodded before rolling back on my back. I could still feel her eyes on me along with Harry's and Ron's. "I'll probably start tomorrow."

It was silent for a moment, then a voice caught me off guard as it spoke in another language. "Quid eis promisit?" (What did you promise them?)

I groaned and hit my head backward onto the floor that was covered by my sleeping bag, repeatedly. "Tell me you did not learn that damned language," I moaned.

"I'm not a pro. I understand it fine, I can't talk it well, though. And Uncle Ren doesn't wanna teach me anymore, for some reason."

"Ugh, I am so doomed!" I exclaimed, only to be hushed by someone else in the Hall. "Sorry!"

"It's okay!"

Seth and I shared a weird look in the dark.

"Anyway... Quid tibi promisit?" (What did you promise?)

I sighed. "It's none of your business, Seth."

"You're my sister, of course, it is."

I gritted my teeth. "Seth."

"Fine, fine, but, whatever it is, will I at least get to know someday? I mean, come on, we're siblings. There shouldn't be any secrets between us, right?"

I contemplated it for a moment. He was right. We're siblings, there shouldn't be any secrets between us. But there are. There is so much about me he doesn't know... I'm afraid of telling him. Everything I've been through— everything I've done, it's all horrible. I don't want to put that weight on his shoulders. But then, if I don't tell him, would he hate me for keeping it all from him? I don't want to be hated, especially not by my... by my little brother.

"Maybe," I murmured.

He was silent for a moment; I actually thought he'd fallen asleep, but then I felt a warm hand, slightly smaller than mine, take a hold of mine. "I love you Lee-Lee," I heard him whisper.

I closed my eyes and sighed. I wanted to tell him, but I wasn't ready. "Sleep, Seth," was the last thing I said before letting the darkness take over me.

I woke extremely early the next morning; so early that it was still dark. It was three in the morning and everyone was still asleep. For a moment I thought the roaring of the wind had woken me. Then I felt a warm breeze on the back of my neck and bolted upright— Harry's face was inches from mine, his warm breath tickling my neck, making me shiver.

"Are you alright?" he whispered, concern written all over his face and tone. But now that he mentioned it, I felt pretty... off. This feeling was familiar, but it was hard to tell because it was still somehow distant.

I frowned. "I don't know," I answered, completely confused as to why I'm feeling like this. I glanced over at Seth and saw him sleeping soundly, a small smile on his face. It made me want to smile, but, instead, I frowned.

"Hey," Harry started as he reached out for my hand, but just as his fingers brushed against my skin, he hissed in surprise and snatched his hand away in shock. "Shit, Deli. You're hot!" he whisper-shouted.

I rolled my eyes. "Gee, thanks," I muttered, sarcastically.

"I meant your burning up, Deli. I think your temperature rose to one where anyone would actually be dead by now," he whispered. I froze at those words. I knew exactly what that meant. Damn it! This can't come back now. After working so hard to keep it at bay? Why now, damn it?

"Delilah? Do you happen to know why—"

"I've probably just got a fever," I said, cutting him off. I took a deep breath, started to relax my muscles and sighed in relief as I felt my temperature start to drop slowly.

"Hey, you alright?" he asked softly, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close, completely ignoring the fact that my skin was still hot, until I was practically sitting on his lap.

I leaned my head against his shoulder and sighed in defeat and sudden exhaustion. "I don't know," I whispered back.

He sighed and kissed my temple. "Whatever is wrong, I promise it'll get better," he assured me, tightening his grip on me.

"I wish. If only it were that easy," I choked out, turning to face him and burying my face in his chest as he buried his own in the crook of my neck and breathed in my scent. Breathing in his woodsy scent, I felt my muscles instantly relax as my body melted against his. I felt happy yet sad because I was glad to have him as a best friend along with the two others, but sad because I knew that by being here, by breathing the same air as them and by thinking or doing anything that has to do with them, I was endangering their lives. Especially Harry's since he was the one I was the most around, and Seth's— he was my brother, of course, he'd be in danger.

"Harry?"

"Hmmm?"

"If I ever did something bad... or was something bad... would you hate me?" I whispered, gripping his shirt, too afraid to look up.

"I would never hate you, Deli. You should know that by now. Why would you even think that?" he asked. I didn't answer as I started silently sobbing tearlessly until I felt a warm hand and under my chin. I knew he wanted me to look at him, but I couldn't so I turned my face away from his.

"Lilly, look at me," he said. I shook my head. He pulled my chin back to him and locked his eyes with mine. He gasped. I know what he saw... he saw dark blue midnight eyes full of sorrow. "I would never, ever hate you," he whispered, looking at me tenderly.

I could no longer look away. "Would you still like me? Would you still be my best friend?" I asked, barely whispering it.

"I will always love you," he whispered back. I couldn't help it. I threw my arms around his neck and held on for dear life as he tightened his grip around me, securely.

"Thank you," I whispered into his ear, feeling him shiver against me.

He pulled away to look into my eyes. "For what?" he asked, curiously.

"For being there for me. For being my best friend, Harry," I answered softly as I felt my eyes slightly change colors. I knew exactly what color it was right now. They were yellow goldenrod, meaning I was slightly happier.

He smiled at me. "I will always be there for you, Lilly," he replied, kissing my temple before we both laid back down, my head rested on his chest and his arms snaking their way around my waist.

"Lilly?"

"Hmmm?"

"..."

I chuckled. "Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Just to give you a heads up, I may or may not start being snappier and crankier starting tomorrow," I said in a calm, casual tone.

"What? Why?" he asked, and I could hear the confusion in his voice.

I chuckled. "I might start telling you and the others tomorrow. About Seth, about me... I might..."

"Oh," he paused. "Okay."

A long— awkward, might I add— silence followed after that, but I knew he wasn't sleeping just yet.

"Lilly?"

"Hmmm?"

"Goodnight," he whispered, making me smile.

I then leaned up to kiss his cheek and chuckled as I saw him blush. "Goodnight, Harry Potter," I whispered back before letting the darkness take over me once again, dragging me into a dreamless sleep.

I saw a blinding flash behind my eyelids and a strange click. A camera.

"Ooh! That's a keeper!"

"Shh, Fred, you'll wake them!"

"Awe, they look so cute together!"

"Do you think they...?" I heard someone slap George.

"Of course they didn't! They're thirteen, we're all in the Great Hall, if you hadn't noticed. And they're both still wearing clothes!" cried Ginny.

"Oh, yeah," George said sheepishly. I felt Harry stir from beside me and recoil his hands from my waist. I felt strangely cold without them there around me.

"Harry's awake!" Hermione squealed as I opened my eyes. "Delilah! You're up too!" I raised an eyebrow at her and she just gave me a sheepish look. Gathered around us were Fred, George, Ginny, Seth, Ron, and Hermione.

"What was that strange flash I saw," I demanded.

"N-nothing," they stuttered.

"Really?" they nodded. "Then why the hell are Fred and George holding cameras?!" I practically shouted. "How did you even get cameras?"

"We-um... we—"

"Forget it!" I glared over at Seth who gave me a rather sheepish look. The little mutt... "But, I swear, if anyone else finds out about this and thinks what's not because of you six, so God help me, you will not like what I do!" I exclaimed myself, storming out of the Great Hall, feeling myself heat up in frustration.

My birthday wasn't for another month. I didn't bring it up— not that I ever do—hoping they would all overlook it, but they didn't. Seth, especially kept babbling about how he and Daren could make a birthday party, where I would get to meet the others. Who the 'others' were, I did not know, but, either way, I refused as I had already planned to spend my Christmas with Dad. I felt bad as I knew he just wanted to spend more time with me and act more like family, but I had already promised Kenton I'd be home... well, 'home' with him, not my home here... Anyway, they all simply put my birthday in a to-do/to-remember list as they, along with the school, talked of nothing but Sirius Black for the next few days. The theories about how he had entered the castle became wilder and wilder; Hannah Abbott, from Hufflepuff, spent much of our next Herbology class telling anyone who'd listen that Black could turn into a flowering shrub. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at that one. I mean, seriously, are they stupid or are they stupid? Jesus! Everyone knows that an Animagus only turns into one animal and that Sirius' Animagus is a black dog... well they don't know it's black, but they know it's a dog... I think...

Anyway, the Fat Lady's ripped canvas had been taken off the wall and replaced with the portrait of Sir Cadogan and his fat gray pony. Nobody was very happy about this. Sir Cadogan spent half his time challenging people to duels, and the rest thinking up ridiculously complicated passwords, which he changed at least twice a day.

"He's a complete lunatic," said Seamus angrily to Percy. "Can't we get anyone else?"

"None of the other pictures wanted the job," said Percy. "Frightened of what happened to the Fat Lady. Sir Cadogan was the only one brave enough to volunteer."

"Ugh! They're all just stinkin' cowards," I muttered in annoyance as Harry, Ron, and Hermione nodded in agreement.

Sir Cadogan, however, seemed to be the least of Harry's worries. I can't really blame him; he was now being closely watched. Teachers found excuses to walk along corridors with him, and Percy (acting, I suspected, on his mother's orders) was tailing him everywhere like an extremely pompous guard dog. To cap it all, Professor McGonagall summoned Harry into her office, with such a somber expression on her face Harry thought someone must have died. I felt pretty uncomfortable as well since every time he was summoned, I had to go with him. Ugh! I get it that Dumbledore trusts me enough to ensure me with Harry's security— I get it that it's my responsibility to look after him since I'm his Curatoria, but seriously, I have a life too! I have a freakin' devilish, monstrous side, which is threatening to come out at any moment, and he knows that!

"There's no point hiding it from you any longer, Potter," she said in a very serious voice. "I know this will come as a shock to you, but Sirius Black—"

I seriously hate the fact that they're all too oblivious to Sirius' possible innocence. It makes me want to punch someone in the gut...

"I know he's after me," said Harry wearily. "I heard Ron's dad telling his mum. Mr. Weasley works for the Ministry of Magic."

Professor McGonagall seemed very taken aback. She stared at Harry for a moment or two, then said, "I see! Well, in that case, Potter, you'll understand why I don't think it's a good idea for you to be practicing Quidditch in the evenings. Out on the field with only your team members, it's very exposed, Potter—"

"We've got our first match on Saturday!" said Harry, outraged. I don't blame him. I may not want to play this year, but Quidditch is like hockey to Canadians; you can't take that away from someone even if their life is in danger... at least not people like us. "I've got to train, Professor!"

Professor McGonagall considered him intently. Harry knew she was deeply interested in the Gryffindor team's prospects; it had been she, after all, who'd suggested him as Seeker in the first Place. He waited, holding his breath.

"Hmm..." Professor McGonagall stood up and stared out of the window at the Quidditch field, just visible through the rain. "Well... goodness knows, I'd like to see us win the Cup at last... but all the same, Potter... I'd be happier if a teacher were present. I'll ask Madam Hooch to—"

"I could do it." They turned to me in surprise. I think they forgot I was still here. "I'm not playing anymore, but I can be the referee of their training sessions," I offered.

McGonagall seemed to go deep in thought, looking at the chandelier hanging on the ceiling before looking back down at me and nodding in confirmation. "Alright, Miss Dawn. I trust you to keep a close eye on the team, especially on your friend, here. You have my word and I will sign a slip for you in case anyone asks questions."

With that, I pretty much became the Gryffindor's Quidditch team's coach. I was pretty nervous at first, but what surprised me was that they all seemed relieved to have me there, even if I wasn't playing. I helped them out with some tips I had read in a few books about Quidditch, with some new tricks I had come up with on my own, and with a few spells. I was glad that nothing I did gave away what I really am. They all simply thought of me as a very powerful and brilliant young witch... which I kind of am. Hermione seemed excited about this title given to me by most of the Gryffindor students. She was the one who surprised me the most, because knowing her, I thought she would get pissed off that I might be better than her, but instead she was thrilled that there was finally someone else on her level. Guess that's what you get for being famous. It seriously sucks being famous just because you survived the killing curse... or are the most powerful magic folk in the world. That's like being famous for being the most fat person in the world... one could die from all three, dammit!

The weather worsened steadily as the first Quidditch match drew nearer. Undaunted, the Gryffindor team was training harder than ever under my eyes. Kind of creepy when they kept changing colors...

Then, at their final training session before Saturday's match, Oliver Wood gave the team some unwelcome news.

"We're not playing Slytherin!" he told them, looking very angry. "Flint's just been to see me. We're playing Hufflepuff instead."

"What, now?" I practically shouted.

"Why?" chorused the rest of the team.

"Flint's excuse is that their Seeker's arm's still injured," said Wood, grinding his teeth furiously. "But it's obvious why they're doing it. Don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll damage their chances..."

There had been strong winds and heavy rain all day, and as Wood spoke, we heard a distant rumble of thunder.

"There's nothing wrong with Malfoy's arm!" said Harry furiously. "He's faking it!"

"I know that, but we can't prove it," said Wood bitterly, "And we've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead it's Hufflepuff, and their style's quite different. They've got a new Captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory—"

Angelina, Alicia, and Katie suddenly giggled. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, a knowing smile tugging on my lips.

"What?" said Wood, frowning at this lighthearted behavior.

"He's that tall, good-looking one, isn't he?" said Angelina.

"Strong and silent," said Katie, and they started to giggle again.

"Okay... that is creepy," I muttered, making the guys snort. I think I was the only girl who didn't go all Barbie-like over a guy and that's probably why they like hanging around me.

"He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together," said Fred impatiently, making me choke back a laugh. "I don't know why you're worried, Oliver, Hufflepuff is a pushover. Last time we played them, Harry caught the Snitch in about five minutes, remember?"

"We were playing in completely different conditions!" Wood shouted, his eyes bulging slightly. "Diggory's put a very strong side together! He's an excellent Seeker! I was afraid you'd take it like this! We mustn't relax! We must keep our focus! Slytherin is trying to wrong-foot us! We must win!"

"Oliver, calm down!" said Fred, looking slightly alarmed. "We're taking Hufflepuff very seriously. Seriously."

"Girls, girls, you're all pretty, now calm down and hush," I said, gaining their attention. "You've all improved over the last few weeks. I've seen Hufflepuff practice... and I can remember them playing. They're good but not as great as us. It would be a shock if they won, and if they did, it would surely be because of the weather. From what I remember, they would only have that as an advantage, but that's because the weather usually hits them this hard when they play. They're used to it. But we have new tactics that will help us, big time. So cheer up and let's turn in because you guys are going to need a lot of rest, got it?" I asked. They all nodded and cheered at my speech.

I grinned. "Alright. Let's go Gryffindor! Woo!" I shouted, throwing my hands in the air as they all laughed at my enthusiasm before copying my actions and hooting along.

The day before the match, the winds reached a howling point and the rain fell harder than ever. It was so dark inside the corridors and classrooms that extra torches and lanterns were lit. The Slytherin team was looking very smug indeed, and none more so than Stormy.

"Ah, if only my arm was feeling a bit better!" he sighed as the gale outside pounded the windows.

I rushed to stand before him with my three musketeers by my side and sighed dramatically. "Ah, if only I could break again," I said in a British accent, making almost everyone within earshot, laugh.

I tried to cheer Harry up and tell him that he didn't need to worry about anything, but he just had to keep had on worrying about tomorrow's match. I felt a bit insulted as Wood kept hurrying up to him between classes and giving him tips I had already given them. The third time this happened, Wood talked for so long that Harry suddenly realized he was ten minutes late for Defense Against the Dark Arts, and set off at a run with Wood shouting after him, "Diggory's got a very fast swerve, Harry, so you might want to try looping him—"

I could hear them thanks to my super hearing that was enhancing, even more, every day. It was almost as good as it was when I was just a soul shifter, but I knew it would keep going till it was as good and clear as it is for my normal hybrid self.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was currently beginning. Snape was teaching and Harry's not here, yet. He was at Quidditch practice the last time I saw him, today. I didn't go because I didn't feel like they needed much of me today. Everyone was wondering where Lupin was because no one had seen him through the whole day. Of course, I knew why he wasn't here. Full moon is tonight, you should know from there.

About one minute had passed and we were about to start the class when the door burst open.

"Sorry, I'm late, Professor Lupin, I—"

To his misfortune, it wasn't Professor Lupin who looked up at him from the teacher's desk; it was Snape... as I clarified earlier.

"This lesson began ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we'll make it ten points from Gryffindor. Sit down."

But Harry didn't move.

"Where's Professor Lupin?" he said.

"He says he is feeling too ill to teach today," said Snape with a twisted smile. "I believe I told you to sit down?"

But Harry stayed where he was.

"What's wrong with him?" Harry asked.

Snape's black eyes glittered.

"Nothing life-threatening," he said, looking as though he wished it were. "Five more points from Gryffindor, and if I have to ask you to sit down again, it will be fifty."

I cursed under my breath before grasping his hand and yanking him down next to me.

"As I was saying before Potter interrupted, Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far—"

"Sir? We've done boggarts, Red Caps, kappas, and grindylows," I said quickly.

"And we're just about to start—" Hermione began.

"Be quiet, Granger," Snape said coolly, leaving me out on purpose, making me raise an eyebrow at him in disbelief. "I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organization."

"He's the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had," said Dean boldly, and there was a murmur of agreement from the rest of the class. Shit. Snape looked pissed.

"You are easily satisfied. Lupin is hardly overtaxing you— I would expect first years to be able to deal with Red Caps and grindylows. Today we shall discuss—" He flicked through the textbook, to the very back chapter, which he knows we haven't covered yet. "—werewolves."

"But, sir," Hermione said, she seemed unable to restrain herself. "We're not supposed to do werewolves yet, were due to start hinkypunks—"

"Miss Granger," said Snape in a voice of deadly calm, "I was under the impression that I am teaching this lesson, not you. And I am telling you all to turn to page 394." He glanced around again. "All of you! Now!"

With many bitter sidelong looks and some sullen muttering, the class opened their books.

"Which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?" said Snape.

Everyone sat in motionless silence; everyone except Hermione, whose hand, as it so often did, had shot straight into the air. And to everyone's surprise and my own, I had also lifted my hand to answer. Snape gave me an apologetic look, confusing me, and moved on, purposely ignoring Hermione. Puzzled, I put my hand down.

"Anyone?" Snape said, ignoring Hermione. His twisted smile was back. "Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't even taught you the basic distinction between—"

"We told you," said Parvati suddenly, "we haven't got as far as werewolves yet, we're still on—"

"Silence!" snarled Snape. "Well, well, well, I never thought I'd meet a third-year class who wouldn't even recognize a werewolf when they saw one. I shall make a point of informing Professor Dumbledore how very behind you all are..."

I knew what he was doing. He was trying to fill us all in about werewolves, realize that Lupin is one and fear his kind enough to tell him off.

"Please, sir," Hermione said, her hand still in the air, "the werewolf differs from the true wild in several ways. The shout of the werewolf—"

"That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger," Snape said coolly. "Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all." What? That's not even a valuable excuse to take points off!

Hermione went very red, put down her hand, and stared at the floor with her eyes full of tears. It was a mark of how much the class loathed Snape that they were all glaring at him, because every one of them had called Hermione a know-it-all at least once, and I, who has heard Ron tell her she was a know-it-all at least twice a week, stood up, walked over to Hermione's side and snapped at Snape loudly, "You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?"

The class knew instantly I'd gone too far. Snape advanced on me slowly, and the room held its breath, but I didn't feel threatened as I stood my ground and looked him straight in the eye.

"If I ever hear you criticize the way I teach class again, you will be sorry indeed," Snape said, rounding on me. What shocked me the most was that twinkle in his coal black eyes that were usually emotionless. I narrowed my eyes at him; he was in on something, I just knew it.

After that, no one made a sound, I kissed Hermione's head and gave her a hug then went back to sit with Harry. But then he pretty much took me aback as I heard him mutter to himself,

"I need to cry more often if I get that kind of treatment." I turned my face away from him and stifled back a laugh. Did he seriously just say that?

No one made a sound throughout the rest of the lesson. We sat and made notes on werewolves from the textbook, while Snape prowled up and down the rows of desks, examining the work we had been doing with Professor Lupin.

"Very poorly explained... That is incorrect, the kappa is more commonly found in Mongolia... Professor Lupin gave this eight out of ten? I wouldn't have given it three... Delilah, best as always..." I raised an eyebrow. "... Potter got nine out of ten? I would give him a one."

When the bell rang, at last, Snape held us back. "You will each write an essay, to be handed into me, on the ways you recognize and kill werewolves. I want two rolls of parchment on the subject, and I want them by Monday morning. It is time somebody took this class in hand. Weasley, stay behind, we need to arrange your detention."

I was slightly confused. "What did you do?" I asked Ron.

He groaned. "Insulted him about hurting Hermione, when you weren't paying attention—"

"WEASLEY!" Snape yelled.

"Oh, come on. I was asking him a question!" I exclaimed myself in frustration.

"Gotta go!" Ron said in a high pitch voice.

"Yeah, okay, no problem. Just leave me hangin' here," I muttered before following Harry and Hermione out of the room with the rest of the class, who waited until we were well out of earshot, then burst into a furious tirade about Snape.

"Snape's never been like this with any of our other Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, even if he did want the job," Harry said to Hermione. "Why's he got it in for Lupin? D'you think this is all because of the boggart?"

"I don't know," said Hermione pensively. "But I really hope Professor Lupin gets better soon..."

"Speaking of which, Hermione, can I talk to you?" I said, interrupting Harry as he was about to say something.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

I pulled her into an empty classroom.

"Did you get the hint?" I asked urgently. Knowing she was the cleverest student in Hogwarts, she probably already figured out what Snape was trying to say in DADA.

"About how Lupin's a werewolf, yeah I got the hint," Hermione said.

"Good, we can't tell anyone, okay?"

"Why not?"

"Hermione, I promise I'll tell you soon, but not now, alright?"

She looked at me for a moment, lips pursed and brows furrowed, then nodded. "Alright. Besides, it would be wrong. It's, not only, not our secret to tell, but it's also wrong to prejudice against werewolves. I'm sure they're not all that bad. I mean, Professor Lupin like an okay man, and—"

"Hermione," I cut her off. "I get, you got it, let's go." I took her hand and dragged her out of the empty classroom, making our way to the Gryffindor common room, where Harry was.

Harry was sitting in his favorite seat by the fire. I walked over and sat next to him, Hermione sat down on the floor in front of me.

"Want to practice some spells?" Hermione asked.

"Sure, why not?" I said as we pulled out our wands.

I wasn't sure who to throw a spell on, but then I remembered Fred and George playing a prank on me earlier this week, so once I saw them making their way towards us, I pointed my wand at their shoes and whispered, "Evincio."

Fred's shoelaces got untied and mingled with George's, making them both trip and fall onto each other. Hermione and I laughed.

"Not bad," Fred started.

"But you have to do better than that," George finished grinned mischievously.

I smirked at them. "Don't worry, I will," I said, making them gulp. Just then, Ron joined us in a towering rage.

"D'you know what that bastard—"

"Ron!" Hermione shouted, but he ignored her.

"—is making me do? I've got to scrub out the bedpans in the hospital wing. Without magic!" He was breathing deeply, his fists clenched. "Why couldn't Black have hidden in Snape's office, eh? He could have finished him off for us!"

I snorted. "Anyway, I'm going to bed. See y'all in the morning. Quidditch mates, off to bed as well. There's a big game tomorrow!" I shouted, before heading towards my dorm.

"What's up with her?" I heard Ron and Hermione ask at the same time.

"Ah, that beautiful gal," Fred started.

"Is growing up on us!" George finished in a shout as both brothers hooted. Smiling to myself I laid down on my bed and sighed.

"Dang, what a day!" I exclaimed myself.

"Had fun?" Blaze asked.

"...ish? Though I haven't seen much of Seth today. I wonder what the kid's been up to"

She squawked what seemed like a laugh. "You're really taking on the big sister role, aren't you?"

I shrugged. "He grows on ya, ya know?" I sighed.

Blaze squawked again. "There's a letter from your father on your desk along with a few gifts for your anniversary," she announced, making me bolt upright and jump off my bed.

"Dad wrote back?" I asked with a huge smile on my face.

"Yes, and, by the way, gaudeamus igitur, filius." (Happy anniversary, child)

"Thanks, Blaze," I said, before grabbing the letter from my desk, flopping myself back on my enormous bed and opening the envelope.

Dear Deli,

Geez, I really hope you get this, but anyway, I just want to let you know that I miss you so much, kiddo, and I can't wait to see you again this Christmas. I know your birthday isn't until after Christmas, but since I miss you so dang much, I thought I could send you a few things you might like. I hope you like them. From what you've told me, Quidditch seems like a fun sport. I'm proud of you for acquiring the coaching role, Dels. I always knew you had some leadership in you. And, again, even if it still hasn't come around, happy birthday, kid. I love you and I miss you so much, and so do Jack and Skipper. I can't speak to animals like you do, but I can see them mopping around your room all the time. Keep up the good work and stay alive for your old man, will ya?

Take care, and lots of love,

Yours truly,

Big Daddy.

I couldn't help but laugh at this. I now felt complete knowing that he was okay. I wanted to write back, but I was so tired, so instead, I tucked the letter under my pillow and laid back down onto my bed.

"I'll write to him on the weekend. Goodnight Blaze," I said in a soft voice.

"Bonum note, filius," (Goodnight, child) was the last thing I heard before darkness took over me.

I woke up really early, and it was still dark outside. It still is. It's raining and the wind is blowing really hard. I would've liked going back to sleep, but every day I find it harder and harder to do so.

Deciding to look a bit more different, I grabbed a small bag of makeup I'd bought before school started, some clothes and ran into the bathroom. I had put on a bit of black eyeliner and mascara and some lip balm that made my lips look slightly pinker than they already were. After that, I put on a pair of black skinny jeans with black ankle-length boots, a violet shirt and grabbed a black jacket and a purple beanie which I put in my shoulder bag for later. Once I was done, I walked out of the bathroom and headed back towards my room, but stopped myself the moment I heard talking from the common room.

Narrowing my eyes, I quietly walked down the stairs.

"You know, I reckon Ron was right about you," I heard Harry say. "There are plenty of mice around this place— go and chase them go on," confused, I walked down a little further and saw Harry talking to Crookshanks. "Leave Scabbers alone."

The storm was louder in the common room.

"Uh... why are you talking to a cat?" I asked.

Harry's head snapped towards me. He blushed and sat down on the couch by the fire.

"I don't know?" He said.

Chuckling, I walked over and sat next to him, I leaned my head against his shoulder and hugged my legs up to my chest. I felt him lift his arm and put it around me, he rested his head on mine, sighing. After a few minutes, it was my turn to sigh. How do I tell him what I am?

"Hey, is something wrong?" he asked.

"No— I just— thanks," I ended up saying.

"For what?"

"Again, for being there for me. Don't think I've forgotten my promise from the other night, Harry."

"Oh... right. You're welcome," he whispered. I smiled.

"You're really a..." I looked up and saw my face was inches away from his, "good person," I whispered back.

Harry gazed into my eyes and me in his. His beautiful bright green eyes traveled down to my lips then back up into my eyes. He started to lean in, never looking away as I felt his hot breath brush against my lips, he was just inches away. I don't know what came over me, but I inched closer as well, then—

"Ready for the big game today, Harry?" Fred's voice boomed from the staircase making Harry and I jump apart and blush like mad.

"Yeah, ready to kick some Hufflepuff butts?" George added. The twins stopped short when they spotted me. They looked at each other, then back at me and then they wolf-whistled.

"Why haven't we seen you like this before, princess?" Fred asked.

"Because you don't deserve to see me like this," I said, getting up and walking past them, but George decided to grab my wrist and spin me around, practically smashing me against him.

"And why is that?" he asked.

I leaned closer and decided to tease him like I've seen many girls do. "Georgie?"

"Hmmm?"

"Next time, why don't you ask your twin and your fellow pranks," I replied, before pulling away and heading towards the portrait to get out, leaving the Twizzlers dumbfounded. I don't mind their pranking, they're quite amusing and entertaining, but it often becomes annoying; as if my hair didn't already change colors. And I am not acting girly again, that just feels... weird.

He flew backward and forward across the field past blurred red and yellow shapes; he seemed to have no idea of what was happening in the rest of the game. The crowd was hidden beneath a sea of cloaks and battered umbrellas. Twice Harry came very close to being unseated by a Bludger; his vision was probably so clouded by the rain on his glasses he hadn't seen them coming. He was losing track of time. It was getting harder and harder to hold his broom straight. The sky was getting darker, as though night had decided to come early. Twice Harry nearly hit another player, without knowing whether it was a teammate or opponent; everyone was now so wet, and the rain so thick, you could hardly tell any of them apart...

With the first flash of lightning came the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle; Harry could just see the outline of Wood through the thick rain, gesturing him to the ground. The whole team splashed down into the mud.

"I called for a time-out!" Wood roared at his team. "Come on, under here—"

They huddled at the edge of the field under a large umbrella; Harry took off his glasses and wiped them hurriedly on his robes. "What's the score?"

"We're fifty points up," said Wood, "but unless we get the Snitch soon, we'll be playing into the night." Yes, you better catch it.

"I've got no chance with these on," Harry said exasperatedly, waving his glasses.

At that very moment, I decided to make my appearance and looked over his shoulder with Hermione right behind me. We shared a look and nodded at each other with grins on both our faces.

"I've had an idea, Harry! Give me your glasses, quick!" He handed them to me, and as the team watched in amazement, I tapped them with my wand and said, "Impervius!"

"There!" I said, handing them back to Harry.

"They'll repel water!" Hermione explained.

Wood looked as though he could have kissed me, which by the way would be disgusting, but I gave him a look and he simply blushed.

"Brilliant!" he called hoarsely after me as Cotton Candy and I disappeared into the crowd.

"Okay, team, let's go for it!" Hermione and my spell had done the trick. I could see Harry was still numb with cold, probably wetter than he'd ever been in his life, but he could see. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes for a few thirteen seconds. I could feel Hermione and Ron looking at me in confusion. As I opened my eyes again, I heard them gasp. I knew my eyes were now a violet morning glory.

"Calefieri," I whispered, though loud enough for only my two friends to hear.

The team let out a synchronized sigh of satisfaction but then had puzzled looks on their faces. They turned to look at me then grinned once they saw my smirk.

"What spell is that?" Ron asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, I never heard or read of it before," Hermione said, with the same hint of puzzlement in her tone.

I snorted as my smirk grew wider. "That's 'cause I just made it up," I replied.

They both raised an eyebrow at me and cocked their heads to the side. "What does it do?" Ron asked, curiously.

I grinned at them. "It warms up."

They gave me a confused look before realization finally hit them. Hermione laughed. "Brilliant!" she exclaimed herself, throwing her arms around me and jumping up and down.

I laughed with her. "I get that you love me 'Mione, don't get me wrong, I love you too, but I also love breathing!" I exclaimed myself. With that, we all three laughed before turning our attention back to the game and cheering Gryffindor on.

Full of fresh determination, Harry urged his broom through the turbulent air, staring in every direction for the Snitch, avoiding a Bludger, ducking beneath Diggory— a really cute Hufflepuff student, by the way— who was streaking in the opposite direction...

There was another clap of thunder, followed immediately by forked lightning. This was getting more and more dangerous. Harry needed to get the Snitch quickly. He turned, intending to head back toward the middle of the field, but at that moment, another flash of lightning illuminated the stands, and Harry saw something that distracted him completely, the silhouette of an enormous shaggy black dog, clearly imprinted against the sky, motionless in the topmost, empty row of seats.

Harry's numb hands slipped on the broom handle and his Nimbus dropped a few feet. Shaking his sodden bangs out of his eyes, he squinted back into the stands. The dog had vanished.

"Harry!" came Wood's anguished yell from the Gryffindor goal posts.

"Harry, behind you!" Harry looked wildly around. The Hufflepuff seeker was pelting up the field, and a tiny speck of gold was shimmering in the rain-filled air between them. With a jolt of panic, Harry threw himself flat to the broom handle and zoomed toward the Snitch.

"Come on!" he growled at his Nimbus as the rain whipped his face. But something odd was happening. An eerie silence was falling across the stadium. The wind, though as strong as ever, was forgetting to roar. It was as though someone had turned off the sound, as though Harry had gone suddenly deaf— what was going on? And then a horribly familiar wave of cold swept over me, inside me, just as I became aware of something moving on the field below... I knew exactly what was happening and from the looks of it so did Harry. But before he'd had time to think, he had taken his eyes off the Snitch and looked down.

I followed his gaze and widened my eyes as I saw at least a hundred dementors, their hidden faces pointing up at him, were standing beneath him. It was as though freezing water were rising in my chest, cutting at my insides. And then I heard it... Someone was screaming, screaming inside my head... a woman...

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"

"Stand aside, you silly girl... stand aside, now..."

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead—"

Numbing, swirling white mist was filling my brain... What was I doing? Why was I just standing there? I needed to help her... She was going to die... She was going to be murdered... I could see Harry falling, falling through the icy mist.

"Not Harry! Please... have mercy... have mercy..."

I didn't stop myself this time. I pointed my wand up at the dementors and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"

And at the end of my wands burst, not a shapeless cloud of mist, but a blinding, dazzling, silver animal. I squinted my eyes to see what it was. It looked like a horse, though I knew it wasn't. It was something else, though I couldn't quite place my finger on it. It galloped silently away from me and across the Quidditch pitch up to where Harry is. I saw it charge at the Dementors. It galloped around and around the black shapes on the ground, and the Dementors were flying back, scattering, retreating into the darkness... They left. With that, I felt my body suddenly weaken as darkness gained on me.

Harry' P.O.V.

A shrill voice was laughing, the woman was screaming, and I knew no more.

"Lucky the ground was so soft."

"I thought he was dead for sure."

"But he didn't even break his glasses."

I could hear the voices whispering, but they made no sense whatsoever. I didn't have a clue where I was, or how I'd got there, or what I'd been doing before I got there. All I knew was that every inch of me was aching as though it had been beaten.

"That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life." Scariest... the scariest thing... hooded black figures... cold ... screaming... my eyes snapped open. I was lying in the hospital wing. The Gryffindor Quidditch team, spattered with mud from head to foot, was gathered around my bed. Ron and Hermione were also there, even Seth, looking as though they'd just climbed out of a swimming pool, but there was no sign of Delilah. I frowned.

"Harry!" said Fred, who looked extremely white underneath, the mud.

"How're you feeling?" It was as though my memory was on fast forward. The lightning— the Grim— the Snitch— and the dementors...

"What happened?" he said, sitting up so suddenly they all gasped.

"You fell off," said Fred. "Must've been— what— fifty feet?"

"We thought you'd died," said Alicia, who was shaking. Hermione made a small, squeaky noise. Her eyes were extremely bloodshot.

"But the match," I asked. "What happened? Are we doing a replay?"

No one said anything. The horrible truth sank into me like a stone. "We didn't— lose?"

"Diggory got the Snitch," said George. "Just after you fell. He didn't realize what had happened. When he looked back and saw you on the ground, he tried to call it off. Wanted a rematch. But they won fair and square... even Wood admits it."

"Where is Wood?" I asked, suddenly realizing he wasn't there.

"Still in the showers," said Fred. "We think he's trying to drown himself."

I put my face to my knees, my hands gripping my hair. Fred grabbed my shoulder and shook it roughly. "C'mon, Harry, you've never missed the Snitch before."

"There had to be one time you didn't get it," said George.

"It's not over yet," said Fred. "We lost by a hundred points"

"Right? So if Hufflepuff loses to Ravenclaw and we beat Ravenclaw and Slytherin—"

"Hufflepuff'll have to lose by at least two hundred points," said George.

"But if they beat Ravenclaw..."

"No Way, Ravenclaw is too good. But if Slytherin loses against Hufflepuff..."

"It all depends on the points— a margin of a hundred either way."

"You guys! None of what you're saying is helping, or even matters!" Seth exclaimed, before muttering to himself in a different language.

I lay there, not saying a word. We had lost... for the first time ever, I had lost a Quidditch match. After ten minutes or so, Madam Pomfrey came over to tell the team to leave me in peace.

"We'll come and see you later," Fred told him. "Don't beat yourself up, Harry, you're still the best Seeker we've ever had." The team trooped out, trailing mud behind them. Madam Pomfrey shut the door behind them, looking disapproving. Seth, Ron, and Hermione moved nearer to my bed.

"Dumbledore was really angry," Hermione said in a quaking voice. "I've never seen him like that before. He ran onto the field as you fell, waved his wand, and you sort of slowed down before you hit the ground. Then Deli came along beside him, whirled her wand at the dementors. Shot silver stuff at them. They left the stadium right away... He was furious they'd come onto the grounds. We heard him—"

"Then he magicked you onto a stretcher," said Ron. "And walked up to school with you floating on it. Everyone thought you were—" His voice faded, but I hardly noticed.

I was thinking about what the dementors had done to me... about the screaming voice. I looked up and saw Ron and Hermione looking at me so anxiously that I quickly cast around for something matter-of-fact to say. I frowned when I noticed Seth had suddenly disappeared, and I would've asked, out of curiosity, where he'd gone seeing as he always seemed to hang around us lately, but that wasn't what was on my mind at the moment.

"Did someone get my Nimbus?" Ron and Hermione looked quickly at each other.

"Er—"

"What?" I asked, looking from one to the other.

"Well... when you fell off, it got blown away," said Hermione hesitantly.

"And?"

"And it hit— it hit— oh, Harry— it hit the Whomping Willow."

My insides lurched. The Whomping Willow was a very violent tree that stood alone in the middle of the grounds.

"And?" I urged, dreading the answer.

"Well, you know the Whomping Willow," said Ron. "It— it doesn't like being hit."

"Professor Flitwick brought it back just before you came around, said Hermione in a very small voice. Slowly, she reached down for a bag at her feet, turned it upside down, and tipped a dozen bits of splintered wood and twig onto the bed, the only remains of my faithful, finally beaten broomstick.

I felt my heart drop, but then I remembered something. "Where's Delilah?"

"Uh..."

"Where. Is. She?"

Taking a deep breath, Hermione pulled the bedside curtain, which revealed another bed that was occupied, Seth standing there, looking down at the unconscious figure with worry etched all over his face.

I stood from my bed and rushed over once I saw how pale she looked. My Delilah looked so... dead. Her light brown waist-length wavy hair was now a lighter shade of brown, her skin looked smoother, but it was completely pale, almost as white as snow. You would've thought she was dead... if it weren't for her blazing temperature. She never did say why it was like that...

"Dumbledore said she'll be alright," Seth murmured. I looked over at him and saw him staring at his sister with so much worry... it almost made him look older than he actually is. "Though it might take her a few days."

I sighed. I just hope that's true.

Back to Delilah's P.O.V.

I was in a coma for seven days, so I spent the whole week after the match at the hospital wing. I was so frustrated when Madame Pomfrey insisted in Dumbledore's presence that I stay here for another week. Seth, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the only ones who'd visit me every day. Harry would even sometimes come to see me at night wearing his invisibility cloak. After the four of them, it would be the Quidditch team, some random people I don't know, Malfoy... though I don't know why he even bothers... and the teachers, mostly McGonagall and Dumbledore. Even Lupin would come thoroughly. He was impressed that I could do the Patronus charm so well at such a young age. That's pretty much what we discussed every time he'd visit.

With Dumbledore, I would discuss my newfound powers, like the mind reading I had forgotten I could do right after I had woken up... though you wouldn't believe how relieved I was to remember what it was afterward, considering the fact that I had been freaking out when I woke up, thinking I was hearing things. I couldn't control it at first, but then Dumbledore eventually came up with the idea of a charm bracelet that would help me block others thoughts when I'd want to until I can control it on my own.