A/N: Hey people! Bit later than usual? Well, yes, I'm EXTREMELY busy at the moment: exams coming up, and I'm directing the school play! XD Arms and the Man, by Bernard Shaw- quite funny, actually. But back to Connected- well, his chapter's more of a filler, you know, nothing of crucial importance really revealed, just a bit of build up. But that does not mean you won't read, and more importantly, REVIEW!

Disclaimer: HOW MANY TIMES must I admit that I do not own Harry Potter? Isn't it a painful enough truth as it is?

Chapter Ten

(Lily Potter)

I reclined in my seat on the train and thought about the months of summer I had just left behind me; we had left behind us, a voice in my head corrected, looking around the compartment at my family and friends: Fred, Cedric and Joe were chatting animatedly about the Chudley Cannons latest acquisition; newly appointed Head Girl, Tracy, Dominique and Rose were reading; Alex and Al were playing Exploding Snap and Hugo, with his arm around Isabelle, was talking grimly to Alice. I knew exactly what they were discussing, but I had no desire to join in their discussion. Instead, I shut my eyes and wondered what the year at Hogwarts would be like, with the new safety measures they were sure to impose on us. After all, there were two maniacs on the loose: one, a known criminal. The other was so little-known that nobody till now had been able to place a proper identification on her. All anyone knew was what I had told them: she had blonde hair, angular, pretty features and her name was Sophia: that was it. This, however, made her no less dangerous.

I remembered what was written in Mum's diary about her Second Year, when Sirius Black had escaped form Azkaban. They had placed Dementors at the entrances to the grounds to guard Hogwarts. I shuddered as I remembered the descriptions; I was very glad that Dementors were no longer used to guard Hogwarts. In fact, their movement was strictly regulated by the Ministry now. Nobody knew how Greyback had escaped from Azkaban, and it worried people, because he might help to break out the other prisoners, causing chaos the wizarding world hadn't faced in over twenty years… the voices around me faded into a dull, rhythmic drone… my thoughts swirled around in my head in an eddy of faces, shapes and colours, hypnotic almost… I followed their progress until my vision suddenly slipped…

Something smacked me hard across the face and I woke up with a jolt. James' face came into focus in front of me and I blinked. Other faces swam into view as well, all wearing the same mask of concern.

'Lily, are you okay?' James inquired, frowning.

'Err…yeah, I think so,' I said. 'Why wouldn't I be?'

Hugo spoke this time, not meeting me eyes. 'Well, you were whimpering and moaning in your sleep, so we thought we should wake you up.'

'Well, then, why'd you have to slap me?'

'We tried calling you, but you weren't responding!' James exclaimed. 'You kept saying, "No, don't hurt them, no! I'll take you to Dad! Just leave them alone!" Sorry about the slap, by the way.' He added.

'Lily, you do talk a lot in your sleep you know,' Alice said, sitting down next to me. 'Every night since last winter, you've been whining and moaning and muttering…do you have bad dreams?' I nodded. 'What about?' she asked.

'I can never remember,' I lied. I knew precisely what my dreams were, but it wasn't something I liked sharing in front of so many people. 'Why're you all standing? Sit down, I'm fine, don't worry!'

They all sat back down, shooting tentative glances in my direction every few minutes. To avoid their looks, I watched the scenery outside the window, where, as the train progressed on through the wilderness, rain began lashing against the window. I felt guilty for making them worry. But there was also a part of me that felt ashamed and infuriated: why was I having such terrifying dreams, and muttering in my sleep? Why was I such a weakling?

It was difficult to tell the time with the downpour outside. Before we knew it, the train clanked to a halt at the station and we lugged our things out into the deluge, hastening towards the carriages. By the time we'd piled into the stuffy carriages, we were drenched. Hugo and I were joined in our carriage by Isabelle and, surprisingly, Kevin. I'd thought- well, hoped, actually- that he wouldn't be able to track me down until at least tomorrow. Apparently his sixth sense had alerted him of my location even through the thunderstorm- brilliant.

I sighed inwardly as he took the empty seat beside me and planted a kiss on my unwilling lips. He smiled at me, and I smiled back; I wondered if he was totally blind, or if he just didn't want to see how artificial the enjoyment on my face was. At any rate, Hugo detected the deceit and snorted; he turned it into a hacking cough when I glared at him and Isabelle tittered.

I concluded that Kevin was totally blind, because he hadn't noticed any of this. He was too busy chattering away about his summer and chastising me about not replying to his letters. I had done so fervently anticipating that he would give up on me and move on this year- the only time I ever expressed passion in matters concerning him- but apparently it hadn't worked. And as little as I wanted to be unkind, it seemed that I would have to spell it out to him, loud and clear, and soon, because I was really getting worn out.

The Great Hall fell silent as soon as Professor McGonagall stood up after the feast. Everyone was expecting warnings and safety measures, and we were not let down.

'Well, students, we all know how close they came to invading our grounds last year and causing mayhem. Therefore, I think it would be wise on our part to take as many measures as we can to ensure the safety of all present in the castle. Now, this will require cooperation from members of staff, as well as from the students. So I ask that you all try your hardest to protect both yourselves, as well as your schoolmates.

'Now,' she continued with a new, business-like edge to her tone. 'I would like to go through these measures once with all of you. The main doors will be locked by spellwork at precisely 6 in the evening. No one will be allowed in, or let out, after this time. All students must be back in their common rooms by 8 pm, latest; we will be very strict about students wandering around after deadline, unless of course, you are on duty.

'This leads me to my next point. Students who volunteer will be paired up with a team-mate and asked the patrol the corridors after dark. It will follow a cycle, of course, and it is totally voluntary. Also, we will have special duelling lessons for those who would like to learn. I would greatly recommend attending this class, because it is essential to know how to defend yourself in times of danger. You can sign up with your Heads of House.

'Also, I think it is safer to cancel Quidditch for this season.' An angry buzzing erupted all over the Hall, but McGonagall continued, unperturbed. 'It is for your own safety. Practices cannot be held after dark, and you all have classes, so I believe it to be more practical to cancel it altogether, preventing staff members the necessity of tracking down stray Quidditch players who are trying to sneak back to their House common rooms after an illegal jaunt in the air after hours.'

'That is all I have to say. I think I have made my point. Good night to you all.'

The babbling on all sides began straight away as the students made their way out of the Hall, deep in conversation about the Headmistress' speech. I looked at Alice and Hugo and saw that they were surprised as well.

'I can't believe they're going to make students patrol!' said Alice. 'That's really risky, you know!' Hugo nodded feverishly.

I thought about it before I answered. 'You know, I think its okay. It's voluntary, isn't it? I think that it's good to be giving the students a chance to really train themselves, preparing themselves for the real world.' Hugo and Alice still looked slightly uneasy, but before either could say anything, James and Fred appeared on my other side.

'Spoken like a true Potter and Gryffindor, you have,' said James proudly, thumping me on the back; apparently they'd been listening. 'Unlike Al, who's too frightened of the big, scary, boogie monster.' He snorted in a mixture of humour and disgust at the cowardice of our brother.

Fred cast Hugo a disapproving look. 'You, boy, need to grow some backbone!' he exclaimed. 'What kind of Weasley are you, eh?' Hugo looked slightly ashamed and didn't say anything. I knew he was cowed, so I diverted the topic.

'What about the Quidditch season getting cancelled, though?' I said, truly angry, but my words had the effect I'd anticipated. Fred and James burst into infuriated rants which continued all the way up to the foot of the stairs leading to the girls' dormitory, where the boys were forced to turn away as I climbed up the stairs to my dorm. Tanya and Christine were already snoring gently, so Alice and I didn't talk, but went straight to bed.

As I lay, unable to sleep, despite being full to the brim, I thought about the notes I'd received the previous year. I hadn't seen Malfoy yet, so I couldn't ask him if he'd received any more. I wondered if our meeting with the Death Eaters had been the danger he or she had warned us of; would he or she reveal him or herself now that it had passed? Scorpius' note had called me his "partner", I recalled. Partner- for what? And would our mysterious correspondent send us anymore notes to warn us of impending danger? Would there be any more danger?

As if in answer to my questions, a note lay on my trunk when I awoke the next morning. I read quietly it to myself-

"This is only the beginning."

Hope you liked it! Even if you didn't, all you have to do is PRESS the button and I'll know. XD Oh, and thanks to my beta, Zehra. ;P