Disclaimer: I'm not J.K. Rowling so I don't own anything from her books. Just the stuff I make up.

Okay so here is chapter twelve, enjoy.

Chapter Twelve

Back to School

Alena spent the rest of her time at the Leaky Cauldron in hiding. She always avoided her classmates whenever possible.

But in the end she had to accept a ride to Platform 9 and ¾. The adults seemed to think it would be a waste of security if Alena went with Marie when they were all going. So Alena said goodbye to Marie and Tom and left with the many cars that carted the Weasley's, Hermione, and Harry.

When they were all successfully through the boundary Alena went off on her own. Though she caught Mr. Weasley taking Harry off to one side she ignored it. She didn't want to know. As she wheeled her own cart towards the train a poster caught her eye.

She stopped and stared at the haggard man.

"Beastly picture," someone sniffed from beside her.

She turned and hid her disgust at Draco Malfoy.

"I don't know, I've seen worse."

He smiled, "I'm sure you have."

She watched as he walked off, his words left her on edge.

"What are you doing talking to that slimeball?" someone asked from behind her.

This time she jumped because she hadn't been expecting it.

She turned to see the red haired twins, Fred and George.

"Nothing, he was just being rude."

They both grinned.

"We can fix that problem for you," they said in unison.

She shook her head, "I can handle Draco Malfoy."

They both shrugged. "Well what about a different proposition?" they asked.

She waited.

"If you can guess which is which we'll help you with your luggage."

She looked at her cart that was completely laden down with her trunk, her owl, and her cat.

"Fine then Fred," she said nodding towards Fred. "George help him with my stuff."

She watched as their twin smiles left. She gave them her best smile and hopped on board. "Thanks for the help," she called from a window.

On her search for an empty compartment she was snatched.

"Alena!" a girl shrieked.

She looked at the one who had grabbed her.

"Parvarti," she said hugging her friend. "Where's Padma?" she asked looking in to the compartment. Lavender Brown waved from her seat, she waved back.

"Oh she's back on the platform with our parents. I went ahead to find somewhere to sit."

"Oh well than can I join you? Fred and George have my luggage and are no doubt searching for me."

Lavender raised her eyebrows but Alena ignored her for the time being.

Parvarti gave her a searching glance but Alena just smiled, "I think I can hear them now."

And just like that the red heads came with her luggage in tow.

"Thank you Fred," she nodded. They had switched sides hoping to catch her off guard. "And George, tell your mother I said goodbye will you?"

They rolled their eyes and went back towards the door discussing a way to trick her.

She tugged her trunk in to the compartment and sat down across from Lavender and Parvarti.

Lavender was the first to speak, "What was that about?"

She smiled, "They lost a bet."

Parvarti raised her eyebrows, "They lost a bet?"

"What was it?" Lavender asked.

"They didn't think I could tell them apart."

Lavender sat back in her seat, she obviously thought the bet would be more interesting. "I never can tell them apart. What about you Parvarti?"

Parvarti turned to her friend, "Just because I'm a twin doesn't mean I can tell other twins apart."

Lavender ignored the sarcasm, "I was just wondering."

"Well how do you tell the Weasley brothers apart?" Parvarti asked.

Alena shrugged, "I dunno I just know which is which."

Bored with the conversation Lavender changes the conversation to her summer holiday. Parvarti gives a sideways glance at Alena who smiles and winks.

It's always the same with Lavender.

Padma enters a few minutes before the train leaves.

"Hey Alena," she says as she plops down beside her.

"How was your summer?"

Alena glances out the window and shrugs, "Same old same old."

"You always say that," Lavender points out.

"It's always the same," Alena replies.

"Don't you live in some kind of mansion or something?" she asks.

Alena looks at her friends, "More of a torture cell than a mansion. My parents are muggles who don't understand magic."

Parvarti nods and changes the subject, "So did you hear about Sirius Black?"

This gets everyone talking.

"I heard he killed like ten muggles and a wizard with one spell," Lavender gushed.

Padma shook her head, "I heard it was more muggles."

Alena doesn't join the conversation but continues to stare out the darkening window. A bad feeling has crept up her spine.

"Is it cold in here?" Lavender asks.

Alena turns her attention to the others as the train begins to slow.

Dread knocks in to her chest so hard she can't speak. The others freeze where they are.

It's like the happiness has been sucked out through the window. Then she hears it.

Screaming, high pitched screaming.

"Leave her alone!"

Alena looked up to see a man's face. She must be very small because he was holding her in his arms.

"I don't know anything else," a woman pleaded.

"Ah but you've lied before, what's to stop you from lying to me again," the man said in a cold voice.

"Please, I'm not lying."

The woman screamed in agony as he pointed his wand at her.

Then is stopped and the man looked down at her. His eyes were red and she immediately thought of a snake.

Then pain coursed through her entire body. She could hear herself screaming but it didn't register with her. She lashed out at the man trying to make it stop. The pain she felt, it was if knives were stabbing her over and over again.

"No! Alena no!" the woman screamed.

The voice made Alena turn her head. The woman was launching herself at the man. Her eyes connected with the woman's. Blue determined eyes, flaming red hair streaming out behind her.

Then a flash of green.

Alena's eyes flew open. The other girls were staring with horrified expressions towards the compartment door.

Alena glanced towards it to see some black hooded figure. She froze in her seat. It was like the creature was looking straight at her.

But when she blinked it was gone. The light overhead came back on. She hadn't even realized it was out.

"What was that," Parvarti gasped.

Lavender just continued to stare at the door, "They were Dementors," she said in a barely audible whisper.

The name caught Alena's attention, "What?" she asked.

So shaking her head, Lavender explained about Dementors. Alena listened while watching out the window. Hurried footsteps went by their compartment. The others got to their feet and joined the many people outside. She could hear the voices but she paid no attention to them.

All she could see was the replaying image in her head. The snake like man and her mother.

And her screams.

"Hey Alena how was your summer?" someone asks.

Alena shakes her head to find her self sitting at the Gryffindor table. She looks to the speaker to see Dean Thomas addressing her.

She shrugs, "Nothing to exciting."

He smiles and continues on another conversation.

Hermione nudges her, "I have something to tell you."

Already knowing what Hermione is going to say, "You told Harry and Ron about my living arrangements?"

Hermione bit her lip.

Alena smiled, "Its okay I don't mind. Just as long as they don't tell everyone they know."

Hermione nodded in understanding and turned to the boys on her other side.

Alena quickly looked away so she didn't catch those green eyes. Apparently he didn't take to well to the Dementors either.

His pale face was enough to tell her that. Malfoy's jeering was another.

She looked back at the staff table. They had two new teachers. Hagrid for Care of Magical Creatures and a man named Lupin for Defense Against the Dark Arts. She was actually looking forward to having Hagrid as a teacher. He was a very sweet man. Lupin on the other hand had her wondering. From his exterior he looked like a travel worn teacher, and that was all she could get from him. Her gut though was telling her that there was something else about him.

Dumbledore ended the feast with a colorful goodnight. Then everyone got to their feet and left for the dormitories.

Being as tired as she was she found her self at the back of the line of Gryffindors.

From behind her someone knocked in to her. She turned to see Draco Malfoy standing there with a smirk.

"What? Can't see where you're going?"

He continued to smirk, "Oh I think this year is going to be very interesting. Don't you Alena Phillips?"

She glared at him as he followed the rest of the Slytherins down towards the dungeons. She shook the feeling of unknowing from her and with one last glance at the staff table followed the rest of Gryffindors to the dorm where her bed lay waiting.

Hmm wonder what he meant by that? Hehe, thanks for reading! Review!!!