Chapter Three

The following morning of classes had the Slytherins eyeing the emerald eyed snake in their mist. On one hand they enjoyed, even laughed, when Ember Potter was rumored to have fainted twice on the train. But it wasn't as funny when they learned one of their own had also fainted, especially as they were determined to show house pride no matter who was in their House.

Draco had sent word to his father once it had been proven that Harry really had fainted. His father hadn't been very happy, more like terrified when he had responded. Both agreed on one thing, something horrible had happened to both twins for both to have the exact same reaction to Dementors.

Considering the Potters situation, the Slytherins immediately latched onto the third person who had fainted, although they were slightly more respectful then the rest of the school knew. It was well known that the Longbottoms had gone into hiding just before the Dark Lord's demise but was barely know was what happened after they left hiding. Few knew what the parents suffered, leaving their only child in the stern hands of his elderly grandmother.

"Did you hear?" Draco blinked, being harshly brought out of his tragic thoughts at the giggling screeches of the girls in his House. Pansy was the biggest gossip of the school but made sure her Slytherin persona was in place by allowing the second biggest gossips give her all the details without them knowing. "The Mudblood thinks she can handle a full schedule. Apparently she dared to sign up for every single class this Year had to offer." He barely refrained from rolling his eyes as the girls had a demeaning laugh. Granger had been the very first student in Hogwarts history to have such a full schedule. Then their laughter became darker as Pansy quickly pointed out," awww, little baby Potter, such a sad tale they weave for you. Did you really faint like a scared infant?" She sneered, "And you're suppose to be our savior."

The Gryffindor trio flushed, the one in question was full of shame and embarrassment. But someone interrupted with harsh tones before Ron could say a word, "What are you waiting for? Lunch is over! Classes are about to start!" McGonagall watched with shrewd eyes as a pack of giggling snakes slithered off to their class while her own lions slunk off just behind them.

Draco narrowed his eyes as Pansy kept playing with the lions with her snickering friends. He knew it was useless to tell any of the female snakes to stop. But as far as he was concerned, having Pansy dealing with the Gryffindors who had just finished Divination classes was better then her hanging all over him. Although, Harry doesn't seem too worried that she's having a go at his sister. Glancing over, he smirk at an oblivious boy, more like distracted then worried.

A growl distracted him momentarily, oh right, these ugly things. In his hands laid a bound furry book growling and jerking. Glancing about revealed all but one had twined their growling books shut to avoid getting their fingers bitten off. Harry was softly giggling as he absently stroked his open book, laughing at its purring. Then all the sudden bright emerald eyes pinned a stunned Draco, "Draco." He swallowed at the eager look, "Don't."

Confusion filled him but Harry never went further, instead gone back to his book. "Gather round." Hagrid eagerly called to his students. He was full of joy and excitement at being promoted from Groundskeeper to Professor. "I have a special treat for you all but first you need to open your books."

"Open?" Pansy scoffed, glaring darkly, "And how do you propose we do that!"

Hagrid's bright smile fell, "no one's opened their book?"

She sneered, hissing, "Like anyone wants to lose a hand."

Ember opened her mouth when someone beat her to it, "You won't lose a hand. Just a finger." Everyone stared at the reading snake.

"Well, see, young Harry has the right idea!" Confused they could only stare while Harry absently petted his book. "Once you have yours open we can compare on the treat I have." With that he left. No one still didn't know how to open their book, Harry wouldn't say a word.

Hermione gasped as Hagrid led a gorgeous specimen into view. She had read almost everything on every fantasy creature turned real. She had always wanted to see one of these, "Hippogriffs!"

"Correct! Anyone wish for a closer look?" He grinned as an eager Ember bounced forward. "Excellent!" He motioned her closer, "Hippogriffs are very proud creatures. You earn their respect by bowing." She immediately bowed, "that is if they bow back." He grinned widely as the creature bowed, "well done, Ember!"

Seconds after he tried to have her mount the Hippogriff for a fly, two scared Gryffindor girls immediately cried, "Oh, Ember, don't! What if your tea leaves are right?"

"You had the Grim! You can't tempt things like that!"

Hermione opened her mouth to retort about believing in foolish things when Harry innocently asked, "Why do you speak of death? The cliff's edge shall not rise for another few years. For now all that becomes drains away to prepare anew."

Everyone froze, even Ember, paling rapidly. Her voice slightly shook, "I'll be perfectly fine." With that she flounced off.

"First the night falls upon a retreat. Then the pain of renewal. In the end two become one and one must choose." Harry eyed his leaving sister before giggling again and returning to his growling book, it purred after getting its attention as it had earlier.

Everyone drifted away from him, even though it seemed he was no longer among them in reality. But he was. He was drowning in visions he had suffered among the Dementor's arrival upon the train. All he could do was review the flashes of memories and visions fighting for a spot in his mind, trying to be the first to be seen and spoken of. He was curious as to this but had no clue why. Perhaps Lucius might have something among his library. If he couldn't find his answer, he knew he'd end up in Snape's capable hands for another potion induced night under watchful sharp black eyes. After all both men had been very helpful and capable during the summer, at least to him, despite where their loyalty laid.

**DADA Class**

"Ah, welcome class, though you are a bit early." Remus smiled sincerely as the still pale students slunk into his classroom from outside. He said nothing to intrude on the quiet fear, instead he simply began his lesson. "Although I am glad of this early time. I have a lesson I'm sure you'll all enjoy but we will not be here in this room. Come, follow me." He led them through the halls, "here we are."

Black eyes blinked as they glanced up from the journal he had been reviewing when noise interrupted Snape's quiet time, "Lupin."

"Will you be staying, Severus?"

Said wizard glowered darkly, collecting his journal and standing, "Why would I stay when we all know what dangers there are with Longbottom involved, especially with a few others at his side?"

Remus smiled, mentally brushing off the sharp insult, he simply swished his wand. All the furniture moved to the farthest wall while a sealed cabinet dragged itself closer. "I found this earlier today and decided this would make a wonderful lesson. We weren't due to study them yet but to be honest it's difficult to obtain one without them being moved elsewhere once found."

"Them?"

He nodded, "yes, them. Now," he clapped his hands once, "who can tell me what a Boggart is?"

He randomly picked a student, "A boggart is a shapeless creature then when seen turns into one's deepest fear."

"Correct!" The student smirked at a frowning Hermione, who had been vibrating with the need to answer only for it to be stolen away. "And I have found such a creature. You will each take a turn facing the Boggart using this new spell I shall be teaching you today. It's called Riddikulus. When saying this, you must have a clear picture in your head what you would like your fear to turn into. Why is this?"

Another student beside Hermione had answer, "The only way to truly defeat a Boggart is with laughter."

"Exactly. Your fear will no longer be scary if you are laughing at the Boggart. For such a creature laughter truly is the best weapon." He spent the new few minutes teaching them wand movements before he felt them ready.

Everyone was about to view each student's deepest fear. Many students, mostly Slytherins against the rest of the Houses, laughed at some of the fears. Although, they had not been very happy when Neville had turned their Head of House into a drag queen. But they had a come back teasing Ron with his fear of spiders.

Then everyone held their breath when Ember dared to step forward.

She knew what she didn't want to see.

Remus wasn't sure what she was about to be faced with and hurried to try to stop letting the others see what he thought was her darkest fear when Harry carefully shifted at his sister's side.

Confusion.

This was a fear?

White gray fog fluttered about as metal rang upon metal with indecipherable voices shouting. Something or someone were fighting. Every so often a flash of color would flare through he fog, showing off shadowy figures. But no one could understand what was going on but they could hear something shifting. Soon the figures began to loom into one very large object, drowning out the fighting. Fiery red eyes suddenly popped open, causing a few girls to scream in fear. Fire flickered alive, showing off an enormous shadow of what could only be a dragon, a female's voice echoing clearly for the first time, "You are my message."

Before Remus could implement his plan, this time to stop his Godson, a familiar voice rang clear, although no one could place exactly who it was, " From the ashes I shall rise. From her blood I am born. In the night two shall become one, then all shall die."

Harry slowly blinked, lazily raising his wand, murmuring, "Riddikulus." He watched the creature shriek as his shadow guards flooded forward, driving their weapons deep into supposedly impenetrable hide. They eagerly drove the creature back to its hiding.

No one was laughing.

Harry simply walked away, now knowing his answer. But what shall be her choice? I wonder.

After all it was well know how possessive Ember was of her brother.

Everyone knew that, especially Ember herself.