A.N.: Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the latest chapter of this story! First of all let me thank you for your reviews and support. You guys rock! Two, just because it has been mentioned; no, Harry hasn't been cheating on Quidditch. He's not a metamorphomagus and that means that the spells he's using only alter the perception of himself from others and not his actual body. If anything, he's playing with a disadvantage as everybody expects him to react as if he really was lighter and shorter while flying. And I've been wondering, has anybody gotten them hints I've left for you in the previous chapter. And will anybody guess what I'm planning to do with third year while reading this one? Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and don't forget to review!

Disclaimer; I own Harry Potter. If the seven books on my bookcase count.

YOU CALL THIS SAFE?

Harry returned to his room lost in thought and, not knowing what else to do, pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill; he wouldn't see Severus for a couple of days and he couldn't not write him of what had happened, even though he probably knew already. He waited for Hedwig to come back from her hunt before giving her the letter. He watched as her white form faded away in the night. Even as he returned to his bed, Harry knew there would be no sleep for him that night; there would only be more wondering of how the school year would end up this time.

As Harry had expected, Severus knew of Pettigrew's escape, having been informed the very same night it had happened. His fury was even worse than what he had witnessed from James the day he told him and Adrian of Peter's escape and that said something. On the bright side, Harry thought as he watched a raving Severus pacing up and down the grand fireplace hall of Silbreith, he had possibly just enriched his vocabulary in Gobbledegook.

"I can't believe the sheer idiocy of that moron we have for a Minister." The potions master seethed for what seemed the tenth time in an hour.

"Many people can't." Harry assured him. Severus continued unaffected.

"Checking the wards?" He asked nobody in specific. "Why would he care to do that? It's not as if an Animagus might try to escape using his animal form, no!" Harry, who was admittedly amused by the display, tried to calm him down.

"Well, we could talk about the lengths of Fudge's idiocy for hours and never reach a conclusion, or you can take a few deep breaths and try to think of something that won't give you a heart attack." Severus shot him a dirty look but forced himself to sit down on an armchair.

"There." He stated darkly. "Happy?"

"Exhilarated." Harry answered dryly. "Your pacing was giving me a headache." He tried to keep the humour off his voice as the potions master sighed.

"Sorry for that." He apologised. "It just all seems too stupid to have actually happened."

"I think it actually happened because it is that stupid." Harry stated as Severus regarded him thoughtfully. "It's usually stupid things that cause the greater damage, I mean." Severus nodded.

"You're right, of course." He admitted. "And with Fudge, we had been lucky something hasn't happened sooner."

"We're lucky the rest of the Death Eaters arrested are still in Azkaban." Harry noted ruefully. "But this shouldn't be your greatest concern." He added slyly.

"What do you mean?" Severus asked confused. "Are there more psychologically disturbed murderers out there I should be looking for?"

"Well, I thought you would be preoccupied with the new Defence professors this year." Harry stated impishly; his grin only widened at Severus's confusion.

"There will be more than one?" The potions master asked.

"Hasn't Dumbledore said anything?"

"He said it still wasn't certain, that he was still looking for a new professor." Severus stated carefully. "Do you know something I don't?"

"They didn't joke when they said it would be a surprise then." Harry said chuckling.

"Are you planning on sharing that information with me?" Severus asked annoyed.

"I could just let you suffer, but I feel merciful this evening." Harry stated, fully knowing he had intended to tell him all along; his reaction would be too priceless to not witness plus, he didn't much enjoy seeing him worry himself to death. He ducked swiftly as a pillow zoomed towards his head. "If you act like that, I might change my mind." He warned Severus.

"Fine, I'll behave; now out with it."

"Sirius was to be the new Defence professor but, since he had to take part in the search for Pettigrew too, he will split his classes with Remus." Harry had heard the decision being confirmed just a night ago, Remus having been right that Fudge would agree to anything in order to try and patch up the situation. "So, what do you have to say about that, Sev?" The green eyed teen asked. Severus had gone completely still. For a second there, Harry wondered if he was even breathing. Turned out that he was, if the rant that followed was to be taken into account.

"Black?" He asked in terror. "A teacher? Who in their right mind would make him a teacher?" And he went on like that for some good ten minutes, until he ran out of reasons why Sirius should never be allowed in a classroom. Harry wondered if these two would ever work things out; some part of him thought that if they did, they might actually turn out to be great friends; deep down, they had the same temperament it seemed, even if the potions master had a much superior impulse control. Maybe when he and Severus wouldn't have to hide anymore.

"It's going to be interesting." Harry stated. Severus's eyes narrowed to slits as he picked up a pillow from the couch. Harry back-tracked cautiously. "Now Dad, let's not be hasty here…"

"I'll show you interesting." Severus stated ominously. And it was with a great pillow fight that the two wizards said their farewells to the summer holidays.

Next morning found Harry pushing his trunk up the Hogwarts Express with some help from Sirius. He and Adrian had been cautioned over and over about how they should watch their every move while at Hogwarts. The dog Animagus and the werewolf boarded the train with them, having finally let them in on the secret of who would be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts that year officially. Harry pretended to be surprised, while Adrian was over the moon. His mood dampened considerably however after their mother forbid them from visiting Hogsmeade along with the rest of their year.

"It's necessary." She had insisted. "With Peter on the loose, we can't take chances." Harry understood the reasoning behind her actions, but couldn't really help but wonder if it was necessary. As it had become apparent, the Minister had appointed extra security to patrol the grounds; the nature of said security was still unknown. It wasn't Aurors, as James had informed them; the Minister said it was all taken care of and, even if coming from him that wasn't truly reassuring, he had probably deployed the Unspeakables. Harry always wondered what the Unspeakables did as they, honouring their name, didn't speak about it. Maybe he would find out this year, he thought as he sat in the same compartment with his brother, Ron and Hermione, the two new professors, Neville and Ginny.

The youngest Weasley seemed more demure and quiet than she had remembered her being on the last train ride, but that was only to be expected considering she had been possessed by the memory of the Dark Lord for a large part of her first year; maybe she was remembering what had happened last year or how she had started writing in the diary? Either way, not even the brief look of distaste Malfoy directed their way as he passed by with his cronies -not daring to try anything with Remus and Sirius in the compartment- managed to get a reaction out of her, though it was something that would have at least made her blush a year ago.

"So, how did you like Egypt?" Remus asked an hour into their journey, pulling Harry's attention from Neville's description of his newly acquired, and admittedly interesting, plant.

"Ginny loved it…" Ron commented.

"I did."

"… But I found it awfully hot. I mean the tombs were wicked and so was the magical community of Cairo but the bloody sand…"

"Language, Ron!" Hermione cautioned.

"I get what you mean though." Sirius admitted. "James and I trained in Egypt for a few months back when we were in the academy and I can assure you it's hot, especially during the summer." I liked it, Harry thought.

"That's not the most important question at the moment." Ginny commented a soft smile on her lips, even if it did not completely reach her eyes. Harry wondered what she meant as everyone turned to look at her.

"And what would the most important question be, Miss Weasley?" Remus asked well naturedly.

"I was simply wondering how you two feel as the new professors in the school." She asked innocently; the green eyed wizard watched her curiously with the corner of his eyes; something told him she hadn't made her point yet.

"It's going to be weird for sure." Sirius declared. "I mean, most of the professors were our teachers too."

"But now you're going to be working together, on even ground." Ginny stated, nodding as if she understood perfectly what Sirius meant. "You're going to be equals in a way, working together and stuff."

"Exactly that." Sirius agreed. "I'll be the first one to admit I still have trouble calling Professor Dumbledore, Albus."

"I still have trouble calling McGonagall, Minerva." Remus admitted.

"Imagine, working together with her!" Sirius stated awed, as if had never considered the prospect.

"Or with Flitwick!" Remus added.

"Or with Professor Snape." Ginny offered innocently, making Sirius and Remus cringe and stare at her, a look of horror etched in their faces. Harry was just about to break out laughing as she spoke again. "Everybody knows that the Potions' and Defence's professors always worked closely. Well, except Lockhart but…" She simply shrugged and Harry waited for the explosion; Sirius didn't disappoint.

"Dumbledore failed to mention that!" He was breathing deeply and gripping the armrests of his seat as Remus tried to calm him down; Ginny just sat back and pulled open her Spells textbook humming while the rest of the students in the compartment stared at her as if they had never seen her before.

"That, Miss Weasley," Harry stated "either marks you as a genius or as plain evil." Sirius was still hyperventilating, swearing he would never work closely with any greasy git, let alone show one respect.

"Can't we call me an evil mastermind and leave it to that?" She asked impishly as Harry chuckled and her brother stared at her in awe. She chuckled once more and sighed contently, watching her brother laughing. Ron had been a little down too, from what he had seen of him during the summer and had been watching his little sister as if she might disappear as long as they had been on the train, the green eyed wizard noted. Maybe that's what this had been about?

"Spending time with the twins?" Harry asked interested.

"So it would seem, Mr. Potter." She answered.

"And if it is ever expected of me to help him with something, with anything," Sirius continued with his rant "I swear I'll…" He never managed to finish his sentence as the train began slowing down.

"Great, I'm starving." Ron stated as he looked out the window trying to discern the school in the distance.

"That's new." Sirius commented still a little flustered.

"We can't be there yet." Said Neville looking at his pocket watch, a birthday gift from Harry.

"So why're we stopping?" The train was getting slower and slower. As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows. Harry, who was nearest to the door, got up to look into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads were sticking curiously out of their compartments. The train came to a halt with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness.

"I can't see a thing!" Adrian complained.

"What's going on?" said Ron's voice from behind Harry.

"Ouch!" gasped Hermione. "Ron, that was my foot!" Harry felt his way back to his seat walking with more ease than anyone as his night vision kicked in.

"Oy! That was mine!" Ginny exclaimed as her brother tried to stop injuring the people around him.

"For Merlin's shake, Ron!" Neville exclaimed as Ron failed in his attempts.

"Calm down everyone!" Remus called and used the Lumos spell to light up the compartment. Sirius, Adrian and Harry instantly followed his example and, once everyone could again see, they tried to understand what had exactly happened.

"D'you think we've broken down?"

"Dunno." Adrian answered his friend.

"Maybe I should go and ask the driver what has happened." Hermione said, looking at the two professors for permission.

"I'm not sure you should start running around the train at this moment, Hermione." Sirius commented, looking at the suddenly humidity-covered windows somewhat shaken. He shared a look with an equally confused Remus and cocked an eyebrow. Harry failed to grasp the finer points of their communication system but it seems that the werewolf didn't share his problem.

"Oh, he wouldn't…" He stated disbelieving.

"He's proven he's stupid enough." Sirius countered as Neville tried to look out of the compartment, carefully stepping over Crookshanks to peer at the rest of the train.

"Everything's gone dark out there." He informed them.

"There's something moving out there," Ron said looking out the window. "I think people are coming aboard…"

"What?" Sirius asked, pressing hid face against the glass. Harry saw them too. Tall, far too tall to be human, cloaked figures entered the train. They looked like shadows and the way they moved left the green eyed boy with the impression they were gliding over the ground. The temperature dropped just a little more and Harry felt his chest constrict. Suddenly, an image of bright flames in an underground chamber filled his mind; the screams of a dying man and his brother unconscious on the ground. Harry gulped trying to shove the guilt down; he hadn't thought of Quirrell's death in months. Voldemort sliding over the forest floor towards Adrian, silver blood dripping from his lips while he stood petrified.

"What's going on?" Asked Adrian, his wand drawn out too; his hand was trembling. "Who are these people?" Ginny pale and unmoving on the floor in the Chamber of Secrets.

"They're not people." Sirius spat. He didn't have to elaborate; the chill in the room evolved into frost and the door slammed open once more. The tall figure standing in front of them was one of those that had just boarded the train; with the screams of a man he had killed echoing in his mind, it took Harry a few seconds to realize he was facing one of the guardians of Azkaban. The Dementor slid forward and Harry barely managed to get a glance of a slimy hand before it was pulled away. And then the Dementor drew a long, rattling breath. And the screams tripled. Quirrel was burning and Harry was killing him over and over again; his brother was in danger; Ginny was dying. The basilisk was attacking. The cold seeped deeper. His vision blurred.

"None of us is hiding Peter Pettigrew under our cloaks!" Remus called and Harry faintly registered him pointing his wand at the cloaked figure. Expecto Patronus, he bellowed and a silver form, a wolf or a very large dog, erupted from its tip, chasing the Dementor away. Suddenly the screams were just an echo before they faded completely. Harry shook his head, as if trying to expel the last trace of his thoughts and stole glances at Neville, his brother and Ginny; all three were pale and shaken but decisively alive.

"Dementors, really!" Sirius seethed as he turned towards the startled teenagers behind him. "Are you all okay?"

"Okay wouldn't be the word I'd use to describe how I feel right now." Harry worded through clenched teeth, trying to stand up straight; it was terribly hard, he discovered, when he was trembling still.

"Try bloody awful!" Adrian supplied and Harry shook his head in agreement looking down at his brother, having allowed his normal height steadily show over the summer; he couldn't have described it better if he tried.

"What was that thing?" Hermione exclaimed, eyeing the door scared; the lights had come back on, Harry realised and, before anybody managed to answer, the train started moving again.

"One of the Dementors of Azkaban." Remus explained, startling everyone with cutting a large bar of chocolate into pieces. Does he always carry chocolate with him? The green eyed wizard wondered; it seemed like a good idea.

"They guard the prison." Sirius elaborated as he accepted Remus's offering of chocolate. "What you felt was their ability to suck out everything that's good and happy out of you while bringing your darkest memories up at the same time. It's how they keep prisoners subdued." Harry knew all that already; he had read about Dementors long ago. And that spell Remus had cast? He knew that too. But magic had been the last thing on his mind when the actual creature stepped -slid- inside the compartment. He was just frozen again, just as he had been in the forest almost two years ago, just as he had promised himself he'd never be again.

"But what were they doing here?" Ginny asked, biting down on her piece of chocolate, trying to regain some semblance of calm; Harry's heart -the part that wasn't still clenching and unclenching painfully- went out to her. Merlin knows how she felt after everything that had happened last year. And Neville, he realised, sitting closer to his friend and squeezing his shoulder comfortingly. With his past and his parents' condition -a detail of his life he had tentatively shared with Harry over the summer- the boy was shaking visibly.

Harry took a moment to get a better look of his friend; Neville had gotten taller too and some of the baby fat on his face was gone. He was still shaking but seemed to be faring better than he would have had this happened in the beginning of last year, Harry thought as his friend grinned at him tentatively.

"They're Fudge's idea of security; he wants to get Peter almost as much as we do." Sirius informed them, answering Ginny's question while munching on his chocolate; Harry followed his example, thanking Remus's addiction as warmth returned to his body.

"Is he that dangerous?" Neville spoke softly, looking at his hands.

"Yes." Remus answered laconically. "But what interests the Minister more is his reputation; the story of how Pettigrew escaped has gotten out; nothing tarnishes your reputation more than forgetting to check on the wards of an infamous criminal."

It was in that gloomy atmosphere that they entered the castle; more Dementors were stationed at the school's entrance and even the Thestrals seemed affected. A blond girl, a Ravenclaw, Harry noted, stared at the general direction of the horse-like creatures confused, almost as if she could see their unusual reaction too. But then again, her look seemed so faraway that Harry just shrugged it off; Maybe he was imagining things. Ginny on the other hand, looked at the girl in thought for a second, before smiling softly and approaching her, saying hello and getting into the same carriage with her. They must both be second-years, Harry concluded and turned his attention back to Neville.

The feast was much more demure than usual; even the Headmaster had lost that cheery feel he radiated at the beginning of every term and Severus looked right down murderous. The two wizards shared a look and Harry could practically feel the tirade coming; the teen entertained the idea of locking Fudge and Severus in the same room for an hour and then return to collect the pieces. At least that managed to put a smile on his face. The two new Defence professors were greeted with loud applause, the older female students eyeing Sirius appreciatively.

But the greatest surprise came when Dumbledore announced it would be Hagrid who would take over teaching Care of Magical creatures as the previous teacher, Professor Silvanus Kettleburn, had apparently retired in an effort to preserve his remaining one and a half limbs. The former professor had been quite renowned around the school for having survived no fewer than sixty-two periods of probation during his employment and the green eyed wizard was pretty sure Hagrid would live up to that reputation.

"We should've known!" Ron roared, pounding the table. "Who else would have assigned us a biting book?" There was more than some truth in that statement, Harry thought as he cheered for his giant friend, laughing as Neville predicted they would soon be raising griffins in class. The five teenagers even approached Hagrid later on, congratulating him for his new post.

"All down ter you three," said Hagrid, wiping his shining face on his napkin as he looked up at them; Harry tried not to roll his eyes as the moved professor thanked his brother and his friends. He couldn't help thinking that it would be nice if his help was recognized for once but pushed such thoughts away reminding himself that one, Hagrid couldn't have known of his involvement and two, something good had come out of it anyway. "Can' believe it… great man, Dumbledore… came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough… It's what I always wanted…" They were at that point shooed away by Professor McGonagall, who directed them to their Dormitory.

The next morning brought the distribution of the new schedules; and while Harry's was slightly more cramped than his brother's, Hermione's took the cake. The green eyed wizard read it over her shoulder in an attempt to understand how she was going to cramp everything in; because, according to her program, at nine that morning she had Divination with Adrian and Ron, Arithmancy with himself and Muggle Studies. The only way she could ever manage something like that, Harry realized, was if she had a Timeturner but… He eyed the bushy haired girl exasperated; trust Hermione to get a Timeturner and use it for schoolwork. That would explain her impromptu meeting with Professor McGonagall before the feast last night.

"But why would you be taking Muggle Studies, Hermione?" Ginny, who had just received her own schedule from George, asked confused. "You are Muggle-born after all." Harry nodded absentmindedly at Ginny's logic as he filled his plate with some pancakes that looked exceedingly inviting and lightly conversing with Neville on their Ancient Runes textbook.

"I know." Hermione stated brightly. "But it will be fascinating to see it from a wizard's point of view." Ginny regarded her intently.

"Well, prepare to spend a year reading papers on the suspected function of a rubber duck. You have an idea there, but the first two years are basically introduction to the Muggle culture." She said and turned her attention to breakfast.

Harry's theory on Hermione having acquired a Timeturner was proved right when, after seeing her leaving with his brother and Ron for Divination, he found her seated in Arithmancy class waiting for Professor Vector. The green eyed teen filed that information for later use; you never know when you'll need a Timeturner.

The class was quite interesting -even if Harry had covered much more than the basics of his own- and less crowded than what he was used to, with only six students attending. And if one excepted his impulse to add broomstick-making in the list of magical studies where Arithmancy is used given by the professor, he found it quite uneventful. Much more pleasant than Divination must have been, he figured while observing Adrian's dark expression and the furtive looks the class directed to him, later during their Transfiguration lesson.

The lesson was on Animagi and Harry had found it more than interesting, especially because he was one. He was one of the few that paid attention as Professor McGonagall turned into a tabby cat and back into herself. Even she was surprised at the lack of reaction it seemed because she didn't waste time to address the classroom;

"Really, what has got into you all today?" said Professor McGonagall staring around at them all. "Not that it matters, but that's the first time my transformation's not got applause from a class." Everybody's heads turned toward Adrian again, but nobody spoke. Harry looked at his brother expectantly and with no little amount of worry; what could have possibly happened that caused them all to look like they would drop dead any second now? She shared a look with Neville who simply shrugged, appearing just as mystified by their classmates' actions. Then Hermione raised her hand.

"Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we were reading the tea leaves, and…"

"Ah, of course," said Professor McGonagall, suddenly frowning. Harry wondered what could have made so much sense about that statement; Severus never spoke of Professor Trelawney, mostly because she was the one to make the prophecy about him and Voldemort; in a way, the potions master had never forgiven her for that just as he had never quite forgiven himself. He had of course admitted that it was illogical to hate her for something she had no control over and that he would probably be alright with it if only she had chosen to fight and not hide in the shadows during the first war. "There is no need to say any more, Miss Granger." McGonagall interrupted his thoughts. "Tell me, which of you will be dying this year?" Everyone stared at her.

"Me," said Adrian, finally. What?

"I see," said Professor McGonagall, fixing Adrian, who was seated at the far side of the classroom, with an intense gaze. "Then you should know, Potter, that Sibyll Trelawney has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them has died yet. Seeing death omens is her favourite way of greeting a new class. If it were not for the fact that I never speak ill of my colleagues…" Professor McGonagall broke off, and they saw that her nostrils had gone white; that's right, Harry thought. The staff of the school couldn't have known that she had made the prophecy; come to think of it, most didn't even know of the prophecy. She went on, more calmly, "Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it. True Seers are very rare, and Professor Trelawney…" She stopped again, and then said, in a very matter-of-fact tone, "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in."

The rest of the class went by normally but Ron's fear hadn't been quenched it seemed. The moment the bell rang, he was right next to Adrian, wondering if the Divination professor had truly seen the Grim in his teacup. Harry snorted the moment he realized what had happened.

"It's not funny mate!" Ron said indignantly as they sat at the Gryffindor table for dinner. "My… my uncle Bilius saw one and… and he died twenty-four hours later!" Harry tried to intervene but Hermione beat him to it.

"Coincidence," said she airily, pouring herself some pumpkin juice.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" said Ron, starting to get angry. "Grims scare the living daylights out of most wizards!"

"There you are, then," said Hermione in a superior tone. "They see the Grim and die

of fright. The Grim's not an omen, it's the cause of death! And Adrian's still with us because he's not stupid enough to see one and think, right, well, I'd better kick the bucket then!"

"As interesting this argument has been," Harry said as he served himself some peas and passing the pumpkin juice to Neville next to him, "I believe it's also quite pointless."

"What do you mean?" Adrian asked, a little exasperated, mostly of Ron and Hermione's argument.

"I mean, that if Grims truly were omens of death, you and I both would have kicked the bucked, as Hermione put it, a long time ago." He added some purée in his plate too before turning to grin at Ron. "You would have been dead too." He added.

"What?" Ron asked confused.

"Why?" Questioned Hermione.

"Tell me Adrian." He said addressing his brother. "You've seen Sirius transforming into Padfoot, right?" Harry asked as his brother nodded. "And you've never wondered what type of dog he was? Even after you were old enough to realise Padfoot is almost as large as a bear?" Harry asked smirking at the stunned expressions of his brother and friends.

"Padfoot's a Grim?" Ron asked confused.

"But I thought magical animagi transformations were impossible!" Hermione exclaimed. Are they? Harry wondered interested, but let it slide for the moment.

"Yes, Padfoot is a Grim and yes, magical Animagi transformations are, as far as we know, impossible." Harry agreed. "But, while the Grims are generally shy animals, they don't possess some magical ability of their own, at least nothing profound." There were three confused sets of eyes that stared back at him so he sighed and continued his explanation. "What I meant is that Grims are omens of death. They don't have a magical ability of their own that kills a wizard upon sight. As a result, they're not more magical than owls are and they can find a wizard anywhere in the world." He cut a piece of his stake and chewed calmly.

"Well, Sirius turning into a Grim can still be useful." Ginny's voice sounded behind Harry.

"Have you been eavesdropping, Miss Weasley?" The green eyed teen asked mischievously.

"If you didn't want someone to overhear you, you shouldn't be speaking in the middle of the Great Hall during lunch." Ginny deadpanned making Neville chortle in agreement.

"True enough." Harry admitted with a smile of his own.

"And I wasn't really eavesdropping." She said. "Rumour has it that Trelawney predicted someone's death and when you started talking of Grims I figured it was one of you."

"Me, actually." Adrian supplied with a frown.

"And why would Padfoot be useful?" Ron asked as Harry noticed the smirk forming on Ginny's face.

"I just thought that, with all that talk of Grims, Trelawney might be interested in actually seeing one." Laughter spread over the group and Harry realized Sirius might just agree with that plan, professor or not.