A/N: All the ususal thanks for reading. And thanks to Obsidian Buterfly for the reviews. And to answer your question, I am planning on having the Tenth Doctor make an appearance but not till later in the story. He mayshow up earlier as well because I'm also planning on Donna Noble making an appearance, although after her time with the Doctor.

Starting the Third Year

Draco was walking along a corridor. It looked like Hogwarts but there were no paintings on the walls. He was wearing his school robes and holding his wand. The corridor continued a long way. When he reached an adjoining corridor he turned and walked that way. After a long walk he turned again. There was a young girl holding his hand.

"Sky?"

"Are we there, yet?"

"I don't know where we're going."

"Then it doesn't matter."

They walked along the corridor which widened until it was a large open area. The main doors were in front of them. He couldn't see the Great Hall or the corridor of classrooms on the other side of the hall. Nor were there any staircases. He opened the door to the outside,

Sky let go of his hand and ran out into a field of grass. Draco stood where he was and watched. There was only grass. He looked behind to see a forest. A woman was standing there.

"Do you know you're a student, now?"

"Time is like that."

"It's a memory. I saw a few of them when I was wandering. Before John told me where to walk."

"Then you understand."

"It's the same way that John can be here even though he's somewhere else. It isn't magic."

"It's almost a paradox. I think it's because the wizards separated themselves. John lives in a different world."

"It's my fault, you know." He looked up. "Clara, do you know what will happen to John?"

The woman smiled. "I don't know anything, Draco. I'm not here."

Draco nodded his head. She wasn't here. She was only a figment of his dream. "Should I know that I'm dreaming?"

"Why not? You know when you're awake."

Draco sighed. He wasn't going to get the answer he wanted. He turned around again but he was still in the forest. Tall trees all around. He began walking down a path. It led to a cliff. Instinctively, he looked up to see the Untempered Schism. He turned and ran. He was still running when he woke up.

"Awake at last," John said, standing over his bed.

"No, I'm only dreaming that you're here."

"How do you know I'm not here?"

"I'm still in the forest."

"Then you need to close your eyes."

Draco did as he was told. He opened them when he heard Kreacher calling him. It was time to get ready. It was time to go back to school.

"Do you want to come?" Draco asked. "To Hogwarts."

"What would Kreacher do?"

"Work in the kitchens or something like that."

"As long as Kreacher has something to do," the house elf said. He was smiling.

"You look great," Parvati said as they walked to the train. "That French girl taught you a lot."

Hermione smiled at the compliment. "She did. Mostly, she taught me to think about how others see me. It's nice enough to look smart. I need to dress smart to let people know I can . . . do whatever I want."

"That's true. My grandmother tells us that all the time. Make them look at you. That way you can make them do whatever you want. They're like wolves. Either they lead or they follow." She made an old lady voice. "Make sure they know to follow."

"They? You mean men?"

"Of course, silly. Look at John. Don't tell me he still acts the same when you're around."

Hermione blushed lightly before she laughed. John definitely acted differently.

"Where should we sit?" she asked. "I think we're the first ones here."

"Near the back of the train. That was John and Draco can attack the trolley lady's cart twice."

"Why can't Mum come with us?" Sky asked as they walked through King's Cross Station.

Harry tried not to smile as he answered. "Sarah Jane's a muggle. Muggles can't come to Hogwarts except for special circumstances. This isn't special enough. Right, Sirius?"

Sirius Black laughed. "It's true, I'm afraid."

"They're making an exception for me," Sky pointed out.

"You're not a muggle," Sirius pointed out. "You're an exception. It's only overnight, anyway. We're not letting you stay."

"You have your own school to go to," Sarah Jane said. "And I'd miss you too much."

"You won't miss Harry?"

"I will, but that's not the same. And Harry promised to call us," Sarah Jane smiled at Harry, "as often as he remembers."

Harry laughed when Sky pouted. She pouted all the way through the secret entrance until she caught sight of the Hogwarts Express.

"It's beautiful. Can we sit up front?"

"I wish," said Harry, smiling at the idea. "We'll find out where everyone else is."

He led the way, pushing the cart with his trunk and owl cage. The next to the last car, he saw Hermione waving. He's was going back to school.

"I wonder what our compartment looks like?"

"Why would it look any different than last year?" Sirius asked.

"There were so many of us, last time, the compartment was bigger than the entire car."

Sirius looked surprised at the thought, but Sarah Jane was laughing. She explained that she was used to things being bigger on the inside.

"You mean that tent?"

"That, too."

Marc was upset that everyone else wasn't hurrying. He wanted to get on the train. He wanted to get to Hogwarts.

"The train won't even leave for another twenty minutes," Terry told him.

"It's not that."

"I know," Terry answered. "Two years ago, I was the same way, I think."

"Worse," Marcus told his sons. "Terry wanted to apparate directly to the school."

"Glad I didn't," Terry told his brother. "You'll see, Marc."

"I want it to be tomorrow," Marc admitted. "I never met aliens before." He stopped when his brother stopped. "Friendly aliens. Not like the ones you fought,"

"Yeah." His brother shuddered. "Won't be anything like them."

Draco looked at the bright red engine. It looked the same as it did every year. This year was going to be different, though. There weren't going to be any surprises. It would be a quiet school year. At least he hoped that was true.

His parents walked behind him and John as they wheeled their carts. Romulus could be heard saying his new word, "Want".

"You can't have the pretty train," his mother was saying, "but we can look at it. Isn't it pretty? Can you say 'pretty'?"

"Want," Romulus answered.

Father was chuckling. "Wait until he's older. Then he can argue with you."

"He already knows how to argue," Mother said. "Don't you, you cute little boy?"

"Mum." Romulus said with a happy laugh.

They found the compartment and Father helped them put their trunks up. He told them to either behave or not get caught.

Draco smiled. "We'll make you proud of us."

Mother kissed his cheek. "We're already proud of the two of you."

Draco's smile became real. He looked at Romulus. "Say the new word I taught you."

Romulus grinned, then hid his head in his mother's shoulder.

"I think that's a no," John told him.

They said their goodbyes and boarded the train. It was time to return to Hogwarts.

Draco sat by the window as the train rolled through the countryside. Terry sat next to him, trying to make conversation. He finally asked a question that caused a reaction.

"Did you have that dream again?"

Draco stared. "Yeah. This time I was at school then walked into a forest."

"I read a few books about dreams. I have a theory."

"About my dreams or the books?"

"The books all say the same thing. Dreams mean anything you want them to. But you have different dreams that all end in the same place. That Schism you mentioned."

"I didn't mean to bother you. I thought . . . I don't know, I thought you'd ask me something that would make sense."

"Who was with you this last time?"

"Harry's sister." He nodded to the girl sitting next to Harry at the central table, playing Exploding Snap with Ron and Parvati. "And the Doctor's companion from the Weasley party."

Terry Boot smiled. "That makes eight people in four dreams, all women and no relation to you or the school. And all of them began in some part of Hogwarts: the Great Hall; the Quidditch pitch; Gryffindor Tower. When was this last dream?"

"The corridors. They ended at the main door."

"And you opened the door to see a field."

"The last one was grass, like a giant lawn that wasn't mowed for a month."

"And then you were in a forest. That makes sense. The last three were a beach, a cave and a cornfield."

Draco looked at Terry. "What do you think?"

"It's stupid," Terry said with a grin.

"Tell me anyway."

"Next time. Don't run."

"What?"

"Don't. Run. It's simple. You need to face your fear. That way you'll know what it is."

Draco frowned. "It's not stupid. It makes sense."

"You'll do it?"

"Eventually." Draco looked up. "The trolley lady's here."

There was a knock at the compartment door and it opened. "Does anyone care for sweets?" the trolley lady asked.

"Actual aliens?" Gwyneth was asking.

"Friends of Harry," Ginny told her.

"Does everyone know that? I know you heard the rumours, even if only from me. If everyone knows, they'll take that as proof."

"That Harry's the Chosen One? Is there a real prophecy or is that just another rumour."

"It's only a rumour, of course. That doesn't mean people don't believe it."

They both looked over at Harry.

John was sitting by the compartment door with Hermione. They had the same compartment as the previous year except the table could now seat six. The Trolley Lady had left to make her rounds, promising to stop again on her way back. Draco and Terry were on the other side, by the window, having their own conversation.

"I'm worried about Draco."

Hermione snorted. "Are you afraid of competition?"

"It's called sibling rivalry, since we're brothers. And no. It's that he confides with Terry Boot instead of . . . me."

"He wants a different perspective to his problem."

"But I don't even know what his problem is."

"Did you ask him?"

"No. Why would I do that?"

"To find out?" Hermione asked.

John looked at her as if she were joking. "That could be a problem. He knows I know more and that I have more experience. I don't want him to think I have to cure all his problems."

"Then," Hermione asked, slowly, "you're angry that he's doing what you want him to do?"

"I don't want to solve his problem. I only want to know what it is."

Hermione snorted. "That's called being nosy."

"It's what I do best," John smirked. "I've solved most of the problems I find by sticking my nose where it doesn't belong."

"Then ask him," Hermione insisted. "He's your brother. Your nose definitely belongs there."

The compartment door opened. Marc Boot was talking to someone behind him. "There's always room here."

"Thanks. Every other compartments were either full or not worth filling." A girl followed Marc into the compartment. She had everyone's attention. "Shouldn't this be a separate car?"

"Only prefects get their own car," Ron Weasley said as the deck of cards exploded. "You're a newbie."

"Does it show?" the girl asked with a touch of sarcasm. "I would've found a place earlier but I was looking for something to eat."

"She stops here, twice," Ron informed her. As he went back to his card game, the girl looked at John.

"You're the boy who asked if they had basilisk wands."

"That was Draco. He's on the other side. I was the one who asked if Ollivander could make one."

"I want to know. When he said it was impossible, why did you ask for two?"

"Why were you at the wand shop?" Hermione asked, nodding when Marc raised his hand. "I'm Hermione, by the way."

"Clara," the girl said. "Your boyfriend's a bit off."

"You get used to it," came the smiling answer.

"Boyfriend?" Susan Bones asked from her other side. "Does Ritchie know?"

"Which one's Ritchie?" the girl asked.

"He's a muggle. He's not here." Susan smiled. Then frowned. "What?"

"Nothing," Hermione said softly. "He didn't show up at Diagon Alley and he doesn't answer his phone. That's all."

"I'm sure it's nothing," Susan consoled.

"That's bull," Clara said. "It sounds like he found out."

"How?" Susan asked.

"Let's find out," Clara suggested. She pulled out her spell phone. "Does he have caller ID?" When she received a nod, she asked for his call sign.

"Bad Wolf," she said into the phone.

"Watch," John told Hermione.

"Hi, Ritchie, this is Clara Oswald. I'm a first year at Hogwarts. And I'm calling you because I'm a complete idiot. Someone told me you broke up with your girlfriend and I thought you could tell me how to do it. If it's too stupid, just hang up."

"You want my advice on how to break up with your girlfriend? You're, what? Eleven?"

"And standing in a room full of people who are staring at me," Clara said as she looked around the compartment. "And I think one of them is your ex."

"Well, I didn't break up with her. She found someone else and didn't tell me."

"I NEVER SAW YOU. YOU NEVER SHOWED," Hermione said in an extremely loud voice.

"You were to busy kissing your boyfriend," came the tart reply.

Hermione paused. She didn't know if she should be embarrassed or angry.

Luna Lovegood chose this moment to give her advice. "Why don't you tell him that you always thought of him as a brother?"

"Don't Tell Me Anything," came the sharp retort. The connection was ended.

Hermione glared at Luna. "I don't think of him as a brother. I think of him as a friend."

"A close friend," Susan offered.

"One I can confide in," Parvati added.

"And he is good looking," Gwyneth Drummond said with Ginny Weasley agreeing.

"How was I supposed to know?" Hermione asked. "I mean, I like him but I never thought of him like that."

Susan was almost laughing. "He never cheered you up? He never made you feel better?"

"He always did," Hermione said, defensively, then added, sadly, "He was always perfect."

"Then what did John do that he never did?"

Hermione had to smile. "Ritchie never asked me to kiss him?"

"It's your turn to say something," John said.

"What?" Hermione asked as she turned around. She saw someone in the doorway and realized that everyone else already knew.

"I'm not perfect," Ritchie admitted, looking a little confused, himself. "If I was perfect, I wouldn't be standing here, um, like this."

"I have a question," Luna said. "Why are you dressed like that?"

"Oh, it's a tuxedo. For acting class. It's an elective. We were told to come to the first class dressed as our favorite character from a movie." He smiled to show off. "Anyone?"

"YOU," an adult said from the corridor. "Turn around slowly and identify yourself."

Hermione couldn't help but smirk and Ritchie grinned while adjusting his bow tie. He turned around and said, in a perfect accent, "The name's, Evan. Richard Evans."

As he was escorted away, John smirked at Hermione. "Aren't you curious how he got here?"

"I was too surprised to ask. Tonks?"

"I don't think she'd apparate onto a moving train. I know she wouldn't do it and take someone with her."

Lucius Malfoy was frowning. It had finally happened. Two months later than expected. He made his first phone call after being informed of what happened. Ritchie's mother thought the situation amusing. She informed Lucius, in confidence, of why her son never met up with his girlfriend. She also promised to handle things at her end.

Lucius made his second call. Albus Dumbledore also found the situation amusing. He asked if the new guest could stay to see the aliens. Lucius told him to call Ritchie's mother.

Lucius made his third call. His wife was amused that he was going to Hogwarts.

"Are you going to stay to see the aliens?"

"I might as well. I was going there tomorrow, anyway."

"Have fun, Dearest."

As he ended the call, Tonks knocked at the open door. "Boss?"

"Are you capable of apparating onto a moving train?"

Her eyes went wide. "He didn't?"

"Accidental magic is unpredictable. Our Mister Evans did his best to reinforce that point."

"Hermione?"

Lucius paused, then frowned as the pieces fell into place. Tonks would know since she was the one to take Ritchie to Diagon Alley in the first place. Part of his plan to keep the young man happy. "Should I play matchmaker with two teenagers?" He smiled at Tonks' questioning look. "Should I tell them to release Ritchie and send him back to her compartment?"

"Not alone," Tonks warned and Lucius nodded. All they needed was for the boy to lose control and have another accident. On the train.

He made another phone call.

"The train's stopping," Ron pointed out. Mister Snuggles barked his agreement.

"They're making him get off the train," Parvati guessed.

"They're stopping to let people on," Draco told them, then pointed out the window. Two people were standing by the tracks.

"Tonks," Hermione said, pointing to the Pink-haired woman.

"Is that Mad-Eye Moody?" Ron asked as he turned around to look.

"Yeah," Harry answered. "I met him when the alien appeared. He was mad that Orly wasn't dangerous."

"They work for your Dad?" Terry asked Draco.

Draco shrugged. "I know Tonks does. Moody's probably from the Ministry, directly."

They watched as the two adults boarded the last car. Everyone watched, expecting them to leave shortly with a third person. Instead, the train began moving, again.

"Does this happen often?" Clara asked Marc. Marc shrugged.

Mister Snuggles barked and ran to the compartment door. It opened at the dog's approach. Ritchie was standing there. Moody, with his wild blue eye looking everywhere, was behind him.

"Go in," Moody growled. "If I'm going to babysit, I want to see fireworks."

"How did you get on the train?" Colin Creevey blurted. "We forgot to ask."

Ritchie smiled and adjusted his bow tie. John told Hermione that he used to think bow ties were cool. Hermione told him to shut up. Ritchie smiled again and turned to Colin.

"Accidental apparation."

"You wanted to yell at Hermione?" Luna asked. "For liking John better, I mean."

"This is a good start," Moody muttered.

"Where's Tonks?" Hermione asked, trying to change the subject to something that promised to be less embarrassing.

Draco raised his hand. "A Galleon says she went to find the Trolley Lady."

Everyone was quiet for a few moments. The silence was broken by a young girl holding out her hand. "Hi, I'm Clara. I'm the one who called you."

Ritchie shook her hand and reintroduced himself. He then asked if she was telling the truth about breaking up with someone.

"No." She smiled as she let go of his hand. "Just so you know, Hermione likes John better because you never asked to kiss her."

Ritchie sounded offended. "I didn't know I was supposed to ask. I'll do that the next time."

Moody smiled. He was enjoying himself.

"Should I . . ." John began to say.

"No," Hermione snapped. "Yes. I mean . . . What?"

"Should I ask about when he kissed you?" At the glared, he added, "it would give you a chance to explain."

"There's nothing to explain," Hermione insisted.

"She's right," Tonks said as she walked through the still open compartment door. "John, licorice whip." She threw one to Draco. "That one's for you. Hermione, I was told you like Jelly Slugs." She handed one to her then turned to Moody. "Don't encourage them. And Ritchie, you sit . . . this compartment is huge."

"They're not all like this?" Ritchie asked.

"Mostly for groups of six, at the most. These ones must be special." She smiled at Susan Bones. "I need you to stand up so that Ritchie can sit there." Once the new seating arrangements were done, Tonks smiled. It wasn't friendly.

"One. Ritchie is not Hermione's boyfriend. He has no right to expect anything from her.

"Two. Hermione should be more aware of the people around her. She's doing marvelous except for one obvious exception. She didn't tell Ritchie exactly how she feels about him.

"Three. Ritchie assumed too much about how Hermione felt about him and the reason is because Hermione doesn't know how she feels about him. She's almost fourteen. These things take time. And she isn't thinking about the future.

"Four. These things take time. No one is to get mad at anyone else for any reason until they actually make an attempt to talk things out.

"Five. A crowded compartment is not the proper place to talk things out. Either find an empty compartment or wait until you get to the school."

Tonks smiled. "Any questions?"

"You're good," Susan Bones said from behind her.

"I'm stupid," Ritchie whispered to Hermione.

"Then I'm too smart for my own good." She squeezed his hand.

"And I'm quickly becoming a third wheel," John added. "If you want to talk, I can get you your own compartment."

When they looked at him in surprise, he stood up and motioned for them to follow. He led them to the next compartment and opened the door. Three girls, first years, looked up at them. John smiled.

"Sorry to bother you but my mates need some privacy for a while. We're willing to share our compartment, next door, and buy you whatever you want from the trolley lady, as long as it won't ruin your dinner, if you care to join us."

"Us?" one of the girls asked.

"Myself, my brother, our friends, their friends, a retired Auror and a Metamorph mage with pink hair."

The girls agreed after one of them went and looked in. She told them it was bigger on the inside. John smiled as he told Hermione and Ritchie that he always liked hearing people say that.

"It's a simple plan," Blaise Zabini was telling his companions. "We don't do anything that might threaten him. If anything, we do the opposite."

"I'm not being friends with him," Pansy Parkinson said, "even of it's only pretend."

"It's not required. But don't be hostile. We have plenty of time before we strike. If they don't expect anything, our surprise will be greater."

Blaise continued to reassure them. His father had made contact with an ally. One who agreed with their cause and who had a lot of influence elsewhere. As he said the word, 'elsewhere', he pointed upward.

"You apparated onto a moving train," Hermione repeated, once they were alone. "But you're not a wizard."

Ritchie smiled. "You didn't call me a muggle."

"It's not polite," Hermione said. "It makes you sound . . . inferior." She frowned. It took two years for her to reach that conclusion. Everyone in the world of magic used the term. She thought it was normal. And it took a muggle boy to teach her that it was wrong. She still had a lot to learn.

"I am a muggle," Ritchie said in a calm tone. "Hermione, can I tell you something? Can you keep it a secret?" He didn't wait for an answer. He started his explanation. He was an experiment. With alien technology. The fingerless gloves that he was wearing. That he always wore. It was Lucius Malfoy's idea.

He explained about Lucius Malfoy. He explained about Torchwood. He went so far as to explain how his mother was involved. When he was done, he frowned.

"I'm sorry. I only wanted to impress you. To show you I was worthy of you. Instead . . ."

"You did impress me. I was proud of myself that I had such an effect on you. If I had thought . . ."

"No." Ritchie was still frowning. "When I was explaining things to you, I realized something. I won't be right for you. The things I'll be doing, that I've already done, are dangerous. One day, I won't come home."

Hermione could only stare. This wasn't what she expected when he started his explanation, but she could see his point. Would she want to be married to someone like that? Someone like John would be better. Or would it? John told her. He had enemies. She had seen one of them. The one Ritchie destroyed.

She started to smile. She was only fourteen. Old enough to think about boys. Not old enough to know what she should do about it. Her smile became a laugh.

"What?" Ritchie was confused.

"I was thinking about the future. All the boys I know are going to be doing dangerous things. I don't think it will matter who I marry. If I ever get married." She was grinning. "But I will be looking for an interesting job once I finish school."

Ritchie started laughing as well. He understood her. She may never love him but she wouldn't mind working with him. When he was done, he smiled.

"I never thought of that. I'll tell Mister Malfoy."

She squeezed his hand and thanked him. Then she looked at his hand. She had never let go. He had a sheepish grin.

"I never asked," he said.

"You don't have to," She leaned into him and they kissed, briefly. Inwardly, she was thinking that he was better at it than John.

Parvati slid the compartment door open slightly and peeked inside. She closed it, making no noise. She returned to her own compartment. "Everything's fine."

"Really," John asked.

He frowned when she told him to take her word for it. It wasn't a good time to bother them. He frowned again when all the girls, including Tonks, gathered together to hear what Parvati saw.

As they left the train and walked toward the carriages, John dared to ask Hermione, who was holding Ritchie's hand, what had happened. She took his hand as well.

"Ritchie said he'd talk to his Mum about a working with her for the summer holiday."

"It's mostly doing inventory in a warehouse," Ritchie said. "But she'll be in Cardiff for two entire months."

"Oh."

He didn't sound convinced.

Draco watched the Sorting with interest. The three girls who joined them all went to Hufflepuff. Considering the fact that they spent most of the trip talking with Susan Bones, it was no surprise. Then Professor McGonagall called the name he was waiting for. "Oswald, Clara". He waited. He smirked when Harry said she was taking a long time. He said he wasn't surprised at all. The girl was impossible.

"Ravenclaw, I think."

"Is she that smart?" Harry asked.

"She's clever. On second thought, Gryffindor. That way she can annoy John."

"Why would she annoy John?"

Draco almost answered. He knew Harry remembered the Weasley's party. How could he explain, though, about the Doctor and his companion?

The Sorting Hat was prepared for another year. At least it thought it was. The first hint was when a girl sat under his hat and he saw her most recent thoughts. John was in them. She wasn't a friend, although she had already made friends with a friend of his. That made the decision easy. She went to Hufflepuff. So did her two friends. They're shared thoughts showed they should stay together.

Everything went back to normal until Oswald, Clara, sat on the stool. As the thoughts and memories were revealed, everything seemed normal.

"It's all here. Here in your head."

It was a male voice he used. Her favorite teacher. It was at that point, the Hat noticed the other memories. Other lives. All different. All separate. As though she was all of these other people all at the same time. All different. All the same. It rambled about how choosing the right house was important as it examined what it could only describe as the first memory. A woman. A shining light. A man in agony. The Doctor. This Clara Oswald stepping into the light. And fragmenting. All through the timeline of the Doctor's life. It understood why she was there. Even if this fragment of that woman did not know. And the puzzle was what should be done.

"You are a difficult one. You would honestly do well in any house. You heard my song. Do you have a preference?"

"I get to choose?" Clara asked in her thoughts.

"It happens," the Hat assured her.

"Random choice, then," Clara said. "You can see in my head. Do you see the compartment on the train?"

"Clearly. And I know. Whichever house most of them belong to."

"GRYFFINDOR", the Sorting Hat called out. It was appropriate. The Doctor's companion would be joining him again.

Albus Dumbledore stood up to make his short speech. He smiled as he looked around the Great Hall. Starting with the Slytherin table. Theodore Nott, despondent and alone despite being surrounded by his housemates. The others of his year who seemed to always have someone else to talk to. In a few years, they and others could be a problem.

The Ravenclaws. Luna Lovegood caught his eye. Alone for a different reason. Lost in her own thoughts. Occasionally, someone would say something to her and she would smile and reply. Such a contrast. Alone but never lonely.

The Hufflepuffs. Susan Bones first caught his eye. The center of attention now that her aunt was Minister for Magic. Albus mused that he mostly looked at the third years. Susan was not alone. If anything, she had too much company including a handful of first years who didn't know their place at the table. If they had one at the Hufflepuff table. Students from all the years were intermingled.

One second later, he was looking at the Gryffindors. Harry Potter, laughing easily. At his side, the young girl who claimed him as her brother. Around them, the Malfoy twins and the rest of the original seven. The girl caught his eye and smiled. He returned the smile.

"A warm welcome back to all the students who have returned. A warm welcome to the new students. May you find Hogwarts to be a second home as many other have. I also have a new teacher to present to you. Professor Remus Lupin, who comes highly recommended. He will be your new teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts." He paused for the scattered applause. "He joins us principally at the suggestion of his close friend, our former professor, Sirius Black." He paused again for more vigorous applause. He then spoke the words everyone was waiting for.

"Let the feast begin."

"Severus doesn't seem annoyed," Minerva said to him as he sat down.

"He has plans," Albus answered, "to make himself more popular with his students. The stern but fair teacher who encourages learning."

"That is a change I'd like to see." Minerva smiles. "If it works, could we ask Remus to stay for another year?"

Draco stared at his plate. He had plenty of food on it but he was no longer hungry. Instead, he was thinking. About aliens. He had an unusual insight. He was surrounded by them. Except for John, every student here, for him, was in that category.

He was thinking about Sky. Sky was in the same position. Everyone else was an alien. "Do you love her?" Terry had asked him once. He told him the answer was no. He was in love with the young woman she would become.

He was thinking about . . . nothing. He closed his eyes and let himself drift. Into the universe. In his minds eye, he watched as millions of tons of gas swirled in the emptiness of space. In a few hundred thousand years, a handful of bright, fiercely burning stars would be born. So wonderful. So deadly.

He opened his eyes. Only Sky, from across the table, was watching him. She smiled when she saw he was looking at her. Harry asked her a question. She said, "He's back. Where does he go?"

It was Hermione, on the other side of her, who answered. "To the stars."

Sky smiled as though she thought it was wonderful.

"A few announcements before we leave for our beds," Albus said after the desserts had been banished and the tables were again clear. "Tomorrow, After the last classes, all students are requested to assemble on the grounds outside of the main doors to greet our special guests. I have been assured that their arrival will be something to see. We will be hosting aliens, for the first time. Unlike the events near a year and some half ago, these aliens are definitely friendly."

Albus paused. Not a few students laughed nervously. Terry Boot and Neville Longbottom both had unhappy smiles as the memories surfaced. It was Draco Malfoy who most attracted his attention. His face showed no emotion, as though he was waiting. For what that was, Albus had no idea.

He gave the remainder of his announcements. About Quidditch tryouts. Argus Filch's rules. Filius Flitwick's Choir. Other assorted extracurricular activities. He then led the students in singing the school song. His favorites again were the Weasley twins, who had obviously practiced. The Sonorus charms they cast projected their voices as they sang an operatic version. They received more applause than Albus received when he announced the feast.

Richie was walking down a hallway with Sky holding his hand. They were following Argus Filch. She wanted to know if he was going to marry Hermione. He said he didn't know but she would be his friend forever, regardless. Sky told him he was lucky. She waved goodbye when Filch showed her where she would be sleeping. He pointed the way to the Great Hall and told her when breakfast was.

Filch led the way to the next door. Ritchie's room. He paused before opening the door.

"Hermione Granger is the rare student, Mister Evans. Be a good friend to her."

Ritchie smiled at the gruff man. "For her, I'll be everything I can."

The man smiled. A stiff smile as though he wasn't used to using those muscles. He left Ritchie on his own.

The bedroom seemed almost too large. A fireplace with a merry fire that did not make the room too hot. A bathroom off to one side. And when he checked, out of curiosity, the cupboard held pajamas and a set of school clothes. He grinned at a thought. He would ask Hermione if he could join her for her classes.

"Professor," Severus Snape said politely as he passed Remus Lupin.

"Professor Snape. May I trouble you."

"The headmaster has already directed me to make the potion available whenever you need it."

"I know. Thank you." Remus paused as the other man watched him. "I was curious. I well remember the last time we met."

"And now I'm being polite? Is that it? It's called common courtesy. That's all."

"Professor McGonagall let slip that you raised no objection to my taking the position."

Snape smiled. An unfriendly smile. "I expressed my concern. I don't think it appropriate that someone with your condition be around children. As for my personal feelings, Harry has great respect for you."

"More for you, I'd say, from the way he talks."

Snape was quiet. Then he did something strange. He asked Remus to join him for a cup of tea before they turned in. That made Remus more curious. Something had changed the man.

"You want to understand," Severus said as they set in his office, cups in hand. "I have my own reason for explaining myself." He paused briefly. "If Harry Potter still wore his glasses, what impression do you think he would make?"

"He does where glasses occasionally. Usually when he reads. I can tell you exactly. He's the very image of his father." Remus frowned. "When did he begin wearing contact lenses?"

"The first day he had potions. Lily's son looked at me with his mother's eyes."

Remus nodded his head. The change was not because he had forgiven them. "It was a fortunate coincidence. For Harry."

"It was no coincidence. It was deliberately planned by Lucius Malfoy's son."

"John?"

The two looked at each other. Remus had no idea what Severus was thinking but he was trying to remember all of the details he knew about John, including the ones he had promised never to reveal. He dared to ask. "You know?"

"As do you, apparently." Snape smiled. A warm smile. But his eyes were unfocused as he reflected on something, a distant memory, perhaps. "John always tries to bring the best out in people. His simple suggestion of eyewear made me notice that part of Harry that I would have ignored, even hated. Later events have made Harry as dear to me as Lily once was. I will do anything to help him, to protect him." Another brief pause. "More tea?"

"I'm fine." Remus did understand. Severus Snape would be as polite and friendly to him as need be, for Harry's sake. If Remus proved himself useless or dangerous, he would become the enemy. He smiled. It was the most polite threat he had ever received. "I would give my life for Harry. Because of both his parents."

"Thank you."

Remus left, lost in his thoughts. Harry was at the center of them. He had heard all the stories. All the rumours. Including the ones about the Chosen One. Were the lines being drawn already for the next war? For he had no doubt that another war would come.

His spell phone chimed to distract him.

"Remus." It was Lucius Malfoy. "Give my apologies to my sons. And to our guests. Something came up. Oh, I'll be taking Ritchie with me." They were going on an adventure without him. He was now a teacher.

It was only when he entered his apartment that the thought struck him. Perhaps the next war had already begun.

Draco was standing on the edge of the cliff. He looked up. The urge to run overcame him. He tried to stop running. By the time he succeeded, he was in the forest again. He knew one thing. It was only a matter of time before he found out if Terry's guess was correct.