Lucy sat at her table in the Potions classroom and fiddled with her hair. Making potions required specific ingredients. Magical ones. But ordinary carrots or bat wings wouldn't do. No, you needed mandrake roots, but mandrakes—alive in their own right—screamed when pulled, a sound that could stun all who heard, landing them in the hospital for days. Other ingredients included: dragon scales, thestral hair, fruit from a devil vine, sap from a whomping willow, and countless others.

But where to get such commodities? Hogwarts had its own supply, seen to by its botanist, magical creature breeder and keykeeper—who could venture into the Forbidden Forest as needed.

What about everyone else? Where did pharmacists get all their strange herbs and creature hair? Farms! Farms that bred those sorts of creatures and grew those kinds of plants. Farms like… hers, in Ireland, hidden in a rocky mountain range amidst a forest so deep muggles didn't venture in. Each farm had its own specialty and supplied potion brewers across the world with the finest creatures and products. Besides breeding and planting, farm owners hunted ingredients in the magical forest.

Warm memories of the farm drowned out the classroom as Lucy sank into a daydream.

She woke at the break of dawn and rushed out to feed the anthraxes, tumble with the family dog, Newt—named after the greatest creature researcher of all time—check on the cats and their kittens in the barn, and…

I haven't been back for so long… If only I could've gone this summer. Who's takin' care of the animals? The plants? She shook off those horrid thoughts. No. Don't think about that. Don't. She missed the farm terribly. School—no, people proved difficult. Wish I knew how ta make friends, ta hang out. But she always wound up sitting alone, and when it came time to pick potions partners, she was always the leftover one. Not that odd though. She wasn't very good with potions, and her grades reflected it—frighteningly well.

Farm life was much easier. The animals didn't judge or refuse to spend time with her. She did as usual: fed, brushed and talked to them. The poor things…

Ice gripped Lucy's spine. Images—terrible, horrible images invaded her daydream. The farm fields dried up. Anthraxes, their lovely purple coats dull with hunger, wings shriveled and sad, ribs jutting out too far, starved. The horselike creatures staggered, fell, gaped for breath.

"No!" Lucy didn't notice her breath as it hung in the chill air, a whoosh of white fog.

A man appeared in front of her, his hair the same fiery color as hers. "Dad!" She reached for him. No. Too far away. His back was to her. "Dad!" She ran toward him, but the more she ran, the further away he seemed. "Dad, please! Don't leave me alone!" But he didn't stop, didn't turn, just kept going until he'd faded into… was it her mum?

Penelope? Remus? Anyone… please…

"Lucy!" Hands shook her back to reality, and someone shouted in her face. "Wake up! Hey!" A handsome young man with rebelliously long black hair stared at her.

Since when did Reg let his hair grow out…? Oh… Right… "S-S-Sirius? What—?"

"Thank God," Sirius said, relieved as he let her go. "Dude, what happened? It looked like you weren't even there."

"I don't… Me head—It—" Out the window, hovering near the forest border, floated hooded, unearthly creatures. "It can't be."

"Dementors," said Sirius. "What—Wait, that's why I heard Penelope's scream inside my head."

"Ya what?"


McGonagall's voice filled the classrooms and halls. "Students of Hogwarts, please gather in the Great Hall immediately. Teachers will escort those coming from Herbology or Care of Magical Creatures. All other teachers, please escort students. Be aware at all times. Do not stop on the way to the Great Hall."

"At least now we can find out what this is all about," Sirius muttered to the ceiling as mysterious voices still echoed down to him, albeit very quietly. One of the Dementors must have wandered closer to the building. "Come on, Carrot." He took Lucy's hand to be sure no one left her behind as the rest of the Potions class left for the Great Hall.

Lucy seemed shaken. When the Dementors first appeared at the forest edge, she'd blanked like a cleaned blackboard. She'd stared unseeing, trembling.

He gave her hand another squeeze and offered an assuring smile. We're in this together. All the Hogwarts students are.

As they entered the Great Hall, Sirius didn't let go of Lucy and led her toward a mop of messy, black hair. "Hey, Prongs!"

"Padfoot." James was beside them in three steps. "Have any idea what's going on?"

"Maybe a hint." Sirius smirked. "And you'll never guess. Carrot and I just saw some Dementors."

"You're kidding. Right?" James looked from Sirius to Lucy. "You okay there, Lucy? You seem pale?"

"F-fine," she said, only to jump two inches off the ground when Peter appeared beside her, looking paler than her as sweat stained his robe collar, and he earned a look of concern from Lucy.

"Hey." Remus joined them. "There're Dementors outside! I just came from Care of Magical Creatures. They're everywhere! Professor Kettleburn barely kept them away from the students."

"We noticed," said Sirius. "They gave Lucy and me a good scare."

"Thank Merlin you're fine," said Remus as he rummaged in his pockets. "How're you feeling? Dementors aren't easy to deal with."

"Freaked out," Sirius said, "but we're okay now, right Carrot?"

Lucy looked unsure but nodded anyway.

"How 'bout you, Peter?" Sirius pulled him into a hug.

"Horrible." Peter choked his lunch back down.

Remus pulled a chocolate bar from his pocket and broke it into several pieces. "Here." He handed the biggest piece to Peter. "You look like you need it most." He passed around most of the rest just as Lily arrived.


"Those are Dementors!" Lily pointed in the forest's general direction. "Real Dementors! Sev was right. They're scary."

The room quieted when Dumbledore stepped to the head table, looking grave. Beside him stood a rough, middle-aged man. His blond hair grayed, and pale blue eyes pierced the crowd. Lily could've sworn Dumbledore was displeased with the man. "Students of Hogwarts," said Dumbledore, "I beg you all to take extra caution. As of ten minutes ago, there are Dementors on school grounds."

The Hall broke into murmured uproar.

"Silence, please," said Dumbledore. "The Ministry—at the request of Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Mr. Crouch—sent them here." The Headmaster indicated the man standing with him.

Apart from his hair and eyes, Mr. Barty Crouch Sr. looked robust and stern, nothing like his son.

"The Dementors are here as extra protection from the dangers outside Hogwarts grounds," Dumbledore continued. "I am wary of this, since we know Voldemort's power consists not only of brute force but also of subversion and he will likely attack from within our own ranks. Please, be careful. Do not venture outside without a teacher's escort. A teacher will always accompany each outdoor class. When walking the halls, go only where you must and don't go alone. Dementors can't be tricked by disguises or cloaks of invisibility. Don't be foolish or give them reason to hurt you."

"Why does it always feel like he's talking to us?" James grumbled.

"Why do I always think of Sev when Dumbledore talks like this?" said Lily.

"Stay calm and keep a close eye on each other," said the Headmaster. "And now, Auror Crouch would like a few words."

"Thank you, Headmaster." Crouch nodded to Dumbledore as he took the floor. "It wasn't an easy decision to bring Dementors among Hogwarts students. They're dangerous, and I wish no more harm to any of you than to my own son who's also a student here."

"If only he knew his dearest little boy is chummy with the Death Eaters," Sirius muttered.

"Shh," Lily hissed.

"They're here," said Auror Crouch, "because we believe someone—probably at least one student—is already working with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

"His son. Like I said," Sirius snorted.

"Go up there and say that to his face," said James.

"I've planned interviews with each student, to take place throughout the coming week," said Crouch. "I will post lists outside your common rooms. There's nothing to fear as long as you're honest. Anyone who offers valuable information will be rewarded but hold back and the consequences won't be pleasant. Please, do what's sensible. Thank you." He bowed and stepped back as Dumbledore reclaimed his spot with one last angry glare toward the Auror.

"Thank you for your attention. Please, return to your routines. Those with outside classes, please wait in the Entrance Hall for a teacher escort. Dementors are the most dangerous magical creatures in existence. Treat them accordingly. That will be all."

Lucy seemed dismayed as Dumbledore dismissed them.

"Where're you headed?" said Sirius.

"Herbology…" said Lucy. "Guess I'll wait for Professor Sprout to take us to class."

Remus handed Lucy the rest of the chocolate bar. "Take this. You'll need it."

Lucy blushed, but accepted it. "Thanks… I—I should go. I'm late already."

Lily, James, Sirius and Remus headed for Defence.

"She looked beside herself," said James. "How close were those Dementors?"

"Too close," said Sirius.

"Dementors on school grounds," Lily hissed. "That's crazy! I swear, I can feel them even now." She rubbed some of the unusual cold from her arms.

"I know what you mean." Remus frowned. "But not because we were the happiest bunch around here to begin with."

"That just means we're more vulnerable to them than most. We've got to be careful. Isn't there a way to fend them off?" Lily said.

Sirius scratched his head. "Definitely. But I can't remember it."

Lily tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Guess we know what we're doing this evening. Library!"

Outside the Defence classroom stood Professor Dawlish, straight as a plumb line, already on the lookout for Dementors as the Marauders filtered into class.


This chapter has been edited by Dtill359