I don't own the story or the characters of Harry Potter, this work is entirely fan-made. The rights to everything Harry Potter belong to J.K Rowling. I also have no beta or proof-reader (at least not a human one) so expect some mistakes from time to time.


Zoe woke late on Saturday morning and looked out through the windows of the girls' dorm. There was no snow, but frost still covered the grounds in a dismal blank sheet over the normally lush grass. With a sigh, she swung her feet over the side of the bed and decided to heed her mother's advice when she was usually caught sleeping in: "Carpe Diem" and seized the day with a groan before going for a shower that might lift her spirits a tad.

Alas, the shower helped, contrary to her first thoughts, which were along the lines of internally groaning 'sleep' over and over just like she imagined Frankenstein's monster would, if the thing could get tired, being dead and all. When she was eventually dressed and made it to the common room portrait-hole, she noticed a distinct absence of annoying romance and brothers. 'Count myself lucky I suppose,' she thought as she pushed open the painting of the buffoon called Sir Cadogan and left down the stairs for the Great Hall, hoping that she could snag some toast before it all disappeared. As she rushed down the stairs, she nearly ran into several people who brushed past her and stared at the back of her head. As the frantic Gryffindor got through the doors, she saw Daphne about to head out and waved to her. Several eyes turned towards them but didn't linger for long.

"Good morning. Why are you late getting up, hm? I managed to grab you some bacon sandwiches before that happened." Daphne seemed to have impeccable timing as the plates, goblets and pitchers all emptied themselves with a quiet pop just as she pointed to them. "Honestly, you'd lose track of everything if it wasn't for me. Lucky you do have me." Zoe's girlfriend smirked cockily. "Quickly, let's get out of here before someone notices that something is up with us. Draco's been eyeing me all morning, so has the Red-head."

"Which one-," Zoe asked just as she realised the answer.

"The outlier." They said together, smiling at their synchronisation. They both left the hall and left for the courtyard, where they were sure to find something interesting other than the flood of students going to Hogsmeade, of which today, they were not part of. After seeing some of their fellow classmates who were going to Hogsmeade off, Daphne led Zoe by her hand on muscle memory alone to a fairly secluded and sequestered spot in between the Forbidden Forest and the Boathouses. The small expanse of grass seemed to be the only place in the entire grounds where Dementor's hadn't altered the feeling and atmosphere to a dismal wreck.

"I must admit, I've been coming here for longer than this year." Zoe shot her a questioning look. "I realised last year that I had different feelings about relationships to the other girls in my house. Pansy and Millicent are always talking about their fascination with Malfoy and the 'hot guys' and I just didn't get why I wasn't the same. After all, my parents taught Astoria and I about the 'joys of wedding a Pureblood wizard' and of course, the perks that come with it. You know, the usual: 'You will make us proud' and 'You'll be a boon to their household' or who could forget 'It will strengthen our alliances'. I just want to be loved and cared about for me, not my stupid status and my responsibilities."

"Well, now you have me. And we can tell our parents to piss off when the time comes. For now, I'm still scared of what your parents will say. Not to mention my Dad; I'm pretty sure he's been trying to set me up with Neville since I was confirmed to be a girl." They laughed together and enjoyed the first peek of light over the forest, bathing them both in a golden glow.

"Thanks for being here with me, Zoe. I really like this, just the two of us."

"No problem. I couldn't leave my girlfriend alone for a whole day now, could I." They chuckled again, isolated on the grass.


"I'm glad we could finally do this, without the rest of the group. Don't get me wrong, I love them all, even Harry, annoying as he can be, but I just wanted to give us some time to ourselves." Hannah whispered to Neville who was sitting comfortably next to her on a bench by Scrivenshaft's. He smiled and kissed the top of her head, rubbing her shoulders that had grown chilly in the wind.

"Well, I can't say that I blame you. The last meeting of the Society was hardly the place for Public Displays of Affection, now was it?" He nudged her arm and grinned.

"Hey, I seem to remember you being the 'hopeless romantic'. Just because I gave you a kiss then, doesn't mean that I was the one who asked you out to Hogsmeade again. Ringing a bell?" She asked with a returned grin. He shrunk slightly and took his hands from her shoulders, but getting up and immediately offering her the same hand. Smiling, Hannah accepted it and got pulled up from the bench and towards Honeydukes. "Oh, you know I have a sweet tooth and you insist on spoiling me, don't you?" He laughed and nodded, letting her lead him all over the shop.

Afterwards, they had a quick chat with Seamus, Dean and Parvati, who had also managed to find her sister and they sat at a table in the Three Broomsticks talking about the regular things: like how the Wimbourne Wasps were better than West Ham or how badly they all wanted to go to the Quidditch World Cup that summer.

"Okay, well, if we can all get tickets and go, then we have to meet up there, no matter what. Deal?" Seamus asked, slightly too loudly.

"Deal. I still don't know if we'll all be able to-,"

"Get to the Quidditch World Cup, Longbottom?" Draco Malfoy drawled as he approached the table. "Like you'll get to go. Only the elite are ever invited, besides, how do you think they'll manage to afford it all?" He pointed to the rest of them, not being part of the Pureblood hierarchy like he and Neville were.

"Tell you what, how about you piss off and let us decide where we will and won't go. And take your caveman cousins with you, if you please." He told them with narrowed eyes.

"You filthy blood-traitor! I'll curse you to-," He started, until Madam Rosmerta grabbed his arm.

"Oh no, you don't. Take that outside and deal with it like adults. No duelling in here!" She hissed. Something about her deadly glare told everyone that they should get out quickly before she transfigured them into rugs.

The entire group left, Draco and his entourage in tow as well. "Well, what do you think, guys. Can we take them out in a minute, or under?" He sneered to his henchmen. Neville and Seamus roared with laugher, the girls and Dean smiled too.

"Seriously, Malfoy. Do you even remember how Neville and Harry put you down in front of the entire duelling club last year? Or was that just another bit of info that got lost in your tiny brain?" Seamus laughed. Draco showed no signs of retreating, so the others whipped their wands out.

"What fun. What fun!" Neville grinned with a flourish of his wand, sending Theo Nott sailing into a bench.


Harry walked into his Uncle Moony's office after hearing the 'come in' from the other side. Remus was marking some papers and writing notes into a little book next to him. He quickly put the smaller book away and flicked over to another page in the opposite end of the textbook.

"Harry, lovely day. Has anything interesting happened today? No more map malfunctions or the like?" He sounded less interested and more like he was trying to find an answer to something. Harry looked suspicious for a moment, then shook his head to get rid of the thought.

"No, but actually, that's part of what I wanted to talk about." Remus gestured to a seat and offered him some tea, Harry graciously accepted and took a sip. After letting the drink trickle down his throat, he sat it on a saucer that had appeared from seemingly nowhere.

"I have never seen the map act up like that, and I've had it since Halloween of '91. If Pettigrew is in the castle, you'll let Professor Dumbledore know immediately, won't you? I don't really trust him all too well after everything that went on last year but he is still the best chance we have of stopping Pettigrew before he can get to me. That's why he's here, isn't it? I can't think of a better reason to come out of hiding than to aid his fallen master's wish, to see me and my family dead." A breath seemed to hitch in his Uncle's throat, but he regained his composure quickly.

"Listen, Harry. None of us can know for certain what that deranged man wants, but I know that he wouldn't dare do it if Dumbledore was aware of him. Our headmaster has forgotten what it means to be in action, to make a difference with his direct influence. But we can try to defend this castle from everyone and anyone who would seek to hurt the students. Besides, you know that I would never let something like that happen again, don't you?" He already knew that he had let slip too much from the look on Harry's face.

"What do you mean, again? Uncle Moony?" Lupin seemed to be far off and shook his head with vigour. The response didn't seem aimed at him.

"I- I'm sorry Harry. I have to do this marking before tomorrow. I'll see you in class on Monday." He waved his wand and the door swung open with more than enough necessary force, enough to make the sound echo off every surface in the room. Harry left with more questions than he went in with and fewer answers than he could have gotten.


Mum,

Scabbers is looking worse and worse by the day. I don't know what's wrong with him. I tried all of the rat tonics that I got from the MM in Diagon Alley, but it doesn't seem to be working. In fact, he looks worse than before. He just lies in his cage, walking around, eating and drinking every few days. I think he might be getting too old. If he goes by the time I finish the year, would it be too much to get an owl? Still worried, but I'm trying to see the positives. He's lived a long life with Perce and Me and he got to come to Egypt with us, so that's something.

In other news, Harry beat me again in the duelling club and I got my transfiguration grade back up to an A. Still suck at Herbology and History, but they aren't important so it doesn't matter. You'd be happy to know that my prep exam for charms went well, I even got an EE, but we'll see how the real thing is later on.

Love you, Mum,

I'll see you soon, Ron


Zoe and Daphne had spent the entire day simply lounging and doing some revision, after all, they were normally in each other's classes. After Transfiguration was done and they had managed to turn a small stone into a hare, then back again, they decided to visit their favourite teacher. Professor Hagrid wasn't normally one for staying sequestered in his hut all day, even on rainy, miserable and cold ones, but now, the door was locked, all the windows were shut and it sounded like a trumpet was being played and simultaneously bent in two from the outside. After unlocking the door begrudgingly, Hagrid turned back around and blew his nose on a blanket-sized piece of cloth, then placed it back in his pocket.

"Um, Hagrid, are you alright? What's wrong?" Zoe asked, being the friendlier one in the relationship. He sniffled again and there came a loud screech from the back garden and the pumpkin patch. That was where Buckbeak was being kept.

"No, but thanks fer askin'. The trial for Buckbeak's appeal went 'orribly. First, we all took turns explainin' why we was there. Minister Fudge told me tha' I had an out o' control beast on me hands. Then, who shows up but Lucius Malfoy. Well, ya' can guess 'ow tha' went. E' said, Buckbeak is a dangerous creature tha' doesn't deserve to be at Hogwarts, the esteemed place it is. I told 'im that Beaky's a good Hippogriff; always cleans his feathers. Then he asked fer the worst did ol' Lucius." Hagrid blew his nose again, sounding more like a French Horn now. "Buckbeak's been sentenced to death!" He burst out sobbing and collapsed onto his bed, sobbing up a bucket, unsure of what he could do.