A/N: Second chapter's here! Sorry for the delay; I've been very, very busy with schoolwork. Now that it's summer, I should have more time to write. My summer classes aren't nearly as strenuous as my spring and fall classes. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Quick legal mumbo-jumbo: All characters, spells, locations, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, the goddess of writing. There are only two exceptions: William Spears, Grelle Sutcliff, the Undertaker, Ciel Phantomhive, Sebastian Michaelis, and anything Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler related belong to Yana Toboso. Emily Tarleton, Selena Menzel, and this story belong to me. Enjoy!

Chapter 2- Back to the Past

The next thing Harry knew, he was lying on the floor of the Hogwarts Express. The train was motionless, and from the window Harry could see dark clouds and rain. This must be when I fainted after the Dementor came he realized.

"Harry? Are you alright?" a familiar voice asked.

Harry looked up to see Hermione standing over him, a concerned look on her face.

Overcome with emotion at seeing his dear friend and soulmate, Harry pulled her into a hug before he thought about it.

"H-Harry?" Hermione asked, taken aback, though she did return the hug.

Realizing what he had done, Harry quickly covered, "Are you ok, Hermione? Why did you scream?"

"Scream? I didn't scream, Harry."

"I heard a woman screaming. I thought it was you."

"No, Harry. No one screamed."

"The dementors can have strange effects on people sometimes," Remus interjected as he returned to the car. He handed Harry a block of chocolate. "Here, eat this. It will help calm you and dilute the dementor's effect." Once the raven-haired boy had complied, Remus added, "If you'll all excuse me for a moment, I need to speak with the conductor." Then he turned and left the compartment.

"You gave us a scare there, Harry," said Ron.

Harry took a deep breath. Despite his desire to change Ron this time around, he was indeed angry that Ron would potion Hermione. It doesn't have to be that way this time, though. "I still don't understand what happened. I'm just glad that thing's gone."

The rest of the trip (which was rather short as they'd already gotten most of the way there when the dementor had attacked) was very quiet for the three teenagers, the only noise being Hedwig hooting and Crookshanks hissing and spitting. When the Hogwarts Express pulled up into the Hogsmeade Station, the trio filed off the train and was approaching the carriages to go up to the castle when they heard a familiar drawling voice snark, "You actually fainted on the train, Potter?"

Harry groaned before turning to face Draco Malfoy. The arrogant blond was standing a short distance away, ever flanked by his two cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. Rather than feeling angry like he usually did during an encounter with the Slytherin boy, Harry only felt mildly annoyed. A thought suddenly occurred to him. Malfoy kinda helped us out last time when he wouldn't identify us for Bellatrix. I already am trying to change Ron this time; who's to say I can't maybe change Malfoy too? With this mature thought in mind, Harry put on his best poker face before answering, "Why Draco, I didn't know you cared! I'm fine, thanks. It was just lucky that I was in the same compartment as Professor Lupin."

Malfoy was rather surprised by Potter's answer; it was certainly not what he was expecting! After trying to think of a good comeback, he finally settled on a curt nod in Harry's direction before turning and walking away.

"Slimy little git," Ron grumbled.

"That was brilliant, Harry! He didn't even know what to say!" said Hermione, beaming.

"All he wants is attention. If I stop giving in to what he wants, then he'll eventually stop doing it," Harry replied.

"That's very mature of you!"

The mood greatly improved, the trio began chatting again as they made their way to a carriage and climbed in.

"Do you mind if I ride with you?" a voice asked.

They turned to see Neville Longbottom standing there.

"Hey Nev! No, not at all. Climb on up!" said Harry.

Once Neville was seated, the carriage began its journey up to Hogwarts. Harry had to remember not to mention the Thestrals as he wasn't supposed to be able to see them yet. If it goes the way I want it to, I'll be able to save Cedric this time Harry decided.

Upon arriving at the castle, the foursome clambered down from the carriage and began their walk into the castle. Professor McGonagall was standing at the entrance.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, if I could see you both for just a moment, please," she said.

The friends exchanged puzzled looks before excusing themselves from Ron and Neville and following their Head of House to her office.

"Potter, your matter will be quicker than Miss Granger's, so if you'll follow me in first," the Scottish witch instructed.

Once inside, just as before, Professor McGonagall fussed over him about the Dementor attack, though he was able to reassure her that Professor Lupin had already attended to him before she could try to send for Madame Pomfrey, who would surely insist on attempting to make him spend the night in the Hospital Wing just as she'd try to in his previous timelines. Then he stepped back out of the office to let Hermione in, telling his best friend that he'd wait for her. While he waited, Harry thought about how Hermione was receiving the Time Turner at this moment and how much the Time Turner had become a burden to her in the previous timeline. I need to figure out a plausible story as to how I know she has the Time Turner and convince her to take it easy earlier in the year than last time so she doesn't get so overwhelmed. Harry was still thinking of possible scenarios when Hermione and Professor McGonagall emerged from the office. In order to keep from looking suspicious, Harry asked Hermione about her turn with the Transfiguration professor, even though he knew that she wouldn't tell him. The duo then chatted amicably as they made their way to the Great Hall. Upon entering, they saw Neville and Ron waving them over to the Gryffindor table, where they had seats saved. As soon as they were seated, they caught up with their housemates and looked around the Great Hall. Even though it was their third time being at the start-of-term feast (and Harry's seventh), it was still a beautiful sight.

"What do you suppose that Lupin bloke'll be teaching?" Ron asked.

"Professor Lupin, Ron," Hermione corrected, "and he'll probably be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. I mean, it's the only position that's vacant right now, unless Professor Dumbledore let Professor Snape teach this year, in which case Professor Lupin will be teaching us Potions."

"Don't even joke like that," Neville murmured, paling at the thought of Snape teaching Defense.

"Hey, who's that?" Harry asked, indicating an unfamiliar witch.

Hermione, Ron, and Neville turned to see who Harry was talking about. She was a rather young witch with long, wavy black hair streaked with electric blue. Her robes and hat were blue as well, but a deep midnight blue unlike the bright color in her hair. The witch's eyes were a dark forest green and, if the happy smile on her face was any indication, she was kind.

"I've never seen her before," Neville commented.

"Me neither," said Hermione.

"Do you reckon she's a teacher?" asked Ron.

"Probably, since she's at the table with the other professors," said Harry. His eyes fell on Remus, and he had to school his face into one that did not betray familiarity. Hermione followed Harry's gaze and smiled.

"I like him already, don't you?" she asked.

"Yeah! He's brilliant."

"Snape doesn't look too happy to see him, though," said Ron.

The other three looked over to Snape to see what Ron was talking about and saw exactly what he was talking about; Snape had a look on his face that could be described as nothing but pure loathing.

"That's the face he normally saves for me. I wonder if I should be jealous?" Harry joked, earning laughter from his friends. As Harry looked at Snape, he had a thought. Snape knows Legilimency; Dumbledore does, too. I better not look either of them directly in the eye. I wonder if the library has books on Occlumency? Hermione may know… Just as he contemplated this, Dumbledore rose for his start-of-term speech.

"Welcome back for another year at Hogwarts! I realize that everyone is full and ready for bed, but I must make some announcements. A friendly reminder to all students that the Forbidden Forest is off limits at all times. Mr. Filch would like for me to remind everyone that Fanged Frisbees are not permitted. A completed list of banned items can be found on Mr. Filch's office door. Finally, we have 3 new staff members this year. First, our very own Rubeus Hagrid will be replacing Professor Kettleburn as our Care of Magical Creatures teacher."

Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and basically the entire Gryffindor house whooped and cheered while the other houses clapped politely. Hagrid was misty-eyed and beaming proudly. Once the applause died down, Dumbledore continued, "Our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will be Professor Remus Lupin."

There was more polite clapping, and Harry once again had to try very hard to not show any emotion that betrayed his knowledge of just how much the werewolf meant to him. More still, he'd have to remember not to mention that Remus was a werewolf as that was still a secret in this time period.

"Finally, Professor Babbling has relocated to New Zealand and has therefore retired from her position as our Ancient Runes teacher. Her successor is Professor Emily Tarleton," Dumbledore concluded.

There was a third round of applause as the unfamiliar witch Harry had noticed before stood and smiled cheerfully. Once the applause had died down, the headmaster sent them off to bed. As they left the Great Hall, Harry noticed Remus embracing Professor Tarleton. The raven-haired wizard knit his eyebrows together in confusion. Moony knows her, but just who is Emily Tarleton? Why didn't I know her before?

"Harry?"

He turned to see his friends waiting for him.

"Sorry; spaced out for a moment," he excused lamely, though no one questioned it. He then did his best to push the Time Turner and Emily Tarleton to the back of his mind for the rest of the walk to Gryffindor Tower so he could talk to his friends and not give away that he was hiding anything. Once he was safely in his own bed, Harry pondered everything that had happened so far. Alright, so I'm safely back in third year. I need to learn Occlumency so Snape and Dumbledore can't read my mind and find out about William or my going back in time. I need to try and get a jump on destroying the Horcruxes ahead of time, and I need to protect Hermione and myself from potions. I need to try and change Ron so that things don't go sour with him in the future. I need to do what I can to help Sirius sooner. And who is Emily Tarleton? …This is going to be a very long year…