A/N: I'm a graduate now. Can you believe it? I've been so busy getting things ready at home including my new room. Any ways, that's why this chapter is so late. Sorry, guys. This chapter is dedicated to my reviewers. Thanks guys. Summer has started and hopefully I can get in two chapters a month. We'll see what happens. And remember to read and review. Enjoy. ~MW

Dancing with the Lady Death. Chapter 5



Harry stared out the window of the Hogwarts Express. The countryside rolled by his eyes, however he wasn't really seeing it. He was contemplating everything that has happened lately. The dreams he has been having, the massacre of the death eaters by the Burrows and the attack at Flourish and Blotts. Harry couldn't help but feel like he is being watched. Sighing, Harry looked away from his window and watching his friends play a round of Exploding Snap. Ron and Hermione were fighting over points while Ginny and Neville leaned back and let them go at it. Harry focused on Ginny, noting how much she has grown up since her first year when he saved her. She was cute. Hell, she was pretty. Harry looked back out his window just as Ginny looked up at him.

Ginny stared at Harry intently. Sure she still loved him, but there was something else. He has changed so much from the smiling boy that she first met a little over five years ago. Ginny was worried. Harry had become more withdrawn. The last few weeks he avoided everyone even Sirius. Ginny turned her attention back to Ron and Hermione. They were too busy fighting to notice Harry's inattention. Neville sighed and gave Ginny a weary smile before he got up and left. Ginny returned it and decided to talk to Harry.

Ginny got up and moved closer to Harry. Harry was so focused on the country scenery, that he didn't hear Ginny say his name. Finally, he felt her shaking his arm. Harry turned and gave her a blank stare before smiling. Ginny felt her heart melt at his smile.

"Hey, Ginny." Harry greeted trying to act normal and reminding himself that this was Ron's little sister.

Ginny was about to greet him back, but decided to get right down to business, "Harry, What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, Ginny." Harry said coldly before he turned back to the window. Why was everyone asking him that?

"That's bull, Harry Potter and you know it!" Ginny remarked at Harry angrily. Ron and Hermione stopped their fight to listen in. Harry whipped around to her to say something but Ginny cut him off, "Ever since you had that dream with Death visiting you, you have been pushing everyone away. And I want to know why!" Ron spoke up. " She's right, Harry. You have been with drawing from us. Why?"

Harry stared at the determined look on each one of his friends' faces. They weren't going to budge on this one. A breeze whipped through the open window. It ruffled his black hair and a voice on it seemed to advise him to talk to them. Harry closed his eyes as he tried to decide what to do. It was hard to tell any one anything since they always seem to overreact to it. Harry opened his eyes and saw his friends waiting with worried looks in their eyes. His friends, the first ones he has had in his life. Maybe they'll understand him a little better once he did talk. Sighing, Harry told them about his concern for their safety from Voldemort, his own fear of Death, and the guilt he felt over Cedric's death. When he finished, Hermione gave him a hug, as did Ginny. Ron wisely opted out.

"Don't worry, Harry. We'll protect you from anyone trying to hurt you. Even Death itself." Ron vowed.

Harry felt a moment of panic as he hastily pointed out, " I don't think Death is the enemy. I think she's on our side. She seems to be protecting me or someone is. Think about it. The massacre at the Burrow is one. Those Deatheaters were after me and would have probably killed the rest of you guys as well. Then there were the two kids at Flourish and Blotts who attacked MacNair. They stopped him from kidnapping me. The girl told me that she couldn't until I was at Hogwarts and was Death's problem."

Hermione sat down in her seat and thought long and hard before she stated, "So they are associated with Death. Harry do you remember their names?"

"The girl was called Mare by the boy. I don't think I heard the boy's name at all. The girl did refer to someone named Fate. Does that help?" Harry asked.

Ginny's brow furrowed as she tried to think, "I know those names from somewhere."

Hermione took on her best teacher voice and said, "Well, Ginny they are concepts and ideas. Early cultures attached anthropomorphic forms to them as well as personalities to them. In other words, they thought of them as people. Even the wizardry community had their own personifications of these concepts. Unfortunately any written record of them was destroyed centuries ago."

"And the point of this is?" Ron grumbled.

"These people might think they are these concepts." Hermione stated.

"Or they are those concepts." Harry added. When Hermione snorted, Harry continued, "Has any one ever disproved their existence? Remember Hermione, the Muggle World doesn't think magic exists because they haven't seen it. There are some things that not even logic can explain. Like, why did I survive Voldemort's attacks over all these years? He's not once been able to kill me. And all those high falls in Quidditch, why hasn't any one of them killed me. Any normal person would have died on impact, why do I only get a broken arm and a few bruises."

Everyone in the compartment became quiet. Harry's mind was going a mile a minute. A lot of things were making sense. His mind went back to his first year at Hogwarts when he fought with Quirell over the Sorcerer's Stone. When Professor Quirell was trying to choke him, Harry had felt a pair of arms try to pull him away. Harry closed his eyes, and could hear a husky female voice saying over and over, "I will not allow you to hurt this child. As The Guardian of Death, I forbid it." It somehow comforted Harry that someone was protecting him. At Ron's shout, Harry's eyes flew open.

"I just got it!" Ron crowed as he turned to Hermione, "You were wrong, Mione! Remember how you kept saying Professor Trelawney was such a fraud because she kept predicting Harry's demise." When Hermione nodded, Ron smiled, "Well, If Death is watching over someone, wouldn't it seem to an outside observer as if Death is stalking them waiting to strike."

"Yes I would guess so. Assuming if this woman is really Death." Hermione conceded warily.

Harry caught on, and "Then that outside observer would assume that that person would be dying soon. It must be killing her that I haven't died yet. I can't wait to tell her that Death is protecting me. Her face will be priceless."

"Harry, that isn't exactly something you may want to advertise around school." Hermione gasped, "People may think you are crazy."

Harry wasn't listening to Hermione. Instead, he was watching Ginny, as she was lost in thought. Her mouth moved as she tried to remember something. Harry watched her fascinated. Harry felt that he could watch her all day like that. Ginny looked up at him and smiled.

"I just remember where I heard those names before." Ginny exclaimed excited as she got everyone's attention, "Ron, remember the stories that Mum would tell us before we go to bed? The ones about Gaia and Chronos and the others?"

Ron shrugged to himself, "Yeah, Ginny. But there are just old wives tales. They don't." Ron trailed off as he remembered what MacNair yelled in the shop, "Ginny, You don't think that they are real."

"It would explain how they know such powerful magic. Only a true Guardian could inflict such pinpoint precise magic. I mean no one else in the store was affected by their spells." Ginny cried excitedly to her brother, "And how the woman could have killed the Death Eaters without disturbing the entire household."

"What are you two talking about?" Hermione sniffed, obviously annoyed that she had been left out.

"What!? You don't mean I know something that you don't." Ron remarked stunned. Harry smiled at Ginny wanly. This was going to lead up to another fight between the two. Harry turned his attention to the window. His eyes widened when a dove and an osprey flew past his window. They turned to look at him and flew up. Harry tried to see where they went but he couldn't. He turned to his friends.

"Ron. Hermione. Ginny. Did you see those two birds?" Harry shouted at his arguing friends. They ran over to the window.

"What did you see Harry?" Hermione asked

"Two birds, a dove and an osprey were flying even with this window. They looked at me and then flew up. I've never seen anything like it." Harry explained as they searched the sky.

"Oh Harry, There is nothing unusual about that." Hermione sighed as she turned away and joined Ginny. Ron gave Harry an apologizing grin and asked, "Exploding Snap?"

Harry sighed and turned away from the window. He settled down next to Ron as they began to play. He soon forgot about the Guardians and Death. He only thought about how things were going to be once he got to Hogwarts.

Essie paced the library floor nervously. This was it, the big day. She'll finally get to see Harry as face to face, albeit from a distance, but still. A beautiful calico cat was stretched out on one the table, watching Essie lazily. It meowed drawing Essie's attention. Essie spun towards it. Recognizing it, she walked towards it. Several books on the table clamored for Essie's attention, she ignored them as she approached the cat. Essie stopped a few feet from it and crossed her arms.

"Well, What do you have to say to me?" Essie asked. When the cat just flicked it's tail, Essie fumed, "Don't just sit there, Kay. I need know if he is safe."

The cat got up and stretched itself. When it leaped off the table, the cat changed into a beautiful woman. Her sky blue dress fluttered in the breeze of an open window. Her flowing red hair nearly reached her waist. Kaori smiled at her long time friend's impatience.

"My, my Death, you sure have grown impatient since becoming human." Kaori giggled.

"Kaori, I am in no mood for delay tactics. Did anything happen to him?" "He got on the train okay. Dreams and Lightning are guarding the train."

"I thought Mare had train duty."

Kaori's smile widened, "She did, but Thunder and Herself got called to the carpet over the events in Diagon Alley. I heard the Council gave them a long lecture. Long enough to warrant a substitution for the train trip. Nightmare isn't too happy about it."

Essie smiled back. No, Nightmare wouldn't be too happy about it. While Nightmare at times was a rule breaker, even she didn't willingly cross the Council. Essie shook her head and watched Kaori. Kaori was looking around the library. It has not changed at all since she was here last time. At that time she too busy trying to retrieve a dark arts book to really notice anything. Well, she did notice something or someone. A man had nearly caught her that night. Kaori got away, but she never fully escaped him.

Suddenly the doors to the library swung open. Kaori dove to the ground in between a row of books. Essie jumped from the interruption. Remus and Padfoot strode in to the room. He was in good spirits. So was Padfoot for that matter. Essie glanced quickly to where Kay was hiding to note that she had left. Feeling a little more confidant, she gave her two new friends a brilliant smile. Her secret was safe for now. This must mean that the students are arriving.

Remus smiled back at Essie, "The Welcoming feast is about to begin, Madam Sauterne."

"Is it? I must have lost track of time. Shall we go then?" Essie remarked.

Remus nodded as he offered her his arm. Essie accepted it as she walked towards them. She gave Padfoot a quick scratch behind the ears. Padfoot moved closer to Essie, hoping she wouldn't stop. Unfortunately she did as they began to walk out of the library and to the great Hall.

Harry felt much better as he walked through the Entrance Hall. Hogwarts always felt like home to him. Even since his first year, he was safe here, secure as he always had been. Harry stopped to take a deep breath. He was safe now from Deatheaters, from Voldemort, from Death. A breeze ruffled through his hair and a voice whispered, "Are we ever truly safe from death?" Harry jumped at the sound of the voice and looked around for the source. Instead, he saw Malfoy walking towards him. Next to him, Ron tensed up ready for a fight.

"Well, if it isn't Potter and the Weasel? I heard you two were the cause of a commotion in Diagon Alley. What happened, Weasley? Someone dropped some money and Your Family dove for it?" Malfoy sneered.

Before Harry could react or restrain Ron, a voice boomed out, "That will be quite enough!" The voice was loud enough to cause Ron to pause in attacking Draco. Everyone turned to see a young woman come walking towards them. Her long black hair was pulled back and her silver eyes were flashing. Behind her, Remus Lupin and Padfoot were following. Harry nearly dropped to the floor. Death was here at Hogwarts. She stopped when she reached their group. Draco Malfoy had turned a ghostly white. Death focused on him.

Never in all my life have I heard such insulting language. What right do you have to judge another? Because you are rich doesn't mean you own the world. What house are you in, Mr. Malfoy?" Death growled. Everyone was shocked that she known Draco's name since no one has ever seen her at Hogwarts before. Draco got some color back in his cheeks. Obviously she knew who he was which meant she knew his family.

"Slytherin." Draco answered confidant he was only going to get a slap on the wrist.

"Fine, Fifty points from Slytherin and I will talk with Professor Snape after the feast about the appalling behavior of his house." Death promised.

Draco's jaw dropped and stammered, "My father."

Essie finished for him, "isn't here, is he? And I assure you Lucius Malfoy is more scared of me than I am of him. So, I suggest you go and join your friends."

Draco looking very affronted by what this lady told him turned and entered the Great Hall. Ron, Harry and Hermione looked at her in awe. She just told off Draco Malfoy. Remus put a hand on Death's shoulder and said, "I hate to be Snape when you finally talk to him."

"At least Snape can fight his own battles. I can't stand those that pick people who less fortunate." Death grumbled at she looked back at the kids. Her eyes lingered on Harry for a moment until addressed Ron, "Mr. Weasley, as much as I'm sure throttling Mr. Malfoy would please you, I would suggest keeping that temper of your under control. Take a page out of your friends' books and ignore him. It will save you from a couple of detention."

"Yes, Professor." Ron agreed softly as Essie turned to walk away.

Hermione spoke up, causing Essie to turn around, " Is it true?" At Essie's blank stare, Hermione continued, "That Mr. Malfoy is frightened of you."

Essie and Remus exchanged an amused glance. Essie smiled warmly at Hermione. But she was looking into Harry's eyes when she answered, "Deathly afraid, Miss Granger." Essie walked away with Remus who gave a quick wave to Harry. Padfoot lingered behind and gave Harry a nudge. Harry looked down at Padfoot and sighed. At least Sirius was still safe. Harry walked towards the Great Hall, wondering what Professor Trelawney was going to say in Divination class. Harry's stomach was all in knots and he realized that he was nervous. Why was Death here? ************************************************************************

Essie sat down next to Remus at the Head Table. On her other side was Rubeus Hagrid. Essie gave the half giant a warm smile. She like Hagrid a lot since he reminded her of Thunder except Thunder wasn't so huge. His booming laughter and voice made her feel at home and welcomed. Hagrid leaned over to her.

He whispered softly as he could, "I heard you stopped a fight from occurring between Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley. Snape is not too happy about how the punishment was handed out."

Essie smiled, "I'm not done yet. Snape and I are going to have a talk about his careless lack of discipline. At least Minerva and the others punish their own houses. I heard Snape does nothing to his students. Besides I extremely dislike it when people take it upon themselves to judge other without leave to do so."

"It about time someone put Draco in his place."

"I didn't though. I merely reprimanded him. Someday, he is going to meet someone who going to not care about his power and money and they will put him in his place."

"I know I shouldn't say this, but I would like to see that."

"Don't worry, you will."

Essie gave Hagrid a mysterious smile. Before Hagrid could say any thing, Professor McGonagall entered with the new first years as they were prepared to be sorted. Essie heard much about this ceremony and was eager to see it. She smiled at the Sorting Hats song and clapped for each student as his or her houses were declared. She clapped extra hard for any new Gryffindors along with Remus and Rubeus. Every so often she caught Harry's gaze and winked at him. Harry would quickly look away and become interested in the ceremony. Essie smiled softly as she thought he is confused about me. Not sure if I'm friend or foe.

Essie's attention was brought back to what was going on at the head table when Albus Dumbledore, Fate's long time friend, stood up and cleared his throat. Essie turned her head to look down the table. Albus stood up and winked at her. Essie smiled back in thanks. Albus was the one who kept the job open for her until she arrived. For that Essie would always be in his debt. Essie sat straighter as he spoke. "Welcome to another year here at Hogwarts. I have a few announcements to make before we begin to eat. First, the library will be closed over the next few days due to some changes that are still being made. The library should be open again by September 4th." Albus paused as he heard several gasps from the student body. The loudest from Miss Hermione Granger and he continued, "Next is the two new additions to our staff. First, Professor Lupin has agreed to return to teach our Defense Against Dark Arts classes."

This announcement was meet with great applause. Remus stood up briefly and smiled at the school. Essie noted that several teachers were clapping except Snape. He had a distinct sneer on his face. Essie shook her head, some people never let go of their past. When the applause died down, Albus continued.

"Madam Pince had an unfortunate accident over the summer and was forced to retire. Miss Esmeralda Sauterne has agreed to take over as the school librarian. Please make her feel welcome since this time in England and at Hogwarts."

There was a lukewarm applause for Essie until she stood up and smiled at the school. The applause abruptly grew when the student saw how young and pretty she was. Essie blushed a little as she sat back down. She made eye contact with Harry and held it. Gradually, she smiled at him warmly and he smiled back. She was so absorbed with Harry she didn't here Albus say the next few words. Essie was surprise to see food appear in front of her. She heard Remus suppress a chuckle at the look on her face. Essie smiled slightly at her own foolishness and began to eat.

Harry kept glancing up at the Head Table. He was having a hard time believing that Death was sitting at the head table and eating food. What does it mean? If Death was his guardian angel of sorts, What was she doing here? Hundreds of questions raced through Harry's head as he ate his dinner. Even when the feast was over with and his walked with his friend back to the Gryffindor tower, Harry still was trying to make sense of everything. He bid Ron good night and tried to sleep. Eventually he fell into a fitful sleep.

Essie sat on her windowsill in her room. Staring at the starry sky, Essie worried over what was going to happen next. A sense of foreboding fell over her Essie shook it off and went to bed.

Meanwhile, a black hawk soared over the night sky. Tied to its leg was an eagerly awaited letter. The hawk hurried with its missive afraid of displeasing its master or the master's student.