Serena stood nervously outside the doors to the Great Hall, twisting her robes in her fists as a crowd of first years milled around her. It was her first evening as a student at Hogwarts, and she was about to be Sorted.

"This is stupid," she told herself sternly. "Most of these kids are half my height and they're much less nervous than me!" She shook herself, and looked around the impressive entrance hall as she tried to remember everything Professor McGonagall had told her a few days before.

xXx

"Of course, you can no longer go about under the name of Serena Silvan. Is there anything you would particularly like to be named while you are here?"

Serena thought for a moment. "Sîan," she said quietly. "My mother's name."

"Very well, you shall be called Sîan Phillips. You come from a Muggle background, and used to go to Gaultier's, a small French wizarding school. You left because you and your family believed you could get a better education here at Hogwarts."

She smiled slightly. "I'm sure you'll do excellently. You are a capable, independent girl, and well worthy of a place here. Good luck."

xXx

The sound of the huge double doors opening brought Serena swiftly back to the present. Taking a deep breath, she moved with the other first years down the centre aisle of the Great Hall, very aware of hundreds of pairs of curious eyes fixed on her. One pair of very green eyes caught her chocolate brown ones, and as she lifted her gaze she saw a lightning shaped scar partially covered by messy dark hair. She started, as she recognised who it was, but then a clumsy first year trod on the back of her robes and she stumbled slightly, breaking eye contact.

Her heart beat faster and faster as McGonagall read out the names on the list, and it seemed forever before she finally heard, "Sîan Phillips." She bit her lip, and forced her legs not to shake as she climbed a few steps and sat down as the Sorting Hat was placed on her head.

"Hmm, difficult, very difficult…" said a low voice in her ear. "You're determined, yes, very, and ambitious. You'd do very well in Slytherin. But you're also courageous, and true of heart, signs of a Gryffindor.

"But what's this? You are not who you say you are…"

Serena stiffened.

"I know you. You're a Silvan. Yes, I placed your father in Slytherin. Yet perhaps in Gryffindor…no. Better be

SLYTHERIN!"

The Slytherin table exploded in cheers, and Serena, relieved, went and sat down. But all through the splendid feast that followed she could feel the intense green eyes of a certain Gryffindor boring into her back. A doubt gnawed at her, and she tried to push away the thought that maybe she should have been a Gryffindor, and should be sitting with the green eyed boy, and not the grey eyed blonde that had been speaking in earnest to her for the last 10 minutes. She suddenly realised she hadn't heard a word he had said, and sighed, before turning and asking him to repeat the question.

xXx

"Harry, what's wrong?" asked Hermione. "You've barely touched your food."

"Nah, he's just mad that that Sîan girl got placed in Slytherin. He fancies her - it's obvious. He hasn't taken his eyes off her since she walked in."

"No! Harry said quickly. "I mean, it's not that, Ron. She – she's the girl from my dream," he finished quietly.

Ron and Hermione stared at him in surprise.

"You mean the one who…um…" Ron trailed off.

Harry nodded.

"Well, what did Dumbledore say when you wrote to him?" asked Hermione.

"He just said to tell him if I had any more dreams about her."

"Very helpful," muttered Ron.

"I wonder who she is…" Hermione mused.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

The day after the start of term, Sirius and Remus got ready to take their leave of Hogwarts, but a few hours before they were due, Dumbledore called them into his office.

"I have been doing a lot of thinking about you two since your uh, sudden arrival, and I have a proposition for you – for Remus, actually."

The two men leaned forward. Dumbledore rarely made propositions – unless it was that they all sat down for a cup of tea, of course.

"I trust you are both coming to the Order Meeting this Sunday? Tea?" The wizard conjured a teapot and began pouring the brown liquid into 3 teacups without waiting for an answer.

"The first one in fifteen years…"Remus reflected, taking his tea without question.

"Yes," answered Sirius slowly. "But something tells me you are getting off the topic." He smiled mischievously, picking up his own cup.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "I see you still have some of your old sparkle, Sirius. But I admit you are quite right, I was getting slightly off the subject. What I was going to say was Remus – I do not believe that in all my years at this school, I have ever come across such an accomplished, attentive, and all round excellent Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. I must ask you to rethink your decision to resign."

"Albus-"

"Consider, Remus. You would be back in employment, earning a considerable amount of money. You would be able to help Serena, and offer support when she transforms on the full moon. You would be able to keep an eye on Harry for Sirius…"

Sirius, who had been leaning back in his chair, sipping his tea with mild interest, suddenly sat up straight and looked pointedly at Remus.

"Albus, you know full well that half the pupils parents would take their child out of school now they know I'm a werewolf," said Remus disbelievingly.

"I didn't say they would have to know it was you," stated Dumbledore, his face completely emotionless. Sirius began chuckling in amusement.

Remus smiled. "I suppose you've thought of this as well, but some of the students are very skilled at magic, and would see through a few Glamour Charms in a second."

"Which is why I have done a bit of research on your behalf, and found this spell." He handed the middle-aged wizard a small slip of parchment with a charm written on it. Remus pulled out his wand, studied the spell and chanted a string of strange words. Instantly, a good looking blonde haired wizard that looked remarkably like Gilderoy Lockhart was sitting in the chair. He gave them a dashing smile that showed a glint of pearly white teeth, before he disappeared, leaving Remus, who was giggling a little in spite of himself. Sirius' chuckle got louder, and he choked on his mouthful of tea. Dumbledore smiled, and put down his cup. "Yes, I remember you were always particularly talented at charms, Remus. However, I hope you will prove a better DADA teacher than Mr. Lockhart, and I would also advise you to choose a somewhat less – noticeable disguise."

"Sorry, it was the first thing that came into my head." Remus answered a little sheepishly.

"You're almost as bad as me!" laughed Sirius.

"I take it you accept then, Remus?"

"Of course Albus," he replied, shaking the Headmaster's hand.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

"Urgh, I can't believe we have Potions with the Slytherins first," Ron growled under his breath as the three friends waited outside their dungeon classroom.

"If only I could give it up, the OWL's wouldn't be half so scary."

"I personally could not be happier if you gave up my class, Mr. Weasley."

Ron jumped, and looked up slowly to see the tall daunting figure of Professor Snape, robed as usual in sombre black.

"Unfortunately, that is not possible. Five points from Gryffindor."

Ron scowled.

Harry, however, wasn't listening, but was staring at the New Girl who was speaking to Malfoy.  She was beautiful, he admitted to herself. His feelings for Cho Chang seemed to melt into the background, as Harry studied her glossy chestnut hair and long, curved eyelashes surrounding those sparkling brown eyes. Her skin was lightly tanned, and her body slender, perfectly complimenting her school robes. Why did she have to be in Slytherin, and therefore his automatic enemy?

He sighed, but suddenly, the crowd began to move into the classroom and Sîan's face was lost in the sea of bustling students.

xXx

"You are fully aware, I hope, that this is the final year before your OWL's. You are all required, therefore, to produce some project work that will be handed in along with your final exam. You will be working in pairs to make the Cantabilus Potion which will make even the most tone deaf of people sing like a nightingale for a few hours. You must also produce a written folio to accompany your practical. You will have until April to complete the project. I will now read the names of the pairs:

"Melvin Goyle with Parvati Patil,

"Pansy Parkinson with Ronald Weasley,"

Ron groaned, and glared at Pansy, who sniffed and turned away.

"Jeff Crabbe with Lavender Brown,"

The list went on, and Harry anticipated that Snape would put him and Malfoy together as usual, just so he could have more opportunities to take points from Gryffindor.

"Draco Malfoy with Hermione Granger,"

Both Malfoy and Harry's mouths dropped open, and they looked at Hermione, who stared straight ahead, but Harry could see both her hands clenched into tight fists.

"Sîan Phillips with Harry Potter"

Harry's heart skipped a beat, and he looked over at the brunette, who gave him a small smile. He didn't hear anything else that Snape said, and spent the entire lesson staring at Sîan, but she never returned his glance.