Chapter Five

"What...was that?"

Hermione finally broke the silence. Her, Ron and Harry had been frozen in their spots, not moving not talking, since Liz left.

"I...have...no idea..." Harry said slowly. He hadn't moved from kneeling on the floor, he had his hand stretched out from when Liz couldn't see.

Just then the trolley Lady came to their compartment. She looked at them strangely and asked if anything was wrong. Harry, Hermione and Ron quickly sat properly and said that it was nothing. They bought some Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs and other good treats.

"Ok..." Ron said after the silence had set in again. "Harry, I'm scared mate... a little for me...but you too mate. You've got major problems headin' your way. And to think, I've been worrying bout those spiders trying to get me to tap dance."

"Oh shut up Ron!" Hermione quickly said, but Harry wasn't hearing it.

A cold chill began to set onto Harry, Ron and Hermione and everyone else on the train. Everything started to become dark and cold. Harry knew what was happening.

"They're back." Harry said. "Why are they back...?"

"Hey... we're here." Hermione quickly said. "Let's get going."

Harry Ron and Hermione walked out of there compartment and walked over to where the carriages were kept. As soon as they almost reached them, they saw Ron's older brother Percy standing and telling student to stand and wait. As soon as all the students were before them Harry saw Ron look at Percy with a look of disgust. When Percy noticed, he looked over at his little brother and shook his head with pity. He then turned away; he did not look back at Ron again. All the student had finally come around and Percy began;

"I am here today of behalf of Cornelius Fudge. I am announcing that yes as you may all have noticed that the Dementors are returning to Hogwarts, due to certain incidents and..." He paused. "Certain people. Each group of student, from 15 to 20 will be escorted onto the grounds by one Dementor. Then as usual you will be lead into the school by Professor McGonagall. I hope you will all have a great year and keep out of mischief." He looked strait at Harry. "Goodbye." He looked away and then walked away from the group.

"Hermione...do you have any idea why there back here? You've been reading the papers...anything?" Harry asked impatiently.

"Nothing that I've read, but I did lose a paper or two... there might have been something there, but I doubt it."

"You mean you don't know Potter?!"

Harry turned, it was Malfoy. He was standing and flashing his evil sneer at Harry. Harry immediately cringed; he didn't want to have to deal with Malfoy again so soon.

"Know what Malfoy?" Ron replied meanly.

"I can't believe that you don't know! Almost everybody knows about the monster that's at Hogwarts now!"

"What monster?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing you'd know about mudblood! And I don't believe I was talking to your ugly face!"

Hermione's face went red. Harry was burning up to, but he bit his tongue hoping it would help him hold his temper.

Harry sat with his friends in the Great Hall, he was so happy to be back. Back at the one place he belonged. Dumbledore Stood and made his speech, including with a bit of mystery that there would be many surprises ahead this year. Harry ate happily and soaked in all the fun and enjoyed everything to fullest. He went to bed truly happy, for the first night in a long time.

The next morning Harry had a fairly good day. He had Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures and double Potions. Snape yelled at him for not adding the proper amount of Shredded Newt Tongue, and it lost him 5 points for Gryffindor. By lunch Harry was starving and couldn't wait to start eating. Ron was already at the table shoving as much mashed potatoes in his mouth as he could. Hermione was barely touching her mood and had her nose buried in one of her books.

"stugfying Newfs Hergminee?" Ron said while splattering food all over the table, and onto Hermione's book.

"Ugh..." Hermione said wiped a piece of potato from her cheek. "Yes Ron I'm studying N.E.W.T's." I want to be ready.

Ron just smiled and went back to his food. Harry started eating patiently when Alicia walked over to him.

"Hey Harry, ready for Quidditch later?" "We're starting already?"

"Yeah I want us in shape, I want to win the cup one last time, before I leave."

"You sound like Wood, Alicia" Harry said starting to laugh.

"I hope not, I don't want to go crazy like he did! He was a good coach though; I hope I'm living up to him. And don't stuff yourself silly Ron, we need to make sure your broom can actually get you off the ground."

Ron swallowed all the food in his mouth, while Hermione snorted with laughter.

"Not funny Alicia."

"Well I'll see you guys tomorrow, 4 o'clock ok? Right after classes."

"Sure Alicia, bye"

Alicia waved and said goodbye. Hermione stood up and packed her book in her bag.

"Come on you guys, we've got double Defense Against the Dark Arts and then transfiguration. We can't be late. Plus... I want to see what Liz is going to do.

"Yeah come on Ron; let's see what she's got in store."

"Humph...I don't see why you guys like her so much. I'm telling you...she's a spy for..." He lowered his voice. "You-Know-Who."

"Oh Ron! She is NOT! Just give her a chance for goodness sake!" Hermione exclaimed. She then turned and walked towards Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

Harry, Ron and Hermione got great seats in the front for Liz's class. Harry noticed that for the first time, Malfoy took a seat at the very back. Everyone else scattered themselves around the classroom, waiting for what there new teacher had in store.

After waiting for quite some time, all the students began to get restless, it was very odd that there teacher was late and not one of the students. After a while Liz finally walked in the door, she looked tired and very rushed, she was carrying at least 100 different piles of parchment and books. Liz ran up to her desk and threw everything out of her arms onto it. She muttered a spell and they all organized perfectly, leaving a large clean area, which she sat on. Liz crossed her legs and looked at the classed, she quickly said she was sorry and it was hard being back at Hogwarts and was trying to find her way around the best she could. She made a couple of jokes an then started the class. She was going to cover languages, ones you could learn, ones you couldn't, and ones that could save your life. She talked about some incidences that had happened and asked people if they could speak anything. She asked Harry, and two other kids that knew how to speak other languages to demonstrate and then set an assignment for them to write an essay in another language. She gave the 15 minutes at the end of the class to start the essay while she got organized.

Liz was busy fixing something inside her desk when Remus Lupin walked in. He looked around and spotted Liz immediately. Harry looked up and saw that they must have had a strong connection other wise he wouldn't have known right where Liz would be.

"Given them homework already huh?" He chuckled.

Liz froze on the spot and looked strait ahead. She dropped the book she was holding and turned around. She looked at Lupin and immediately a huge smile came across her face.

Liz squealed, and screamed; "MOONY!"

Liz ran over into Lupin's open arms. He picked her up and spun her around. He put her down and his face had turned into a smile almost as big as Liz's. Remus kept his hands on Liz's waist. He kept smiling and said; "lord slits, you haven't changed a bit, not a day out of school."

"Aww thanks Moony, you're lookin' good too, is the uh..." she paused to choose her words.

"It's alright Liz, they all know."

"Oh.. well you look good considering the moons approaching."

"Well I guess seeing an old friend brightens my day."

Liz hugged Remus tightly. "You think we can go back to the old place? For old times?"

"maybe, but I don't think you'd have much fun, Prongs, Padfoot and Wormtail aren't..." He trailed off. "You mean Prongs and Padfoot. There is no Wormtail. He's dead to me. He should be to you as well."

"You're right. And don't you think you should let your students go? They'll be late for their next class."

"Oh! Right! I forgot! Ok class... your uh...dismissed!"

"worse then you were back in school Liz." Remus laughed.

"oh shut-up! I wasn't that bad."

"Oh no.. you were much worse then 'that'.

Then Harry was pulled out of the room and couldn't listen anymore.

Over the next couple weeks Harry kept hearing about this horrible monster that had brought the Dementors back to Hogwarts. It seemed now that everyone had heard about this monster and everyone wanted to know more. What could it do? How horrible was it? And who was it after? After one of his defense against the dark arts classes Harry stopped and asked Liz about what was going on. If anyone knew about this, it would most likely be her.

"Is hard to explain Harry, you should just stick to that they're back because they're back and there's nothing we can do about it." Liz explained.

"But why?! Everyone's saying that there's some horrible monster here. And... Malfoy, he says it has something to do with you. He says that you would kill him if he told though."

"He's exaggerating Harry, like he always does. But they're just a precaution Harry, to keep everyone safe."

"But from who?!"

"You really want to know what this is about don't you?"

"I have to know."

"lord... you have your fathers impatience and your mothers stubbornness. Well are you sure you want to know?"

"LIZ! JUST TELL ME WHO THERE HERE TO PROTECT EVERYONE FROM!" Harry exploded.

Liz's face angered and then she blurted out;

"THEY'RE HERE TO PROTECT YOU FROM ME!"