A/N: Thanks for the reviews every1!

Master Duelist Imposter Kaiba: Thanks for the advice! I wouldn't have noticed that... Thanks again! =)

CHAPTER 32

"I saw your sister out in the Hogwarts grounds with Anna Chang." Gretchen announced to Ron as her entered the Gryffindor common room the next day.

"What? When?" Ron asked in bewilderment. "Are you sure."

"Very sure." Gretchen nodded vigorously, causing her glasses to slide to the end of her nose. She pushed them back again and grinned at Harry. "Did you hear, Ingrid and her brother are in the hospital wing because of that thing... that happened to them... at the end of last terms charms exam!" She said hardly able to disguise her laughter. "Spotty skin..." She laughed more.

"Why?" Hermione asked anxiously.

"I don't think it's serious!" Gretchen laughed. "It's funny!" She collapsed into the nearest armchair howling.

"What happened?" Harry asked her.

"It's..." Gretchen began, through giggles. "It's their organs! I don't really understand it... my aunt was a muggle and she told me about all this stuff, but..." She pulled out a book labelled 'The human body'. "It's a muggle book." She flicked through the pages to a diagram and pointed at a lung. "There. Ingrid's got..." She began laughing again. "Blue spots on her left lung... And Andrew's got blue spots on his right lung! William wasn't affected. It's because their twins."

Hermione looked nervous. "It might be serious, I hope they're ok."

"They're fine." Gretchen said. "Isn't it great now it's so hot. I think I'll go for a swim in the lake." And with that she left them.

"I hope the squid eats her." Ron said, though he was smiling. "Where have you been?"

Ginny had joined them. "Oh, no where really." She said in an off hand sort of way. "Just out in the grounds. I was doing my homework."

"With who?" Ron asked her suspiciously. "Loony Lovegood?"

"Oh don't call her that! She's not mad. Yes I was with Luna. There's nothing wrong with that is there?" Ginny snapped angrily. She went and sat in the opposite corner. Hermione sighed in disbelief.

"What?" Ron asked. "I was only wondering..."

"Look! I've done it again!" Their attention was distracted by Parvati and Lavender who were entertaining a group of first years with patronuses. "Did you see it?" Parvati asked them excitedly. "It was an eagle!"

"Oh at last!" Hermione said, opening the window. A school owl flew into her hand and handed Hermione a letter.

"Who's it from..." Ron began but Hermione vanished upstairs.

The mysterious owl was often visiting Hermione over the next week. And Harry and Ron tried with fail to get her to reveal who the sender was.

"Ah!" She would exclaim as she read the letter in an armchair by the fire. "Mmmm." She continued, then her mouth fell open. She dropped the letter which fell into the crackling fire. "I've got to talk to him!" She said, obviously unaware of Harry and Ron watching her. "What." She said, though nervously as Ron fixed her with a look of accusation.

"Is it from Vicky?" Ron asked nastily.

"No it's not from Viktor." Hermione snapped turning her back on them.

"Then why don't you tell us!"

"It's none of your business."

Ron groaned and Hermione glared at him. She looked into the fire and her eyes widened. Harry did the same. The remains of the letter read 'It will happen tonight'. Then a tall flame came over and devoured it.

"What will happen tonight?" Harry asked Hermione who had suddenly gone very pale.

Hermione didn't speak, but remained frozen in her chair. Seconds later she came to her senses. "Oh, nothing at all." She said.

"She would tell us if it was anything to worry about wouldn't she?" Ron asked Harry as they climbed into bed.

"I think so." Harry said uncertainly, but he found it very difficult to sleep that night. He told himself that it was probably nothing, just a letter from Viktor telling Hermione about a new job or something...

"You took your time." Came a voice, but it wasn't cold or inhuman. It was the voice... of Sirius!

"Harry?" Came another voice. Sounding younger this time. It was Anna Chang.

"Anna, but you're alive!" Harry mumbled confused.

"I know," Anna said again.

"Sirius?" Harry mumbled.

"Harry, we need you." Said Sirius sounding urgent. It had to be important.

"I'm coming!" Harry yelled. He opened his eyes. It was a dream, but Ron was leaning over him.

"You dreamt it too?" Ron asked him, looking slightly relieved.

"The one with... Sirius." Harry said uncertainly.

"Yes!" Ron said urgently.

Harry couldn't help having a desire to fall asleep again, but what had the letter said? 'It will happen tonight'. They had to go!

"Will it be the Shrieking Shack or the Department of Mysteries?" Ron asked.

"Shrieking shack." Harry said, unaware of how he knew the answer. He glanced at his alarm clock. Three minutes past midnight. He quickly got dressed, grabbed the invisibility cloak and left the common room.

"Who's that?" Mumbled the fat lady sleepily. "No, I've just got my daily prophet." She continued snoring.

They tiptoed down flights of stairs and only stooped when they heard Peeves and Filch. "I'm having you poltergeist this time!" Roared Filch and lumbered across the corridor. They dashed past, and ran down the last flight of stairs, and before they knew it, they were outside.

"It's a full moon." Ron said nervously.

"That's good, plenty of light." Harry said as they slipped past the Quidditch pitch.

"Should we have got Hermione?" Ron hissed.

"No." Harry said firmly. "It's not possible anyway."

Within five minutes they were at the Shrieking Shack, moonlight flooding down on it. "Shall we go in?" Ron asked, looking nervous and backing away from the house as though it were a contagious disease.

"We didn't come her to stare at it." Harry muttered and slipped inside. Ron had no choice but to follow. They were in a dark hallway, there were stairs leading downwards and stairs leading upwards. There were no noises coming from the house, maybe it was the Department of mysteries after all. Then they heard a bloodcurdling scream.

"Get away from me you brute!" Came a cold, menacing voice. It came from downstairs. Pulling their wands carefully out, Harry and Ron headed down the stairs in the direction of the noise. At the bottom of the stairs was a long corridor, the noises were getting clearer. There was a growl of a wolf. Lupin. Harry thought. He pulled off the invisibility cloak and opened the door.