Draco didn't reappear in classes until late on Thursday morning, when the Slytherins and Gryffindors were halfway through double Potions. He swaggered into the dungeon, his right arm covered in bandages and bound up in a sling, acting as though he was the heroic survivor of some dreadful battle.

"How is it, Draco?" simpered Pansy. "Does it hurt much?"

"Yeah," said Draco, putting on a brave sort of grimace, and glancing at Wyverna to see if she'd heard. But Dolphin saw him wink at Tom and Blaise when Pansy had looked away.

"Settle down, settle down," said Professor Snape, idly. Harry and Dol scowled at each other. Snape wouldn't have said 'settle down' if they'd walked in late, he'd have given them detention.

A few cauldrons away, Neville was in trouble. His potion, which was supposed to be a bright, acid green had turned -

"Orange, Longbottom," said Snape. "Do you know what will happen if we give this to someone? Hm? No? Well, let's find out. Miss Stebbs – over here."

"That's not fair!" burst out Hermione. "In accordance with page 157 and clause 1002 in Hogwarts: A History it clearly states that if one member of a house has been chosen to do something as dangerous as this then at least one student from the rival house must also be chosen." Snape scowled.

"Ten points from Gryffindor for interrupting a teacher," he snapped. "As I was about to say, any Slytherin volunteers?" Wyverna stood up.

"I'll do it," she said.

"Excellent! Twenty points to Slytherin, Miss Aiken. Now, if you'll each drink a drop of this..." He handed them both a glass. One... Two... Three... thought Wyverna, and raising up the glass she downed it in one gulp. There was a feeling as though her whole body was too hot, and then turned to liquid and started bubbling. She was stretched, and pushed, and pulled, until it ended and she was curled up on... grass?

She sat up, carefully, and looked around. Dolphin was nowhere to be seen. It looked as though she was still at Hogwarts, only outside. And her robes now had a red trim, and the Gryffindor crest on them. She stood up, and shook herself, like a dog does when it's been out in the rain. Her many necklaces which had been hidden under her robes flew out, and her bracelets also slid further down her arms. Sighing, she half-heartedly pushed them back up (which was pointless as they just slid straight back down) and wandered off in the direction of the castle.

Changing her mind halfway she decided she felt like flying. She hadn't had the chance to do this yet, which was annoying as it was one of the things she'd most looked forward to. She changed direction, and went instead to the tiny hut on the corner of the Quidditch Pitch, which was where the spare brooms were kept.

Opening it, she was surprised to find two Firebolts (yes, I know they haven't come out in Marauder time but we get them anyway!), one labeled 'Dolphin Stebbs – Gryffindor' and the other in what was clearly her handwriting labeled 'Wyverna Aiken – Gryffindor Forever!'.

So she was Gryffindor now, huh? Well, it would have been nice if someone had told her. Shaking her head, she grabbed what she assumed was her Firebolt, and went out of the hut.

She swung her leg over, and kicked off. She felt the cool up rush of air, and loved it. She figured that flying was one of those things – either you could do it, or you couldn't. Luckily, she could. Flying up to the tallest tower, she landed neatly on the flat roof. She crawled over to the battlements, and peered over. Whoa-oa. Long way down. Flopping backwards, she lay on her back, staring up at the clouds. She'd never had a good head for heights, and while she was fine on the broom, here she was too afraid to stand up.

She amused herself with lighting small fires "Incendio!" but the fun went out of this when her broom nearly went up in smoke. "Repairio Broomio!" was the answer, but now what? She sat in a corner, idly tapping her fingers, when suddenly a dark shadow swerved over head. Looking up it circled round, and then landed. A dark-haired teenager jumped off, and came over to her, glaring.

"What are you doing here?" he said, rudely.

"Well, sitting," she replied, sarcastically. "What does it look like?" He rolled his eyes, but sat down in front of her.

"Well go sit somewhere else – this is my place."

"I'm a new student, and this is my place now. Besides, I don't see your name on it."

"It is."

"Show me."

"Fine. Get on your broom, and I will." Now it was her turn to roll her eyes.

"I'm not falling for that one." She turned away. "Listeno Musico!" Immediately music began playing in her ears – no-one else could hear it, and it was whatever track she wanted. The boy looked at her, curiously.

"What are you listening to?"

"Stereo Muscio." The Ramones' "Hey Ho Let's Go" started playing, and he smiled.

"Muggle music." She sat up.

"And what's wrong with 'muggle music', might I ask?" she said, sharply.

"Nuthin', specially not with The Ramones."

"Good, now that I've got your approval can you leave me alone?" He seemed to find this amusing; a smile played around his lips.

"And why should I leave you alone?"

"I was here first," she said, only realising how stupid that sounded when it made it out of her mouth.

"'I was here first'," he mimicked. "Do you realise how stupid that sounds?"

"Can't be as stupid as you look," she shot back, automatically standing up, ready for a fight. The world spun around her, and she promptly sat straight back down. The boy sneered.

"So that's why you won't go!"

"It's not that! It's principle. And the minute I get back down on that earth I will kick your ass!"

"And how long will that be?" the boy asked, coolly raising an eyebrow.

"Now!" Wyverna said, finally losing her temper. She stood up, and made her way over to her broom on shaky legs. She carefully picked it up, not noticing the boy suddenly sit up.

"What... What make is your broom?" he asked, trying to act all unconcerned.

"A Firebolt."

"A Firebolt?"

"Yeah, they're not out in this country yet." He stood up, and started to walk over for a closer look. He was almost there when she got on her broom, and shot straight up. The boy grabbed his own broom, and followed her. They had an extremely long and complicated chase, which ended in Wyverna doing a Wronski Feint, which in turn ended in the boy flying straight into the ground. Flying down, she hovered beside him.

"Told you I was gonna kick your ass."

The boy sat up, smiling. He got up, and held out a hand.

"Pleased to meet you. Wait until you meet James! He'll be so jealous that you're a better flyer than him. He's been trying to pull off that Wronski Feint for two years now."

"So you're not all 'go somewhere else' now?" she asked.

"Nah. I've decided I like you."

"I'm honoured," she replied, sarcastically.

"Are you always like this?"

"Like what?"

"So... insultive."

"'Insultive'? Never mind – I know what you mean. And yes," she continued with a smile, "I am always like this." The boy grinned at her.

"We'll get along fine, then. By the way, I like your necklaces," he said, indicating a particularly Gothic one, with a skull on it. "And now I'll show you how that tower's mine. It does have my name on it." He flew up into the air until they came back to the tower. Going round the side, he showed her a name etched into the side.

Sirius Black.

Back in Dolphin-land this is what happened...

She landed safely in the Great Hall, not experiencing as much pain as Wyverna was, outside somewhere. Standing up, she didn't realise the change as quickly as Wyverna did. Her robes were the same colour (red with the Gryffindor crest) and she wasn't looking for a broom. She headed off to the library, to try and find out what exactly had happened when her and Wyverna had taken the potion.

She made it to the library without noticing much difference. I mean, sure a couple of statues were different, and the paintings looked somehow... younger, but it's not the kind of thing you really think about, is it? Once in the library there was no sight of Hermione, which surprised her. All the tables were full, apart from one, where a teenager with light-brown hair was sat, engrossed in some book or other. She approached him, carefully.

"Can I sit here?" The guy looked up in surprise.

"Oh, sure, sure," he said, absently, pushing his books aside to make room for her. She dumped her stuff, and went over to the Potions section. She picked out a few which looked useful, and went back over. She rummaged in her bag, and got out her quill and some parchment. Looking over the first book she began to make some notes.

Potions In Lessons was the title of the first book. Biting the tip of her quill, Dolphin started skimming over the book, until she found what looked like a useful chapter. Potions And Their Colours – What Do They Mean?

Colours she jotted down as a quick title. Yellow... no... Black? No... ah, here.

Acid Green. That was the colour it was meant to be, right?

Acid Green – this shade is the correct appearance for a shrinking potion. There was a lot more information about it, but the shrinking potion seemed to be the only important part.

Orange – this shade is the correct appearance for a time-travel potion. It will send the drinker back approximately ten years. At this point Dol pushed the book back a bit in order to see better and make sure she hadn't mis-read it, and accidentally knocked the others off the side of the table. The boy opposite leaned down, and picked one of the books up for her. He read the title out loud.

"Properties of Potions." He looked at her quizzically. "You like Potions?"

"I would if Professor Snape didn't teach it. Honestly, I've not been here for a day, and already I know to avoid him," she said, with a wry smile. The boy smiled, too.

"Tell me about it. He set us a three foot long essay to be handed in in a couple of days! I decided to do mine now, as my friends will probably copy off me. Especially Sir – one of them." Dol smiled back at him, and immediately felt way more friendly towards him. The two chatted for a while, then the boy rose. "I think I should be getting back to my common room now. You want to come meet my friends?" Dolphin smiled gratefully.

"Sure. I seem to have lost my own." She followed the boy out of the library, where he paused.

"Sorry. I don't know your name."

"It's Dolphin. Dolphin Stebbs."

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Remus Lupin."