SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1MAELSTROM

PART TWO-THE SEVENTH YEAR

CHAPTER ELEVEN-THE NEW GRYFFINDORS

I couldn't wait to see everyone again. Lily managed to come around again. She sent me an owl from home saying how sorry she was for doing what she did last year. She hadn't meant it and felt really awful.

I sent her an owl back saying that it was fine. We were all pretty much in shock and I didn't blame her one bit. We made up and now everything was back to normal.

I was waiting at Kings Cross station in September. This was our last year together. Everyone was nervous, excited and sad at the same time. We really were going to miss Hogwarts in the end.

I had my owl named Valerie and my trunk in cart on the station. My parents had just dropped me off. The Hogwarts Express, a beautiful red streamline engine was parked in the station. Large clouds of smoke billowed from the smokestack.

I had grown a bit over the summer as well. My hair, which had been in tight banana curls, was now less curly and wavier. I had straightened it a bit but it still remained wavy.

I spied Molly immediately.

"Molly!" I said cheerfully as I waved.

As soon as she saw me, her face lit up. She flew over to me and threw her arms around me, giving me a huge hug.

"Oh my God! How are you?" she asked cheerfully as we pulled apart.

She changed over the summer too. Her hair was slightly curly now and she appeared to have grown an inch or two.

"Fine," I said beaming. "You?"

"Great! Oh! Remus is here...hold on a sec," she said.

She turned around. "Remus!"

He came hurrying over. He looked handsome now. His hair was slightly wavy now and he too was a bit taller. He was dressed in Muggle jeans and a black button up shirt.

His face lit up when he saw me.

"Hey," he said warmly smiling. "You look good!"

I smiled. "Same here,"

"Hey guys!" a voice called.

Remus' eyes lingered on me for a second before we turned around. It was Arthur.

I grinned broadly. We waved and he came hurrying over.

He looked handsome as well.

"How was everyone's summer?" he asked eagerly.

"Really good actually," Molly said happily. "We went swimming and then took some bus tours in Greece."

"Wonderful!" Arthur exclaimed. "Those Muggle ones where there's a tour guide?"

Molly nodded.

"I spent my summer fishing," Arthur continued brightly. "That's really fun!"

Just then, James and Lily came into sight. The minute Lily spied us, she let out a squeal and came tearing over to us.

We all hugged and began talking at once.

Finally, we boarded the Hogwarts Express and took a compartment.

Arthur, James and Remus sat across from Molly, Lily and I.

"I can't believe how different everyone looks," Molly said grinning as she looked from Arthur, to Remus, to James, to Lily and I.

"We've changed slightly yep," James nodded.

His facial features had sharpened, but his hair remained untidy.

"Maybe we should plaster that hair of yours down eh?" Remus teased him.

James sent him a frown.

"Maybe we should plaster you down,"

"Relax," Lily said as she playfully leaned over and ruffled James' hair so it looked more on end. "We love the fact that you look like you stuck your finger into an electrical socket."

We all laughed. Including James.

"What about you, Carrie? How'd you spend your summer?" Remus asked turning his eyes onto me.

"Meh, I just hung around and went to the movies," I said. "I have some Muggle friends that I hung out with. They just moved here."

"What did you tell them about your long 'absence'?" Arthur asked curiously.

"Told them I go to a college and that I live on campus. I was just home for the summers...and holidays," I said shrugging. "They seemed to buy it."

"At least you didn't tell them you were in some kind of asylum," James said smiling. "I'm going crazy! I've lost my marbles!"

"We know that already," Molly teased him.

James playfully reached over and poked her in the ribs. She laughed.

I smiled and shook my head.

Just then, there was a commotion in the corridors. Intrigued, James got up and stuck his head out into the corridor.

"What is it?" Lily asked.

"Dunno," he said. "Looks like some Slytherins are giving new kids trouble."

"Ugh," Molly said rolling her eyes. "Don't they ever learn?"

"No," Remus said angrily. "Let's go."

Remus, James and I got up. My hand was in my pocket, tightly wrapped around my wand.

Sure enough, two Slytherins had two new students pinned against the wall.

"Hey," Remus said angrily. "What are you two doing?"

The Slytherins looked up at us.

It was Andrew Kessler, Rick Banner and David Evers. The Slytherin bullies. The new students looked to be about the same age as us. But if they were new, shouldn't they be first years?

I shook my head out of those thoughts and concentrated on the scene that was happening now.

"None of your business, Gryffindors," Andrew snapped his green eyes flashing.

The new students were a boy and girl. They looked terrified.

"It is when you start harassing innocent students," James snapped pulling out his wand and aiming it Andrew.

"Like you and that other joke, Sirius never harassed innocent students?" Rick snickered.

He looked like an older Arthur, only Rick had freckles.

I literally saw James' vein throbbing in his neck. His face flushed with anger.

"We never did it out of malice," James continued in a would-be calm voice. "We never would hurt someone just for the fun of it."

By now, Remus and I had pulled out our wands as well.

"And look," Rick snickered gesturing to Remus and I. "They have backup losers!"

"Stupefy," Remus hissed.

The jet of light hit Rick right in the chest. He froze and then fell over backward.

"Want to play?" James rasped. "Leave them alone."

Andrew and David hurried away, leaving Rick frozen on the floor. Remus tucked his wand back into his robe. So did James and I.

"Are you two okay?" I asked softly.

"Yeah," the girl said. "Thank you."

"What are your names?" Remus asked brightly.

"I'm Holly," the girl said.

"And I'm Sam Tyson. We're brother and sister," the boy said.

"I'm Remus, this is Carrie and that's James," Remus introduced. "Come and sit with us."

They nodded and followed us back to the compartment.

Arthur, Lily and Molly looked up.

I took my seat again.

"This is Holly and Sam Tyson...they're brother and sister," James explained.

"Hi!" Molly said cheerfully. "I'm Molly Prewett."

"And I'm Arthur Weasley,"

"I'm Lily Evans,"

Once everyone had been introduced, Lily turned to Holly.

Holly had shoulder length dark brown hair and blue eyes; Sam looked exactly like Holly.

"So aren't you guys first years?" Lily asked.

"No," Sam said, shaking his head. "We're being transferred here from Artarol Magic Academy in Wales. This is also our final year."

Odd...why on earth would you transfer to a new school in your last year? I wondered. That just doesn't sound right.

I glanced at Arthur. I knew he was thinking the same thing.

His eyes lingered on mine for a moment before we turned our attention back to Holly and Sam.

"Why would you transfer out now? In your final and last year?" Molly voiced frowning.

"Our Dad's in the Muggle military," Holly explained calmly. "So we move around a lot."

"Oh yes," Arthur said nodding. "I've heard of that...the Muggle military. Fascinating."

Holly and Sam looked at him like he was strange.

"Riiight," Sam said slowly. "So anyway, what house will we be sorted into?"

"We're not sure," James said. "Whatever Dumbledore thinks would suit you best."

Headmaster Weston retired and Professor Dumbledore took his place now.

They nodded.

I turned my attention to the outside. It had started to rain heavily. The rain streaked across the glass. Arthur leaned forward.

"Doesn't it strike you odd about these two?" he whispered, our faces inches apart.

I nodded. "I know...something doesn't sit right with me either,"

"How have you been?" he asked meaningfully.

I knew he meant if I had any premonitions.

"Okay," I said softly.

He searched my face for a moment before pulling back.

Suddenly, my eyes slid out of focus and I went rigid.

MOLLY.

I knew the look on Carrie's face. She was having a vision. James, Lily, Remus, Arthur and I watched intently.

"Is she okay?" Sam asked frowning as he looked at Carrie. "She looks like she's spazing out."

"She's fine," James reassured him.

Finally, after a moment, Carrie came back to life. She gasped and shook herself.

"What was it?" Remus demanded.

Carrie looked at me.

"Someone's going to try and get on the train," she whispered.

Sure enough, the train began slowing down.

"Did you recognize the person?" Arthur asked.

Carrie shook her head.

We heard the pistons starting to slow and pump. James got up and stuck his head out into the compartment.

"We aren't the only ones who are curious," he replied. "Everyone's got their heads poking out of their compartments."

We heard someone yell, and then the pistons began revving again. The train began to pick up speed again.

"What on earth was that about?" Lily mused.

"Not sure," Carrie said. "But I think the person got on board anyway."

"How do you know?" Remus asked.

"I just have a feeling," she replied looking grave.

The train picked up its normal speed now. We continued on our way to Hogwarts.

We headed into the castle after the Threstrals pulled our carriages. Sam and Holly headed off with Professor McGonagall, who had greeted them.

"They seriously creep me out those two," James replied as we took our seats at the Gryffindor table.

"I know the feeling," Lily said. "Something definitely is wrong there."

"I just think its odd that they would transfer out so fast even when this is their last year supposedly," I said.

"Exactly," Carrie said nodding. "Even if their parents were in the Muggle military, don't you think that they would have some knowledge about visions or premonitions? I mean I'm not expecting them to know everything, but if they were from Muggle parents, wouldn't they recognize signs of someone having a vision? I mean there are tons on television."

"True," Arthur said nodding. "I watch a lot of the Muggle TV and I have to say, there are movies that explain it."

"Something's not sitting right with me," Carrie continued. "I hope I'm not being paranoid."

"No, cause I feel it too," James said.

"Me too," Lily and Arthur said in unison.

I nodded.

"I guess we're just going to have to keep an eye on them then," Carrie said finally.

"Good idea," James replied.

Professor Dumbledore arose from his seat and silence fell across the Hall immediately.

"This year will be the last for some of you," he said fondly. "I know you will all miss Hogwarts when you graduate. But this year will be happy. I've arranged for a Christmas Ball. I know the one last year wasn't to widely received, but I'm hoping this year will be different. And now, the Sorting ceremony!"

Memories of last years dance floated into my mind. Remus and I had a blast, but then, the memory of Sirius came to mind. I glanced at everyone. I knew they were thinking the same thing.

CARRIE.

Memories of last year floated into my mind. I remembered Sirius and I felt a lump rising in my throat.

I knew the others were thinking the same thing.

A bunch of nervous looking first years entered the Hall. I bit my bottom lip, wishing I could start over again…but I knew that was impossible.

Professor McGonagall began reading the names off the list.

I sort of tuned out for a good bit of it until Arthur leaned close. He was sitting next to me.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, his blue eyes filled with concern.

"Yeah," I said quietly. "I just miss Sirius."

Sympathy filled his expression.

"I know," he said kindly. "I do too…we all do. But at least the person responsible was caught."

"Yeah," I said forcing a smile. "But I have a feeling that it's not over with. Someone else was in on the 'plan' remember?"

Arthur leaned even closer.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you…okay? Besides, meet me tonight in the Astronomy tower. I have a surprise for you," he said.

My heart lifted a bit.

He winked at me before turning his attention back to the ceremony.

When "Reynolds, Anna," was made a Gryffindor, Professor Dumbledore arose from his seat again and addressed the Hall.

"We also have two guests," he continued. "They come from a magic academy in Wales. They will be spending the week here, observing. They were interested in seeing how Hogwarts ran. So I will place them with the Gryffindor house."

We looked at each other in shock.

"That's not what they told us on the train!" Molly hissed looking stunned.

"So they lied," Remus said quietly.

"I'm telling you, this isn't right," James said. "Why on earth would students from another magic school be interested in seeing how Hogwarts ran?"

"That almost makes it seem like they…" I began, but Arthur finished my sentence for me.

"…Want to take over,"

"But we're probably just being paranoid, right?" Lily asked in a hopeful tone. "I mean Beauxbatons and Durmstrang stayed here. They got to see Hogwarts running."

"True," Molly said, but I could see that she didn't believe her own words.

"We're just going to have to play 'tour guide'," James said rubbing his hands together. "That means keeping a close eye on them at all times. Remus, Arthur and I will keep tabs on Sam. You, Molly and Lily keep tabs on Holly."

We nodded.

"Tuck in!" Dumbledore said.

The food appeared on our plates. We began helping ourselves to pork chops, mashed potatoes and string beans. I glanced up at the other end of Gryffindor table where Holly and Sam were sitting. They were watching us with the strangest expression on their faces that sent chills down my spine.