Despite everyone's best efforts, getting to the station was always going to be chaotic - three owls, two dogs and three students whose belongings had somehow spread across the entire estate, and spilled into Avalon. Fortunately, they could floo straight to the platform and Lord Nott had managed to purchase them a five minute time slot very close to the train's departure.

Yet, despite the first couple of hours being absolutely hectic, everything was gathered in the floo room by the time Anneken arrived to say her goodbyes. For once, the elderly witch hadn't stayed the night at he manor that seemed to be rapidly becoming a headquarters for Hermione's allies.

'Look after yourself - no foolish risks.' Anneken instructed Sirius firmly, tucking Cavella into the pocket on his coat. He snuffed, sticking his snout into the air in a remarkably human gesture of scorn. Cavella immediately tried to climb out of the pocket and back to Hermione, who'd put the puppy's chew toy in her pocket earlier.

'Lovely necklace, dear.' Anneken told Hermione with a wink. The young witch blushed furiously as Anneken laughed and told her to have a good term and that she'd see them over Yule. Everyone's eyes sparkled in anticipation of the upcoming event and only Sirius looked mystified, dark dog eyes flicking suspiciously between then all.

Then, once her goodbyes were finished, Anneken and Lord Nott waved them through the floo.

Whilst it was very convenient to not have to spend ages sitting around before the train departed, they quickly discovered how inconvenient it was to arrive so late. They walked the entire length of the compartment to discover that there wasn't a single compartment free.

'This one has the most space.' Harry muttered eventually, pushing into one right near the end of the train. Oddly, the occupant was an adult.

'Our new defence teacher.' Hermione whispered, allowing Theo to take her trunks. He and Harry heaved them up onto the rack as Sirius squeezed through the congested doorway. Then the dog froze, growling uncertainly.

'What is it...er... Snuffles? Do you know him?' Harry asked, cleverly remembering not to call him by his distinctive name in pubic. Sirius nodded emphatically. 'Is he going to recognise you?' Sirius nodded again.

'That's going to cause problems.' Theo commented dryly.

'Grims are pretty similar.' Hermione pondered. 'We'll just have to wing it, and I'll obliviate him if he does make the connection. Finding Pettigrew is important and Hogwarts provides the biggest snapshot of wizarding families for er... Snuffles... to scent.'

Reluctantly, they all took seats. Theo took the window seat, Harry next to him and Hermione next to the professor whilst Sirius sprawled across the floor in a distinctly dog-like manner. Cavella took advantage of the altered angle to wriggle free of the pouch on his back and began sniffing excitedly around the compartment.

'Whose that?' Neville asked, sliding the door open and scooping up the excitable puppy as she made a bid for freedom with the expertise of someone who'd coped with Trevor for years.

'Professor Lupin, our new Defence teacher.' Harry answered, shuffling up to make room for Neville as Ginny took the open spot beside Hermione.

'How was Egypt?' Hermione immediately asked the younger witch. Ginny's expression immediately broke into a grin.

'Brilliant!' Ginny enthused. 'I got you all presents - one of you'll have to enlarge them. I always mess that one up.'

Obligingly, Hermione pulled out her wand and tapped the four parcels that Ginny pulled out of her pocket. They were each labelled in Ginny's scrawl, and the young witch passed each to their relevant recipients.

'Oh cool!' Neville exclaimed, shaking out a bobbly envelope. 'Oasis seeds. They're really difficult to cultivate but their petals are used in so many potions. I can't wait to show Gran.'

Hermione meanwhile, was busy unwrapping her own much larger gift. It turned out to be a pile of seven cardboard tubes.

'They're old decorative scrolls. Bill said they'd discovered them years ago in one of the tombs, but nobody understood them so they were going to chuck them out. He kept them to decorate his flat.' Ginny explained. 'He gave them to me when I said you were fluent. He just said that he'd love a translation once you've read them.'

Carefully, Hermione opened one of the tubes and the heavy velum roll slipped out. They'd been under stasis charms, she decided, unrolling it to see a banner of bright colours. It was highly decorative, the runes almost indistinguishable among the ornate illumination in much the same style she'd used to disguise her own runes on the muggle ship so long ago.

'This one is a protective enchantment; pretty mild, I think to keep away boggarts and the like.' Hermione explained, flicking her eyes over it. 'But it's remarkably well done and the artwork is spectacular.'

Ginny grinned, turning to Harry as he unwrapped a new wand holster that could strap onto his thigh beneath his robes.

'Oh good idea Ginny!' Hermione laughed. 'He was going to be the last of the Potter line if he kept shoving it in his pocket.'

Harry's cheeks flamed as he sheepishly strapped the new holster over the smart trousers he'd worn to the station. Unlike her and Theo, he'd chosen not to wear wizard robes but he'd gone for a smart charcoal shirt and black trousers instead.

Finally, Theo opened his to receive an excellent looking text on ancient Egyptian potions.

'They had some rather interesting ideas that were suppressed when the Romans took over. I thought you might be interested.' Ginny explained with a shrug. Theo was always difficult to buy for but his interest in potions was just beginning to bud, and they were all keen to cultivate it. Having a good brewer as a friend was always a good idea. Theo opened the cover wordlessly and was immediately absorbed, which Hermione supposed was answer enough.

Then talk turned to Hogsmeade. Ginny wasn't allowed to go because she was still a second year, and it turned out that Harry hadn't been able to get his form signed either.

'I mean, we all know Sirius is my magical guardian, but he's escaped so he couldn't sign and I've never met... wait, you don't think that's Remus Lupin, do you?' Harry asked, pointing towards the sleeping teacher.

'Professor Lupin?' Neville asked and Hermione glanced up, squinting at the teacher's trunk where peeling letters had announced his name.

'That might be an R for his first name.' She admitted, 'but the letters are so worn that I can't read them.'

'You'll have to ask when he wakes up.' Neville pointed out. It was very unlikely that the teacher would sleep through the entire trip to Hogwarts, even though he looked absolutely exhausted.

'So... if he is Lupin then he might be able to sign. But that court case made it all a bit cloudy, because magically Sirius is still my guardian, legally it's nobody. The Dursleys can't sign because the review has had their guardianship removed, Dumbledore obviously can't and Lord Nott is just a temporary guardian so he can't either.'

'It can't be the same Lupin.' Hermione realised suddenly. 'Your Lupin is a werewolf and Dumbledore would never have been able to employ one with the board's approval.'

The sudden shift from the sleeping professor was suspicious and Hermione wondered whether he was actually asleep. She doubted it - that movement had been a flinch that had been purely disguised.

Sirius whined from the floor and the five students glanced down at him. He nodded his head again, an obvious confirmation that the Lupin that they were sitting with was indeed the Remus Lupin that was Harry's guardian after Sirius. Neville and Ginny went very pale, absorbed in his new book, Theo didn't react whilst Harry and Hermione just gawped.

'Circe. I mean... Umbridge's laws... He must not be registered.' Hermione then spoke deliberately, making sure that every word was clearly ennunciated. 'At least he can't reveal any secrets. There's an Azkaban sentence attached to breaking the werewolf registration act.'

It wasn't, she told herself, blackmail. Theo was a Slytherin too, and he immediately glanced up from his book at her tone of voice, then raised an eyebrow as he looked between her and the supposedly slumbering professor, who'd shifted again at Hermione's words.

'What about you?' Harry asked, oblivious to the undercurrent of her conversation. Hermione blinked, startled by the question. 'Did you get yours signed?'

'The wording of it is irritating; it makes sense of course - there's little point asking for a family head's signature when a lot of students are from branch families. Unfortunately, Anneken is my Locum Matriarch, not my magical guardian, so it does actually have to be Gellert's signature. I've owled it to Nurmengard, but Ragana returned without a reply, so I think Dumbledore might have intercepted it.'

'Surely he wouldn't?' Ginny asked, aghast. 'Didn't you say that Gellert had threatened an honour duel on his third strike? Surely that would count as the third?'

'Maybe Dumbledore thinks that he could beat Grindelwald... he's done it before.' Harry pointed out. Lupin was shifting more and more frequently and Hermione glanced at Sirius. The werewolf was probably going through all the same uncomfortable thoughts that Sirius had when Harry's affiliation with the dark wizard had been revealed. Except Sirius had had the good fortune of being able to shout about it.

Then, before the conversation could devolve into yet another of the debates over Dumbledore vs Grindelwald that had dominated a large part of their summer, the carriage door slid open. Draco Malfoy stood in the space, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

His eyes roved over everyone in the compartment, pausing slightly on Lupin.

'Whose that?' He demanded.

'New teacher.' Neville answered smugly. Malfoy's lip curled as he took in the ragged robes and battered trunk, then contorted when Cavella poked her head out from under Neville's robes.

'You're not allowed that at Hogwarts.' Malfoy informed her quickly, but he took a cautious step away from the curious white nose and his hand fell to grasp what Hermione suspected was a new wand in his pocket.

'Tough. She's my familiar.' Hermione informed him, scooping up the puppy and cuddling her.

'Your familiar attacked me in broad daylight.' Malfoy hissed.

'She defended me in front of over twenty witnesses.' Hermione corrected.

'I'll write to my father. He'll have the animal removed by the department for the regulation of magical creatures.' Malfoy threatened.

'In that case, I'll write to Gellert. I'm sure he'll be happy to attend the trial.' She smirked at the pureblood in the doorway.

'Still. Owl, cat or toad, it says in the letter.' Malfoy said decisively, quickly removing from having his usual trump card utterly top trumped.

'Exemptions can be made for familiars - Weasley has a rat and one of the fourth years has a giant spider.' Hermione reminded.

'Two dogs and an owl?' Malfoy asked.

'The owl is for owl post. Ginny uses her too.'

'I do?' Ginny asked.

'Of course.' Hermione glanced her sharply.

'Oh, I do.' Ginny confirmed with a nod. Malfoy scowled.

'Was there anything else?' Harry asked cooly. Malfoy retreated.

The door slid shut with a bang and silence fell.

'He wouldn't dare set the creature department on Cavella.' Ginny assured and Hermione let the younger witch scoop up the puppy to lavish with attention. 'The ministry wouldn't do it; not if it meant bringing Grindelwald out of prison again.'

Hermione knew that what Ginny had said was true, it's why she'd been so determined to have him attend a trial. It was why she'd left her magical signature all over the Azkaban breakout when it would have been easy for Mordred's or even the family signature to be left instead. Yet the ministry were also notoriously unforgiving when it came to magical beasts and she didn't want it to come down to a battle between her and Malfoy's influence.

Her musing was interrupted but the door sliding open again, this time to the much more welcome trolley lady. As usual, Harry bought enough for all of them and they dared each other to try different Bertie Bott's beans as the train whisked them north and the scenery grew more wild outside. Then, when they reached the end of that pile, they pulled out their new charms book for the year and did some practice in preparation for the year ahead.

'I just don't understand the point of using a wand for this.' Harry grumbled as he struggled to master the smooth, swooshing wand movement whilst still terminating it in the right spot. Sirius yelped, scrambling out of the way of a misfired charm that quickly turned the carpet to stone. Then he turned resentful eyes on his godson.

'It's a really useful duelling spell, so you'll probably have a shield charm in your off hand.' Hermione explained.

Harry sighed irritably, waving his wand at the carpet with a muttered "finite". It reverted to its previous softness but Sirius didn't return to his spot, clearly wary of any more stray spells. By the time it finally started to rain, Harry seemed to have mastered it. He raised his wand to demonstrate just as the train started to slow, throwing him off balance.

'What's going on?' Neville demanded, leaning past him to wipe the condensation off the window. It was grey, gloomy and raining so hard that they could barely make out the trees that lined the track.

'We're not there yet.' Hermione breathed, casting a quick tempus charm. They were at least fifteen minutes away. The noises of the train faded away, as did the vibrations of steel wheels over track and the sound of questions being asked outside became much clearer. Suddenly she noticed that she could hear the sheets of rain hitting the windows, along with an odd crackling noise.

The drain stopped completely with a jolt, throwing Neville into her lap. He made a soft oofh, then scrambled backwards to get off her. Sirius yelped in pain as his tail was trodden on.

Then the lamps winked out, plunging them into even more chaotic darkness.

'That's me, Longbottom.'

'Ow, damn it, Cavella.'

The compartment door slid open.

'Hermione?' Daphne's voice drifted in. Sirius yelped again, presumably as she stood on him. Thick, warm fur huddled up against her legs as he moved to the safety of the edge of the compartment.

'What's going on?' Ron Weasley demanded. Daphne shrieked as he banged into her and he hastily apologised.

'That's my breast, you oaf.' She cried.

'This is ridiculous.' Hermione hissed. A witchlight flared into her palm and she tossed it upwards to the ceiling.

'Oh, thank Circe.' Ginny breathed, helping Daphne out from under Ron.

'What's going on?' Ron repeated.

'Do you think the Hogwarts Express can break down?' Theo asked, stepping over Neville to wipe at the glass. She noticed that a thin film of ice has formed over it, sparkling in the greenish glow of her light.

Sirius whimpered urgently.

'There's something moving out there.' Harry declared, his nose pressed against the glass. Hermione got up to have a look, stepping over Neville who was still sprawled across the floor.

'Quiet.' A hoarse voice ordered. Hermione spun, wand already drawn and levelled between Lupin's eyes. He looked down at it with slightly crossed eyes.

'I won't hurt you.' He promised, Hermione lowered her wand but kept it ready as the Professor surveyed the pale young faces packed into the compartment. His eyes briefly paused on Sirius, then moved on to the door. He got up, squeezing past Hermione towards the door.

It slid open before he could reach it and the air suddenly became icy cold. Hermione was back in Russia, her wrists smarted from her recent imprisonment and the awful corset bit into gaunt ribs. The snap of rope drawing taught and boots scrabbling against rough wood echoed in her ears, the cheers of the crowd deafening her. Something heavy slammed into her knees and she dropped, half expecting to feel the rope around her neck, wet and warm with the blood of the Baba Yaga's coven.

Faintly, over the crowd, she could see a towering hooded figure. Grey, scaled fingers reached across the space and she vaguely registered that it was a dementor.

Another dark figure stepped forwards, then something bright and silvery shot out of the end of a wand.

It was like stepping into a warm bath. The cold that suffocated her vanished, the sickening tang of blood disappeared and the roar of the excited crowd faded into the concerned muttering of her friends. Her hand flew up to her throat automatically, checking for the rope. Then she glanced down at the weight against her legs. Harry was unconscious, slumber half against her and half against the wall. The lights flickered on again.

'Harry?' Ginny demanded, slithering off her seat and crouching down beside him. Theo looked as white as a sheet, Neville was clammy and Daphne was gasping for breath, huddled up against a whimpering Sirius. Cavella slunk over to her mistress, cuddling into her arms for reassurance.

'Dementor!' Harry gasped as he came too. 'Ginny, Hermione, Daphne?'

'We're okay.' Daphne murmured, although she didn't quite look it.

'It was awful. I saw my mother dying again.'

'I think I heard Voldemort attacking my parents.' Harry admitted, allowing Neville to pull him back t his feet. A sharp snap made Hermione jump and she had her wand out again in seconds before realising that it was just Lupin breaking up a large bar of chocolate.

'Eat it - it'll help.' Lupin offered and they all took it gratefully.

'I can't believe those things are going to be at the gates all year.' Theo moaned. Neville whimpered in agreement.

'Suddenly I'm not so keen on Hogsemeade.' Ginny agreed.

'I'm going to check on my sister.' Daphne announced, hurrying from the compartment with an urgency that suggested that might have been what she saw.

'We've got to learn the patronus charm.' Hermione decided resolutely, her hand finally falling from her throat as the warmth of the chocolate settled in her stomach. 'First topic, as soon as we get to school.'

'Agreed.' Harry muttered.

'Definitely.' Neville whispered, nibbling on his own chocolate. 'I saw Bellatrix torturing my dad.'

There was a moment of silence as everyone pondered what they'd seen.

'That's what you just cast, Professor?' Hermione asked, turning to face Lupin. He looked very uncertain.

'Yes... it was.'

'Could you teach us?' Harry asked eagerly. Everyone nodded along with him.

'It's a very tricky charm...'

'I'm sure we can manage!' Ginny insisted.

'I'm sure you can too... I saw that wandless witchlight. Perhaps, if you give me a couple of weeks; I will need to work out my schedule and find out when I have time.'

'Excellent!' Hermione grinned. The others echoes her sentiment with varying levels of success; Theo, Neville, Ginny and Harry had been practicing occulumency in preparation for their return to Hogwarts with Sirius Black as Hermione's pet. It helped with projecting a false sentiment.

'Might we perhaps discuss your unique pet?' Lupin asked, glancing down at Sirius who whimpered nervously.

'I have several.' Hermione replied quickly. 'A Basilisk, a Longma, two Grims and whatever else still lives on my island.'

'I meant this one in particular.' Lupin gestured to Sirius.

'Oh, Snuffles.' She casually ruffled Sirius' ears. 'He's an adult Grim, rather tall for his species and very intelligent. My family have always had a pack of Grims in their service.'

'How long have you had this particular one?'

'Two years.' She lied easily. Harry blinked owlishly at her whilst Ginny choked on her chocolate. Theo elbowed Harry sharply and Neville shifted awkwardly. It was far from subtle. 'Okay, perhaps not quite two years. I spent a year observing him and working it how to earn his loyalty, a couple of months actually doing it and I only managed to actually capture him over summer. Grims are rare, you know?'

She made sure to look straight into Lupin's eyes as she spoke and continued petting Sirius' head. Lupin looked suspicious.

'Might I perform some tests on him? Just to satisfy my curiosity of course?'

'Only if I can perform tests on you.' Hermione answered. Lupin hesitated.

'I see.'

She folded her arms over her chest.

'Perhaps Harry and I can come to your office once term begins. We have some delicate matters to discuss with you anyway You're welcome to examine him then.' Hermione offered after a moment. Sirius squeaked in alarm and looked at her in betrayal whilst Harry's eyes widened. Hermione forced Sirius' nose down in an attempt to make him look more like a real dog.

Lupin regarded them for a moment longer, then relaxed.

'That sounds excellent. I'll look forwards to it... now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to speak to the driver.'

She could feel the tension in the carriage for the last ten minutes to Hogwarts but nobody could say anything with Ron in the compartment. They changed, pulling on their Hogwarts uniforms in silence, then headed out to the carriages and leaving Cavella in Sirius' care on the train.

She was bombarded as soon as the carriage door closed.

'Seriously Hermione? You just agreed to let Lupin check out Sirius?' Harry fumed.

'I thought it would be suspicious if I tried to hard to hide him. He would have reported us to Dumbledore otherwise. This way, he'll investigate on his own before revealing that he betrayed the headmaster's trust.'

'And when he investigates... he'll find exactly what he's looking for.' Harry hissed slowly.

'I've given us a couple of months at least, rather than the hours we'd have if he ran to Dumbledore now. Hopefully we will know where the rat is, and we can be working on a pardon by then. I'm sure that once we explain it to him, Lupin will cooperate. They were best friends once. If he doesn't... well, he's breaking the law just by being here and so is Dumbledore. It would give me great pleasure to see the headmaster brought down for breaking a law that he's only just passed.'

'I don't like it.' Harry reiterated.

'If he doesn't help, I'll move to plan B.'

'Which is?' Theo drawled.

'Obliviation, but I've got something else in the works that might sweeten the deal. I think he'll go for plan A.'

None of her friends seemed to be particular confident in her plan but they stopped pressing the matter. It was done now and none of them could change it. Instead, the conversation shifted to an awkward discussion on what classes their houses might share.