(A/N I can't believe that Chapter Twenty is coming up... It's going by faster than I thought and I still have more to fit in this year. Tell me what you think of this! BYE!)

Chapter 19-Dementors

"Alright," Ally said, leafing through her large book in the common room late at night, "What do you think about what this kid's written here?"

"The Guants are descendant of one of the most infamous founders of Hogwarts, Salazar Slytherin. They have been identified as one of the only family's of wizards in Britain that have the ability to speak the snake language, Parsletoungue. It is believed, that Slytherin hid a secret chamber at Hogwarts and the only way to access it is through a Parseltongue password. And look." Ally pointed to the side, where a sloped, stylish handwriting wasseen, "Someone's written the words, 'Open up.'"

Lily sighed; Ally was at it again, convinced that whoever had written all over that old book was Riddle. Lily couldn't complain, however, the books were worth it. Potter had left her alone for a full week and a half.

The students were back in the castle again and classes had resumed. They were drowned in essays and assignments but somehow, each and every Gryffindor seemed to get in trouble with a Slytherin every day. With the heightened 'war' awareness everyone was on their toes, watching out for Death Eaters and You-Know-Who himself.

Lily found that reading was relaxing in that harsh time. And, after a while, things calmed down. Lily supposed that their parents had made the students so jumpy. With Dumbledore at Hogwarts, everyone was safe.

The Daily Prophet was still printing about hoaxes and pranks and the students began to catch on. "How long can this go on?" was what most of the students and staff were asking them selves. Days... Months... Years...? Was it possible? With the coming exams for the older students, it was difficult to concentrate on the outside world. Lily and Ally were involved in studying and then reading the old books they had picked out.

On the brighter side, whatever was written in that letter to Sam was really well written. Remus and she were inseparable lately, rarely seen without the other. The only times when they weren't together was when the full moon hit. Lily didn't ask him if she knew. It was a private matter and she didn't want to pressure him. Ally thought it was funny and proudly stated that she was the one to deliver the fateful letter that began the relationship. Remus simply blushed and shrunk away.

Ally had become a regular member of the Dueling Club since attending her first meeting in December. She was advancing at an alarmingly fast rate for someone who had never been exposed to the world of dueling before. For a second, it almost worried Lily, but then she thought, This is Ally; she's not going to turn dark anytime soon. Lily had cheered Ally one when she went against their dueling teacher, Professor Arma and was shocked, amazed, and delighted when Ally had won the match.

"Lucky shot," said the Professor, rubbing his back, "Just a lucky shot..."

Quidditch had started back up again in the spring weather and Ally and Lily started to go to games. "Not for Potter," Lily said constantly, "I want to show some team sprit." Ally didn't care; all she wanted to do was yell "THE SNITCH IS RIGHT THERE!" at the top of her lungs, then point in three different directions and watch the seekers go from confused to angry. One time, a Ravenclaw yelled at her, but Sirius sent a bludger at him and she shut up quickly.

Lily had already read through the first two other books on alchemy and incantations. She pointed out a few important spells that Ally should know and also took a particular interest in one wizard, Nicholas Flamel. Now, she sympathized with Ally and her obsession with Tom Riddle because Lily couldn't find out enough about Flamel. She searched and searched for him but only found small scraps of information that only slightly quenched her thirst for knowledge.

What she really found fascinating was his study on alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone. She had heard of such a myth when she was younger. Lily was always shocked on what she could find out in the wizard world. Perhaps that was why she studied so much, she didn't want to forget anything about her dream come true.

When she was younger, she always thought she was special. Well, her parents thought she was special but her classmates thought she was a freak. Weird things happened to her and oftentimes they happened without her being aware. She would be really angry and the lights in the house would flash on and off, or she would be sad and all the faucets and taps would turn on in the house when she cried. Her classmates had teased her endlessly and that's why she couldn't stand bullies.

As she got older she started to lose hope. Maybe she was a freak, an abnormality. That's when the most amazing thing that could possibly happen... happened. Her Hogwarts letter came. It was her most favorite piece of paper that she had ever come across. Lily still kept it safe in her trunk, hidden away from the world. So that one day when she was feeling sad she would take out the letter again and feel happy as she read through the introduction.

She remembered the first day she walked through Diagon Alley, her first sniff of the Apothecary, whirling through the tunnels underneath Gringotts. She remembered fitting her first robes and she remembered, most of all, the first time she ran into James and Sirius. She smiled at the memory when she had gotten them back for jinxing her ice cream. Her first summer after going to Hogwarts she feared that Hogwarts would disappear one day and she would have to go back to being a freak. So, to keep herself busy, she had hexed Petunia when she had gotten bored. That was her first and only warning not to use under aged magic. Lily thought it was funny how the owl had swooped in only moments after and landed on Petunias hair. She treasured the memory forever. In all seriousness, she loved her sister, but she could be a bit of a snob.

Lily jumped out of her reminiscence.

Ally was absorbed in the green and silver book, The Family Gaunt and Lily was studying the book on Animagi. She thought over presenting the idea to Ally. Knowing Al, she'd jump at the chance. But then Lily thought about the consequences of doing something so dangerous. She also thought about what would happen if they were caught. The ministry came down hard upon unregistered Animagi; she didn't want to go to Azkaban without taking her N.E.W.T.s first. Her doubts were quelled, however, when the event of March transpired.

Dinner...

"Dumbledore says that the ministry is enforcing the boundaries."

"It's for our own protection."

"That's codswallop! Dumbledore has the place safe; he's the greatest wizard in the word."

"What about You-Know-Who? They say he's invincible."

"Dumbledore is the best man for the job. Not these ghosts."

"I heard from a Slytherin that they can suck out your soul."

"I doubt that's going to stop He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his Death Eaters, doesn't he already have a couple of them on his side?"

"I hate them! They're so creepy they can suck the life out of you."

"They patrol Azkaban and the prisoners go mad there. That's what I heard."

"What are they called again?"

"De—"

"Men—"

"Tors—"

"DEMENTORS!" Ally shouted the evening of the second week of March. "What could they possibly be thinking?"

Dinner had concluded with Dumbledore's solemn announcement that Dementors were to patrol the entrances and the grounds at Hogwarts. No one was allowed out at night and the doors to the castle would be bolted shut. Hogwarts was impenetrable from the outside world. No one was allowed in or out. It became a way of life for most students.

Ally stuck to her own theory, Don't run into the anything black and billowing, and when you're suddenly depressed, run for your life.

Lily wanted to know why they were suddenly clamping down on security. Why now? Why didn't they start this in January when the students had come back from home? Why didn't they start in February? What brought about this sudden change in attitude from the Ministry? It was unsettling to hear that the Ministry was interfering at Hogwarts for the first time in at least thirty years.

Ally heard from Sirius that the last time the Ministry tried to pull this kind of joke was when a girl had died at Hogwarts. He didn't say anymore on the subject and Ally didn't ask to hear anymore. The only thing that Ally asked was when it happened and Sirius estimated in the forties. Ally was so excited to hear about something happening in Riddle's time that she ran straight to the library to look it up. Lily wondered how Sirius knew about that sort of thing but she didn't press the subject, assuming it was a family matter. The Black family was one of the oldest families in existence.

Quidditch practices were difficult for the Gryffindor team. Slytherin was booking the pitch so often that it was almost impossible for the captain to get a practice in and with the added stress of upcoming exams the team was getting stressed. Slytherins took advantage of their dispositions and tensions mounted when they would get into fights. Lily dropped a book during class and the Quidditch players all jumped.

"That isn't the real problem for the Quidditch team," James had told them, "It's the Dementors."

The foul guards of Azkaban patrolled the pitch at night and watched from afar during the day. Sometimes during practice they would travel dangerously close. Dumbledore had insisted upon a staff member being present for every practice. By the end of March, Dementors were a dangerous subject to tread upon. That was when Ally and Lily took it upon themselves to find a way to defend against the monstrous terrors.

Lily had shown Ally the page in the book Astounding Magical Incantations for the Powerful Wizard. On the page was a picture of a grotesquely drawn Dementor and a witch holding up her wand. Coming from the wand was silver light that, in the drawing, morphed into a cat.

"What does it mean?" Ally said, "Expecto Patronum?"

"It's a happy thought that if cast correctly would repel any Dementor." she said, "You would have to concentrate very hard. It's a powerful spell that'll waste your magical energy if you aren't used to it."

"It may be difficult to manage..." Ally said while skimming the page, "But I agree with you. We should be able to defend our selves from those things."

Lily sat down across from Lily on the common room couch. They hadn't even tried to conceal the books, no one in Gryffindor would rat them out to Madam Pince. The older students were too busy studying for exams. The Marauders already knew about the books. The younger students were afraid of older students. It all worked to their advantage but they also made sure not to show the books to someone who was a bit too close to McGonagall.

"There is another defense..." Lily trailed off in silence. This wasn't her idea of an after school project.

"What is it?" Ally leaned forward.

"This isn't really a theory that's practiced often... I wouldn't think it a good idea if we weren't in the middle of this war. I know we wouldn't misuse this sort of power but..."

"But...?"
"We're in the middle of a war!" Lily cried out, "This would be an exceptional surprise for our opponents if we were cornered. I was reading up on it in this book."

She pulled out the old worn book on Animagi. Leafing through the yellow pages she found the paragraph she was looking for.

"It would also help provide an extra defense against Dementors... When we're in our given form we would have fewer emotions and the Dementors wouldn't be unable to sense our presence."

Ally eyed the book interestingly. She read the paragraph with a confused look on her face and then turned the book over to look over the cover. She glanced at the words and her jaw dropped. The book fell from her hands and hit the floor with a bang.

"ANI--!"

"SHHH!"

Ally leaned forward and whispered urgently.

"Animagi! Have you gone mental? You must have lost it. This is frowned upon—did you hear about—what bout cases when they got stuck—or when someone turned half human half cat!"

Ally bent down to grab the book from the floor.

"This isn't a game though Ally..." Lily whispered furiously, "This is serious... A thing like this could really come in handy. And as long as we know what each other's forms are... Why is it a problem? We'll know when the other is in trouble."

"What if we get put into a zoo? I don't want to drown!"

"How will be put in a zoo drown you?"

"I don't know!" Ally cried helplessly, "What if I was a fish!"

"You won't be a fish..." Lily said as she flipped through the book.

"The Animagi form will be ascertained through a mixture of what the person desires to be, their true characteristics, their personality, and their distinguishing features."

Lily read aloud the passage at the beginning of the chapter.

"So I won't become a fish?"

"Does that mean you'll do it?"

"My question first," Ally said, looking at Lily suspiciously "Will I or will I not become a fish?"

"You won't become a fish." Lily rolled her eyes. "I promise. So will you do it?"

"Of course I will!" Ally said, "I just don't ever want to become a fish... that would be really awkward."

"You will!" Lily shrieked in delight and hugged her friend. "Thanks Ally! You're the best."

"I know it." Ally said simply. "Everyone loves me. So what exactly is involved in becoming a part of the animal kingdom?"

Lily went to the beginning of the book and flipped through the pages.

"It's all a very complex process." she said quickly, "First there's a trance involved where your true form is revealed. After that you have to do a meditation every once and a while. Do you want to get this done the safe way or the fast way?"

"Fast," Ally said, "I'm not going to live long after all."

"Well then, you'll have to meditate everyday. Morning, noon and night. It'll be strenuous, almost like learning occlumency. Then we'll have to brew a potion for the first time we transform. That has a lot of magical elements involved. If we mess up we have to brew it again. I can't imagine what the side effect would be..."

"Get on with it."

"Right! After the potion we try it for the first time ourselves. It should be easy after we do the potion."

Ally stared at Lily.

"It doesn't sound easy. It sounds hard as hell!" she said, "How soon can we complete this? Is it still legal?"

"Er—"

"What was that?"

"Well... This way has been banned for a while... It was made illegal in the eighteenth century. The laws say that it's too dangerous to be attempted."

Ally looked a Lily incredulously.

"Why did they say that it was too dangerous?"

"Well, it isn't really dangerous when it's done properly..." Lily said sheepishly, "Its very time consuming... We'll have to be very precise in how we meditate. The only reason why it was banned was because the wizards who wanted to become Animagi didn't have the time to do all the work. They rushed it and then they tried to transform... Not a pleasant effect."

"The one wizard who had it banned was a Ministry official. He claimed that it was outdated and hired a bunch of Magical Inventors to invent a new plan, called the Five Year Study of the Wizards Animagus From. It's very long, but it only makes you meditate once a week. Something like that is more the Marauder's style."

"Apparently when the wizard died it was discovered that he had a rabbit tail. Funny story really, anyway this method became ancient history..."

"Thanks for the History of Magic preview," Ally said, "So are we going to do this trance thing or not?"

"We are... But it takes a long incantation... I'll have to work on my Latin and so will you. I can do that part for both of us, and I can do the potion, it was my idea and I'm just dragging you along for the ride."

"What about the Patronus?"

"We can switch off. While I work on my Patronus, you work on the incantation. While you work on your Patronus, I'll work on my incantation. If we devote one hour a day, we should be able to manage the incantation by the end of the school year."

"How long do you think it will take?"

"This method?" Lily asked.

"No... The method the monkey suggested." Ally said, "Yes, this method."

"Into the middle of September if we start next week."

Quidditch...

The stands at the Quidditch pitch were packed to the last inch of space. Lily and Ally had front row seats next to Sam. Sam was sitting in the Gryffindor seats and it was the first Quidditch game she had been to all year. Ally and Lily had to beg her to come along. It was their only chance to really talk. Professors had put an anti-note jinx on all the desks.

It was a bright sunny day in March, warming up to spring's expectations. The Whomping Willow was blooming in the distance just in the far corner of the Hogwarts Grounds. A bit farther away you could see Hagrid's Hut. Ally thought she saw smoke coming from the chimney and wondered if she should tell Hagrid, who was in the Gryffindor stands. Finally she decided that Hagrid always had something on fire. It was Hagrid after all - she really liked that giant.

In the distance, the floating black Dementor guards could be seen gliding across the countryside. Ally shuddered and looked up at the commentator's podium searching for Dumbledore. He sat in the middle of a throng of professors who were talking to him. His eyes were twinkling but they lacked the normal enthusiasm that was usually present. Ally assumed that his energies were all going toward the war effort. It was rumored that Dumbledore was planning something big to fight against Voldemort. Why else would he be in his office so often, flipping through old files and re-reading old documents again and again? He must have been looking for something important, something that would change the direction that the war was currently going.

Ally watched the old Headmaster laugh at joke that Slughorn had just told him. She sorely wished that the game would start soon; she was staring to think too much.

Almost as though her mind had been read the game was announced. Up in the commentator's stadium the seventh year George Jordon had begun the game.

"Coming out of the right side of the stadium in their gold and scarlet robes is the Gryffindor team, captained by Jerry Wood!"

Huge cheers came from the stands as the Gryffindor team came into view and lined up. On the opposite side, Hufflepuff supporters (which included Slytherins who wanted to see Gryffindor get beaten), erupted in shouts and applause when the Hufflepuff team appeared.

"On the other side, Hufflepuff, whose captain is Amos Diggory. He's has just been offered a spot on the Appleby Arrows Quidditch team—Captains line up!"

Ally could distantly see Josey Jenkins the Quidditch teacher for first years and the normal referee. She was speaking with the captains and Ally had no doubt she was telling them to play fair. Hufflepuff and Gryffindor had an old Quidditch rivalry that was almost as big as Slytherin versus Gryffindor, almost...

Ally focused back on the game that had just begun...

(A/N Hi! Wow, I can update fast! I'm shocking myself. Can you believe that I'm writing a chapter a day? Who'd have figured...?)