A/N: I'm going to make this clear. I don't own the Harry Potter series or it's characters. That right goes to JK Rowling

If you haven't yet, read before this story:

The Son and Nephew of the Maurders: The Sorcerer's Stone
The Son and Nephew of the Maurders: The Chamber of Secrets

Also if you haven't please take part on voting for which story you want me to update next month

Dementors Changes Everything

Tom woke Harry the next morning along with Hermione, Neville and the rest of the Weasleys.

Harry got dressed and had a hard time persuading Hedwig to get back in her cage. Once he manage to get the Snow Owl in her cage, Harry headed down to breakfast where Mrs. Weasley was telling some story about love potions to Ginny and Hermione.

As soon as everyone was up and ready, everything became chaotic as they tried to get all their trunks down the Leaky Cauldron's narrow staircase along with Hedwig, Percy's Screech Owl Hermes, and Ron's new owl Pig—who were perched in their cages and only Pig seem happy about it. Even Neville had a hard time keeping track of Trevor and getting his trunk down the stairs.

Harry was about to ask Hermione where Crookshanks was when he heard spitting and hissing loudly next to the trunks.

"I had to put him in there since I won't be able to carry him and my stuff onto the platform," Hermione said. "I'll let him out in the train."

"You better not!" Ron argued. "There's no way I'm sitting near that thing unless he's in that basket!"

Mr. Weasley, who had been outside waiting for the Ministry cars, stuck his head inside.

"They're here," he said.

At that point everyone got out to pile up in the cars. Neville and his grandmother had their own transportation, so Harry Ron and Hermione had to pile in a car with Percy.

The journey to King's cross was very uneventful and it didn't help that the cars were pretty much ordinary. It actually made Harry miss the Weasley car, which was magically enhanced to hold all seven weasley members and him plus their trunks and owls, and probably Neville and Hermione if Mr. Weasley wanted it to.

They reached King cross with twenty minutes to spare; the Ministry drivers found them trolleys, unloaded their trunks, touched their hats in salute to Mr. Weasley, and drove away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving line at the traffic light.

Neville and his grandmother met up with them and they headed to the station.

"Right then," Mr. Weasley said, glancing around them. "Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry."

Mr. Weasley strolled toward the barrier between platform between platforms nine and ten, pushing Harry's trolley and apparently very interested in the InterCity 125 that had just arrived at platform nine. With a meaningful look at Harry, he leaned casually against the barrier, as did Harry. The reason was that Muggles wouldn't think twice if they disappeared after leaning on the platform. At the most they would think Harry and Mr. Weasley had somehow fallen by accident and left in embarrassment.

In a moment, they had fallen sideways through the solid metal onto platform nine and three quarters and looked up to see the Hogwarts Express, a scarlet steam engine, puffing smoke over a platform packed with witches and wizards seeing their children onto the train.

Percy and Ginny showed up next, panting as if they had taken a run to the platform.

"Ah, there's Penelope!" said Percy, smoothing his hair and going pink again. Harry and Ginny had to turn and hide their laughters as Percy strode over to a girl with long curly hair, walking with his chest thrown out so that she couldn't miss his shiny badge.

Fred and George came next, then Ron and Hermione, then Neville and his grandmother, and finally Molly came through.

Molly kissed each of her kids as well as Hermione and Harry goodbye and Mrs. Longbottom gave Neville last minute warnings before they had to look for a compartment.

It didn't take long for Fred or George to find a seat as their friend Lee Jordan was already saving them room. Percy also didn't take long since the prefects and Headboys and Headgirls had their own compartments.

"There's Luna," Ginny said, pointing to a blond ravenclaw girl who was with an older man that they guess was her father. "See you guys later."

Harry almost forgot about Arthur's request until that moment, but it was too late. Ginny had already pushed forward to greet Luna.

Luna Lovegood was a Ravenclaw from Ginny's year, and as of last semester her friend. Harry Hermione Ron and Neville were also in good terms with Luna since she did help them find clues to the Chamber of Secrets.

"Come on guys. Let's go look for a compartment," Harry said.

They didn't find one until they reached the last compartment at the far end. But this one had one occupant already, and one Harry knew real well.

"Uncle Moony!" Harry yelped in surprise.

Sure enough, it was Harry's uncle Moony—a.k.a. Remus Lupin, with his shabby set of wizard robes that had been darned in several places, his ill and exhausted expression, and light brown hair flecked with grey. The only thing was that Remus was sound asleep and didn't seem to hear Harry.

Harry hadn't seen his neither of his uncles since he left for Egypt with the Weasleys, so to see one of them on the Hogwarts express was rather shocking.

Harry also forgot this was the first official time Hermione would have met his uncle until she asked, "That's your uncle?"

Harry nodded.

"But what is he doing here?" Neville asked.

"He must be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. It would explain why he send Harry a copy of the course book needed for it," Ron said. "But Harry, why didn't you tell us your uncle was teaching this year?"

"I didn't know. He never said anything to me about it—nor did dad if he knew anything about it," Harry admitted.

"They probably wanted to surprise you," Hermione said. "Like when your dad donated all those Nimbus Two Thousands to the school so you can play quidditch without breaking the school rules about first years not allowed to have their own brooms. But I don't get is why he is here instead of at Hogwarts for teacher's preparation week."

"Ron's dad told me teacher's were being assigned to Hogwarts Express this year," Harry explained. "Precautionary and all that."

No one argued against that since they knew about Pettigrew's escape.

"Let's sit down," Harry suggested, keeping what Mr. Weasley said a about staying near a teacher to heart. "All of the other compartments are filled."

They slid into the compartment, making sure not to wake up Harry's uncle. Harry didn't think much of it at the time while he was gone, but there must have been a full moon a day or two ago, which is why his uncle was asleep. The day after the full moon is just as hard on his uncle as the six days before it.

"I wonder if your uncle will be a permanent teacher, Harry," Ron said hopefully.

"I doubt Dumbledore would hire someone Harry cares about permanently for a job that's jinx, Ron," Hermione said.

At that moment Harry decided to change topics as he rather not think of what could happen to his uncle this year. So instead they talked about Hogsmeade, which Hermione seem most fascinated about visiting after reading so much about it. Ron and Harry didn't dare to remind her they had a trip through Hogsmeade last year when they were forced to take a Portkey to school after a house elf made it impossible to go through the barrier.

"I wonder if my dad will still let me go too be honest," Harry admitted.

"Why wouldn't he?" Ron asked.

"Gee, I don't know. Maybe because one of You-Know-Who's followers that was supposed to be in prison is on the loose and since my mum is dead, he'll probably go after me to get revenge for what happened to his boss," Harry explained.

"Harry has a point, Ron," Hermione said as she start fumbling with the straps of the basket.

"Don't let that thing out!" Ron yelped. But it was too late. Crookshanks leapt lightly from the basket, stretched, yawned and jumped to Hermione's lap.

"Geez, Ron, he's just a cat," Neville said.

Through the whole time, Harry's uncle didn't stir.

"Is your uncle normally a heavy sleeper?" Hermione asked.

"Only a day or two after a night of the full moon," Harry said, knowing now that Hermione knew about his uncle's secret. "Other than that, he's actually a light sleeper."

Around one o'clock, the plump witch with the food cart arrived at the compartment door, and Harry decided to try to wake his uncle up. At least this way, Harry could get some answers to why he was here.

"Uncle Moony, wake up," Harry shook his uncle. However the full grown man didn't move.

"Don't worry, dear," said the witch as she handed them four of everything for Harry to pay for. "If your uncle's hungry when he wakes, I'll be up front with the driver."

Harry may of not got answers, but he had found uses of having an uncle as well as professor in the same compartment when Draco Malfoy came to visit next, with his cronies Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle—all three children of a so call former-death-eaters.

Malfoy was this pale, skid with a pointed sneering face, from Slytherin House. He was Slytherin team's seeker, only after buying his way in, unlike Harry who earned his way in Gryffindor's team. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to exist to do Malfoy's bidding. They were both wide and musclely; Crabbe was taller with a pudding-bowl haircut and a very thick neck; Goyle had short, bristly hair and long, gorilla-ish arms.

"Well, look who it is," said Malfoy in his usual lazy drawl, pulling open the compartment door. "Potty, Longerbottom, and Weasel.

Crabbe and Goyle chuckled trollishly.

"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley," said Malfoy. "Did your mother die of shock.

Ron stood up so quickly he knocked over Crookshank's basket causing Remus to snort in his sleep.

"Who's that?" said Malfoy, taking an automatic step backward as he spotted Remus.

"That—" Harry said proudly, "Is my uncle Remus Lupin—he'll be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year."

Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed. Even he wasn't foolish enough to mess with a teacher."

"C'mon," he muttered resentfully to Crabbe and Goyle, and they disappeared.

Ron finally sat down, massaging his knuckles stating how he was not going to take anymore of Malfoy mocking his family.

Rain thickened as the train sped yet farther north. Harry was starting to wonder if maybe he was lucky and the Dementors wouldn't bother him, when outside the windows everything darkened and the train started slowing down.

"We must be nearly there," Neville said.

"Great! I'm starving!" Ron sad.

"We can't be there yet," said Hermione, checking her watch.

Harry checked his watch and found she was right. It was too early for them to already be at Hogwarts.

Finally, the train stopped with a jolt, followed by distant thuds and bangs that told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Harry instinctively go for his trunk where he kept his wand and pulled it out just as the lamps went out leaving them in total darkness.

"What's going on?" asked Ron's voice.

"Ouch!" gasped Hermione. "Ron, that was my foot!"

"Do you think we broken down?" Neville asked.

"I can't tell," Ron said followed by the squeaking sound of Harry guess was Ron wiping the window. "I see something moving out there."

"It must be the Dementors coming aboard to check to make sure Pettigrew didn't sneak onboard of the train," Harry said.

"I'm going to see what's going on," said Hermione. Harry felt her pass him. He also heard the compartment door side open and then a thud followed by two loud squeals of pain.

"Who's that?"

"Who's that?"

"Ginny?"

"Hermione?"

"I'm here too," said a third voice that was softer and more quiet.

"Hello Luna," Harry greeted.

"Hello Harry," the voice greeted back.

"What are you two doing here?" Hermione asked.

"I was looking for Ron—" Ginny replied. "Luna came to help since she has some magical glasses that can see in the dark. To help her see creatures that only appear at night."

"Why am I not surprise," Ron failed to hide his snort.

"Well, come in and sit down—" Hermione said.

"Not here! I'm here!" Harry said as someone tried to sit on him.

"Ouch!" said Neville.

"Hermione, what's that spell that lets you use to summon blue flames?" Harry asked.

Hermione must of knew what Harry had in mind as she gave him the incantation. Soon enough, Harry had summoned them some blue light from a flickering blue flame, which Hermione quickly got a jar out to put in.

Too their surprise Remus had now decided to wake up as he was trying to hide a proud smirk in the blue light.

"Good work Harry," Remus said in a hoarse voice.

"Uncle Moony, when—"

"I'll answer your questions later, Harry, but right now I need the six of you to stay quiet and stay where you are," Remus said. Then he headed to the door. But before he could reach it, the doors slid slowly open.

Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flame even inside the jar, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. Then the figure protrude an hand from it's cloak—which was glistening, grayish, slimy looking, and scabbed, like something dead that decayed in water…

Then without warning the figure drew a long, slow rattling breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air form its surroundings.

An intense cold swept over them and Harry had a sudden felt that his own breath catch in his breath, reaching deep inside him to his heart.

Harry's eyes rolled up into his head as he couldn't see while he was drowning in cold. There was a rushing in his ears as though of water. He was being dragged downward, the roaring growing louder…

And then, he heard a women scream a terrible terrified, pleading scrams as a thick white fog was swirling around him, inside him—

"Harry! Harry! Are you all right?"

Someone was slapping his face.

"W-what?" Harry opened his eyes; there were lanterns above him, and the floor was shaking, indicating that the Hogwarts express was moving again and the lights were back on.

Ron Hermione and Luna were kneeling over him. Ginny and Neville were still at their seats, but they weren't looking good themselves.

That's when it came to Harry what happened—what the hooded figure was—

"Chocolate," Harry croaked. "Need chocolate."

"I got some trunk, Harry," he heard his uncle said. Remus was close by Harry but was tending to Ginny and Neville at the same time. "Hermione, Ron, help Harry back to his seat. I'll get some chocolate."

Harry didn't ask how his uncle knew Hermione's name as she and Ron helped him to his seat as Remus took out an enormous slab of chocolate and broke it into five pieces—one being bigger than the rest.

"Here, Harry," Remus handed his nephew the biggest piece.

"Thanks Uncle Moony," Harry said as he ate his piece. Remus gave Ginny and Neville two of the four remaining pieces—which both were the second biggest of the set, and the final three to Ron Luna and Hermione.

Harry didn't have to guess why. Neville had a tragic past like him with his parents, just not as bad, and Mr. Weasley had already guessed that Ginny might be effected almost as severely due to what happened to her last year. And it doesn't take a tragic past to be effected by the dementors even slightly, which is why Hermione Ron and Luna had one.

"I need to speak to the driver—and maybe see if I can get the food trolley to make another round through the train to check for any students who might need a piece of chocolate," Remus said. "I'll leave you with your friends, Harry."

Remus rubbed Harry's head before strolling out of the corridor.

"Are you okay, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"A little better now that I had some chocolate," Harry said—deciding not to bring up the scream he heard.

"What was that thing?" Hermione asked. "How did you know chocolate would help?"

"A dementor—a guard of Azkaban," Harry replied. "Uncle Moony's dad use to study them before—you know. And he passed his knowledge to his son, who told me about it."

"Makes sense, really," Luna said.

Remus came back with a smile. "We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes, but the Food Trolley Lady agreed to make one last round for any students that might need chocolate. She also agreed to drop off some chocolate frogs if you still need them, Harry—my treat of course."

"Thanks Uncle Moony," Harry said.

"Anything for my favorite Nephew and his friends," Remus said rubbing Harry's head.

Sure enough the Food trolley came by for a second round, and Harry got himself two more pieces of chocolate frogs to help him get through the rest of the trip to Hogwarts. He didn't even look at the cards as he stashed the cards in his trunk.

Soon they reached the Hogsmeade station, and there was a scramble to get outside; owls hoot, cats meowed, and Neville's pet toad croaked loudly from under his hat. It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sleets.

They greeted Hagrid who was there to pick up first years before taking a carriage that seemed to be magically drawn to Hogwarts. This was the first time Harry and Ron rode on them since last year they traveled to Hogwarts from Hogsmeade by foot.

Along the way, Harry saw more Dementor's guarding the gates and started wishing he brought more pieces of chocolates. He didn't relax until they were pass the gates and the carriages stopped.

Harry and his friends got out when he heard a drawing, delighted voice sounded in his ear.

"You fainted, Potter? You actually fainted?"

Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle, his face gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously.

"Shove off, Malfoy," said Ron.

"Did you faint as well, Weasley?" said Malfoy loudly. "Did the scary old dementor frighten you too, Weasley?"

"I did not faint out of fear Malfoy!" Harry snapped. "Dementors don't need fear to make people faint!"

"Ooh, big talk from scared Potter!" Malfoy mocked.

"Is there a problem?" said a mild voice. Remius had just gotten out of his carriage along with a few other professors that Harry guess were guarding the students from the Dementors.

Malfoy gave Remus an insolent stare and his patched up robes and dilapidated suitcase, "Oh, no—er—Professor," he said with slight sarcasm as he smirked at his goons before leading them up the staircase."

Harry was about to do the same, but Remus stopped him. "I'm sorry Harry, but I have to take you to the hospital wing for a check up."

"What? Why? I'm fine now!" Harry said, which was half true as he felt better after two pieces of chocolate frogs.

"Maybe so Harry, but you and I both know your dad will have my head if I don't make sure you get checked by Madam Pomfrey," Remus said.

Harry groaned as his uncle was right. What happened on the train wasn't something they could pass off like nothing happened.

…

Remus must have alerted the school before hand because James was in the hospital wing waiting for them.

"Harry! Thank goodness you're alright!" James responded as he rushed over to Harry to check his son out.

"Dad, I'm all right," Harry said. "Really!"

"I'll be the one to decide that, Mr. Potter." Madam Pomfrey said. "James if you could…"

James reluctantly move aside as Madam Pomfrey checked Harry over. "I don't know what the Minister thinks by putting those Dementors around the school grounds. I mean really. You would think with how he think of children as delicate things he knew better than to send Dementors to Hogwarts. He should know there are students with tragic past here that the Dementors love to feed on. Harry is a perfect example—just look at him, all clammy and pale."

Harry felt heat rushes to his cheeks. He never did like people talking about him like he wasn't there when he's standing in front of them.

Remus cleared his throat. "I gave Harry some chocolate on the train and he said had two more chocolate frogs before getting off it."

"Then a bit more chocolate should help," Pomfrey said.

"Normally I'll be against giving Harry too much chocolate after what happened during his first year, but in this case, I'll make an exception." James stated.

Of course James was referring to the fact that Harry ate dozens of Chocolate frogs a day during his first year of Hogwarts trying to find info on Nicolas Flamel causing him to get so hyped up James originally limited Harry to having only one a day. Although James had lifted Harry's limitation, he still keeps an eye on how much chocolate Harry eats so it won't happen again.

Madam Pomfrey gave Harry some more chocolate for Harry to snack on. James and Remus headed to the Great Hall to join the feast, which Harry soon did himself once he passed yet again another examination by Madam Pomfrey. As pointless as it seemed, Harry didn't argue since Pomfrey wasn't the kind of which you want to argue with when it comes to being a healer. At least, not unless you were a healer yourself.

After which Harry made his way to the Great Hall to rejoin his friends.

It as a sea of pointed black hats; each of the long House tables was lined with students, their faces glimmering by the light of thousands of candles, which were floating over the tables in midair. Professor McGonagall, who was witch in green robes and hair done in a bun, was carrying an ancient hat and a four-legged stool out of the hall.

I guess I missed the sorting, Harry thought.

New students at Hogwarts were sorted into Houses by trying on the Sorting Hat, which shouted out the house they were best suited to (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin). James and Remus had already took their seats at the table.

Harry took his seat with his friends—who had saved him a seat.

"What was that about?" Ron asked Harry.

"Uncle Moony wanted Madam Pomfrey to check me over for my dad's sake," Harry said. "I'm just glad he didn't bring it up until after Malfoy headed into the castle, otherwise I don't think I'll ever hear the ending of Malfoy's taunting."

At that moment, the headmaster stood up to speak, and he broke off.

Professor Dumbledore, though very old, always gave an impression of great energy. He had several feet of long silver hair and beard, half-moon spectacles, and an extremely crooked nose. He was often described as the greatest wizard of his age, and—although he never says it outloud, but he often treat Harry like a grandson he never had. The feeling is of course is mutual as James had always advised Harry that if he ever need anything during his stays at Hogwarts, and he's not around, Harry should go to Dumbledore.

Even now, with the looming Dementors around the school, Dumbledore manage to keep a beaming smile to his students that ease the room.

"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast…"

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."

Dumbledore paused as if not too happy about the news himself.

Fudge probably enforced it himself, Harry thought.

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises—or even Invisibility Cloaks, he added blandly which Harry guessed was more directed to him and his friends. "It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors," he said.

Percy puffed out his chest and stared around impressively and yet Harry had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound.

"Oh a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year."

"First, Professor Remus Lupin of has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for the year. After which he also agreed to take on a part time job as a tutor for any students who is struggling with their classes and if needed substitute teacher."

There were some scattered, mostly unenthusiastic applause. Hermione Ron Neville Ginny and Luna at Ravenclaw table clapped hard but they were nowhere near as loud or noticeable as Harry or James. And of course, Professor Snape-who was the school's potion master—was showing a loathing look that he only has toward Harry and James.

"I take it Professor Lupin is a family friend?" Harry's roommate Seamus Finnigan asked.

"He's my uncle—the one I called Uncle Moony," Harry said. "And unlike Lockhart, Uncle Moony is actually qualified to teach the class—more qualified than Quirrell ever was."

That pretty much got most of Gryffindor table's attention as Dumbledore continued.

"As to our second new appointment—well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs."

Harry remembered Professor Kettleburn as a man who take his job seriously, and had often lost his limbs trying to save ignorant students who put themselves in danger with Magical Creatures.

"However," Dumbledore continued, "I am delighted to say that his place will be filed by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties.

There was a loud aplaused—mostly from Gryffindor Table and of course James, for Hagrid.

"We should've known!" Ron roared, pounding the table. "Who else would have assigned us a bitting book?"

Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth at this point.

"Well, I think that's everything important," Dumbledore said once the clapping ended. "Let the feast begin!"

The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Harry helped himself to everything he could reach and began to eat. When desert appeared, Harry especially filled his plate with anything made out of or had chocolate with it.

After the feast, Dumbledore gave the word that it was time for bed, but Harry Ron Hermione and Neville headed up to congratulate Hagrid at the teacher table. They knew how much being made a teacher would mean to Hagrid. He wasn't a fully qualified wizard; he had been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year for a crime he had not committed. It had been Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione ho cleared Hagrid's name last year.

Harry also wanted to make sure to congratulate his uncle for finding what he hopes was a more permanent job as it was hard for his uncle with his monthly condition to find and maintain a job. Fortunately, that part was easy since Remus and James were congratulating Hagrid as well.

"Congratulations, Hagrid!" Hermione squealed as they reached the teacher's table

"All down ter you four," said Hagrid, wiping his shinning face on his napkin as he looked up at them. "Can' believe it… great man, Dumbledore… came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough… It's what I always wanted…"

Hagrid blew his nose into his napkin

"You deserved it Hagrid," James said. "No one is better for the job than you."

"Congratulations to you too, Uncle Moony," Harry said.

"Thanks, Harry," Remus said rubbing Harry's head. "I must admit, I was surprise when James owled me last year about a more permanent stable job."

"What do you mean?" Neville asked.

James looked at the direction of Dumbledore, who seem to know what they were talking about as he nodded.

"That was your plan," Harry said. "Too get Uncle Moony a job here at Hogwarts?"

James nodded. "I'm surprise it took you this long to figure it out, Harry. I had a bet with Dumbledore that you would have figured out before summer break."

"Dad!" Harry complained as he normally does when his dad make bets on him. "You really need to stop making bets on me."

"By the way, Harry, about your Hogsmeade trip," James said.

"What about it?" Harry asked.

James escorted Harry to a more private area to talk.

"Look Harry, if it was just Pettigrew to worry about, I would let you go to Hogsmeade with at least some protection," James said. "But after finding out how much an effect the Dementors have on you—I think it's for the best that while the Dementors are here, you stay in the castle."

"But dad—"

"No buts, Harry," James said. "Dementors are nothing like Quirrell, or the Basilisk or piece of Voldemort's memory. You can't just bind them in a full body bind curse, or disarm them, or struck a sword through them, or destroy the source of their magic and hope it works. The most any wizard can do against them is repel them and it takes an advance spell to do just that. Too advance for a third year to learn in a short amount of time."

Harry didn't look too happy about it but he didn't argue.

"But—" James said suddenly, "That doesn't mean your uncle and I can't teach you the spell."

Harry looked up. "Really?"

"I already talked to Moony about it and we agreed that you are too much like me to keep you in the castle while your friends enjoy Hogsmeade," James said, "So whenever one of us is available and during Hogsmeade trips, we'll be teaching you the spell that will repel Dementors. But I want your word that in return you will not leave the castle without permission, and will not go to Hogsmeade until you master the spell or until Fudge calls off the dementors."

"I promise dad," Harry said.

James smirked as it went by plan. He knew better than anyone (except maybe Moony, Padfoot, and perhaps Dumbledore) the only way to keep Harry in the castle was to bribe him with something he would agree to.

Harry soon left with his friends to join the rest of the Gryffindor House up to their common room.

"Did it go well?" Remus asked.

"Yep," James said. "Harry agreed to stay in the castle as long as we teach him the spell."

"I'm surprise you didn't offer him to become an animegus." Remus said. "I mean, you and Padfoot weren't that much younger than Harry when you started practing that kind of magic."

"I will in time," James said. "But for now I want my son to be safe from Dementors, and no animegus form can save him from their effects."

"True," Remus agreed.

…

Harry, Ron, Neville, Hermione and the rest of Gryffindor students made it to the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. A large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress asked them, "Password?"

"Coming through, coming through!" Percy called from behind the crowd. "The new password's 'Fortuna Major'!"

Neville whined a little as he normally had trouble remembering the passwords.

Through the portrait hole, across the common room, the girls and boys divided toward their separate staircase. Harry Ron and Neville along with their two remaining roommates: Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas headed up the staircase to their familiar, circular dormitory with its five four poster beds.

Despite having enough chocolate that would normally keep an average human up for hours, Harry collapsed into his bed and fell instantly to sleep.