happy early five year anniversary everyone! lmao, on the 24th it will be five freaking years since i posted the first chapter! so long! thank you to everyone who's stuck with me and this story since the beginning! love you guys! ^^

—A Foreboding Beginning—

September 1st arrived with a cheer much more subdued than the previous year – in the past week, not once did a sleek looking, black-feathered owl peck at Kagome's window to be let in. Not once did she write a letter with Sirius' name on it. Not once did a dark head of curls flash through the Potter's floo.

An incessant silence had settled between the two with no chance of breaking it in sight.

James had only asked once more what had happened between them, on the day after, quiet and uncharacteristically somber.

They had a row, was what she simply told him. A stupid, silly little row. She was looking out the window at the time, away from the letter James had held between his finger; she'd wondered at what Sirius had written; wondered, also, at the tight feeling in her chest.

Instead, she'd asked if they could keep it, their fight, to themselves and not involve the others.

James had said he couldn't speak for Remus and Peter, but he could do that. He'd also said that it didn't sound like a stupid, silly little row, but he would leave it at that.

And afterwards, everything was normal.

A semblance of normal, anyway. As normal as it could be when Kagome was at odds with one of her best friends and James, also best friends with the very same person, went about acting as if nothing had happened at her request.

Though, really, not knowing what transpired and therefore what to say or do to help mend things, there wasn't much for James to do aside from remain curious but silent.

He could've pushed, of course. But apparently, Kagome sardonically thought, unlike her he knew that there were times where it was better not to push – that some way or another, he must have sensed that pressing for answers would not get him very far. Or, perhaps she was just being ungenerous, and James had only sensed that neither truly did not want to talk about it at the moment and decided to let them have the space they desired.

Whatever it was, Kagome couldn't find it within herself to care. But she did make a mental note to get him a really good gift for Christmas later in the year – he honestly deserved it.

After storing their trunks onto the train they said goodbye to their parents, hugs, kisses, and all – laughs included, of course, their father even becoming misty-eyed and bemoaning that the summer passed much too quickly and how he'd miss his darling, perfect children. At that point, James and Kagome both were in stitches, their mother left to slap at her husband's arm in reprimand and tell him to stop, even as she was trying her hardest not to grin and looking a little wet in the eyes herself before the twins and Kirara finally boarded the train set to take them back to Hogwarts.

Once on, they managed to snag an empty compartment to sit in with ease, having come so early that most were still unoccupied. All that was left was waiting for their friends to come find them.

Peter was the first to arrive, Kagome only hesitating a split second before she threw herself forward to hug the boy hello as "With Peter's aunt!" echoed hollowly in her head, Sirius' accusing voice akin to a damn ghost, too stubborn to let her be. James, not about to be left out, threw himself forward as well and wrapped the two of them with his arms in a tightly squeezed embrace until they all broke out into raucous laughter.

Remus was the next to come, just as Peter was telling the twins how he had spent the rest of his summer exchanging letters with his aunt on the sly, using a fake name to write to her. Sarah had cheerfully informed him that as long as he told the owl who it was really going to, it didn't actually matter whose name the envelope was addressed to.

When Sirius' voice cropped up at the sight of Remus standing at the compartment door, a small grin on his face, a new, silvery scar curving down the slope of the left side of his jaw, and his arm half-way up in a cheerful wave, Kagome didn't let it slow her down one bit in ambushing the werewolf with a hug as well.

Sirius was the last to arrive, hesitant as his head poked through the door and a conflicted look twisting his face, as if unsure he'd be welcomed inside. Faint purple underlined his eyes, his cheeks looking a little sunken, and for a split second his grey eyes caught Kagome's before they both averted away from the other.

This time it was James, not Kagome, that was the first one up to greet Sirius with a hug and a grin on his face. Her brother practically dragged the other boy into the compartment and to the seat beside him – which, coincidentally, was right across from her own of course.

Remus and Peter followed suit in greeting Sirius, both pulling the boy into a hug before finally letting him sit. It didn't take long for the two to realize something was up after that; Kagome had yet to budge even a single inch from her seat when they turned to look, never mind utter a word in greeting to Sirius since he showed up.

Instead, Kagome was staring out of the window, her face carefully blank.

Through the reflection, she watched as Remus and Peter share a look they then turned to James and Sirius, both of whom offered no answers either.

An awkward silence settled among them then as Remus and Peter retreated to their seats to her left, broken only by the sharp whistle warning of the train's pending departure several seconds later.

Kagome let her eyes shut, hiding her grimace behind her hand as she passed it over her face.

It was going to be much harder to keep her fight with Sirius between themselves than she first thought

.

.

An hour into the train ride to Hogwarts, Sirius had yet to say one word to Kagome and vice versa – whether out of awkwardness or stubbornness, she did not know. Nor did she know how to fix it, exactly, especially with their friends currently surrounding them, casting them confused and uneasy looks out of the corner of their eyes. It was doing wonders in helping the awkward atmosphere building between them grow.

Truthfully, a part of Kagome didn't even want to be the mature one and offer an olive branch, no matter the fact that she was between the two. A part of her still hurt fiercely, was still reeling from his cold, sharp words and the way he snapped the door shut on his way out of her room with nary a backward glance.

Even if another part of her acknowledged she shouldn't have pushed as she did when clearly he didn't want to talk. Even as another part acknowledged he may be right.

Maybe it was cowardice, but Kagome didn't feel like stewing in the awkward silence she helped make longer than she absolutely had, and neither did she feel like facing any of the questions burning so obviously on the tips of Peter and Remus' tongues.

Kagome stood.

"I'm just gonna… take a walk," she mumbled, as three pairs of stares turned to her and the fourth, she noticed, peeked out from the corner of his peripheral. A hand of hers rose out of its own volition to rub along the back of her neck. "Stretch my legs. Maybe sit with Lily for a while." She rocked on her heels, eyes sliding to look out at the scenery rushing by in a green blur outside the window. "Hit the loo."

Quietly, James asked, "Will you be coming back?"

Kagome gave a shrug, not answering any further than that. Turning back to the bench seat where a ball of cream fur had curled up in the corner, she gave a scritch along Kirara's dozing head. She offered an apologetic smile when the feline cracked open a drowsy, orange eye and blinked back at her. "Wanna say hi to a couple friends?" she softly asked.

With an affirmative sleepy murr, Kirara climbed to her paws and gave a brief stretch before allowing Kagome to pick her up, sinking into the witch's arms.

"See you guys later," she murmured while passing by, catching Remus and Peter's curious looks as they murmured the same.

When she caught her brother's gaze, he flicked it over to Sirius in a meaningful gesture before meeting hers again, and Kagome gave him a short shake of the head to signal him not to ask.

Sirius had not looked over once since her announcement, choosing to stare out the window instead.

Kirara in her arms, Kagome stepped out of the compartment and slid the door shut behind her without another look back.

.

.

"So." Remus looked between James and Sirius, crossing his arms and putting on his best stern expression." Exactly what was that about?"

He sounded like a weary, expectant father speaking to his two troublemaking kids.

Sirius stubbornly refused to tear his eyes away from the window; James had no idea himself, and so was of no help either.

"Dunno," the latter said with a shrug. His head fell to the side to lazily peer over at the other boy. "Wanna enlighten us, Sirius?"

"…Not really," came the mumbled mutter.

"Guess that's that then," James scooted down the bench to peer through the compartment window. "Wonder when the trolly's coming by," he wondered aloud, idly, "I've got a hankering for some chocolate frogs. Maybe I'll get lucky this time and get Morgana's card."

Remus shared an incredulous look with Peter. The boy shrugged, just as confused as he was. "That's it?" the werewolf asked, sounding terribly lost.

James suddenly slumped in his seat, giving Remus a helpless look to say, what could he do? "Kagome won't talk and neither will Sirius," he said, and the strain in his voice was noticeable. "What's the sense in stewing in the… weirdness? I don't like it."

Finally, Sirius spoke up.

"…Did she tell you not to get involved?"

James paused, eyes narrowing at the sharpness of the question. "I mean, she asked?" he slowly replied, turning to face Sirius. "Said she didn't want me picking sides."

"You'd pick hers, of course," the boy glumly said, his grey gaze darting from the corner of his eyes towards James. "You're siblings."

James shared a faintly frantic look with Remus and Peter. This wasn't a side of Sirius they've ever seen before, and that definitely wasn't a position he wanted to be put in. "Look," he said, tone brisk, "Kagome's my sister but you're my best friend too. You're our best friend." He shook his head, adding, "Just because you two had some tiff, I'm not gonna go draw lines and stop being friends. Just… sort it out after the feast and things will be fine!"

"Not sure it'll be that easy," Sirius muttered, finally turning to look at him. Pausing, he looked more uncertain, sounded more vulnerable, as he finally asked in a smaller voice, "…She really hasn't said anything?"

James shrugged and looked away. "Not like she tells me everything," he mumbled, perhaps a tad too petulantly. He slumped in his seat. "She can keep her lips sealed tight if she wants to.

.

.

Figures that the first person she ran into after leaving the compartment – though fortunately not literally this time – would be Sirius' younger brother.

She hadn't even realized it was him at first when they approached each other coming from opposite directions in the train's narrow corridor, lost in thought as she was and idly checking through the small window panels into the passing compartments for Lily and Severus as she wandered on by.

They were just about to pass one another when she absently glanced over and did a double take, his name falling from her lips in surprise as it registered that it was him.

"Regulus."

The younger boy paused suddenly at his name, glancing over and blinking up at her with round grey eyes. He jerked minutely upon recognizing her, startled. "Kagome Potter," he blurted out in return, ducking his head when she raised an a brow in response.

Well, as least he wasn't blushing.

More warmly, she stepped closer and greeted him. "It's nice to see you again, Regulus." He returned her pleasantry in kind, and after she asked, "Excited for Hogwarts?"

The first-year-to-be dipped his head, pulling his wand out from his pocket to admire it – it was of a light wood, willow or oak, Kagome hazarded, larger and uneven around the grip and maybe nine inches, ten. "I'm looking forward to learning spells," he murmured quietly, a faint smile playing on his lips as he pocketed his wand.

"And the Sorting?" she inquired, lips quirking as she wondered about the kind of rumors he'd heard so far around the train. Then, because she would just hate to ruin the experience, she added, "Nervous for the, ah, test?"

If there was a little pity, a little of a knowing quality to her voice too, well, she was simply doing her part as an older student to ensure that each and every one of the new first years underwent the full experience of coming to Hogwarts for the first time.

Regulus scoffed, slating her with an impressively flat look. "Sirius said we'd have to face a dragon," he deadpanned and Kagome fought to keep from snorting.

Even your little brother, Sirius? She thought with a silent laugh. So mean.

But though he had scoffed, the nervous twiddling of his fingers belied the fact that some part of him, however small, believed it and was genuinely worried.

Were Kagome a better person, she'd take a step closer and give the boy a nudge, tell him that was silly and there was nothing to worry about.

Instead, she smiled serenely, reached out to ruffle his curls, and told him, "It was really nice knowing you, Regulus. Just wanted to get that out there while I still had the opportunity."

Regulus' mouth fell open as he stared.

Kagome's smile grew only wider under his subtle panicking gaze. Her time spent with James and her friends wasn't without its repercussions. "So, any idea what House you might be Sorted in?" She tipped her head, absentmindedly adding, "Assuming, of course, you make it that far."

The boy's left eye gave a rather violent twitch, and he muttered something she couldn't hear over the train. She was pretty sure it was something insulting, though, going by the irritated look he was wearing, and it made Kagome's shoulder faintly shake with a quiet laugh.

Regulus, however, managed to hear her, and Kagome instantly fell back to her serenely smiling façade just as he looked up and glared. In answer to her earlier question, his reply came strong and swift. "Slytherin."

Kagome blinked, her smiling fading as she tilted her head and considered him. "So sure," she marveled.

His response only marveled her further, his stare unwavering. "I have to be."

It also was rather… sad, if she were to be honest. Contemplative silence fell between them, leaving just the rumble of the train and the rapid, repetitive clacks beneath their feet as it rode over the rails to fill it.

She couldn't help but recall Sirius' anxious face from the previous year as they sat together for their first trip to Hogwarts, his resignation, his disappointment, as he admitted, "My whole family have been in Slytherin."

When she finally spoke up, Kagome's voice was quiet, wary even, as the words came slow. "You don't have to be."

Meddling, you're meddling, taunted a voice that sounded suspiciously like Sirius'. She shoved it back and ignored it – this wasn't meddling. This was – comforting a young kid whose parents were placing an unfair amount of pressure on.

She caught the younger boy's grey gaze and held it firmly. "Not if it's what you wanted."

A frown broke Regulus' otherwise neutral expression, and at his sides his hands curled into fists. "What I want," he repeated in a slow, soft breath outwards. He gave a faint shake of his head, gaze falling to the ground, as if such an idea was absurd.

Kagome folded her arms tighter across her chest, though she was mindful of Kirara, who had been silently watching Regulus throughout the duration of the conversation with curious intensity. "It doesn't have to be Slytherin, like your parents want. It doesn't have to be Gryffindor, either, like your brother." No doubt that was what the eldest desired, even with their relationship on the outs as it currently was.

She stepped closer, peered into the boy's young, round face. "You're the one that'll be spending the next seven years wearing the colors once it's decided," she quietly reasoned.

Regulus' eyes shut with a slow flutter.

Gently, Kagome finished, "If not because you want it, then you should at least be in a House you will flourish in. Just…" She sighed, faltering as her fervor receded, "Something to think about, yeah?"

.

.

With a brisk knock, Kagome pulled the door leading into the compartment open a few inches, enough to poke her head through the slim gap and grin at its occupants. "Mind some company?"

"Kagome!" Lily exclaimed with a bright grin, but before she could invite her in, Severus held up a hand to stop the black-haired Gryffindor.

"Depends on who else is with you," the Slytherin said, his flat stare pointedly directed over her shoulder.

Kagome pushed the door further open, but only enough so that he could see her press a hand to her chest in a dramatic show of scandalized fashion. "I didn't know you had something against cute, harmless kittens, Severus."

As if called, Kirara shimmied out of her other arm and leapt her way onto the witch's head so she could peer at the two sitting inside.

Lily let out a laugh as Severus huffed and sat back into his seat with a surly pout, muttering, "Harmless kittens my bloody arse," under his breath while the redhead next to him cheerfully chirped, "Hullo Kirara!"

Clearly, Severus had yet to forget about the nipping incident during the summer, never mind forgive.

Rolling her eyes, Kagome finally slid the door completely open with her foot. "Like I'd bring any one of those two to sit with you – someone might end up dying." Stepping carefully through so that Kirara wouldn't fall, or Merlin forbid, sink her claws into her skull to keep balanced, she moved to the side so the other two could see the boy waiting patiently behind her. "This is Regulus; he's to be a first year," she introduced, taking a seat on the bench across from the pair.

"Nice to meet you, Regulus," Lily warmly greeted with a small wave. "I'm Lily, and this here is Severus." Next to her, Severus offered a silent nod as he studied the younger boy.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well," Regulus cordially replied as he took a seat beside Kagome, the epitome of polite, and Lily's smile widened at his manners.

Severus on the other hand turned to Kagome, eyes wide with exaggerated surprise. "I didn't know you had any well-mannered friends."

She leaned back and raised an eyebrow in return. "You do realize you just insulted yourself and Lily, yes?"

The Slytherin countered with a raised eyebrow of his own. "I'm not exactly known for my pleasant disposition," the second year drawled, drawing a snort from Kagome in turn. His lips curled into a smirk, then, as his dark gaze flickered to his right at best friend. "And, well, you've spent the last year dorming with Lily – you know exact ly how she is in the mornings."

Kagome laughed as Lily let out an indignant sputter, becoming red in the face.

"You shouldn't listen to anything those two have to say," the redhead empathetically told Regulus, and there was an aggressive edge to her voice as she added, "Kagome's mean and Severus is just a big, fat, liar."

Regulus snorted, a tiny sound barely audible over the train, though Kagome could swear she saw his lips twitching. She also saw the way his eyes lingered between Lily and Severus – both of whom were seated closely next to one another and, most importantly, already changed into their robes, Gryffindor and SLytherin patches fixed on their respective chests. "So, it's not true then?" he asked, his head tipping to the side in consideration. "About the Sorting?"

Turned away from Regulus a bit, Kagome mimed Lily to keep mum, discreetly slicing a hand across her neck.

Lily answered without missing a beat. "It's a little scary, I know," she commiserated, a kind, unassuming smile now in place, "But I'm sure you're clever enough to make it through!"

Regulus looked from Lily's pleasant countenance, to Kagome's smooth smile as he glanced over, to Severus' impassive face. He lingered on the last, asking, "Is there really a test?" as if sensing out of the three, he was the most likely to tell the truth.

Or rather, the least likely to make up an outrageous lie.

Severus' gaze slid between Lily and Kagome, both of whom stared back with unwavering intensity like they were willing him with their eyes alone not to spill the beans. Fidgeting awkwardly under their expectant gazes, he let out a pained sigh. "We're sworn to secrecy after we... pass the trial," he muttered. The words came stilted and he ended up having to avert his eyes at Regulus' disbelieving stare in the end.

Lily and Kagome on the other hand both beamed at him, almost proud. "Is there any particular House you're hoping for?" the redhead asked, curious.

For a beat, Regulus did not reply, and when he did it was with a shrug. "…Slytherin." His eyes darted to meet Kagome's briefly before they moved past her to stare out of the window. "My family has all been in Slytherin – save for one."

It was nearly an echo of Sirius' statement from last year, if not for that final bit.

It had Kagome pausing. Out from the corner of her eyes she peered at Regulus, curious. His answer was almost automatic when she had last asked him not even an hour ago; this time, his words were soft and slow with hesitance, and she wondered just what he'd been thinking about since then.

.

.

Later, after the train had arrived and they disembarked, it was not long before Hagrid had swept by to collect the new first years. Once the three of them had bade Regulus goodbye and an empathetic – in Kagome and Lily's case, at least – good luck, Lily promptly turned to Kagome with an arched, thin red brow.

"Sirius' little brother, I presume?"

"What?" Severus blurted out, visibly blanching as he whirled around to look at the two.

Kagome tried not to laugh; instead, she admitted the truth. "Yeah. Met him earlier this summer about a week ago, then we bumped into each other again in the hall on the train. This time it wasn't literally, at least – I knocked the poor kid to the ground when we met in Diagon Alley. How'd you know?"

"But, but…"

Lily snorted. At Kagome's question or Severus' stammering, who knew? "It's the eyes," the redhead loftily replied as they slipped into the crowd flowing past them. "And the hair. And the way neither of you said his last name." Her green eyes slid over towards the other girl in a spectacularly dry manner adding, "Oh, and I can't forget the whole, 'my family have all been in Slytherin,' of course!"

Kagome threw her head back, laughing.

Severus was still stammering. "T-they're nothing alike. He's so…" He trailed off, unable to process this new revelation to the point that finding the proper words proved a difficult task, disbelieving when he finally settled with, "Normal."

Lily rolled her eyes, giggling.

The dark-haired boy shook his head. "I really can't see it," he insisted, sounding off-kilter. "And I don't mean their looks – he's like a different person entirely!"

It reminded her of when she said something similar to Sirius, a week earlier, and the memory of that day had her lips thinning and brought upon uncharitable thoughts.

"Well, he's much nicer than his brother, that's for sure," Kagome said, and if she sounded a little sharp, a little petulant, well, at this point, whatever.

Severus slowly turned to her, a dark eyebrow inching up on his forehead as he did so. Lily was giving her a stare much the same.

Kagome's shoulders dropped. "Just. Don't ask," she muttered, holding Kirara closer to her chest.

Blessedly, Severus didn't. Lily patted Kagome's shoulder in comfort and even Kirara gave her hand a small nuzzle with her nose.

They moved off the platform and slowly followed the crowd heading towards the station's exit, where their transportation to the castle supposedly awaited on the road outside. Kagome had overheard one of the older students mentioning that it was magically enchanted and figured it must be something like the boats they took the previous year.

Clumps of students forged on up ahead of them to pass through the exit; Kagome thought she could spy Remus a few groups over in front of them. Despite how sickly the boy constantly looked, he had shot up a noticeable few inches over the summer, giving him a rather lanky appearance and making him the tallest one of the group.

Finally, Lily, Severus, and Kagome carrying Kirara filed through the doorway, talking quietly amongst themselves as they trudged down a short stretch of dirt road. By the time they arrived, a carriage was already pulling away down the road, with the students that had walked in front of them seated inside.

"Carriages, huh?" Lily mused.

Kagome hummed in bemusement, twisting to look around – it was dark, only the distant light coming over from the station illuminating the area for them to see, but she couldn't spot any other carriage in the vicinity. "Guess we just… wait for the next one, huh?"

They didn't need to wait long – not even half a minute later did they hear the sound of rickety wheels over hard-packed dirt as a carriage rounded the bend a few yards away to approach them from behind. Kagome, however, started at hearing the melody of shuffling hooves and whispery neighs beneath the loud clacking and clicking of the carriage, and as the three seconds years began to turn, Kagome had to do a double-check.

A small, incredulous noise bubbled from the base of her throat, but it was thankfully swallowed up by the loud noise of the carriage approaching. "What are—"she began, taking an unconscious step forward, but her throat clamped down before she could even get the question out in full.

They were still staring down the road, Cho's shy smile and wave fresh in her mind and in the faint tripping of her heart when they heard the carriage pull up from behind them. She was the first to turn, and when she did, her eyes went wide, her feet carrying her forward of their own volition.

Unlike last year, the carriage was being pulled by… by what looked to be a horse, if the horse hadn't eaten for a good couple of weeks and had dull, rough, black skin instead of a healthy coat of fur.

Words slipped past her lips on a mystified exhale.

"What is it?"

"What?"

She found herself unable to tear her gaze away from the sight before her. What did Ron mean, what? It was right there in front them, its pale empty eyes boring back at them. "That! Pulling the carriage!"

One beat and then another passed, giving her the distinct feeling she'd said something… wrong – Hermione confirmed it seconds later, speaking up in a low, slow, careful sort of tone that doubled as an inquiry on her state of mind. "Nothing's pulling the carriage, Harry... It's pulling itself, like always."

She opened her mouth, and then shut it without a word, swallowing thickly as a heavy feeling settled in her gut.

Kagome's eyes shot open – she hadn't even realized she'd closed them – and she stumbled forward in hazy shock.

"K-Kagome?" Lily exclaimed, hands shooting out to catch her by the arms and keep her upright.

"Sorry, tripped," she wheezed out before thinking twice about it. Shaking her head in an attempt to clear the lingering foggy aftereffects of the flashbacks from her mind, Kagome tried not to stare back into the milky-white blank gaze of the horse-like creature in front of her – thestral, her mind so helpfully conjured, giving her skull a slight throb alongside it.

Severus ducked down to squint into her face, mercifully blocking her view of the thestral – Kagome could feel its heavy staring, and it was beginning to make her sweat. "You look rather pale all of a sudden," he murmured, sounding a touch worried himself.

"Dizzy spell," Kagome fibbed, swallowing slightly, and pressed a palm to her stomach. She tried for a sheepish smile. "I probably should have grabbed a snack from the trolly."

Lily tutted at her. Winding an arm around the other girl's waist, she allowed Kagome to lean her weight against her. "You really must take better care of yourself, Kagome! We won't be able to eat until the Sorting's finished, after all."

Kirara meowed, as if to second the statement. The feline nosed at her neck, cold wetness pressing against her hairline. She caught a soft, worry purr in her ear and wondered if Kirara could see it too.

"Let's hurry up and get in, then," Severus suggested, having stepped back a bit to give her a little space, his hands awkwardly slung in his robe pockets. "Sitting down should help, shouldn't it?"

Lily gave a positive hum and steered Kagome around towards the back – as they passed the thestral, Kagome couldn't help but peek at it from the corner of her eyes. Her gaze ran over the creature to take in its emancipated appearance, how its black skin rippled taut over its spine and ribs with each passing breath, and how, at its side nestled a folded wing she had no doubt would be huge if spread full, shiny, black, and leathery like a bat's.

They climbed into the carriage, Lily's hand a steady guide at the small of Kagome's back to make sure she didn't suddenly have another 'dizzy spell' and topple off, and they planted themselves on the wooden benches to wait.

Ten seconds hadn't even passed once they were settled before the carriage began to roll onward, as if the thestral sensed no one was left waiting to climb in, despite that there were quite of few people still lingering in the station behind them and the carriage wasn't even half full.

Lily's eyes looked bright even in the low light from the lanterns fastened at the front corners of the carriage, flitting about to study it with interest. Seated beside her, even Severus looked mildly intrigued.

Meanwhile, Kagome's gaze remained steadfastly fixed at front, on the creature that pulled them steadily along the road. Kirara stared ahead as well, curled perfectly still in Kagome's lap as fingers idly combed through her fur. Seeing the flutter of the thestral's dark wings reflected in the cat's orange eyes, she wondered yet again whether Kirara could see the thestral too and had to push away the urge to ask.

"Charmed, d'you think?" she heard Lily's asking. She turned to find the redhead trailing pale fingertips along the railing, green eyes flickering between Snape and herself.

"Must be," was Severus' reply, as if it couldn't possibly be anything else.

Lily gave a delighted hum that had her friends smiling despite themselves. Out of all the subjects, Lily had taken a shine to Charms the most – something about them just fascinated her. "I wonder what kind of spell is used!"

"Perhaps you could ask Professor Flitwick?" Severus suggested, and as Lily gave a determined nod Kagome wondered what he'd tell her – clearly the carriages were actually pulled by horses, or a type of horse in any case, but the students seemed to be under the belief they pulled themselves.

There was a reason she could see it and the others couldn't, she rationalized, just like there was a reason Harry could see it when no one else could, and she couldn't help but feel like asking the Professor about the creatures herself would be a Bad Idea™.

As the carriage rolled on, bouncing in time with all the little bumps its wooden wheels ran over, they spent it making idle chitchat and talking about their expectations for the coming year. It didn't take long before the carriage was bringing them to the iron wrought gates that opened into the school grounds.

A few yards shy before passing the gates, Kagome felt Kirara tense up in her lap.

Fingers pausing in their ministrations, she looked down and was greeted with the sight of Kirara's ears perked up straight and swiveled to their right, her tail up in the air frozen mid-swish – in the low light, the feline's eyes glowed a bright orange, pupils narrowed into slits.

Her brows only had time to furrow before Kirara was leaping nimbly from Kagome's lap not even a second later without warning. A sharp noise of alarm escaped her throat, cutting off Severus who was mid-sentence and causing him and Lily's heads to snap over to look – twisting, she found Kirara perched on the carriage's railing, fur standing on end as she crouched low and fixing an intense glare into the forest to the left of the carriage.

Kagome went to stand, but before she could open her mouth to ask Kirara dived out of the carriage, sprinting for the trees.

"Kirara?!" Kagome scrambled to follow, not wasting a second. Veering around her friends' legs, the witch jumped out the back of the carriage before anyone could stop her or even blink.

.

.

A strangled cry belatedly tore from Lily's lips at the sight of Kagome leaping out of the carriage. The dark-haired witch had hit the ground running, stumbling only briefly, and had already torn off after Kirara in a mad dash before she'd even completely caught her balance, repeatedly calling after the feline to no avail.

Lily shot to her feet. "K-Kagome?!" she cried out, "Kagome—where are you—what are you doing?!" She took a staggered step forward as the carriage rocked beneath her feet, intent on following her friend, but Severus' hands shot out to catch her wrist and pull her back just before she could make the jump.

Lily whirled about, capturing his dark gaze, blown round, a stark contrast to his abnormally pale face.

"Lily, you can't go after her!"

She shook her head, visibly distraught. "But Sev–" She shook her head again, tugging helplessly against his firm grip. Casting a desperate look back over at Kagome, she saw her friend was already nearing the tree line, Kirara already gone from the sights. She didn't know the girl could even run so fast. "Kagome, no!" she screamed as loudly as she could, so much so that her voice went nearly shrill. "Come back!"

But Kagome was either too far to hear, or chose not to acknowledge her.

"It's too dangerous!" Severus shouted after her when her attempts to break free from him renewed with vigor. Someone had to go after Kagome, someone had to bring her back, before she got too far into the forest and got lost. The fingers around her wrist tightened just as she almost slipped free, becoming almost bruising. "Who knows what's in there, what kind of creatures–"

Exactly. Exactly. It was so dark, and not even the light of an almost full moon would be able to break through the thick foliage of the forest – the longer Kagome stayed the likelier it was she'd run into something.

Lily writhed, trying to loosen his grip. "That's exactly why I have to–!"

"Follow her?" Severus cut her off with a sharp hiss, not budging a single bit in his hold on her. His words held a biting edge, of incredulity and barely suppressed fury, a tone he had never used on her before. "The second she passes the tree line you'll have no idea where she went. You'll only get lost looking for her yourself!"

But Lily did not relent, could not, struggling even harder against her best friend, a helpless, empty feeling threatening to eat her up as she was left to watch Kagome finally vanish into the thick trees of the Forbidden Forest, just as he said.

The carriage continued merrily along, pulling them even further away.

Lily let out a shuddering breath but did not stop.

"Lily, please," Severus was pleading now and had yet to cease tugging back at her hand, "It won't be much longer until we get to the castle! We'll get a Professor – they'll find her in no time, I'm sure."

They were finally passing through the gate now – Lily's squirming was becoming weaker, tears beginning to build up in her eyes as they were cut from view of where Kagome disappeared by a great wall of stone. Falling back onto the bench, Lily was oblivious to Severus' sigh of relief.

His hand around her wrist, however, remained firm just in case.

A whimper worked its way out of the girl's throat. "Sev," she whispered, hoarse, casting a desperate look over to him. Her wrist turned in his hand, thin trembling fingers curling around his bony wrist and digging into the flesh there. "You hear about all kinds of creatures in the forest. What if – what if she runs into something?"

Severus looked back over where the forest would be had there not been a wall obstructing his view, his jaw tensed and brows furrowed. His chest felt – tight, uncomfortable and he hated it, the sickening feeling of helplessness, of anxiety seated deep inside there as the carriage began to bring them up the sloping drive that would lead them to the front steps of the castle.

Five minutes, he estimated, before they'd arrive; he just hoped that wouldn't be too long – that it wouldn't be too late.

"I…I don't know, Lily," Severus finally whispered, and looked pained when a tremble rocked Lily's shoulders. A small part of him cursed Kagome for doing this, for scaring Lily like this, making her cry.

For worrying him like this.

His fingers curled further around Lily's slender wrist, a small comforting squeeze.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know."

aaaaand so their second year at hogwarts officially begins lmao. hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!

i'm really looking forward to the next chapter - originally i was hoping to wrap up their second year in like, five chapters or so but that's probably not going to happen haha. i was kind of worried about what to write during their second year, and third year as well, but i'm glad to have stumbled onto the idea(s) i've got in mind. still, i don't want second year to take as long or as many chapters as first year lol

well, until next time guys! and thank you to all you guys who reviewed last chapter! they were all so incredibly sweet! *hugs*