The whispers rose into a louder cacophony of words as Professor Smith swept her way up to the staff table. She shook hands briefly with Dumbledore, who smiled widely at her while she merely returned his friendly gesture with a curt nod. She made her way to the empty seat where Folsom had sat just last year.

Dumbledore raised his hands again for silence. "Professor Smith, in addition to her fame as a Quidditch Player, has also served as an Auror for the past several years. I expect all of you to appreciate her wealth of knowledge and expertise as we move forward in this year."

Angelina was staring at Professor Smith with her mouth hanging open. Lily frowned. "What? What's so shocking?"

"You two have never heard of her?" Angelina said in disbelief. "She was one of the best Chasers that the Holyhead Harpies ever had! She played for five years."

I shrugged. "I don't know. I don't really keep up with Quidditch too much."

Angelina rolled her gray eyes. "Honestly!" She said, exasperated. "She's a bit of a celebrity."

"She never told me." I murmured as Lily explained to Angelina that she was a Muggle-born, and therefore had no knowledge that Quidditch even existed for the first eleven years of her life.

I noticed that the Hufflepuff table looked extremely excited again. I caught sight of Sean Locke's handsome face. He was a seventh year this year, in his final year at Hogwarts. Even though we'd only ever spoken a handful of times, there was something alluring about him. He turned his head slightly and caught my gaze, much to my embarrassment. He grinned and waved. Mortified, I looked away.

Lily hadn't noticed. Instead, she was staring up at Dumbledore as he spoke. I listened in as well, trying to ignore the heat in my cheeks that hadn't been there a moment ago until I had looked at Sean.

"Before I make my announcement-", there was a loud groan of impatience from the Hufflepuff table, "I would like to remind all students that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds, unless you are accompanied by a teacher, and that Hogsmeade is only open to third years and above, with signed permission slips. Mr. Filch has asked me to remind all students that Dungbombs, fake wands, and several other items are considered contraband. A full list of these banned items can be found in his office for any student who wishes to see the entire list."

"I bet they'll have every item on the list in their luggage." Lily whispered darkly as she glared at James and Sirius, who were grinning and whispering excitedly to each other.

"This year," Dumbledore continued. "I am very excited to announce the 1000th birthday of Helga Hufflepuff, one of the four founders of Hufflepuff." The Hufflepuff table whooped in delight. I saw most of my own House roll their eyes and mutter imperiously. Ravenclaws were known as the more reserved House of Hogwarts and looked down upon exuberance that Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tended to display.

"Helga Hufflepuff was a woman known for her rare kindness and her willingness to take on anyone into her House, while the other Founders selected candidates who presented traits they considered worthy." Dumbledore said. "In addition to these remarkable traits, Helga was also quite the culinary artist, and many of her recipes are still served today in our school at mealtimes."

"Did you know that?" I whispered to Lily. "That she was a good cook?"

Lily shrugged. "No. I did know she took on the unwanted students."

"I don't think they were unwanted." I disagreed, glancing over at Sean Locke once again. There was nothing about him that anyone wouldn't want.

"I digress." Dumbledore said, chuckling. "The staff and I agree that Helga Hufflepuff is a rather unsung hero, and so, this year, we wish to celebrate what would have been her 1000th birthday. This year, in addition to gaining points for your Houses by participating in class, correctly answering questions, and winning Quidditch matches, you will also be more highly rewarded for demonstrating traits that Helga Hufflepuff treasured. Loyalty, fairness, and hard work will be more heavily rewarded this year."

"I guess we know who isn't going to win the House cup this year." I joked to Lily. "Slytherin."

Lily tossed her lengthening mane of red hair. "I don't know. Not all Slytherins are bad."

I knew she was thinking of Severus. But I couldn't help my gaze as it drifted over the faces of Mulciber, Avery, Nott, and small Regulus, who was beginning his second year. My gaze traveled next to Sirius and James. Sirius wasn't paying any attention to his little brother, and the same was true for the latter. It was like they weren't even family. Like they didn't even know each other.

"We will also be holding two separate events this year related to Helga Hufflepuff's birthday." Dumbledore went on. "First, around Christmas time, we will be holding a formal ball to celebrate diversity and goodwill among our Houses. This ball will be open to anyone, as Helga Hufflepuff encouraged everyone to make good tidings with all, regardless of age, race, or House."

There was a buzz of excitement rising mostly from the females in the Great Hall. I could see the same snotty Ravenclaw Prefect who had just shushed me and Lily now gabbering and giggling like an obnoxious seabird to the girl beside her. The Gray Lady remained as melancholy as ever.

"Secondly," Dumbledore said, "we will be holding the Highland Games at the end of the school year, on the eighth of June, which also happens to fall on Helga Hufflepuff's birthday. Anyone above the third year level is invited to participate. Specifics will be revealed in due time as we approach that special day. In addition to displaying the admirable traits of honesty, loyalty, fairness, and har work, this is how we will celebrate the legacy of Hufflepuff."

There was a sudden burst of applause and cheering from the Hufflepuff table. I couldn't hide my smile as Sean Locke leapt to his feet and clapped the hardest, grinning at Dumbledore. The entire House looked thrilled beyond words. Even Professor Smith, usually so grim and serious, was smiling at her new seat on the staff panel. "I was a Hufflepuff, actually," I remembered her saying at the end of last year. It made sense as to why she looked so eager and pleased.

"With that," Dumbledore said with a flourish of his hand, "I bid you goodnight! And welcome back to your newest year at Hogwarts!"

The sudden upheaval of students jumping to their feet and hurrying out of the Hall was deafening. Lily and I watched as the procession of students slowly filed out, the entrance clogged by the onslaught of bodies. We remained until only Professor Smith and Dumbledore were the only other occupants of the massive room. Both were speaking to each other in quiet voices so we couldn't hear. Lily turned and faced me, her green eyes alight with excitement.

"Did you know about this?" She said eagerly. "I had no idea. I knew they celebrated the birthdays of the other Houses… but those were all ages ago. I can't believe they're going to give us a ball!"

"Well," I admitted, "I'd rather compete in the Highland Games. I don't even own a dress."

Lily's mouth dropped open. "You don't?"

I shook my head sheepishly.

She threw up her hands in the air. "Well, it's a good thing we can go down to Hogsmeade now! We'll need to go shopping."

I tried to look enthusiastic, but Lily knew me better. I was far more of a tomboy than a princess.

"It won't be that bad." She said at my unhappy expression. "I'll help you pick out one. I think Remus will love you in anything you wear."

Sean, who had been floating in my mind, was driven out suddenly by the thought of Remus and I attending a ball. Together. Face flaming, jerked my head away.

Lily burst into laughter. "Oh, come on, Amber. I saw you holding hands on the train today."

"He was just comforting me." I said lamely. I was thinking of us holding hands in Diagon Alley, when there had been no danger present at all, except for when we had ventured into Knockturn Alley after Professor Smith.

Lily had a mischievious twinkle in her eye. "Sure it was. Alright. If you're not ready to admit your feelings, that's fine. I can wait."

"Lily!" I exclaimed, my face burning, which only made her laugh harder.

"Don't fuss." She giggled. "I'm just excited to see the Quidditch Tryouts this year. Maybe I should use the Confundus Charm on James' broom. He doesn't deserve his spot on the Quidditch Team. He's such a toerag."

"I can agree with that." I allowed, imagining Sean Locke on his broom. The feeling of flying on my Silver Arrow compared to few other things. But playing Quidditch would be a whole new level of intensity. Staying balanced above the ground was one thing. Playing a game competitively in addition would be a real challenge.

Just then, Professor Dumbledore and Professor Smith walked over. Both looked mildly amused. Lily and I jumped to our feet.

"We were just leaving." Lily said immediately.

"There's no need to apologize for catching up with good friends." Dumbledore said graciously. "I am pleased to see that already, you two have grasped the notion of Inter-House friendships."

Lily and I exchanged a look and grinned sheepishly.

Professor Smith looked down her scarred nose at us. "I expect to see you two ready for your Defense Against the Dark Arts class tomorrow?"

"Yes." We answered in tandem.

She nodded approvingly. "Good. Off to bed, you two." I could have sworn she gave us both a tiny wink as she and Dumbledore left the Hall together.

"Amber." Lily said urgently. "Shouldn't you talk to her about your Patronus Charm?"

I watched Professor Smith's back as she disappeared out of the Hall. "No," I said after a long moment. "She already knows."

Lily shrugged. "Well, alright. Just don't put it off forever. We've got to get you to learn that Charm. We won't be safe at Hogwarts forever."

"Thanks for that," I said dryly as we left together, the last ones to leave the Hall. I did notice, however, just as our feet left the room, that every tapestry was covered in black veils. In spite of the excitement and celebration of Hufflepuff's legacy, four people, including a student, had perished today. And that wasn't something not worth remembering. Even grief had its place among joy.

The next morning in Ravenclaw tower was chaotic. Nervous-looking first years huddled together in small packs, clearly afraid of getting in the way of older students. Several older students had already gathered their schedules and moved on to breakfast. Professor Flitwick was passing them around like little paper birds through the air, directing the schedules at each student. A small first year Ravenclaw girl let out a shriek of fright as her schedule hovered in front of her.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Miss O'Brien! It's not a lethifold!" Professor Flitwick squeaked, exasperated.

"Um, excuse me," I said awkwardly, ducking as a few sheets of paper zoomed overhead. "I haven't found mine yet."

"Oh." Professor Flitwick said, hassled. "Here you go, Miss Harkstone."

A sheet of parchment flew straight at my forehead. I snatched it from the air and examined it closely. First thing in the morning was Care of Magical Creatures with the Gryffindors, followed by Divination with the Hufflepuffs.

"Oh, excuse me, Miss Harkstone." Professor Flitwick said rather seriously. "I need to see you after classes tomorrow evening. Professor Dumbledore and I would like to speak with you, privately."

I glanced around to see if any other students had overheard what he had just said. None had, and all looked too engrossed in their own new schedules to bother catching anything of what he'd just said. I stooped, dropping my voice. "Is everything alright? Am I in some sort of trouble?"

Professor Flitwick laughed. "No, no, of course not, Miss Harkstone! Quite the contrary! Yes, please, if you would, meet me by Dumbledore's statue promptly after dinner tomorrow night, say around seven-thirty? You do know where that is?"

"Yes," I said, remembering when I had entered his office a few years ago to learn the news of my sister's death.

"Well, off you go then!" Professor Flitwick chastised to a group of gossiping fifth years by the hearth. "Make haste! Breakfast won't be around forever. The early bird catches the worm!"

I hurried down the winding steps that wound around in a tight spiral of Ravenclaw's Tower. Gleaming, black iron railings guarded anyone from falling. In my first year, Peter Pettigrew had tumbled twenty feet onto the hard marble below, on a dare from James and Sirius. I looked at the spot on the floor where his blood had pooled from his fractured skull and tried not to linger on the unpleasant memory.

The Great Hall was still shrouded in black when I arrived, but it hardly affected the cheerful, excited mood that hung in the air. Lily waved me over enthusiastically from the Gryffindor's table. She was seated next to Remus, who provided a human barrier between her and James and Sirius. I eased in beside her, unfolding my schedule.

"So, we've got Defense Against the Dark Arts together," I began, as Lily cut over me.

"Yes!" She exclaimed. "Double period, too! We don't have history together, but we still have Binns, so we can compare study notes. We have Transfiguration together!"

"But that's about it." I said, discouraged. "Look. I have Potions with the Slytherins, Care of Magical Creatures with Gryffindor, and, oh, wait, look. We do have Charms together."

"And… Divination?" Remus said in surprise, pulling my schedule away and frowning down upon it. "Why would you take Divination? We could have taken Arthimancy together."

"Oh, stop your moaning, Moony." James teased. "You'll still see your girlfriend for half of the day."

"I am not his girlfriend!" I said hotly.

"And I don't remember asking you to join in our conversation, Potter." Lily said disdainfully.

"No need to get all upset, Red," Sirius sniggered.

Lily rolled her eyes and buttered a biscuit. I folded two eggs and cheese inside of a flour tortilla.

"I don't know who'd bother wasting their time with Divination." James said scornfully. "I mean, come on. What would you need to know? What to wear for the next day? That's an easy answer. Just look out the window."

"Thanks for your unwanted commentary." Lily said nastily. "I'll ask Professor McGonagall if I can swap my Arthimancy class for Divination, so you won't be alone."
"Thanks, Lily," I said glumly, because I knew that strict Professor McGonagall was more like to start wearing pink robes than allow a student to make any changes to their schedules.

"We have Care of Magical Creatures soon," Lily noticed. "We should go. I hear Professor Kettleburn's always got something good on his first day."

"Yeah, he's a real showoff." James said, grinning at Sirius.

Lily rose to her feet, shaking out her hair. "I'm sorry, Amber, but I really can't concentrate with all of this mosquito buzzing from over there. Let's go."

"Right behind you." I said shortly, throwing James and Sirius a dirty look, while they burst into laughter. Remus followed us.

"You know," Lily said the three of us exited the Hall and out onto the grounds, "if I didn't know better, I'd say James fancies you, Amber."

Her tone was light, but I detected a note of trouble. I frowned, glancing at Remus, who took a step closer to me so our steps were in tandem.

"I wouldn't fancy James Potter if he was the last toerag on earth." I said sourly as Lily led the way down the stone steps to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where lessons were taught.

Lily looked pleased. "Good. I just can't imagine why you bother being in their company. The same goes for you, Remus."

Remus shrugged, but didn't answer. He had conjured small orbs of blue fire and was holding them in his left hand. I knew why he hung around with the lot, and it wasn't because they were particularly good-hearted Samiritans. It was because James and Sirius had been smart enough to pick through Remus' elaborate stories and lies about his condition, and still wanted to be his friend anyway. Werewolf or not. How many other students would feel the same way? Would Lily hold the same prejudices?

"Looks like Professor Kettleburn's still got three limbs." Remus noticed as we halted outside of the Forbidden Forest. Professor Kettleburn was a grizzled man in his sixties, with a shock of wild white hair and scars all over his face. A dirty, green bandana was tied around his lined forehead, weatherbeaten and sunburned from his long years outdoors. His grayish-white beard was shot-through with brown specks. He also had a missing leg, replaced with a wooden peg. He narrowed his hard blue eyes at us as we approached.

"You're early." He said gruffly, shoving his scarred hands into a pair of dragonhide gloves.

I shrugged. "We wanted to see what today's lesson was."

Professor Kettleburn gave a low bark of a laugh. "Alright, lassie, if you say so." He shuffled off with a slight limp in his gait to a tree stump. He had a few packs he was shoving several items into before lashing them to a cart.

"So," Lily said while Professor Kettleburn had his back turned, "I'd like to ask you two a few questions."

"Shoot." I said, watching Remus juggle the floating blue flames.

Lily cleared her throat. "I want to know where you go every full moon, Remus."

Remus nearly dropped his flames. I gaped at Lily. He narrowed his electric green eyes at Lily. "Excuse me?"

I noticed that Professor Kettleburn had stopped his actions and was listening, though he tried to pretend that he wasn't. I took one of Remus's blue orbs of fire, uncomfortable.

"I get sick." Remus said shortly, when Lily didn't back down.

"And," she said quickly, "I want to know why you two bother with James and Sirius. Peter, I understand. He needs friends. But honestly, those two…"

"Well, you hang out with Severus," I said defensively.

"We've been friends for years!" Lily retorted, turning pink. "Look, Amber, if you don't fancy either of them, I really don't understand why you feel the need to parade around with them, especially after hours. In the corridors, on the grounds..."

"Can we talk about this later?" I said urgently, mortified that she would have the audacity to bluntly ask Remus about something so personal out in public. "Please?"

Lily dragged a hand through her hair, looking flustered and upset, clearly regretting saying anything. "Fine. But, Amber, I really don't want to bothering with those two this year. Please. They aren't good people."

Remus looked furious. He handed me the rest of his flames and glared into the forest. "Excuse me a minute."

I carefully balanced the flames, watching him leave. Lily conjured a jam jar and held it while I dropped the little fires inside. I screwed the lid on, not meeting her gaze. The silence spiraled horribly, broken only by the grunts of Professor Kettleburn, who was still slaving over his bags.

"I think you're being a bit of hypocrite, honestly." I muttered finally. "You and Severus… Lily, I don't think he's the kind of boy you want to hang around with."

"Why?" Lily said immediately. "Because he's a loner? Because he's a little awkward? Well, he doesn't bully people, and if you knew was his home life is like-"
"I'm not looking for a pity party for Severus." I said harshly, thinking of my own fragile family. "Look. I need to tell you something."

Lily folded her arms, green eyes blazing. "Go on."

Swallowing hard, I cradled the jar of flames in my hands and took the plunge. "Last year, I was out of bounds, wandering the halls after hours. I found Severus. He was with a few other boys. Mulciber, Avery, Nott, and Regulus Black."

Lily lifted a brow. "He was?"

I nodded. "Yes. This was months ago, before Christmas. They attacked. Severus tried to protect me. Regulus tried to use the Cruciatus Curse on me. I should have told you before. But after what happened yesterday…"

Lily was silent.

"I think," I hedged, "I think those boys were Folsom's initiates. I think he may have been trying to get them to become Death Eaters."

"That's a lie." Lily snapped. "Sev would never become a Death Eater. He would never do anything horrible like what happened yesterday."

I searched Lily's face, but all I saw was the stubborn resolve of a girl who was defending her best friend. With a pang of jealousy and sorrow, I realized that Lily valued her friendship with Severus over her bond with me. Because she had known him since she was a little girl, he would always take precedence over me.

I considered Lily a sister. To think that she would prize Severus over me made something hurt inside.

I glanced at Remus, who was walking slowly along the edge of the Forbidden Forest, hands in his pockets. I wondered if I would do the same for him. Would I take his side over Lily's, if ever pushed to that point?

"Lily," I said quietly, trying to stay calm in spite of my racing heart, "I think you need to really think about how well you really know Severus. I know you have history, but listen. I know you're worried about me being with James and Sirius, but, no, listen."

Lily had turned her back, arms still crossed.

"Lily," I pleaded. "I'm not saying Severus is a Death Eater. But I've seen the five of them always together since last year. Don't act like you haven't seen it either. I caught Mulciber and Avery beating up Peter yesterday in Diagon Alley. James and Sirius don't use violence. They prank people and sometimes it gets out of hand. But what they do is evil. Lily, please. Don't be angry."

But clearly, that was exactly how she was feeling. Lily shot me a furious look through her narrowed green eyes.

"I can't believe I'm hearing this from you." She said quietly. "You, of all people. You're such a hypocrite, Amber."

Stung, I stared at her. Lily shot me one last look filled with betrayal and stormed off. The other students were quickly joining us, drifting down from the school. I watched Lily go, eyes filling with tears. How could we already be fighting, on our second day back at school?

I bit my lip to keep my tears from spilling over and held the jam jar tighter. Lily was speaking to Angelina, chattering excitedly, like our fight had never happened. I rejoined Remus, following his solemn gaze into the dark, eerie depths of the silent forest.

"They're out there." Remus said quietly, hands in his pockets.

"Who?" I asked, offering him the jam jar.

A muscle jerked in his cheek as he removed a single blue flaming orb from the jar. "A pack of werewolves. I can smell them. See that tree over there?" He pointed to a tall pine, whose canopy joined the other trees to make an impenetrable ceiling of needles. On the base of the tree was an X-shaped mark clawed into the bark.

I stared at the mark, hands growing cold with fear. "How do you know?"

"Scent." Remus said quietly. "And I've been told. Dad says they've been living there for a few years now. There's been a few wizards and witches registered as werewolves that have disappeared. Most of them end up in there."

Distantly, I heard a wolf call. Shivering, I clutched the jar of flames closer and turned away. Professor Kettleburn clasped his gloved hands, and the chatter and murmurs of the class died away.

"Welcome to your first year of Care of Magical Creatures." Professor Kettleburn growled, his wooden leg clunking as he moved aside to show his packs. "If you were expecting a class consisting of fluffy nifflers or unicorns, you're in the wrong department. You might want to consider sitting your city bottoms on the poufs in the Divination classroom, staring at crystal balls and getting high off of the burning incense. Ha! A few of you girls look a little scared."

Indeed, a few third years looked nervous now that Professor Kettleburn had spoken. I saw Angelina whisper something in Lily's ear.

"Hey, Moony." James said jovially as he swept in, standing beside us. He nodded to me. "Moony's girlfriend."

I whacked James on the arm with my jam jar. "Shut up."

"I hope we get to go inside the woods today." Sirius said as he bounded in, Peter in tow. He dropped his voice conspiratorially. "Hey, James, why don't we get out the Map tonight and go to the Shack? I'm sure we can sneak into Hogsmeade that way-"

"You two are ridiculous." I bemoaned, moving away so that I was on the edge of our little group.

"We will be doing a short hike through the woods today." Professor Kettleburn continued. "Anyone who wants to pass this class will obey my instruction. You will pick a buddy and stick with that buddy. You will take a pack I've made here in case you get lost. You'll have basic supplies to survive for a few days. You will stay behind me on my marked trail. If you wander off and get lost, you and your buddy need to stay where you are. Don't try to navigate your way out. I want you to record any creatures you see in the forest. Can anyone give me any examples of what kinds of things live in the Forest?"

My hand, along with Lily's, immediately shot into the air. Professor Kettleburn nodded to both of us.

"Bowtruckles." I said.

"Centaurs." Lily added.

"Unicorns." I shot back.

Lily looked outraged. "Thestrals!"

"Bugbears." I volleyed.

Professor Kettleburn watched us with mild interest as Lily double-added, "Hippogriffs and griffins."

"Werewolves." I said, and a gasp arose from the class like an unnatural wind.

"Aye," Professor Kettleburn said gravely. "Werewolves. And Acromantulas."

Now the class looked terrified. Most of them did. Sirius and James looked thrilled.

"So," James said, swaggering. "Are we supposed to catch them?"

"No," Professor Kettleburn growled. "You'd be lucky to see anything in there. No, you're just going to record what you see and draw them if you can. At the end of the class, I'll collect your notes and grade for neatness, descriptions, and the number of things you can see."

"Well," Sirius said in a low voice, already scribbling down something on his piece of parchment, "I can write down werewolf."

Remus rolled his eyes while I smacked Sirius's arm too. "Oh, grow up, Sirius."

Sirius grinned wolfishly, but didn't retract his notes.

"Buddy up!" Professor Kettleburn called. "If you need help or get lost, send up red sparks and I'll come find you and stay where you are. If I can't find you, well, open your packs and wait. Ready? Let's go."

Bewildered, the class divided into pairs and followed after Professor Kettleburn. Remus grabbed a bag from the pile. Peter looked downcast, as no one was left to be his partner.

"You stay with us, Peter," James said fondly, putting an arm around Peter's small shoulders. He looked up gratefully.

Remus conjured more flames. Most of the trepidation of the class transformed into excitement as we headed inside the woods as a pact. I noticed that Professor Kettleburn remained on a well-worn trail that didn't detour far from the fringe of the forest. We could still see clear, bright sunlight bordering the deep gloom of the woods. Lily and Angelina were pointing at different things that I couldn't see. After a moment, I caught sight of a large gray owl, sitting in a tree, glaring down at us with a single amber eye. I added the sighting to my own notes, tucking the jar under one arm.

"Do you know why Lily is upset with you?" Remus said after five minutes of silence, listening to the babble of our classmates.

I shrugged. "Because I'm with blokes like James and Sirius. We're all Marauders, aren't we? That's what James calls us."

Remus looked thoughtful. "But why would she be upset with me, too?"

I rolled my eyes. "Please. Lily's not upset with you. You'd know it, trust me."

Remus watched with amusement as James and Sirius Transfigured a rock into a toad and scrawl the sighting down. "Well, she's definitely curious. And I'd say she's feeling a little left out. She knows you're a part of our little circle, and she's not. You two are close. She probably just feels excluded."

"Yeah, well," I said bitterly, "she's got no right to be scolding me for running with you four. She makes excuses for Severus all the time. I've seen him with those boys. They just give me the creeps." I shuddered. "Especially Mulciber."

Remus frowned. "We'll keep an eye on them. How is your Patronus Charm coming along?"

I averted my gaze to the dark ceiling of the forest. "It's... coming." I said evasively.

James and Sirius hurried past us, causing me to stumble as James clipped me in the shoulder. I felt something tug lightly at my neck, but it was gone in a moment.

"Run!" James laughed. "It won't leave us alone!"

I turned. A small, cushion-sized animal with long front claws like a badger and a sleek, aardvark-like nose was bounding after James and Sirius. Several girls squealed. Professor Kettleburn halted, a smirk on his face, as the creature pursued James and Sirius.

"Who can name this creature?" Professor Kettleburn shouted as the animal snuffled around James and Sirius, blinking its doe-brown eyes adorably.

"A niffler." Lily answered. "It hunts shiny things, like gems or jewelry."

"And it wants that necklace that James has." Professor Kettleburn added. I noticed James dangling a pendant with a gold chain over the niffler, who was swatting for it longingly. Several girls crowded around the oblivious niffler, cooing lovingly. "He's so cute!" Rina Queen, a Ravenclaw, cried.

"That's a nice piece of jewelry you've got." Professor Kettleburn added. "Family heirloom?"

"You could say that." James hinted, grinning maliciously.

I frowned, the pendant glinting in the faint sunlight filtering in from the edge of the woods. The necklace looked vaguely familiar. The pendant in the middle was small, the size of a knut. Tiny, precious opals were encased inside. It looked oddly like…

I felt around my neck. My hands went cold when I couldn't find my own necklace. A split second later, understanding crashed like lightning over me.

James had taken my necklace.

I stormed over, dropping the jar of flames, which broke open. The niffler was still pawing fruitlessly at the necklace when I snatched it back from James, shaking from head to foot with the last possession I owned from Virginia.

"You stole my necklace!" I shouted, my face hot. Several birds called in alarm and rose out of the trees and into the air.

James looked smug. "A little Switching Spell, eh? Peramuto works pretty well when you're not paying attention."

Outraged, I clenched my hands into fists, the gold chain digging into the tender flesh of my palm. "Don't ever take this again! Don't you ever touch it! Got it?"

Most of the class had gone silent. Lily was staring at me with a mixture of satisfaction and disappointment. James was still smiling insolently.

"It was just a joke, Harkstone. See? The niffler likes it."

Now the little creature was pawing at me, desperate for the necklace. But I wasn't going to hand it over. Not to James, or the niffler. Not to anyone.

I shoved the necklace into my robe pocket, shaking. I drew out my wand threateningly, little red and gold sparks issuing from it. Professor Kettleburn clunked over, frowning deeply.

"Wands away." He ordered sternly. "Now."

James was pointing his at me. "Go on, Harkstone. Let's see what Professor Smith's been teaching you all summer."

"I said wands away!" Professor Kettleburn roared. "Either that, or it's ten points from your Houses apiece for refusing to obey your teacher!"

A tense moment followed. Part of me wanted to hex that smirk right off of James Potter's face, but I knew better than to do it in front of a teacher who had already warned me twice. Furious, I stowed my wand back into the folds of my robes.

"Harkstone, Potter." Professor Kettleburn growled. "You two will be new buddies for the rest of the class. Perhaps that will teach you some patience and tolerance."

My jaw dropped open. "But sir!"

"That's my final word." Professor Kettleburn said sharply. "Any more whining from you, and it'll be forty points from your House plus detention with yours truly this Saturday night. Zip your lip and get to the back of the line with Potter."

Speechless with rage, I stomped to the back of the line, the niffler following me, but Remus conjured a small metallic ball and chucked it deep into the ferns and brambles. The niffler immediately took off after it.

"You two have fun." Sirius said devilishly. Remus rolled his eyes and jerked back his arm. "We aren't leaving them alone, alone. They'll kill each other."

"Less talking, more working!" Professor Kettleburn yelled.

Remus shut his mouth, looking forlorn.

James eased back into step with me. I was so angry that my face felt like it was on fire. My pounding heart beat was like a war drum in my ears. James slowed his pace until the rest of the class had moved far enough ahead. Then he pulled me aside off the trail into the woods.

I jumped away, wand drawn again. James had taken out his as well. The light glinted on his glasses as we circled each other.

"Go on, Harkstone." James dared me. "Make the first move. Kettleburn won't stop us. You want to duel?"

I glared at him furiously. "No. But I don't like it when people steal my things, either."

James chuckled. "Come on, just a friendly little skirmish. Cool off some steam."

I backed up, wand still held at the ready. "No."

James grinned. "Sorry, I didn't hear that. Locomotor Wibbly!"

I dodged as James cast the Jelly-Legs Jinx. I reacted with the speed Professor Smith had honed into me this summer. "Levicorpus!"

James narrowly missed behind hung upside-down from the air. He cast a charm swiftly. "Glacius!"

"Expelliarmus!" I shouted. The spells collided in midair, blue into red, and sent both of us sprawling back. We leapt to our feet again, ready.

"Levicorpus!" James said, just as I uttered, "Protego!"

But only a faint wisp of protection formed in front of me. James's spell destroyed the feeble Shield Charm and a second later I was hoisted into mid-air, my skirt threatening to fall. I pressed it back up, horrified.

"James!" I begged. "Put me down!" I watched as the necklace fell from my pocket and landed on the ground.

James laughed. "Only if you apologize."

My hair hung down past me in long blonde lengths. "Fine!" I gasped. "I'm sorry!"

James muttered the counter-curse. I landed hard on my back, the wind knocked out of me. I struggled to sit up. I snatched my necklace before James could take it again.

James tsked. "Come on, Harkstone. I expected better."

I glared at up him, trying to catch my breath. "You-fight-unfair." I panted, arms clutched around my aching waist.

James shrugged. "These Death Eaters won't fight fair, either. I know Lily doesn't approve of us, but we're not the enemies here. You know that. She doesn't get it."

"She was right about how you're a horrible toerag!" I groaned. "Why did you steal my necklace?"

"You think just because you're a girl I'm going to give you special treatment?" He snorted. "Not a chance. You really should learn how to defend yourself better, Harkstone. I'm disappointed. Come on, get up before we get left behind. "

But the rest of the class had already moved on. We were alone in the woods, surrounded just by the thick undergrowth and the gloomy shadows. I struggled to my feet as James turned away and disappeared.

"Wait!" I called out, but he was gone. I gritted my teeth against the sharp pain in my stomach from the fall. I clasped the pendant back around my neck, my last living memoir from Virginia.

Lily had been right. But so was I. The Sorting Hat's song had warned about splits and tears in the seams of Hogwarts' bonds. But James wasn't the enemy, and neither was Sirius. The enemy was a faceless man who I had never seen before, a man who was undoubtedly behind the awful attack yesterday.

Folsom's former classmate. Lord Voldemort.

I struggled to my feet and hurried after where James had gone. I tried to ignite my wand to illuminate the way. "Lumos."

The tip of my wand flickered feebly and went out.

Frowning, I tried again. "Lumos!"

A brief white spot appeared on the wand tip, and almost instantly extinguished. I stared down at my ash wand, the wand that had never failed me before, the wand that I had used to produce magic far beyond the level of skill expected at my age.

What was the matter with me? Was it the wand? Or was it… me?

I hurried after where James had gone through the undergrowth. The last thing I wanted was to be on my own, without a wand that would work for me. And, I thought with a thrill of dread, maybe without magic flowing through my veins anymore.

I tried to find the path again, but every tree looked the same. I couldn't hear the group anymore, not even a dull roar of sound. I strained my ears, listening, but the woods were silent.

I began to feel the first flares of panic. I whirled around, sure I would find the path again, or a familiar tree, but there was nothing that piqued my memory. Only tall, dark trees, and foreboding silence.

I stopped, trying to keep myself from losing my head completely. I didn't want to think it, I didn't even want to consider it… but I knew it was inescapable.

I was lost.