Hey all! I'm sorry about the delay in updating this story, but I recently endured the last month of spring semester and was hit with a Knight Bus of homework and finals. In addition, I also moved several states and got my first boyfriend.. So I've been a very busy girl! Happily, I've graduated with my associate's degree and have the summer to myself.. So look forward to lots and lots of updates with this story :) Happy reading!

The lunch trolley rattled by not long after the Hogwarts Express departed King's Cross Station. A squat little witch opened the compartment door, her kind face peering inside. "Anything from the trolley, dears?"

Severus shook his head, but Lily immediately pointed to two chocolate frogs. I handed over payment for two pumpkin pasties. After she moved on to other compartments, Lily bit off the head of one her frogs, fixing me with one of her famous we-need-to-talk stares.

"Sev," she said sweetly, "would you mind stepping out for a minute or so?"

Severus glared at me like I was a dog squatting on his front lawn. I looked away, ruffled. It wasn't my fault he was more sour than crabapples.

"I suppose." He said darkly, rising to his feet and exiting the compartment in a silent sweep. He glided away like a dementor, letting the door slide shut behind him.

"He's sweet as ever." I muttered in his wake. Lily frowned.

"He's got a rough home life," she began, but I waved her off. I knew too well what that was like. A bad home life didn't excuse Severus's nasty demeanor.

"So," Lily said brightly, as if Severus had never been in the room, "tell me about Sean and Remus."

This was the absolute last subject I wanted to broach with Lily. I shook my head, hiding my burning face. "We are not talking about them."

"Oh, come on! Boys are fun." Lily hopped closer, wiggling with excitement. "Spill. I know you've got a story with Remus, at least."

But I wasn't budging. "Story's over."

Lily pouted. "Fine. You're no fun. So what do you want to talk about?"

I eyed her seriously. "How was your summer with Petunia?"

Lily's face fell. "Oh. Well, we dropped her off at university. She's doing alright. Settling in well. She'll hardly write, I just know it. She's always been too independent for her own good."

I had never met Lily's older sister, but from what I'd heard about her, 'independent' was hardly the word I'd use to describe her. Jealous, catty, selfish, cruel all came to mind, but 'independent' gave a more positive connotation. Scowling, I shook my head.

"You deserve a better sister." I told her fiercely. "Petunia's just jealous."

Lily smiled warmly at me. "I guess that's why you're my other sister."

Touched, I was lost for words. I made up for the awkward moment by popping a whole pumpkin pasty into my mouth, which would take me at least a minute to chew and swallow.

"Anyway," Lily went on, folding her arms across her chest, seeming to sink into the cushions of the bench, "how's your sister doing? Little Miss Naomi?"

Lily never broached the subject of my deceased sister, but I knew it was time to confide in her about my troubling dreams. I normally would have told Remus, but the mere thought of him made me feel dizzy and hot, and I wasn't sure how well I could relay my words to him when my tongue turned to lead in his presence.

"Actually," I said after swallowing the pasty, "I've been meaning to tell you something."

Lily's eyes widened with interest as I told her my dream. Her knits knit together as I went on. After ten minutes, she was chewing her lower lip, looking very troubled.

"And then I woke up," I finished, somewhat lamely, watching the countryside flash by the large window. "But there was dirt all over the place, Lily. I can't remember it at all, but I must have been outside while I was dreaming."

Lily hadn't touched her second chocolate frog. She let out a deep breath, clearly thinking deeply. "So you've been sleepwalking. Maybe these aren't just dreams. Do you think… well…"

"What?" I pressed, feeling nervousness rising up inside of me like a geyser about to erupt. "What's wrong?"

Lily tucked a curtain of red hair behind one ear. "I think… well, do you think there's a chance it's more than just sleepwalking? Do you think maybe you've been put under the Imperius Curse?"

I gaped at her. "What?"

Lily tangled her fingers together in her lap. "Think about it. Professor Smith said the Imperiused wouldn't know they're under the Curse. It would explain why you can't remember going places, but still have evidence that you were going for a hike in the woods in the middle of night without realizing it. Have you had any headaches recently?"

I frowned, touching my temple. "Actually, yes."

Lily looked alarmed now. "Amber, this is serious. I think you need to tell Dumbledore right away. Those headaches could be warnings of brain damage."

"Remus said I should talk to him too." I muttered, remembering his words. "I don't know Lily. I think I'd know it if I was Imperiused."

But Lily shook her head, her red hair swinging forward. "I don't think so. What if someone like Folsom cast it? It's a very powerful curse, Amber. It's Unforgivable for a reason."

"Alright, alright. I'll talk to Dumbledore. Happy?" I said waspishly. I felt peeved that she didn't believe me when I told her that I was sure I wasn't under the Imperius Curse. For all I knew, my headaches were just another side-effect of becoming an Animagus.

Lily held out her pinky. "Promise."

I rolled my eyes. "Why not make an Unbreakable Vow?"

Lily reached for her wand. Hastily, I hooked my pinky finger around hers and squeezed. "Okay, okay! Fine. I promise I'll speak to the Headmaster."

"Good." Lily said seriously, green eyes troubled. "This could be a lot worse than we think. Times are changing. I might live in the Muggle world for part of the year, but we've noticed things too. Did you hear about those slayings in Yorkshire last week?"

I raised my brows. "No, I didn't. It wasn't in the Daily Prophet."

"It was a family of four." She said quietly. "Average Muggles. Severus said the Dark Mark was over their house."

I felt a chill creep up my arm. I couldn't forget the poisonous green smoke that had hung over Platform 9 ¾ last year. A ghoulish skull and serpent had formed out of the green smoke, later being named the Dark Mark.

"These Death Eaters… Lord Voldemort-"

"You-Know-Who." I corrected sharply.

Lily wrinkled her nose. "Fine, You-Know-Who… it feels like a war's coming. I don't know, do you feel that way?"

I shrugged. "I used to think so. But no one believed me before about anything, so why should I start talking again now?"

Lily's brows lifted. "That's a little harsh, don't you think?"

I stared at the floor, wringing my wrists absently. I didn't want to meet her eyes. "I don't know." My voice dropped lower. "Sometimes, I'm afraid I can't tell dreams from reality anymore."

Lily put a comforting hand on my back. "Talk to Dumbledore."

"I will." I said, tugging on the end of my fishtail braid. "I know I don't say it enough, but thank you for being in my life. I don't know where I would be if you hadn't let me sit with you and Severus three years ago on the ride to school."

Lily hugged me from the side, letting out a long sigh. "Me too. You're my best friend."

"Don't let Severus hear you say that." I said wryly as she pulled back. Lily chuckled and bit into her second chocolate frog.

"I've been thinking," she said mischeivously, revealing chocolate-smeared teeth, "about something, too."

"Oh?" I said matter-of-factly, propping my chin up on my fist.

Lily grinned. "I think that there's a boy that I like."

I dropped my mouth open in mock-surprise. "No, let me guess… James Potter?"

Lily shrieked and smacked my arm. "Merlin's beard, no! No, I was thinking someone else. Someone much kinder."

"Severus Snape?" I asked, and to my astonishment, Lily turned pink. I sat up straighter, sincerely curious now.

"Is it?" I pressed.

Lily bit her lip and twirled a lock of hair around her finger. "Actually, I don't know. I mean, he's my closest friend (aside from you), and we've known each other so long. But I think he'll always be more of a brother to me than anything." She looked away uncertainly, a faraway look in her green eyes.

"Sure." I said neutrally, though I remembered how Severus had always looked at Lily as if she was his own personal miracle. It was no secret to me how much he cared for her.

"Your cousin Harry." Lily said at last, and a red flush worked its way up from her collarbone to her cheeks. "We've been exchanging owls."

I gaped at her, lost for words. When I found my voice, I squeaked, "Since when?"

"Since your birthday party." She said gleefully, and she let out a high-pitched giggle. "He's so handsome and sweet, Amber! I can't believe you never told me about him before."

"Because you never asked? Lily's, he's my cousin!"

"I know! So if we got married, we'd really be family!"

I shook my head, stunned. "You're exchanging owls?"

Lily did that funny laugh again. I wondered, with a thrill of embarrassment, if I had ever made that particular noise when talking about Remus or Sean.

"Yes, we are! He's a good guy. He said he wants to meet up in Hogsmeade during the first school trip of the year. He said if you want to bring along a boy, we could double-date at the Three Broomsticks." She burst out laughing at my terrified expression.

"I told you!" I said in an anguished voice as she continued to laugh. "I'm done with boys for awhile. They're nothing but trouble."

"Suit yourself!" She crowed, leaning back with a cat-like smile just as Severus reappeared. "You're missing out."

Severus raised a brow, but didn't ask. He took his seat by the window, staring moodily out of the glass. It was very obvious that he wanted to be alone with Lily, which would involve me leaving the premises.

"I think I should go back to my other compartment," I said after a minute of stony silence for Severus. "I promised them a game of Exploding Snap."

Lily pouted. "Promise you'll sit with me at the feast?"

"Of course." I said, smiling. I caught Severus's eye as I rose from my chair. His black eyes were cold and calculating, just like Avery's, and with a jolt, I realized that he had almost undoubtedly been to Nott, Avery, and Regulus' compartment while I remained with Lily. I narrowed my eyes, wondering if Severus too was in allegiance with the Dark Arts and Death Eaters. I was almost positive that he was.

"See you later, Amber!" Lily said cheerfully as I left them behind and made my way back to the other Marauders. They all looked pleased to see me, except for Remus, who was nose-deep in a book about Charms and didn't look up when I entered. I sat down and joined the others in a rousing game of Exploding Snap, watching as the sunny weather was swallowed up by towering purple thunderheads as we sped deeper into the wilds of the countryside.

"I think it'll be a wet ride to the castle," James observed as the sky suddenly opened up, spilling cascades of rain down. It spattered and whipped against the window, shockingly loud and drowning out the grinding of the train's wheels as it chugged down the tracks.

"Blimey." Sirius said, watching as a fork of lightning stabbed down on a distant hilltop, echoing with a loud crash. Peter squealed. I shifted closer to Remus, unnerved. He had set his book down and was watching the deluge. Another fork of lightning illuminated the dim compartment, throwing the scars on his face into sharp contrast against his pale skin.

"I fold." I said casually, laying down my cards as I watched the rain throw itself against the glass. The downpour seemed Biblical. I had never seen such a torrent of water pouring down from the sky before.

The lamps flickered to life in the darkness. Peter was breathing noisily into a brown paper bag clamped over his face. Sirius and James were in a sudden death match of Exploding Snap, the only players left. The thunder was intensifying, rolling on and on, making the train shudder. As another belt of lightning gashed the earth, I felt a cold chill permeate the air. I breathed out; my breath came out in a silver cloud of mist. James and Sirius put their cards down, looking uneasy.

"Why's it so cold?" James demanded, stabbing the air vents with an umbrella. "What moron turned the air on?"

And then another chill came: deeper, biting, as if the late summer had plunged straight into the heart of winter. I shuddered as the train jerked hard, rattling the windows and compartment doors.

"What the hell?" Sirius yelled as he steadied himself. "What's going on?"

The train kept speeding onward. But something was wrong. There was a crackling noise, like splintering ice. I watched, transfixed, as the rainwater that had collected on the window froze and bloomed into shapes and patterns of snowflakes. Through the frosty translucence of the window pane, I could see snow falling.

Snow? I wondered, the hairs on the back of my neck raising. On September 1st?

"What's going on-" James started, but Lupin drew out his wand, looking alert and wary.

"Get your wands out now." Lupin urged, and we obliged. We had long learned to trust his animalistic instincts. I drew my wand, but now I was shaking so hard my entire wand wobbled in my hand, and I was afraid I was going to drop it.

The lights shut off. Peter screamed. If I hadn't known it was him, I would have thought a first year girl had done it. But then the cold chill deepened even further, sucking the very warmth out of me. I folded in on myself, hardly able to breathe. The frigid air seemed to burn, it was so cold.

Without warning, a black shape swooped down in front of the window to the compartment. It was huge, the size of an overgrown man, but it was no man. It was huge and cloaked in a ragged robe, and it glided alongside the train, clear off the ground. It clawed at the window with a skeletal hand.

I felt my gorge rising in my throat. The hand looked like it had decayed in water for a long time. The hand smacked the window, harder. The glass splintered, cracking. Peter screamed again. The thing dipped and swayed in the violent wind, keeping pace with the speeding locomotive.

"What is that?" James shouted, on his feet, looking terrified.

"Dementor!" Lupin yelled, raising his wand. "Patronuses, on three! We can all do them, right?"

Peter was utterly hapless, screaming in his chair. But Sirius and James had leapt to their feet, their faces and pale, and Lupin said, "Three… two… one… Expecto Patronum!"

But I couldn't move. I saw flashes of silver light, but I was immobile. I knew I was standing in the compartment with my friends, but at the same time, my mind was far away. Flashes of terrible things flitted across my vision, driving away the present.

Dad was standing in Dumbledore's office, telling me that Virginia was dead. Folsom was inches from my face, promising to get revenge on me. Virginia was lying dead in her bedroom. Mum was tearing up the flowers I had planted on her grave. Dad was screaming at me in a drunken stupor. Angelina and Remus were kissing in the threshold of the Great Hall. A tiny five-year-old Remus was in his bed, being attacked by a gigantic, savage werewolf. I hadn't witnessed the event, but I was horrified at how graphic the image was.

And then other things I had never seen before flashed in my mind: a young man lying dead, his throat cut. Another one, hanging from a tree by his neck. A third man, with brown hair and brown eyes and an emaciated-looking body, weeping over the lifeless form of a blonde woman, a necklace glittering on her bloody chest.

Worst of all, I was back in the Forbidden Forest, choking on the thick, oxygen-deprived air. Angelina Azadian was lying dead in the forest before me, her gray eyes open and staring at nothing. My hands were covered in crimson liquid. Angelina blinked, blood trickling from her mouth, and she pointed an accusing finger at me. I could hear someone screaming, and I realized it was me.

"Amber!"

I blinked. The bone-chilling cold had receded. I was huddled against something solid and warm, something that smelled like cinnamon, chocolate, and fresh laundry. Blearily, I rubbed my eyes. My vision cleared, and I realized that I was in Remus's arms.

A rush of heat made me try to pull away, but when I tried, my head swam and little stars popped in my eyes. Groaning, I sagged against him, weak and utterly drained.

"What's wrong with her?" Peter whispered. His face was chalk white, his blue eyes bugging out of his head.

"She was sick earlier." James told him. "She had a headache in King's Cross Station. What's wrong, Amber? Talk to us."

I had never let him use my first name, but I was too ill to correct him now. I struggled to focus on the next face. Sirius was perched beside James, looking worried.

"Do you know what happened?" Sirius asked gravely. I shook my head no, biting my lip. I felt as if all of the warmth in my body had been sucked out, as if I would never feel cheerful or happy again.

"Are you alright?" Remus asked gently, rubbing my arm comfortingly. My lip trembled. Virginia's skeletal face flashed in my mind again, and I let out a small sob of grief.

Remus pulled me closer in response, as if shielding me from the horror of what had just transpired. I turned and buried my face in his shoulder, wanting to hide my face from the others, wanting to lose myself in his sweetness. I trembled as sobs shook my frame, not even caring that I was leaving a large wet spot on Remus's shirt.

"Maybe we should get a teacher." James said, sounding upset, when the door opened. I heard someone enter. I didn't look over. I never wanted to see again. I only wanted this awful feeling of worthlessness and guilt to abate… even if that meant I had to die first.

"What happened?" An adult male voice said sharply. I didn't recognize the owner, but I knew the tone of authority when I heard it. I guessed he was a Ministry official, one of the guards on the train.

"A dementor." Remus answered grimly, his voice muffled in my ear. I could feel his vocal chords vibrating as he spoke. "It was flying next to our compartment. It tried to get in."

"Is she alright?" The official asked.

"She needs chocolate." Remus told him. "As much as you can get from the trolley."

"Bloody hell." Sirius said in a low voice. "Was that was that thing was? A dementor, you said?"

"It wasn't the only one, I'm afraid." The official said grimly. "We've dispersed them with Patronus Charms, but I thought I saw three additional Patronuses come from this area. A stag, and two wolves?"

"Sounds about right." James said. "Mine's a stag. It's always a stag."

"Dog." Sirius told him, as Remus said reluctantly, "Mine's a wolf."

"Good Lord." The official said, sounding very impressed. "And you're all fifth years?"

"Fourth years." James corrected him. The official whistled.

"I'll be informing my boss about this. He'll want to recognize you for your assistance. Shall I fetch that chocolate?"

"Now, please," Remus said tartly. I fought to control and steady my breathing, and Remus tightened his arms around me in response.

"I'm right here." He whispered in my ear, pressing a reassuring kiss to my cheek. "I'm not leaving you alone."

I suppressed a whimper of despair and pressed deeper into him, shutting myself off to the rest of the world.

I was faintly aware of the rattling of the train. I wasn't listening to the cadence of male voices in my vicinity. The only sound I focused on was the steady ba-bum, ba-bum of Remus's heartbeat. He stirred me gently, squeezing my hand lightly. I hadn't realized he'd been holding it, or that I had been clinging to it like a lifeline.

"Amber, love. Come on," he said gently. "You need to have some chocolate."

I shook my head. All I felt was this awful weight of dark emotions, keeping me chained to this new prison inside my own body.

"Eat." He encouraged softly. "It'll help."

His voice cut through the blackness cloaking me like a burial shroud. Slowly, I accepted a piece of dark chocolate from his hand. Unwillingly, I opened my jaws mechanically, dropping the piece onto my tongue.

"That's my girl." Remus said quietly, kissing my cheek again, and I felt a slow, vague warmth spread from my toes into my waist. "Chew it and swallow."

I did, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. To my surprise, the bitter chains were snapped, and I felt warmth and goodness fill up the dark places with light.

I sat up quickly, wiping my face, accepting a second piece of chocolate. It worked as quickly as an antidote to poison. The boys crowded around me, looking anxious.

"Are you alright?" James asked, real concern etching his face. The lamplights reflected in his glasses, temporarily flashing white.

"I'm fine." I replied automatically, though I was deeply shaken. I tried not to think about how close Remus and I had been, but the memory of his lips against my cheek brought fresh heat surging forth. I touched my face, as if he'd burned his mark into my skin.

"What happened to me?" I asked quietly, suddenly dreading their answers.

Sirius exchanged a look with James. "Well, you sort of went… frozen." Sirius said slowly.

"You started shaking all over." James added. "Your eyes were all unfocused and blank, like you were in a trance. Then you started having water come of your eyes-"
"That's called crying, mate," Sirius interrupted.

"Whatever, crying. But you weren't making much noise. You were just…"

I spread my hands, shutting my eyes. Apparently, I had gone into some kind of fit. I didn't want to know anymore. Already, I was vibrating with mortification. "And none of you did that?"

I could tell by their uncertain looks they hadn't. I pushed my face into my hands, unable to look at them.

Remus touched my back, but I didn't push him away. His touch was more comforting than anything. "Dementors make us relive the worst things in our past. They suck the happiness out of living things. They feed off of it. And they'll leave with you nothing but the worst experiences of your life."

I stared at the floor through the cracks between my fingers. I had indeed seen snapshots of some of the worst moments of my life. But then there had been other things I'd witnessed, things that hadn't happened to me in my life. Things that I had never seen before.

So... why had I seen them?

I shivered, and Remus moved his hand along my spine, sending pulses of heat through me. I knew I should have told him to stop, but all I wanted at that moment was to stay with him and have his touch keep me anchored to reality.

"Blimey." James said hollowly. "What kind of stuff did you see?"

My head snapped up. "James Potter, that is the most insensitive, rude thing I have ever-"

"He didn't mean it like that!" Sirius objected. "We're worried about you, Amber!"

"And why is that?" I said, rounding on him, noting that he too was using my first name.

"Because we're your friends! We care about you. Marauders for life, remember?" Sirius shot back, gray eyes flashing. "You don't have to keep secrets from us."

I was at a complete loss. I had not been expecting James nor Sirius to proclaim their loyalty to me, especially in such a passionate way. Closing my mouth, I looked down at the floor, eyes swimming in tears again. But this time, it was because of the depth of gratitude I felt toward the two boys.

"We'll be arriving in Hogsmeade Station soon." Remus said. "We should change."

I wasn't sure my legs would support my weight, but I managed to stand on shaky limbs. Remus looked ready to offer a hand, but I was able to stand on my own.

The five of us pulled on our school robes over our Muggle attire without much talk. The mood in the compartment was tense and filled with nervous energy. All of us were trying to contemplate the reason for the appearance of the dementors. My biggest question kept floating in my mind's forefront: why would they go after children on a train? Shouldn't they be in Azkaban prison, guarding the prisoners?

Maybe they were looking for you. A voice suggested in my mind, and I froze in the act of shutting my trunk closed.

I could feel Remus watching me like a mother hen supervising her chick. Pursing my lips, I shut the lid of the trunk with a firm snap. I glimpsed the ancient leatherbound book Minnie had given me poking out from a white shirt.

Don't be ridiculous. Dementors seek out excitement and positive feelings for food. They probably were hunting and the smell of excited students was probably their idea of a feast. Why would they come after me? I'm nobody. I'm just… Amber.

But a bigger part of me knew that was next to impossible. Dementors were supposed to guard the wizard prison of Azkaban. They weren't supposed to leave - ever.

So why were they so far from their posts?

"I hope they'll have some answers for us at the feast." Remus remarked as the train slowed down. The bright lights of Hogsmeade pierced the indigo night outside of the window, twinkling orange and gold in the darkness.

I could hear people walking swiftly to and fro in the corridor. Prefects and Ministry officials must have been making sure everyone was safely inside their compartments before arrival. Reluctantly, I sat down again, tugging at my necklace absently. I was trying my best not to relive the horrific images that had tormented me when the dementor had appeared. But I couldn't stop wondering why it had affected me so severely when James, Sirius and Remus had all been able to successfully drive it away with their Patronuses.

Remus slipped his hand into mine. I let him hold it for a few seconds when he interlaced his fingers through mine. I realized with a pang of guilt that he must have been affected by the dementor, too. He had been attacked by a werewolf in his youth. He had most likely relived it, just as I'd relived my own demons. I stroked his hand with the edge of my thumb, wanting to pass on some of the comfort he'd given to me.

Remus squeezed my hand. And then I remembered: we weren't together. We were just friends. At his own request.

I pulled away, not meeting his gaze. I didn't want to see his face. His stance on our relationship hurt and confused me. He was my biggest source of comfort, aside from Lily, and I knew we felt something more than friendship for the other. The fact that Remus refused to move past friendship into something more both stung and baffled me. He'd had no trouble going steady with Angelina, but now, he would not cross that line with me. I understood he wanted to keep me safe (for whatever his reasons), but the fact remained that we were living in increasingly uncertain times. Who knew how much time we had left?

I didn't want him to play games with me. I had told him that on the beach two weeks ago, and I had to reinforce that boundary now.

The train eased to a stop. The five of us jumped to our feet and pulled down luggage from the racks above our heads. Peter was too short to reach his, so James handed it down to him. We stayed close together in the corridor, moving much like the rest of the students, who were floating through in tight little clusters. We stayed in our own group, pressing together.

The night air outside was chilly, but still much warmer than the air that had been around the dementor. This part of the country was remote and wild; jagged black mountains cut through the navy blue sky through the line of pine trees surrounding Hogsmeade Station.. The lack of lights from cities and towns gave full glory to every star and constellation, which twinkled down from the heavens. I stopped to admire the night sky when a girl with long blond hair jostled past rudely; I glimpsed a Slytherin's Prefect badge glinting on her chest as she sashayed away.

"Who was that?" I muttered as the girl turned and fixed me with a haughty stare.

"I think her name is Stella Summer." Remus guessed. "I thought that's what her luggage said."

I shrugged, pressing closer to Remus for warmth. "Let's get inside the carriages."

James and Sirius were talking loudly about what kinds of food they wanted to see at the feast. Most students, however, were subdued, quiet. I detected the distinct air of fear permeating the air as we moved through the flow of the crowd and towards the horseless carriages.

Except now, the carriages weren't horseless.

I stood, staring up at what I could only describe as a skeletal redesign of a horse. It was jet-black, with reptilian skin covering every inch of its body. It revealed an emaciated body that no living horse could have. Its giant, bat-like wings were tucked beside its haunches, and when it turned its angular head, I saw milky-white blind eyes peering down at me from the eye sockets.

"Amber?" Remus said quietly, shaking me slightly. "Are you alright?"

I didn't take my gaze from the carriage. Or the creature pulling it. Professor Smith had once taken me for a ride on a thestral, but I hadn't been able to see it before. Now, it stood before me, as real and tangible as the dementor had been.

"Can't you see them?" I whispered, pointing. "The thestrals?"

Remus raised a brow. "No. Can you?"

I shook my head slightly. "I haven't been able to before. But now I can." Why?

Remus did take my hand now, and this time his grip was firm. "Come on."

He led me away. I craned my neck, still staring at the ghostly creature. Remus let go when we sat down in the carriage, flanked by James, Sirius, and Peter. Peter was still very pale and looked like he was on the constant verge of tears. James and Sirius were now arguing about Quidditch.

"I think I'm old enough to be made Captain." James said heatedly as the carriage rolled forward. "I've got the skill."

"No one in their right mind would give team Captaincy to a fourth year." Sirius snorted.

James threw himself backward in his seat and folded his arms moodily. "Fine, then. Who do you think got it?"

I wasn't listening. My thoughts were wandering halfway between what had transpired on the train and what might happen this school year. Hogwarts loomed closer, a many-windowed mountain rising from the blackness of the night. Tiny squares of golden light cut through the outline of the castle, and I felt a flicker of relief. Soon, I would be able to speak to Dumbledore. Soon, we would be inside the protective enchantments of Hogwarts.

I thought I felt the air shiver as we crossed through the barriers placed around the school. The carriages pulled to a halt shortly afterward, and the five of us climbed out of our coach. I could see more thunderstorms advancing in the distance. Their curved outlines were illuminated by flashes of purple and gray. I followed the boys up the stairs and through the massive oak doors. Whispers rose into a cacophony of mutters and speech as we entered the Great Hall. I didn't bother sitting at the Ravenclaw table and instead perched on a Gryffindor seat, flanked by Remus. Peter sat on his other side. James and Sirius leapt over the empty table and sat across from us, looking speculative. I raised a brow but didn't bother chastising them.

"Look." James said, indicating toward the front of the Great Hall. The staff table was full, but for the second year in a row, none of the teachers looked happy. In fact, they looked downright melancholy.

"Dumbledore's there." Sirius added, nodding in his direction. Sure enough, the Headmaster was seated at his gilded golden throne-like chair in the center of the staff section, his long silver beard glinting in the light of the hundreds of hovering candles. "Blimey, he looks scary."

He did. Dumbledore was seated, but his posture gave off the aura of a crouched lion. His anger radiated down to our table, warding off the chill of the dementor and replacing it with a sense of comfort.

"Dumbledore is the only one You-Know-Who ever feared." Sirius told us in a conspiratorial voice. "At least, that's what I heard Dad telling Mum the other night."

"Good to know." James said as the rest of the students filed in. Not long after, a group of petrified-looking first years skittered inside, lead by the looming and intimidating figure of Hagrid, the gamekeeper. I watched him trundle up the staff stairs and seat himself at the end of one side, accidentally knocking into the table and grinding it forward several feet.

"Merlin's beard," James said as Sirius snickered into his palm. "That's a lot of man."

"He's harmless." I snapped, defensive of Hagrid. It didn't appear the gamekeeper had many fellows at the school, and the reality of how cruel James and Sirius could be in pursuit of making fun still rankled.

"He's a giant." James mused. "Or half. But there's no way he's pure human. They just don't make them like that."

"Shut up, James." I said tartly, wishing I had something cold to drink to help cool my rising temper.

"Looks like you're back to your old lovely self." Sirius chuckled. "I missed this fiery side of you."

"I will kill you and make it look like an accident." I threatened, but this only made him laugh more.

"Good to have you back, Harkstone." James agreed. I fixed him a glower that Mum would have been proud of.

We watched as Professor McGonagall brought in the Sorting Hat. She looked especially grim this year. Before the first new student could be Sorted, the Hat had a song to sing. Professor McGonagall placed the tattered old hat on its equally battered stool, and a moment later the rip at the brim split open and a rasping, clear voice sang out.

In the days of old,

when Hogwarts was young

and I had hands

a darkness crept through the land

Brave Gryffindor said

"Give me a sword

and I'll cut off that snake's head"

Wise Ravenclaw argued,

"Better to burn the whole monster

rather than just its brain."

Gentle Hufflepuff suggested,

"Give the creature a new place to live.

Return the shadow to the black deep."

Cunning Slytherin said nothing,

and instead plotted inside his mind

to harness the power of darkness

and forge himself a master weapon.

It is time, dear students

to choose your path

that will guide your through life

Will you show daring, wit,

kindness, or ambition?

In the days of now

we must join together and choose

either to destroy evil

or to end it

Place me upon your head

and listen to my voice

and I will decide

who you truly are.

The song was met with lukewarm applause. I exchanged a significant look with the boys seated around me. Each year, the Sorting Hat created an elaborate new song. But this one had been the strangest by far.

"Doesn't it usually rhyme?" James asked.

"Songs don't have to rhyme to be good." I snapped.

James lifted his hands, spreading them in surrender, looking half-sheepish, half-annoyed.

"Applecrest, Hugo," was the first name to be called. I watched with half-hearted interest as a skinny boy with red hair sat on the stool and had the Sorting Hat dropped on his head. His ears were so large they kept the hat supported above his eyes, causing a few students to giggle. He was Sorted into Gryffindor a moment later and took a seat at the end of the table.

"Hey," a female voice whispered. Lily had alighted next to me, and her expression was anything but peaceful. She looked scared. "Are you alright? I can't believe it. Dementors! On the Hogwarts Express!"

"Keep your voice down." I hissed, aware that several students were eyeing us.

Lily grimaced, tossing a sheet of dark red hair over her shoulder. "I don't care. I can't believe this has happened. What's going to happen? Dementors are supposed to stay in the middle of the North Sea!" She had dropped her voice to an urgent whisper, so we had to talk with our heads close together to communicate.

"I know." I said quietly, watching as, "Cram, Emmeline," was called up. "I wonder what Dumbledore's going to say."

Lily's brilliant green eyes pierced me. "You're going to talk to him tonight, aren't you? You promised."

"I promised I'd talk to him." I corrected her. "I didn't say tonight."

Her mouth dropped open. "Amber, you have to! Especially if you passed out!"

Now it was my turn to gape. I opened and closed my mouth soundlessly, like a fish out of water. "How… what… how do you know about that?"

Lily glanced at Remus, and I elbowed him hard in the ribs. He let out a grunt of pain. "What was that for?" He grumbled.

"Why'd you tell her?" I demanded in a harsh whisper.

"Because she asked if you were alright. I'm sorry. I didn't know you didn't want her to know."

Shaking my head, I felt the familiar burn of embarrassment color my cheeks. I wondered how many others knew about my reaction to the dementors. As far as I knew, no one else had passed out or go into a trance.

"Talk to Dumbledore." Lily insisted. "Please. Promise me you'll go straight to him after the feast."

I felt annoyed and pestered. I knew Lily had my best interests at heart, but the idea of rehashing and reliving the horrible things I'd witnessed made me defensive and unwilling.

"Good." Lily said quietly, deflating a little. She glanced over at James, who quickly looked away. Lily frowned and asked me in my ear, "Does he have a problem or something?"

In spite of myself, a tiny smile twitched on my lips. "I think the only problem he's got is he's into you."

Lily rolled her eyes. "I'd rather go out with Filch."

I snorted into my palm, drawing several looks of consternation. A seventh- girl leaned over and said in a stage whisper, "You aren't a Gryffindor; you're a Ravenclaw! You can't sit here."

I raised a brow. "Since when?"

"Since always. It's against House rules."

"Give it a rest, Fay," James hissed. "She's been sitting here for three years and you're just noticing?"

Fay opened her mouth, but James shrugged and turned his back on her, dismissing her argument. Fay looked furious but didn't push it.

"She's the new Captain of the Gryffindor team," Peter informed me in his squeaky voice. "She's too afraid to lose him or Sirius, so she's really nice to them. We just found out like, two minutes ago."

"Great, because they didn't need any extra special treatment." I muttered. The thirty-odd remaining first years were Sorted over the next quarter of an hour. At last, "Zankman, Chloe," was Sorted into Slytherin, and Professor McGonagall carried out the Sorting Hat and the old stool from the Hall.

Dumbledore rose from his chair, and the scattered cacophony of voices ceased at once. The Headmaster still gave off the air of a carefully controlled - but blisteringly hot - inferno. His rage was palpable, but contained.

"There is a time for answers and a time for speech. But now is not that rime. And so, without further ado, tuck in."

Mountains of food instantly appeared on the long wooden table at his words. James and Sirius immediately lunged for a platter of fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Peter ducked out of the way as James snatched up two biscuits beside his plate. Sirius tore off a hunk of chicken with his teeth while James shoveled forkfuls of mashed potatoes down his gullet. I stared at them, disgusted.

"What?" Sirius asked at my expression, his mouth full. "I'm hungry!"

"I used to be." I said, repulsed, pushing my empty plate away from me.

"Come on, Amber," Remus said, adding steamed asparagus and trout to his plate in a much more dignified way than Sirius and James' appalling display. "You've got to eat something. You need to get your strength back."

But I truly wasn't hungry. I shook my head, remembering the rotting, scabbed hand of the dementor banging on the window of the compartment.

"Just let her eat at her own pace." Lily advised Remus, choosing a grilled chicken breast and corn on the cob. "You know she won't listen."

"I'm right here, you know, and I'm not five years old." I said grumpily.

"Better eat soon before they eat everything." Remus suggested, glancing at Sirius and James, who had now finished an entire bowl of mashed potatoes and were soon to be done with a platter of fried chicken.

The smell of meat made my stomach sour further. Scowling, and aware I was being watched by my two closest friends, I unwilling flopped a helping of wild rice and sauteed mushrooms on my plate. Lily offered me a bowl of mashed rutabaga and sweet potatoes, which I begrudgingly added to my plate.

"That's all you're eating?" James asked through a mouthful of food.

"Unlike some people," I said in a refined voice, "I have self-control."

"Are you calling me fat?" James retorted, swallowing hard.

"I think she is, mate," Sirius said gravely. "You are getting a little thicker around the middle, now that you mention it."

"Maybe because I'm getting abs, Padfoot." James shot back, but he was definitely slowing down on his portions. "I'm a growing boy."

Shrugging, I picked at my meager portions, still feeling too apprehensive for food. I was dreading speaking with Professor Dumbledore, while at the same time unable to cease the endless loop of reliving what the dementor had brought forth in mind. In addition, I was now obsessing over what Remus had done in order to comfort me, and how I'd had to redraw the line between us.

At last, the entrees vanished from the table. I had only eaten half of my plate, and was glad to see it go. Puddings appeared in the stead of their predecessors, and Lily reached for two helpings of the treacle tart to which she was so partial. James watched her with keen interest.

"What's your issue?" Lily snapped. "Can't you mind your own plate?"

"I'm sorry," James said lightly. "I just never met someone else who fancied treacle tart as much as I do."

Lily frowned doubtfully at him. "No one likes treacle tart as much as I do."

"Really?" James said. "Is that a challenge?"

Lily pushed her hair back. "Don't bother, Potter. You couldn't keep up with me even if you had help."

James puffed out his chest. "I'll take you up on that. If you eat more treacle tart than I do, you can do whatever you want to me. If I eat more than you, you have to go out on a date with me."

The fork clattered from Sirius's hand. Peter looked terrified that Lily would hex James or worse. She regained herself quickly and said, "Alright, Potter, you're on. But you're going to lose."

James grinned, but I couldn't help but wonder if his enormous dinner would be working against him. "You're on, Evans."

I shook my head, turning away into Remus. "I can't watch. Tell me when it's over."

He shook gently with laughter. "Alright… three, two, one, go."

I heard the scrape of plates and metallic click of forks. Sirius was counting portions of tart. I refused to look, my stomach already queasy.

"Four for Evans, come on, James, you're losing!"

"I can't… I'm going to be sick if I eat another bite!" James croaked.

"Five." Sirius said unhappily. "Three for James."

"Don't do it, James." Remus begged. "Leave it alone to fight another day."

There was a pause. I dared to peek. James looked positively green and miserable. Lily, on the other hand, looked cool as a cucumber as she ate a sixth slice of tart.

"I win." She purred, not even sweating. "You know what I want to do with you, Potter?"

"What?" James mumbled, fanning his face off.

Lily leaned forward, smiling seductively. "Pitch you off the Astronomy Tower."

"Ouch!" Sirius roared with laughter. James swayed for a moment in his seat, and then pushed back and sprinted from the Hall, hand clamped over his mouth. Squealing in disgust, I hid my face in Remus's arm, laughing.

"Typical." Lily sighed, looking very pleased with herself. "Amber, mind passing me a cup of tea?"

I obliged. A moment later, the puddings vanished. Once again, an unnatural quiet stole across the Hall. Silence filled the room, broken only by the horrible splattering sound echoing in from the threshold. Laughter broke out. Sirius snorted. "Sounds like James didn't make it to the bathroom. Poor boy."

"Shhh." Lily said, leaning forward to listen to the Headmaster.

"Now that we are all well-fed and in better spirits, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Hogwarts. Whether it is your first year in our castle or your last, welcome. I am happy to see that we have all made it here in one piece. However, it is also evident that you have been through quite an ordeal on your journey here."

There was a loud buzz of noise as students talked at once. Dumbledore raised his wizened hands and the noise abated.

"First, I wish to extend my thanks to the Ministry officials who were aboard the train at the time of the appearance of the dementors. I also want to recognize the students who were able to fend off dementors on their own, therefore defending themselves and their fellow students. Well done."

There was a round of applause. Sirius looked highly pleased with himself. Remus gave a quick smile, which vanished soon after. His gaze slid instead to me, and I felt heat creep into my cheeks at the depth of concern in his green eyes. It was clear he was still worried about my reaction to the dementor's presence.

"Dementors are some of the foulest creatures that roam this Earth." Dumbledore said, his voice carrying clearly around the Great Hall. "They do not distinguish between prey and bystanders. I have spoken with the Minister of Magic, Eugenia Jenkins, and I am sad to confirm that the dementors who swarmed the Hogwarts Express this evening were some of the same dementors stationed at Azkaban prison. For reasons we do not yet know, they have abandoned their posts and are no longer under Ministry control."

Shocked and terrified noises met this statement. I stared around at my friends, filled with cold fear and rising dread.

"Why would they leave Azkaban?" I managed, the blood draining from my face. "How come the Ministry can't control them?"

"I dunno." Sirius said, just as Remus muttered, "perhaps they've been visited by a certain society. Maybe they've changed their allegiance."

"To whom?" Lily asked.

Remus grimaced. "Lord Voldemort."

Lily and I both winced at the name. Before Sirius could speak, Dumbledore's voice cut through our conversation, bringing us back to full attention.

"Protection at Hogwarts has been increased drastically over the past summer. Rest assured, knowing that as long as you are here within the boundaries of the school, you are safe.

"I would like to remind all students that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds. All magic is to be used exclusively within class time and not in the halls or dormitories. Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind anyone who is wondering that there is a full list of banned items tacked to the front of his office."

"That's all he's going to say about the dementors?" Lily asked in disbelief. James came tottering back to his seat, looking pale and clammy.

"Was that you, leaving a mess for Filch in the hall?" Sirius joked.

James sipped a glass of water. "Maybe."

"I'd give it eight out of ten points for noise." Sirius said approvingly, while Lily and I made disgusted faces.

"And you wonder why you're both single." I said, repulsed.

"Without any further ado, I have one more announcement to make." Dumbledore said, and I detected a note of pride in his voice. "Once again, our post for Defense Against the Dark Arts is vacant. After a careful and wide search for a new teacher, I would like to introduce our latest Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Most of you may have already heard of her. She graduated from Hogwarts five years ago with no less than seven N.E.W.T.S. and received her diploma with a concentration in education, which she quickly abandoned for the chance to play professional Quidditch. Her team has won nearly every game since she joined the roster. But she has agreed to return to school for a year. Teaching, as she's told me, is her greatest passion, aside from her favorite sport."

The dawn of realization was beginning to rise inside of me. I gaped at Dumbledore in disbelief. Surely not. I thought, stunned.

Professor Smith had taught at Hogwarts, only a year ago. But now, from what I was hearing, there would be a second Professor Smith. Someone related to her very closely, someone I'd only met once. Someone who played for the Montrose Magpies, who had my dream job. Someone who I thought was far too good at Quidditch to ever come back to Hogwarts.

Dumbledore spread his hands in a welcoming gesture to a tall young witch seated at the staff table, who rose gracefully, tossing her long chestnut-brown hair over one shoulder. "I would like to introduce your newest Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Mara Smith."