Hi guys, so I know that you've all been dying for a new chapter so i'm getting this one up a bit quicker than expected. A nice 4000 word chapter for to sink your teeth into. I am currently so busy with work that you guys should feel some love for me because I'm writing this in the limited free time that I have. So please post some reviews so that I know how you guys are enjoying this.

Once again I must try to tell you that this story is AU. Alternate Universe! That means people who are dead in canon can be alive! But how is this possible for them to be alive you are wondering? I'm afraid that wont be answered until the last 5 or so chapters so you've got a long wait. I already have this story planned out, exactly the way I want it to go so just sit back and enjoy the ride.

I apologise in advance for the amount of time it will take to post the next chapter. I have at the moment only 1 and a half more chapters actually written up (begs for forgiveness) Work has pretty much taken over my life at the moment so all my creativity is being run dry! I know what needs to go into each chapter it's just finding the motivation and imagination to get it written in a way which you guys will love. Please bear with me whilst my muse is on vacation, i think she's gone to Spain, somewhere hot probably, I'm stuck in rainy Britain.

Hope you all enjoy this chapter and dont forget to review!

Disclaimer : I in no way possible, not even if I sold my soul and did the tango with the devil will I ever own Harry Potter, It's so sad.

The Dementor

The arrival at Platform nine and three quarters had heralded the rounds of hugs and kisses goodbye from Mr and Mrs Weasley. Once the goodbyes were completed Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny got on board to search for an empty compartment. They soon realised that all were full, except for one. It was right at the back of the train, and it was not entirely empty. There was a man sitting fast asleep next to the window. They quietly filed into the compartment, cautious not to wake the man as they sat in their seats.

"Who do you reckon he is?" Ron hissed.

"Professor R. J. Lupin," whispered Hermione at once.

"How'd you know that?"

"It's on his case," she replied, pointing at the luggage rack over the man's head, where there was a small, battered case held together with a large quantity of knotted string. The name Professor R. J. Lupin was stamped across one corner in peeling letters.

"Wonder what he teaches?" frowned Ron.

"Probably defence against the dark arts," piped up Ginny causing Ron's frown to deepen as he hadn't realised that she was still with them.

"What do you think Harry?" Ron asked, but Harry didn't answer. He had not been paying attention to the conversation since the identity of the man was revealed. It had sent his mind reeling with questions. Could this really be Mooney? He looked very much like the boy in his parent's photographs but the years had not been kind. 12 years of unassisted transformations had aged him prematurely.

How was it possible for him to be here? A werewolf would never be allowed to teach under normal circumstances. Dumbledore had probably brought him in to keep an eye on Harry and lookout for Sirius. After all with the defence position free there wouldn't be many questions. It was laughable really as everyone would be thinking that Sirius would want to harm him, when in fact he wanted to do nothing of the sort, all he wanted was his revenge on Pettigrew. Harry's plan of getting Wormtail earlier were knocked back as Ron had met Hagrid in Diagon Alley and after explaining to him that Scabbers was feeling unwell, had been more than willing to take him back to Hogwarts where he might start to feel better. Harry had been upset but Sirius was calmer, content to spend as much time as he could with his god son.

Harry looked over Mooney again, it was obvious that he would be teaching DADA, kind of funny since he was supposedly cast as a dark creature. He couldn't wait to see Snape's reaction to Mooney's position. Snape hated the marauders, it was the base of Snape's hatred for him after all. A lot of the pranks played on Snape were uncalled for but on the odd occasion were justified. He was brought out of his thoughts by the sliding door of their compartment banging shut. He quickly looked up to see that his two best friends had disappeared, leaving only Ginny and the sleeping werewolf. Ginny gave him a small smile which he returned, his stomach full of butterflies.

"Where'd they go?" he asked.

"Ron was complaining about being hungry so they went to find the food trolley. Although I don't believe that was Hermione's reasoning." Harry looked at her questioningly. "You were oblivious Harry, you were in your own little world, I think she thought that I might get through to you."

"I was just thinking," he murmured. Ginny nodded her head.

"I've done a lot of thinking over the summer, luckily we were in Egypt with Bill, he always knows the right things to say or do to cheer me up." Harry nodded knowing exactly what it was she was alluding to. Her first year hadn't been easy, especially with the snake charmer Voldemort whispering in her ear, but Ginny was strong and was finally on her way to recovery. Last year she struggled to start a conversation with him, now here she was with the Spanish inquisition.

"It's not always good to keep things bottled up. Sometimes you've got to let it out, whether it be through crying or screaming, or even just throwing spells relentlessly at a target." He gave her a small smile, for her to be saying this must be difficult, to show how she felt. He reached over and squeezed her hand.

"I'm fine Ginny, I promise. Just got a lot to think about at the moment."

"Is it to do with Sirius Black?" she asked quietly. Harry looked at her surprised. How was it, that she could tell exactly what he was thinking when his two best friends couldn't. He quickly cast a silencing charm around the two of them not sure about how much she knew. He didn't want Mooney to know that he knew about Sirius. Not quite yet at any rate.

"How did you know?" she blushed.

"I heard you two talking last night," her eyes were downcast, not looking at him. He leaned forward and tilted her chin back up with his hand making her look into his eyes. A quick thought of how beautiful her chocolate brown eyes were made itself known before Harry dismissed it, not before a slight blush appeared on his cheeks though.

"What did you hear?" he asked softly. She blinked, caught unawares by the softness of his voice.

"You were just talking. You were joking with each other. At first I thought it was Ron that was with you but it didn't sound like him. Then I heard you call him Sirius when he was tickling you." Harry blushed, Sirius had quickly remembered where he was most ticklish. "If I was a normal person I would have run for help as soon as knew it was him, but something stopped me. You sounded so happy in there with him. He was telling you about some of the pranks he and your father pulled, and then I heard you laugh. I couldn't help but think that this was how you were supposed to be. A normal teenager who jokes around and has a laugh. I'd never heard you laugh before, you should do it more often, makes you seem your age and not some adult hero that everyone talks about." She blushed causing Harry himself to blush too, he never thought himself as a hero, he just happened to be in the right place at the right time, or the wrong place depending on how you looked at it. He absentmindedly stroked the back of Ginny's hand with his thumb.

"He's innocent you know," he told her. "They locked him up without a trial. All this time that he's been stuck there, I've had to put up with the Dursley's, who have never loved me, never even cared about me. If they had given him the trial I might have been able to live with him, after all, he is my god father." Ginny looked at him with shock apparent on her face.

"But that's illegal. Everyone is permitted the right to a trial, if this was found out there would be a massive uproar, especially from the pureblood families. The blacks were a very high standing family in the pureblood circles, there would be an outrage if this was ever revealed." Harry grinned and gave her a hug. They both separated each supporting a healthy blush on their cheeks.

"You've just given me a great idea. If we could make a few nudges to the right people we may be able to help him." Ginny nodded in agreement.

"You could ask Susan Bones aunt, she'd head of the DMLE." Harry nodded still grinning at Ginny. "Harry, if Sirius didn't betray your parents, then who did?" At this Harry scowled.

"Peter Pettigrew. No, he's not dead, he just let everyone believe that Sirius killed him and would take the fall for everything else. He was supposed to be their friend, but he betrayed them, he ratted them out to Voldemort." He was impressed that she no longer flinched at the name, but then again after last year she was no longer the innocent child, like him he thought.

"So where is he now?"

"He's hiding, but I know where he is. He won't know what hit him when I get to him." Ginny smirked.

"You got that right, just make sure that I'm there, I'd like to see some revenge." Harry grinned. He took down the silencing charm knowing that Ron and Hermione would be back soon. He moved back to his original seat.

"So how long before your brother realises that Hermione likes him?" he shot at Ginny making her once again grin. Before she could answer though two mischievous red heads peered around the compartment door, wicked grins on their faces.

"Do mine ears deceive me brother?"

"If they do, then mine do too," replied George both of them looking at the two in the compartment.

"We couldn't help but overhear…"

"About your thoughts on Ronniekins and a certain bushy haired Gryffindor." The four students grinned at each other.

"Well they already fight like a married couple," said Ginny, with Harry nodding in agreement.

"Very true our dear sister. We were thinking…" began Fred.

"…To start a betting pool for when they finally get together," finished George. Ginny and Harry looked at each other and then back to the twins, answering grins on their faces.

"Were in," they said in unison.

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Soon after the twins had taken their leave, Ron and Hermione returned, laden with snacks and drinks. Harry raised an eyebrow at the both of them.

"You were a while," he quipped making Ron blush. Hermione huffed and sat down next to Ginny.

"The food cart was right at the other end of the train, but Ronald couldn't wait like normal people," she said, glaring at Ron, who looked slightly sheepish.

"Hey, I was hungry," he replied.

"You're always hungry Ron, what's new?" Ginny chuckled.

"I didn't ask for your opinion Ginny," Ron sneered.

"Oh I know," she replied smirking. Harry gave her a quick smile which she discreetly returned. She definitely had a beautiful smile. He shook his head slightly to rid himself of the thought. He shouldn't be having thoughts of her like that, she was only twelve, not to mention she was Ron's sister. 'Yes but if the soul ring from his mother was right she was his soul mate, and he couldn't deny that the kiss in the chamber of secrets hadn't been nice' his subconscious told him. He promised to try to get to know her better, it wouldn't be easy as Ron was less inclined to have his sister hanging around them, as evident in the small looks he was giving her which clearly said 'clear off'. Luckily Ginny was ignoring him, chatting with Hermione about Crookshanks.

"I can't believe that no-one wanted him," Hermione told her . "He's such a beautiful cat." Ginny nodded stroking Crookshanks.

"That's not a cat, it's a monster! He wants to eat Scabbers," Ron said angrily. At the mention of Scabbers, Crookshanks looked around, as if looking for the rat that went with the name. Ron scowled. "See what I mean, just the mention of his name had that fluffball licking it's lips. You'd better keep that cat away from Scabbers when were back at school, Hermione. Scabbers is ill, and he was here first." Hermione sniffed.

"Ron he's a cat, its in his nature to chase Scabbers. Anyway I'm sure that he'll be much better when you see him, Hagrid is really good at helping sick animals." Harry nodded in agreement although inwardly Harry was congratulating the ginger cat. Pettigrew was scared enough with Sirius's escape from Azcaban, but with the addition of Crookshanks, he was a shaking wreck, which in Harry's mind was extremely worth it. He reached over and gave the cat a well deserved scratch around the ears. He gave Ginny a small smirk, which she returned, unnoticed by the other occupants of the compartment. She obviously agreed that Crookshanks could have some fun, even if she didn't know who Scabbers truly was.

The train ride continued on, bringing with it the yearly unwanted visit with Malfoy who must have been getting sneering lesson from daddy dearest, as it was very similar to the one Mr. Malfoy had given him at the end of last year. When he mentioned this to Malfoy , a slight red tinge blushed his cheeks causing the four teens in the compartment to laugh. Had Mooney not been in the same car as them he might have thrown some curses, instead he scurried off, taking his two gorilla bodyguards with him.

Harry looked out of the window, the outside had become dark and gloomy, rain hammered against the glass as the train hurtled on towards Hogwarts. Ron was starting to complain about being hungry again, when the train started to slow down. Hermione looked at them confused.

"We can't be there yet, "she told them, checking her watch. They may not have arrived at Hogwarts but the train was definitely slowing down, slower and slower until it came to a stop with a jolt.

"Maybe we've broken down?" Ron said, looking at Hermione. She shook her head.

"It's impossible for the train to break down, it's directly connected to Hogwarts. The headmaster keeps in contact with the driver to let him know the speed the train needs to go, making the journey long enough for the preparations for the start of term feast to be completed. The train will only stop if there is a problem with the tracks, there's been an emergency with the driver or the headmaster wants it to." Ron blinked.

"Let me guess, it's in Hogwarts: A History." Hermione nodded.

"Maybe we should check the driver then, maybe something happened to him," Harry said looking around the room for acceptance of the plan. The other three nodded their heads and made to get up when the lights went out. He heard several screams come from nearby compartments. He slowly opened the compartment door, letting his eyes adjust to the lack of light. He could see others with their heads out of their compartments, obviously wondering what was happening. A voice called out to him.

"Hey Harry, is that you?" It was Neville Longbottom, friend and fellow Gryffindor. "D'you know what's going on?" He asked as he slowly edged his way to the compartment they were in.

"We were just going to speak to the driver when all the lights went out. We don't really know what's happening at all. Come and sit with us Neville, there's no danger of tripping over other people that way." Neville nodded and Harry grabbed his cloak guiding him into the compartment and down to a seat. Once Neville had sat down he found himself a seat next to Ginny. He could feel her shaking a bit so he grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. It was slowly getting much colder in the room, their breath becoming visible in the air, the water on the outside windows freezing. Ron's voice nervously came from over by the window.

"There's something moving out there," he croaked. He spared a glance over to Hermione who was looking nervously over Ron's shoulder trying to see out of the frosted over glass. Harry made to stand up again.

"I think I should go and check on the driver, something is clearly not right." He felt Ginny's hand tighten around his own before a hoarse voice stopped him from moving any further.

"Stay where you are." It appeared that Moony had finally woken up, raising Harry's spirits. If anything was wrong Moony would sort it out. Sirius had told him that Moony had been the most rational of the group, hence the reason that he was made prefect in his fifth year. There was a small crackling noise and a shivering light filled the compartment. Mooney appeared to be holding a handful of blue flames which illuminated his tired, grey face, apart from his eyes. They looked alert and wary, ready for anything. His eyes quickly found Harry before flickering back to the door. He made to stand up when the door to the compartment opened before he could reach it. Standing, or rather floating in the doorway was a black cloaked figure. The cloak was ragged and torn, covering the entirety of the form that it hung from, including a hood which hid the face of the intruder from the occupants of the compartment. The only part visible to them was a skeletal hand, looking like it had decayed in water. This was a Dementor. One of the guards of Azkaban. Harry shuddered as he felt the cold rolling off of the Dementor, like waves crashing on a beach. He felt Ginny shiver and press into him, whimpering slightly. No wonder Sirius wanted to get out, if these creatures were around him all the time, he'd want to leave too!

As if sensing his thoughts the Dementor turned its head towards him and started to draw a long and slow, rattling breath. An intense feeling of being plunged into an ice cold pool came over all in the compartment, but Harry felt his own breath catch. He felt cold, really cold. The cold had gotten into his chest, making it hard to breath, every breath was like a thousand iced knives piercing him. He felt like he was downing in a sea of cold, and second by second he felt himself start to slip away, into white fog. As if from a great distance he began to hear muffled screams, someone was in trouble. He struggled to fight against the fog but his body felt heavy, it wouldn't respond. He heard the screams becoming clearer, as if they were getting closer, and as they did the screams became coherent words, begging, pleading. The same words he heard every time he had a nightmare, his mother begging Voldemort to spare him. He heard the high cruel laugh and the dooming words before everything went black.

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"Harry! Harry! Are you all right?" Someone was slapping his face. He groaned.

"Wha…what happened?" he asked. He looked around the compartment seeing the worried faces of his friends looking down at him. He realised that he must have fallen to the floor in the midst of the Dementor attack. He slowly sat himself up, pushing his glasses back onto his face whilst trying to rub the tears out of his eyes without being noticed. The train was once again moving and the lanterns were back on. He quickly looked over to the door. "The Dementor! Where is it?" he asked quickly looking at his friends for an explanation. Ron and Hermione looked at him nervously, whilst Neville and Ginny looked really pale.

"You kinda fainted mate…" said Ron sitting back in his seat.

"Did anyone else…?"

"No, just you. Felt strange though, like I would never be happy again." Harry nodded and looked round to Ginny who was still sat next to him, looking a little bit shaken. He gave her a small lopsided smile to show her that he was ok. A loud snap broke the silence. Mooney was breaking a large bar of honeydukes chocolate into pieces. He then proceeded to hand it out to all of them.

"I'm going to the front of the train to speak to the driver, I want to know what happened as much as you do," he said softly before leaving them to discuss what had just occurred. If the events had not been as bad as they were, Harry would probably have laughed about Mooney's chocolate addiction that he swear he didn't have. As it was he was more than glad at the time for the "secret" addiction to come through, the chocolate would bring warmth back to him after the attack from the Dementor. He savoured the taste of the milk chocolate, feeling warmth pool back into him. He looked up from his chocolate to see his four friends looking at him in shock. None of them had touched their chocolate.

"What's up?" he asked. Hermione looked at him nervously.

"Well you accepted the chocolate from him and ate it straight away. You don't even know him, he could be trying to kill you." Harry smirked. Of course he knew Mooney, they just hadn't seen or spoke to each other in twelve years.

"The thing that was here was a Dementor of Azkaban. What they do is suck every happy feeling that you have, leaving you with your worst memories or nightmares. That's why they guard the prison, after just a month in there you're likely to go mad. Chocolate is one of the cures for the symptoms that Dementors make you feel, it warms you up again after an encounter." He was surprised that Hermione hadn't already known what it was, and both she and Ron appeared to be surprised that he knew something that she didn't.

"Blimey mate, you actually know something that Hermione doesn't. There must be a book that she hasn't read!" he sniggered causing Hermione to elbow him in the stomach. Harry laughed.

"I heard that Dementors were going to be guarding the school this year because of Sirius Black. I overheard someone saying that they were absolutely evil creatures, and well me being me, thought I'd better find out about them because knowing my luck, I'm going to be running afoul of those things. I didn't realise that the Dementors would affect me so much though, guess I'm a lot weaker than I thought."

The door to the compartment once again opened and Mooney stood there looking over them all. He saw that they hadn't eaten their chocolate yet.

"Eat, you'll feel better, I promise." He turned to Harry. "Can I have a word Harry?" Harry nodded, still worried about the affects the Dementors had on him that he didn't see the dubious looks that followed him out the door. He closed the compartment door and waited for him to start talking. "I heard what you said Harry." Harry looked down, feeling slightly ashamed. Mooney tilted his chin up so that their eyes met. "I want you to know something Harry. You are not a weak person. In fact I think you're an incredibly strong person. But you have horrors in your past that no one else can even imagine. That is why the Dementors affect you so, not because you are weak." Harry smiled and pulled Mooney into a hug, surprising the older man.

"Thank you Professor Mooney," he whispered before giving him a smug grin and dashing back into the compartment, closing the door on the shocked face of his new DADA teacher. Harry grinned at his friends giving them a dashing smile.

"What was that all about Harry?" Hermione asked.

"He just wanted to make sure that I was ok." She nodded, agreeing to let it go for now, but she would be answered when they got back to the common room tonight. They decided that as they were nearing Hogwarts they should get their Hogwarts robes out of their trunks, slipping them on over their jeans and t-shirts.

Very soon they were trundling up to the school in the horseless carriages ready for the sorting and feast that followed.