Chapter Two

"Harry?" Ember turned to her brother. Their parents had dragged them home, talking and apologizing about celebrating next year to make up for missing their annual get together with friends for the twins' birthday. She had known immediately something had happened, even before Molly and Arthur Weasley had strained their happy smiles as they were pulled home. Harry said nothing the entire time. He had been with Draco earlier that day before reluctantly being sent to the Weasley's, mainly ignoring all but Ember, especially a blushing persistent little red head. He spent his time reading the few thick books sent with him by Draco's father, making sure at the same time Ember's bookish friend, Hermione Granger, didn't get a single chance at them.

"Harry."

Emerald eyes glanced up from his most recent reading to find his bored sister, stretched out upon his bedspread, yanking at the loose threads. He knew beneath her bored state was an agitated girl full of worry and fear. Every adult had a secret and seemed to think not telling, especially not telling Ember, would save them. Then again, Harry could see why they'd think it would save her, the biggest one of all was coming, "He walks free upon the edge, never knowing his purpose. For once never tied down but fate has decided."

She blinked then pouted, she hated when her brother wouldn't quite tell her either, "he who?" A cold shiver raced through her when those blank emerald eyes fell upon her. She loved Harry, of course she did, but even she wasn't fully unaffected when that look was cast upon her, "Will it matter this year?"

"You know the decision will affect them all."

Ember went quiet. This she knew well. Ever since that night she knew everyone was depending on her. She knew the hardest decision was coming but she was terrified of choosing because she knew what would happen when she did, even of whom she'd choose. He's mine. He belongs to me.

Harry peered over his book at his uncharacteristically quiet twin. Her bubby personality, much like their father and her godfather, was buried for once as she curled by his side. Slowly he takes as they refuse to believe. A flicker of dancing shadows suddenly caught his attention. Inhaling sharply, he turned to view, his book dropping from lifeless fingers, his thoughts fading, but they can no longer ignore what hides in shadows as lights slowly reveal.

**Hogwarts Train**

Ember led her brother to an almost empty compartment, finally finding her two best friends. They were all worried about Harry as this had become his longest trance they've seen. For the first time Ember had been unable to call Harry from it. All they could do was do all they could to keep him alive as he barely breathed, giving small commands, "Sit, Harry."

Ron frowned as he watched his friend push her brother into a seat across from him, "Why's he with us? Shouldn't he be sitting with his House?"

"Ron!" Hermione could already see the concern and fear in Ember's eyes. Although she was curious as to what was happening to the Potter boy, especially as in First Year she had been told he wasn't a Seer, had even been tested and proven not to be one, she was ready to defend Ember.

"It's okay, Hermione." Both Gryffindors started at the fearful murmur from the usually bubbly girl. "Mum and Dad made me promise to keep him by my side until he comes to. At school Uncles Sirius and Remus will watch him when I'm in classes if he's still deep."

Hermione gave a brisk nod before giving into her desire, "Are you sure he's not a Seer? There has to be at least one Psychic or some Seer blood in your family. He shows all the signs of a Seer, whether pre- or post-cognitive. It's a fascinating subject."

Ember giggled as Ron stared in horror at their informative friend. Both knew how much the brunette enjoyed the library and reading subject upon subject if it caught her fancy. Dad had been upset when the Ministry got involved with his family, especially with Harry. For one time only he reluctantly allowed them to research his family blood line on the condition it was done beneath Gringotts eyes. The goblin bank was well known for its fierce neutrality so James had no problems allowing them to be the ones to do the research. They performed all the necessary rituals, then some, asked by the Ministry before producing their results. Every pureblooded family had some type of magical power among them, no matter how diluted, but it shocked many when the Potter family didn't have a single drop of Psychic ability among them, whether documented or not. James had not been amused to learn that Gringotts had gained access to many of his deceased families' private memoirs and diaries never seen in public eye. Whatever Harry had or was able to do, it was proven he was not a Seer, especially not a pre-cognitive. Ember remembered the joy and smugness her father had when he shoved that into the Ministry's face, making them unable to exploit Harry since Gringotts had proven what James Potter had been saying all along. Harry Potter was not a Seer despite his trances and frightening words. Even now people didn't want to believe that whenever they came in contact with him but had no choice as it wasn't considered polite to talk about in public.

Then suddenly Harry jerked, gasping for breath. "Harry!"

"Hey, we're stopping!" They felt the jerking of a slowing then stopping train. Hermione and Ron peered out the suddenly darkened night for the platform while Ember tried to comfort her brother.

Hermione frowned heavily, "impossible," she immediately began lecturing after glancing at her watch, "It's still too early to be having arrived at Hogsmeade Train Station already. We still have at least another couple hours."

Harry jerked again, eyes staring at the closed door, "Harry?" Ember tried to keep him calm but he shivered from what he could only see until it decided to show itself. "What is it that!"

The strangest creature suddenly opened the door, breathing as harshly as Harry was currently doing. No one could answer as they stared in sudden fascination and fear as it seemed to float inside their tiny compartment. It suddenly turned to the twins, Harry collapsed.

"Harry!" Ember's screamed echoed in the silent hall as she sobbed, desperately dragging her brother to her arms. Hermione and Ron were drowning in nightmares, huddled together in the farthest corner they could, unable to move, to help. All Ember could see was the bright green light daring to steal away her brother's life-force had, it had tried to do that Halloween night.

She too fainted.

It seemed to take forever in the frightened clouded gaze of blue and brown as two barely coherent friends watched thin bony hands suddenly reach out and grasp a silent Harry Potter. One hand held him aloft while the other shifted back its hood slightly, raising the boy closer. Tears fell rapidly as it lowered its head closer to Harry's face, they didn't know why or for what but never did they discover as a bright light suddenly light up their compartment. The creature shrieked in pain, dropping its desired prey in an effort to escape as a weakened voice hissed, "he's mine!"

"Ember!" They couldn't believe she had awoken and fought back when they couldn't even move but in that moment she had sat up enough to hold at a single hand towards the creature, hissing. That same hand immediately latched upon the fallen boy's body before she fainted once more, "EMBER!"

Brother and sister laid together, the latter curled around the former, silent and still as if in death.

For once since the creature arrived, Hermione was finally able to fully shake off the fearful frozen state she had been in. She stumbled, almost falling over her friend, as trembling fingers felt for a barely there pulse upon Harry and a slight stronger one upon Ember. Tearful brown eyes faced a shivering Ron, "Ron!" He jerked back, "Get a prefect!" He didn't move, only stared, "Ronald!" That got his attention, "We need help!"

But before either could move they heard frantic feet pounding down the hall, Ron shouted, "in here!" A worried James Potter and Sirius Black rushed into their compartment, wands out. The Headmaster and Head of Aurors had heard the signal that the train was in danger and rushed to aide the students. It was a built in security for all parents, especially parents of the Muggleborns. Even the conductor had fought to protect his train, sending off a strong patronus in hopes of saving the younger children, as he succumbed to the Dementors.

The Aurors had arrived in time to force the Dementors further away from frightened children. Never had they been more grateful for Dumbledore's familiar, Fawkes. Very few children had the power to perform a Patronus let alone keep one going. But the Seventh Years had tried their best. For that the Aurors had been satisfied as even a little bit of shield had aided them.

Except, it seemed, in one of the last compartments.

James fell to his knees by his children, "Ember, Harry!" Frightened, he, too, felt for a pulse upon ice cold skin, fearing the worse. "Thank you, Merlin." Sirius relaxed his tensed shoulders as he realized they were still alive. "We have to get them to a healer." Sirius immediately gathered his Goddaughter while James clutched desperately to his son. Fawkes gave a near silent trill before flashing them away. The Aurors left behind would aide in his daughter's friends health until the train arrived safely.

**Hogwarts Infirmary**

For once the Sorting was a quiet affair. Not one Professor had hoped something like this would happen, especially to the First Years. Several healers from St. Mungo's had arrived to aide Madame Pomfrey with dealing out chocolate and calming draughts while she rushed to save two fallen students.

Even the House-elves had helped. They switched the normal Pumpkin juices with steaming goblets of hot chocolate. The Welcoming Feast was still a glorious sight of food though most children were eating or drinking more chocolate to push away the cold of exposure to Dementors. Once the adults were satisfied that the students were at least no longer feeling the exposure they bustled them off to their Common Rooms with express orders that the feast be shared among the Rooms if any of the children were still hungry. They even pushed back the first day of classes giving them a slightly longer weekend.

In their own beds as this happened laid the Potter twins. Lily and James sat between them, waiting. Ember had really been suffering from exposure like Harry, who had almost been Kissed, according to what Ron and Hermione had seen. She had been magically drained by performing a strong spell never taught or learned at her age. Despite that, Pomfrey had done her best to pull the young girl through her ordeal, although Harry seemed unaffected by anything she tried, even by other healers. All they could do was wait.

"Mum?"

Lily cried out in relief as she clutched her groggy daughter close, "Oh, Ember! You're awake!" Green eyes filled with tears stared down at a tired Ember, "How are you feeling, sweetie?"

"I'm a little tired." Ember seemed distracted but they knew she was searching for Harry. The adults stepped slightly away to show his sleeping form, she searched her mind for their stressed bond to find it settling. "What happened?"

"Dementors entered the train." Dumbledore gave a soft smile as he answered, "they were looking for an escapee by orders of the Ministry. They were being sent to guard the train and school until he is found but seemed for a moment unable to keep from attacking a train full of students. According to your friends, one grabbed young Harry after you both collapsed. It held Harry close," here he paused as if he didn't really want to tell her what almost happened to Harry, "but apparently you grew angry and repelled it away before collapsing once again, this time from magical exhaustion."