(Part 2 of Halloween. As always: I don't own it! Enjoy!)

That was it. Turning to my friends, I saw them filled with worry. "OK, now I'm worried. She's not even my sister and I'm worried." Ron said.

"Yea, me too Harry." She looked at me. "You all right?"

"Tired. That took a lot of energy."

"I'm surprised you did it on your first try. Many people, regardless if it's a family trait or not, can't do what you did. And if they do, they have to be close to the at person." Hermione beamed proudly at me. I didn't feel to successful right now.

"Whoever this 'Harry' bloke is is right. We do need to at least try to show that we're enjoying ourselves tonight." Hermione proclaimed. "He does seem to know her well."

"Completely agree. You know the elves outdo themselves. Besides I'm hungry." Ron quipped.

"You and your stomach Ronald. Is that all you think about?" she said exasperated.

"I'm a growing boy Hermione...I need to eat." he shot back.

"This needs to go back to her bunk, can you?" I motioned to Hermione. She nodded and walked off holding it conspiratorially in her arms. As she walked off, I shot Ron a scathing look. He shrugged and continued flipping through a Quidditch magazine.

When she returned, I smiled at her. Her smile back was enough for me. Taking a seat beside me, I had something else to concentrate on beside my sister. Hermione snuggled close to me even though I'm sure she did it unconsciously. She read next week's Defense homework and was trying to get me to crack my book opened. It laid forlornly on the floor with disuse. I couldn't study with Alyssa huriting. We sat there until someone shouted that it was time to eat.

Following them out the portrait hole, we soon converged with the rest of the school and followed them down to the Great Hall. When the doors opened, the Hall never ceased to amaze me during Halloween. The Great Hall had been decorated with the usual live bats, Hagrid's vast pumpkins had been carved into lanterns large enough for three men to sit in. The ghosts had appeared this year for the main surprise. I only wish Alyssa was here to see it.

She hardly talked about her other school, so I could hardly compare it. We sat down and everyone tucked in. Everyone but me. I was anxiously waiting for Harry to show up and help me with Alyssa. I was worried sick about her. Hermione nudged me gently, reminding me to act as natural as possible. There wasn't an empty plate in sight. Except mine. Slowly, like a sloth, I added a few bits of food on my plate.

I was halfway through my dinner when Harry walked through the double doors. Scanning the room, I knew he was looking for me. Standing, I ignored the stares that were coming off my classmates. Not even Dumbledore noticed me leaving, but Professor's Lupin and McGonagall did.

"Nicely done…" he said looking at the Great Hall.

"You don't look like you." I mentioned.

"Yea, this is a bit of a disguise. It's how Will and I attended Hogwarts." he confessed smiling. Taking me by the arm, he led me down the hall. Stopping he looked around, seeing no one, he turned to me. His voice and demeanor serious. "Have you seen her?"

"No, she hasn't arrived…."

"Damn." he swore. "Sorry. I was hoping she would be better now."

"Mind telling me what's going on?"

"Can't."

"Can't or won't?" I asked irritated.

"Both. That's her story to tell." He tapped his foot and fidgeted for a second before his eyes lit up. "Aha! I know how to find her!" he exclaimed.

"How?" I demanded.

"Accio Marauders Map" he said.

"That's what she used to find Agatha Miller…"

"The girl who tried reading the journal?" I nodded at him. "Yea, she told me about that. My brother had hysterical fit when I told him that someone was exposed to his spell. Accio Marauders Map!" he cried again. "Must have it locked in her trunk. I need in that trunk."

"Yea, you know we can't get up the girls staircase."

"Too right we can't, but you know a girl, right?"

"Hermione!" I shouted racing down the hallway and back into the Great Hall. Coming up to her, I whispered that I needed her help. She got up and followed me out the Hall. Ron gave us a curious look but I waved him off. I wouldn't need his help tonight. If anything, he would complain about missing the Feast. Finding Harry again, we hurried toward the Gryffindor Common Room.

"I'll be right back. I hate breaking into the dorms." she muttered.

"Not a rule breaker, is she?" he asked me as she disappeared up the stairs.

"Not really but she has broken a few." I assured him. She came back down the stairs. Alyssa's trunk floating behind her.

"Excellent charms work Miss Hermione." Harry said giving her an approving look. Squatting down, he tried a combination of spells. None seemed to work. Frowning, he looked it over and rolled his eyes. 'She would have to use that spell….' he muttered.

"What spell?"

"A Potter locking charm." I looked at him confused. "Don't worry." he said seeing my alarmed look. "She plans on teaching you everything. Wants to get them right before she does."

He waved his wand in a series of complicated movements with a string of words. The lock glowed blue and it popped open. Grinning, he pushed it open and rummaged around her things. They must be close for him to do this unabashedly. Finding the old parchment, he closed her trunk and reset the charm. Hermione took it back to Alyssa's bunk. When she returned, we we standing there waiting on her.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good…" he muttered quietly. There in the light of the fire the parchment came back to life. The ink spilled over the aged coloring and it looked like a map.

"What's this?"

"This little handy thing is part of your legacy….Your dad helped invent this wonderful device. It's a map of Hogwarts, including secret passages."

I stared at him in awe. This was something of dads? And she had it? Why hasn't she shown this to me and more importantly how did Harry know this.

"How do you know about it?"

"She told me. That girl tells me just about everything….Err, well almost." he said with some hesitation. He became quiet as he searched for her. His eyes frantically searching the entire map. Hermione and I stood there watching in concentrated awe. After a few minutes, he sighed in relief.

"Found her. She's on the sixth floor in an unused classroom. Think I know that room. "Mischief Managed." he said closing the map.

With that, we took off. Hurdling out of the Common Room, we chased Harry down to the sixth floor. Passing Ancient Runes and two lavatories, I was hoping that we could find her quickly. Looking down, I realized we would soon run out of rooms. I noticed when Harry stopped walking when I ran into him.

"Oomphf!" I muttered.

"Shh….she's around here in one of these two classrooms." He whispered urgently.

I watched as he opened his eyes, and grasped the handle to the door closest to us. It didn't budge. It was locked. I could hear all of us sigh in relief. This had to be the room. But our relief didn't last long when simple charms didn't work to unlock it. She had barred it.

"Alyssa! Open the door, now!" he called through the door.

"Please...leave me alone!" we heard her cry.

"Impossible. I won't leave until you open this door."

"I….I…" we heard her struggle to say.

"I can't feel anything from her." I whispered to Harry.

"You probably won't. She's very good at blocking. And right now, she probably knows you're with me. So, she's working extra hard." he explained not looking at me. Pounding on the door again, we waited with baited breath as something pushed against the door. Like she could keep us from gaining entry.

"Is there anything I can help with?" we heard a voice say. Startled, I clamped my hand over Hermione's mouth before she could scream. Harry pulled his wand but when he realized who it was he lowered it. I lowered my hand over Hermione's mouth as well.

"Professor Lupin, what are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing Mr. Potter."

"It's OK Remus." Harry said looking at our Professor. "Alyssa will be fine by morning." He, then, reached into his robes and pulled out a bottle. Handing it to Professor Lupin, he glanced at the bottle and nodded his head in thanks.

"You might want this tonight…" Harry said shrugging. Professor Lupin looked mournfully at the door before he took his leave.

We watched as Professor Lupin took the stairs down. Holding a baited breath that he didn't come back. Several long minutes passed before we chanced it again. Harry turned back to the unopened door and tried again.

"Alyssa, please love, open the door for me." he whispered lovingly to her. The way he spoke to her had me confused. Were they friends or dating? She only mentioned they were together but never made it concrete. The door unlocked and it creaked opened. Turning back to us, "I got this for now." he said before disappearing from sight.

We stood there for a long moment before trying to register what was going on. Finally, I sat down on the stone floor. I intended to wait this out. Hermione, surprised me by sitting down as well. I think, no I knew, we were in for a long night.

Alyssa POV

I quickly scampered back to the transfigured sette before Harry could touch me. Locked away fighting my own demons, I didn't want him to see me like this. He had witnessed it last year, but this year was far worse. I didn't want him to see me like this. I didn't want my brother to see me like this either. By morning, I knew I would be all right.

"Alyssa…." his voice broke.

"Don't….just don't Harry." I wept. Coming toward me, he pulled me into his arms before I could squirm away from him. Holding me tightly, he let me cry all over his robes. I cried for everything. Even my weakness.

I didn't know that I had any more tears left, but apparently I did. And they came. Hard. For an eternity I sat there bundled in his arms and cried. I was so damn tired and irritable and scared. Finally when the dam had been drained dry, I felt him slowly release his hold on me. Looking up at him, I didn't see the disgust I feared would be there. Instead, I saw love pouring out of him. Pure concern.

Caressing the side of my face, he leaned down and captured my lips. Slowly, ever so slowly, like he was afraid I would bolt; he kissed me tenderly. It was enough to make me cry again.

"Don't cry love...please don't." he begged against my lips.

"I'm trying not to…" I protested.

Leaning back from me, he arranged us so that we were laying together on the sette. Me in between his long legs. Holding me close, he weaved his fingers in my hair. "I'm here if you want to sleep…."

"I'm afraid."

"I'm here to protect you... " he whispered like my knight.

I nodded against his chest and closed my eyes. I guess I must have fallen asleep but it didn't last long. The nightmare began again and I jerked myself awake. Feeling strong arms still around me, Harry looked down at me with concern.

"How long was I out?"

"Maybe an hour. You need to sleep."

"No, I need to pass out." I said with a touch of agitation.

He sighed and leaned us up. Pulling me from his embrace, I instantly felt cold. Shucking his robes, he searched them till he found a small bottle and two tiny glasses. Enlarging them, I grabbed the bottle. "Ogden's Firewhiskey? This is a lot stronger than what you brought me last year."

"Yea, drastic times call for drastic measures." he said taking the bottle gently from me. Uncapping it, he poured us a glass a piece. Handing mine to me, I could smell the fire in it before it touched my lips.

"Trying to get me drunk?" I half-heartedly tease. Harry shot me a look and I barely smiled.

"If this was any other situation, I'd say yes."

I attempted to roll my eyes but I threw my drink back. Grimacing, I shivered violently and sat my glass down. Last year, he brought vodka and we drank the entire bottle before I passed out. I slept through the nightmare. Only catching snippets of it. I came out unscathed but Harry looked a little worn. Refilling me, he watched as I tossed back the second one. Drinking champ of the year right here.

"You might want to slow down."

"Whhy...I ish fine." I slurred. Great, I was drunk.

"No you're not. Lay down Alyssa…" he instructed. For once, I actually listened to him. Laying down, I groaned and nearly rolled off the settee.

"Damn….please make it stop spinning." I groaned.

"Nothing is spinning love." he chuckled quietly transfiguring the settee into a bed. Yawning, I closed my eyes again and this time I did pass out.

Prongs POV

"Hey, you can come in…." we heard a whisper. Looking up, it was Harry and he didn't look well. Hermione had fallen asleep on my shoulder a while back and I didn't want to move lest I wake her. It was nice having her sleep on me.

Too nice.

Nudging her gently, she moaned my name and a thrill raced over me. "Hermione, you need to wake up."

"No, Harry. Too tired." she yawned but opened her eyes anyway. Shaking my head at her, she looked me in the eye and frowned. "Are we still on the sixth floor?"

"Yea, you both are. Now come in before Mrs. Norris wanders by…." Harry demanded.

Coming to our feet, I took her hand and he pushed the door open to let us in. There in the dimness of the room was my sister. She looked like she had been dragged through hades and back. Hermione gasped as the door closed behind us.

"Yea, she's not doing well…" Harry whispered.

"What happened?" I demanded quietly.

He sighed and ran his hands over his face. He smelled like alcohol. "You got her drunk, didn't you?" I accused.

"Yes, I did. It's the only way for her to sleep through everything." he said wearily.

"What do you mean?" Hermione spoke up.

"She should tell you this, but since she won't wake up till sometime tomorrow, I will do it." Harry said looking at her before turning back to us. Transfiguring a chair into a small couch, he plopped down unroyal like and waved us over. Casting a Silencing charm, he sighed again and lowered his head.

"The night that Voldemort came for your family something happened. When Alyssa ran into the room to protect you, she came 'face to face' with Voldemort. He was seconds away from killing you." Hermione gasped and squeezed my hand painfully. "She screamed as loudly as she could but he vanished. Exploded. Whatever you want to call it. The residual blast discharge swarmed the room and blasted into Alyssa. She told me it knocked her down for a few minutes, but until she got older she wasn't sure what had happened."

"Then when you entered Hogwarts, Prongs, the nightmares started. Each year they progressive became worse. You said you wished you remember that night. You don't but she does. It's strange. She's went over that night many times, but she can't find out what Voldemort did to her or himself. Around Halloween, she gets this way. Sometimes she's able to sleep and fight off the nightmare, but this year, she weakened." He sighed and looked at us. Sorrow filled his eyes. I took a glance at Hermione. Tears were rolling down her face. I wanted to comfort her. Let her know everything would be OK.

"So…" I struggled to find the words. "This year, she refused to sleep to get this over with?"

Heads snapped up when we heard her whimper in her sleep. "The longer she refuses to sleep the worse it is. I don't know why either. I gave her enough vodka last year and she slept fine. This year, it's a bottle of Ogden's. Two glasses in and she's done."

"Has she told that Voldemort possessed our first year Defense Professor?" I asked him. He nodded at me.

"Yea, she did. Trust me, you don't want to know what she said about that." he assured us giving a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"So they got bad then?"

"Harry," Hermione reached for my attention. I turned to look at her. I could see her beautiful mind working furiously. "The nightmares started when Voldemort returned."

"Or never left to begin with…" I looked at Harry and frowned.

"I don't like this. I don't like that my sister is a Voldemort radar." I stood up and began pacing the room. Frustrated, I ran my hands through my hair. If I didn't have the Sirius Black thing hanging over my head, I had to add this as well. I would have kept pacing but Hermione stopped me.

"Harry, we'll figure this out." she assured me whispering. I searched her eyes hoping she was telling me the truth. Throwing her arms around me, she held me tightly. I nodded dumbly in her shoulder. I don't know how she knew that I needed that.

"Two questions…" I said reluctantly pulling away from her. "One….how much longer do we have to wait around? And two, you called me Prongs, why?"

"Easy enough...I was afraid you were going to hex me." Harry chuckled. "We wait it out until she wakes up. Don't ask her anything. Just let her go about her business. She'll be fine in a day or two. You said we needed to give you a nickname to differentiate you and I. Remus suggested 'Prongs'-has something to do with your dad."

"I'll transfigure you two a bed unless you can get back to the Common Room undetected." he offered.

"Can you summon my invisibility cloak?" I asked.

"Sure.. 'Harry's invisibility cloak…" he called out. Rushing to the door, he opened it and in seconds my cloak came weaving into the room. Resting in my hands, I looked at Hermione. She looked perplexed.

"Let's get back before we get caught. Are you going to carry Alyssa?"

"Nah, I'll be here when she wakes up. It'll be easier." He said looking softly at her. I realized that he was in love with her.

Throwing the cloak over us, we left in a hurry to get back to the Common Room. When we reached it, we scrambled inside. Whipping off the cloak, I gathered it close to me and sat down on the couch. The fire warming me instantly. Lulling me to sleep.

Taking a seat beside me, Hermione tugged me to look at her. "You alright there Harry?" Hermione asked me cautiously. Her eyes never leaving mine.

"I will be. Just one more thing I learned about Alyssa. Do you think you can look it up-see if something else like that has happened?" I asked her desperately.

She nodded her head and squeezed my free hand. "We can only look Harry…." I nodded and watched as she got up and headed to her side of the dorms. Sighing, I decided to do the same thing. I hope Ron wouldn't badger me too much in the morning.

Alyssa didn't talk about what happened that night on Halloween and we didn't bring it up. It wasn't the only time I took Harry's advice. A few days went by and I saw my sister return to us. Life was simply better now. Of course, I didn't realize that things were going to turn for the worse-then again depending on you who you are-it turned out for the best.

(A/N: This chapter was hard to write...and still with editing, I didn't like it. I've given Harry P a nickname when both Harry's are in the same conversation. Hope that clears that up.)