Author's note: I have copied a line of McGonagall from JK and also Dumbledore's speech at the opening feast. As I want to stay as true to the book as I can, I couldn't live with myself if I would change their lines .

Chapter 6

A Word of Caution

Rain lashed against the window panes of the carriage, in which Judy, Willow and the Weasley twins rode up to the castle. Judy looked through the window behind her and watched two Thestrals pull the carriage forward. They looked like huge black, skeletal winged horses, with a dragon like head and neck. The Thestrals' white eyes shone brightly in the dark. Judy could see why most people avoided them and considered them a dark omen. However, Lupin had always told her that they were kind creatures, and not having seen any prove against that statement (safe for their dark appearance) she had always taken his word for it.

'Too bad we can't see them,' said Willow regretfully as she looked through the glass as well.

'I'll die a happy man, if I never see one in my life,' said George in disagreement. Willow turned back to him, her expression grave and guilty for her wish.

'It's all right, Will,' said Judy reassuringly. 'I think none of us ever really wants to see a Thestral.' She cast back one more glance at the black horses, pretending to see right through them and then turned back. None of her friends knew she had witnessed her mother's death and therefore could see the Thestrals pulling their carriage. It was one of the many secrets she had to keep from them. Something which she would have to continue to do, until it became clear who had killed her mother. After all if the person who was responsible for her mother's death found out that there was a witness to his crime…Judy didn't want to think of the possible consequences.

They rode on to a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates, flanked by stone columns with winged boars on top. As they passed the columns, Judy noticed two hooded Dementors standing guard on either side. She held her breath as the Dementor on her side leaned toward the carriage and she let out a long sigh as the carriage picked up speed on the sloping drive up to the castle.

Fred and George slipped out of their jackets as the carriage stopped in front of the stone steps leading up to the double oak front doors. Willow locked her arm with George as soon as she got out of the carriage. They ran toward the stone steps, hiding under George's coat so they wouldn't get wet. Judy held Duncan's wickerwork basket in one hand as she locked her arm with Fred's. They took the path to the entrance at a run and met up with Willow and George as they reached the shelter of the castle's stone walls.

They joined the crowd swarming up the steps, walked through the huge oak front doors and entered the cavernous Entrance Hall. The large hall was completely lit by torches, giving it a warm feeling as opposed to the dark and cold weather outside. Hundreds of trunks aligned the walls, waiting to be brought up to the dormitories by the house elves. At the far end of the rows of luggage lay the white marble staircase, leading to the upper floors. Judy put her purple backpack and the wickerwork basket on the trunk which was nearest. She quickly let Duncan out of his confinement and took him in her arms.

'Now, you can explore the castle all you want, but you need to be back in the dorm before midnight, all right?' Their eyes locked and the black cat blinked twice. Judy then quickly put him down and watched him trod off to the staircase, carefully avoiding the mass of children's feet which now filled the Entrance Hall. 'And don't bring back any mice!' Judy called after him, though she wasn't sure he could hear her over the chatter and laughter all around her.

'Oy! Lee, wait up!' Judy turned on her heel just in time to see Fred rush away to his mate Lee Jordan. George muttered a quick apology to Willow before he left and joined his twin as they walked through the open double doors leading to the Great Hall.

'We'd better hurry up too,' said Willow, 'Abigail is bound to forget to save us a seat.'

'Yes, but Chelsea won't,' offered Judy. 'I,-'

'Ms. Byrne!' A squeaky voice called over the excited chatter of the students around her.

'That's Flitwick,' said Willow, sounding confused. Professor Flitwick was the Charms teacher at Hogwarts and also the Head of Ravenclaw house. 'What does he want to see you for?'

'I don't know,' lied Judy and shrugged. 'Listen, you go inside and save me a seat. I'll see you later.'

'Yeah, OK,' said Willow, sounding somewhat disappointed. 'But I'll want to hear everything later.'

'Go, Will,' said Judy with a smile and made her way to Professor Flitwick, a tiny little wizard with a shock of white hair, who was waiting for her at the white marble staircase.

'Ah, there you are Ms. Byrne,' said Professor Flitwick, somewhat impatiently. 'Now, we'd better hurry up, because I have to get back to the Great Hall in a few minutes. I'm appointed to do the Sorting this year,' he said proudly as he pushed his chest forward.

'I thought Professor McGonagall did the Sorting every year, sir,' said Judy, somewhat confused. Professor Flitwick grimaced and turned on his heel without answering. He quickly made his way up the staircase.

'Potter! Granger! I want to see you both!' Judy looked at the origin of the familiar voice and saw how Harry Potter and Hermione Granger walked up to Professor McGonagall, a stern looking witch who usually wore her hair in a tight bun. Judy wondered why the two Gryffindors had to see their Head of House at the start of term.

'Ms. Byrne!' Professor Flitwick pulled her away from her thoughts and Judy quickly followed him up the staircase.

They proceeded to the Headmaster's office in silence. Judy was too taken up by what Dumbledore may had to say to her and by her own questions to think of anything to say to the little Professor bobbing ahead of her.

As they reached the seventh floor, Professor Flitwick was panting heavily and Judy had to admit she herself wouldn't mind sitting down for a while to catch her breath. She followed Professor Flitwick through a corridor, lit by torches, and stopped at his side as they reached the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to the Headmaster's office.

'Cauldron cake,' said Professor Flitwick and at his words the stone gargoyle leapt aside. The solid wall behind the statue then split in two and revealed a spiral stone staircase, rising up like an escalator.

'I shall leave you now,' said Professor Flitwick as he cast a glance at Judy. 'But after your conversation with the Headmaster I expect you to go straight to the opening feast, Ms. Byrne,' he said in his squeaky voice.

'Yes, Professor,' said Judy. She stepped onto the spiralling staircase which still moved slowly upward and watched after the Head of Ravenclaw house as he hurried back down the corridor.

Judy stepped off the spiral staircase as she reached the entrance to Dumbledore's office. She looked at the highly polished oak door for a while. The brass knocker shaped like a griffin felt familiar as she held it and she remembered her first and until now only visit to the Headmaster's office all too clearly.

Dumbledore had called her to his office after her first opening feast six years before. During their meeting he had impressed on her more than once that she could never tell anybody she was the daughter of Sirius Black. There were many wizards who might take their anger on Black out on her, good and bad. Judy had understood quickly, having Lupin tell her the same thing since he had taken her in on the night of James and Lily's death. Though being told the same by one of the greatest wizards of all time, did make her more aware of the possible consequences if her secrets were revealed. The consequences for her, as well as her family and friends.

Judy knocked on the door and a voice from inside told her to come in. Professor Dumbledore sat in the high chair behind his large claw-footed desk. He was an old wizard with several feet of long silver hair and a very crooked nose. His office was a large and beautiful circular room, aligned with several windows looking out on the breath taking landscape surrounding the castle. The main source of light came from a dozen candles, surrounding the area of Dumbledore's desk. Further back in the room hung a solitary lamp, bathing that part of the room in a soft orange glow.

'Please, have a seat Judy,' she complied with Dumbledore's request and sat down opposite him, the highly polished oak desk between them. Judy looked past the Headmaster at a shelve, bearing a glass case with the sword of Godric Gryffindor inside it. The case hadn't been there when she had visited the Headmaster's office six years before.

'Did you have a good summer, Judy?' Dumbledore asked in his deep voice.

'Yes, Professor,' said Judy, feeling awkward about being asked such a casual question by the Headmaster.

'I suppose you know why I have asked you to come see me before the start of term?' He folded his hands in front of his mouth and looked at her attentively.

'I think it is because of Sirius' escape from Azkaban,' said Judy.

'Yes, it is,' said Professor Dumbledore gravely. 'I have several questions for you about your father, Judy.' She waited for him to ask the first. 'Has your father ever attempted to contact you?'

'No, sir,' said Judy honestly.

'Not even after his escape?' asked Dumbledore, looking at her over his half moon spectacles.

'No, sir.'

'So you have no idea concerning his whereabouts at this time?' asked Dumbledore insistently.

'No, Professor,' said Judy. 'May I ask why you are asking these questions, sir?'

'Because I need to know whether I can trust you, Judy,' said Dumbledore gravely.

'Trust me, Professor?' She asked confused.

'Yes. I am sure Professor Lupin has told you about Sirius' relationship with Harry Potter?'

'Yes, Sirius is his godfather,' said Judy softly.

'Do you think Sirius cares about Harry?' asked Dumbledore interested.

'I think he loves him as if he were his own child, sir,' said Judy honestly.

'I was afraid of that,' said Dumbledore, getting up and walking around his desk. He walked to one of the many spindly-legged tables in the office and looked at the array of puffing silver instruments that stood on it. 'And if I remember correctly you don't believe Sirius has anything to do with James and Lily Potter's death?'

'Yes, I think he is innocent,' said Judy, looking straight into Dumbledore's blue eyes as he turned to face her. 'You think Sirius is after Harry, don't you?'

'Voldemort's downfall was Sirius' as well,' said Dumbledore slowly, choosing his words carefully. 'Harry is the reason why your father lost everything that meant anything to him. Not only his wealth and power, but also you,' said Dumbledore. 'I think Sirius wants to see Harry dead as much as Voldemort himself.'

'You're wrong,' said Judy quickly. 'If there's anybody who Sirius wants to see dead it's Voldemort.' Dumbledore looked at her, not convinced.

'You are referring to your mother's murder.'

'She was killed because Voldemort wanted revenge on Sirius…he was never the same after that.' She took a deep breath. 'Harry is not the reason Sirius lost everything, Professor. My father lost everything he loved because of Voldemort.'

'I understand why you believe that,' said Dumbledore, 'but there is also proof that Sirius was working together with Voldemort.'

'He would never have betrayed James and Lily,' said Judy, fighting back the tears the thought caused her.

'Perhaps,' said Dumbledore, his eyes still on her, 'but you understand my concern?'

'I do, Professor.'

'And you understand I will do anything to protect Harry?'

'I don't believe Sirius is after Harry,' said Judy, 'but I don't want to see Harry get hurt either, Professor.' She quickly wiped away a tear from her cheek. The thought of her father as a murderer had always brought tears to her eyes. No matter what anybody said about him, she refused to believe that the man who had found her hiding under the bed after her mother was killed, could be a murderer himself.

'If Sirius were to contact you to try and get to Harry,' said Dumbledore, pausing.

'I will not do anything to endanger Harry's life, sir,' said Judy firmly.

Dumbledore looked at her and waited a while before he spoke. 'I trust you, Judy.' He said honestly. 'And I understand how hard this must be for you,'

'No, you don't,' Judy snapped and quickly wiped away a tear from her cheek. She felt ashamed as she became aware of the sharp tone in her voice. 'I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean,-'

'It's quite all right, Judy,' said Dumbledore warmly as he handed her a light blue handkerchief. Judy took it and dabbed her eyes. 'It is never easy to be separated from one's family…' Judy looked up at him, knowing that Sirius wasn't the only person he was referring to. Harry had been like a little brother to her when they were children and she knew their relationship would have been very different if Voldemort hadn't come into their lives.

'I have Remus,' said Judy, 'but I suppose I should call him Professor Lupin from now on.'

'Yes,' Dumbledore smiled for a moment and then looked at her, thinking. 'Judy, I think it is best if you do not tell anybody that you are related to Professor Lupin. Other students may think he is favouring you…'

'My uncle and I have already agreed on that, Professor. And we have told my friends not to tell anybody.'

'Good, and I assume nobody at Hogwarts knows about your relationship with Sirius? Apart from me and your uncle?'

'You are the only ones, sir.'

'I trust you will not entrust anybody else with this knowledge,' said Dumbledore, 'there are many witches and wizards out there who are after your father, especially now that he has escaped from prison…they will not hesitate to grasp any opportunity to capture him…'

'I know, sir,' said Judy honestly.

'Good, well that is all I wished to talk you about. I think we had better go to the feast before they start without us,' Dumbledore smiled at her. 'You'd better go first, I think it is best if few people as possible know about this conversation.'

'Yes, sir,' said Judy, getting to her feet and walking to the door. She stopped in front of it, drew out her wand and cleaned the handkerchief with a charm. 'Thank you, sir.' She walked back and handed him the handkerchief.

'Thank you. Now, you best be off,' said Dumbledore warmly.

Judy turned, walked to the door and then stopped, suddenly remembering the question she had wanted to ask Dumbledore herself. 'Sir?' She asked softly as she turned.

'Yes, Judy?' He looked at her over his half moon spectacles.

'There were Dementors on the train tonight.'

'Yes, so I have heard,' said Professor Dumbledore, his eyes showing an anger that didn't sound in his voice.

'I saw one, sir. He came into my compartment…' Dumbledore looked at her attentively. 'For a moment…I thought he…he wanted to kiss me…' she kept her eyes on Dumbledore, who looked at her, thinking.

'Do you think he sensed your relationship to your father?'

'I don't know, sir,' said Judy truthfully. 'It seemed like he did, but is that possible?'

'There is, as far as I know, no precedence of a Dementor mistaking a family member for a criminal…which does not mean however that it is impossible of happening…' He paused for a moment. 'Perhaps Judy, it is best if you are even more cautious than the other students when it comes to the Dementors…'

'Yes, sir.'

'Now, you'd better hurry to the Great Hall,' said Dumbledore with a smile. 'You've already missed the Sorting, you wouldn't want to miss the feast as well, now would you?'

'No, Professor,' Judy cast him a small smile, turned on her heel and left the office.

She rushed down the spiral staircase and several other staircases, nearly tripping as she forgot the missing step on the stairs leading from the fourth to the third floor. Several paintings called after her that she shouldn't rush through the castle as she did, but Judy ignored them and continued her way down the marble staircase leading to the ground floor.

Judy reached the Great Hall in time to see Dumbledore welcoming the students and wondered for a moment how he could have beaten her to the feast. The enchanted ceiling was black and cloudy tonight, though the thousand candles floating over the tables bathed the Great Hall in a warm glow.

Judy walked quickly to the Ravenclaw table, ignoring the several stares she received from students seated at the four long house tables. Judy sat down next to Willow, hoping the stares and whispers around her would soon die down.

'Well, finally…whispered Willow, rolling her eyes. 'Where have you been? Flitwick has been back for ages and you've missed the entire Sorting!'

'I had to go to the bathroom,' said Judy, feeling miserable for not coming up with a better excuse.

'And that took you what? Half an hour?' Willow arched a brow at her.

'Well,' said Judy, thinking quickly, 'I would have been back earlier, but moaning Myrtle flooded the bathroom again.'

'Then why aren't your socks all wet?' asked Abigail McDonald, a red curly haired girl, who sat opposite them and had been listening in on the conversation. Abigail always listened in on conversations. Despite her sharing their dorm, Willow and Judy had never taken a liking to her.

'Because she's better at Charms than you are and she knows how to dry her clothes with a simple spell,' said Willow irritated. Abigail scowled.

'Well, I guess it's a fashion to come late this year,' said Willow in a quiet tone, 'McGonagall came in a few seconds before you with Potter and his friend Granger. And Dumbledore didn't show up till the last two first years were sorted. May be,-'

'Would you keep it down,' hissed Chelsea Keenan, who sat on Willow's other side. Her long blond hair almost hit Willow in her face as she turned. 'He's talking about the Dementors on the train.'

'Oh relax,' said Willow, 'he won't say anything we'll need in class.' Chelsea scowled at her and turned back to listen to Dumbledore's speech. Judy didn't know any other Ravenclaw who was as focused on her studying as Chelsea.

'…They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds,' said Dumbledore as Judy and Willow turned their attention to the Headmaster's speech, 'and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave the school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises – or even Invisibility Cloaks,' he added quickly.

'Like any of us has got one of those lying around,' whispered Willow sarcastically, making Judy smile.

'It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs foul of the Dementors.'

'Oh great,' said Willow, 'like we don't have enough to do, trying to keep those little buggers from misbehaving.' Judy kept her eyes on Dumbledore who looked very seriously around the Hall. Everybody had fallen quiet at his words of caution.

'On a happier note', Dumbledore said with a smile, 'I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.'

'Two?' asked Willow confused. Judy did her utmost not to look surprised, since she wasn't even supposed to know there was one change in staff this year.

'Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence against the Dark Arts teacher.'

A rather unenthusiastic applause followed at Dumbledore's announcement. Only a small group at the Gryffindor table clapped loudly. Judy smiled as she spotted Harry Potter among them. Both Judy and Willow pretended not to notice the modest applause at the Ravenclaw table and clapped hard. Willow even put her thumb and index finger in her mouth and whistled loudly. Snape looked at her in disgust and Willow cast him a broad grin. Judy could already tell that Willow's mother would be getting at least one letter from the Potions' teacher this year.

'That's our new DADA teacher?' asked Abigail sceptically. 'Looks like one good jinx will finish him off.' Judy looked at her in anger.

'Well, for your information, Abby,' said Willow, making Abigail cringe because she hated that nickname. 'Professor Lupin knows exactly what he's doing. He came into our compartment after that Dementor I told you about left and gave us all a piece of chocolate. Best remedy against that cold feeling a Dementor gives you if you ask me.'

'Well, I wasn't asking you,' retorted Abigail and she quickly looked back at the staff table to ignore anything else Willow had to say.

'As to our second new appointment,' said Dumbledore as the scattered applause for Professor Lupin faded, 'well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that this place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his game keeping duties.'

All of the students fell silent for a moment as the news sank in. Then a huge applause erupted, especially at the Gryffindor table.

'Awesome!' said Shania Wade, a dark skinned girl who sat next to Abigail and opposite Judy. Her natural frizzy hair now hung over her shoulders in long curls. Shania usually wore her hair differently every day, ranging from frizzy, to curly to straight and every hair do she could think of. Like Abigail and Chelsea, Shania also shared Judy and Willow's dorm.

'With his love for dangerous creatures, lessons should be very interesting…' said Shania with a smile.

'Interesting?' asked Abigail sarcastically, 'I bet you anything that at least one student is going to be in the hospital wing at the end of the week.'

'I wouldn't pay too much attention to her tonight,' said Shania, as Abigail looked back at the staff table.

'Why not?' asked Judy, confused.

'Oh right, you totally missed out on that one,' said Willow with a smile. 'Abigail's younger brother Kenneth just got sorted into Slytherin!'

'Slytherin?' asked Judy in disbelief. 'But that's where she,-'

'Exactly,' cut Shania across her.

'Oh,' said Judy, feeling a bit of sympathy for Abigail. 'What else did I miss?'

'The end of Dumbledore's speech,' said Chelsea, somewhat reproachfully as the golden plates an goblets before them suddenly filled with food and drink.

'Oh, good. I'm starving,' said Willow, helping herself to a couple of chicken legs.

Judy smiled and looked back at Shania, who still had her eyes on her.

'Well, my brother Deacon got himself sorted into Gryffindor,' said Shania proudly. 'But our parents were both in Gryffindor, so that didn't come as a surprise. The Sorting Hat had doubts when it came to me too. Oh, and Chelsea's youngest sister was Sorted too, but perhaps she'd rather tell you herself about that.'

Chelsea quickly swallowed a mouth full of peas as she went red in the face. 'Well, it's not really that important. But my sister Evelyn was Sorted into Ravenclaw as well.'

'Not important?' asked Willow in disbelief. 'You should have seen her gloating fifteen minutes ago!'

'Oh, shut up,' said Chelsea, hiding her face behind her long blond hair. Beside her obsession with studying, Chelsea was also a very polite girl who didn't handle criticism well. Judy could tell Willow had made her feel quite embarrassed.

'Oh come on, Chelsea,' said Willow, putting an arm around her. 'I'm just teasing you.' Judy looked at the two of them for a while and then looked around the Ravenclaw table as she realised two of her friends were missing.

'Where are the boys?' asked Judy, looking at nobody in particular.

'The boys have left us,' said Shania gravely.

'Left us?' asked Judy, confused.

'She means they're hanging out with the seventh years,' said Abigail, pointing her fork at the end of the table. Judy followed Abigail's gaze. Aidan Kinnear and Connor Campbell sat at the far end of the table, surrounded by several seventh year Ravenclaws.

Aidan was the taller of the two. The description dark, tall and handsome fitted him as a glove. His half long dark hair framed his tanned face and his deep brown eyes had melted more than one girl's heart over the years.

Judy remembered all too well how she and Willow had fallen for Aidan the moment they laid eyes on him. Willow and Aidan had even been an item for a while in their first year, but it hadn't lasted. Aidan wasn't the kind of guy who could stick to one girl for too long. And when Willow had become friends with George Weasley in their second year, she hadn't cast Aidan a second glance. Judy had lost interest in Aidan during their first year, because of his short relationship with her best friend. But unlike Willow she got along with him quite well now and had had quite a few laughs with him over the years.

Connor was Aidan's best mate. His skin tone was a shade lighter than Aidan's and he wore his light brown hair shorter than his mate, with a permanent out of bed look to it. Connor was always very easy to talk to and the type of guy you could have a long and serious conversation with. He never wore his Hogwarts' uniform out of classes and usually slipped into his own clothes at the end of every school day, before joining them in the common room. This had earned him several disapproving stares from Chelsea. However, since Connor was one of the best students of their year, Chelsea couldn't help but take a liking to him. Judy had noticed Chelsea casting several furtive glances at Connor over the years, though she also knew Chelsea wasn't the type of girl to walk up to a guy and express her feelings. Judy made a mental note to have a talk with Chelsea about that, because she was convinced Chelsea and Connor had more in common than they both realized.

Aidan noticed Judy looking at them and gave her a short wave, mouthing I'll talk to you later as he did so.

Judy waved back, casting him a smile. As she looked back and saw her empty plate, she realized how everybody around her had nearly finished their dinner and she hadn't even had a bite. She quickly scooped a bunch of green beans, sausages and mashed potatoes on her plate, but was too late to take some gravy as the bowls before her emptied and filled with pudding, pumpkin-tart and several sorts of ice-cream.

'Cutting it close again, I see,' said Willow amused as she filled a small bowl with chocolate pudding.

'But again just in time,' offered Judy with a smile.

She took a pitcher of pumpkin juice and filled her glass. As she put the pitcher back down she looked around the Great Hall and at all the talking students around them. The Hall was filled with laughter and all around her was the sound of clattering knives and forks. It felt good to be back again, she thought to herself as she focused her gaze on the teachers' table.

Judy's eyes locked with Lupin's for a moment and he cast her a small smile. She returned it and then quickly looked away to prevent anybody from noticing the exchange. Her heart felt warm again, much like it had done when she had eaten the chocolate a few hours before. Her lips curled into a small smile as she started on her mashed potatoes. She didn't remember the last time she had seen Lupin this happy.