I spent my next week in blissful freedom. It was absolutely wonderful being able to venture out when I wanted to, exploring Diagon Alley as I wished, having a full pocket of newly obtained money from my very own bank account….

I school-shopped for myself, and every day I walked by and admired the new top-of-the-line broomstick: the Firebolt.

While in the bookstore one morning, I noticed a very interesting book. The title read: Death Omens: What To Do When You Know the Worst Is Coming.

"What is that book?" I innocently asked, pointing at the book with a big, black dog on it with the same pair of gleaming eyes I could have sworn I seen staring at me.

"The title is quite self-explanatory," said the weary shopkeeper. "Will that be it, ma'am?"

I nodded, and exited the shop. I learned that covering my scar with my bangs, and making sure my hair was down over my face most of the time exempted me from any unwanted fame.

I shook the thought of death omens from my mind, thinking that if destiny wanted me to die, I had definitely had enough chances, right? From my infant days, to my first and second years at Hogwarts…

I groaned inwardly. Couldn't this year be normal? No Voldemort…no young Voldemorts, either….no giant, deadly serpents…

Just a normal year with my best friends, my schoolwork, and Quidditch!

Oh, well.

A few days later, I was walking down the streets of Diagon Alley once more, when I spotted a familiar boy with red hair and freckles and a slightly pretty girl with bushy hair.

"Ron! Hermione!" I called, running over to them in a rush of renewed longing. It had been too long since I've seen them.

I crashed into Hermione's surprised, outstretched arms. I pulled away still grasping her arms. "Hermione! How have you been?" I squealed.

Hermione's eyes were bright with excitement to see me. It made me even happier. "I've been fine, but I was so worried about you! After the whole episode with your aunt…"

"Did you really blow up your aunt, Haile?" Ron asked, a mischievous grin plastered on his freckly face.

I grinned at him, and gave him a hug of his own. "On accident, of course," I offered, and the three of us began walking down Diagon Alley, talking animatedly about our summers and my Aunt Marge incident.

I was finally where I belonged.

As we were walking, I noticed that we were joined by a very large, ugly, orange cat. "What is that?" I asked, horrified.

"Oh, we just came from the pet store," Hermione explained. "I bought this beautiful cat and Ron got Scabbers checked up."

"Ever since our vacation he's been really ill-looking," Ron said, sadly. "And especially since that cat tried to attack him in the pet store and keeps eying him like a piece of meat."

"Because Ron," Hermione said, angrily, continuing a previous argument, "to Crookshanks, Scabbersis a piece of meat."

They argued the whole way back to the Leaky Cauldron, but I didn't mind because I was finally with my best friends again.

When we arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, the rest of the Weasleys were already there. Fred and George said simultaneously, "Haile!" and attacked me with huge bear hugs.

Percy shook my hand formally, and said, "Haile, how nice to see you."

Ginny hugged me tightly as well. Ever since I had saved her life, she had opened up to me a bit more, and was much less shy than she was once was.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley greeted me warmly, as always.

"Any luck with Black?" I asked Mr. Weasley who worked at the Ministry.

Mr. Weasley's face fell. "No…if anything, it'll be the Azkaban guards who get him…dunno why they're making us all try."

Dinner that night was a blast. Fred and George and I laughed the whole way through it. They were making cracks about Percy and his new Head Boy achievement, which caused me to spit out my water every time I took a sip.

Ron and Hermione were still arguing, and I could have sworn Hermione threw a kick at Ron under the table.

"All packed?" Mrs. Weasley called down to us.

"Almost," Ron said, through bites of pudding. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Well, we're getting the Ministry to provide cars," Mrs. Weasley said, casually.

"Why, Father?" Percy asked, professionally.

"Well, better go on up and pack!" Mr. Weasley said, loudly. "Run along—bed, Ginny."

We all left the table, and went upstairs. Hermione was going to stay in my room tonight, so we could stay up late and talk. Ron would probably sneak in eventually, and we would stay up all night talking like we used to do at Hogwarts.

When we got to our room, I put my hair into pigtails and got into my pajamas. Hermione followed suit and then smacked her forehead. "I forgot my book downstairs on the table," Hermione said, frustrated. "I was distracted by Ronald. He's still mad I bought Crookshanks!"

Crookshanks jumped on the bed, and curled up in a ball. He was growing on me, I think.

"I'll come down with you," I offered, and we both started to walk downstairs.

Ginny peeked out of her room. "Hermione, can you help me with some of my summer homework really quick?" she asked.

Hermione gaped. "You haven't finished it yet?" she asked, astonished.

Ginny grimaced. "Not quite."

Hermione threw her hands up. "Then we have work to do, don't we!" she cried. "Would you mind getting my book, Haile? I'll be back in a while."

"Sure," I said, shrugging. I went down to fetch it. After saying goodnight to Tom, I made my way back upstairs. On the way up, though, I heard something interesting.

Mr. And Mrs. Weasley were in the room, and they seemed to be arguing. Their voices were purposefully hushed, but I could hear the longing to scream behind their words.

"No, Arthur! We can't tell her. It will only scare her!"

Why did I have the faintest inkling they were talking about me…?

"She's thirteen now. She's not a child anymore."

"She is, too! That's my point exactly. She's only thirteen. Why worry her?"

"Molly, really, now. Not telling her might make her situation even more dangerous! If the Knight Bus hadn't collected her—which happened by accident, I would be willing to bet—she probably wouldn't be alive."

My heart sank. What were they talking about?

"She—she…well, she is alive now. That's what matters."

"What matters is the truth, Molly. I believe she deserves to know the truth."

I had a strong urge to walk into the door, and shout, "I do! I want to know the truth!" but I refrained.

Mrs. Weasley was silent for a few seconds. "When do you want to tell her?" she whispered in a defeated sort of voice.

"Immediately?" Mr. Weasley asked.

Mrs. Weasley was silent, but I assumed she nodded, because Mr. Weasley continued, "There, there, Molly…she'll be alright."

"She's like one of my own," Mrs. Weasley choked out. "I can't stand that…that he's after her. Do we know for sure?"

"Molly…" he said, gently, but slightly impatient. "All the evidence leads up to it. He probably thinks that murdering Haile will lead to rise of You-Know-Who."

"But she will be safe at Hogwarts?" Molly asked.

"Well…if Black can break out of Azkaban, he can break into Hogwarts. However, it's not as if Dumbledore is oblivious to this fact. He's hired some Azkaban guards, of course…not happy about that, though, he's not."

I stopped listening. It was all I needed to hear I started to tiptoe away from the door. At the end of the hallway, I broke into a run. I waited up for Hermione and an hour later, she collapsed into bed.

"I'm exhausted!" Hermione sighed. "Ginny had barely done any work, I'm surprised at her…"

"Hermione?"

"Yes?" she asked, sitting up.

Ron came in at that second, silently closing the door. We both looked up. "Hey, Ron," we said together, though Hermione still looked annoyed.

"I just heard your parents talking about something," I told Ron, and then began to tell them what I heard them say.

Hermione was shaking her head by the time I finished. "I don't believe it," Hermione said, in a hurried, hushed tone.

Ron was silent.

"It makes sense, I guess," I said, playing with the pattern on the comforter. I traced the lines of the sewing. "That's why Fudge let me off the hook. That's why we're getting two Ministry cars. That's why no one is going to let me go to Hogsmeade."

I hurriedly thought of the book I saw….What to do when you know the worst is coming….I shook those thoughts away. That black dog I saw was just a coincidence.

Hermione grasped my hand, and Ron scooted instinctively closer. "Don't worry," Hermione said, squeezing my hand.

"With Dumbledore there, Hogwarts is the safest place!" Ron exclaimed.

I nodded, and claimed, "Right now, I want sleep."

After Ron left, Hermione switched out the lights. "Everything's going to be okay, Haile"

I tried to believe her.

The next morning was chaotic. We all scrambled to do last-minute packing, and get dressed in a timely manner. Miraculously, we managed to leave on time. We filed into the Ministry cars, and by the look Mr. Weasley was giving me, and the look Mrs. Weasley was giving him…I was going to get talked to very, very soon.

When we arrived at the station, Mr. Weasley declared, "I'll go first with Haile! Not much time left!"

We leaned casually against the barrier, and I followed Mr. Weasley's lead about falling through.
After us, the rest of them followed in pairs.

Mr. Weasley took me by the elbow and led me over to the marvelous, scarlet train. The engine was loud, so we would not be overheard.

"Listen…Haile," Mr. Weasley started, but I could see this would be harder for him to say than he expected.

"Look, you don't have to say it. I heard you two talking last night," I said in a hurry.

Mr. Weasley's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm sorry you had to find out that way. You must be scared, Haile, but—"

"I'm not, don't worry."

Over his shoulder, I saw Ron and Hermione, who were peering over at us with knowing looks. They nodded, comprehending at once and walked on the train. Percy strode over to his girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater, and they boarded the train as well. Fred, George, and Ginny followed them, laughing hysterically.

The train engine roared even louder. "It's about to leave!" Mrs. Weasley cried over to us, in the crowd of parents that were standing around, waving to their children.

Mr. Weasley took me by my shoulders and stared into my eyes, gravely. "Listen, all I can ask from you, is stay safe. Don't go looking for him, okay? Just keep low-key and stay out of trouble."

I nodded, and shuffled along. Mrs. Weasley gave me a quick hug before I jumped on the train, just as it was leaving. I dragged my stuff until I found Ron and Hermione's compartment. Besides them, there was a man snoring, with a black briefcase beside him.

"Your dad told me to stay out of trouble," I explained, sitting down. "Who's that?"

Ron snorted. "As if you go looking for it. It finds you."

"Well, you have to admit, our first year we did go poking around…" Hermione said, thoughtfully. Then, perking up at my question, she answered, "I bet it's our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. His briefcase says R. J. Lupin."

I looked over at him again. His robes looked very shabby and his face was rather pallid. "Hope he's okay," I said, frowning.

A whiny, muffled noise came from my luggage. "What's that?" I asked, opening my trunk.

Ron laughed. "Must be your Sneakoscope," Ron said.

"Oh!" Hermione said, her eyes lighting up. "Don't take it out now, it might wake him up. But you'll have to show me later, H."

Ron looked at me, suddenly. "Aren't you scared?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I'm pretty sure Hogwarts will be safe. Maybe it hasn't really settled in yet. I mean, Sirius Black, after me?"

Hermione gulped. "Please follow Ron's parents' advice. Let's follow the rules this year, okay?"

I nodded. "Whatever you say, Hermione. And following the rules means I can't go to Hogsmeade."

Ron groaned. "That's so ridiculous."

"Like the Dursleys would sign my permission form…especially after I blew up my aunt. And Fudge pretty much ruled it out."

"It's for the best," Hermione quickly silenced Ron.

Ron and I stayed quiet, because I'm pretty sure we were both thinking that we would find a loophole.

We talked for the next hour or so, and the food trolley came by. Finding out a mass murdered was out to get me didn't spoil by appetite, I soon realized.

Finally, the three least favorite people showed up the door. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Draco had grown almost as tall as Ron over the summer.

"Look who it is," Draco drawled. "Our favorite people."

"I was thinking the same thing," I shot back, standing up. "Why don't you leave now?"

Draco scowled. "I swear, Potter,if you were a boy, I'd fight you in a heartbeat."

I suppressed the urge to grin. "Oh, really? Have a go, do it!"

"I have manners, Potter," he said, tactfully, and left the compartment.

"He could have fooled me!" I said, and we all cracked up.

"If you were a boy, I'd fight you!" Ron mocked.

"Bring it on!" I yelled back, and we both burst into laughter again.