Suddenly, it started pouring outside. The train lights dimmed a bit. We all stopped laughing and looked out the window.

"That's strange," Hermione said, frowning. The train started to slow down. Hermione continued to frown. "That's reallystrange. We can't be nearly there."

It continued slowing, though. Ron stuck his head out of the compartment. "Everyone else is confused, too," he said, gesturing to all the curious face peering out of the compartments.

Without warning, the train skidded to an abrupt stop. Loud thuds and crashes told us everyone's luggage was being thrown around. "What the—"

Ron's shadow moved over to the window. "Have we broken down?" I asked.

"It looks there is people coming aboard," Ron said. "I'm not sure…"

The door to our compartment slid open. I stifled a scream. "It's just me!" came a voice I recognized as Neville.

"I'm here, too!" came the cry of Ginny.

"Hi, Ginny," I called through the darkness. "Hi, Neville!"

Ginny found my hand and held it tightly. She was a bit frightened. I squeezed her hand reassuringly.

Neville's voice echoed through the compartment, "Do you know what's happening?

"No!" came three voices, one of them my own.

"I'm going to go ask the driver," Hermione said, practically, and left the compartment.

Professor Lupin awoke. "Everyone stay calm," Lupin said, and his voice ringing with authority shut us all up at once.

Light suddenly filled the room. Flames seemed to be burning from his hands. He stood up, but the compartment door was sliding open.

Standing there was no human being. It was a cloaked figure, whose face was obscured. My heart sank and my stomach churned uncomfortably, as a hand extended from the cloak…a hand that looked decayed and mutated and slimy…

I froze, panicking silently. It drew took in a very deep breath, and at that moment, a very intense cold air swept the room.

My heart felt like it was in a freezer.

I felt myself sink into unconsciousness, but I didn't care. I had more important things on my mind…

…like the screaming in my head.

Who was it? What were they screaming? Every second it was getting farther and farther away, and I fought, trying to get back to them…to help them…to…

"Haile!" called an urgent voice.

I snapped awake. I was sweating, but I was very, very cold. I sat up immediately, feeling fine, but very cold, and little faint.

The train was moving; the lights were on; and Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Professor Lupin were standing over me, looking worried. I also realized I was on the floor.

"What happened?" I asked weakly. "Who screamed?"

"No one screamed, Haile," Hermione said, her forehead creasing.

Professor Lupin was handing out pieces of chocolate. "It'll help, eat it."

I took my piece, but didn't eat it. "What happened?" I pressed.

Professor Lupin answered me. "It was a dementor, an Azkaban guard. They were looking for Sirius Black. I'll be right back…I have to speak to the driver," he said, and left.

"What happened to me?" I asked them, hoisting myself back onto the seat.

"Well, before Lupin made it go away with some silver thing, you fell out your seat, shaking like mad. You were having a fit or something," Ron told me.

"Did you say you heard screaming?" Hermione asked me, worried.

"Yeah…a woman, I think."

They all looked at me, and shrugged. "No one screamed," Neville put in.

"That was the most terrible feeling," Ginny squeaked.

"So, wait…" I said with realization. "No one else fainted."

Hermione and Ron shook their heads. "But it was wicked scary," Neville assured me. "I felt like I'd never be happy again."

I nibbled at my chocolate, and immediately felt a wave a warmth wash over me. I sighed. Maybe things weren't so bad; just as long as no one knew I fainted.

The train stopped a few minutes later. We grabbed our luggage and stepped off the train. I heard the familiar call of, "Firs' years, over here! Firs' years!" by Hagrid. We waved at him.

I followed the massive crowd of students down the muddy path to the carriages, pulled by some sort of invisible force. Ron and Hermione never stopped asking me how I felt, and even though I assured them I was fine, they kept looking at me with worried glances.

We finally arrived up at the castle after the tense ride. I climbed out of the carriage, feeling just a little tired, when I heard the most annoying thing in the world.

The sneer of Draco Malfoy.

"You fainted, Potter? You actually fainted?"

Oh, great. Just what I needed. Ron and Hermione rolled their eyes, and pushed me towards the castle.

"You know I'll never let this go!" he called after me.

Oh, I knew all right.

We hurried into the warm castle, the rest of the students following us into the Great Hall. We had barely spent five seconds in the warm hall, when Professor McGonagall called my name. "Miss Potter! Miss Granger! I need to see you two!"

We waved goodbye to Ron and walked towards her. Hermione seemed to have no concern as to why our Head of House would need to see us so early, but I was puzzled.

"Follow me to my office for a word," she said, briskly. We followed her up the staircase and down the corridor to a very warm, comfortable office.

"Sit, please," she offered, and Hermione and I sat down. "Professor Lupin informed me you were ill on the train."

"Oh, really, it's nothing—" I started, as Madam Pomfrey burst in.

"Of course, it's Haile Potter," she said, smacking her forehead, and bent down beside me.

"I feel fine," I protested, and she felt my forehead.

"What have you done this time?" she said, sighing.

"It was the dementors, Poppy," McGonagall told her darkly.

They exchanged looks. "You won't be the last," Madam Pomfrey informed me. "Well, perhaps you better spend the night in the hospital wing."

"Oh, please, no!" I begged. What would Draco say? "Professor Lupin already gave me chocolate…I feel so much better. Can't I go eat the feast? I'm starving."

Madam Pomfrey shrugged. "Very well."

"Wait outside for a moment, please," McGonagall told me. "We'll go down together."

Madam Pomfrey and I stepped outside and Madam Pomfrey looked at me affectionately. "Always a pleasure, Haile," she told me. "However, let's hope I don't see much of you this year, eh?"

I laughed, and Hermione came out a few seconds later, smiling widely. McGonagall escorted us back down to the feast.

We had missing the Sorting. As we entered the Great Hall, I scanned the Gryffindor table for the new first years. I also noticed that almost every head turned towards me.

"I had to get checked out," I told Ron, as I took a seat next to him, and Hermione on the other side of me. Ron nodded, and Dumbledore stepped to the front.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore said, brightly. "As you all are now aware, the Azkaban guards will be here on Ministry business. They are stationed at every entrance, and are not fooled easily. For your own safety, do not leave the school without permission.

"Now, for our new teachers. First, Professor Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

I clapped hard, but was one of the few who did. I glanced over at Malfoy, and he was looking at Professor Lupin like a dog with fleas.

I then glanced back at the staff table. Ron nudged me and I knew exactly what he was looking at. Snape's face had a frozen look of loath, and he was glaring directly at Lupin.

I gave a silent cheer. Maybe he'd forget about hating me! Then, he glanced back at me, his face never shifting. My smile faded. Guess not. I looked away before I got the shivers again.

Dumbledore continued. "Also, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, Professor Kettleburn, retired, and we are pleased to say that our gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid has filled the position."

Hagrid beamed. I began the applause, throwing in a cheer here and there. My heart swelled—this would make Hagrid so happy.

"Now that I'm done blabbering," Dumbledore said with a smile, "Enjoy the feast."

Food appeared in front of us, and I dug in, ravenously. After the feast, Hermione, Ron, and I met Hagrid walking out of the hall.

"We're so happy for you!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Couldn' believe it meself…great man, Dumbledore, great man…well, good night, you three." He patted us on our backs with one hand and strode out of the castle, wiping his eyes.

Once back in the common room, I hugged everyone I was good friends with and forgot about my fainting episode. Parvati and Lavender followed me up to the common room, chatting about our summers.

I told them about blowing my aunt and they cracked up in laughter. Hermione entered at that moment, and shot me a look. I stopped at once.

"Well, time for bed, I'm exhausted!" I exclaimed, and turned off my lamp. They all followed suit. Hermione's new cat, Crookshanks, jumped on her bed, and curled up, its eyes the only light in the dark room.

I fell asleep easily and slept soundly throughout the night. I woke up early, the next day, before the other girls, and showered. I had time to brush my impossible curls. I even put a little mousse in them, so they were voluminous and shiny.

"Your hair looks pretty," Hermione remarked, as I emerged from the bathroom, yanking on my knee-high school socks.

I secretly enjoyed our school uniforms: the gray, pleated skirts with the gray vests over our white shirts, a black robe covering it all. I especially liked the hats that hid my bad hair days.

I waited for Hermione to get ready, and then we met Ron down in the common room. We went down to breakfast together, with the other Gryffindors simultaneously.

Dean and Seamus were always happy to see me; we had become quite close friends in the past two years. I had hugged the Quidditch team last night, but this morning I saw Oliver Wood, and he beamed at me. "Ready for a great season?" he said. It dawned on me that this was Oliver's last year at Hogwarts. I would win him the Quidditch Cup if it was the last thing I did!

As we entered the Great Hall, Malfoy started laughing loudly. I rolled my eyes as he imitated me fainting. "Whatever," I huffed, sitting down. I began buttering a piece of a toast angrily.

"Don't let him get to you," Fred said. "He's a git."

"Dementors make everyone feel shaky," George assured me. "Terrible feeling, you know. Besides, that git came bursting into our compartment, didn't he, Fred?"

Fred nodded. "First game of the season versus Slytherin, too. We'll show him."

I smiled, glad to know they had my back. "You're right," I told them, as Hermione handed me my third-year schedule.

"Well, looks like we have Divination first," Ron said. He glanced at Hermione's schedule. "Whoa, Hermione, there's a mistake with yours."

I glanced over, too. "Yeah, you have like ten subjects a day. Look! There's three classes for nine o'clock. Don't you have Divination with us?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes, I do. Now, let's get going, shall we?"

Draco pretended to faint once more as I left the Great Hall. Laughter rang in my ears. I shook it off, thinking of Quidditch.

It took us forever to find the North Tower where the Divination classroom was. We climbed up a ladder and through a trap door to enter the classroom.

Well, if you could call it a classroom. There were many circular tables with little armchairs squished around them and the tables were set as if they were having a gigantic tea party.

We appeared to be the last ones to arrive, because most of the tables were taken, and once we were seated at a table, she appeared. "Welcome," she said, with a mysterious, flighty voice She wore many cheap-looking jewelry around her neck, arms, and fingers, and her eyes were magnified by huge glasses.

"I'm Professor Trelawney. I'm very pleased you have decided to take the most difficult of magical arts. If you do not have the Sight, there is very little to taught, however. You," she barked at Neville. "Is your grandmother well?"

"Yes," Neville said, startled.

"Hm," she clucked doubtfully, and continued walking around the room. "This term we will focus on tea leaves. Oh, and you," she said to Seamus, "I'd stay away from dark-haired women."

He glanced over at my jet-black hair and grinned. I grinned back, glad he wasn't taking this seriously.

"I have the year planned out, foreseen with a few bumps however. For instance, February will give most of us a nasty case of the flu. And around Easter, one of us will leave forever."

The class was silent.

She spoke to Lavender next. "Could please pass me that teapot?" she asked, pointing to a shelf.

Lavender nodded, and gave it her, relieved.

"Thank you. And my dear? The thing you are dreading will happen on Friday, the sixteenth of October."

Lavender looked devastated.

We then divided into pairs and read each other's drained teacups. Ron and I had a lot of fun with ours, making up the most ridiculous readings. Professor Trelawney, however, was not amused.

"No, no, my dears," she said, shaking her head dramatically. "Like this." She picked up my cup. "Yes…yes…you have a deadly enemy."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, duh. You-Know-Who."

Everyone stared at her in amazement, then turned their eyes back to a transfixed Professor Trelawney. Bored, I waited for her to finish.

She gave my cup a final turn. She gasped, and then screamed, sinking into a chair. Everyone stared at her, curiously.

"Oh, my poor dear…you have…you have the Grim," she said dramatically. I shrugged, not knowing what it meant.

A few people did the same as me, but the rest of the class clapped their hands to their mouths.

"Oh...kay?" I questioned, indifferently.

"The Grim, my dear, the Grim!" she cried, impatiently. "The giant black dog…an omen…of death."

Everyone was now looking at me with horror-stricken faces. I was no longer indifferent. I remembered the dog I saw before I boarded the Knight Bus. What if…no…

Hermione snorted. I looked over at her in amazement. "Right. Don't you think if she was going to die, it would have happened already?" Hermione was echoing my prior thoughts. I felt relieved again.

"The worst has yet to come!" Trelawney argued. "You know, dear, I perceive very little aura from you."

"Right, because I don't believe that my friend here is going to die just because you see a dumb dog in her teacup."

Everyone stared at Hermione, surprised. It was very unlike Hermione to talk like this to a teacher.

Professor Trelawney chose to ignore this and ended the class for the day.

As we exited the classroom, climbing down the ladder, I exclaimed, "Hermione! What's gotten into you?"

Ron agreed, "Yeah, I don't believe it either, but…"

We landed on the floor, and Hermione laughed. "Really, it's all so silly," she said, waving it off.

McGonagall was puzzled by the dull faces of her class the next period. "What's gotten into all of you today?" she asked incredeluously.

Hermione spoke up. "Professor, we've just come from Divination, and—"

Professor McGonagall nodded and held up a hand, silencing her. "Yes, yes. So, which one of you is dying this year?"

Everyone looked at me, so I said, "Me."

McGonagall nodded. "Convenient. Well, every year she predicts a student to die and every year the same student survives. So, don't expect me to excuse you on any homework. If you die, you don't need to turn it in, I suppose."

The class lightened up considerably.

At lunch, Ron seemed to be still a little worried. "Haile…you haven't seen a big black dog, have you?"

"Well, I saw one the night I left the Dursleys'."

Ron gasped, going white. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Black dogs are exactly uncommon in the world," she said, practically. "I mean, it's not like seeing a dragon walking down your street."

"My uncle Bilius saw one once!" Ron said. "He died a day later!"

"Don't you get it, Ron?" Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "They see the Grim and die of fright. Haile's not stupid enough to believe that nonsense and that's why she's still alive."

Ron stared at her, as if he couldn't believe her.

"Divination seems very silly to me," Hermione said, opening up her Arithmancy book. "I think it's even sillier than you would take it seriously, Ron."

Ron shot at her, "I think you just don't like being bad at something for a change!"

Hermione slammed her book shut and stood up, her cheeks flushing. "If being good at Divination means I have to pretend my best friend's going to die, then I think I won't be studying it much longer! It was rubbish compared to my Arithmancy class!"

We followed her out of the Great Hall to our Care of Magical Creatures class. Ron whispered to me, "She hasn't even been to her Arithmancy class yet…"

I shrugged, not really caring, and continued to dwell on the fact I had seen the dog already. The whole way down to Hagrid's hut, I thought about it. I wasn't fool enough to believe that just because I saw a dog I would die…but it was a very strange coincidence, I must say…

When I snapped myself to attention, I noticed that besides Gryffindors, there were Slytherins around us. "We have class with the Slytherins?" I asked Dean, who was giving one of the Slytherin boys a dirty look.

"Unfortunately," Dean huffed.

This couldn't be good.