The last great American dynasty~ Taylor swift

I got my entire school list from Diagon Alley. I also considered getting a broomstick, now that I'm a second year and can contribute in quidditch, but I thought better of it, given that the team was completed, so there's no possibility they'll have tryouts and I wasn't that interested anyway.

Living up to my promise to fudge, I followed Harry all around Diagon Alley, I didn't particularly hate it, but I swear if I had to hear about all the advantages of the firebolt one more time I'm going to lose it. But other than that, it was okay. We got ice cream together, laughed about Aunt Marge for the fiftieth time and had to hear him whine about how unfair it is that Professor Snape simply ignores my existence in his class when he's turning Harry's life into hell. We even discussed Black a couple of times, he told me about his conversation with the conductor of the Knight bus. Thirteen people, a man who's potentially after my brother has murdered thirteen people with one single spell and then laughed like a maniac. What kind of sociopath doesn't value people's lives that much? It scared me, all of it, I even considered coming clean to Harry, so I don't have to carry the burden alone, but I wasn't sure what his reaction would be like, besides, he's safe right now, it's selfish of me to scare him just because I can't be responsible for once.

Finally, the day before we went back to Hogwarts, we ran into Ron and Hermione while we were getting ice cream, I greeted them and then asked about Ginny.

"She met that one friend of yours, the blond one" said Ron "She took her to look at broomsticks like she could get into the team or even afford a broomstick" he added sarcastically.

"Really, mate, you've got to realize I'll tell her you said that, right?" I said and left, relieved that I could finally leave Harry with someone, I trusted that at least Hermione might keep him from doing something too stupid.

I found Ginny and Sarah in front of one of the broomstick shops. When they saw me, they waved me over.

"Emma, I've missed you so much, how are you? Ginny was just telling me the craziest story about you" said Sarah, before I even got the chance to say hello.

"Dad told us all about the 'Aunt blowing' incident," said Ginny explaining.

"Well, I really wish I could take credit for that, but Harry is the one who blew her up"

"So it's true! I can't decide if that's awesome or horrifying" said Sarah chuckling.

"Harry was pretty horrified, but I think it's totally awesome and you know I'm always right"

"Where is he anyway, did he get in trouble for it?" Said Ginny flushing a little upon Harry's mention.

"No, he didn't, I don't know why though," I said, not sure if I was lying or not "So, the Firebolt is cool, isn't it" I said quickly changing the subject, which I regretted later as I listened to Ginny's lecture about broomsticks and acted like I haven't heard the same one from Harry about seven times already.

We said goodbye to Sarah after she got her school list and went back to the Leaky Cauldron, we found Fred chatting with Percy while George stuck clip butterflies on Percy's hair.

"Emma, dear, how are you? Where's Harry?"

"I'm alright, Mrs Weasley, Harry is with Ron and Hermione, I think they were going to the pet store"

"Oh, Emma, you alright? Crazy few weeks, huh?" Said Mr. Weasley joining the conversation, I realized that was my chance to get more information, Mrs. Weasley was busy making sure Ginny got all her school list, so I took my chance.

"Mr. Weasley can I talk to you for a second"

"Oh, of course, what is it" he said as we walked a little further from the rest.

"I'm assuming the minister told you about the conversation we had when we got to London"

"He told me about the incident with your aunt and talking to Harry, but he didn't really mention you," said Mr. Weasley, frowning in confusion.

I took a deep breath and told him about what Fudge had confided in me.

"I hadn't realized you knew about that, I'm sure the minister didn't mean to scare you, he just wants to make sure Harry is safe"

"I get that, but I have to understand more, he was very vague explaining it and to be frank, I don't trust him to tell me the truth and I've kept it from Harry because I get that he's sometimes stupid that way" I stopped for a second and looked at him "just, please tell me what to expect, so I'm not worried all the time"

Mr Weasley looked at me in what seemed like a sympathetic look, I frowned, I wasn't used to people looking at me that way.

"Emma, dear, you're just a kid, you don't have to worry about it at all"

"Please, tell me the truth, Mr Weasley, I need to understand"

"Okay, the truth is, Black is after Harry, he had been talking about avenging his master in Azkaban, but you have to listen to me, Emma, as long as Harry is in Hogwarts, he's safe. It doesn't matter how powerful or mad Black is, no one will be able to get through Dumbledore, not even you know who, so you don't have to worry. Got it?"

"Yes... Yes, of course, Dumbledore is there... I don't have to worry, I should trust Dumbledore, right?" I said, talking more to myself.

"Yes, you should, Black will probably get caught soon too, besides, I'm already planning on having a conversation with Harry about it, but I want you to promise me not to do anything rash, your life is just as important and whatever you might hear, I want to be sure you won't put yourself in danger"

"Of course, I won't," I said absent-mindedly, still focused on Harry "Try not to tell him I knew about it though"

"Of course, I won't and Harry is not stupid, he'll know to be careful"

"Thank you, sir, really," I said, sighing in relief and feeling like for the first time in my life, I could actually trust an adult to take care of things.

The next day, late as always, we got to King's Cross and passed the barrier (all of us this time), I noticed Mr Weasley taking Harry aside and talking to him in whispers, I had to pull him in as the train started moving, we wouldn't want another flying car incident now, would we?

I watched him closely as we all looked for an empty compartment, he didn't seem particularly mad at me, just confused, so I figured Mr. Weasley hadn't told him about me then.

Bleing almost the last people to get on the train, we struggled to find any empty compartments. Finally, we found one at the end of the train, with only a man in there, he was an adult and asleep, there's usually no adults on the Hogwarts Express, other than the driver and the trolly lady. Ron beat me to the question.

"Professor R. J. Lupin," whispered Hermione at once.

"How d'you know that?"

"It's on his case," she replied, pointing at the luggage rack over the man's head, where there was a small, battered case held together with a large quantity of neatly knotted string. The name Professor R. J. Lupin was stamped across one corner in peeling letters.

We almost sat down, when the trio started exchanging some looks.

"Hey girls" said Ron looking at us

"Yes?"

"Go away, we need to talk privately"

"You know, you're so nice to me sometimes, if I didn't know better I'd say you fancy me, Weasley"

So, we were kicked out of the only empty compartment with our stuff and started looking for someone we knew to share with.

"What do you think they're hiding this time?" Asked Ginny dragging her stuff on the floor, too tired to carry it now.

"I actually do know, let's just find somewhere to sit so I can tell you about it"

Finally, we found Sarah talking to a cornered Neville, he was staring at her like he was shocked anyone could talk that fast. A first-year sat across from them, she had her Walkman headphones on and was staring out of the window. Ginny and I sat next to her. Neville looked so relieved as Sarah started talking to Ginny instead.

"Do you know her?" I asked Neville, pointing at the first year with my eyes so she doesn't notice.

"No, she was here when we came, Sarah says she can't hear us with that muggle thing"

I studied at her, she had her hair in a braid and was wearing jeans and a maroon sweater, hoping for Gryffindor maybe? Anyway, she looked pretty lonely.

"Hi," I said a little loud, she didn't look at me, I hesitated then waved my hand in front of her face. The girl slowly took her headphones off and stared at me, confused.

"Hi, I'm Emma, you know those headphones won't work in Hogwarts, there's a protective charm that disables all electronic devices" I offered, trying to sound friendly.

She stared at me for a second, her eyes were a stunning sea green, her face was unreadable.

"I don't remember asking for your advice" she said coldly and then before I could retort, she put her headphones back on and stared out of the window.

"ladies and gentlemen, this was the defining moment when someone finally put Emma Potter in her place" said Ginny, grinning at my shocked face.

"What did I ever do to her?" I said still in shock.

"Emma, please stop, the karma is uncanny," said Ginny, laughing so hard she almost fell to the floor.

"Shut it, Weasley," I said, feeling my face getting slightly warm. Sarah was also chuckling, Neville was just starting at the three of us in loss.

"Some best friends you two are," I said and crossed my arms in annoyance.

It took almost ten minutes for Ginny to stop laughing completely. Neville was showing Sarah a daily prophet article about some plants, apparently used to her chattering now.

"Are you done making fun of me, so I can tell you my story now?"

"Yes, I am, it was very fun, thank you, now what are those three up to this time"

I rolled my eyes and then started telling her everything that happened since Harry and I arrived in London.

"So, Black, a sociopath who killed a street full of people and was able to escape the most secure prison in the wizarding world is trying to get rid of a thirteen-year-old?!" Said Ginny, horrified.

"I mean if even you know who is trying to get rid of Harry, why wouldn't Black too"

"But why now, though? if he knew how to escape all this time, why didn't he do it earlier, Harry was much less safe before he went to Hogwarts"

"I know, I've thought about that, but I have no idea, maybe he was developing a way to escape all this time"

"Well, you have to listen to Dad then, he said we don't have to worry as long as Dumbledore is around, so you don't have to worry"

"I know, but I've been thinking about something that he said, 'Whatever you might hear, I want to be sure you won't put yourself in danger' What did he mean by that? What would I hear?"

"I don't know, but -"

Before Ginny could finish her sentence, everything went dark, the train stopped instantly, the inertia sending us forward. Panic sneaked inside me as fast as the darkness sneaked into my eyes.

"W-what is happening?" Came Neville's panicked voice.

"Should we go ask someone? Why did we stop?" Sarah's voice called

"Who would we even ask? Look, it's probably just a mistake, it'll be fixed" said Ginny.

Yes, it was probably just a mistake, I breathed trying to calm my sudden panic, but then a thought made that breath catch in my throat. What if that's Black's way of getting to Harry? We're not in Hogwarts yet, Dumbledore can't help. My heart started beating faster than it had ever done. I got up and started touching around me to know my way.

"Emma, where are you-" started Ginny.

"I have to go, I have to get to Harry"

"Why? Wait, you don't think-" Ginny's voice trailed off in horrifying silence.

"Come on, all of you, come with me I can't leave you behind" they all started getting up and bumping into each other.

"Oi, first year, you're coming?"

"No," she said simply, so I ignored her.

I rushed the rest out of the compartment, letting Ginny and Sarah ahead and holding Neville's hand tightly as I pulled him along through the crowds of panicking students in the hallway. I kept wishing that I was not too late, I wished with all my will that I was wrong, that Harry was just sitting safely in his compartment.

Finally, we got to the end of the train, we got in. "Harry!" I called the moment we were in.

"Emma? What's wrong, I'm right here" I sighed in relief upon hearing his voice, but it still bothered me that I couldn't see him. Ginny, Sarah and Neville were trying to sit in the impossibly crowded compartment. I stretched my hand until I caught someone else's.

"Harry, is that you?"

"Yes"

My breath finally started regulating, he was okay. Ginny bumped into Hermione before they tried to sit again, we were all trying to feel where to go when a hoarse voice came out of nowhere, "Quiet"

Professor Lupin

I had forgotten he was here, it made me feel a little bit safer.

There was a soft, crackling noise, and a shivering light filled the compartment. Professor Lupin appeared to be holding a handful of flames. They illuminated his tired, grey face, but his eyes looked alert and wary.

"Stay where you are," he said in the same hoarse voice, and he got slowly to his feet with his handful of fire held out in front of him. But the door slid slowly open before Lupin could reach it.

I was just behind him, so I couldn't take a good look at who opened the door, but it didn't matter. Coldness, everywhere, I was so cold, it seemed like it came from inside me. The cold was crawling inside, holding my heart, crawling up my throat and choking me, I couldn't breathe.

That's it, I will never feel happy again.

I will never experience joy, I will stay here forever, cold, so cold, there's no end to it, there's no way out, I'm trapped. But then, something else happened inside me.

Voices

Coming from inside

So many voices, whispering, I couldn't decipher what they were saying, but they were deafening. I slid to the floor and I felt Harry's body thud beside me, I wanted to reach for him, but I couldn't, I was shaking, the cold rooted me to a spot. The voices kept getting higher, I wish I could understand what they were saying, but they were so far, just out of reach, some of them seemed to be crying, some were yelling, some would plead or whisper. I couldn't understand them and I couldn't make them stop. A blinding light came from somewhere above and slowly, the coldness started subsiding, but the voices didn't, they kept yelling and sobbing and whispering, trapped inside my head, so far and yet so close. I could see the light again, but I was frozen, shackled in my place by invisible strings, I could feel movement around me, but I couldn't understand it. Suddenly, one of the voices became clearer, it seemed like it was coming from both inside and outside my head, but it was the same one, the same voice whispering.

"Emma, breathe you'll be okay" came the one near me.

"I'm right here," said the one inside me.

Same voice

Same one, but it seemed so far inside me and so clear at the same time.

"There's no need to be scared anymore"

"You're safe"

"You're okay, Emma"

"You're fine, you're alright"

The voice entangled in itself and kept weaving in and out of my head.

I closed my eyes and focused with all my will on the clear voice, the one that came from outside my head.

"Just breathe, you'll be fine, breathe"

The harder I held on to that voice, the quieter the rest of the voices were getting, untill they finally faded in my mind. I could feel cold tears run down my face, I could hear my friends again, and I breathed, I could breathe. I opened my eyes.

I slowly looked next to me.

"Thank you, Professor," I said very quietly staring at Lupin who was on the floor next to me.

He took out some chocolate and gave me a piece, I swallowed it instantly without thinking. Warmth spread through my body making me sigh in relief. He gave me another piece and started distributing chocolate to the rest.

"What was that thing?" Harry asked Lupin. "A dementor," said Lupin, "One of the dementors of Azkaban." Everyone stared at him. Professor Lupin crumpled up the empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket. "Eat," he repeated. "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me . . ."

I stared after him, wondering if I imagined his voice pulling me out of my trance and if I didn't, then how did he know my name?