August brought Aria back to Diagon Alley, this time with her dad, to meet up with her friends. Everyone was finally back in the same country, and they all had their Hogwarts letters. The best thing was, she had already decided, was that she was going to get brand new robes and as many books as she wanted.

Kenneth had told her she could get as many books as possible within budget. He had sat her down soon after her first visit to Diagon and Erkor and had worked out a shopping budget for the new school year based off the last two years and a lot of guess work at what brand new items cost.

"You're not going to be like those national lottery people or those young rich kids on reality TV," he had said. "You're going to be responsible with your money."

Of course, he had said this from the kitchen table with brand new kitchen appliances behind him. Aria had thought it ironic but had wisely not said anything and had submitted to Kenneth teaching her how to create a monthly budget. It was only then she had realized why her dad had always seemed to be stressed about money. Seeing it all written out just drove it home about how much she had, she could not imagine what it must be like for her dad to have to budget and risk not having enough.

Kenneth had already declined Aria's suggestion that she set up a monthly transfer of money from her Gringotts account to his bank account.

"Money's fine when your kid's away are boarding school for near ten months of the year," he had told her, "you've been good at not accruing too much school fees, the scholarship's more than helpful. Will you still need something to cover tuition?"

A quick word to Professor Snape and he had assured Aria that a quick note to Erkor and her Hogwarts fees would be covered without too much of a dent in her account.

Now here she was, waiting for the Weasleys to get back from their vault. She, Hermione, and Harry poured over the supplies list. It looked pretty standard; their defense book was now Wicked Wixen and What to Do Level 3. If they had had a normal DADA professor last year, they would have had Wicked Wixen and What to Do Level 2. They all planned to purchase that book too so that they could at least familiarize themselves with the spells that Lockhart should have taught them. Even Hermione admitted that, in the end, Lockhart had not taught them much practical magic, although she did hope that he was recovering in hospital.

Aria hoped he stayed there forever.

Harry and Hermione both needed to purchase a book called The Monster Book of Monsters which was apparently for Care of Magical Creatures. Ron would have to buy that too as he had also signed up for that. Aria had to purchased Unfogging the Future for Divination. Then there were the Arithmancy and Ancient Runes textbooks and supplies they would need. Ron was taking Muggle Studies as his second elective, opting not to go for a third.

The Weasleys returned and the first place they went was Madam Malkins to start getting their robes ready. Lavender was in the middle of her fitting and greeting them enthusiastically, to the announcement of the seamstress kneeling at her hem. Aria happily hopped onto a stool for her measurements. Ron grumbled that it was unfair that Ginny was getting new school robes while he was stuck wearing Fred and George's, but Ginny was quick to retort that all the hand-me-downs were now too long on her.

After that they made quick work of the stationary store. Aria picked up several bright colored quills because she could. It really was like she was a kid in a candy shop. She was still within the budget her dad had given her, but she felt ever so extravagant when she had taken all her merchandise up to the clerk. Her friends watched her with amusement. She was glad at least that Ron's enthusiasm at her newfound wealth wasn't making him jealous or upset. Last year after she had killed the basilisk, he had seemed excited about her possibly becoming rich off the beast, and she was glad that the enthusiasm was still there. She and he had bonded over the last two years over the fact that while Harry and Hermione got to go and purchase brand new of everything, they had been stuck mainly in Ditto's Second Hand.

They met up with the adults at Flourish and Blott's only to find a part of the store in disarray.

"It's the new Monster Book of Monsters," a harried clerk told them. "It's a new textbook at Hogwarts this year. I think for Care of Magical Creatures. It's trying to eat each other!"

Indeed, the books had been placed in a large display case but apparently, they had not been satisfied staying there. The books were crawling about the floor like some strange vacuum, its pages opening like a monster with sharp teeth, shredding any book that got in its way. The employees had been a cage around the display as the only books that didn't get shred were the books themselves (though it did seem that the books were attempting to eat each other).

"How are we supposed to use that book if it's trying to eat us?" Ron cried.

"We've been binding them with a belt," the clerk told them. "So, how many do I have to catch?"

"Three," Hermione answered, "but now I'm thinking Divination was not such a bad choice after all."

The clerk managed to survive catching two books for Ron and Harry while Hermione trailed after Aria to find the Divination textbook. She dithered about whether to write to McGonagall or wait until they got to Hogwarts, but decided in the end, just to wait. She would read Unfogging the Future and decide from there whether or not she wanted to continue taking Divination.

"You know, you could just suffer through three years of it before dropping it after taking your OWLS," Aria told her.

"I'll think about it," Hermione said. "There's just so much to think about. I don't even know what I want to do after Hogwarts!"

"Do we need to know now?" Aria asked. She had not even thought about it. As a child, before Hogwarts, she had thought that she might try to get the A-Levels required to go to university but had no idea what she would study. Most kids on her side of the river did not go to university. Of course, there were apprenticeships options. She was making decent connections with her modeling. Could she do something like that in the wizarding world? Did she want to do that?

A discussion with Professor Snape was clearly in order. Or a visit to the library.

"Are you two done yet?" Ron asked, coming up behind Aria and Hermione as they explored a section called Wizarding Customs. "I want to take Scabbers to the Magical Menagerie. He's been looking peaked since coming back from Egypt."

"Does the wizarding world not have vets?" Aria asked as she and Hermione made their purchases. She included a book called The Muggleborn's Guide to A New World in hopes that it was worth the read.

"What's a vet?" Ron asked.

"That answers your question," Harry muttered, even as Hermione launched into an explanation. By the time they reached the menagerie, Ron was quite impressed with the idea of a vet. He went straight to the wizard at the counter with Harry while Hermione and Aria browsed the various animals. Aria wondered if she should get a pet. Her dad probably would want her to ask him first.

She had a sudden thought that Fawkes might get jealous of any pets she got. Which was silly since Fawkes was not hers.

"Mum and Dad said that if I wanted to get a familiar, I'm not old enough to," Hermione said as they petted some crup puppies. They looked like dogs but had multiple tails that all wagged in different directions. "I read that sometimes it's as easy as purchasing an animal, like when wixen have owls for familiars. Other times one has to wait until an animal chooses them."

"If you could choose an animal, what would it be?" Aria asked.

A sudden yowl cut off Hermione's reply. The girls spun towards the counter where Ron was now shielding Scabbers from an orange monster of a cat with long fur and a squashed face. It was truly one of the ugliest cats Aria had ever seen.

"Get away from him!" Ron cried as the cat hissed at him and Scabbers.

"Oh!" Hermione cried, ignoring the wizard behind the counter who was profusely apologizing to Ron. "What a beauty you are!"

The cat paused in its hissing to study Hermione. She cooed at the beast and the cat allowed her to pet its head. Finally, the cat sat up straight and proud and meowed importantly, its fluffy tail twitching.

"What's its name?" Hermione asked.

"Don't really 'ave one," the wizard behind the counter answered. "He just showed up one day years ago and 'asn't left. Think it's owner might've died. That usually why animals show up."

"It's a boy?"

"Aye."

"I shall call you Crookshanks then," Hermione declared, scooping the cat into her arms. Crookshanks yawned and rested his chin on Hermione's shoulder. "Oh, aren't you just the sweetest thing?"

"It's deformed!" Ron cried. Crookshanks hissed at him.

"Don't listen to the mean little boy," Hermione fussed.

"Hermione, it tried to eat Scabbers!" Ron cried. "We've got to share a tower!"

"Oh hush," Hermione scolded, passing money to the wizard who went about collecting a few other items such as cat food, a few toys, and a carrier.

Aria and Harry shared a look.

"I'm glad we're in Slytherin," Aria whispered to Harry. "Then we don't have to listen to them squabbling."

"Amen," Harry agreed.

Crookshanks sulked as Hermione put him in the carrier but did nothing more than curl up and glare out the carrier door. Harry led them down the little side alley to the little café they had eaten at with Professor Snape and Neville. There Hermione let Crookshanks out of his carrier to sunbathe on the top of it with a saucer of fish that the waitress brought out for him.

"You said in one of your letters you had things to tell us," Ron said to Harry, making sure Scabbers was secure in one of his pockets away from Crookshanks.

"Professor Snape came to visit me a few times," Harry told them. "Once he found out I was staying here. He was upset that Sirius Black was running about and that I was here alone."

"I read Sirius Black was one of You-Know-Who's followers," Hermione commented.

"It's worse than that," Harry said, accepting the plate of food from the waitress as she came out with them. Once she was gone the four of them leaned their heads closer to each other.

"Professor Snape told me that Sirius Black was best friends with my dad," Harry told them. Hermione and Ron gasped. "He and Black were part of a group of friends, like we are. Thick as thieves and the like. Professor Snape told me that Voldemort had made it known that he was coming after my parents and that my parents had gone into hiding. Black was the only one who knew their location."

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione cried. "I'm so sorry."

"That's real awful, mate," Ron agreed.

"Thanks," Harry muttered. "I was really mad when Snape told me. I still am. Like . . . how can you be friends with someone for years like that and just turn on them?"

"I don't know," Aria answered. She tried to imagine any situation in which she might hand over her friends to a Dark Lord bent on killing them but could not. She would rather die than see them hurt.

"It only gets worse," Harry continued.

"How could it get any worse?" Ron cried.

"Apparently Sirius Black's my godfather."

Ron swore under his breath. Aria reached out and grabbed Harry's wrist. He gave her a short smile in appreciation.

"I'm really sorry," Hermione said. "I don't know what else to say. Does Professor Snape think Black's going to come after you?"

"According to the newspapers, Black was overheard saying "he's at Hogwarts" just before he escaped, so Snape thinks it's highly likely. Though he had a lot to say about Minister Fudge too. I guess Fudge was touring the prison or whatever and gave Black a newspaper. It had that article about the Weasleys going to Egypt and it mentioned that Ron was in the same year as me and that Ginny was in Slytherin with me. Snape seems to think this could've been avoided if Fudge hadn't given the newspaper to Black."

"I suppose we'll never really know," Ron said. "Azkaban's probably addled his brain."

"Professor Snape told me a little about Black too," Aria added. "Said the Black family's known for their . . . madness."

"Well, I suppose the main branch of the family sure," Ron said. "Can't be too much to it though. I mean, my grandmother's a Black. And I think Lady Longbottom was a Black too. Distantly or something. We purebloods are all related. There's probably even Black in your family, Harry."

"I don't know much about it," Harry admitted. "I don't really know where I'd even start looking if I wanted to."

"Gringotts," Ron answered. "The Potters ought to have massive vaults I bet."

"I just have the one," Harry pointed out.

"Harry, your family is old and wealthy, there's no way that you've only got one vault," Ron said with just a touch of exasperation. "I bet you anything you've just only been accessing a trust vault or something."

Harry blinked at him before glancing at Aria as if she would know whether or not Ron was lying. She shrugged and went back to her salmon wrap.

"As it is," Ron continued, "somewhere within Gringotts there's gotta be a copy of your family tree. Dad showed me his copy of the Weasley Tree once. If we've got one, there's no way you don't have one."

"A family tree," Harry murmured, looking off into the distance, eyes loosing focus a little as he slipped into thought. "I might even have family besides the Dursleys."

"Wouldn't surprise me," Ron answered. "The Dursleys don't seem like the best sort of Muggles. Nothing like Mr. Bourne of Mr. and Mrs. Granger."

"That's because Aria and I have exemplary parents," Hermione replied with a sniff. She sipped at her cappuccino. "Even if Aria's dad knows how to survive a knife fight."

"Don't jinx it," Aria warned. "If I can avoid more notoriety perhaps, I can get through a school year without something or someone trying to kill me."

September 1 found Aria back down in London with her dad. A part of her wanted to suggest that the Hogwarts Express make stops along the route instead of forcing everyone to show up in London, especially when some of the students didn't have access to wizarding transportation! Another part of her was just glad to be able to know that train tickets weren't breaking the bank.

The neighbors sent her off in their usual style. Melinda gave her a tin of walnut and chocolate chip cookies. Robert, Samuel, and Tommy risked being late for their first day of Lower 6th to see her and her dad off at the train station. They had been joined by Abbie, Sheila, and Luke. The two girls gifted Aria a makeup set.

"If anyone bullies you again this year, just sock them in the nose," Robert had told her. Samuel had demonstrated, pretending to hit Tommy on the nose. Aria had thought about the hex Prudence and Tracey and taught her and the other second year girls, the one that cut off a guy's dick. Still, good old fashion Muggle punches probably would not go amiss.

At King's Cross, Aria spotted Harry waiting for her at the entrance to the station. After a slightly more tearful good-bye to her dad than usual ("You be safe now," Kenneth whispered in her ear. "My little lady." Aria kissed his cheek. "Always," she promised.), she and Harry ran through the barrier onto Platform 9¾.

Weaving around the other students and their families, Aria and Harry got their trunks into the luggage cart before bumping into Hermione and Ron as they brought their trunks over. Crookshanks was in a carrier than Hermione was keeping with her. Ron made sure Scabbers was always in another pocket though the cat continued to stare at the pocket in question.

Most of the compartments were already full when they went searching for a seat. They stopped off at several compartments to say hello to people. Neville was with the other Gryffindor third years along with Colin Creevey who, thankfully, did not try to take Harry's picture.

They paused at the compartment Ginny had found. She sat with the blonde Ravenclaw in her year, a Luna Lovegood if Aria remembered correctly. Luna was reading a magazine upside down and had given Aria a smile that had kind of creeped her out, but not in a bad way.

"Don't suppose there's room with your Slytherin friends?" Ron questioned as they moved on.

They did not pass any of the Slytherin third years before they found a compartment that only had one person. The person was tucked into the corner of the compartment, their threadbare coat pulled up over their face, chest rising and falling steadily in sleep.

"Who's he you reckon?" Ron wondered as they settled into the compartment. Why was it always so difficult to find compartments on the train?

"R.J. Lupin," Hermione stated immediately. Both Aria and Harry jolted at that. Ron and Hermione did not seem to notice their friends' astonishment.

"How do you know that?" Ron demanded. "How do you know everything?"

"It's on his trunk, Ronald," Hermione cried, not even trying to hide the exasperation in her voice. She pointed to the faded initials on the worn looking trunk on the rack above Ron's head.

"One of my mum and dad's friends was a Remus Lupin," Harry said, looking the obscured figure over. Aria did too, realizing that somehow, she had neglected telling any of her friends about Remington Johnson and the Snatchers that came to her house. Was Professor Snape's theory correct? Could Remington Johnson be an alias for Remus Lupin? If so, what was he doing on the Hogwarts Express? If he had escaped whomever had kidnapped him, Sirius Black most likely, why was he on a train? Why not go to the police . . . aurors?

"I've been writing to him since first year," Harry reminded Ron and Hermione. "McGonagall got in touch with him for me. He's been living in the Muggle world. I thought he might be on holiday this summer, he stopped writing to me back in July."

Around the time that Remi had been kidnapped, Aria thought.

"He looks like he's fallen on hard times," Hermione commented. The figure wore worn clothes. Neat and clean, but clearly faded and worn. Aria knew Remi had better clothes than that. None of his clothes had ever been brand new like from a department store, but neither had it been so faded and used. The man wore wizarding attire, and perhaps that was it. Maybe Remi, having lived in the Muggle world for the past ten years or so, had not updated his wizarding wardrobe? Again though, why was he here?

"Should we wake him?" Ron asked.

"No!" Hermione snapped. "Even if he is this Remus Lupin, it would still be rude."

"But what's he doing here?" Harry questioned. "It's not like there are many adults on this train. Just the trolley lady, the conductor, and the professor on board."

"It may come as a surprise, but I don't have all the answers," Hermione retorted. Aria gasped, clutching her chest. Harry and Ron laughed as Ron dug through this bag and pulled out a very nice traveling chess set. It was clearly new and he showed it off proudly.

"Percy was interning at ICW this summer," he reminded them, "and there he met Lord and Lady Weasley, my grandparents. We don't speak to them . . . Dad and Grandfather had a falling out way before any of us were born, but they apparently took a liking to Percy and sent us all gifts. I guess Grandmother was chuffed that Ginny got into Slytherin just like her."

"I think anyone should be chuffed about Slytherin," Aria stated. "It is, after all, the best house."

The four spent several hours between chess and other quiet activities. Aria and Hermione were content to read over each other's shoulders for a while as Harry and Ron duked it out over several chess matches. Ron was still the better chess player, and the only person in their year who came close to Ron's chess skills was Theo, but Harry was improving. Mostly because he no longer just moved his pieces willy-nilly.

Somewhere over the Scottish border, it had begun to rain. Torrents of cold rain slung itself against the train, making it near impossible to see any of the passing scenery. The trolley cart had come and gone and both Harry and Aria had treated themselves and their friends to Cauldron Cakes and bottles of butterbeer. A few of their classmates had stopped by, but the sight of a mysterious sleeping adult had kept them from lingering. Theo had stayed the longest, since he wanted to challenge Ron to a chess match on Ron's new wizarding chess set.

Just after the conductor made the one-hour left announcement, Aria was digging through her bag for her uniform when the train suddenly lurched to a stop. She toppled on top of Harry who barely managed to keep her from falling further to the ground.

"You okay?" Harry asked. Aria nodded, just as the train shuddered.

"I think we're being bordered!" Hermione cried. Aria hurried to straighten, giving a small gasp as her breath suddenly appeared in front of her as the temperature took a sudden dip. She shivered. It was almost like winter had come. A sudden feeling of helplessness began to settle over her, a hollowness filled her, like she would never be happy again.

Frightened, she gripped Harry's hand.

Ron scrambled back as the door to the compartment began to slide open and a tall, cloaked figure revealed itself in the corridor. Immediately, the day her mum died came to Aria's mind, followed closely by Abigail's funeral. She felt tears begin to run down her face and she tried to push away those awful memories but could not. It was like they were stuck at the forefront of her mind, never to leave.

Harry went rigid beside her, giving a sharp, painful gasp. The thing came into the compartment and loomed over Harry. Aria sat frozen, unable to even think about drawing her wand. Harry slumped in his seat.

Suddenly, the sleeping man in the corner tossed off his coat and stood, pointing his wand at the creature. He spoke words Aria did not recognize and a bright mist erupted from his wand. The mist was warm and seemed to sing pleasantly. The creature drew back as if burned and fled the compartment.

Harry slid to the floor in a faint.

Immediately at the creature's departure the compartment's temperature began to rise again to its normal comfortable temperature. Aria slid down beside Harry, setting his head in her lap even as Hermione and Ron cried out in alarm.

Looking up at the man who stared down the corridor after the creature, Aria felt her heart shudder. He looked beyond tired, he was paler than she had ever seen him, and his clothes were certainly nothing to be impressed with, but it was Remington Johnson!

Or maybe Remus Lupin?

She did not know what to call him.

He turned back to the compartment, stopping short as he met Aria's eyes. Hermione's alarmed crying over Harry broke their stare and the man gently maneuvered Hermione back onto the bench.

"He's just fainted," he said, reaching up above them to the luggage rack where his trunk had been placed. He pulled out two chocolate bars and split one between Ron and Hermione. The other he split and handed one half to Aria. By now, Harry was stirring. He helped Aria sit Harry up, but only leaned Harry against the bench, keeping him on the floor.

"What happened?" Harry cried. "Who was screaming?"

"No one was screaming," Aria answered. At least, she had not heard anyone scream.

"What were those things?" Harry asked. The man sat in his corner and handed Harry his piece of chocolate. Harry stared at it, then at the man with wide eyes.

"Those were dementors," the man told them. "The guardians of Azkaban. They have been out looking for Sirius Black since his escape."

"And they think he's hiding on the Hogwarts Express?" Ron demanded, finishing off his chocolate. Aria finally bit into her piece. Immediately her insides warmed, and she shivered, this time with pleasure. Any lingering chill from the dementors melted away with each bit of chocolate.

"I doubt very much that the dementors were meant to board the train," the man told Ron. "I'll have to have a word with the conductor, and whoever else is professor on board."

"You're Remus Lupin?" Harry blurted out. Remus looked over at Harry and gave him a soft smile.

"I am," he said. "Eat your chocolate. You'll feel much—oomph!"

Harry collided with Remus as he threw himself up off the floor into Remus' arms. Aria scooted over closer to Ron and Hermione to give the two space. Harry buried his face into Remus' shoulder, arms encircling the thin man. For a second, Aria thought Remus did not know what to do, but eventually, he returned Harry's embrace.

Aria turned away to give them some privacy.

"I think it's time we go change into our uniforms," she whispered to Ron and Hermione. The three of them slid out of the compartment, making sure the door was firmly closed behind them. Around them they could hear the excited chatter of other students from other compartments. They could hear many students discussing the dementors. Some seemed to know what they were, others did not.

"Ron!"

Percy came hurrying down the corridor, his shiny Head Boy badge displayed prominently on his uniform robe. When he reached his brother, he looked Ron over, even going as far as to run his hands over Ron to check for injury. Ron batted his hands away, only slightly annoyed.

"Get off, Perce! I'm fine."

"Dementors are no joke, Ron. Here's some chocolate from the trolley." Percy handed out smaller pieces of chocolate to Ron, Hermione, and Aria. "Where's Harry. He needs chocolate too."

"We'll get it to him," Hermione promised. "You look after the other students." Percy patted Hermione's shoulder before continuing down the corridor, passing out chocolate and checking in with other students.

"So, Head Boy?" Aria questioned. "How many times have the twins tried to steal the badge?" Ron rolled his eyes with a groan.

"Don't get me started," he cried. "Between trying to lock Percy into a cursed tomb to taking his badge, the three of them have had a war going since Egypt. It's like the twins want to make Percy's last year memorable."

"Well this is certainly not the sort of start one should want to have for a memorable year," Hermione said with as sniff. "Honestly, dementors! Who send dementors to search a train full of children?"