Chapter Four

September the first came by surprisingly quickly for Harry. He woke that night with a start, sitting up suddenly and taking deep breaths.

He'd had a nightmare. He couldn't remember much and what he could remember was quickly fading from his memory. There was screaming, lots of screaming and a woman begging for her life. A black, scaly mouth was closing over his own.

Harry rubbed his aching scar and blinked a few times, without his glasses everything was even more distorted in the dim night light. He put them on quickly. It was a half moon, Harry could see it through outside his window but it looked for a moment like it was full, distorted through the glass.

He watched it for a few minutes, thinking about Remus. He would be safely tucked up in his house with the teddy that Danica had gotten him for Christmas a couple of years ago sitting safely on it's shelf waiting for the next full moon. Apart from a couple of teeth marks that Lily had patched up, it had survived the last few years rather well.

Remus had told him that when he was younger, there wasn't a wolfsbane potion and he worried that every month he would hurt someone. Sirius had transformed into Padfoot every month to keep him company and keep him safe but shortly before Harry was born, the potion was invented and then when James was killed, Severus moved in. He may have not been happy to begin with about making the potion every month but he was more than able and now he was more than happy to help his friend.

Harry shook his head, these thoughts were far to heavy for half past two in the morning. He shoved his feet into his slippers and headed downstairs for some warm milk and honey.

He'd barely made it to the landing though when he stopped, there was someone tip toe-ing down the stairs.

"Hello?" Harry said to the figure.

It stopped and sighed,

"Hi Harry."

"Nikka is that you?" Harry said moving closer.

Nikka nodded sheepishly, "Sorry I was trying to be quiet."

Harry could now see her shoes in one hand, her handbag in the other, "What are you doing here."

"Umm." Nikka blushed, "I was visiting Sirius."

Harry frowned in confusion before realisation dawned on him and he also blushed, "oh."

"As I said I didn't mean to wake you." Nikka said.

"You didn't." Harry shrugged, "I… I had a bad dream." he looked down at his feet, he felt kind of embarrassed to admit that at thirteen he still had bad dreams.

"That's nothing to be ashamed of, everyone gets bad dreams sometimes." Nikka said kindly, rubbing his shoulder, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Harry didn't say anything, he did but he also didn't, "I was just going to get myself some warm milk and try and get back to sleep."

"Why don't I join you in some warm milk?" Nikka smiled.

Harry smiled and nodded. They plodded downstairs to the kitchen and Nikka stuck a saucepan on the stove, measuring out two cups of milk.

"I add honey to mine." Nikka explained, "Are you on the side of honey?"

Harry laughed, "Yeah, honey forever."

Nikka grinned and finished heating the milk, stirring in two spoonfuls of honey and pouring it into some cups.

Harry took a sip and let the warmth flow through him, he felt a lot better already.

"So what was this dream about?" Nikka asked, once they were about half way through their milk.

"I can't really remember much. There was screaming I think and it was like I was trapped, like I couldn't move. Just freaked me out a bit." Harry shrugged.

"Are you worried about something?" Nikka asked.

Harry shrugged, "Maybe. I...I'm worried about Uncle Remus teaching."

Nikka reached across the table and held his hand, "I get that. Sirius worries about him, it's perfectly normal under the circumstances."

Harry nodded, "Yeah I guess, maybe. It's tough. I worry a lot about him."

"Yeah I know." Nikka nodded, "I've got five brothers so there's always someone to worry about."

Harry grinned, "You know you could always come round during the day a bit more often. I know you and Sirius are getting pretty, well, serious."

Nikka blushed, "Yeah we are. It's a complicated situation though." she checked her watched, "Well I think you should be getting back to bed young man."

Harry nodded. He popped their cups into the sink and waved Nikka goodbye at the door before heading back into bed, snuggled warmly in his blankets.

Harry felt like he'd barely closed his eyes before his alarm rang the next morning. He sat on the edge of his bed and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, shoving his glasses on and reaching for the clothes he'd left out the night before.

"Harry are you up?" Severus called, knocking on the door.

"Yep. Just coming." Harry called back.

He double checked that everything was safely packed in his trunk before heading downstairs.

"I can't wait for you to leave! Filthy blood traitor!"

Harry ignored the painting's insults and carried on down the stairs, the breakfast table was laid out with fresh pastries and a large pot of porridge. Sirius was already waiting for him, looking very tired with a large mug of coffee. He gave Harry a wave. Harry smiled and waved back taking his seat and popping a few vanilla crowns on his plate, helping himself to a glass of apple juice.

Lily came down soon after, Danica holding her hand.

"Porridge please." She said politely, holding her bowl out.

Kreacher reached over and filled her bowl, helping her add sugar and dried fruit in amounts that Lily wouldn't be forced to roll her eyes at. It wasn't long afterwards that there was a knock on the door.

Severus and Remus walked in, Severus dressed in his usual black teaching robes. Remus was wearing a new smart set of robes with crimson edging.

"You look very smart Remus." Lily said, pulling his out a chair.

He also looked very tired, but she didn't mention that.

"Thank you for having me round this morning." he smiled, "Never met a cook as good as Kreacher."

Kreacher flapped his ears in pride. They ate quickly and it wasn't long before they were standing on platform 9¾, Severus and Sirius carrying Harry trunk between them. They had arrived very early, there was nearly three quarters of an hour before the train was due to leave so the platform was mostly empty.

"I'm sorry but after last year I wanted to be sure we were here in plenty of time." Lily pointed out.

"Well lets find you a carriage and get your stuff on board." Severus said, pointing towards the gleaming train, "You'll have the pick of the train."

Hedwig let out a loud hoot of indignation at being called 'stuff'. They picked a compartment about half way down the train and stashed Harry's trunk safely under the seat. Remus added his in as well before helping Danica take Hedwig to the pet carriage.

"Harry a word?" Lily said.

Harry nodded and moved over to a quiet spot with her.

"I'm going to give you this, but you're only allowed to go when I give you permission." Lily said, handing Harry the Hogsmead permission slip.

"Really!" Harry said, "Thank you so much. I'll be good I promise."

"I never believed it from James and I don't from you." she grinned, "But just remember I have more eyes in that place than I let on. Have a brilliant year."

Harry nodded and grinned.

They played exploding snap for a while until the platform slowly filled up with families. Draco and Pansy arrived at the same time at twenty to, holding hands Harry noticed.

Neville and his father a few minutes later, Daphne a few minutes after that followed by her parents and a rather nervous looking younger girl.

"Hi everyone, this is Astoria my baby sister." Daphne said introducing her.

"Younger sister." Astoria corrected.

Astoria was very clearly Daphne's sister, they looked very similar with the same delicate features and long honey blonde hair. She also had the same way of moving, like she was dancing rather than walking.

They said hello and helped her to get her things onto the train.

"Do you have an Iggy?" Danica asked her, as she passed her pet basket onto the train.

"Umm no." Astoria shrugged, "No I have a cat. Well he's mine and Daph's. And we share her owl."

Danica nodded, slightly disappointed, "Never mind."

Hermione arrived five minutes before the train was due to leave, her cat basket meowing loudly.

"Hermione! We were worried you weren't going to make it." Draco smiled waving her over.

"We've been avoiding Weasleys." Daphne nodded, trying to keep a straight face.

The train whistle blew loudly, telling them all to get on board. Harry, Daphne, Astoria, Pansy, Neville, Draco, Remus and Hermione managed to squish into the compartment and wave goodbye to the large crowd of parents waiting outside.

As the train pulled away they settled down in their seats. Remus was quickly asleep with ruled out playing any of the games they normally did. Harry didn't tell them why by he didn't want him woken up.

So instead they sat and talked. They were only about an hour into the journey when there was a small knock on the door.

"Hi we found you." Ron said sticking his head round the door, "Wow it's crowded in here."

Harry gave him a tense smile, Hermione stuck her nose in a book while the others glared.

"What's a teacher doing in here?" Ron asked.

"Shhh!" They all hissed at him.

Ron took a step back, "Sorry. I was just wondering if Harry wanted to come join us."

Harry thought it over for a moment before sighing and giving a nod, "Yeah why not?"

"Harry? Really?" Draco asked.

"I'll just be an hour or so." Harry said standing up, "Mum told me to be nice."

Harry got up and followed Ron down the length of the train to the very end. Ron pulled open a compartment door and let Harry in first.

"Harry this is Fred and George and Ginny who you've met." Ron said sitting down next to his brothers.

Harry took the seat next to Ginny, she blushed at him and gave a small wave.

"Nice to see you again." Harry gave a smile.

"We were playing chess." Said Fred.

"Want to join in?" George offered.

Harry nodded, "Why not? I like chess after all."

The twins reset the board and Harry moved over to the small table it was set on.

"I'll have the first game." Ron said excitedly, "I'm pretty good at this."

Harry won.

They'd just finished, a rather disgruntled Ron giving way to let George have a go, when the door flew open and a smart looking boy walked in.

"Oh I didn't realise we had a visitor." He said.

Harry forced himself not to roll his eyes, it wasn't like they owned the compartment so couldn't really have a visitor.

"Harry this is Percy." Ginny said, "Harry has been here to play chess with us."

"I see. Well I shan't keep you. I was just here to pick up my notebook. They have a special carriage for prefects and other important students." Percy told them digging out a smart red leather notebook and tucking it under his arm.

"If it's for important people, Percy, why isn't Harry there?" Ron pointed out.

"I'm not really that important." Harry said awkwardly.

"Exactly. I mean it's for those who have earned their place. Prefects and head students. Not just someone who is famous." Percy said haughtily before leaving.

"Just ignore him." Ron mumbled.

"We all do." George grinned, "Ready to play?"

Harry won the second game as well. Fred then managed to win the third before Harry won the fourth even though he was going easy on Ginny. It was then that he looked out the window and saw it was dark.

"Wow it's been longer than I thought." Harry said, he looked at his wrist but he hadn't put his watch on, "I'd best be getting back. They'll be wondering where I've gotten to."

"Oh OK." Ginny said looking sad.

"We'll see you later though?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded and waved goodbye.

"Wait Harry let us worship you!" "Kiss you!" the twins shouted after him.

Harry let out a laugh as he made his way back down the train. He came to the compartment with his friends and slid the door open.

"He's alive!" Hermione smiled.

Harry rolled his eyes, "Well it's not like you came to look for me. I just lost track of time."

"That's what we guessed." Draco said, "There were no screams after all."

Harry took his seat, "Remus slept all the way through?"

They nodded.

"Yep." Astoria said, "He seems really tired."

The train shuddered to a stop.

"Was I really away for that long that we're there?" Harry said, digging in his bag for his watch, "I haven't even gotten changed."

"Harry, neither have we." Hermione pointed out.

"We can't be there yet, we've got at least an hour and a half." Pansy said.

Hermione, who was sitting closest to the window pressed her hand against the glass, which was quickly frosting up.

"It's freezing." she whispered, afraid to make a sound, "I think I can see something moving out there."

"Why have we stopped?" Astoria asked, "Is this normal?"

"It's fine." Daphne reassured her, trying to keep the tremble out of her voice.

The lights flickered and then died. Harry shook on Remus's shoulder.

"Uncle Remus," Harry whispered, he could see his breath as he spoke, "Something is wrong."

Remus sat up quickly and pulled out his wand, "I'll go and check with the driver, possibly just some Aurors coming on board to check the train. Harry, listen to me; stay here."

Harry nodded and watched Remus lock the door behind him, whispering several spells to keep the door shut before he left.

They sat in the compartment shivering, afraid to talk or make a sound for fear of something jumping up at them.

The door unlocked.

"Mr Lupin?" Pansy whispered.

Harry shook his head, there was no light from a wand, so it couldn't be Remus but whoever it was seemed unaffected by the protection spells.

The door slid open and a ghostly black figure filled the doorway. Harry felt the happiness drain from him, a thousand images flashed though his head, all of them empty and heartbreaking.

He knew what these were but he couldn't think, couldn't name them, and a scabbed hand reached towards him. His ears filled with screams. Screams of pain. Of sorrow. Of begging. And then a scream came louder than all the others, a women screaming his name and the world went black.