Dementors on the Train

I don't own Harry Potter, Girl Meets World, or the MCU!

Riley sat curled up in the bay window. Her parents and Auggie had taken Thea to catch her portkey thing. After her explosion the other night, Riley didn't think she had any right to see her sister off.

"'Sup." Maya crawled through the window "What's with you?"

"I messed up, Peaches." Riley felt the tears well up in her eyes "I really messed up."

"Whoa, hey, hey hey." Maya was quick to try and comfort her best friend "It's okay. Whatever it is we can fix it."

Riley flung herself into the blonde's arms "Not this time."

It took ten minutes for Maya to calm her down enough to coax the story out of her. Hiccupping, Riley explained how she'd blown up after Thea had given them...special cell phones so they could call her any time. She'd almost called them magic mirrors, but stopped herself in time.

"So, why exactly did that upset you so much? It would have been the perfect chance for you to reconnect."

"I know." Riley sniffled "It just made me realize she was leaving again and I got so mad, it was like I couldn't see straight. All I could think about was the fact that I was losing her and she was leaving me. I felt like I didn't matter enough for her to stay."

"But, you know she's not leaving you. She's coming back...Right?" Maya checked.

"Yeah, but she won't give me another chance." Riley sighed "Not that I blame her. I've been a terrible sister. And an awful person."

"Hey, that's my best friend you're talking about." Maya said, pointing a stern finger in her face "You're not an awful person. You got upset and you made a mistake, but it's not the end of the world. We'll figure it out the way we do everything. Together."

"I just didn't want her to leave again."

"Then maybe screaming in her face wasn't the best plan." Farkle rolled through the window.

"Farkle!"

"Ladies."

"How'd you know about that?" Maya wondered.

"Hello? Genius!" Farkle rolled his eyes "And I heard your whole conversation. I've been out here for fifteen minutes."

"I didn't mean to scream in her face." Riley struggled for words "I didn't even mean to get so angry. She gave me the mi-I mean the phone and I just saw red. I was so mad, I don't even know why."

"Mood swings and aggression are not unusual as the average teenager goes through puberty."

"Smackle!"

"Hello." Smackle did not climb through the window, instead coming through the door "As I was saying abnormal mood swings and uncalled for aggression is quite common in people between ages 10 and 16. Perhaps that is an explanation."

"It might be an explanation, but it's not an excuse." Riley slumped down in the bay window "I shouldn't have said all those horrible things. It was wrong of me."

"Maybe we can still catch Thea before her flight leaves." Farkle suggested "You can apologize and talk it out."

Riley shook her head sadly "It's too late, her port-flight, her flight leaves in ten minutes. We couldn't make it in time."

"Oh." Farkle deflated "Well, maybe you can write to her. Or borrow one of the phones she gave your parents.

"I think it is safe to say Auggie will not be lending you his anytime soon."

"Auggie hates me even more now." Riley felt herself start to cry again "I'm a terrible little sister AND big sister."

"Smackle!" Maya hissed "Time and place!"

"Oh. Was that insensitive?"

"You know for a genius, you can be a real dumb-dumb."

"My apologies!" Smackle threw her hands in the air "This is a prime example of the irrational reactions of our age group!"

Riley wailed loudly. Maya and Farkle exchanged a desperate look before they hurried to comfort her.

Thea's portkey left early, her parents and a pouting Auggie dropped her off at the entrance to MACUSA. Auggie was clinging to her side, refusing to let go until the very last second.

"Don't cry, Auggie." Thea knelt down to give her baby brother one more hug "I'll be back soon, and you can call me anytime you like now that you have the mirror."

"It won't be the same!" Auggie blubbered "I don't want you to go!"

"I know, sweetie, but I'll keep in touch, you can send me your drawings and I'll come back for holidays."

"No!"

"Auggie, buddy, you're gonna make Thea miss her portkey." Cory tried to disentangle the little fingers from Thea's shirt "C'mon, it's time to say bye now."

"No!" Auggie held tighter "Please, Thea, don't go away again."

"I'm not going away forever, I'll be back soon." Thea promised "Please, Auggie?"

The little boy was not letting go. It was time to change tactics.

"Auggie, if you don't let me go I can't get you those chocolate frogs."

Big brown eyes blinked up at her.

"Or the ice mice, or the sugar quills, or peppermint toads, or fairy floss. I'll get you a big basket of treats and send it as soon as I get to Diagon Alley."

Auggie pouted as he slowly let her go. If there was one constant in the world, it was that Auggie loved his sweets. Cory was quick to grab his hand, successfully keeping him from flinging himself at his sister again.

"Bye Mum." Thea let Topanga pull her into a tight squeeze "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart. Call us when you get to the Leaky Cauldron and have a good year. Study hard and don't get into too much trouble."

"Trouble? Me? Never."

Cory was next, kissing the top of his daughter's head and whispering "Don't get yourself petrified again. Be safe, honey."

"I will. I promise." Thea could see how scared they'd been when they hadn't heard from her for months, afraid she was leaving them for the magical world entirely.

She blew Auggie another kiss as she stepped through the revolving doors, waving until her family was out of sight. She floated through MACUSA, almost in a daze as they checked her wand and sent her up to the transportation department.

"9:53am departure to London?"

"Yes Ma'am." Thea shook herself out of her trance, accepting the silver coin that would take her back to England.

Quickly she adjusted her grip on her trunk before she felt the tell-tale tug of the portkey and MACUSA's walls fell away. She landed hard in a little office in the Ministry, stumbling as the world righted itself.

"2:54pm arrival from New York City, Magical Congress of the United States of America."

"Thea!" Mr. Weasley hurried forward to help her up "How was your trip?"

"It was fine, thanks." Thea frowned "Not that I'm not glad to see you, but what are you doing here? I thought I was meeting you all at the Leaky."

Mr. Weasley's ears turned red "Well, Dumbledore thought, that is, it's just quicker this way, that's all."

Thea narrowed her eyes, Mr. Weasley was hiding something "What is it? Tell me."

"You look very much like Molly when you do that." Mr. Weasley sighed and guided her out of the office "I-that is, we, thought you should know. Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban."

"Yeah, Harry told me."

"Harry told-? Of course he did. I should have guessed." Mr. Weasley fidgeted nervously "Well, Dumbledore knows you're very protective of Harry and he thought we should...prepare you."

"Prepare me for what?" Thea asked, they'd reached the atrium and were shoving their way through the crowd.

"Arthur!"

"Oh, hello Minister." Mr. Weasley pivoted sharply "What can I do for you?"

Fudge was a portly little man, twisting a lime green bowler hat in his hands "I just wanted to tell you, the aurors will be escorting Mr. Potter and your family to Kings Cross on September 1st. We've set aside several cars and they'll meet you at the Leaky Cauldron the morning of."

"Thank you, Minister. That's very kind."

"Not at all, not at all." Fudge's beady eyes landed on Thea "Uh, and you are...?"

"Right, this is Althea Matthews, Minister." Mr. Weasley hurried to introduce them "She's a friend of my boys."

"Ah, the American student." Fudge nodded "Dumbledore's mentioned you. Says you have a good head on your shoulders. You stay with Arthur and the rest in the summers don't you? Whatever are you doing here?"

"Yes, sir." Thea smiled politely "I've just come back from a visit home. Mr. Weasley was just seeing me out."

Mr. Weasley cleared his throat awkwardly "I thought it best to take her back to the Leaky myself, given the current circumstances."

"Quite right, better safe than sorry." Fudge mopped his brow "I don't need to tell you how much trouble this Black business has caused. I haven't had an hour of peace since the news broke."

"How is the search going? Is there any news?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"Not yet. The dementors are going mad, they're going to be stationed at Hogwarts, you know?"

"What?" Mr. Weasley paled.

"What?!" Thea had heard what those monsters were like; sucking peoples souls, draining all happiness, and they'd joined Voldemort last time "Why in Merlin's name would you-mmph!"

Mr. Weasley covered her mouth before she could rip Fudge a new one "Are you sure that's for the best, Cornelius? The dementors in a school?"

"They won't be inside, Dumbledore's put his foot down on that. No, no, they'll be patrolling the borders, Hogsmeade, and they'll be stationed at all the entrances and exits. There'll be no getting past them." Fudge shook his head "They're not too pleased with it, but at least this way the school is protected."

"Well, I suppose as long as they're not inside the grounds." Mr. Weasley didn't look entirely convinced.

"I know it's not ideal, Arthur, but really, what choice do we have? Black is dangerous. He's a madman and we know as long as he's at Hogwarts that's where he'll try to go." Fudge checked his watch "Blimey, is that the time? I've got to go, I've got a meeting with Amelia Bones in five minutes. Goodbye Arthur. Pleasure to meet you Miss Matthews."

"Goodbye Minister." Mr. Weasley tugged Thea away, his hand still over her mouth, only releasing her once they had left the Ministry.

"What's going on here? First you pick me up, then there are aurors taking us to Kings Cross, then there are dementors being stationed at Hogwarts." Thea demanded "What are you not telling me?"

"It's, well, it's to do with Sirius Black." Mr. Weasley fumbled.

"Yes, I got that." Thea grumbled "The only convict currently escaped from Azkaban, who else would it be about?"

"Harry."

Thea walked into a lamppost.

Mr. Weasley winced as he steadied her "Black was a big supporter of You-Know-Who, his right hand some say. He's been talking in his sleep, 'He's at Hogwarts, he's at Hogwarts.' We think he's talking about Harry."

"And Black has nothing to lose if he goes after Harry. He's got a life sentence. This way he could kill Harry and avenge Voldemort."

"Don't say his name." Mr. Weasley pleaded "It gets worse, I'm afraid."

"A mad killer is after Harry, how could it get worse?"

"Well..." Mr. Weasley hesitated "Listen, promise me you won't repeat what I'm about to tell you. To anyone. Not Fred, not George, Ron, Hermione, and especially not Harry. Molly doesn't even want you to know, she thinks you're too young."

"I promise not to tell Fred, George, Ron, and Hermione."

"And Harry."

"I promise not to tell Fred, George, Ron, and Hermione."

"And Harry?"

Thea gave him a look "This clearly directly involves Harry. I can't promise not to tell him until I know what it is."

Mr. Weasley sighed "All right, all right. Here it is. Black was friends with Lily and James Potter. Best friends, he, we all thought they were like family. So when the Potters went into hiding, they used something called the Fidelius Charm."

"I've read about it." Thea didn't like where this was heading "Are you saying Sirius Black was their secret keeper and betrayed them to Voldemort? That he's the reason Harry's parents are dead?"

"Clearly Black switched sides." Mr. Weasley fiddled with his watch "None of us had any idea until it was too late."

"And you're afraid that if Harry knew this he'd go after Black? Harry's not stupid. He wouldn't go after a murderer set on killing him."

"Even if that murderer is the reason he's an orphan?"

"...Okay, I see where you're coming from." Thea crossed her arms "But is your plan to just not tell him at all? He's going to find out somehow, it would be better to tell him ourselves."

Mr. Weasley raised his hands in surrender as the bus dropped them off at the corner of Charing Cross Road "I agree with you! But Dumbledore thinks it best Harry is kept in the dark."

"Dumbledore thinks a lot of things. Not all of them are smart."

"Thea, you have to promise you won't tell Harry. He'll be safe at Hogwarts and Black won't be on the loose for long, not with the whole Ministry looking for him. We can tell him when he's older and more mature. Let him keep what childhood he has left."

Thea bit her lip "I don't like it."

"But...?"

"But I'll keep it to myself. For now. The second Harry needs to know, he knows."

Mr. Weasley sighed, knowing that was the best he was going to get "I'll take it. Shall we? I expect they're all waiting for us."

Thea couldn't hide her smile "I've missed you all."

"We've missed you too." Mr. Weasley wrapped a fatherly arm around her shoulders.

They reached the Leaky Cauldron and entered to find the usual brand of Weasley chaos. Molly was scolding Fred and George for apparently stealing Percy's Head Boy badge. Ginny was playing with a large orange cat that looked more like a baby tiger under one of the tables. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were watching the show from the stairs. It was the bespeckled Boy-Who-Lived who noticed them first.

"Thea!" He ducked under Mrs. Weasley's flapping handbag and caught Thea in a hug.

"Thea!" She felt Fred and George hit next, followed quickly by Ron and Ginny.

"Aw, I missed you guys too." Thea gasped for air "I also miss oxygen!"

The embrace fell apart as they all laughed. It felt very much like home.

The Ministry aurors were good at their jobs. If Thea hadn't already known they were wizard cops she'd never have guessed they were anything more than underpaid, undervalued, minimum wage Ministry workers.

For the first time in memory the Weasleys, Thea, Harry, and Hermione got to Kings Cross, through the barrier, and onto the Hogwarts Express with no trouble and in record time. They even loaded their trunks for them! Thea made sure to thank them profusely for that. Especially after Fred's trunk fell on them.

Mrs. Weasley handed out sandwiches and peppered Ginny with kisses. The matriarch was having difficulty letting her youngest go after the events of last year, instructing her to write often and stay safe. Thea was under strict orders to keep a close eye on the girl, and, barring any further petrifications, report regularly.

Fred and George found a cabin with Lee Jordan, saving Thea a seat while she settled Ginny in a compartment with Luna Lovegood and Colin Creevey. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had found a cabin further down.

Thea had spotted Mr. Weasley corner Harry on the platform, warning him to watch his step this year with Black on the loose. Harry was probably filling his friends in on the limited information he had. She should probably get ahead of that. Later. First she was going to relax with her friends.

It wasn't hard to find their compartment, about halfway through the trip Thea slid the door open "Looking forward to your third year?"

"Shh!" Ron shushed her "Don't wake him up!"

Thea noticed the man in the corner, wrapped in a shabby coat "Who's he?"

"Professor R. J. Lupin." Hermione answered promptly.

"Neat." Thea sat down next to Harry "He's either taking over DADA or Care of Magical Creatures, apparently Professor Kettleburn retired."

"No, really?" Hermione gasped "I was so looking forward to his classes, I heard he was an expert on demiguise, drakes, and fire-crabs."

"Yeah, back when he had all his limbs." Thea pointed out "He mostly taught about unicorns, fairies, and flobberworms last year. I think he lost the joy with his last toe."

"I can't see him ordering the Monster Book of Monsters though, can you?" Ron pointed out "He looks like that book would bite his head off."

"Defense then?" Harry suggested.

"Doesn't seem very likely either from the look of him." Thea frowned "But as far as I know those are the only positions open this year."

A thunderclap drew all their attention to the window.

Ron, who was closest peered out into the pouring rain "We must be nearly there." At that moment the train started to slow down, stopping sharply "Great, I'm starving. I want to get to the feast."

"We can't be there yet." Hermione checked her watch.

"So why are we stopping?"

Thea grasped her wand in her robes pocket, hopefully this had nothing to do with Black, but better safe than sorry. She peaked out the door, all down the carriage students were doing the same. Suddenly all the lights went out, plunging them into darkness.

"What's going on?" Ron asked nervously.

"Ouch!" Hermione squeaked "Ron, that was my foot."

"D'you think we've broken down?" Harry wondered.

"Not possible, the train is run by magic. It can't break down like muggle trains can." Thea explained.

"Something's moving out there." Ron pointed out the window "I think people are coming aboard."

Thea drew her wand subtly. She thought about casting lumos and giving them some light, but it would be better not to draw attention to their compartment if they could avoid it.

At that moment the door opened and someone promptly tripped over Harry's legs "Sorry, do you know what's going on? Ouch! Sorry!"

"Hello Neville." Harry helped the clumsy boy up.

Thea's heart was hammering in her chest, she could see dark cloaked figures boarding the train through the rain. Could it be the Death Eaters? Or Black? Would they really attack the Hogwarts Express in broad daylight...or pouring rain?

"Harry, is that you? What's happening?"

"No idea, sit down." Neville tried to sit on Crookshanks.

"I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on." Hermione tried to get up.

Thea pushed her back down into her seat "No one is going anywhere. Stay exactly where you are and do not move."

"Thea?"

"Ginny! What are you doing?"

"I was looking for Ron."

"Quick sit down."

"Not here!" Harry said hurriedly "I'm here!"

"Ouch!" Neville complained as Ginny almost sat on him.

"Quiet!" Flickering blue flames illuminated the compartment from the now awake Professor's hand "Stay where you are."

His face was thrown into sharp relief, marred by scars and weary, he looked far older than he probably was. His clothes were as shabby as his cloak had been but he moved with confidence.

Professor Lupin took a step towards the door, but before he could reach it, it creaked open. A tall, menacing, cloaked figure filled the doorway.

Thea's wand wavered as she raised it, but Lupin stepped in front of her. The cloaked figures face turned on Harry and he went still. Suddenly, he slipped from his seat and landed on the floor. Thea flung herself in front of him, at the same time Lupin blocked the creature.

A tinny whistle filled Thea's ears, distantly she could hear a familiar voice shouting "Get out! Get out! Get out of my house! Get out of my life! Get out!" Thea tried to ignore the voice in her head, she'd heard it enough in her nightmares to know it wasn't real. Still, she shivered and clutched her wand a little tighter.

"None of us are hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go."

The dementor, it must be a dementor Thea thought wildly, it was sucking all the warmth and hope out of the room, floated forward.

"Expecto Patronum!" Silvery light shot from Lupin's wand, a massive furry creature forced the dementor out of the compartment and down the hall.

"I take it back." Thea mumbled as the lights flickered "He's definitely here for Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Professor Lupin stepped out of the compartment, probably to check the rest of the train for the dementors. Hermione slid off her seat to kneel next to Harry, Thea shook his shoulder but the bushy brunette took a more direct route.

"Harry!" She smacked his cheek "Harry, wake up!"

"Easy, 'Mione!" Thea caught her wrist before she could slap him again "He's coming round."

"W-what happened?" Harry mumbled.

Thea quickly helped him sit up "Dementors. Probably searching the train for Sirius Black. I am havingwordswith Dumbledore, they're not supposed to come near the students."

"Who screamed?"

Ron glanced around "No one screamed, mate."

"I heard someone screaming." Harry insisted "A woman."

He looked over at Thea, who'd gone very still and slightly pale. He was about to ask her if she was alright but Professor Lupin thrust a large piece of chocolate under his nose.

"Eat this. It'll help." He passed Thea a chunk "I need to speak to the driver. Excuse me."

"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" Hermione asked once Professor Lupin was gone.

"I still don't understand, what happened?"

"Well, that thing, the dementor looked around and you went sort of rigid and fell over." Ron explained "I thought you were having a fit or something. Thea got in front of you, she looked ready to kill that thing, but Lupin stepped over you both and said 'None of us are hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.' But the dementor didn't move so Lupin muttered something and some silvery thing shot out of his wand, then it turned around and sort of glided away."

"It was horrible." Neville's voice was much higher than usual "Did you feel how cold it got?"

Ginny whimpered, her normally rosy face was chalky. Thea quickly pulled her into a hug, letting the younger girl bury her face in her shoulder.

"Here." Thea offered her the chocolate she'd gotten from Professor Lupin "Eat this."

Automatically Ginny took the chocolate and bit in. Almost at once her cheeks started to regain some color and she looked a bit more present.

"Bit better?" Thea asked.

"It was awful." Ginny started to cry, burrowing deeper into her older sister's arms "I felt like-like last year, I could hear him whispering in my ear, telling me to hurt everyone again. To hurt you again."

"Shh." Thea rubbed soothing circles on her shoulder "You didn't hurt me, that wasn't you. Don't blame yourself for that, none of it was your fault."

"But-but-" Ginny was working herself into hysterics "It was me. I did it!"

"Not of your own accord. Ginny, look at me." Thea gently lifted the girls chin so they were face to face "You weren't in control. It was not your fault. No one blames you for it, so don't you dare blame yourself. Say it."

"I..." Ginny hiccupped "I wasn't in control. It wasn't my fault. I wasn't in control."

"Good." Thea passed her a chocolate frog "Keep eating. Harry, you have one too."

Harry still hadn't eaten the piece Professor Lupin had given him and he jumped a foot in the air when Thea held out the little box.

Professor Lupin chose that moment to return to the compartment, giving Harry a pointed smile "I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know."

Automatically, Harry shoved the chocolate bar in his mouth. The shaky feeling in his arms and legs quickly faded and his stomach settled. Quickly unwrapping the frog and biting it head off made him feel even more steady. Ginny seemed to be calming down, settling safely at Thea's side. She looked better, but Thea still looked pale and faintly ill.

"You should eat some." Harry looked around, hoping they had another chocolate frog somewhere "You look terrible."

"Don't pull your punches." Thea laughed, but it sounded hollow "I'll be fine. Really, don't worry about me."

Professor Lupin frowned, digging in his coat pocket for a moment before he produced a muggle hershey's bar "It's not quite as good as wizard chocolate in my opinion, but it'll do the trick. Eat it, please. I'd hate to have to report you to Madam Pomfrey before we even reach the school."

Thea looked ready to refuse and insist it be given to one of the others, but something in Professor Lupin's face deterred her. She accepted the bar and tore the wrapper off quickly.

"Satisfied?" She asked once the bar was gone.

Professor Lupin's eyes crinkled as he smiled "For now. I'd still like you three to see Madam Pomfrey once we arrive. Which, according to the driver, will be in about ten minutes."

Thea helped Ginny off the train and got them all into a carriage up to the school. Harry and Ron, having flown the car last year had never seen the carriages that seemed to pull themselves, found them quite curious. After an unfortunate encounter with Draco Malfoy as they reached the school, that was thankfully interrupted by the timely arrival of Professor Lupin, McGonagall pulled Harry, Thea, and Hermione aside.

The Matron gave Harry and Thea a quick check over in their head of house's office before the Matthews girl pointed her in Ginny's direction and she headed off to fuss over the youngest Weasley. She seemed quite pleased that Professor Lupin had the sense to give them all a healthy dose of chocolate.

"Now, Mr. Potter, Miss Matthews, if you'll wait outside, I need a word with Miss Granger about her schedule."

"Actually, Professor, could Thea stay?" Hermione asked tentatively.

Professor McGonagall peered sternly over her glasses for a moment "Very well. Mr. Potter, outside please."

Once Harry was out of the room, Thea glanced at the resident bookworm "What's wrong with your schedule?"

"I may have signed up for every class." Hermione blushed "They all just sounded so interesting!"

"Yes, and after careful consideration, Professor Dumbledore has spoken to the Ministry and secured you this." McGonagall pulled a golden necklace with a glittering hourglass at the end "So you may attend all your classes in atimelymanner."

"Is that...?" Thea gaped in awe, too distracted to notice the pun.

"Yes, and I don't need to tell you that this is highly sensitive and confidential. No one outside this room is to know you have it, Miss Granger. The staff is aware but if the other students were to learn..." Professor McGonagall let that hang in the air "Miss Matthews you can help cover for Miss Granger, should the need arise."

"I'm not in the same classes as her?"

"Yes, but we've noticed you are an exceptional liar and quite skilled at squashing rumors before they take root."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Thea crossed her arms.

"I must have said it wrong."

Thea scowled as Hermione hid her giggles behind her hand.

"You are being trusted with a very important piece of magic, Miss Granger. It is only to be used for school purposes. Do you understand?"

"Yes, of course, Professor." Hermione nodded "I promise, I won't use it for anything else and I won't tell anyone."

"Very well." Professor McGonagall handed the time-turner over and Hermione slipped it over her head, tucking it into her collar "Now, we should get to the feast before it begins. Shall we?"

"Oh, and Professor?" Thea's eyes glinted wickedly "You might warn Professor Dumbledore that I want a word with him after the feast."

"He is well aware." Professor McGonagall lowered her voice "He's planning to try and slip out the door behind the staff table to avoid it. I'd recommend a seat near the front if you want to catch him."

"Professor!" Hermione gasped, scandalized.

Professor McGonagall showed no remorse "Dementors on the train, attacking students left and right, I'll be having words with the Headmaster myself."

They returned to the Great Hall just in time for Dumbledore's opening speech.

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast." Dumbledore grew serious "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."

Thea coughed loudly, glaring at Dumbledore over her goblet.

The esteemed Headmaster faltered "Ahem, yes. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises - or even Invisibility Cloaks."

Ron and Harry exchanged a meaningful glance. It looked like any night time adventures would be postponed until Black was caught and the dementors left.

"It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors. On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new additions to our teaching staff this year. First Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Scattered applause broke out, the loudest coming from those who were in his compartment on the train. Harry caught a glimpse of Snape's face, he looked ready to spit. He looked at Lupin with the same vitriol he had when he looked at Harry. A look of utter loathing and disdain.

"As to our second new appointment, well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher,retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with hisremaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will befilled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on thisteaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."

A moment of stunned silence before the Hall broke out in applause, most of it coming from the Gryffindors. Thea whooped loudly, easily making up for the Slytherin's lack of enthusiasm.

"We should have known!" Ron chortled "Who else would have assigned us a biting book?"

After that Dumbledore was quick to start the feast, steadfastly ignoring the icy stare coming from the front of the Gryffindor table.

Fred leaned across the potatoes to talk to Harry and Ron "Pass it around, we're all staying put after the feast. Dinner and a show, this'll be great."

"We haven't been privy to Thea letting Dumbledore have it." George snorted "I'm more excited about this than the pudding."

"She was really mad first year." Neville remembered "She dragged me all the way to his office and wouldn't stop screaming until he came down."

"Last year too." Ron recalled fondly "Remember Harry? If I didn't know better I'd say she got her dressing down skills from Mum, but she's always been like that. Tonight's gonna be wicked."

"Legendary more like." Fred laughed.

"Our dear Althea does have quite the protective streak." George agreed.

The rest of the feast was spent in eager anticipation. News of the impending battle had spread around the whole hall and when the desserts vanished and Dumbledore gave the order for bed, no one moved, only watched as Thea stood up.

"Professor, I'd like a word." She left no room for argument.

"Yes." Dumbledore seemed to realize there was no getting out of it "Shall we go to my office."

Thea considered him carefully, before she turned back to the hall at large "What're you all still doing here? Bed!"

Silence.

"Now."

Benches scrapped against the floor and students hurried to get out of the way. Fred and George looked particularly downcast, but they knew better than to argue with Thea when she used that tone. Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried to congratulate Hagrid before they left, and were just close enough to hear.

"So, to your office then?"

"I'm just thankful you've spared an old man the humiliation of a public spectacle."

"Hmm, for now."

"How very ominous."

Word count:5515 words

GO READ THE FIRST CHAPTER "Rules for my stories!" Please and thank you.

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Love,
The Author