Once y/n had stumbled her way down to the compartment, Harry was awake and was in a serious looking conversation with Hermione and Ron. She was running so fast she almost fell over when she stopped in front of the compartment door and threw it open. The three stared at her in surprise and y/n was about to speak when she leaned over and began to regain her breath. She swore she had run up and down the train a dozen times trying to find the compartment.

"Ha-Harry... are you... alright...." She managed out through deep breaths.

"y/n are you ok? It looks like you've run a marathon," Ron said watching y/n huff and puff.

"Running... a lot... fine," she said waving a hand to dismiss his worry. She eventually got back her breath and straightened up. "So, are you guys ok? I kinda didn't get a chance to ask," she continued, eating some more chocolate Professor Lupin had given her.

"Yeah, we're fine. Are you ok?" Harry said.

"I'm good, but Professor Lupin said you passed out, are you sure you're ok?" y/n pressed.

"I'm sure yeah. But Professor Lupin said you went running out of the room after the dementor. Are you sure you're fine?" Harry questioned.

"Oh, yeah, that. Don't worry. I was probably just a bit freaked out by the dementor," she tried to explain, but it sounded like she too wasn't sure. The three didn't ask her about it anymore though, and for that, y/n was grateful. She didn't want them to worry about these nightmares she's been having. And besides, how many dementors was she going to see in her life? That was probably the one time ever!

------)OOO(------

Soon, the train careened into Hogsmeade station and they were all on their way to Hogwarts castle, being pulled by the horseless carriage. Once they reached the large gates and got out of their carriages, y/n left Harry, Ron and Hermione and went to go and find her Slytherin friends. Chloe, Valentina and Mirabella had become her close friends last year during the whole heir of Slytherin debacle as they were some of the only people who didn't care about the rumours, whether they be false or true. (Well, them and Draco). y/n spotted Valentina's honey blonde hair as she made her way towards the Great Hall.

"Val!" y/n called and her friend immediately turned to search for her friend. Once they made eye contact the two girls rushed over to each other and exchanged a long-awaited hug.

"It's so good to see you y/n!" Valentina exclaimed.

"Is that Miss y/n l/n?" A voice said from behind y/n. She turned to see Chloe waiting with a smirk and open arms in front of her.

"It most definitely is! Hi Chloe!" y/n greeted embracing Chloe.

"Oi! Am I gonna get a hug too or what?" Mirabella said bounding up to the group. They all had a big group hug before they broke apart and started frantically discussing their Summer holidays.Eventually, they had to make their way into the Great Hall for the feast and sorting. As y/n stepped through the massive doorway, she began to walk over to the Slytherin table. She walked down next to the Slytherin table and Gryffindor table, waving to friends from both houses as she went. Neville smiled at her and she grinned back. Peregrinn, her fellow beater on the Slytherin Quidditch team waved at her and she returned the gesture. And then, she made eye contact with Draco who was standing, talking to some of the other boys in her year.

"Draco!" She exclaimed walking up to him. He turned his head and once he saw her, he smiled. y/n quickly pulled him into a hug which he was not expecting at all, but he returned it all the same. "How was your holiday in Spain?"

"Pretty boring if I'm being completely honest," he began, "Father and Mother were always out meeting with friends apparently so I was left alone quite a bit. But I got to see a lot of the wizarding city just outside Basque. They had massive witch burnings there back in the day, so everyone had to evacuate and set up a new town, which is where I stayed,"

"That sounds-" y/n began but was cut off by the toad choir beginning their song with Professor Flitwick out front conducting. The pair found two seats and sat down next to each other around some of Draco's friends whom she didn't know very well. The performance was very good and everyone applauded the singers and toads as the returned to their seats. Then, Professor Dumbledore stepped up to address the school.

"Welcome! Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts. Now I'd like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast," The headmaster began, "First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good Luck Professor!"

Professor Lupin stood up from his seat at the teacher's table and everyone applauded as he bowed gratefully to their good wishes. Professor Snape was sat next to him and y/n didn't even think he clapped, he sort of just brought his hands together a few times.

Well, he's not known for giving praise. Classic Snape.

y/n felt Draco move next to her and she turned to see what he was doing. He stomach fell when she saw that he had turned towards Harry at the Gryffindor table, trying to get his attention.

"Potter! Potter!" Draco hissed, trying to get the Gryffindor's attention. Harry turned around along with Ron who was next to him, "Is it true you fainted?" he asked and his friend pretended to pathetically faint, "I mean you actually fainted?" he teased, knowing that it would bother Harry.

"Shove off Malfoy," Ron jabbed back and y/n could see Hermione scowling.

y/n elbowed Draco's side and turned to the front, not looking at him.

"Ow! What was that for?" Draco said rubbing his side, but y/n didn't respond. Behind her, she heard the other three talking.

"How did he find out?" Harry whispered.

"Just forget it," Hermione said and as she looked up, her and y/n made eye contact. y/n took this opportunity to mouth something to her.

"It wasn't me," she mouthed over accentuating her mouth movements so that Hermione would understand.

"I know," Hermione mouthed back and the two girls smiled at each other before turning back to the front to catch the rest of Dumbledore's speech.

"-to retire. In order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Taking his place as the teacher of Care of Magical Creatures is our own, Rubeus Hagrid!" Dumbledore announced and once again the Great Hall filled with applause y/n chuckle as Hagrid managed to shake the entire table as he got to his feet. She was forced into taking Care of Magical Creatures this year by her extremely tight timetable due to her O.W.L class, Potions, which she was now taking. But now that Hagrid was her teacher, she knew she would enjoy it much more.

"Finally, on a more describing note, at the request of the Ministry of Magic Hogwarts will, until further notice, plat host to the dementors of Azkaban until such a time that Sirius Black is captured," Dumbledore said.

At this, mutters and whispers flowed through the Great Hall.

"Dementors at Hogwarts?"

"Sirius Black wouldn't come here,"

"Sirius Black is well bad,"

Despite the controversy of his words, Dumbledore continued, "The dementors will be placed at every entrance to the grounds. And while I've been assured that their presence won't interfere with our everyday activities, a word of caution: Dementors are vicious creatures. They will not distinguish between the one they hunt and those who get in their way. Therefore I must warn each and every one of you," He then made eye contact with y/n and Harry, "Give them no reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving."

Then his voice took on a much lighter tone, "But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times when one only remembers to turn on the light. And now, let us enjoy our wonderful feast!"

Mountains of food appeared on the tables and students began to fill their plates. y/n didn't say much for the rest of dinner, she did joke around with Chloe, Val and Mirabella, but mostly kept to herself. If dementors were going to be at Hogwarts, then that would mean that there was a much higher risk of her crossing paths with one. A much higher chance for her nightmare to become true...

y/n shook the thought out of her head. A nightmare was just a dream and a dream was just your brain making up random situations to stimulate itself when you're not awake. Right?Once the feast was over, the students began to file back into their common rooms and dorms. y/n found that her dorm had been swapped around so she was now with Chole, Val, and Mirabella! The four girls hardly got any sleep that night, but at midnight, they decided to call it a night and head of to bed, ready for school the next day.

Luckily y/n still had some dreamless sleep potion left. Her sleep was numb and calm.

------)OOO(------

Wow, Garnet, you finally uploaded a chapter and it wasn't even that long. I know this didn't have as high a word count as some of my other chapters but I really just wanted to get something out for you guys. Next chapter coming extremely soon, I promise!!

Have a great day loves 🖤

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