King's Cross stood before us in all of it's elegance as we loaded our trunks onto trolleys. The Ministry workers bid Mr Weasley goodbye, before we headed inside to get to the platform. A large clock overhead told us we only had ten minutes until the train departed.

"Go in pairs! We are late, like usual! Come on, let's go!" Mrs Weasley shouted.

That had been my fault. We'd gotten into the ministry cars and had already left when I'd realized I forgot something back at The Leaky Cauldron. I would have just left it, but it was my picture of my parents that I left by my bedside.

Mr Weasley and Harry went first, leaning casually against the barrier before falling through. I went next with Fred. I pushed him roughly through, strolling in right behind him. In seconds we were all on the platform.

"Ah, there's Penelope," Percy said, smoothing his hair and pushing his horn rimmed glasses further up his nose.

I couldn't contain my laughter as Percy puffed out his chest much like a pigeon did. He straightened his Head Boy badge (which he didn't notice Fred and George had changed to say 'Big Boy' now), and strutted, much like Corvus did, to Penelope.

"Harry, Lily, could I speak to you a moment?" Mr Weasley asked, ensuring that Mrs Weasley was busy fussing over Ginny.

We ducked behind a pillar as Mrs Weasley began tearfully hugging her children goodbye as they flocked onto the train. I watched as Sydney, Hermione, and Ron gave us a quick glance. I waved them off.

"You must be very scared-"

"We're not," Harry said quickly, offering a reassuring smile to Mr Weasley. "Really."

"Yeah," I actually chuckled slightly. "I mean, Black can't be worse than Voldemort."

Mr Weasley flinched at the name. "Look, I need you both to give me your word-"

"We'll both be good little students and stay in the castle," I said. "We haven't even our forms signed anyway."

"No, no. Promise me you wont go looking for Black. I know you both have a knack for trouble, and Lily I know you pride yourself on being quite the little detective-"

"Mr Weasley, this is quite different. We would never go looking for someone who wants to kill us. Especially the first ever man to escape Azkaban. I'm no Auror."

"Arthur!" Mrs Weasley screeched suddenly.

The train had begun to move, and Ron and Sydney had their heads sticking out the carriage doors. With speed gained during our spats with Dudley Dursley, Harry and I took off for the train, jumping in the doors. I saluted Mr Weasley, hoping he'd understand that I'd heeded his warning.

Harry whispered in Ron's ear about wanting to talk to them about Sirius Black. He glanced pointedly at Ginny.

"Go away, Ginny," Ron said.

Ginny rolled her eyes, muttering a sarcastic comment under her breath. She went off to find the other second years. Harry led us through the train. Finding no empty carriages, we decided on one that had a sleeping adult. I thought that strange, for I'd never seen any adults besides the old witch who pushed the trolley.

The mans face was turned away from us, pressed gently to the window. His tattered old robes were being held tight around him. His light brown hair was flecked with grey, the only indication to his age. He shivered violently.

"Who d'you reckon this is?" Ron said quietly, taking a seat opposite the man.

"Professor R.J. Lupin," Hermione said, looking up. I followed her gaze to the briefcase on the racks above us, clearly printed with the name. "Likely the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"Not necessarily. Not if the rumours about Kettleburn are true," I said, transfiguring my grey sweater into a blanket and carefully levitating it over the Professor. Ron raised an eyebrow. "He's obviously freezing, Ronald. I can be kind sometimes."

Ron rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything of the statement. "Doubt he's the Care of Magical Creatures professor. They're usually bigger. Got to handle their creatures."

"Oh, rubbish. I'm what? Five-two? I'd like nothing more than to work with beasts. I reckon I could handle myself with a lot of them already."

"Twenty sickles. D.A.D.A."

"Deal."

We settled in the compartment, Ron, Harry and Sydney on the bench opposite Lupin, and me stuck between Hermione and the Professor. After one last check to make sure that Lupin was indeed sleeping, we fell into quiet discussion about Black.

Harry and I told the three of Mr Weasley's urgent warning. Ron at some point had paled with fear, and Hermione's brown eyes were filled with a glazed nervousness. For once, I found I didn't want to change the conversation from Black to Quidditch. Although still unafraid, I was weary.

The now silent atmosphere was matched by the steady rain falling down the window. In fact, we were all feeling so dismal by now, that when the trolley rolled around, none of us were up for sweets- not even Ron. The steady silence was broken by a faint whistling. I furrowed my eyebrows, and watched as Ron reached into Harry's trunk.

The two sneakoscopes he'd gotten us were both lit up, spinning, and whistling quite loudly. Ron held them flat on his palm, and they spun furiously. The kneazle, who was watching from his wicker basket, eyed them furiously, hissing and spitting. Lupin shifted beside me.

"They'll wake him," Sydney hissed.

"Silencio," I said quickly, aiming my wand at the sneakoscopes. The compartment was tossed into silence again.

"Lily, that's a fifth year spell!" Hermione said as loud as she could without waking Lupin.

"I was petrified for five months, Mione. I attended a few classes."

Hermione was beaming with pride. The kneazle was still hissing and spitting from its basket, and I wanted nothing more than to silence it as well. Hermione had a different idea. She began to fumble with the straps holding the basket shut, and before either I or Ron could say anything, the thing was out.

"Crooshanks, no!" Hermione said, snatching the cat midair as it went for my head.

I already was on my feet with my wand at the ready. Kneazles didn't like me, and I could never figure out why. I grumbled and sat back down, but didn't pocket my wand. The half-beast settled on the bench on the opposite side of Hermione, his eyes darting between me and Ron's trembling pocket.

I pulled out my iPod and stuck my headphones in, blocking out the loud sound of the wind and rain pounding against the side of the train. Gradually it grew darker, and the lanterns flickered to life above the luggage racks. I was growing tired, and jerked only as I'd nearly leaned the wrong way onto the Professor. Hermione chuckled and guided me the opposite direction onto her own shoulder.

My eyes closed, but it was only a light sleep. I was still vaguely aware of my surroundings, and every once in a while Hermione's shoulder would shake with laughter. I figured she was talking with Harry, Sydney, and Ron. I opened my eyes and sat up only when the train began to slow.

"We there?" I mumbled, stuffing my iPod into my pocket. "How come none of you've changed?"

"We can't be there," Hermione said, glancing down at her watch. "It's too early."

The train jolted to a stop. My trunk slid off the rack, but still having been weary of the part-kneazle sitting not two feet away from me, I still had my wand out. Within a second I'd stopped the trunk, and levitated it back onto the rack. It was then that all the lights went out at once, tossing us into darkness.

"What's going on? Have we broken- ow! Ronald!" Sydney said loudly.

I saw the faint figure of Ron moving toward the window, and then wiping the film opaque condensation that covered it. The small circle in which the outdoors was barely visible did nothing to help light the compartment.

"There's something moving out there. I think people are coming aboard."

I heard the sound of the door sliding open. I gripped my wand even tighter, pointing it toward the door. I got ready to shoot a curse when I heard the sound of Neville and Ginny's voices. Moments later, Crookshanks hissed at something (that could have easily been me), followed by a few painful yelps.

"Oh for Salazar's sake," I said, waving my wand. "Lumos."

Ginny had appeared at the door, and Neville was lying face down on the ground. Harry pulled Neville up by the robes. Ginny took a seat, and finally, the sleeping Professor woke. When he stood up and the light in my hand illuminated his face, younger than I had expected, my heart contracted.

Standing before me now was a face all too familiar to me. I pushed down the feeling I'd felt begin to rise, casting my eyes to the door in order to focus on the situation at hand. The train had never stopped before, and for all we knew it could be Sirius Black getting on right now. The Professor took in the wand that I held.

"Here, take these," he said in a hoarse voice. "They're brighter, and your wand will be free."

So without a word I extinguished the light on the tip of my wand and accepted the flames being passed to me. My wand now clenched tightly in my opposite fist, ready for other uses. I stood up defensively.

The door slid open before he could reach it.

The dementor was worse than anything I could have ever read about. At it's horrid appearance, my grip of my wand tightened incredibly and suddenly, causing a jet of unknown effects to blast from the end and scorch the wall between Hermione's legs. I didn't turn to apologize.

My eyes were locked on the thing that should only be from nightmares. It towered over us all, making it even ore intimidating than it already was. Its face was nearly completely hidden by its hood, and I had to thank Merlin for this. The hand that it had used to slide open the compartment door however, was sticking out from under its cloak. I nearly lost my stomach at the sight of the grey hand, that looked like it had been slowly decomposing for hundreds of years. The dementor drew in a rattling breath, sensing, I knew, the fear that gripped the compartment.

All at once, things plummeted. An intense cold swept over the compartment; water bottles froze, Crookshanks whined, and the windows frosted. Harry's eyes began to roll back into his head. The happiness was sucked from the air, but I was left not with any sort of sadness. No, I'd trained myself to push that emotion away for good after the events of first year with Sadie Quirrell. Then there was the screaming- my mother's screaming, and my father's courageous shouts of defiance against the Dark Lord himself.

Run Lily! Take Harry!

You won't get my family.

Melody!

Suddenly, I longed for sadness, for what happened was worse. A blind and uncontrollable rage overtook me. I had no idea where it came from, and I couldn't stop it. Deep down, I was scared, and I was lost, and most of all I knew this wasn't right. Deep down I was trying to stop this. Closer to the surface, everything was red. My metamorphmagus powers showed that. My red hair was like flames, my red eyes seemed to be reflecting the fire. My wand was still in my hand, now a dangerous weapon rather than a defensive shield. I shut my hand around the flames that had been handed to me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Harry slide out of his seat, consciousness gone from his body. I didn't seem to want to do anything about it. I didn't even seem to care. Right now, I was wondering just how much damage I could do with the all powerful Salazar Slytherin's wand. I raised it at whoever happened to be closest. I opened my mouth to scream a spell, a curse, I thought.

I never got the chance to do it. The Professor had seen the strange effect the dementors had had on me. His own wand had been drawn from inside his robes, and taking his eyes off the dementor momentarily, aimed it right at my chest. I had little time to register the regret filling his soft green eyes.

"Stupefy."

I supposed, as I watched the spell fly at me, that this wasn't the introduction I'd imagined when I'd thought about meeting my godfather.

*

It seemed like only moments later that I was blinking awake on the floor of the compartment, head beside Harry's. I groaned, taking a minute to let my vision clear. When it did, I instantly registered the chocolate that was being waved in front of my face. I took it and sat up, experiencing yet another dizzy spell as I did so. I was only vaguely able to see Harry accepting a piece of chocolate identical to mine.

"Eat it. You'll feel better," said Moony, who had distributed the chocolate.

I was too in shock to do so. I held it between my fingers, not even noticing that it had began to melt in my hand. Dementors were supposed to suck happiness away, which they did quite effectively. I never once thought that maybe sadness was a very safe alternative to the anger I had just experienced. I glanced at my wand in my lap, filled with a sudden urge to turn it off and tuck it away, not to be seen again until the Black was caught and the dementors had flocked back to guarding Azkaban.

"What was that thing?" Harry asked.

"That- That was a dementor," I said, feeling the melting chocolate coat my fingers as I watched Lupin distribute some more to everyone else. "One of the not so pleasant guards of Azkaban. They feed on happiness, and bring upon everyone depression and despair. Even the atmosphere around them is physically cold."

Harry gave me an incredulous look. I managed to laugh.

"It's a non-being," I explained. "One of the very few of them. It's been debated for years whether or not they should be classified as beasts or simply remain classified non-beings. It's argued they can't be classified under beast because a beast, defined by the ministry, is 'a magical creature that does not have sufficient intelligence to understand the laws of the magical community'. Technically, dementors have the sentience to understand those laws. I read about it last year."

"Eat," Lupin reminded me, but I was shocked to see what looked like a sort of pride sparkle in his eyes for a moment.

With a strong sense of trust, I bit into the now soft chocolate. I hoped those dementors wouldn't be prowling the corridors of Hogwarts. Surely the ministry wouldn't allow that. Surely Dumbledore wouldn't allow that. Mr Weasley had mentioned that Dumbledore had a certain distaste for the things. Having them inside the castle would be worse than staying home for the year with the Dursleys. I'd rather have the basilisk prowling the corridors again.

I finished my chocolate just as Harry ate his all in one bite. Moony handed us each a new piece. I gratefully accepted. The chocolate was restoring warmth into my body, and the pounding in my head seemed to subside. It was only after Lupin handed me a third bit of chocolate that I dared stand. Without a word Lupin beckoned for me to follow him into the corridor.

"So you're Melody Lily Potter," he breathed, glancing into the eyes I knew he'd find familiar. "You look exactly like your mother, except your eyes."

"So I've heard. I have my father's eyes," I smiled. "Call me Lily."

"Lily," his breath seemed to catch. I felt quite sorry for him. "Lily, I have to tell you something. See, I was very good friends with your parents back in my Hogwarts days- especially James. We remained close after we graduated, during the dark times. When you were born-"

"My parents named you my godfather," I smiled still, glancing up into shocked pale green eyes. "You're Moony- at least, that's what I remember you as. Judging by your briefcase you're R.J. Lupin."

"Remus John Lupin, yes," Remus Lupin said, a calculating look in his eyes. "Your father called me Moony. How did you know?"

"I have an old album, but also... I remember," I said, glancing away from his eyes as to not see the sadness they were sure to hold. "I remember from that night. I remember calling your name."

"You remember?" he said.

I still didn't meet his eyes as I nodded. "Professor-"

"Lily, I'm your godfather. You need not call me Professor- except in classes of course. Call me Remus, or even Moony, if you'd like."

I smiled, this time glancing back up to sparkling eyes. "Remus, I can tell Harry?"

"Of course. He's your brother."

My heart was soaring. I'd finally found family. I'd found my godfather. His smile matched my own. The light in his eyes greatly contradicted the rest of his tired face.

"You could visit me after classes," Remus said suddenly. "That is, if you'd like."

"I'd really love that."

Remus smiled even wider, but turned to look down the train. "I must go speak to the conductor. I'll be back."

I nodded as he turned away. "Oh, hey, Remus?" I called. The professor turned back. "What're you teaching?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts."

I pouted. "I owe Ronald twenty sickles."

*

It wasn't long later before the train slowed to a stop in front of the platform. Changed into my school robes and with a chocolate bar in my pocket, I unloaded my trunk and exited the train. Remus was behind us, and before he caught his own carriage, he pulled Harry and I aside.

"There'll be more as we enter school grounds. Will you both be okay?"

I gulped. I felt uncontrollable and dangerous. Why did I have to read restricted dark magic books while I was petrified? Why did I have to attend fifth, sixth, and seventh year defence classes? Why had I read that book on unforgivables? I sincerely hoped I wasn't strong enough to cast them. Harry assured Moony he'd be alright, while I pulled my wand from my pocket.

"Off," I told it in Parseltongue, daring not to take any chances. Moony glanced at me strangely. "Long story. To summarise, this wand will not work until I tell it to."

"Ah," was all he said. "I'll have to remember to get that full story."

I only nodded. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Sydney, and I all set off to find a carriage to ourselves. We beat Bertram and his goonies to one. He sneered. I smirked, sending him a rude gesture with my fingers (to which Hermione gasped, and scolded me in a McGonagall-like way). I pat the thestral on the head once before we boarded.

The carriage ride was very quiet and uneventful. The dementors didn't get close enough to elicit anything more than a slight chill from us all. The sight of them hovering above the carriages, however, was quite eerie. I kept my eyes trained ahead of us on the castle. I was unsuccessful at keeping my eyes off the dementors, as the tall iron gate ahead of us was guarded by two of the cloaked figures. I felt my stomach lurch.

As we passed through the gates, I felt cold fall upon us again. I felt my frustration peaking, though it was nothing like what I'd experienced on the train. Passing through the gates, even the thestrals seemed to shrink under the dementors cold aura. I watched as Harry sunk low into his seat and closed his eyes until we'd entered Hogwarts grounds.

As we entered the grounds, the dementors were pushed to the back of my mind. Hogwarts, I was sure, would never cease to amaze me. I let my eyes travel over the magnificent castle, finding the Whomping Willow off in the distance. I basked for a moment, in the glory of Hogwarts, ready for the year that would surely be my best so far. I'd found my godfather, and I was sure that nothing could be worse than Tom Riddle and his basilisk. Maybe we'd finally have an uneventful year.

Finally the carriage pulled to a halt. Hermione and Sydney stepped down first. They were both crooning over the Kneazle that Hermione still held tight in her arms. The Kneazle seemed to eye me with loathing as Hermione stepped down. I thanked Merlin Hermione and I were in different houses and I didn't have to share a dorm with that thing. I'd probably have gone to sleep tonight and not woken tomorrow morning. Ron and I stepped down next, muttering about the stupid Kneazle and not so affectionately nicknaming it the Nasty Kneazle. Finally Harry stepped out, and immediately attracted the attention of our favourite Corvus Bertram.

"Potter!" He shouted, a smirk on his face. "Is it true what Longbottom says? That you actually fainted on the train?"

Neville, who had stepped off the carriage behind Bertram's, grew a hot crimson. He mouthed an apology, which I ignored. Harry's face grew red. Bertram seemed to be pleased with the reaction he was getting from Harry, as his smirk grew. I glared at Bertram, taking a dangerous step closer. His blue eyes narrowed in my direction. I held his glare.

"Shove off," I spat with a loathing that I reserved especially for him.

"Or what, Potter? Are you going to curse me like you almost did to your friends on the train? My, I am scared," he sneered.

I took a breath. The dementors, though not close enough to have any serious effect, were really shortening my temper. I closed my fist tight around my wand, though I knew full well it was off and unable to perform any magic. Bertram's eyes flickered down to the wand I held in my hand.

"Ah, the oh so dangerous Melody Potter. We'd better back away, fellas," Bertram snickered to his two goonies, "she may snap."

"It's Lily," I said, taking a step even closer. "And I asked you, Corvus, to shove off."

"How dare you call me that?" He hissed, getting ever closer.

Bertram was right when he told Crabbe and Goyle that I may snap. My hand released my wand and before I could even registered what I was doing I had punched Bertram right in his sneering face. Sometimes the muggle way was so much more satisfying than the magic way. Bertram recoiled, his face absolutely livid.

"Wait until I tell my father about this!"

"That's right, Corvus. Run back to your father, you great coward."

"A problem?" said the voice that I immediately identified as Moony.

I turned to find my godfather had stepped off the same carriage as Neville, and stood now behind Neville, Ginny, and a blonde Ravenclaw I recognized as Loony Lovegood. Bertram seemed very pleased to find a Professor had witnessed out dispute.

"Oh, Professor," he practically whined, growing a smirk that revealed itself only in his eyes as he took in the shabby robes that Remus wore. "Potter struck me! Right here, see?"

Indeed Bertram was bleeding from his nose. I didn't feel an ounce of regret. I'd earned myself a detention upon my first day last year, and the year before that, so why not make it a tradition? Remus hadn't an ounce of emotion on his scarred face. He simply waved his wand to fix Bertram's nose.

"Right, off you are, Mr Bertram. Miss Potter, I'm afraid you've earned yourself a detention within the first hour of arriving at Hogwarts," Remus said. His green eyes were sparkling with what could possibly amusement.

I glanced at Sydney. "Three for three!"

What I'd said was apparently not as quiet as I'd thought. Bertram didn't seem to care for how happy I was in the given situation. He scowled and stalked off into the castle. Sydney began to laugh quite loudly, Ron and Harry both let out a chuckle as well, while Hermione tutted disapprovingly.

"What've you earned detentions for again?" Ron grinned. "Last year it was for crashing into the Whomping Willow, but what was it first year?"

"I got in a fight with Theodore," I shrugged, remembering the time when Theo and I loathed each other worse than Bertram and I did now.

"Oh yeah! Blimey, you two hated each other for the first few months of first year!" Ron said.

I shrugged again. "Speaking of Theo, though, I would like to go and see how he and Draco are. They've been stuck at the manor with Corvus all summer. I'd've killed someone by now."

Ron chuckled. "Let's go then."

I turned to Remus, who still stood behind us. "See you later on, er... Professor."

My eyes darted from Remus to Ron, Sydney, and Hermione. He seemed to understand, as did Harry, for Remus only smiled and very politely bid us goodbye. I wanted, for now at least, for my godfather to be a bit of a secret. It was all still very new even to me, after all. When it was only my eyes still on him, he winked and waved goodbye.

I was ready to skip off to the Great Hall and watch the sorting (or as Sydney and I had been calling it, survey the new prank victim pool), when a voice called. I was tempted to ignore it, if it hadn't called my name twice. I stopped dead in my tracks and turned around.

"Potter! Potter!" It paused, and when I had made to walk away, it called again. "Yes, that means you too, Lily."

I groaned and turned around, coming face to face with Professor McGonagall. I sighed. She looked stern as she always did. What on earth could I have done wrong this time? Maybe Bertram wasn't pleased enough with how I took news of my detention and went to McGonagall as well as Lupin.

"No need to look so downcast, Miss Potter," Minnie smiled. "I only intend to have a word with you, Miss Granger, and Mr Potter."

Harry and Hermione shifted upon the mention of their names. Sydney and Ron, looking a little left out, decided to head on to the Great Hall. They bid Professor McGonagall goodnight, but before leaving, Sydney whispered in my ear.

"I'll even take down the new Hufflepuff's names for you. Don't worry."

McGonagall seemed to have heard what Sydney said, as she bristled. "So you two have no intention of taking it down a notch as you mature?"

"Maturing? Please, Minnie. I think as we grow ever more experienced, our pranks simply become more intricate," I said with a small bow.

"You are evermore like your father," McGonagall sighed. "Goodnight, Mr Weasley. Miss Marshall, I await your first detention that will undoubtedly be soon."

"Bet on it!" Sydney said, before taking off with Ron to the Great Hall.

Harry, Hermione, and I followed Minnie through the corridors of Hogwarts. She led us into her office, beckoning for Harry to shut the door behind us. He did so, and I settled myself on the floor in front of the fire, as I did often when in McGonagall's office (which was more often than I cared to admit).

"Professor Lupin sent an owl to say you had taken ill on the train, Mr Potter," Minnie started.

Harry's face had gone red in an instant. It didn't help that, only moments later, Madam Pomfrey burst in the door and began to fuss over Harry. He grew even redder, and rather than come to his aid as I had when Bertram had taunted, I snickered loudly. Harry's glare settled on me quick, which only made me snicker more.

"I'm fine," Harry insisted, trying to push the matron off him.

"I expect you've been doing something dangerous again? Your sister seems to have kept herself unharmed for once- not that she ever lets me help her anyway," Madam Pomfrey seemed to be muttering to herself more than Harry now.

"It was a dementor, Poppy," McGonagall said.

Madam Pomfrey didn't seem to like that answer, for she clicked her tongue and began to fuss more, muttering to herself all the while. Harry had stopped fighting, but I was sure if his face grew any redder, his head would explode.

"Does he need bedrest?" Minnie asked, watching the commotion. "Perhaps-"

"I'm fine!" Harry snapped, apparently not liking the thought of spending the night in the hospital wing. "Professor Lupin gave me some chocolate already!"

"Did he now?" Madam Pomfrey seemed pleased for the first time tonight. "So we've finally got a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies. But of course Remus knows his remedies. He was such a brilliant boy."

After finishing fussing over Harry, and not even bothering to come near me, for I would have refused treatment regardless, Madam Pomfrey bid goodnight to Minnie, and was off. Once the door clicked behind her, Minnie turned back to us.

"That is all, Mr Potter. I only need a word with Ms Granger and your sister."

Harry didn't even speak as he stepped into the hall.

I'll let you know afterward, I promised. No secrets: our pact from three years ago.

Holding you to it.

I managed to keep my grin to myself as Professor McGonagall rummaged through her desk drawer, before retrieving what looked like two golden necklaces. Upon further inspection I noticed, however, that they were no ordinary necklaces, but time turners. My jaw dropped as McGonagall offered one to me.

"I expect you know what these are then?" McGonagall chuckled, taking in our expressions, which were identical.

"Yes, Professor," Hermione said, admiring it carefully. "Is this for our extra classes?"

Minnie nodded. I only barely listened as she explained the rules, dangers, and the like. I put the chain around my neck and tucked it under my robes, zoning out as I basked in the warmth radiating from the fire behind me. Soon enough, Hermione was ushered out, and I was told to stay behind still. I told Hermione to take Harry down to the Great Hall. When the door clicked for a third time, Minnie's full attention was on me.

"I hear the dementors had a very strange effect on you in particular, Lily," Minnie said, settling into an armchair by the fire, making this conversation seem very causal, rather than us sitting across her desk from each other.

I nodded, remembering the intense anger that had swept over me. I was ashamed that I'd let such a thing happen, and was terrified of it happening again. In fact, just thinking about it I began to feel my frustration start to rise. I took a breath before I trusted myself to speak in a level voice.

"I'd never been so angry, Minnie," I admitted shamefully. "I didn't care about anyone in that carriage. I threatened to curse my friends, I cared nothing about Harry passing out, my own godfather had to stun me."

"An interesting way to first meet your Godfather."

"I'm not so good with first impressions. I'm pretty sure the first memorable moment you must have of me is when I fought Theodore back before the sorting."

"Ah, yes. I am quite grateful those days are over."

I chuckled, glancing up at Minnie. She gave me a minute to collect my thoughts. I glanced out the window at the dementors that I could see hovering high above the grounds of Hogwarts. I shivered at the mere thought of being near one.

"Do you know why you reacted so differently to the dementors?" McGonagall asked.

I didn't look at Minnie even when she spoke. I knew exactly why the dementors had such a different effect on me, but I really didn't want to talk about it. I pulled my wand from my pocket, sticking to examining that instead as I spoke.

"I don't like feeling upset. After Sadie in first year, and then last year with the memories of my mum and dad, I trained myself to push sadness away for good. I managed, learning to substitute it for anger. I didn't realize just how dangerous that could be."

"You'll have to speak to the headmaster as well. He's left the opening feast and requested you visit him in his office. You wont miss the feast, though. Don't worry."

"I expected," I said, glancing up at Minnie again. "But would you mind..."

"Of course I'll accompany you. You may not be a Gryffindor, Lily, but you are, as Severus would say, one of my cubs."

I grinned and stood up. I immediately missed the warmth, but exited Minnie's office anyway. Together, she and I made for Dumbledore's office. It was a quiet walk to the stone gargoyle, and I was quite nervous. What it Professor Dumbledore deemed I was too dangerous around the dementors and sent me home?

Minnie told the gaygoyle Dumbledore's candy of the week, and it leapt aside to give it access to the staircase behind it. I tread slowly, keeping my eyes trained on my grey sneakers as we climbed. Minnie was the one to knock on the door when we arrived. Dumbledore's voice granted us entry almost immediately.

I stepped into the twinkling room first. I'd always liked Dumbledore's office, even though I was rarely there for any good reason. It was nowhere near as homey as Minnie's office was, but the trinkets and gadgets never ceased to amaze me. I ran my eyes over the shelves of restricted books, many of which I ready while petrified the year previous.

"Ah, Lily. Good evening," Dumbledore said. "How are you today?"

"I'm quite well, Professor," I said very politely, still terrified of the prospect of being kicked out of Hogwarts. "Yourself?"

"Lovely. I expect you want to make this quick and head down to the feast?"

"That would be wonderful, headmaster."

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Minnie had quirked an eyebrow. I decided to ignore it, and turned back to the white haired wizard. Dumbledore peered at me over his half moon glasses, as if inspecting me for a moment.

"Now, I hear the dementors had a very strange effect on you."

"Yes, sir. Instead of evoking sadness, they evoked anger. I've trained myself to push sadness away, I hated it. I apologize. I didn't realize that it could be so dangerous."

"That is quite alright Miss Potter. I have asked you to come here simply to warn you to be careful. I expect your godfather will help you."

I couldn't help but grin widely at the thought of my godfather, who sat down in the Great Hall at this very moment. I still couldn't believe I'd finally met the Moony I remembered from my childhood. Even Harry, who had yet to meet Padfoot, was overjoyed.

"Yes, sir."

"That is all, unless you have any concerns."

"No, sir."

"Well that will be all then. Oh, and Lily? How is your aunt doing?"

"Not sure, sir," I admitted, having not seen Petunia and her family in over a year now. "I stayed with the Weasley family this summer."

If I wasn't mistaken, Dumbledore's eyes flashed very darkly a moment. I recoiled in shock slightly, taking a step closer to McGonagall. She looked very surprised as well. If I hadn't imagined it, Dumbledore was quick to cover it up. He smiled again.

"Ah, I see. Now you must be starved. You may head on down to the feast; as may you, Minerva."

Minnie and I both bid Professor Dumbledore goodnight, before heading down the spiralling staircase toward the Great Hall. McGonagall, though my Professor, felt quite like a mother to me a lot of the time, just as Mrs Weasley did. She bid me goodnight as we neared the Great Hall doors, patting me affectionately on the shoulder. I smiled.

"I await your class, Minnie."

I entered the Great Hall behind McGonagall, immediately going my separate way to the Slytherin table. I glanced up at the head table, very surprised to find that Dumbledore was already there. I thought nothing of it as I sat between Sydney and Theodore, who were not speaking due to the large amounts of mashed potato they both had in their mouths. I didn't even have time to laugh at them before I realized how hungry I was, and began piling very large portions of food onto my plate. As I was eating, I found myself repeatedly glancing up at the head table at my godfather, the pits of my stomach filling with a happiness I'd never felt before. That mood was ruined, after desert, when Dumbledore rose to speak.

"Welcome first years, and welcome back all you returning to our midst," Dumbledore said, opening his arms to us all. "I have many things to say to you all, and I will start with something very serious.

"As you will have gathered after the search of the train, Hogwarts this year will be host to Azkaban's dementors. They are here on Ministry business."

Everyone knew immediately that the dementors were looking for none other than Sirius Black. As foul as the creatures were, they were definitely the ones to set out to look for the 'notorious mass murderer'. I wouldn't have been surprised if they found Black died of fear at being hunted by the things.

"The dementors are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must ask that you do not leave the grounds without permission. Dementors cannot be fooled by tricks or disguises, or even invisibility cloaks," Dumbledore continued. At this, I caught Harry's gaze across the Ravenclaw table. "It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand the nature of excuses. Give them no reason to harm you."

I was sure no one would want to give the dementors any reason to give you so much as a second glance. They were the foulest creatures I'd ever encountered, having already encountered a basilisk, Voldemort himself, and an acromantula (technically, I suppose, I wasn't really at this one).

"On a happier note," Dumbledore said finally, "we are welcoming some new teachers to our midst this year. First we welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin."

I was sure Harry and I clapped loudest of all. Aside from those that had been in the compartment with us, the applause was rather unenthusiastic. Remus seemed not to notice, for he smiled at the students, before taking his seat beside Professor Sinestra once again.

"Lily, check out the glare Snape's got on his face this time," Sydney muttered in my ear.

Snape was indeed giving Remus a glare full not of anger or distaste, but pure loathing. The respect that I had been gaining for Snape began to trickle away slowly. It was quite disappointing, really. It was nice to finally be on good terms with my head of house.

I should have expected Snape would have reacted like this, though. Snape had told me back in first year that he hadn't liked my father. The word he'd used was enemies. If Snape didn't like my father, surely he wouldn't have been too friendly with one of my father's best friends either. I frowned to myself.

"Second, as you all may have heard, Professor Kettleburn has retired," Dumbledore said, making me notice for the first time the absence of the few limbed professor. The rumour was true then. I'd owl Charlie about it later. I'd promised to let him know if it were true or not. Professor Kettleburn had been Charlie's favourite teacher at Hogwarts. "However, I am pleased to inform you all that his place will be filled by Rubeus Hagrid."

I shared an excited glance with Sydney. Hagrid was probably overjoyed to have been allowed to become the professor of the class. Hagrid loved his magical creatures more than anything, and knew more about them than anyone I had ever met. I was surprised, though, that Hagrid was qualified to fill the position. He had been expelled from Hogwarts during his third year.

"That is all of importance, I believe! Goodnight, and may you have another wonderful year at Hogwarts!"

I fought my way over to the Gryffindor table to say goodnight to Harry and the Weasleys before Sydney and I headed to the dungeons. It was a quick journey through the corridors and to the common room, where we got the password from a prefect. We went up to our dorm immediately, already exhausted. I collapsed in my four poster, glancing once out the window at the giant squid before falling asleep.

It was good to finally be home.