"Why do you always need to be like this?" Hermione groaned.

"Its not my fault, you're the one that got a cat." Ron pointed.

"Crookshanks doesn't even like rats."

"I've seen the way he looks at Scabbers!"

"Scabbers is vermin." Hermione pointed.

"What have I missed?" Harry chuckled as he walked downstairs.

"Nothing much, just them fighting like an old married couple." Erica sighed,"I'm sick of it."

"They act like it most of the time." Harry sat down,"When did you all get here?"

"A while ago, Parker got here after us."

"She's probably still sleeping." Ron muttered.

"Ron." Erica nudged him.

"What? She sleeps a lot."

"And you eat a lot."

"I'm a growing boy."

"You're tall enough." Erica shrugged.

Ron rolled his eyes and sat down.

"Morning- Oh hi Harry." Parker waved.

"Hey Parker." Harry waved back,"What are you doing here?"

"I just came early, didn't want to travel with Draco and my parents." Parker shrugged

"That's undertsandable."

"How was Egypt?" Parker smiled to Erica.

"Oh, it was good." Erica smiled, handing her a small pouch,"I got you this."

"You got me something?" Parker took the pouch and opened it.

"Mhm, do you like it?"

"I love it. I'll add it to my collection." Parker hummed.

"Yay! I spent a lot of time doing yours.' Erica smiled.

"Spent three hours straight, not to mention her trying to pick the best rock. I don't know how she does it." Ron sighed.

"Rocks are great." Parker nodded to Ron.

"But they all looked the same."

"They were different!"

"They're different to her." Parker assured him.

Ron sighed and nodded, he understood.

"Regardless, I love it." Parker put the rock in her pocket.

"I'm glad!" Erica smiled.

"Hey, what have missed?" Ron pointed to the Wanted picture of a man.

"Oh, that's Sirius Black. Haven't you heard? He escaped from Azkaban." Hermione shook her head.

"I've been in Egypt, 'Mione." Ron pointed out.

"It was fairly recent, Ronald. Hang on... Black, that's your family." Hermione pointed at Parker.

"Honestly if doesn't surprise me now." Parker looked at the man, tilting her head.

"Looks pretty angry, maybe he needs some chocolate." Erica hummed.

"Chocolate helps everyone." Harry agreed.

"See? Someone gets it." Erica smiled.

"Hello everyone." Molly walked over.

"Hi mum.' Ron nodded to her.

"Everyone got everything? Train leaves soon." Molly clapped.

"Oh- Right. Let's go." Harry zipped up his hoodie.

"I swear you wear that hoodie all the time." Parker chuckled.

"Its my favourite... And the only one I have."

"It seems cozy." Parker shrugged.

"It is." Harry nodded.

"Right. Onwards to the train." Parker pointed.

"To the train!" Erica cheered.

*********************************

"This is the only compartment I can find." Hermione sat down in the compartment, it had an older man sleeping in it.

"Shh, he's sleeping." Erica whispered as she sat down.

"Who is he?" Ron muttered.

"Professor R.J Lupin." Hermione answered.

"Alright, Miss Know It All." Ron scoffed.

"It says on his suitcase, Ron." Hermione pointed.

"Maybe he's the new DADA teacher." Parker suggested.

"Ooh, thats cool." Erica smiled.

"So Harry, how was your summer?" Parker leaned forward to him.

"Oh- It was fine, I suppose." Harry nodded.

"You told me you blew up your Aunt Marge." Ron nudged him.

"And then I said wasn't going to mention it again." Harry nudged him back.

"You never heard anything." Harry nodded.

"Well for one, I like your new hair, Erica." Hermione smiled.

"Thanks!" Erica smiled,"I've been trying to grow it out."

"It suits you." Parker ran her hands through it.

Erica giggled,"I try my best."

"Good." Parker hugged Erica's arm as the train came to a sudden stop.

"What's going on?" Ron looked around, confused.

"We can't be at Hogwarts that quick." Hermione opened up the compartment door.

That's when the lights turned off and the windows began to freeze.

"Fuck, it's cold." Parker shivered, the Herd could see their own breath with how cold it had gotten.

"Mione, shut the door." Harry shook his head.

Hermione looked back as she closed and locked the door,"What's going on?"

"I'm scared.." Erica began to fidget.

"Hey, everything's gonna be okay." Parker took Erica's hand in hers.

Erica eyed the door nervously as she squeezed Parker's hand. As they looked out to the corridor window, they saw a... Thing with a cloak wandering the hall, opening the door as it peered in.

"Can we panic now..?" Ron asked quietly.

The creature leaned forward before it began sucking the life out of Harry.

"Not normal!" Parker jumped up.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Erica covered her eyes.

That's when Professor Lupin shot up, firing a spell at the creature. The creature disappeared, Harry falling to the ground.

"Harry!" Hermione shook him.

"Are you dead?" Erica grabbed his arm.

"He's very much alive, children." Lupin assured them as he put his wand away.

"Good." Erica crossed her arms.

"Wh- What was that thing?" Ron shook.

"That. That was a dementor." Lupin answered,"Horrible creature, they use them to guard Azkaban Prison."

"So why was the dementor on the train?" Ron sighed.

"My guess? Probably looking for my cousin... I think. My family tree is weird." Parker held her head.

Lupin stood up and bent down near Harry as he woke up.

"Morning starshine." Hermione joked.

"Here, have some chocolate. It'll make you feel better." Lupin helped Harry up, hanging him a piece of chocolate.

"What- what happened?" Harry looked around.

"A dementor tried to give you your first kiss." Ron shrugged.

"It sucked your face." Erica nodded.

"Oh, how lovely." Harry sighed,"But who was screaming? I heard a woman screaming."

"I never heard a woman screaming?" Parker looked at the others.

"Nobody was screaming Harry." Hermione told him.

"It's like the whispers all over again. He's a little crazy." Ron whispered to Lupin.

"Ron, Harry is not crazy." Erica pointed.

"I mean, he is a little." Ron shrugged.

"I'm going to go talk to the conductor, let them know the problem is dealt with." Lupin chuckled and walked out.

"That- Harry, you need to stop nearly dying." Erica sighed.

"That one wasn't even my fault." Harry gasped.

"No, but I will find a way to blame you for it."

"Of course you will, Er." Harry nodded.

"You shouldn't have such a nice looking soul." Erica pointed.

"It really shines out, makes you glow." Parker smiled.

"And attracts demons in cloaks." Ron sighed.

"Just what we need." Hermione sat back down.

"Well, I'm sure its a one off. They can't have those spooky things at Hogwarts." Erica shook her head.

"Right? They can't have them there- Right?" Ron looked at everyone.

"You never know with this school." Hermione sighed.

"So now we have those evil sucker things and a mass murderer on the loose? Great." Parker clapped,"Anyone up for chocolate Frogs?"

"Ooh, me!" Erica smiled.

*********************************

Finally, they had arrived to the Castle. Everyone was at their tables while Dumbledore gave his annual speech.

"As you all may have seen, the Ministry of Magic has sent an army of dementors to search around the school for Sirius Black." Dumbledore announced,"For those who are new here... Happiness can be found even at the darkest of times. As long as you remember to turn on the light."

"That's quite comforting." Erica nodded.

"So Erica... Love the hair." Hannah turned to her.

"You do?" Erica raised a brow.

"Oh yeah, it's so... So weirdly cut." Hannah 'smiled.'

"I expected nothing less." She mumbled.

"Maybe I can style it for you." Hannah hummed.

"I think I'm okay, thanks." Erica shook her head.

"She's already got a stylist." Parker walked up.

"Yeah, Parker helps with my hair." Erica pointed.

"Come on Erica, we're going over to the others." Parker held her hand.

"Oh, okay." Erica smiled and got up.

The girls walked over and sat down beside their friends.

"Psst! Potter!" Draco whispered.

Harry rolled his eyes and turned around,"What?"

"Is it true you fainted?" Draco smirked and mocked him,"You actually fainted?"

Erica turned him around,"Shut up, Malfoy."

"Oh Weasley, how was Egypt? Heard it wasn't as upclassed as my holiday." Draco shrugged.

"Egypt was lovely, thanks for asking." Erica smiled.

"He finds joy in people's misery." Parker glared,"Why do you think I was at the Broomsticks?"

"He's a real piece of work." Ron rolled his eyes.

"Draco, how's your hair?" Parker smirked.

Draco narrowed his eyes,"Shut up, Parker."

"What happened to his hair?" Hermione turned.

"What? I thought you liked pink." Parker hummed.

"You know full well I do not." Draco pointed.

"It's your favourite colour!"

"My favourute colour is green!"

"It's pink." Parker nodded to her friends.

Parker had put hair dye in Draco's shampoo before she left for the Three Broomsticks. It was her way of payback for the holiday.

It was mostly normal now but he did still have traces of a light strawberry colouration.

"What did you do to his hair?" Ron leaned forward.

"I put dye in his shampoo."

"Pink hairdye." Erica smirked.

"He should really check it every now and again." Parker sighed.

"I think he'd suit bright red." Ron commented.

"Good idea." Parker pointed,"I'II keep it in mind."

"Ooh, I can picture it now." Erica smiled.

"Fourth year, I'll do it." Parker told them.

"Keep going the way you are and there will be more holidays." Draco warned.

Parker shifted,"Ooh, chicken." She leaned over.

"I'm not chicken, I'm just saying." Draco shrugged.

Parker waved him away and grabbed a cupcake. Erica grabbed a cookie and began eating it.

"So Parker, where did you go on holiday?" Hermione turned.

"I uh... They went to Paris." Parker nodded.

"They went?" Erica raised a brow,"Did they..?"

"I had my own fun." Parker shrugged.

"Aw, Parker." Erica hugged her.

Parker hugged Erica,"I made strawberry puffs... With Blaise."

Erica gasped dramatically and let go,"Blaise?"

"You were in Egypt!"

"But Blaise?"

"He's also my friend."

Erica crossed her arms and looked away.

"But you're my bestest friend." Parker smiled.

"Obviously."

"Love you." Parker tilted her head.

"I love you more." Erica poked her.

Parker poked her back and handed her a cupcake,"An offering."

"Accepted." Erica took the cupcake.

"It's really a hand in marriage." Parker laughed.

"I can't marry you." Erica shook her head,"My heart belongs to another."

"No!" Parker gasped.

"Yes!"

"I will fight them."

"No! You can't fight him!"

"For our love, I shall." Parker held her hand over her heart.

"Parker no!" Erica shook her head.

"Parker yes!"

"I'm sorry, what's going on?" Ron asked.

"You're a boy." Parker waved her hand.

Ron shook his head,"Whatever."

Parker looked at Erica before she just let out a laugh. Erica smiled and shook her head.

"People probably think we're so weird." Parker leaned her head on Erica.

"We are weird, though." Erica poked her.

"Very peculiar children." Parkrr smiled.

"Spooky."

"But it's a good weird." Hermione pointed out.

"It is." Harry agreed.

"We're all a bit weird. I mean, Harry does that thing when he-" Ron began.

"Right, that's enough." Harry covered Ron's mouth.

"Or that time-" Ron spoke through muffles.

"Shh, zip it."

Everyone looked at each other before they just burst out laughing.

*********************************

Erica hummed as she walked through the passageway, she was going to set Draco's sheets on fire. Why? He made fun of Harry and Parker.

That's when as she was passing the girls dormitory she saw a figure with black hair going down to their shoulders. They were peeking through one of the paintings.

It couldn't be one of her brothers so who..?

"Excuse me?" Erica stopped walking.

The man stood up straight,"Yes?"

"What are you doing?" Erica asked him,"Why are you watching the girls in bed?"

"I'm... I'm making sure a friend is okay." He answered,"Why are you sneaking in the passageways?"

"Oh, someone was rude to my friend so I came to set his sheets on fire." Erica shrugged.

"You what?" The man chuckled.

"I came to set his sheets on fire." Erica repeated.

"So you're a pyromaniac?" The man turned to her.

Erica couldn't make out a face because of the darkness in the hall.

"I wouldn't say I'm that bad, its not like I have urges to set fires for no good reason." Erica crossed her arms.

"This is a good reason if he was rude to your friends." He shrugged.

"Yeah, he was ride to them and I need to make sure he knows his place." Erica pointed.

"You're a good friend... What's your name?"

"I'm Maria. What about yourself?"

"Padfoot." He put his hand out.

"Strange name." She nodded but shook his hand. He had cold hands.

"More of a nickname. You see, I'm not meant to be here so I'm in top secret hiding mode." Padfoot explained.

"I can tell, you're hiding in the passageways."

Padfoot chuckled,"Don't tell anyone I'm here, okay?"

"Of course." Erica smiled.

"Have fun setting fires, Maria." Padfoot hummed.

"I will." Erica nodded before continuing to the boys dorm and hopping through the portrait.

Padfoot waved and backed up, walking to another passageway.

There he was. Draco was sleeping with his mouth open, drool falling from it. He shared a room with Crabbe, Goyle and Blaise.

"He looks so ugly when he sleeps." Erica commented before turning to Blaise,"And he doesn't look much better."

Blaise turned and opened his eyes slightly, "Erica?"

"Shh." Erica whispered,"I'm here to commit crimes against Draco, you're safe this time."

"This time- How the fuck did you get in here?"

"The wall." Erica pointed before taking her wand out.

"I'm just- I'm closing my eyes." Blaise covered his head with the pillow.

"Night night." Erica aimed her wand at Draco's sheets,"Inflamato."

After about a minute, Draco woke up and screamed, jumping out of bed.

"Oh- I was meant to- Bye!" Erica hurried out of the Porta and closed it behind her.

"Nice one, kid." Padfoot laughed

"Thanks!" Erica smiled up at him.

"I used to do things like that at your age."

"It's fun, right?"

"It was."

Erica looked around and sighed,"I guess I should head to bed now."

"It is quite late, got lessons to do tomorrow." He tapped his wrist.

"I know." Erica nodded,"Bye Padfoot."

"Bye Maria."

Erica gave him one last smile before running off.