Summer break flew by fast, with my internship it was hard to hang out with anyone other than Vincent, Katya, and Oliver. Oliver seemed, however annoying he was, to be growing on me. Sometimes when Katya left us alone it was like the most natural thing in the world. Whether we were talking, bickering, or simply sitting in comfortable silence, there was always an air of pleasure in the room.

Vincent invited me over to his flat a couple of times, and though it has not gone any further than making out, it came close multiple times. Vincent and I were getting more touchy the longer we were together, and I knew soon enough we would both want more. I stalled for this time to occur trying to enjoy the somewhat wholesome relations we held so far.

He and I stood on the platform 9 3/4 when it was time for me to go back to Hogwarts, and a feeling of dread was growing. There was news of an Azkaban breakout, and for some reason, this also warranted Dumbledore to station dementors all around Hogwarts. Quidditch season was promised to remain uninterrupted, but that didn't make me any less nervous. I was determined to kick Oliver's ass on the field this year.

"Your last year and you'll be all mine once you're done." Vincent purred, placing a kiss on my neck as we hugged.

"Indeed." I smiled, "When I'm out in a year."

Excusing myself, I got onto the train with my usual group of June, Sarah, Lori, but Elio was no longer there to join us. We found a train compartment for the four of us near the very end of the train, avoiding the one with a man sleeping soundly inside it. Sarah was quick to leave for her head girl duties, leaving just the three of us in our compartment.

"It's quite sad that Elio isn't here with me." Lori sighed, "Not to mention that, but I can't even stare at Lockhart anymore."

"Oh please," Groaned June, "He was a pompous and arrogant fraud."

"And a cute one at that." Lori giggled. "There's a reason he won witch weekly's best smile award."

"If you like him so much, go visit him at St Mungo's." June shrugged, opening up a book.

"Alas, I have Elio." She sighed wistfully. "If not..."

"With all due respect, I'm going to cut that thought short." I snorted. "Besides, you don't know if the new DADA teacher will be so unattractive either."

"You're so right!" Lori's eyes lit up. "The new DADA teacher might be rugged and handsome."

"Whatever, both of you have a pathetic dating situation, while I on the other hand have a girlfriend who happens to occupy personal head girl living quarters." June beamed proudly at us.

"I have my own room too you know," Lori answered coolly.

"But you didn't earn it like Sarah." June scowled.

"Alright, that's enough from the both of you." I chuckled. "I don't want to be breaking up a fistfight by the end of this train ride."

Our attention was quickly drawn away from the bickering when the compartment door slid open.

"Can I seet 'ere?" A tall girl's head popped in.

"Oh, yeah sure," I said cheerily.

The girl slid into a seat next to Lori and I was astonished at how I could not recognize her from anywhere. She was one of the most beautiful girls at Hogwarts no doubt, and her short black hair lay neatly in tight curls. Her dark skin showed no sign of pores or acne. Her full lips were covered in pretty red lipstick, and her cheeks were lightly in a rouge blush. She had a sort of glow around her that was indescribable.

"You see, am from Beauxbatons." She smiled pleasantly, revealing a row of perfect white teeth. "I am an, 'ow you say? Étudiante transféréé."

"Transfer student?" Lori offered.

"Ouí, yes!" She clapped her hands delightfully. "My maman 'as moved to London, so she transferred me 'ere."

"What's your name?" I asked, my attention now wholly on this new transfer student.

"Am Liane Amelie De Rose." She said elegantly.

"Ah well, lovely to meet you, Liane, my name is Y/n Stone, and that's Lori Campbell and June Lee," I said, pointing to my friends. "There's also Sarah Frank, but she's a head girl and so isn't in the compartment with us."

"I was asked by Dumblydorr to come and get sorted over the summer." She said, pulling a Ravenclaw robe out of her bag.

"I was sorted in ehhhh..." She sat with her neat eyebrows knitted together for a moment.

"That's Ravenclaw robes," June said, beaming.

"Ouí! Zat is my 'ouse!" Liane exclaimed

"Well Liane, you're in luck, both Y/n and myself are in that house as well." June grinned, "Lori is a Slytherin and Sarah is Hufflepuff. "

Liane started laughing, her laugh so perfect it sounded that my brain associated with flowers.

"What's so funny?" June asked, confused.

"Ehm, eet is Hufleepouf, " She continued to giggle, "Eet is such a funny name for a 'ouse"

"She's kind of right." Lori stifled a laugh.

"Hey, guys I'm back!" The compartment door slid open again, and this time it was Sarah, standing proudly in the doorway with her Head Girl pin glimmering on her blouse.

"O, you must be Sarah!" Liane smiled.

"Yes, do I know you?" Sarah said warmly, sitting down next to June.

"Non," She shook her head, "I am 'ow you say, étudiante transféréé from Beauxbatons."

"Transfer student." Lori reminded her again. "She's a Ravenclaw like June and Y/n."

"Oui!" Liane giggled. "Je m'appelle, ehm, I mean my name ees Liane!"

"Nice to meet you, Liane." Sarah bowed her head, "I've got a sneaky feeling we'll become great friends."

"Oo, me too!" Liane reached into her bag again and produced a small box with some pretty pastries. "Would you like some Rose des sables?"

"What are those?" June squinted her eyes and looked at them.

"Ah, zey are my favourite pâtisseries! Ehm, pastries. Maman makes zem very good!" She explained, handing June one. "Eet eez like corn flakes in chocolat."

"Sounds pretty good, can you give me one as well?" Lori piped up.

"Me as well please." I snickered, stretching out my palm.

"I've never tried one," Sarah said thoughtfully, "Could I have one as well?"

"Yes of course!" Liane beamed, handing us all a small chocolate rose.

"To our new friend!" I raised my rose in the air as in a toast.

"To our new friend!" June, Sarah, and Lori raised theirs as well, and we all took our respective bites at the same time.

"This is quite delicious Liane," I said with my mouth full. "Thank you."

"That again" June interrupted my foodgasm with her pointed question for Sarah, who already had the daily prophet open on her lap. "You have got to stop worrying about him."

"Ow terrible!" Liane exclaimed. "I saw zat man on ze news, say he broke out of azkaban! Ow is that even possible?"

"I heard Sirius Black went to Azkaban for murdering a bunch of people and then exposing the Potter's whereabouts to he who shall not be named," I said. "They're stationing a bunch of dementors all around Hogwarts this year. I hope they don't mess up quidditch."

"Honestly they're making a big deal of it, what would Sirius Black want at Hogwarts?" June rolled her eyes.

"It's still good to keep a lookout." Sarah shrugged.

"I'm inclined to side with June on this, but I do think better safe than sorry." Lori nodded. "Oh, how I wish Elio was here."

"Did Elio die?" Liane tilted her hair to the side with a concerned look on her face.

"Oh heavens no!" Lori started to laugh, wiping a tear. "He just graduated last year."

"Oh thank goodness." Liane started to laugh as well.

The rain thickened as the train sped yet farther north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering gray, which gradually darkened until lanterns flickered into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. Playful banter continued amongst us, where we included Liane on our plans to poly juice a bunch of fifth years, and she told us about herself.

Liane was a half-blood witch who's father had died in the Wizarding war when she was very little, so she was raised by her single mother that happened to be a pureblood. She grew up in the village of Mostieurs Sainte-Marie, which she described as the most beautiful place on earth. She was a nice person and seemed to have a good sense of humour as well as a sort of bluntness that was hilarious at times.

Suddenly the train started to slow down.

"We can't possibly be there yet," June said, checking her wristwatch.

"Why are we stopping then?" June asked nervously.

The train was getting slower and slower. As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows.

I got up and looked out the compartment door and into the corridor, where I saw heads sticking out of every door. The train came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and we were submerged in total darkness.

"What eez ze matter?" Liane asked as I felt my way back to my seat. "Do you zink we 'ave ow you say, broken down?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to go ask the conductor." I heard Sarah say, and her standing up.

"Guys," June said, "I'm gonna shit myself but I think there's something moving out there, people I think, they're getting on board."

"I see them too." Lori squeaked anxiously. "They look human from here but also not."

"Alright, I'm not leaving this compartment then." I heard Sarah plop back into her seat. "Fuck that."

"Lumos," I whispered, as I pulled out my wand.

The compartment lit up, and in the light of my wand, I could see the fear in all of my friend's faces. Even the stoic June looked frightened out of her mind. I could feel the compartment get colder by the moment.

"Shit, I think I know what's going on," I whispered again.

"Please enlighten us then." June hissed, her voice shaky.

"I think dementors are searching for the train," I said.

"Dieu s'il te plait sauve-moi, pardonne-moi mes erreurs, Je regrette d'être un non-croyant." Liane mumbled something in French.

Our compartment was now freezing, and through the glass window on the sliding compartment door, I could see shadowy figures moving through the corridor. Abruptly the compartment door slid open, and standing in the doorway, illuminated by the light of my wand was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. My stomach gave a lurch when I looked down from its hidden face. There was a hand protruding from the cloak and it was glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in the water....

But it was visible only for a split second, the compartment door quickly shut, and the dementor continued down the corridor.

I turned to look over at the rest of my friends, who had the same look of pure terror on their features. It was only for a few more minutes that we sat in silence, as the lamps flickered on in the compartments, and the cold subsided.

"Is everyone ok?" Sarah drew a shaky breath.

"Yeah, I think so," Lori replied.

"I'm alright, although I think I pissed myself a little." June chuckled.

"Eez 'Ogwarts train rides always zis terrifying?" Liane asked.

"No." I shook my head. "At least they're not supposed to be."

The compartment door flew open, and in ran Oliver Wood the most worried I've seen him.

"What brings you here Woody?" I smirked weakly.

"Oh thank god you're ok." Oliver sighed and quickly left the compartment.

~~~~

We didn't talk much during the remainder of the journey. At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, and there was a great scramble to get outside. It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sheets.

"Firs' years this way!" I saw the gigantic outline of Hagrid at the other end of the platform, beckoning the terrified-looking new students forward for their traditional journey across the lake.

We got in our thestral pulled carriage and I looked out the window. As the carriage trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, I noticed two more towering, hooded Dementors, standing guard on either side. The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle; Sarah was leaning tiredly in June, whose eyes still looked the size of dinner plates from her previous adrenaline rush.

Finally, the carriage landed and slowed to a halt, allowing the five of us to hop out with our belongings. And we joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, into the cavernous Entrance Hall, which was lit with flaming torches, and housed a magnificent marble staircase that led to the upper floors.

New students at Hogwarts were sorted into Houses by trying on the Sorting Hat, which shouted out the House they were best suited to (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin). There was a large wave of fresh faces that filled me with a wave of nostalgia, making me remember my first year, and how June and I had found each other and became friends on the train before even getting to Hogwarts.

The headmaster stood up to speak, effectively breaking off my train of thought.

Professor Dumbledore, though very old, always gave an impression of great energy. He had several feet of long silver hair and beard, half-moon spectacles, and an extremely crooked nose. He was often described as the greatest wizard of his time, but he did not have my respect because of how little he cared about the well-being of his students. There was a girl when I was in fourth year who got harassed by a classmate and it was the talk of the school for a good amount of time, yet Dumbledore only gave the guy a week's worth of detention.

"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "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 cleared his throat and continued, "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."

"They really are taking this thing seriously." June groaned. "Well, I'll be damned."

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "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, It is not like 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," he said.

I winked over to Sarah, who was beaming wildly.

"On a happier note," he continued, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.

"First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes. He was a fatherly looking man, with kindly features that looked worn and gray.

"Look at Snape." June hissed to Liane and me.

Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along with the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, but even seeing Snape in rage in the past was nothing compared to what his expression was. Snape's expression was twisting his thin, sallow face. It was beyond anger: it was loathing.

"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away. "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 his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."

The Gryffindor met this with tumultuous applause.

"Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!"

The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink.

"Sensationnel! Zese are much bigger serving zan at Beauxbatons." Liane exclaimed, grabbing a bowl of seafood soup. "At Beauxbatons we 'ave a limit of food one can eat."

"Good thing you're in Hogwarts then, eh?" June jested, cramming a biscuit into her mouth.