Worry filled the Great Hall just a few days after Mrs. Granger's visit. The Daily Prophet told more stories of dementor sightings and attacks. Dark marks began to litter the skys surrounding magical communities. It was as if they had time traveled back into a world where this wasn't an uncommon sight. The fear only grew with each page turned in the newspaper.

"This can't be happening..." Mikey looked up at his brother's house table from his copy of the Prophet with a terrified look in his eye, "Gerard, they're really close to home."

"Mum can handle them." Gerard replied as he tore at pieces of toast in front of him.

"But dad can't even see them, being a muggle!" Mikey exclaimed, "What if one sneaks up on him in the garden? Or when he's hanging holiday lights?"

"Mum won't let anything happen to him." Gerard assured his brother. However, the same thoughts were running through his own head. No one was really safe with those creatures out and on the loose...

Gerard looked up at the staff table. The headmistress was absent, having fallen mysteriously ill sometime the day before and transported to St. Mungo's. A loss of protection went with the witch, not helping the tense atmosphere of the students.

"I thought the ministry had this sort of thing under control." Breezy said, worriedly. "I've read about death eaters and the things they'd done... They caught them all though, didn't they?"

"They always say they do..." Josh spat from the Gryffindor table behind the Hufflepuffs. Attention shifted to the blue haired boy, who had a tormented look in his eyes that were fixated in a glare at the Daily Prophet. The paper was crumpled in front of him with a thin trail of smoke raising from it. Pete had to quickly pour a cup of water over it before it could burst into full flames.

Josh blinked, as if he was pulled from a trance by Pete's action. He looked up to see everyone's eyes on him. "What?.."

"What do you know that the rest of us don't?" Mikey inquired, "You always seem to get worked up whenever dark magic is mentioned. I've noticed you get super tense in class when we go over the subject, too."

Gerard began to notice it too, the more Mikey spoke. Josh's veins visibly popped out as his fist on the table clentched. Beads of sweat formed at his hairline. His eyes just seemed to say more than his mouth would speak.

Josh shut his eyes tightly. He didn't look like he wanted to speak, but a sigh escaped his lips after a short pause. His eyes reopened, but he kept his gaze on the table. "First hand experience." He admitted, "I was only three... The ministry had claimed that they had apprehended all the death eaters, but they didn't..."

Tears seemed to unwillingly form in the corner of Josh's eyes. An uncomfortable silence filled the air. No one knew what to say in response. Josh was the one to break the silence with shaky words.

"I can remember it so vividly; I can still feel the pain and see the mark..." Josh shut his eyes tightly again, this time allowing tears to spill. Melanie slid herself off the bench at the Hufflepuff table to hurry over to him, wrapping him in a tight hug. Josh let out a choked noise. He turned to cry into her shirt while holding onto her robes tightly.

Another silence. The students looked between each other. Some had understanding on their faces, other's expressions only held confusion.

"We all carry scars of the war, even though we didn't fight in it." Dallon spoke up in a soft voice, "Most of us are products of that war." Dallon gestured amongst the group, "How many of us are a result of unknowing. Unknowing of the fate of tomorrow. Unknowing of when life would be stolen from them... Even with him gone, what we are a product of stays with us."

"Those were some kinky goodbyes if there's this many of us..." Ryan muttered as he brought his cup of juice to his lips.

"It's a part of you," everyone turned, not having heard Tyler's footsteps approach. The Slytherin looked a bit apprehensive, but continued to step into the group's proximity. "but not me. Muggle born, I mean. I can't share your experience. I can only share the horrors I know from the muggle world..." He stepped over to the Gryffindor table. He slid his hand along Josh's arm before grabbing hold of the Gryffindor's hand that was still clutching Melanie's robes. "I can try to help with your wounds, though..." He whispered, more to Josh than anyone else.

"I understand." Max spoke up, looking a bit nervous to do so. "Everything about this world, including the wars, is just unbelievable... But it's affected so many of you..."

"By coming here, you've joined the fight, though." Steven grinned.

"What fight?" Ray questioned, "We hardly have a clue what's happening! Headmistress has suddenly taken ill, dementors getting sighted everywhere and attacking, it doesn't make sense!"

Gerard bit his lip. There was no way these things were simply coincidental. There had to be a reason...

As the others tried to make sense of everything and encourage each other, Gerard slipped away from the Hufflepuff table. As he passed by closer to the Slytherin table on his way out of the hall, he could hear a soft argument.

"Did you take his stupid liquorice wands or what? Now that's added on to all he talks about besides Jamia..."

"I didn't take shit." A different voice huffed, "I don't even like liquorice wands."

"Well I know Tyler didn't! He's still wary of magical candies after some asshole gave him an acid pop..."

Gerard left the great hall with questions from that conversation. Jamia: that was the girl he had talked to after Mrs. Granger's lecture. Was she who Frank cared about now?

Gerard shook his head. It didn't matter... It shouldn't matter... Understanding would matter... Gerard still didn't know why. He couldn't determine the abnormality in Frank's eye, not that he had asked for help. Everyone had their own issues going on, he didn't want to bother them.

Gerard let his feet guide him out of the castle. The air was still chilled, despite the thawing snow. The sky was a gloomy gray and puddles had to be avoided as Gerard found himself coming upon the covered bridge that connected the campus to the feilds where students often held mock quidditch games or snuck off to make out. Gerard didn't plan on doing either of those things, but continued on across the old wooden structure.

Thoughts continued to cross his mind. Is Jamia the reason his hair went dark and long? Was that what Frank was into now?.. White and short was something he had never complained against... Maybe he just realized something about himself over the course of the holiday break...

Gerard cried out as he ran into a tree. He fell flat on his butt in a slight daze. He had been so wrapped up in thought that he hadn't seen it coming. He rubbed his nose with a soft "ow" before letting his upper torso fall back to lay flat against the grass.

The flash of a memory crossed over his mind. Laying on the quidditch pitch next to Frank and producing a patronus charm.

That memory used to fill Gerard with warmth, but now it simply left a hollow feeling in his chest. Frank had been the power behind some of his happiest memories. What would he think of for the charm now?..

Slowly, Gerard pulled his wand from his pocket. He went through his memories, trying to find a happiness that wouldn't bring immediate sadness right after. "Ex..." Gerard's voice wavered. So many flashes of memories were being sorted through in his mind.

The empty quidditch pitch with Frank. The enchanted mistletoe. The exchanging of gifts...

"Something else." Gerard shut his eyes, tightly, keeping his wand held up. "I just need something else..." He took a deep breath as he tried to sort past memories with Frank.

His first train ride to Hogwarts faded into his memories. Laughing with Dallon, Ray, and Patrick as they exchanged conversation and candies. That initial acceptance from the small group brought the hint of a smile, as well as, the slightest laugh.

Next came the reflection of walking into the house dorms for the first time. His bed ready and waiting, his new uniform resting on his bed, and two other guys he wouldn't hesitate to call friends.

"Expecto Patronum!" Gerard cast out the charm as a feeling of warmth spread in his chest from the memories. He could feel the warmth spread through the rest of his body after casting the charm, prompting him to open his eyes.

It had worked. A whispy blue was trailing from the tip of his wand. He followed the trail with his eyes, which widened when they reached the body of his patronus.

A  glowing blue, scruffy dog sat on the ground in front of him. It's head was cocked to the side as it silently panted. Gerard cocked his head at it in response. This wasn't right. His patronus was a cat. Why had a dog appeared in it's place?

A sudden wave of cold crashed against his side, shifting his questions elsewhere. His patronus let out a soft "yip!" before vanishing in a puff of whispy, blue smoke. Gerard spun around, letting out a breath that rose visibly into the air.

"Hello?" Gerard called out before shivering. For some reason, everything had shifted darker and colder. Another visible breath of air escaped Gerard's lips as he looked around.

Something definitely felt wrong.

"Lumos." Gerard whispered, brightening the tip of his wand.

Thunder could be heard booming in the distance. The cold breeze picked up in strength, making Gerard shiver again. "H-hello?"

There was no response, just silence.  Gerard gulped, stepping back so that he was against the tree he had run into earlier. He knew something or someone was near, but he couldn't remember the spell to reveal people within a certain proximity.

"Gerard!"

The Hufflepuff let out a scream as his excited housemate suddenly popped up from beside the tree he was leaning against. He stumbled over, falling to the ground as Melanie gasped. A snickering could be heard as well, but it was quickly scolded by Melanie.

"Spencer, don't be mean! Oh, Gerard, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!" She reached out to help him to his feet, continuing to apologize.

"It's fine." Gerard forced a smile, "Just got lost in the day for a bit I guess..." An eerie feeling was still present in the back of his mind, but he chose to ignore it now that his friends had made their presence known.

An apologetic smile still remained on Melanie's lips as her hair shifted to an embarrassed shade of pink. "Still..." She bit her lip before clearing her throat, "We were just going down to visit Hagrid, would you care to join us? He makes excellent tea."

"He also has cups as big as your head." Spencer added, holding his hands in the air around his own head for emphasis.

Melanie giggled with a nod of confirmation. "Mitch could swim in one."

Mitch. Gerard frowned at the mention of the miniature badger. The poor badger had stayed on Gerard's bedside table, nibbling at treats that he imagined Bitsy left for it or occasionally jumping into bed with Gerard to comfort him. There had been a slight neglect of the creature, due to Gerard's absent thoughts, and it wasn't fair.

"Maybe I should go get Mitch before I join you guys. If that's alright?" Gerard asked with an unsure smile.

Melanie nodded. "Of course! I'll tell Hagrid, he always enjoys company."

"You might not be able to lift that badger after taking it to Hagrid's!" Spencer warned as Melanie looped her arm in his. The two turned in their direction as Gerard spun back towards the covered bridge that lead to the castle. He hurriedly made his way across the bridge, slowing when the cold breezy suddenly picked up again. It hit his exposed skin like a hammer to nails. He moved to the side of the bridge to look out into the vast area between the castle and the part of the grounds he had been, but saw nothing. He pulled back into the bridge with a visible breath and an uneasy feeling. He once again started his trek towards the castle, but found himself stopped once again.

This time, another student stood in his way. A hood covered their head as they stared out at the open landscape between the land masses that the bridge connected. Gerard tilted his head, noting the house colors of red and gold on the robes. "Hello?"

The figure turned, revealing themself as none other Ryan. The Gryffindor had a vacant look in his puffy eyes as he regarded the Hufflepuff. "Hey." He finally responded in a weak voice.

Gerard offered a smile to Ryan. "How are you doing?"

Ryan looked down before shifting his eyes back over to the land gap. "I guess I am..."

Gerard reached out his hand to lightly grab Ryan's arm. The Gryffindor had been so far from himself ever since his breakup. It hurt Gerard to see him like this... Although, Gerard could also see a bit of himself in Ryan's emotions. "It's cold, let me take you down to sit by the fire." Gerard offered as a short, visible breath brushed past Ryan's lips. "We live right by the kitchens too, I can ask for some hot tea or something."

Ryan didn't respond. He seemed either fixated in his gaze, or lost in other thoughts. Gerard didn't feel right leaving him.

"C'mon, Ryan." Gerard encouraged, helping to get Ryan's feet moving by starting to pull him towards the castle. "Even if it's just for a sec-" Gerard froze mid-word as an overwhelming feeling of cold washed over him. He dropped Ryan's arm, bringing his own close to his chest as he uncontrollably shivered.

With the rush of cold came the feeling of sadness. Every memory that hurt him most reared their ugly head in his mind, giving him a sense of hopelessness. Everything was so bad...

"STOP IT!" Ryan screamed out with a cry from somewhere next to Gerard, but the Hufflepuff wasn't sure where anymore. All he knew was that he heard a soft thud come from the same area as the voice.

Everything was becoming numb to Gerard. The memories went on a faster replay in front of Gerard's eyes. His heart seized. He felt another blanket of cold wrap around him. He was helpless.