Finally it's the morning of September 1st. It's chaotic at the Leaky Cauldron with Dad, Bonnie, myself, Harry, Hermione and her family, and the Weasley's all running around collecting the last few things for our trunks so we can leave for Kings Cross by half-past ten.

Dad, Bonnie and I had to floo home so we could grab some of our books, clothes and our broomsticks. Bonnie's hoping to try out for the team this year, if she can.

As soon as we get all our things, we floo back to the Leaky Cauldron so that we can hop into the ministry cars Mr Weasley got for us all. They must get them every year.

When we get back, there's a dilemma about whether Fred and George hid Percy's new Head Boy badge, in which Mrs Weasley was screaming at them.

Soon, Mr Weasley comes in telling us that the cars are ready. I race up to Harry's room to get him, Ron and Hermione, then we all jump into one of the cars. In our car we've got Mr Weasley, Harry, Ron, Bonnie, Dad and myself. In the other is Mrs Weasley, Fred, George, Percy and Ginny. Hermione went with her parents in their own car.

We get to Kings Cross twenty minutes early. That's alright, considering how rushed we all were earlier. The ministry drivers get us trolleys and we put or trunks and pets on-a closed basket on top of Hermione's trunk, spitting.

"Don't worry Crookshanks," Hermione says, as we reach the barrier. "I'll let you out on the train."

Ron stops in his tracks. "No you won't. What about Scabbers?" He says, pointing to a lump on his chest.

"Crookshanks won't hurt him, will you Crookshanks?" Hermione says, and continues walking.

We all pass through the barrier-I've gotten over thinking that I will crash-and wait for everyone on the busy platform.

Once we're all on the platform, Mr Weasley leads us through the crowds and past the packed carriages, to one down the end that's empty. We load our trunks in, including our cages, and go back out to say goodbye to the Weasley's.

Mrs Weasley hugs and kisses everyone, also giving each of us a packed sandwich. Aw, she so nice.

"Sarah," Mr Weasley says quietly. "Come over here a moment."

Dad looks at me, and gestures to the train. He's going to be catching the train as well. I wave him off, to let him know I'll only be a minute. He nods, and makes his way to the train with Bonnie.

I walk over with Mr Weasley.

"There's something I've got to tell you before you leave-" Mr Weasley says in a tense voice. This must be about Sirius Black.

"It's alright, Mr Weasley." I say. "Harry already told me."

"You know? Well that makes it easier I suppose. Well Sarah, you must be scared."

"I'm not." I say confidently. "Really. Look, I don't want to be a hero or whatever, but seriously, Black can't be as bad as Voldemort, right?"

Mr Weasley flinches at the name, but shrugs it off.

"Arthur!" Molly calls. "What are you doing? It's about to go!"

"She's coming, Molly!" Mr Weasley calls back.

"Listen," Mr Weasley says. "I want you to give me your word-"

"-that I'll be a good girl and stay inside the castle? That I'll only leave for Hogsmeade trips?" I say.

"I don't think it's entirely safe for you to go on the Hohsmeade trips, nevertheless, I want you to give me your word that you won't go looking for Black?" Mr Weasley says, really seriously.

"What?" I ask. Why would I look for the guy who wants to kill Harry and I? Unless he's referring to first year...

There's a loud whistle, and the guards are walking along the train, shutting all the doors.

"Promise me, Sarah," Mr Weasley says, hurriedly. "That whatever happens-"

"Why would I go looking for someone who wants to kill me?" I ask.

"Swear to me that whatever you might hear-"

"Arthur quickly!" Mrs Weasley cries.

"I promise." I say, as steam starts to billow from the train, it's starts to move. I sprint toward the end compartment where we put our trunks. Dad opens the compartment door and helps me in. Dad goes into the compartment, while I wave to Mr and Mrs Weasley. The train goes around the corner and they're out of sight.

I sigh and enter the compartment. Dad, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Bonnie are inside.

"Really Dad?" I say. "Do you really have to sit with us?"

"I'm going to be going to sleep anyway, Sarah. So I won't interrupt you." Dad says, sitting down in the corner.

"Why are you going to sleep?" I ask.

"Because I need my rest before we go to Hogwarts." Dad says, but he gives me a look to mean that he's tired because of his wolf problem. I nod and sit down with others.

"Sarah," Hermione says. "Do you want to come with me to find Amy?"

I smile. "Yes! You coming?" I say to Bonnie.

Bonnie shakes her head, and pulls out the book she got for her birthday. She's a slow reader.

Hermione and I leave the compartment and search the other compartments for any sign of Amy. She could be sitting with Lavender, Parvarti and Olivia, or she could be with Neville, or she could be with Fred and George. Who knows?

We find a compartment with Lavender, Parvarti, Padma and Olivia. Amy's not there. "Hey guys," I say, opening the compartment door. "So, how have your summers been?"

"Alright." Parvarti and Padma say together.

"Pretty good." Olivia says.

"Great!" Lavender says. "I did heaps of shopping!"

"That's great! So, have you guys seen Amy?" I ask.

"I think I saw her going into a compartment just down there." Olivia says, pointing through the wall to our left.

"Thank Olivia!" I say and turn back to Hermione and point left.

We continue down, looking through each compartment until we finally see her blonde hair sitting with Fred and George.

I dramatically open the door. Amy turns around.

"Sarah!" She yells, jumping up to hug me.

I hug her back. "So, how was your summer?"

"Horrid, as usual." Amy says. "Shut up in my room, bored out of my brain, only coming out if I was forced by my mother and step-father for some sort of dinner-party."

I laugh. "Well, mine was pretty good." I say.

"Nice to know someone's was good. What about you Hermione?" Amy asks, Hermione.

"It's was great! I went to France with Mum and Dad." Hermione says.

"Cool!" Amy says. "I wish I could travel like you."

Hermione just smiles and Hermione and I sit down.

"Yes, Sarah-" Fred says.

"-You may join us-" George continues.

"-only under the conditions that you help plan pranks." Fred says.

"That means thorough planning." Amy smiles.

Hermione just rolls her eyes and pulls a small book from her small bag. She's boring. Not that books are boring though.

After I go back to Harry, Ron and Bonnie's compartment to grab mine and Hermione's stuff, Fred, George, Amy and I start to plan some good pranks for this year. Most of them including some sort of object exploding in the Great Hall. We're so creative.

About half-way into the trip, a small whistling sound comes from inside my trunk.

Amy, Fred, George and Hermione raise their eyebrows as I dig through my trunk and find the source of the whistling. The Sneakoscope. I pull it out and it spins on the palm of my hand.

"Is that a Sneakoscope?" Hermione asks, fascinated.

"Yeah." I say. "Ron gave it to me for my birthday."

"Mind you," Fred says to me. "It was a cheap one."

I raise my eyebrows and stuff it back in my trunk.

"You could get it checked out in Hogsmeade if you want, Sarah." George says.

"Yeah," Fred says. "They sell all sorts of things like that in Dervish and Bangs, magical instruments and stuff."

"What's it like in Hogsmeade?" Hermione asks, putting down her book.

"It's awesome. It's got all sorts of shops, there Zonko's which is one of the best joke shops around, there Honeydukes, the sweet shop with millions of different sweets-" George says.

"We're talking Pepper Imps, huge Chocoballs filled with strawberry mousse and clotted cream, Cockroach Cluster-" Fred continues.

"-which we gave to Ron once telling him it was a raisin-" George laughs, Amy, Hermione laugh too.

"-oh yeah. And really good sugar quills which you can suck in class and it looks like just your average every-day quill." Fred says.

Hermione looks awestruck. She obviously can't wait-but neither can I.

"And isn't there the Shreiking Shack? Also known as the most haunted place in all of Britain?" Hermione says.

"Yeah. There hasn't been a peep from it in years, though. Maybe those stories aren't real..." Fred says.

"I still think it's true." George says.

Fred just shakes his head.

Hermione goes back to her book and the train just keeps going, the light outside covered by storm clouds.

At one o'clock the plump witch with the trolley comes around and stops at our compartment.

"Anything from the Trolley, dears?" She asks. I just get a few pumpkin pasties, and a some sweets and quickly pay for them.

Soon it starts to rain, blurring the hills outside and fogging up the windows. I move closer to the window, wipe away some of the fog and watch the rain fall. After about two minutes, the lights go off, and I hear screaming from other compartments as the train stops abruptly.

I look around, I can't see a thing, the only light coming from the window.

"Guys?" I whisper.

"Yes?" Amy whispers back, clearly terrified.

"What's happening?" Hermione whispers, worriedly.

"Maybe we've broken down." Fred says.

"But we have magic, can't we just-"

Amy shushes my, by putting her hand on my face, trying to find my mouth.

I shake her off and over to the doorway, where there is a tiny bit of light from the windows. Going, well floating past, are cloaked figures. My eyes widen as I watch them pass our compartment. It starts to go very cold. I wish I bought a cardigan or something with me on the train.

After a moment or two, one of the cloaked figures stops at our compartment. The door clicks open and a clammy, dead looking hand is placed on the doorway.

This is horrifying. What is happening? What is this creature?

The unknown creature floats into the compartment. It has no face, just cloaked.

I stare at the creature, and it stares back. I hear the creature take a huge breath, as though it is trying to suck something. The cold intensifies as the creature holds its stare. The cold rushes deep into my chest, and I can hardly breathe. I close my eyes, and I feel myself falling, falling into unconsciousness. The last thing I hear is screaming, a woman's screaming.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Sarah! Sarah! Are you okay?" Someone says, shaking me.

I slowly open my eyes, the lights are back on and he train is moving. I'm on the floor, I must have fallen off the seat. Amy, Hermione, Fred, George and Dad are surrounding me.

"Sarah, honey!" Dad breathes, and kneels beside me. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I sigh, as Amy helps me onto the seat. "Wha-what happened?"

"You fainted." Fred says.

"What was that thing?"

"It was a Dementor." Dad says. "One of the Denentors from Azkaban. I thought you might have known, since you read so much. They were here on the train, obviously looking for Sirius Black."

"Why would Black be on the train?" I ask, shakily.

"Just a precaution." Dad says. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out an already open chocolate bar. He breaks a bit off and gives it to me. "Here, eat this. You'll feel better."

"Thanks Dad." I say, taking the chocolate. I stare at the chocolate, not eating it. Why did this only happen to me? Did anyone else faint? Why would the Dementors think Sirius Black would be on the train?

"Eat the chocolate, honey," Dad says. "Now, I'm going to talk to the driver."

"Wait, Dad." I say, before he leaves. "What about the others? Harry, Ron, Bonnie?"

"They're fine. Harry fainted the same as you did, but he's okay now." Dad smiles, and leaves the compartment.

I start to eat the chocolate, very slowly, and I actually do start to feel better.

"Are you sure you're okay, Sarah?" Amy asks, looking shaken up.

"I guess." I say. "What exactly happened? Who was screaming?"

"No one was screaming, Sarah." Hermione says, looking at me weirdly. Who was that woman screaming?

"It was really scary." Amy says.

"That, Dementor, thing came in and looked around-" George says.

"Then it looked around, and you-you-" Fred continues.

"You went sort of rigid. You started writhing in your seat and you slid onto the floor and started twitching." Amy says.

"Then I don't know what happened, but your wand fell out of your pocket when you hit the floor, and some silvery smoke floated out of it and the Dementor went away." Hermione says.

"How is that possible?" I ask. Wands don't just do magic on their own.

"We don't know." Amy says. "But when your wand casted that spell, the Dementor just left."

I pick up my wand from the floor. I stare at the flowers intertwining around it. How does a wand just cast a spell without the caster even actually casting the spell?

"Did-did anything happen to you guys? Did any of you fall of your seat?" I ask.

"No. Your Dad said only you and Harry did." Fred says.

I don't understand. How did this only happen to Harry and I? I start to feel weak, like I'm not like everyone else. Maybe the Dementor saw something in Harry and I, and went for us. I don't know.

Dad comes back in soon after and tells us that we'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes.

When he leaves, I follow and go get changed into my robes. When I get back to the compartment, Harry, Ron and Bonnie have joined.

"Sarah!" Bonnie exclaims. "Dad said you fainted too, and I was really worried."

"I'm fine now." I say. "It was just a scare."

"Sarah?" Harry says quietly. "Did you hear the screaming?"

I look at Harry. He heard it too. I nod.

"Do you have any idea who it was?" He asks, anxiously.

"No." I say. "How did your Dementor go away?"

"They told me that your Dad cast a spell." Harry says. "He can't have cast the spell for you, so how did yours go?"

"I don't really know. Hermione told me that my wand cast a spell on its own." I say. It sounds so weird.

"How is that possible?" Harry asks.

"I don't know, but it did." I say.

Soon, the train slows to a stop. I hear all the compartment doors slide open and I can hear all the people talking as they file off the train.

Together, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Amy, Bonnie, Fred, George and I follow the crowd off the train. Once we're on the platform, none other than Draco Malfoy comes over to us.

"Well well, Potter, I hear you fainted on the train." He says to Harry. I fainted too, why isn't he saying it my me as well, maybe he's aiming it at both of us. "Scared of the Dementor were you?"

"Shut up, Malfoy." I say, coldly.

Malfoy just sneers. "What about you Weasel, did you get scared and faint too?"

"Is there a problem?" Dad says, coming up behind us. Nice save, Dad!

"Oh, no-er-Professor." Malfoy says, and he stalks off with Crabbe and Goyle. Git.

I smile as we make our way to the carriages and get one together. Fred and George leave us for Lee, Angelina and Katie as we get into the carriage.

We all get out and join the crowd making our way up the stone steps into the Castle. I get a homey feeling as I remember the cavernous Entrance Hall with the flaming torches on the walls. We start to make our way over to the Great Hall, when when a voice calls,

"Potters! Granger! I would like to see you three!"

Harry, Hermione and I turn around, surprised to see Professor McGonagall standing there, beckoning us over. She's staying with her usual tight bun and green robes that she wears at the start of each year.

Harry, Hermione and I make our way through the crowd and follow McGonagall to her office.

Maybe she's going to give Hermione and I our Time Turners. But why is Harry here?

Once we're in her office, a small room with a welcoming fire, she motions for us to sit down. She herself sits down behind her desk.

"Professor Lupin sent me an owl telling me that you Harry and Sarah got ill on the train." She tells us.

Before either of us can reply, Madam Pomfrey, the matron, comes bustling in. Oh Merlin.

"Oh, it's just you two." She says, coming over. "What sort of danger ah you two gotten into this time?"

"We're fine." I say, as she puts a hand to my forehead. "Really."

"It was a Dementor, Poppy." McGonagall says.

"Oh, Dementors around the school, now." Madam Pomfrey says, knowingly. "They won't tube the first students to collapse."

"What will they need?" McGonagall says. "Bed rest? Perhaps a night in the Hospital Wing-"

"We're fine!" Harry says, jumping up.

I hate spending time in the Hopsital Wing. What would Malfoy say if we had to spend our first night there?

"Well," Madam Pomfrey says. "They should have some chocolate at least."

"We've already had some." I say. "My Dad-I mean, Professor Lupin-already gave us some on the train." I hope Harry had some chocolate...

"Did he now?" Madam Pomfrey says, impressed. "Finally a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies."

"Are you sure you're both okay?" McGonagall asks us.

"Yes." I say.

"Very well. Mr Potter, kindly wait outside, I would like to talk to your sister and Miss Granger about their timetables, and then we can all go down the the feast."

I smile, we're getting our Time Turners!

Harry leaves the room, and McGonagall looks at us.

"So, the Ministry sent me a letter confirming your allowance of a Time Turner for the year. There are rules that apply: you are to use your time turner to get to all of your classes and only your classes; you are not to use it for anything else, except for your class work; you must keep them in the same condition as when you receive them; and you are to hand them back to me by the end of the year. Are those rules clear?"

"Yes, Professor McGonagall." Hermione and I say, excitedly.

"Very well. Here are your time turners." McGonagall opens her desk drawer and hands us a gold necklace each. It so pretty. It's a gold chain, with an hour glass inside a ring.

"Do you both know how to use it?" McGonagall asks.

We shake our heads. Maybe she expected us to read into them over the summer...

"Well, you see the little turning knob at the top? You turn that once for one extra hour and so on. You are to make sure you have it around your neck when you do so. Was that clear?"

"Yes. Turn the little thing at the top once for one extra hour. Got it." I say, putting the time turner around my neck.

"Good. Now, we had better get back to the feast." McGonagall says, ushering us out of the office. Hermione and I smile, as we leave, hiding our Time Turners in our shirts.

Harry is waiting, leaning against the wall, when we come out. Together the four of us make our way back to the Great Hall.

There is a sea of black hats when we enter, and each of the four house tables is lined with students, enjoying the feast. Professor Flitwick, a tiny little wizard who is our Charms teacher, is carrying the acting looking Sorting Hat and a three-legged stool.

"Oh," Hermione says. "We missed the Sorting!"

"Oh well." I say. Looking down the tables to see a heap of small first years who are newly sorted.

People stare at the three of us as we make our way down the Gryffindor table to our friends, who have saved us seats. I sit down in between Amy and Bonnie, while Harry and Hermione sit next to Ron.

"What was that about?" Bonnie asks.

"Just my timetable for this year." I say quickly.

Next moment, Dumbledore stands up to give his speech.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore says. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and one of them is very serious, I think it is best to get it out of the way before you all become too befuddled by our excellent feast."

Dumbledore clears his throat and continues. "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 Business.

They will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. And while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave the school without permission," Dumbledore look over at Fred and George, who surprisingly don't smirk at this, although, this is pretty serious.

"Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises-or even Invisibility Cloaks." He adds, looking at Harry and I this time. "It is not in the nature of 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 foul of the Dementors."

I look over to Percy, who is sitting a few seats down, who puffs out his chest impressively to show off that he's Head Boy. Prat.

Dumbledore pauses for a moment. "On a happier note," he continues. "I am pleased to welcome to new teachers to our ranks this year.

Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the DarkArts teacher."

People start to clap unenthusiastically, so Bonnie and I clap real,y hard. Might as well keep Dad happy, when only the people who are actually clapping are Harry, Ron, Hermione, Amy, Fred, George, Ginny and Neville. Ginny and Neville must have been in the same compartment as the others.

"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continues, as the applause dies 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 applause for Hagrid is bigger, as everyone who loves Hagrid claps. I look up to the teachers table to see Hagrid grinning, face red, looking at his hands. Good job Hagrid.

"We should have known!" I hear Ron yell. "Who else would have set us a biting book?"

Dumbledore than gives us the usual notices about not going into the Dark Forest on the grounds, and when Quidditch Trials start, all the usual, and then it's time for the food. Good, I'm starving.

I eat my food, eager for the feast to end so I can congratulate Hagrid. I know how much it would mean to him to be a teacher.

At long last, when the last remnants of the puddings were gone, and Dumbledore's stave his word that it is time for bed, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Bonnie, Amy and I make our way over to Hagrid.

"Congratulations Hagrid!" Hermione squeals as we reach the teachers table.

"Yeah, Congrats Hagrid!" I say.

"All down ter you guys." Hagrid says, wiping his face on his napkin. "Can' believe it...great man, Dumbledore...came straight down to me after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough...it's what I always wanted..."

McGonagall comes over and shoos us away. Rude.

We join the the Gryffindor's making their way up the marble staircases to the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower.

The large portrait of the Fat Lady asks us, "Password?"

What is the password?

I'm answered when Percy calls from behind us, "Coming through, coming through! The new password is Fortuna Major!"

"Oh no!" Neville groans from behind us. Poor Neville, he has a hard time remembering the passwords.

We make our way through the portrait hole and across the common room, splitting, following our genders to our dormitories.

I get inside the familiar circular dormitory, seeing the familiar faces of Lavender, Parvarti and Olivia.

Tiredly, I get changed into my pyjamas and fall into the comfortable four-poster bed, and go to sleep, dreaming of the events of tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N

At last, the next chapter! I think I'm not getting as bad at updating as I did with the last book...that's good though.

There isn't much to say now...

Well, toodles(I really need to come up with something different)

~Elise