Defence Against the Dark Arts had soon become the favourite subject to most students throughout the school. And by most, I mean that only a couple of gits in Slytherin, including Malfoy, have anything bad to say about Dad.

"Look at the state of his robes," I hear Malfoy say one evening at dinner, pointing up to the staff table where Dad is eating his food. "He dresses like my old house elf,"

"Shut up, Malfoy!" I snap at him.

"That's my Dad you're talking about!" Bonnie adds, angrily.

He ended up going to the Hospital Wing for a second time because I broke his nose. I got detention for it, but it was worth it.

At least no one else cares that Dad's robes are a bit tattered and frayed. Dad is a really good teacher, after our lesson on Boggarts, we studied Red Caps, which are nasty little goblin-like creatures that lurk wherever blood had been shed, in the dungeons of castles and the potholes of deserted battlefields, waiting to bludgeon those who get lost. After Red Caps, we moved onto Kappas, which are creepy creatures that are found in waters and look like scaly monkeys, with webbed hands itching to strangle any unwanted waders in their ponds.

Dad has made Bonnie and I promise to come up to his office every Friday afternoon, after classes, to chat about our week and discuss things for his classes. I enjoy getting an insight to our Defence Against the Dark Arts classes, but he won't share the really exciting things.

My favourite class at the moment is Muggle Studies. It's so fascinating learning about what Muggles use and how they make everything. Not to mention that Professor Burbage is probably the best teacher in Hogwarts because she so fun and she adores Hermione and I.

Although, I've been struggling a bit in Ancient Runes. Every few lessons we will have a mini quiz and I don't get a very good score. I keep mixing all of them up.

Snape has gotten even more malicious in Potions. These days he's in a particularly vindictive mood, and we all know why. The story of the Snape-Boggart dressed in Neville's grandmother's clothes has spread through the school like wildfire.

I only told a few people...

But Snape doesn't find it funny. His eyes flash menacingly at the mention of 'Professor Lupin' and he's been bullying Neville worse Poor Neville.

Divination has become a bit annoying as well. I dread every lesson. Some days it's hard to bear sitting in the stifling hot, attic-style room with the smell of perfume threatening to make me drift off to sleep. Not to mention Professor Trelawney. Whenever she looks at Harry or I, her eyes tear up as though we're going to drop dead any time soon. I don't believe any of the rubbish she tells us-Arithmancy is ten times better.

The only people that actually enjoy Divination are Lavender, Parvati and Olivia. They do not shut up about it in the dorm at night. They spend their lunchtimes haunting the tower and always coming back down looking like they knew something the rest of us don't. They always speak in hushed voices if they're around Harry and I, or speaking loudly about their predictions in the dormitory. They're getting really annoying, and sometimes I wonder how Amy put up with them last year.

No one likes Care of Magical Creatures, which, after the Hippogriffs, has become extremely boring. Hagrid must have lost his confidence, because now we're spending lesson after lesson learning how to look after Flobberworms. They are most boring creatures to ever live on Earth. But they are quite fun to chuck at people.

One lesson when Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy were all laughing at Hagrid, I flung one of them over and it went straight down Pansy's shirt and she screamed like it was the end of the world. I almost got detention for that one, but I wouldn't admit that it was me, so I got off.

But other than the really boring/stupid classes, I've got something even better to look forward to, now that October has started. The Quidditch season has begun, and Oliver Wood, our captain who is now in his seventh and final year, called us for a meeting on Thursday to discuss tactics for the new season.

I love Quidditch so much, even more than I love school. I've loved it ever since I was three and I first rode a broomstick, and now I'm the Seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team which is the most important role, because I have to try and find the snitch, a tiny golden ball with golden wings that whizzes through the air at almost lightning speed. If I catch the snitch, I earn one hundred and fifty points and the game ends. Most of the time if a Seeker catches the snitch, that Seeker's team wins the game, but not always. I've seen it happen when I've listened to Quidditch World Cup's on the radio.

So, on Thursday evening, Harry and I make our way down to the Quidditch pitch to meet the team in the change rooms, in the dark. How nice.

When we enter, we see the familiar faces of Oliver Wood, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, Fred and George.

"This is our last chance-my last chance-to win the Quidditch Cup," Wood tells us, striding up and down in front of us. "I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it.

Gryffindor haven't won for seven years now. Okay, so we've had the worst luck in the world-injuries-then the tournament getting called off last year..." He swallows. Memories of last year come to the surface, but I push them back and continue to listen. "But we also have got the best-ruddy-team-in-the-school," he says, punching a fist into his other hand with each word.

"We've got three superb Chasers."

He points to Angelina, Katie and Harry.

"We've got two unbeatable Beaters."

"Stop it, Oliver, you're embarrassing us," Fred says, and he and George pretend to blush. I laugh as I punch Fred in the arm, since he's standing beside me.

"And we've got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!" Wood continues, giving me a glare of pride. I smile. "And me," Wood adds, as an afterthought.

"We think you're very good too, Oliver," I say.

"Cracking Keeper," Fred says which makes me laugh again.

"The point is," Wood continues, resuming back to pacing in front of us. "The Quidditch Cup should have had our name on it these last two years. Ever since Harry and Sarah joined the team, I've thought the thing was in the bag. But we haven't got it, and this year's the last chance we'll get to finally see our name on the thing..."

"Oliver, this year's our year," George says.

"We'll do it, Oliver!" Angelina says.

"Definitely," Harry says.

"Of course," I say.

And so, full of determination, we start training sessions, three evenings a week. This is going to be a hell of a year with extra classes which means extra study and homework, and put Quidditch on top of that...I think I will need the Time Turner to give me more time for all of this.

Harry and I return to Gryffindor Tower after training the next Monday to find the Common Room buzzing excitedly.

"What's going on?" I ask, as we make our way over to Ron, Hermione, Amy and Bonnie who are sitting by the fire, completing some star charts for Astronomy.

"First Hogsmeade weekend," Ron says,pointing at a notice that has appeared on the old notice board. "End of October, Halloween."

"Awesome!" I say, excitedly.

"Excellent," Fred says from behind me. "I need to visit Zonko's, I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets."

"You can join us, Sarah," George says. "Zonko's is absolutely amazing! They have all the joke products like Dungbombs, Stink Pellets, Undetectable Stink Bombs-the works."

"Cool!" I say.

Harry throws himself into a chair beside Ron, the smile on his face, fading away. I go over and sit down next to Amy.

"Harry, I'm sure you'll be able to go next time," Hermione says. "They're bound to catch Black soon he's been sighted once already."

"Black not fool enough to try something in Hogsmeade," Ron says. "Ask McGonagall if you can go this time, Harry, the next one might not be for ages-"

"Ron!" Hermione says. "Harry and Sarah are supposed to staying school-"

"Sarah's got her note signed. She can go." Bonnie says.

"But Harry can't be the only third-year left behind," Ron says. "Ask McGonagall, go on, Harry-"

"I'm not going either," Amy protests.

"You're not?" I ask her.

"No," Amy says sadly. "You know my parents..."

"I think I will ask McGonagall," Harry says.

Hermione opens her mouth to argue, but at that very moment, Crookshanks leaps lightly on her lap, followed by Snow on my lap, but Crookshanks has a dead spider dangling from his mouth.

"Does he have to eat that in front of us?" Ron says, scowling.

"Clever Crookshanks, did you catch that all by yourself?" Hermione says as I stroke Snow.

Crookshanks slowly chews up the spider.

"Just keep him over there," Rom says, irritably, going back to his star chart. "I've got Scabbers asleep in my bag."

I sigh as I pull my bag over and grab out my own star chart, some parchment, ink and my quill, and get to work, Snow leaping off my lap and trotting up the stairs. Harry does the same, and gets out his own star chart.

"You can copy mine," Amy says, showing her chart to me.

I reluctantly take her chart and start to copy it. I don't like copying, but it's late and I'm really tired. Plus I still have some Ancient Runes and Arithmancy homework that's due this week.

I look over to Crookshanks, who is staring at Ron with his yellow eyes. Without a warning of any sort, he pounces.

"OY!" Ron roars, seizing his bag, as Crookshanks sinks four sets of claws into the bag, and starts tearing at it. "GET OFF YOU STUPID ANIMAL!"

Ron attempts to pull the bag away, but Crookshanks clings on, spitting and slashing.

"Ron don't hurt him!" Hermione squeals. Now everyone in the Common Room is watching. Ron whirls the bag around and around and around, but Crookshanks still manages to cling on. Scabbers finally shoots out of the bag and lands on the floor, scurrying away.

"CATCH THAT CAT!" Ron yells, as Crookshanks frees himself from the bag, springs over the table and chases after Scabbers.

George makes a lunge for Crookshanks, and misses. Scabbers streaks through twenty pairs of legs and shoots beneath an old chest of drawers. Crookshanks skids to a halt and starts making furious swipes beneath the chest of drawers with his paw.

Ron and Hermione hurry over; Hermione grabs Crookshanks around the middle and heaves him away, while Ron throws himself to the ground on his stomach and with obvious great difficulty, pulls a terrified Scabbers out from under the chest of drawers by his tail.

"Look at him!" He says furiously to Hermione, dangling Scabbers in front of her. "He's skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!"

"Crookshanks doesn't understand that it's wrong to chase Scabbers," Hermione says defensively, her voice shaking. "All cats chase rats, Ron!"

"There's something funny about that animal!" Ron says, trying to shove Scabbers in his pocket. "It heard me say that Scabbers was in my bag!"

"Oh what rubbish," Hermione says. "Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d'you think-"

"That cat's got it in for Scabbers!" Ron says, grabbing his bag. "And Scabbers was here first, and his ill!"

With that, Ron marches off and out of sight up the stairs.

Everyone goes back to chatting about Hogsmeade and I go back to filling in my star chart.

"Sarah?" Comes a very familiar voice from behind me. I turn around and it's Seamus.

"Oh, hey, Seamus," I say, turning around fully to face him.

"Um," he says nervously. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," I say.

"Um, er, do you, maybe, want to go to, um, Hogsmeade with me, on Halloween?" He asks, his voice slightly shaking.

I smile. "I'd love to."

"Great," he says, smiling with relief. "Do you want to meet down here in the Common Room before we go?"

"Sure." I say.

"OK, well, bye, Sarah, " he says and he walk off back to Dean and starts talking to him.

I hear Amy snickering beside me.

I glare at her as I nudge her, maybe a little too hard.

"What?" She asks, acting oblivious.

"Shut up." I say through the gritted teeth.

"Make me." She grins.

I shake my head and complete my star chart, thinking about when we go to Hogsmeade.

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

Ron is still in a bad mood with Hermione the next day. Hermione was grumpy when we made our way to Muggle Studies and she and Ron barely talked through Herbology, even though she was working with Harry and Ron on the same Puffapod.

I'm working with Bonnie and Amy, as per usual in Herbology.

"So, Sarah," Amy grins, wiggling her eyebrows. "What are you going to do with Seamus at Hogsmeade?"

"I don't really know, to be honest," I say, grinning back. "But I can't wait nonetheless."

The three of us go back to peeling off pink pods from the plants and emptying the beans into a wooden pail. They kind of remind me of the beans in a Muggle fairytale that Mum used to read to Bonnie and I when we were young, Jack and the Beanstalk it was called.

I hear some beans scatter near us and look over to Harry, Ron and Hermione's table, where Ron had spilt some.

"Careful, Weasley, careful!" Professor Sprout cries as the beans burst into bloom before our very eyes.

I'll just say it took a while to clean up afterward.

Next we have Transfiguration, and Harry told us he'd ask Professor McGonagall if he could go to Hogsmeade with everyone else. I don't think it will work, because it's not really fair if everyone else had to get their note signed and he didn't, but it would be nice if he could go.

As we stand in a queue outside the classroom, waiting for McGonagall, I notice Lavender at the front of the line, crying. Parvati and Olivia have their arms around her and explaining something to Seamus and Dean.

"What's wrong, Lavender?" Amy asks, as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Bonnie, Amy and I join the group.

"She got a letter from home this morning," Olivia whispers to us. "It's her rabbit, Blinky. He's been killed by a fox."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Lavender," Hermione says, awkwardly.

"I should have known!" Lavender says tragically. "You know what day it is?"

"October sixteenth-" I start to say, but she cuts me off.

"Exactly! The sixteenth of October! 'That thing you're dreading, it will happen on the sixteenth of October!' Remember? She was right, she was right!"

Now the rest of the class is gathered around Lavender. I wasn't sure about Trelawney and her 'predictions', but now...

"You-you were dreading Blinky being killed by a fox?" Hermione says hesitantly.

"Well, not necessarily by a fox," Lavender says. "But I was obviously dreading him dying, wasn't I?"

"Oh," Hermione says. She pauses.

"Was Blinky an old rabbit?" I ask Lavender.

"N-no!" Lavender sobs. "H-he was only a baby!"

Parvati and Olivia tighten their arms around Lavender's shoulders.

"But then, why would you dread him dying?" Hermione asks.

Parvati glares at her.

"Well, look at it logically," Hermione says, turning to everyone else. "I mean, Blinky didn't even die today, did he, Lavender just got the news today. And she can't have been dreading it, because it's come as a real shock-"

"Don't mind Hermione, Lavender," Ron says loudly. "She doesn't think other people's pets matter very much."

I glare at Ron as McGonagall opens the classroom door. Hermione and Ron are shooting daggers at each other as we enter the classroom. Hermione aggressively sits down next to me as Ron does Harry, still glaring at him.

After a long lesson of Hermione still being grumpy and learning about how to successfully turn a teapot into a tortoise, the bell rings and we go to leave, but McGonagall stops us,

"One moment, please," she calls. "As you're all in my house, you should hand Hogsmeade permission forms to me before Halloween. No form, no visiting the village, so don't forget!"

Now I wonder how Harry is going to persuade McGonagall, now that she said that. He'll probably stop at nothing to go.

Neville however, raises his hand.

"Please, Professor, I-I think I've lost-"

"Your grandmother sent yours to me directly, Longbottom," McGonagall says. "She seemed to think it was safer. Well, that is all, you may leave."

"Ask her now," I hear Ron hiss to Harry.

"Oh, but-" Hermione begins.

"Go for it, Harry." Ron says stubbornly.

I roll my eyes. This isn't going to work. But I decide to stay back to see how it goes. Amy and Bonnie choose to go like the rest of the class.

Once everyone has left, Harry heads nervously toward McGonagall's desk.

"Yes, Potter?"

"Professor, my aunt and uncle-er-forgot to sign my form," Harry says anxiously.

Professor McGonagall looks up, but doesn't say a word.

"So-er-d'you think it would be alright-I mean, will it be OK if I-if I go to Hogsmeade?"

Professor McGonagall looks down, shuffling he papers, while Harry, Ron, Hermione and I wait anxiously for her reply.

"I'm afraid not, Potter," she says, earning an anticipated sigh from me. I knew it wouldn't work. "You heard what I said. No form, no visiting the village. That's the rule."

"But-Professor, my aunt and uncle-you know, they're Muggles, they don't really understand about-about Hogwarts forms and stuff," Hardy says, with Ron egging him on from beside me. "If you said I could go-"

"But I don't say so," McGonagall says, standing up and piling her papers neatly into a drawer. "The form clearly states that the parent or guardian must give permission," she turns to Harry with a strange look on her face that looks like pity. "I'm sorry, Potter, but that's my final word. You had better hurry or you'll be late to your next lesson."

Harry walks back over to us glumly.

"Well, Harry," I say, sympathetically. "At least you tried."

Harry smiles weakly as we make our way to Charms.

~~~~~~~~~~

There's nothing Harry can do now. Ron called Professor McGonagall lots of colourful names which did not make Hermione happy. She just gave Harry an 'all for the best' expression which made Ron even angrier. These two need to sort their problems out or I swear to wizard god I will force them to make amends.

"Harry, at least there's the Halloween feast," Amy says, attempting to cheer him up after we told her and Bonnie what had happened.

Dean, who was very good at drawing, offered to forge Vernon's signature on the form, but it was no good since Harry had told Professor McGonagall that he hadn't got it signed. Ron had also suggested the Invisibility cloak, but Hermione stamped her foot on that one saying how the Dementors can see through Invisibility cloaks.

I guess Harry won't be going to Hogsmeade.

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

On Halloween morning, I wake up earlier than usual, get ready and wait for Amy to get up and ready.

Finally we make our way down to breakfast and eat eagerly, excited to go to Hogsmeade.

Soon Harry, Ron, Hermione and Bonnie come down, Harry looking thoroughly depressed.

"We'll bring you back lots of sweets from Honeydukes," Hermione says.

"Yeah, loads," Ron adds. It seems that they've gotten over the squabble over Crrokshanks and Scabbers.

After I've finished, I decide to go back up to the common room and dress nicely for my date with Seamus. Is it a date? Well, he asked me to Hogsmeade, so I guess it is a date. That just makes me even more nervous now...

I change out of the simple shirt and jeans I was wearing, and put on some dark skinny jeans, a dark green top with a collar and green flats. I won't go for the converse today, wear something different. I put my hear up into a neat ponytail and add a dark green scrunchie-so the Muggles call it. At the last minute I decide to put on a small amount of makeup-just light foundation, concealer, mascara and lip-gloss. Perfect. I pick up my coin purse with all my money in it throw on a black cardigan as I leave the dormitory.

I go downstairs, hoping Seamus is down there waiting.

He is.

He's dressed casual, with a dark blue t-shirt, a leather jacket, jeans and joggers. He's looks so cute.

"Hey, Sarah," he smiles nervously, as I come downstairs.

"Hey, Seamus," I say. "I thought you might've still been at breakfast."

"I told you I'd be here, so here I am." He says. "Ready to go? People are already getting their names checked off."

"Oh, yeah," I say and we quickly make our way down to the Entrance Hall where Filch, the caretaker, is standing at the front doors, checking off names against a long list, peering at the students, making sure no one is sneaking out.

Seamus and I find Hermione, Ron and Bonnie. Amy isn't able to go since her mother and step-father don't do anything for her and her brother, Tom, anymore. Poor Harry and Amy. But I guess they can have a little time to hang out...

"Hello again, guys," I say as we join them.

"Hey Sarah," Hermione says happily. "You look nice." She adds, looking at my outfit.

"Thanks," I smile as we wait with everyone who is going to Hogsmeade.

Finally, the crowd of students start to move off in the direction of the carriages that bring us to Hogwarts at the start of the year. Seamus, Hermione, Ron, Bonnie and I get a carriage together, as the carriages move off toward Hogsmeade station.

At the station, we follow the crowds, moving in the direction of the village.

Hogsmeade looks amazing. It's small, but filled with people; students and wizards doing their everyday shopping. There are little thatched cottages and shops with colourful signs. There are so many places to go!

Hermione, Bonnie and Ron move off toward Honeydukes-the sweet shop, leaving Seamus and I standing alone in the cold winds.

I smile at Seamus, "Where to first?"

"I dunno," he says, also smiling. "Want to go to Honeydukes? Or Zonko's? I'm sure you'd like Zonko's...or we could walk around and look at places?"

"Yeah, we can walk around," I say and we walk off, battling through the crowds to see the signs on the roofs of the shops and what are featured in the windows.

"Dervish and Banges..." Seamus says, as we stop in front of a shop with a battered, maroon sign.

"You want to go in here? It's a bit chilly out here," I say, rubbing my arms.

"Sure," he says and we walk inside.

The warmth hits me as soon as we set foot inside-it's not usually this cold at this time of the year.

The walls are lined with magical instruments like Sneakoscopes, and there is a witch at the counter serving dozens of students and villagers.

Seamus and I just walk around the shop, looking at all the cool instruments. I notice another desk, with a wizard who is obviously repairing some instrument that I have no clue what it is.

Once we've finished looking around, we leave without buying anything. I'd probably only come here if I needed to repair something that couldn't be repaired with a simple spell.

So, Seamus and I move on to other shops.

By midday, Seamus and I have been to most of the shops, but not Honeydukes or Zonko's yet(I don't think he wants to go to Zonko's), and we've bought so much stuff already.

We went to the Post Office, and Seamus sent a letter to his parents, Tomes and Scrolls, which is a bookshop and I loved it-Seamus doesn't like reading though-and I bought so many books that could help with some classes.

It's weird. Everything I find interesting here, Seamus finds boring. I guess he wasn't like I thought...

We end up going to the Three Broomsticks-a battered old bar, filled with many witches and wizards-to get something to drink, where we find Hermione, Bonnie and Ron sitting at a table sipping on Butterbeer. So we join them.

"Hey guys!" Hermione chirps as we sit down.

"Hey," I say back, putting my bags at my feet. I wish there was a spell for me to make them smaller.

"Don't you just love Hogsmeade?" Bonnie says, happily, taking a sip from her mug.

"Yes, it's amazing, isn't it, Seamus?" I say.

"Uh, yeah," he says. "Do you want a Butterbeer, Sarah?"

I nod and he gets up to order the Butterbeers. I frown

"Is everything okay, Sarah?" Bonnie asks.

"Sort of," I say.

"What happened?" Hermione asks.

I look over at Seamus who is just ordering. "I guess he's just different to what I thought," I say.

"How?" Bonnie asks.

"I don't know. We're just so different from each other," I say.

Seamus sits back down moments later with two Butterbeers, topped with heaps of froth.

"Thanks," I say, as I take one. Mm, I love Butterbeer.

"So," Seamus says, "Where have you guys been to?"

"Pretty much everywhere!" Ron says.

"Yeah, we've been to Honeydukes-the sweet shop, and Zonko's-I'm guessing you've already been there, Sarah, and the Post Office, and Dervish and Banges..." Bonnie goes on.

"We haven't been to Honeydukes or Zonko's yet," I say, "We're going there later. Saving the best until last."

Seamus nods in agreement. Finally something we agree on.

"Have you guys been to the Shrieking Shack?" Ron asks.

"No. I don't think we're going there, it seems boring-" I start to say but Seamus interrupts.

"I thought we were..."

"Oh," I say, embarrassed. Well...

Hermione, Bonnie and Ron exchange looks. I just look away. I'm not having too much fun today.

Soon, they finish their Butterbeers and leave for the Shrieking Shack, leaving Seamus and I alone.

"Sarah," he says after a moment or two or silence, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine," I lie, "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Oh good," he says with relief. "I just thought you looked upset."

I shake my head.

"Do you want to go to Honeydukes once you're finished?" He asks, pushing away his empty mug.

"Uh, sure," I say, draining the last few sips of Butterbeer, before setting my mug aside.

We make our way out of the Three Broomsticks and go over the road to Honeydukes which has a huge yellow sign and colourful sweets can be seen through the windows.

I looks inside and it's packed with students. How fun.

We enter and the wafts of the different sweets hit me like a speeding train. They smell so good! The shelves are lined with colourful sweets and students picking things off the shelves to taste test-some disgusted and others pulling faces of delight.

Seamus and I walk around, trying different sweets and pulling disgusted faces at some of the labels.

I pick up a jar of black sweets. "Cockroach Cluster..." I read. "That sounds disgusting. What if I bought these for Harry and told him they were really nice?"

Seamus lets out a laugh as I put them back on the shelf. I'm not that mean.

I end up buying lots of sweets. I bought a couple of sweets for Amy(Hermione, Ron and Bonnie probably got some for Harry, so I get some for Amy), and a few packets for myself. I got a range of them from Bertie Botts Beans to Sherbet Lemons. I'm not sure how the Sherbet Lemons will go, though, I'm not a fan of lemon.

Once we leave, we just stand, the cold wind blowing on our faces.

"Do you want to go back to Hogwarts now?" Seamus asks. "Or d'you want to walk around a bit more?"

"I'm not leaving without going to Zonko's," I state.

"Isn't that the joke shop?" Seamus asks.

"Yeah," I say.

Seamus sighs as I drag him along to Zonko's. Yeah, I'm not sure if I like Seamus that much anymore. I mean, he seems like he'd be a good friend, but nothing more.

I see Zonko's with a huge, bright green sign and step inside. There aren't many students in here, like Honeydukes, and I don't expect to find Fred and George here either, they've probably already been and gone.

I smile as I look at the green shelves that are lined down the centre of the shop. This is by far my favourite shop, but closely followed by Honeydukes and Tomes and Scrolls.

Seamus just follows me around, not bothering to look at the shelves as I marvel at the different products ranging from Dungbombs to Dr Filbuster Fireworks.

I obviously buy a lot, which will help with pranks I pull with Fred, George and Amy. I buy things like Dungbombs, Stink Pellets, Belch Powder, Fanged Frisbees and a boxes filled with different prank products. I'm going to have so much fun with these.

And so, Seamus and I leave with me carrying a large green bag filled with the products. Now I'm really weighed down with all these bags.

Seamus and I wander around, looking around tiny shops, and we went to the Shrieking Shack for a while.

I don't know what the fuss is about the Shrieking Shack. It's just a shabby shack with boarded up windows that does absolutely nothing. Those stories are all fake.

We just stand, in silence, listening to the howl of the wind, watching the shack to see if anything actually happen until we realise that it's sunset.

"We'd better get back, Seamus," I say, looking at the pale orange sky.

Seamus looks too. "Yeah, we should."

We make our way back through the not-so-crowded street of Hogsmeade, back down Hogsmeade station, all the way back to the castle before its dark.

We climb the marble staircase back up to Gryffindor Tower. We go through the portrait hole and into the common room, which is surprisingly empty. Everyone must be down at the feast.

"So, I had fun," Seamus says, stepping closer to me. "Did you?"

"Uh, yeah," I lie, feeling a bit awkward. He's too close.

Seamus leans in. No, I know what he's doing. I step back quickly.

Seamus pulls back awkwardly. "Uhm..."

"Uh, sorry..." I say, biting my lip.

"It's, er, okay..." Seamus says. "Uh, see you at the feast.." And he walks off.

I sigh. He was about to kiss me. And I didn't let him. I didn't want to.

I walk up to the dormitory, put all my bags on my four-poster bed, turn to the wall and bang my head on it. Over and over again.

I stop and take my hair out of its ponytail, and run my hand through it.

Why did I lead him on? I should have just said what I thought and told him I just wanted to be friends. I sigh.

I get my brush and brush through my hair before going to to the Halloween feast where everyone else is.

I step out of the portrait hole and make my way down to the feast.

Everyone is chatting excitedly and eating all the food.

I take a seat next Amy, but I don't put anything on my plate.

"Hey Sarah," she says, "How was your date with Seamus?"

"Uh, not great," I say quietly, as I see Seamus over with Dean, Lavender, Parvarti and Olivia, chatting with Lavender.

"Oh," she replies, frowning, "What happened?"

"I guess Seamus and I aren't meant to be," I say.

"Oh well," Amy says, "At least have something to eat."

"I'm not really hungry," I say.

"Come on," Amy says, putting some baked potato on my plate. "You're always hungry, Sarah."

I shake my head and push the plate away.

"Sarah, something else happened other than a bad date, spill," Amy says seriously.

"Nothing," I say, "he just-tried to kiss me is all..."

Amy's eyes widen. "He tried to kiss you?" She exclaims quietly.

I nod. "I don't really want to talk about it," I get up. "I'm not really in the mood, so I'm going up to bed."

I see Harry, Ron, Hermione and Bonnie stare at me as I walk out of the hall and make my way back up to Gryffindor Tower. I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm just, down. I feel like I let Seamus down, he must've really liked me, and deep down I guess I didn't like him back, I just thought I did.

As soon as I reach the last staircase up to Gryffindor Tower, I see a figure of a man, with a striped robe and messy hair, standing outside the portrait to the common room. I hear a slash of canvas, followed by a scream.

I gasp and the figure quickly turns around.

It's Sirius Black. I recognise him from the papers and television, his face screwing up in anger. He's holding a knife. I am about to scream before he is gone, and a black dog appears in front of me. The dog-Black-runs off past me and is gone as quick as I saw him.

I let out a breath that I was holding, my heart racing. I just saw Sirius Black, that man trying to kill me. Why didn't he kill me right then and there? I was alone. I was defenceless-well, I had my wand, but not out. He could've, but he didn't. He just, left.

I'm frozen. I want to run, find someone, but he's already gone.

I manage to shakily walk up the rest of the stairs. The Fat Lady is gone. Where is she? The painting is viciously ripped with bits of canvas littered on the floor.

I do the only thing I can think of; I run. I run down all the flights of stairs and down to the Entrance Hall. I am about to enter the Great Hall, when the door opens and students start to spill out. The feast is over.

I pant as I wait anxiously for a sign of the others. Finally I see Harry coming out with Ron and Hermione. I dodge past the student to get to them.

"Sarah!" Hermione exclaims. "There you are!"

I gulp, and Harry notices my panic.

"Sarah," he says worriedly, pulling me off to the side, with Ron and Hermione following anxiously. "What's happened? You're as white as a ghost."

"I-I-" I stutter. I can't find the words to tell them that I saw Sirius Black.

"Sarah?" I hear Amy's voice come from behind me, she's followed by Bonnie.

"Just-just, come upstairs," I manage to say, before leading them upstairs with the rest of the students who are still abuzz from the feast.

"Sarah, what's going on?" Bonnie asks worriedly as we make our way up the many flights of stairs.

When we reach the stairwell leading to the entrance to the common room, it's jammed with students.

"Why isn't anyone going in?" Ron says curiously. "Did you have something to do with this, Sarah?"

I shake my head, my hands shaking like mad.

"Then what's-"

"Let me through, please," comes Percy's voice,and he comes bustling past us and through the crowd importantly. "What's the hold-up? You can't all have forgotten the password-excuse me, I'm Head Boy-"

I want to say something, but who do I tell? There are no teachers here. I could easily tell Harry, Ron, Hermione, Bonnie and Amy, but...I don't know.

Silence falls over the crowd. Suddenly, in a sharp voice, Percy says, "Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick."

People's heads turn; those at the back are standing on their tiptoes. I just look down.

Next moment, Dumbledore is here, sweeping toward the portrait. The others move forward to see what's happening. I just, stay still, remembering the torn canvas and Sirius Black's vicious face.

Professor McGonagall, Dad and Snape hurry past me, toward Dumbledore at the front of the crowd.

"We need to find her," I hear Professor Dumbledore say, obviously about the Fat Lady. "Professor McGonagall, please go get Mr Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."

"You'll be lucky!" Comes the cackling voice of Peeves, the poltergeist. As per usual, he is looking delighted in the time of worry.

"What do you mean, Peeves?" Dumbledore says calmly, and the grin that Peeves had faded a little. He doesn't dare taunt Dumbledore.

"Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful," he says happily. "Poor thing," he adds, unconvincingly.

"Did she say who did it?" Dumbledore asks so quietly that I can only just hear what he says.

I start to shake, and someone grabs my shoulder. I turn to see that it's George.

"Are you okay?" He whispers in my ear.

I shake my head, waiting for Peeves' reply.

"Oh yes, Professorhead," Peeves says. "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see," Peeves flips over and grins at Dumbledore from between his legs. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."

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

A/N

Hey guys.

So, interesting chapter. I really enjoyed writing about Hogsmeade. And I'm sorry if there was anyone that shipped Sarah and Seamus(probably not, oh well) but sorry.

I feel like these chapters are getting way too long. Please tell me if they are and I'll try to make them shorter.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it.

I will try and write as much as I can during this school term(I go back tomorrow) and update as soon as I can.

Peace out guys, love ya!

~Elise