Natalyn, Harry, and I spent the rest of the summer shifting back and forth between our human and animal forms. We've got the control part down. The Weasley's have been sending us post cards from Egypt too! Harry's birthday was really fun! He said he had a great time, and I got to spend the evening with him. Dad let us go to the park alone, but I'm pretty sure he watched us out the window. It was great though! Dumbledore came for his party too, and so did Uncle Lupin!

Anyway, the Weasley's get back tomorrow and today we're going to Diagon Alley. "Here's the floo Harry!" Dad said, letting Harry go first. He paled, looking really nervous.

"Uh, maybe I should do it!" I chirped, stepping into the fire place by a relieved looking Harry. "Diagon Alley!" Spinning, spinning, DON'T FALL GRACIE! Ouch.

"Are you okay?" Harry laughed, sticking out a hand to help me up. I scowled, brushing off my robes. Dad and Nat came through, saw me on the ground, and laughed. I took Harry's hand to get up, and when Dad turned around, I shot Nat the bird.

"Saw that!" Dad glared, turning around to face me. Oops.... He rolled his eyes, walking into the stationary shop. Always good to get boring out of the way first.

"So, excited to go back to Hogwarts?" I nodded, smiling at Harry.

"Maybe we can have a normal school year!" I giggled, walking into the robes shop. I outgrew mine last year. "Hello Madam Malkin!"

"Oh! Gracie! Need refitted?" She asked, coming around her desk. I nodded, smiling at her. Natalyn stepped out, talking about going to Flourish and Blotts to get our books.

"Nat!" She turned around real quick. She's been quieter since Fred left. I hope tomorrow she'll be happier, I miss my cousin! "Need new robes?"

"Yeah, we're the same height now so probably!"

"I'll get em!"

"Thanks Gracie! Hey, meet at the ice cream shop in an hour!"

"Okay! See you then!" I turned back to Madam Malkin.

"So robes for two?" I nodded again at the tailor in front of me. When I stepped up onto the stool, I noticed Harry watching me. "What's wrong prongs?"

"Hm? Oh nothing! Just wondering what this years going to be like. Your Uncle's teaching, you know that right?"

"Uncle Lupin!?" I shrieked, watching Harry chuckle and nod. I don't see how this is funny though. I'm the only one who really knows about his condition, others know he has a problem, but not what it is. I'm positive Dad knows though. He and James both. Stop thinking before he figures out something's wrong!

"He told us the night that the Weasley's came over. Wonder if Ron's having fun?" He mused, finally looking elsewhere. I nodded, welcoming the change of subject, relieved he didn't seem to notice the sudden panic that overtook me.

"I'm sure he is. You know him, big goof ball!" I giggled, hopping off the stool.

"Come back in a few hours and they'll be ready!" She said. I nodded, walking towards Harry. We laced our fingers together and walked out onto the street, looking for Nat or Dad.

"Well well, if it isn't Potter, and Mrs. Potter!" Malfoy smirked, making me blush and Harry scowl.

"What do you want Malfoy?"

"For you to stop dating my cousin!" He snapped, glaring at our hands.

"Not going to happen Draco!" I scoffed, stepping closer to Harry. He seemed pleased by my answer and wrapped his free arm around my waist.

"Oh be quiet Gracelyn! This is between the men!" I laughed. I couldn't help it! I'm weak! The pompous jerk!

"Sexist Prat!" I laughed, squirming around wildly. Ouch! My sides hurt! That was too good! Just TOO good! Harry was laughing too. Not only was that sexist, but it was dirty. Between the men, get it? I laughed more.

His face was Weasley red. "Be quiet!" He shouted, pulling his wand out. Ooh scary! Not. I laughed some more. I probably look crazy. Maybe I am??? Nah! "Furnunculus!" What spell is that?

"Harry!" I clutched onto Harry as I felt my legs lock together, unable to move. He helped me stay up, glaring a Draco.

"Malfoy! What did you do to my daughter?" Dad stomped up to Draco, glaring at him. He looks like his soiled his pants! I giggled quietly, watching his pale face go paled. Dad turned around and swished his wand.

"Thank goodness!" I grumbled, standing up on my own. Harry chuckled, pulling me backwards.

"What's going on?" Nat whispered, standing beside me.

"Dad just caught Draco hexing me with some weird spell!" I giggled, watching the exchange in front of us. Natalyn laughed beside me, leaning her head in my shoulder. "Want to go to the ice cream shop now?"

"Please?"

"Daddy! It's not worth it!" I said, stepping closer to the two. They had already attracted a crowd that was growing. I saw Lucious walking this way, looking furious. "He's a silly git, come on Dad!" I pulled his arm, leading him away. He grumbled the whole way to the shop.

"Are you alright?" He finally asked, paying for the ice cream. We all tried to argue with him but he wouldn't listen. I nodded, smiling at him as we found a table to sit at.

"I'm fine Dad. Thank you for helping us!"

"Of course princess!" We finished our ice cream quickly. "So, do you all want to go home, or stay here for the night?"

"Oh can we stay here Uncle Sirius?" Nat begged, hopping up and down. Dad chuckled and nodded his head, ruffling her hair. That night, Nat and I shared a room while Harry and Dad shared.

"Are you excited Gracie?"

"Kind of. Are you?"

"Yeah. Sort of. I can't wait to play quidditch again, and see what Lupin teaches. But that's really it. All our friends are here anyway. Besides, when will we get a chance to shift there? I mean, we share with Mione and Ginny!" She said, rolling over to look at me. I nodded, getting comfortable under my sheets.

"I don't know. Maybe we could sneak out to the forest some time?"

"Maybe, but that'd be kind of hard. Anyway, they're coming back tomorrow. What do you wanna do? I don't really like the idea of sitting around the pub all day!"

"Me neither!" I sighed, lifting my eyes to look out the window. "But there's not much to do in Diagon Alley either. The ice cream shop. The joke shop. But that's it. Maybe we could just have a day where the girls come in here and just have fun and the guys can do whatever?" I suggested, looking back her.

"So, like a girls day?" She whispered, smiling at me. I nodded back, curling up in my blanket as thunder crashed outside. I didn't even know it was supposed to storm. And Ron and Ginny aren't here! I always have Ron or Ginny during a storm! What am I going to do? I, I'm scared of storms. This is the first one since school let out!

"Gracie? Gracelyn?" Nat screamed, sitting up. I was lying in my bed, hyperventilating. It's okay Gracie! Don't be a baby.

"I, I'm fine. Just a bad dream, when storms happen. They, they freak me out!" I shivered as lightening flashed, lighting up the room for a second.

"Want me to get your dad? Or Harry?" She whispered, sitting on the bed beside me. I sat up, laying my head in her shoulder, letting her out her arm around me.

"No. It's just weird. I've always had Ron or Ginny ya know? They got me through it. Helped me drown it out, sit and talk to me. And now they aren't here!" I whispered, closing me eyes right as another roll of thunder sounded through out the dark room.

"I'm sorry they aren't here. But you have me, you know that right?"

"I know. And I have Dad and-"

"Me!" Harry cut me off, walking through the door with my Dad. Both pajama clad and tired looking. "Are you okay? Ron and Ginny just sent a letter saying your scared of storms?"

"I'm fine. Nat's here. And now so are you guys. It freaked me out for a second, but I'm okay. Thanks for coming to check on me!" I said, smiling at the two people in front of me. Dad smiled back, sitting on my other side, wrapping an arm around me. Harry kind of just stood there, looking like he wanted to help.

"Are you sure you're alright sweetheart?"

"I'm okay Daddy! You can go back to bed if you want. That's what I'm going to do." I shrugged, giving him a hug goodnight. He kissed my forehead with a smile.

"I'll see you in the morning!" He left the room, closing the door behind him. Harry took his place on the bed, wrapping an arm around my waist.

"You got her Harry? I want to get some sleep?" Nat yawned, standing up and walking towards her bed. Harry nodded, looking back down at me.

"Do you need anything? What do you usually do when it storms?" He whispered, helping me lay down and get comfortable.

"We just talk, and I usually fall asleep. I like rain, it's just, the night Daddy was taken from me, was the night a major storm was going on. The ministry took him, and I was in the house alone. My babysitter left when the storm started. Uncle Lupin found me. I was a year old, and all I remember was being scared. The thunder and lightening. It still bothers me," I whispered, curling into Harry's side. He nodded, and whispered soothing words, rocking me gently. A few minutes later, I felt myself drifting off to sleep.

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

"You slept with my sister?!"

It's too early for this.

I groaned, rolling over and burying my face in the pillow. "Get up! I'm going to fight you!" Ron shrieked, his footsteps thudded across the floor, bringing him closer. "You SLEPT with my sister!"

"SHUT UP RONALD! I'm trying to sleep!" I yelled, throwing the pillow at him. I laid back down, curling up in the blanket on the bed.

"Gracie. What happened last night?" Dad whispered, his voice strained and angry. That had me up. I looked around Harry was beside me and he looked scared. Everyone else looked utterly pissed. Pardon the French.

"Uhm, well. We were talking and the storm was going on outside, and I fell asleep. I think. I don't remember. I remember telling him why I'm scared of storms and then stuff when black. So either I went into a coma, or I fell asleep!" I joked, trying to lighten the mood. Dad and Mr. Weasley looked calmer, by a lot. Mrs. Weasley pursed her lips, but nodded anyway. Nat and Ginny shrugged, walking towards the bed. Hermione following behind them.

"Move over Potter!" Nat snapped, grabbing his shoulder and pushing him off the bed. He fell to the floor with a thud and Ginny and Mione giggled.

"What was that?" I grumbled, peaking over the edge. "You hurt?" He shook his head no, sitting up. "Okay!" I moved back, hugging Ginny and Mione. "I missed you guys!" Other people giggled, but Ron still looked mad.

"Are you okay? The storm didn't bother you?" Ginny whispered, pulling away to look at me. I shook my head, smiling.

"Nope. They all talked to me a bit and helped me through it. I missed you though Gin! And Ron! It was kind of weird!" I giggled, hugging her again. She hugged me back, then hugged Natalyn.

"Lets go to Diagon Alley!" Mione giggled, leaning in towards the rest of us girls. "I hear Dean is going to be here Ginny!" Ginny scowled, crossing her arms, but there was a faint blush on her cheeks. Aw!

"I'll go. But not because of him!" We all giggled, hopping up to get ready. Everyone was staring at us weirdly. Eh. Get used to it people.

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

Wake up! Wake up! I said wake up! Grrrr! Wake up!

It's not working.

Okay Natalyn. I will wake you up if its the last thing I do! Hm, cold water? No. Fred? No. Classic or Newbie? Eh. We'll go with a classic. I'll just jump on the bed.

Jumpy jumpy jumpy. "WAKE UP!" I yelled. "Ooh! I came up with a new song! I giggled, jumping beside her head. She groaned. "Instead of batman, it's: Na na na! Phantom!" I giggled, trying to get her up. "Ooh! Or we could sing the Danny Phantom theme song!" I giggled, jumping harder.

"Shut up and go away Spirit!"

"But it's time to go to HOGWARTS!!!" I squealed, jumping off the bed. She shot up instantly.

"Why didn't you say so twit!" She got up, running to the bathroom. I giggled, following her, since I'm already ready. I was smart hehe!

Two hours later, everyone was packed, and on the train to Hogwarts.

"So, you guys ready?" Ron asked, staring at Uncle Lupin. The compartment he was in was the only one available. He was dead asleep though, the only thing that could wake him up now was if someone was dying. Last night was a full moon.

"Yes!" We chorused, making ourselves comfortable in the seats. We'd already filled up the compartment with sweets from the trolley, just like we do every year. It's a tradition. Suddenly, the train stopped.

"Something's moving out there!"

"Ouch Ronald! That was my foot!" Mione whined, bending over. The lights flashed, then went out.

"What's going on?" I whispered, scooting closer to Harry while wrapping Ginny securely in my arms. Something creepy flashed by the window, making us all jump.

"Bloody hell!" Ron whimpered, scooting closer to Mione. He grabbed her hand, Fred held onto Natalyn and George kept a tight grip on Angelina. Malfoy came running in a minute later, looking like he'd wet his pants. We all stared at him, trying not to laugh. He peaked out the window, and opened it, running again.

A minute later, a hand appeared on the door, it looked like a rotten corpse, as gross as that is. It's hand wrapped around the handle, throwing the compartment door open. Everything got cold, I was so depressed. It flew up to Harry, what the bloody hell is it doing? It's a dementor!

"Harry!" I screamed, jumping up and pulling out my wand.

"Expecto Patronum!" Uncle Lupin and I yelled simultaneously. It left, and then Harry passed out.