A week before Christmas, Hogwarts was trying it's best to be as festive as it was every year. However, the lingering air of Dolores Umbridge hanging around dimmed the festivity. The countless Christmas trees did their job in getting students ready for the time but it was dimmed when another Educational Decree would be seen hammered into the wall that was starting to lose sight of its brick work. The weather had stayed the same right from the start of October, snow blanketing the grounds every day.

Sophia was asleep in her four-poster bed one night, unaware of her Sky map in desperate need of attention. The stars were basically screaming at her about the current events in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic. The map sat in her trunk wrapped tight, leaving Sophia in the unknown. Luckily, Harry had a nightmare that awoke him in a puddle of sweat. He panted out an explanation to Ron who he woke up frantically, saying to get Professor McGonagall quickly.

Ginny was the one to wake up Sophia, tears in her eyes and in need of another girl that wasn't McGonagall. Sophia jumped up once she saw how distraught Ginny was, asking what was wrong despite Hermione, Parvati and Lavender being asleep in the same room.

"D-Dumbledore wants to see us," the girl stuttered as they made their way down the stairs from the girls' dormitory. "I-I know Fred will want you there. And I do too. I-I didn't want to bother Hermione b-but-"

"No no it's okay. Let's just find out what's going on yeah?" Sophia soothed the girl and found Fred, George, Ron and Harry standing in the common room in their pajamas. Professor McGonagall stood there in her night gown looking worried yet kept her professional posture. Sophia glanced at Fred who looked just as worried as Ginny but said nothing when she arrived from the stairs. She felt a little embarrassed to be standing in an over-sized sweater that was clearly Fred's with some pajama pants that had smiling cats all over them. But she pushed the thought aside when she saw how crestfallen the Weasleys' looked.

The group headed towards Dumbledore's office in a hurry, Harry looking pale and his skin was slick with sweat. He kept his eyes on the ground but was breathless, only being kept up by Ron who helped him down the corridors. They approached the Gargoyle and McGonagall gave the password, letting them into the Headmaster's magnificent office. Sophia couldn't help but marvel at the countless knick knacks that littered large bookcases and tables, seeing many potions and even a pack of Honeydukes' Sherbet Lemons. The Headmaster stood there at his desk and looked at the Weasley children first who gathered around a chair that Ginny took a seat on, Sophia standing beside Professor McGonagall while Harry stood lonesome in front of Dumbledore's desk.

"Were you standing next to the victim in this dream? Or looking down on the scene?" Professor Dumbledore kept his eyes down at his paced his office.

"Neither, I-I it was like I... Professor will you just tell me what's happening?" Harry questioned while looking frustrated and conflicted.

"Everard!" Dumbledore ignored Harry's previous words as he approached a particular portrait. "Arthur is on guard duty tonight. Make sure he's found by the right people."

The portrait nodded down at the Professor and walked out of sight of the picture frame. Dumbledore kept his head down and he turned to walk towards another portrait. Sophia found it odd that the Headmaster was not looking at Harry at all in this time. She always thought him and Harry had quite a friendly teacher-student relationship.

"Sir," Harry tried to call to him weakly.

"Phineas!" Dumbledore continued on. "You must go to your portrait at Grimmauld Place. Tell them that Arthur Weasley is gravely injured and his children will be arriving there soon by Port-key."

"They got him Albus," the portrait named Everard returned to his chair in his painting. "It was close but they think he'll make it. Once more the Dark Lord failed to acquire it."

"Oh thank goodness," the Headmaster sounded relieved. Sophia had turned to watch Harry solely now as he was visibly getting more angry and breathless. His shoulders heaved as he watched the Headmaster and this time, Sophia was sure to look at his eyes. And just like she thought, they changed. They ghosted over just like before and she stiffened in her place.

"LOOK AT ME!" the boy cried.

Professor Dumbledore swivelled round in his place and finally looked at Harry with an astonished look. Sophia's eyes were wide at Harry's sudden outburst but now she was sure something wasn't right with him. The Weasleys' also looked shocked at the boy whose eyes had gone back to their clear look and he looked much more afraid. Much more vulnerable.

"What's happening to me?..." Harry's voice was broken and Sophia had never felt so afraid for someone. She thought she was afraid for him during the tasks of the Tri-Wizard tournament, but this was new. She was almost afraid of him.

"You wished to see me Headmaster?" a new voice entered the room and everyone's heads turned to see Professor Snape standing there in his usual black robes. Sophia thought for a moment if the man ever slept. If he did, he definitely didn't change out of those boring robes.

"Severus yes..." the Headmaster had regained himself after his moment of surprise, relieving him to look to the fellow colleague instead of Harry. "I'm afraid we can't wait any longer. I'm afraid that... we'll all be vulnerable by morning."

Professor Snape nodded wordlessly and harshly took hold of Harry's arm, pulling him out of the room before anyone could stop him. Professor Dumbledore turned to the group of Weasleys' and said they shall be transported to Grimmauld Place where they will meet Molly Weasley. Sophia almost felt like she was intruding on this and stayed back when the family moved towards the Portkey that sat on the edge of Dumbledore's desk. She shuffled her feet awkwardly before looking up to see that Professor Dumbledore had turned to her, his usual kind smile returning to his face.

"Is Sophia coming?" Ginny questioned from near the Portkey, making the Weasley family turn to see the girl still standing in her spot.

"She'll be transported separately I'm afraid," Dumbledore answered. "I must have a talk with her first."

Sophia watched as the family nodded understandingly and zeroed in on Fred who hadn't said a word. He looked at her almost pleadingly but was soon whisked away in a flurry of red-hair and colourful pajamas as they disappeared from Dumbledore's office. The Professor and the girl were now alone and she couldn't help but feel nervous in his presence. The last time she had talked one on one with the Headmaster was when she was in the hospital wing and she found out about Cedric Diggory's death. But since then, the man had been distant even towards his students at Hogwarts.

"I'm sure that you're partially aware of the situation Sophia," Dumbledore addressed her for the first time by her first name, somehow making her feel a little better. She felt like she was being talked to as another adult rather than a student and it made her feel much more involved and important. It was how she wished her father would some times speak to her rather than a child.

"I-I know something's wrong with Harry..." Sophia said in a quiet voice. "I've known for a little while now..."

"Yes I figured as much. You're a bright girl," the man nodded with a friendly look. "But I am aware that you haven't been using your map as frequently. May I ask why is that?"

"How did you..." she went to ask but stopped herself when she remembered he's Albus Dumbledore. He knew everything that went on at Hogwarts, which also made her feel embarrassed at the thought of him knowing her and Fred had snuck into the Prefects' Bathroom earlier in the month. "I-I've been trying to stay away from any temptations to change anything. It's best for everyone if I stay in the dark about the future like everyone else..."

"How very modest of you. I must admit, I did think you would be placed in Ravenclaw for your intelligence and sense of wit Miss Lupin, but I suppose Gryffindor does suit you best," the man seemed to be jumping around his real reasoning for wanting this talk with Sophia. She was amazed at how calm he appeared after just being yelled at by one of his students, but she knew he was always very good at always appearing happy and unfazed.

"Sophia, I want you to stay away from Harry from now on," Dumbledore looked intently at her as his smile dropped his face. He now looked serious and appeared more like how Sophia thought he would be after the past events.

"W-Why?" she questioned, confused.

"I'm afraid your father does not wish for me to tell you why-" she grimaced at the sound of her father's protective antics. "-but I can only say that it has to do with the occasional shading of his eyes that you and I have both noticed. You will have also noticed that I have been quite rudely ignoring Harry and I highly suggest you do the same."

Sophia was relieved to hear that someone else had noticed Harry's strange eye activity. It made her feel like she wasn't as crazy as she had once perceived herself as but it did worry her immensely. The fact that the Headmaster himself is suggesting that she stay away from Harry was concerning and put her in a state of fear. She couldn't stop thinking about how angry he looked when Dumbledore refused to look at him and remembered how scared she was when he had yelled at her earlier on in the year.

"Now I'm sure Mr Weasley is anxiously waiting for you," Dumbledore's smile returned to his face and he picked up an old-fashioned clock from his desk. "This will take you to Grimmauld Place. Harry will be there shortly as well but please remember what I said. It is for your safety and it's a top priority for us as of now."

She nodded with pursed lips and didn't question who 'us' was. She grabbed hold of the small clock, looking at Dumbledore as he retreated to stand behind his desk. He gave her one last kind smile before she felt the familiar feeling of being pulled into a whirlwind. Less nauseating but still as disorientating as Apparation, the Portkey took her to the dark hallway that was Sirius Black's house. She landed with a soft thud and was able to keep her footing, trying her best to stop her head from swirling from dizziness. 

Sirius heard the soft thud from the hallway and poked his head out from the living room, seeing Sophia putting down the small clock on the table that was next to her. He glanced back at the Weasley children that scattered around the room looking glum before making his way towards the girl who had just noticed the man standing there.

"It's good to see you," Sirius said as he embraced the small girl, relieved at seeing his best friend's daughter safe. When hearing of Harry's sudden vision, he was afraid that Sophia had finally been subjected to one of the Order's biggest fears. He had alerted Remus of the happenings and he was on his way now, only just finishing his monthly transformation.

"Is it bad?" she questioned once she pulled away, grimacing at the sight of Sirius' face.

"Yes but he is being treated as we speak," Sirius answered and started to lead her back towards the living room.