“Hey, think they might protest if I join you?” Sunset (Aerie's cousin from her home world) asked Aerie and Aurora as she approached where they sat waiting for the opening dinner to start.

“Should be fine,” Aurora offered. And yes, they did look very much like sisters save in that sunset had aged herself up. After all, who would believe a thirteen-year-old girl could be the captain of an airship?

“All the new students make it across the lake?” Aerie asked as Sunset sat down.

“Yes, but not for lack of trying. There were Dementors lurking about. They didn’t care for my new pony form. Afraid Mrs Silverwood is going to be mad at me because the things fled into the forest.”

“Did you really… the ascension thing?” Aurora pressed wanting to ask if she’d really ascended or if she’d just been joking.

“It was… interesting. I didn’t even have the opportunity to enjoy the moment. I… I didn’t even want it. All I cared about was getting back to the train.”

“When it happened to me, I was afraid of getting found out.”

“What are you talking about?” Hermione asked.

“When a magic user has achieved something greater than themselves and harmony magic is involved, they can become unstuck from the mortal plane,” Sunset offered.

“Ah… that sounds like dying?” Ron interjected.

“It’s not. There is a plane of existence beyond the nothingness of the between of apparition. Anyone who finds themselves in that place experiences a renewal unlike any you can imagine. And it’s one heck of a power-up.”

“Hang on…” Hermione didn’t get the opportunity to press for more information. Dumbledore had called the hall to order. A moment later the large double doors at the far end of the great hall opened up followed by Professor McGonagall leading in the new first year like a gaggle of goslings. The hat did its song, everyone applauded even though the song was little changed, and then the room fell silent.

“Each of you will step up when your name is called, and place the hat on your head,” McGonagall instructed, opened her list, and called a name. “Alderton, Henry…”

A small plump lad made his way forward.

“You’ve got this,” Sunset whispered as he passed by. He stopped, looked, smiled, and began again with renewed vigor. When he reached the top he put the hat on, and a moment later the hat called out Hufflepuff.

“And I lost five galleons to Justin,” Aerie muttered as the Hufflepuff table erupted in cheers.

Name after name was called until one name had the effect of scratching a record. “Swan, Kitsumi.”

“What?” Aerie asked the world in general as she sat up straight to look about. Out from the back came Kitsu, every bit the teenager. “Kitsu?”

“Transferring in,” Kitsu offered as she walked past.

“I must say I never expected to see you returning as a student,” McGonagall remarked when Kitsu reached the front.

“Mom thought it’d be a good idea for me to attend as an actual student. On the other hand, I’m probably going to regret sleeping through so many classes.”

“If I’d have known… go on then, put the hat on.”

Kitsumi smiled, picked up the hat, sat down on the stool, and placed the hat on. Hoshiko was the first to leap to her feet when the hat called out Ravenclaw.

Finally, there was one first-year left.

“Is that?” Hermione asked.

“It is,” Isolde replied.

“Wilbur Nott, come forward,” McGonagall called.

Young Mr Nott came forward, none too fast as the hall erupted in murmurs. He was nearly unchanged from how he’d looked a half year ago. When he finally arrived Professor Dumbledore stood up.

“Welcome, new and old. Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I have a few things to say, one of which is very serious. You are of course all aware of the events on the Hogwarts Express having been there. It seems certain members of the ministry got it into their heads that allowing Dementors to assault our students while they were on the train was a good idea…” He paused for heady murmuring. “All in the guise of locating the missing prisoners of Azkaban. Trust that I certainly do not approve of their actions. Especially given, I’m told, that Dementors did indeed go after students.” He paused again. “Not only did students fight back, but the timely intervention of Akkadian forces assured that the Dementors would not feed on any victims this day.” He paused for boisterous applause.

“Now…” Dumbledore continued. “Mrs Silverwood has assured me that should any dementor attempt to gain access to this school she will deal with them and any wizard who dares to tempt fate. That said I wish to warn you not to go exploring. If you should encounter a Dementor, or anything else unpleasant, you may not have anyone around to save you. For these reasons the Forest is off limits, no one is to go wandering about after dusk outside the castle, and curfew will be strictly enforced.

“Mr Nott is standing before you because he got it into his head to go wandering about at night and came across a rather nasty creature that had found its way onto school grounds.

“Mr Nott got himself petrified for his transgression and was only recently restored.

“Mr Nott, you will be repeating first-year. You will be bunked with the new first years. But before you go sit down, given you are starting from scratch you may, if you wish, attempt to be resorted.”

“I stand by my decision,” offered up the hat.

“Well, there you have it. Just one more thing before you return to the Slytherin table, if you should somehow survive the year and still fail, as you were set to do last year, you will not be given a third chance. Now, Mr Nott, you may go sit down.

“Just in case I haven't made it plain,” Dumbledore continued as Nott did the walk of shame. “Nobody is to leave the school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises – or even Invisibility Cloaks... Should any of you have managed to get your hands on one they’ll do you no good. Nor is it in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading, excuses, or even care. I implore you all to give them no opportunity.

“Now, on to other matters. I am sorry to say that Professor Kettleburn, our care of magical creatures instructor has retired in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. I am delighted to announce that his replacement will be Mrs Nova Silverwood Swan who will also be heading up efforts to keep the dementors out of Hogwarts. Mrs Silverwood?”

“Just for the year,” Mrs Silverwood offered as she stood up. “Like yourself, I have a prominent position in my government. We’ve also some guests who will be here until the Ministry comes to their senses. If anyone among the student body wants to help them come to their senses I encourage all of you to write your parents and tell them how close you came to getting your soul forcibly removed.” She gave them all a smile and sat down. There was a moment of stunned silence followed by a round of applause.

The look on the faces up at the head table was an interesting contrast of emotions. Snape who would otherwise be sullen was bright and energetic. In fact, everyone had a look of anticipation on their faces. Except Hagrid who had a deep look of disappointment about him. And that’s when it struck Aerie. There’d been no Monstrous Book of Monsters assigned that year. No, they’d been assigned the Ministry-approved Care of Magical Creatures grade three textbook.

Dumbledore stood back up and cleared his throat like he was still in charge. “Well, I think that’s everything of importance. I see we’ve got a guest or two, but I think you all have waited long enough. Let the feast begin.”

Once more the golden plates filled with food, the goblets with drink, and Aerie forgetting all else began helping herself to everything within reach. Indeed she barely paid attention to the evening papers as owls came swooping in. Even our four Musketeers found that they had ravenous appetites.

Hermione and Ron were the first to get up from the table followed by Neville who went straight to Hagrid. Others began getting up a short time later.

“I can’t believe I ate so much,” Isolde groaned as she made her way upstairs with Louise, Sweetie, and Bloom.

“Me either,” Sweetie Belle echoed.

“It’s the outlay of all that magic,” Aurora offered as the Gryffindor students approached the portrait of the fat lady. You’ll probably sleep well tonight.”

“We should all sleep well tonight,” Alicia offered as she too joined them.

“Password?” asked the painted lady.

“Coming through,” Percy called from behind the crowd. He had the new first years behind him. “Come on, let me through…” He stopped once he’d arrived. “The new password is ‘Fortuna Major’.” The portrait opened up and everyone filed in and headed to their rooms for the year.

Isolde and the other first years trudged on through the Gryffindor common room, stopping only momentarily as Wood hurried up to Aerie while asking once more if she’d gotten a new broom.

“Talk to me about it in the morning,” Aerie protested.

Aerie and the Weasley twins had been uncharacteristically tight-lipped about whether or not they’d gotten new brooms or not.

“But without good brooms, we don’t have a chance. This is my last year. Come on Aerie, throw me a bone, something?”

“Alright, fine. Our replacement brooms are due to arrive tomorrow or the next day. Now if you’ll excuse me, I did a manna dump today. The Dementor that went after me… remember? I’m worn out.”

Was that it? Was that why she was so worn out, Isolde thought to herself.

“Isolde, you alright?” Sweetie asked. Her friends had all stopped to wait for her. Isolde smiled a worn weary smile.

“Ya. I just overheard Aerie. A manna dump. I suppose that’s one way to describe what we did.” She started forward again along with the others. “It’s just been such an overwhelming day, what with the dementors.”

“Ya, it sure has,” Louise replied. “And all I want to do now is get some sleep.”

The second-year girls were roused the next morning by Kaida doing her warbling impersonation of a rooster.

“I’m up, I’m up! Kaida, give it a rest will ya?” Louise scolded.

“I have to pee anyway,” Isolde muttered as she got out of bed. She grabbed her robe, and a small vanity kit, and headed for the toilets and showers. The others soon followed only to find there was already a large number of girls all contending for the limited facilities. They did manage to do everything that needed doing, get dressed, and down to the great hall in plenty of time for breakfast.

Many of the first years were flabbergasted at the sight of the little phoenix now bouncing about the table looking for only the best morsels.

“Good morning,” Aurora offered as she sat nearby. Aerie joined them a moment later, her good morning more of an incoherent muttering.

“And good morning to you, big sis,” Louise responded.

“Mail’s here,” Ron offered as he sat down. Hermione and Neville arrive at the same time.

“I thought it was customary to say good morning?” Aerie asked Ron.

“I’ll say good morning to you when you are fully awake.”

“Fair enough.” Aerie couldn’t help but smile even though her eyes were still all squinty.

They’d hardly sat down when the owls started dropping the morning mail in front of their respective recipients.

“Louise?” Isolde asked in astonishment as an owl dropped a package that was undoubtedly a broom in front of her.

“I’m trying out for the team. Might just as well have a decent broom.” Kaida had wasted no time hopping on over to the broom and began ripping away the old newspaper.

“Aerie, speaking of brooms…” Wood pressed as the morning newspapers were being delivered. The headline, Hogwarts Express attacked by Dementors. There was even a very good picture of a Dementor assaulting a group of girls save that the lighting made it difficult to see who all was in the picture.

“Is that us?” Aurora asked. “Who took that photo?”

“Byline is Rita Skeeter,” Hermione announced. “But how’d they get that photo?”

“Magic, I’d imagine,” Aerie offered and started eating her breakfast.

“If not for the timely arrival of Akkadian Aurors all may well have had souls forcibly removed,” Hermione read.

“Does it say anything about Aerie,” Aurora asked as she helped herself to one of the papers.

“Only that Aerie was in the group pictured,” Hermione replied. “She does say that Aerie managed another manna dump which appeared to obliterate the dementor and put a sizable hole in the far side of the carriage.”

It was right about then when an owl dropped another broom in front of Katie Bell.

“Katie?” Wood asked.

“Don’t look at me?”

“It’s addressed to you,” Fred reported as yet another broom was dropped. This time in front of George.

“Hang on, Louise, is that a Firebolt?” Wood asked as the rest of the blazing red shaft became visible. The color graduated to black towards the sweep to better highlight the golden bands and footrests.

“Firebolt Mark two,” Aerie offered as yet another broom was dropped, this time in front of Angelina. Fred got one next followed by Aerie and Alicia.

“Do, um, I get one?” Isolde asked hopefully as Cormack McLaggen received one. Isolde had been hoping to try out for the team as well.

“I paid for my own by exchanging some assets at the bank,” Louise informed her. “I’ve no idea what’s going on. Tell you what, you can borrow mine and we’ll take turns at the tryouts.”

“What if we both get on the team?”

“If you both get on the team I’ll see that you get your own broom,” Aurora offered.

“And do I get one?” Wood asked indignantly causing the girls to laugh. After all, he was now the only member of the team who didn’t have a new broom.

“A new broom? I thought you were fine with what you have?” Aerie teased. And to be true, more than a few people were looking on in excited curiosity.

“Where… where did these brooms come from?” Professor McGonagall asked in astonishment. She’d come over to see what the commotion was.

“I worked out a deal with the people I bought my last broom from. The broom I had was guaranteed against monster attacks of all kinds. We agreed…” Wood’s face lit up as one more owl flew in with a broom in tow. “I should probably explain. There is a finite supply of Blackthorn brooms, so they agreed to furnish the team with the newest version of the Firebolt.”

“I see… Given that Lucius Malfoy...”

“I helped facilitate the acquisition of their brooms,” Nova Silverwood informed Professor McGonagall having followed her over. “And with the wards at their present level had there been anything wrong with them they’d have been blocked from entry.”

“And you are sure that there is no way these brooms could have been tampered with?”

“Do you seriously want your house to lose again? Because that’s what’s going to happen if you let your paranoia get the better of you.”

“Now see here.”

“You're the one who seems dead set on taking those brooms away from them.”

“Only so we can properly inspect them.”

“I can assure you that there is nothing wrong with those brooms. Or were you possibly thinking of taking one for a joy ride?”

“I – I would never.” Her reply was dramatically indignant.

“Oh…” Nova Silverwood said in a teasing tone.

Aerie offered up her broom. “If you break it I get to use the Nova Broom.”

McGonagall gave her a dirty look, turned, and walked away.

“Any idea why she got it into her head to ‘inspect’ our new brooms?”

“Dumbledore. My ears are as keen as yours.” She leaned in and whispered, “Dumbledore has been hiding his right hand. Might he have found the ring?”

“And put it on. And He’ll not likely own up to where it is either. He means to control my fate by any means possible.” Aerie replied in a like tone. She let her voice go back to normal. “You should introduce Sunset to the Head Master.”

“She’s out in her airship. Introduce her to him?”

“That curse can only be countered one way if I’m not wrong. The description I recall makes me think that it’s a magically induced form of gangrene. It can be halted with potions but to stop it completely the cursed flesh must be removed. Sunset’s new toy should do the trick. Maybe if the two of you were to confront him…” She left off saying anything further.

“I see. Afraid it’ll have to wait, given I’ve agreed to teach Care of Magical Creatures. And then I’ll discuss the situation with Sunset.”

Author's Note

Just a heads up.
This is the last finished chapter to date.
I've one more that's half finished, but beyond that... this might be it for a while. I've been at this for a while and I just need a break. And it's summer. Once the temps go over 80'f my brain turns to mush.