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I'm Still Here by Seishin No Maigo
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I'm Still Here

Seishin No Maigo

Your name lingers

Sweetly on my lips....

-Chapter One-

The Hogwarts express slowly began to crawl down the tracks, a good sum of its occupants leaning out of windows to wave to their parents and family.

"Thanks again!" Harry called as he and Ron passed Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

"Bye, mom! Bye, dad!" Ron shouted as the train picked up speed and shot off, leaving the waving figures behind.

The two friends sat back, preparing for the long train ride. "Can't believe it," Harry said after a while of silence.

"Can't believe what?" Ron said.

"This is our sixth year at Hogwarts," he said, shrugging a bit. "It's just that six years ago, I would never have thought I'd be here."

"A lot's happened," Ron said.

Harry nodded just as the door to their compartment opened. Hermione walked in, already in her black robes, with Ginny right behind her. Ginny had a smile on her face almost from ear to ear as she sat down beside her brother. "Guess what?" she said excitedly.

"What?"

"We got a new teacher for the Care of Magical Creatures class!"

"What?!" Harry and Ron said in unison.

"But that's Hagrid's job!" Harry said.

"I know that," Ginny said, "but I just heard from Lee that Hagrid actually let this new teacher have the job as long as he can be the assistant. He'll still be there."

"So what's her name?" Ron asked.

"I don't know, but we'll see her sooner or later."

"I hope she doesn't boss Hagrid around," Harry said, wondering to himself why Hagrid allowed someone to take over the class when he enjoyed teaching it so much. Taken they had had several ups and downs over the years, the Blast-Ended Skrewts and Hippogriffs having been the worst so far, but Hagrid was still a wonderful teacher. So why give up the job?

They fell into easy conversation as the train chugged along. When the cart came by at half-past twelve Ginny left, saying she had promised a friend she would eat with her. When she was gone, Harry turned to Ron and said, "Did you find out anything?"

"Not much other than what I told you," he said, looking cautiously in a box of Every Flavor Beans before pulling one out that looked safe enough. "Dad's still saying that nothing happened to a girl named Sarah Williams, Muggle or no. But I know better. He and Percy have been talking to each other when they think I'm not looking and her name's come up several times. They even sent a few Owls out to Bill and Charlie. Charlie actually flew to the Burrow as soon as he got the letter. All three of them were shut up in Percy's room for three days. Now how can they say nothing's happening?"

"Did they mention anything else?" Hermione said, biting into a Licorice Wand.

"Well," Ron said slowly, thinking, "I think I heard Percy asking Charlie if he had any theories on 'what could have done it without leaving a mark,' but he didn't get any more specific on what he was talking about. All that Charlie would say was it could have been something he referred to as 'It'."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked, Hermione looking puzzled as well.

Ron shrugged. "Don't know. But the way he went on, it sounded like a dementor or something."

"All I could find," Hermione said, changing the subject, "is that it is possible to transfer into Hogwarts in the sixth year--or any year, really--but only if you were invited and already in a school of magic. Other than that, no way."

"Hmm," was all Harry said as he opened a Chocolate Frog.

Pounding footsteps raced down the corridor before the door was thrown open, Lee Jordan sticking his head in. "Harry! Ron!" he said, "Come quickly, you guys have got to see this!"

"See what?" Ron said as he and Harry followed him.

"Transfer student," Lee said, scarcely turning around to look at them. "You guys have got to see to believe her!" He got to a compartment that already had several other guys crowded around it, some whispering to each other and others just staring slack-jawed. Lee pushed some to the side and slipped into the compartment, Harry and Ron close by.

When they too saw the transfer student, their jaws dropped as well. She was sitting on a seat beside Cho Chang, listening intently as the seventh year girl talked about the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. The transfer student caught sight of Harry and Ron and smiled at them. That smile made their knees weak and their minds numb. She was absolutely gorgeous. Her hair was past her shoulders and looked smooth, the color being blonde with a few streaks of red in it that complemented her light olive skin. Her eyes were large and a jewel-like blue, set within her heart shaped face that was speckled with freckles. She stood, murmuring something to Cho who nodded, smiling as well, then walked to where Harry and Ron stood. Several of the gawking boys snapped to attention, trying to catch her eye. But her attention was set squarely on the two.

"Hello," she said, her voice soft and light. "My name is Amy. Amy Cartier." She held out her hand to Ron.

Ron took her hand, numbly shaking it as he tried to say his name. Harry nudged him in the back and he sputtered out, "W-Weasley. Ron Weasley."

Her smile only deepened a bit as she released his hand. She turned to Harry and repeated the gesture. He was tempted not to say his last name, but it came out in a rush, "Harry Potter."

She barely blinked. "Potter?" she said slowly. Then, as if someone flipped on a light switch, she gasped, "Harry Potter?"

He nodded minutely, avoiding Ron's gaze.

"It's an honor," she said, motioning for him to come in the compartment. "I've only just heard of you," she said, sitting down beside Cho. "Actually, I'm from the Salem Institute in the United Sates, and there wasn't as many people there who knew of you. But...wow. Harry Potter."

Harry fidgeted. He suddenly wished he was back in his compartment with Hermione.

"Hey, Harry," Ron said, catching him by the arm, "come on, we gotta get back. Hermione will be looking for us." He pulled his friend out the door and down the corridor a ways before they stopped.

"Thanks, Ron," Harry said under his breath so no one would hear.

"Don't mention it," Ron replied. "Still, she's a looker."

Harry nodded, looking back over his shoulder the way they had come. Several of the onlookers had gone--probably in the room to talk to Amy--and the path had cleared a little. A girl was rushing down the other way, something about her catching Harry's attention. She was kind of tall, and had plain brown-blonde hair in a bun at the back of her head. Harry frowned, wondering who she was. She was wearing a student uniform from what he could see. She opened a door at the end of the corridor and rushed inside before Harry could see her face.

Moving back down to their room, Harry and Ron were startled when someone emerged from it. It was a guy, standing straight and tall. He looked about six and a half feet at least, his chestnut brown hair almost touching the roof as it was slightly spiked up. He closed the door and turned, seeing the two looking up at him in question. He inclined his head, his hazel eyes expressionless, then walked swiftly past him.

Harry and Ron exchanged a confused glance. "You know him?" they asked in unison.

"No," Ron said, "but he seems familiar somehow."

"I don't like the looks of him," Harry muttered, shifting uncomfortably as he watched the guy walking down the corridor. Something about him set off alarms in Harry's head, making him feel uneasy. He shook his head, opening the door.

Hermonione's head snapped up, surprised at their return. She hastily shoved something into her robes before they saw it. "What was that about?" she said quickly. "With Lee, I mean."

"Transfer student," Ron answered. "Who was that guy in here a second ago?"

She blinked, looking puzzled. "What guy?"

----------

Nothing more eventful happened on the remainder of the ride to Hogwarts. Hermione insisted to Harry and Ron that there had not been anyone in the compartment since they had left. Though they looked as hard as they could, none of them could find someone who even resembled him much less the person himself. That quickly became the least of their concern as the announcement that they would be reaching the school sounded. Harry and Ron quickly put on their robes and waited with Hermione.

When the train finally came to a stop and was filled with the sounds of everyone trying to get off, Harry kept scanning the crowds in hopes of finding the brown-haired boy. No luck, not even when they separated into the waiting carriages that took them to the school. Harry was becoming frustrated as they made their way to the Gryffindor table in the great Hall.

"What's wrong?" Fred said as he took a seat next to Harry, his twin across the table.

"I'm trying to find someone," Harry said. "A boy we met on the train, but I can't see him."

"Is he a first year?" Greg asked.

"Don't know," Ron said. "If he is, then he's the tallest I've ever seen."

Professor McGonagall soon entered the Hall, leading the first years in behind her. Harry saw Amy immediately. She seemed to shine within the mass of black around her. Her eyes locked with his and she smiled.

McGonagall brought out the Sorting Hat, which broke into it's annual song--new lyrics of course--and went through her explanation to the first years of what they would do in order to be sorted into the houses. "But first," she said suddenly, catching everyone by surprise, "there is a small but proud matter we should attend to. This year the sixth years shall have three new students joining them. They all had marks in their old schools that caught our eye and accepted the invitation to transfer into Hogwarts. I hope you all will do your best to make them feel at home." She motioned for them to separate from the first years.

"Cartier, Amy," the professor announced as the blonde girl stepped forward and sat on the stool with the hat on. It was only a moment before the hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" The Hall erupted into cheers. Several Gryffindors let out catcalls as Amy hurriedly joined their table, namely Fred and George.

"Kennedy, Matthew." A tall boy stepped up to the stool.

"That's him! That's him!" Ron hissed to Harry, who had already it.

"I can see that!" Harry whispered back, seeing Snape eyeing them. Knowing Snape, he would not mind deducting points on their first night there if he could help it.

"That you who were looking for?" George said as their table cheered, for Matthew had also become a Gryffindor.

"Yes," Ron answered.

"I've never seen him before," Hermione said, frowning as she tried to recall his face but failing.

"I'm telling you, he came out of the compartment. You were in there!" Harry insisted. He stopped.

The Hall had become very quiet. The third one had already been called yet they had missed her name. Harry recognized the back of her head as the one that had been running down the corridor. She quickly pulled on the hat before they could make out her face. Silence covered the room for what felt like hours. Harry could see the hat quivering as it sat on her head, which he thought was odd since it had never done so before. He glanced at Professor McGonagall and saw that she seemed to be fidgeting, her eyes darting from the girl and hat to the table where Professor Dumbledore sat. Dumbledore had his eyes set only on the girl, never blinking behind his half-moon glasses. After almost five minutes, the hat shouted out the decision.

"SLYTHERIN!!"

The girl took off the hat and handed it to Professor McGonagall, who looked slightly shocked, and hurried off to the cheering table. Again, Harry missed seeing her clearly.

----------

The meal passed and before Harry noticed, Dumbledore stood up to address the students.

"Only one announcement, I assure you," he began. "In light of some recent events, we have taken on a new teacher for the Care of Magical Creatures class. Our gamekeeper shall still present in the classes, but it shall be headed by the professor. Thank you."

After they were dismissed, they filed out towards their own Common Rooms. Amy caught up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who were talking bout the new teacher.

"Don't you find it strange he didn't name the professor?" Amy asked them.

"Yes, very," Hermione agreed. "He doesn't usually do that."

"Maybe they wish to remain unknown until class," Harry suggested.

"Are you in the class as well?" Ron asked Amy.

She nodded, grinning. "I can't wait until our first lesson. At Salem, they wouldn't allow us to handle any animals except for our cats and things like that. Rather boring is you ask me, being lectured about creatures like dragons and unicorns but never being able to see or touch one."

"You've never seen one?"

"Not a real one," she said, rolling her eyes. "All they had were pictures or sometimes they would create a life-size image, but that's all. I wonder if we'll have any specimens here..."

"If this professor is anything like Hagrid," Harry laughed as they went through the hole behind the fat lady's portrait, "we'll have more than just specimens."

"We'll probably have to raise them," Ron chimed in. They said goodnight to Hermione and Amy, who were already in a conversation about the classes, and went up to their dormitory. Once there, they saw that the only one beside themselves was Matthew Kennedy, leaning against his bed. An expressionless look on his face.

Ron and Harry exchanged a glance before stepping up to him. "Hello," Ron said, smiling. "my name's Ron."

"Matt," he said shortly, eyeing Harry with a strange look in his eyes.

"I'm Harry," Harry said, trying not to frown. Why was he staring at him?

Matt suddenly blinked, shaking his head. "Sorry," he said in a more conversational tone. "I just...sorry," he said again, looking genuinely apologetic.

"It's all right," Harry said, suddenly feeling the tension in the air ease a bit. "Didn't we see you on the train?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Were you talking to Hermione? When you left the compartment I mean," Ron asked as casually as he could without sounding accusing.

"Yes. I had gone into the wrong compartment by mistake and asked her if she knew where mine was," he said nonchalantly.

Harry and Ron glanced at each other when he was not looking. Harry raised his eyebrows, meaning 'Think he's lying?'

Ron shrugged subtly.

"Are either of you in the Divination class, by any chance?" Matt asked.

They blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Both of us," Harry answered.

Matt's eyes seemed to brighten though it did not reach his face. "Great! Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

Matt went to his trunk and opened it, rummaging around until he pulled out a box shaped parcel with a letter attached to it. He handed it to Ron and said, "Give this to Sibyll for me, will you?"

"Sibyll? You're on first name basis with her?" Ron questioned, though he accepted the parcel. He shook it, but no sound came from it and it felt like there was nothing in it.

"Long story," Matt said, adverting his eyes. He was saved from having to go into the story by Neville and the rest of the boys coming in.

Harry and Ron went back to their own beds, whispering to each other as they put on their pajamas. "Do you think Hermione was lying?" Harry asked.

"I don't think so," Ron replied. "But you can't deny what we saw. And we both saw him coming out."

"Maybe they're both lying," Harry said, climbing into bed.

"Let's worry about it tomorrow," Ron said, yawning.

----------

The first few days went smoothly for them. Amy hung around them but was pleasant company to be around. She was always willing to hear about the three's adventures over the years and did not seem to care too much about Harry's famous past. She treated him somewhat normally. No matter where they went, they seemed to attract a crowd. Boys followed Amy like fleas on a dog, all trying to strike up a conversation with her. Yet she always managed to slip away just in time.

Matt said nothing else about the day on the train--in fact, he hardly said anything at all--and neither did Hermione, so Harry and Ron forgot about it before long. But there was something about Hermione that seemed odd to Harry, though he could not figure out what it was. He even asked Ginny if she had noticed anything different about her, but she had not so far.

Friday seemed to be both good and bad for Harry. On the good side, they only had three classes, one of them being Care for Magical Creatures. On the bad side, the other two were Double Potions and Divination.

"Why is it we get stuck with the Slytherins for two classes?" Ron grumbled around a slice of toast.

"It could be worst," Amy said.

"How?"

"We could be with them for every class," she pointed out.

"I just wish we could get Potions over with before lunch," Harry said.

"At least we have Hagrid's class to look forward to," Hermione said.

"You can talk," Ron said, making a face. "You don't have Divination. I'll never be able to look forward to that class."

"Is it really that bad?" Amy asked. She would not have to find out since she was taking the Ancient Runes class with Hermione.

"Worse," Ron and Harry said at the same time.

After breakfast, they separated to their own classes. They were getting there a little early, but that was so Ron could deliver the parcel Matt had given him. They had tried to figure out what was in it, but it seemed empty. They managed to get the trapdoor to open and climbed up the ladder. Professor Trelawney was already seated in her armchair when they got up there. She smiled at them. "Welcome," she said. "My, here a little early for class, aren't you?"

"Yes, ma'am," Ron said, stepping up. "We were asked to give this to you and preferred we didn't interrupt class." He handed her the parcel and he and Harry moved to go back down, the stuffy atmosphere of the room making them dizzy already.

"Wait," Professor Trelawney said, her already large eyes even larger as she looked up at them. Harry was shocked to see what he thought was fear in her eyes. "Who gave this to you?"

"A new student," Harry replied. "He seemed to know you."

Professor Trelawney slowly opened the letter, scanning it quickly. She threw it aside and tore open the parcel. It was a cardboard box tied with string. She ripped off the top and stopped so suddenly they thought she had been hit with a Stunning spell. Then, with shaking hands, she touched whatever was in the box. Her eyes jerked up onto the two. "What was the boy's name?" she said in a trembling voice.

"Matthew Kennedy," Harry said.

All of the color left her face. She fell back into her chair, muttering to herself. "Go back to your rooms," she said. "Classes will be cancelled until further notice."

----------

Even though Professor Trelawney's reaction to the parcel was disturbing, neither Harry or Ron complained about having that class cancelled. They spent the morning in the Common Room, playing a few games of wizard chess. Hermione and Amy came in after their class was over and joined them. After Ron had won yet another game, Amy said, "May I play?"

"Are you sure?" Harry said. "Ron's really good."

"Of course," she said, sitting herself across from Ron. "First: pick a square."

The three of them stared at her for a moment, wondering what she meant. "Pick a square?" Ron repeated.

She nodded. "It's been a while since I last played and I want to see if I can still do this. Go on, pick any square."

Hermione caught Harry's eyes over the back of her book. They shared a look that said, 'What is she doing?'

Ron pointed at a square that was probably random and they started their game. At first Ron seemed to have the upper hand, but as it went on he began to take longer and longer to choose his move. Amy seemed to know exactly what she wanted to do moves ahead and finished her turns quickly. Then, without warning, she proudly moved her rook and declared, "Checkmate."

They stared in disbelief. Not only had she won, but she had checkmated Ron on the exact square he had picked.

"How did you--" Ron started, but was too dumbfounded to form the rest of the sentence.

"It's an easy little trick a friend taught me," she said, giggling at his expression. "Want me to teach you?"

Ron stammered out a 'yes.'

After lunch, they hurried down to the dungeon where Potions was held, not wanting to be late. They had heard from others that Snape seemed to be in a really sour mood for some reason and was deducting points left and right. Sure enough, they found out for themselves how bad a mood he was in.

They were making a brew that made hair grow. Snape had already taken three points from Neville alone for being tardy, stumbling on his robes, and for clanging his cauldron. Everyone was being as quiet as they could. Then, Ron's hand bumped against their scale by accident, knocking the ground up nightcrawler's legs into the incomplete brew. It bubbled a thick, musty blue over the rim. Those around it scrambled to get out of the way, not wanting to know what would happen if they touched it.

Snape stormed over, clearing it with a wave of his wand. "Five more points from Gryffindor," he snarled at Harry and Ron.

Malfoy was laughing loudly, along with Crab and Goyle. They shut up when Snape rounded on them. "And two from Slytherin!" he nearly shouted. "For you're idiotic babbling! Now, get back to work!" he roared to the students who were staring in shock at him.

After class, the Gryffindors were all whispering to each other. "Snape actually took points from his own house?" Hermione breathed, not believing it.

"And from Malfoy," Harry added. "I don't think I want to know what crossed him."

"Me either," Ron agreed.

"Come on," Amy called, already ahead of them as she was dodging Seamus. "I want to see who the professor is! Hurry up!"

In all the fuss in Potions that had forgotten that their next class was Care for Magical Creatures. They hurried along the corridors to the classroom. Several students were already there, talking to one another excitedly. Hagrid was sitting in a chair at the front off to the side. He smiled upon seeing them.

"Hullo!" he said as they came up to him. "Haven't seen yeh since the banquet, eh? How're yer classes so far?"

"They could be better," Harry said.

"Especially Potions," Ron added. "Do you know why Snape's so mad?"

Hagrid chuckled. "Well, I do and I don't. It's not my place ter tell, see? Oh, better sit down. Professor's comin'." He shooed them back to their seats which were at the front of the room. Everyone fell quiet as they all heard the sounds of softly approaching footsteps. A door near the front of the room opened and the professor stepped through.

Several gasps and whispers sounded as the professor set an armload of books onto the desk and looked out at the class. Standing in front of them was the third transfer student; her student uniform confirmed this. Her eyes were a dull, dark brown. The left side of her face was slightly obscured by locks of her brown-blonde hair that did not reach the bun. She straightened, easily making the five feet eight inches mark, but maybe shorter. Her arms crossed she spoke.

"Due to circumstances," she said, her voice thick and soft at the same time, "I shall be teaching this class. I hope to find no trouble from either Gryffindors or Slytherins. Also know that I will not favor my own house," she added with a glance at Malfoy, who had been whispering to Crab and Goyle, "and I have full authority to deduct points, both during class and out. I have little tolerance for disrespect and will not stand for anyone disrupting this class."

"She seems pretty tough," Hermione whispered under her breath to Harry. When he did not respond, she looked at him. She found that he was staring at the professor in what looked like shock.

Harry, though he did not know it, was in a mild state of shock. His entire body was numb with disbelief and his mouth hung slightly open. Then, he breathed two words as the professor did as well, which she said was her name.

"Sarah Williams."

~~~~~

Interested yet? Confused? Don't worry, everything will be clear in the future.

Oh, and the chess thing? A friend of mine really checkmated me just like that. (hey tristan!!!) So, yes, that is possible. I just haven't figured it out yet since he won't tell me!!

R&R!!!!

==Seishin no Maigo==