It felt incredibly odd but very comforting as Harry boarded the Hogwarts Express the following day with his friends. He was going to his home, and to everyone else, he would be Harry as normal. But inside, nothing was normal at all. Snape was now his father figure and in charge of him for many things. For a brief moment, Harry wondered if Snape would be willing to sign his Hogsmeade form, but he couldn't think of asking.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were a little late getting onto the train, and the only compartment left housed a sleeping man. He snored lightly, and his face was entirely covered by a jacket he'd laid over himself. Ron asked if it may be the new defense teacher, and Hermione informed them his name was Remus Lupin, according to his trunk in the compartment. After Harry was assured the man was truly asleep, he leaned forward to talk with his friends.

They spoke of Sirius Black, who Hermione and Ron warned him of. He was an escaped criminal, and Ron overheard his dad talking about how it was very likely Sirius would target Harry, but he didn't know why. All they really knew was that he was dangerous, he was on the move, and he was looking for Harry.

Harry was so upset about the news that he didn't notice the cold, at first. But then the windows started to frost, slowly at first. Then it spread in great crystal formations. Hermione and Ron looked scared, and Harry's head started to hurt a small amount. Then, the screaming. He could hear a distant scream, and stood to run to help. As he did, the creature entered the compartment.

It was dreadful. Like a corpse wrapped in rotting gauze, long and floating like a ghost, trailing otherwordly tatters behind it. It's mouth was the worst- disgusting teeth and a putrid set of gums. Looking at it horrified Harry, but what was worse was the profound sadness.

He felt his childhood all over again. The neglect, the abuse entered his mind unbidden. He felt so unloved. He had never felt truly accepted. The friends across from him were just there because they were drawn to his fame, not to him as a person. Every secret fear came out in his mind. He would never know the love of family, he would never amount to anything despite the pressure upon him. He would collapse into himself like a dying star before ever defeating Voldemort, and doom everyone he ever cared about.

The screaming he heard was growing louder, joined by Ron and Hermione screaming as well. Begging for help, it sounded like, but all Harry could focus on was the woman screaming. It felt like it was coming from inside his own head. The creature was above him now, and growing closer. Harry was starting to feel drained, and filled with more and more sadness. It grew even closer, wisps of something leaving Harry and being sucked up by the creature. He was growing so tired and wearing, in the moment and in life, that he couldn't stay focused anymore.

The last thing he would remember seeing would be the man in the compartment standing and yelling something, a bright flash of white, and realizing the woman was screaming his name.

When Harry came to, he was still on the train, with his three companions surrounding him. He immediately recognized Ron and Hermione, both wrecked with concern, but did not know the scarred man beside him. He was fairly tall, it seemed, and his face had massive scars on them. He had dark eyes but lighter hair that was a little long and scraggly. A sense of calmness was around him, and he almost gave a flicker of a smile when he realized Harry had woken up.

"Here, eat this," the man said and shoved it at Harry, who stared at it blankly as his mind struggled to catch up. Lupin. Hermione said the man was Remus Lupin. A professor. Given that the last two Defense teachers had tried to either kill Harry or wipe his memories and possibly drive him insane, Harry did not reach for the bit of chocolate.

"It will help ease the effects of the Dementors, eat up," Remus urged, and with reluctance Harry complied, eyeing his two friends who were nodding encouragement and still looking fearful. With a single bite, he felt immediate relief. The wave of depression lifted back to it's normal levels, and his mind began to clear. Finally, he felt he could focus on everyone. Lupin also wore a considerable look of concern masked behind a serious expression. Hermione had been biting her bottom lip- a big sign of worry. And Ron had blanched someone, making his freckles stand out, and his mouth was twisted the way it did when he didn't know what to say. Harry suddenly felt uncomfortable under all the scrutiny.

"Who was the woman screaming?" he asked to divert their attention away from him, but the looks of fresh worry they exchanged made his stomach sink. Hermione decided to be the one to speak next.

"Harry… there was no one screaming. A Dementor somehow entered the train- we still aren't sure why. What exactly did you hear?" she asked, but Harry brushed her off.

"What's a Dementor? Those nasty ghost like things?" he asked, and Hermione nodded, looking to Lupin for support. The professor took a deep breath, as if preparing for a lecture. Harry adjusted himself better in his seat to give him his full attention.

"Dementors are beings that feed on happiness. They leave only sadness in their wake. This one appeared to be targeting only you, for some reason. It affected you strongly as well. I shall be speaking to the Headmaster about this later. For now, I must leave you. We will be near the school soon, change into your robes," Remus instructed, and took off before Harry could ask for any more details. Hermione nudged Ron sharply then rose as well.

"I'm going to go change, I'll be back soon," she said, and then Harry and Ron were alone together.

"We thought you were going to die," Ron blurted out, and Harry looked at him, startled. "You got so pale and collapsed onto the seat. That Dementor thing was sucking your soul out of you, mate. We thought you were done for, then the professor just stood up and cast a spell. It was bloody brilliant, got that thing to clear out right quick. But then you didn't wake up and Hermione and I didn't know what to do. I was so scared that I lost you- that we lost you. All the sadness I felt before just came right back because that fear hit me. And I don't want it to happen again."

Harry blinked after his friend's rapid speech, and Ron turned red to his ears with embarrassment, then mumbled something about changing into his robes. Harry was stunned into silence after the emotional moment, and changed into his own robes as well. Shortly after, Hermione returned, and they had a solemn ride to the castle.

Furious was not strong enough to describe how Snape felt as he entered the great hall and saw Remus Lupin sitting at the teacher's table. Fire rose in his veins, and it took all his self control not to destroy everything around him with a flare of magic. The wolf did not notice him, and students were sitting at their tables. Now was not the time. Still, Snape leaned in close to Dumbledore before going to his seat.

"There will be a discussion about this," he hissed. He hardly noticed the sorting that year, politely clapping when he heard his own house and staring hatefully at his dinner otherwise. He refused to look down the table towards the wolf. He refused to look for Potter. All he wanted to do was scream until life stopped treating him so horribly, even if it was a very teenage desire. Black was on the loose, searching for Potter, most likely to finish the job. The wolf that nearly killed him without consequence was going to be around him every single day once again. And he had the Potter brat to take care of as well. Not to mention the looming threat of the Dark Lord's attempts to return, or the mass of students who were all vying to die in a potions explosion by the way they behaved in his classroom.

He just wanted one damn year without issue, but instead they piled up.

After the welcoming feast, Snape immediately went to Dumbledore's side and laid his claim in speaking to him that evening. The headmaster seemed to be whimsically amused at Snape's adamant demand of a conference, but the potion master knew better than to trust his twinkling eyes. Indeed, as soon as the door to the headmaster's office closed, Dumbledore whipped around with a cool look to his eyes.

"How dare you bring danger upon this school," Snape started, and already Dumbledore turned his back to him, fixing himself some tea.

"However do you mean, Severus?" Dumbledore drawled, and Snape bristled at the words. He always knew how to get under Snape's skin.

"Dementors circling the school and an unreliable werewolf among the students? The board of governors would have your head," Snape hissed, narrowing his dark eyes. Dumbledore looked at him mildly and sipped his tea.

"Have you checked in with Harry yet, Severus?" he asked by means of diversion, and Snape hated that it worked. He quieted for a few moments, eyeing Dumbledore for any means of trickery.

"He stayed at the Weasley's and made it to the school. Whyever would I need to check on him?"

"The Dementors went out of bounds and attacked the train. Harry very nearly had his soul sucked out, as they took a particular interest in him. It was, in fact, Professor Lupin who was able to save him," Dumbledore explained, and Snape clenched his jaw.

"You have proven my point about the dementors. You allow those monsters to roam the grounds, and a child will fall victim. Just because the wolf was there to save the day does not mean a teacher will always be there. Black be damned, it is a terrible idea and it will come to haunt you, old man. This discussion is not over because you have given me another duty. Expect it to continue all year," Snape snarled, then turned on his heel and left for the Gryffindor dormitories.

Once outside, he sent a message flying under the door and up to the dorm he knew Harry to be in. A few minutes later, Potter emerged, looking tired and wary.

"You called for me, sir?" he asked, full of trepidation. Snape nodded and began to walk, expecting Potter to follow him. The boy obliged slowly, looking more than annoyed. Snape led him to an unused classroom just around the corner, and shut the door behind him.

"What happened on the train, Potter?" he asked, and Potter sat in a dusty chair as he sighed. Clearly, he had already been over this with a few people.

"I was minding my own business when a giant ghoul like thing started to suck out my soul, making me more depressed than I had ever been, and I heard a woman screaming that no one else could hear. Then Professor Lupin gave me some chocolate and left, like that was the best cure. Is that enough for you, sir?" Harry snapped out, and Snape resisted the urge to snap at him.

"The woman screaming. Was it at all familiar? Do you know if it attacked your friends at all?" he asked, and Harry shook his head.

"Well, the screaming sounded a little familiar… but it totally ignored Ron and Hermione even though they were in the same place. What exactly are Dementors and why are they here? Is it because of Sirius Black?" he asked, and Snape froze.

"What do you know of Black?" he asked, and Harry gave him an annoyed look.

"I'm no idiot. I know Black escaped and is probably after me. Is there a chance he can get into the school?" Harry replied, and Snape sighed deeply. He dreaded this conversation.

"In short… yes. That is why the Headmaster has foolishly enlisted the help of the dementors, which are as untamable in Azkaban as anywhere else. This is the first time anyone has escaped from that dark place, and there are many ways he may know to enter the grounds from his time as a student. It is very possible he could be seeking to finish the job the Dark Lord started, but all we know is he is unpredictable and dangerous. I know this is an empty request, but please do try to be careful this school year. Do not go wandering around the Forbidden Forest, or sneaking around without even your friends knowing where you are. I know you will be up to… shenanigans as usual, but at least keep those brats around you informed in case we need to track you down following a Black sighting," Snape demanded, drawling the words out as if he weren't worried about the damned brat in front of him.

"Professor, you supervise Hogsmeade trips, don't you?" asked Harry, and Snape stared at him, waiting for him to get to his real point.

"Well, I was just wondering, since you are my guardian… if you might sign my permission slip? The Dursley's were never going to do it, accidental magic or not," Harry continued.

"Yes, we never did speak of what caused that magic, did we? A little old for accidental magic, Potter," Snape said, taking control of the conversation. "Tell me, and I will sign your permission slip. However, I will only allow you to go when I am present until Black is caught. Is that understood?"

Harry nodded, gulping quickly. Snape really was intimidating when he wanted to be, breaking past even Harry's rebellious uncaring attitude.

"Yes, sir. You see, I, erm, I accidentally turned my aunt into a balloon. Not Petunia, but Vernon's sister," he started and Snape raised his brow.

"She'd said something cruel about my mother, and it just kind of happened. Hermione is working with me on meditation, now, so that I can try to avoid that happening again." At that, Snape felt his own veins freeze with anger. Yes, he could fully understand lashing out if Lily Potter was insulted.

"I see. It is good to learn meditation. You will find it helpful in many areas. I shall turn in a slip to Dumbledore on your behalf, just behave yourself," Snape finally said, then opened the door for Harry. "Now, go off and get some rest. This is going to be a tense year."

Harry left without another word, already anxious for bed. At least he would have Hogsmeade to look forward to. As he left, Snape wondered if he should have told Potter about Black's true role in the death of his parents, as well as his godfather status, but any further upsetting of the boy could result in disastrous action. Soon, perhaps, but not then.