"Mum!" Ginny called up the stairs.

"Yes dear?" Molly answered from upstairs.

"When did Harry get here?" Ginny asked, looking at the trunk and cage.

"Harry who?" Molly walked down.

"Harry Potter." Ginny pointed,"Look, all his stuff is here."

"I think I would know if Harry Potter was in my house." Molly scoffed.

"Did someone say Harry?" Ron leaned over the banister.

"I did, nosy." Ginny looked up at him,"Is he upstairs with you and Erica?"

"Erica, is Harry in there?" Ron asked.

"Huh- Oh, no. Nobody's in here. Just me." Erica answered.

Ron sighed,"No, he's not. I'm coming down."

"I mean, it's not every day someone's stuff just... Appears." Ginny shook her head.

"Maybe his stuff came before him." Ron shook his head.

"Then where's he?"

"I don't know. He'll appear." Ron waved her off.

"You seem so concerned." Ginny nodded.

"Well, as long as I don't see a dead body, I'm okay."

Ginny shook her head as a knock came from the front door.

"I'll get it." Ron walked to the door.

There at the door was Harry, a little wet but he was there.

"Harry!" Ron laughed.

"Miss me?" Harry smiled.

"Course I did." Ron nodded.

"Can I come in?"

Ron moved out the way,"How's your stuff here?"

"Yeah, Dumbledore did that." Harry sighed.

"I wish Dumbledore moved my stuff." Ron muttered.

"And by the way, we're getting a new potions professor."

"We are?" Hermione walked down the stairs, she had gotten there a few days ago.

"Yeah... Slughorn, I think his name was." Harry shook his head.

"So... What's happened to Snape?" Ron asked.

"That's what's confused me, I don't know." Harry sighed.

"Maybe he finally got the position of DADA Professor." Ron suggested.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing though?"

"It depends what he's teaching." Hermione sighed,"Erica, come on down!"

"But why?" Erica asked, slowly walking down the stairs.

"Because Harry is here." Hermione nodded.

"Harry comes here all the time."

"Not happy to see me?" Harry chuckled.

"Of course I am, I'm just tired." Erica shook her head.

"You're always tired." Ron nudged her.

"Be shush." Erica nudged him back.

"You be shush." Ron hummed.

That's when another knock came at the door.

Harry turned and opened the door,"Parker?"

"Howdy, hey." Parker waved,"I... Do you think your mum would let me stay?" She turned to the younger twins.

"Harry's already staying, she'll let you stay." Erica told her.

"Thanks Erica." Parker smiled.

"No problem."

"Can I talk to you, actually?" Parker nodded.

"Hm? Oh, sure." Erica nodded.

"Thanks." Parker walked up the stairs.

Erica followed her,"So... What is it?"

"You cannot tell the others, please." Parker sighed.

"I wont." She hummed.

"The Death Eaters have taken over the Manor... That's where they're staying, along with Voldemort."

"Well, that's not good." Erica shook her head.

"There's something else.."

"Something's else..?"

Parker hesitated before she lifted up her cardigan sleeve, showing the Dark Mark.

"Oh my-" Erica covered her mouth,"They made you.."

"I didn't get a choice." Parker sighed.

"I'm so sorry.' Erica hugged her.

Parker hugged back, They want to use me as a spy, But my mum- Narcissa... She made it so it wouldn't hurt when Voldemort called. I'm not going to be their spy."

"I won't let them take you away from us." Erica held onto her tightly,"If you need anything, I'm here."

"Thanks Erica." Parker sighed.

"It's the least I can do."

"I love you, you know that?"

"You better." Erica finally let go.

"I do." Parker smiled softly.

Erica smiled back,"I love you too."

"Come on, let's head down." Parker nodded.

"Right." Erica headed back downstairs

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

Later on that night, the Herd was in the youngest twins bedroom sleeping when Erica was having another nightmare. She shot up, shaking. Her eyes darted around the dark room, unsure of her surroundings.

"Erica?" Parker asked from the bottom of her bed.

"P-parker?" Erica turned to the sound.

"What's wrong?" Parker walked over to her.

"Nothing's wrong, go back to sleep." Erica shook her head.

"Did you have a nightmare?" She crouched down.

"No.."

"I thought they had gotten better." Parker sighed.

"They were better... But everything's just too much."

"I'm sorry, hun." Parker rubbed her arm.

"I've tried to just... Keep it to myself, I don't want everyone worrying about me." Erica shook her head.

"We all worry about each other." Parker assured her.

"But there's a lot going on, I think people should be worrying about other things."

"Well, I worry about you."

"I know." Erica sighed.

"I'll watch over you, okay?" Parker stroked her hair.

"No, you have to sleep." Erica pointed.

"I'll get sleep on the train." Parker hummed.

"Parker."

"Yes?"

"You go to sleep."

"You first." She pointed.

"No, you." Erica pointed back.

"Rock, paper, scissors." Parker chuckled.

"You know I can't play that game." Erica sighed.

"So I know I'll win. Honestly Er, sleep. I'll make sure you're okay, then I'll sleep on the train."

"Parker, I'm fine. You go to sleep." Erica leaned against her.

"How about, we both go?"

"But if I fall asleep, how will I know you fell asleep?"

"Erica." Parker sighed,"I will, promise."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Erica gave Parker a look before curling up in her arms. Parker smiled softly and hugged Erica.

"Night Parker."

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

The next day, the Herd headed to Diagon Alley. They were all going to the opening day of Fred and George's shop... Weasley's Wizard Weazes.

"Ladies and Gentlemen... And Ron. I welcome you, to Weasleys Wizard Weazes." Erica smiled as she opened the door.

"And Ron?" Ron blinked

"It's even better than I imagined." Parker chuckled.

"It's amazing." Harry smiled.

"I know, right?" Erica then spun around, noticing Ginny,"You. We need to talk."

"Wh- Hi Erica." Ginny turned to her older sister.

"So... When were you going to tell me?" Erica crossed her arms.

"Tell you... What?"

"About you and Dean Thomas." Erica looked over at him from across the shop.

"Who told you?" Ginny sighed.

"I have connections." Erica shrugged.

"It's none of your business." Ginny hummed.

Erica gasped,"You are my baby sister, it is very much my business."

"It's a thing that happened over the summer."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"I was going to tell you eventually."

"Were you really?" Erica raised a brow.

"Yeah... Eventually." Ginny nodded.

Erica sighed,"If he hurts you, I'm going to kill him."

"You'll give him the talk, I'm sure." Ginny chuckled.

"Oh, you bet I will."

"Don't scare him away though, please?"

"I'll try not to." Erica sighed.

"Thank you." Ginny hugged her.

Erica hugged back,"It's ny job to protect you."

"I know it is.' Ginny smiled.

"Stay safe." Erica patted her head before walking back to the Herd.

"Fred, George?" Ron held up a box,"How much for this?"

"Five galleons." They both responded.

"How much for me?"

"Five galleons."

"Yeah... But I'm your brother."

The twins looked at each other and shrugged,"Ten galleons."

"Can you believe them?" Ron scoffed to the Herd.

"Yeah... We may or may not have had a few discussions." Erica hummed.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Look, if there's something you want, I'll get you it. I have discounts." Erica patted his shoulder,"Same for everyone else."

"Thanks Erica." Hermione hummed.

"The pleasure is all mine." Erica smiled.

"Let's see what else is here." Parker skipped off.

"Can I take a guess? It's a comb... That changes the users hair colour?"

Erica giggled,"We tested it on Ron and turned his hair purple."

"I could've used one of these for Draco years ago." Parker hummed.

"Feel like he'd be up for round two?"

"Right now? No, but I will buy one eventually." Parker nodded.

"See? I'm a great sales rep." Erica hummed.

"That you are, my friend." Parker smiled.

Erica smiled back,"... The twins are staring at us."

"They're thinking. That's never good." Parker sighed.

"Is it worth it going up and asking them?" Erica asked.

"Let's see what they're planning first." She nodded slowly.

"I'm nervous." Erica sighed.

"We can watch from afar." Parker stood back.

"Now... Let's see." Fred looked around.

"Who smells like flowers.." George scanned the area.

"Maybe someone who likes them?"

"Hm.." George took in a deep breath,"You're out there somewhere."

"Would they come here on opening day?" Fred walked towards the flowers in their store.

"Of course they would, everyone's here."

"What's her type?"

"She's not into the whole 'bad boy' thing, she likes nice people." George kept looking around.

"Who's nice that she hangs about with?" Fred looked towards the direction of... Neville Longbottom.

"Fred... Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" George raised a brow.

"I'm thinking exactly what you're thinking, George." Fred nodded and slowly walked towards him.

George followed after him and he smelt a distinct floral aroma.

"She mentioned chocolate as well?" Fred raised a brow.

"Hm, I can't smell that." George shook his head.

"Me neither. Oh well. Let's go." Fred walked to Neville.

"Anything piqued your interest?" George hummed.

Neville jumped slightly, "Uh..Not really, just looking."

"Interesting, see anything you like over there?" George nodded in the direction of Erica and Parker.

"My friends?" Neville blinked.

"Yeah, friends.." Frd nodded slowly,"We're onto you, buddy."

"Onto me- Have I done something?" Neville shook his head.

"We know what you two did." George shrugged, he didn't know where he was going with this.

Neville's eyes widened,"I'm sorry, it was consen-"

"Back away from the poor boy." Parker waved the twins away as she walked over with Erica.

"Wait- Wait, no, we need to know." Fred pointed.

"No. No, you don't." Erica hugged onto Neville.

"I'm scared." Neville chuckled.

"Shoo."

"George, back of the shop." Fred walked off slowly.

"Copy." George saluted and backed off.

"I'm so sorry about them." Erica sighed.

"They know what we did." Neville whispered.

"I'm sorry, what?" Erica blinked.

"They know." He pointed.

"They're gonna kill me." Erica covered her face.

"Oh- Is it that?" Parker nodded slowly.

"Apparently they know. How? It's beyond me because I haven't even told my twin brother." Erica crossed her arms.

Neville sighed,"I'll see you guys on the train, okay?"

"Yeah, see you on the train." Erica shook her head.

Neville waved before he left.

"They're sneaky, they'd find something out." Parker sighed.

"They're the worst."

"Oh!" Parker smiled, something had caught her eye.

"Found something you like?" Erica turned.

"Pygmy Puffs." Parker gently picked up a small lavender one.

"I should've known." Erica chuckled, shaking her head.

"You never told me they had them."

"Well, they bred them." Erica shrugged,"Did I help? A little."

"Think you could let me borrow that discount?"

"Is that the one you want?" Erica asked.

Parker nodded with a smile.

"He's yours."

"I'll name you... Melvin."

"I like that name." Erica hummed, picking up a pink one,"This... This is Kenneth."

"Kenneth and Melvin. Best friends."

"Exactly." Erica cuddled Kenneth.

"Can the twins look after them until we come back from Hogwarts?" Parker hummed.

"I'll ask them." Erica nodded.

"Guys, we're heading. You coming?" Ron walked over.

"Of course." Erica smiled.

Once Erica had given the Pygmy Puffs over to the twins. The Herd walked out of the shop, only to see Draco in a suit and Narcissa walking down an alley.

"Huh... Wonder where they're going." Harry looked at them.

"Shopping." Parker waved them off, walking ahead.

"How about we follow them?"

"Harry, why do you want to stalk Malfoy?" Erica sighed.

"Because he's on the same side as the Death Eaters." Harry walked the other way, following them.

"Harry, this never ends well." Ron shook his head, following Harry.

"And besides, he doesn't have a choice." Parker sighed.

"He's up to something, I can feel it." Harry insisted.

When they caught up to them, they saw the two entering Borgin and Burkes.

"Ooh, the spooky shop." Erica hummed.

"Let's just go-" Parker tried.

"Who's that?" Ron pointed to the figure inside.

"Does it look like I can see?" Erica rolled her eyes.

"It's... Fenrir Greyback." Hermione gasped.

"The werewolf?" Ron turned to her.

Hermione nodded,"He's... Horrible."

"Well, he's in there with them." Harry sighed.

"We need to go. Its nearly time for our train." Parker urged them.

"Yeah, let's go." Erica tugged on Ron's arm.

"Fine, fine." Ron sighed,"C'mon Harry."

Harry took one last look before shaking his head and turning away from Borgin and Burkes.

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

Harry has been paranoid ever since they had left Diagon Alley, he was questioning everything.

"Harry." Erica poked him,"Harry, stop overthinking."

"What were they doing next to the cabinet? It was an initiation. They've made Draco a Death Eater." Harry pointed.

"Harry, you're overreacting." Hermione sighed,"It might not be that."

"I'm suprised they haven't made you a Death Eater yet." Harry nodded towards Parker.

Parker bit her cheek and shook her head,"They wouldn't."

"Can't we just relax on the train ride? Please?" Erica sighed.

That's when Lavender Brown walked up, breathing on the window of the door and fogging it up.

"What's she doing here?" Hermione raised a brow.

"She has a crush on me." Ron muttered.

She then drew a heart and added a 'R+L' before she left.

"Ron, I don't like her." Erica shook her head.

"Me neither." Ron sighed.

"You better not or I'll fight you." Erica pointed.

Ron held up his hands.

"I'm going for some air, I'll be back in a second." Parker stood up and left the compartment.

She then headed towards the Slytherin compartment, looking for her brother.

Draco was sat in a compartment, talking with Pansy and Blaise. It was the first time Blaise and Parker had seen each other since the Manor Incident.

"Hey guys." Parker sat down next to Draco.

"Parker.' Draco nodded to her,"Have fun at that joke shop?"

"I bought a Pygmy Puff." Parker nodded.

"I always wanted one." Pansy hummed.

"What is a Pygmy Puff?" Blaise asked slowly.

"You'd love them." Pansy chuckled.

"They're these little balls of fluff that just squeak and roll around." Parker hummed,"They're related to Puffskeins."

"The Weasley twins bred them." Pansy hummed.

"You didn't strike me as the type to want one of those, Pansy." Draco shrugged.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Draco." Pansy smirked.

"I think I know plenty." He shook his head.

Parker turned to Draco,"Harry's getting suspicious. He saw you and Narcissa going into Borgin and Burkes."

"He saw? How much did he see?" Draco questioned.

"They saw Fenrir... And he thinks that you've become a Death Eater, so you be careful." She pointed.

Draco sighed,"I will."

"Good." Parker nodded.

"You be careful as well, okay?"

"I'm always careful." Parker got up.

"Sure you are."

"I'll talk to you all when we get to the common room." Parker waved to them all.

"See you then, Parker." Blaise waved.

"Bye Blaise." Parker smiled as she walked off.

When she returned to her original compartment however, Harry was gone.

"Where's Harry?"

"He said he was going to the toilet." Hermione shook her head.

"We're just about to stop, we'll have to meet him there."

"He can catch up." Ron shrugged.

"He's fast."

"He'll be there." Erica nodded.

"Let's go then." Hermione began fo pack up her stuff.

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

"He's still not here." Erica sighed.

"Will you stop eating? Your best friend is missing." Hermione slapped Ron, who was eating chicken.

"What? I stress eat." Ron sighed, rubbing his arm.

"You stress eat too often."

"I can't help it."

"There he is- Why has he got blood on him?" Ginny sighed as Harry walked into the Great Hall.

Harry sat next to her, holding a bloody tissue to his nose.

"Where were you?" Erica crossed her arms.

"Draco... He punched me a couple times." Harry shook his head.

"What did you do?" Hermione sighed.

"Nothing." He shook his head.

"You were spying on him." Parker nodded.

"Maybe a little."

"This is why you're always in trouble, mate." Ron shook his head.

"You need to stop it." Parker ate her chicken.

"Look, I'll try." Harry sighed,"But he's up to something."

"Just leave him."

"For now.' Harry nodded slowly.

Dumbledore stood up, clearing his throat,"Welcome back students... I'd like you to meet our new Potions master, Professor Horace Slughorn."

Slughorn stood up, smiling at everyone. He was a little older, but he seemed nice.

"Shame I won't be getting him." Erica sighed.

"You not taking potions this year?" Parker asked.

"I'm not good at potions, you're the only reason I passed." Erica shook her head.

"I'll be having him." Parker nodded,"Any of you take it?'

"Pretty sure it's only Erica that doesn't." Ron shrugged.

"What did you take instead?" Hermione turned to her.

"Astronomy."

"Oo~ Fun."

"It was sort of a last minute thing, I didn't know what to take."

"It will be fun." Parker nodded.

"I hope so." Erica sighed.

"Now, the open position for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position will be taken my Professor Snape." Dumbeldore added.

"Guess he finally got it." Hermione nodded slowly.

"What will he teach us?" Ron wondered.

"Well, he's a skilled wizard so... Maybe it won't be so bad." Erica shrugged

"Maybe." They agreed.