A/N: Sorry about the long wait! An extra long chapter to make up for it. Read on...

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Crookshanks Little Secret: Year 3

Chapter 3- The Dementor

I'm claustrophobic.

Have been ever since The Cupboard Incident Of '69 (as I like to call it). I'll expand. I was a small innocent 8 year old and my brother stuffed me into a cupboard! Mother screamed and screamed and I cried and Father sighed and Bellatrix laughed and Narcissa tutted and Andromeda looked disapproving and later on Sirius told me he was sorry and this is a really long sentence but I hope it got my point through.

Yeah, so now I'm claustrophobic.

Back to the point, I'm locked in a basket. AAAAAARRRGGGG!!!!

But apart from that, we are all going to Hogwarts today! It'll be fun, I suppose but I'm not looking forward to it. Really I'm not. I wonder if I can escape…

On The Train

I have bad news and good news.

The Bad news is that I have not been able to escape.

The Good news is that I am about to be let out anyway!

I jumped out of the basket the moment the top was off and looked around. Harry, Ron and Hermione were the only people sitting on the seats in the compartment. Ron's rat was in his pocket and there was a man sleeping in the corner. I heard them say he was R J Lupin, but if he is then don't you think that is a bit of a coincidence? I mean Sirius escapes and one of his best friends arrives at Hogwarts in the same year. Coincidence? I don't think so.

I yawned, stretched and, out of the corner of my eye, thought I saw a tremble from Ron's pocket. Was that his rat? Muhahaha, it's scared of even the sound of my evil yawn now. I have done well.

Does anyone else agree that being a cat has messed with my brain? I think I'm a bit touched in the head honestly.

I mean evil laughter? Who does that?

Me, apparently.

As we have all agreed I'm mad, I think everything I do should be verified. So, I jumped onto Ron's knees (very bony) to get a better look at his rat. Scabbers as they know him as. The rat shall be referred to as his given name as there might be more rats in this story.

Unfortunately I was pushed off and had to find my own seat. Damn him.

I sat and watched as several hilarious and interesting things occurred. First, Lupin turned over. Amazing huh?

Then, that fat witch with the food decided to pay a visit and Hermione tried to wake up Lupin.

And, perhaps the most interesting of all, three Slytherins came in and insulted everyone. Sadly, they were frightened off by Lupin so I was stuck with Gryffin-dorks again.

Everything was very boring until I became aware of the train slowing to a stop. All the lamps went out and before you ask, no, I'm not scared of the dark. Is being afraid of the dark called darkaphobia?

"There's something moving out there," Ron said. "I think people are coming aboard..." I'd never heard of something like that happening before.

I heard the compartment door open and the sound of someone falling.

"Sorry!" I didn't know that voice. "D'you know what's going on? Ouch! Sorry..."

"Hello Neville," Harry said.

"Harry? Is that you? What's happening?" Neville? As in Neville Longbottom? I knew Alice and Frank.

"No idea! Sit down..." OUCH!! HE SAT ON ME!!

I hissed in annoyance and struck out with my claws. Really, who sits on a cat? He yelped in pain. Good.

"I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on," Hermione said. The door slid open and she was about to walk out when there was a loud thud and two identical (honestly, all girls sound the same) squeals of pain.

"Who's that?" I heard Hermione say.

"Who's that?" I'm sure that was Ron's younger sister, Ginny.

"Ginny?" I guess I was right.

"Hermione?"

"What are you doing?" Hermione sure can be nosy sometimes.

"I was looking for Ron..."

"Come in and sit down..." Ginny did as was told but sat on a few people in the process. Harry ("Not here! I'm here!) and Neville ("Ouch!") were victims. I feel their pain, it's not nice having someone sit on yo- "Quiet!"

Lupin's awake. I can hear his gravelly tones.

A crackling light appeared from Lupin's corner. I looked over and saw him holding a blue flame in his hand. He never really looked like a cat person.

"Stay where you are." He told us and started to move towards the compartment door.

It opened before he could reach it. Standing in the doorway was a large hooded figure; a dementor.

It drew a rattling breath and before I knew what was happening I was drawn into some of my worst memories.

I could see the entrance to the cave in front of me.

It looked formidable and a shudder passed unwillingly through my body.

Once I was in the cavern I could feel the darkness pressing in on me. Another chill ran through me as I thought of what I had to do.

"This way, Master Regulus." A voice said from beside me. The small house elf started to walk around the edge of the lake.

After a while Kreacher stopped and grasped around in the air for a moment before pulling at something invisible. In the lake, a boat appeared.

I knew what to do. I climbed aboard and Kreacher joined me. The boat set off towards the centre of the ghostly green lake.

It wasn't a shock to me, when I caught sight of a pale, lifeless body just under the surface of the water. I knew Lord Voldemort would have had a trick like that up his sleeve.

After a few more minutes of the boat gliding through the green mist, a small island appeared.

The boat bumped gently upon the bank as me and Kreacher stepped out.

"Careful not to touch the water, Master." Kreacher warned me.

I just nodded in reply; my eyes were fixed on the stone basin positioned on the island.

Inside that was a piece of my master's soul. Even though I was there to destroy it I couldn't help but to look on in awe.

Emerald liquid glittered up at me. The locket must have been positioned under it.

An idea came to my mind. No doubt, if I was to drink it, something ghastly would happen to me. But maybe I could just drop it on the floor?

I tried it. Conjuring a goblet I filled it to the brim and tried to pour it onto the floor. It didn't work. It was like there was a glass panel stopping it; an invisible barrier.

Disappointed I knew there was only one thing I could do. I had to drink it. My heart sunk even though I had probably known all along. I was no heartless creature like me family or my brother thought, I wasn't about to make Kreacher drink it.

Shaking, I raised the goblet to my lips...

"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go."