Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters

Chapter 2: The Hogwarts Express

"Anna get a move on or we're going to miss it!"

Anna groaned and shoved her trolly through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. She and Remus had arrived at King's Cross with ten minutes to spare. She leapt on board and set off to find a compartment. Nearly every one was full, but she managed to squeeze into one where her fellow Ravenclaw, Terry Boot, was sitting. A blonde girl was sitting across from him, radishes hanging from her ears. Anna recognized her as Luna Lovegood, who was in the same house, but a year behind her and Terry.

"Hi Terry, Luna," she said, taking the empty seat next to Luna.

"Hi," said Terry.

"Good holiday, Anna?" asked Luna.

Anna shrugged.

"Yeah I guess," she replied, "You?"

Luna nodded.

"Oh yes," she said serenely, "Daddy got very excited a few months ago; he's found evidence of an old Crumple Horned Snorkack breeding site."

Anna caught Terry's eye and fought to keep a straight face.

"Luna, I'm sure it was some other animal's breeding ground--"

Luna shook her head.

"No, it was definitely Crumple Horned Snorkacks. I've seen the pictures Daddy took."

Terry opened his mouth to say something but Anna shot him a warning look and he went back to watching the scenery fly by as the train chugged across the rainy countryside.

Anna was reading her copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 3 when the train suddenly slowed to a stop.

"What's going on?" asked Anna.

Terry shrugged.

"Don't know."

Luna looked around curiously, not saying anything. Suddenly, the lamps in the compartment went out.

"What the --" began Anna, but the compartment door slid open and something slipped inside. Her eyes strained through the darkness to see what it was. She grabbed Luna's arm as realization hit: it was a Dementor...one of the many soul sucking fiends that guarded Azkaban.

Anna felt cold all over as the Dementor turned its hooded head back and forth before slipping out of the compartment. It was as though all the happiness and good feeling had been drained from her body.

"You two alright?" she asked as the lights flickered back on and the train began to move again.

Terry's face was extremely pale. Luna was rather quiet, her eyes closed.

"Think so," muttered Terry finally, and Luna nodded.

"That was awful." said Anna, "What d'you reckon it wanted?"

"Sirius Black of course," said Terry, arching an eyebrow.

"But," said Anna slowly, "Why on earth would they expect Black to be hiding on here? It doesn't make sense."

Luna and Terry both shrugged. Anna sighed and went back to reading, her mind buzzing with questions.

When the train finally reached Hogsmeade station, Anna was grateful. Long silences, which was how she, Terry, and Luna had spent the remainder of the trip, didn't suit her. She dashed out of the train and joined the other older students, who were clamboring into the awaiting carriages.

When she got her turn to get into one, she found that Hermione, Ron, and a boy with jet black hair and green eyes, known as Harry Potter, were already sitting inside it.

"Hello, Anna." said Hermione as Anna sat down next to Harry.

"Hi Hermione." she replied. She looked over at Harry. "You alright, Harry?"

He nodded, closed his eyes, and shoved his glasses further up on his nose. Anna looked at Ron and Hermione questioningly.

"Dementor," said Ron simply.

"Horrible," said Anna, casting a sympathetic look at Harry before turning back to Ron, "One came into the compartment where I was too. Never felt so awful in my life."

Anna glanced out the window of the carriage as it entered the Hogwarts grounds.

"New term should be nice," she said, changing the subject, "What are you three taking?"

"Care of Magical Creatures and Divination," answered Ron and Harry at the same time. Harry seemed to be doing better now that they were clear of the Dementors.

"Care of Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes, Divination, Muggle Studies, Arithmancy..." rattled of Hermione.

Anna arched an eyebrow.

"Sure you'll manage with all of that?" she asked.

Hermione gave her a look that severely reminded Anna of Professor McGonnagal, who taught Transfiguration.

"Of course," she said mildly, "What subjects are you taking?"

"Just Divination," said Anna with a shrug.

The carriages came to a hault outside the castle's front doors. Anna sighed. It was great to be back.

Another chapter done! Sorry it's short, but I hope you all like it. please leave a review on your way out!