Chapter Three
The Hogwarts Express
--
Friends are those rare people who ask how
you are and then wait for the answer.
--
The warm morning sun gradually woke me from my cataleptic state, artfully sneaking through the splintered shudders. Eyelids slowly opening, vision blurred, I rubbed my eyes with the heels of my palms. Once my eyes could focus I rolled over to face the two beds to my right. Hermione's was empty and pristine, Ginny's was the same except it was all but tidy. I had overslept, again. I groaned loudly as I propped myself up on my right elbow. I didn't wonder why neither of the girls had chosen not to wake me. They had realized from prior experience that I wasn't exactly a morning person...actually that was the understatement of the century. My brain couldn't function before eleven o'clock, it's science.
I could hear Percy shouting at the twins through the closed door. I heard him mention my name several times before he finally shut his bleeding trap. I was suddenly pleased I hadn't gotten up with the others. A pair of footsteps became audible, drawing nearer to my room as I pulled May up off my feet and into my lap. Fred and George barged in -without knocking- of course. I yawned, unfazed, watching Fred lock the door behind them and then literally jump on the end of my bed, nearly catapulting me in the air.
"Good morning to you, too," I said indignantly.
"Everyone is entitled to be a prick, but he abuses the privilege," said Fred, ignoring my sarcastic comment.
"I wager you're talking about Percy considering I could hear you lot yammering on from down the hall," I sighed.
"He's a self-made man who worships his creator," George added, plucking May from my arms so he could scratch her belly in his lap. I smiled at his joke, becoming slightly distracted with how much my elderly feline loved him. Her paws were bent, enjoying the feeling of fingernails against her fur.
"He'll be after you soon enough," said Fred, drawing my eyes back to his. "He knows you were in on his little promotion."
"And how could he have come to that conclusion?" I smirked.
Fred and George sent me matching looks as if to imply, If-you-think-anyone-still-believes-you're-ever-NOT-involved-with-our-shenanigans-you're-off-your-bleeding-rocker. I released a curt laugh and shrugged in reply.
"Well, he can sod off," I said, rolling my eyes. "I am in no mood to deal with him today. Summer is officially over, the worst day of the year."
"Well, he's exceptionally pissed off this morning," said George, smiling despite himself at the sound of May's purring. "Ron spilt tea on his photo of his lovely little girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater."
I immediately stuck my index finger in my open mouth to simulate me vomiting. I couldn't stand Penelope Clearwater, mostly because she was the female version of Percy. I heaved a heavy sigh and hung my legs off my bed and onto the hardwood floor. I pulled out a Chudley Canons sweatshirt, from under my bed, that I'd owned since I was twelve. The logo was almost completely worn away. Sniffing it to make sure it was an acceptable stench, I tugged it over my pajama camisole.
"She's hidden her face under the frame because her nose has gotten all blotchy," said Fred, looking over his shoulder at me as I pulled my uncombed hair through the neck hole.
"Her nose was already blotchy," I replied.
"No matter," said Fred, a smile beginning to cross his lips. "He was still royally ticked, so we gave Ron a congratulatory pat on the back in response for good measure."
"Remind me to do the same," I smirked. "Oh, did I completely miss breakfast by the way?"
"Mum sent us up with a plate of bacon and toast," said George.
"And?"
"And it was a long walk up the stairs," said George. "We got a bit hungry."
"How considerate," I laughed, unconcerned with my lack of breakfast.
"Well, at least we attempted to bring you food," said Fred. "Percy suggested Mum refuse the three of us any breakfast at all as punishment for his badge fiasco."
"What an arse," I sighed.
Suddenly, knocking was heard upon my door, one guess who. I looked from Fred to George and then headed to face our intruder. I twisted the knob slowly and only cracked the door about a foot or so, now face-to-face with Percy. His cheeks were quite rosy, matching his flaming red hair. I knew he was especially on edge because today was the first day of his term as Head boy. I smiled sweetly and batted my eyelashes.
"Speak of the devil," I beamed in the most obvious fake benevolent voice I could muster.
"Oh, I can only imagine the nasty things you were saying about me, Winifred," Percy seethed, emphasizing every syllable of my name.
"To the contrary, I was just describing you in terms which were positively glowing," I snapped, "which is exactly how I'd like to see you in Hell."
I heard a loud THUD. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Fred fall off of the bed and onto the floor. He and George were laughing so hard that no sound came out of their mouths, only gasps for air. Percy was staring daggers at them from over my shoulder while May scurried out between his legs, lucky cat.
"Charming," he replied. "Anyway, the reason I am here is because I believe you owe me an apology. Fred and George couldn't muster up the gall to do so themselves, and I came in hopes that you could be the bigger person of the three."
"Hm," I said, pointing my index finger to my chin in faux thought. "Well, Perce, let's see....Fred, George could I borrow you for a moment."
Fred and George, virtually reading my mind, took to their feet and stood side by side. I walked before them flattening my palm before my face and marking the top of my head against each of their chests, only coming up to their breast bones. I shrugged and sent Percy a disappointed glance, clicking my tongue on the inside of my cheek.
"Sorry, Perce, no such luck," I frowned. "It looks like I'm actually the smallest person out of the three of us."
"I am not leaving until I receive a proper apology," he snapped, crossing his arms over his chest and planting his feet.
I looked back at the twins, receiving a pair of winks, approving of our prearranged 'Plan B'. I abruptly grabbed my chest, sporting a revolted expression. Percy eyed me suspiciously as if I had gone mad.
"Molly!" I suddenly screamed at the top of my lungs, causing Percy to nearly jump out of his shoes.
"What is it, Winnie?" Molly bellowed from downstairs in a flustered tone. I didn't need to see her to know she was most likely busy making sure everyone's affairs were in order before we left for King's Cross.
"Percy is trying to see me naked!" I shouted in an aghast tone, making certain my voice could be heard throughout the entire inn. "Make him get out of my room!"
His jaw dropped, clearly he did not expect my reply. His mouth began opening and closing, his mind unable to process my random claim. His arms fell to his side.
"Percy," Molly scolded halfheartedly. "Leave Winnie be."
"B-But, Mum, she's lying," he yelled back down to her, breaking his proper exterior. "I was just―"
"I don't care what you two are going on about," she bellowed. "All I care about is getting the lot of you on the train before it leaves the station, and at this rate things aren't looking too good. Percy, come and put Hermes in the car. He's spitting up a storm at Hermione's lovely little cat, and, Winnie, if you don't bring your trunk down here within the next five minutes we're leaving you behind."
"Yes, mam," I shouted back, narrowing my victorious gaze at Percy.
Percy shook his head defiantly, pivoting on his heel. His fists were clenched so tight I could see the lines indented along his knuckles. I imagined his arse was clenched just as tight. The thought brought a subconscious grin to my face. I heard him mutter something about us being, "Impossible, highly inappropriate, ignorant." I slammed the door closed after him, trying to make as much noise as humanly possible. Fred and George returned to their prior seats, still laughing at Percy's embarrassment.
"Brilliant," said Fred.
"I've been waiting for the opportunity for you to use that one," George snickered.
"I don't think I've ever seen his face go so red," I giggled.
I shoved George's dangling legs off my trunk and tossed in a couple stray pieces of laundry that I had thrown on the floor. My drunk was significantly smaller than the twins' mostly because I wore a lot of their clothes, and I didn't need all that much room for so few belongings. I was probably the furthest a person could be from being materialistic without stripping completely naked and rolling around in the mud or something. I grabbed my brush and hastily combed out the knots so I could put my hair in my usual lengthy pig tails.
I paused for a moment as I pulled one of my pigtails over my shoulder so my hair hung lazily down my chest. My fingers had slid against a sensitive spot on the back of my neck. It was sensitive not because I felt pain to the touch but because a scar occupied a small section down my neck, below my hairline. It was the only visible mark I bore from the night...the night I started living with the Weasleys. It was about four inches long and a quarter inch thick, and it was unfortunately visible from behind and from my side if my hair wasn't down. Molly didn't even find it until the day after I was dropped off because my hair had done a successful job in concealing it. Sometimes, late at night, I could still feel the same sharp pain I felt the night I received the scar.
It was a constant physical reminder of my past. I could never erase the mark on my neck, just as I could never erase my history. I had only two other links to my childhood with my Mother. One was obviously May and the other was my locket. It had belonged to my Mum, my Grandmother, her Mum before her and so on. It was the most... rather, the only beautiful possession I owned. It was pure gold with tiny rose engravings around the edges. I loved it so much that I hadn't taken it off in twelve years.
"Freddie?" said George, eyeing me curiously in the reflection of the mirror. "You alright?"
"Yeah, fine," I said swiftly, quickly pulling my hand off my scar.
I put my brush in my trunk and grabbed my favorite pair of jeans. I looked from Fred to George with an implicative expression, they knew the drill. They both heaved exasperated sighs and shut their eyes, then covered them with a hand.
"No peeking," I warned humorously, rapidly pulling of my pajama shorts and jumping into my tattered jeans all the while keeping my eye on the slightest space between Fred and George's fingers. "Alright, you can look."
"I'd love to see the look on Mum's face if she knew you changed in front of us," said Fred.
"On a regular basis," George added. "I'm sure she would give you one hell of a lecture on how no respectable lady would do something so grossly inappropriate."
"Since when have I been respectable?"
"Or a lady," Fred joked, winking at me.
I stuck my tongue out at him, added my pajama shorts into my trunk, and sealed it shut.
"It isn't a big deal. I've known you two forever, you're like my brothers," I defended. "Besides I have you cover your eyes. It's not like you look, right?"
"Right," said Fred unconvincingly, lifting up one side of my trunk and George the other without me asking them to do so.
"George," I snapped, looking over at him for support.
"He's only joking," he laughed, pulling open the door.
I looked over at Fred who flashed me a quick wink.
"You're sure about that?" I asked, following them into the hall.
"As sure as I am that you have a heart shaped birthmark on your left butt cheek," said George.
I bit the inside of my cheek so hard that I knew there was no way that I didn't draw blood. They smiled innocently, shrugged, and started down the steps. I stood still staring after them for a moment. Well, that would be the last time I trusted them in that situation. Then I began wondering why I ever did. It should have been the twins' I tattled on to Molly earlier, though I'd sooner cut out my own tongue than sell them out to anyone. I laughed to myself, shaking my head, and rolled my eyes lightheartedly before scurrying after them.
Boys.
–
We reached King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare; the Ministry drivers found us trolleys, unloaded our trunks, touched their hats to salute Arthur, and drove away, managing to jump ahead to an unmoving line at the traffic lights. I noticed Arthur kept close to Harry's elbow all the way into the station.
"Right then," he said, glancing around at the lot of us. "Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry."
Looking about anxiously for any suspicious Muggles, Arthur led Harry through the barrier beside him. I looked to Ginny who automatically knew we were destined to be paired together. Ron would go with Hermione, Fred with George, and Ginny and I would sooner die than pair up with Percy. He'd have no objection going with Molly. I latched my arm in Ginny's and smiled at her, receiving a pleasant grin from her in return. Ginny and I had always been close. She'd been the most similar sibling to the twins'...personality wise, and I always found myself being a bit overprotective of her, well the twins were as well for that matter. She didn't always appreciate it, but I think she understood my heart was in the right place. Holding May close in my other arm, Ginny and I strode into the barrier.
In a moment, we looked up to see the Hogwarts Express, a scarlet steam engine, puffing smoke over a platform packed with witches and wizards seeing their children to the train. The twins suddenly appeared behind us, followed by Percy.
"Ah, there's Penelope!" said Percy, smoothing his hair and growing pink again. I caught Ginny's eye, we both turned away to hide our laughter as Percy strode over to Penelope with her long, curly hair, walking with his chest thrown out so that she couldn't miss his shiny badge that Molly had charmed back to its original title hours earlier.
Once Ron and Hermione joined the rest of us, Fred and George led the way to the end of the train, past packed compartments, to a carriage that looked quite empty. We loaded the trunks onto it, and went back outside to say good-bye to Molls and Arthur. She kissed all her children, then Hermione, then came to me before Harry. She took my face in her hands and kissed each of my cheeks and then hugged me tight.
"Do try to stay out of trouble, Winnie," she said.
"I'll try," I smiled, hugging her again and knowing all too well how little faith she had in my statement.
"Oh," said Molly abruptly, pulling something out from her bag. "I got you a little late birthday present."
"Molls, my birthday was four months ago," I said, pleading with her not to give whatever she had to me. "You already gave me―"
"Nonsense," said Molly, silencing me. "It is nothing big, and I suppose it is more of an investment than a present."
Molly handed me a soft tissue paper wrapped object. I looked at is suspiciously, looking back up at her.
"An investment?" I asked, pulling off the paper. I should have known what it was going to be before Molly even handed me the package. It was a blouse. No, not just a blouse, a pink blouse. It was actually quite pretty, not my style but still a very nice shirt. All I could say was, "It's pink."
"You don't like it," said Molly in a disappointed tone.
"No, I didn't say that," I said quickly. "I think it's very pretty."
"Will you wear it?"
"Sure," I lied, "but only on special occasions. I don't want to go mucking it up. Thank you, Molls, I appreciate it really."
Her bottom lip turned up into her top one, happy I at least appeared to like her gift.
"You're welcome, dear," said Molly. "Have a good year, and I love you."
"I love you, too," I smiled.
–
"We're in here," George called, waving at me from the compartment.
"Well, obviously," I laughed, walking towards him. "Do you think I'm that barmy that you honestly believe I could get lost on the way back to our compartment?"
He sent me a look before I went inside as if to say Do-You-Really-Want-Me-To-Answer-That? I smirked and affectionately patted his chest as I walked by him. A broad grin came across my face as soon as I laid eyes on our new occupant, sitting beside Fred: Lee Jordan.
"Lee," I said for good measure as he rose to give me a quick hug.
"Hey there, Freddie," he beamed, wrapping his lengthy arm around my shoulders. "I told George you didn't get lost."
"George has no idea what he's talking about," I said, shooting him a glare as he closed the sliding door. "When he, himself, couldn't find his own arse with two hands and a map."
"Speaking of maps," said Fred, pulling a brochure of parchment from inside his jacket. "Mum nearly got a hold of this wonderful gift from God this morning. Had to tell her it was a Zonko's product."
I slid Molly's gift into my luggage and then plopped myself down beside George, letting May crawl into his lap. He began to carelessly stroke her back as the train left the station, rain beginning to trickle against the glass windows. I yearned for the sun to return. Of course it had to be disgusting outside on the first day back to school, how utterly cliché. I pulled one of my legs up against my chest and rested my chin atop my kneecap, clutching it close.
"So how was your summer, Lee?" I asked.
"Uneventful compared to your lots', I wager," he replied. "I saw your picture in the Prophet."
"Yeah, Egypt was fun," said Fred. "Winnie almost got killed by a Sphinx."
"Did not," I objected.
"The three of us spotted one when we went off exploring a tomb," said George, pointing his thumb at me. "and Miss Nosey Parker, over here, just had to get a closer look at it."
"It gave her a riddle," Fred added. "You know, because that's what they do to decide whether or not they're going to rip your head off or not."
"What can be measured but has no length, width or thickness?" George quoted.
"Temperature," I replied.
"Good thing you were right," said Fred. "Because Mum would have murdered us if you came back without a head, and Merlin knows she's more terrifying than any Sphinx."
"Oh, whatever," I said. "That Sphinx was cool, and you know it."
They shrugged, trying to hide their smiles and failing miserably at it. I heaved a heavy sigh and took to my feet.
"I'm going to find the trolley and find something to eat," I said, "considering a pair of scavengers ate my breakfast. Do you lot want anything?"
"Chocolate frogs," the three of them said in unison.
I smiled and nodded, sliding open the door and striding into the hallway. I spotted the kind-faced, pudgy witch that provided us with our sweets at the very end of the hall. My hand got stuck inside my pocket as I tried to fidget out my Knuts from my jeans. I apparently wasn't looking where I was going because I ran square into an immovable object. I nearly toppled onto my backside, feeling as if I'd hit a brick wall. I regained my balance and looked up at what had blocked my path. I couldn't prevent the left side of my upper lip from curling in disgust at the gorilla-looking being before me. It was Graham Montague, the most foul creature I have ever had the displeasure of knowing. He eclipsed my small frame, towering over me like a giant. He was as tall as Fred and George but weighed as much as the two of combined. He had rather hairy forearms and a ridiculously defined jawline, his eyes so dark they gave the illusion of two lumps of coal. I struggled not to gag. He smiled seductively at me, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Montague," I frowned. "Aren't you a parasite for sore eyes?"
"Ah, McKinnon, are you free tonight or will it cost me?" he smirked.
"Piss off, Graham," I spat, attempting to side step him, but he blocked my way again.
"Come now, Winnie," he grinned. "I haven't seen you all summer. Didn't you miss me?"
"How could I miss you when every moment you're in my presence I have the fierce desire to be lonesome?" I snapped.
He released his deep, trademark laugh that made my skin crawl. No matter how many times I rejected his inbred-arse he just refused to take the hint. To him, my rejection was foreplay. My inability to find him the slightest bit attractive actually turned him on. I tried to bypass him again with no avail.
"What is it that you want exactly, Montague?" I seethed, venom dripping from every syllable.
"I just want to talk to you," he smiled seductively, curling his callused finger around a strand of my hair.
"Oh, talk? Is that what they're calling it these days?" I replied snidely, swatting his hand away. "Well, talking to you sounds about as appealing as playing leapfrog with unicorns. Now, get out of my way."
Montague slammed his monstrous hand against the wall, making it perfectly clear that he had no intention of letting me pass. I gritted my teeth, my jaw protruding forward a bit, eyes ablaze.
"Ah, you know me so well, Winnie," Montague whispered, running his knuckles from his free hand tenderly along my jawline. I closed my eyes and imagined myself somewhere else. "Haven't you ever thought about it, wondered what it would be like―"
"No, have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you'd had enough oxygen at birth?" I seethed.
I turned my neck swiftly and bit his finger as hard as I could until he pulled back in pain, clutching his injured fingers in his other hand. I smiled despite myself, quite proud of my quick defense.
"Still feisty I see," he snapped, walking towards me.
I took a step backwards, suddenly regretting my retaliation. I could usually take care of myself, but Graham Montague was an enormous troll of a person. I stumbled into another immovable object, however, I wasn't revolted by this one.
"Alright, McKinnon?" asked Oliver Wood, raising a suspicious brow at Montague and stepping in front of me.
"Yeah," I replied, feeling rather embarrassed. "Montague, here, and I were just discussing a bit of Quidditch."
"Uh huh," he said in disbelief, clicking the inside of his cheek whilst keeping his eyes glued on the Slytherin Quidditch Captain. "Going to the trolley?"
"Yeah," I repeated, looking at my feet like a four year old.
"So am I," he said, narrowing his glare on Graham. "I'll walk you."
I simply nodded and followed him, sliding by Montague. I could feel his eyes on me, but I stared straight ahead. Wood looked back at his rival Captain over his shoulder and sent him a curt nod to assert his authority. I heard a compartment door slam shut, and with that Montague was gone. This was unfortunately not a one time occurrence. Graham Montague had been utterly obsessed with me since we were eleven years old. I don't exactly know what my appeal is. I read somewhere gypsy moths release a sort of pheromone that attracts a specific mate. Maybe I'm his gypsy moth. That sounds stupid, but I have no other explanation. He was the only boy that ever liked me and that was extremely embarrassing.
He was awful, vile, insufferable. He was like an octopus, his disgusting tentacles always attempting to grope me. He didn't used to be as bad when we were younger. His obsession used to just be a sort of disturbing crush but it managed to somehow develop into a creepy stalker sort of relationship that made me uncomfortable to be alone anywhere near him. The twins liked to try to act like they were doing me some sort of favor by trying to protect me from him but it only egged him on. The year before last he grabbed my bottom while I was walking to Hogsmeade with the twins and Fred and George by splitting his lip. McGonagall "forgot" to give them detention for their little outburst.
"You didn't have to do that," I said to Oliver, handing my Knuts to the trolley witch after selecting my sweets. "I could have taken care of him myself."
"Well, I couldn't let anything happen to one of my Chasers," he smirked, picking up a licorice wand, "and no you couldn't."
"Yes, I could have," I objected, a defiant smile spreading across my lips.
"You're tough, McKinnon," he chuckled, receiving his change from the witch. "I'll give you that, but that barbarian is four times your size. He would have pummeled you."
"I don't think he want to pummel me," I said seriously, turning back towards my compartment.
"Then what do you think he was trying to do then?" he asked, furrowing his brow.
"Kiss me," I shrugged.
Oliver snorted into a fit of laughter. I joined in and lightly punched his arm in jest.
"I think that's even worse," he chuckled.
"It is," I nodded, gripping my hand on the sliding door to my compartment. "Well thanks for the unnecessary security, Wood, see you."
"No problem," he laughed, striding down towards his own designated compartment. "I'm always here if you don't need me. See you first practice, McKinnon."
I entered the compartment and closed the door behind me, tossed two chocolate frogs to each of the boys and sat down beside George. May climbed up into my lap as I nibbled on one of my three chocolate frogs. I fed her small bites of a licorice wand I had purchased just for her, knowing they were her favorite.
"What took you so long?" asked Fred, biting the head off his frog.
"I ran into someone," I said casually, hoping the subject would be dropped.
No such luck.
"Who?" Lee inquired, chomping off a frog leg.
"Just Montague―"
"Is he bothering you again?" said George swiftly, nearly choking on his treat.
"It wasn't a big deal," I said calmly. "You know how he is―"
"Did he lay a hand on you?" asked Fred, looking at me so sternly I almost swallowed my own tongue.
I didn't say anything. I just bit my lower lip, but that was all the confirmation the twins needed. Fred, George, and Lee dropped their spare frogs and took to their feet, darting towards the door. I held May against my chest and slid in front of them to black the exit. They looked at me with fire in their eyes, but I stood my ground.
"Get out of the way, Winnie," said George, trying to reach the handle from behind me.
"No," I snapped. "You're being overdramatic. I took care of him."
"Maybe you're not being dramatic enough," said Fred, finally pushing me to the side. "You're so damn stubborn―"
"I bit him," I said quickly as my last objection.
They froze and twisted their necks to the side to look at me.
"You bit him?" they said simultaneously.
"Yeah," I laughed. "I bit him."
The three of them shared matching humorous looks and began laughing amongst themselves. Fred closed the door and they returned to their seats, as did I.
"You may need a shot," said Lee. "Merlin only knows what sort of diseases that Neanderthal has."
"Did you make him bleed?" asked Fred.
"I don't know," I shrugged. "He was holding his fingers in his other hand as soon as I did it. I do know it hurt like hell. I've got the K9 teeth of a vampire." I pointed to my to sharp pearly whites.
"Good," said George, no humor in his voice this time.
"You best tell us next time he―" Fred started.
However, he was interrupted by the abrupt shriek of the breaks of the train. The rain had thickened as the rain sped yet farther north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering gray, which had gradually darkened until the lanterns flickered into life along the corridors and over the luggage racks. The train rattled, the rain hammered, and the wind roared, yet I hadn't noticed it until that moment.
"Why are we stopping?" said Lee. "We can't be there already."
The train was getting slower and slower. As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows. Lee, who was nearest to the door, got up to look into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads were sticking curiously out of the compartments. The train came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs led us to believe luggage had fallen off of several racks within the compartments. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and we were plunged into total darkness.
"What's going on?" I said, my breath suddenly visible before my face in frozen puffs.
I placed my palm against the window, feeling the sudden icy coating of the glass. There was no feasible reason for us to be stopping, no reason at all. I rubbed away some of the condensation with my thumb, squinting to make out some sudden movement along the tracks. I felt Fred and George leaning over my shoulders to catch a glimpse, as well. My stomach tightened when I saw someone or something climbing onto the train.
"Someone is coming aboard the train," Fred whispered, more to himself than to anyone of us.
I held May against my chest as I jerked back in my seat again, feeling her steady purring over my sweatshirt. I was glad it was too dark to see anything because I was certain the twins would have ridiculed me mercilessly for how wide my eyes must have looked.
"Something isn't right," said George. "We shouldn't be―"
But the door slid open before George could finish. Standing in the doorway, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. My eyes darted downward, and saw what made my stomach contract. There was a hand protruding from the cloak and it was glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water. We'd read about these grotesque beings the previous year (one of the few things we learned from that git, Gilderoy Lockhart). It was a dementor, a guardian of Azkaban.
But it was visible only for a split second. As though the creature beneath the hood, the dementor, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings. An intense cold swept over me. I felt my breath catch in my chest. The cold ran deeper than just my skin. It was engulfing my chest, consuming my very heart…
Then the screaming began. It was so distant, yet so close and piercing in my ears. Everyone on the train must have been panicking at once. May leapt from my arms, hissing viciously at the creature, as I reached my trembling hands up to cover my ears. My mouth open slightly, my jaw locking in pain. I'm certain I must have released a faint moan, but it couldn't have been audible with all of the screaming, the bloodcurdling screaming. I closed my eyes so tight that it physically hurt, my fingernails were clawing the side of my face.
"Marley, they're coming!" a woman's screamed frantically. "Take Winnie ― GO!"
I could only see darkness. I was being carried, running through a maze of hallways. Heavy breaths, footsteps, and cries rang in my ears. Flashes of green light were the only sources of illumination. The door behind me slammed shut, locking automatically. A booming set of footsteps were coming, growing louder and louder.
"It's going to be alright, Winnie," she whispered fiercely, cupping my face to look at her, "I promise." I couldn't see her. It was too dark. Why couldn't I just see her eyes one more time? Why can't I remember her eyes? Why was it so bloody dark?
The doorknob began to jiggle furiously. The bloodcurdling screams grew so loud that I couldn't bare it. I covered my ears with my tiny hands, begging the heavens for it all to stop. Please, God, let it all be over. The screams, the awful screams. I cannot bare them another moment.
"Stop," I muttered aloud, shaking my head from side to side. "Please, stop!"
I felt a hand on either of my bent elbows, jerking my hands away from my ears. My eyes opened abruptly, darting around like mad. The lights had been illuminated again, and the train was slowly in motion once more. My chest was rising and falling so rapidly that I was surprised that I was still conscious. My entire body was trembling from head to toe. My vision was blurry initially, light was all I saw but gradually the blurs and muffled sounds became lucid again. George was knelt before me, an expression so serious across his face that I barely recognized him. He struggled to pull my hands away from my ears, it was as if I was paralyzed.
"Winnie, Winnie," he pleaded, finally yanking my arms to my sides. "Snap out of it!"
My tongue felt swollen, my throat as dry as the Sahara. I couldn't speak. All that came out off my mouth was a load of nonsensical jibber jabber. I tried to swallow, but I produced no saliva. George cupped my face in his hands, his own face appeared terrified.
"Fred and Lee went to get someone," said George frantically. "Why don't you lie down."
"N-No," I managed to choke out, shaking my head. "I-I'm f-fine."
"No, you're not," he replied.
"Yes-I-Am," I insisted in a tone that came across much meaner than I intended.
I pushed his hands away and scooted myself into the corner, sitting against the window with my knees curled up to my chest. I stared out into the darkness, replaying the horrifying images inside my head. The compartment door slid open, revealing an extremely fretful looking Fred followed by a disheveled looking man with tattered robes, Lee in toe. I kept my eyes glued outside the window, rocking back and forth in my seat, clutching my knees close against my chest.
"Freddie," said Fred tentatively, placing his hand gently on my shoulder. "You alright?"
I nodded slowly, refusing to turn to face him. I knew, without having to look over them, that Fred looked at George and mouthed something about me to him. I felt extremely foolish and angry that they had gone to fetch help for me. I never liked to appear weak, ever.
"Winifred, is it?" said the man, my manners forcing me to make eye contact with him.
"Yes," I breathed shallowly.
"I'm Professor Lupin," he smiled kindly, extending his palm to me. "Here, have some chocolate. It helps, I promise."
I tentatively accepted a piece of chocolate from his hand and took a small bite. He was right. I felt as if my insides were being warmed beside a fire. My chest didn't feel as contracted and the horrific images began to disappear before my eyes. I nodded my thanks and smiled feebly up at him.
"It was searching the train for Sirius Black, wasn't it?" I asked quietly.
"Yes," said Lupin, handing me another piece of chocolate. "I imagine Professor Dumbledore will not be responding favorably to its presence on the train. They're dreadful creatures, you know, the worst."
"Why was Freddie more...er― effected by it?" asked George.
Lupin looked at me before returning his gaze to George.
"Well, it seems that those with more traumatic pasts have much stronger reactions once they come in contact with a dementor," said Lupin, clearing his throat at the end of his sentence. "Mr. Potter appeared to have even lost consciousness in consequence to its presence."
"Is Harry alright?" I asked.
"Yes, of course," he reassured me, "nothing a bit of chocolate couldn't fix. I'm going to go back and check up on him now, no worries. I entrust these three kind gentlemen will make sure you finish up those chocolate frogs, we'll be arriving in ten minutes or so."
"Thanks, Professor," I said.
"You're quite welcome," he nodded, backing out the door. "I'll see you all in class soon."
He closed the door behind him and a silence ensued that was so awkward every drop of rain sounded like a bomb. I cleared my throat, let my legs fall back onto the floor and picked May up off the ground. I tried to act as if the last fifteen minutes didn't happen, but I feared my act was a failure.
"You gave us quite the scare there, Win," said George, looking at me sideways.
"It wasn't intentional," I said. "That screaming was just so loud I thought my head was going to explode."
The three boys exchanged confused expressions, none of them speaking.
"What?" I asked, eyeing them curiously.
"There wasn't any screaming, Winnie," said George, his eyes almost filled with fear.
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A/N: This chapter was ridiculously long compared to the others. I hope you enjoyed it, because I think this was one of my favorite chapters I have ever written for any of my fictions ever. Ha! I am pretty much in love with this fic, and I hope you lot are enjoying it too. Winnie is pretty much my fave. I hope you guys got a few laughs. I did when I was writing it.
PS:I hope that her first encounter with Oliver wasn't as random as the one in the other fic. Let me know what your opinion is though, and I'm really liking the whole Montague thing too. Do any of you get the connection? I'll give you a hint...a 5th book prank involving the troublesome duo.... Anyways...are you liking Winnie's character more or less than the original? Also was the dementor scene OK? I was trying to show a different angle of her friendship with the twins, but I don't know if I pulled it off.
PSS: I spent a lot of time and effort into this chapter, and I hope you review in response to that...oh, and check out my updated profile :)
Coming Soon: The Feast, the gang meets up with the girls and the trio, classes begin, Ron loves May, Winnie is a prodigy in the one subject she despises, Quidditch begins, mayhem undoubtedly ensues...
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Review & I'll update.
Please do, because I so very
much do want to update.
+10 should do the trick.
Thanks so much!
Love always,
Milena
