.

We worked our way through the aisles on the Hogwarts Express. Ron clutched his rat to his chest so not to drop him.

"I didn't mean to blow her up… I just lost control. Besides, I think it might have been Elizabeth. She blows things up!" Harry told Ron and Hermione.

"And I will gladly take responsibility for it!" I said, smirking.

"Brilliant!" Ron said, grinning.

"Honestly, Ron, it's not funny! Harry and Elizabeth are lucky they weren't expelled!" Hermione told him. She paused and nodded into a compartment with only one man inside, obviously asleep.

"Come on. Everywhere else is full." She told us. We slipped inside.

"Who do you reckon he is?" Ron asked, nodding towards the man.

"Professor R.J Lupin." Hermione told him.

"How is it you know everything?"

"It's on his suitcase, Ronald." She told him, annoyed.

"Do you think he's really asleep?" Harry asked.

"Seems to be. Why?" I asked.

"I need to tell you something." He shut the door.

Later, we let all that Harry had said sink in. "

Let me get this straight… Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban to come after us?" I asked him. He nodded.

"But they'll catch Black, won't they? I mean, eventually?" Hermione asked, looking around at us.

"Sure. Of course, no one's ever broken out of Azkaban before and he's a raving, murderous lunatic…" Ron said.

"Oh, that's helpful." I told him sarcastically. Suddenly the train lurched to a stop.

"Why are we stopping? We can't be there yet." Hermione said, looking around. Harry got up and poked his head out of the compartment. Suddenly the train jerked again, sending Harry back onto the seats. The lights all shut off, leaving us in darkness.

"What's going on?" Ron asked.

"Maybe we've broken down?" Hermione suggested.

"Ouch! Ron that was my foot!" She added. In the dark, I moved from where I was beside Harry to sit beside Hermione instead.

"Anyone else get really cold all of a sudden?" I asked. Hermione and I leaned against each other for warmth.

"There's something moving out there… I think someone's coming aboard." Ron moaned. Suddenly, the car swayed dangerously.

"Bloody hell! What's happening?" Ron asked. Suddenly the door of the compartment slid open. A hooded, floating creature poked his head in. A white wispy strand went from Harry's face into the creatures. Suddenly Lupin jumped up and pointed his wand at the creature. A bright white/blue light came out of the wand and the creature left swiftly. Harry passed out.

After a few minutes, Harry woke up again. I sighed in relief. He looked around the compartment. Lupin snapped off a piece of a chocolate bar and handed it to him.

"Chocolate. Eat. It'll help." He explained.

"What was that… that thing?" Harry asked.

"A Dementor. One of the guards of Azkaban. It's gone now." Lupin told him. Harry frowned in confusion.

"It was searching the train… For Sirius Black." I explained.

"I need to have a word with the driver. Excuse me. And eat. It will help." Lupin left the compartment.

"What happened to me?" Harry asked.

"Well, you sort of went rigid. We thought maybe you were having a fit or something." Ron told him.

"And did either of you? You know… pass out"? Harry asked. "

No. But it felt weird. Cold…" I said, frowning.

"I was trembling… But then Professor Lupin made it go away." Hermione told him.

"But someone was screaming! A woman was screaming!" He looked between me and Hermione. We looked blankly back at him.

"No one was screaming, Harry."

We rode the carriages up to the castle and went into the Great Hall. Dumbledore stood to give his speech.

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I have a few things to say, before we come befuddled by our excellent feast. I myself am particularly looking forward to the flaming kiwi cups, which, while somewhat treacherous for those of with facial hair-." McGonagall cleared her throat. "-Mm… Yes. First, I am pleased to welcome Professor R.J Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Good luck to you, Professor." Everyone applauded. He was going to need it. No one has lasted more than a year as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, I thought to myself.

"As some of you may know, Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher for many years, has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I am delighted to announce that his place will be filled by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid!" Everyone applauded vigorously. Hagrid turned red and stood up, nearly toppling over the teacher's table. Then Dumbledore's expression turned grave.

"Finally, on a more disquieting note, Hogwarts, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, will, until further notice, play host to the Dementors of Azkaban. The Dementors will be stationed at the entrances to the grounds. While they are under strict orders not to enter the castle itself, you will on occasion see them as go about your daily activities. Under no circumstances are you to approach them. It is not in the nature of a Demtentor to be forgiving."