DISCLAIMER: HARRY POTTER IS STILL NOT MINE.
AU
*this chapter contains Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Prisoner of Azkaban spoilers.
Chapter 9: Dementors and Hogwarts
The next morning Mary woke up at the crack of dawn after a few hours of sleep, she started to pace around her bedroom checking everything, she took her transfiguration text book and started to memorize everything. Her dad was the best in transfiguration and she wanted to be like him. Half an hour later she heard footsteps on the stairs and her door opened. Her god father was probably coming back to his bedroom for a few hours of sleep and decided to check on her.
'Hey cub, what are you doing up?' He said sitting on the edge of the bed.
She ignored his question and jumped out of bed. 'How are you feeling Uncle Moony? Do you want anything? Maybe some tea or coffee... Do you want breakfast? I can make it for y-'
'MARY!' She looked at him wide eyed. 'Sorry cub, but you wouldn't hear me.' She nodded still scared. 'I'm fine really.' She looked at him sceptically. 'Come here.' He patted the place beside him in the bed. She sat beside him carefully. He sighed. 'I won't hurt you cub, I never will.' She nodded.
'Sorry' she said quietly suddenly finding her pyjamas interesting. Remus put a finger under her chin and raised it gently to make her look at him.
'That's okay, I shouldn't have shouted. What are you doing up, cub? It's too early in the morning. Have you been up all night again?'
She looked at him open mouthed like a fish. The only thing she could as was 'How?'
'Did you honestly think I never noticed how you look almost as exhausted as I am after the full moon?'
She looked down to hide her pink cheeks. 'Sorry.'
'Stop apologizing, cub. Just try to get some sleep next time okay? I am alright, don't worry. The potion makes me able to keep my human mind, remember?' She nodded. 'What is it you were reading?' She showed him her forgotten book. 'Cub, this must be your third time reading this book. Are you trying to know every paragraph by heart or something? Don't be too hard on yourself, Mary; you'll go crazy by the end of the year if you do.'
'It's just that-' she hesitated and her god father put a hand around her shoulder. 'That daddy was so good in transfiguration and I want to do something that would make people proud of me.'
'Oh Mary. You already make us so proud, I am proud of the girl you turned out to be and I am sure that you mum and dad are too. You don't have to be them, cub. Be yourself because that way you already make the proudest god father in the whole world.' He smiled tiredly at her. She smiled back at him and closed her book. 'And know that whichever house you are sorted in I'll be proud of you. Every house has its qualities.'
'I wanted to be in Gryffindor like you, mummy, daddy, Uncle James and Auntie Lily.'
'Then maybe you can ask the sorting hat to put you there, but not because we were there cub, because you want to.' She nodded.
'What about some breakfast mm? We will sleep on the train later; we need to check everything again before we go.'
'I will make breakfast.' She said stubbornly.
He sighed. 'Mary, you know I don't like you near the stove.'
'Please, Uncle Remus. I'm doing it since I was 5, I know how it works.' She told him without thinking and then got up from the bed and backed away. 'S-Sorry.'
He shook his head. 'You never told me that. How were you able to cook when you were five if now you're a little taller than it?' He looked at her seriously.
She mumbled something that sounded like 'chair' and Remus decided to talk to her about it later, it was almost nine and they had to go.
'Let's go.'
In the kitchen Mary insisted to help and that she liked cooking, which she really did. It was the only chore she liked at the orphanage.
After breakfast and that 'disgusting thingy' as Mary liked to call her new potion from when they went again to the healer, they checked everything again. Mary picked a few book and put them on the top of her things before closing her trunk, that way it would be easier to get them if she wanted to read. It was a quarter past tem when they apparated to an alley near King's Cross Station with her trunks and Haze hated it was much as Mary, she couldn't decide which was worse: floo or apparating. She followed her god father and he stopped between platforms nine and ten.
'Where's platform nine and three-quarters?' She asked him looking around.
'You have to walk straight to that wall; it's a passage way for the platform.'
'Okay...' She said doubtfully.
'Let's go together. Don't worry, I was nervous on my first time too but you won't run into the wall. Trust me cub.' She nodded. 'Together?'
'Please.'
They ran towards the wall and Mary closed her eyes waiting for the moment she would crash but it never came.
'Welcome to the Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, cub.' Remus smiled as Mary looked at the red engine with wonder. The Hogwarts Express. There were a few people in the Platform; most of them would arrive later.
'Let's get a compartment, when more people arrive you can sit with new first years if you'd like.' She shook her head and he held a sigh. They walked towards the train and chose an empty compartment in the end. They settled down in the corner, Mary leaning into her god father with her Kneazle on her lap. She took her Hogwarts a History from her trunk and started to reread it for the fourth time.
Remus chuckled. 'Merlin cub! Hogwarts a History again?'
She rolled her eyes and smiled. 'Yeah Uncle Moony but now is different because I'm going to Hogwarts, I have to remember the details!'
He chuckled again. 'I'm sure you know every sentence by heart by now, Mary.' He yawned. 'I'll sleep a little, okay cub? Why don't you go find another compartment? Maybe you could meet another first year.'
She shook her head. 'D-do you mind if I stay here?'
'No, cub, I don't.' He sighed and kissed the top of her head. He leaned into the window and closed his eyes as his god daughter leaned on his with her book open. Soon both of them were asleep.
Mary woke up at the sound of a whistle; she looked around and saw a black haired boy with green eyes using glasses-this one she recognized as Harry- a red headed boy with freckles on his face and a brown -bushy haired girl. Neither of them had notice she was up.
'It's coming from your trunk, Harry,' the ginger boy said, standing up and reaching into the luggage rack. A moment later he had pulled the noisy thing out from between Harry's robes. It was spinning very fast in the palm of his hand and glowing brilliantly.
'Is that a Sneakoscope?' said the girl interestedly, standing up for a better look.
'Yeah... mind you, it's a very cheap one,' the ginger boy said. 'It went haywire just as I was tying it to Errol's leg to send it to Harry.'
'Were you doing anything untrustworthy at the time?' said the bushy girl shrewdly.
'No! Well... I wasn't supposed to be using Errol. You know he's not really up to long journeys... but how else was I supposed to get Harry's present to him?'
'Stick it back in the trunk,' Harry advised as the Sneakoscope whistled piercingly again, 'or it'll wake them up.'
At this moment the three of them looked towards Mary.
'Err... sorry we woke you up.' The girl side smiling embarrassingly Mary shook her head to show that it didn't mind. 'I'm Hermione Granger and these are Ron Weasley-' she pointed at the red headed one. '-and Harry Potter. You are...'
'M-Mary.' Mary said quietly sinking down even more on the bench.
'Don't you have a last name?' That Ron boy asked hastily.
'RON! Stop being a git!' She slapped him on the head. 'Is it your first year, Mary?' Mary nodded. 'Great! I was so excited on my first year, I'm a muggle-born you know and when my letter came I was so happy to find a logical explanation for all the strange things I did. I hope to see you in Gryffindor.' Mary swore that girl could speak faster than anyone she's ever heard of. Mary looked at her smiling slightly and said quietly.
'I hope to be a Gryffindor.' But her mumble was blocked from the ginger boy's cry of 'Breathe Hermione! You're scaring the poor girl.' They started to bicker and Mary turned her gaze to Harry who was looking locked in his thoughts as he stared at her god father. 'Maybe Harry remembers Uncle Moony!'
When they started to talk about Hogsmeade, Mary turned back to her book. She had to hold a laugh when that girl... what is it... Hermione told the boys that the Shrieking Shack was haunted.
Suddenly three boys entered the compartment. One was taller, with a pudding-bowl haircut and a very thick neck; the other one had short, bristly hair and long, gorilla-ish arms; the smaller one had whitish-blond hair and a thin face. He looked like he had just swallowed a lemon and reminded Mary of a white ferret while his bodyguards of two fat troll-ish gorillas.
'Well, look who it is,' said the white ferret in a lazy drawl 'Potty and the Weasel.' The gorillas chuckled. 'I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold Weasley,' said Malfoy. 'Did your mother die of shock?'
Ron stood up so quickly he knocked Hermione's kneazle basket to the floor. Remus gave a snort. The blond boy saw Mary and was about to say something about her when he saw her god father. 'Who's that?' he said, taking an automatic step backward as he spotted Remus.
'New teacher,' said Harry, who got to his feet, too, in case he needed to hold Ron back. 'What were you saying, Malfoy?'
Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed; he wasn't fool enough to pick a fight right under a teacher's nose.
'C'mon,' he muttered resentfully to his pets, and the circus disappeared.
Harry and Ron sat down again, Ron massaging his knuckles.
'I'm not going to take any crap from Malfoy this year,' he said angrily. 'I mean it. If he makes one more crack about my family, I'm going to get hold of his head and -'
Ron made a violent gesture in midair.
'Ron!' Hermione admonished.
'Sorry about Malfoy, he is the Slytherin Prince and is a git.' Harry told Mary and she nodded, looking back at him. His eyes were still haunted but she could see a mask covering it, one who didn't know what to look for would never notice. He was wearing a long sleeved shirt and was sitting a little far from his friends, he was tense.
The rain thickened as the train sped yet farther north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering gray, which gradually darkened until lanterns flickered into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks.
The train rattled, the rain hammered, the wind roared, but still, Remus slept.
Mary stood up to look at the completely black window and trying to look outside. Why was it so cold suddenly? The train started to slow down. Mary passed carefully through her god father but the train slowed down even more and she almost fell down when Harry grabbed her arm and she tensed. They looked at each other's eyes and something connected.
'Thanks.' Mary said quietly and went back to her seat.
'Great, I'm starving. I want to get to the feast...' said Ron oblivious to everything.
'We can't be there yet,' said Hermione, checking her watch.
'So why are we stopping?'
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.
Harry got up to look into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads were sticking curiously out of their compartments. The train came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness. Mary leaned again into her god father.
''What's going on?' said Ron's voice from behind Harry.
'Ouch!' gasped Hermione. 'Ron that was my foot!'
Harry felt his way back to his seat.
'D'you think we've broken down?'
'Dunno...'
There was a squeaking sound, and Harry saw the dim black outline of Ron, wiping a patch clean on the window and peering out.
'There's something moving out there,' Ron said. 'I think people are coming aboard...'
'Strange... There isn't any station here.' they heard Hermione's voice.
'Uncle Remus?' Mary shook him quietly and he opened his eyes. 'What happened cub?' He looked around and asked all of them. 'What happened here?'
None of them spoke.
There was a soft, crackling noise, and a shivering light filled the compartment. Remus appeared to be holding a handful of flames. They illuminated his tired, gray face, but his eyes looked alert and wary.
'Stay where you are,' he said in the same hoarse voice, and he got slowly to his feet with his handful of fire held out in front of him, Mary held his other hand to ask him to stay but the door slid slowly open before Lupin could reach it.
Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in her god father's hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. Mary looked downward, and what she saw made her tremble. There was a hand protruding from the cloak and it was glistening, greyish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water...
And then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings. Mary knew what it was, her god father told her- after she insisted a lot- about Azkaban and she recognized the black thing as a Dementor.
An intense cold swept over them all. Mary couldn't breathe. The cold went deeper than her skin, like all her limbs were freezing. It was inside her chest, it was inside her heart and mind...
She started to hyperventilate and tremble, she couldn't see anything. It was only her and that depressing cold.
And then she heard the voice of the person that made her life a living hell.
'FREAK! WASTE OF SPACE! WORTHLESS! I'LL BEAT THE FREAKISHNESS OUT OF YOU, EVEN IF I HAVE TO KILL YOU. NO ONE WILL MISS YOU, NO ONE WILL EVER LOVE YOU.' And then it all went black.
'Mary, Mary. C'mon baby, open your eyes. C'mon little Mary.' Someone was shaking her and when she opened her eyes she saw her god father looking at her concerned. 'Are you all right?'
Mary nodded. 'W-was i-it a Dementor?' Mary trembled as Remus nodded and wiped her tears and then pulled her into his arms. Remus knew he couldn't show this relationship with Mary a lot while he was her teacher but at this moment he didn't care, his cub was scared and trembling. She needed him.
'I'm here Mary, you're okay. You won't come back there, that is past, he won't touch you ever again.' After she calmed down, Remus laid her down on her seat and gave her a chocolate frog. 'Eat little Mary, it really helps.' She nodded and ate the chocolate, feeling warmth spread through her body.
Remus then went over to Harry, who was leaning on the window with his eyes closed. Remus knelt down so that they were on the same level.
'Harry?' Harry opened his green eyes that were looking more haunted and duller than ever. 'How are you feeling?'
'Fine.' Harry answered almost instantly but his voice cracked and his eyes filled with tears again.
'Could you two send a letter to Hogwarts informing what happened?' Remus asked Ron and Hermione, who were looking at Harry. They hesitated but after Remus reassured them they left their compartment.
Remus looked at Harry –who was trying to stop his tears from falling and failing miserably- and put a hand under his chin, raising it. Harry blushed and tried to look down but Remus was holding his chin firmly.
'There's nothing wrong with crying Harry, it's worse if you let yourself bottled up and cry on the inside without anyone to help you. Your mum told me this herself.'
'Y-you knew my p-parents?'
'Yes, I did. I went with them to Hogwarts. I was one of your dad's best mates.'
Remus then saw a shade of a smile on Harry's face.
'I can tell you about him if you want but first eat this-' Remus gave Harry a chocolate frog and Harry looked at Remus confused. '-it really helps make you feel better.' Harry nodded and ate.
Remus sat back on his bench next to Mary who was now seated and staring at Remus and Harry with a small smile. Remus then started to tell Harry stories about how his dad would ask Lily to go out with him and how she let him down every time until seventh year.
Ron and Hermione came back and smiled when they saw their friend looking much better, they shot a grateful smile towards the Professor and Remus winked at them.
They didn't talk much during the remainder of the journey. At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, and there was a great scramble to get outside; owls hooted, cats meowed, and toads croaked loudly. It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sheets.
'Firs' years this way!' called Hagrid, the keeper of keys of Hogwarts. Remus told Mary about him and his obsession with dangerous animals.
Mary looked at her god father and he said quietly. 'Go ahead and good luck, cub. After the Sorting we are going to the Hospital Wing, I want Madam Pomfrey to check on both you and Harry.' He kissed her forehead and she went after Hagrid and got on a boat with two girls and a boy. The journey to the Castle was uneventful, Mary took her time looking around trying to get a glimpse of everything and got distracted imagining how this would be like during the day. She almost stayed in her boat went everyone went towards the oak doors.
Hagrid looked around to make sure everyone was there and raised his giant fist to knock on the oak door.
The door opened and a stern looking woman dressed in dark red robes stood there waiting for them.
'Prof'ssor McGonagall.' Hagrid nodded.
'Thank you Hagrid. I'll take care of the rest.'
They followed her to a large room, the entrance hall was lit with torches, the ceiling was so high you could barely see it and there was a big and beautiful staircase. From there, Professor McGonagall led them to a small chamber next to the hall not nearly as magnificent as the other room, in fact, this one was empty.
The first years looked around nervous, trying to figure out what would happen now. Mary's hands were shaking, she felt like she could jump of happiness she was at Hogwarts!
'Welcome to Hogwarts,' said Professor McGonagall as she knew it by heart which she probably did having to say the same thing every year. 'The start-of-term feast will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
'The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours and show respect to all the houses. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes at the Great Hall where the other students are waiting. I'll be back in a few minutes.'
Mary heard people trying to guess how they would be sorted, a boy was saying that they would lock you up in a cage with a lion, a snake, an eagle and a badger and the animal would choose you. Mary rolled her eyes, this sounded a bit complicated. She tried to stop her shaking hands and smarted her robes. She took a deep breath but the gasped when ghosts came floating above them to say hello. Several people screamed but Mary stood there in shock.
'Hello.' Bowed a ghost wearing a ruff and tights. 'I am Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington. The ghost of Gryffindor House. I welcome all of you to our school and hope to see you in Gryffindor.'
A plumpy little man that looked like a pumpkin waved and smiled.
Soon Professor McGonagall came back for them. 'Form a line and follow me.'
As fast as she could with her shaking legs, Mary got in the line after a blond boy. They went through the Entrance Hall and stopped for a moment in front of a pair of double doors. Mary took a deep breath as the doors opened.
Mary has never seen anything so magnificent. Everywhere you looked there was magic. If she hadn't read Hogwarts a History she would say that the Great Hall didn't have ceiling at all. Thousands of candles were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.
Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. What that shabby hat was doing there? Surprisingly the hat opened its mouth and began to sing.
"Oh, many years ago
When the founders still lived,
They searched for a way
To sort their students in the houses they should be.
They enchanted a hat,
That could see the student's personality,
What they feared and what they wanted to be.
This hat is me and I know what to do
Just sit on the stoll and put me on your head
I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
There's nothing hidden in your head
For the enchanted cap,
So put me on and I will tell you
What's your destiny
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where the braves find their place,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Marks their fate;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those Hufflepuffs work hard
And are united as one;
Or you could be in Ravenclaw,
If you make your own mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll learn what you need to be,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their plans.
Try me on and prepare to hear
Because after the sorting
Part of your destiny will be sealed.'
The hall clapped and Mary looked stunned. The Sorting was made by a hat that could see their thoughts, genial! As the students were called Mary got even more nervous, her hands were shaking and she looked at the head table for support. She saw her god father sitting beside a small man and he smiled at her.
'Black, Mary'
The hall broke into whispers. Mary could hear the words: mass-murderer, Black and Azkaban clearly and took a deep breath. She looked at her god father one more time and smiled nervously; she walked towards the hat and sat on the stool, putting it in her head.
'Hmm... Another Black came to Hogwarts. Interesting, you remind me of another Black, Sirius Black, not like the rest of your family... Oh yes... he's your father. You're worried about him aren't you? He would never be able to betray his friends like that, he is not like his family at all, I sorted him right. Hmmm. Well, let's get over it. Wants to prove yourself hmmm, very just and hardworking as well. Intelligent, can think logically, thirsty for knowledge. Very brave indeed, interesting would do anything to protect the loved ones. Your father was like that you know? Very daring... Interesting. You would do well in any of the four houses. Not Slytherin, you're not cunning or ambitious enough to be there, you'd never step over anyone to achieve your plans. You'd do well in Hufflepuff but your patience isn't that good. Ravenclaw or Gryffindor? Where should you be?' A voice in Mary's head said and Mary was too stunned to answer. 'Prove yourself Mary Mae Black, confront your fears and you'll be great in-'
'GRYFFINDOR!' The hat cried and the table on the far left exploded with cheers; Mary smiled and went towards the table, where a few people shook her hand and some of them looking wary at her. She looked at the head table and saw her god father beaming at her. Soon enough the sorting ended.
At that moment the headmaster stood up to speak, the hall was silent. Professor Dumbledore, though very old, always gave an impression of great energy. He had several feet of long silver hair and beard, half-moon spectacles, and an extremely crooked nose.
"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast..." Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."
He paused, and Mary shuddered. Dumbledore did not look happy with the Dementors guarding the school.
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises - or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly, 'It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors," Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound.
"On a happier note," he continued, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.
"First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Mary clapped hard and smiled at her god father even though only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Harry among them. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes. "As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his game keeping duties."
Mary joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Hagrid was ruby-red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard.
"Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!"
After the feast, when the Gryffindors were leaving to their Common Room, they met Remus waiting for Mary and Harry to go to the Hospital Wing at the door. When Mary saw him, she almost ran in his direction but remembered that he was not her 'Uncle Remus' now, he was Professor Lupin.
'Congratulations, Mary!' He smiled at her.
'Thank you, Professor Lupin' she grinned and he smiled.
'I'll always be your Uncle Remus for you.'
After Harry arrived they went towards the Hospital Wing. Remus tried to make a conversation but both Harry and Mary were in their own world and were too shy. And even if Ron said that he should stay away from that 'Black girl' he couldn't, there was something connecting them, like she knew what he's been through, and you don't get to choose your family after all. After Madam Pomfrey fussed over them, Remus walked them back to the Gryffindor Tower. After Harry thanked him and entered Remus hugged Mary and kissed her temple.
'Goodnight cub, I love you. And I'm proud of you.'
'Goodnight, Uncle Moony.' She yawned. 'Love you too.'
Mary walked towards what she thought it was the girls' first year dorms and saw her things on the bed closest to the window where Haze was sleeping soundly. She changed to her pyjamas and got Paddy. Before she fell asleep she could have sworn she saw the real Padfoot sitting on the edge of the forest.
A/N: Hey, this is the longest chapter I've ever written. I wondered if I should divide it in two but decided against it. Hope you liked how the Dementor thing turned out.
Please check my other story; it's a Potter Twins Story. It's called the Fire of the Phoenix.
