Chapter 9

''I'm Antares,'' I whispered. ''Just... Antares.''

''Wait! I know who you are!'' the boy said rapidly. ''You must be the one father told me about. So tell me, is it really true that you'll start as a third year's student?'' He settled down in front of me. ''I'm Draco Malfoy.''

Lucius Malfoy's son. Of course. Blond hair, grey eyes and arrogant behaviour. Actually that was pretty obvious. ''I met your father,'' I said evasively.

''I know you did. He told me sbout- '' Malfoy said, as the train started to move suddenly. His companions stumbled over each other.

''Sit down, you maggots,'' Malfoy snapped. ''By the way,'' he said to me, ''these are Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.''

''Hello,'' I said.

They grumbled something I considered an answer. Malfoy turned towards them and told them everything about his vacation. I was happy with the fact that he didn't ask me to talk about myself, and I stared out of the window. I saw grey clouds floating by, and at some point I realised that Malfoy was talking to me.

''Come with us,'' I heard him saying. ''We're about to visit my old friend.'' His mouth curved into a mean smile. ''I want to know how his vacation was.''

I shook my head. ''I... er... I can guard the compartment for you,'' I said.

Malfoy stared at me, and grinned. ''All right then. Make sure that no one will enter.'' He gestured Crabbe and Goyle to follow him.

I leaned back and looked out of the window again. It became darker outside and I wondered how long the journey would take. I was lost in my thoughts when the door of the compartment opened again. Malfoy and his companions had returned.

''Silly Potter,'' Malfoy said. ''He was being watched over by a teacher!'' He smirked.

''Excuse me,'' I said. ''Do you know- ''

The train started to slow down.

''Never mind,'' I continued. ''I see that we're almost there.''

''We can't be there yet,'' Malfoy said. He stepped into the corridor and all of a sudden the lamps went out. ''What's going on? I'll go and take a look.''

''I think that it's better if you'd wait here,'' I said slowly. ''I... don't feel... so well.''

A cold feeling spread in my heart, and I found it hard to breath. ''What's happening?'' I stammered in panic. An intense darkness fell over me. ''I can't see anything!'' In a far distance I heard Malfoy screaming and shouting. I groped into my robes but I couldn't find my wand. I screamed when someone grasped my arm.

''Oi! Easy now, it's gone. Are you all right?''

I looked up. Two identical boys with flaming red hair smiled at me.

''What was that?'' I asked weakly.

''That was a Dementor,'' one boy said.

''Nasty creatures,'' said the other. ''They suck all the happiness out of you, and make you feel horrible.'' He shivered, and looked at me. ''I don't think it'll come back, but we can stay here if that makes you feel better.''

''Yes, please,'' I said. Malfoy and his companions had gone away, and secretely I was happy with that.

''Cool. I'm Fred Weasley.''

''And I'm George,'' said the other.

''Are you brothers?'' I asked.

''Twins,'' they said simultaneously.

I giggled. ''I'm Antares.''

''Nice to meet you,'' Fred said. ''Haven't seen you before, have I?''

I hesitated. Snape had warned me for this. Luckily the train started to move again, and that made so much noise that I had some time to think of a good answer. ''I was tought magic at home, but my... mother believed that Hogwarts was a better place to learn after all.''

''Not with these Dementors around,'' George spoke bitterly.

''What are they doing here?'' I asked.

''They're guarding the school,'' Fred said.

''Guarding?''

''Dementors are the guards of Azkaban.''

''They're looking for Sirius Black. You know him, right?'' George said.

I felt my breath catch in my chest. ''I... I have heard of him.''

''Don't worry, the Dementors will find him sooner or later.''

I couldn't tell them that that was exactly what I was afraid of. ''Let's hope so,'' I whispered. If only they knew about my task!

Fred and George told me everything about their trip to Egypt, and I listened happily to their chit chat. At last the train slowed down.

''Finally!'' Fred said, as he stood up from his seat. ''I'm starving.'' He took my trunk out of the luggage rack and gave it to me.

''Thanks,'' I said, and I stepped out of the train, onto the wet platform. It was pouring with rain.

''Quickly, let's find us a carriage!'' George said.

''Firs' years this way!'' I heard someone shouting. I looked to Fred and George. ''Do I have to go there?''

Fred grinned. ''Our famous journey across the lake. That is traditional for our innocent first years.''

''But theoretically you're a third years,'' said George. ''And believe me, you won't miss that much. Come with us!''

We ran to the carriages as fast as we could and tried not to stumble over our trunks.

''Hey Nameless!'' I heard Malfoy shouting. He hung out of a carriage window and waved at me. Fred raised an eyebrow.

''Yes?'' I said, and I tried to sound unimpressed.

''We saved you a seat! You don't want to to sit with those-''

''Actually I do,'' I said in return. ''Or at least I don't want to sit with you.'' I threw my luggage in the next carriage and sat down, breathing heavily. Fred and George joined me, and closed the door behind them. They sat down as well, and the carriage started to move.

''You should've seen his face!'' Fred said.

''Nice one,'' said George.

''He deserved it,'' I said to my own surprise.

''You got that right. Malfoy's a brat.''

''I'm so looking forward to Quidditch,'' Fred said with a dreamy gaze. ''We can totally outclass Slytherin...''

''And Malfoy,'' George added.

I didn't ask what Quidditch was. I looked at the twins, and thought of what they just said. And at that very moment I doubted the fact that being in Slytherin was what I really wanted.