Bold*- parstletounge

Italics - thoughts

"Normal"- speech and narrative

Chapter 39: Dementors On The Hogwarts Express

1/9/1993

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Cassandra excitedly entered her usual train compartment. "BLAISE!" She squeeled, jumping into his arms. He spun her around and she wrapped her legs around him. "Wow you've grown!"

"And your beginning to look more and more like your mum!" The Italian stated, not putting her down. And it was true, her hair was getting curlier than it's usual barely wavy state and her face shape was becoming more like Bellatrix's. Only those who knew who her mum was would be able to tell though.

The compartment door opened and in walked Daphne and Astoria. Blaise put her down and she engulfed them both into a hug. "I've missed you guys!" She stated. One by one her friends entered the compartment, earning hugs from the Riddle.

She sat in Blaise's lap as she had hugged the last person hello. He didn't seem to mind of course, he just wrapped his arms around her waist. Cassandra hadn't been lying when she said he had grown, in fact all the boys had grown taller. They were now around the 5ft 9inches - 5ft 11inches mark, whereas the girls were in high 4ft or mid to low 5ft.

As the Hogwarts Express moved steadily north and the scenery outside the window became wilder and darker while the clouds overhead thickened overhead, Cassandra noticed that her cousin was sitting quite close to Daphne.

She hoped that they would end up together, but now was probably a bit too soon to get excited about it as Daph hadn't even noticed the blushing blonde beside her.

Luna was, once again sat with them after after a housemate had hexed her, announcing that she had decided she wants to take on in her mother's footsteps. Cassandra was ecstatic and had pulled the girl into her arms after stating the counter jinx. Blaise had jokingly complained about his legs going numb, earning a light slap on the arm from Cassandra.

As the group laughed and joked, people passed the compartment and at about one o'clock the plump witch with the food cart arrived at the compartment door.

They bought loads of snacks and shared them out with the Weasley Twins who payed them a visit, showing them all their dark marks - they had the same enchantment as Cassandra's so only those shown can see them.

Mid-afternoon, just as it had started to rain, blurring the rolling hills outside the window, Cassandra, Draco, Vince and Greg decided to go pay Potter a visit. Blaise had pouted when she had left his lap but she just kissed him on the cheek and promised to return.

"Well, look who it is," said Draco pulling open the compartment door.

"Potty and the Weasel." Cassandra stated whilst Vince and Greg laughed.

"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley," said Crabbe.

Goyle added. "Did your mother die of shock?"

Weasley stood up so quickly he knocked over a cats basket. The guy in the corner of the compartment gave a snort.

"Who's that?" Asked Cassandra.

"New teacher," said Potter, who got to his feet, too. "What were you saying, Riddle?"

She just smirked at the fact he thought she would be afraid of a Professor in the compartment. In fact, this was the mission she was tasked with this year - use the truth that Dumbledore kept from Remus Lupin to convince him to join the dark side.

And she'd be damned if she was going to fail it.

"Oh nothing Potter, just thought I'd come to say hi to him, especially as he's such a special Professor!" She stated knowingly before leading the boys out the door.

When they returned to their compartment Blaise simply patted his lap. Cass rolled her eyes but sat down anyway, Shadow leaped onto her lap and she stoked her pet as Blaise began plaiting her hair.

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 - and suddenly the train started to slow down.

"Great!" said Luna, "I can't wait to get to the feast! I hope there's pudding!"

"We can't be there yet," stated Cassandra casting 'Tempus'.

"So why're we stopping?" Asked Pansy.

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.

Theo stuck his head out the door and, according to him, he wasn't the only one.

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.

"What's going on?" said Astoria, voice shaking.

"I'm not sure sis," replied Daphne, "just stick close okay?"

There was a squeaking sound, and Cass saw the dim black outline of Vince, wiping a patch clean on the window and peering out.

"There's something moving out there," he said. "I think people are coming aboard..."

"Guys everyone remain calm, remember we are all here together, we are safe! Lumos!" A light emitted from Cass's wand, lighting her friends worried faces.

A creaking sound signalled the door sliding slowly open. They all exchanged panicked looks. Blaise's arms tightened around Cassandra as if to protect her from whatever was opening the door. Shadow was hissing and Midnight and Niklaus were rattling in their cages. (Cass had left Fang at home as she didn't want to upset him by making him return so soon.)

Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the light coming from Cassandra's wand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. 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...

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.

An intense cold swept over them all. Cass felt her breath catch in her chest - it was a dementor.

Looking at her cousin he was too frozen to do anything so she clung to the warm feeling of being in Blaise's arms and whispered, "Expecto Patronum!"

The silvery falcon erupted out of her wand, it formed a shield around her and her friends, forcing it out if the compartment and, unknown to them, flying out of the train.

"Are you okay?" She stated. No sooner than she said that a disgruntled Remus Lupin entered the compartment. He took a look at them, shock appearing on his face as he realised they were only third and second years.

"Who was it?" He stated.

"Who was what? And who are you?" Asked Blaise shielding Cass as best he could, considering she was sat on him - not knowing who the man was. The four had forgot to mention the Professor when they had recounted their run-in with Potter.

"I'm the new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher. Now which one of you conjured the Patronus?!"

"That would be me Sir." Stated Cassandra.

He raised an eyebrow at the girl.

She knew he did not believe her, why would he? Here she was sat in a boys lap, wrapped in his arms whilst the others sat on their own - apart from Daphne who was clutching both Luna and Astoria in her arms.

"Expecto Patronum!" The falcon appeared once more. "You really shouldn't underestimate a powerful woman Professor, just because she looks weak in a situation doesn't mean she is, in fact a lot of witches are ten times more powerful than wizards - you would do to remember that!"

He just glanced at her perplexed and then smiled. "Sorry Miss-?"

"Riddle."

"I'm sorry Miss Riddle, my apologies. May I inquire your house? I need to talk to the head to explain your extraordinary talent in the Patronus with them. That deserves house points! Especially as it was a corpreal one!"

"Thank you sir, I am in Slytherin so you should talk to Professor Snape."

Lupins face fell slightly. "Right, okay, I'll do that! If you don't mind me asking why and how did you learn the Patronus?"

"Well with Uncle Sirius escaping Azkaban my Godparents and mother decided to teach me and Draco to produce a Patronus!"

He paled, "Uncle Sirius?"

"Oh, er, sorry - that must have come to a shock. You see the Malfoys are my Godparents and Aunt Cissa is a Black, Sirius's cousin; therefore I call him Uncle."

"Right, well I er must go talk to the driver now, you eat some of that chocolate that you bought as it will make you feel better. You should also change into your robes!"

He then exited the compartment.

At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, and there was a great scramble to get outside. It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sheets.

The group followed the rest of the school along the platform and out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited the remaining students, each pulled by a couple of thestrals. Only Cass, Theo and Luna could see them of the group - to the others they were invisible, for they could only be seen by those who had seen death. Whilst Cassandra had killed somebody to earn the pleasure of seeing them, the others weren't as lucky: they had both seen their mums die in front of their very eyes!

As the carriage trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates they saw two more towering, hooded Dementors, standing guard on either side. Cassandra cast her Patronus again to keep the happy feelings inside the carriage.

At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and the group got out - Cass's falcon disappearing.

There had been a few rumours on the train and it looked like now was the best place to address them as Cassandra watched the terrible trio exit their carriage at the same time.

"Potter! Hey, Potter! Is it true you fainted? I mean you actually fainted?" Asked Cassandra smirking.

Blaise, who had his arm around her, helped Cassandra, Theo and Draco block Potter's way up the stone steps to the castle.

"Shove off, Riddle! Why don't you go and snog your boyfriend!" said Weasley, jaw clenched.

Her boys froze, as did she for that matter. "What are you talking about Weaselbee?"

"Are you stupid Riddle? I said why don't you go and snog your boyfriend!"

"Um, yeah I heard you the first time!"

Blaise laughed, "I think you're the stupid one Weasley, Cassandra hasn't got a boyfriend!"

"Are you joking me you have literally got her arm around her! And last year you kept cuddling!"

"That's called friendship - that of which that rivals a sibling bond Weasley!" Stated Cass giggling, "me and Blaise do that because we think of each other as brother and sister you imbecile!"

Before the Weasel could answer Professor Lupin appeared. "Is there a problem?"

Cass grinned, "just setting Weasley here straight Professor!"

"Meaning...?"

"He told me to go off and snog someone who I consider to be my brother."

"Ah, well carry on you lot - and don't worry Miss Riddle I'm still going to speak to Severus about those house points and see how many he thinks you should get - I'm thinking 50 at the least! Sorry Ron but that'll be 10 points from Gryffindor for inappropriate conversation."

Lupin then entered the castle leaving open mouthed Gryffindor's and smirking Slytherins in his wake.