The Good News

Harry opened a door and saw a girl reading a thick book with either a star or a tree on its cover - he wasn't sure which.

"Sorry, may I sit here?" he said after a moment of hesitation. "Everywhere else is full."

The compartments he checked before that one were indeed occupied by older students. Technically, they weren't full, but Harry didn't think the older kids would care much for his company.

"Sure," said the girl putting aside her book.

She waited for him to put his trunk into its place and sit opposite her before saying:

"My name is Daphne Greengrass. What's yours?"

"Harry Potter."

She smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Harry. Have you heard the good news?"

Harry blinked.

"Ah... No?"

"Azkaban doesn't hate you!"

Harry considered that statement. He supposed it were good news that someone didn't hate him.

"Who's Azkaban?"

Daphne's smile grew wider.

"Azkaban is the castle and the god beneath the castle, dead but dreaming, and the thoughts of the god made manifest which ignorant people call dementors. When the stars are right, Azkaban will awaken from its slumber, and the land of the dead will collide with the mortal world, and all will be devoured by Azkaban."

"Um," said Harry. "That's good news?"

"Of course!" Said Daphne excitedly. "It means that no matter what you do, it's all meaningless! It is the ultimate freedom, to know that everything you can accomplish will be futile in the end. Whether you are the first or the last, in the end you will be annihilated. There is no justice and no judgment. Azkaban will devour all not out of hatred or disgust, but because such is its nature."

"Um," said Harry again. "Is it some wizard thing? You see, I lived with my muggles relatives until now..."

"It's my family's thing," said Daphne. "Most wizards and witches don't respect the glorious message of Azkaban, though they still feed it souls of prisoners. But, you see, the death dreams of Azkaban sometimes bleed onto mortal plane, infecting minds of those sensitive to it, and it's very common in my family. Which is why we keep Grandpa in the attic now, though Mom says we will soon put him in the basement with Aunt Mary since he started growing gills." She took a deep breath before continuing. "Anyway, because of that we feel the obligation to help other members of our community to better understand Azkaban and to spread its glorious message."

"Um," said Harry the third time.

Daphne smiled at him, seemingly oblivious to his discomfort.

"I am so glad you agreed to listen to the good news. You see, my parents warned me that kids in Hogwarts probably wouldn't appreciate the message because souls of many of their parents were devoured by Azkaban already during the last war. Which is silly because all souls will be devoured in the end, it's just a matter of time. So I was worried that they wouldn't listen to me or even try to curse me, but you listened, so thank you."

"Ah... sure," said Harry. "You are welcome."

Daphne's smile suddenly dropped.

"I might have forgotten some details, though. I am only learning this stuff myself, you know. Would you like to read pamphlets? Mom made them to spread around the school. They have more information. And pictures."

"Sure," said Harry.

Daphne smiled at him again.

"Give me a moment."

She rummaged through her trunk and produced a number of very colorful pamphlets which she handled to Harry.

He stared at them. They did indeed contain pictures. Someone must have tried very hard to turn something bleak and maddening and not quite real and far more real than a perfect world would allow into an illustration that would appeal to kids.

The attempt was not entirely successful.

"So many eyes..." whispered Harry.

"You get used to it after growing your fifth one," said Daphne.

Harry read the pamphlets for some time, trying not to look at the pictures too closely, least it would come to life. Daphne returned to her book.

Definitely a tree, thought Harry risking a glance at the cover.

Two boys opened the door to the compartment mere minutes apart from each other but, upon seeing Daphne, immediately closed it.

On the ride Harry and Daphne talked about many things: life, death, latest gossip from Witch Weekly which Harry found very confusing, Hogwarts classes and faceless shadow creatures that shall not be looked at directly.

They promised to meet for Sunday visions even if they would end up in different houses.

It wasn't how Harry imagined making his first friend, but he supposed with everything he knew and everything he didn't know being doomed to be devoured by an unfathomable god, it didn't truly matter.