Disclaimer--Nothing here belongs to me. Most of this scene is from PoA and belongs to JKR, who is a MUCH more accomplished writer than me. They're for the love of the craft and intended only as flattery.
Author's Notes--
Strawberries and Blueberries--I'll try not to ruin your favorite book for you! *looks nervous*
Adrienne--You earned a hug--I like having you to keep Ginny and myself company! I tried to do Ginny's reaction to the dementors justice, but I'm sure she and Harry would tell us it's the sort of feeling you can only really imagine. She does have a bit of a Harry-complex, but as you say, it's in keeping with her age and experience. ;-) It's so cool that you like Bion! Thanks. :-) Maybe we can see more of him later on...
EEDOE--Okay, you win. Fangirl. *winks* Bobbleheads!I love the way your mind works! *snickers wildly* As you say, if Ginny weren't made for Harry...I feel a bit bad for Bion myself...in fact, I've been a bit tempted to help him out. *muses* I loved that little bit with Ginny almost sitting on Harry as well...she was looking for him...*coughs* I hope the dementor scene had even a fraction of the emotional impact it promised...thanks for saying it did! *hugs*
Bill--It feels so good to think you can actually pick themes out of my chapters! I write something people can analyze! *giggles like schoolgirl* Thanks!!! *hugs*
********************************
Ron was already beside him. "Harry! Harry! Are you all right?"
Hermione waited, looking like Ginny felt, for an eternity of seconds. Then, suddenly, reached over and slapped Harry's face, gently but firmly, a succession of times.
"W-what?" Harry lurched slightly, turning his face away, moving as if he were about to sit up.
Hermione and Ron lifted him up onto the seat. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Harry was craning around to look at the door. "What happened? Where's that-that thing?" Ginny shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself. "Who screamed?"
"No one screamed," Ron said, looking even more intensely worried.
Harry looked at Neville, then turned and looked at her. His eyes seemed to linger on hers for a brief moment, but she might have been imagining it. "But I heard screaming--" Harry insisted.
Something split the air with a dangerous crack. Everyone in the compartment jumped. Ginny huddled back into the corner against the wall, and didn't bother to move when she realized the sound had come from the man who'd sent the cloaked thing away. "Here," he said crisply, handing a Harry a huge chunk of-chocolate? "Eat it. It'll help."
Harry took the chocolate, but stared at the man. "What was that thing?"
That was what she wanted to know.
"A dementor," the man said matter-of-factly, forcing a piece of chocolate into Ginny's hand.
"One of the dementors of Azkaban." He crumbled up the wrapper and put it in his pocket, apparently unaware he'd said anything the least bit remarkable. Ginny licked her lips again, watching him.
"Eat," he said, looking at her as if willing her to believe him. "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me..."
"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" Hermione asked, voicing Ginny's secret fear.
"I don't get it," Harry said instead of answering. "What happened?"
"Well-that thing-the dementor-stood there and looked around (I mean, I think it did, I couldn't see its face) and you-you--" Ginny had never heard Hermione so inarticulate. Somehow, that made the experience more real than anything else could.
"I thought you were having a fit or something," Ron said for her, his voice faint. "You went sort of rigid and fell out of your seat and started twitching--"
"And Professor Lupin stepped over you, and walked toward the dementor and pulled out his wand, and he said, 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.' But the dementor didn't move, so Lupin muttered something and a silvery thing shot out of his wand at it, and it turned around and sort of glided away..." Hermione concluded in a rush.
"It was horrible," Neville trilled shrilly, making Ginny glance at him. She was surprised to see his face nearly as white as Harry's, each freckle cleared outlined against skin that looked almost translucent. "Did you feel how cold it got when it came in?" So that wasn't just me, Ginny thought with something like relief. She didn't know why it helped, but it did...
"I felt weird," Ron said with a mangled shrug. "Like I'd never be cheerful again..."
In spite of herself, Ginny drew air in one huge, shaky sob. Harry's green eyes met hers, solid and connected for what seemed like ages. Hermione put an arm around her as if shielding her from her own demons.
"But didn't any of you-fall off your own seats?" Harry asked, looking horribly embarrassed.
"No," Ron said, glancing at Hermione in a way that reminded Ginny of Dad when he was upset.
"Ginny was shaking like mad, though."
Ginny sniffled into Hermione's shoulder without meaning to. Hermione patted her back, looking at Harry.
The stranger stepped back into the compartment, taking everything in with the suggestion of a smile. "I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know..."
Ginny looked at the gooey lump with distaste. Harry raised his and took a skeptical bite. Ginny saw his eyes widen, and he seemed to sit up a little straighter. Twisting her lips in disbelief, Ginny nibbled at a corner of her piece...and felt a little closer to the ability to someday be happy. She chewed slowly at the chocolate until it was gone and felt nearly human.
No one felt much like talking for the short remainder of the journey. They filed out into rain so freezing it was almost like being on the train with the dementor all over again. Ginny let Hermione steer her across the platform and into a carriage without a horse. Ron and Hermione kept shooting looks at Harry from the opposite seat. Ginny couldn't bring herself to add to his distress by staring, and forced herself to stare into the rushing water outside the window instead, resisting the urge to reach out and touch him.
Malfoy tried to make trouble as they emerged from the carriage, but the stranger from the train came to the rescue yet again, and they stumbled dazedly toward the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall called Harry and Hermione away just as they reached the door. Ginny and Ron tried to watch them go, torn between curiosity and concern, but the crowd forced them into the Hall. The sky overhead was as black as the train had been. Ginny shivered as she sat between Neville and Dean across from Ron. To her surprise, the stranger was sitting at the Head Table next to Professor Snape. Before she had time to consider that, Professor Flitwick hobbled into the room, carrying a three-legged stool and a ragged Hat.
There was a moment of expectant silence, then the Hat opened its mouth and began to sing. The song was different than it had been the year before when Ginny was Sorted, and she was pleasantly surprised by the Hat's creativity. Professor Flitwick waited until the applause died away, then opened a scroll of parchment and began to call names. One by one, the new students stepped forward to try on the Hat, which shouted out a house for the student. The ceremony was a lot more enjoyable when you watched someone else go through it. Still, Ginny was glad to see it come to an end...she was feeling good enough to be very hungry.
Harry and Hermione had just come into the Hall and sat down on either side of Ron, and Professor McGonagall, who'd come in with them, slid into place at the Head Table, when Professor Dumbledore stood and tapped his water glass, signaling his opening speech. It started with dementors, to Ginny's disgust. She'd never wanted to see the things again.
The stranger was a replacement for Gilderoy Lockhart, their former Defense against the Dark Arts Professor. His name was Remus Lupin. Most of the school took this news incredulously, and Snape looked almost sick, but Ginny applauded enthusiastically, grateful for his presence on the Express. He wasn't the only new teacher. They also had a new Care of Magical Creatures Professor-Hagrid! Ginny was so pleased she nearly fell off the bench. Fred and George whistled loudly on the other end of the table, and Lee was shouting and stomping his feet.
Then, best of all, they finally got to eat.
Overall, as she made her way up to her dormitory that night, Ginny felt good to be back at school.
Author's Notes--
Strawberries and Blueberries--I'll try not to ruin your favorite book for you! *looks nervous*
Adrienne--You earned a hug--I like having you to keep Ginny and myself company! I tried to do Ginny's reaction to the dementors justice, but I'm sure she and Harry would tell us it's the sort of feeling you can only really imagine. She does have a bit of a Harry-complex, but as you say, it's in keeping with her age and experience. ;-) It's so cool that you like Bion! Thanks. :-) Maybe we can see more of him later on...
EEDOE--Okay, you win. Fangirl. *winks* Bobbleheads!I love the way your mind works! *snickers wildly* As you say, if Ginny weren't made for Harry...I feel a bit bad for Bion myself...in fact, I've been a bit tempted to help him out. *muses* I loved that little bit with Ginny almost sitting on Harry as well...she was looking for him...*coughs* I hope the dementor scene had even a fraction of the emotional impact it promised...thanks for saying it did! *hugs*
Bill--It feels so good to think you can actually pick themes out of my chapters! I write something people can analyze! *giggles like schoolgirl* Thanks!!! *hugs*
********************************
Ron was already beside him. "Harry! Harry! Are you all right?"
Hermione waited, looking like Ginny felt, for an eternity of seconds. Then, suddenly, reached over and slapped Harry's face, gently but firmly, a succession of times.
"W-what?" Harry lurched slightly, turning his face away, moving as if he were about to sit up.
Hermione and Ron lifted him up onto the seat. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Harry was craning around to look at the door. "What happened? Where's that-that thing?" Ginny shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself. "Who screamed?"
"No one screamed," Ron said, looking even more intensely worried.
Harry looked at Neville, then turned and looked at her. His eyes seemed to linger on hers for a brief moment, but she might have been imagining it. "But I heard screaming--" Harry insisted.
Something split the air with a dangerous crack. Everyone in the compartment jumped. Ginny huddled back into the corner against the wall, and didn't bother to move when she realized the sound had come from the man who'd sent the cloaked thing away. "Here," he said crisply, handing a Harry a huge chunk of-chocolate? "Eat it. It'll help."
Harry took the chocolate, but stared at the man. "What was that thing?"
That was what she wanted to know.
"A dementor," the man said matter-of-factly, forcing a piece of chocolate into Ginny's hand.
"One of the dementors of Azkaban." He crumbled up the wrapper and put it in his pocket, apparently unaware he'd said anything the least bit remarkable. Ginny licked her lips again, watching him.
"Eat," he said, looking at her as if willing her to believe him. "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me..."
"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" Hermione asked, voicing Ginny's secret fear.
"I don't get it," Harry said instead of answering. "What happened?"
"Well-that thing-the dementor-stood there and looked around (I mean, I think it did, I couldn't see its face) and you-you--" Ginny had never heard Hermione so inarticulate. Somehow, that made the experience more real than anything else could.
"I thought you were having a fit or something," Ron said for her, his voice faint. "You went sort of rigid and fell out of your seat and started twitching--"
"And Professor Lupin stepped over you, and walked toward the dementor and pulled out his wand, and he said, 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.' But the dementor didn't move, so Lupin muttered something and a silvery thing shot out of his wand at it, and it turned around and sort of glided away..." Hermione concluded in a rush.
"It was horrible," Neville trilled shrilly, making Ginny glance at him. She was surprised to see his face nearly as white as Harry's, each freckle cleared outlined against skin that looked almost translucent. "Did you feel how cold it got when it came in?" So that wasn't just me, Ginny thought with something like relief. She didn't know why it helped, but it did...
"I felt weird," Ron said with a mangled shrug. "Like I'd never be cheerful again..."
In spite of herself, Ginny drew air in one huge, shaky sob. Harry's green eyes met hers, solid and connected for what seemed like ages. Hermione put an arm around her as if shielding her from her own demons.
"But didn't any of you-fall off your own seats?" Harry asked, looking horribly embarrassed.
"No," Ron said, glancing at Hermione in a way that reminded Ginny of Dad when he was upset.
"Ginny was shaking like mad, though."
Ginny sniffled into Hermione's shoulder without meaning to. Hermione patted her back, looking at Harry.
The stranger stepped back into the compartment, taking everything in with the suggestion of a smile. "I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know..."
Ginny looked at the gooey lump with distaste. Harry raised his and took a skeptical bite. Ginny saw his eyes widen, and he seemed to sit up a little straighter. Twisting her lips in disbelief, Ginny nibbled at a corner of her piece...and felt a little closer to the ability to someday be happy. She chewed slowly at the chocolate until it was gone and felt nearly human.
No one felt much like talking for the short remainder of the journey. They filed out into rain so freezing it was almost like being on the train with the dementor all over again. Ginny let Hermione steer her across the platform and into a carriage without a horse. Ron and Hermione kept shooting looks at Harry from the opposite seat. Ginny couldn't bring herself to add to his distress by staring, and forced herself to stare into the rushing water outside the window instead, resisting the urge to reach out and touch him.
Malfoy tried to make trouble as they emerged from the carriage, but the stranger from the train came to the rescue yet again, and they stumbled dazedly toward the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall called Harry and Hermione away just as they reached the door. Ginny and Ron tried to watch them go, torn between curiosity and concern, but the crowd forced them into the Hall. The sky overhead was as black as the train had been. Ginny shivered as she sat between Neville and Dean across from Ron. To her surprise, the stranger was sitting at the Head Table next to Professor Snape. Before she had time to consider that, Professor Flitwick hobbled into the room, carrying a three-legged stool and a ragged Hat.
There was a moment of expectant silence, then the Hat opened its mouth and began to sing. The song was different than it had been the year before when Ginny was Sorted, and she was pleasantly surprised by the Hat's creativity. Professor Flitwick waited until the applause died away, then opened a scroll of parchment and began to call names. One by one, the new students stepped forward to try on the Hat, which shouted out a house for the student. The ceremony was a lot more enjoyable when you watched someone else go through it. Still, Ginny was glad to see it come to an end...she was feeling good enough to be very hungry.
Harry and Hermione had just come into the Hall and sat down on either side of Ron, and Professor McGonagall, who'd come in with them, slid into place at the Head Table, when Professor Dumbledore stood and tapped his water glass, signaling his opening speech. It started with dementors, to Ginny's disgust. She'd never wanted to see the things again.
The stranger was a replacement for Gilderoy Lockhart, their former Defense against the Dark Arts Professor. His name was Remus Lupin. Most of the school took this news incredulously, and Snape looked almost sick, but Ginny applauded enthusiastically, grateful for his presence on the Express. He wasn't the only new teacher. They also had a new Care of Magical Creatures Professor-Hagrid! Ginny was so pleased she nearly fell off the bench. Fred and George whistled loudly on the other end of the table, and Lee was shouting and stomping his feet.
Then, best of all, they finally got to eat.
Overall, as she made her way up to her dormitory that night, Ginny felt good to be back at school.