Chapter 3

            "Bloody hell, what was that all about?" Ron asked. As soon as Harry was positioned more comfortably. "I mean Malfoy just left. It's like he was compelled to leave."

            Hermione was considering this when the doors opened. To their shock the three were looking into the face of Remus Lupin.

            "What's going on here?" Lupin asked in his quiet voice.

            Ron and Hermione explained the events of the past few minutes to Lupin, and the considered this thoughtfully. "No wand, no incantation?" Lupin asked finally.

            "No, none at all Professor Lupin" Hermione stated flatly. "It was just pure - well, power. It's hard to describe."

            Lupin examined Harry, and finally said with a shrug "I don't know. I wish I did, but I don't know. This is not something that one hears about normally. I don't think I even ever read about it."

            Hermione spoke up. "Well, there is this story of a wizard who could do some pretty advanced magic without a wand, but I think he still needed to speak the words, as - as a focus point." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "The name of the wizard escapes me at the minute, but I'll think of it."

            Lupin looked at her with a smile. "If anyone would, Hermione, you would." Hermione flushed at the words. Ron snickered softly. "For now, let's let him sleep." He pulled out his wand, and summoned a blanket and pillow for Harry. He handed the pillow to Ginny, and lifted Harry with a flick of his wand. She placed it under his head and Harry lowered onto it. The blanket was then laid over his sleeping form. Harry sighed, and sank deeper into the pillow.

            Lupin turned to the three. "I'll be back shortly." He turned and made to leave the cabin. "Oh, and get plenty of food from the trolley. Wandless magic of any kind tends to leave the practitioner famished, and after what you described, he is going to need it I warrant."

            Lupin left, heading back towards the end of the train. "Of course, if he draws power like that he'll be tired, and then ravenous." Hermione said looking pleased with herself. "I do hope Harry will forgive us digging through his stuff." Her and Ron pulled out Harry's trunk and rummaged through it looking for his bag of coins. They located it, and packed up the rest of his belongings.

            Shortly Lupin re-entered the cabin, and with in minutes the trolley witch appeared. Lupin took Harry's money, and paid the witch for a rather large amount of food. Lupin handed them all some, taking a pumpkin pastry for himself as they waited for Harry to wake.

            Fully an hour later, Harry stirred. His eyes blinked open and focused on Ginny, a smile flitted over his lips. "Good morning love." He said softly. Suddenly his eyes popped open. And he sat up with a start. The events with Draco came to the forefront of his mind. "Where's Malfoy?" anger edged his words.

            "He left." Ron stated looking up from his Chocolate Frog card. "You told him to sod off, and well - he did."

            "Professor Lupin!" Harry exclaimed surprising Lupin with a hug warm and filled with emotion. "I didn't know you were coming back?"

            "Well, Dumbledore made me see the error of my ways Harry." He said. "Now, shut it, and eat. You must be starving right now."

            Harry realized he was, and saw the rather wide selection of food, and dug in. Eating like he hadn't eaten in months. Finally sated, he sat back. "Wow, I don't think I've ever eaten so much." Even Ron was staring at him gape mouthed.

            "Harry, when Professor Lupin said to buy you lots of food, we had no idea. I'm glad he was here when the witch showed up."

            Harry was toying with a small pile of Chocolate Frog cards. "That's funny." He said looking at them.

            "What's funny?" asked Ron, looking over at him.

            "Look at these cards." He handed them over to Ron.

            Ron laughed "Well, there are you, you, you…' his eyes shot up to Harry. "Blimey Harry, they are all you…"

            "Yeah…why would that be? I've never gotten so many Chocolate Frog cards of any one wizard before, and I have never gotten me before." Harry laughed at this. "That even sounds funny. 'I've never gotten me before.'"

            Ron looked at Harry carefully for a moment. "So what's it like?" He asked slowly. "To see yourself like this?"

            "Frankly Ron, I hate it." Harry sobered up from the soft laughter. "It's like sure that's me, but it's not. It's this image that everyone clings to. The indomitable hero against Voldemort who can save the world, and then I look in the mirror and see a scared, scrawny fifteen year old boy, and I know that that's the real me."

            Ron thought this over in silence for a while. "Yeah, I can see that. So, want to lose to me in chess or exploding snap?"

            Lupin watched the four of them, particularly the closeness and familiarity between Harry and Ginny. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he almost let out a gasp. Why hadn't he seen this before? Sitting there playing chess against Ron and Hermione it looked just like Lily and James all over again. With that thought, he smiled slightly and settled back to get some rest.

            As the train stopped, Lupin handed Harry his money bag. "We, ahh, had to borrow a few galleons to pay for the sumptuous meal."

            Harry smiled, "I'd have wound up buying anyway. Besides, I really needed the food."

            They made their way to the carriages, Lupin traveled with another pair of adults, the four friends in a carriage to themselves, and the silence was a comfortable one. Broken only by the noises of the carriage, they got out, and entered the great hall, finding themselves seats at the Gryffindor table.

            The noise in the great hall was swelling as old friends called out to one another, the sorting ceremony took place, Dumbledore said a few words, and the food came on. Following the feast, Dumbledore announced the return of Remus Lupin to the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, to be aided by Sirius Black. The silence in the hall was deafening. Harry's eyes shot up to Dumbledore.

            Sirius Black was indeed sitting at the head table, looking better than Harry had ever remembered him looking. "Sirius Black," Dumbledore repeated "is going to assist Professor Lupin when he is, ah, otherwise indisposed. It would seem that Peter Pettigrew is not dead, and Mr. Black has been pardoned by the Ministry of Magic."

            The students were stunned by this news. Harry was, of course, elated. Following the announcements, the students began filing towards their common rooms, and bed. Harry caught sight of Remus and Sirius heading their way, and he held his friends back.

            "Harry! It's so good to see you!" Sirius hugged Harry, and then the other three in turn. "Remus told me about what happened on the train, are you sure you are ok?"

            "Yeah, it was weird though." Harry retold what he could remember, Hermione, Ron and Ginny interjecting where they thought appropriate. Finally, Remus and Sirius sent them back to Gryffindor Tower, telling them to get some sleep they had all year to talk.

            (Harry would learn later on, in life never to put off anything. I remember one night just before… well, never mind what it was just before, suffice to say Harry and I wound up playing chess for hours, because as Harry said then, 'You never know when we'll get the chance to play again Ron.' – Ron)