Erin rushed past the barrier out of breath and was amazed she actually got there on time with everything. She straightened up and looked around the platform. Now where were those three?
"Oh, stop already, Ronald!" Hermione's voice rose shrilly as she protected her cat from the whining carrot-top. "It's okay, Crookshanks. You don't listen to that nasty boy! He doesn't know what he's bloody well talking about." She soothed, stroking the cat's long, orange, matted coat. It swished its tail happily and purred in her arms. Harry simply ignored their bickering, as he was more than ready to get on the train and get on his way back to the school for another year.
Erin spied the three and laughed. She ran over and threw her arms around Harry. "HARRY!" She cried kissing him. "I've missed you guys so much!"
Harry was pleasantly surprised as the black haired girl practically flew into his arms. "Erin! It's good to see you too!" He said only slightly taken aback by the sudden rush of affection.
Hermione smiled at the sight, her face lighting up. "Why, Erin! We almost thought we wouldn't see you at all! I'm so glad you made it in time." She said happily before nudging Ron under the arm to say something.
Ron opened his mouth. "Uh, hi, Erin...nice day isn't it?" He put his hands in his pockets and looked around.
Erin smiled. "Sure is, Ron." She nudged him in the ribs. "Hey, where are those two brothers of yours? You would not believe what they sent me this time!" Erin shook her head and then took out a rubber band to tie her long hair back with to keep it out of her face. "Come on guess! I thought I'd seen it all with that painting, but I was wrong."
"What was it this time?" Hermione asked with a giggle as the foursome headed towards the train. Their trunks and other larger pieces of luggage were taken to be loaded up while they got aboard and began searching for an open car, most of them had filled up while they had been waiting for their friend.
Ron sighed. "I know what it was. They decided to write her poems." Ron had a hard time not laughing.
Erin did laugh. "Those poems were the most idiotic and pathetic things I ever read in my life!" Erin sighed. "Aren't there any compartments that aren't full?" She said exasperatedly.
Hermione giggled at the idea, even Harry had to let himself laugh a little. "Looks like this is the only one that isn't full." Harry said pushing open the door to a car where a passenger appeared to be sleeping under his jacket, as the kids shuffled in, trying not to wake the man. Ron wondered who he was. "Professor R.J. Lupin."
"How do you know that?" He asked. "How does she know everything?"
Hermione rolled her eyes as she literally pointed. "It says it on his suitcase, Ronald." She said with a sigh as she sat down next to Ron and across from Harry, Erin, and Professor Lupin.
Erin's reaction was barely visible as she saw and heard the name. She swallowed and felt her pulse quicken...it was all about to happen. She knew it beyond anything else she had ever known.
"So, Erin how was the orphanage this year? Mum and Dad were sorry they couldn't take you again, but you know how it is."
"F-f-fine." Erin said trying to smile. "It wasn't so bad this holiday. Harry, what is it?" Erin looked at the boy sitting next to her.
"Hmm?" Harry asked. "Oh...nothing..." Just then the entire car shook and the lights over their heads flickered and then went out. There air suddenly felt very chilly. Harry could see the air coming out in icy gusts as he breathed and he remembered that night in the park when he had thought he had seen... Crookshanks hissed and cringed away from the door as a shadow hand crept along the side of the car. The door began to open as an ominous figure loomed in front of their car and directed its gaze on the Harry and the girl beside him. It sucked in a great breath that seemed to tug at their very souls and just as Harry saw a brilliant flash of light erupt in the small car he heard someone scream before falling into unconsciousness.
Erin swallowed at the sudden fear that enveloped her very soul. She couldn't take her eyes off of the thing in front of her. Unconsciously she grabbed Harry's hand and held on tight. Erin felt her body go rigid and in her mind she heard a devastating scream and felt herself fall into darkness.