"Harry, Ron, Hermione, Crystalline, are you guys alright-"
"Merlin we were so we're worried-"
"Finally you're awake-"
Their opened eyes, finally adjusting to the light, revealed their companions to be Neville, the twins and the golden quartet (Ginny, Luna, Harmony and Skylar).
They all looked deeply perturbed and shaken, but not more so than the quartet, though Ginny came quite close.
"What happened", Hermione enquired groggily.
"Well, after the dementor came in our compartment, you four, well, fainted", Neville replied.
"And, er, no one else did", Harry frowned.
"Well, no, but Ginny came quite close", Skylar sighed.
"Anyway, then Professor Lupin told it that Sirius Black wasn't there and then shot some silvery stuff at it which made it go away.
He gave us some chocolate which surprisingly made us feel better, gave us some to give to you and went to check on other students", Harmony quickly said, clearly eager to change the subject.
"Dementors, aren't those the morbidly effective guards of the Azkaban prison? I read about them in a book once", Hermione stated.
"In a book? But there are only a few legal books that mention them", Neville wondered, in all his innocence, never once considering that his friend might not have come across them in a legal book, especially if she considered them to only be 'morbidly effective'.
"Well, you know Hermione. It's like she's made it her life's mission to devour every single book in the world. She might've read it while having a fit of know-it-alling", Ron said jokingly.
Though it was less for Neville's sake who despite being on friendlier terms with the quartet than most, didn't know them quite well and more to pacify the suspicious glances of the twins and golden quartet, who knew the four and their antics quite well by now.
"Hey, at least there's one good thing this year" , Crystalline stated.
"And what might that be", Hermione scoffed.
"We've finally got a decent defence teacher", Crystal replied, smiling.
"Perhaps, but I'll be the judge of that. And Ron, know-it-alling is not a word.", Hermione sniffed, pursing her lips.
They had to admit that Harmony was right. Chocolate did make them feel, not completely fine, but surprisingly better.
They had all decided to stay huddled up together in that compartment, just in case.
After a while, the train creaked to a halt. This time, they knew it wasn't because of a dementor as they could see the lake, shimmering pristinely, little boats lined up near the shore.
They were home.