Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Do you guys even read these at this point? Like, if I wrote that I was actually JK Rowling and inherently the owner of all Harry Potter content, would y'all even notice?

Chapter 33

A sharp whistle rang out, and a pair of teenagers quickly leapt aboard a scarlet steam engine that was just beginning to crawl away from the platform.

"I miss France."

"Yeah, me too."

A pause.

"But I suppose there is one good thing about being back in Britain."

"Is it that I don't have to keep lying to your parents? Because I'm really glad I can stop lying to your parents."

"Honestly, Harry, it's not lying. They didn't suspect a thing. You were just…casually withholding information."

"First of all, casually withholding information? Really? Second of all, your mum definitely started getting suspicious."

"You're just being paranoid."

"Ah, yes, because I have an elusive and dangerous mass murderer after me. Why should I ever be paranoid?"

"Are you planning on finding a compartment or do you just want to stand here and complain?"

"I…" Harry narrowed his eyes. "Fine." He huffed.

"We do have quite a bit to tell our friends, don't we?" Hermione asked with a sly smile before hopping up on her tiptoes and kissing him on the cheek.

"Keep doing that and they'll figure it out before we say a word."

"Assuming they aren't as dense as you."

"Assuming." Harry winked before giving Hermione a peck of his own before they walked down the corridor.

"I suppose they're all in the usual compartment, a-ha!" Hermione's face lit up as she slid a door open.

"Nice of you two to show up!" Seamus grinned as the pair slipped into the compartment.

"Someone needed their beauty sleep." Hermione smirked as she added her belongings to the overhead rack. Harry just rolled his eyes, eliciting laughter from his friends.

"If your cat didn't put up such a fight getting into his cage we would have gotten here an hour ago."

"Don't blame this on Crookshanks!" Hermione gave a mock glare, clutching a cage to her chest before placing it on top of her trunk.

"You got a cat?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Yes, I did." Hermione said matter-of-factly, plopping down onto one of the leather benches between Lavender and Harry. "I wanted to get myself a pet. Why do you sound so surprised?"

"It's just…you know, Scabbers." The redhead said sheepishly, patting the bulge in his shirt pocket.

"Aren't you always going on about how you want Scabbers to kick the bucket?" Harry raised his eyebrows, amused. The other Gryffindors – minus Ron – snickered.

"Oh, alright." He huffed, scooting in the opposite direction of the cage.

"We were just talking about Sirius Black." Seamus piped up. "How do you reckon he escaped?"

"My parents say he was a really powerful Dark Wizard." Lavender offered. "I suppose he used some dark spells even Azkaban couldn't handle."

"But there was no struggle, right?" Dean began. "They just found his cell empty one day."

"Do you think he Apparated?" Neville asked.

"You can't Apparate without a wand, though. Don't they take your wand if you get thrown into Azkaban?" Now Pavarti was intrigued.

"Plus, there has to be some sort of Anti-Apparition Jinx just to be safe. Like Dumbledore set on Hogwarts."

"Maybe he could do wandless magic. You reckon he used a Disillusionment Charm?"

With that, six of the eight Gryffindors were immersed in debating the methods and motives of Sirius Black. Hermione gave Harry a worried look, and he shook his head. She pursed her lips but nodded in understanding, earning her a grateful smile. The last thing Harry wanted was for more people to fret over him simply because a wanted psychopath might be after him.

"You know, I overheard my dad talking to some Ministry blokes the other day." Ron cut in after almost an hour of discourse regarding Sirius Black. "Apparently before he made his escape he was muttering 'He's at Hogwarts' in his sleep. Over and over again, 'He's at Hogwarts."

Harry's stomach plummeted. He heard Hermione hitch her breath but neither spoke a word.

"Who would he be after? Dumbledore?" Lavender frowned.

"It'd be nice if he offed Malfoy." Neville mumbled, and the compartment broke into laughter for the first time all morning.

"Maybe…" Dean gasped, still laughing hysterically. "Maybe he's looking for Flitwick, just so he can brush up on Charms! Doesn't Black strike you as a bloke who really cares about his education?" All eight Gryffindors, even Harry and Hermione, were outright guffawing now, filling the room with a lighthearted atmosphere that sharply contradicted the rainy weather outside.

"Do you suppose," Lavender wiped a tear of laughter from her eyes, "that we should do something other than talk about a mass murderer?"

Soon enough, everyone in the compartment – minus Hermione – was partaking in a particularly intense game of Exploding Snap.

"Hey, Harry, my dad told me the Ministry put you guys up in France, how was that?" Ron asked after a bit.

"You guys went to France?" Lavender practically squealed. "Where did you go?"

"Erm, a city called Cannes." Harry explained, trying very hard to concentrate on both holding a conversation and not being set on fire. "It was really nice, right Hermione?"

The girl in question blinked, looking up from her copy of Intermediate Transfiguration. "Hmm? Oh yes, France was lovely."

"Were there beaches?"

"Yeah." Harry couldn't help but grin. "They were amazing." He glanced at Hermione, who returned the smile. He raised his eyebrows and she nodded, closing her book and lacing her fingers with his. "We actually have something to tell you guys – "

POP

"Boom!" Seamus yelled triumphantly as Harry's last Exploding Snap card blew up in his face. "Can't be caught slacking, Potter." He smirked as Harry tried in vain to wave the smoke away.

"Bloody hell…" He coughed a few times, earning snickers from his male housemates.

"You were saying?" Lavender waggled her eyebrows. Harry felt Hermione squeeze his hand and his smile returned.

"Yeah, Hermione and I – "

"Are we slowing down?" Dean suddenly cocked his head in curiosity. "It feels like we're slowing down."

"I think you're right…" Pavarti stood to look out the window, but the torrential rain made it nearly impossible to see.

"We can't be there yet, right?" Neville frowned, poking his head out of the compartment and into the corridor. "Everyone else is looking in the hall too. Hey, Hannah!" He suddenly yelled. "Do you know what's going on?"

"No, do you?" A girl's voice – Hannah Abbot, Harry recognized – called back. Harry looked at Hermione, who seemed equally befuddled by the slowing train. She caught his eye and gave an apologetic smile. Harry shrugged, squeezing her hand.

"You reckon it's the bad weather?" Ron offered, nodding his head towards the window.

Suddenly, the train came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. One of the trunks above Harry came dangerously close to breaking his foot, and couldn't help but chuckle at the disgruntled yell of Hermione's cat as his cage tumbled down. Hermione instinctively picked it up, letting the half-Kneazle out and stroking him in her arms.

Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness.

"Bloody hell!" Harry heard Ron cry out.

"Alright, now I'm pissed." Dean mumbled irritably across from Harry.

Someone suddenly fell painfully over Harry's legs, and he winced.

"Sorry!" He heard Neville try unsuccessfully to get to his feet. "Just trying to get back to my seat."

"There." Harry pointed, then realized it was useless when even he couldn't see his arm. "That way." He gave the round-faced boy a gentle push and heard him clamber back onto the leather bench between Ron and Pavarti.

"What's happening?" Hermione whispered in his ear.

"No idea…" Harry muttered. "I'm going to try and find the driver, see what's wrong." He stood up, stumbling to the compartment door and into the corridor.

"I'll go with you." Hermione perked up, reaching her hand out and grabbing the back of Harry's jumper. He managed to lead them into the hallway despite the complete darkness and they stood uneasily for a moment.

"Who is that?" A meek voice asked from the compartment across from theirs.

"It's Hermione Granger and Harry Potter." Hermione answered. "Who are you?"

"My name's Luna." The timid girl continued. Harry heard her slide her compartment door all the way open and step outside. "Luna Lovegood."

"It's nice to meet you, Luna." Hermione slipped her hand into Harry's, who gave a reassuring squeeze.

"Do you know what's happening?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing. I'm the only one in my compartment besides Professor Lupin." She explained. Harry felt a pang of sadness at the thought of a girl being without her friends when he was just across the way, laughing it up with seven others.

"Does he know what's happening?" Harry asked.

"He's been asleep since I boarded." She said, her voice wavering slightly. "Do you guys feel chilly? I feel rather chilly right now."

Harry noticed she was right, an unpleasant frigidness had suddenly filled the corridor, permeating his jumper and shirt all the way to his core. The cold wasn't affecting just his skin and bones, however. Harry felt as if his blood was turning to ice in his own veins.

"V-very c-cold." Hermione shivered next to him, and Harry unlaced his fingers with hers so he could wrap his arm around her shoulders.

"I think we're going to try and find the conductor, and hopefully figure out what's happening." He said, his teeth chattering. "If you want, you can come with – "

"Quiet!" A voice hissed from the compartment Luna had just exited. A small ball of white light lit up, revealing a tired-looking face in shabby clothes. As fatigued as he looked, his gray eyes were eerily alert. It had to be Professor Lupin. Harry glanced to his right and got his first look at Luna Lovegood, a small girl with long blonde hair and silver eyes that were nearing the size of dinner plates.

Harry suddenly heard cracks forming in the glass windows of the doors. He gingerly laid a finger on one and instinctively pulled it back. He was certain he had never touched something so cold. They weren't breaking, they were being coated with ice.

He felt it first.

He felt as if his own heart was shriveling up on itself, like every ounce of warmth and joy in his body was ripped away, replaced with a cavernous sadness that enveloped his entire body. He could scarcely bring himself to move, not even to whip his head around to see if anything was happening around him.

After he felt it, he heard it.

Something from down the corridor, but still too close for comfort, drew a long, rattling breath. It was as if it was trying to suck up every bit of oxygen from all of Britain. But the longer the breath continued, the colder Harry felt, as if whatever ungodly being was responsible for the breath echoing in his ears was extracting his own body heat. He felt Hermione burrow into his side, whimpering. She found the hand that wasn't on her shoulder, and her skin felt just as cold as his.

After he heard it, he saw it.

A cloaked wraith floated into the light given off by Professor Lupin's wand. It hovered off the ground, towering all the way to the ceiling, with two hands protruding from the darkness that was its cloak. It had no eyes, no face, no nothing. It looked like despair had been materialized into a living being.

The figure turned towards Harry, and he felt his knees buckle. Everything around him seemed to blur out, with the exception of the faceless phantom in front of him that was bearing down on him, closer and closer. He felt his face hit the carpeted floor of the corridor, but he couldn't bring himself to lift it. He heard a woman screaming from what must have been far away, ringing in his ears, but he couldn't even look around to see who it was. He felt the darkness swallow him whole, as if he were being dragged downward into an abyss.

There was something on his forehead. A towel? No, he felt fingers drumming anxiously on his temple. It was someone's hand.

"I still think you should slap him." Harry heard a voice, but it sounded like it was on the other side of a glass wall.

"What is wrong with you?" A sharp voice called out, slightly clearer. "He's just collapsed, his forehead is ice cold, he looks paler than Nearly-Headless Nick – "

"Exactly, how much worse can he get? Just slap him, he'll be up in no time."

"No!"

"Fine. I'll do it myself."

WHAP

Harry blinked his eyes open, clutching his cheek.

"Ron!" Hermione screeched, turning to shove the now snickering redhead before turning back to Harry. "Harry, are you alright?"

A wall of force crashed into his chest as Hermione burrowed herself into his jumper, trembling with fright. He tried to return the hug but he barely had the strength to keep his eyes open.

Groaning, he sat up straight as Hermione pulled away. He realized he was on the floor of the compartment, in between the leather benches. His fellow Gryffindors were all looking at him anxiously – with the exception of Ron, who was still chuckling to himself. Luna was standing silently in the doorframe, looking very nervous.

Hermione was on her knees next to him, still checking his forehead. Her eyes were red and puffy, and Harry felt a wave of remorse crash over him. She looked like a nervous wreck.

"Are – are you okay?" He sputtered, coughing slightly. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I'm fine, you prat. You're the one who fainted." She shook her head in disbelief. "Asking me how I feel…unbelievable." She muttered quietly to herself, getting to her feet. "Professor Lupin asked me to get him when you woke up, so I'll be right back." She slipped out of the compartment. Harry adjusted his glasses and looked around at his peers.

"Did any of you…you know…" He asked weakly. They all exchanged worried glances.

"Nobody fainted, if that's what you mean." Pavarti said sadly. "But we all saw that…thing in the corridor."

"We saw you hit the deck when it looked at you." Dean cut in.

"We thought you were having some sort of fit." Ron added. "We opened the door – "

"Which was a horrible idea, by the way." Lavender interjected, glaring at Ron. "I'm still freezing cold and it's been hours."

"Hours?" Harry looked at his watch. "How far are we from Hogwarts?"

"Ten minutes." An unfamiliar voice came from the corridor. Harry glanced over to see Professor Lupin standing in the doorway. Hermione appeared also, darting around the professor and sliding back to her knees next to Harry.

"Are you feeling any better?" She asked, returning her hand to his forehead. He gave a weak smile.

"Like I could run a marathon." Several of his classmates gave small laughs, and even Professor Lupin cracked a smile. "Which one of you was screaming?" He asked as Hermione helped him to his feet. He wobbled slightly, and she wrapped her arms around his torso, replacing the icy chill in his body with a pleasant warmth.

"No one was screaming, Harry." She said, her eyes darkening with even more concern.

"But…I heard screaming?" He said softly, glancing around at the others. Everyone eyed him nervously, and a few shook their heads.

"Harry Potter, I presume?" Professor Lupin stepped all the way into the crowded compartment. "Eat some of this." He handed him a chocolate bar, which Harry took with a shaky hand. Hermione still had her arms in a vice grip around his waist, staring at him worriedly. He managed to take a bite of the chocolate and felt even better.

"What…was that?"

"That, my friend, was a dementor." The professor said sadly. "They guard Azkaban. Nasty creatures, they are."

"What's it doing here?" Seamus asked, nervously shuffling his deck of cards.

"I believe you will all find out soon enough." Lupin pursed his lips. "I suppose I will see you all at the feast. Take care." He cast another glance at Harry, who thought he spotted wistfulness in the man's eyes before he slid the door shut.

Harry swallowed nervously, taking a few more bites of chocolate. He tilted his head to meet Hermione's eyes and gave a small smile, patting her on the back. She seemed to realize she still had him in a bear hug and stepped back with a blush, dusting herself off.

"I miss France." She said sheepishly.

"Yeah, me too." Harry let out a joyless laugh, retaking his seat.

"Mister Potter! Miss Granger!" A sharp voice rang out as the student body of Hogwarts filtered through the entrance. Harry whipped his head towards the sound and saw Professor McGonagall marching towards him.

"Professor!" Hermione said in surprise.

"A word in my office, please." The Head of Gryffindor said plainly. The other six Gryffindors who were walking with the pair eyed her nervously, and she bristled. "I'm not going to give them detention if that's what you're worried about. Neither of them are in trouble, move along. Move along, please!" She waved them off, and Harry watched his friends reluctantly traipse towards the Great Hall.

The pair followed McGonagall towards her office, and once they were out of sight of the others Hermione slipped her hand into Harry's. He gave her a gentle squeeze and a small smile, and she nodded nervously.

The professor led them into her office and took a seat behind her desk, conjuring two plush armchairs for the students. Harry begrudgingly let his and Hermione's hands pull apart as they stared at McGonagall expectantly.

"I see you two made it back from France in one piece." She said curtly. They nodded uneasily. "Oh, for heaven's sake, stop being so nervous. Here, have a biscuit, go on." She huffed, brandishing a plate in front of them, from which they happily grabbed some. "You really aren't in trouble. Albus asked me to see how you two enjoyed the holiday and to see if anything suspicious happened in Cannes that we should know about."

"Not that I can think of." Hermione said pensively. "But it truly was wonderful, thank you all for doing that."

"It was the Headmaster's idea." McGonagall explained, which surprised Harry. "He said it was better for all of you, but especially you, Potter, that you enjoy your summer rather than keep you under the watch of the Ministry's Aurors twenty-four hours a day."

The door suddenly flew open, and Madam Pomfrey came bustling in.

"I should have known it was you, Potter." She huffed, and immediately began tending to him.

"I'm fine, really." He insisted, trying to politely push the Healer away from him. "Hey, what do you mean you should have known? I've only been in the Hospital Wing, what, fourteen times by now?" He smirked, and everyone – even McGonagall – rolled their eyes.

"Unleashing dementors on a train full of delicate children – "

"I am not delicate!"

"Oh, of course you aren't delicate." Pomfrey sighed, and Harry barely resisted the urge to roll his own eyes. "Fine, you seem well enough. I'll be off now, Minerva." She gave a brisk nod before turning to leave.

"I'll probably see you in a week, Madam Pomfrey!" Harry called after her, and he heard her scoff before closing the door behind her.

"Well, Mister Potter, you are free to go." McGonagall nodded her head towards the exit.

"Is Hermione in trouble?"

"I need a quick word regarding her course schedule."

"Uh-huh. Course schedule." Harry grinned with an exaggerated wink, getting to his feet. "See, everyone thinks I'm the big rule-breaker, when really it's always Hermione – "

He stopped when neither McGonagall nor Hermione looked particularly amused by his sarcasm. "Right. I'll be outside." He said, awkwardly shuffling to the door.

A few minutes later, Hermione bounded out of the door with a giant smile plastered on her face, something he hadn't seen since before the dementor boarded the train. He gave her a quizzical look but she promptly threw her arms around him, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"I know you love school, but how exciting can a course schedule really be?" Harry chuckled, feeling a bit dazed.

"Oh, it's nothing." She stepped back, distractedly tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear. She beamed at him and turned to go to the Great Hall, but Harry grabbed her arm.

"Are you and McGonagall planning me a surprise party or something?" He raised an eyebrow. Hermione bit her lip, darting her eyes around the corridor before jerking her head away from their Head of House's office. Harry nodded and they moved a few paces away, out of earshot. "What's going on?"

"Can you keep a secret?"

"I managed to keep it secret that I liked you for a month, so – "

"Please, that wasn't very secret. All those stares?" She raised an eyebrow.

"You were saying?" He blushed, nervously running a hand through his hair.

"Right." She reached up to here neck and pulled off a gold necklace. "This is called a Time-Turner."

A/N: Howdy! I apologize, I know this is a bit plot-heavy as opposed to the fluff of the past few chapters, but we have officially entered the third year! Isn't that exciting? I'm excited. You should be too, it's gonna be a blast. Anyway, it's got some wholesome Gryffindor Gang interactions, including the oh-so-unfortunate interruptions to Harry and Hermione's happy announcement. And if you're really upset about the lack of fluff, well, just wait until tomorrow.

Anyway, we met Luna and Lupin in this chapter! Isn't that exciting? It always made me smile reading all those reviews and PMs about how I should introduce Luna earlier than canon, considering I had this chapter planned out before I published Chapter 1. Lol. Also, only one real reference in this chapter, this time to Captain America: Civil War. I'll let you all figure it out, it's a bit more subtle. At least, that's what I tell myself to make me feel like a good writer.

To you beautiful souls who leave reviews, follow this story, or favorite it, you guys rock! Seriously! We passed a thousand followers this morning! AAAAHHH! I am so happy! I love you all! I seriously could not have imagined such a warm reception to my first story, so I need you all to understand that you all mean the world to me. Truly. Thank you all so much for your support, and stay safe!