Chapter 29

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

AN1: Thank you for the support. It means so much to me, PLEASE REVIEW


August 7th 1993

It has been five days since Hermione talked to Sirius and she hasn't told anyone about the conversation. Ever since Hermione talked to him she has been running though her father's words in her head, trying to figure out exactly what they mean, exactly what he meant.

Just as Hermione suspected Remus suffered through a bad full moon and ever since then he has been recovering so he hasn't realised that his daughter has been distracted, Harry on the other hand has which is why he is knocking on Hermione's door late on a Saturday afternoon.

"Come in." Hermione's voice responds and Harry walks in to find Hermione sitting at her desk, obviously working, though she does have music softly playing, "Hey Harry." Hermione greats.

"Hey, what you doing?" Harry asks curious, as he sits on the end of Hermione's bed.

"Just some extra transfiguration work." Hermione explains, though in truth she is doing that while trying to make sense of Sirius's words, "Did you need something?" Hermione asks curious.

"No, I was just wondering….. Are you okay?" Harry asks concerned.

"I'm fine." Hermione answers, "Why do you ask?"

"For days you've looked distracted, like something else is going on, it's like how you were when we were trying to figure out the Philosopher's stone." Harry reveals, "I'm worried Mione, and now that he's recovering Remus is going to realise that something's going on." Harry explains, "What is it?" He asks and for an almost a minute Hermione is quiet, "Mione?"

"I talked to Dad." Hermione reveals.

"What?" Harry asks, sounding completely shocked, "When? How?"

"The night of the full moon, I couldn't sleep so I was watching the moon out of my window and I saw someone in the bushes, I realised it was him, so went down to get the answers we both want." Hermione reveals.

"Mione, that was so dangerous." Harry says, and Hermione gives him an 'are you serious' look, "Right, I can't lecture you on doing dangerous things, not after what I've done." He realises, "What did he say?"

"He said that he didn't betray your parents, didn't kill those people, would never join Voldemort, but that it was his fault they died." Hermione explains.

"He didn't betray them?" Harry asks, there being both disbelief and hope in his voice as he wants Hermione to have both her fathers, he wants Remus to have his mate, he wants their family to be complete, but only if Sirius is innocent, "But then how is it his fault?" he ask, sounding confused.

"That's what I've spent the last five days trying to figure out." Hermione admits and Harry looks thoughtful.

"Maybe… maybe, he thinks there is something he should have done, but didn't, maybe he just blames himself because people he considered family are dead." Harry suggests, trying to find an explanation.

"Maybe." Hermione says, sounding uncertain, "He looked guilty." Hermione admits, looking pained.

"Do you believe what he said, that he didn't betray them?" Harry asks curious, as if he knows what Hermione is thinking then maybe it will give him some idea of what he should be thinking.

"I think I do." Hermione answers, looking hesitant about admitting that, "It's completely illogical because there isn't a shred of evidence, but I don't think he was lying." She reveals, "But that doesn't change the fact that absolutely nothing is making sense." Hermione admits.

"You've got to trust your instincts, Mione, it's the only thing you can do." Harry admits, "And you need to tell Remus."

"I can't!" Hermione says, "I went looking for Dad and worst of all I don't even have a straight answer for him."

"You should tell him. Remus knows your Dad better than both of us, he might be able to make sense of his words." Harry says, "Plus he'd want to know, you know that."

"Yes, I do." Hermione admits, "Is Papa still in his study?"

"I believe so." Harry answers.

"Okay." Hermione says with a sigh, "You're coming with me." She tells him.

"I know." Harry responds he to gets up and the two of them head downstairs.


About a minute later Harry and Hermione arrive downstairs and head to the study but neither of them enter, they just stand outside the doorway.

"Hermione, Harry, did you need something?" Remus's voice asks after about a minute, as he looks up from the lesson plans he is writing, hearing that Hermione looks hesitant and Harry gives her an encouraging look.

"I need to tell you something." Hermione says, walking into the study.

"Okay." Remus says, putting down his quill, "What is it?" he asks, looking at his daughter.

"I saw Dad, I talked to him." Hermione reveals, feeling that beating around the bush isn't a good idea.

"When? When did you see him? What did he do? What did he say? How'd he seem?" Remus asks, speaking quickly.

"It was the full moon, I was looking out of my window and I saw movement and I knew it was him, so I went down to talk to him." Hermione reveals, deciding not to explain what Sirius looked like as she knows that will just hurt her Papa, "I asked him if he betrayed Uncle James and Aunt Lily, whether he killed those people." Hermione reveals and Remus tenses as he waits for the answer, "He said he didn't." Hermione says and hope rises up inside of Remus, "But he also said that it was his fault that they died." Hermione reveals, causing Remus to frown.

"What were his exact words?" Remus asks, hoping that he can make sense of them because he learnt to speak 'Sirius' a long time ago, and he also knows that Hermione will remember the exact wording.

"'No, I would have never betrayed them, I would have died first. I didn't kill those people, and I would never and never will join Voldemort. But, it is my fault that they died'" Hermione quotes, being able to do so without an issue as he's had those words replaying in her head for the past five days.

Hearing that Remus looks thoughtful and tries to the figure out exactly what that would mean,

"What do you think it means?" Harry asks, having no idea what he should be thinking or feeling except for the fact that it seems like Hermione's Dad didn't betray his parents, and truthfully he'd like to believe that.

"I think it means Sirius is blaming himself for what happened, even if he didn't cause it." Remus reveals, "Sirius used to blame himself for things that weren't his fault." Remus says, wanting to believe that Sirius is innocent, and he does, but at the same time he doesn't want to get his hopes up as he wouldn't be able to handle it if he's wrong.

"Should we tell Albus?" Hermione asks, looking uncertain.

"No, not until we know more." Remus explains, "Sirius's word won't be good enough for anyone." He says, and both Harry and Hermione can hear the pain in his voice.

"What would be good enough?" Hermione asks, wanting to know.

"Proof." Remus answers simply, "Did he say anything else? Do anything else?" he asks.

"He didn't get a chance, Emma called for me." Hermione explains, Remus nods and the three of them drift into silence.


Hours later, even though it is quiet late all three all three members of the Lupin-Black/Potter house are wide awake.

Remus is down in his study, attempting to work on his lesson plans, but as he looks down at what he is writing Remus realises that he has just been writing the same thing over and over again, Sirius, so putting down his quill Remus closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

"What really happened?" Remus asks the empty air, not expecting an answer, after a few second Remus opens his top draw of his desk and pulls out a picture, a picture of him and Sirius from the day they told Lily and James that they were expecting Hermione, both of them looking so happy, and so in love, "I wish you would come to me, tell me everything, I wish I could help you." Remus says, believing, more than he's ever believed before, that Sirius is innocent even though so many things still don't make sense.

Up in her room Hermione is sitting in the window, staring out of her window as she cuddles Paddy, hoping to see a glimpse of a big, shaggy, black dog so that she can go and talk to it. Even though Hermione is more inclined to believe that her Dad is innocent she knows that she will never be able to fully believe that he is unless she sees proof and she doesn't even know how to go about getting that, but after the conversation with Sirius and her conversations with her Papa and Harry, she does know one thing, she will not tell another soul about Sirius being an animagus, as even though she doesn't completely believe that he is innocent there is a chance he is and the fact that he is an animagus protects him and she will not take away that protection.

Across the hall Harry is also wide awake, lying in his bed, trying to figure out how he feels. He hates the person who betrayed his parents, he's just not entirely sure that that person is Sirius, he just wishes he knew who he should hate. If he didn't know everything he knew, if he didn't know that Sirius didn't get a trial, if he didn't see every day how much it hurts Remus to be away from Sirius, how much of a gap only having one of her parents has caused in Hermione's life, Harry would be wanting revenge on Sirius, he would want him to pay, but after all the stories he's heard and everything he's seen Harry wants to believe the best, he'd be willing to listen to what Sirius had to say, for Hermione and Remus's sake.


August 19th 1993

It has been almost two weeks since Hermione told Remus and Harry that she talked to Sirius and ever since then all three of them have been trying to figure out what they think and how they feel about that.

It is Thursday evening and Harry, Hermione and Remus are walking home after spending the day at the bookshop.

"Papa, when are we going to Diagon Alley?" Hermione asks curious, once she is sure that no one is around.

"I was going to talk to you about that." Remus says, "It's a full moon the night before the semester starts…."

"We know." Harry and Hermione say together.

"And even though I will have the Wolfsbane potion this time I still don't want to be around anyone." Remus explains, "I've talked to Molly and Arthur and they are going to be staying at The Leaky Cauldron that night so I thought you two could go to Diagon Alley that morning, with Neville who will go and stay with you, get everything you need and then go to Kings Cross with the Weasley's using ministry cars." Remus explains.

"You're going to let us go to Diagon Alley by ourselves?" Hermione asks surprised.

"I am." Remus confirms, feeling as Hermione and Harry are getting older he should start treating them like they are.

"What about….." Harry starts to ask but then trails off.

"There is no way Sirius would go to Diagon Alley, there is too big of a chance that he'd be noticed." Remus explains and the two teens nod, "What do you think?"

"Sounds good to me." Hermione says, though it is going to be odd to go to Diagon Alley without her Papa.

"Same." Harry adds.

"Good."

"So, does that mean we won't see you until Hogwarts?" Hermione asks, interested.

"You'll see me on the train actually." Remus reveals, "It's the best way for me to travel to Hogwarts after the full moon and Albus asked me if I would." Remus reveals and neither Harry or Hermione ask why as they can both guess the reason, and the three of them continue to walk in silence.


August 31st 1993

Almost two weeks after their conversation about when they would be going to Diagon Alley the day for Harry and Hermione to go to the alley has come. It is early morning and Harry, and Hermione are standing by the fireplace, with Remus.

"I will see you both tomorrow and I want you to stick together while doing your shopping." Remus tells them.

"Yes, Remus."

"Yes, Papa."

"And keep your eyes open, watch for signs of danger, the Weasley's will be there later this afternoon and Neville should be waiting for you." Remus tells them.

"Yes, Remus."

"Yes, Papa."

The pair one more repeat.

"I love you both." Remus says before hugging them.

"Love you too." Harry and Hermione respond and once they break apart Hermione grabs her trunk and heads to the fireplace so that she can floo.


Twenty minutes later Harry and Hermione have flooed to the Leakey Cauldron, meet up with Neville and the three of them have taken their stuff up to the room they are going to be sharing for the night.

"So, where to first?" Harry asks as Hermione taps the brick to open the gateway.

"Well, I don't know about you two, but I think money is a good choice." Hermione says.

"Probably." Neville says amused.

"Yeah, it would be." Harry confirms as the trio start to walk down the alley.

"So, are you two good?" Neville asks his friends curious as even though the three of them have seen each other quiet a lot this summer he's still curious.

"Yeah." Harry answers.

"We're as good as we can be." Hermione adds.

"So, is Remus excited about teaching?" Neville asks curious.

"Of course, he's going to be amazing." Hermione says with a smile.

"That he is." Harry and Neville confirm.

"How much worse do you think Snape is going to be this year? He can't be happy about Remus." Harry comments, looking at Hermione.

"I don't know, and I'm really not looking forward to finding out." Hermione admits, with a frown, and the three of them continue to walk to Gringotts in silence.


A few hours later Harry, Hermione and Neville have done all their shopping and are sitting together having lunch.

"HARRY, HERMIONE, NEVILLE." A voice calls and the trio turn to see Ron running towards them, holding his own shopping bags.

"Ron." The three say happily and joins them at the table.

"How was Egypt? It seems like it would be fascinating." Hermione tells him.

"It was!" Ron says, sounding excited, "There were so many cool things and Fred and George tried to lock Percy in a temple and Mum wouldn't let Ginny into the last one, and I got new wand!" Ron says, sounding excited, "It was really good, although I don't think Scabbers enjoyed himself, he's been sick ever since." Ron reveals, looking upset at the thought.

"That's not good, there is a pet shop down there maybe they have something that could help." Neville suggests.

"Hopefully." Ron says, "So, how you doing with…. Everything?" Ron asks, looking at Hermione.

"Let's not talk about that here." Hermione requests.

"Oh, right, yeah." Ron says.

"Let's pay and then go see if you can get something to help Scabbers." Harry suggests, knowing that Hermione won't really want to talk about her Dad.

"Sounds good." Ron says and Neville and Hermione nod in agreement.

About ten minutes later Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville are in Magical Menagerie and Ron is talking to the sales assistant.

"Well, if you don't want a replacement, you can try this rat tonic." The sales assistant says as she reaches under the counter and pills out a small red bottle.

"Okay." Ron says, "How much….. OUCH." Ron yells as suddenly something huge and orange comes soaring from the top of the highest cage, landing on his head and then the cat propels itself, spitting madly, at Scabbers.

"NO, CROOKSHAKS, NO." The witch cries but Scabbers jumps from between her hands like a bar of soap, landing splay-legged on the floor, and then he scampers for the door.

"SCABBERS." Ron shouts before racing out of the shop after him, Harry and Neville right behind him.

"Oh, he's gorgeous." Hermione says, looking at Crookshaks.

"You're one of the few people who think so." The assistant informs Hermione, "He's been here for years, no one wants him."

"That's horrible!" Hermione says, looking at the cat.


Ten minutes later Ron, Harry and Neville has managed to track down Scabbers and as Ron puts the struggling rat back in his pocket Harry realises something.

"Where's Hermione?" he asks worried and Neville and Ron look around in confusion.

"I don't know." Ron answers.

"Maybe she is still at the shop." Neville suggests, there being an undertone of worry in his voice too.

"Maybe." Harry says, looking concerned, "We better check." He says and the three of them start to head back into the direction of the Magical Menagerie.

As they get closer to the store the three of them see Hermione walking out, only she is holding the cat that tried to get Scabbers.

"You brought that thing!" Ron says shocked.

"Isn't she Gorgeous? The witch said that she had been in the store for years, said that no one wanted him." Hermione says as she pats the cat that is purring in her arms.

"I wonder why." Ron mutters bitterly.

"I couldn't just leave him; he deserves a home." Hermione explains, "And you forgot your rat tonic." Hermione says, handing the bottle to Ron.

"Hermione, did you think about what Remus is going to say?" Neville asks his friend.

"Um….. no." Hermione admits, looking sheepish and the four of them start to walk towards the Leaky Cauldron.

"Really, Hermione? Did you seriously just impulse buy a cat?" Harry asks, looking shocked, the two of them walking behind Neville and Ron.

"Um, yeah, I guess so." Hermione admits, "It just seemed like a good idea." She comments, "What do you think Papa's going to say?" she asks, looking worried.

"I honestly don't know." Harry admits.

"Ohh, what if he's mad? I brought a cat without asking, and Papa once said that Dad hates cats, and oohhh Harry, what if this is a very bad idea?" Hermione asks, sounding worried.

"Relax Hermione, just breath." Harry says in a calm voice, "We'll see Remus tomorrow, you can ask him then, and I have an owl, I'm sure Remus will be fine with Crookshanks if you look after him." Harry says, reaching over and patting the cat.

"Hopefully." Hermione responds and the two of them drift into silence as they walk.


September 1st 1993

The next morning Hermione, who shared a room with Harry and Neville even though Mrs Weasley suggested that she share with Ginny, wakes both Harry and Neville, and once they are ready, and their respective pets are, unhappily, in their cages, the three of them head downstairs and join the Weasley's for breakfast.

"You okay, Ron?" Harry asks concerned as Ron looks far from happy.

"No." Ron answers, "Percy's being a git." He explains as he leans over, "You'll never believe what I overheard last night." He tells the other three.

"What?" Harry, Hermione and Neville ask together.

"Later." Ron whispers as Percy storms in.


A little over an hour after Harry, Hermione and Neville joined the Weasley's for breakfast they are arriving at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry, Hermione, Neville, Ron and Percy being in one Ministry car while the others are in the other.

Once everyone's trunks and pets are on trollers that the Ministry drivers got the large group make their way into the station, both Hermione and Harry noticing that Mr Weasley's is between them, not moving too far from either of their elbows and there is no question in either of their minds as to why that is.

"Right, as there are so many of us how about we do this in groups of two or three." Mr Weasley suggests, as they reach the platform, "I'll go first with Harry and Hermione." He says and he leads the two of them over to the platform and the group of three basically fall through.

After Harry and Hermione, the next people who pass through the barrier are Percy and Ginny, both of whom clearly took the barrier at a run, and Percy quickly goes to see his birthday. A few minutes later the rest of the Weasley's and Neville have joined them and they all start to walk towards the end of the platform, towards the end of the train where there is a carriage that looks pretty empty.

"Do take care, all of yours." Mrs Wealsey says as she hands out sandwiches.

"We will Mrs Weasley." Hermione answers.

"Harry, Hermione, I need to have a brief word with both of you." Mr Weasley says, leading the two of them away from the others, there is no doubt in either of their minds about what he wants to talk about, "Both of you need to be careful." Mr Weasley tells them.

"We know, Mr Weasley." Harry says.

"Sirius Black is dangerous, and no matter what else you may have heard you need to remember that, you need to remember that he has killed people and would hurt you both if he got a chance. That's what Death Eaters do." Arthur says, looking at Hermione specifically.

"You don't know that." Hermione says, before she can stop herself.

"I know you'd like to believe otherwise, but your Dad is a bad person, Hermione. He's hurt a lot of people, and he may just hurt you if he gets the chance so neither of you should give him the chance to." Arthur says, looking between Harry and Hermione.

"ARTHUR, THE TRAIN." Mrs Weasley yells.

"We better go." Harry says and the two of them head back over to the train, needing to run to get on before it starts to move.

As the train does start to move Harry, Hermione, Neville and The Weasley's wave back to Mr and Mrs Weasley until the train rounds a corner and they can't anymore.

"I need to tell you three what I overheard." Ron says to Harry, Hermione and Neville, "Go away Ginny."

"Oh, that's nice." Ginny says annoyed, but she still walks away.

Once Ginny walks away Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville start to walk down the corridor, trying to find an empty compartment, but they find that they are all full, except for one right at the end where Remus is asleep against the window, Harry, Hermione and Neville recognize him right away and know why he is sleeping, Ron on the other hand doesn't as during the times where he's seen Remus he usually has some kind of disguise on.

"Who you think that is?" Ron asks.

"Ron, it's Remus, don't you recognize him?" Neville asks surprised as Hermione walks in the carriage and sits down across form her father, looking him up and down, trying to see new wounds, but to her relief she doesn't.

"Hermione, why is your Dad on the train?" Ron asks.

"Papa." Hermione, Harry and Neville correct as Harry and Neville both head into the compartment too.

"He's our new Defence Against the Dark Art's teacher." Hermione reveals.

"Your Father is our new teacher? That's going to suck." Ron says.

"No, it's not." Hermione says, "Papa's going to be an amazing teacher, we're lucky to have him teach us this year." she reveals.

"That we are." Harry confirms.

"Yep." Neville adds.

"Shouldn't we worry about waking him up?" Ron ask as he sits down too.

"No." Harry, Hermione and Neville say, all knowing how hard it is for Remus to wake after a full moon.

"Papa's a deep sleeper." Hermione lies as it is only after the full moons that Remus is a deep sleeper, usually he wakes very easily.

"Right." Ron says.

"What did you need to tell us?" Harry asks, wanting to get the subject of Remus so that Hermione doesn't have to keep lying.

"So last night I left my rat tonic in the bar and so I went down to get it. I heard Mum and Dad talking, they were talking about your Dad Hermione…. Your other Dad." Ron reveals.

"Whatever they were saying Harry and I probably already know." Hermione reveals.

"So you're saying you know that your Dad broke out of Azkaban to come after Harry, and you're okay with that?" Ron asks, looking between Harry and Hermione in shock.

"There is no proof that that's why he broke out." Harry says, to Ron's surprise.

"He was talking in his sleep!" Ron says, "Saying 'He's at Hogwarts' the ministry thinks he is after you, Harry." He reveals, and Neville looks surprised.

"Do your parents happen to be talking about the second thing he was saying?" Hermione asks.

"No."

"What else was he saying?" Neville asks curious.

"According to Professor Dumbledore he was saying two things over and over again, 'He's at Hogwarts' and 'I need to protect her'." Hermione reveals.

"Are you saying that Sirius Black broke out of Azkaban to protect you?" Ron asks, sounding shocked.

"It's a possibility." Hermione admits, feeling that it is more than just a possibility but that Ron doesn't need to know that.

"Huh." Ron says and the foursome drift into silence, there being some awkwardness in the room, "So, how great is it going to be to get out of Hogwarts, stretch our legs a little, explore Hogsmeade." He asks, deciding to change the subject.

"It's going to be really nice." Neville says with a smile, not knowing that Harry and Hermione aren't allowed to go.

"Yeah, it probably will be, you'll have to tell Hermione and I what it's like." Harry comments.

"What do you mean?" Ron and Neville asks.

"Papa, Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall all talked and they decided that it would be best if we didn't go to Hogsmeade, so Papa didn't sign our forms." Hermione explains.

"That sucks!" Ron says shocked, "You have to go to Hogsmeade."

"It's not going to happen." Harry says, "Remus is trying to protect us, he's not going to change his mind."

"Don't let that thing out!" Ron says as Hermione gets Crookshanks out of his basket. The second Crookshanks is free he leaps and springs onto Ron's knees, causing the pocket where Scabbers is to tremble.

"Get out of it." Ron says, angrily pushing Crookshanks away.

"Ron don't." Hermione says angrily, but before Ron can respond Remus stirs, though he sleeps on.


For the next few hours Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville talk in whispers as they enjoy each other's company. When the food trolley comes by Ron suggests waking Remus but Hermione says to let her father sleep on, though she does buy him chocolate, and shortly after Malfoy comes into the compartment, but he doesn't try anything as he spots Remus's presence.

"We must be nearly there." Ron says, a little while after Malfoy left, as he leans forward and looks past Remus to look out the now completely black windows, and as he speaks the words the train starts to slow.

"We can't be there yet." Hermione say with a frown as she checks her watch.

"Then what's going on?" Neville ask as the train starts to get slower and slower and the wind and rain sounds louder than ever.

As he is closest to the door Harry pushes it open and starts to look out, and as he does he sees that other people are too. Suddenly, the train comes to a stop with a jolt, causing some luggage to full of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps on the train go out and they are plunged into darkness.

"What's going on?" Ron asks.

"Ouch. Ron, that was my foot." Hermione says as Harry feels his way back over to his seat.

"Do you think we've broken down?" Neville asks.

"We can't have." Hermione says as she attempts to make her way over to her father.

"There's something moving out there." Ron says, sounding afraid "I think people are coming aboard…." He says and as he does Hermione manages to get to her father,

"Papa, wake up." Hermione says shaking him, "Papa, something's wrong, please wake up." Hermione says, shaking him more forcibly in hopes that it will wake him, and as she attempts that the door slids open, "Papa." Hermione says once more.

"Who's that?" Ron asks.

"Who's that?" Another voice asks.

"Ginny?

"Neville?"

"Papa, please wake up."

"What are you doing?

"I was looking for Ron…."

"Come in and sit down….."

"Quiet." A voice says and Hermione, Neville and Harry all feel relief as they know that they are safe now that Remus is awake a few seconds later there is a soft, crackling noise and a shivering light fills the compartment.

"Stay where you are." Remus tells them, getting up and pushing Hermione behind him, the fire heled out in front of him, and as he walks Remus moves so that he can push, Neville and Harry behind him too, but before he can do the same for Ron and Ginny the door opens.

Standing in the doorway is a cloaked figure that towers towards the celling. Its face is completely hidden beneath its hood, and there is hand protruding from the cloak, glistening, grayish, slimy-looking and scabbed, looking like something dead that decayed in water.

The hand is only visible for a few seconds before whatever is below the hood draws a long breath, an intense cold takes over the room, causing everyone to shiver, and all u sudden Harry goes rigid, and slips of his seat, while both Ginny and Neville start to shake.

"HARRY." Hermione yells, sounding afraid, and as she does Remus steps over Harry, pulling his wand,

"None of us are hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go." Remus says to the creature Hermione being able to hear the undertone of pain in her Papa's voice as he says her Dad's name, though she suspects that the others can't, but the creature doesn't move so Remus mutters something too quiet for the others to hear and something silver bursts out of his wand, sending the creatures going.

Once he is sure they are gone Remus hurries over to Harry and Hermione who has managed to squat down next to him.

"Harry, Harry." Remus says worried, as he does the lanterns come back on and train starts to move one more, "Harry." He one more says, shaking him wake.

"W—hat?" Harry asks, about thirty seconds later, opening his eyes, as he does Remus leans back a bit, looking relieved and he pulls something out of his pocket.

"Are you okay?" Ron asks concerned from where he is standing nearby, as Remus and Hermione help Harry back onto a seat.

"Yeah." Harry answers, "What happened? Where's that…. That thing. Who screamed?" he asks.

"No one screamed." Ron says, sounding even more nervous, but before anyone can say anything they all jump as they hear a snap and they turn to see Remus breaking a large slab of chocolate into pieces.

"Here, it will help." Remus says as he hands Harry the first piece of chocolate.

"You think chocolate helps with everything." Hermione reminds her father as she takes the piece of chocolate that her father gives her.

"It will help with this." Remus tells his daughter as he continues to hand out the chocolate.

"What was that thing?" Harry asks.

"A dementor." Remus says a he finishes handing out of the chocolate, "One of the Dementors of Azkaban." He says, "I have to go talk to the driver, I'll be right back." Remus says, looking between Hermione and Harry, before getting to the door, but once he gets there he stops and turns back around, "Eat, you'll feel better." Remus says to Harry from the door then turns to Hermione, "And don't think I didn't notice that cat that is suddenly in your possession, you better believe we'll be talking about that later." He says as Harry eats the chocolate.

"Yes, Papa." Hermione says, causing Ginny's eyes to widen as she realises why Remus seemed familiar, "Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" Hermione asks worried.

"I don't get it, what happened?" Harry asks and Hermione quickly explains what happened.

"It was horrible." Neville says, his voice sounding higher than usual, "Did you feel how cold it got when it came in?"

"It felt weird," Ron says, "Like I'd never be cheerful again…" Ron says as Ginny gives a sob, so Hermione walks over and puts a comforting arm around her,

"Did any of you, fall of your seats?" Harry asks, sounding awkward.

"No, Ginny and Neville were shaking like mad though." Ron admits and the group drift into silence. As Ginny look calmer now that she has eaten her chocolate Hermione walks over to where Harry and Neville are sitting near each other and sits between them taking both their hands.

"We'll be back at Hogwarts in ten minutes." Remus says as he returns to the room, and closes the door behind them, "Are you all okay?" He asks, looking around, and they all nod, so Remus walks over and sits next to Harry, squeezing his leg in comfort as he sits down as he looks at Hermione, who gives a nod back, and the group drift into silence for the rest of the journey.


PLEASE REVIEW

PLEASE REVIEW

PLEASE REVIEW