Rebekah had to find a compartment for herself. Emperor strode before her, his large form quickly made the other students jump out of the way. He strutted all the way down to the end of the train, stopping before a compartment with a single occupant.
She gave Emperor a look, confirming with him that this was the best option. The door opened and he jumped onto the bench then transformed smaller. She sighed silently and sat down on the free bench. On the rack above the man's head, a small case sat, held together with strings and knots. His name was written in a peeling corner of the battered case.
Professor R J Lupin.
Rebekah suspected that he would take over the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Thank Merlin that Lockhart lost his memory in the Chamber last year, she couldn't deal with him for another year. She would sooner allow the Pixies to attach themselves to his fake hair than have him as a teacher again.
Wait. Professor R J Lupin? Lupin? Wasn't that the name of one of her father's friends? Yes, Remus Lupin.
Moony.
For the next few hours, as the Hogwarts Express chugged closer north, the skies became clouded and they darkened. Rebekah sat back and watched it change. She could do this for hours at a time, almost meditating while the small details outside would sometimes catch her eye. Everything was quiet but she could still hear the other students through the compartment walls.
The doors to the compartment opened, Daphne picked her blonde head through. "Hello, are you doing okay, Rebekah?"
Rebekah smiled softly and replied, "I'm doing fine, Daphne. Don't worry yourself or the others. Just concentrate on keeping the others busy as I think, I can't be dealing with them at the moment."
"Yeah," Daphne said, leaning against the frame a little. "Weasley and Granger are down a few compartments, although they have a few friends."
"Don't worry about me, Daph," Rebekah stroked Fidele's head softly. "I'm fine with where I am. Go before they miss you."
"Completely sure?" Rebekah gave her a look. "Fine, okay. Are we still meeting up at the alcove?"
"Of course,"
She left, trying to be careful not to slam the door but it shut with a big thump and made Emperor and Lupin jump.
He quickly waved his wand, pointing it at Rebekah since she stood by the door.
"Woooh, Sir," Rebekah chuckled, placing her hands up in surrender then using her left to gently gesture to her scar. "I've had enough people after me, thanks."
He seemed confused for a second, his eyes darting between Rebekah's and her exposed scar because of her tank top. He lowered his wand while raising a shaking hand to his face, rubbing his eyes with a nostalgic laugh.
"You've got your father's humour,"
"And his arrogance, I've been told," Rebekah smiled as they both sat down. Fidele simmered down from her neck and wrapped himself around one of Emperor's paws, making the latter lay his head on top of the snake's warm body.
"And who are these creatures?"
"Emperor is a Bakaneko, I got him in my First year. Fidele is a summoned ball python. Hedwig, my snowy owl, will make her way to Hogwarts by herself," Rebekah said. "Am I right in assuming you'll be our new Defence teacher?"
"I will be,"
"Good," She said with a neutral face.
"Why is that good?"
Rebekah laughed sheepishly, she couldn't help but smile. "I kind of killed our First-year teacher, and then Lockhart had a mishap with my wand last year."
"That is something," He said and leaned back, clasping his hands on his stomach. "Do you know who I was to your parents, Rebekah?"
"Moony, of course," Rebekah sat up straight, watching a smile appear on his lips. "I remembered that name, along with Padfoot and Wormtail. I didn't remember any of your faces though. McGonagall told me about you all, your friendship and eventual disbandment of friendship."
"What has old McGonagall told you then?"
Rebekah leaned towards the window and glanced at the rising moon. "There's about a week before the full moon. She wasn't blind, you know. She knew almost everything you four did."
"Well, she has the qualities of a feline," Lupin said, a soft smile on his lips. "She was quite stealthy, we didn't realise half the time that she followed us."
"Yeah. Do any of the teachers know of your condition?"
"All the teachers know, I was taught by some of them when I was younger,"
"Do you make the potions yourself then?" He nodded. "Why don't you ask Snape? Even with the past between you, he wouldn't want to see any of the students hurt."
"Ah. He… we don't get along at all."
"He used to say that all of you should have been expelled for some of your deeds."
"He told you that?"
"Yeah, during one of our private lessons. It was getting closer to Halloween, you know what happened then, and I wanted to know more about my parents. On Halloween, I asked McGonagall to tell me stories about them. She knew that they were Animagi, besides my mum. I then decided to become one."
"Were you successful, Rebekah?"
Rebekah nodded happily. "Yep, it all happened illegally, of course. I'm not registered because I rather not have another reason for Skeeter to bug me."
"What did you become?" He asked as he quickly looked out of the window as the train began to slow.
"I'm a lioness," The sudden crack of thunder made Rebekah jump.
"That's amazing. I would have thought you would be a doe or deer of some sort," He sat back against the bench. "James was a stag and he had it as his Patronus, and Lily had a doe Patronus."
"I did hope so. At least then it wouldn't contradict my House."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not a Gryffindor, sir," Rebekah said. "I'm a Slytherin."
The train stopped with a jolt and the lights went out as the atmosphere became dull, gloomy and cold. Rebekah summoned her wand and lit a light as she quickly got out of the compartment. Something said that this wasn't supposed to happen.
"Out of the way!" Rebekah yelled as she ran down the narrow corridor. She needed to find her friends. She checked on Hermione and Ron and found them alright, perhaps a bruise or two. She hurried to the main carriage where her group sat, no one was in her seat like normal. "Everyone alright?"
"Yes," Draco said and lit up his wand as he stood.
"Where were you?"
"I was speaking with the new Professor," The man in question followed after her sudden departure. "I informed him of the last two years. The train suddenly became cold and I had a bad feeling."
One of the older years screamed like a Banshee as they pointed to the new arrival. The tall Non-Being had tattered robes made from shadows draped over its body, allowing its face to be hidden and grey boned fingers to be seen. The robe would have to be made from shadows, no Magical or Muggle fabric did what that fabric could; plain yet one could see the despair and remorse in its folds.
Their breaths frosted in the new atmosphere and everyone began to shiver and shuddered their teeth. Rebekah wasn't affected as much, she focused her Animagus form to stay down as she felt the need to defend rise. She was sure her pupils retracted to reveal a ring of bright emerald within her normally dark green eyes.
It drew a hand to the closest person to it, hissing a deep tone that froze the poor boy it went after.
Rebekah stepped forward. "He's not here, and we don't know where he is."
She gulped as it tilted its hood at her, she froze with slight fear as a small sashay of shivers went across her skin. She would have transformed but she couldn't, not with everyone in here. The Dementor glided over, towering over Rebekah as it brought its face closer to her face. It clasped a cold hand on her throat and lifted her face to look into its nonexistent eyes.
Her skin became warm but a milky filter came over Rebekah's mind. She forced it to clear and she almost glared at the Non-Being that was causing the carriage to become so cold and gloomy. Her breath was forced out of her but she remained calm as the hand tightened.
"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks," Lupin suddenly said and gained everyone's attention.
Rebekah lowered her voice so only the Dementor would hear. "I know where he is but he is not a danger to us, not to me."
A sudden streak of glowing silver light came through the carriage and the Dementor slowly let her neck go, it turned its head to Lupin and then glided out of the carriage entirely.
Draco took one of her shoulders, guiding her to sit down before she could fall. Rebekah let out a large huff of air and Emperor jumped onto her lap. The rest of the journey went quickly as everyone talked in hushed voices. When the train stopped, everyone quickly made their way off and the group shielded the tired Rebekah from the pelting rain with an umbrella spell.
Daphne hustled everyone into a single carriage after quickly placing a temporary extension charm on it. Even if they were only thirteen-year-olds, they were resourceful and knew bits of Magic passed their age group.
"Daphne, I'm fine," Rebekah said. "I just, uh, I just feel like I have never felt happiness and I'm super cold." The carriage jolted as it hit a rock and Rebekah heaved, refusing to vomit. She stood up and opened the carriage door while holding her wand up to prevent the rain. "Can you please hurry? I will be sick soon," She said to the pair of Thestrals that led the carriage.
"Who were you talking to?"
"The Thestrals," Rebekah sat back down, grumbling. "Emperor, make sure that Madam Pomfrey is there when we arrive."
Emperor dropped from her lap and went to land on the flooring but he went completely through like a Ghost would. He disappeared as everyone gave her a wary look as she closed her eyes to try and stop her head spinning. She could feel their eyes on her but she ignored them while stroking Fidele's head at her collarbone.
"Not you again," Madam Pomfrey said as she and Snape led Rebekah to McGonagall's office with Hermione. "Go sit before the fire. How do you feel?"
"No words that should be said in polite company," Rebekah muttered and dragged the thick blanket closer to her. "I'm cold, tired, hungry, not really sad but numb, and I'm cold and hungry. Did I mention hungry?"
Pomfrey shoved a piece of chocolate into her hands and Rebekah devoured it easily, getting more in response. "Dementors. Setting dementors around a school. Yes, she's a bit clammy. Terrible things, they are."
"What does she need to recover?" Snape said.
"How do you feel physically?"
"Like I want to throw up but I won't," Rebekah gagged at the thought. "The bumpy carriage didn't help much but I feel, overall, fine."
"Are you sure you feel alright, Potter?" McGonagall said sharply.
"Yeah, I'll be better after I eat something," Rebekah said.
"Very well, we'll make this quick then," McGonagall went behind her desk and opened a drawer, taking out two black velvet pouches. She handed one to Rebekah and one to Hermione. Both of them smiled beamingly as they both took out the Time-Turners, little golden hourglasses on golden chains.
"I assume you both read all the laws and rules about using these?" She said and smiled when they nodded. "Good. The main one is, I believe you should know this, that you can go up to five hours at a time. We do not suggest you study for more than three hours for each extra subject a day. I also suggest that you go to lessons in the order they appear on your time tables. The other professors and staff members have been informed so if you are out of lesson, in a certain time frame because you went back, you won't get in trouble. Curfew still applies."
"You will get at least six hours of sleep each night, uninterrupted by the use of the Time-Turners, and you will eat at least two full meals a day," Snape stated. "The Ministry has said that this is also a requirement on using the Time-Turners. This means you cannot skip meals to stay in the Library, Miss Potter."
"And weekends and our holidays?" Rebekah asked after a small grin appeared on her lips. "Can we use them during our elected holidays if we go home?"
"Yes, however, we advise that you do not use them extensively when you are not at Hogwarts," McGonagall said. "However, during the summers, you will not be allowed to use them as they will be taken off you the last day and given back the first day at school."
"Can we sleep with them on or wear them when we aren't using them?" Rebekah asked again. "Will they suddenly send us back in time if they get knocked or our clothes pull at it?"
"No, you will not be sent back in time all of a sudden," McGonagall chuckled. "You have to consciously move them with both hands and with the chain around your neck. You have to want to be sent back. The sorting should have been finished and the feast will begin soon."
She lifted her hands and made a shooing motion as she moved.
Hermione bounced as she walked beside the older Witch. Rebekah stayed at a leisurely pace as Snape watched her place the chain around her neck. The young Witch examined the timepiece.
I mark the hours, every one, Nor have I yet outrun the Sun. My use and value, unto you, are gauged by what you have to do.
Rebekah tucked the gold timepiece beneath her top and felt it cold against her skin. She smiled to herself. She had plenty of time to do what she wanted now.