"You fainted too?" asked Harry.
"I think so." replied Bella. "One minute I was standing there, terrified out my wits, the next I was on the ground."
"What was Malfoy doing anyway?" snarked Ron.
"Shut. Up. Ronald." growled Bella.
"I'm just saying -"
"Don't say. I'm not in the mood to listen to you." she sighed.
Their new professor entered the compartment again and handed Bella a small slab of chocolate. She took it from him, unsure whether she should eat it or not.
"Eat. You'll feel better." He said with a soft smile. Bella raised the chocolate to her lips hesitantly.
"I haven't poisoned it, you know." Their professor said with a chuckle.
"It'll make you feel better, promise." said Harry comfortingly.
Bella nibbled at the chocolate and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly she was beginning to feel better.
When the train rolled slowly into Hogsmeade station there was a frenzy to get off of the train. Bella used her small height to her advantage and pushed through the mass of people. The torrential rain hammered down upon them, soaking them through to the skin.
"Firs' years over 'ere." A familiar voice yelled from the end of the platform and Bella turned to see Hagrid beckoning the terrified-looking first years for their traditional journey over the Black Lake.
"You alrigh'" He called over the heads of the crowd as Ron and the others caught up to Bella.
They waved to him but didn't have the chance to speak as they were dragged away with the crowd of grumpy teenagers looking for shelter from the rain. They followed the crowd down a small slope to where over one hundred carriages sat, waiting to escort them up to the castle they called home. Bella climbed in first and as soon as Harry pulled the carriage door shut behind them the carriage set off, on its own, pulling them slowly up the hill. Bella dropped her head to lay on Harry's shoulder where he sat beside her. The others were looking at the pair with concern, fearing they would pass out again.
The carriages ambled up the hill and when they reached a huge set of wrought iron gates, topped with magnificent gargoyles, Harry tapped Bella's leg lightly, inclining his head out of the small window. Two large Dementors were situated on either side of the large gate, guarding the entrance. An intense sickness overwhelmed Bella and she buried her head in Harry's neck, willing it away. Harry dropped his head back against the wall of the carriage and squeezed his eyes shut. The intense sickness didn't pass until they were further through the gates and out of sight of the dreaded Dementors.
"I hate them." whispered Bella, pulling away slowly from the crook of Harry's neck.
"Me too." Harry whispered back, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
The carriages were moving quicker now. Hermione poked her head out of the small window, watching the turrets and towers grow closer. Finally, the carriage drew to a halt: Hermione, Ron, Freya and Emily got out. Bella lingered behind with a worried look on her face. Harry turned back to find Bella still stood in the middle of the carriage. He walked back a few steps and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, reassuring her that she would be okay. He urged her forward and stepped down from the carriage first, offering his hand to her. Bella took it gratefully, stepping down from the carriage into the heavy rain.
They hurried, along with the other students, into the warm Entrance Hall. The flaming torches decorating the walls helped add a feeling of warmth to the large space and Bella sighed. The large doors to the Great Hall lay open and Bella could practically smell the delicious food she had missed over the summer. Her foot was just across the threshold when a voice called: "Weasley! Potter! Granger! A word please."
Bella turned to Harry and Hermione who both shrugged their shoulders. Bella coudln't think of any reason why Professor McGonagall would be calling over the crowd for her, on the first day back as well, and it left her with a feeling of dread. They fought their way through the crowd, their fear showing on their face.
"What have I done?" asked Ron when they reached Professor McGonagall.
"Not you, Mr Weasley. Miss Weasley's is the presence I require." said McGonagll. "Run along now, you three."
Ron, Freya and Emily followed after the stragglers into the Great Hall. The remaining three followed Professor McGonagall back across the Entrance Hall, up the grand marble staircase and along a corridor. Once they were inside McGonagall's office, a well-kept room with a bright fire, McGonagall offered them a seat, sat down behind her desk and said the words Bella was expecting to hear.
"Professor Lupin owled ahead to inform me you both had taken ill on the train."
Before either of them could say a word there was a soft knock at the door and Madam Pomfrey poked her head around it with a smile. Bella felt her cheeks going red with embarrassment along with Harry's. It was bad enough that she had passed out, in front of Draco no less, without everyone making such a big fuss.
"It's okay." said Harry.
"We're fine." added Bella.
"You two, I should have known." said Madam Pomfrey, ignoring them both and bending to get a closer look at them. "Doing more dangerous things, are we?"
"It was a Dementor, Poppy." said McGonagall.
They exchanged a look of exasperation and Madam Pomfrey huffed.
"Setting Dementors around a school, never heard a worse idea." said Pomfrey, lifting Harry's hair and feeling his forehead. "As I suspected, clammy." She placed her other hand on Bella's forehead, pressing lightly.
"They won't be the first to pass out. The effects they have are bad enough but on someone that's already delicate -"
"I'm not delicate!" cried Bella and Harry in unison.
"Of course you're not." said Madam Pomfrey, distracted, too busy taking both Harry and Bella's pulse.
"What do they need?" asked Professor McGonagall. "Bed rest? Maybe a night in the hospital wing?"
"We're fine!" cried Harry.
"At the very least, they should have some chocolate." said Madam Pomfrey sternly.
"We've already had some." said Bella.
"Professor Lupin gave us it on the train." added Harry.
"Oh he did, did he?" said Madam Pomfrey. "So we've finally got a competent Defence teacher?"
"Are you sure you feel alright? Both of you." said Professor McGonagall.
"Yes." They replied.
"Very well. Kindly wait outside until I have a word with Miss Granger about her timetable and then we can all go down to the feast together."
Harry and Bella stepped out into the corridor utterly perplexed by what had just gone on. Bella leaned against the wall with a sigh as Harry paced in front of her.
"What was all that about?" said Harry.
"Beats me." she replied.
"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Harry, coming to stand beside her.
"Yeah, I'm alright. Are you okay?" asked Bella.
"Yeah." said Harry.
They didn't have to wait much longer to be joined by an extremely overjoyed looking Hermione and as stern as always, Professor McGonagall.
The Great Hall was a sea of black pointy hats. The house tables were filled with over-excited students, chattering amongst themselves about their summers.
"Oh no, we've missed the sorting." sighed Hermione.
"Nevermind that." replied Bella. "If we're not quick Ron will have eaten everything."
Professor McGonagall strode off for her empty seat at the staff table and Harry, Hermione and Bella tried to be as discreet as possible in getting to the Gryffindor table. Unfortunately, they were not as discreet as they hoped and most pairs of eyes turned to them as they walked quickly down the aisle. Bella sat on the other side of the table between Freya and Emily while Harry and Hermione took the seats on either side of Ron.
"I heard what happened, are you okay?" asked Seamus, leaning around Emily.
"Yeah, I'll be alright." smiled Bella.
"What did McGonagall want?" asked Ron.
Harry began to explain but he was interrupted by Professor Dumbledore getting ready to make his welcome speech.
"Welcome!" he began jovially. "To another year at Hogwarts. I have a few words to announce that are very special, before your brains become all muddled with the feast."
"As many of you may have noticed, the Dementors of Azkaban will be spending a lot of time here at Hogwarts over the following year. They are stationed here under orders from the Minister of Magic himself to stand guard over our beloved school."
"They will be stationed at every entrance and while they are here I must warn you all not to leave the school without permission. Dementors are most foul creatures and they do not take well to foolery. They will not be swayed by tricks and disguises, or invisibility cloaks." The six Gryffindors shared a look at Dumbledore's obvious warning. "They do not take excuses and so I warn you all now, give the Dementors no reason to trouble you. I turn to our prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl to make sure no student falls prey to the Dementors." Dumbledore looked around the hall with a solemn look after he had finished.
"On a happier note." he smiled, back to his cheery self. "I am pleased to introduce two new teachers to our ranks. Firstly, Professor Lupin, who will be taking over the position of Defense against the Dark Arts Professor."
The shabby man from the train smiled around at them all and Bella wondered how much better their new Defense teacher would be. Anyone's got to be better than Lockhart, right?
"And secondly, our beloved Gameskeeper Hagrid is resigning from his Gameskeeping duties to take over the position of Care of Magical Creatures Professor."
Hagrid stood excitely from his chair, causing the goblets nearest him to fall over, spilling their contents all over the table and the floor. He waved around the hall with an enormous smile on his face with Bella and the others cheered loudly for him.
"How did we not realise?" said Freya.
"Only Hagrid's mad enough to want us to buy a biting book!" added Emily.
"I think I've said everything of relevance." said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!"
They tucked in to the mouth watering food littering the table and Bella piled her plate so high she didn't know where to begin. Even the threat of Dementors at school all year coudn't take away from how much she loved the Hogwarts feasts.
