Diagon Alley street. Hermione with Ron walking on the street. She can manage herself without her parents' company. She is now in third year. What school stuff she needs, she'll do all herself.
"Ron, should we go to Magical Menagerie?"
"For what?"
"I'm seeking an owl for myself".
"That's brilliant. You really need that bird for yourself. I've never been there before. Lucky I have Scabbers with me".
Ron pulled out his pet from pocket. He is an old, rather useless rat and Ron pretends to hate him, but he is secretly very attached to the rat. Scabbers used to belong to Ron's older brother, Percy.
"You keep your Rat inside your pocket? Is it breathing?"
"What question is that?"
The Magical Menagerie was a magical creature shop in North Side, Diagon Alley, across the street from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
Hermione and Ron enter the shop.
There were cages of pets on display. It was very cramped, noisy and smelly with every inch of wall covered by cages. It sold all kinds of animals - Streelers, Fire Crabs, sleek black rats that were very intelligent owls, ravens, cats, of every color. Puffskeins, transforming rabbits and much more.
"Good day. Welcome to Magical Menagerie". said the Witch woman in a smile. "What kind of pets do you like dear?" As she asks Hermione.
Hermione nodded her head. "Can we look around?"
"Of course dear. Have yourself. If you need my assistance.. I'm right here".
Ron feels a bit weird towards the Witch woman. He turns to Hermione that she's already gone from his sight.
"Hermione..." He looked for her. "Stop leaving me". He walked behind her.
"Oh, Ron. Nobody is trying to eat you here".
From the corner of her eyes, she spotted something and turned to look. There is a half-Kneazle cat as evidenced by his lion-like appearance.
Hermione gently approaches the cat.. smiling. As the first time her eyes meet this cat, Hermione falls in love.
"Crookshanks".
Hermione and Ron turn to the Witch. "That's the cat's name, Crookshanks. I had purchased him and stated that he had been in the shop for a long time as nobody wanted him".
Ron turns to Crookshanks. He studied the cat. "I wonder why. This cat is a bloody monster".
"Shut up, Ron! I want him". Hermione said to the Witch. "I purchased Crookshanks. That's my final word".
"You bought that monster?"
"He's gorgeous, isn't he?"
"I thought you wanted an owl".
Hermione quickly grabs Crookshanks out of his cage. She hears Crookshanks purring then jumps on top of Ron's head.
"Make it stop!"
"It's just a cat, Ronald".
Just then Crookshanks attempts to attack the rat from Ron pocket, and Scabbers promptly dashes out of the shop down Diagon Alley, taking refuge under a wastepaper bin outside Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"See.. see. That monster scared Scabbers!". Ron leaves the store searching for Scabbers.
Hermione smiles, Crookshanks on her arm.
The Witch woman smiles, seeing the bonding between Hermione and Crookshanks.
"I can see you choose Crookshanks and Crookshanks choose you dear. Come, we settle down at the counter".
Moments later. Diagon Alley street. After purchasing Crookshanks. Ron and Hermione walked back to Leaky Cauldron.
"Crookshanks..!"
A young witch in maid's robes pushes a cart down the hall. Harry exits his room as the witch knocks on a door.
"Housekeeping". As she opens the door, she's greeted by a thunderous roar and a rush of wind. Unperturbed. "I'll come back later".
Something small and fast dashes by Harry's feet. Looking, he spies a rather ragged-looking rat, pursued by a decidedly ugly orange cat.
As Harry moves down the stairs, voices come from below.
"I'm warning you, Hermione! Keep that bloody beast of yours away from Scabbers or I'll turn it into a tea cozy".
"He's a cat, Ronald! What do you expect? It's in his nature".
As Harry reaches bottom, he finds Ron protectively cradling Scabbers, while Hermione does her best to restrain hissing Crookshanks.
"A cat! Is that what they told you? Looks more like a pig with hair if you ask me".
"That's rich coming from the owner of that smelly old shoe brush".
Hermione cooing to the cat. "It's all right, Crookshanks. You just ignore the mean little boy..."
Then, sensing another presence in the room, both turn. "Harry".
A headline screams.. GRAND PRIZE WINNER VISITS EGYPT! In the accompanying photo, the entire Weasley family stands before the great pyramids, waving. Smack in the middle is Ron, Scabbers perched on his shoulder.
As Ron smoothes the dog-eared clipping onto the table, Harry studies it. Hermione ignores it, stroking Crookshanks.
"Egypt! What's it like?"
"Brilliant. It's got loads of old stuff. Mummies. Death masks. Tombs - even Scabbers enjoyed himself".
"You know, the ancient Egyptians used to worship cats ".
Ron glares stonily at Hermione. "Along with the dung beetle". Then turns back to Harry. "I also got a new wand".
Just then, a commotion is heard. The Weasleys, Percy, Fred, George, Ginny, Arthur, and Molly arrive en masse, laden with purchases from Diagon Alley.
"Not flashing that clipping about again, are you, Ron?"
"I haven't shown anyone!"
"No, not a soul. Unless you count Tom. The day maid. The nightmaid. The cook. The bloke that came to fix the toilet. That wizard from Belgium..."
Arthur Weasley bumped into Hermione. "Hermione.."
"Good morning, Mr. Weasley".
Later. As the Hogwarts express bleats its horn, the milling horde of students. Parents hurry their children on board, tiny siblings wave goodbyes... and Mrs Weasley dashes through the throng and up to an open train window.
"Ron!" She hands Scabbers through the open window to Ron. "Do not lose him!"
The aisle teems with students. Harry, Ron and Hermione work their way down the aisle, looking for an empty compartment.
"I didn't mean to blow her up. I just..." Harry is troubled by the memory. "... Lost control".
"Brilliant!"
"Honestly, Ron, it's not funny. Harry's lucky he wasn't expelled".
"I was lucky not to be arrested".
"I still think it was brilliant".
Snap! Snap! Snap! A copy of the The Monster Book of Monsters scuttles crab-like down the aisle, pursued by Neville Longbottom.
"Hi, Harry. Ron. Hermione".
"Hi, Neville". said the Trio together.
As he bumps past, Hermione nods to a compartment. "Come on. Everywhere else is full".
As they slip inside, they find a man in shabby robes slumped against the window, asleep. He looks ill, exhausted.
The trio eye him warily. Whisper. "Who do you think that is?"
"Professor R.J. Lupin".
"Do you know everything? How is it that she knows everything?"
"It's on his suitcase, Ronald".
She points. Stamped in peeling letters on a battery case is Professor R.J. Lupin
"Oh".
Harry studied him. "Do you think he's really asleep?"
"Seems to be. Why?"
"I gotta tell you something".
Hermione and Ron exchange a curious glance, then Harry rises, slides the door shut.
Storm clouds, like dark ghosts, toss sheets of rain on to the scarlet engine as it heads north. Ron and Hermione stare at Harry, faces stricken in the lantern light that now glows in the compartment. Crookshanks slumbers in his cage.
"Let me get this straight. Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban... to come after you?"
"Yeah".
"But they'll catch Black, won't they? I mean, everyone's looking for him".
"Sure. Except no one's ever broken out of Azkaban before... and he's a murderous, raving lunatic".
Harry stares at Ron. "Thanks, Ron".
Just then, the compartment rattles. Lanterns flicker. The train lurches, begins to slow.
Hermione slides down the seat, pinning Ron against the window. They exchange an awkward glance, then Hermione carefully slides to the other end of the seat and glances at her watch.
Frowns.
"Why are we stopping? We can't be there yet".
Harry rises, slides open the door, peers into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads look out curiously. Then the train jerks, the car sways and the lamps running along the ceiling flicker and die. One by one. Until all is... DARK.
"What's going on?"
A thin wisp of steam escapes Ron's mouth. Harry notices. "I don't know. Maybe we've broken down".
Hermione was breathing heavily on the seat, in the dark of the compartment train. There's nothing to see as cold ice slaps onto their skin.
Ron accidently stepped on her foot. "Ouch, Ron. That was my foot".
Ron, a dark silhouette against the window, wipes a patch of condensation from the window.
"There's something moving out there". Ron breathes in fear. "I think someone's coming aboard".
Suddenly the car sways violently... rights itself. The metal window trim at Ron's fingertips begins to vibrate.
"Bloody hell! What's happening?"
The trio look around in fear. Harry turned to Lupin a bit. Lupin hadn't moved an inch from his sleep.
A hand slimy and scabbed, a hand of death grips the half-open compartment door, pushes it aside. Reveals a towering, cloaked figure, its face hidden beneath its black hood.
Crookshanks hair rises and ass he hisses...
The folds of the hood tremble. A chill, rattling in the air, is heard. A soft crackling fills the car and flames bloom... in the hands of R.J. Lupin.
In the shivering light, his face looks tired and gray, but his eyes are alert. Wary.
The flames in Lupin's hands sputter. A sound swells in Harry's ears. Eerie.
Painful.
The sound of a woman screaming. Harry's eyes roll up, eyelids fluttering. And then... a silvery white light drifts from his mouth.
The world spins off its axis and Harry falls... glasses tumbling hard to the ground... then Harry... the muscles of his jaw twitching.
Thunder cracks. Lightning paints the icy windows...
With a desperate gasp, Harry opens his eyes. Blinks. Dusk is gone. The windows black. The floor at his spine is shaking gently. The train is moving again. His eyes shift, see a drop of water, newly unfrozen, running slowly down the window.
"Harry? Harry, are you all right?"
Hermione's troubled face hovers above him. He nods. Sits up. She extends her hand. Harry's glasses.
"Thank you".
Harry slips them on. Discovers the cold sweat glazing his brow.
"Here, eat this. It'll help". Lupin's smile as he hands the chocolate to Harry. "It's alright. It's chocolate".
"What was that thing that came?"
"It was a dementor. One of the guards of Azkaban. It's gone now". Harry frowns in confusion. "It was searching the train for Sirius Black. If you'll excuse me, I need to have a little word with the driver".
Lupin's up from the seat. "Eat. You'll feel better". As he leaves, Harry turns to Ron and Hermione.
"What happened to me?"
"Well, you sort of went rigid. We thought maybe you were having a fit or something".
... "And did either of you two... you know... pass out?"
Ron shakes his head. "No. I felt weird, though. Like I'd never be cheerful again". Harry turns to Hermione. She shakes her head.
"But someone was screaming. A woman".
Hermione and Ron glance nervously at each other.
"No one was screaming, Harry".
Harry looks to the window and his reflection on it. It becomes a glimmering puddle and...
Hogwarts castle. A carriage wheel shatters the glassy surface, catching a procession of horseless carriages, carrying students toward the glimmering castle.
Gradually, the sweet sound of a choir rises in the air, a flash of lightning bleaches the night sky.
Through the windows of the Great Hall, toward the candle lit silhouettes glimmering within, passing through the glass.
At the high table, Lupin sits with Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid and Albus Dumbledore.
The faces of the choir, singing to the strains of a harpsichord and landing on a quintet of toads. One of which Trevor belongs to is Neville Longbottom who looks on with pride.
Argus Filch, Hogwarts caretaker, stands grimly to the side as red-eyed Mrs Norris switches her tail at his feet.
As the choir's song concludes, Dumbledore rises, beaming over the sea of black hats.
"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Now, I'd like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin... who's kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, professor".
Amid scattered applause Harry, Ron, Hermione clap loudly. "Of course. That's why he knew to give you the chocolate".
"Potter. Potter". Draco calls Harry from his table. "Is it true you fainted? I mean, you actually fainted?"
"Shove off, Malfoy".
"How did he find out?" As Ron turned him.
"Just forget it". Hermione glances at Draco in annoyance.
"Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid".
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stare at each other, stunned, then applaud vigorously. Hermione screams for Hagrid.
Snape noticed her from a high table. Hagrid turns ruby red, rises, and nearly topples the staff table, sending water goblets weaving.
"Finally, on a more disquieting note at the request of the Ministry of Magic.. Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban until such a time as Sirius Black is captured".
A murmur of apprehension fills the hall. At the Slytherin table, Malfoy, flanked by the ever present Crabbe and Goyle, catches Harry's eye, feigns a dead faint.
"The dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day-to-day activities a word of caution. Dementors are vicious creatures. They'll not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving. But you know, happiness can be found... even in the darkest of times... if one only remembers to turn on the light".
Entrance hall. Night. Students exit the Great Hall, scale the marble staircase. Harry, Ron and Hermione arrive at the seventh floor landing and approach the Fat Lady in the portrait.
"Fortuna Major".
Gryffindor common room. The Gryffindors trail through the common room, the girls heading one way, boys the other.
Outside the castle.. The Dementors drift to their positions outside the grounds.