The next morning was filled with a strange mix of excitement and tearful goodbyes.
Both to the house elves, who had practically raised his brother and sister and then to each other as things would be different at school, then having tidied themselves up , they gathered their things and departed for Kings Cross.
Their father accompanied them onto the platform but as he had warned them that morning when he had said goodbye to them properly, they were no tender hugs or words or encouragement, only a brisk handshake for each of the boys and a gentle hand-kiss for Lily.
First years traveled in their own carriages, which Harry easily convinced the twins was for the best, he had befriended Ron on the train after all, but he helped them aboard before setting off in search of his own friends.
Eventually he found them at the far end of the train. Just in time too by the look of things as Ron and Hermione were in the middle of a massive argument after Hermione's new cat, Crookshanks, had apparently attempted to eat Ron's pet rat, Scabbers, but luckily Harry had been able to diffuse the situation.
The only other occupant of their compartment was an impoverished and sickly looking man who from his baggage they determined to be Professor R.J Lupin but who was thankfully fast asleep so while they had to be cautious what they discussed in his presence for fear he might wake up they were saved the awkwardness of actually having to make small talk with him.
Later they even decided that his presence was a blessing in disguise, as it stopped passing students intent on mocking Harry for his relationship with the potions master from actually coming in and disturbing them.
The train journey was progressing quite uneventfully in fact until all of a sudden the engine screeched to a halt and the lights went out. They heard a lot of clattering out in the corridor and suddenly the door opened and Ginny and Neville burst in just before the air went deathly cold and the windows of the carriage began to frost over. Dementors! They sucked away all thoughts of happiness leaving only pain, anguish and suffering until Harry could take no more and collapsed just as the professor woke and blasted the eerie spirits away.
He came to a moment later to find himself on the floor surrounded by the worried faces of his friends. "Harry you're okay!" Hermione exclaimed throwing her arms around him before the professor urged them to give him some space.
He pulled himself up a little, and shakily asked what had happened just as he spotted the way a tearful Ginny was clutching at Ron and was overcome with a concern for the twins.
He tried to stand, but it was as though that thing had drained him of all his energy and he stumbled. "Just rest for a minute Harry." the teacher urged before dipping into the pocket of his robes for a bar of chocolate that he quickly shared out, "Here eat this, it will make you feel better."
"But Lily and Evan!" Harry protested trying once more to get up.
The professor stared at him as though he was speaking in tongues, but when he stumbled a second time, he found the professors hand weigh down on his shoulder stilling him.
"Who are Lily and Evan?" he asked gently.
"My brother and sister," Harry replied, "Please sir I need to find them."
He shook his head, "Calm yourself first," then turning to Neville he asked if he knew Lily and Evan and sent him off to fetch them.
"Eat" he urged again, pointing at the chocolate. "It will make you feel better."
Knowing he wouldn't be released until he did as he was told Harry took a bite and was relieved to find a wave of warmth wash over him the moment he swallowed.
He had just picked himself up off the floor when Neville came back with the twins. They were fine, the sudden darkness had unsettled them a little but the Dementor hadn't even entered their carriage.
Lupin watched them for a moment and once satisfied that Harry was now okay, excused himself to go and check on the other students. No one else had reacted as badly as Harry had though so it wasn't long before he returned again.
"You should return to your own carriage and change into your robes now." He instructed the twins. "We will be arriving shortly."
Excited at the prospect of soon approaching their destination, the twins quickly hurried off, followed by Neville and Ginny.
"First years?" the Professor asked Harry once they had left.
"Yes Sir." Harry replied with as much enthusiasm as his weakened soul would allow.
Lupin frowned, and handed him another chunk of chocolate. "I never knew Professor Snape had any other children." He remarked softly, searching Harry's face for something.
Unsure of how else to respond, Harry shrugged, then as the chocolate warmth spread through him again, proudly informed the new teacher that his father actually had five children.
Lupin looked truly shocked, "Is he married?"
"Err sort of," Harry muttered, but before he could say anything else Hermione not so subtly ended the conversation by thrusting his uniform at him. "Excuse us Professor but we should probably go and find somewhere to change."
"Err yes of course." He agreed, as the faintest bit of colour appeared to rise through his otherwise sickly, pallid complexion but then just as she went to slide back the door he changed his mind, "Wait, you can stay here; I want to go speak with the driver anyways." He said as he quickly gathered up his things, "I will see you in class."
"That was a little rude, don't you think?" Ron said to Hermione once he had disappeared down the corridor.
Hermione flushed as she realised she had made a very bad first impression but shrugged it off; there was something about that man that unsettled her. "You should be careful what you say to him Harry" she warned, "Your father was not happy about him coming to Hogwarts, remember, he could be dangerous."
Harry stared at her in bewilderment, he hadn't the faintest idea what she was on about, Lupin had seemed perfectly nice to him.
"The twin's birthday, the row with Dumbledore over the new Defence against the Dark Arts Teacher" she prompted.
Ron scowled at the realisation he might have missed out on something while in Egypt with his family. "How do you know he teaches Defence?" he said, cutting in as Harry cursed himself for not having put two and two together. Of course he remembered the argument, he just hadn't realised Lupin was the DADA Professor, but as Hermione had said to Ron, it was the only open post, so he had to be.
Professor McGonagall was waiting for them when they finally arrived at the school. She looked Harry over in a motherly kind of way then led them to a room just around the corner from the great hall. Wait here, she instructed Ron and Hermione as she gestured Harry inside before heading back down the stairs to wait for the first years.
Inside Harry was surprised to find both his father and Madame Pomfrey waiting for him. Breaking his own rules less than five minutes into the new term, Severus gathered his son into his arms, embracing him. "I heard there was an incident on the train, are you alright?"
Harry nodded, and explained about the Dementor and how it had suddenly gone cold and dark and how he could hear someone screaming and then how he had just passed out.
"Screaming?" Severus asked with a frown as he moved his hand to his son's forehead.
Harry nodded, "I think so but I don't think anyone else heard it, what is a Dementor exactly?"
"They are non-beings Harry, dark creatures that feed on human happiness and can consume a person's soul. The Ministry employs them to guard the prison of Azkaban." He explained as the Mediwitch took over the assessment.
"What were they doing on the train?" Harry asked then, blushing with the embarrassment of being fussed over.
"Apparently they were searching for Sirius Black," his father replied in a tone that warned him not to ask why. "Are you sure you're alright? Minerva thinks you ought to spend the night under observation in the hospital wing but I didn't think you would want to miss the twins sorting."
"Yes sir, I'm fine now honestly, please let me go to the feast."
Looking torn his father turned to his friend for her professional opinion. "Poppy?"
"He's still a little clammy." She replied carefully "but I couldn't find any medical explanation for his loss of consciousness. Coming face to face with a Dementor like that can be pretty traumatic, particularly for someone with Harry's history and such a reaction isn't unheard of. If it were any other student I would have to err on the side of caution and admit them just in case but since it's ultimately your decision I would suggest that the distraction of the feast might help him to just forget about it and move on."
Harry nodded enthusiastically. "Please sir."
"Very well" Severus declared after a tense moment of consideration "I want you to eat this first though," he added, handing Harry and exceptionally large bar of chocolate, "and you have to promise me that you will alert someone if you start to feel even the slightest bit funny later."
"I promise", Harry replied, just as the Mediwitch took her leave, then recognising an opportunity to probe for information on the DADA teacher, offered the chocolate bar back to his father informing him that Professor Lupin had already given him some after casting the spell that had made the Dementors go away.
He had clearly touched a nerve as his father sighed deeply before moving towards the window, clearly at odds with himself over how to respond.
"While I am obviously grateful that Professor Lupin was there to assist you Harry," he said eventually, "I must insist that you watch yourself around him, he is someone not to be trusted."
"Why?" Harry pressed, feeling rather guilty now.
"Because I said so." His father snapped.
He wanted an actual reason of course but it was such a parent thing to say that Harry had to supress a smile, then afraid that he might find himself sent off to the hospital wing after all if he pushed it, agreed to be careful around Lupin.
"Thank you." Snape replied with a sigh, looking so visibly relieved that Harry was forced to resign himself with the fact that the man who had been so kind to him on the train must be truly dangerous.
Before he could really consider the implications of this though, they were interrupted by Ron suddenly bursting in through the door.
"Something the matter Mr Weasley?" his father asked impatiently.
Ron shook his head. "I err just wanted to remind Harry that the feast would be starting soon." He muttered, as an apologetic Hermione rounded the door behind him, mouthing I told you so.
Severus rolled his eyes, then with a jerk of his head gestured for them to go.
"Aren't you coming?" Harry asked concerned.
"I'll follow in a few minutes…"
Harry nodded his understanding and offered the chocolate back once more.
"Keep it, and don't forget your promise."
Harry smiled and thanked him, "I guess I will err see you round then ."
Severus nodded, "Good luck Harry, I hope you're not too upset when the twins get sorted into Slytherin."
"In your Dreams Father!" Harry replied, chuckling before racing back down to the feast.
Authors Note: Thank you to all who have taken the time to review so far!
Hope everyone has enjoyed this latest update and sorry about the delay in uploading.
Best Regards
An tSiog x
