CHAPTER 2
The next day they were filing out of the Ministry cars when they arrived at the station. "Watch it" came a female's voice as they headed towards the train; it was Pansy Parkinson, the girl who would constantly hang off Draco Malfoy.
"Leave it alone" Draco said as he followed them. He smiled slightly at Riley then got on board the train.
"He was actually nice, that's a shock" Ron said. Riley didn't make any comments, she just said goodbye to Molly and Arthur and then got on board. She noticed Draco was wearing a long sleeve shirt with a longer neck and she knew exactly what it covered up; she's known for the past two years what Draco was hiding.
"Look a free compartment, let's go" Ron said as he opened the sliding door and sat down.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked Riley before they entered the compartment.
"Yeah just fine thanks" Riley replied smiling at him.
Half way through the trip to the school, the train came to a sudden stop, causing any open doors to slide close and any students standing u, to fall down. The lights flickered off, everything went cold and they could see their breath in front of them.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked.
"Dementors" Riley whispered, her dad had told her what Dementors were and what happened when they got near you, so straight away she knew it "Close the door quickly" she added, but it was too late a Dementor was hovering out front of their compartment. It came in and stopped, then began to suck the energy and happiness from those closest to it, Harry and Riley.
"Expecto Patronum" Riley yelled and a bright white light shot from her wand, running straight for the Dementor, making it vanish, just before Riley and Harry collapsed.
"Harry?" Hermione was asking, as she knelt down next to him.
"I'm alright, where's Riley?" he asked, sitting up.
"I'm here" Riley replied, her voice shaky and weak.
"What exactly was that?' Ginny asked.
"It was a Dementor, it guards the Azkaban" Riley told them and just then, Percy came bursting through the door, followed by some of the prefects.
"Someone said the Dementor came in here?" Percy asked.
"It did, but Riley got rid of it" Ron replied.
"Well I am going to stay here until we arrive at school" Percy said as he took a seat next to Riley. "How did you get rid of it?" Percy asked a few minutes later.
"One time, my dad was telling me about the Dementors and he told me how to get rid of them. I didn't think it was going to work but I had to try" Riley said.
"It looked like a wolf" Ginny said.
"Yeah it worked the way it was supposed to. If you can produce a full patronus, which is what I did, it takes shape of an animal, a positive force which drives them away" Riley said.
"Oh look here we are" Hermione said as they pulled up to the station.
"Riley!" Remus called as he ran up to her and hugged her.
"Dad get off me I'm fine" Riley said, starting to feel embarrassed.
"Sorry" he replied as he handed her and Harry some chocolate "You'll feel better after that. Percy sent an owl ahead telling us what happened" he added.
"It didn't get much of a chance to do anything" Harry told him and Hermione looked like she had sucked on a lemon, she couldn't believe that Riley was able to produce a patronus so easily.
"Why not?" Remus asked.
"I did it dad, I produced a patronus" Riley said as they got into the horseless carriage and headed to the school. "I did what you said and it worked" she added.
"I'm sure it wasn't a full patronus but I'm glad it worked none the less" Remus replied.
"It was dad, it was you" Riley whispered in his ear so no one would here.
Really?" Remus asked "I'm so proud of you" he added hugging her again.
"Dad enough of the hugging already" Riley said laughing.
"Sorry" Remus replied. "You will need to go and see Madam Pomfrey though when we arrive" he said.
"Ah no I don't think so" Riley said "I'm fine dad really" she added as they got out of the carriage and headed up to the big doors that lead inside the castle.
"Your not going to let me take you up are you?" Remus asked.
"No dad" Riley replied.
"Alright then, go on" Remus said and he let Riley and Harry walk into the Great Hall by themselves.
"Oh this is going to be a long year" Riley muttered to Harry as they filed in to watch the sorting.
In the first class that they had with Professor Lupin, they were learning about Boggarts.
"So who can tell me what a boggart, looks like?" Remus asked.
"No one knows it changes shape every time it's near someone, to what they fear the most" Hermione said.
"Very good Hermione" Remus said making Hermione smile "Now we are lucky to have one here and we will all get a chance to face it. But you need to learn the spell to repel it" he added. "Wands away everyone now repeat after me Ridikkulus" he said.
"Ridikkulus" The class chimed together.
"Very good" Remus said "Now I am going to open the wardrobe and one by one you will face the boggart" he added. Riley hoped that no one saw the look on her face; she wasn't ready to face another boggart.
When she was only 8 years old, she found one in her closet and it scared her half to death. It took almost two hours for Remus to finally calm Riley down, tell her that everything was fine and explain to her that it wasn't real and that's what boggarts do.
She looked at Harry next to her, who looked just as worried as she did. Riley and Harry moved closer to the front of the line and she hoped her dad would stop it before she reached the front, she didn't want anyone knowing what her boggart was. Harry was just behind Riley, followed by Hermione, Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. Riley stepped up in front of the boggart, who had just finished turning itself into a giant spider and before Riley could prepare herself, it changed into a lifeless Remus. Everyone behind her gasped and Remus turned around to find out why, when he saw Riley, then himself on the floor. Instead of Remus stepping in, Draco stepped forward and the boggart paid attention to him, leaving Riley alone. As it was about to transform again, Remus stepped in and together Draco and Remus got the boggart back into the cupboard.
"Alright everyone, I want an essay on what boggarts are and how to repel them for next week thank you" Remus said, his voice shaky. Riley hadn't moved from her knees on the floor, she just stared at the spot where the Remus-boggart was before.
"Riley are you ok?" Draco asked as he placed a hand on her shoulder. But before she could answer, Harry and Ron walked over and helped her off the ground, shoving Draco out of the way.
"I'm fine, we better go, divination is in 15 minutes" Riley replied quietly and walked out of the classroom with Harry and Ron. Everyone watched her carefully all throughout divination, not asking her about her boggart. The whole class had seen it and she felt stupid because of it. She could get rid of a dementor, but not a simple boggart posing as a dead Remus.
"You all seem distracted today" Professor Trelawny said. "Oh my dear children" she went on, looking at Harry and Riley "both your lives are about to be turned upside down" she added, looking at them with sad eyes.
"Well least she isn't predicting my death today" Harry muttered to Riley, who laughed softly.
When the class ended, Riley headed down the stairs in silence, like she'd been all lesson, while Hermione went on about how she wished she could've faced the boggart.
"What would yours have been Hermione? A test that you didn't get full marks on?" Ron asked her laughing.
"I'll meet you guys back at the dorm" Riley said and then headed to her dad's office.
"Come in" Remus said when he heard the knock on the door.
"Hey Dad" Riley said, scuffing her shoe over the ground.
"Hey Kiddo, was hoping you'd come see me" Remus replied, getting up from behind his desk. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah I'm fine. I'd hoped my boggart had changed, but obviously not" Riley replied, not looking up from her feet.
"Everyone has fears and sometimes they change, sometimes they don't. Mine definitely changed when I adopted you" Remus told her "And it's nothing to be ashamed of either" he added.
"It was in front of the whole class Dad" Riley said.
"Doesn't matter, you saw all their fears as well" Remus said as he put his arms around her.
"But you were standing right there as well, I have never felt so stupid" Riley said as she hugged Remus back.
"Doesn't matter, I don't think any less of you and by the look on Draco Malfoy's face, the slytherins wont be bothering you about it" Remus said. "He seemed genuinely worried for you" he added.
"Draco is just misunderstood by a lot of people that's all" Riley told him as she pulled away "He is a sweet guy" she added.
"So he's the one you were owling secretly all summer?" Remus asked.
"Yeah it was" Riley replied. "But don't tell anyone please" she added.
"I won't" Remus said "Are you sure you're ok?" he asked.
"Yeah I'm fine. I might head back to the dorm put my stuff away then head to dinner. Thanks Dad" Riley replied smiling at him.
"One second" Remus said as she went to head out the door, he reached into a drawer in his desk and brought out a piece of parchment and handed it to her.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Open it up and tap it, then say I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" Remus told her. She did as he said and to her amazement, she saw lines appearing on the parchment.
"What is it?" She asked again.
"It's Hogwarts School, Sirius, Peter, James and I made it. We were called the Marauders" he told her as they walked out of his office "Seeing as both you and Harry are children of us, thought you'd might like it" he said.
"Wow that's so cool Dad" Riley replied as she watched the dots labeled Remus Lupin and Riley Lupin, walk down the corridors.
"Pinky promise, that you won't use it for anything bad" Remus said.
"Pinky promise" She said as she wrapped her finger around Remus'.
"Alright go put your stuff away and I'll see you at dinner" Remus told her, kissing her on the top of her head, then walking towards the great hall. Her mood had lifted considerably and when she arrived in the great hall, a smile was on her face; even Pansy pawing Draco couldn't make the smile disappear.