Black Ruby.
The next morning I was woken up by my Mother yelling in my ear telling me to get dressed because....well just because. It was madness as all of the Weasley's, well the male Weasley's who were attending Hogwarts, flew around trying to pack all of their belongings before we had to leave. Half an hour later we were being piled into Ministry cars to take us to the train station. When Harry had said we would all be fitting into two cars I laughed out loud at his stupidity. When I was, rather impolitely, shoved into the backseat I realised that Harry was not actually delusional. The cars had been enlarged to fit all of the Weasley's, Hermione, Harry, Myself and my mother in. We arrived at Kings Cross with about ten minutes to spare. Apparently Harry and Ron had an adventure getting to School the year before when they took Mr. Weasley's car and flew to Hogwarts. I was scowled at, glared at, scolded and winked at....well the winking wasn't to bad seeing as it was from Harry and Ron when they heard me giggling at their antics. I was glared at by Hermione, scowled at by Mrs. Weasley or, as she had begged me to call her, Molly and scolded by my own mother. But I knew she was just doing it in false pretence, as she had a mischievous glint in her eye. I just smirked as I tried, yet unsuccessfully, tried to pull my trunk out of the boot. Fred and George tisked and pulled it out easily smirking as they handed it to me. I could feel the light blush sprinkling my cheeks as I heard Harry and Ron chuckle. Percy practically ran off to go and meet hi GIRLFRIEND.....Percy has a GIRLFRIEND!!!!! I know I was shocked too....
We soon reached the platform Molly and my Mother went into SMM (Scary Mother Mode) and began kissing and hugging everyone.....
Molly and my Mother went to Harry and I twice....I don't even know why.
'Be good sweetheart!!' Mum whispered to me before moving on to Harry, pulling him into a motherly hug.
'Look after my daughter Harry.....Keep her safe please!!' she again whispered in a way I supposed I wasn't actually meant to hear.
We stowed our trunks on the train before waving at the window, my Mother was clinging to Molly and desperately tried to hide the tears I could see pouring down her face. I couldn't understand why she was acting like this, I mean I was only going to school. She had seen me depart countless times before to go to Beauxbatons. Instead of trying to figure out the puzzle my mother was I followed Hermione, Ron and Harry down the train corridor to try and find a compartment. Although this was proving to be a difficult task as all of the compartments were full. Well.... I say all there was one right at the other end of the Hogwarts Express. It seemed to have a sleeping passenger in it though.
'C'mon everywhere else is full....' Hermione muttered sliding open the door.
'Who d'you reckon he is?' hissed Ron, sitting down next Lupin.
'Professor R. J. Lupin,' I whispered as Hermione pulled me down next to her, Harry plonked down on my other side.
'How d'you know that?' asked Ron frowning.
'It's on his suitcase, Ronald,' replied Hermione, pointing at the luggage rack. Lupin's old battered case was there. Ron nodded and made an 'O' shape with his mouth.
'D'you think he's alright? He looks a bit pale......' Harry stated staring at the Mr. R.J. Lupin.
'I dunno, wonder what he teaches?' Ron muttered, moving his hand as if he was going to poke the stranger in the arm but was stopped when Harry kicked him in the shin.
'That's obvious,' whispered Hermione. 'There's only one vacancy, isn't there? Defence Against the Dark Arts.'
'Well, I hope he's up to it. He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he?'
'He's stronger than he looks,' I said. I stated matter of factly, I could tell by the way his blood smelled.
'Do you think he's really asleep?' asked Harry, glancing at him.
'Seems to be,' said Hermione. 'Why?'
Harry took another glance at him before standing up and closing the door to the compartment. 'I've got to tell you something.' Harry went in to a tale of how Mr. Weasley told him to be extra careful this year as Sirius Black was out of Azkaban. Ron and Hermione seemed to be taking it worse than Harry himself had.
'Let me get this straight,' said Ron afterwards, 'Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban to come after you?' Harry nodded.
'But they'll catch Black, won't they?' asked Hermione. 'I mean everyone's looking for him.'
'Sure,' said Ron. 'Except no one's ever broken out of Azkaban before and he's a murderous, raving lunatic.'
'Thanks, Ron,' said Harry. I let out a quiet squeak.
'What's wrong with you?' asked Ron, looking at me. I avoided his eye.
I didn't even know, just something about this Sirius Black scared me.
Just then, a faint, tinny sort of whistling started above me.
'What's that noise?' I asked.
It turned out to be Harry's Pocket Sneakoscope that Ron had given him for his birthday. It made such an annoying racket! Talk then went on to Hogsmeade and the fact we were now allowed to visit the village. Harry wasn't able to go because the Dursley's hadn't signed his form. Ron tried to persuade him to ask Professor McGonagall to sign it but Hermione stopped that thought immediately by mentioning Black.
Lupin remained asleep for most of the journey. He did have his advantages though. When some boy who seemed to know Harry, Ron and Hermione made his appearance with three of what I assumed to be his friends at his sides.
'Well,well,well....what do we have here. Potter, Weasel, Granger and a new groupie....hmmm I don't think we've met. I'm Draco Malfoy, this is Crabbe, Goyle and Blaise....' He stated in a snotty tone. I turned my head to look at this Draco. He had pale blond hair, and cold grey eyes which widened as he saw my face for the first time, he immediately looked to Blaise. I then looked to Carbbe or Goyle, I couldn't be sure. They both looked the same, bulky and slightly...bemused.
I then turned my eyes to Blaise. He was... just like me pale skinned, dark eyes, dark hair and Graceful in all of his movements. He was part Vampire! Blaise scrutinized my features before grinning, I smirked and nodded. Malfoy smiled to me then glared to the others before leaving.
Nothing much happened for the rest of the journey. Outside rain was hammering hard on the windows and it was pitch black. Lights had flickered on in the train and the train rattled onwards. That is, until it started to slow.
'Why are we stopping?' asked Hermione. 'We can't be there yet.' Harry got up and looked out of our compartment. Voices could be heard all the way up the corridor. Suddenly the train jerked and Harry fell back into his seat next to me.
'What's going on?' said Ron.
'I don't know,' replied Harry. 'Maybe we've broken down.'
The lights on the train flickered out.
'Ouch, Ron, you stood on my foot,' hissed Hermione.
'There's something moving out there,' said Ron nervously.
He was staring out the window, his hand placed on the glass. As I watched I noticed the water on the glass slowly start to freeze. It went all along the window to the next one; the water in Lupin's bottle also froze. I could even see my breath in front of me.
'Is it me or is it getting colder in here?' I said. I could feel myself shiver. Only one thing could make a place this cold and I hoped whole heartedly I was wrong.
The train shuddered again.
'Bloody hell!' gasped Ron. 'What's happening?'
Just then, a shadowy figure appeared at the door and stopped. It was just a single ripped cloak floating in the air. It reached out its hand and opened the door, its hand holding the edge as it peered inside. Hermione and Ron leaned away in their seats as Crookshanks hissed and Scabbers hid in Ron's jacket. The thing looked towards me and Harry and the next thing I heard was the familiar long, rattling breath. It was a Dementor.
What happened next was hazy, Harry began convulsing and slid from his seat. Then R.J. Lupin woke up and created a Patronus and sending it away. I looked to the floor and crouched down next to Harry, pulling his head in to my lap he began to come around.
'Here, eat this,' I heard Lupin say followed by a large snap. He'd broken off a block of chocolate and given it to Harry. 'It'll help.' Harry took it cautiously. Lupin then gave some chocolate to Hermione, Ron and I insisting it would help.
'What was that thing?' asked Harry.
'It was a Dementor. One of the guards of Azkaban. It's gone now. It was searching the train for Sirius Black.' I tensed as Lupin said this. 'If you'll excuse me, I need t have a little word with the driver.' Lupin got up and opened the door of the compartment before turning back to us. 'Eat. You'll feel better.' He left.
It was silent in the compartment for a few minutes. I continued to keep silent, looking out the window, eating the chocolate. Hermione had got up off the floor and picked Crookshanks up before sitting beside Ron. Harry was still very confused.
'What happened to me?' he asked eventually.
'Well, you sort of went rigid,' said Ron. 'We thought maybe you were having a fit or something.'
'And did any of you guys … you know … pass out?'
'No, but I was sure Ruby would. She just went really pale and her eyes...they... went black..' Hermione stated looking deep in to my hazel eyes.
'Yeah it was freaky to say the least....It was strange, I felt as if I would never be happy again.' Ron muttered also staring at me. I was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
'But someone was screaming,' said Harry. 'A woman.'
'No one was screaming, Harry,' said Hermione. She was looking at him as if he would pass out again. However, nothing else was said for the rest of the trip.
We got off the train and walked to some carriages which seemed to be pulled by magic. There were more Dementors flanking the main gates. The carriages climbed the sloping drive and pulled up outside the front doors. As soon as we got out of ours Malfoy came along and jeered at Harry for fainting. That was when Professor Lupin came along saving us from another expectant fight.
We were about to go in to the Great Hall, Hermione had told me that the annual sorting happened there, when Harry realised that I didn't have a house. I quirked an eyebrow in thought, but I didn't need to think for long as my tie changed colour. It turned Red and Gold, Gryffindor's colours to be exact.
'Well, I think that problem has been sorted....' I giggled, Harry's whole face lit up as soon as he recognised his house colours. He excitedly grabbed my arm and pulled me down the hall to where Ron and Hermione were sat. I felt eyes on me as I made my every move. Fred and George winked and grinned at me as I sat down at the Gryffindor table. An elderly wizard stood up gracefully and walked to a podium in the centre of the of the front of the room.
'Welcome!' he stated, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. 'Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast …'
'First,' he continued, 'I'm pleased to welcome Professor R. J. Lupin who's kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, Professor.' There was a scattered round of applause through the Hall. I grinned happily about Lupin getting the job. Just to Lupin's right though, Professor Snape was looking extremely sour about it. 'As to our second new appointment, well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid.'
All the Gryffindors cheered, particularly Harry, Ron, Hermione.
Ron noticed my confused expression.
'The man talking is Albus Dumbledore, and Rubeus Hagrid is the really big hairy bloke at the end of the table...' Ron whispered pointing them out. I just nodded.
'Finally on a more disquieting note –' the noise in the Hall settled and everyone turned to Dumbledore, '– 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.' Yup, I was right. It was about Sirius Black. '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 will not distinguish between the one they hunt and the ones who get in their way. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises – or even Invisibility Cloaks....' At this point he was looking directly at Harry, Hermione and Ron. '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,' Dumbledore waved his hand over one of the candles on the podium and it went out, 'when one only remembers to turn on the light.' His hand went back over the candle and it relit itself.
That gave me something to think about. If Dementors couldn't be fooled by tricks or disguises or even Invisibility Cloaks then how could Black have escaped Azkaban.
After the feast, Harry, Ron, Hermione and I went up to congratulate Hagrid at the teachers table on becoming the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher. He was positively beaming. Hermione linked her arm through mine and pulled me to the Common room. It was strange, I had only been here an hour at most an I felt like I was really at home. Hermione and Ron clambered through the common room.
'Strange isn't it? How you feel at home here?' Harry said as if he had read my mind. His eyes sparkling as he looked around the red coloured room. I could sense Harry felt the same. He felt most comfortable at Hogwarts. He turned and smiled.
'Well, Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning...' He mumbled to me as he pulled me into a hug. As we pulled away I could feel eyes on us. I blushed, Harry hugging me wasn't anything new to me, but it seemed Harry hugging a girl was un-heard of. He smirked and pushed me in the direction of the Girls dormitories.