Chapter Eleven: The Dementor and New Attitudes:
September first came in cool and rainy but despite getting soaked to the skin and being cold Harry was happy to head back to school. He loved Hogwarts, the ancient corridors and battlements, the creaky suits of armor, the portraits and ghosts and of course his professors. He helped Fred and George load up the trunks into the magically enlarged trunk and hopped in the back seat with his friends and Arthur seeing everyone settled in drove off for London. Once at Kings Cross Station everyone went through in twos to platform 9 ¾. Harry found a compartment he could share with Ron, Hermione and Neville. Mr. Weasley pulled Scabbers from a pocket in his robes and handed him to Ron who was not amused his rat had been hiding from him. But instead of scolding his rat he fed him the rat tonic he had got Diagon Alley and followed that with bits of bacon, crumbs of toast and some cheese.
"Does he look a bit better to you?" Ron asked holding the rat up so Harry could look at him.
"Um a bit." Harry said and it was true, Scabbers had put back on weight he had lost but his fur was still thin and patchy at best. "At least he is eating now."
"I am going to let Crookshanks out, see how he does with Scabbers." Hermione said.
"No!" Ron said, "Scabbers does not need that kind of stress!"
"Crookshanks gets along well with all animals." Hermione said. "Trevor loves him."
"Yea but Scabbers is a rat, cats eat rats." Ron said.
"He has a point." Harry said and at a look from Hermione, "well he is a cat, if I were a cat I am sure Scabbers would be a tempting meal."
"Okay I will keep him in his basket." Hermione huffed. "Though I am sure he will not like it."
"Don't worry, I brought some food for him." Harry said. "No not cat food, same stuff I fed Gabby, until she got run over by a car."
"She was a brilliant cat." Ron said and Crookshanks hissed. "Oi that was not nice!"
"He is a cat." Neville said, "cats are like that."
Harry grinned and to keep Ron and Hermione from getting into a major fight he took out a new pack of exploding snap cards. The rest of the journey was spent playing exploding snap, eating food off the lunch trolley and when Fred and George visited them planning of pranks that Hermione did not approve of. Finally as it got dark and Harry knew they were getting close to the school the boys changed to their school robes in the compartment while Hermione went to change with the girls. She came back as Ron was tugging on his new cloak and Harry was helping Neville get Trevor into his new cage. Neville looked up as the train came to a lurching stop and looked at Harry, surly they had not arrived yet?
"Wands out." Harry said taking his out and handing out pieces of chocolate. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Never shoulda watched Star Wars with you this summer mate." Neville said to Harry.
"Well I have a bad feeling as well." Hermione said. "You don't think Dementors would dare come on the train?"
"Yea," Ron said as the lights went out, "yea they would, someone is out there."
It was only too true, someone was outside the compartment, only the teens knew it was not a student and was not human. The children huddled together as the door slowly opened and Harry popped the chocolate into his mouth as did the other teens. Someone lit their wand and in the light of the wand Harry got his first good look at a Dementor, or rather it's tattered decaying robes. It was hooded and it sniffed the room and took a sucking breath. Harry could feel a coldness come over him and he heard a screaming voice, and with great effort he pointed his wand at the Dementor and cast his Patronus. The stag bounded at the Dementor and it glided off away from him. The lights came back on and he sank to a bench and took another piece of chocolate feeling a bit drained yet elated, he had cast his first Patronus against a Dementor and that made him very happy, for the moment.
"Harry that was brilliant." Ron said quietly. "You did it, you really did it."
"I would not have been able to if not for Uncle Al and Uncle Moony." Harry said. "I heard screaming and knew it was my mum, that demon was trying to force me to relive seeing my parents die!"
"Harry it's gone." Hermione said afraid at the anger on her friend's face.
"Yea? Well who the hell does Fudge think he is to use such an evil foul thing around students?" Harry said looking angry. "If we had not learned what we did what would it have done, kissed us?"
"Harry don't say such things please." Hermione said tears in her eyes.
"Hermione, I am sorry." Harry said looking at her realizing he had scared her. "I am so sorry, I just hate them, they are as foul as Voldemort. Here, have the rest of my chocolate?"
"It's alright Harry, I am fine." Hermione said letting Ron comfort her.
"You were brilliant though with the Patronus." Neville said.
Harry sat down and felt bad about loosing his temper. He rarely did and when he did it was a righteous anger as now. He knew he was powerful, knew he had to keep control on his emotions and remember what he was fighting for. He knew that many dark lords had become such because they had let their power get away from them and chose power over doing what was right. Harry sat back grinned and saw Scabbers poke his head out of Ron's pocket. He coaxed the rat to him and scratched his head as the fat rat liked that and became content in his hands. The journey to the station was only a few minutes after the Dementor attack and the rain was falling even harder.
Harry drew the hood of his cloak over his head and walked out to one of the horseless carriages and got in with Ron Hermione and Neville. The mood was a bit lighter as they headed up to the school and Neville got them laughing with a joke he had learned over the summer. Everyone was laughing as they exited the coach and headed into the school startling a few people. Draco Malfoy was standing with his friends and he turned to glare at Harry. It was clear what he had done had traveled all the way through the train as everyone was looking at him in awe.
"It true you can do a Patronus Charm?" Draco asked him.
"Yea, um well my uncles made me learn, said I had to be prepared to defend myself." Harry said. "So the famous Mr. Potter can do a Patronus can he?" Came the voice of Snape right behind Harry and Harry turned.
"Yes sir, so can Ron and Hermione and Neville sir." Harry said. "I just got mine there first sir."
"Indeed, let's hope you can do as well in potions this year." Snape said coolly. "You have your mother to live up to after all."
"Yes sir." Harry said, "I will do my best."
Harry headed into the great hall knowing Snape was watching him, and took a seat at the Gryffindor table with his friends. Snape was proud of Harry, he nearly smiled but dared not, Harry could cast a Patronus charm and that relieved Snape that Harry could defend himself this way. The great hall was buzzing with talk of what Harry had done and Harry was not amused, he had been the first to cast his Patronus, what was such a big deal in that? He had studied really hard to learn it and it had paid off.
The first week of school started out great, the weather was perfect not too hot or cold with bright sunny days. Harry looked forward to his first class with Hagrid as the care of magical creatures teacher. He had figured out how to open his book Monster Book of Monsters by stroking the spine and had passed this knowledge on to the school. He found himself with the Slytherins and was not too pleased as he was sure Draco would do something to sabotage Hagrid. They followed Hagrid to a paddock where a Hippogriff stood pawing the ground with his front talon. Harry looked up at it in awe, he had heard of these but never seen one as they were really, really rare.
"Any one know what this is?" Hagrid asked.
"A Hippogriff?" Neville said.
"Right, they are half eagle an' half horse. They are noble proud creatures an' the only way you kin get close to them is to walk a few feet in front of 'em and bow, you cannot blink or break eye contact, if they bow back then you can go up to 'em."
"Sounds easy." Draco said arrogantly. "I could do that."
"Why don't you then?" Harry said wanting to see the Malfoy heir fall flat on his rear. "Bet you cannot get close to it with out it eating you or harming you."
"Bet I can." Draco said. "Ten galleons I can get close to him."
"Twenty you cannot." Harry countered.
"Ah you to wish to come and see Buckbeak then?" Hagrid said.
"I will." Draco said walking up. "I want to pet him."
Hagrid gave Draco a few last minute suggestions, he was very much aware of Draco's attitude, he was so much like his father had been in school. He gave Draco a few pointers, treat Buckbeak just as he liked to be treated, as Draco was a nobleman so Buckbeak was a noble animal and needed to be treated with respect. Draco stood before Buckbeak and bowed not blinking, a minute passed and then Buckbeak bowed to Draco. He let Draco come up and Draco did petting the creature gently finding he liked the creature, though he kept thinking to himself he was showing up Harry.
"Bet he will let you fly on him." Hagrid said.
"What?" Draco said finding himself picked up and put on the hippogriff. "You want me to do what?"
"Off you go!" Hagrid said.
Harry watched as the hippogriff took off and flew around the paddock with Draco. Harry knew Draco was a good flyer so he was not worried, however he was now out twenty galleons. Buckbeak landed and Draco walked over to Harry and Harry handed over the galleons. Harry was next to walk up to the hippogriff and he bowed and when Buckbeak bowed to him he petted the neck of the creature but did not fly him, he knew that the hippogriff would get too nervous and might try to fly away. Everyone got a chance with the hippogriff and the lesson was a major success. Draco would be unbearable for a few days but at least Hagrid had a wonderful first lesson. Harry was looking forward to more of them.
"So how was it?" Remus asked Harry over tea that afternoon.
"Great, the hippogriffs are amazing!" Harry said as he put jam on his toast.
"Never been near one myself." Remus said.
"Why not sir?" Ron asked.
"Well I am a werewolf and some animals don't like that." Remus said. "I really would not like to be used as a scratching post by one and I am sure Hagrid would not be happy I upset one of his pets."
"You know Hermione was suppose to meet us." Neville said looking around.
"Well she has a full schedule." Remus said thoughtfully. "Might be a bit much, any way I understand you boys are taking the same classes?"
"Uncle Moody wanted me to take Arithmancy along with my core classes, I did get to pick Care of Magical Creatures so that is okay." Harry said. "Arithmancy is hard."
"I love it." Neville said and at a look from Ron and Harry, "it's fun! I understand it unlike potions, I wish I could drop it and take double Herbology. Professor Snape hates me."
"No he does not hate you." Remus said. "He is worried you will blow up his classroom with him in it."
"I try not to!" Neville protested. "I mean I get the essays right but then when I go to make the potion something happens, I guess I don't have the talent for it."
"Not everyone does, I don't." Remus said smiling at a memory. "If I recall if not for Harry's mother, father and Peter I would have destroyed the dungeons, I did excel in all my other classes though. Not everyone can be a potions master like Severus Snape and speaking of great potions masters here is professor Snape." This as Snape came into the office with a steaming goblet.
"Hello professor Snape." All three boys said at once.
"Here wolf, drink it all, I do have more if you need it." Snape said standing watching Remus down the potion.
"Having a tea party are we?" Snape said looking at the boys here.
"Yes, do join us." Remus said as he finished the potion.
"I have potions to brew." Snape said. "I am far too busy."
"At least take some cakes and a cup with you." Remus said pressing the goblet, a plate of cakes and a cup of tea on Snape. "There, you do so much for me, let me at least repay you this way?"
"Hnn." Snape said in reply.
He left the room in a billow of black robes with the tea and cakes and went back to his rooms. Once there he added what he needed to his cauldrons and began to eat the cakes. He smiled as he realized Remus may be a werewolf but he was trying to be a friend. He treated him with respect and had even helped him in convincing the first years that yes Severus Snape was a vampire. Remus Lupin had a wonderful since of humor and his pranks were more funny than hurting and never where a student could see them. Snape as much as he hated to admit it was starting to like the werewolf and he realized Remus was becoming his friend and it made him feel happy though there was no way he would say that or even show he liked the creature in public!
As always, I want to thank all who have reviewed so far: Tumshie, The Geeky Quill, graypheonix, Lady Clark-Weasley of Books, JWOHPfan, AllMightyPen, DeliaDee, Rainbow2007, Charcoal Hunter Winston, danielle72679, HarrySirius Fan, Auralia Mortimer, world peace, kloette, excessivelyperky, Blueowl, Tristan Cartier, Frost Merry Darkness Luver, miss sophie potter, Black Dragin, jabarber69.
I wanted to put the Dementors in here and show that with training Harry could stop them. His anger is just and he hates the Dementors for what they are as they are pure evil. Draco and Buckbeak getting along is something I always wanted to see as it would have been cool I think.