A/N: PLEASE READ AND REVIEW. Responses to reviews follows the chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 2 – The Chamber of Secrets
The train was speeding towards its secret destination, Hogwarts School of Wizardry, and all the students were spending their time by loudly catching up with their friends after a whole summer away from each other, all the students except one secluded group that is. Towards the end of the train the occupants of a carriage were strangely somber and quiet.
Ron had carefully returned his sketchbook to his bag that was now lying at his feet. He was now perusing a rather large leather bound book with no titles or distinctive features about it, at least that's what Hermione thought as her eyes wandered away from the window. She had tried to read but realized when she looked in her bag that reading 'Pride & Prejudice' or 'North & South' would raise more questions from the person sitting next to her. Hermione quickly returned to watching the scenery outside the window when she felt Harry Potter's eyes on her once more. She didn't know what he meant by it, it wasn't as though he could know she was a girl, could he? Hermione felt the tension clench inside of her stomach. She didn't think she could stand the quiet scrutiny and the sporadic flicking of pages from Ron Weasley, who was sitting opposite her.
"What!" Hermione finally exploded turning to Harry suddenly catching him off guard.
Once she had spoken Harry's eyes widened and his eyes instantly focused on every other object in the room other than her, including the strangely steaming plant Neville held in his hands. Hermione could see out of the corner of her eye that Ron had closed the book he was reading and had carefully placed it on his lap before fixing his eyes on Harry. Neville on the other hand was awoken from a nap with a start he looked at the plant in his hand with a look of complete confusion as to how it had gotten there in the first place.
"What's going on?" Neville asked but Hermione and the other two boys ignored him.
"Why do you keep staring at me?" Hermione questioned Harry in a calmer voice.
She felt Ron's blue eyes on her and it sent shivers up her body. Her eyes went to Ron's face and she was surprised by the array of emotions she saw reflected in his eyes. His blue eyes seemed darker and smoky, almost as though he was focusing all his attention on her and he could see straight inside her. She shivered involuntarily at the intensity beneath those eyes.
"Harry," Ron said with a calm and almost cold edge to his voice, "Outside. Now."
With that Ron stood from his seat and walked out into the hallway and without a word and obviously relieved for the excuse to escape from the carriage, Harry hurriedly followed his friend out into the hallway where they both said something Hermione couldn't hear before turning and walking towards the front of the train. Hermione turned to look at Neville to ask him for an explanation but the young wizard was looking through his bag.
Just as Neville produced a container labeled 'dead insects' and began feeding his pet toad Hermione stood from her seat and walked out into the hallway determined that if she did anything differently this year than all the others was to feel part of a group, to feel accepted and have friends. Something that she was at risk of losing on her very first day at Hogwarts – and they weren't even at Hogwarts yet!
Hermione walked down the hall and only stopped when she got to the last carriage. She heard angry but hushed voiced and when she peeked around the corner she saw Ron his arms folded in front of him looking at Harry skeptically and Harry whispering to him hurriedly.
"Don't you think it's a bit odd that a new student turns up, who we, who no-one knows anything about?" Harry questioned Ron obviously infuriated at his friend.
"Yeah a bit, but what exactly are you trying to say? That Voldermort polyjuiced himself into a thirteen year old student to befriend you and kill you inside Hogwarts?" Ron asked Harry all the while keeping an incredulous expression on his face.
"Don't look at me like that Ron. After what happened last year. After what happened to Gin – "
"Don't bring my sister into this Harry!" Ron cut his friend off, his hands falling to his side as he took a menacing step forward to stare down his friend, "Don't you dare think that you know what's best for my sister nor will I let you continue to think it's you fault for what happened to her in the Chamber of Secrets. I will look after my sister. You," Ron paused and pointed his finger at Harry before continuing, "Make sure that no one ever finds out what happened to her."
"I know that you look after her Ron," Harry looked down at the floor dejectedly, "But I just wish you'd let me pay at least."
Hermione saw Ron place a hand on his friends shoulder.
"I will take care of her. You worry about that letter you got in the mail."
Hermione realized that the two were about to walk back to the main area of the train and would find her eaves dropping on their conversation. Thinking quickly Hermione ran back a few carriages before running back down the hall towards where she knew Ron and Harry were. She reached them just as they turned the corner, almost knocking Harry over.
Hermione breathed hurriedly to give the impression that she had run the entire length of the train to find them.
"Oh thank goodness. Harry," Hermione turned to look at Harry apologetically, "I'm sorry about suddenly shouting at you like that. I had no right…" Hermione trailed off when the train suddenly jolted to a stop.
"What's going on?" Harry questioned looking out the window to confirm what Hermione also realized. They were still a long way from Hogwarts.
Hermione gasped when the lights flickered before turning off. She heard murmuring and doors opening all along the train. She almost jumped when she felt someone grab her upper arm before turning her around.
"Come on," she heard Ron say quickly before they both ran down the length of the train, she could hear Harry right behind her.
"Everyone back inside your compartments and lock the door!" Ron yelled as he saw people looking out at them. Without releasing his vice-like grip on her arm he ran to one doorway where students were gaping at him. Without a word he pulled out his wand and pointed it at them.
"Inside. NOW!" he screamed at them.
Hermione's eyes widened when she saw red sparks momentarily brighten the hallway before disappearing.
"Lumos," she heard Harry say without hesitation from behind her.
"Get inside," Harry said more calmly before pulling Ron back and closing the door.
Hermione wanted to ask both of them how it was that they could do magic outside Hogwarts when they knew that they was going to get into trouble from the Ministry of Magic. But just as she turned her head around to look at Harry she felt Ron's grip on her arm tighten.
"Keep up!" He said loudly looking back at her before returning to running down the hall at break-neck speed every now and then shouting a spell at the compartment doors to close them shut.
"Harry!" Ron shouted turning back to look at his friend, illuminated by the light Hermione saw the surprise and shock on Ron's face before fear replaced them.
Hermione turned her head to look behind her but Ron jerked her forward.
"Don't!" Harry said from behind her, "Just keep running!"
Just ahead of her she saw Neville standing in the hallway barking orders at students in the hall. Hermione was more than shocked to see the young wizard who seemed like such a clumsy though kind boy shout orders at his peers and what's more have them listen to him. She even thought she saw some Slytherin students glare at Neville before turning and returning to their compartments quickly.
"Thank Merlin!" Neville said when he turned round to find them behind him, "Quick, inside."
The group quickly stepped inside before Harry closed and locked the door. They all slowly backed towards the window and away from the door.
"I've already sent word," Neville whispered.
"The Professor?" Ron asked from beside Hermione.
"I don't know, I was too busy getting everyone inside their compartments."
"What was that?!" Harry said suddenly and Hermione felt him step backwards and bump into her.
His wand still illuminated was pointed at the door.
"Harry!" Ron hissed at his friend and with a flick of Harry's wand the room was completely black except for the beam of light from the moon shining through the window.
"D-do you feel that?" Neville whispered even more quietly now.
"Shhh," Harry said just as they all heard the lock on the door click.
Hermione heard the door noisily and slowly slide open. She moved closer to Ron and gripped his arm as tightly as he was gripping hers.
A chill suddenly filled the room before all the air seemed to be sucked out of the room.
She gasped and buried her face in Ron's back. Ron looked back at her and gave her a look that could have held a thousands questions before his attention returned to the dark object sliding into the room.
She heard someone fall to the ground. Hermione's grip slackened on Ron's arm and she fell backwards just before her legs gave way and she collapsed onto the ground, her energy completed depleted.
Someone was shouting something in the background but she only saw Ron's eyes locked on hers. She looked up at him and saw the anger and confusion on his face before he turned back around to listen to whoever was shouting. The next moment Hermione felt herself fall forward in exhaustion into Ron's arms.
Ron looked behind him and saw John looking at the doorway in complete terror. Only who he saw wasn't John. It was only a moment but in the moonlight he thought he saw the small bushy haired girl looking up at him but the next moment he heard Harry mumble something incoherent. And then something entered the room, something that made his body feel like ice – no that made his mind lose every rational thought and emotion. He couldn't feel anything anymore.
"Expecto Patronum!" Ron heard someone shout loudly, "You won't find Sirius Black on this train."
Ron almost instantly felt the warmth return to his body but then he felt John's grip on his arm slacken before he heard him collapse on the ground.
"Harry!" Remus said from behind him and Ron saw him shake his friend from his unconscious state on the floor.
"Is he alright?" Ron questioned in concern.
"Yeah I think so, is…is he?" even in the dark room he could still see Remus nod towards John.
Ron turned round and his eyes widened.
"Ron?" Remus asked from behind him.
Ron shook his head to clear the cobwebs that were left from whoever had entered the compartment.
"Yeah," Ron replied, before mumbling to himself, "I must be seeing things."
And sure enough when he looked down at the person he was holding in his arms, he saw the scrawny brown-haired boy looking up at him tiredly.
"You alright?" He asked lifting him up and placing him on the seat.
The lights of the train flickered for a moment before they were flooded with light.
"I'm fine," John replied holding his head, "I just felt queasy."
"Like every bad memory rising to the surface," Neville mumbled from the seat opposite.
"Here," Remus said before handing them each a piece of chocolate, "I'll go check the other students. Harry eat the chocolate."
With that Remus stepped out of the compartment.
"What was that?" John asked taking a small bite out of the chocolate, he grimaced for a moment before the color returned to his face and he hungrily ate the rest of the chocolate in his hand.
"Harry, you alright there mate," Ron questioned momentarily ignoring John's questions when he saw the blank look on his friends face.
"D-did you hear…did you hear a woman scream?" Harry replied looking at Ron.
Ron shook his head.
"No one screamed. Are you sure you're alright?" Ron questioned again.
"Fine, I'm fine."
Silence engulfed the room before Harry jumped from his seat.
"GINNY!"
Without another word Harry bolted for the door but not before Ron reached him.
"Don't worry," he whispered to Harry, "Tonks told me she would be with Ginny until she was safely back in Hogwarts."
"Are you sure?" Harry whispered looking over Ron's shoulder at John to see if he was eavesdropping but the boy was practically sitting in a ball in the corner not looking at anything least of all him.
"Yes, and Remus just went to check on the 'other' students, it'll be fine."
"For a moment," Harry said slowly, "I thought I heard her voice."
Ron narrowed his eyes at Harry.
"Do you think whatever that was…"
Harry stopped speaking when he saw Ron look behind him.
"Everyone's alright and I've informed Dumbledore," Remus said as he stepped back into the room.
"I already…"
Remus lifted his hand to stop Neville from continuing.
"Yes I know but I thought he should know that we're all okay now," Remus explained before his eyes fixed on Harry.
"You alright there?" Remus asked Harry in concern.
"Fine, I just wish everyone would tell me what's going on," Harry said in frustration before falling into the seat behind him, "Is Ginny alright at least?"
"She's fine, Tonks was with her the whole time," Remus reassured Harry before falling back into the seat as Harry had just done moments before.
"What was that thing?" John asked now sitting cross-legged on the seat.
"A Dementor," Remus explained.
"So it's true?" Ron questioned, "Dumbledore didn't – "
"No, I'm afraid that for the time being we should just comply with what the Ministry wants."
"Bullocks!" Harry said before jumping up, "If they'd just kept better watch on that madman then none of this would be happening."
"And it's not as though having Dementors as classmates this year will make us all eager to study," Ron commented recalling the icy chill that had filled the room.
"What do you suggest?" Remus countered, "We're out of options right now."
"I don't know," Harry said in frustration raking his fingers through his already messy hair, "Something else, anything else."
Ron heard John snort at Harry's words.
"Sorry," he said when Ron looked at him, "It's just what do you expect Dumbledore and Professor McGonnagal to do? If they don't have the Dementors around parents will be owling them every second wondering why they weren't doing anything to protect their kids. And I'm sure that having the Ministry on Dumbledore's side won't hurt the students either though I'm sure that's not why Dumbledore agreed to it. In all likelihood it's for our protection."
Harry seemed stunned at this speech and Ron felt impressed. That was the most the boy had said the entire trip, he felt sure now that this kid wasn't so bad after all.
"Um, excuse me…" Remus said as he looked at John.
"John Granger," Ron provided.
"Yes, John…could I have a moment please."
Ron watched as John was led followed Remus out the door before he turned to look at Harry.
"Harry, I think you're right. We need to keep a close eye on that one."
"Do you mean John?" Neville questioned looking between Ron and Harry.
"Yes," Harry replied, "I agree something about him just – seems strange."
Hermione had followed Remus to an empty compartment, she followed him in before he turned around and imperturbed the room.
'This doesn't look good,' Hermione began to panic as a thousands warnings from her father about being taken advantage of by men, echoed in her head .
"What do you want?" she asked in what she hoped was a confident voice.
"Well," Remus began slowly as he turned around to look at her before locking a penetrating gaze on her.
"You can start with how a clever witch like you, ended up in Hogwarts Boys."
A/N: Thanks to all those who read and review. I am grateful that you take time to read as well as leave comments about my story.
Avanell: I agree, I wanted to convey how much one meeting could have impacted him so much so that he seems intent on remembering every last detail of her, It's probaly also my artistic side coming through since I also enjoy painting and sketching potraits. I'm glad you liked it and please tell me what you think of this chapter. :)
theliznach: Thank you so much, this is my third HP fic so far although I've written other stories I find myself incredibly comfortable in the world the JKR has created, it allows so much room for imagination. I will try hard to make this the best fic I've written, and so I hope you can be patient with me as I take my time plotting, editing, editing and oh did i mention editing? it's hard without a beta but I will do my best and please point out any grammatical or spelling errors I miss. Thanks again for reading and reviewing.
mione-ron-4ever: First of all your name is awesome! Thanks for reading and reviewing, its what encourages me to continue after all. I'm glad you're enjoying the story & tell me what you thought of this chapter. :)
CanadianChick247: Thank-you! I agree I was suprised to find hardly any girl-disguised-as-boy stories in HP fanfiction which I found very odd lol, clearly I've set about rectifying that error. Thanks for your comments.
LoudSilence: Thanks for reviewing/commenting. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well, oh what a tangled web Hermione is weaving lol.
Rosepadfoot: Haha, my thoughts exactly! Boys can be very stupid, but I'm sure Hermione can handle it.
ImTakingABath: I agree, they've only met each other on two occasions but clearly that was enough for our favourite Ship to sail :)