A rush of cold air suddenly encased my body and seeped through my skin as the hooded figure took a rattling breath. I shivered uncontrollably from behind Lupin, barely noticing when Harry straightened out and yanked me down in the seat beside the window right next to him. His hands held me in place tightly. I didn't argue. I had no clue what was going on, but for the first time since going into the Chamber all that time ago, I felt perfectly safe. I had no idea why.
Harry tightened his grip as another wave of freezing air seemed to drag us toward the door, pulling my hair into my face. My chest suddenly constricted, my stomach turning repeatedly until I felt ready to vomit. I could hardly breathe my body was panicking so much. Harry's hands were tightening again. They seemed to hold me as though their life depended on it. I gulped, wishing there was a way I could help him. But the moment the thought crossed my mind, his hands loosened and I had the horrible feeling he was beginning to lose consciousness. Something in my stomach leapt and squirmed violently, making me choke.
This isn't right, a small voice at the back of my mind insisted sternly.
There was a sudden bang in the compartment, as his hands released me all together and slipped away. A blinding light emitted from the centre of the small room and it took me awhile to see the silver, glowing dog.
It held its tail between its legs, baring its teeth. The dog snarled angrily at the hooded figure in the black cloak. It didn't appear to have a wearer. Not until I saw the scabby, bony hands clutching the door frame. It tried to take a breath, but the dog immediately snapped. It barked loudly and furiously, advancing toward the cloak. It was actually shaking with anger. The cloak didn't hesitate before it flew away.
I didn't move for a moment. The dog stood, guarding the door with its teeth still bared. The lights flickered back on overhead and the first thing I noticed was Harry's unmoving body on the floor by my feet.
"Harry!" Hermione, Ron and I exclaimed. He didn't move.
I slid off my seat, but before I could lower myself down beside him, a hand grabbed my arm and pushed me back.
"He'll be fine," Lupin sighed, eyes narrowing slightly. "You, however, will stay there until you've ate something."
"Harry's unconscious and you're concerned about me?" I asked nastily before I could stop myself. "Do you actually have a brain?"
"Do you?" Lupin retorted calmly. "Harry is unconscious, as you so kindly pointed out. There is nothing I can do for him until he wakes. You are awake. Stay there." I scowled at him, but didn't move. Hermione and Ron gawped slightly, before slowly lowering themselves down at either side of me.
Now that I could see properly, I noticed how tired and worn Lupin looked. It was as though he'd never had a night's sleep in his life. His mouse brown hair was short and messy, but not in the way Harry's was. He had bags under his eyes that made him look like he'd been punched twice. His electric blue eyes were dull and lifeless.
Brilliant, I thought to myself. Another teacher that sucks the life out of everything.
No one spoke for a while. Hermione and Ron sat beside me protectively, glancing occasionally at Harry. I sat with my back straight, glowering at Lupin. Fred and George sat at either side of the door, staring at the silver dog, that hadn't moved since the cloaked figure had gone. Neville looked ready to cry and Ginny was curled in the seat Lupin had left, shaking uncontrollably.
I nudged Hermione, nodding toward Ginny. Hermione mumbled something I didn't catch, but moved obediently and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Lupin glanced from Hermione and Ginny, to Fred and George, to Ron, to Harry, and finally rested on me. He snorted quietly, but shook himself as he took a package from his pocket.
The dog suddenly sprang in action. Its tail wagging happily, it leapt onto the chair beside George and moved toward me and Ron. It stepped over Ron quickly and sat on its rear beside me, barking cheerily. Nyx hissed at it angrily, leaping onto my lap protectively with her spine arching. I raised an eyebrow. But warm, calming air seemed to radiate off the dog and I found myself staring at it curiously.
"What on Earth . . ." I trailed with a frown.
"A Patronus," Lupin answered quickly, as though the words were painful to say. He wouldn't look at me as he spoke, and I was about to ask what a Patronus was when Hermione nudged me with her foot, catching my attention.
"A Patronus is a charm that repels Dementors," she told me. "The thing that was stood in the doorway just then was one. A Patronus embodies everything a Dementor feeds off, like happiness and warmth, but the Dementors can't drain it like they can us. It shields the caster from the effects."
"Why does it look like a dog?" I frowned, staring at it cautiously as its tail wagged happily against the chair with no noise.
Hermione shrugged. "Each one forms a different shape depending on the castor."
"And who cast this one?"
Before I could get the answer, something snapped loudly.
"Eat," Lupin said shortly, handing me a piece of chocolate. "It'll help." Frowning slightly, I took the chocolate from him and shoved it into my mouth as I was told. Everyone paused for half a second, staring at me. The dog barked and Lupin flicked his eyes toward it.
I felt my eyebrows rise again as his eyes narrowed, glaring at the dog as though it had ate his pet rabbit. Shaking himself with a locked jaw, Lupin turned and handed the chocolate round, just as Harry stirred. I completely ignored Lupin and the dog as I slid off my seat and knelt beside him.
"I thought I told you not to move," Lupin said slowly.
"Does it look like we're at Hogwarts yet?" I snapped back. "When we get there, try telling me what to do then."
"Try?" he questioned.
I shrugged, helping Harry sit up. "I've ate anyway," I added moodily. Lupin snorted again.
"What's going on?" Harry asked groggily, lifting a hand and rubbing his eyes with tight eyebrows. "Who the hell are you annoying now, Arty?" Ron snorted and Hermione groaned, both of them shaking their heads wryly.
"Are you okay?" I questioned cautiously, ignoring Ron and Hermione. Harry looked up at me, frowning slightly. I waited patiently and he nodded, confused.
"Are y- What happened?" he altered quickly.
"Dementors," Lupin started from behind me. Harry blinked, but I scowled and shrugged. "They were searching the train of Sirius Black, I suspect."
"Okay then," Harry replied slowly, glancing at me. Again, I shrugged.
"Here," Lupin continued, passing Harry a piece of chocolate. "Eat. It'll help." Harry blinked, glancing sideways at me as he took the chocolate. Ignoring Lupin's burning gaze, I nodded and pushed the chocolate closer to him. Shrugging a shoulder, he bit into it, swallowing it awkwardly. I stood up, straightening out.
"I'm just going to talk to the driver," Lupin announced suddenly. "Excuse me." He strode from the compartment, just as the dog vanished with a soft pop.
"What's with him?" Ron asked.
Harry scoffed, standing up slowly. "It wasn't him you were annoying, was it?" he asked. I didn't answer, but the guilty look on my face was probably enough of an explanation. "We aren't even at Hogwarts yet Arty."
"Since when did you care about that?" I replied, raising an eyebrow.
Harry smirked, shrugging. He stared around the room, frowning. "Is everyone okay?" Slowly, everyone nodded. Hermione's grip on Ginny seemed to tighten a little. I sighed heavily, sitting back down in the corner. Harry carefully lowered himself between me and Ron, breathing deeply. His eyes kept flicking toward me.
No one said anything for the rest of the journey. Ginny had stopped shaking by the time we'd stopped, but her face was still deathly pale. The twins walked at either side of her protectively for a while, until she got annoyed and snapped at them.
I stepped onto the platform, frowning into the distance. Ron was stood beside Hermione like a guard dog, though I didn't think Hermione minded at all. She was pulling her wand out of her trunk, mumbling to herself when I stopped beside them. Of course, Harry wasn't far behind me. However, unlike Ron, it wasn't so protective. It was more like supportive. I couldn't help noticing Lupin staring at us as I hauled myself into the carriage.
The others lightened up a bit on the way there. I peered out of the window to get a glance at the castle. Harry and Ron were again talking about the Quidditch season and Hermione was talking at me about her vast number of subjects again. She didn't seem to realise I wasn't paying any attention.
Two large, looming dark figures were stationed at the gates to Hogwarts. I pressed myself back into my seat and held my breath as we passed the Dementors. I breathed a sigh of relief when the carriage entered Hogwarts grounds and stopped at the front of the castle. I stepped out gracefully and waited patiently for Harry, Ron and Hermione to follow me. But a cold, sneering voice made my fists clench.
"You fainted Potter?" Malfoy smirked. As usual, Crabbe and Goyle stood behind him like bodyguards, though this time, Blaise Zabini stood beside him too. My eyes narrowed.
"Just ignore him Harry," Hermione sighed, as Harry opened his mouth to snap back. She glowered at Malfoy, pulling Harry back.
"Need the Mudblood to stick up for you Potter?" Malfoy sneered. Zabini chuckled darkly. Harry pulled himself from Hermione's grasp and reached for his wand, but I beat him to it.
"That won't be necessary Artemis," Lupin's weary voice came. I glanced up as he strode toward us, stopping between the two groups. Pausing for only a second, I lowered my wand. Malfoy relaxed a little, staring at Lupin.
"Thank you Professor," he sneered. I wondered if Lupin could hear the sarcasm in his voice, or if I was just imagining it. "Everyone knows Williams has anger issues."
"If you're not careful, you'll definitely know better than the rest," I snarled through gritted teeth.
Malfoy glared. "Now, is that anyway to talk in front of a teacher?" he asked. My hand twitched upwards. Lupin coughed pointedly.
"Of course not," I replied, smiling sickly at him.
Malfoy smirked, watching Lupin head up to the castle over his shoulder. "You'd think he'd be able to afford decent robes with a job here," he muttered at Zabini. I went rigid, fists clenching. I was all too aware that my wand was still in my hand.
"At least he's a half decent human being!" Hermione snapped.
Malfoy scowled at her. "You wouldn't know what that meant though, would you Mudblood?"
Before I could even blink, Harry had his wand out and pointed directly at Malfoy. "Stupefy!" he exclaimed. The spell hit Malfoy square in the chest and he collapsed instantly. Zabini had his wand out in seconds.
"Petrificus Totalus!" he snapped.
"Protego!"
Zabini's spell collided with Hermione's shield, which stood metres in front of Harry.
"Bombarda!" I snarled. Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle were blasted off their feet, all landing with a thud in the doorway of the castle.
"Artemis!"
"WILLIAMS!"
"They would only hear me, wouldn't they?" I groaned at Harry, as Snape hurried through the Entrance Hall, Lupin hot on his heels. Snape passed Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle and headed straight for Malfoy. Lupin ignored the other three too, but headed for me and Harry instead.
"What were you thinking?" he scowled angrily.
"Everyone asks that," I sighed calmly, frowning as though confused. "I thought it would have been obvious." Lupin was lost for words. I shrugged. "If I hadn't wanted to hurt them, I wouldn't have done it."
"Why did you want to in the first place?" he asked, astounded. "It's never okay to attack other students."
I gawped at him as Dumbledore headed calmly our way, his face set. "Malfoy called me a Mudblood Professor," Hermione told them both quietly. "So Harry attacked him. When Zabini tried to get Harry-"
"Emphasis on the tried," I pointed out loudly, glaring at the Slytherins who were now staggering to their feet. Hermione glared at me for a second.
"Please continue Miss Granger," Dumbledore said sternly.
"I blocked it and Artemis attacked them," she finished, down-heartedly. Dumbledore nodded once, glancing between Harry and me. But Snape was heading our way.
"How dare you attack another student Williams?" he snarled, spraying spit everywhere in his anger.
I jumped back, repulsed. "It's quite easy actually," I frowned, wiping it off my face and glaring at Harry. He seemed to be trying not to smirk. I noticed that no one was yelling at him and he'd started it.
"Potter, Weasley, Granger, what are you waiting for?" Snape snapped. "Get to the feast! Williams won't be joining you tonight." My jaw dropped. I was suddenly beginning to regret not buying anything from the trolley earlier.
"Severus, starving Miss Williams won't help," Dumbledore sighed. "Detention will be sufficient." He gave Lupin an odd look before turning to walk away.
Lupin clenched his jaw. "My office at eight o'clock tomorrow," he said reluctantly. "And Wednesday," he added quickly. He snapped his fingers toward the castle and Harry, Ron and Hermione started moving. I paused, scowling at Lupin. I had no idea why the man had taken such a dislike to me immediately. I already had that from Snape, just because I was friends with Harry.
Grimacing at Lupin, Harry took my wrist and pulled me away before I could say anything stupid. He was still smirking, which didn't improve my mood any. I yanked my wrist from his grasp, scowling at him. He chuckled.
"You're lucky Dumbledore was there, Arty," Hermione started, in her usual know-it-all tone. "You know what Snape would have done, right?"
I thought about it for a second and shuddered. "I'd rather not," I replied, sitting myself down at the Gryffindor table.
"Then why do you have to get yourself into so much trouble?"
"Do you really need to ask me that?" I asked. Hermione groaned, shaking her head and slapping Harry on his arm for laughing.
"You'll go too far one day Artemis," she warned me darkly.
I raised my eyebrows as Lupin stalked past the table, refusing to look at us. "I think it's a bit late for that Hermione."