Lone Child
Chapter 24: Train rides, Dementors, and Werewolves
"Come on people! Let's get a move on!" yelled Triss from the bottom of the staircase. It was 10:30 on September the first and they were going to miss the train if everyone didn't hurry up.
"We are so going to be late," said James running down the stairs levitating their trunks with Jewel curled up around his right arm. Since the chamber she had been rather quiet and stayed to her self quite a bit as if punishing herself for not telling James about the Basilisk. James had to almost make her listen to him when he explained it wasn't her fault about the Basilisk, most snakes either couldn't sense them or were scared shitless of them. "Come on! If you don't want to have to hitch a ride to Hogsmead get your asses down here!" he yelled. Seconds later Night and Mel came thumping down the stairs carrying the last of their stuff.
"Ready," said Mel sitting down on top of her trunk.
"Good, hold on tight," said James. Triss wasted no time in grabbing James's arm, it was a known fact she hated group apperation. She had a very strong fear of roller coasters, particularly the part when you go down, and group apperation was very similar to riding a very fast and loopy roller coaster.
With a 'pop' they all disappeared. They reappeared in a dark alley way not to far from the station. Triss latched on even tighter to James's arm. Her second highest fear was dark alleyways; no doubt her father had something to do with that.
"Triss chill. Nothing is going to happen, I promise," said James giving Triss' shoulder a squeeze and turning his attention to the three trunks. With a wave of his hand the three trunks shrunk down to the size of matchboxes, he picked them up and pocketed them. "Why didn't I think of that before?" he asked himself aloud.
"Are you sure your not having blonde moments already?" asked Mel pointing to his hair. James glared at her and ran a hand threw his now frosted brown hair. "You look like you just can back from California," said Mel.
"So? I happen to like my hair and what wrong with California?" James demanded.
"Never mind," said Mel shaking her head in mock sadness.
"Enough! We have less the 15 minutes to get to the platform," said Triss pulling them along. With a quick 'notice me not' charm from James no one noticed the 3 teenagers and wolf running into the station and threw a brick wall.
"James! Over here!" came Dray's voice. James looked at the train and saw Dray starting up the steps. James, Triss, Mel and Night all walked over, still breathing a little hard from their run.
"Hey Dray!" said James clapping him on the back.
"What happened to your hair? You look like you've been in California all summer," said Dray running a hand over James' hair.
"Not you two. What do you people have against the states? California rules. It's one of the only places you can go surfing one minute and rock climbing the next. Have you ever been rock climbing? Or surfing for that matter?" asked James throwing his hands in the air.
"No and no, nor would I want to. All that chalk during rock climbing, yuck!" said Dray.
"Insane, the whole lot of you," said James shaking his head in mock sadness and boarding the train.
"Like he's one to talk," Triss muttered following James with Dray in toe. "Did you guys get a compartment yet?" asked Triss.
"No, I got here about the same time you did. Keep your eyes open for Kat, Gin, or the twins I guess," said Dray.
"Shhh!" said James entering a large compartment. Walking in behind him Triss and Dray spotted Kat, Gin and an older man they didn't know asleep in a corner. 'Why are we sitting with the new DADA Professor?' James voice asked inside Kat's head.
'All of the other compartments were taken and I didn't think he would mind so long as we were quiet,' said Kat.
'All right people, keep quiet. The mental links are open, just think about the words and it will be like talking normally,' said James.
'I still find that creepy. People say hearing voices in your head is the first sign on insanity,' said Dray.
'No, talking to yourself is fine, it's when you start answering back you have a problem,' said Triss.
'Anyone know where the twins are?' asked James over Triss and Dray's banter.
'They wanted to go hang out with some of the other 5th years for a while. They said they would come down eventually, if there was any room,' said Gin.
'Okay, anyone up for another UNO tournament?' asked James.
'I'm game,' said Mel immediately. Everyone else joined in.
"You know you don't have to be silent on account of me," said another voice about a half hour later startling everyone. Everyone turned their attention to the Professor who was in the corner with his eyes still closed. He opened one of his brown eyes and James could almost taste how truly tired the man was.
"It's fine, we have alternate ways of talking to each other," said James looking at the man in sympathy. With the man's tired state James could also pick up his werewolf scent, and since the full moon was coming up soon James knew the man needed his sleep.
Night walked up and licked the man's hand looking at him in sympathy and lay down next to him on the floor. "It seems Night has taken a liking to you," said Mel. She had a small look of triumph on her face as she was royal kicking everyone else's ass in UNO.
"It seems so. I'm Professor Lupin, may I ask for your names?" the man asked.
"I'm Mel Crew, and that is my wolf Night," said Mel shaking the Professors hand.
And so they went on with names. "I'm James Cage."
"Triss Summers."
"Gin Weasley."
"Dray Malfoy."
"Kat Granger," said Kat finishing off the list.
"Quite a group," said Lupin.
"We still have two more down with the 5th years. Fred and George, my brothers," said Gin.
"The Weasley twins?" asked Lupin.
"Yep, I see one of the other teacher already warned you about them," said Gin.
"I was also warned about a group called the Hunters, do you happen to know who they are?" asked Lupin raising an eyebrow.
"What about the Hunters?" asked a voice from the door. Fred and George were standing in the doorway looking their mischievous selves.
"Are you spilling about the Hunters to a teacher James?"
"Shame on you! A teacher of all people," said the twin James assumed was George. Both boys walked into the compartment, Fred sitting down on James' lap and putting his arms around James neck.
"Fred, this seat is VIP only, if you don't get the hell off right now you will find yourself turned into something very unpleasant," said James. Fred was sitting next to George in seconds. "Now that that has been established, what do you need?" asked James.
"We decided to join in with you guys to see what we missed. Apparently you started an UNO tournament without us. Who's winning?" asked George.
"Mel, who else," said Triss pointing to Mel's smug grin.
Suddenly the train lurched and pulled to a stop, all of the lights went out. "What the hell was that?" asked Kat with a little fear in her voice.
"I'm sure it was nothing," said Lupin's calming voice.
"Lumos!" said James holding up his wand. A bright white light glowed at the tip of the wand. James pointed his wand at the door when it was pulled open.
"Hey, do you know why the train stopped?" asked Neville Longbottom walking into the compartment. James nearly sighed in relief.
"No, take a seat for now. It isn't safe for anyone to be up walking around when it's so dark," said James. Neville nodded and sat down next to Kat by the door. Five more minutes went by and still nothing.
"Think we should go talk to the conductor?" asked Mel.
"No, Triss do you feel that?" asked James. Suddenly a cold feeling swept over them. "Kat, Nev, come sit over here," said James pointing to the empty spaces behind him.
"What are you sensing?" asked Lupin pulling out his wand. As a werewolf his sense of danger was strong, but nowhere near as strong as James or Triss's power. He wouldn't pick up on the danger till it was too late.
"Nothing good," said James. "Just sit and chill. I doubt the halls are safe, something's on the train."
The cold feeling got stronger and James gripped his wand tightly. Night was whimpering from his place on the floor. Mel got up and sat down next to him petting him and rubbing his ears.
Once again the train door opened. Kat's eyes went wide and she curled up into herself and started whimpering. Triss reacted much the same way, everyone else, except Lupin, just looked shocked. A bony hand pulled the door open and James knew what was wrong immediately.
Get out! James hissed at the Dementor. It hissed back, but not in parseltongue. "Expecto patronum!" yelled James pointing his wand at the Dementor. A big silver panther came out of his wand and charged the Dementor, making it turn and run. And don't come back! James yelled after it.
Not wasting anytime James dove into his trunk and pulled out several small chocolate bunnies. "Triss, catch," said James throwing Triss a bunny of white chocolate.
"Thanks," she said opening it.
"Dray, Gin, Nev, Fred, George, Kat, Mel," said James handing off the bunnies one by one. "Professor what type of chocolate do you like best, white, dark, milk, or otherwise, I've got them all," said James displaying the compartment of his trunk that was full to the brim with sweets.
"White, thanks," said Lupin as James handed him the bunny. "Where did you get all of these?" asked Lupin.
"Florida, the Russell Stover's factory is right there and they sell their chocolate for dimes and nickels. My whole stash probably only cost me 45 pounds," said James motioning to the still very full trunk. "Are you guys all okay?" asked James.
They all answered in the affirmative. "Good," said James sitting down next to Triss and putting his arm around her shoulders. He knew just by looking at her she was really shaken up, even more so than Kat was. You sure you're all right? asked James as Triss leaned on him.
I'll be fine, I always am, said Triss.
No your not, your sense of panic was stronger than even Kat's, not an easy task, said James.
Triss leaned into him a little more and sniffed, so low that no one but James could hear it. Just old memories. I think I speak for all of us when I say if I never see a Dementor again it will be too soon, said Triss with a small laugh.
So long as your sure. I'm going to go scare the Dementors away now and go yell at Fudge a bit. Want to come? asked James with a smirk.
I would love to, but the Dementors erk me so I'll just stay here, she said allowing James to stand up.
"Okay, I'll be back in a few minutes, no one leave. Hopefully we will be on our jolly way in a few minutes," said James walking out of the compartment, wand in hand. He came across 6 more Dementors and each had to be sent away by his Patronus. Finally he found none other than Cornelius Fudge, he was standing in the door of a compartment of 1st years with a Dementor standing not to far from him.
Fudge, quit scaring the 1st years, said James making Fudge nearly jump out of his skin. The Dementor that was standing next to Fudge floated toward him menacingly, or so just about everyone else thought. "Expecto patronum!" said James pointing his wand at the Dementor. For the 8th time that day his Patronus chased the Dementor away.
James looked inside of the first year compartment and saw all of the very shaken 11-year-olds. "Here," said James handing out several chocolate bunnies. As for you Fudge, what's with the Dementors?
They are a precaution. With Black on the loose no one is safe, said Fudge like a bumbling idiot. He was still shocked by James' display of a corporeal Patronus, not to mention how fierce it was.
What ever you say Fudge, just keep your pet demons away from the students, said James before turning and leaving the minister to stare at him in shock.
By the time he had gotten back to his compartment they were indeed back on their jolly way to Hogwarts. Neville, it seemed, had already left and everyone else was just waiting for him.
"What did Fudge say?" asked Triss as soon as he sat down.
"Not much, he just best keep his pets from the students or all hell will break loose," said James.
"How is it you have so much control over the Minister?" asked Lupin.
"He owes me his job, big time. If he starts acting like a royal jackass I just say a few select words and he does what I tell him," said James shrugging.
"How does he owe you his job?" asked Lupin.
"I'm the only thing standing between him and being cast out of the Ministry all together. Just last year he tried to send an 11-year-old girl to Azkaban without a trial," said James leaving Gin's name out.
Lupin's expression by it's self said that he thought Fudge was a bastard. "That man is an idiot," he said so low under his breathe that only James could hear.
"True, but the dumbest people always end up being authority figures. It's just the way the world works. Saddam, the terrorist leader in Iraq, is a prime example," said James. Lupin looked at him, speechless.
'How could he hear that? I could hardly even hear it and I said it,' Lupine thought to himself. James put a barrier up around Lupin's mind so he didn't have to listen to the man's thoughts.
&&&&&&&&&&&&
When they reached Hogsmead not too long later James and Mel were still going at each other in UNO. It looked like James would win as he only had 4 cards left where as Mel had 15. Suddenly Mel got an evil look on her face after James laid a blue card down. "This is where you fall," said Mel laying down about 8 'Draw 2' cards and a 'Draw 4 Wild Card'. "Green," she said smirking.
James groaned and drew 12 cards. Five minutes later Mel was celebrating her victory. "I told you I was the queen of UNO," she said dancing about the compartment. Lupin looked rather amused at her antics, as did Night.
"More like a mind demon," said James rubbing his temples trying to get rid of the large headache he had. Triss, who was sitting next to him, made him lean forward a bit so she could rub his shoulders, one of the best cures for headaches.
Lupin looked curiously at the two. "Are you an item?" he asked motioning to them. James and Triss looked at him as if he were insane. Night, who was still lying on the floor between Lupin and Mel, nodded his head in agreement; he'd been wondering the same thing. "I take that as a no then," said Lupin.
"We should get a move on. We arrived at the station 5 minutes ago," said Dray standing and pulling Gin up with him. The rest agreed and they made their way the Great Hall and opening feast.
(A/N: So you guys know 3rd year will be very short. 4 chapters give or take, I want to head onto 4th year where the story actually leaves J.K.'s plot. Plus I didn't have a lot planned for 3rd year any way, most of it just leads up to the events of 4th and 5th year. Also, I'm thinking about bringing in another OC. Tell me what you think. R&R)
Review responses:
Athenakitty: Yep, lots of fun planned for this year. James and Triss won't be taking a lot of classes for very long. Regulus is a bastard.
Insanechildfanfic: Thanks.
Websurffer: Thanks. I have a thing when I read that I don't read the whole word, just a few letters, before I move on to the next so that is why I didn't catch it when I read over the chapter. Sorry.
Lunawolf: I don't think I will set Kat up with Snape. I think he will think of her more like a daughter and Lupin will take her and I'll bring in another original character for Sev.
ER: Will do.
ZeonReborn: Cool. My brothers did something like that to me once. I was walking home from school by my self and my brothers and their friends pulled up next to me when I wasn't paying attention on pulled me into their friends van. They learned never to do something like that again if they valued their lives. I think the most minor injury in that little argument was a broken nose and the worse being a good 'Nad Shot' as my dad calls it.
Gaul1: Thanks. I had at least some fun writing the train part.
Howling wolf1: Thanks.
Quicksilverwitch: Thanks. I know Sirius and Remus will find out about James's father at the end of 3rd year, they will be kind of shocked but they will accept it. Lily, along with everyone else, will be shocked when they find out who his mother is; she and James wont get too close either. Snape will go back to his bastard ways soon enough, I already have a character for him, but she hasn't been brought in yet.