"The Dementor." Lily read, looking at the book worriedly. "I don't like the sound of this…please tell me it's just you learning about Dementors."

"Uh…we should read." Harry said, not looking at his mom.

The next morning Harry was woken up by Tom with his toothless grin and a cup of tea.

"A lovely way to wake up." Romulus snorts.

Harry got dressed and was just persuading a disgruntled Hedwig to get back into her cage when Ron banged his way into the room, pulling a sweatshirt over his head and looking irritable.

"The sooner we get on the train, the better," he said. "At least I can get away from Percy at Hogwarts. He's accusing me of dripping tea on his photo of Penelope Clearwater. You know," Ron grimaced, "his girlfriend. She's hidden her face under the frame because her nose has gone all blotchy…"

Percy glanced at his brother, still frowning but not looking as angry as before. "I thought you did it on purpose, I can hardly be blamed."

"Well maybe if you had let me explain." Ron retorted, crossing his arms.

"Boys that's enough." Mr. Weasley sighed.

"I've got something to tell you," Harry began, but they were interrupted by Fred and George, who had looked in to congratulate Ron on infuriating Percy again and payed no mind to his complaining.

They headed down to breakfast, where Mr. Weasley was reading the Daily Prophet with a furrowed brow and Mrs. Weasley was telling Hermione and Ginny about a love potion she'd made as a young girl. All three of them were rather giggly and Harry looked surprised at Hermione for one second.

"Oh please, I'm still a girl Harry." She rolls her eyes at him, a fond smile on her face.

"What were you saying?" Ron asked Harry sitting down

"I'll tell you later," Harry muttered as Percy stormed in.

Harry had no chance to speak to Ron or Hermione in the chaos of leaving; they were too busy heaving all their trunks down the Leaky Cauldron's narrow staircase and piling them up near the door, with Hedwig and Hermes, Percy's screech owl, perched on top in their cages. A small basket stood beside the heap of trunks, spitting loudly.

"It's all right, Crookshanks," Hermione cooed through the wickerwork. "I'll let you out on the train."

"No, you won't," snapped Ron. "What about poor Scabbers?"

He pointed at his chest, where a large lump indicated that Scabbers was curled up in his pocket.

"He's right, what about poor Scabbers?" Sirius frowned at the book and then at the girl. "He was there before your cat."

"The cat is bigger though, he needs more space than Scabbers." pointed out Remus. "He could keep Scabbers on his pocket or out of sight."

"Or we can read and see what they did instead of arguing." Romulus stopped his brother and his friend who looked at him sheepishly.

Mr. Weasley, who had been outside waiting for the Ministry cars, stuck his head inside.

"They're here," he said. "Harry, kids, come on."

Mr. Weasley marched Harry across the short stretch of pavement toward the first of two old-fashioned dark green cars, each of which was driven by a furtive-looking wizard wearing a suit of emerald velvet.

"In you get, Harry," said Mr. Weasley, glancing up and down the crowded street.

Harry got into the back of the car and was shortly joined by Hermione, Ron, and, to Ron's disgust, Percy.

"Good to know I'm appreciated." Percy deadpanned, turning to his brother.

"Uh…sorry?" Ron shrugged, looking away and trying to hide his bright red ears.

The journey to King's Cross was very uneventful compared with Harry's trip on the Knight Bus.

The Ministry of Magic cars seemed almost ordinary, though Harry noticed that they could slide through gaps that Uncle Vernon's new company car certainly couldn't have managed.

They reached King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare; the Ministry drivers found them trolleys, unloaded their trunks, touched their hats in salute to Mr. Weasley, and drove away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving line at the traffic lights.

Mr. Weasley kept close to Harry's elbow all the way into the station. "Right then," he said, glancing around them. "Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry."

"Subtle dad." Bill laughs, watching as his father shrugged and gave him a small smile.

Mr. Weasley strolled toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten, pushing Harry's trolley and apparently very interested in the InterCity 125 that had just arrived at platform nine. With a look at Harry, he leaned casually against the barrier. Harry imitated him.

"Yeah you failed at that mate." Ron told him. "You looked way too panicked when you crossed."

"It was the first time I've tried that, gimme a break."

In a moment, they had fallen sideways through the solid metal onto platform nine and three-quarters and looked up to see the Hogwarts Express, the platform was completely packed with witches and wizards seeing their children onto the train.

Percy and Ginny suddenly appeared behind Harry. They were panting and had apparently taken the barrier at a run.

Percy, after spotting his girlfriend left them alone, Ginny and Harry shared a glance fighting the urge to laugh as they saw Percy get lost in the sea of people. Once the remaining Weasleys and Hermione had joined them, Harry and Mr. Weasley led the way to the end of the train, past packed compartments, to a carriage that looked quite empty. They loaded the trunks onto it, stowed Hedwig and Crookshanks in the luggage rack, then went back outside to say goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

Mrs. Weasley kissed all her children, then Hermione, and finally Harry. He was embarrassed, but really quite pleased, when she gave him an extra hug.

Harry blushed at that, looking down embarrassed. He was really regretting that they were reading his thought, he chanced a glance at Mrs. Weasley, who was smiling widely at him and he couldn't help but smile back if only a little more sheepish.

"Do take care, won't you Harry?" she said as she straightened up, her eyes oddly bright. Then she opened her enormous handbag and said, "I've made you all sandwiches. Here you are, Ron… no, they're not corned beef… Fred? Where's Fred? Here you are dear…"

"Harry," said Mr. Weasley quietly, "Could you come over here for a moment?"

He jerked his head towards a pillar, and Harry followed him behind it, leaving the others crowded around Mrs. Weasley.

"There's something I've got to tell you before you leave —" said Mr. Weasley in a tense voice.

"So he is going to warn you about me." Sirius said softly, looking at him.

"I'm glad…I mean we know Sirius isn't going to do anything but if it had been something dangerous I'd rather you know." James nodded, looking thankfully at Mr. Weasley.

"Yeah, better know what you're up against." Sirius agreed, looking conflicted by just saying that.

"Don't worry, Mr. Weasley," Harry said looking at him "I already know."

"You know? But how could you know?"

"I...er...I heard you and Mrs. Wesley talking last night. I couldn't help hearing," Harry added quickly. "I'm sorry..."

"That's not the way I'd have chosen for you to find out," said Mr. Weasley looking anxiously at Harry.

"Being fair though, there's no real good way to find out." Leon shrugged.

"No, honestly it's alright. This way, you haven't broken your word to Fudge and I know what's going on, everybody wins right?."

"Harry, you must be scared..."

"I'm not," said Harry sincerely. "Really," he added, because Mr. Weasley was looking disbelieving. "I'm not trying to be a hero, honestly, but seriously, Sirius Black can't really be worse than Lord Voldemort, can he?"

Mr. Weasley flinched at the sound of the name, but overlooked it.

"Harry, I knew you were, well, made of stronger stuff than Fudge seems to think, and I'm obviously pleased that you're not scared, but..."

"Arthur!" called Mrs. Weasley, who was now shepherding the rest onto the train. "Arthur, what are you doing? It's about to go!"

"He's coming Molly!" said Mr. Weasley, but he turned back to Harry and kept talking in a lower and more hurried voice, "Listen, I need you to promise..."

" ...that I'll be a good boy and stay in the castle?" said Harry gloomily.

"Yeah as if that's going to happen." Zania smirked and rolled her eyes.

"That wouldn't be our Harry." Adhara agreed.

"Not entirely," said Mr. Weasley, who looked more serious than Harry had ever seen him and looked him in the eye. "Harry, swear to me you won't go looking for Black."

Harry stared at him, "What!"

There was a loud whistle. Guards were walking along the train, slamming all the doors shut.

"Promise me, Harry," said Mr. Weasley, talking more quickly still, "that whatever happens..."

"Why would I go looking for someone I know wants to kill me?" said Harry blankly.

"Oh gee, I don't know Harry, it's not like you've done it before." Leon stared at him.

"That's…different." Harry tried to defend himself.

"Might we remind you of the actual ending of our third year?" asked Hermione, managing to shut Harry up.

" Harry, just swear to me that whatever you might hear —"

"Arthur, quickly!" cried Mrs. Weasley.

Steam was billowing from the train it had started to move. Harry ran to the compartment door and Ron threw it open and stood back to let him on. They leaned out of the window and waved at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley until the train turned a corner and blocked them from view, Mr. Weasley trying not to look as grim as moments before.

"I need to talk to you in private," Harry muttered to Ron and Hermione as the train picked up speed.

"Go away, Ginny," said Ron.

"Ronald, be nice to your sister!"

"Oh, that's nice," said Ginny huffily, and she stalked off.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment, but all were full except for the one at the very end of the train.

This had two occupants, both of them asleep next to the window, Harry quickly recognized Leon and, to his surprise, Leon's uncle. Harry went over and shook Leon awake, he looked at Harry blankly for a second, and then finally smiled and greeted the three of them.

"Oh you should have let him sleep dear." Mrs. Weasley fretted.

"That's alright Mrs. M, I got plenty of sleep later." Leon smiled at her.

"Sorry 'bout that" Leon said sleepily "Didn't sleep well last night"

"Don't worry about it, but, what is your uncle doing here?" Harry asked looking at the man, he was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted, even more so than the night before, and now that he thought about it Leon also looked bad, he had big bags under his eyes and he looked very, very pale, but Harry knew it was normal for Leon to be ill, the past two years have been the same, and looking at his uncle, Harry wondered if it was a family problem.

"Oh you got no idea." Leon whispered to himself, clearing his throat and speaking louder. "Thanks Har, that's a really flattering."

"He's your uncle? What is he doing here?" Hermione asked looking at Lupin

"Well he is our new DADA professor" Leon said grinning at Hermione

"Really?" Harry said "that's great, you said he liked teaching, didn't you?"

Leon nodded still smiling, the four of them had already had two Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, both of whom had lasted only one year, and both of whom were really, really bad teachers There were rumors that the job was jinxed.

"Well, I hope he's up to it," said Ron doubtfully. "He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he? No offense mate" he added looking at Leon who was glaring at him "Anyway…" he turned to Harry, "what were you going to tell us?"

"I'm sorry Professor." Ron said, blushing lightly as Lupin chuckled.

"That's fine Ron, I can understand." he said.

Harry explained all about Mr. and Mrs. Wesley's argument and the warning Mr. Weasley had just given him. When he'd finished, Ron looked thunderstruck, Hermione had her hands over her mouth and Leon looked pensive. Hermione finally lowered her hands to say, "Sirius Black escaped to come after you? Oh, Harry… you'll have to be really, really careful. don't go looking for trouble, Harry…"

"I don't go looking for trouble," said Harry, nettled. "Trouble usually finds me."

"You do kind of look for it." Ginny mumbled.

Leon snorted but nodded at that, then he said "Yes you're a trouble magnet, we know."

"How thick would Harry have to be, to go looking for a nutter who wants to kill him?" said Ron shakily.

"Yeah Harry, how thick would you have to be?" Leon smirked at his friend.

They were taking the news worse than Harry had expected. Both Ron and Hermione seemed to be much more frightened of Black than he was. He looked at Leon, who was looking at him, he looked worried too but before he could say anything Leon began speaking.

"Just like you said Harry, trouble usually finds you, this year is no more different than the last two, but last year, and first year, you came close to dying, I think, all things considered, that we might have to be a little more careful this time, I mean, we know Black is really, really dangerous" he said seriously, glancing at Ron and Hermione

"Oh thank you, a voice of reason." Lily sighed, smiling over at Leon who blushed lightly.

"Yeah, no one knows how he got out of Azkaban," said Ron uncomfortably. "No one's ever done it before. And he was a top-security prisoner too."

"But they'll catch him, won't they?" said Hermione earnestly. "I mean, they've got all the Muggles looking out for him too…"

"What's that noise?" said Ron suddenly.

"Oh no, everything was going so well." Lily fretted, letting James hold her close for comfort.

A faint, tinny sort of whistle was coming from somewhere. They looked all around the compartment.

"It's coming from your trunk, Harry," said Ron, standing up and reaching into the luggage rack. A moment later he had pulled the Pocket Sneakoscope out from between Harry's robes. It was spinning very fast in the palm of Ron's hand and glowing brilliantly.

"Is that a Sneakoscope?" said Hermione interestedly, standing up for a better look.

"Oh it's just that thing." Lily sighed

"But why is it turning? It's supposed to alert you if someone untrustworthy is near." Charlie asked, looking confused.

"Oh there's someone untrustworthy alright." Leon growled, not noticing the look that Charlie gave him.

"Yeah… mind you, it's a very cheap one," Ron said. "It went haywire just as I was tying it to Errol's leg to send it to Harry."

"Were you doing anything untrustworthy at the time?" said Hermione shrewdly and Leon raised his eyebrow looking amused.

"No! Well… I wasn't supposed to be using Errol. You know he's not really up to long journeys… but how else was I supposed to get Harry's present to him?" Leon snorted at that, and Ron glared at him

"Stick it back in the trunk," Harry advised as the Sneakoscope whistled piercingly, "or it'll wake him up." He nodded toward Professor Lupin. Ron stuffed the Sneakoscope into a particularly horrible pair of Uncle Vernon's old socks, which deadened the sound, then closed the lid of the trunk on it.

"We could get it checked in Hogsmeade," said Ron, sitting back down.

"They sell that sort of thing in Dervish and Banges, magical instruments and stuff. Fred and George told me."

"Uh-oh, you're talking Hogsmeade now?" Sirius grimaced

"We didn't know he couldn't go." Ron raised his hands in defense.

"Do you know much about Hogsmeade?" asked Hermione keenly. "I've read it's the only entirely non-Muggle settlement in Britain —"

"Yeah, I think it is," said Ron in an offhand sort of way, Leon looked amused at Hermione and Ron. "But that's not why I want to go. I just want to get inside Honeydukes!"

"What's that?" said Hermione.

"It's this sweetshop," said Ron, a dreamy look coming over his face, that was mirrored by Leon "where they've got everything… Pepper Imps — they make you smoke at the mouth — and great fat Chocoballs full of strawberry mousse and clotted cream, and really excellent sugar quills, which you can suck in class and just look like you're thinking what to write next–"

"But Hogsmeade's a very interesting place, isn't it?" Hermione pressed on eagerly. "In Sites of Historical Sorcery it says the inn was the headquarters for the 1612 goblin rebellion, and the Shrieking Shack's supposed to be the most severely haunted building in Britain —"

"– and massive sherbet balls that make you levitate a few inches off the ground while you're sucking them," said Ron, who was plainly not listening to a word Hermione was saying.

"Just another day at Hogwarts." Leon shook his head.

"They're always at that." Harry smiled at his two friends who were looking everywhere but at each other.

Hermione looked around at Harry.

"Won't it be nice to get out of school for a bit and explore Hogsmeade?"

"'Spect it will," said Harry heavily. "You'll have to tell me when you've found out."

"What d'you mean?" said Ron.

"I can't go. The Dursleys didn't sign my permission form, and Fudge wouldn't either."

Ron looked horrified.

"You're not allowed to come? But — no way — McGonagall or someone will give you permission —"

Harry gave a hollow laugh. Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house, was very strict.

"– or we can ask Fred and George, they know every secret passage out of the castle —"

"and my sisters! They would be glad to help the cause"

"Damn right we would." Both twins chorused, smirking at each other afterwards.

"Ron! Leon!" said Hermione sharply. "I don't think Harry should be sneaking out of the school with Black on the loose —"

"Yeah, I expect that's what McGonagall will say when I ask of permission," said Harry bitterly.

"But if we're with him," said Ron spiritedly to Hermione. "Black wouldn't dare —"

"Oh, Ron, don't talk rubbish," snapped Hermione. "Black's already murdered a whole bunch of people in the middle of a crowded street, do you really think he's going to worry about attacking Harry just because we're there?"

"Yeah, she's got a point, you know?" Leon admitted

"Don't you hate it when that happens?" Sirius sighed

She was fumbling with the straps of Crookshanks's basket as she spoke.

"Don't let that thing out!" Ron said, but too late; Crookshanks leapt lightly from the basket, stretched, yawned, and sprang onto Ron's knees; the lump in Ron's pocket trembled and he shoved Crookshanks angrily away.

"Get out of it!"

"Ron, don't!" said Hermione angrily.

Ron was about to answer back when Professor Lupin stirred. They watched him apprehensively, but he simply turned his head the other way, mouth slightly open, and slept on, though Leon looked like he might fall asleep at any time, he continued trying to talk as animatedly as usual, though he would remain quiet and distant from time to time, looking every bit as sick as his sleeping uncle, and both of them far older than they really were.

"Again, thank you Harry." He snorts and shakes his head. "I'm going to blush with these descriptions."

"Hey, it's not my fault, I didn't think we'd ever read my inner thoughts." Harry tried to defend himself, calming down when he saw his friend actually smiling at him.

The Hogwarts Express moved steadily north and the scenery outside the window became wilder and darker while the clouds overhead thickened overhead. People were chasing backwards and forwards past the door of their compartment. Crookshanks had now settled in an empty seat, his squashed face turned towards Ron, his yellow eyes on Ron's top pocket.

At one o'clock the plump witch with the food cart arrived at the compartment door.

"D'you think we should wake him up?" Ron asked awkwardly, nodding towards Professor Lupin. "He looks like he could do with some food."

Hermione approached Professor Lupin cautiously, Harry looked at Leon, wondering why he didn't wake his uncle but he was watching Hermione trying to wake him up and he didn't seem likely to help anytime soon.

"Er — Professor?" she said. "Excuse me — Professor?"

He didn't move.

"Don't worry, dear," said the witch, as she handed a large stack of cauldron cakes. "If he's hungry when he wakes, I'll be up front with the driver."

"I suppose he is asleep?" said Ron quietly, as the witch slid the compartment door closed. "I mean — he hasn't died, has he?"

"No, no, he's breathing," whispered Hermione, taking the cauldron cake Harry passed her while Leon glared at Ron who shrugged helplessly, before sighing and looking out the window, taking small bites out of his cauldron cake.

"Sometimes I hate you so much." Leon mumbled as he turned to look at him.

Professor Lupin's presence in their compartment had its uses as they soon found out. Mid-afternoon, just as it had started to rain, blurring the rolling hills outside the window, they heard footsteps outside in the corridor again, and their three least favorite people appeared at the door: Draco Malfoy, flanked by his cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.

"Great, exactly what you guys need." Ginny rolled her eyes.

Draco Malfoy and Harry had been enemies ever since they had met on their very first journey to Hogwarts. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to exist to do Malfoy's bidding, as the four friends had notice throughout their two years at Hogwarts

"Well, look who it is," said Malfoy in his usual lazy drawl, pulling open the compartment door. "Potty and the Weasel."

"How original, it must be a family thing." Sirius rolls his eyes, leaning back on the seat.

Crabbe and Goyle chuckled trollishly while Leon muttered 'oh how very clever' under his breath, looking at Malfoy

"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley," said Malfoy. "Did your mother die of shock?"

Ron stood up so quickly he knocked Crookshanks's basket to the floor. Professor Lupin gave a snort.

"Who's that?" said Malfoy, taking an automatic step backward as he spotted Lupin.

"New teacher," said Harry, who got to his feet, too, in case he needed to hold Ron back. "What were you saying, Malfoy?"

Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed; he wasn't fool enough to pick a fight right under a teacher's nose.

"Always glad to be of service." Lupin chuckled as Romulus high-fived the younger Remus.

"C'mon," he muttered resentfully to Crabbe and Goyle, and they disappeared.

Harry and Ron sat down again, Ron massaging his knuckles.

"I'm not going to take any crap from Malfoy this year," he said angrily. "I mean it. If he makes one more crack about my family, I'm going to get hold of his head and —"

Ron made a violent gesture in midair.

"Ron," hissed Hermione, pointing at Professor Lupin, "be careful…"

But Leon shook his head and nodded towards Professor Lupin who was still fast asleep.

"I'm probably too tired to care kids, you didn't need to worry." He smiles and shakes his head.

The rain thickened as the train sped yet farther north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering gray, which gradually darkened until lanterns flickered into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. The train rattled, the rain hammered, the wind roared, but still, Professor Lupin slept.

"We must be nearly there," said Ron, leaning forward to look past Professor Lupin at the now completely black window.

The words had hardly left him when the train started to slow down.

"Great," said Ron, getting up and walking carefully past Professor Lupin to try and see outside. "I'm starving. I want to get to the feast…"

"We can't be there yet," said Hermione, checking her watch.

"So why're we stopping?"

"That's…odd. The train isn't supposed to stop." Lily frowns and looks over at the teens who had all fallen silent now.

The train was getting slower and slower. As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows.

Harry, who was nearest the door, got up to look into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads were sticking curiously out of their compartments.

The train came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness.

"What's happening?" Ron asked them

"What makes you think we know Ronald?" Leon asked looking at Ron

"Funny, with the way you always act like you know everything." Ron rolled his eyes at him.

"Do you think we've broken down?" Harry asked

"Impossible" Leon said standing up "The train moves with magic, it's a magic train, it can't have broken down"

"Exactly! It can't break down!" Lily huffed, leaning against her boyfriend.

"Then what happened?"

"There's something moving out there," Ron said. "I think people are coming aboard…"

The compartment door suddenly opened and someone fell painfully over Harry's legs.

"Sorry! D'you know what'sgoing on? Ouch! Sorry —"

"'Hey Neville" Leon smiled sitting again and holding his legs to himself

"Leon? Is that you? What's happening?"

"How do you even manage to be so calm." Charlie wondered out loud

"It's a talent, freak out on the inside, calm down on the outside." Leon answered. "Also, terrible people skills."

"Ditto on the second thing." Ron chimed in.

"Thanks mate."

"No idea! Sit down —"

There was a loud hissing and a yelp of pain; Neville had tried to sit on Crookshanks.

"I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on," came Hermione's voice. Harry felt her pass him, heard the door slide open again, and then a thud and two loud squeals of pain.

"Who's that?"

"Who's that?"

"Ginny?"

"Hermione?"

"What are you doing?"

"I was looking for Ron —"

"Come in and sit down —"

"Not here!" said Harry hurriedly. "I'm here!" Harry heard Leon snicker

"Ow." Leon rubbed his arm "What was that for?"

"Oh you know what that was for." Ginny crossed her arms and glared at him.

"Ouch!" said Neville.

"Quiet!" said a hoarse voice suddenly.

Professor Lupin appeared to have woken up at last.

Harry could hear movements in his corner.

None of them spoke.

There was a soft, crackling noise, and a shivering light filled the compartment. Professor Lupin appeared to be holding a handful of flames.

"So cool." James and Sirius whispered, looking at the older Remus.

"Woah when did you learn to do that Rem?" Romulus glances at his younger brother, who held out his hand to demonstrate. "Wicked."

"Pretty useful." Remus agreed.

They illuminated his tired, gray face, but his eyes looked alert and wary.

"Stay where you are." he said in the same hoarse voice, and he got slowly to his feet with his handful of fire held out in front of him.

But the door slid slowly open before Lupin could reach it.

"Oh no, oh no." Lily whispered, remembering the title of the chapter.

Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in Lupin's hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. Harry's eyes darted downward, and what he saw made his stomach contract. There was a hand protruding from the cloak and it was glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water…

"The the bloody hell is that?" Romulus looked around to see if anyone answered but even their hosts Remmy and Teddy were looking down and not offering any answers.

But it was visible only for a split second. As though the creature beneath the cloak sensed Harry's gaze, the hand was suddenly withdrawn into the folds of its black cloak.

And then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings.

An intense cold swept over them all. Harry felt his own breath catch in his chest. The cold went deeper than his skin. It was inside his chest, it was inside his very heart…

Harry's eyes rolled up into his head.

"No! Harry!" Lily and James cried out

"Uhm…I'm right here." Harry waved at his parents, Lily stood up and dragged him over to their couch, both parents holding him close. "I'm okay…"

He couldn't see. He was drowning in cold. There was a rushing in his ears as though of water. He was being dragged downward, the roaring growing louder…

And then, he heard screaming, terrible, terrified, pleading screams. He wanted to help whoever it was, he tried to move his arms, but couldn't… a thick white fog was swirling around him, inside him —

"Oh Harry, that sounds terrible!" Hermione shook her head.

"Harry! Harry! Are you all right?"

Someone was slapping his face.

"Thanks for that by the way." Harry smirked, trying to lighten the mood.

"W-what?"

Harry opened his eyes; there were lanterns above him, and the floor was shaking — the Hogwarts Express was moving again and the lights had come back on. He seemed to have slid out of his seat onto the floor. Ron and Hermione were kneeling next to him, and above them he could see Neville and Professor Lupin watching, Leon was on one corner holding his legs. Harry felt very sick; when he put up his hand to push his glasses back on, he felt cold sweat on his face.

Ron and Hermione heaved him back onto his seat.

"Are you okay?" Ron asked nervously.

"Yeah," said Harry, looking quickly toward the door. The hooded creature had vanished. "What happened? Where's that — that thing? Who screamed?"

"No one screamed," said Ron, more nervously still.

"I though that thing drove you crazy." Ron admitted. "I felt like I was going mad myself."

Harry looked around the bright compartment. Ginny and Neville looked back at him, both very pale.

"But I heard screaming —"

A loud snap made them all jump. Professor Lupin was breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces.

"Here," he said to Harry, handing him a particularly large piece. "Eat it. It'll help."

Harry took the chocolate but didn't eat it.

"What was that thing?" he asked Lupin.

"A Dementor," said Lupin, who was now giving chocolate to everyone else. "One of the Dementors of Azkaban."

"Those things are in charge of your prisons?!" Romulus looked around "That's….that's inhumane! It's horrible"

Everyone stared at him. Professor Lupin crumpled up the empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket.

"Eat," he repeated. "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me…"

He strolled past Harry and disappeared into the corridor.

"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" said Hermione, watching Harry anxiously.

"Probably not." Remmy sighed, leaning back as they continued reading.

"I don't get it… what happened?"said Harry, wiping more sweat off his face.

"Well...that thing...the Dementor...stood there and looked around (I mean, I think it did, I couldn't see its face)...and you...you —"

"I thought you were having a fit or something," said Ron, who still looked scared. "You went sort of rigid, fell out of your seat and started twitching —"

"Professor Lupin stepped over you, and walked toward the Dementor, and pulled out his wand," said Hermione, "and he said, 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.' But the Dementor didn't move, so Lupin muttered something, and a silvery thing shot out of his wand at it, and it turned around and sort of glided away…"

"It's my fault they were there." Sirius whispered, letting Remus tug him close.

"It was horrible," said Neville, in a higher voice than usual. "Did you feel how cold it got when it came in?"

"I felt weird," said Ron, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. "Like I'd never be cheerful again…"

Ginny, who was huddled in her corner looking nearly as bad as Harry felt, gave a small sob; Hermione went over and put a comforting arm around her.

Leon was still in the corner, looking out of the window, so Harry couldn't see his face, but he saw he looked terribly pale and Harry could see he was trembling and nibbling on the chocolate, around his eyes Harry could see a tear trail, but he didn't mention anything.

"You really notice too much for your own good." Leon sighed, Ginny nodding along with him.

"But didn't any of you — fall off your seats?" said Harry awkwardly.

"No," said Ron, looking anxiously at Harry again. "Ginny was shaking like mad, though…"

Harry didn't understand. He felt weak and shivery, as though he were recovering from a bad bout of flu; he also felt the beginnings of shame. Why had he gone to pieces like that, when no one else had?

Professor Lupin had come back. He paused as he entered, looked around, and said, with a small smile, "I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know…"

Harry took a bite and to his great surprise felt warmth spread suddenly to the tips of his fingers and toes.

"Chocolate always helps you when you're down." Lupin explained, giving Harry a patient smile. "It releases endorphins that help when you're sad, perfect cure for the blues."

"So there's an actual science explanation? I just thought it was because it tasted good." Adhara hummed.

"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes," said Professor Lupin. "Are you all right, Harry?"

"Fine," he muttered, embarrassed.

"Leon, how are you feeling son?" Professor Lupin asked, looking at Leon's corner

"'m okay" he answered, Lupin looked sadly at him for a second but nodded.

"No one was really fine in that train." Harry sighed.

"Of course they weren't, those things are terrifying, what's wrong with you wizards?" Romulus looked around, everyone was looking rather grim and they seemed to agree with him, and even the kids from the future looked horrified.

"They...they're not a thing in the future." Rem whispered, making everyone turn to look at him. "After the second war there was a ministry wide vote and they got rid of the dementors...a lot trickier than it seems but they're gone."

"Good, that's good." Lily nodded looking at her son. "There's better ways to keep prisoners in prison."