Chapter 5

The Journey to Hogwarts

It was the first of September and like every year King's Cross Station was packed with Muggles. None of them seemed to notice that young witches and wizards, escorted by their parents or a guardian, were on their way to an old scarlet steam engine which would take them to Hogwarts' school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Judy, however, could easily spot the young witches and wizards, among the mass of Muggle children. Especially the soon to be first years stood out as they were the only ones pushing their trolley with a tense expression on their face. Judy guessed the tension was due to the stories they had been told by their elder brothers and sisters. She herself had never felt that tension, since Lupin hadn't told her any stories about being expelled from school if you couldn't do a spell properly or anything of the sort. The only thing that had been on her mind at that time was the opportunity to finally do magic. Judy remembered all too well how excited she had been when Lupin had first escorted her to platform nine and three quarters. She thought it was a shame that the two anxious young witches that passed her, didn't feel the same way she had six years before.

'Now, remember what we agreed upon,' said Lupin for what must have been the third time that morning. Judy looked up at one of the clocks hanging above platform nine; it was twenty to eleven, meaning that the Hogwarts' express would be leaving in twenty minutes.

'Judy,' said Lupin sternly. She looked up into his eyes.

'Yes, yes, I'll remember,' said Judy dismissively as she readjusted the wickerwork basket which stood on her trunk, to make sure her cat Duncan wouldn't topple off the trolley.

'You'll remember what?' urged Lupin as he pushed along his own trolley, with his trunk and his old briefcase on top. Judy had often thought of buying him a new briefcase, but Lupin seemed to be attached to the one he had now and said there was no reason to replace it. Judy had decided not to point out the peeling letters on the right corner and the fact that it was held together only by knotted string. She knew there was no persuading Lupin once his mind was set.

'You'll remember what?' repeated Lupin impatiently.

'I will remember that I am not allowed to call you my uncle or by your first name when we're at Hogwarts,' said Judy, somewhat annoyed for having to repeat her promise for the umpteenth time.

'And…?' urged Lupin again.

'And when in the presence of other students and teachers,-'

'or anybody else,' interrupted Lupin.

'Or anybody else,' repeated Judy. 'I will address you with Professor Lupin. I promise I won't forget, Remus.' Lupin looked at her disapprovingly. 'What? We're not through the barrier yet!' said Judy with a smile.

'It wouldn't hurt if you'd start practicing,' offered Lupin. 'Oh, and don't forget to talk to your friends about this. They can't tell anybody about us.'

'I'll talk to them on the train,' promised Judy as they reached the barrier between platforms nine and ten.

A small boy with curly blond hair rushed at the brick wall, the wheels of his trolley screeching ominously, and then disappeared through the wall of stone. Judy looked at the Muggles around them as two other boys, with caged owls on their trunks, walked toward the barrier. It never ceased to amaze her how Muggles seemed to overlook everything that happened right under their nose.

'Well,' said Judy with a smile, looking at Lupin, 'after you.' He nodded and ran toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Judy watched him disappear without any of the Muggles noticing. She found it funny that after all those times of going through the barrier he still took it at a run.

Judy pushed her trolley toward the stones. Duncan purred in his wickerwork basket, his yellow eyes scanning the platform. He lay curled up in a corner, his black fur protruding through several openings. Judy looked around as she leaned against the barrier and when no one looked she let herself and her trolley fall through the wall.

As she emerged on the other side, Lupin stood a few meters ahead of her and turned around, the trolley with his large trunk stood beside him with his briefcase still on top.

'I suppose this is goodbye for now,' he said softly. 'Do you want me to help you with those?' He gestured at her trunk and the purple backpack she carried.

'I'll be fine,' said Judy reassuringly.

'Hey Jude!' Willow waved at her from a distance, flanked by her parents.

'Will's father can help me,' said Judy, waving back. 'Besides, we're not supposed to be seen together too much, right?'

'Yes,' said Lupin gently. 'I'll see you at school.'

'Yes,' said Judy with a smile. 'See you at the castle.'

'Goodbye, sweetheart,' Lupin cast her a smile.

'Goodbye, Professor.' She returned his smile and then walked toward Willow, still looking at her from a distance.

'Cutting it close, aren't you?' said Willow with a grin.

'Always,' Judy smiled at her.

'I'll help you with that,' said Mr. Waters, a tall and handsome man, somewhere in his forties. Judy knew he worked as an Auror at the Ministry of Magic. His short dark hair and tanned skin stood out against his light suit and tie.

'Thank you, Mr. Waters,' Judy picked up the wickerwork basket as Duncan hissed. 'He'll never forgive Lupin for locking him up in the luggage carriage in my first year.' Judy explained, making Willow smile.

'Well, you girls better hurry up,' said Mrs. Waters, a tall and slender woman whose long red hair was identical to Willow's. 'You two behave yourselves now, I don't want any more letters from Professor Snape.' Her bright blue eyes met Willow's brown ones.

'I'll make sure the owl gets lost then,' said Willow before kissing her mother goodbye. Mrs. Waters sighed deeply.

'Don't worry, Jess. Judy will look after her…' said Mr. Waters with a wink at Judy. She thought he was rather proud of his daughter to stand up against Snape. Any parent should be, Judy thought truthfully.

'Come on, let's go,' Willow gave her father a quick hug and then took Judy's hand to drag her to the nearest carriage. They stepped inside at the sound of the whistle, turned and waved at Willow's parents. Judy couldn't help but think on how she would have wanted her own parents to wave her goodbye every year.

Willow tugged her hand and pulled her from her day dream. 'Let's find a compartment before they're all full.'

In the first compartment they passed, Oliver Wood was talking to Katie Bell. Alicia Spinnet sat opposite the other two Gryffindors, emerged in 'Quidditch through the Ages' by Kennilworthy Whisp. Judy had intended to walk past, but she couldn't as Oliver Wood waved at her and asked her to come join them. Judy was thankful as Willow said they were looking for Fred and George and quickly pulled her along.

'Close call, huh?' said Willow as they passed a compartment full of Slytherins. Judy noticed Draco Malfoy flanked by his two best mates Crabbe and Goyle. 'Do you reckon Wood still fancies you?'

'I don't want to talk about it,' said Judy, thinking back on the awkward break up she had experienced with Oliver the year before. After going steady for a few months, Judy had realized that she couldn't talk about Quidditch 24 hours a day, Oliver on the other hand could. She had had a hard time trying to make clear to him that she just wanted to remain friends. In the end Oliver seemed to have understood, though their friendship had always been a bit different after their break up and their conversations were suddenly filled with awkward silences.

In the third compartment Lee Jordan sat next to Angelina Johnston. They sat a bit closer to each other than Judy had expected them to. Quidditch seemed to be the topic of conversation in that compartment as well, though Judy overheard a few whispered words which had nothing to do with Quidditch and quickly followed Willow to prevent from hearing any more.

'Finally, I thought we'd never find one,' said Willow as she entered an empty compartment. Judy put the basket with her cat down on her right hand side. Duncan impatiently scratched the wickerwork from inside.

Judy took off her purple backpack and pushed it on the luggage rack above her seat. She sat down and watched Willow slip into her robes, take her Prefect badge from her backpack and pin it to her chest. Willow was made Prefect the year before, but neither she, nor Judy, nor the Weasley twins knew why Willow out of all people had been picked. When it came to respecting authority and listening to teachers, Willow had never been the best example. Though Judy had to admit that Willow seemed to have turned around a bit with every teacher since she had been made Prefect. That is, every teacher but Snape.

'I take it you have to be off?' asked Judy.

'Not just yet,' said Willow, taking a small bundle from her backpack. It was wrapped in bright green paper.

'What's that?' asked Judy, confused.

'Your birthday present…' said Willow with a grin as she handed it to Judy. 'Now, I have five minutes before I have to be at the other side of the train and I want to see your face when you open it…'

'So it'd better hurry?' concluded Judy with a smile. She laid the package on her lap and carefully took off the Spellotape, holding the paper together. Willow sat across her and looked at her attentively.

Judy shoved the pieces of paper aside and took out a black bundle of fabric. As she held it up in front of her the fabric unrolled and she saw the green emblem of the Irish Quidditch team, blazing against the black backdrop.

'Will, this is…' Judy's voice faltered as her eye fell on the slant golden writing, appearing just under the team's emblem. 'Oh…oh…' Judy spluttered, 'oh, you're joking! Is it really…?!'

'Aidan Lynch,' said Willow with a smile. 'Ireland's best Seeker.'

'But how…' stammered Judy. 'Merlin's beard, how did you get this?!'

'Well, believe it or not, but I'd just bought this T-shirt and then my Dad insisted on going to a pub to have a drink. So there I was, enjoying my Butterbeer and then this Lynch guy walks in. I didn't recognize him at first, because…well, you know I'm not so much into Quidditch as you are. But my Dad recognized him straight away and pointed him out to me and Mum.'

'And you just walked up to him and asked him to sign the T-shirt?' asked Judy in disbelief. Willow simply nodded. 'Will, you didn't!'

'Well, of course I did,' said Willow with a grin. 'I don't adore the guy, it's not so hard for me to ask him for an autograph without turning into a beetroot.'

'Now, how would you know,-'

'I know,' said Willow before Judy could finish. 'I know you. Believe me, I know.' Judy smiled at her.

'Thanks, Will. I really love it,' said Judy truthfully.

'You're welcome,' said Willow with a smile. 'Just promise me you'll keep it away from Fred and George.'

'I suppose I'd better,' said Judy in agreement, as she still looked at the shirt in front of her. 'They'll nick it first chance they get.' Willow grinned at her.

'Listen, I have to go to the other Prefects and patrol the corridors. But I'll be back as soon as possible, OK?' said Willow as she pushed her backpack up on the luggage rack. 'Fred and George are bound to be here soon, right?'

'I'll be fine,' assured Judy. Willow cast her a guilty smile. 'Go. I'll see you later.' She laid the T-shirt beside her and opened the wickerwork basket. 'Duncan will keep me company.' The black cat slowly stepped onto the seat and stretched every limb carefully.

'All right, see you later,' Willow gave her a small wave and walked down the corridor.

'We'll be fine, won't we Duncan,' said Judy softly, scratching the cat behind his ear as he settled in her lap. Judy caressed his fur, making Duncan purr softly. It took her a while to realise she was humming a tune, a tune she recognized from somewhere but couldn't quite place…She stared out the window. She remembered how she had trouble getting to sleep as a child when she was alone. How she would cry till someone would come and how her father…how he sang her to sleep…

'Ah, finally!' Judy started at Fred's voice. Duncan leapt of her lap, hissing. 'You should lock him up with the rest of the luggage next time,' said Fred, eyeing the cat carefully.

'I'll lock you up if you won't stop giving me heart attacks,' said Judy, still a bit shaken. 'You're not alone, are you?'

'No, me and George bumped into Willow in the corridor. You know how those two can get…I'd rather be in here with you…' He sat down next to her. 'I suppose you've done all your homework for the first term already?'

'Come on Fred, even I am not that bad…' Judy rolled her eyes. 'I've just read the first chapter of every new book.'

'Then I wasn't far off,' said Fred with a grin. Duncan settled on Judy's lap again. 'I heard the Prides did well against the Falcons,' said Fred, starting with their favourite subject to talk about.

'Yes, I heard it on the radio,' said Judy. 'I can't believe they still let those Broadmoors play, though…they must have knocked out half of the players in the British and Irish league…they almost knocked out McCormack last week…and the Quaffle wasn't even anywhere near the goalposts…'

'That's just the risk of the game, Jude,' said Fred with a grin, 'besides the Prides are up a place again, so you shouldn't be complaining. It's not like they're anywhere near the Cannons…'

'I wouldn't say that too loud…Willow supports them,' said Judy as she stroked Duncan's dark fur.

'What?! That girl doesn't know anything about Quidditch, does she?' said Fred in disbelief. 'If George would know…'

'He'd still fancy her,' offered Judy with a smile.

'Yeah, he would,' agreed Fred. 'I guess we should start dating too before I end up alone…' Their eyes met and they laughed.

'All right, what did I miss out on?' George entered the compartment and sat down opposite them.

'Judy and I are going to date,' said Fred, doing his best to sound serious.

'Are you now?' George looked from Fred to Judy. 'I rather had the impression you had taken fancy on another Weasley.' Judy looked at him, somewhat confused.

'Oh, come on George,' said Fred, 'you know I'm the better looking one…' Judy smiled, but stopped as she realized who George was referring too.

'Not me Fred,' George rolled his eyes, 'Charlie!'

'Ooooh,' said Fred, looking at Judy with a grin.

'You…you can't be serious,' said Judy, painfully aware of how warm her cheeks were feeling. 'Charlie…your brother is way too old for me.' She didn't remember ever feeling more uncomfortable.

'Well, they say age doesn't matter when you're in love,' offered Fred, still grinning at her.

'Well…well it does to me,' said Judy quickly, undoing her pony tail so her hair fell over her still warm cheeks. She looked anywhere but at the twins as her stomach ached due to her nervousness.

She looked back at the twins as she heard a stifled laugh. Fred and George both grinned at her. 'You two….are a nightmare…' said Judy, shaking her head and feeling quite relieved.

'Oh come on,' laughed Fred. 'It's just too much fun, because it's so easy.'

'Yeah, we were only kidding, Jude,' said George. 'You know us…'

'Yeah…I do,' Judy smiled at them and then looked back out the window again. Her warm cheeks were fortunately cooling off again. Duncan purred contently a she ruffled through his fur.

'What's that?' Judy turned and followed Fred's gaze to the black bundle beside her. She didn't speak as she picked it up and held it in front of her. The twins' eyes widened as they looked at the emblem and golden writing underneath.

'How in the world did you get this?' asked Fred, quickly taking the T-shirt from Judy's hands. 'It's real, isn't it?'

'Yes, it's real,' said Judy with a smile. 'Willow gave it to me just now, for my Birthday.' George grinned at his twin as he grabbed the T-shirt from his hands.

'All right,' said Fred reluctantly. 'She's not totally ignorant when it comes to Quidditch.' Judy smiled at them as she took the shirt back from George.

'May be if you're nice to her, she'll get one for you too,' offered Judy as she cast George a grin.

'May be if you're nice to her, she'll give you…'

'There's a lady present, Fred,' said Judy quickly as she folded up the T-shirt again.

'What? Where?' asked Fred, looking around the compartment.

'You're hopeless,' Judy smiled at him.

As the conversation turned back to Quidditch and the train rode further north, the scenery turned more wild. The sky slowly darkened and the clouds thickened. Judy knew they definitely wouldn't make it to Hogwarts in dry weather.

It was half past twelve as the old witch with the food trolley reached their compartment. Judy bought four cauldron cakes, four chocolate frogs and a box of Bertie Bott's every flavour beans. She gave each twin a cauldron cake and a chocolate frog, ignoring their protests that she didn't have to give them anything. Judy pointed out how she'd had lunch and dinner at their place during the summer and this was the least she could do in return. Neither twin protested after that and they both enjoyed the cake and chocolate.

Judy knew Fred and George didn't feel comfortable about her buying them sweets, mainly because they couldn't do much in return. But a little persuasion from her side, usually made their protests die away, just like it had now.

Judy put the fourth cauldron cake and chocolate frog aside for Willow who was bound to return within the hour. She took a small piece from her own cake and gave it to Duncan, who took it without hesitation. He purred contently as he lay on her lap. Judy then took a bite from her cake and looked out the window as the landscape gradually grew even more rough.

&

'Shouldn't we wake her?' asked Fred, looking over at Willow. She lay against George's shoulder and had spent the last two hours vast asleep.

'No, let her sleep,' said George quickly. Judy smiled, knowing how much George liked these moments.

The sky outside had darkened over the past hours and rain now lashed against the window. The lanterns above the luggage racks and the corridors shone brightly, bathing the train in a warm glow. Judy thought they would reach Hogwarts within the hour and already looked forward to the opening feast. She couldn't wait to see the rest of her friends again.

'We'll wake her when we arrive at Hogsmeade,' offered Judy. 'She's already got her robes on anyway.'

'What about that cat of yours?' asked George, looking at the black bundle which now lay to Judy's left. 'We should wake him too…that is, if he's still breathing…' Duncan shifted position as if to indicate that he was just resting.

'Well, we'd better wake them soon,' suggested Fred, 'the train is slowing down already.'

Judy frowned. 'But we can't be there yet…' She looked out of the window and didn't find a sign of the castle. The sound of the rain and the wind grew louder as the sound of the steam engine started to fade. Judy caressed Duncan in an effort to chase away the cold knot in her stomach. A knot caused by a feeling of foreboding she vaguely recognised.

'Why else would we be stopping then?' Fred grabbed the door post as the train stopped with a jolt. Willow awoke with a scream as Judy evaded her purple backpack which had toppled of the luggage rack. Several yelps combined with thuds of luggage hitting the ground echoed through the train. Judy quickly picked up her own backpack and stashed it back on the rack above her as George spoke comforting words to Willow and explained to her what had happened.

'What's going on?' asked Judy, looking at no one in particular. Duncan hissed uncomfortably as he now lay on his side. He quickly got back up, but instead of lying down on the seat again he looked at the window.

'I don't know,' said Fred honestly. 'I,-' He broke off as all the lights suddenly went out. Judy instinctively reached for Fred's hand who took hers without question and squeezed it gently. Having been best friends for four years, Fred knew about her fear of the dark.

'Is everybody all right?' asked Judy hoarsely.

'We're fine,' said George reassuringly. They didn't speak as they heard the doors of the train carriage open in the distance. Duncan hissed, which Judy recognized as a sign of fear.

'Something's coming aboard,' said Willow. Despite the dark Judy could see George putting an arm around Willow and pulling her close. 'What could possibly be coming aboard?!'

'Calm down,' said Judy, putting all her effort in making her own voice sound calm. 'May be we'll hear something…'

Whatever they had intended to hear, however, was drowned out by the excited and nervous chatter coming from every compartment. All of the students were wondering why the train had stopped and discussing the possible reasons, blocking every other possible sound from reaching Judy's ears. She knew they wouldn't find out anything unless someone went out to investigate.

Judy took a deep breath, let go of Fred's hand, got up and walked to the compartment door. She took another deep breath before opening it. The moonlight bathed the hallway in a weak white glow, making it possible for Judy to see several students looking out of their compartments. Some had formed small groups in the hallway and looked back and forth to see the reason why the train had stopped. Judy looked to her left at a group of Hufflepuffs as a distant rattling sound came from her right. The excited whispers and discussions on that end of the train seemed to fade as the rattling sound grew louder.

Judy looked to her right just in time to see a mass of light blond hair run into her. Draco Malfoy lay on the ground and looked up at her, fear staining his eyes.

'What's the matter?' asked Judy concerned as Malfoy scrambled to his feet.

'Let me in!' he said crudely as he pushed Judy back. She nearly fell over, but Fred was already behind her and caught her before she fell.

'Get back to your own compartment, Malfoy!' snapped George.

'I would if I could, you bloody idiot!' snapped Malfoy back as he closed the compartment door. 'But I can't get back, I can't get past it.' He shivered.

'Past what?' asked Judy, who was back on her feet and out of Fred's arms.

'There was a De…' Malfoy took a deep breath. 'There are Dementors on the train.'

'Dementors?!' Willow asked anxiously. 'But there can't…' she stammered.

'Well, there are, you stupid,-'

'OY!' said George fuming. 'You finish that sentence and I'll make you wish you were facing a Dementor!'

'George, please,' said Judy, looking around the compartment and barely discerning who was who in the dark. 'You can do to Draco whatever you want, but now is not the time for arguing.'

'Then what do you suggest…' George's voice faltered as the rattling sound grew louder. Duncan's hissing became louder as well as he backed away from the compartment door.

'It's coming this way,' said Fred.

'Dementors,' said Judy, thinking back on her last year of Defence against the Dark Arts and cursing Lockhart for having them copy his books all year long. The only thing she had learned was what spell to use against a Dementor, but she had never learned how to do a proper Patronus charm. 'Can any of you do a Patronus?'

'What is a Patronus?' said Fred and George in unison. Judy wished they had spent more attention in class.

'Well, you know I can't,' said Willow. 'But you can, can't you? Last year you had that glowing wisp…'

'Which is hardly a Patronus,' said Judy. She cast a look at Malfoy who stood behind her. His blond hair was the only thing which she could discern in the dark, making him fairly easy to recognize.

'I'm a third year!' he yelled at them as if they were retarded. George muttered something under his breath.

'But what are Dementors doing here?' asked Willow.

'What are Dementors doing here?!' asked Malfoy sarcastically. 'Haven't you been reading the Prophet?'

'They want Black,' said Judy, looking at the others. She noticed they all had their wands in their hands, some of them glowing vaguely at the tip. Then she suddenly remembered how Lupin had told her that Dementors weren't liable to forgive and realized how much danger they would be in if a Dementor found them with their wands drawn. 'Put them away,' she said quickly.

'But you said,-'

'Forget what I said, George. Put hem away!' They all complied, Malfoy hesitated for a moment but hid his wand under his cloak as George muttered something in a dangerous tone.

Judy put her own wand away as well. She knew that if a Dementor felt threatened by her she would be in more danger than any of the others. The Dementors after all were looking for Sirius Black. A man whose thoughts they knew, a man whose feelings they had sucked away for all those years, a man that she shared the same blood with…

'Listen…' Judy stopped talking as the rattling sound was suddenly very near.

Malfoy pushed Judy aside and stepped as far away from the compartment door as he could. Judy heard the door open behind her. She turned on her heel and watched a scabbed, glistening hand wrap itself around the door post. George's silhouette pulled Willow's closer as she yelped. Fred backed away as the Dementor came into full view beside him.

An intense cold swept over Judy and she barely managed to step away from the cloaked figure before her. Her limbs felt frozen as the cold spread through her body. The Dementor bent down to Willow, who tried to back away in George's arms.

Judy looked at the situation before her, the dark making it difficult for her to see what exactly was going on. She didn't think twice, however, about which course of action to take.

Judy quickly stepped between the Dementor and Willow, ignoring the fear in her heart. The Dementor turned toward her and within a second Judy felt the happiness being sucked from her body. She bit her lip, trying to hide some of her memories for the Dementor but it was no use.

'No,' she said softly, not hearing or seeing anything of what was going on around her.

'Judy, you need to be as quiet as a mouse!'

The Dementor bent closer, his mouth inches away from hers. Judy shivered as the cold seemed to freeze her heart. The Dementor's rattling breath chilled her to the bone.

'I'm so sorry, Sirius.'

'No,' she whispered again, a tear running down her face.

'Avada Kedavra!'

Judy felt Fred take her hand, the Dementor looked at him, distracted. Judy knew she had to grasp her chance.

'No,' she said firmly. The Dementor looked at her again. 'We are not hiding Sirius Black!' The Dementor leaned in again. 'We are not hiding Sirius Black!' The Dementors' mouth was inches away from hers.

'We are not hiding Sirius Black!' said Fred.

'We are not hiding Sirius Black!' said George.

Judy watched the Dementor draw back as Willow joined the twins and called out the same sentence. She felt the happiness return to her body, closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them she saw the Dementor had disappeared.

She sat down in her seat again and took a deep breath. Judy felt cold and shivery, but also very much relieved that the cloaked figure and its accompanying cold had gone. Duncan settled on her lap in an effort to comfort her for which Judy was grateful. No one spoke in the moments that followed.

As the lights went back on, Judy saw that the other three stared at her. Malfoy sat next to the window and looked outside.

'Is he all right?' asked Judy, looking at no one in particular.

'Oy, Malfoy!' said Fred. 'Are you OK?' Malfoy shook his head as if he awoke from a dream and then looked at all of them. His watery eyes were stained with fear. His pointed face seemed even more pale than usual.

'Of course, I'm all right!' Malfoy snapped. He got to his feet, walked to the door and turned on his heel. 'If any of you gits tell anybody about this, you're dead.' George arched a brow at him. Malfoy cast a short glance around the corner and left without another word.

'Well, you're welcome!' called Fred after him. 'What a git, I bet he wet himself.' Fred exchanged a grin with George. Judy smiled as well and met Willow's eyes, she was still staring at her.

'What?'

'What just happened?' asked Willow.

'What do you mean?'

'That Dementor went for you,' said Willow, 'only you.'

'Come on, don't be silly,' said Judy, 'he tried to get to you first.'

'He was just sniffing us, or whatever they do,' said George, 'once he spotted you…'

Fred and Willow stared at her in agreement.

'I was just the only one to defy him. That's why he went for me,' explained Judy. The others still looked at her. 'Come on, why else would a Dementor come after me?!'

George looked at her for a moment and then cast her a small smile. 'You're right, he can't have mistaken you for Black.' The others smiled as well and Judy, looking out the window let out a small sigh of relief.

She quickly looked back to the compartment door as she heard footsteps coming closer to their compartment. Duncan hissed and leapt off her lap again. Fred an George both reached for their wands, while Willow looked more calm than Judy had ever seen her before.

'Dementors glide…they don't have feet,' said Willow looking from one twin to the other. They lowered their wands, but didn't put them away. Judy looked at the doorway as a shabby looking man stopped and looked inside.

'Everything all right in here?' asked Lupin, looking at all of them but lingering on Judy a moment longer.

'Mr. Lupin?!' exclaimed Willow in surprise.

'I take it you haven't told them yet?' said Lupin, walking inside the compartment, turning and closing the door.

'Told us what?' asked Fred, looking from Lupin to Judy.

'My uncle is going to be our new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher,' explained Judy.

'Wicked,' said George, grinning.

'No!' said Willow, making everybody in the compartment look at her.

'You don't want me teaching you?' asked Lupin, sitting down between Judy and Fred. Judy smiled, knowing how Lupin thought she felt about Fred.

'No, I mean, I'd love to have you as a teacher, but…well…the DADA job is jinxed. Quirrel died from it!'

'Quirrel died because he was in league with Vol-, ' said Judy, making the twins and Willow jerk uncomfortably, 'fine, You Know Who'.

'And considering I am not,' said Lupin, 'I am sure I will be fine.' Willow looked at him, not totally convinced. 'Listen, I do not have much time and Judy can tell you more later, but you are the only ones who know that I am Judy's uncle. I'd appreciate it if that knowledge stays within this compartment. I don't want any of the students to think I will favour Judy in class.'

'Your secret is safe with us, sir,' said Fred and George in unison.

'I won't say anything,' promised Willow.

'Good, now if you'll excuse me I'm going to have a word with the driver about how those Dementors got on the train.' Lupin got to his feet.

'Then you can also tell him to keep those Dementors out of our compartment in the future,' said Fred, making Lupin spin around and look at Judy.

'There was a Dementor in here?' He asked, doing his best to keep his concern from sounding in his voice. Judy could tell how worried he really was, having known him for so many years.

'Yes,' continued Fred, as if not noticing the exchange between Lupin and Judy at all, 'he came in here and went for Judy and-'

'He what?!' asked Lupin.

'I'm fine,' said Judy quickly, 'and that is not exactly how it went. He came in here and it looked as if he was going toward Willow so I got up to distract him.'

'And she did,' said Willow, 'that…thing was only inches away from her.' Lupin's eyes widened, Judy thought quickly on a way to calm him.

'I told him we weren't hiding Black in here and the others joined me and he went away,' said Judy, looking Lupin straight in the eye.

'It was weird, though,' said George. 'It looked to us like it was after Judy. But then she made us realize that she must have opposed the most threat to him, standing up to face him, so that's why he picked her.'

'Right,' said Lupin, his eyes still stained with concern. 'Well…the Dementors have gone now, so you all should be fine. I am sure Professor Dumbledore will talk to you about it over dinner tonight. I really need to talk to that driver.'

He opened the door and then suddenly turned on his heel. His right hand went into his pocket and he drew out a bar of chocolate. 'Here,' he handed it to Fred who was nearest. 'Make sure all of you take a piece. It will make you feel better.' He cast a small smile at Judy, which didn't reach his eyes and then walked out of the compartment.

Fred broke the bar into four pieces and gave the others their share. As soon as Judy ate her piece she felt the warmth returning to her body. The chocolate lifted their spirits and soon they were talking about the opening feast and the many friends they would be reunited with.

'We'd better get into our robes,' said Fred, after a while. He got up and took his robes from the shelve above them. Judy opened her backpack and took out her blue Ravenclaw tie. She stroked it absently, looking outside the window as the twins started to get dressed.

Despite of the chocolate making her feel better, she couldn't forget about what had happened. The Dementor must have sensed something about her, because despite her telling the others it didn't went for her, she knew deep down that it did. A Dementor didn't come so close to giving you a kiss if it was only trying to identify you. Duncan lay down beside her and looked at her with his yellow eyes. Judy caressed his dark fur and savoured his warmth.

She reached into her bag again, but instead of her robes she drew out an already opened envelope. She had almost forgotten about her planned visit to Dumbledore. If it hadn't been for the Dementor, she probably would have worried more about what the headmaster of Hogwarts had to say to her. Now she could only think of the answers he might give her to her own questions. And especially to the question why a Dementor had come so close to kissing her.