Authors Notes: Hello and thanks for clicking on my story! This is a rewrite of the events of 3rd year, but imagining it happened in 5th Year (to age the kids up a bit! :I ). So Philosophers and Chamber still happened at some point over the previous 4 years. Perhaps they actually had some quiet years at Hogwarts thrown in? :O Obviously, it's not exactly the same story!
This is my first ever fic! I've had the idea for ages and been meaning to write it, and finally got inspired over the last few days and bashed out the first few chapters in one go! Just finalising each and then I'll be uploading. It's quite slow at the start but I promise it'll pick up pace!
Hermione/Remus pairing during her time at Hogwarts. If you don't like it, don't read it! (Or do, but leave me a constructive review pls!)
All feedback welcome :D
~Quilara
Chapter 1 – Hermione
Sunday 30th August – Waning Gibbous
'Bye mum, bye dad! See you at Christmas!' Hermione yelled over the noise of the train, waving frantically and leaning as far out the window as she could to try to glimpse her parents for as long as possible. Her dad has his arm around her mum's waist and the pair were waving back. They were smiling, but Hermione knew as soon as she was out of sight that her mother would start crying.
Going back to Hogwarts was always bittersweet. Hermione loved her parents dearly and wished she could see them more often, but Hogwarts, and the magical world, felt like where she belonged. She wondered what would happen after she graduated; whether she would settle down in a wizard town, or move back to Hampstead where she grew up?
Suddenly a grinning mop of black hair startled her from her pondering, and pulled her into a bear hug.
'Hermione!' exclaimed Harry cheerfully, squeezing her tight.
'Harry!' she replied, still reeling from the surprise attack from her best friend.
'It's so great to see you! How was your summer? How are your parents? Get up to anything fun?' he inquired all in one breath.
'Yes all good, all good, thanks.' She responded to the barrage of excited questions. 'I actually started re-'
'Let me guess,' came an interruption, 'reading a great book?'
Hermione spun around and her smile grew upon seeing the lanky red head, who must have grown six inches over the summer and now towered above her 5ft 4 frame.
'Yes Ronald, it was a very great book,' she retorted. 'And blimey, you've grown!'.
'You too,' he replied offhandedly, giving her a strange look.
Hermione frowned a little, confused by his comment. She'd been the same height for years..?
Suddenly she was ambushed again, this time by a Ginny and Arnold the pygmy puff, who threw her arms around her and started telling her excitedly all about their summer holiday to Egypt.
'Right, shall we stop standing in the doorway and hurry up and find a carriage?' Hermione said finally, once all the hello's were finished. Harry, Ron and Ginny nodded in agreement and followed Hermione down the crowded train, stumbling a little as the train picked up speed.
'I think we'll have to go here,' Hermione said when they reached the last carriage in which a man sat leant against the window, snoring gently. 'The rest are rammed'.
She took the other window seat opposite the stranger, and the others filed in behind and shut the door.
'Who's that?' asked Ron, to no-one in particular.
'R. J. Lupin,' Hermione replied without missing a beat.
Ron raised his eyebrows.
'Bloody hell Hermione, do you literally know everything?!'
'It's on his case, Ronald,' she replied, pointing to the man's case with mock exasperation, which was met with laughter from the group. The case in question was extremely tattered, much in keeping with the attire of its owner. Hermione glanced him up and down. His clothes were travel-worn and patched, looking as though they had been ripped and repaired a number of times. It was hard to place his age. His sleeping expression was peaceful, and hinted at youthfulness. But this observation was in stark contrast with the deep purple bags under his eyes, coupled with a large scar down one side of his face, dirty, unkempt hair and scruffy facial hair which made the man appear much older.
'What's he doing on the train?' asked Harry.
'Do you reckon he's homeless?' Ron chimed in at the same time. He did look homeless.
'No idea.' Hermione shrugged, 'But he's fast asleep by the looks of it, so won't be any trouble.'
'Did you guys read the news about Sirius Black?' asked Ginny. 'I didn't know if it would have made its way to you in the muggle world'.
Harry and Hermione nodded.
'It's pretty scary right?' she continued. 'Everyone's talking about it, wondering how he escaped. There was no sign of a break in, or break out. He just disappeared!'
'I heard he can turn himself into smoke,' said Ron.
Hermione snorted. 'That's ridiculous'.
Ron held his hands up, 'Hey, it's just what I heard, alright?'
'But they'll catch him, won't they?' Hermione voiced, 'I mean, everyone's looking for him'.
'Sure.' Ron paused, 'Except that, well, nobody has ever broken out of Azkaban before, and he's a raging murderous lunatic.' He pulled a face.
'Yeah… I wanted to talk to you guys about that,' Harry began, about to tell them all what Mr. Weasley had told him about Black's motives.
Suddenly the train screeched to a halt and the lights flickered once then went out.
Someone let out a little scream.
'What the-?' Ron yelled in surprise.
Hermione peered out the window. The sky was an ominous grey, and it was suddenly eerily dark for an early Autumn afternoon.
'Guys, there's something moving out there,' she said in a hushed tone, catching glimpse of a dark, wispy shape drifting towards the train.
Ron crept closer to the window to look out.
'It's him,' he said, panic beginning to rise in his voice, 'It's Black! I told you he could turn into smoke-'.
'Shhhh, sit down Ron', Hermione shushed him, and pushed him back into his seat. The carriage fell into silence, staring frightened at the window.
Then a rasping, rattling sound coming from behind them made them all jump and whip their heads around to stare at the carriage door. A slender, skeletal hand slid into view. Nobody moved. Nobody made a sound. The hand was followed by a cloaked figure. One wave of its bony hand and the door creaked slowly open. The temperature started to drop and Hermione felt like she couldn't breathe. She wanted to scream, to reach for her wand, but she couldn't. She felt all the happiness she had been feeling that morning drain away from her. She felt numb. She felt nothing.
The creature entered the carriage, and the rasping grew louder. Then it turned to Harry and leant down close, it's cloaked head inching closer and closer to Harry's face until-
'Expecto Patronum.'
Suddenly a brilliant white light filled the carriage. The creature fell back, making a horrible screeching noise, as if in pain. The light continued to push the creature back, back, out into the corridor, and then out of sight.
Hermione felt as if a weight that had been pinning her down was suddenly lifted. She could move her arms again. Ron and Ginny still looked dazed, but unharmed, and Harry collapsed forwards and slumped onto the floor.
'Harry!' she cried, and in a flash was beside him, trying to push him back up into his seat.
'Here, let me help,' came a soft voice. The same voice she had heard just before…
She glanced up as a man knelt down beside her and hoisted Harry back into his seat with deft ease.
'That was a patronus!' tumbled out of her mouth, in place of the thank you she had intended to say. She had read about patronuses, and knew they were very advanced magic.
'Sorry,' she added hurriedly, 'I just mean-, wow-, I-, so that thing was…'
'A dementor.' they said in unison.
'Yes,' he nodded, still not taking his eyes off Harry, steadying him with one hand.
'Harry?' said the man, giving him a gentle shake. Harry moaned, then blinked once, twice, then opened his eyes.
'That's it, good lad. Here, eat this. It'll help.' With that, the man handed Harry a small piece of chocolate. Harry looked down at it with distrust, his eyes still struggling to focus. 'Don't worry,' said the man with a crooked smile, 'it's only chocolate'.
Satisfied that Harry had sufficiently recognised that the confectionary meant him no harm, the man stood and surveyed the rest of the carriage.
'Here, some for the rest of you.' He said, handing each of them a small piece, before popping one in his own mouth and scrunching up the now-empty wrapper. 'Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to have a word with the driver.' And with that, the mysterious man tilted his head in farewell and exited the carriage, four pairs of stunned eyes watching him as he went.
-oOo-
There was a hushed chatter amongst the students as they made their way up to the castle after the eventful train journey. People were swapping stories and theories which were getting more and more ridiculous with each iteration.
'Oi, Potter,' came a familiar drawl, which Hermione certainly had NOT missed, 'I heard you FAINTED on the train!'
Hermione rolled her eyes as the group turned to see Malfoy and his little posse laughing and pretending to faint dramatically.
'Just ignore them,' she said, grabbing Harry's arm.
'I know, I know,' he assured her, as she steered him away and up to the castle.
-oOo-
By the time the sorting was over and the feast had begun, hungry bellies and excited chatter all but pushed the events of the train from everyone's thoughts. The feast was incredible, and Hermione wolfed it down gleefully. When she was full, she pushed her plate away with a contented sigh and sat back to nurse her food baby, letting the happy hubbub around her wash over her.
Ding ding ding came the sound of a spoon tapping gently against a glass. The chatter subsided as the students all turned to regard the headmaster who stood, his magnificent turquoise robes sweeping the stone floor.
'Welcome, welcome, welcome, and I do hope you enjoyed the feast.' Dumbledore smiled down at the students. 'Now, I'm sure you're all tired from your travels, but before I let you all retire up to bed, I would just like to make a couple of announcements. Firstly, it is an honour to introduce you to your new Defence Against the Dark Art's Teacher, Professor Remus Lupin.' The man gestured to the end of the teacher's table, and seven-hundred necks swivelled in unison to look at the man who, up until that point, had done a good job blending into the brown of the stone behind him.
'That's the guy from the train,' said Ron, thickly, 'Guess that explains why he knew how to beat that… that thing'.
'He certainly scrubs up well,' whispered Ginny, leaning into Hermione, and she had to agree.
Indeed it was the man from the train, but gone was the haggard appearance, save for just a hint of the eye bags. He was wearing a smart tweed jacket and his hair was clean and brushed; a sandy-blonde colour that flopped to one side. His eyes were bright and youthful, and the colour of dark chocolate. A self-conscious smile played on his lips as he surveyed the expectant eyes before him and he raised a hand in a half-wave.
'Thank you, Professor Dumbledore. Hello everyone. I look forward to getting to know you all over the coming months.' He said simply.
'And as for the second announcement. You may be aware that a certain man by the name of Sirius Black has recently escaped from Azkaban. I wish to assure you all that Hogwarts is perfectly safe. However, as an additional precaution, the Ministry have decreed that we increase security. As such, we have stationed dementors around the grounds of the castle, and it is their job to catch Black and bring him to justice, should he come near the castle. Dementors mean us no harm, but be warned, they will not hesitate in their attack if you come between them and the one they seek.'
And with that, the announcements were over, and the young Gryffindors retired to their dormitories, the nervous chatter from the train resuming in the wake of the rather more sinister second announcement.
