Kindred Spirits

by Tailkinker

This is a work of fan fiction based on the Harry Potter series and the Sailor Moon franchise created respectively by J.K. Rowling and Naoko Takeuchi. The characters and settings belong to their respective owners and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered as part of the official canon of either series.

The Dementors of Azkaban

Harry took a long last look at the Firebolt. As much as he'd like to have it, he had to face reality: He couldn't drain his trust vault for a purchase this frivolous, especially considering that he had a perfectly serviceable Nimbus 2000. As he turned away from the window, he saw a familiar head of bushy hair, bobbing through the throngs of people.

"Hermione!" He waved his hand to try to catch her attention. She turned, but given the crowd of people, and Harry's short stature, she clearly didn't see him at first. He chuckled as he watched her jump, trying to see over the people around her.

Then Ron turned a corner. He had grown even more during the summer, and towered above most of his peers—rivalling his father for height, who was next around the corner. Ron pointed towards Harry, and said something to Hermione.

The two pushed their way through the throng, and Hermione quickly grabbed Harry in a quick hug. "It's so good to see you!"

"Alright, mate?" asked Ron.

"Good to see you guys, too," said Harry. He glanced at Ron, who was quite tanned. "I guess Egypt agreed with you?"

"It was good to see Bill," said Ron. "I brought you something. Got it back at the Leaky."

"Thanks," said Harry. "And how was France?"

"It was good," said Hermione. "Aside from the conference, we also spent quite a bit of time in the museums. And, of course, I got all my summer homework done."

"Of course," said Ron.

"Mine's all done, too," said Harry. "Hotaru gave me a hand."

"When is she due back?"

"She and Souichi-sensei were due back yesterday," said Harry. "But she said she'd be in the Alley today. Haven't seen her yet."

"Probably still jet-lagged," said Hermione.

"What's jet lag?" asked Ron. But before Hermione could try to explain, Harry spotted Hotaru coming out of the Leaky Cauldron.

"There she is," he said.

Ron and Hermione turned to see Hotaru approaching them, a small smile on her face. She bowed to them.

"Harry-kun. Ron, Hermione," she greeted them.

"Good to see you," said Harry. "How was Japan?"

"It was great," replied Hotaru. "I got to see my grandparents, and I also got to visit Mahou Ichiba and the Japanese Ministry of State for Magic. It was...a bit overwhelming."

"Did you bring us back any souvenirs?" asked Ron eagerly.

Hotaru chuckled. "Actually, I did. I got you each a charm from Mahou Ichiba—the magical market in Kyoto. It's supposed to bring good luck."

She handed each of them a small package, which they eagerly tore open. Inside each was a small silk bag, imprinted with Japanese characters and a small image of an animal. Ron's had a terrier, Hermione's an otter, and Harry's was a stag.

"Thank you, Hotaru!" said Hermione. "This is lovely."

"Yeah, thanks a lot," said Ron, examining his terrier charm with interest.

Harry smiled down at the stag charm in his hand, feeling a warm sense of happiness at having his friend back. "It's good to see you again, Hotaru," he said.

"It's good to see you too, Harry," she replied, a bit of a blush on her cheeks.

For once, the Weasleys were actually on time for the train. It might have been because they spent the last four days at the Leaky Cauldron, and could simply walk to the station.

"Blimey, not sure why so many of the carriages are taken up," complained Ron. He stuck his head into a compartment, then pulled it back out again. "Nope. Two Slytherins and a Ravenclaw, all seventh years."

"Here's one," called Hotaru. "There's one person sleeping in here, but he's not a student."

"Oh?" Hermione walked over to the door, and looked in. "Professor R. J. Lupin."

"How could you possibly know that?" asked Ron.

"Well, he's clearly too old to be a student," pointed out Hermione. "He's not wearing an Auror's uniform, nor is he the train driver or the snack lady. That would leave a professor."

"There's a flaw in that logic," pointed out Hotaru. "He might well be a new janitor or just someone hired to baby-sit us on our way to the castle."

"Didn't think of that," admitted Hermione. "As to his name, though..." She pointed at the satchel at the man's feet. "It's inscribed on the handle of his luggage."

"Well, it's the last car of the train," said Harry. "I hope he doesn't mind the company. Let's keep it down, though. Wouldn't want to wake him."

They quickly and quietly moved their trunks to the overhead racks. Hermione set her cat basket on the floor by the window, and Harry set Hedwig's cage on top of it. Ron eyed the cat basket with a critical gaze.

"Still can't believe you bought that orange menace."

"He's a perfect sweetheart, Ron."

"He's a perfect—"

"Enough," snapped Harry. "You've been going on about that ruddy cat for four days, and I'm well sick of it."

They stared at him, shocked expressions on their faces.

"Hermione, he's a serviceable enough cat, but you can't deny that he's no innocent kitten." He turned to Ron. "And you can't blame him for doing cat things. Do we complain when your rat steals our snacks?"

"Fair point," mumbled Ron, a look of shame crossing his face.

"So let's agree that Ron doesn't much care for your cat, Hermione?"

She sighed. "I suppose not everybody is a cat person."

"Neither am I. Too much time around too many cats at Mrs Figg's house." He laid a hand on the birdcage. "I personally think Hedwig's the best."

From the look on his owl's face, he was certain that Hedwig appreciated the sentiment.

Hotaru giggled. "And I'll be getting a buzzard, next time I'm in Japan."

"A buzzard?" Hermione frowned. "Why a buzzard?"

"Japan uses petrels and buzzards, in addition to owls, as mail carriers," said Hotaru. "And I'd rather have a diurnal bird."

"Ron," said Harry. "You got a new wand, yeah?"

"Oh, yeah." He pulled it out. "Fourteen inches, willow and unicorn hair."

"Fourteen inches? That's a bit on the long side, isn't it?"

Ron shrugged. "Figure I'll grow into it."

Hotaru drew her own wand, which was just as long. "Fourteen inches, black thorn and unicorn hair. Maybe you won't."

She was the shortest person in the compartment—even shorter than Harry.

"That's not an Ollivander wand," observed Hermione.

"Ollivander did not have a wand that matched me," said Hotaru. "He was most put out. I had this made by Yamazaki Ayako, in Kyoto. She custom-makes every wand for the customer." She giggled. "She looked scandalized that Ollivander sells pre-made wands."

The train shuddered, jolting Harry out of a light doze. He sat up, frowning.

"We can't be at Hogwarts yet, can we?"

"No," said Hermione. She glanced at her watch. "We're still at least an hour away."

"Why is the train stopping, then?"

Hotaru set down her sketch pad, and wrapped her arms around herself. "Something bad is coming."

Harry quickly drew his wand. "Where?"

"I don't know—"

"Quiet." Professor Lupin stood up, wand in hand. "Harry, Ron, back behind me, please."

"How did you know our names?" asked Ron.

"You weren't as quiet as you thought. Move!"

The lights in the carriage went out, and Harry realized that it was quite dark outside as well. Darker than it should have been.

"The Dementors are searching the train for Sirius Black," said Professor Lupin.

"How do we fight them?" asked Harry.

"Your courage does you credit, Harry, but I don't have time to teach you the charm," said Lupin.

Hotaru shuddered and fell to her knees. "They're coming."

The door to the compartment opened. A hand reached inside, grasping the door frame. It was bony, withered, and grey, as though it belonged to a corpse. The figure that followed it in didn't look any better. It was wrapped in a black cloak, concealing it completely from view.

Harry felt a rush of cold coming from the creature. It enveloped him, draining his courage, dragging him down. He heard someone screaming, a woman's scream, and then darkness took him.

"Harry!"

Harry awoke suddenly, gasping, and sat upright. Hotaru was lying beside him.

"What happened?" he asked. "Who was screaming?"

"Nobody screamed, Harry," said Hermione. She turned, and laid a hand on Hotaru's head. "No fever..." She shook her head. "Why would I expect a fever?"

"She is most likely exhausted," said Professor Lupin. "I've never seen anybody manifest a shield that powerful, especially not as accidental magic." He knelt down next to Harry, and offered him a piece of chocolate. "Here, eat this. It helps offset the effects of the Dementor."

Harry took the chocolate, and put it in his mouth. It did seem to help. "Accidental magic?" he asked.

"She created a barrier of some sort," said Ron. "Just waved her hand, and it appeared in front of us. The Dementor tried to get through it, but it couldn't. Then she yelled something at it, something in Japanese. And the Dementor left, and she passed out."

"The sort of power needed to drive off a Dementor is not something you'd normally find in a second- or third-year student," said Professor Lupin. "She'll be all right; she'll probably be awake by the time we reach Hogwarts. Let's move her to the bench, though; if she has to lie there the rest of the trip, she'll be quite stiff."

Harry immediately moved to help the Professor. They laid Hotaru on the bench, and Harry gathered up her sketch pad and coloured pencils. He stuffed them back into her bookbag, then sat back down on the floor, his back against her shoulder.

"I have to go check with the train driver," said Professor Lupin. "We should be underway in a short while."

He turned, and left the compartment.

"Well, this year's off to a grand start," muttered Ron.