I stare out the window watching the pouring rain outside. We'd only been on the train for a couple hours and I had gotten to Jas's compartment a short while ago. The chatter of the girls next to me comes to a stop as the train slows down. I look at my watch, we still had a ways to go.
"Why are we stopping?" Jasmine asks, confused.
"I'm not sure." I answer as the lights start to flicker and I look around a fear coming over me as a strange scent invades my nose.
"Maybe the train broke down." Mary, one of Jasmine's friends asks.
"Maybe." I say standing up and looking outside the window, trying different angels with no luck. I turn to the compartment door and open it to look outside. Many other students were doing the same thing, confused voices began asking if anyone knew anything. The train comes to a jolting stop and I fall out of our compartment. Pain shoots through my already aching body. I groan as I sit up hearing Jasmine cry out in pain as well. We were plunged into total darkness and I blink trying to let my eyes adjust. I could tell some of our luggage had fallen off the racks; one must have hit her. "Are you okay?" I call to her.
"Yeah, you?" She asks.
"I'm fine." I answer as I stand and try to see around me. I instinctively go for my wand. "Lumos," The tip of it now shining brightly. I frown and look around more, to my right I see a flicker of something dark, cold air rushes over me as dread replaces my fear. I rush into the compartment and slam the door shut, Jasmine, Mary and the other one… Deeana all protest as I push and move them to the back of our compartment.
"What's wrong?" They ask in unison as I point my wand to the door of the compartment.
"There is something out there. I don't know what it is but it's not good." I answer, causing Jasmine to grab and point her wand towards the door as well, ready to cast. We all stand frozen, waiting. A cloaked figure moves down the corridor towards the back of the train, thankfully ignoring us.
"Oh gosh. What is that thing?" Jasmine asks as a wash of cold envelopes us again. I shudder and slowly move towards the door.
"A Dementor," I whisper as I try to look outside without opening the door. "What's it doing outside of Azkaban?" I slightly growl out, my overstimulated senses are hard to keep up with and I am shivering from the cold. I barely see a flickering light and the cloaked figure seemed to be by it. "Oh gosh." I gasp as I realize with horror that the thing was near my brother's compartment. I slide the door open and rush out towards the thing. I could hear Jasmine calling my name and the others protesting as they are plunged into darkness without my wand light. I run trying to think off all the extra credit I did for classes and remember the spell to fight these horrid creatures. When I finally get close enough I remember. "Expecto-" A flash of bright silver light blinds me and I stop in my tracks as I see a silver wolf chase away the Dementor. I sigh in relief and relight my wand as I run to my brother's compartment. I force open the door and my light temporarily blinds my brother, Cho and his friends. "Are you all okay?" I stamper out as my brother stands when he sees it's me.
"We're fine, what's wrong?" He asks worriedly.
"A Dementor was on the train," I answer as the lights come back on and the train starts to slowly start back up. We look around as students start to go from one compartment to another talking about what happened. I look back to my brother. "Are you sure you're okay?" I ask again.
"I'm fine. Lyn, are you okay, you look like you're going to be sick." He says as he places his hand on my shoulder. It's then I realize my heart was still racing.
"I'm fine, it didn't hurt me." I answer as I shake my head and try to take a deep breath but stop when another scent hits me. It was the scent that was on the Headmaster when he came by. I turn to see a man around his 40's exiting the compartment that the Dementor was in. He was probably the one that got rid of the dementor. He turns and pauses for a second, looking directly at me. Our eyes meet and I know we are thinking the same thing. That's the other werewolf. He starts to walk again as he passes by, he pauses again but continues on only giving a slight nod in my direction. "Lyn." I hear and blink, turning back to Cedric.
"I'm fine, Ced. I was just scared and came looking for you." I say and hear snickers from his friends.
"We're all fine. Can I walk you back to your compartment?" Ced asks, I shake my head no and walk away. I get back to my compartment but stop just outside the door when I see the man coming back.
"Lynlee Diggory, I presume?" He asks, his voice sounds horace but soft.
"Yes," I answer, just now realizing that Professor Dumbledore never told me his name.
"You were going to cast the Patronus Charm, I can see why you were at the top of your class." He says his green eyes shining as he gives me a slight smile. I nod and look down. "Good, keep studying, we will go over it in your class this year." I look up at him in surprise.
"Right… Thank you… Professor-"
"Lupin." He answers my unasked question, with a hint of surprise. "Professor Dumbledore didn't give you my name?"
"I'm sorry, no he was in a bit of a hurry the day he came by and told me about you; and us…" I trailed off not knowing what else to say.
"Not your fault. He usually is." He says and looks behind me into my compartment. I turn to see Jasmine and the others staring. "You should be off to your friends. I need to go check on someone. I'll see you in class." I nod.
"Of course, thank you, Professor Lupin." I stutter out and open the door. When I close it behind me Jasmine bombards me with questions so I tell them what happened. I spend the next 6 hours lost in thoughts and staring out the window till we have to get into our school robes.
Finally reaching Hogsmead everyone piles onto the tiny train platform and I sigh in dismay; the freezing rain came down in icy sheets around us. The cold did not help my aching body and I was starting to get a headache and wanted nothing more than to get into the great hall and eat. "Firs' years this way!" I hear the booming voice of our Hogwarts Groundskeeper Hagrid. I turn to watch, remembering the beautiful scene of the castle from the lake as the boats slowly made their way to the dock. I smile sadly as Jasmine pulled me to the carriages. I always found it weird that they seemed to pull themselves. I follow her into the compartment and pull the door shut behind me as the carriage starts it's trek to the iron gates of the grounds; I haven't seen in two years. I watch in awe as the magnificent castle comes closer from behind the gates. A smile forms across my face as I realize that though I would miss my time at Illvamorny and enjoyed the people there more; I did indeed miss Hogwarts a lot. I really was happy to be back. I stand and open the carriage door as it sways and comes to a stop. I jump out and the scent of another wolf fills my nose, if I was in my wolf form my hackles would have raised; Its Professor Lupin, I mentally scold myself to remember that there is another… of my kind this year.
I hear his hoarse voice "Is there a problem?" He asks a child with bleach blond hair. From the tone of the Professor's voice the boy seemed to be mocking Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and a girl with frizzy brown hair.
"Oh, no - er - Professor…" He says smirking and leaves with his friends, snickering as they go.
I roll my eyes as Jasmine pushes me along the path up the castle behind the group.
"Is he really our new Professor? I wonder what he teaches?" She says to the other girls. The other girls shrug.
"Probably Defence Against the Dark Arts." I answer and look away when they stare at me.
"Why do you think that?" Mary asks with almost the same sneer in her voice Malfoy had.
"Simple reasoning really… The only spot that needs to be filled this year is the same as always D.A.D.A; unless a teacher from another class has resigned." I answer, flushing in embarrassment as I watch my feet. It was only on rare occasions that I would really talk to anyone; this year was starting off with me weirdly talking more than usual and I was starting to not like it.
"Right cause you would know, you've been gone for 2 years." Deeana states harshly. I just shrug and smile to myself.
We get to the entrance of the castle and into the entrance hall, warmth enveloping me. I could finally relax as it chased away the chill of the rain and the cold of the dementor. I'm about to follow the rest of the Slytherins into the great hall when I hear a voice call my last name.
"Diggory! Potter! Granger! I want to see you three!" I turn to realize it was Professor McGonagall calling. I look when I smell and feel a familiar presence by me.
Cedric smiles at me and asks. "Your check up; I presume." I nod.
"Though, I don't know why she needs the other two." I say wondering to myself as we make our way together to her.
"There is no need to look worried, I just need a word in my office." She tells us when we all are with her. "Move along there Weasley, oh, Cedric I need your sister you are free to go." Cedric nods to her and puts his hand on my shoulder in a small gesture of comfort. I smile at him and nod as he turns to leave."Follow me you three." Our professor says and turns to lead us to her office.
When we get there she gestures to us to all have a seat in front of her desk that she scoots around and sits herself. "Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken i'll on the train, Potter."
His face goes red and we all turn when we hear a soft knock on the door. Madam Pomfrey bussells in, she was our nurse here at Hogwarts. "I'm fine," he stammers shaking his head. "I don't need anything."
"Oh, it's you. Is it?" She says as she looks him over. "I suppose you will be doing something dangerous again?" She asks. I smirk and hold in a giggle as I think of all that my brother has told me about him and his friends.
"It was a Dementor, Poppy." Professor McGonagall tells her. Madam Pomfrey's face darkens and she shakes her head in disgust.
"Setting dementors around the school, he's not going to be the first student to collapse. Yes, he is clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate-" She was interrupted by an offended Harry.
"I'm not delicate!"
"Of course you're not." she says as if she doesn't really believe him. I arch my brow, he doesn't really smell sickly at all to me.
"What does he need?" Professor McGonagall asks worriedly. "Bed rest? Should he perhaps spend the night in the hospital wing?"
"I'm fine." Harry argues jumping from his chair.
"Well, he should have some chocolate, at the very least." Madam Pomfrey states briskly.
"I've already had some, Professor Lupin gave me some, he gave it to all of us." Harry states matter of factly and Hermione nods in agreement. I just stay quiet.
"Did he, now?" Madam Promfrey smiles approvingly. " So we've finally got a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies." Ha… Deeana will be so annoyed I was right I think proudly.
"Are you sure you feel alright Potter?" Professor McGonagall asks sharply.
"Yes." He says annoyed.
"Very well… Diggory." I turn my head sharply as both her and Madam Pomfrey finally acknowledge me. "It's good to see you again, Miss Diggory." Professor McGonagall smiles at me as Madam Pomfrey starts to check me over. This was nothing new; I knew what was coming.
"You too, Professor," I turn to the nurse. "And you Poppy." She smiles at me as I use her first name. After 4 years under her care, she would get mad if I called her anything else.
"I got the reports from the Illvamorny nurse. How has your pain been?" Poppy asks as she checks my pulse.
"Fine…" I say as I look down in embarrassment.
"And your fits? Have the potions been working, do you think you need anything else?" My eyes flicker up in brief worry to the others in the room, but I trust Poppy to be discreet.
"Same as always and no, they work as well as they can, unless you've made some miracle potion you are hiding from me."
Poppy laughs. "No silly, I'm sorry, I haven't." She states as she presses into my ribs firmly. "How many potions do you have right now to last?" She starts checking my breathing. "About 3 months." I answer.
"Good, and did the Dementor aggravate your pain?" I shudder then nod. "Did Professor Lupin give you any chocolate?"
"No, I wasn't with them."
"Well then…" She grabs 4 bars out of her pocket and places them in my lap. "Take these dear." I look up at her in protest but hold it back when she gives me a look daring me to refuse her. She turns to Professor McGonagall. "All done here Minerva."
"Very well. Potter, Diggory, please kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Miss Granger about her course schedule then we can go down to the feast together." Professor McGonagall says we both get up and walk into the corridor with Madam Pomfery. She leaves to the hospital wing muttering something about her remedies and students. We both stand awkwardly waiting for a few minutes before the door opened revealing a very happy Granger. She must have noticed our awkwardness as she looks between us then huffs in annoyance and turns to me. "Hi, I'm Hermione Granger." Offering her hand, I take it shyly. "And this is Harry Potter." She points to Harry behind her. "It's nice to meet you." I say smiling politely. Harry just nods, I nod back.
Professor McGonagall starts to walk down the stairs to the great hall and I turn quickly trying to catch up. I can hear the others following behind. Through the open doors I can see a sea of pointed black hats upon all the other students' heads.
"Oh, we've missed the sorting." Hermione states sadly. I follow her gaze to watch Professor Flitwick walk away with the sorting hat and an old stool. I break away from the small group and walk to the Slytherin table.
"How did your check up go?" Jasmine asks as I sit next to her.
"Fine, nothing new." I answer and she frowns, shaking her head.
"I still can't believe no one can find out what's wrong." This causes me to frown now, I don't like to lie to her… but it's necessary.
"It's ok, Jas, after 17 years I am used to it. I just go get my treatments once or twice a month and I am good to go, for a bit." I say, she's about to protest but at that moment she is interrupted by Professor Dumbledore.
"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast…" He clears his throat as my stomach growls at the mention of food. "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave the school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises or even Invisibility Cloaks." His eyes flit over to the Gryffindor table. My eyes follow his, scanning for two red headed boys, Fred and George, the two mischievous Weasley twins. I turn back to him as he continues. "It's not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new head boy and girl to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors." His eyes scan all the tables as he pauses in his speech. "On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year." My eyes scan the head table but only see Professor Lupin as a new person. "First, Professor Lupin who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." I turn to Jasmine and the other two with a small smile. Deeana looks annoyed and Mary rolls her eyes. I turn my attention to the mentioned professor and noted that he looked just as tired as I felt, if not more. "As to our second new appointment, well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties." I smile happily and clap with the other students. Hagrid did love his creatures and knew a lot about them. "Well I think that's everything of importance, let the feast begin!"
With that our golden plates and goblets were filled with amazing foods, my growling stomach was finally full.