XXI. Fiery
Having a passionate and quick-tempered nature.
On the first day of the school year, Jayla woke up with a start, seeing her mother standing over her, already dressed for the day and staring down at her oldest daughter.
"We need to talk." Sophia mutters, not wanting to wake Hermione.
"Five more minutes, Mum." Jayla groans, burying her head in the pillow.
"Now," Her mother snaps, and the young Heiress jumps out of bed as Sophia pulls Jayla into the corridor, still in her pyjamas.
"What is it Mum?" She asks, seeing the look of fear and worry in her eyes.
"I had a vision when we were in New York." Sophia confesses.
"What did you see?" The young Heiress asks, holding her mother's hand.
"A black dog and a rat. There were whispers of a secret. A dark secret that needs to be shared." She replies, clutching at her daughter's hand. "You have to make sure that Harry doesn't go looking for Sirius Black."
"I will Mum, I promise." Jayla promises her. "I promise."
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Meanwhile, Tom wakes Harry with his usual toothless grin and a cup of tea before he gets dressed and is just persuading a disgruntled Hedwig to get back into her cage when Ron bangs his way into the room, pulling on a sweatshirt over his head, looking irritable. "The sooner we get on the train, the better," Ron comments. "At least I can get away from Percy at Hogwarts. Now he's accusing me of dripping tea on his photo of Penelope Clearwater. You know," He grimaces, "his girlfriend. She's hidden her face under the frame because her nose has gone all blotchy…."
"I've got something to tell you," Harry begins, but they're interrupted by Fred and George, who look in to congratulate Ron on infuriating Percy again.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
They head down for breakfast, where Mr Weasley reads the front page of the Daily Prophet with a furrowed brow, and Mrs Weasley tells Hermione, Jayla, and Ginny about a Love Potion she'd made as a young girl. Mr Darkmore fights with Mason to sit in his chair correctly while Mrs Darkmore gets Yazmin to eat her breakfast. All four of them are giggly.
"Later," Harry mutters as Percy storms in. He doesn't have the chance to speak to his friends in the chaos of leaving.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
They are 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 wickerwork basket stands beside the heap of trunks, spitting loudly at Hades in her posh grey pet carrier. "It's all right, Crookshanks," Hermione coos through the wickerwork. "I'll let you out on the train, and you can play with Hades later."
"You won't," Ron snaps. "What about Scabbers, eh?" He points at his chest, where a large lump indicates that Scabbers is curled up in his pocket. Mr Weasley sticks his head from outside the front door, having been waiting for the Ministry cars.
"They're here," Arthur announces.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
"Harry, come on." Mr Weasley marches Harry across the short stretch of pavement toward the first of two old-fashioned dark green cars, each with a furtive-looking Wizard driver wearing a suit of emerald velvet. "In you get, Harry." He glances up and down the crowded street, and the boy gets into the back of the car and is joined by Hermione, Ron, and to Ron's disgust, Percy.
"Where's Know-It-All?" Harry asks, looking around.
"She's driving down with her family," Hermione answers, getting out a book, and they begin their journey to King's Cross, which Harry can't help but compare to his time on the Knight Bus.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The large group of Witches and Wizards reach King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare, and the Ministry drivers find them trolleys before unloading their trunks and touch their hats to Mr Weasley and the Darkmores, then drive away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving queue for the traffic lights. Mr Weasley keeps close to Harry's elbow into the station.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
"Right then," Arthur says, glancing around them. "Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry." He strolls toward the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, pushing Harry's trolley and apparently very interested in the InterCity 125 that has just arrived at platform 9. With a meaningful look at Harry, he leans casually against the barrier, and the boy imitates him.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The next moment, Arthur and Harry fall sideways through the solid metal onto platform 9 ¾, looking up to see the Hogwarts Express, a scarlet steam engine puffing smoke over a platform packed with Witches and Wizards seeing their children onto the train. Percy and Ginny suddenly appear behind Harry. They are panting, having seemed to run at the barrier. "Ah, there's Penelope!" Percy announces, smoothing his hair and going pink again. Ginny catches Harry's eye, and they both turn away to hide their laughter as Percy strides over to a girl with long curly hair, walking with his chest thrown out so she doesn't miss his shiny badge.
Once the remaining Weasleys, Darkmores and Hermione join them, Harry and Mr Weasley lead the way to the end of the train, passing the full compartments to an empty carriage. They load the trunks onto it, stowing Hedwig, Hades and Crookshanks in the luggage rack before returning to say goodbye to the Weasleys and Darkmores. Mrs Weasley kisses all the children going to Hogwarts, embarrassing some of them, and hugs Harry. Even the Darkmore matriarch kisses all of them leaving and gives her daughter a warning look, who nods back in confirmation. "Do take care, won't you, Harry?" Molly tells him, straightening up and her eyes oddly bright. Then she opens her enormous handbag. "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," Mr Darkmore calls him quietly, knowing Arthur would get into trouble with his wife, "come over here for a moment." He jerks his head toward a pillar, and Harry follows him behind it, leaving the others crowded around Mrs Weasley. "There's something I've got to tell you before you leave -." Daniel says in a tense voice.
"It's all right, Mr Darkmore," Harry assures him. "I already know."
"You know? Ah. I thought I hear something creeping around last night." He comments, and Harry sees his eyes glint with something unsaid.
"Sorry -." The young Wizard apologises.
"That's not how I'd have chosen for you to find out," Mr Darkmore replies. "And I take it you heard what me and my wife said as well?"
"Yes, sir. Honestly, I am sorry. But it's okay. This way, you and Mr Weasley haven't broken your word to Fudge, and I know what's going on." Harry assures him.
"Harry, you must be very scared -." Daniel replies.
"I'm not," He answers sincerely. "Really," He adds, "I'm not trying to be a hero, but seriously, Sirius Black can't be worse than Voldemort, can he?" He waits for a flinch, but it doesn't come.
"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 -."
"Daniel!" Sophia calls her husband, shepherding the rest of the children onto the train with Molly. "Daniel, what are you doing? It's about to go!"
"He's coming, my love!" Daniel shouts back but turns to Harry, keeping a lower and more hurried voice. "Listen, I want you to give me your word -."
"- that I'll be a good boy and stay in the castle?" Harry guesses gloomily.
"Not entirely," He replies, looking more serious than Harry ever thought he could. "Harry, swear to me you won't go looking for Black."
"What?" The ravenette stares at him, but before he can get an answer, there's a loud whistle. Guards are walking along the train, slamming all the doors.
"Promise me, Harry," Mr Darkmore says, talking more quickly still, "that whatever happens -."
"Why would I go looking for someone I know wants to kill me?" Harry questions blankly.
"Swear to me that whatever you might hear -." Daniel adds.
"Daniel, quickly!" Molly shouts, and steam billows from the train as it begins to move. Harry runs to the compartment door, and Ron throws it open, standing back to let him on. They lean out the window and wave to the families when Mrs Weasley comes running carrying Scabbers.
"Ron!" Molly shouts, dashing along the side of the train with the rat in her hands, and he grabs the rodent through the open window of the door, and the train turns a corner, blocking them from view.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The aisle teems with students as the Golden Quartet and Ginny work their way down the aisle, looking for their compartment. "I didn't mean to blow her up. I just…" Harry says, troubled by the memory. "... lost control."
"Still, brilliant!" Ron laughs.
"Honestly, Ron, it's not funny. Harry's lucky he wasn't expelled," Hermione scolds him.
"I have to agree…." Jayla says. "With Ron. It's brilliant." She giggles with Ginny and jumps out of the way when a copy of The Monster Book of Monsters scuttles crab-like down the aisle with Neville in hot pursuit after it as it snaps its way past.
"Hi, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Jayla, Ginny." Neville greets them before he runs after his book.
"Hey, Neville," They greet him as he bumps past.
"I need to talk to you in private," Harry mutters to his friends as the train picks up speed.
"Go away, Ginny," Ron tells his younger sister.
"Oh, that's nice," Ginny groans, huffing before stalking off down the corridor, and they set off down the aisle, looking for an empty compartment. Still, all are full, except for, luckily, their own compartment at the end of the train, which they've been in for the last two years, but they find a man fast asleep next to the window. The Golden Quartet check the threshold because the Hogwarts Express is usually reserved for students, and they've never seen an adult there before, except for the Witch, who pushes the food trolley.
"C'mon. We're in here." Hermione tells them, looking at the stranger.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The Golden Quartet slips inside their compartment and finds a man in a shabby set of Wizard's robes that looks like it's been worn too many times. However, the man slumped against the window, asleep, looking rather ill and exhausted, seems relatively young, though with a few flecks of grey in his light-brown hair. The four eye him warily. "Who'd you reckon he is?" Ron whispers, sitting down opposite him.
"Professor R.J. Lupin." Hermione answers, sitting beside him while Jayla and Harry sit opposite them.
"You know everything," He scoffs. "How is it she knows everything?" He looks at the others.
"It's on his case, Ronald." She replies, pointing at the battered case above their heads with the name stamped in peeling letters.
"Wonder what he teaches," The redhead says aloud, frowning at Professor Lupin.
"That's obvious," Jayla scoffs, rolling her eyes. "There's only one vacancy a year, isn't there? Defence Against the Dark Arts, the cursed position."
"You don't honeslty believe that, do you?" Hermione mutters.
"Well, I hope he's up to it." Ron comments doubtfully, staring at the sleeping man. "He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he? Anyway…" He looks at his best friend. "What were you going to tell us?"
"Is he really asleep?" Harry asks, looking at Lupin.
"Seems to be. Why? What is it, Harry?" Jayla asks him, peering at the new Professor, and Harry gets up, closing the door while his friends exchange strange looks. Then the ravenette begins explaining all about Mr and Mrs Weasleys argument with Mr and Mrs Darkmore and the warning Mr Darkmore had just given him.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Like dark ghosts, storm clouds cover the sky, and rain falls onto the scarlet train as it heads for Hogwarts. Harry finally tells his friends what's been happening about Sirius Black and the Ministry. When Harry finishes, Ron looks thunderstruck, and Hermione has her hands over her mouth while Jayla looks shiftily around the compartment. Hermione finally lowers 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," Harry replies. "Trouble usually finds me."
"How thick would Harry have to be to go looking for a nutter who wants to kill him?" Jayla adds, rolling her eyes, hating the words coming from her mouth. Harry hates that his friends are taking the news worse than he expected; both Ron and Hermione seem to be more frightened of Black than he is, while Jayla seems fidgety, and he's not sure what she's feeling.
"No one knows how he got out of Azkaban," Ron says, growing uncomfortably. "No one's ever done it before. And he was a top-security prisoner, too."
"Silly Ronnie." Hades purrs, looking at the older ginger cat.
"Stupid Ron." Crookshanks agrees, making Jayla smile, glad the two cats seem to be getting along.
"But they'll catch him, won't they?" Hermione asks earnestly. "I mean, they've got all the Muggles looking out for him, too.…"
"Sure - Of course, no one's ever broken out of Azkaban before. And he's a raving lunatic…" Ron comments, looking at his best mate.
"That's really reassuring, Ronald," Jayla scoffs, and then a faint, tinny whistling comes from somewhere.
"What's that noise?" He asks, and they look all around the compartment.
"Whatever it is, it's going to wake the man up," She mutters.
"It's coming from your trunk, Harry," The redhead says, standing up and reaching into the luggage rack. He pulls the Pocket Sneakoscope out from between Harry's robes a moment later. It is spinning very fast in the palm of Ron's hand and glowing brilliantly.
"Is that a Sneakoscope?" Hermione asks interestedly, standing up for a better look.
"Yeah… mind you, it's a very cheap one," Ron replies. "It went haywire just as I was tying it to Errol's leg to send it to Harry."
"Were you perhaps doing something untrustworthy at the time?" Jayla asks, looking at the device.
"No!" He denies. "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?"
"Stick it back in the trunk," Harry advises, as the Sneakoscope whistles piercingly, "or it'll wake him up." He nods toward Professor Lupin. Ron stuffs the Sneakoscope into a particularly horrible pair of old socks, which deadens the sound, then closes the trunk lid.
"We could get it checked in Hogsmeade," Ron suggests, sitting back down. "They sell that sort of thing in Dervish and Banges, Magical instruments and stuff. Fred and George told me."
"Do you know much about Hogsmeade?" Hermione asks keenly. "I've read it's the only entirely non-Muggle settlement in Britain -."
"Yeah, it is," Jayla nods.
"That's not why I want to go." Ron replies. "I just want to get inside, Honeydukes!"
"What's that?" Hermione asks.
"It's this sweetshop," He tells them with a dreamy look, "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 presses 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 sherbert balls that make you levitate a few inches off the ground while you're sucking them." Ron continues, plainly not listening to a word Hermione is saying. Jayla sees the look on Harry's face.
"Won't it be nice to get out of school for a bit and explore Hogsmeade?" Jayla asks him, frowning.
"'Spect it will," Harry replies heavily. "You'll have to tell me when you've found out."
"What d'you mean?" Ron questions.
"I can't go." He reveals, and they all look at him in disappointment. "The Dursleys didn't sign my permission form, and Fudge wouldn't, either." Ron looks at him in horror.
"You're not allowed to come? But - no way - McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House, out of the castle -" Ron suggests, and Harry gives out a hollow laugh, thinking about Professor McGonagall, the strictest teacher ever to grace the halls of Hogwarts. "- or we can ask Fred and George, they know every secret passage out of the castle -."
"Ron!" Hermione snaps sharply. "I don't think Harry should be sneaking out of school with Black on the loose -."
"Yeah, I expect that's what McGonagall will say when I ask for permission," Harry adds bitterly.
"But if we're with him," Jayla reasons spiritedly to Hermione, not wanting Harry to miss out on the experience.
"Exactly, Black wouldn't date -." Ron agrees.
"Oh, Ron, don't talk rubbish. And Jayla, don't encourage him." Hermione snaps. "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?" Hermione argues and fumbles with the straps of Crookshanks' basket.
"Don't let that thing out!" He snaps, but it's too late as Crookshanks leaps lightly from the basket, stretches, yawns, and springs onto Ron's knee, and the lump in Ron's pocket trembles as he shoves the cat angrily away. While Hades sits happily, watching from her perch in Jayla's lap, encouraging the ginger cat. "Get out of it!"
"Ron, don't!" Hermione growls angrily, and Ron goes to answer back when Professor Lupin stirs. The teens watch him apprehensively, but he simply turns his head the other way, mouth slightly open, and sleeps on.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The Hogwarts Express moves steadily north, and the scenery outside the window becomes wilder and darker while the clouds overhead thicken. People are chasing backwards and forward past the door of the Golden Quartet's compartment. Crookshanks has now settled in an empty seat, his squashed face turned toward Ron, his yellow eyes on Ron's top pocket, and Hades lies on top of the ginger cat, playing around.
The plump Witch with the food trolley arrives at the compartment door at one o'clock. "D'you think we should wake him up?" Ron asks awkwardly, nodding toward the sleeping Professor. "He looks like he could do with some food." Hermione approaches Lupin cautiously, whispering.
"Er - Professor?" Hermione whispers. "Excuse me - Professor?" He doesn't move an inch.
"Don't worry, dear," The trolley lady assures her, handing Harry 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," Jayla mutters, taking some Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Botts before the Witch slides the compartment door closed. "I mean - he hasn't died, has he?"
"No, no, he's breathing," Hermione whispers, taking the cauldron cake Harry passes her. Though Professor Lupin isn't the most outstanding company, his presence in their compartment has its uses because mid-afternoon, just as it starts raining, blurring the rolling hills outside the window, they hear footsteps in the corridor again.
Their three least favourite people appear at the door: Draco Malfoy, flanked by his cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. Draco and Harry have been enemies since they met in their first year at Hogwarts. Malfoy is Jayla's cousin, and since last year they've gotten along a lot better, though that doesn't extend to their friends. "Well, look who it is," Draco says in his usual lazy drawl, pulling open the compartment door. "Potty and Weasel." Crabbe and Goyle chuckle trollishly. "I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley. Did your mother die of shock?" Ron stands up so quickly he knocks Crookshanks' basket to the floor, making Professor Lupin give a snort, alerting the three Slytherins to his presence. "Who's that?" He takes an automatic step backwards as he spots the teacher.
"New teacher," Jayla answers, and Harry gets to his feet, too, in case he needs to hold Ron back.
"What were you saying, Malfoy?" Harry questions and Draco narrows his pale eyes, not wanting to pick a fight under a teacher's nose and needing to talk to his cousin.
"Cousin, we need to talk," He looks at the young Heiress, whose friends stare at her, and she gets up, joining them outside, and Harry and Ron sit back down when the three Slyhterins disappear, and Ron massages his knuckles. "Go." Draco says to his goons, who walk away, giving the cousin some space.
"What's wrong?" Jayla asks him, seeing the fear in his eyes. "Drake, what is it?"
"When you dropped me off at home. She told me my father was writing to me all summer. I don't know what to do." He confesses, and Jayla hugs him.
"If you want to talk with him, that's up to you, but it's all your choice. I know you've always had a problematic relationship with him. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do because you feel pressured. You have choices in your life that don't have to be pressured by what your father thinks. You're your own person, Drake." She tells him, pulling away from the hug, seeing her cousin seem almost happier.
"Thanks. I'll see you at school." Malfoy replies and smiles.
"We can spend some time at Hogsmeade together near Christmas, since you and Aunt Cissa are spending it with us." The young Heiress smiles back, and he walks off with one last hug before she goes back into the compartment.
The rain thickens as the train speeds further north; the windows are now a solid, shimmering grey, gradually darkening until lanterns flicker into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. The train rattles, the rain hammers with the wind roaring outside, but Professor Lupin still sleeps. Just then, the compartment rattles and the lanterns flicker as the train lurches, beginning to slow. Hermione accidentally slides down the seat, pinning Ron against the window, they exchange awkward glances, and then she carefully slides to the other side of the seat, looking at her watch, frowning. "Why're we stopping" Hermione wonders, looking around. "We can't be there yet…" Harry rises from his seat and slides the door open, peering into the corridor with other students when the train jerks, making the car sway and the laps running along the ceiling flicker before dying one by one until it's dark.
"What's going on?" Jayla mutters, seeing a wisp of steam suddenly escaping her mouth at how cold it's become.
"Dunno… Maybe we've broken down?" Harry suggests, looking around the dark compartment.
"Ouch! Ron, that was my foot!" Hermione exclaims as Scabbers squeaks in fear in Ron's lap, and he leans against the window, wipes a patch of condensation from the window, trying to see outside, but the rain is too heavy.
"There's something moving out there. I think… people are coming aboard," Ron mutters when the train suddenly sways violently before righting itself, sending the redhead back. "Bloody hell."
"What's happening?" Jayla whimpers, holding onto Harry as thetes a crackling that fills the car, and it wakes Lupin, who watches his eyes alert and wary. The compartment door suddenly opens, and someone falls painfully over Harry's legs into Jayla's lap, startling Hades, who jumps into Lupin's.
"Sorry!" Neville cries, getting himself up. "D'you know what's going on? Ouch! Sorry -."
"Hullo, Neville," Harry replies, feeling around in the dark and pulling Neville by his cloak to stand up.
"Harry? Is that you? What's happening?" He asks, looking around the dark compartment.
"No idea! Sit down -." Jayla smiles, patting the space between her and Harry. There is a loud hissing and a yelp of pain as Neville tries sitting on Crookshanks.
"I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on," Hermione announces.
"I'll come too," Jayla offers, and Harry feels them pass him, hearing the door slide open again; then there's a thud and three squeals of pain. "Who's that?"
"Who's that?" Ginny asks.
"Ginny?" Jayla and Hermione ask.
"Hermione? Jayla?" She wonders.
"What are you doing?" Hermione questions Ron's younger sister.
"I was looking for Ron -." The younger ginger replies.
"Come in and sit down -." Jayla offers.
"Not here!" Harry says quickly, wanting Jayla to sit next to him. "I'm here!"
"Ouch!" Neville cries.
"Quiet!" A hoarse voice suddenly says, which apparently means Professor Lupin is awake, and they can hear movement from his corner as none of them speaks. Then there's a soft crackling noise with a shivering light filling the compartment as Lupin appears to be holding a handful of flames, illuminating his tired grey face, but his eyes look alert and wary. "Stay where you are," Lupin says in the same hoarse voice, and he gets slowly to his feet with his handful of fire held out in front. But the door slides slowly open before he can reach it, and standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in the teacher's hand, is a cloaked figure towering toward the ceiling. Its face is completely hidden beneath its hood. Harry's eyes darted downwards, and what he sees makes his stomach contract. A hand protruding from the cloak is glistening, greyish, slimy-looking and scabbed, like something dead that decays in water… It is visible only for a split second. As though the creature beneath the cloak senses Harry's gaze, the hand suddenly withdraws into the folds of the black material. And then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it is, draws a long, slow, rattling breath as though it is trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings. An intense cold sweeps over them all. Harry feels his own breath catch in his chest. The cold goes deeper than his skin. It is inside his chest; it is inside his very heart… Harry's eyes roll up into his head. He can't see. He is drowning in the cold. There is a rushing in his ear as though full of water. He is being dragged downwards, and the roaring grows louder….
"Expecto Patronus…"Lupin and Jayla conjure a spell, flashing blue from their wands, sending the creature away.
With a desperate gasp, Harry opens his eyes, blinking to see the dusk is gone, the windows black, and the floor at his spin is shaking gently as the train moves again. His eyes shift to a drop of newly unfrozen water running slowly down the window. "Harry? Harry, are you all right?" Hermione asks, worrying about his sudden faint, hovering above him with the others, and he nods back, sitting up, seeing Ron looking pale and nervous, though he extends his hand, holding his glasses.
"Thanks," Harry mutters, slipping his glasses back on and discovering the cold sweat on his brow. Lupin snaps a ragged triangle of chocolate off the slab in his hand, holding it out.
"Chocolate. Eat. It'll help," Lupin tells him, looking at Jayla as she eats the rest of her Chocolate Frogs.
"What was that - that thing?" Harry asks, pointing to the empty compartment door.
"A Dementor," Jayla says through her chocolate-filled mouth.
"One of the guards of Azkaban. It's gone now," Lupin assures the students and sees Harry frown.
"It was searching the train, Harry. For Sirius Black." Hermione informs him.
"I need to have a word with the driver. Excuse me," He says, getting up." Eat," He gestures to the chocolate. "It'll help." Harry looks at his friends once Lupin leaves.
"What happened to me?" Harry asks, looking around the crowded compartment.
"Well, you sort of went… rigid. We thought maybe you were having a fit or something." Ron says, looking at his sister, who nudges her side.
"And did any of you? You know… pass out?" He asks, gesturing to the others.
"No. I felt… weird." Neville replies. "Like I'd never be cheerful again. But… no." Harry turns to the girls, and they shake their heads.
"I was trembling." Hermione confesses. "Cold. But then… Professor Lupin and Jayla make it go away…."
"But someone was screaming. A woman." Harry tells them, and the others glance at each other nervously.
"No one was screaming, Harry," Jayla tells him, and he looks out the window, pushing through his reflection, not saying a word. "I need to check on something. Come on, Hades, Crookshankes. Let's explore the train."
"Yay! Exploring time!" Hades cheers, running after her owner with Crookshanks trailing behind.
"Okay." Crookshanks grunts, following out of the compartment.
"What's wrong with her?" Neville asks, watching the young Heiress as the door slides closed.
Professor Lupin returns later to the compartment, pausing when he enters, looking around. "I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know…." Lupins says with a tiny smile, and Harry takes a bite and, to his great surprise, feels warmth spread suddenly to the tips of his fingers and toes. "We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes." He looks around the compartment, seeing Jayla has gone along with the cats. "Are you all right, Harry?" The boy doesn't ask how he knows his name.
"Fine," Harry mutters, embarrassed, and Jayla comes in with the felines in tow, and they don't talk much during the remainder of the journey.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
At long last, the train stops at Hogsmeade station, and there is a great scramble to get out; the owls hoot, cats meow, and Neville's pet toad croaks loudly under his hat. It is freezing on the tiny platform as rain drives down icy sheets. "Firs' years this way!" A familiar voice calls, making the Golden Quartet turn and see the gigantic outline of Hagrid at the end of the platform, beckoning the terrified-looking new students toward their traditional journey across the lake. "All righ', you four?" Hagrid yells over the heads of the crowd, and they wave back at him, but they don't have a chance to speak to him because of the mass of people around them, shunting them away along the platform.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The Golden Quartet follow the rest of the school onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches await the remaining students, each pulled by invisible horses they learned Jayla can hear. They climb inside one and shut the door, and the coach sets off all by itself, bumping and swaying. Harry can't help but think it smells of mould and straw, but he feels better because of the chocolate and still feels weak. His friends keep looking at him sideways, frightened he might collapse again. As the carriage trundles toward a pair of magnificent wrought-iron gates flanking with stone columns topped with winged boars, Harry sees two more towering, hooded Dementors standing guard on either side.
A wave of cold sickness threatens to enjoy him again, and he leans back into the lumpy seat and closes his eyes until they pass through the gates. The carriage picks up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle, and Hermione leans out of the tiny window, watching the many turrets and towers drawing nearer.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
At last, the carriage sways to a halt, and Hermione, Ron and Jayla get out as Harry steps down, a drawling, cheery voice sounds in his ear. "You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?" Malfoy elbows past Hermione to block the ravenette's way up the stone steps to the castle, and his face seems gleeful while his pale eyes glint maliciously.
"Shove off, Malfoy," Ron growls, clenching his jaw.
"Did you faint as well, Weasley?" He questions loudly. "Did the scary old Dementor frighten you, too, Weasley?"
"Is there a problem?" Professor asks in a calm voice, getting out of the next carriage, and Draco gives him an insolent stare, which takes in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase.
"Oh, no, er - Professor," Malfoy replies, his voice hinting a little with sarcasm, and smirks at his goons, leading them up the steps into the castle. Hermione prods Ron in the back to make him hurry, and the four Slytherins join the crowd swarming up the steps through the giant oak front doors into the cavernous Entrance Hall.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The Entrance Hall is lit with flaming torches and houses a magnificent marble staircase which leads to the upper floors. The door into the Great Hall stands open at the front, and Harry follows the crowd toward it but barely glimpses the enchanted ceiling, which is black and cloudly tonight. "Potter! Granger! Darkmore! I want to see you three!" A voice calls them, and they turn around, surprised. Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and Head of Gryffindor House, calls them over the heads of the crowd. Harry fights his way over to her with a foreboding feeling behind Hermione and Jayla, as Professor McGonagall has a way of making him feel he must have done something wrong. "There's no need to look so worried - I just want a word in my office." She assures them. "Move along there, Weasley," Ron stares as she ushers his friends away from the chattering crowd, and they accompany her across the Entrance Hall, up the marble staircase and along the corridor.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Once the three teens are in McGonagall's small office with a large, welcoming fire, she motions them to sit down. She settles herself behind her desk. "Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter." McGonagall says abruptly. Before he can reply, there is a soft knock on the door, and Madam Pomfrey, the matron, comes bustling in. Harry feels himself going red in the face.
"I'm fine," Harry assures her, hating that everyone knows he passed out. "I don't need anything -."
"Oh, it you, isn't it?" Madam Pomfrey replies, ignoring him and bends down, staring closely at him. "I suppose you've been doing something dangerous again?"
"It was a Dementor, Poppy," McGonagall adds, and the women exchange a dark look, then the matron clucks disapprovingly.
"Setting Demenotors around a school," Pomfrey mutters, pushing Harry's hair back and feeling his forehead. "He won't be the first one who collapses. Yes, he's all clammy. Terrible things they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate -."
"I'm not delicate," Harry argues crossly.
"Of course you're not," She argues absentmindedly, now taking his pulse.
"What does he need?" McGonagall asks crisply. "Bed rest? Should he perhaps spend tonight in the Hospital Wing?"
"I'm fine!" Harry snaps, jumping up at the idea of what Draco Malfoy will say if he hears it ended up in the hospital.
"Well, he should have some chocolate, at the very least," Madam Pomfrey replies. Ignoring the boy, trying to peer into his eyes.
"I've already had some," He announces. "Professor Lupin gave me some. He gave it to all of us."
"Did he now?" She smiles approvingly. "So we've finally got a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies."
"Are you sure you feel all right, Potter?" McGonagall asks sharply.
"Yes," Harry answers.
"Very well. Kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Miss Granger and Miss Darkmore about their timetables, the we can go down to the feast together." She replies, and he returns to the corridor with Madam Pomfrey, who leaves for the Hospital Wing, muttering to herself. The Deputy Headmistress talks to the girls about their extra classes, though Hermione's is more extensive than Jayla's and gives her something to help.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
A few minutes later, Jayla and Hermione emerge, looking very happy about something, followed by Professor McGonagall, and the four of them go back down the marble staircase to the Great Hall, seeing a sea of pointed black hats. Each of the long House tables is lined with students, their faces glimmering by the light of thousands of candles floating over the tables in midair. Professor Flitwick, the tiny little Wizard, is carrying an old hat and a three-legged stool out of the hall. "Oh," Hermione sighs softly, "we've missed the Sorting!" The new students at Hogwarts are sorted into their Houses, and Professor McGonagall strides off toward her empty seat at the staff table. Hermione, Harry and Jayla set off in the other direction, as quietly as possible, toward the Gryffindor table. People look around at them as they pass along the back of the hall, and a few students point at Harry, possibly hearing he collapsed on the train. They sit on either side of Ron, who saves them seats. What was all that about?" Ron mutters to Harry, who starts to explain in a whisper, but at that moment, the singing toad choir stands to sing, and he breaks off, looking at the High Table to see Lupin sitting with Snape and the other teachers behind the singing students. The caretaker, Argus Filch, stands grimly at the back of the hall with his red-eyed cat, Mrs Norris, swishing her tail at his feet. As the choir's song finishes, Professor Dumbledore rises from his chair, beaming over the sea of black hats, glad to see the students.
"Welcome!" Dumbledore greets the hall full of students. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say before we become befuddled by our excellent feast. I myself am particularly looking forward to the flaming kiwi cups, which, while somewhat treacherous for those of us with facial hair…." McGonagall clears her throat to make him stop rambling. "Mm. Yes. First, I've pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts. Good luck to you, Professor." The students clap happily as he stands, bowing mildly at them and the Golden Quartet applause the loudest.
"Whoo!" Jayla cheers. "We've got a better Professor now!" Some students laugh, remembering their previous teachers.
"Quiet, Miss Darkmore," McGonagall calls and the Weasley twins laugh, pulling her down, and she looks over at the Hufflepuff table to see Cedric smiling and laughing at her.
"Thank you, Miss Darkmore." Dumbledore chuckles. "As some of you may know, Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher for many years, has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be filled by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid!" The Golden Quartet stare at each other stunned, then break out into applause vigorously with the rest of the students, making the half-giant go red before rising after McGonagall nudges him, toppling the staff table, sending water goblets weaving, and sits back down. "Finally," Dumbledore turns grave, "on a more disquieting note, Hogwarts - at the request of the Ministry of Magic - will, until further notice, play host to the Dementors of Azkaban." A murmur of apprehension erupts through the Great Hall, and even Draco seems worried, though he changes to a smug look when he catches Harry staring at him.
"The Dementors will be stationed at the entrance to the grounds. While they are under strict orders not to enter the castle itself, you will, on occasion, see them as you go about your daily activities. Under no circumstances are you to approach them." He stares out at the bleach looks of the students. "A word of caution, Dementors are vicious creatures. They will not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one that gets in their way. Therefore I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving. But you know happiness can be found even in the darkness of times," He waves his hand over the flame, making it disappear, "when if only they remembers to turn on the light." He waves his hand back, and the flame returns, trying to lighten the mood throughout the hall, and begins the feast.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
After the Welcoming Feast finishes and the first years, along with the Prefects, are gone, the rest of the students exit the Great Hall, scale the marble staircase and the Gryffindors head to the Grand Staircase, making it up to the seventh-floor corridor, approaching the Fat Lady portrait. "Fortuna Major," Seamus says the password, but she shushes him, trying to sing a high note to break the glass she's wearing. "She won't listen." He turns to face the other third-years. "She just won't let me in."
"Fortuna Major," Harry repeats.
"No, no, no, wait, this." The Fat Lady tells them and tries again, shrieking this time, making most of the paintings and students cover their ears before she grows frustrated and smashes the glass into the wall behind her. "Ah, amazing! Top of my voice!"
"Brava!" Jayla claps.
"Thank you," She giggles.
"Fortuna Major, if you please," The young Heiress sings to her.
"Of course," The Fat Lady grins, letting them into the Common Room.
"Thank you," Jayla smiles, walking into the hole with the others behind her.
"Brilliant as ever, Jayla," Dean laughs.
"She's still doing," Harry grumbles to Seamus as they walk behind her.
"I know," Seamus agrees, nodding.
"She can't even sing!" The boys exclaim, walking across the Common Room. "Exactly."
"But our dear Jayla can!" He smiles, hugging her goodnight before disappearing up the stairs, and she saves Dean from the ghost walking across the room.
"Thanks, Jayla. Night!" Dean runs after the other boys.
"Don't stay up too late!" Hermione shouts after them, and they go into their dorm room, seeing Ginny and Abigail already dressed for bed.
"Party time!" Parvati cheers, earning a look from Hermione. "It's a joke, Mione."
"I got us all a record player!" Jayla announces, pulling out a vintage record player from her trunk, putting it on her dresser, and playing a song.
"What is this?" Ginny asks.
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun!" She beams, and the girls dance around the dorm, even Hermione, as they unpack their things.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
In the boys' dorm room, they play around after unpacking their things and hear the girls' music coming from their dormitory while trying out the sweets Ron bought from Egypt. "Oh, that's a monkey," Ron grins, giving Seamus the sweet, and he mimics the noise while messing around. "What is that?"
"What do you call that," Dean laughs.
"Do not give him one again," He jokes; Seamus finishes and the boys clap. "Neville, try an elephant." He chucks another sweet toward him, and Neville catches it, eating the sweet, making loud mimicking noises, and sitting up from his bed as the others goof off, laughing and cheering him on.
"Ron catch!" Seamus throws one at the redhead, and he quickly eats it, mimicking a lion.
"Ah, brilliant!" Harry grins.
"The best one!" Dean laughs.
"Ah, don't try one of them!" Ron shouts as Harry picks up a sweet and pops it into his mouth. "Oh, no!" Harry's face scrunches up as steam flies out of his ears.
"Ha! Look at his face!" Seamus laughs, and the steam ends before the boys break into a pillow fight, not caring about the Dementors outside.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Later that night, while those around Harry sleep, he takes the photo frame of his parents and sets it next to his bed, glancing around in quiet contemplation. "Good to be home, eh, Harry?" Ron asks his best friend, and he turns to him, caught and finds him studying from his bed with Scabbers cradled in his hands. Harry nods, turning to the window, looking out to see the Dementors drift into their positions around the Hogwarts grounds, and he stares.
"Yeah…" Harry agrees, his breath fogging up the glass, and he turns away, trying to get some sleep.