Hazel woke at the crack of dawn with heavy eyes and a woolly head. She didn't have much time to herself this morning either. No sooner had she started brushing her hair than Mrs Weasley opened the door.

"Oh good, you're already up. Wake up, Harry, dear. There's a lot to do!"

Harry woke with a start as Mrs Weasley closed the door and Hazel giggled at the sight. He looked around through half-closed eyes, mouth slightly open and hair sticking up like he'd slept upside down.

"It can't be morning already?" He mumbled and dropped back onto the bed, hands covering his face.

"It is," Hazel winced as her brush snagged in her hair. Ow, "Mrs Weasley wants everyone down to breakfast ASAP."

"I'll eat breakfast on the train," He turned over.

"Oh, you're taking the train this year, then? No house elves making a nuisance of themselves?"

"I think Hagrid could be hanging onto my trolley and he wouldn't stop Hawthorne getting us on that train."

She giggled at the idea. She was in such a good mood this morning, "Come on. It'll be worth it for Tom's breakfast."

"Nothing's worth getting up this early for."

"Not even Hogwarts?"

A deep sigh, "I'm getting up."

"Are you going to do anything with your hair?"

Harry snorted derisively.

Fred, George and Mr Weasley were already sitting at the table, rumpled haired and bleary eyed.

"Why," Fred grumbled as he spread marmalade on his bacon, "Did we have to get up so early? The train doesn't leave for hours!"

"The cars will be along soon," Mrs Weasley was bustling up and down the table, "And we can't leave anything behind this year."

"Why not?" George yawned as he poured half the cup of sugar into his tea, "Tom can send it on by owl."

"You would rather pay Tom to send owls to you rather than just getting up early?"

"Right now, I'd sell the house for a lie in," said Fred.

"It's not so bad," Hazel sat down beside George, "Think of it a practise for Oliver's quidditch training."

Fred groaned and banged his head on the table, while George looked to the heavens.

"Don't," Fred sighed into the table, "Even joke about such things."

"Yeah," George said, "Remember our first year? I was near ready for my N.E. by the time he finished. And that was just the throw in!"

Ginny dropped into the chair across from Hazel with dark bags under her eyes.

"Whose idea was this?" She asked.

"Guess," Fred mumbled, "Where's Percy?"

"Do Head Boys get a lie in?" George said, "I'd have worked harder to be a prefect if I'd known that."

"He's already had his breakfast and he's packing upstairs," Mrs Weasley started attacking Ginny with a hairbrush.

George snorted, "That's definitely what he's doing, not admiring himself in the mirror with his new badge."

It was a quiet breakfast once Harry, Ron and Hermione joined them. No one had the energy to talk. As soon as the last piece of bacon was finished, Mrs Weasley was chiding them all upstairs.

"Mum!" Ron protested.

"Go and make sure you have everything! Hurry up!"

In the chaos there wasn't much time to talk and before they knew it, the Ministry drivers were standing in the Leaky Cauldron beside a very flustered Mrs Weasley.

"Does everyone have everything?" She asked, "Ginny, have you packed your new socks?"

"For the tenth time mum, yes!"

"Boys, broomsticks?"

"Oh, I was wondering what this wooden thing was."

"I'm not in the mood, Fred! Ron, do you have your tonic for Scabbers."

"Yeah," Ron said grumpily.

"Okay then, I think we're ready."

Hawthorne was standing off to one side, but she made eye contact with the drivers and nodded. They lifted the trunks one-by-one and brought them to the car.

Hazel hesitated as the last trunk was carried out.

"What's up?" Harry asked.

Hazel took a breath and walked up to Hawthorne. Her stomach fluttered nervously, which wasn't helped when the auror raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips. It felt a bit like she was about to be told off.

"Um, thank you for looking after us?" She had been with them for their entire time in Diagon Alley, and she had brought them to the Leaky Cauldron in the first place. It felt weird, or maybe rude, not to at least say something before they left, "Goodbye?"

Hawthorne's mouth tightened even further but she gave a nod.

"Chatty isn't she?" Ron said as Hazel joined them in the suspiciously wide car, "Thought you were never going to get away."

The cars made their way through the middle of London surprisingly easily, even though the traffic was horrible. Any time they were stopped, it was like they found a little side road, or a car pulled out of their way just enough to let the two cars slip through. It was all very convenient, very knight bus-ish. Without the constant terror of death and need to be sick, of course.

They pulled up to Kings Cross in plenty of time, rather than the panic it had been last year. The drivers went and fetched trolleys for them all and then escorted them into the station.

"Mind your keys with these two around, lads," Fred said to the nearest driver and nodded at Harry and Ron. The driver raised an eyebrow as Hazel and Ginny giggled, Ron swore, and Mrs Weasley shouted at Fred.

"Hazel, you'll go first with me," said Mr Weasley once they reached the barrier. He hadn't taken his hand out of his coat for the entire journey. Was it that cold? "Harry, you'll come through next with Lloyd."

Lloyd? Oh, one of the drivers. Of course.

"Ready?" Mr Weasley smiled at her, but he looked very strained, "Let's go."

It was her second time doing this, but the novelty still hadn't worn off. She winced they approached the very solid-looking barrier and braced for the crash her mind told her was coming. Of course, it didn't and in the blink of an eye, they were on Platform Nine and Three Quarters. It was already bustling with parents and students all gathering around a brilliant scarlet steam train.

Mr Weasley relaxed as Harry and Lloyd came through the barrier behind them, quickly followed by Mrs Weasley and Ginny.

"Harry!" Fred grinned, "Good to see you!"

"See that? That's the train to school. It doesn't fly!" said George.

"That's enough you two," Mrs Weasley snapped as the drivers went back through the barrier, "Onto the train now, let's go."

They had to go all the way to the back of the train to find enough space for them all. Everywhere else was already full of students leaning out of the windows or hanging from the doors to hug parents goodbye. Hazel strained to try and catch a sight of silvery blonde hair but there was too much going on and she had to focus on not running over someone with her trolley.

They stowed everything into the carriage and once the owls were safely secured, went back onto the platform to say goodbye. Mrs Weasley kissed each of her children in turn, then Hermione, then, to Hazel's great surprise, Harry and herself. Harry and she even got an extra hug from Mrs Weasley, which was a little embarrassing in front of everyone, but it felt nice at the same time. She hugged back.

"Do take care, you two," Mrs Weasley said as she straightened up with her eyes oddly bright. She went into her pockets and pulled out a large, thick package, "I've made sandwiches for all of you. Here you are, Ron. No, they're not corned beef. Fred? Where's Fred, here you are, dear-"

"Harry, Hazel," Mr Weasley leant in, "Can I talk with you both alone, please?"

"Okay, Mr Weasley," Harry shared a glance with Hazel. Why did he look so worried? Was it to do with what Harry had overheard the night before? With all the rush of the morning, there'd been no time to discuss it, even to think about it.

He led them to a quiet corner, or as quiet as Platform nine and three quarters was ever going to get.

"Now," Mr Weasley said once he was sure they were alone, "There's something you need to know before you get to Hogwarts. It's about Sirius Black."

"We know he's after us, Mr Weasley," Harry said in a very calm voice. He sounded a lot calmer than Hazel was feeling.

"You do?" He said in surprise.

Hazel nodded, "Harry heard you talking about it with Mrs Weasley last night."

"Not that I was eavesdropping," Harry added quickly, "I just walked past and sort of…heard."

Mr Weasley frowned and for the first time, he looked very stern.

"It's not exactly how I would have liked you both to find out. Fudge doesn't want you to know anything about Black at all. He thinks it'll terrify you both to death," He was sort of right, "but I know you're made of stronger stuff than that."

Even over jangling fear, Hazel felt a little glow. Would she ever get used to this? Having adults in her life who actually believed in her.

"Arthur!" Mrs Weasley called, "The train's ready to go."

"Listen," Mr Weasley said all the more urgently, "You need to make me a promise-"

"That I won't leave the castle?" Harry said gloomily. Despite his best efforts, neither Mr or Mrs Weasley had signed his Hogsmeade permission slip, "Don't worry about that."

"Not entirely," Mr Weasley said even more serious still, "I want you to promise me no matter what happens, no matter what you hear, you will look out for each other."

"Look out for each other?" Hazel was glad that Harry looked as confused as she did, "I don't understand."

There was a loud whistle. The guards were closing the carriage doors.

"Arthur! Hurry up!"

"Mr Weasley, why would we need to look out for each other?" Harry frowned.

"Just promise me," Mr Weasley all but growled, speaking very fast, "Whatever happens, you will keep your promise."

"Alright, fine," Harry shrugged. Hazel nodded.

They only just made it to the last carriage as the train started to move. Everyone else was waiting in the corridor and they waved at Mr and Mrs Weasley until they disappeared from view.

"Merlin's pants, Harry," Fred laughed, "I thought you were going for it again! What happened? Did Lloyd catch you?"

"Fudge waiting in King's Cross with a beaters bat?" asked George

"Not exactly," Harry mumbled, "Come on."

The group made their way through the train. Percy had already gone ahead to the Prefect's carriage while Fred and George spotted Lee Jordan and Angelina Johnson sitting in a compartment and joined them.

"We'll take this one," Hermione glanced into an empty compartment. Well, nearly empty.

"Who's that?" Ron glanced at the man sleeping in the corner, covered in a shabby travelling cloak.

"Professor R.J Lupin," said Hermione.

"How on earth did you work that out?" Ron sounded amazed.

"It says on his briefcase."

"Oh, right."

"You two coming?" Harry looked at Hazel and Ginny.

Ginny went a little pink but with a quick look at Hazel, she shook her head, "We're going to go look for Atia."

"Alright, see you later," Harry closed the door behind them with a snap.

The train was packed, and every compartment seemed full as they moved from carriage to carriage. There was no sign of Atia in any of them.

"She must be on the train," Hazel bit her lip, "She wouldn't have missed it."

Ginny looked very serious, "She could."

"But how?"

"Students don't have to go to Hogwarts. They can be taught at home."

"They wouldn't do that to her!"

"You have met the Malfoys right?"

Hazel couldn't answer that but looked even harder into every carriage. She had to be here. She just had to be.

There was only one more compartment in this carriage. If she wasn't here…then they would just have to double back and check again.

She glanced through the glass and her heart leapt with joy at the familiar sight of long, silvery blonde hair.

"Atia!" Ginny opened the door, "Finally! We've been looking for you everywhere."

Atia had been resting her chin on her hand, looking out of the window at the countryside passing by. They were out of London already. She looked around with intense, blue eyes.

"Have you indeed," she said rather coolly, causing Hazel and Ginny to stop in their tracks. There was a hint of a sneer on her lips.

"Yeah," said Ginny, firmly, "We have. What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, I'm absolutely fine."

"Tell your face that."

Hazel interrupted as Atia drew in an angry breath, "Has something happened?"

Atia let the breath out again, "No. Nothing's happened."

There was a derisive snort behind them, "I might have guessed."

Hazel turned to see Draco Malfoy standing in the compartment door with Crabbe and Goyle glued loyally to his side.

"After everything father said, you've still gone crawling back to them."

Atia went pale, "I went after no one. They found me."

"Of course they did," Malfoy's voice dripped with sarcasm, "I bet you've been counting the days until you could see them again. Your blood traitor friend and…what's your name again?"

Malfoy turned his attention to Ginny.

"Good gracious. Weasley, are those…clothes? New ones? I'm surprised you've not broken out in a rash, though then again," he smirked, "Perhaps you have."

Ginny went a bright pink. Hazel stood as a flash of anger rushed through her.

Crabbe and Goyle stepped closer to Malfoy, who simply raised his eyebrows in mild surprise.

"And what are you going to do? Go crying to your brother? I'm not sure he'll have time to listen to your whining, now that he's back in the spotlight."

Hazel's stomach dropped horribly, and the anger washed away at once, "That's not true."

"Isn't it?" Malfoy's smirk grew wider still, "Why wouldn't it be true? He's the famous Harry Potter and you're just…pathetic. You're just…there, a waste. The…runt."

Tears prickled in the corner of Hazel's eyes. She couldn't even look at Malfoy. All she could see was Aunt Marge's beady gaze and her same, poisonous word.

Runt…

A figure pushed past her and put a pale hand on Malfoy's chest.

"Thank you, Draco," Atia's voice was sharp, "You can go find Zabini and the others. I can handle this."

Malfoy looked down at his sister, shook his head and left with Crabbe and Goyle trailing behind him.

Atia closed the door and waited a moment. When she turned around, her expression had softened.

"Draco didn't mean what he said-"

"Of course he did!" Ginny snapped, "He's a foul, evil little git!"

"Don't you talk about my brother like that!" Atia flushed an angry pink.

"I can't believe you're defending him!"

"I said, don't talk about him-"

"Shut up!" Hazel sat back in her seat without even really noticing. All she could think about was what Malfoy had said.

He's the famous Harry Potter…

The star seeker, the winner of the House Cup. The boy who had defeated Voldemort three times before he was even thirteen.

And she was just…her…

Ginny sat down next to her and put an arm on her shoulder.

"Hazel, you can't believe anything Malfoy says," She shot a dirty look at Atia, "He's just being a git."

Atia scowled, "I'll leave then."

"No," Hazel took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. She had been so looking forward to seeing Atia again, catching up with her. Despite everything she'd said, despite all the hurt, she didn't want her to go, "It's okay."

Atia went back to staring out the window.

They sat in awkward silence for ages, broken only when the witch came around with her trolley stuffed with treats. Hazel bought a few chocolate frogs, fizzing whizzbees, cauldron cakes and pumpkin pasties, Ginny contented herself with a chocolate frog and Atia bought nothing.

As they ate quietly, Hazel glanced over at Atia who hadn't turned around once. She looked so sad.

"Would you like one?" She offered Atia a cauldron cake.

Atia looked down at it as it were a bomb, then stared at Hazel for a long time with those sharp, blue eyes. Hazel looked back. There was no sneer now, no look of anger or hate. She looked scared.

"I haven't poisoned it," Hazel smiled weakly.

Atia took a deep breath and took the cake.

"Thank you," She whispered as she opened it.

"Did you have a good summer?" Hazel asked hesitantly, like she was talking to a particular annoyed dragon.

"Not really," Atia gave a long, deep, sad sigh, "Father was in a foul mood. He lost his role on the board of governors for Hogwarts."

Hazel shot Ginny a warning look just as she went to open her mouth. Ginny glared back but held her tongue.

"He wanted to know why I switched back to Gryffindor. Said it was a stain on the family name, that I was the first Malfoy ever not to be in Slytherin. He said it was…an embarrassment to him, after everything he did to try and get me into the proper house. He talked about it all summer, wanted to know why I wanted to change again. He said…" She winched and squeezed her eyes shut, "That I didn't need the likes of you as friends."

"Charming," Ginny scowled, "I take it we'll not be invited around for tea next summer?"

Atia ignored her, "Then we lost Dobby as well. That made things very difficult for us."

"Don't expect us to feel sorry for you," Ginny said, "You treated him like filth."

"That's how you have to treat a house elf," Atia snapped, "Father says if you don't, then they start getting difficult and disobeying you."

Harry had told Hazel everything about Dobby, from his filthy rags to his burned and mangled fingers, punished for every little mistake, for not being perfect.

"No," Even she was surprised by how cold her voice was, "You don't."

Atia looked surprised but her lip curled, "What would you know about it? You hadn't even heard of house elves until last year."

"Expected to do all the chores without any sort of thanks? Punished for the smallest mistakes? Being treated like dirt on a shoe? I think I have a fair idea of how it feels, thank you."

Atia looked away quickly. Ginny put her hand on Hazel's and squeezed.

"Father said you weren't really my friends," Atia went on after a long and deeply awkward silence, "He said you were trying to destroy the Malfoy name, and you were using me to do it. That's why you didn't write to me-"

"What are you talking about?" Ginny said, "We wrote to you loads of times. You never wrote back! Even Colin tried writing to you!"

Atia stared at her, "You're lying."

"We both tried writing to you," Hazel said, "You never answered."

"I tried right at the start of the summer, I tried a week later," Ginny said, "I even borrowed Hermes from Percy in case Errol was just getting tired! Every time he came back with the letter gone. I even tried sending you a present from Egypt!"

"Father said I hadn't received any letters. He said it was proof that you didn't care."

"You want proof?" Ginny rummaged around in her bag and pulled out a piece of parchment, "There. This parchment was under the last letter I wrote to you. You can still see what I wrote."

Atia studied the words intensely. When she put the parchment down, her eyes were much brighter and her voice was thick, "I thought you hated me. I thought because of Father, because of Draco…"

"You're our friend!" Ginny rolled her eyes, "Merlin's pants, I've never met anyone so allergic to having friends!"

Atia didn't answer, she looked down at her lap where her hands were playing over one another.

"I'm sorry," She said at last, looking at Hazel, "About what Draco said. To both of you."

Ginny shrugged, "It's hardly your fault he's a git."

"He's not a git!"

"I have something to tell you!" Hazel said quickly, before things fell apart again, "About Sirius Black."

For once, Ginny and Atia were quiet as Hazel described the whole conversation between Mr and Mrs Weasley and then what Mr Weasley had made them promise before getting on the train.

Ginny looked horrified, "Sirius Black is after you and Harry? Bloody hell, Hazel."

"That's what your dad said," her nerves jangled with fear every time she thought about it.

"No wonder they had an auror following you everywhere," Ginny shook her head, "I'm surprised the whole Ministry wasn't staying at the Leaky Cauldron!"

"It would stand to reason that he wants you dead," Atia even paler than normal, "He was one of the Dark Lord's closest and most powerful allies. Black lost everything when he was defeated."

"Thanks Atia," Hazel bit her lip as her stomach lurched.

"And if he was able to escape Azkaban, then he must be an exceptionally powerful wizard. One can only imagine what arcane arts the Dark Lord taught him."

"Thanks Atia."

"And that he's been able to evade capture for this long with the whole country looking for him speaks to his strength-"

"Thanks Atia! I think I get it."

"You'll need to watch your step this year," Ginny sighed, "You and Harry, especially given your…history."

"What history?"

"Well, let's see. In his first year, Harry sneaks out and finds a weird mirror he doesn't understand. Then he sneaks out to rehome a dragon. Long story," Ginny said as Atia raised an eyebrow, "Then last year, you were inches away from…well…"

Hazel could understand why Ginny faltered. It hadn't been so long since the Chamber of Secrets had been opened by Ginny herself, against her will.

"Then," She picked up again more strongly, "You both sneak off into the forest to chat with giant, man-eating spiders. You do have form."

"Not this year," Hazel said determinedly but her heart sank as she thought back to all the times she and Harry had been in danger in just the last two years alone, "This year we'll be careful."

Ginny snorted.

"We will! And," A comforting thought just occurred to her, "We're at Hogwarts. They say it's the safest place in the world, don't they?"

Ginny nodded in agreement, but Atia looked troubled.

"What is it?" Ginny sighed.

"Hogwarts has extensive magical protection," Atia said slowly, "Perhaps more than any one place in the world but…they said Azkaban was impregnable, that no witch or wizard could ever break in or out. Black has already done the impossible once. Why can't he do it again?"

Thankfully, Ginny changed the subject to something less terrifying, the worst Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean she'd ever had. Hazel relaxed a little into her seat, filled with chocolate and pumpkin and laughed as Ginny retold in loving detail how she'd eaten a toenail flavoured bean once. Even Atia giggled when she described her worst bean of all time: asphalt. They then spent an enjoyable amount of time trying to work out how the bean makers knew what tastes they were going for.

As the train made its way through the countryside, the sky grew darker and darker and thick drops of rain began falling against the windows. Before long, it was pounding against the side of the carriage like a battering ram while the wind howled and shook their seats beneath them.

Ginny grimaced as she looked out of the inky black window. Not that there was anything to see, "Quidditch is going to be fun if the weather keeps up like this."
"They won't play quidditch in this, surely?" Hazel asked, thinking of Harry on his broom out in that.

"Oh yeah, Charlie had to play one year in a full thunderstorm against Ravenclaw. He only caught the snitch because it happened to bounce off the keeper's forehead right in front of him. His broom even caught fire, hit by lightning!"

Hazel gulped very loudly.

"Just be glad," Atia looked nervously out of the window, playing with her hands again, "That we won't have to go over the lake again."

"We don't take the boats this year?"

"No, that's only first years. Everyone else takes carriages up to the castle. I hope they have roofs. Wait," Atia frowned, "Are we slowing down?"

It was. Even over the hammering rain, the squeal of the brakes beneath their feet could be heard.

"But we're in the middle of nowhere," Ginny pressed her face to the window, "There's not a light out there."

The train was definitely slowing. Then it jolted to a complete halt. Hazel squealed as she was thrown to the ground in an avalanche of luggage. There were cries of surprise and pain up and down the carriage.

The lights went out at once. They were in complete darkness.

"Ginny?" Hazel whispered and rubbed her shins where'd they'd been hit by a trunk, "Are you there?"

"I'm somewhere," Ginny groaned, "Something hit me on the back of the head. Who brings a bludger to school?"

"Atia?"

"I'm on the floor. Something's on my leg."

"Oh, is that you I'm standing on?"

"Very much appreciated, Ginny."

The compartment door opened and there was a crash followed by a yelp of pain from Atia.

"Oh hello," said someone in an airy sort of voice, "Why are you on the floor? Are you tired?"

"Tired of people standing on me? Yes!"

"Who's that?" Hazel asked as the door closed.

"Only me."

"That's a big help," Ginny said.

"Hold on," Hazel fumbled about for her wand and raised it over her head, "Lumos! Oh, Luna?"

Luna Lovegood was standing next to the jumble of luggage. She was smaller than everyone but Hazel, with dark blonde and with wide silvery-grey eyes. She also appeared to have horseradish dangling from her earrings.

"Luna, do you know what's happened?" Hazel asked.

"I think the train's stopped."

"Why," Atia hissed, "Are you still standing on my leg!"

"Oh, sorry."

Ginny wiped the window with her sleeve and pressed her nose against the glass, "There's something moving outside."

She looked back at Hazel, her expression suddenly serious, "Hazel, get away from the door."

"What? Why?"

"It might be him!"

Hazel's eyes widened in sudden fear.

"It cannot be him," Atia pulled herself up onto a seat and furiously rubbed her leg, "Don't be ridiculous."

"Oh, are we expecting someone?" Luna asked brightly.

"You said yourself he could escape from Azkaban," Ginny pulled out her wand, "Why couldn't he stop the train?"

"How? He would hardly flag it down."

"Wait," Ginny froze, "Can you hear that?"

It was coming from further down the carriage. Gasps and moans.

"Get behind me!" Ginny grabbed Hazel by the arm and yanked her back against the window. Atia leapt to her feet and pulled out her wand. Luna sat on a seat and watched them, humming to herself.

Where was Harry? Was he okay?

There was something in the corridor.

All three witches pointed their wands at the door. There was something, barely visible in the darkness beyond the compartment window. It was drifting slowly towards the door.

The door slid eerily open.

It was dressed in a deep, black cloak and so tall that its hood brushed the ceiling of the carriage. Its face was hidden in the darkness of the hood. Hazel looked down at its feet, except it didn't have any. It was…floating.

"Put your wands down," Atia said, high pitched and terrified, "Put your wands down! Now!"

Hazel lowered her wand. Ginny took a second longer and did the same.

The figure took a deep, rattling breath as if it was breathing air for the last time. Hazel gasped, because it felt like she had just jumped into the lake in the very depths of winter. The cold pierced her skin, like it was wrapping itself around her heart, around her chest. She could barely breath, panting for air as if her lungs were being squeezed.

She couldn't see, it was like she'd been blindfolded.

But she heard it.

Cold, cruel laughter.

She'd heard it before. This exact laugh.

"Please," She heard herself saying, "Please. Don't kill her."

She felt a weight in her arms, heavy and limp. It was convulsing beneath her, "No! Don't hurt her! Please!"

The voice laughed again. The cold had gone deeper still.

"Hazel! Hazel!"

Hazel opened her eyes and looked up at the fully lit ceiling. Why was she on the floor? Her head felt like it was going to explode. There was a rattling and rumbling from beneath her. The train was moving again.

There was a man standing over her, dressed in shabby robes and with a lined and tired face. His eyes were fully alert though and full of concern. He had a hand on her shoulder.

"Professor?" She was shivering violently. She couldn't remember his name.

"Take this," He handed her a lump of chocolate, "It will help."

She felt like she was going to be sick.

"Eat," He said calmly, "Trust me."

With great effort, she forced the chocolate into her mouth. It was so dry that it was like trying to swallow a razorblade. As soon as she'd swallowed it, a warmth passed through her chest and stomach, like she'd sat down beside a roaring fire.

"Can you sit up?" The Professor asked. Hazel nodded and let him help her into a chair. Her head was spinning as she looked around.

Ginny sat limply in the corner, face white as a sheet and her eyes red and puffy. Atia had her arms wrapped around her legs, her head buried in her knees. Luna seemed the most okay, but her face was very lined and she looked sadder than Hazel had ever seen her.

"How are you feeling?" The man asked.

"A little better," It was sort of true. She hadn't felt so awful in her life, but compared to what it had been, "What happened?"

"You fainted," The man said kindly. He was holding his wand in his other hand, and with a wave he summoned another massive bar of chocolate which he quickly broke up into little pieces, "Finish this between you, please. We'll be at the station soon. I need to check on the other compartments."

Slowly she reached out for a piece of chocolate and took it. Her palms were so sweaty. Another bite and she felt better.

"What," She said once she felt strong enough to speak, "Was that?"

"A dementor," Atia finally said without lifting her head, "They guard Azkaban."

"Those are the Azkaban guards?" Ginny said shakily, "That's what they've sent after Black?"

Atia nodded. Her whole body was shaking. Hazel quickly took a piece of chocolate and passed it to her. She took it and ate without looking up.

"That was really rather unpleasant," Luna said in the understatement of the century, "I can't think it's much fun to be around them."

"And now you know," Atia said darkly, "Why every witch and wizard in the world fears that place."

Ginny wiped her eyes and stood up. She grabbed a piece of chocolate and ate it as she rummaged around in the trunks, "Come on. We need to get changed."

Hazel tried to undo the clasps of her trunk, but her fingers were shaking so much she had to stop.

A deep breath.

Come on. Get yourself together!

She forced the clasps open.

Time to go home.

AN: Sorry as well if it's a bit slow. I know it's a bit longer as well, but I couldn't think of a good break in it. Any feedback is appreciated! :)