The Dementor
Tom woke Harry the next morning with his usual toothless grin and a cup of tea. Harry got dressed and was just persuading a disgruntled Hedwig to get back into her cage when Ron banged his way into the room, pulling a sweatshirt over his head and looking irritable.
"Ron, you could at least knock. You hate it if any of us barge into your room without knocking first," Percy rolled his eyes.
"It's fine. We share a dorm," Harry shrugged.
He commented that the sooner they got on the train the better, as he would be able to get away from Percy at Hogwarts. He had accused Ron of dripping tea on a photo of his girlfriend who had hidden her face under the frame because her nose had gone blotchy.
"Did you spill tea on the picture? Even accidentally?" Bill asked his brother casually.
"It was Percy's fault!" Ron exclaimed. "I was moving his cup of tea so I could get my books and he bumped into me. A couple of drops fell on the picture, and he was yelling like I did it on purpose."
"It's the only good picture I had of Penny," Percy frowned.
"Well, you shouldn't have put your cup of tea on my books right next to the picture then," Ron replied.
"If you're stuff didn't take up every available surface I wouldn't need to," retorted Percy.
"Enough boys," Molly cut in. "Percy, it sounds like it was an accident. It was easy to fix. Ron if you'd packed your things away the night before as I told you to, then it might not have happened."
Harry said he had something to tell Ron, but they were interrupted by Fred and George, who had looked in to congratulate Ron on infuriating Percy again.
Percy rolled his eyes.
They headed down to breakfast, where Mr. Weasley was reading the front page of the Daily Prophet with a furrowed brow and Mrs. Weasley was telling Hermione and Ginny about a love potion she'd made as a young girl. All three of them were rather giggly.
"Love potions are hardly funny items," Severus muttered.
"You brewed love potions?" Charlie asked his mother in astonishment at the same time.
"Just the one. I never gave it to anyone," Molly said, blushing lightly.
"I should think not," Minerva stated sternly.
"Love potions are terrible things. I've never understood how the magical world treats them so casually," Ted put in.
"Most don't do anything more than cause an infatuation," Fred shrugged. "And they wear off after a couple of hours. The strong ones are illegal."
"Infatuation can be dangerous too," Hermione pointed out.
Ron asked Harry what he'd been saying. Harry said he'd tell him later as Percy stormed in. Harry had no chance to speak to Ron or Hermione in the chaos of leaving; they were 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 stood beside the heap of trunks, spitting loudly. Hermione cooed that she'd let him out on the train.
"In a small train compartment with the same rat he's already tried to attack?" Tonks asked dubiously.
"It's not fair to keep him caged the whole way to Hogwarts," Hermione protested.
"It's also unfair to Ron's ill pet if his friend's cat tries to attack him again," Bill pointed out.
"Crookshank's basket should be enchanted to be comfortable for him despite the small space. Most travel cages have extension charms to give them more space inside as well as temperature regulation charms," Charlie explained.
"Crookshank's travel basket certainly didn't have any of that on. I didn't know it was an option either," Hermione frowned.
"That's unusual. You must have gotten a fairly poor shop assistant if they didn't even let you know it was an option," said Neville.
"Maybe you could trade off then. Keep Crookshanks in his travel basket for some of the journey and Scabbers in his cage for the rest. That way they both get some time stretching out," suggested Ted. Ron and Hermione both flushed. Hermione wanted to point out that Crookshanks was a cat and needed more room than Scabbers had, especially seeing as the rat spent most of his time asleep and wouldn't care if he was in a cage or not, but she knew it wasn't an argument she would win right now. Besides, it was still strange thinking about Scabbers the rat, knowing he was also Peter Pettigrew.
Ron said she wouldn't, asking about poor Scabbers. He pointed at his chest, where a large lump indicated that Scabbers was curled up in his pocket. Mr. Weasley, who had been outside waiting for the Ministry cars, stuck his head inside and said the cars were there. Mr. Weasley marched Harry across the short stretch of pavement toward the first of two old-fashioned dark green cars, each of which was driven by a furtive-looking wizard wearing a suit of emerald velvet. Mr. Weasley told Harry to get in, glancing up and down the crowded street.
"Subtle, Arthur," Kingsley teased.
"At least some was looking out for Harry," Sirius said.
Harry got into the back of the car and was shortly joined by Hermione, Ron, and, to Ron's disgust, Percy. The journey to King's Cross was very uneventful compared with Harry's trip on the Knight Bus.
"I should hope so," Arthur smiled lightly.
The Ministry of Magic cars seemed almost ordinary, though Harry noticed that they could slide through gaps that Uncle Vernon's new company car certainly couldn't have managed.
"Very handy," Ted mused.
"If the Ministry have magical cars, why was it so bad that Mr. Weasley enchanted one?" Harry asked, confused.
"Essentially because he enchanted it to fly, which muggle cars do not do. The enchantment to enhance the space inside wouldn't have been illegal, nor the charms on the Ministry Cars to get through traffic a little quicker. Flying, even with an invisibility booster, which obviously can fail, is too noticeable," Remus put in quickly, keeping his explanation simple before Hermione or the Ministry workers could spend half an hour or more on the topic.
They reached King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare; the Ministry drivers found them trolleys, unloaded their trunks, touched their hats in salute to Mr. Weasley, and drove away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving line at the traffic lights. Mr. Weasley kept close to Harry's elbow all the way into the station. He suggested they go in pairs and that he would go first with Harry.
"Thank you, Arthur," Sirius smiled. It was still painful to dwell on the fact that Arthur had thought he was protecting Harry from him, but he appreciated someone looking out for his godson, nonetheless.
Mr. Weasley strolled toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten, pushing Harry's trolley and apparently very interested in the InterCity 125 that had just arrived at platform nine. With a meaningful look at Harry, he leaned casually against the barrier. Harry imitated him. In a moment, they had fallen sideways through the solid metal onto platform nine and three-quarters and looked 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.
Everyone smiled slightly at that. They all loved Hogwarts, and the Hogwarts express was part of that experience.
Percy and Ginny suddenly appeared behind Harry. They were panting and had apparently taken the barrier at a run. Percy spotted Penelope and started smoothing his hair down. Ginny and Harry had to look away from each other to avoid laughing as Percy walked towards her, chest out so she'd see his badge.
Percy blushed.
"Did Penny get Head Girl?" Bill wondered. He recalled she'd also been a prefect the year before.
"Yes," Percy smiled proudly.
Once the remaining Weasleys and Hermione had joined them, Harry and Ron led the way to the end of the train, past packed compartments, to a carriage that looked quite empty. They loaded the trunks onto it, stowed Hedwig and Crookshanks in the luggage rack, then went back outside to say good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley kissed all her children, then Hermione, and finally, Harry. He was embarrassed, but really quite pleased, when she gave him an extra hug.
Harry flushed while Molly smiled a little sadly to herself.
She told Harry to take care, eyes oddly bright. Then she began handing out sandwiches.
"Did I get everyone's right this year?" Molly asked worriedly.
"Yeah, at least mine were chicken, which is my favourite," Ron assured her.
"Ours were great too," George said while Percy nodded in agreement.
"Oh good," she said, relieved.
Mr. Weasley asked Harry to come with him over to a nearby pillar, leaving the others crowded around Mrs Weasley.
"You told him?" Emmeline asked.
"Yes. I didn't feel right letting him go off to Hogwarts completely unprepared," Arthur admitted.
"Thank you," Harry smiled.
He said there was something Harry should know, and Harry admitted he already knew. Mr. Weasley was stunned, asking how he could know. Harry confessed to overhearing the conversation the night before.
"It's like we've taught you nothing," Fred shook his head sadly.
"Never confess," Sirius agreed.
Harry apologised and Mr. Weasley anxiously stated it wasn't how he would have chosen for Harry to find out.
"Honestly, it was probably better like that than finding out right before getting on the train. At least I had the night to think it over," Harry shrugged. "But I still appreciate you trying." It was more than most people had done for him in regard to keeping him informed.
Harry assured him it was ok and this way he hadn't broken his word to Fudge, but he also knew what was going on.
"Good point," Moody grunted.
"Not that Fudge would have known either way, it's still a good way around," Remus grinned.
Arthur commented that he must be scared.
"Harry? Never," Ron snorted.
"Yeah, well, Harry's weird. Most people would be scared that a supposed mass murderer was hell bent on killing them and had escaped one of the most secure places in the world to do so," Tonks pointed out.
Harry assured him that he wasn't. Mr. Weasley seemed disbelieving, but Harry continued that Sirius Black couldn't be worse than Voldemort.
"Maybe not worse, but many of his followers are still people to be worried about," Kingsley warned him.
"And Lily's protection would only protect Harry from Voldemort himself, or those he's possessing, not all his Death Eaters," Remus pointed out.
"I wasn't really thinking about that," Harry shrugged.
Mr. Weasley stated that he knew Harry was made on stronger stuff than Fudge thought, and he was pleased Harry wasn't scared. His next statement got cut off by Mrs Weasley calling his name and saying the train was about to go. Mr. Weasley called back that Harry was coming before turning back to him and saying he wanted his word. Harry cut in, guessing he was to promise he'd be a good boy and stay in the castle.
"A promise you would never be able to keep," Severus drawled. Harry grinned and shrugged. He could hardly deny it.
"He was safe," Sirius shrugged.
"A fact nobody but you was aware of," Minerva reminded him.
Mr. Weasley said he wanted Harry to swear he wouldn't go looking for Black.
"Oooh, and you were doing so well, dad," Fred winced.
"What do you mean?" Arthur frowned.
"Well, not even Harry would go looking for someone who wants to kill him for no reason whatsoever," Ron said.
"Which means you basically just told him there is a reason he would want to go after Sirius, even if he was a murderer," George added.
"A reason that basically everyone else in the wizarding world knew, which only frustrated me more," Harry put in.
Harry was confused but the whistle went, and guards began walking along the train, slamming doors shut. Mr. Weasley told Harry to promise him that whatever happened, Harry cut him off to ask why he'd want to go looking for someone who wanted to kill him.
"A good question," Tonks said.
"It would have been better to just tell him rather than making such a fuss about it when he might have heard it from anyone at school," Charlie added.
"There wasn't time," Arthur sighed. "I didn't want to give him that information in the middle of the platform in such a rush."
"Then you shouldn't have made him give his word. You don't give your word when you don't know the full story," Moody grunted.
"Harry knows and trusted Arthur. It's not unreasonable to give your word to someone you trust," Kingsley said. Moody snorted derisively.
Mr. Weasley tried again, saying that whatever he might hear before being interrupted by Mrs Weasley.
"Just making him even more curious," Fred shook his head.
Steam was billowing from the train; it had started to move. Harry ran to the compartment door and Ron threw it open and stood back to let him on. They leaned out of the window and waved at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley until the train turned a corner and blocked them from view.
"That was close," Remus whistled.
"Good job he made it. Can you imagine everyone's faces if Harry missed the train two years in a row?" Charlie chuckled.
"At least someone would have known he missed the train and been right there to take him to Hogwarts safely," Tonks said.
"It would have been better if I had missed the train," Harry muttered bitterly.
Harry muttered to Ron and Hermione that he needed to speak to them privately as the train picked up speed. Ron told Ginny to go away.
"Honestly, Ron," Percy rolled his eyes.
Ginny huffed and stalked off. Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment, but all were full except for the one at the very end of the train. This had only one occupant, a man sitting fast asleep next to the window. Harry, Ron, and Hermione checked on the threshold. The Hogwarts Express was usually reserved for students, and they had never seen an adult there before, except for the witch who pushed the food cart.
Remus smiled slightly.
"It's a very good job you were there," Hermione stated.
"And a good job we managed to sit with Professor Lupin," Ron added. Harry nodded. He didn't want to think about what would have happened otherwise, given how the Dementors seemed drawn to him. He shuddered just thinking about it.
"I'm no longer your professor, please call me Remus," Remus told Ron.
The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places.
Remus sighed as Sirius eyed his current robes. He knew what his friend was planning, whether he liked it or not.
He looked ill and exhausted.
Several people glanced over at Remus, unable to help themselves. He just smiled lightly, more than used to the scrutiny.
Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with grey. Ron asked who they thought he was as they took the seats furthest from the window. Hermione immediately gave his name.
"How could you possible have known that?" George asked, looking impressed.
"It was on his briefcase," Hermione smiled.
Ron asked how she knew that, and she pointed at the luggage rack over the man's head, saying it was on his case. The case in question was small, battered and held together with a large quantity of neatly knotted string. Professor R. J. Lupin was stamped across one corner in peeling letters.
"If you'd only just been made a professor, how come the case was so old?" Tonks asked interestedly. Remus smiled slightly.
"Because I expressed a desire to teach when I was younger. This one," he gestured to Sirius, "and James mocked me ceaselessly. Lily bought me the briefcase for Christmas the year after we left Hogwarts."
"Really?" Harry asked. He loved these small snippets about his parents that made them so real, while also smothering a slight feeling of jealousy that he had nothing of his mother's that she had given him. Yes, he had the protection thing, but that had also cost his mother her life, so Harry didn't count that.
"Yes. It was very thoughtful of her."
"How come you never fixed it with magic?" Tonks wondered.
"Because Lily generally preferred to do things the muggle way, when possible," Remus explained with a fond expression.
Ron wondered what he taught. Hermione said it was obvious as there was only one vacancy.
"That you knew of," Minerva pointed out. Hermione nodded.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had already had two Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers, both of whom had lasted only one year. There were rumours that the job was jinxed.
"Now we're three for three," Harry sighed.
"Well, it's not like we wanted to keep either of the first two," Ron pointed out.
Ron said he hoped the man was up to it as he looked like one good hex would finish him off.
Ron turned red as Remus smiled slightly.
He turned to Harry and asked what he'd wanted to tell them. Harry explained all about Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's argument and the warning Mr. Weasley had just given him. When he'd finished, Ron looked thunderstruck, and Hermione had her hands over her mouth. Hermione said he'd have to be really careful and not go looking for trouble. Harry pointed out he didn't go looking for it, trouble usually found him.
"Whichever way you look at it, you needed to be careful," Emmeline said.
Ron asked how thick Harry would have to be to go looking for a nutter who wanted to kill him.
Sirius winced.
"Sorry," Ron grimaced.
"No, it was a fair comment," Sirius sighed.
They were taking the news worse than Harry had expected. Both Ron and Hermione seemed to be much more frightened of Black than he was.
"That's coz you're you," Ron told him.
"But also, we knew how much trouble we'd all gotten into in the past two years," Hermione said.
Ron uncomfortably pointed out that nobody knew how he'd gotten out of Azkaban as nobody had done it before and he was a top-security prisoner.
Sirius shuddered.
Hermione said they would catch him, and they had all the muggles looking out for him too.
"All that did was make things worse," Arthur sighed.
"So many false sightings," Kingsley agreed. "It was bad enough with just the wizarding community."
Ron suddenly asked what that noise was. A faint, tinny sort of whistle was coming from somewhere. They looked all around the compartment. Ron finally said it was coming from Harry's trunk. A moment later he had pulled the Pocket Sneakoscope out from between Harry's robes. It was spinning very fast in the palm of Ron's hand and glowing brilliantly.
"What? On the train?" Bill frowned.
"Maybe the twins are nearby," Charlie grinned. Bill grimaced while the twins smirked.
"Either that or it thinks Remus is untrustworthy," Sirius grinned at his friend as he tried not to think of exactly who it must have been reacting to.
Hermione asked if it was a sneakoscope and Ron agreed it was, although it was a cheap on. It went haywire as he was tying it to Errol's leg to send it to Harry.
"It wasn't going off at the Dursley's though, and if anyone could be considered untrustworthy it's those people," Tonks pointed out, frowning.
"So far, we've only heard it going off around Ron and the Weasley's. At dinner in Egypt, when Ron was sending it to Harry and now," Ted realised. Fred and George exchanged looks, guessing a certain rat was setting it off.
"But none of the Weasleys are untrustworthy," Kingsley said.
"Much like the other strange things in these books, I'm sure we'll find out the answer eventually," Amelia stated.
Hermione asked if he was doing anything untrustworthy at the time. Ron protested before admitting he wasn't supposed to be using Errol as he wasn't up to long journeys. Then he asked how else he was supposed to get Harry's present to him.
"Even if it was Ron using Errol when he wasn't supposed to in Egypt, none of you are doing anything untrustworthy at that point in time," Charlie frowned.
Harry advised him to put it back in the trunk before it woke Lupin up.
"Nah, that soon after a full moon he sleeps like the dead," Sirius assured them.
"It was pretty loud," Harry said.
"It didn't wake me," Remus told him with a smile.
Ron stuffed the Sneakoscope into a particularly horrible pair of Uncle Vernon's old socks, which deadened the sound, then closed the lid of the trunk on it. He suggested they get it checked in Hogsmeade. Hermione asked if he knew much about the village as she'd read it was the only entirely non-Muggle village in Britain. Ron agreed, then said he only wanted to get inside Honeydukes.
"Surprise, surprise," Fred snorted.
"Honeydukes is brilliant," Charlie said.
"They really do have something for pretty much all tastes," Ted agreed.
Hermione asked what that was. Ron explained it was a sweetshop and described some of the sweets they sold.
"It is quite obvious when someone is sucking on a sugar quill," Filius chuckled.
"Yeah, the only class you can really get away with that is History," George agreed.
Hermione pressed on that Hogsmeade was an interesting place, including the headquarters for the 1612 goblin rebellion and the most severely haunted building in Britain.
Sirius snorted loudly, before barking out a laugh, while Remus rolled his eyes fondly.
"Why is that funny?" Neville wondered quietly.
"Because the shack isn't haunted at all," Harry told him.
"A fact that most adult wizards and witches really should know. It wasn't even built until the seventies," Filius chuckled.
"Really?" Neville frowned.
"Yes. It was built for me to use," Remus admitted. "When I transformed there, the villagers heard screams and believed it to be haunted, something Albus encouraged as it stopped anyone from snooping."
"So, a new building was built, and nobody questioned the fact that nobody seemed to use it, it just became haunted by screaming ghosts immediately?" Ted wondered.
"The idea attracted many tourists to see 'the most haunted building in Britain', which increased revenue for the shop owners. I'd suspect some of them helped the rumour on further, not caring for the truth," Remus sighed.
"Good thing nobody expects any good History lessons, or surely people would question why we weren't learning about the history of the most haunted building in Britain in History of Magic," Harry said. A few people nodded in agreement.
Ron continued talking about sweets, plainly not listening to a word Hermione was saying.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
Hermione looked around at Harry. She commented it would be nice to get out and explore Hogsmeade for a bit.
"Sorry," she winced.
"It's fine. You didn't know."
"Really? You thought his relatives would sign his permission form after blowing that woman up?" Charlie asked in surprise.
"It didn't occur to me they wouldn't sign it," she admitted. "And even if I had, I knew we'd gotten our Hogwarts letters around Harry's birthday, so before he blew her up. I thought he'd have gotten it signed immediately."
Harry stated they would have to tell him when they found out. Ron asked what he meant, and Harry explained his relatives didn't sign the form, nor would Fudge. Ron was horrified and suggested that McGonagall would give him permission. Harry scoffed.
Minerva winced. Not only did Harry have little to no faith in her, he was right to do so. She was adamant that she had done what was right with what she had believed about Sirius, but if that hadn't been the case? If Harry's relatives had simply refused to sign the form, would she have made an exception and let Harry go to Hogsmeade? She hated that she couldn't give a definitive answer. She wanted to believe that she would, that she would understand the exceptional circumstances of his awful relatives, but understanding had clearly not been her strong suit in recent years.
Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor House, was very strict. Ron then suggested they ask the twins.
Fred and George grinned.
"A pleasure to be of service. Especially in the arts of sneaking out of the castle," Fred winked.
"While a murderer was supposedly out for his blood?" Molly demanded.
"Er…"
"Of course not," George said lightly, though he knew it was futile. The book was sure to reveal they had given Harry the map. His mother eyed him, eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Hermione scolded him, saying Harry shouldn't be sneaking out with Black on the loose.
Several people nodded.
Harry bitterly said he expected that was what McGonagall would say if he asked for permission.
"In this case, she was right to do so," Remus pointed out.
"Yeah," Harry muttered.
Ron said Black wouldn't dare if they were with him.
Several people snorted at that.
"Ron, he was thought to have murdered thirteen people with a single curse. How did you think two thirteen-year-olds would put him off?" Percy asked, wondering at his brother's idiocy. Ron flushed.
"Ah, the invincibility of youth," Ted chuckled.
Hermione told him not to talk rubbish.
Ron flushed a deeper shade of red while more laughter rang around the room.
"You tell him, Hermione," George winked.
She pointed out that Black had already murdered a whole bunch of people in the middle of a crowded street and did he really think Black would worry about attacking Harry just because they were there. As she spoke, she was fumbling with the straps of Crookshanks' basket.
"Ut oh," Bill winced.
Ron told her not to let that thing out, but he was too late. Crookshanks leapt lightly from the basket, stretched, yawned, and sprang onto Ron's knees; the lump in Ron's pocket trembled and he shoved Crookshanks angrily away, telling him to get away.
"Really, you could have at least warned Ron you were going to let him out," George said.
"And he went straight to Ron. It's not a good sign," Bill mused. He just knew this saga wasn't going to end well at all, and neither pet owner seemed to be dealing with it well. Admittedly they were only thirteen, but he'd thought Hermione at least would have had more common sense.
Hermione told Ron not to.
"The cat has already attacked him and his pet once. He's entitled not to want Crookshanks on his lap," Fred pointed out.
"Still no need to shove the poor cat," Charlie said with a frown. "There are other ways to stop him."
"Not that cat. He just wouldn't give up," Harry told him.
"It's odd. Normally a cat wouldn't be fixated on a single rat, especially if he was in Ron's pocket and out of sight," Emmeline mused.
Ron was about to answer back when Professor Lupin stirred. They watched him apprehensively, but he simply turned his head the other way, mouth slightly open, and slept on.
"You were awake then?" Sirius asked his friend amusedly.
"You were?" Harry asked. Remus just smirked and didn't answer.
The Hogwarts Express moved steadily north and the scenery outside the window became wilder and darker while the clouds overhead thickened. People were chasing backward and forward past the door of their compartment. Crookshanks had now settled in an empty seat, his squashed face turned toward Ron, his yellow eyes on Ron's top pocket.
"At least he wasn't attacking," said Ted.
At one o'clock, the plump witch with the food cart arrived at the compartment door. Ron wondered if they should wake Lupin up as it looked like he could do with some food.
Ron flushed as Remus chuckled lightly. "Sorry," he muttered. Remus waved away the apology. He'd heard worse and Ron had been attempting to do a nice thing.
Hermione approached Professor Lupin cautiously and tried to speak to him. The trolley witch told her not to worry, if he was hungry later she would be up with the driver. Harry obtained a stack of cauldron cakes. Ron wondered if he'd actually died.
Remus chuckled once more.
"It's how you know he's awake. Lack of snoring. Especially over such a long period," Sirius told them.
"I'm surprised you believe I snore, given you'd have to hear it over the sound of your own snores," Remus told him dryly. "You could wake the dead with the noise you make."
"The only one in our dorm who didn't was James," Sirius shrugged. "And he complained enough about the rest of us."
Hermione stated that he was breathing. He might not be very good company, but Professor Lupin's presence in their compartment had its uses.
Now it was Harry's turn to flush slightly.
"Why did you pretend to be asleep for so long?" He asked.
"I didn't wish to intrude on your time with your friends. I thought it may make things more awkward for you to have an unknown professor in the compartment who was clearly listening to your conversations."
Midafternoon, just as it had started to rain, they heard footsteps in the corridor again, and their three least favourite people appeared at the door: Draco Malfoy, flanked by his cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
"Ah, the compulsory visit so ickle Malfoy can talk to his crush," George smirked. Draco glared at him but gave no retort, knowing it wouldn't help things.
Draco Malfoy and Harry had been enemies ever since they had met on their very first train journey to Hogwarts. Malfoy was in Slytherin House, and he played Seeker on the Slytherin Quidditch team, the same position that Harry played on the Gryffindor team. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to exist to do Malfoy's bidding.
Draco sighed. He'd always thought it was fun, having minions who would do as they were told, even if they were highly unintelligent. But, having heard about the lengths Harry's friends would go to for him, even without being told to, made him a little jealous.
Draco said to look who it was, calling them Potty and the Weasel.
"Imaginative as always, Malfoy," Fred drawled.
"'Look who it is', like you didn't go looking for them deliberately," Charlie scoffed.
Malfoy commented on the money the Weasleys had won, asking if Mrs Weasley had died of shock.
Several people rolled their eyes.
Ron stood up so quickly he knocked Crookshanks's basket to the floor. Professor Lupin gave a snort.
Sirius smirked.
"Should have known that was a little too convenient," Harry muttered. Remus just smiled at him serenely.
Malfoy asked who it was, taking a step back. Harry told him it was a new teacher, as he got to his feet ready to hold Ron back.
"Really?" Ron complained.
"I wasn't going to let you hit Draco with a professor in the compartment," Harry shrugged.
"You never let me hit him anyway."
"He shouldn't have to hold you back, Ronald," Molly scolded.
"So, I should just let him get away with saying all those things?" Ron demanded.
"He's boring and predictable. Just don't react to his rubbish," suggested Bill.
"And hex him when there isn't a professor around," Fred added.
"Fred!" Molly scolded.
"Don't encourage the hexing of other students," Minerva sighed.
Harry asked Malfoy what he had been saying. Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed; he wasn't fool enough to pick a fight right under a teacher's nose.
"He is, but only if it's Snape who wouldn't punish him for anything," Fred muttered.
He resentfully told Crabbe and Goyle to leave, and they disappeared. Harry and Ron sat down again, Ron massaging his knuckles. He said he wasn't going to take any crap from Malfoy that year. If he made any more cracks about his family, he was going to…he trailed off and made a violent gesture in midair.
"How did that work for you?" Fred asked his brother doubtfully. Ron glared at him.
"Well, not so great for Ron, but Hermione on the other hand…" Harry smirked. Hermione blushed and Draco scowled.
"What's this about Hermione?" George asked, eyeing the witch interestedly. Her flush deepened.
"Nothing."
"You'll find out later," Ron grinned. "It was brilliant."
Hermione hissed at him to be careful, pointing to Lupin.
"Remus wouldn't have minded. He heard that the Malfoy kid deserved it," Sirius said.
"I still would have had to step in if one student hit another, deserving or not," Remus told him mildly.
But Professor Lupin was still fast asleep. The rain thickened as the train sped yet farther north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering grey, which gradually darkened until lanterns flickered into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. The train rattled, the rain hammered, the wind roared, but still, Professor Lupin slept.
Sirius snorted. Remus rolled his eyes. "I did actually get some sleep, if you must know. Things were fairly quiet after the Malfoy boy's visit, and I was tired."
Ron said they must be nearly there as he tried to look out the window. The words had hardly left him when the train started to slow down. Ron was pleased, saying he was starving and wanted to get to the feast. Hermione checked her watch and said they couldn't be there yet. Ron asked why they were stopping.
Harry grimaced. He really wished they could skip this next bit. What did it really add to the story anyway? Why did everyone need to hear what he heard when they Dementors were near him? He leaned closer to his godfather who squeezed his shoulders.
"Why would the train stop? It's a magical train," Emmeline frowned.
"The Minister authorised a search of the train," Kingsley said heavily.
"Please tell me it was Aurors that did the search?" Charlie asked, without much hope.
"No," Harry told him grimly. "Definitely no Aurors."
The train was getting slower and slower. As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows. Harry, who was nearest the door, got up to look into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads were sticking curiously out of their compartments. The train came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness.
Everyone grimaced.
Ron asked what was going on and Hermione gasped as he stood on her foot. Harry felt his way back to his seat, asking if they had broken down.
"Impossible," Tonks shook her head.
"We know that now," Ron told her.
There was a squeaking sound, and Harry saw the dim black outline of Ron, wiping a patch clean on the window and peering out. Ron said there was something out there, maybe people were coming on board. The compartment door suddenly opened, and someone fell painfully over Harry's legs. It was Neville. Harry helped him up as he asked what was going on. Harry said he had no idea and told him to sit down. There was a loud hissing and a yelp of pain; Neville had tried to sit on Crookshanks.
Neville winced.
"Only you, Nev," Ron chuckled.
"Yeah," he sighed. "Sorry, Hermione."
"It was an accident," she said.
Hermione said she was going to ask the driver what was going on. Harry felt her pass him, heard the door slide open again, and then a thud and two loud squeals of pain. Ginny had arrived and bumped into Hermione. Ginny said she was looking for Ron and was ushered into the compartment. Harry told her to not sit there as he was there.
Ginny blushed scarlet.
Neville made a sound of pain. A hoarse voice interrupted, telling them to be quiet. Professor Lupin had woken up. Harry could hear movements in his corner. None of them spoke. There was a soft, crackling noise, and a shivering light filled the compartment. Professor Lupin appeared to be holding a handful of flames.
"Woah. How did you do that?" Fred asked excitedly.
"Remus has always been good with fire," Sirius grinned.
"Was it a spell?" George wondered. "It didn't give an incantation. Was it bluebell flames?"
"No. It definitely wasn't that," Hermione told him, having wondered the same thing herself.
"I performed it wordlessly. And it is a spell of my own creation," Remus informed them.
"Yeah, Remus is too flashy to use Lumos like everyone else," Sirius smirked.
They illuminated his tired, grey face, but his eyes looked alert and wary. He told them to stay where they were as he got to his feet. But the door slid slowly open before Lupin could reach it. Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in Lupin's hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. Harry's eyes darted
downward, and what he saw made his stomach contract. There was a hand protruding from the cloak, and it was glistening, greyish, slimy- looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water.
Everyone shuddered.
"The Dementors should not have been allowed to search the train without a Ministry representative," Filius said unhappily.
"There was a representative. However, they took too many Dementors and were unable to keep an eye on all of them," Amelia told him grimly.
But it was visible only for a split second. As though the creature beneath the cloak sensed Harry's gaze, the hand was suddenly withdrawn into the folds of its black cloak.
"Not that it made much difference," Ron muttered.
And then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings. An intense cold swept over them all. Harry felt his own breath catch in his chest. The cold went deeper than his skin. It was inside his chest; it was inside his very heart.
"Oh great, we get to experience Dementors with Harry's super descriptions," Bill grimaced. Everyone looked horrified at that idea.
"Well, it'll be an experience," Tonks said, trying to sound cheerful and failing.
Harry's eyes rolled up into his head. He couldn't see. He was drowning in cold. There was a rushing in his ears as though of water. He was being dragged downward, the roaring growing louder. And then, from far away, he heard screaming, terrible, terrified, pleading screams.
Nobody dared say anything, but they all moved closer to those who were sitting next to them.
Harry shuddered. Sirius wasn't doing much better. They clung to each other, and Remus put his arm around Sirius from the other side.
Ginny buried her face in her mother's shoulder, remembering her own experiences with the Dementors.
He wanted to help whoever it was, he tried to move his arms, but couldn't… a thick white fog was swirling around him, inside him. Someone called his name and slapped his face. Harry opened his eyes; there were lanterns above him, and the floor was shaking—the Hogwarts Express was moving again, and the lights had come back on.
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
"Well, that was horrible," Charlie muttered.
"And to think, they are supposed to be protecting the students. How Fudge thought this was a good idea is beyond me," Kingsley shook his head.
He seemed to have slid out of his seat onto the floor. Ron and Hermione were kneeling next to him, and above them he could see Neville and Professor Lupin watching. Harry felt very sick; when he put up his hand to push his glasses back on, he felt cold sweat on his face. Ron and Hermione heaved him back onto his seat. Ron asked if he was ok. Harry agreed, asking what happened and who screamed. Ron told him nobody screamed.
"But if no one screamed…" Tonks said, trailing off as everyone looked at Harry sympathetically.
Harry looked around the bright compartment. Ginny and Neville looked back at him, both very pale. He said he'd heard screaming.
Harry was grateful when everybody remained silent.
A loud snap made them all jump. Professor Lupin was breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces. He handed Harry a particularly large piece, saying it would help.
"Good job Professor Lupin was there," Fred muttered, eyeing Harry with concern.
"Definitely. He's the one who got rid of it," Hermione told him.
Harry took the chocolate but didn't eat it, asking what that thing was. Lupin explained it was a Dementor as Azkaban while giving everyone else chocolate too.
"Thanks Professor," Neville said.
"Call me Remus," he smiled kindly. "And it was no problem."
"You're lucky Remus was in a sharing mood. Normally you get hexed if you try and get him to share chocolate," Sirius grinned, though it was a little shaky.
"No, you get hexed for trying to steal my chocolate," he corrected.
Everyone stared at him. Professor Lupin crumpled up the empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket. He suggested they eat as it would help before excusing himself to go and speak with the driver. He left and Hermione asked Harry if he was ok. Harry asked what had happened. Hermione explained that it had looked around, or she thought it had, and then, but she trailed off. Ron took over, saying they thought he was having a fit, he went sort of rigid and fell out of his seat.
Harry scowled as they all looked over at him. "I was fine," he stated firmly.
"You passed out," Sirius pointed out quietly. "That's not fine."
Bill considered. They'd all thought that the Dementors would have a bad effect on Harry because of all his bad memories. Given who he'd lived with for most of his life, it was unlikely he had that many good memories, which was sad all by itself. However, Harry not only had a lifetime of awful memories, but he also had more than anyone else in terms of souls as well. He had his own, and the sliver of Voldemort's. Even if it was a tiny piece, it was still a second soul in a single body, it was no wonder the Dementors would be drawn to Harry. And that he'd have such a bad reaction. Spotting the embarrassed look on Harry's face, he made a note to mention his theory to the young man. It wasn't his fault he had such a violent reaction.
Hermione continued that Professor Lupin had stepped over him, pulling out his wand and saying none of them were hiding Sirius Black under their cloaks and to go. When the Dementor didn't leave, Lupin muttered something, and a silvery thing shot out of his wand which caused it to glide away.
"What did you do, Professor?" Neville asked quietly.
"It is called the Patronus Charm. It can be used to drive away Dementors but is incredibly advanced magic," Remus explained.
"Can you teach us?" Ginny asked.
"I can. But it is difficult magic. NEWT level or higher."
"Please. I don't want to feel like that again," Ginny said. Remus sighed.
"Alright. Those who want to learn, we'll add it onto your existing lessons, but don't be disheartened if you don't manage it."
Neville said it was horrible, voice higher than usual. He asked if they felt how cold it got when it came in. Ron said he felt weird, like he'd never be cheerful again. Ginny, who was huddled in her corner looking nearly as bad as Harry felt, gave a small sob; Hermione went over and put a comforting arm around her.
Ginny blushed and hid her face once more.
Harry awkwardly asked if any of them fell out of their seats. Ron said no, but Ginny had been shaking like mad.
"Thanks, Ron," Ginny glared at her brother.
Harry didn't understand. He felt weak and shivery, as though he were recovering from a bad bout of flu; he also felt the beginnings of shame. He wondered why he had gone to pieces like that, when no one else had.
"Because you have a lot more bad memories than most people," Remus reminded him.
"I know," Harry sighed. "And the bad memories are why I react so strongly, but I don't get why they seem attracted to me so much. Don't Dementors feed on good emotions and memories, leaving you with the bad ones. It's why they feed on a patronus instead of the caster because it's full of positive emotions. Surely, they should be less interested in me?"
Several people frowned at this, but nobody had an answer. Not one Bill was going to voice out loud just yet anyway.
Professor Lupin had come back. He paused as he entered, looked around, and said, with a small smile before saying he hadn't poisoned the chocolate.
"I sort of forgot I even had it," Harry admitted.
Harry took a bite and to his great surprise felt warmth spread suddenly to the tips of his fingers and toes. Lupin told him they would be arriving at Hogwarts in ten minutes and asked how he was. Harry said he was fine, not questioning how the man knew his name.
Remus sighed. He knew it was his own fault that he and Harry had gotten no closer during the school year, and even now he was far behind Sirius in the levels of trust.
They didn't talk much during the remainder of the journey. At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, and there was a great scramble to get outside; owls hooted, cats meowed, and Neville's pet toad croaked loudly from under his hat. It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sheets. A familiar voice called for the first years and the trio saw Hagrid at the other end of the platform. He greeted them and they waved at him, but had no chance to speak to him because the mass of people around them was shunting them away along the platform. Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed the rest of the school along the platform and out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited the remaining students, each pulled, Harry could only assume, by an invisible horse, because when they climbed inside and shut the door, the coach set off all by itself, bumping and swaying in procession.
"They are pulled by Thestrals," Luna told him.
"Thestrals? What are those?" Harry asked.
"They are creatures that can only be seen by those who have seen somebody die. It gives them a bad reputation, but they are very useful creatures really," Remus explained.
The coach smelled faintly of mould and straw. Harry felt better since the chocolate, but still weak. Ron and Hermione kept looking at him sideways, as though frightened he might collapse again.
As the carriage trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates Harry saw two more towering, hooded dementors, standing guard on either side. A wave of cold sickness threatened to engulf him again; he leaned back into the lumpy seat and closed his eyes until they had passed the gates.
Sirius shuddered and gripped Harry tightly while also leaning closer to the warmth Remus exuded.
"It was a horrible year all around," Minerva sighed.
"To think, the Minister wanted them to be allowed in the school itself," Filius said grimly.
"He what?" Emmeline asked, astonished.
"Albus would never have allowed such a thing," Minerva assured her.
"Indeed not," Dumbledore agreed.
"The School Board would not have allowed it either," Pomona added.
The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle; Hermione was leaning out of the tiny window, watching the many turrets and towers draw nearer. At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and Hermione and Ron got out. As Harry stepped down, a drawling, delighted voice sounded in his ear, asking if he actually fainted. Malfoy asked if Longbottom had been telling the truth that he actually fainted.
"I didn't mean to tell him," Neville mumbled, shooting Harry an apologetic look. "I was talking to Ginny."
"I know you didn't mean to tell him," Harry assured Neville.
Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle, his face gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously. Ron told him to shove off and Malfoy asked if he fainted as well. If the scary old dementor frightened him too.
"Big talk from someone who almost wet himself," Fred sneered. Draco flushed a light pink.
A mild voice asked if there was a problem. Professor Lupin had just gotten out of the next carriage. Malfoy gave Professor Lupin an insolent stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase. With a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice, he said no and then he smirked at Crabbe and Goyle and led them up the steps into the castle.
"Prat," Charlie rolled his eyes.
Hermione prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry, and the three of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, into the entrance hall, which was lit with flaming torches. The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; Harry followed the crowd toward it, but had barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called for Harry and Hermione.
"Harry and Hermione? What could anyone need with them so soon?" Tonks wondered.
"Well, I had sent an owl ahead about Harry," Remus admitted. Harry scowled.
"And Hermione was trying to take every lesson on the curriculum, so it's probably about that," Ted guessed.
Harry and Hermione turned around, surprised. Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House, was calling over the heads of the crowd. Harry fought his way over to her with a feeling of foreboding: Professor McGonagall had a way of making him feel he must have done something wrong. She said there was no reason to look worried, she just wanted a word in her office.
"That doesn't fill a bloke with confidence you know," Sirius offered his former head of house a wobbly grin.
"Yeah, that's even quicker than we've managed to get into trouble," Fred grinned.
She told Ron to move on. Ron stared as Professor McGonagall ushered Harry and Hermione away from the chattering crowd; they accompanied her across the entrance hall, up the marble staircase, and along a corridor. Once they were in her office, a small room with a large, welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned Harry and Hermione to sit down. She settled herself behind her desk and said abruptly that Professor Lupin had sent an owl ahead to say he'd taken ill on the train. Before Harry could reply, there was a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, came bustling in.
Harry scowled.
"At least someone cared enough to get you checked out," Fred told him quietly.
"Yeah," he muttered.
Harry felt himself going red in the face. It was bad enough that he'd passed out, or whatever he had done, without everyone making all this fuss.
"You're overdue a bit of fuss," Sirius told him. "And Dementor exposure is nothing to sniff at," he added with a slightly haunted look.
"There was nothing they could do for me. I'd already had chocolate."
"But they didn't know why you fainted. It was still worth getting checked out," Ron put in quietly.
Harry protested he didn't need anything. Madam Pomfrey stared at him closely as she guessed he'd been doing something dangerous again.
"Not this time," George grinned.
"Makes a change," Tonks chuckled.
McGonagall stated it was a dementor. They exchanged a dark look, and Madam Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly. She pushed Harry's hair back and felt his forehead as she said he wouldn't be the last one who collapsed.
"He wasn't," Pomona stated.
"Really?" Harry looked at her in surprise.
"Really. You had one of the worst reactions to be sure, but a few others collapsed over the year as well due to the longer-term exposure," Minerva told him.
"Not to mention the incredibly large number of extra Dreamless Sleep Draughts I had to brew," Severus added.
She continued that he was all clammy. She mentioned the effect they had on people who were already delicate.
"Ouch. Not a thing to say about a teenaged boy," Tonks chuckled.
Harry crossly protested he wasn't delicate. Pomfrey absently agreed he wasn't while taking his pulse.
A few people chuckled.
McGonagall asked if he needed bed rest and if he should spend the night in the hospital wing.
"It wouldn't do anything except give people like Malfoy more fodder," Charlie shook his head.
"Some more chocolate and time away from those things," Bill agreed.
Harry jumped up saying he was fine. The thought of what Draco Malfoy would say if he had to go to the hospital wing was torture.
A few people rolled their eyes.
Pomfrey suggested some chocolate at the very least. He told her he'd already had some and Professor Lupin had given it to everyone. Pomfrey approved, saying they finally had a Defence professor who knew his remedies.
"I spent more than enough time in the hospital wing to pick up a few things," Remus said dryly.
"And you always keep chocolate on hand anyway. You think it solves everything," Sirius pointed out.
"In this case, it did," Ron grinned.
McGonagall asked Harry if he was alright to which he agreed. She told him to wait outside while she spoke to Hermione.
"Hang on, how come Hermione was present for Harry's discussion but he can't be present for hers?" Fred wondered.
"Because my talk with Miss Granger was of a private nature. If Harry had requested for her to leave the room, then of course she would have been asked to wait outside," Minerva stated.
Harry went back into the corridor with Madam Pomfrey, who left for the hospital wing, muttering to herself. He had to wait only a few minutes; then Hermione emerged looking very happy about
something, followed by Professor McGonagall, and the three of them made their way back down the marble staircase to the Great Hall. It was a sea of pointed black hats; each of the long House tables was lined with students, their faces glimmering by the light of thousands of candles, which were floating over the tables in midair. Professor Flitwick, who was a tiny little wizard with a shock of white hair, was carrying an ancient hat and a three-legged stool out of the hall.
"So, you've missed the sorting every year except your own so far," Ted realised.
"Yep," Harry nodded.
Hermione commented they'd missed the sorting. New students at Hogwarts were sorted into Houses by trying on the Sorting Hat, which shouted out the House they were best suited to. Professor McGonagall strode off toward her empty seat at the staff table, and Harry and Hermione set off in the other direction, as quietly as possible, toward the Gryffindor table. People looked around at them as they passed along the back of the hall, and a few of them pointed at Harry. He wondered if the story of his collapsing in front of the dementor travelled that fast.
"When Malfoy already knew? Of course it spread that fast," George snorted.
He and Hermione sat down on either side of Ron, who had saved them seats.
"Thanks, Ron," Harry smiled.
He asked Harry what it had been about. Harry started to explain in a whisper, but at that moment the headmaster stood up to speak, and he broke off. Professor Dumbledore, though very old, always gave an impression of great energy. He was often described as the greatest wizard of the age, but that wasn't why Harry respected him. You couldn't help trusting Albus Dumbledore, and as Harry watched him beaming around at the students, he felt really calm for the first time since the dementor had entered the train compartment.
Sirius scowled. He certainly didn't feel Harry was any safer.
"At least you were able to relax in the castle," Emmeline said.
"Yeah, the castle was fine. It was only going to Hogsmeade that was affected," Percy told her.
Dumbledore greeted them and announced that the school was playing host to the dementors which were stationed at every entrance to the grounds.
"Were you already at the school by then?" Harry asked Sirius quietly.
"No. I couldn't travel all that quickly."
He said that nobody was to leave the school without permission. The dementors would not be fooled by tricks or disguises, including Invisibility Cloaks.
"A necessary but foolish warning," Severus drawled.
"You don't need a disguise if you don't go near them," Fred whispered, smirking at Harry.
"Or if you're an animagus," Sirius told him with a wink.
He continued that it was not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses and suggested they not give them any reason to cause them harm. He looked to the prefects and Head boy and girl to keep them safe.
"Like they needed an excuse," Harry snorted bitterly.
Percy, who was sitting a few seats down from Harry, puffed out his chest again and stared around impressively. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound. He then said there were two new teachers that year, firstly Professor Lupin would teach Defence. There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause.
"After your last experience I'm not surprised," Remus chuckled.
Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Harry among them. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.
"I'll buy you some new robes once I'm cleared," promised Sirius.
"I'm fine," Remus protested. "I don't need new robes. Mine work perfectly well."
Ron hissed for Harry to look at Snape. Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, but even Harry, who hated Snape, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face. It was beyond anger: it was loathing. Harry knew that expression only too well; it was the look Snape wore every time he set eyes on Harry.
Several people rolled their eyes.
Dumbledore continued that the second new appointment was for Professor Kettleburn who was retiring to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs.
"Remaining limbs?" Neville wondered.
"He lost an arm and a leg. In separate incidents I believe, but how he lost them changes each time you ask him," Charlie grinned.
Dumbledore continued that Kettleburn would be replaced by Hagrid. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at one another, stunned. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Harry leaned forward to see Hagrid, who was ruby-red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard. Ron said they should have known as who else would have set them a biting book.
"To be perfectly honest, Kettleburn might well have done the same," Tonks chuckled.
"Yeah, he's got limbs missing for a reason," Bill agreed. "He's almost as bad as Hagrid about interesting magical creatures."
"He did at least know what was safe for students or not. It was only his own safety he took risks with," pointed out Percy.
"Yeah, he liked dangerous beasts, but also accepted they were dangerous, rather than Hagrid who thinks they are all basically puffskeins," Tonks grinned.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the last to stop clapping, and as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again, they saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth. Dumbledore stated that was everything of importance and to let the feast begin. The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Harry, suddenly ravenous, helped himself to everything he could reach and began to eat.
"Nothing beats Hogwarts food," Sirius sighed.
"I'm hungry," Ron complained.
"We can eat after the next chapter," Molly told him.
"Can we at least get some snacks once this one is done?" Asked Fred.
"I'm sure we can spare five minutes for some snacks," Remus assured him.
It was a delicious feast; the hall echoed with talk, laughter, and the clatter of knives and forks. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, were eager for it to finish so that they could talk to Hagrid. They knew how much being made a teacher would mean to him. Hagrid wasn't a fully qualified wizard; he had been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year for a crime he had not committed. It had been Harry, Ron, and Hermione who had cleared Hagrid's name last year.
Amelia pursed her lips. She made a note to check if Hagrid had just been released from Azkaban or if his name had actually been cleared. Given Cornelius' proclivity for taking the easy way, and with no official proof it wasn't Hagrid the first time, it's likely it was never actually struck from his record.
At long last, when the last morsels of pumpkin tart had melted from the golden platters, Dumbledore gave the word that it was time for them all to go to bed, and they got their chance.
Hermione squealed out congratulations as they reached the teachers' table. Hagrid wiped his face as he said it was all down to the three of them.
Draco pulled a face at that.
"Honestly, it was the three of them that helped to clear his name and have him released from Azkaban, but that shouldn't have been enough to get him a teaching job. He has no OWLs or teaching qualifications," Amelia pointed out.
"Because Lockhart likely had teaching qualifications," Remus scoffed.
"And look how that turned out," Kingsley said grimly, but he said nothing further as the matter had already been discussed.
Dumbledore had come down to him straight after Kettleburn said he'd had enough. Which was something he had always wanted. Overcome with emotion, he buried his face in his napkin, and Professor McGonagall shooed them away. Harry, Ron, and Hermione joined the Gryffindors streaming up the marble staircase and, very tired now, along more corridors, up more and more stairs, to the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower. A large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress asked them for the password. Percy called from behind the crowd that the password for Fortuna Major. Neville was a bit distressed by this. He always had trouble remembering the passwords.
"You must have known it changed at the start of every year though and been expecting it," George pointed out.
"I was," Neville sighed, "but I had hoped it would be something easier to remember."
Through the portrait hole and across the common room, the girls and boys divided toward their separate staircases. Harry climbed the spiral stair with no thought in his head except how glad he was to be back. They reached their familiar, circular dormitory with its five four-poster beds, and Harry, looking around, felt he was home at last.
"Done," Minerva announced. She put the book down and the Weasley children all stood up, hurrying towards the kitchen. The others began to follow at a sedate pace.
Once everyone was satisfied with their drinks and snacks, and had been to the loo, they retook their places.
"One more chapter and then I think that's it for today," Dumbledore announced as he picked up the book.