It was the next morning and Y/n awoke with a heavy weight upon his chest.
"I am not your pillow Noctis..." Y/n groaned tiredly.
Noctis only responded by putting a paw on his face as if trying to silence him.
"Do not be cheeky..." Y/n warned her.
Noctis got up now as she grumpily got off him now and strutted off the bed.
Y/n swung his legs off the side of his bed now and sat up stretching his arms above him. Today was the day he would return to Hogwarts for his third year. Wasting no time he got up, Washed his face, brushed his teeth and changed into his clothes. Once he was done he left his room and knocked on the door of the room next to his own."
"Come in." Harry's voice sounded out and Y/n opened the door to see the dressed Harry sat on his bed.
"Ready for the journey?" Y/n asked him.
"Yeah..." Harry said and Y/n frowned. Something must have been bothering Harry as he had never heard him sound so unenthusiastic to return to Hogwarts before.
Ron however barged his way into the room now, pulling a sweatshirt over his head and looking irritable.
"The sooner we get on the train, the better." he said. "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." Ron grimaced. "His girlfriend. She's hidden her face under the frame because her nose has gone all blotchy..."
"I've got something to tell you both." Harry began, but they were interrupted by Fred and George, who had looked in to congratulate Ron on infuriating Percy again.
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 as they looked in the boys directions for a moment.
"What were you saying?" Ron asked Harry as they sat down.
"Later." Harry muttered as Percy stormed in.
Harry had no chance to speak to Ron, Y/n 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. Two small wickerwork baskets stood beside the heap of trunks, one spitting loudly.
"It's all right, Crookshanks." Hermione cooed through the wickerwork. "I'll let you out on the train."
"You won't." snapped Ron. "What about poor Scabbers, eh?"
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.
"They're here." He said. "Harry, come on. "
Y/n found it rather odd as 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.
"In you get, Harry." said Mr. Weasley, glancing up and down the crowded street.
Harry got into the back of the car and was shortly joined by Y/n, Hermione, Ron, and, to Ron's disgust, Percy.
The journey to King's Cross was very uneventful and they reached it 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.
"Right then." he said, glancing around them. "Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry."
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.
"Y/n, Ron you two go next." Mrs Weasley ordered.
Y/n just looked at Ron who shrugged and both boys did as they were told. They pushed their trolley's towards the barrier and soon they were onto platform nine and three-quarters. Y/n looked around 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 appeared behind Y/n. They were panting and had apparently taken the barrier at a run.
"Ah, there's Penelope!" said Percy, smoothing his hair and going pink again. Ginny caught Harry's eye, and they both turned away to hide their laughter as Percy strode over to a girl with long, curly hair, walking with his chest thrown out so that she couldn't miss his shiny badge.
Once the remaining Weasleys and Hermione had joined them, Harry and Mr. Weasley 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, Noctis and Crookshanks in the luggage rack, then went back outside to say goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
Mrs. Weasley kissed all her children, then Hermione, then Y/n and finally Harry. Unlike Ron Y/n wasn't embarrassed when she gave him an extra hug. He liked how much Mrs Weasley cared about them all.
"Do take care, won't you Harry?" she said as she straightened up, her eyes oddly bright. Then she opened her enormous handbag and said. "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." said Mr. Weasley quietly. "Come over here for a moment."
He jerked his head towards a pillar, and Harry followed him behind it, leaving the others crowded around Mrs. Weasley.
"There's something I've got to tell you before you leave..." said Mr. Weasley in a tense voice.
"It's all right, Mr. Weasley." said Harry, "I already know."
"You know? How could you know?"
"I... er...I heard you and Mrs. Wesley talking last night. I couldn't help hearing," Harry added quickly. "Sorry..."
"That's not the way I'd have chosen for you to find out." said Mr. Weasley looking anxious.
"No...honestly it's ok. This way, you haven't broken your word to Fudge and I know what's going on."
"Harry, you must be scared..."
"I'm not." said Harry sincerely. "Really." he added, because Mr. Weasley was looking disbelieving. "I'm not trying to be a hero, but seriously, Sirius Black can't be worse than Lord Voldemort, can he?"
Mr. Weasley flinched at the sound of the name, but overlooked it.
"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..."
"Arthur!" called Mrs. Weasley, who was now shepherding the rest onto the train. "Arthur, what are you doing? It's about to go!"
"He's coming Molly!" said Mr. Weasley, but he turned back to Harry and kept talking in 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?" said Harry gloomily.
"Not entirely." said Mr. Weasley, who looked more serious than Harry had ever seen him. "Harry, swear to me you won't go looking for Black."
Harry stared, "What!"
There was a loud whistle. Guards were walking along the train, slamming all the doors shut.
"Promise me, Harry." said Mr. Weasley, talking more quickly still. "That whatever happens..."
"Why would I go looking for someone I know wants to kill me?" said Harry blankly.
"Swear to me that whatever you might hear..."
"Arthur, quickly!" cried Mrs. Weasley.
Steam was billowing from the train it had started to move. Harry ran to the compartment door and Y/n 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.
"I need to talk to you in private." Harry muttered to Ron, Y/n and Hermione as the train picked up speed.
"Go away, Ginny." said Ron.
"Oh, that's nice." said Ginny huffily, and she stalked off.
Harry, Ron, Y/n 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, Y/n 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.
The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with gray.
"Who d'you reckon he is?" Ron hissed as they sat down and slid the door shut, taking the seats farthest away from the window.
"Professor R. J. Lupin. " whispered Hermione at once.
"How'd you know that? How is it that she knows everything?" Ron asked
"It is on his case Ron." Y/n said, pointing at the luggage rack over the man's head, where there was a small, battered case held together with a large quantity of neatly knotted string. The name Professor R. J. Lupin was stamped across one corner in peeling letters.
"Wonder what he teaches?" said Ron, frowning at Professor Lupin's pallid profile.
"That's obvious." whispered Hermione. "There's only one vacancy, isn't there?"
"Defense Against the Dark Arts...I just hope he knows what he's doing." Y/n commented.
Harry, Ron, Y/n and Hermione had already had two Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, both of whom had lasted only one year. There were rumors that the job was jinxed.
"He looks like one, good hex would finish him off, doesn't he?" Ron said looking at the man with doubt. "Anyway..." he turned to Harry. "What were you going to tell us?"
Harry explained all about Mr. and Mrs. Wesley's argument and the warning Mr. Weasley had just given him. When he'd finished, Ron looked thunderstruck, Y/n looking troubled and Hermione had her hands over her mouth.
She finally lowered them 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." said Harry, nettled. "Trouble usually finds me."
"How thick would Harry have to be, to go looking for a nutter who wants to kill him?" said Ron shakily.
"Regardless this is concerning..." Y/n said. "It is lucky we are returning to Hogwarts now, but we should still be careful. This Sirius Black has managed to do something that no other wizard has ever done before."
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 and Y/n was definitely concerned.
"No one knows how he got out of Azkaban." said Ron uncomfortably. "No one's ever done it before. And he was a top-security prisoner too."
"But they'll catch him, won't they?" said Hermione earnestly. "I mean, they've got all the Muggles looking out for him too..."
"What's that noise?" said Ron suddenly.
A faint, tinny sort of whistle was coming from somewhere. They looked all around the compartment.
"It's coming from your trunk, Harry." said Ron, standing up and reaching into the luggage rack. 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.
"Is that a Sneakoscope?" said Hermione interestedly, standing up for a better look.
"Yeah... mind you, it's a very cheap one," Ron said. "It went haywire just as I was tying it to Errol's leg to send it to Harry. "
"Were you doing anything untrustworthy at the time?" Y/n asked him.
"No! 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?"
"Well that explains that..." Y/n said.
"Stick it back in the trunk." Harry advised as the Sneakoscope whistled piercingly. "Or it'll wake him up." He nodded toward Professor Lupin.
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.
"We could get it checked in Hogsmeade." said Ron, 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?" asked Hermione keenly. "I've read it's the only entirely non-Muggle settlement in Britain."
"Yeah, I think it is," said Ron in an offhand sort of way. "But that's not why I want to go. I just want to get inside Honeydukes!"
"What's that?" said Hermione.
"It's this sweetshop." said Ron, a dreamy look coming over his face. "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."
"Rather than actually thinking of what you should be writing next?" Y/n chimed in but Ron was still thinking about Honeydukes.
"But Hogsmeade's a very interesting place, isn't it?" Hermione pressed 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 sherbet balls that make you levitate a few inches off the ground while you're sucking them." said Ron, who was plainly not listening to a word Hermione was saying.
"The shrieking Shack does sound interesting, I would definitely like to see it." Y/n said to Hermione who smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Then we can add it our list of things to do on our visits then." She said before she looked around at Harry. "Won't it be nice to get out of school for a bit and explore Hogsmeade?"
"'Spect it will." said Harry heavily. "You'll have to tell me when you've found out."
"What d'you mean?" said Ron now snapping out of his Honeydukes daydream.
"I can't go. The Dursleys didn't sign my permission form, and Fudge wouldn't either." Harry told them.
Ron looked horrified. "You're not allowed to come? But...no way, McGonagall or someone will give you permission..."
Harry gave a hollow laugh and Y/n shook his head this suggestion. Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house, was very strict.
"Or we can ask Fred and George, they know every secret passage out of the castle." Ron said next.
"Ron!" said Hermione sharply. "I don't think Harry should be sneaking out of the school with Black on the loose..."
"Yeah, I expect that's what McGonagall will say when I ask of permission." said Harry bitterly.
"But if we're with him." said Ron spiritedly to Hermione. "Black wouldn't dare..."
"Oh, Ron, don't talk rubbish," snapped Hermione. "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?"
She was fumbling with the straps of Crookshanks's basket as she spoke.
"Don't let that thing out!" Ron said, but 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. "Get out of it!"
"Ron, don't!" said Hermione angrily.
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.
Y/n took the opportunity to let Noctis out now and she immediately sprung into his lap and purred happily. Crookshanks grew curious as he leaped from Hermione's grasp and onto the space beside Y/n. Both pet owners watched with curiosity as Crookshanks and Noctis took an interest in one another for a moment before settling down.
"Ah Y/n look they like each other!" Hermione said delighted.
"It seems Noctis has made a friend." Y/n said with a small smile.
"As long as it keeps that furball away from Scabbers I don't care." Ron said grumpily.
The Hogwarts Express moved steadily north and the scenery outside the window became wilder and darker while the clouds overhead thickened overhead. People were chasing backwards and forwards past the door of their compartment. Noctis and Crookshanks had now settled in an empty seat, Crookshanks squashed face was turned towards Ron, his yellow eyes on Ron's top pocket.
At one o'clock the plump witch with the food cart arrived at the compartment door.
D'you think we should wake him up?" Ron asked awkwardly, nodding towards Professor Lupin. "He looks like he could do with some food. "
Hermione approached Professor Lupin cautiously. "Er... Professor?" she said. "Excuse me ...Professor?"
He didn't move.
"Professor Lupin." Y/n said a little louder as he tapped the man's shoulder but got no response either.
"Don't worry, dears." said the witch, as she handed them 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?" said Ron quietly, as the witch slid the compartment door closed. "I mean... he hasn't died, has he?"
"No, no, he's breathing." whispered Hermione, taking the cauldron cake Harry passed her.
"He does look like he could use the rest." Y/n said looking at the man's appearance again and Harry passed him the last cauldron cake.
He might not be very good company, but Professor Lupin's presence in their compartment had its uses. Mid-afternoon, just as it had started to rain, blurring the rolling hills outside the window, they heard footsteps outside in the corridor again, and their four least favorite people appeared at the door. Draco Malfoy and Y/n's twin brother Atticus, flanked by Malfoy's cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
Y/n and Atticus said nothing but their eyes locked sharply as they stared down at one another, ever since last year the two had been on bad terms due to Atticus's behaviour and Y/n's unwillingness to put up with it anymore.
"Well, look who it is." said Malfoy in his usual lazy drawl, pulling open the compartment door. "Potty, the black sheep and the Weasel."
Crabbe and Goyle chuckled trollishly.
"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley." said Malfoy. "Did your mother die of shock?"
Ron stood up so quickly he knocked Crookshanks's basket to the floor. Professor Lupin gave a snort.
"Who's that?" said Malfoy, taking an automatic step backward as he spotted Lupin.
"New teacher." said Harry, who got to his feet, too, in case he needed to hold Ron back. "What were you saying, Malfoy?"
Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed, he wasn't fool enough to pick a fight right under a teacher's nose. "C'mon," he muttered resentfully to Crabbe and Goyle, and they disappeared.
Atticus said nothing as he gave Y/n one last scornful look and disappeared after Malfoy.
Harry and Ron sat down again, Ron massaging his knuckles. "I'm not going to take any crap from Malfoy or Atticus this year." he said angrily. "I mean it. If either makes one more crack about my family, I'm going to get hold of their heads and..."
Ron made a violent gesture in midair.
"Ron." hissed Hermione, pointing at Professor Lupin. "Be careful..."
But Professor Lupin was still fast asleep.
The rain thickened as the train sped yet farther north, the windows were now a solid, shimmering gray, 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.
"We must be nearly there." said Ron, leaning forward to look past Professor Lupin at the now completely black window.
The words had hardly left him when the train started to slow down.
"Great." said Ron, getting up and walking carefully past Professor Lupin to try and see outside. "I'm starving. I want to get to the feast..."
"We can't be there yet." said Hermione, checking her watch.
"So why are we stopping?" Y/n asked as the four looked at each other now.
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.
"What's going on?" said Ron's voice from behind Harry.
"Ouch!" gasped Hermione. "Ron, that was my foot!"
Harry felt his way back to his seat. "D'you think we've broken down?"
"Dunno..." Ron muttered.
"Stop...do you hear that?" Y/n asked and everyone went silent.
There was a squeaking sound, and Y/n saw the dim black outline of Ron, wiping a patch clean on the window and peering out.
"There's something moving out there." Ron said. "I think people are coming aboard..."
The compartment door suddenly opened and someone fell painfully over Harry's legs.
"Sorry! D'you know what's going on? Ouch! Sorry..."
"Hello, Neville." said Harry, feeling around in the dark and pulling Neville up by his cloak.
"Harry? Is that you? What's happening?" Neville asked.
"No idea! Sit down..." Harry told him.
There was a pair of loud hissings and a yelp of pain, Neville had tried to sit on Crookshanks and Noctis.
"I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on." came Hermione's voice. Y/n felt her pass him, heard the door slide open again, and then a thud and two loud squeals of pain.
"Who's that?" Hermione asked.
"Who's that?" A familiar voice asked back.
"Ginny?"
"Hermione?"
"What are you doing?"
"I was looking for Ron."
"Come in and sit down." Hermione said trying to guide Ginny to a seat.
"Not here!" said Harry hurriedly. "I'm here!"
"Ouch!" said Neville.
"Sorry!" Y/n said as he felt either Hermione or Ginny bump into him.
"Quiet!" said a hoarse voice suddenly.
Professor Lupin appeared to have woken up at last. Y/n 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. They illuminated his tired, gray face, but his eyes looked alert and wary.
"Stay where you are." he said in the same hoarse voice, and he got slowly to his feet with his handful of fire held out in front of him.
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. Y/n's eyes darted downward, and what he saw made his skin crawl. There was a hand protruding from the cloak and it was glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water...
"A dementor..." Y/n uttered.
But it was visible only for a split second. As though the creature beneath the cloak sensed a gaze, the hand was suddenly withdrawn into the folds of its black cloak. 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. Y/n 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...
And suddenly heard a heavy thud as Harry collapsed.
"Expecto patronum!" Professor Lupin chanted now his wand drawn and raised.
Y/n watched as a silver like light shot out the end of the wand and drove the creature back now.
"None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go." Lupin called out as the silver light flooded out of the carriage now and the Dementor began to glide away.
A few moments after it did the lights in the carriage began to flicker back on to reveal the compartment again now.
"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron shuddered as they heard the express train whistle then felt the train begin to move again.
"That was a Dementor Ron..." Y/n said.
"Very well done." Lupin's said and Y/n turned to look at him. "You must be one of the Grindelwald twins." Professor Lupin said as he looked at Y/n now with an inquisitive look.
"Yes sir, I am Y/n." Y/n answered.
"Harry!" Hermione's voice sounded out now and everyone turned around to see Harry on the floor passed out.
Y/n and Hermione quickly kneeled down to check on him.
"Harry! Are you all right?" Y/n asked as he began to lightly slap Harry's cheeks to wake him up.
"W...what?" Harry tiredly responded as his eyes opened now.
Harry looked up to see Y/n 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.
Y/n and Hermione helped heave him back onto his seat.
"Are you okay?" Ron asked nervously.
"Yeah." said Harry, looking quickly toward the door. The hooded creature had vanished. "What happened? Where's that... that thing? Who screamed?"
"No one screamed." said Ron, more nervously still.
Harry looked around the bright compartment. Ginny and Neville looked back at him, both very pale.
"But I heard screaming..." Harry said.
A loud snap made them all jump. Professor Lupin was breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces.
"Here." he said to Harry, handing him a particularly large piece. "Eat it. It'll help."
Harry took the chocolate but didn't eat it. "What was that thing?" he asked Lupin.
"As your friend guessed earlier that was a Dementor." said Lupin, who was now giving chocolate to everyone else. "One of the Dementors of Azkaban."
"You used a Patronus charm didn't you sir to drive it away?" Y/n asked as he was given his piece.
"Very good." Lupin said slightly impressed by Y/n's knowledge once again. "The Patronus charm is the only way to repel a Dementor. Five points to Gryffindor."
Everyone just stared at him. Professor Lupin crumpled up the empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket. "Eat." he repeated. "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me..."
He strolled past Harry and disappeared into the corridor.
Y/n looked at the piece of chocolate given to him now and began to take a bite out it as much needed warmth spread throughout his body.
"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" said Hermione, watching Harry anxiously.
"I don't get it...what happened?" said Harry, wiping more sweat off his face.
"Well...that thing...the Dementor stood there and looked around, I mean, I think it did, I couldn't see its face... and you...you..."
"I thought you were having a fit or something." said Ron, who still looked scared. "You went sort of rigid and fell out of your seat and started twitching."
"And Professor Lupin stepped over you, and walked toward the Dementor, and pulled out his wand." said Hermione. "And he said, 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.' But the Dementor didn't move, so Lupin muttered something, and a silvery thing shot out of his wand at it, and it turned around and sort of glided away..."
"It was horrible." said Neville, in a higher voice than usual. "Did you feel how cold it got when it came in?"
"I felt weird." said Ron, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. "Like I'd never be cheerful again..."
"Dementor's are some of the foulest creatures upon this earth." Y/n said. "They feed on people's emotions leaving them cold and afraid."
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.
"But didn't any of you...fall off your seats?" said Harry awkwardly.
"No." said Ron, looking anxiously at Harry again. "Ginny was shaking like mad, though..."
Professor Lupin came back now. He paused as he entered, looked around to see that only Y/n was eating the chocolate given to them and said, with a small smile. "I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know."
Harry took a bite and to his great surprise felt warmth spread suddenly to the tips of his fingers and toes.
"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes." said Professor Lupin. "Are you all right, Harry?"
"Fine." he muttered, embarrassed.
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.
"Firs' years this way!" called a familiar voice. Harry, Ron, Y/n and Hermione turned and saw the gigantic outline of Hagrid at the other end of the platform, beckoning the terrified-looking new students forward for their traditional journey across the lake.
"All right, you four?" Hagrid yelled over the heads of the crowd. 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, Y/n 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, Y/n 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.
The coach smelled faintly of mold and straw. Y/n felt better since the chocolate, but Harry still looked weak. Y/n, 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, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, Y/n saw two more towering, hooded Dementors, standing guard on either side. A wave of cold sickness threatened to engulf him again as he tried to steel himself. Harry just leaned back into the lumpy seat and closed his eyes until they had passed the gates. 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 Y/n, Hermione and Ron got out.
As Harry stepped down, a drawling, delighted voice sounded in his ear.
"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?" 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.
"Shove off, Malfoy." said Ron, whose jaw was clenched.
"Did you faint as well, Weasley?" asked Atticus making his own presence known. "Did the scary old Dementor frighten you too, Weasley?"
"Is there a problem?" said a mild voice. 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, "Oh, no... er...Professor." then he smirked at Atticus, Crabbe and Goyle and led them up the steps into the castle.
Hermione prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry, and the four of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, into the cavernous Entrance Hall, which was lit with flaming torches, and housed a magnificent marble staircase that led to the upper floors.
The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right, Y/n followed the crowd toward it, but had barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called, "Potter! Grindelwald! Granger! I want to see you three!"
Harry, Y/n and Hermione turned around, surprised. Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House, was calling over the heads of the crowd. She was a stern looking witch who wore her hair in a tight bun, her sharp eyes were framed with square spectacles. They fought their way over to her with a feeling of foreboding. Professor McGonagall had a way of making them feel they must have done something wrong.
"There's no need to look so worried..." She said judging their expressions. "I just want a word in my office." she told them. "Move along there, Weasley."
Ron stared as Professor McGonagall ushered Harry, Y/n and Hermione away from the chattering crowd and 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, Y/n and Hermione to sit down. She settled herself behind her desk and said abruptly, "Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter."
Before Harry could reply, there was a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, came bustling in.
"I'm fine." Harry said. "I don't need anything..."
"Oh, it's you, is it?" said Madam Pomfrey, ignoring this and bending down to stare closely at him. "I suppose you've been doing something dangerous again?"
"It was a Dementor, Poppy." said Professor McGonagall.
They exchanged a dark look, and Madam Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly. "Setting Dementors around a school." She muttered, pushing back Harry's hair and feeling his forehead. "He won't be the last 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!" said Harry crossly.
"Of course you're not." said Madam Pomfrey absentmindedly, now taking his pulse.
"What does he need?" said Professor McGonagall crisply. "Bed rest? Should he perhaps spend tonight in the hospital wing?"
"I'm fine!" said Harry, jumping up. The thought of what Draco Malfoy would say if he had to go to the hospital wing was torture.
"Well, he should have some chocolate, at the very least." said Madam Pomfrey, who was now trying to peer into Harry's eyes.
"I've already had some," said Harry.
"Professor Lupin gave us some Madam Pomfrey." Y/n said in a kinder tone than Harry was currently giving out. "He gave it to all of us."
"Did he, now?" said Madam Pomfrey approvingly. "So we've finally got a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies?"
"Are you sure you feel all right, Potter?" Professor McGonagall said sharply.
"Yes." said Harry.
"Very well. Kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Mr Grindelwald and Miss Granger about her course schedule, then we can go down to the feast together."
Y/n's brow furrowed. Why would he be needed to discuss Hermione's courses. She did seem to be taking a fair amount Y/n thought, Perhaps Professor McGonagall wanted him to help persuade Hermione to drop some.
But he was proven wrong.
"First off Miss Granger I must stress that while you're request to take the desired amount of subjects has been approved it will be a very strenuous and stressful ordeal to undertake. Are you sure you want to do such a thing?" Professor McGonagall asked Hermione.
But Hermione's mind was already set. "Yes professor." She nodded eagerly.
Professor McGonagall looked slightly hesitant for a moment but she opened a draw on her desk and lifted out what appeared to be a small hourglass on a necklace.
Y/n recognised what this was now. It was a time turner. This was how Hermione was going to take so many subjects this year.
"This time turner has been approved for you to use to go to and from lessons with conflicting time schedules. However if you are caught using it for trivial tasks or break the time turner rules their will be severe consequences Miss Granger. Is that Understood?" Professor McGonagall asked her.
"Yes Professor." Hermione nodded as she was then handed the time turner. Hermione immediately placed it over her head and onto her neck hiding it under her uniform.
"I'm sorry professor, but why am I here?" Y/n asked now curious.
Professor McGonagall turned to him now. "In the likelihood that Miss Granger will require an excuse to cover for her usage of the time turner it is Professor Dumbledore's hopes that you will be able to provide her with one to divert suspicion." McGonagall explained to him. "Using time turners is a tricky piece of magic Mr Grindelwald and can be a mental burden after long time exposure, We would also like you to be Miss Granger's confidant should she require one."
"I...I see." Y/n said.
"That will be all. Now we shall head to the feast." Professor McGonagall said rising from her chair.
Y/n and Hermione got up from their own chairs now and emerged from the office where Harry was waiting for them. Y/n looked to his side to see Hermione was looking very happy having received the time turner as they were followed out by Professor McGonagall, and the four 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.
"Oh." said Hermione softly. "We've 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 Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin. Professor McGonagall strode off toward her empty seat at the staff table, and Harry, Y/n 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. Had the story of his collapsing in front of the Dementor traveled that fast? Y/n wondered.
He, Harry and Hermione sat down on either side of Ron, who had saved them seats.
"What was all that about?" he muttered to Harry.
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 had several feet of long silver hair and beard, half-moon spectacles, and an extremely crooked nose. He was often described as the greatest wizard of the age, but that wasn't why Y/n and 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.
"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast..."
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."
He paused, and Y/n remembered Harry had told them that Mr. Weasley heard Dumbledore was not happy with the Dementors guarding the school. He could not blame Dumbledore, Dementor's really were foul creatures.
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds." Dumbledore continued. "And while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises, or even Invisibility Cloaks." he added blandly, and Harry, Y/n and Ron glanced at each other for a moment. "It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors." he said.
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.
"On a happier note." he continued. "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.
"First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. "
There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Y/n among them who was very happy to have a teacher who seemed to know what they were doing. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes but Y/n didn't care. He knew this man had experience and was eager to learn from him.
"Look at Snape!" Ron hissed in Harry's ear.
Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defense 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.
"As to our second new appointment." Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
Harry, Ron, Y/n and Hermione stared at one another, stunned. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Y/n 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.
"We should've known!" Ron roared, pounding the table. "Who else would have assigned us a biting book?"
Harry, Ron, Y/n 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.
"Well, I think that's everything of importance." said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!"
The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Y/n, suddenly ravenous, helped himself to everything he could reach and began to eat.
It was a delicious feast, the hall echoed with talk, laughter, and the clatter of knives and forks. Harry, Ron, Y/n 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 the four who had cleared Hagrid's name last year.
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.
"Congratulations, Hagrid!" Hermione squealed as they reached the teachers' table.
"I always thought you would make a good magical creatures teacher." Y/n smiled happily for Hagrid.
"All down ter you four." said Hagrid, wiping his shining face on his napkin as he looked up at them. "Can' believe it... great man, Dumbledore, came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough... It's what I always wanted... "
Overcome with emotion, he buried his face in his napkin, and Professor McGonagall began to shoo them away.
"Ah a moment Professor McGonagall, I wish to speak to young Grindelwald." Professor Dumbledore said surprising the four.
Professor McGonagall simply nodded and allowed Y/n to stay as Harry, Ron, Y/n and Hermione moved to join the rest of their Gryffindor house mates.
"Professor?" Y/n asked.
"Y/n, Firstly I welcome you back for another year at Hogwarts." Dumbledore began.
"Thank you sir." Y/n said gratefully.
"Professor McGonagall and Professor Lupin have informed me of the events on the train,
"After your encounter with Riddle last year, Professor Flitwick has expressed an interest in tutoring you once again, particularly in duelling." Dumbledore said now and Y/n turned his head to look at Professor Flitwick who gave him a smile and wave.
"I would be very happy to accept these extra lessons sir." Y/n said truthfully. Despite his small size Professor Flitwick was not to be underestimated, He was after all a famous duelling champion.
"Excellent, I'm certain this will somehow benefit you in the future." Dumbledore said satisfied by this answer. "Right then, off to bed with you now then."
"Sir..." Y/n began now as he looked down at the table. "May I make a selfish request of you?" He asked bravely still not daring to look up at the teachers who no doubt had never heard a student do such a thing openly.
"...You may." Dumbledore said sounding slightly surprised by the sudden request.
"Could I also request tutoring from Professor Lupin?" Y/n asked now.
"From me?" Professor Lupin asked surprised himself that his own name was being mentioned.
But Dumbledore had a mysterious glint in his eye. "May I ask, why you wish to also learn from Professor Lupin Y/n?" He asked.
"Despite only having just met on the train, I can tell that Professor Lupin is someone who is both talented and knowledgeable in the matter of Defence Against the Dark Arts. I have nothing to lose in making my request but lose out on a rare opportunity to learn vital skills if I do not ask sir. Y/n said now finally looking at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore looked at the boy for a moment before he reached a decision and smiled. "A very good mentality to have obtained Y/n." He said. "However I shall leave the decision to Professor Lupin, since this request is for him rather than myself."
"Well.." Professor Lupin began clearly not used to being brought into the spotlight. "I would need a few weeks to settle in first ..but I have no real problem with it Headmaster." Lupin replied.
"Then the matter is settled. You shall receive extra lessons from Professors Flitwick and Lupin this year. Now... off you go." Dumbledore said.
"Thank you sir, Professors." Y/n bowed his head and left the teachers table now.
"It would seem you have made quite the impression on young Grindelwald Professor Lupin." Dumbledore said quietly with a smile as they watched Y/n go to join his friends.
"Yes..." Lupin said hesitantly and Snape just scoffed and sneered at the idea of someone asking Lupin to tutor them.
"I understand you may have reservations and judgements Professor Lupin, given your own history with his family. But remember, right now this is just a thirteen year old boy who wants to learn from those he admires. He is not his parents." Dumbledore said wisely.
"What was that about?" Ron asked as Y/n rejoined his friends.
"Just some tutoring." Y/n replied as the four blended into their fellow house mates.
"You are receiving extra lessons again?" Hermione asked him as if she was ready to complain that she was not.
"Hermione, I do not exactly think you have time to complain." Y/n reminded her.
Hermione stood shocked and flustered for a moment knowing she could not say anything back to this.
Y/n and the others were now streaming up the marble staircase, very tired now, along more corridors, up more and more stairs, to the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower, where a large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress asked them, "Password?"
"Coming through, coming through!" Percy called from behind the crowd. "The new password's Fortuna Major!"
"Oh no." said Neville Longbottom sadly. He always had trouble remembering the passwords.
Through the portrait hole and across the common room, the girls and boys divided toward their separate staircases. Y/n climbed the spiral stair with no thought in his head except how glad he was to be getting extra lessons. If last years encounter had taught him anything it was that he needed to be prepared for the unexpected. They reached their familiar, circular dormitory with its six four-poster beds, and Y/n, looking around, felt he was home at last.