The Dementor Part 1
Tom woke Harry the next morning... persuading a disgruntled Hedwig to get back into her cage
"Should have just let her fly," Luna said in her usual sing song voice.
when Ron banged his way into the room... "At least I can get away from Percy at Hogwarts.
"Ronald! That's not very kind," Mrs Weasley said with a glare.
Now he's accusing me of dripping tea on his photo of Penelope Clearwater... her nose has gone all blotchy..."
Percy grinned.
"I've got something to tell you,"... and Mrs. Weasley was telling Hermione and Ginny about a love potion she'd made as a young girl.
Percy tensed.
All three of them were rather giggly.
"It's not a laughing matter!" Percy said, jumping to his feet.
Mrs Weasley blinked in surprise.
"Who did you use it on, mum?" Fred asked.
Mrs Weasley hesitated. "Your father said something rather unkind about my friend Celeste when we were in school. Said she was rabbit faced."
"Your mum decided to teach me a lesson and spiked my pumpkin juice with a love potion right in the middle of the Great Hall. It only lasted a few minutes but I certainly learned my lesson. It was perhaps the most embarrassing four minutes of my life, but Celeste was happy. She got to rebuff my advances and she wasn't especially kind about it either. Fell in love with your mother that day too. She was so protective of her friends, how could I not love her?"
He put his hand on Percy's shoulder in support.
"What were you saying?"... "I'll let you out on the train."
"You better not," the younger Mrs Granger said. "What about Scabbers?"
She was surprised her daughter was being so irresponsible.
"You won't,"... where a large lump indicated that Scabbers was curled up in his pocket.
Hermione grimaced, remembering just how awful her and Ron had been to each other that year.
Mr. Weasley, who had been outside waiting... glancing up and down the crowded street.
"That wouldn't have been at all suspicious if Harry didn't already know," Ron said sarcastically.
Harry got into the back of the car... They reached King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare;
"There's a first time for everything," Bill laughed.
the Ministry drivers found them trolleys... Harry imitated him.
"You're over complicating it," Minerva said. "Just walk through. The place is warded to the heavens."
In a moment, they had fallen sideways through the solid metal... "Ah, there's Penelope!" said Percy, smoothing his hair and going pink again.
Percy tensed again, frowning at the book.
Ginny caught Harry's eye... He was embarrassed, but really quite pleased, when she gave him an extra hug.
Mrs Weasley beamed at him.
"Do take care, won't you Harry?"... "There's something I've got to tell you before you leave -" said Mr. Weasley in a tense voice.
Sirius nodded in approval.
"It's all right, Mr. Weasley,"... "That's not the way I'd have chosen for you to find out," said Mr. Weasley looking anxious.
Mrs Weasley tutted again.
"No - honestly it's OK... can't be worse than Lord Voldemort, can he?"
Sirius laughed at that.
Mr. Weasley flinched... and I'm obviously pleased that you're not scared, but -"
"I still don't understand why everyone seemed to think I'd go looking for Sirius!" Harry huffed.
"Arthur!"... " - that I'll be a good boy and stay in the castle?" said Harry gloomily.
"As you should!" Mrs Weasley said tersely.
"Not entirely,"... "that whatever happens -"
Harry was growing frustrated. He could feel his temper boiling just under the surface.
"Why would I go looking... "Arthur, quickly!" cried Mrs. Weasley.
Harry focused on his breathing.
Steam was billowing from the train... "Go away, Ginny," said Ron.
"RONALD!" Mrs Weasley screeched.
"Oh, that's nice,"... Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with gray.
Sirius's ears picked up. "Moony is that you?"
Remus shrugged. "I can't imagine they'd let me teach at Hogwarts."
"Who d'you reckon he is?"... "Professor R. J. Lupin. " whispered Hermione at once.
"It is you!" Sirius grinned.
"How'd you know that?"... stamped across one corner in peeling letters.
"Your mother bought me that case," Remus said. "She knew my greatest hope was to become a teacher. Never thought it would actually happen though."
"Wonder what he teaches?"... There were rumors that the job was jinxed.
"Cursed more like," Minerva said.
"Well, I hope he's up to it,"... don't go looking for trouble, Harry..."
"Why would I go looking for trouble?" Harry demanded angrily, glaring at Hermione.
"I don't go looking for trouble,"... to go looking for a nutter who wants to kill him?" said Ron shakily.
Sirius was nodding in agreement. It just didn't make sense. Were people really this thick?
They were taking the news worse... And he was a top-security prisoner too."
"Of course, we were scared," Ron said, confused that Harry didn't understand why it was so scary.
"But they'll catch him, won't they?"... standing up and reaching into the luggage rack.
"Who has handled his luggage?" Moody demanded. "You shouldn't touch that trunk."
A moment later... glowing brilliantly.
"Probably broken," Bill said. "It's a cheap one."
"Or maybe it's because of Wormtail," George suggested.
Bill paused. "It could be."
"Is that a Sneakoscope?"... but how else was I supposed to get Harry's present to him?"
Mrs Weasley tutted.
"Stick it back in the trunk,"... then closed the lid of the trunk on it.
"Don't just presume it isn't working!" Moody grumbled.
"We could get it checked in Hogsmeade,"... "I've read it's the only entirely non-Muggle settlement in Britain -"
"That's sort of silly isn't it," Harry said. "You'd think we'd have multiple non-Muggle settlements in Britain."
"There used to be more," Fortescue told them. "That was before the ministry put restrictions in place about how many magicals could live in close vicinity of one another."
"Yeah, I think it is,".... which you can suck in class and just look like you're thinking what to write next"
"I've always liked those," Sirius said with a grin.
"But Hogsmeade's a very interesting place, isn't it?"... Shrieking Shack's supposed to be the most severely haunted building in Britain -"
Several people groaned. Hermione was literally like a walking library sometimes.
"and massive sherbet balls... "You'll have to tell me when you've found out."
Sirius gave Harry's shoulder a squeeze.
"What d'you mean?"... McGonagall or someone will give you permission -"
"I'm not allowed to do that," Minerva said. "I suppose Albus could as Harry's magical guardian."
Harry gave a hollow laugh... they know every secret passage out of the castle -"
"We'd have told you," Fred said.
"Ron!"... sneaking out of the school with Black on the loose -"
"He shouldn't be sneaking out at all!" Mrs Weasley screeched.
"Yeah, I expect that's what McGonagall will say... "Black wouldn't dare -"
Sirius laughed at that. If he really was a death eater a couple of thirteen year olds wouldn't stop him.
"Oh, Ron, don't talk rubbish,"... the straps of Crookshanks's basket as she spoke.
"You better not be letting that cat out!" Mrs Granger said sharply.
"Don't let that thing out!"... sprang onto Ron's knees;
"Hermione!" Mrs Granger glared at her daughter. "If you insist on keeping that cat, you need to be a more responsible pet owner."
the lump in Ron's pocket trembled... "Ron, don't!" said Hermione angrily.
Mrs Granger shook her head, clearly unimpressed.
Ron was about to answer back... his yellow eyes on Ron's top pocket.
"There's something unnatural about that cat," Remus said.
At one o'clock the plump witch... "If he's hungry when he wakes, I'll be up front with the driver. "
"She always was fond of Remi," Sirius said.
"I suppose he is asleep?"... he hasn't died, has he?"
Remus laughed at that.
"No, no, he's breathing,"... "Potty and the Weasel. "
Lady Malfoy shook her head. "You do realise, Draco, that you're the one picking fights."
Draco nodded sadly.
Crabbe and Goyle chuckled trollishly... "Did your mother die of shock?"
"Sorry," Draco muttered.
Ron stood up so quickly ... he wasn't fool enough to pick a fight right under a teacher's nose.
Remus grinned. He was almost certain that his older self hadn't been asleep at all. His werewolf hearing would have made that impossible as soon as they entered the chamber.
"C'mon,"... Ron made a violent gesture in midair.
"Ronald!" Mrs Weasley said shrilly.
"Ron,"... but still, Professor Lupin slept.
"I doubt that," Sirius said with a chuckle.
"We must be nearly there,"... The words had hardly left him when the train started to slow down.
"You can't be there already," young Percy said.
"Great,"... "I'm starving. I want to get to the feast. . . "
Everyone was sitting forward now, waiting nervously for something to happen.
"We can't be there yet,"... the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows.
"Well, that sounds spooky," Tonks said.
Harry, who was nearest the door... all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness.
"That's not good," Moody said seriously.
Sirius looked like he might need another calming draught. He had a really bad feeling about this.
There was a bright flash of light that made almost everyone jump in shock. When the light faded, Harry raised his wand instantly, pointing it at the person who was standing in the middle of the chamber. Out of all the people he could imagine joining them in the chamber, this had never even occurred as a possibility to him.