A Family Reunion

1st September, 1993 

The Hogwarts Express leaving King's Cross Station 

Harry and his friends started boarding the train to Hogwarts,  excited for what the next school year will bring them. All of them except for Harry, who couldn’t get anyone to give him signed permission to go to Hogsmeade on the weekends. On top of that, it seems that a crazed mass murder named Sirius Black, who was a  follower of Lord Voldemort, has escaped Azkaban Prison and intends to kill him. All and all it seemed that this year was just going to be similar to the last for Harry.

Once Harry and his friends were onboard the train, now leaving King’s Cross Station, they tried and failed to find an empty train compartment (in the hopes they can talk in private) as almost every one of them was packed with students and staff. The Trio was finally able to find a compartment with only three people inside of it all on one side leaving the other side empty. With very few options, Harry and his friends all decided to enter the compartment where they were greeted by a middle-aged woman with long dark hair, a little girl with a mixture of light red and dark hair whom they assumed was related to the woman, and a middle-aged man in the corner who was sleeping. 

"Hello." Harry greeted them. "You wouldn't mind if me and my friends sit with you all. All the other compartments were taken." 

"No, not all." The woman replied with a smile. 

The Trio then took their seats on the other side of the compartment. They all sat in silence for a few minutes until the woman spoke up again. 

"Perhaps we should get to know each other a little. " she began. "My name is Paige Evans, I'll be your new muggle studies  professor. This is my daughter Abigail, this will be her first year at Hogwarts. And the man you see over here will be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Remus Lupin." 

Hermione was the first to introduce herself, "Nice to meet you professor, my name is Hermione Granger. I'll be in your class this year!" 

"Nice to meet you Hermione, and I can't wait to have you in my class." Professor Evans replied while shaking Hermione's hand before turning to Ron. "And you?" 

"Ron Weasley mam." He told her while shaking her hand as well. 

"Good to meet you Mr. Weasley." She said before turning to Harry. "And you young man, what's your name?"

"Harry Potter." He told her as he shook her hand.  As soon as he said that, the professor's daughters gasped sharply. 

"Are you THE Harry Potter?" Abigail asked. "The Harry Potter that defeated You Know Who?"

“That’s right.” Harry replied with a guilty smile on his face. 

“Oh my god! I’ve heard and read so much about you! I have like a million questions to ask you!” The young witch excitedly told him before her mother intervened. 

“Abigail! Be polite and don’t bother Mr. Potter, about what I only imagine was a horrifying experience for him!” Paige ordered her daughter before turning back to Harry to apologize. “I’m terribly sorry for my daughter’s behavior Mr. Potter. I can assure that it won't happen again.”

“That’s alright professor, I’m kind of getting used to it.” Harry informed her.

“Either way we are truly sorry, aren’t we Abigail?” The professor asked her daughter who was looking at the floor. 

“I’m sorry Mr. Potter.” Abigail told him.

“Don’t worry about it.” Harry told her with a smile and a winkle that made the young girl happy.

“Abigail is just very nervous with this being her first year and all.” Paige told the group. “Plus she’s mostly been homeschooled most of her life with me and my husband traveling a lot. Not to mention never growing up with a large group of witches and wizards.”

“MOM!” Abigail yelled at her mother with obvious embarrassment on her face.

“It’s okay about Abby, I’ve had the same feelings when I first came to Hogwarts and believe me it’s really nothing to worry about.” Harry told Abigail which made her smile even more. Harry then asked her: “I hope it was okay for me to call you Abby instead of Abigail?” 

“I don’t mind at all, actually I’d like that very much..” she told him. 

“Professor?” Hermione spoke up.

“Yes, Ms. Granger?” Paige turned to her soon to be student.

“I hope you don’t mind me asking but what did you mean by Abby not being around many witches and wizards?” Hermione asked.

“Well you see;” She began to tell the young trio. “my husband is a muggle from America and is in their military so we’ve had to move from place to place before we finally settle in Quantico, Virginia. Plus, my family that’s here in England disowned me a year after I finished Hogwarts because I didn’t conform to their blood supremacy, so I moved to America and attended a muggle university and the rest as they say is history.”

“Wow! That’s amazing!” Hermione said that she and the other’s fascinated by the professor’s life story.”

“Thank you.” The professor replied with a smile. “I don’t think my life is that interesting.”

“Are you kidding?!” Ron shouted. “That’s bloody more interesting than anything in our History of Magic class!”

“I wouldn’t go that far Ron!” Hermione told him. “And you shouldn’t swear in front of a teacher or her daughter!”

“That’s okay Hermione, I’ve heard my daddy say way more bad words than what he just said.” Abby told them to the complete shock and anger of her mother.

“I’m sorry, what exactly did your father say in front of you?” Paige asked her daughter hoping it wasn’t as bad as she thought it was. 

“Well, I’m not really sure of some of the words he said.” She began to tell her mother. “But I do remember he once yelled something that rhythms with luck but started with an F.” 

Harry and Ron were doing their best not to laugh, while Hermione was a little bit shocked that a parent could say such a word in front of a child. The professor meanwhile, just sat in anger and embarrassment before turning back to the trio. 

“Kids, this is what you get when you marry someone from America’s Marine Corp.” she told them. “They say the sailors in their navy swear the most but it’s the Marines who have mouths that you can’t control.”

“So, what exactly does your husband do in the Marine Corps?” Hermione asked, hoping to go back on topic. 

“Well, right now he’s the commander of a Marine base.” she began to tell them. “But I think he was in the Marine special forces during the Vietnam War.”

“The what?” Ron asked, clearly confused on what the professor was talking about.

“The Vietnam War, Ronald, was a war that the United States fought during the 1960s and 70s against North Vietnam in order to support and protect South Vietnam from invasion from the North as well as to prevent the spread of communism in Asia.” Hermione told him. 

“How do you know that?!” Ron asked her, already having an idea of what the answer might be. 

“I learned about it while in Primary school and read about it cause I didn’t think my school was properly teaching us on the subject.” Hermione replied. 

“Of course you did.” Ron sighed causing Hermione to glare at him. 

“I’m impressed by your knowledge of muggle history.” Paige said to her. 

“Thank you.” Hermione told her while blushing. “It kind of helps that both of my parents are muggle.”

“Really?” Paige asked her clearly surprised. 

“Yes.” Hermione answered. 

“I thought you were either half-blood or even a pure-blood.” Paige told Hermione who continued to blush. 

“Thank you.” Hermione replied. 

“If you don’t mind me asking,” Paige began to ask. “But if you’re a muggleborn, why would you take muggle-studies?”  

“I wanted to see what the wizard point of view of muggle society was.” Hermione told her with a proud smile. 

“Well, the wizarding point of view has always been grossly inaccurate for years, and I am hoping to change that.” Paige told Hermione with a smile. 

They all talked for about a few hours, getting to know each other, before the train was roughly forty-five minutes. As their destination got ever closer, the professor left the compartment to help her daughter get ready for the sorting ceremony. 

“Mommy?” Abby said as she was changing to her wizarding robes. 

“Yes dear?” Paige looked at her daughter with great concern. 

“What happens if I get sorted into a different house instead of the one you were in? Are you going to be mad at me?” Abby asked her mother, worried about what the answer was going to be. 

“Oh sweaty, you don’t have to worry about that.” Paige told her daughter. “It doesn’t matter to me what house you end up in. I’ll love you no matter what.”

“Even if I’m not in Slytherin?” Abby asked.

“Especially if you're not in Slytherin.” Paige said to her with a loving smile. “Besides, I don’t think Slytherin is the best place for you. But that’s all for the Sorting Hat to decide.”

As Abby was finishing up, the train came to an abrupt halt without any warning whatsoever. Before Paige could exit the lavatory to investigate what was happening, the air around them started to get cold and the window on the door began to have frost and fog grew on it. Paige, realizing what was going on, pulled out her wand, locked the door, turned off the light, then turned to daughter. 

“Abigail, get behind me.” Paige ordered her daughter. 

“What’s going on mommy?” Abby asked. 

“ABIGAIL LILY EVANS, GET BEHIND ME NOW!” Paige ordered again to which her daughter complied. 

As they were hiding, the unknown danger revealed itself as a shadow in the window. The shadow showed what looked like a hooded-man with what seemed to be a skeleton-like figure. Paige covered her daughter’s mouth so they weren’t discovered while pointing her wand at the door, preparing to defend against the dark figure. After about five minutes, the figure floated away from the door but they remained in place for ten more minutes or so before the train began to move again. Paige put her wand back into her coat, switched the light back on, then turned to Abby. 

“Are you okay sweetheart?” Paige asked while hugging her daughter. 

“I’m alright mommy.” Abby told her before asking: “What was that thing?”

“It was a Dementor.” Paige told her. 

“What’s a Dementor?” Abby asked. 

“It’s something you don’t ever want to come across.” Paige informed her. “You understand? Don’t you ever go near one of those things!”

“Yes mommy, I understand.”

“Okay, let’s go back to our compartment.”

When they got back to the compartment, they found Harry laying on the seat unconscious with Professor Lupin tending to him while his friends looked on him with great concern. 

“Oh My God, what happened?” Paige asked Professor Lupin. 

“A Dementor got in, almost gave Harry here the dementor’s kiss causing him to faint. I was able to cast a Patronus charm before it was too late.” Lupin told her. 

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a chocolate bar and broke four pieces of it.

“Here” he said as he gave the pieces to Harry’s friends. “Make sure he eats these when he wakes up, it’ll help him feel better. I better speak to the driver, excuse me.”

“Maybe I should go with you?” Paige asked Lupin 

“No, you stay here with the kids.” Lupin tells her.

“You sure?” She asked him again. “You might need some help.”

“Like, you would care whether or not I need help.” Lupin scoffed at her angrily before leaving the compartment. 

“What was that all about?” Ron asked her.

“Don’t worry about it.” Paige told him just as Harry began to wake up. 

“Harry, are you alright?” Hermione asked him. “Here, eat this.”

Hermione handed him the piece of chocolate, to which Harry looked at her and the candy with confusion.

“Professor Lupin said that it’ll help us after the incident.” She told him. 

Harry took the chocolate from Hermione. She was right as always, it did make him feel better. 

“So, what happened exactly?” Harry asked them.

Hermione, Ron, and Professor Evans did their best to explain to him what exactly  happened. 

“It felt really weird, like I’d never be happy ever again.” Ron explained, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. 

“Did any of you pass out like I did?” Harry asked him.

“No.” They all told him. 

“Me and Abigail were in the lavatory when they came aboard.” Paige informed the group. 

“What were those things anyway?” Harry asked her. 

“They were Dementors.” The Professor told Harry and his friends. “They are the vile creatures that serve as guards at Azkaban Prison.” 

“Do you think that they were looking for Sirius Black, here on the train?” Harry asked. 

“It would be the most likely possibility.” Paige told him. 

“Well whatever the reason, I think we all agree that Dementors aren’t the nicest beings.” Hermione said to which the rest of the compartment agreed.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

The Great Hall 

A couple of hours after the incident, The Trio went directly into the Great Hall where the sorting ceremony was about to commence. 

“What house do you think Professor Evans’ daughter will end up in?” Hermione asked her friends. 

“No idea.” Ron replied. “She might end up in whatever house her mother was in.” 

“What house do you think her mother was in?” Asked Harry. 

“I bet her mother was in Slytherin.” Ron said rather bluntly. 

“What makes you think that?” Hermione asked him. 

“Well, think about it.”  Ron begins to explain. “She mentioned on the train that her parents were pureblood supremacists so it would only make sense that she would be put into Slytherin. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if her parents fought alongside ‘You Know Who’”.   

Before Hermione could reply to Ron’s reasoning, the sorting ceremony started. It took a little bit before Professor McGonagall called Abby’s name. 

“Abigail Evans” 

Abby walks up nervously to where McGonagall was holding the sorting hat, before the hat was placed on her head, she looked to her mother for reassurance. 

Paige whispered to her daughter; “It’ll be okay. You got this.” 

Once the sorting hat was on Abby’s head, the hat seemed to be in deep thought for roughly a minute before it spoke it’s thoughts out loud. 

“Difficult. Very Difficult.” The hat began to speak. “Yes, it is very difficult to place you, young lady. You, my dear lady, possess a few qualities of all the houses.”

This was a shock to everyone in the hall, including Harry and his friends. 

“Yes, difficult indeed.” The hat continued on. “The two best houses I can see you in my dear, would be the houses of Slytherin and Gryffindor. 

“Yes, Slytherin could be a great fit for you. The house of your mother can help you realize your greatest ambitions, improve your resourcefulness, and to achieve great leadership skills.” 

The old hat paused for a moment before speaking again; “However, I can sense that you take more after your father than your mother. Yes, your father. A great muggle warrior from the land of E Pluribus Unum. Yes, a great yet troubled warrior. You possess many of the same qualities as he does. Courage, Bravery, Nerve, and Chivalry, all qualities necessary of a Gryffindor. Yes, I can see clearly now. I believe that you belong in GRYFFINDOR!”

Everyone at the Gryffindor table cheered Abby on as she made her way to find a place to sit. She took a seat next to Ron’s younger sister Ginny. 

“Congratulations.” Ginny greeted her. “My name is Ginny Weasley. Welcome to Gryffindor!” 

“Thank you, it's nice to meet you Ginny.” Abby responded while shaking her hand. “I’m Abby Evans.”

“Once the rest of the sorting ceremony was over, Professor Dumbledore began the beginning of the year announcements. 

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" Professor Dumbledore announced. "I have a few things to do today, before we become befuddled by our excellent feast. I myself am particularly looking forward to the flaming kiwi cups, which, while somewhat treacherous for those of us with facial hair…"

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.

"Mm. Yes. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor Paige Evans who has kindly accepted the position for Muggle Studies as well as Professor R.J. Lupin, who also has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Good luck to you both, Professors." Professor Dumbledore said. "As some of you may know, Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher for many years, has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be filled by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid!"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at one another stunned then applauded vigorously for their friend.

"Finally," Dumbledore said turning grave, "on a more disquieting note, Hogwarts, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, will until further notice, play host to the Dementors of Azkaban."

There was a murmur of apprehension that filled the hall.

"The dementors will be stationed at the entrances to the grounds. While they are under strict orders not to enter the castle itself, you will on occasion see them as you go about your daily activities. Under no circumstances are you to approach them. It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving." Dumbledore continued. "Now, enjoy the feast!"

"Well, that seemed depressing." Ron said bluntly. 

“Yeah, no kidding. Well, who knows what’s gonna happen this year. ” Harry replied before digging into the feast, blissfully unaware of the things to come.