Good & Evil {3} | d.m. | ong.

four

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Dementors

"Even though we never said it to each other. We knew."

King's Cross Station

As the Hogwarts express bleated its horn at platform nine and three quarters, millions of students scampered everywhere. Parents hurried their children onboard, tiny siblings waved goodbye...and Mrs. Weasley dashed through the throng and up to an open train window. "Ron!" She yelled as she handed Scabbers through the open window to him.

Hogwarts Express

Moments later, in the train cars, the aisles teemed with students, including Harry, Liv, Ron and Hermione, who worked their way down the aisle, looking for an empty compartment. "I didn't mean to blow her up. I just..." Liv started to say but was troubled by the memory. "...lost control."

"Brilliant!" Ron exclaimed and Hermione and Liv eyed him.

"Honestly, Ron, it's not funny. Liv's lucky she wasn't expelled," Hermione said.

"I still think it was brilliant," Ron said.

SNAP!
SNAP!
SNAP!

A copy of the The Monster Book of Monsters scuttle crab-like down the aisle, pursued by Neville Longbottom. "Hi, Liv. Hi, Harry. Ron. Hermione," Neville said.

"Hi, Neville."
"Hi, Neville."
"Hi, Neville."
"Hi, Neville."

As he bumped past, Hermione nodded to a compartment. "C'mon. We're in here," Hermione said before they slipped inside an empty compartment, or almost empty. They found a man in shabby robes slumped against the window, asleep. He looked ill, exhausted, and the four eyed him warily.

"Who d'you reckon he is?" Ron whispered to Liv, but she shrugged her shoulders.

"Professor R.J. Lupin," Hermione said.

"You know everything. How is it she knows everything?" Ron asked.

"It's on his case, Ronald," Hermione said before she pointed above Lupin. Stamped in peeling letters on a battered case is Professor R.J. Lupin.

"Look, I'm," Liv started to say before she looked down the aisle. "I'll be right back."

Liv then walked off, Winter in her arms. "Is he really asleep?" Harry asked.

"He looks asleep," Ron said.

"Seems to be. Why? What is it, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Close the door," Harry said. Hermione and Ron exchanged a curious glance, then Ron rises and slid the door shut.

———

As storm clouds, like dark ghosts, toss sheets of rain onto the scarlet engine as it headed north, Liv ventured deeper into the train. She came across a train compartment where Roni was, along with the Weasley Twins. Roni was smiling and laughing with the twins, but she tensed up when she saw Liv outside their compartment. "Liv!" Roni exclaimed with a nervous smile and Liv gave her an odd glance.