The Boy Who Constantly Conquered Death

Same but not the Same

Chapter 2

Same but not the same

Harry walked of the wagon, as he saw Hagrid take first years by boat. As the get to the carriages, harry looks at the thestrals opening their wings and in exaltation and closing them again. As he reaches one of the carriages, this thestral turns his head and looks directly at him with those shallow bonny sockets. It felt like it was trying to acknowledge his presence and knew that Harry could see them.

"Harry, come on," Ron nudge him as he climbed into the carriage.

Trevor almost jumped of the carriage and Neville lent to a side to grab him. He stumbles to the floor and Harry gave him a hand up. Soon they started moving, swaying in the bumpy road toward the castle. Ron and Hermione kept giving him weird looks, probably worried about the after effects of the dementors, while he was actually trying to remember how he was supposed to act at thirteen.

As they reached the gates, two hooded dementors flew at each side, patrolling the grounds. Everyone shivered as they pass through, but Harry felt no different. Quite opposite to how he used to react to dementors. Once down he heard a delighted high pitched voice in his ear.

"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?"

Amazing how he saw things in a different perspective now. Draco's taunting seemed quite childish and easily to ignore. He wasn't mark yet, he hadn't let Death Eaters into the ground nor had Dumbledore trap into a corner. He was just a boy repeating his father's words with no truly conviction of them.

"Shove off, Malfoy," said Ron with a clenched jaw.

"Did you fainted as well, Weasley?" said Malfoy loudly. "Did the scary old Dement-"

"Grow up, Draco," Harry sighted with a roll of his eyes.

Malfoy had a shock expression on his face at been called by his forename.

"Is there any problem?" Lupin appeared at their back. Crabbe and Goyle gave a startle jump backwards while Malfoy compose himself back to his usual aristocrat look. He looked down upon Lupin's robes and stated "We were just leaving, professor."

They turned around and left. Hermione lead them up the steps and reached the open doors of the Great Hall. Suddenly, McGonagall came from their back.

"Potter! Granger! I want to see you both in my office. Follow me," McGonagall call them.

Hermione turned around surprised, worried frown on her face.

"There is no need to look so worry, Miss Granger. I simply want a word with you."

Harry looked at McGonagall, she looked the same than always, stern eyes, small wrinkles on her face, square glasses on her nose that remained as a feature in her animagus form. She led the way to her office, leaving Ron behind. She immediately lit the fire and pointed to two chairs in front of her. As they took a seat, she started saying,

"Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter."

As Harry expected, there was a knock on the door and Madame Pomfrey bust in ready to take care of the ill.

"I am feeling much better now, thanks to Professor Lupin. I seem to have a bad reaction to dementors, but the professor sent them away quite immediately and gave us chocolate." He knew it was better and full and honest answer or they would keep bothering him about it.

Madam Pomfrey still looked unsure, but said "Well, at least with have one competent Defense teacher this year."

"You can run diagnosis spell over me if you like. But I feel fine enough to attend the feast, and I am sure a night rest I will only do me good."