The Snake and the Lion

Chapter 3:

How could I believe them

I hold my head up with faux confidence but it quickly falters as I watch the seats fill up with groups and cliques of friends. I feel the anxious pit grow in my stomach as I quickly grow closer to the end of the train. I gulp down a knot in my throat and right as I pass a compartment I notice the bright red flare of hair and let out an anxious breath. I look up and down the hall before noticing that I was one of the last few standing in the aisle. I look at my sleeping cat and mentally countdown from 3 before opening the door and peeking my head inside.

"I -uh- don't mean to bother but do you think there's enough space for one more?" I internally curse myself as I stumble over my words and feel the heat rush to my face. I keep my eyes close to the floor while talking but when I hear one of the boys reply they immediately shoot up, "Well of course, but I hope you don't mind a tight squeeze." He lets out a rather stress-filled laugh, I break out into a small smile before taking a look at the cabin. My eyes slowly scanned the small space, a black-haired boy with striking eyes and a thin frame of glasses greeted me and offered me the seat next to him. The person- er- lump of a person resided in the corner next to him, sleeping. I found it strange but quickly moved on to the ginger sitting across from the lump. His skin pale glittered with freckles and a rather cheesy smile which I offered back. I let my eyes move to the next person in the cabin. Merlin was she striking, A slight tinge of orange in her long fluffy brown hair, her eyes looked at me and at that moment I felt completely weak. I was being analyzed and I could feel it. The moment we made eye contact I could no longer stare and forced my eyes to the compartment above my head where my trunk belonged. I quickly pushed it into its designated space before placing Red's crate in front of my seat by my legs.

Once I finally got comfortable and sat down they pointed at the man in the corner who had been sound asleep and asked "Who do you think that is?" The mysterious brunette girl took a glance at him before speaking "Professor R.J Lupin." Everyone looked at the girl shocked that she actually knew who it was but I was shocked at how beautifully and confidently she spoke. The ginger looked at both me and the black-haired boy and started pointing out how she knows everything and that it wasn't fair. That's before she sighed and pointed at him "It's on his suitcase Ronald." I cracked a smile and looked at the group "Ronald hm?" I said in a light-hearted manner just trying to gather their names. At the sound of his name he looked up at me and I smiled. "Oh right! I'm Ron." He said pointing to himself. "That's Harry-" He pointed to the dark-haired boy "- and that's Hermione." Lastly pointing at the girl. I looked at her, meeting her eyes once again before giving her a small smile. "I'm Y/N, it's a pleasure to meet you guys." I said looking around the room. That was until I heard Hermione speak up, "So what house are you in?" She said it and after trying to figure out what she could mean I gave in and asked her, "Ah- house? What's that?" I say it rather embarrassed as all 3 of them look at me strangely. Harry looks at me curiously "You do know what Hogwarts is right?" I shook my head before continuing "My father quite literally sent me off 2 days ago, could you guys please tell me more?" I watched as the 3 of them shared what houses were, as well as points, they told me about classes and the nice teachers as well as the not nice teachers. For a while, they continued on about the stories that they had already had at the school. The whole time I followed along, humming in agreement and nodding my head ever so often. "So, I'll be in the same year as you guys?" I said excitedly and they nodded matching the same amount of excitement, well most of them were. Hermione continued to look at me strangely, keeping her guard up as I sat in my seat. I gulped and looked at her, a nervous smile appearing on my face before Harry starts talking. "Well seeing as the Professor is really sleeping and Y/N has no clue about any of this, I need to tell you guys something"

For a while, he goes on about a prisoner named Sirius Black who was put in prison for murder and explains how Sirius escaped from Azkaban to come after Harry, potentially putting Harry's life at risk. When he finishes explaining what happened Hermione reassures him which falls short as Ron brings up the fact that Sirius is the first person to break out of Azkaban. Harry gives some sarcastic reply and right as I open my mouth to talk the train stops, I look out the window to double-check where we are but can't see anything but fog and raindrops racing down the window. We all look around wondering why the train had stopped, Harry stands up to go check the aisle but before he can even peak his head out he's flung back to his seat. Ron looks at him wildly asking him what's going on, "Maybe we've broken down?" Harry murmurs it as Ron clambers onto the window. "There's something out there." He says it with a shaky voice, I slip my wand out of my pocket and clutch it in my hand as the power goes out and a jolt is sent across the train. We all watch, the room completely silent, as the sound of the window begins to freeze over. Suddenly the temperature drops and I watch as everyone's breath can be seen, a shiver rolling down my spine. Another jolt goes across the train causing Ron to let out a yelp.

Everyone waits with bated breath watching the door as a large hovering creature approaches our cabin, it holds out its bony hand and slides the door open, its bones popping in the process. And despite its lack of eyes or a face in general I can tell it's looking at me- no- it's looking past me, at Harry. I push myself in front of Harry covering its line of sight as the pets in the room go crazy. It stays silent as the creature looks at me, I feel small under its gaze, I feel weak. I feel so incredibly weak, all the air drains out of my lungs, my mouth goes dry and I can feel myself being pulled towards it. My eyes begin to feel so heavy, and I swear my brain goes quiet, a slight ringing reverberating through my skull as a bright blue light pushes the dark creature out. I double over, gasping for air before leaning my head back and being engulfed by drowsiness.