Gryffindor Princess and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter Two: The Second Encounter

Even after years of using a Portkey Hope still wasn't used to the feeling, being flung forwards and spun around wildly while her hand was attached to the cheetah print sunglasses. Mr. Biffing and her father spinning around on either side of her, her fathers beard whipping into his face.

Finally her feet touched the ground and she managed to catch herself before she fell over. They were back in the visitors entrance to the prison. A thin layer of snow covered the floor, even inside the completely sheltered room. She could see a few dementors swooping around on the other side of the bars. On her first visit she hadn't actually seen a Dementor in the Prison, on this occasion there seemed to be one floating down almost ever row of cells.

Mr. Biffing noticed her staring.

"It's policy", he said, "for the Dementors not to make themselves known to anyone under thirteen. They shouldn't bother you, and with the protection of the Patronus charm, even if one of them steps out of line, they shouldn't be able to hurt you."

She shuddered, watching the closest dementor as it swooped past the doorway. It has a gray slimy skeleton for a body, and was wrapped in black rags that were wrapped around it before floating lightly off the creatures body. As the creature got closer to them she felt the air, somehow, grow even colder. She had a vision flash across her mind, she could see Ginny's almost lifeless body lying in the chamber of secrets, her hair spread out around her, eyes closed, skin pale. As soon as the vision flashed across her mind it disappeared.

She felt as though sadness sorrow were overwhelming her, the only emotions she could feel, it was as though she couldn't even remember what happiness felt like.

"Dumbledore, if you could", she heard Mr. Biffing say beside her. The two pulled out their wands.

"Expecto Patronum", they both chanted.

Out of their wands burst two light silvery blue Patronus's, her fathers taking the form of a Phoenix, while Mr. Biffing's took the form of a large Monkey.

As soon as the Patronus's appeared they created a bubble, made of soft light, that circled around them like a forcefield. Immediately Hope felt better.

"You'll wait here, please, Dumbledore", Mr. Biffing said, "Hope you'll come with me inside, if you please."

She bid goodbye to her father, and followed Mr. Biffing through the door and into the rows of cells. She noticed that the further in they walked the more Dementors seemed to be around.

"Why are their more guards on this side?", Hope asked, Mr. Biffing.

"This end is for the more maximum security prisoners", Mr. Biffing told her, "Death Eaters, and Murderers."

Hope shivered, a Death Eater was another word for Witches and Wizards who had joined Voldemort's Army when he had risen to power.

"If its alright", Mr. Biffing said, coming to a halt, "I'll leave you here, it's only a few more rows this way."

Hope nodded and watched Mr. Biffing head back towards the visitors area. Clearly Mr. Biffing didn't enjoy being among the Dementors any more than she did. As she continued to walk down she looked at the Dementors more closely. Their faces were covered in a thin black veil, which allowed her to see that they didn't have any faces at all, only a hole where their mouth would have been.

One Dementor swooped towards her aggressively, its mouth open, and she could hear it's loud rattling breath. She stepped backwards instinctively, stumbled on a slab of ice among the snow covered ground, and found herself sliding onto her side. Her hip was definitely bruised, but she felt more irritated than pained. She clambered to her feet, her hands getting wet from the snow, and saw that her winter coat was now soaked on one side. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out the copy of the daily profit and the letter from Narcissa, relieved to find both were still dry.