I will always find you

POA 3

As the carriage trundled towards a pair of magnificent wrought-iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, Ella noticed two more towering, hooded Dementors, standing guard on either side. She moved slightly closer to Harry who he leaned back into the lumpy seat and closed his eyes until they had passed through the gates. The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle; Hermione was leaning out of the tiny window, watching the many turrets and towers draw nearer. At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and Hermione and Ron got out followed by Ella. As Harry stepped down, a drawling, delighted voice sounded.

"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?" Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle, his face gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously.

"Shove off, Malfoy" Ron said, whose jaw was clenched. Ella clenched her fist at her side as she stood beside Harry.

"Did you faint as well, Weasley?" Malfoy loudly. "Did the scary old Dementor frighten you, too, Weasley?"

"Is there a problem?" a mild voice said. Professor Lupin had just got out of the next carriage. Malfoy gave Professor Lupin an insolent stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase. With a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice, he said, 

"Oh, no er Professor" then he smirked at Crabbe and Goyle, and led them up the steps into the castle. Hermione prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry, and the four of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, and into the cavernous Entrance Hall, which was lit with flaming torches and housed a magnificent marble staircase which led to the upper floors. The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; Harry followed the crowd towards it, but had barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called,

'Potter! Hope! Granger! I want to see you!' Harry, Ella and Hermione turned around, surprised. Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house, was calling over the heads of the crowd. She was a stern-looking witch who wore her hair in a tight bun; her sharp eyes were framed with square spectacles. Harry fought his way over to her followed by Ella. "There's no need to look so worried – I just want a word in my office" she told them. "Move along there, Weasley" Ron stared as Professor McGonagall ushered Harry, Ella and Hermione away from the chattering crowd, they accompanied her across the Entrance Hall, up the marble staircase and along a corridor. Once they were in her office, a small room with a large, welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned Harry, Ella and Hermione to sit down. She settled herself behind her desk and said abruptly, "Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter and that he was also worried about you Miss Hope" Before either could reply, there was a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey the matron, came bustling in.

"I'm fine" Harry said. "I don't need anything"

"Oh, it's you, is it?" Madam Pomfrey said, ignoring this and bending down to stare closely at him. "I suppose you've been doing something dangerous again?"

"It was a Dementor, Poppy" Professor McGonagall told her. They exchanged a dark look and Madam Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly.

"Setting Dementors around a school" she muttered, pushing Harry's hair back and feeling his forehead. "He won't be the first one who collapses. Yes, he's all clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate"

"I'm not delicate!" Harry said crossly.

"Of course you're not" Madam Pomfrey said absent-mindedly, now taking his pulse.

"What does he need?" Professor McGonagall said crisply. "Bed rest? Should he perhaps spend tonight in the hospital wing? And what about Miss Hope" Madam Pomfrey started doing the same things to Ella she had just done to Harry.