Enemies to Lovers Draco Malfoy x Y/N Y/L/N

Through the Darkness and Into the Light

With a desperate gasp, Harry's eyes fluttered open. The eerie blackness of the compartment surrounded him, and the train's gentle movement rocked him slightly. The windows, now clear of ice, had a single drop of water making its way down.

Hermione's anxious face hovered above him. "Harry? Are you all right?"

Harry blinked, nodding weakly. He sat up slowly, noticing Ron's pale and nervous expression as he extended Harry's glasses. "Thanks," Harry said, slipping them on and feeling the cold sweat on his forehead.

Professor Lupin entered, holding out a slab of chocolate. "Chocolate. Eat. It'll help."

"What was that... that thing?" Harry asked, taking the chocolate gratefully.

"A Dementor. One of the guards of Azkaban. It's gone now," Lupin explained, his tone calm yet serious.

Hermione added, "It was searching the train for Sirius Black."

"I need to have a word with the driver. Excuse me," Lupin said, giving Harry a reassuring nod before leaving the compartment.

Y/N, who had been sitting quietly, looked at Harry with concern. "Harry, that was really frightening. Are you sure you're okay?"

Harry managed a weak smile. "I'm fine. Just a bit disoriented."

Y/N moved closer, offering a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. "You did great. We were all really scared."

Hermione looked at Y/N gratefully. "Thanks for being here. It was a lot to handle."

Ron glanced at Harry. "You sort of went... rigid. We thought you might be having a fit or something."

Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. "Did either of you... pass out?"

Ron shook his head. "No, I felt like all my cheerfulness was drained away. It was really unsettling, but I stayed conscious."

Hermione said, "I was trembling and felt freezing, but then Professor Lupin made the Dementor go away."

Harry's gaze shifted to Y/N. "Did you see anything or hear anything unusual?"

Y/N shook their head, though their expression was still worried. "I didn't hear any screaming. I was just outside when everything happened, and it looked pretty terrifying from there."

"I heard a woman's scream," Harry said, his voice tinged with confusion.

Hermione and Ron exchanged uneasy glances. "No one was screaming, Harry," Hermione said gently. "It might have been your mind playing tricks on you."

Y/N squeezed Harry's shoulder reassuringly. "It's possible. The fear and stress can make things seem more intense than they are."

Lupin re-entered the compartment, his demeanor calm but focused. "Feeling better?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, thanks to you."

As Lupin returned to his seat, Y/N stayed close to Harry, her presence a steady comfort. The group fell into a subdued silence, the earlier chaos lingering as an unsettling memory. The train continued its journey, and the companionship of friends provided a small solace in the midst of uncertainty.

At the High Table, Professor Lupin was seated alongside Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid, and Albus Dumbledore. The choir sang cheerfully to the strains of a harpsichord. Argus Filch, the Hogwarts caretaker, stood grimly to the side while his cat, Mrs. Norris, swished her tail at his feet.

As the choir's song drew to a close, Dumbledore rose, beaming over the sea of black hats.

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" he began. "I have a few things to say before we become befuddled by our excellent feast. I myself am particularly looking forward to the flaming kiwi cups, which, while somewhat treacherous for those of us with facial hair..."