It Could Have Gone That Way; A Harmione Fanfiction

Chapter 26: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

"Harry! Hurry up!" Hermione leaned out of the train, extending her arm for Harry to take.

"Now," Arthur seemed oblivious to the train,"you must promise you won't go looking for Black."

Harry gaped at him,"Mr. Weasley, why would I go looking for someone who wants to kill me?"

"Harry!" Hermione called urgently. The train began chugging forwards slowly.

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley, but I really have to go now!" Harry ran to Hermione and grabbed her hand. She pulled him onto the train and slammed the door behind him.

"Cor, take your time, mate." Ron said, stroking Scabbers as the trio looked for a compartment.

Hermione frowned at the struggling rat,"It's strange..."

"What?"

"Well, rats aren't supposed to live for twelve years, Ron. And Scabbers has."

"Do you know everything?" Ron grumbled.

Hermione blinked,"Probably."

Peeking into a compartment, Harry saw a man sleeping in the corner,"Come on," he sighed,"everywhere else is full." Ron and Hermione followed him inside grumpily.

As he sat down, Ron nodded at the sleeping man and asked,"Who's that?"

"Professor R. J. Lupin." Hermione said matter-of-factly.

Ron scowled,"And how the bloody hell did you know that?"

Sighing, Hermione pointed at the Professor's trunk on the luggage rack. There was a peeling red sticker with his name on it just below the handle.

"Oh."

"Ron," Harry changed the subject anxiously,"how was Italy?"

"Didn't go." Ron cracked a grin,"Dad won a trip to Egypt. We've already been, but it was way better than Italy. Think we're going there for Christmas instead, though."

Crookshanks hissed and Scabbers crawled into Ron's pocket.

"You'd better keep that bloody beast away from my Scabbers!" Ron threatened Hermione,"Or else I'll throw him out of the train."

"Calm down, Ron." Harry's tone was serious,"Hermione, are you sure Professor Lupin's asleep?"

Hermione squinted at him and said,"Yes. Why?"

"I need to tell you something."

***********

"Harry! Harry, are you all right?"

"Ugh..." Harry propped himself up on his elbows. Ron was watching Harry nervously from his seat, Hermione was squatting in front of him, nibbling some chocolate and handing him his glasses, whilst the suddenly awake professor was hurrying out of the compartment to talk to the train driver.

"Here," Hermione gave Harry her chocolate as he put his glasses on,"it helps."

"What...happened?" Harry asked blearily through a mouthful of chocolate.