Chapter Seven

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Kane's first thought when the Dementors boarded the train was I want to curl in a ball and die.

Suddenly he felt like the most depressed person in the world, not even responding as everyone in his compartment was moving around and panicking. No, he stayed where he was with nothing but coldness.

Then he came back when Anna snapped him back to his senses. Actually, smacked him back to his senses.

"Kane!"

She stepped on his foot on accident and tripped, her hand unintentionally hitting his face to keep her from falling.

"Ow."

"Oh, sorry. What's going on?!"

"I dunno..."

He slid open the compartment door.

"Do you think it's..."

"Yup."

Other kids were looking out the doors like he was, but he saw nothing. He lit his wand. Then, suddenly, a darker shadow appeared at the front of the carriage, a cloaked figure that was gliding towards them. Everyone immediately scurried back into their compartments, but Anna and Kane stood frozen as it glided toward them, the coldness getting more intense and the darkness somehow getting darker. Anna's glasses frosted. It stopped right in front of their compartment, staring down at Kane, even though he couldn't see any eyes. Then it took another long, rattling breath, like it was breathing in more than just air. Kane forgot everything. He had no idea who he was. He didn't know the person standing next to him. He didn't know where he was. All he knew was that he was dying.

***

Kane was standing, that much he could figure out. Everything was dark, and he could tell that wherever he was it was pretty big. He could see the floor he was standing on, a shiny black surface, almost like water. He wasn't inside any walls. There was no ceiling above him. But everything was dark.

'Do I know you?' A girl's voice echoed all around but was muffled, like the sounds from a movie theater while standing in the doorway. He looked all around, but couldn't see the source. Everything was dark.

'No,' said a different one. 'No you don't.'

There was a pause.

'What's your name?'

"Kane! Kane, wake up!"

He looked up, where the new voice was coming from, and suddenly everything burst into light.

He was in his compartment on the Hogwarts Express. The lights were back on. Anna was standing above him, looking like she was about to slap him out of his sleep.

"Oh. He's awake," she said as she put her slapping hand down. He looked to who she was talking to and saw a man he'd never seen before, wearing beaten-up clothes.

"Hello. My name is Professor Lupin. Can you sit up?"

"Hmmbmmbl," he muttered. He sat up slowly, getting a little dizzy.

"How're you feeling?" Professor Lupin said.

"Yeah I do." The compartment was blurry.

"Okay, you need some rest," he said. He sounded concerned, kind, stern, and furious all at the same time. He was muttering something about Dementors and kids. He stood up to leave. "Okay, I have to go now." He paused outside the compartment door. "And chocolate. He needs chocolate." And with that, he left.

"How long was I asleep?" he muttered.

"Well..." she started counting on her fingers. "About five minutes. That guy was on his way to the conductor and we got him to help us. Apparently another kid passed out in the last car."

"Who?"

Anna shrugged, picking up an unopened Chocolate Frog from the floor. Kane could barely remember that trippy dream he had. He bit off the frog's head and immediately felt better.

"So... what happened?" he still felt a little empty, like something was missing from his soul and all that stuff. But he didn't feel completely depressed.

"Dementors came on the train, one saw you, and..." she put her hands up like that was all.

" ... Why?"

"Well, they were checking the train for Sirius Black, that guy that escaped from Azkaban, but... I know that's not what you meant."

They both knew he meant why it went for him, of all people. Gosh, being suctioned by a Dementor was not the best way to start Hogwarts.

"So... was that guy on the train? Sirius Black?"

"No."

They sat there in more silence, Kane eating the rest of his Chocolate Frog. He looked out the window and could see the faint lights of Hogwarts.

***

"Welcome!"

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast...

"As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business.

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises - or even Invisibility Cloaks. It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors."

Kane snorted.

"On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

"As to our second new appointment, well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties.

"Well, I think that is everything of importance. Let the feast begin!"

Food appeared all around on the plates, but Kane felt like he was too tired to eat. But, come on, french fries? Chicken? Pretty much any food you could imagine? Just kidding, he wasn't too tired to eat.

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