Believer

Chapter Three

"Guess we'll take this one," Hermione said walking in a compartment. It was hardly empty. It had one occupant, a man fast asleep next to a window. The Hogwarts Express was usually reserved for students and I was taken aback to see an adult on the train, except for the trolley witch who pushed around the food cart.

"Who d'you reckon he is?" Ron said as we all went in and shut the door. Sitting far away from the window.

"Professor R. J. Lupin," Hermione whispered not missing a beat.

"How'd you know that?" Ron asked.

"It's on his case," she replied, pointing at the luggage on the luggage rack.

"Wonder what he teaches?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I said finally speaking up, "it's Defense Against the Dark Arts. The only open position for the past two years."

"Well I hope he's up to it," Ron said doubtfully, "he looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he? Anyway-- what we're going to tell us, Harry?"

"Well when everyone was away Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had an argument over a warning your dad gave me, Ron," Harry sighed, "they think Sirius Black escaped to kill me."

"To kill you, Harry!" Hermione said.

"Why not kill Nova?" Ron said as I looked to him burning holes in his head.

"Well it's true, he would come after you too! You're also in his way to let Voldemort become what he used to be!"

"No one knows how he got out of Azkaban," said Ron, "no one has ever done it before. And he was a top-security prisoner too!"

"But they'll catch him, right?" I asked, "I-I mean they even have muggles looking for him!"

I sighed and grabbed at my arm.

They all began to talk about Hogsmead as I zoned out for a while. I needed to find Liza, or she could find me. Wouldn't be long until she would find me anyways, she could read my-

"Thoughts!" Liza said poking her head in. She looked to see the man in the corner and walked in. She sat next to me.

"Nova, oh do I have a lot to tell you!" She said, "what have I missed?"

"Well, you've missed one big thing Harry just told us," Ron said, "Sirius Black may be after Nova and Harry."

"Ouch, sour luck," Liza said looking to Harry.

"You'll be fine though, we're going to be at Hogwarts, the safest place in the world-"

"Says the girl that apparently doesn't remember last year," Harry said.

"And wasn't here the year before," I sighed.

"Very true, oh Nova! I have you something!" Liza said passing me a gift.

"What is it?" I asked opening it to see it was a choker with beads dangling from it.

"Oh my- it's so beautiful," I smiled hugging her, "thank you."

"You're welcome," she grinned, "don't worry, I know what you're thinking you didn't have to buy me anything. Your letters were enough."