Whither Thou Goest

3- The Dementor

HARRY'S POV (three weeks later)

"I need to talk to you in private," Harry muttered to his two best friends, Ron and Hermione, as the Hogwarts Express picked up speed.

The three of them set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment, but all were full except for one at the very end of the train.

It only had two occupants: a sleeping man in shabby robes with light brown hair, and a woman with the same hair color, reading a book.

The woman looked up. "Hello," she said. "You lot can come in. I'm Professor Anna, Anna Lupin."

"What do you teach?" Ron asked.

"That's obvious," whispered Hermione before Anna could respond. "There's only one vacancy, isn't there? Defense Against the Dark Arts."

The older witch grinned. "You can call me Professor Anna, since my brother is teaching as well."

Harry frowned. "Why are there two of you this year?"

She frowned. "Dumbledore found the need for two teachers this year... so here I am, stuck with you lot."

With that statement, she returned to her book. 

Harry didn't think he'd like her that much.

Ron turned to Harry. "What were you going to tell us?"

Harry explained about the Mr. Weasley's warning against Sirius Black as quietly as he could.

His friends took the news worse than he expected. They seemed to be more afraid of  Black than he was.

After getting food from the Trolley Witch (Professor Anna bought four Chocolate Frogs), the train began to rattle, but Professor Lupin remained sleeping.

"We must be nearly there," Ron said, leaning to look out the completely black window. "Great, I'm starving. I want to get to the feast..."

"We can't be there yet," said Hermione, checking her watch.

"So why're we stoppping?"

The train was getting slower and slower.

Harry peered into the corridor and found that others were doing the same.

The train came to a stop and plunged into total darkness.

"What's going on?" Ron asked from behind Harry.

"Ouch!" gasped Hermione. "Ron, that was my foot!"

"D'you think we've broken down?"

"Dunno..."

"There's something moving out there," Ron said.

In a haze of panic, Crookshanks bit someone's leg.

"WhAt ThE fU-!" someone yelled. It was Professor Anna. "What the bloody he-" she was cut off by a command of "Quiet!".

It was Professor Lupin, who had finally woken up.

"Stay where you are," he said in a hoarse voice, and made his way to the door with a handful of flames.

But the door opened before he got there. It was a black cloaked figure, with a glistening, grayish, decayed- looking hand protruding from it. It drew a long and slow breath, as if it was trying to suck the air out of the compartment.

It got colder. The cold went deeper into his skin, reaching into his very heart... He couldn't see anything... He heard a woman scream... and then...

"Harry! Are you alright?" Someone was slapping his face.

Ron and Hermione were kneeling next to him, and above them, he could see Professor Anna and Professor Lupin watching him anxiously.

"What happened? Someone was screaming," he said.

"No one was screaming, Harry," Hermione said worriedly.

"But-" a loud snap made them all jump, but it was only Professor Lupin, breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces.

"Eat it. It will help," he said, handing Harry a particularly large piece. Professor Anna chuckled.

"What was that?" he asked Lupin.

"A denentor, one of the ones that guards Azkaban." Everyone stared at him. 

"Eat," he repeated, and met Anna's gaze. "We'll need to speak to the driver, excuse us..." They strolled past Harry and disappeared into the corridor.

Ten minutes later, they came back. "We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes," said Professor Lupin. "Are you alright, Harry?"

He didn't ask how he knew his name.

"Fine," he muttered, clearly embarrassed.

Lupin gave him an encouraging smile, while Anna merely glared.

Harry adverted her gaze and stared out the window.

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After being rushed to the Hospital Wing ("I'm fine", he had protested relentlessly), he and Hermione sat down in the Great Hall, where Ron had saved them seats.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore said. He went on about the dementors, and about how their school would be 'playing host to them' and warnings, et cetera.

"On a happier note," he  continued, "I am pleased to welcome three new teachers to our ranks this year.

"First, Professor Lupin, who had kindly consented to  fill the post of Defense Against the Drak Arts this year. And to his dueling assistant, Professor Anna, who has also kindly consented to be his dueling partner."  

Harry saw Professor Anna snort. By the looks of her face and complaints on te train, she probably hadn't 'kindly consented'. 

"Look at Snape!" Ron hissed in Harry's ear. Snape was staring at Lupin with an expression of pure hatred beyond anger. 

But the strangest thing happened: Harry saw Professor Anna take notice of Snape, who was sitting next to her. She whispered something in his ear, and Snape nodded, and began to smile.

"And to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued. "Professor Rubeus Hagrid, who is taking up the Care of Magical Creature post, after our very own Professor Kettleburn retired in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs."

A roll of tumultuous applause erupted from Gryffindor table. When it ceased, Dumbledore proclaimed, "Let the feast begin!" When they finished, Harry and his house made their way to the common room, and soon, he finally felt at home.

But as he slept, a feeling of unease began to creep up his spine.