Even Birds Chirp in the Dark (D.M)

Chapter One

Cho
"Cho! You can't possibly start to like Potter. I thought you liked someone else?" Gen asks me, her dark blonde curls bouncing as she smiled at me.

"I mean I do, but at the same time, Harry's so sweet. And he was in Slytherin..." I say, fiddling with my ruffled blouse. She lays down on her stomach, crossing her legs in the air behind her. Her plaid skirt fans out on the seat.

Gen was my best friend, and since it was our third year together, we were extremely close. If we were in the same house, we would bunk together, but she's a Griffindor, just like Mr. Wyler, her father. Her brother, Erin, had gotten into Slytherin. That freaked out Gen's parents a lot. And when he landed himself in Azkaban, It crushed Gen and her family. Luckily though, Cedric Diggory and his family were very close to the Wylers, and helped them get through it. Since then Cedric and Gen were very close.

"What year is Cedric this year Gen?" I ask her, getting up to get my money as the sweet trolly approaches.

"Sixth. He'll be in his seventh year next year. Oh, speak of the devil." She says, laughing as he strolls past us, his hands holding a chocolate frog. He winks at Genevieve, then turns to me.

"For you lovely." He says, placing it in my hand. I blush slightly, retreating back to my seat as he strolls off. Gen laughs loudly, grabbing my money and making for the trolly.

Just as she hands the lady my money, a boy with silvery blonde hair walks by. He looks at Gen, but hides his face from me. When he speaks I know exactly who it is.

"Move Wyler." He says, and he almost looks disgusted. Geneveive narrows her eyes at him, then stuck out her foot as he walked by. He tripped slightly, recovering his balance after a moment. He glared heatedly at Geneveive, who stood tall before him. By now the trolley had passed to the other compartments, so there was no one to see.

"Who the hell do you think you are Wyler?" Malfoy sneered, sticking his face in Genevieve's.

She scoffed. "Don't try to intimidate me Malfoy. You're just as scary as a gumdrop."

"I'll bloody show you how scary I am you stupid little blood traitor-" he pulls out his wand, but Gen pulls hers out too, sticking it into his throat.

"Don't threaten me Malfoy, you don't scare me." She says grimly, her hand shaking. I could tell she regretted what she had done, but she was still sturdy. "So stop being such a bloody dick to everyone."

He backs off. His face was surprised, and he looked over at her, scoffing under his breath. Just as Gen turned around to hand the sweets back to me, I saw him look back at her- a look of curiosity, almost admiration on his face. When he noticed me staring, his face crumbled up in its usual pout, and he was gone.

Gen reached behind her to close the door, clicking it shut and settling back down. She hands me the candy, not having to have asked about what I wanted- she knew. She lays back on the seat, her hair fanning out behind her. "If I fall asleep- wake me up." Her eyes close as she relaxed, and I almost don't speak.

"The nightmares. They're back aren't they?" I whisper, afraid she would say yes. She looks up at me through the gap in her eyelids, and nods silently. She is just about to speak when the lights in the car dim, going out completely.

Everything is dark, and cold, like the warmth and light are being sucked from the train car. The rain on the windows freezes, ice quickly covering the glass like the spreading of ink on water. I turn my head, my hot breath fanning out in the frigid air. Genevieve is silent.

"What's happening?" I whisper. Right then a bony hand reaches to unlock the compartment door, reaches inside, and looks around. Its head is covered with cloth, its mouth a gaping hole of nothingness. My insides freeze with terror, and my heart leapt to my throat. Just like that, the thing is gone, sliding the door shut. I exhale, letting go if the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

Gen looks at me with a neutral expression. Her eyes are narrowed, and now with the lights back on, I can see better.

She swallows, and rubs her hand across her face. "That was a dementor. They guard the Azkaban prisoners, and perform the executions." She says, coming over to sit on the seat I was on.

"You've seen them before." I say, still frozen beside her. She only nods, and I realize with as much as the news features Erin, she would have seen one by now.

"What happens now? The dementors are everywhere!" I say as we step off the train. You can see Hogwarts shining in the distance, and you can just make out the candles in the great hall. Hagrid booms at the little first years to follow him.

"C'mon, we can get a carriage with Luna and Neville. Maybe even Harry." She says wiggling her eyebrows. I smack her on her shoulder, and she laughs. Sure enough, when we arrive at the carriages, Harry waits with Ron and Hermione. It's the last carriage, so the five of us sit inside.

"So, you're Cho right? I'm Harry." Harry says offering his hand. I shake it, nodding my head with a smile. He smiles back widely.

"Yeah we all know who you are, lightning scar boy. You saved all our asses twice in a row. First with Quirrel, then with the Chamber. I'm surprised you haven't died yet." Gen says, leaning back in her seat boredly.

"Genevieve Lily Wyler!" I exclaim. Ron and Hermione laugh as she grins at me. Harry just looks at her.

"My mothers name was Lily." Harry says, smiling slightly as he leans forward. Gen nods gently, a smile creeping onto her face.

"That's who I was named after. Her and my mother were best friends at Hogwarts. Well besides Snape, she's all your mom hung out with." Gen says, looking into his eyes. Her eyes are kind, and soft as she regards him Harry's mouth forms an 'o' of surprise, but he quickly recovers.

"Wyler, as in Rosalie and Thomas Wyler? They're in a picture with my parents on their wedding day!" Harry says smiling from ear to ear. 

"They were close. Your parents are in most of my parents wedding photos too. My brothers middle name is James. They used to babysit him when my parents were busy."

"Blimey Harry." Ron says, running a hand through his red hair. "You didn't tell me your parents knew the Prince of Azkaban." Gen shifts in her seat, tucking her robes beneath her, suddenly looking uncomfortable.

"Why do they call him the Prince of Azkaban?" Harry and Hermione ask in unison.

Gen stays silent, and Ron is about to open his mouth to reply when I respond.

"He killed six witches. Before he killed them he made them write a note saying they've been slain by The Prince. He made them all scream it too. Ever since he was arrested, that's all they call him." I say, Harry watching me with interest.

"The only thing that bastard is the Prince of is Hell." Ron mutters under his breath, but Hermione slaps him on the head, looking at Gen.

"It's okay. He's right." She shakes her head gently, and all I could think was how small she seemed now. That's when I realized that Erin was the only person that could wipe the light completely out of her.

"Was your family close to mine? Do they know anything about my parents, at all?" Harry asks.

"Well I guess you could talk to them. Weasley's father works with mine. I'd imagine so, they seemed fond of each other."

Soon enough, the carriages arrive at Hogwarts, and we file out, eager to get out of the dementor filled grounds.