Bella and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter Eight

We didn't talk much during the remainder of the journey. But at long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, and there was a great scramble to get out; owls hooted, cats miaowed, and Neville's pet toad croaked loudly from under his hat. It was freezing on the platform, the rain was driving down in icy sheets.

"Man, it's cold," I shivered, hugging my arms closer to my chest. 

Hermione, who looks just as cold as I do, nods and shivers. 

"Firs'-years this way!" a familiar voice called. Me, Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned and saw the gigantic outline of Hagrid at the other end of the platform, beckoning the terrified-looking new students forward for their traditional journey across the lake.

"All righ', you four?" Hagrid yelled over the heads of the crowd. We waved at him, but we had no chance to speak to him because of the mass of people around us was shunting us away along the platform. We followed the rest of the school out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited for the remaining students. Each of them were pulled, my what I could only assume, by an invisible horse, because when we climbed inside one and shut the door, the coach set off all by itself, bumping and swaying in procession.

The coach smelled faintly of mould and straw. I stifled a gag. I hate the smell of straw. I felt better since having the chocolate, and I know Harry did too, but that didn't stop me from glancing at him because I was frightened he might collapse again. I noticed Ron and Hermione doing the same.

As the carriage approached a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, I noticed tow more towering, hooded Dementors, standing guard on either side. A wave of cold sickness threatened to engulf me again, but I tried to not let it get to me. I leaned back and looked away from the window until we had passed through the gates. The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle; Hermione was leaning out of the tiny window watching the many turrets and towers draw nearer. And finally, the carriage swayed to a halt, and Hermione and Ron got out followed by me.

As Harry stepped down out of the carriage, a drawling, delighted voice sounded from behind us.

"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?"

Malfoy! He elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle, his face gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously. 

"Shove off, Malfoy," Ron said, his jaw clenched. 

"Did you faint as well, Weasley?" Malfoy said loudly. "Did the scary old Dementor frighten you, too, Weasley?"

"You're gonna faint in a minute Malfoy when I make all your worst nightmares come true!" I growl, stepping forward and reaching for my wand which was under my sleeve. 

But like always, I got interrupted before I could do any real damage. 

"Is there a problem?" said a mild voice. Lupin had just got out of the next carriage.

Malfoy gave Professor Lupin an insolent stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase. With a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice, he said, "Oh, no - er - Professor," then he smirked at Crabbe and Goyle, and led them up the steps into the castle.

Hermione prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry, and the four of us joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, and into the cavernous Entrance Hall, which was lit with flaming torches and housed a magnificent marble staircase which led to the upper floors.

The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; I followed the crowd towards it, but had barely glimpsed at the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called, "Potter! Swan! Granger! I want to see you all!"