Darling I'm All Yours // R. Lupin

IV

Third Person

The sound of hundreds of exited, hungry, worried and confused students filled the Great Hall. Thousand candles were floating mid-air over the long house tables, lighting the Hall up. Solange was sitting at the Hufflepuff table with Princeton and her closest roommates, Ruby Clearwater and Belladona Johnson.

"I heard Potter fainted at the train." Belladona leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand. Belladona had always liked gossip and her love for makeup and looks made her seem superficial. But she really wasn't, she always stood up for people in need.

"Poor guy. Everybody's talkin' aboot it." Ruby said with her thick Scottish accent and scratched the tip of her red nose.

"Potter knows how to get himself into trouble." Princeton sighed. The hall quieted down as the first years were sorted into different houses.

Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster, was an old man with a long white beard and an energetic aura. He stood up from the teacher table and straightened his robes before speaking.

"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 its best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast..."

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued. "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." He pushed his half moon formed glasses further up his nose bridge . "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. It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading and excuses."

Solange had experienced that first hand at the train a few hours ago, she was annoyed at herself for losing her wand, but grateful to the man who saved her.

"Now, I am pleased to welcome a new teacher this year. This is Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." The new Professor stood up, it was just then that Solange realized he was the man from the train. The students gave him an unenthusiastic applause, they would rather been eating. Professors Lupin's eyes scanned the sea of heads with black pointy hats, his eyes caught Solange's and lingered there for a moment too long before he sat back down.

*

"Blimey, this beef is bloody delicious!" Princeton exclaimed with his mouth full of meat. "Here Sol, taste some." A big piece of medium raw beef was being swayed in front of Solanges eyes. Princeton knew perfectly well that Solange did not eat meat, but he couldn't help but tease her about it.

"Princeton Balthazar Cookerbun! Will ye' please remove that steak away from me dear Solanges face?" Ruby said with a stern look on her face. Princeton quickly did as she said. Solange didn't mind, she was used to it.

"Damn, Ruby you're such a mom!" Belladona giggled, pointing at her friend.

"Shut up and eat yer' food, ye twat."

Belladona laughed hysterically and Ruby had to pat her back when she swallowed her food wrong. Princeton was too busy daydreaming about Percy Weazley to notice. The Head Boy of Hogwarts. Oh, how he would like to get to know that redhead better.

"Miss Humble, can I have a word with you?" Professor Sprout, head of Hufflepuff House and teacher in Herbology, smiled at Solange.

"Of course, Professor." Sprout had been like mother to Solange the last six years and it had just got to hear ear that her student had an uncomfortable encounter with one of the dementors at the train.

"How's your summer been, dear?" The Professor said as she opened the door to one of the greenhouses where her office was. The room was messy with books and plants and dirty coffee cups everywhere, but it was something about it that made you feel at home.
"Good, I missed this place though." Solange sat down in a brown leather sofa.

"I've completely forgotten to thank you for all the help with the mandrakes last year." Many students had been petrified by a beast living under the castle the year before. You-know-who had found a way to try and come back to power through his old diary, hypnotising a poor student who set the basilisk free.

"Oh, that was nothing Professor! You're the one who did all the work, you saved so many students." The Professors round cheeks turned red.

"Thank you. But I wouldn't have made it without your help." Sprout sat down in a green chair in front of her student. "Are you okay? I heard you met a dementor at the train. Foul creatures they are. Some other students also met them, but they weren't alone like you."

"They are indeed. I must admit I'm a little shook after that experience, but I'll be fine." A reassuring smile appears on Solange's face. "May I go back to the dorms now, it's getting late."

"Yes yes, of course. Let me follow you back."

Solange was glad Sprout didn't say any more about the dementors, she did not want to talk about it.