Lucy Jones 3: Blackbird

3 Almost Back to Hogwarts

Ron avoids the topic 'Cat' during the whole evening. It doesn't mean there are no conflicts. Everyone has to pack. Fred and George stole Percy's batch. Percy, who is so proud of his head boy-batch, blames Ron.

In the morning, they leave for the train. It's even more hectic than the previous evening. George and Fred aren't ready, and Ginny forgets something essential.

They leave in cars from the ministry. These are magical cars enhanced to have more space than you assume from the outside.

Mina must sit in a cage, just like Crookshanks. Where Crookshanks is complaining, Mina sleeps in a curled-up position.

In the train station, they go two by two through the wall. Lucy sees the train and realizes again that she is going back. With what happened last year with the diary, she has mixed feelings.

Hogwarts is, in a way, her home, but the fear that came with the blackouts is also associated with that place. Hermione stands beside her: 'A new year, a new begin.'

Lucy smiles, thankful for this way of thinking.

'Lucy!' Ron shouts: 'We're going to look for a compartment.'

She follows Harry, Ron and Hermione. They don't find an empty comportment. They end up in one where a new professor is sleeping.

'Professor R. Lupin.' He will probably be the new Dada teacher. Defence against the dark arts is the only open position.

'Harry, you said you had to tell us something?' Ron says.

Harry tells them how Ron's father told him about Sirius Black. That he escaped Azkaban and how Mr. Weasley thought Sirius would go after Harry.

'Harry, please don't get yourself in trouble.' Hermione says.

'I never get myself in trouble.' Harry says.

'And why would Harry look for someone who wants to kill him?' Ron questions: 'Nobody knows how he escaped in the first place.'

'Isn't he the first one to escape that place?' Lucy asks: 'He and the woman?'

'Lucy is right. They said it was impossible. They say that he and this woman escaped together. They don't want to tell who she is.' Ron tells them.

'Why keep it a secret?' Lucy asks.

'Maybe she is even more crazy and dangerous than Black, and they don't want to create panic.' Ron answers: 'The only thing they said was that she was important to You-Know-Who.'

'They will catch them, right? Everyone is looking for them, even the muggles.' Hermione says.

'Hogsmeade is an all-wizard village.' Hermione tells them: 'And it has a rich history.'

'I don't care about that. I want to go to Zonko's.' Ron says.

'But Hogsmeade is so much more.' Hermione argues.

'Harry, Lucy, what do you think?' Ron asks.

'Have fun. I cannot go.' Harry says: 'The Dursleys didn't want to sign my form.'

'I hope they accept Charlotte's signature.' Lucy says.

'Maybe McGonagall will give you permission, Harry.' Ron says.

'I'm sure that's ok, Lucy, but I doubt they'll give me permission.' Harry says.

'Asks Fred and George. They know a few secret way outs.'

'Ron, I don't think it's a good idea to sneak Harry out of school.' Hermione says.

'But if we are with him, he is safe...' Ron says, convinced.

'Ron, did you think about that. Black blew up a dozen people, and he would stop because he saw us?' Lucy says.

'Don't open the cage.' Ron warns Hermione. And Crookshanks walks out and jumps on his lap.

'Go away.' He hisses to the cat.

Mina was lying on Lucy's lap. She looks up and then continues to sleep.

The train moves forward. They get food from the trolley, and the professor continues to sleep.

The train stops. 'We cannot be there yet.' Ron says.

'No, we're not!' Hermione says.

'Why did we stop?' Lucy asks. And then the lights go out. It's dark. Lucy hears someone get in.

'Who is that?' Harry asks.

'It's me... Neville.' Lucy hears Mina, and then she feels her on her lap again. Another pair of feet. 'Is there someone else?' She asks.

'Yeah, it's Ginny.' Lucy hears her.

'What are you doing here?' Harry asks.

'I'm looking for Ron.' Ginny explains.

'Still.' Lucy hears an older voice say. He lights up his wand, and I see it's the professor himself. He woke up. She turns to the hallway and sees a cloaked figure coming closer until he stands in the doorway. She feels the cold of frozen trees. She hears a scream, but it cannot be real. There are so many different screams.

Lucy opens her eyes, Ginny smiles, and Hermione looks concerned. Harry is unconscious. She lays a hand on his shoulder: 'Harry.'

He opens his eyes and puts his glasses back in place.

'Are you ok?' Hermione asks while she and Ron help him back up.

Harry looks at the door: 'What was that thing. Who screamed?'

'Harry, no one screamed.' Hermione says.

'Yes, I heard screams as well...' Lucy says.

'But Hermione is right; there weren't any screams.' Ron confirms.