Lucy Jones 3: Blackbird

4 Dementors

Lupin gave everyone a piece of chocolate. Harry and Lucy got an extra-large portion.

'What was that?' Harry asks.

'A dementor.' Lupin says: 'A dementor from Azkaban.' They all stare at him while he fumbles up the wrapper and puts it in his back pocket: 'Eat up. It helps... I have to go and talk to the driver.' He walks past Harry into the hallway.

Lucy takes a bite of her chocolate, staring at something.

'What are you looking at?' Ron asks.

She stumbles: 'Nothing.' Lucy turns her head at the door: 'What happened?'

'Now you fainted, and Harry had ... We thought you had a stroke or something. Falling on the ground, convulsions and everything.' Ron says.

'Subtle, Ron.' Ginny comments.

Hermione continues: 'Then Lupin stood up and said: "None of us is hiding Sirius Black or the other.' The dementor didn't move. Lupin mumbled something, and something silver came from his wand, scaring the dementor off.'

'It was horrible.' Neville states: 'Did you all feel that chill of cold air?'

'I felt odd.' Ron shrugs his shoulders like he is trying to shake it: 'Like I would never be happy again.'

Ginny sat next to Lucy, shimmering. Hermione comes over and hugs both girls.

'But only us two...blacked out?' Harry asks.

Lucy eats the rest of her chocolate; she is just finished when Lupin returns: 'Good he mumbles, and then he looks at Harry: 'I didn't poison that, Harry. How are you doing?'

'I'm fine.' Harry answers.

'I've been better, but it's ok.' Lucy says.

'You're right. We would all be doing better without those dementors, minister's orders.' Lupin says, sitting down again.

The rest of the journey went better. They arrive at the station and see Hagrid shouting for the first years. They sit in one of the carriages, and Professor McGonagall is waiting at the castle. She tells Harry, Lucy and Hermione to follow her.

Professor McGonagall told Madame Pomfrey that Harry and Lucy fainted on the train: 'Dementors.' She adds.

Madame Pomfrey's eyes look down: 'Letting dementors guard the school, they won't be the only to faint.'

'What's your advice? Bedrest, maybe a night in here?' Professor McGonagall asks.

'I'm fine.' Harry protests.

'They at least have to eat some chocolate.'

'We already had some.' Lucy says: 'Professor Lupin gave it to us.'

'Really.' Madame Pomfrey looks pleased: 'Then we finally have a teacher of defence against the dark arts that knows his remedies.'

'Are you sure that you're fine, Potter?' Professor McGonagall asks.

'Yes.'

'Go outside and wait with Miss Granger.'

Lucy looks while Harry walks away.

'You're silent. With what happened last year, are you ok?' Professor McGonagall asks.

'I don't know, but what I heard when the dementor came in had nothing to do with that. At least, I don't think so.'

'Lucy, you heard something?'

'Yes, screaming. Is that not normal?'

'It's not abnormal, but it's unusual. My door is always open if you need to talk with someone. Professor McGonagall says: 'Go outside and ask Miss Granger to come in. Wait until she is back to go the great hall.'

'Ok.'

Harry, Lucy and Hermione walk towards the feast: 'What was that about?' He asks Hermione.

'Nothing.' She says.