A Black and a Weasley

Chapter 24

"I didn't mean to blow her up. I just ... lost control" Harry tells us as we look for a free compartment on the train

"Brilliant!" Ron says with a laugh

"Honestly, Ron, it's not funny. Harry's lucky he wasn't expelled" Mione tells him

"I still think it was brilliant" Ron says as a copy of the The Monster Book of Monsters comes down the aisle, pursued by Neville

"Hi, Harry.Lola . Ron. Hermione" Neville says to us all

"Hi, Neville." The four of us says as he bumps past and Hermione nods to a compartment

" C'mon. We're in here."Mione says as I take a seat near the door and next to the window fast sleep is Remus.

"Who d'you reckon he is?" Ron asks oblivious as he has met Remus loads of times

"Professor R.J. Lupin" Mione answers

"You know everything. How is it she knows everything?"Ron asks sitting down

"It's on his case" I tell him

"Is he really asleep?"Harry asks

"Seems to be. Why? What is it, Harry" I ask him

"Let me get this straight. Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban to come after you two?" Ron asks me answer Harry

"Yes we say in sync

"But they'll catch Black, won't they? I mean... eventually"Hermione asks

"Sure. Of course, no one's ever broken out of Azkaban before and he's a raving, murderous lunatic" Ron says Just as the compartment moves and the lanterns flicker and the train lurches and begins to slow.

"Why're we stopping? We can't be there yet" I ask and Harry rises and slides open the door peering into the corridor but the train jerks and Harry falls back in his seat and the lights go off and it's pitch black

"What's going on?" Ron asks

"Dunno... Maybe we've broken down?" Harry suggests

"Ouch! Ron, that was my foot!" Mione says to him and  we see a dark silhouette against the window and Ron  wipes a patch of condensation from the window.

"There's something moving out there. I think... people are coming aboard"Ron tells us as Suddenly the train jerks around again "Bloody hell. What's happening?" Ron asks

The compartment door is swung open and a hooded figure appears, its face hidden beneath its black hood. It faces me and Harry, making  move over to me but then goes over to Harry and it looks as if he's having a fit, a load of bright light appears and the figure disappears and Remus is holding his wand out.

"Harry? Harry, are you all right?" I ask him as he sits up and I hand him his glasses

"Thanks"Harry says to me as he slips them on and Remus hands him some chocolate

"Chocolate. Eat. It'll help" Remus tells him

"What was that -- that thing?"Harry asks

"A Dementor. One of the guards of Azkaban. It's gone now."Remus tells Harry who frowns in confusion.

"It was searching the train, Harry. For Sirius Black" Mione tells him

"I need to have a word with the driver. Excuse me. Eat. It'll help" Remus says as he leaves

"What happened to me?"Harry asks us

"Well, you sort of went... rigid. We thought maybe you were having a fit or something" I tell him

"And did either of you three?You know... pass out?" Harry asks us

"No well Lola nearly did. I felt... weird. Like I'd never be cheerful again. But... no." Ron says to Harry who turns to Hermione but she  shakes her head.

"I was trembling. Cold. But then... Professor Lupin made it go away"Milne says

"But someone was screaming. A woman" Harry tells us

"No one was screaming, Harry" I tell him