Not Just Our Story

Chapter 20: Wake Up, Professor!

September 1, 1993

Harriet Potter

"Harry, swear to me," Mr. Weasley said, "you won't go looking for Black."

I stared at him. "What?"

There was a loud whistle. Guards were walking along the train, slamming all the doors shut.

"Promise me, Harry, that whatever happens---"

"All right, I will, but why would I go looking for someone who wants to kill me?"

"Arthur, quickly!" cried Mrs. Weasley. Steam was billowing from the train; it had started to move. I ran to the compartment door and Ron threw it open and stood back to let me on. We all leaned out of the window and waved at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley until the train turned a corner and blocked them from view. I was dying to tell Ron and Hermione what I heard but... meh, they'd probably be better off not knowing. Best not to tell them while they're all calm and undisturbed.

We all set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment, but all were full except for the one at the very end of the train. This had only one occupant, a man sitting fast asleep next to the window.

"Who d'you reckon he is?" Ron hissed as we sat down and slid the compartment door shut, taking the seats farthest away from the sleeping person. Other than the witch who pushes the food cart, we've never seen an adult before in the Hogwarts Express.

"Professor R. J. Lupin," whispered Hermione at once. Hedwig fluttered her wings in excitement.

"How d'you know that?"

"It's on his case," she replied, pointing at a small battered case in the luggage rack above the man's head.

Ron frowned at his pallid profile. "Wonder what he teachers?"

"That's obvious," Hermione mouthed. "There's only one vacancy, isn't there? Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Well, I hope he's up to it. He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he?"

"So do you, Ron," Ginny joked.

"Ha, ha," he muttered dryly.

"Are we just going to keep whispering?" I asked.

"Yes," Hermione said as she pulled out her Arithmancy book from her trunk. "We don't want to wake him up."

Hedwig hooted at me. "What? You want me to wake him up?"

"Don't," Hermione warned. Hedwig kept on hooting.

"I honestly don't get why your owl hoots," Ginny said. "Snowy owls bark, and most of the time, they're mute."

"She barks when she's mad," I shrugged. "She hoots when she wants to communicate with me."

"Hedwig, stop!" Hermione snapped---and that's when Hedwig started barking. The professor stirred and groaned, but that was it. Hedwig looked at me and gestured toward him.

"Hedwig, we should probably let him sleep. He looks like he could use some rest." She seemed to sigh, roll her eyes, and shake her head.

"Well, er... what should we do now?" Ron asked.

"We could play truth or dare," Ginny suggested.

"Pass," Ron and Hermione said at the same time.

Ginny grinned. "What? You don't want to snog each other?"

"Get out," Ron snapped, pointing at the door.

"Killjoy." She let out a huff as she crossed her arms and stared at the ceiling. "I'm bored."