Snivellus

37

Small voices slowly came into hearing. Darah's eyes flickered open. She tried to get up, she was laying on Hermione's lap.

'Careful.' She heard a voice say. She turned towards it. Professor Lupin.

He handed her a biscuit. 'Eat this, you'll feel better.'

She swayed slightly as she put the biscuit to her mouth. Chocolate. The taste brought her back to reality, her vision less blurry and the voices were more clear.

Harry was opposite her, eating a biscuit too.

'Are you alright?' Hermione asked her.

'What happened?' Darah struggled to think properly.

'A dementor tried to suck your soul.' Lupin said a little too calmly.
'Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to have a little word with the driver.' He got up and left.

'Did you all pass out? I felt so weak.' Darah asked everyone, trying her best not to think about throwing up.

'No.' Ron and Hermione said in sync.

'I did.' Harry said. 'Did any of you hear the scream?'

Ron and Hermione looked at him, confused. 'There was no scream, Harry. Hermione reassured him.

Harry looked puzzled.

Darah sat up slowly, still weak. 'I did.'

'A women's voice?' Harry said excitedly.

'Um. I'm not sure. I heard a couple.' Darah tried to think. 'I think it was a man and a women. It sounded like my name. Or my fathers name?' Darah whispered to herself, finding it hard to remember.

'No. I only heard one. I think she said my name too though.' He paused. 'It was my mother.'

'But Harry-' Hermione started.

'I know Hermione. But there's something about it. I just know it was her.'

'I- I saw something too. A small vision. I think... it was a light. A bright light. An animal maybe, or a spell?' I- I think there was crying too? Or screaming?'

Hermione put her hand on Darah's lap. 'It's alright, don't push yourself too much.' She smiled, comforting Darah.

'I saw a flash too. But it was unclear.' Harry tried hard to think. 'My mother-'

Hermione gave him a look.

'If it was my mother, she shouted out my name.' Harry shook his head and took another bite out of his biscuit.

Darah sank into her thoughts. Did she hear the same voices as Harry? Was there a bright light or was she just making that up, imagining it?

***

The train had arrived at Hogwarts and Darah, Harry, Hermione and Ron all loaded off the train onto the platform at Hogsmeade.

'Potter!' It was Draco. He was marching towards them with his Slytherin crew right behind.

'What do you want Malfoy?' Harry rolled his eyes.

He spotted Darah with them. 'Wondered where you've been?' He snarled at her.

Hermione stood next to her and crossed her arms defensively.

'Ooh look. The mudblood thinking Lucie will side with her.' Draco joked, his posse laughing along.

Darah rolled her eyes. 'Oh shove off Draco.' She walked towards him. 'Did you know there was a dementor on the train?' Draco looked at her plainly. 'They came for me. And Harry. We both fainted, did you know that?' She raised her eyebrows at him.

'Potter fainted.' He spluttered, not able to hold his laugh in. 'He actually fainted.'

All the Slytherins laughed alongside him, mocking Harry fainting.

'Come on.' Hermione pulled them all away.

'Hey, Lucie! Where do you think you're going? Draco shouted after her and she ignored him.

'Sorry, Harry.' Darah apologised. 'I didn't realise he'd make fun of us.'

'It's ok.' He sighed.

'No he wasn't making fun of you, he was making fun of Harry.' Ron said angrily.

Darah winced. 'Sorry. I really am.'

'It's fine, Ron. And don't worry, Malfoy can't hurt me that easily.' He smiled weakly.

***

Everyone took their seats inside the great hall on their house specific tables, awaiting the sorting ceremony.

Darah sat next to Pansy, as per usual but didn't utter a word.

Draco whispered something to Pansy who then scowled at him and switched places. Draco was now sat next to Darah.

She looked up at him and faced away again. She was not having a great start to the year that she was initially so excited for.

'You ok?' Draco whispered to her gently.

'Oh so now you're being nice?' She snapped back at him.

Draco gave her puppy dog eyes.

'Don't even-' she couldn't cope with his cute expression. 'I'm going to try and ignore your crying puppy dog eyes because yes, I'm still mad at you.'

'Why?' He said obnoxiously.

Darah scoffed. 'Why?' Why do you think?'

'Don't tell me you're hurt by what I said to Potter and Granger.' He laughed.

She looked away and huffed.

'You're joking, right?'

'No, Draco, I'm not.' She snapped. 'We both fainted, so the stuff you said to Harry also hurt me.' She paused. 'You didn't see the dementors. They're- indescribable. They're horrible.' She began to feel sick again.

'But are you ok?' Draco said quietly.

She looked at him weakly. He was too cute to be angry at which angered Darah. 'Yes, I'm ok.'

'Good.' As he smiled the doors to the great hall flung open and the sorting ceremony began.