too close to the stars - H.J.P

Chapter Five

She looked at him confused, "Of course I did but I already told you I'm shy, I can't just barge in here when you're busy with other people." She told him as she took a seat on his bed this time.

"I thought you weren't going to come at all," he admitted.

"I'm sorry I made you feel that way." Noel said, bouncing her leg up and down, thinking Harry was mad at her.

"Noel" Harry called to her uncharacteristically gentle, "Thank you for coming to see me." He said trying to catch her eye.

Noel licked her lips and looked up at him, "You're welcome."

She swallowed and pulled a book out from her bag, "I don't think you're much of a reader but when I'm sick my dad always reads to me, so I brought a book." She said waving the book in the air. 

Harry laid back down and closed his eyes, "Go on then."

Noel opened the cover and began to read to him, in a low, honey-like voice. Harry felt the most relaxed he felt in a while, the heat from her body next to his and her welsh-lit voice making him sink into the mattress. After a while Noel noticed that he had fallen asleep. She stood and quietly left the hospital wing.

"If McGonagall's teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts again, I'm skiving off," said Ron as they headed toward Lupin's classroom after lunch. "Check who's in there, Hermione."

Hermione peered around the classroom door. "It's okay!"

Professor Lupin was back at work. It certainly looked as though he had been ill. His old robes were hanging more loosely on him and there were dark shadows beneath his eyes; nevertheless, he smiled at the class as they took their seats. Harry turned to greet Noel when he noticed she wasn't there.

They had a very enjoyable lesson. Professor Lupin had brought along a glass box containing a Hinkypunk, a little one-legged creature who looked as though he were made of wisps of smoke, rather frail and harmless looking.

The Hinkypunk made a horrible squelching noise against the glass.

When the bell rang, everyone gathered up their things and headed for the door, Harry among them, but — "Wait a moment, Harry," Lupin called. "I'd like a word."

Harry doubled back and watched Professor Lupin covering the Hinkypunk's box with a cloth. "I heard about the match," said Lupin, turning back to his desk and starting to pile books into his briefcase, "and I'm sorry about your broomstick. Is there any chance of fixing it?"

"No," said Harry. "The tree smashed it to bits."

Lupin sighed. "They planted the Whomping Willow the same year that I arrived at Hogwarts. People used to play a game, trying to get near enough to touch the trunk. In the end, a boy called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it. No broomstick would have a chance."

"Did you hear about the Dementors too?" said Harry with difficulty. Lupin looked at him quickly.

"Yes, I did. I don't think any of us have seen Professor Dumbledore that angry. They have been growing restless for some time... furious at his refusal to let them inside the grounds... I suppose they were the reason you fell?"

"It has nothing to do with weakness," said Professor Lupin sharply, as though he had read Harry's mind. "The Dementors affect you worse than the others because there are horrors in your past that the others don't have."

A ray of wintry sunlight fell across the classroom, illuminating Lupin's gray hairs and the lines on his young face.

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Even Muggles feel their presence, though they can't see them. Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself — soul-less and evil. You'll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life. And the worst that happened to you, Harry, is enough to make anyone fall off their broom. You have nothing to feel ashamed of."