In The Shadows² ★ Draco Malfoy

*Dementors on the train

"Dad?"

There was a soft, crackling noise, and a shivering light filled the compartment. Remus Lupinappeared to be holding a handful of flames. They illuminated his tired, gray face, but his eyeslooked alert and wary. Mainly fixed on Briar. "Stay where you are." he warned them and slowly got to his feet

But the compartment door slid slowly open before he could reach it. Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the flames in Remus's hand, was a cloakedfigure that towered to the ceiling. 

Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. There was a hand protrudingfrom the cloak and it was glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something deadthat had decayed in water... But it was visible only for a split second.

And then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, asthough it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings. An intense cold swept over them all.

But it was Harry who seemed to be a victim of it more than the others. The others all watched in fear as Harry's eyes rolled up into his head and he began to twitch uncontrollably. It was like he didn't have control over his body anymore

Remus stepped closer to the creature "None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go." 

But the creature didn't move. So Remus pulled out his wand and cast a spell he hadn't been strong enough for in 12 years. He hadn't cast one because he hadn't had any memories happy enough over the last 12 years to motivate him to. But now he did. And it was enough to send the dementor away

As soon as it was gone, everyone in the cabin turned their attention to Harry who had collapsed on the floor

"What happened to him?" asked Henry

"He's just unconscious" said Remus "He'll be alright in a minute. Are the rest of you?"

"Yeah," Ron said shakily "What was that thing?"

"A dementor. A guard of Azkaban" Hermione answered before Remus could and everyone should have been surprised she knew that, but they all already knew she had read about it somewhere

"Sorry, but who are you?" Ginny asked

"Professor Lupin" He answered "Or Remus Lupin. I'm Briar's father" Everyone looked at the young girl, who smiled sheepishly 

"How did you two...meet?" Henry asked

"After she was taken into Chamber, McGonagall wrote to me, so I came to Hogwarts and arrived in time to meet her," he explained

The lights of the compartment, so the rest of the train, lit up and the train finally began to move again, returning the warmth to the compartment which relieved everyone

Beneath them, Harry began to stir so Hermione dropped to her knees "Harry!" She cried, slapping his cheek "Harry! Are you all right?"

"W-what?" He groaned and opened his eyes, taking in the scene in front of him

Together, Ron and Hermione heaved him back onto his seat and Harry wiped the sweat from his face. He was still shaking, but was glad to see they were finally moving again

"Are you okay?" Ron asked nervously. 

"Yeah," said Harry, looking quickly toward the door. The hooded creature had vanished. "Whathappened? Where's that — that thing? Who screamed?"

Everyone looked at each other in confusion "No one screamed," said Ron. Harry looked around the now lit compartment. Ginny, Henry, and Neville looked back at him, both verypale, Briar, Ron, and Hermione looked nervous. But none of them looked scared