Book: Courage
Chapter 28
Word Count: 5907
Tom the innkeeper woke Layla the next morning with his usual toothless grin and a cup of tea. Layla got dressed and was trying to persuade a disgruntled Apollo to get back into his cage, as Peaches and Willow were sound asleep in their cages.
Layla headed down to breakfast, where Mr Weasley was reading the front page of the Daily Prophet with a furrowed brow and Mrs Weasley was telling Hermione and Ginny about a love potion she'd made as a young girl. All three of them were rather giggly.
It was chaos leaving; they were heaving all their trunks down the Leaky Cauldron's narrow staircase and piling them up near the door, with Apollo, Hedwig (Harry's snowy owl) and Hermes (Percy's screech owl) perched on top in their cages. After leaving some treats in Peaches' and Willow's cages, Layla placed the cat cages beside the trunks. A small wickerwork basket stood beside the heap of trunks, too, spitting loudly.
"It's all right, Crookshanks," Hermione cooed through the wickerwork. "I'll let you out on the train."
"You won't," snapped Ron. "What about poor Scabbers, eh?"
"If you let me take Peaches out of her cage whenever I want, and now you don't mind me taking Willow out, then stop being so hard on Hermione's cat," chuckled Layla with a roll of her eyes.
"Well both of your cats don't try and attack Scabbers," said Ron, pointing at his chest, where a large lump indicated that Scabbers was curled up in his pocket.
Mr Weasley, who had been outside waiting for the Ministry cars, stuck his head inside.
"They're here," he said.
They all marched across the short stretch of pavement toward the three old-fashioned dark green cars, each of which was driven by a furtive-looking wizard wearing a suit of emerald velvet.
Layla got into the back of the first car and was shortly joined by Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
The journey to King's Cross was very uneventful, and Layla was just excited to get on the train to find her dad. She still couldn't believe that he was going to be her Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
They reached King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare; the Ministry drivers found them trolleys, unloaded their trunks, touched their hats in salute to Mr Weasley, and drove away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving line at the traffic lights.
"Right then," Mr Weasley said, glancing around them. "Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry."
Once Mr Weasley and Harry had gone through, Mrs Weasley and Percy followed, then Fred and George, and then Ron and Hermione. Layla turned to Ginny.
"Come on. I love running through it," said Layla with a smile. Together, she and Ginny began running through the barrier. Fred and George were already clambering onto the train, and Percy was climbing on, as well. Mr and Mrs Weasley had waited to say goodbye to them, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione had waited for Layla.
Harry, Layla, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all climbed onto the train and leaned out of the window to wave at Mr and Mrs Weasley until the train turned a corner and blocked them from view.
"I need to talk to you in private," Harry muttered to Ron, Layla, and Hermione as the train picked up speed.
"Go away, Ginny," said Ron.
"Oh, that's nice," said Ginny huffily.
"Shut up, Ron," scolded Layla, slapping Ron's arm before turning to shoot a sympathetic look in Ginny's direction. "Sorry, Gin. I'll come find you when we get there and you can join our carriage."
Sighing, Ginny nodded and walked off.
Harry, Layla, Ron, and Hermione set off down the corridor, looking for a compartment.
"My dad told which compartment he'd be in. It's most likely that he's asleep. He always sleep during any transportation so we can sit in there with him," said Layla. Ron glanced at her in confusion.
"Why would your dad be on the train?" he asked.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you guys," smiled Layla. "My dad's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor! Come on, the compartment is down here."
Layla led them to a compartment and peaked inside to see, sure enough, Remus was in there, alone and fast asleep. The four friends piled in.
"Blimey, I've only seen your dad once, Layla, and that was when he was picking you up after first year," mentioned Ron. "And now he's going to be our professor all year."
"Yep," said Layla proudly before turning to Harry. "What were you going to tell us?"
Harry explained all about the warning Mr Weasley had just given him about Sirius Black possibly coming after him now that he'd escaped. When he'd finished, Ron looked thunderstruck, and Hermione had her hands over her mouth.
She finally lowered them to say, "Sirius Black escaped to come after you? Oh, Harry... you'll have to be really, really careful. Don't go looking for trouble, Harry—"
"I don't go looking for trouble," said Harry. "Trouble usually finds me."
"How thick would Harry have to be to go looking for a nutter who wants to kill him?" said Ron shakily. "No one knows how he got out of Azkaban. No one's ever done it before. And he was a top-security prisoner too."
"But they'll catch him, won't they?" said Layla. "I mean, they've got all the Muggles looking out for him too."
"What's that noise?" said Ron suddenly.
A faint sort of whistle was coming from somewhere. They looked all around the compartment, and Layla made sure it wasn't her dad just snoring. It wasn't.
"It's coming from your trunk, Harry," said Ron, standing up and reaching into the luggage rack. A moment later, he had pulled a Pocket Sneakoscope out from between Harry's robes. It was spinning very fast in the palm of Ron's hand and glowing brilliantly.
"Is that a Sneakoscope?" said Layla, standing up for a better look.
"Yeah... mind you, it's a very cheap one," Ron said. "It went haywire just as I was tying it to Errol's leg to send it to Harry. It's my birthday present from me to Harry."
"Were you doing anything untrustworthy at the time?" said Hermione shrewdly.
"No! Well... I wasn't supposed to be using Errol. You know he's not really up to long journeys... but how else was I supposed to get Harry's present to him?"
"Stick it back in the trunk," Layla advised as the Sneakoscope whistled piercingly, "or it'll wake my dad up."
Ron stuffed the Sneakoscope back into Harry's trunk.
"We could get it checked in Hogsmeade," said Ron, sitting back down. "They sell that sort of thing in Dervish and Banges, magical instruments and stuff. Fred and George told me."
"Do you know much about Hogsmeade?" asked Hermione keenly. "I've read it's the only entirely non-Muggle settlement in Britain—"
"Yeah, I think it is," said Ron in an offhand sort of way. "But that's not why I want to go. I just want to get inside Honey Dukes."
"What's that?" said Hermione.
"It's this sweetshop," said Layla for Ron.
"Yeah, there they've got everything. Pepper Imps — they make you smoke at the mouth — and great fat Chocoballs full of strawberry mousse and clotted cream, and really excellent sugar quills, which you can suck in class and just look like you're thinking what to write next—"
"But Hogsmeade's a very interesting place, isn't it?" Hermione pressed on eagerly. "In Sites of Historical Sorcery it says the inn was the headquarters for the 1612 goblin rebellion, and the Shrieking Shack's supposed to be the most severely haunted building in Britain—"
"—and massive sherbert balls that make you levitate a few inches off the ground while you're sucking them," said Ron, who was plainly not listening to a word Hermione was saying, causing her to glare at him.
Layla turned to Harry.
"Won't it be nice to get out of school for a bit and explore Hogsmeade, Harry?"
"'Spect it will," said Harry. "You'll have to tell me when you've found out."
"What d'you mean?" said Ron.
"I can't go. The Dursleys didn't sign my permission form."
Ron looked horrified.
"You're not allowed to come? But — no way — McGonagall or someone will give you permission — or we can ask Fred and George, they know every secret passage out of the castle—"
Ron rambled on. Layla ignored them and just rested her head on her sleeping dad's arm.
The Hogwarts Express moved steadily north and the scenery outside the window became wilder and darker while the clouds overhead thickened. The plump witch witch the food trolley had come and gone.
Mid-afternoon, just as it had started to rain, blurring the rolling hills outside the window, Layla had managed to fall asleep, resting comfortably against her still-sleeping dad.
But where Remus was a rather deep sleeper, Layla was the lightest sleeper in the world, and she woke up when the compartment door swung open. Layla yawned and stretched, trying to move but then realised that Peaches had came and cuddled onto Layla's lap when she was asleep, and Willow was playing with Crookshanks. Willow and Crookshanks obviously knew each other well after they'd lived in a shop together for ages.
Layla looked towards the door where Draco stood, flanked by his cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
Crabbe and Goyle seemed to exist to do Draco's bidding. They were both wide and muscly; Goyle was taller, with a pudding-bowl haircut and a very thick neck; Crabbe had short, bristly hair and long, gorilla-ish arms.
"Well, look who it is," said Draco in his usual lazy drawl. "Potty, the mudblood, last year's villain, and the Weasel."
Crabbe and Goyle chuckled trollishly.
"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley," said Malfoy. "Did your mother die of shock?"
Ron stood up so quickly he knocked Crookshanks's basket to the floor. Remus stirred.
"Who's that?" said Draco, taking an automatic step backward as he spotted Remus.
"Layla's dad. New teacher," said Harry, who got to his feet, too, in case he needed to hold Ron back. "What were you saying, Malfoy?"
Draco's pale eyes narrowed; he wasn't fool enough to pick a fight right under a teacher's nose.
"C'mon," he muttered resentfully to Crabbe and Goyle, and they disappeared.
Harry and Ron sat down again, Ron massaging his knuckles.
"I'm not going to take any crap from Malfoy this year," he said angrily. "I mean it. If he makes one more crack about my family, I'm going to get hold of his head and—"
Ron made a violent gesture in midair.
The rain thickened as the train sped yet farther north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering gray, which gradually darkened until lanterns flickered into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. The train rattled, the rain hammered, the ind roared, but still, Remus slept. He'd always been a deep sleeper.
"We must be nearly there," said Ron, leaning forward to look at the now completely black window.
The words had hardly left him when the train started to slow down.
"Great," said Ron, getting up to try and see outside. "I'm starving. I want to get to the feast."
"We can't be there yet," said Layla, checking her watch.
"So why're we stopping?"
The train was getting slower and slower. As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows.
Harry, who was nearest the door, got up to look into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads were sticking curiously out of their compartments.
The train came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness.
"What's going on?" said Ron's voice from behind Harry.
"Ouch!" gasped Hermione. "Ron, that was my foot!"
Harry felt his way back to his seat.
"D'you think we've broken down?"
"Dunno..."
There was a squeaking sound, and Layla saw the dim black outline of Ron, wiping a patch clean on the window and peering out.
"There's something moving out there," Ron said. "I think people are coming aboard."
The compartment door suddenly opened and someone fell painfully over Harry's legs.
"Sorry — d'you know what's going on? — Ouch — sorry—"
"Hullo, Neville," said Harry, feeling around in the dark and pulling Neville up by his cloak.
"Harry? Is that you? What's happening?"
"No idea — sit down—"
There was a loud hissing and a yelp of pain; Neville had tried to sit on Crookshanks.
"I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on," came Hermione's voice. Layla felt her walk past, heard the door slide open again, and then a thud and two loud squeals of pain.
"Who's that?"
"Who's that?"
"Ginny?"
"Hermione?"
"What are you doing?"
"I was looking for Layla. Is she here?"
"Gin!" said Layla. "Come in and sit down."
Ginny went and sat down on the free side of Layla.
"Quiet!" said a hoarse voice suddenly.
"Dad?" Layla called through the darkness. "Are you awake?"
"Now I am, honey," Remus grunted tiredly. There was a soft, crackling noise, and a shivering light filled the compartment. Professor Lupin appeared to be holding a handful of flames. "Stay where you are."
Remus got slowly to his feet with his handful of fire held out in front of him.
But the door slid slowly open before Remus could reach it.
Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in Remus' hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. Layla's eyes darted downward, and what he saw made her stomach contract. There was a hand protruding from the cloak and it was glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water.
But it was visible only for a split second. As though the creature beneath the cloak sensed Layla's gaze, the hand was suddenly withdrawn into the folds of its black cloak.
And then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings.
An intense cold swept over them all. Layla felt her own breath catch in her chest. The cold went deeper than her skin. It was inside her chest, it was inside her very heart. She then realised what the creature was. It was something her dad had only ever spoken to her about. It was a dementor. Before she went to Hogwarts, Remus would teach Layla the only way to get rid of a dementor, tutoring her for if the real thing ever came along.
Layla's eyes rolled up into her head. She couldn't see. She was drowning in cold. There was a rushing in her ears as though of water.
And then, Harry fainted from where he sat opposite her. He started fidgeting wildly as if he was having a fit. Remus took one look at Harry before turning to the dementor.
"None of us are hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go!"
The thing didn't move. Remus turned towards his daughter.
"Lay? I need to check on Harry. He took the full force of the dementor. Remember what I taught you?"
"Yeah, I think so," Layla nodded shakily.
"You can do it. You're filled with happiness. You know what to do," said Remus before he crouched down beside Harry.
"But I can't do magic! We're not at Hogwarts yet," said Layla.
"We're close enough, and I will vouch for you, I promise. There's no muggles around," said Remus.
So, quickly, Layla whipped out her wand and held it up towards the dementor. She thought about her happiest memory, letting it flood through her, overpowering the coldness she felt. She thought about spending her summer at the Weasley household before her second year. Being pranked by Fred and George, gossiping with Ginny about how annoying Percy was, practising Quidditch with almost all of the siblings, rescuing Harry from his aunt and uncle. It was the happiest summer of her life.
With that thought in mind, she cast the spell.
"Expecto Patronum."
She just prayed she'd said the spell correctly. It had been a few years since Remus taught her how to cast it.
Layla smiled happily when she spell worked. A silver mist flew out of her wand right at the dementor, like a barrier. The dementor glided away. Several seconds later, the lights turned back on. The train gave a jerk and started moving again.
However, Layla's smile dropped when she saw that Harry was still on the floor, unconscious. Remus, Ron, Hermione, and Neville were all crouching around him, but Ginny was still sat in her seat, tears in her eyes. She looked pale and she was shaking.
"Are you alright, Gin?" asked Layla. Ginny slowly nodded, refusing to speak. "It's gone now. It's fine."
With that, Layla crouched down beside Harry. Hermione looked frantic the second she saw Harry and started slapping his face lightly to try and wake him up.
"Harry! Harry! Are you all right?"
"W-what?" came a groggy response. Harry was waking up.
Ron and Hermione heaved him back onto his seat.
"Are you okay?" Ron asked nervously.
"Yeah," said Harry. "What happened? Where's that — that thing? Who screamed?"
"No one screamed," said Layla, also nervous.
"But I heard screaming—"
A loud snap made them all jump. Remus was breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces.
"Here," he said to Harry, handing him a particularly large piece. "Eat it. It'll help."
Harry took the chocolate but didn't eat it.
"What was that thing?" he asked Remus.
"A dementor," said Remus, who was now giving chocolate to everyone else. "One of the dementors of Azkaban. Eat," he repeated. "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me."
He strolled past Layla and turned around to smile at her.
"You did an amazing job, Lay. That was your first time casting it yourself. I'm proud of you."
He then disappeared into the corridor.
"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" said Hermione, watching Harry anxiously.
"I don't get it.... What happened?" said Harry.
"Well — that thing — the dementor — stood there and looked around (I mean, I think it did, I couldn't see its face) — and you — you—"
"I thought you were having a fit or something," said Ron, who still looked scared. "You went sort of rigid and fell out of your seat and started twitching—"
"And Professor Lupin stepped over you, and walked toward the dementor," said Hermione, "and he said, 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.' But the dementor didn't move, so Lupin said something to Layla and then Layla muttered something, and a silvery thing shot out of her wand at it, and it turned around and sort of glided away."
"But I thought you weren't allowed to do magic outside of school," muttered Harry.
"My dad said he'd vouch for me," said Layla with a shrug. "He used to tutor me, you see, before I started Hogwarts. He always hated dementors so teaching me how to get rid of him was one of the first things he did."
"It was horrible," said Neville, in a higher voice than usual. "Not you, Layla, you were incredible, but... did YOU feel how cold it got when it came in?"
"I felt weird," said Ron, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. "Like I'd never be cheerful again."
Ginny, who was huddled in her corner looking nearly as bad as Harry felt, gave a small sob; Layla went over and put a comforting arm around her.
"But didn't any of you — fall off your seats?" said Harry awkwardly.
"No," said Ron, looking anxiously at Harry again. "Ginny was shaking like mad, though."
Remus come back. He paused as he entered, looked around, and said, with a small smile, "I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know."
Layla was the only one who had finished her chocolate.
"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes," said Remus. "Are you all right, Harry?"
"How do you know my name?" asked Harry slowly.
"First off, you're Harry Potter, everyone knows you," chuckled Remus. "And second, my daughter never shuts up about all of you."
"Dad!" exclaimed Layla, flushing in embarrassment. Remus smiled at her, letting out another chuckle, before turning back to Harry.
"Now, are you all right?"
"Fine," Harry muttered, embarrassed.
They didn't talk much during the remainder of the journey. At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, and there was a great scramble to get outside; owls hooted, cats meowed, and Neville's pet toad croaked loudly from under his hat. It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sheets.
"Firs' years this way!" called a familiar voice. Harry, Layla, Ron, and Hermione turned and saw the gigantic outline of Hagrid at the other end of the platform, beckoning the terrified-looking new students forward for their traditional journey across the lake.
"All right, you four?" Hagrid yelled over the heads of the crowd. They waved at him, but had no chance to speak to him because the mass of people around them was shunting them away along the platform. Harry, Layla, Ron, and Hermione followed the rest of the school along the platform and out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited the remaining students.
Layla smiled at the thestrals that were pulling the carriages along, only seen by people who had witnessed someone dying. She didn't comment on the majestic creatures though, as she remembered that none of her friends would be able to see them and she didn't want to sound crazy.
She called Ginny over, remembering that she'd promised the younger girl that she could ride with them in the carriage. When Ginny was in with the other four, Layla shut the door and the coach set off, bumping and swaying in procession.
As the carriage trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, Layla saw two more towering, hooded dementors, standing guard on either side. The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle. At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and they all climbed out.
Layla heard a voice drawing closer to them.
"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottorn telling the truth? You actualy fainted?"
It was Draco. He elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle, his face gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously.
"Shove off, Malfoy," said Ron, whose jaw was clenched.
"Did you faint as well, Weasley?" said Draco loudly. "Did the scary old dementor frighten you too, Weasley?"
"Is there a problem?" said a mild voice. Remus had just gotten out of the next carriage, standing in between his daughter and Harry.
Draco gave Remus an insolent stare. With a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice, he said, "Oh, no — er — Professor," then he smirked at Crabbe and Goyle and led them up the steps into the castle.
The group joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, into the cavernous entrance hall, which was lit with flaming torches, and housed a magnificent marble staircase that led to the upper floors.
The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; Layla followed the crowd toward it, but had barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called, "Potter! Lupin! Granger! I want to see you three!"
Harry, Layla, and Hermione turned around, surprised. Professor McGonagall was calling over the heads of the crowd. Layla fought her way over to the professor.
"There's no need to look so worried — I just want a word in MY office," she told them. "Move along there, Weasley."
Ron stared as Professor McGonagall ushered Harry, Layla, and Hermione away from the chattering crowd; they accompanied her across the entrance hall, up the marble staircase, and along a corridor.
Once they were in her office, a small room with a large, welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned Harry, Layla, and Hermione to sit down. She settled herself behind her desk and said abruptly, "Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter."
Before Harry could reply, there was a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, came bustling in.
"I'm fine," Harry said, "I don't need anything—"
"Oh, it's you, is it?" said Madam Pomfrey, ignoring this and bending down to stare closely at him. "I suppose you've been doing something dangerous again?"
"It was a dementor, Poppy," said Professor McGonagall.
They exchanged a dark look, and Madam Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly.
"Setting dementors around a school," she muttered, pushing back Harry's hair and feeling his forehead. "He won't be the last one who collapses. Yes, he's all clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate—"
"I'm not delicate!" said Harry crossly.
"Of course you're not," said Madam Pomfrey absentmindedly, now taking his pulse.
"What does he need?" said Professor McGonagall crisply. "Bed rest? Should he perhaps spend tonight in the hospital wing?"
"I'm fine!" said Harry, jumping up.
"Well, he should have some chocolate, at the very least," said Madam Pomfrey, who was now trying to peer into Harry's eyes.
"I've already had some," said Harry. "Professor Lupin gave me some. He gave it to all of us."
"Did he, now?" said Madam Pomfrey approvingly. "So we've finally got a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies? You've got a good father there, Miss Lupin. Always one step ahead."
"Oh, uh, thank you," muttered Layla awkwardly.
"Are you sure you feel all right, Potter?" Professor McGonagall said sharply.
"Yes," said Harry.
"Very well. You and Miss Granger kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Miss Lupin and then I will speak to Miss Granger about her course schedule, then we can go down to the feast together."
Harry and Hermione went back into the corridor with Madam Pomfrey, who left for the hospital wing, muttering to herself.
Layla turned to Professor McGonagall nervously.
"Is something wrong, Professor?"
"Your father had told me that it was you who sent the dementor on its way on the train," said McGonagall. "Is that correct, Miss Lupin?"
"It is," said Layla, even more nervous. "Will I be expelled? I know we weren't at Hogwarts yet but Harry had collapsed and my dad had to help him and I was the only other one who knew who to do it and I—"
"Miss Lupin, it's all sorted," interrupted McGonagall. Layla stared at her, her eyes widening.
"It is?"
"In your letter that your father sent, he mentioned the reason behind you using magic and I have to agree, it was the smart thing to do," said McGonagall. "The Ministry, however, was unaware of this and sent a letter straight to Hogwarts regarding you using magic outside of the walls of the school. I called you in here as you have a right to know that. Dumbledore, however, has the power to occasionally override the Ministry and has sent a letter to them, mentioning the reasons behind your use of magic. You are not going to be expelled. A simple warning has been issued to you. If you are under the age of seventeen and use magic again then your expulsion will take immediate action."
"Yes, I understand completely," said Layla. "Thank you so much, professor."
"You're welcome," said McGonagall with a nod of her head. "Now if you please go wait outside and send Miss Granger in."
"Of course," Layla stood up and headed out, seeing Harry and Hermione waiting. "Your turn, Hermione."
So, Hermione went into the office. Harry turned to Layla.
"What was that about?"
"Just about me using magic on the train," Layla shrugged. "I'm not expelled, I was just giving a warning basically. My dad and Dumbledore both came to my rescue."
"That's good," said Harry.
The two of them had to wait only a few minutes; then Hermione emerged looking very happy about something, followed by Professor McGonagall, and the four of them made their way back down the marble staircase to the Great Hall.
It was a sea of pointed black hats; each of the long House tables was lined with students, their faces glimmering by the light of thousands of candles, which were floating over the tables in midair. Professor Flitwick was carrying an ancient hat and a three-legged stool out of the hall.
"Oh," said Hermione softly, "we've missed the Sorting!"
Professor McGonagall strode off toward her empty seat at the staff table, and Harry, Layla, and Hermione set off in the other direction, as quietly as possible, toward the Gryffindor table.
Layla sat down beside Hermione and opposite Harry, while Harry sat down beside Ron.
The headmaster stood up to speak. Professor Dumbledore, though very old, always gave an impression of great energy.
"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast." Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises — or even Invisibility Cloaks. It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors," he said.
Percy, who was sitting a few seats down from Layla, puffed out his chest again and stared around impressively. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound.
"On a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause, and Layla felt a few eyes darting to her, taking note of the same last night. Layla paid no attention to the stares and cheered loudly for her dad.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued as the applause for Professor Lupin died away. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
Harry, Layla, Ron, and Hermione stared at one another, stunned. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Layla leaned forward to see Hagrid, who was ruby-red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard.
"We should've known!" Ron roared, pounding the table. "Who else would have assigned us a biting book?"
Harry, Layla, Ron, and Hermione were the last to stop clapping, and as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again, they saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth.
"Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!"
The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Layla didn't eat too much, despite how hungry she felt. She stared down at the one single sausage and small portion of mash on her plate, knowing that it wouldn't satisfy her hunger, but she could hear Draco's voice echoing in her head.
"For somebody who does absolutely nothing with their life, you sure are looking fat."
"Didn't think you'd go for the fat ass."
"Don't you have food to go shove down your throat? I thought you liked throwing on pounds."
She brushed it off and pushed her plate away, ignoring her aching stomach, desperate for the food, not knowing that Remus was watching her from the teachers' table in concern, wondering why his daughter wasn't eating.
At long last, Dumbledore gave the word that it was time for them all to go to bed, and while Harry, Ron, and Hermione rushed to congratulate Hagrid on his teaching position, Layla walked over to Remus to say goodnight, giving him a hug.
"See you tomorrow, dad, for your first lesson," Layla smiled happily, but it slowly faded when she pulled away from the hug and noticed Remus' stern face. "Is everything okay?"
"Layla..." Remus sighed. "You didn't eat any snacks on the train and you barely ate dinner. Are you feeling all right?"
"I'm fine," Layla reassured, her mind flashing back to Draco's words. "I just don't have an appetite right now."
"Honey, you can't fool me. I raised you," Remus pointed out. "I've known you for almost fourteen years and you've not once said you don't have an appetite. You love food. When you were eight, you said you would marry food if you could. What happened to that?"
"I grew up," Layla shrugged. "Can you just trust me, dad? Please? I'm fine."
"Okay," Remus gave up. "I'll see you tomorrow, Lay."
"Night, dad," Layla gave Remus one last hug before walking out of the Great Hall with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
They walked up more and more stairs, to the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower's large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. All of the other Gryffindors were also stood there, not knowing the new password as the fat lady asked them, "Password?"
"Coming through, coming through!" Percy called from behind the crowd, rushing over with the first years. "The new password's 'Fortuna Major'!"
"Oh no," said Neville Longbottom sadly. He always had trouble remembering the passwords.
Through the portrait hole and across the common room, the girls and boys divided toward their separate staircases. Layla climbed the spiral stair with no thought in his head except how glad he was to be back, especially with her dad there with her. They reached their familiar, circular dormitory with its four four-poster beds, and Layla was quick to get some sleep before her first day of lessons back at her second home.