THEY DID NOT 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 out; owls hooted, cats miaowed 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, Ron, Hermione and Harper 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 righ', 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.
The four of them followed the rest of the school out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited the remaining students, each pulled by a some kind of black horse.
The coach smelled faintly of mould and straw. Harper felt better since the chocolate, but still weak. Ron and Hermione kept looking at the siblings sideways, as though frightened they might collapse again.
As the carriage trundled towards a pair of magnificent wrought-iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, Harper saw two more towering, hooded Dementors, standing guard on either side. A wave of cold sickness threatened to engulf her again; she leant back into the lumpy seat and closed her eyes until they had passed through the gates.
The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle; Hermione was leaning out of the tiny window, watching the many turrets and towers draw nearer. At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and Hermione and Ron got out.
As Harry stepped down, a drawling, delighted was sound.
"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?"
"Hey, jerk!" Harper called out from out of the carriage as she stumbled out—not one of the fancied exits she had ever made, and glared at Malfoy.
"Did you faint as well, Harper?" Malfoy said loudly. "Did the scary old Dementor frighten you, too?"
Harper raised her eyebrow. "Since when are we on first name base, Draco? And yes, I did. Now what? You gonna mock me? Go ahead, I don't care."
"Is there a problem?" a mild voice said.
Remus had just got out of the next carriage and Harper couldn't be more relieved to see him.
Malfoy gave Remus an insolent stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase.
"Oh, no — er — Professor," he said with a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice. Then, he smirked at Crabbe and Goyle, and let them up to the steps into the castle.
Hermione prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry, and the four of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, and into the cavernous Entrance Hall, which was lit with flaming torches and housed a magnificent marble staircase which led to the upper floors.
The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; Harper followed the crowd towards it, but had barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called.
"Potters! Granger! I want to see the three of you!"
Harry, Hermione and Harper turned around, surprised. Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and Head of Gryffindor house, was calling over the heads of the crowd. She was a stern-looking witch who wore her hair in a tight bun; her sharp eyes were framed with square spectacles.
She, Harry and Hermione made their way towards her, looking slightly worried.
"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, Hermione and Harper away from the chattering crowd; they accompanied her across the Entrance Hall, up the marble staircase and along the corridor.
Once they were in her office, a small room with a large, welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned them to sit down. She settled herself behind her desk and said abruptly, "Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that the two of you were taken ill on the train, Potters."
Before Harry or Harper could reply, there was a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey, the matron, came bustling in.
"We're fine," Harry said, going red in the face. "We don't need anything . . ."
"Oh, it's you, is it?" Madam Pomfrey said, ignoring Harry's protests and bending down to stare closely at them. "I suppose you've been doing something dangerous again?"
"It was a Dementor, Poppy," Professor McGonagall said.
They exchanged a dark look and Madam Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly.
"Setting Dementors around a school," she muttered, pushing Harper's hair back and feeling her forehead. "They won't be the first one who collapses. Yes, they're all clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate . . ."
"We're not delicate!" Harper exclaimed.
"Of course you're not," Madam Pomfrey said absentmindedly, now taking Harry's pulse.
"What do they need?" Professor McGonagall said crisply. "Bed rest? Should they perhaps spend tonight in the Hospital Wing?"
"We're fine!" Harry said, jumping up.
"Well, he should have some chocolate, at the very least," Madam Pomfrey said, who was now trying to peer into Harry's eyes.
"We've already had some," Harper replied. "Moony—I mean Professor Lupin gave us some. He gave it to all of us."
"Did he, now?" Madam Pomfrey said approvingly. "So we've finally got a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies."
Wasn't it for the fact that the Dementor still had some effect on her, Harper felt as if her chest was about to burst open from proudness.
"Are you sure you feel all right, Potters?" Professor McGonagall asked them sharply.
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Very well. Kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Miss Granger about her timetable, then we can go down to the feast together."
Harry and Harper went back into the corridor with Madam Pomfrey, who left for the Hospital Wing, muttering to herself. They only had to wait 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 mid-air. Professor Flitwick, who was a tiny little wizard with a shock of white hair, was carrying an ancient hat and a three-legged stool out of the Hall.
"Oh," Hermione said softly, "we've missed the Sorting!"
New students at Hogwarts were sorted into houses by trying on the Sorting Hat, which shouted out the houses they were suited to (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin). Professor McGonagall strode off towards her empty seat at the staff table, and Harry, Hermione and Harper set off in the other direction, as quietly as possible, towards the Gryffindor table. Harper caught Cedric's eye and gave him a small smile before sitting down in front of Ron.
"What was all that about?" he muttered to them.
Harry started to explain in a whisper, but at that moment the Headmaster stood up to speak, and he broke off.
Professor Dumbledore, though very old, always gave an impression of great energy. He had several feet of long silver hair and beard, half-moon spectacles and an extremely crooked nose. He was often described as the greatest wizard of the age, but that wasn't why Harper respected him. You couldn't help trusting Albus Dumbledore, and as she watched him beaming around at the students, she felt really calm since the Dementor had entered the train compartment.
"Welcome!" Dumbledore said, 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."
He paused and Harper frowned, shaking my head. Dementors at Hogwarts? What in Merlin's name is the Ministry thinking?
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "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," he added blandly, and Harry and Harper glanced at each other. "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 foul of the Dementors."
Percy, who was sitting a few seats along from her, puffed out his chest 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.
"Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Harper jumped up, gesturing for Fred and George to get up too and together, the three of them managed to get everyone at Gryffindor to stand up and clap. Harper whistled and saw some Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs standing up too, including Cedric.
Remus bowed slightly and caught her eye. Harper gave him a wink and he just shook his head, hiding his smile.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued, as the applause for Remus 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 his teacher job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Harper stared at each other, stunned. Then they joined in with applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Harper leant 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 set us a biting book?"
The four of them 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," Dumbledore said. "Let the feast begin!"
The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Harper, suddenly ravenous, helped herself to everything she could reach and began to eat.
It was a delicious feast; the Hall echoed with talk, laughter and the clatter of knives and forks. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Harper, however, were eager for it to finish so that they could talk to Hagrid. They knew how much being a teacher would mean to him, Hagrid wasn't a fully qualified wizard; he had been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, for a crime he had not committed. It had been the four of them who had cleared Hagrid's name last year.
At long last, when the last morsels of pumpkin tart had melted from the golden patterns, Dumbledore gave the word that it was time for them all to go to bed, and they got our chances.
"Congratulations, Hagrid!" Hermione squealed, as they reached the teachers' table.
"You'll be an amazing professor!" Harper beamed.
"All down ter you four," Hagrid said, wiping his shining face on his napkin as he looked down at them. "Can' believe it . . . great man, Dumbledore . . . came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough . . . it's what I always wanted . . ."
Overcome with emotion, he buried his face in his napkin, and Professor McGonagall shooed them away.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Harper joined the Gryffindors streaming up the marble staircase and, very tired now, along more corridors, up more and more stairs, to the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower. A large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress asked them, "Password?"
"Coming through, coming through!" Percy called from behind the crowd. "The new password's Fortuna Major!"
"Oh no," Neville said sadly. He always had trouble remembering the passwords.
Through the portrait hole and across the Common Room, the girls and boys divided towards their separate staircases. Harper climbed the spiral stairs with the thought that she was finally home.
And best of all, Remus was here with her.
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December 26st 2023
I hope you enjoy it & tell me what you think of it! :)