Prior to morning, Estella left and went back to her room, allowing herself to quickly shower and get changed. She persuaded Lun, back into his cage, and managed to slip on some shoes before Hermione entered the room.
"Good morning, Mrs. Weasely sent me to wake you up. Of course, I was taking a guess that you were in here since you weren't last night." Hermione peered down at Estella. A blush spread across Estella's face.
"Haha, Harry and I were up last night talking." She reached down to tie her left shoe before standing up. The pair left the room, Lun and Estella's trunk in hand. Estella stood next to Hermione and Ginny, and listened to Mrs. Weasley tells a story about a love potion she'd made as a young girl. Estella's attention was pulled away as Harry appeared next to her. She excused herself from the conversation
She smiled, "Good morning."
The green-eyed boy met her gaze and instantly smiled, making her heart beat faster if that were possible. "Good morning.
Her eyes scanned his face, unconsciously she reached up and brushed the hair from his face.
Harry grinned, "So, what were you talking about before I interrupted?"
Estella laughed, "Mrs. Weasley was telling a story about a love potion she brewed as a girl. It was actually really funny-"
Harry laughed, "I imagine. Did she teach you how to make one? Not that you'd need it. Just need to know if I should be concerned over a lucky guy falling in love with you-" Harry was cut off as Estella hit him.
Estella laughed harder, "Of course not, if it's not real love, then I don't want it." Did he actually mean lucky?
Harry's next words were cut off as Ron snapped, "You won't. What about poor Scabbers, eh?" It definitely wouldn't be the worst thing if Scabbers was put away.
**********
After breakfast, the group found themselves about to board the Hogwarts Express. Estella's trolly was loaded, and she stood waiting next to Harry and Hermione, Mr. Weasley, and Aspen directly behind them.
"Right then," he said, glancing around them. "Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry." Estella stepped aside, allowing Mr. Weasley to pass; before she could partner with Hermione, her father appeared next to her.
"Ready, Essy?" he grinned down. Her resemblance to Aurora was uncanny. He just hoped she was down over them. Watching the amazing human they made. The daughter Aurora didn't get to see grow up.
"Yup," Estella replied. Her father held Lun as they ran toward the magical barrier.
Once they safely passed through the barrier, Estella moved to stand with Hermione.
Estella chuckled, "Yeah, I can't believe it either." From her peripheral vision, she noticed Harry walk over and help her load her bags.
"Thank you," she whispered. She glanced up at him. He had grown taller over the summer and at the very least, was three inches taller than her. He somehow gained muscle, and his jawline became more prominent. Estella couldn't deny the fact he was very handsome; just looking at him made her heart flutter.
Harry noticed her gaze and gave her a wink and smirk. Estella forced herself to look away. Why was she staring at him like that? He was just her best friend.
She couldn't possibly like him-right?
Her thoughts were interrupted as Mrs. Weasley kissed her children, then Hermione, then Estella, and finally Harry.
"Hey Hermione," Ron called, "What have you got in here? It weighs a ton." Estella noticed Ron attempting to load her trunk.
Hermione raised a brow, "That trunk is for Arthimacy, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, the Study of Ancient Ruins, and oh-for Muggle Studies-" Estella glanced at her. The two shared almost every class together except for Muggle Studies and the Study of Ancient Ruins. She wished the Study of Ancient Ruins could fit in her schedule; Ms. McGonagall and her grandfather offered her a time turner, which she denied. Estella didn't want to be so busy to the point where she couldn't enjoy her third year.
Estella only took Divination because of her abilities, although she'd probably drop it the following year if it was too easy. What she couldn't understand was why Hermione would take Muggle Studies if her parents were muggles.
"What are you taking Muggle Studies for?" Ron questioned as Harry rolled his eyes. "You're a Muggle-born. Your parents are Muggles." Were they going to be fighting like this all year? Estella wasn't sure if she could handle that; by the sound of Harry's grunt, she could tell he couldn't either.
"It'll be fascinating to learn about them from a wizard's point of view," Hermione replied. Estella could see why Hermione would take it. The two were always neck and neck for grades. However, Hermione was more book based, while Estella was worldly.
"Are you planning to ever relax this year? Even Es, isn't taking that many classes," Harry said. For the first time glancing away from Estella as they walked to a compartment. Fred and George set off to find Lee Jordan and Sienna Salamander. Estella was pretty sure Sienna and George were secretly in love. Ginny silently trailed behind the four.
"I need to talk to you in private," Harry muttered to Ron and Hermione. Estella already knew what this was about.
"Go away, Ginny," said Ron. Estella glanced at the girl, whose face scrunched up in apparent annoyance.
"Oh, that's nice," said Ginny huffily. With one last glance at Harry and glare at Estella, she stalked off, leaving the four to find a compartment.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Estella set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment, but all were full except for the one at the very end of the train. This had only one occupant, a man sitting fast asleep next to the window. Estella's face wrinkled with confusion, typically, the Hogwarts Express was usually reserved for students, and they had never seen an adult there before, except for the witch who pushed the food cart.
The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with grey. Estella could've sworn she'd seen this man before.
Estella sat next to the door; Hemione filled the seat across from her, and Ron sat next to Hermione, leaving Harry to sit between Estella and the stranger. Estella instantly made room which allowed Harry to sit closer to her than who she assumed was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, considering they have a new one every year.
"Who d'you reckon he is?" Ron hissed as he slid the door shut.
"Professor R. J. Lupin," Hermione whispered.
"How'd you know that?"
"It's on his case," she replied, pointing at the luggage rack over the man's head, where there was a small, battered case held together with a large quantity of neatly knotted string. The name Professor R. J. Lupin was stamped across one corner in the peeling letters.
"Wonder what he teaches?" said Ron, frowning at Professor Lupin's pallid profile.
Estella couldn't help but chuckle, "That's obvious," she whispered. "There's only one vacancy, isn't there? Defense Against the Dark Arts." They all already had two different DADA teachers; it wasn't a surprise there was another.
"Well, I hope he's up to it," Ron said doubtfully. "He looks like one good hex could finish him off, doesn't he-"
Estella scuffed and kicked Ron, "Ron, don't be rude."
"Sorry, anyway..." Ron turned to Harry, "What were you going to tell us?"
Estella listened as Harry explained all about Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's argument and the warning Mr. Weasley gave him before he boarded the train. When he 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? And potentially Stella? 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, nettled. "Trouble usually finds me." Estella laughed, that was definitely true. Ron, Hermione, and Estella seemed to be warier of Sirius Black than Harry was.
"No one knows how he got out of Azkaban," said Ron uncomfortably. "No one's ever done it before. And he was a top-security prisoner too."
Estella shuttered, "But they'll catch him, won't they?" said Estella. "I mean, they've got all the Muggles looking out for him too. My dad's been working late every night since he escaped."
"Who knows?" Ron exclaimed nervously. "He's a raving, murderous, lunatic, who also happens to be Estella's uncle." As if sensing Estella's nerves, Harry took her hand, skimming his thumb over the top.
Harry glared at Ron, "Seriously? You're not helping." The fact that her mother's uncle was a Muggle murder, made her feel dirty by association. Let's not forget guilty because he's after the one person Estella cares about the most.
He turned to Estella, "We'll be alright. Dumbledore wouldn't let anything happen to you."
Estella met his emerald gaze, "It's not me I'm worried about."
Harry's next words were interrupted as the compartment began to raddle, and the train slowed to a stop. Estella tore her gaze from him and looked outside. The sky was dark; rain poured heavily, and thunder bellowed while lightning crackled. There was no possible way they were there yet.
Estella moved closer to Harry and held his hand tightly. Even in the darkness, they could see each other. Harry pulled her closer, her touch comforting him while Estella's face blushed at the closeness between the pair.
"Why are we stopping?" Hermione's voice filled the silence. "We can't possibly be there yet." In the dim light, Estella watched as Hermione checked her watch. Estella agreed; the ride to Hogwarts from the Platform was at least two hours; currently, it couldn't have been more than an hour.
Harry released Estella's hand and got up to look into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads were sticking curiously out of their compartments.
The train came to a complete 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. Harry quickly felt his way back to his seat, and Estella grabbed his hand.
"Please don't let go," she whispered. Estella didn't know what was happening, but something wasn't right.
"Never," Harry replied, and he meant it. He didn't quite understand the depths of his feelings for her, but he knew for sure that he'd do anything for her.
"What's going on?" asked Ron.
"Ouch!" gasped Hermione. "Ron, that was my foot!"
"D'you think we're broken down?"
"I didn't think the Hogwarts Express could break down," Estella said. It was never mentioned in any of the books she'd read before.
There was a squeaking sound, and Estella 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, his voice wavering. "I think people are coming aboard."
Estella froze as the compartment door suddenly opened, and someone fell painfully over her legs. Instantly, Estella lifted her feet and pulled them to her chest.
"Sorry-d'you know what's going on?-Ouch-sorry-"
"Hi, Neville, it's okay," Estella said. She felt Harry let go and reach down, feeling around in the dark and pulling Neville by his cloak.
"Estella? Is that you? What's happening?" Estella shrugged, forgetting he couldn't see her.
Harry replied, "No idea-sit down-"
There were 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. Estella stood up; she shouldn't go alone. Hermione went to open the door and immediately heard a thud and two loud squeals of pain.
"Who's that?"
"Who's that?"
"Ginny?"
"Hermione?"
"What are you doing?"
"I was looking for Ron-"
"Come in and sit down-"
"Not here!" said Harry hurriedly. "I'm here!"
Harry's hand found hers again as a hoarse voice suddenly said, "Quiet!"
Professor Lupin appeared to have awoken at last. Estella could hear movements in his corner. None of them spoke.
There was a soft, crackling noise, and a shivering light filled the compartment. Professor Lupin appeared to be holding a handful of flames. They illuminated his tired, gray face, but his eyes looked alert and wary.
"Stay where you are," he said in the same hoarse voice, and he got slowly to his feet with his handful of fire held out in front of them.
But the door slid slowly open before Lupin could reach it. Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in Lupin's hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Estella recognized that creature as a guard of Azkaban, a dementor. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. Estella flinched at a hand protruding from the cloak. It was glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water.
She watched as the dementor 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. Her own breath seemed to catch inside her chest. It seemed as if all that was good was being sucked from the room.
She watched in fear as a white fog surrounded Harry, forcing him to slump over, but he never let go of her hand. Her necklace began to admit a bright light as Professor Lupin yelled, "Expecto Patronum." A ray of light in the shape of a wolf brightened the cabin, forcing the dementor away. As soon as it left, the lights turned back on, and temperatures rose to normal.
Estella immediately dropped to the floor, next to a slumped Harry. She pulled him forwards and began to examine his unalert face. Her eyes darted to Lupin, who grabbed Harry and slapped his face. Estella flinched at the sight. "Harry! Harry! Are you all right?" She pushed his hair from his eyes and wiped the cold sweat from his face. Not caring if it was gross. Cold sweat was an oxymoron, but it was true in this situation.
The moment his eyes opened, she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. His emerald eyes shone bright, and his demeanor softened as he saw her.
"W-what?" Estella and Professor Lupin helped him back to his seat. It was then she noticed their close proximity; he was so close she could feel his breath fan across her face. Estella's face flushed as her eyes wandered from his eyes to his lips. Even in his worst state, Estella made the world fall away. Harry knew immediately if they were alone, and he didn't just "faint," he would've kissed her.
A dramatic cough reminded Estella of her surroundings. She immediately pulled away, giving Harry room. Room Harry didn't really want. A person wasn't supposed to think that way about her best friend. She looked in the direction of the cough to see Ginny staring at her.
Estella blushed, "Sorry, Harry." She knew she didn't mean it, though.
"Are you okay," Ron asked nervously.
"Yeah," Harry said, looking quickly toward the door where the hooded creature had vanished. "What happened? Where's that-that thing? Who screamed?" Estella tilted her head; she didn't hear screaming.
"No one screamed," said Ron, more nervously still.
Harry looked around the bright compartment. Estella looked pale; Ginny and Neville looked back at him, still shivering.
"But I heard screaming-"
A loud snap made them all jump. Professor Lupin 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."
Estella watched as Harry took the chocolate but didn't eat it.
Harry looked between Estella and Lupin, "What was that thing?"
Before Estella could respond, Lupin said, "A dementor. One of the dementors of Azkaban." Lupin passed around the chocolate to the rest of them. They watched as he crumpled the empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket.
"Eat," he repeated. This time glancing at all of them, his eyes lingering on Estella and Harry. "It'll help. I need to speak to the driver; excuse me..."
He strolled past Estella and disappeared into the corridor.
"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" asked Hermione, watching Harry anxiously.
"I don't get it...What happened?" said Harry, wiping more sweat off his face.
Estella glanced at him, "Well-that dementor stood there and looked around-I mean, I think it did; I couldn't see its face-and you-you-"
Ron sensed her hesitation, "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-"
"Then, when the dementor turned to Estella that was when Professor Lupin said, 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go' But the dementor didn't move, so Lupin muttered some spell, and a ball of light in the shape of a wolf darted toward the dementor, causing it to flee," Hermione said. Sounded about right to Estella, except for the fact she didn't remember the dementor turning to her.
"It was so cold," Estella whispered. She felt Harry's grip tighten around her hand.
"It was horrible," said Neville in a higher voice than usual.
"I felt weird," said Ron, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. "Like I'd never be cheerful again..."
He glanced at the five, "But what about the screaming?"
Estella's face crinkled in confusion, "There was no screaming."
Ginny, who was huddled in her corner looking nearly as bad as Harry felt, gave a small sob; Hermione went over and put a comforting arm around her.
"But didn't any of you-fall off your seats?" said Harry awkwardly. She could feel his eyes on her.
"No, but you almost brought Estella down when you fell," Ron said, looking anxiously at Harry again. "Ginny was shaking like mad, though..."
The conversation halted as the door slid open, revealing Professor Lupin. He paused as he entered, looked around, and said, with a small smile, "I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know..."
Harry took a bite and, to his great surprise, felt warmth spread suddenly to the tips of his fingers and toes.
"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes," said Professor Lupin. "Are you all right, Harry?"
"Fine," he muttered, embarrassed.
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