"Come on," the girl encouraged as she waved her two friends into a compartment, "Everywhere else is full." The three of them had arrived on the train later than usual leaving them with minimal options for seating. Harry, Hermione and Ron had made a deal at the end of their first year - they would always wait for each other. And after everything they went through in the years before, they had no intention of breaking any promises.

"Who do you think they are?" the redhead, Ronald Weasley, asked his friends. Sitting in the compartment was a man bundled up under robes. Next to him was a girl, her head resting on the older man's shoulder.

"Professor R.J. Lupin," the bushy haired girl answered - who could have only been Hermione Granger. She gestured to the girl next to him who had her head resting on the man's shoulder and was fast asleep, "And probably his daughter."

"Do you know everything?" Ron inquired before turning to the other boy. He was baffled, as he always was, by Hermione's extensive knowledge on the most random of things. "How is it she knows everything?"

The other boy, who's shaggy hair and lightning scar meant he was Harry Potter, opened his mouth to reply but Hermione spoke before he could, "It's on the outside of his suitcase, Ronald."

Ron looked up at the suitcase and saw that it was in fact scrawled on there, "Oh."

Harry glanced over at the Professor and the girl next to him for a moment. He had been itching to talk to them since he saw them on the platform. He wasn't sure he could wait until after the feast, "Do you think they're really asleep?"

"Seems to be," Hermione shrugged as she too looked them over. The two had yet to mov3 from their previous positions. She turned back to the boy, "Why?"

Harry shifted in his seat and leaned forward, "I gotta tell you something." And he did. He explained to his friends of two years that the man who had escaped the magical prison called Azkaban had been one of the followers of Voldemort. Ron scolded the boy for the use of he who shall not be named, real name and Harry rolled his eyes.

"Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban," Ron summarized, shaking his head slightly, processing the new information, "To come after you?" Even after two years of this, Ron was still not used to the constant terror that plagued Harry's life.

Harry nodded, "Yeah."

"But they'll catch Black, won't they?" Hermione inquired. Her faith in authority was very rarely wavered. "I mean, everyone's looking for him."

"Sure," Ron replied with a slight scoff. "Except no one's ever broken out of Azkaban before." He tilted his head to the side, "And he's a murderous, raving lunatic."

Harry grimaced, "Thanks, Ron."

The train slowed to a stop and everyone grew confused. Hermione sat up in her street as she looked around. "Why are we stopping?" she asked as though her friends would have an answer for her, "We can't be there yet."

The girl next to the man's eyes fluttered open at the abrupt stop. She looked around the compartment as she took in the new people who hadn't been there when she had fallen asleep. Her eyes fell on the boy next to her and she took in his demeanor. He appeared to be on guard but as he turned to the side to look out the window, she realized why. He was Harry Potter.

"What's going on?" the boy across from her asked and she turned to look at the others in the cart.

"I don't know," Harry replied, shaking his head. The boy appeared confused thought there was a hint of worry in his tone, "Maybe we've broken down."

The boy turned to look out the window and the girl next to him scolded him, "Ouch, Ron. That was my foot!"

He pressed his hand to the window as he looked around. "There's something moving out there," he explained as he moved closer to the glass to get a better look. The window began to freeze over and Ron pulled away quickie, "Bloody hell! What's happening?"

A figure approached their compartment and unlocked the door without having to touch it. The girl felt herself grow weary as it floated at the entrance. Harry froze next to her and she turned to see him staring wide eyed at the creature. She put her hand on her father's shoulder and shook him slightly, startling him awake. He looked around at all of the student's in the compartment. He looked down at his daughter before looking back at the others.

He stood up as soon as he processed what was happening and pulled his wand out, pointing it at the creature. A bright light admitted from the tip sending the figure in the black robe floating away.

The boy had fallen unconscious, and he fell onto the girl's shoulder. She moved him carefully as she shifted over in the seat. She lowered his head down to seat as Hermione knelt down on the floor next to him. "Harry," she tried, shaking him slightly. The boy's eyes opened a moment later and she let out a breath of relief, "Harry, are you alright?"

The Professor's daughter couldn't help but roll her eyes at this. Of course he wasn't alright, she thought to herself, He just encountered a dementor for the first time and passed out. She brushed off the urge to make a comment and pulled something from her pocket. "Here," she spoke up as she stuck it out for him to grab, "Eat this. It'll help."

Harry regarded her in confusion as the Professor addressed the boy. "It's alright," he reassured him, "It's just chocolate."

He took the chocolate bar from the girl and looked at her for a moment before shaking his head. He turned to his new teacher, "What was that thing that came?"

"It was a dementor," he explained. "They guard Azkaban." He looked over at where it had been, "It's gone now. It was searching the train for Sirius Black." He stood up as the boy seemed to be processing the new information. "If you'll excuse me," he began as he opened the door, "I need to have a little word with the driver." He looked down at the boy again and pointed at the chocolate in his hand. "Eat," he suggested, "You'll feel better."

"What happened to me?" Harry asked after he ate some of the chocolate. He was feeling surprisingly better although he wasn't sure if it was from the chocolate or because the dementor had gone.

"Well, you sort of went rigid," Ron replied. "We thought maybe you were having a fit or something."

"And did either of you two, you know pass out?"

"No," he shook his head. "I felt weird, though," he explained honestly, "Like I'd never be cheerful again."

"That's what dementor's do," the girl spoke up and the three seemed to remember that she was there. "They feed off of positive energy and suck all of your good feelings and any happy memories you may have and leave you with your worst ones." She seemed to realize that they were all regarding her in confusion and she smiled at them. "Sorry," she apologized, as she sat up straighter, "I'm Abigail. Abigail Lupin."

Harry watched the girl for a moment, seemingly taking in her appearance as Hermione introduced them all. "Hermione Granger," Hermione greeted before gesturing to the two boys, "This is Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter."

"But someone was screaming," Harry tried once he had snapped out of his trance. "A woman."

Hermione frowned, "No one was screaming, Harry."

Abigail's father had not returned to the compartment prior to the arrival at Hogwarts. The trio offered to show her through the castle and she reluctantly agreed. Truth be told, she'd prefer to just be shown around by her down, no matter how stupid others thought it was.

"Welcome!" the Headmaster's voice boomed through the Great Hall. Abigail had parted ways from the three she had met in the compartment so she could go with the first years in order to get sorted. Abigail could feel as the school watched, wondering who the older girl was standing with the first years.

They made their way through the list of students and eventually made it to 'L.' Abigail took her seat on the stool and the hat was placed on her head.

"Well, this one is easy..." the hat had began and Abigail had barely sat for two seconds before it made a decision.

She had in fact been sorted into Gryffindor and as she made her way to the house table, Hermione waved her over to join them. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!"

"Now, I'd like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast," Dumbledore announced as he steadied himself on the podium in front of him. "First," he began, glancing back at the table where all the teacher's were seated, "I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin who's kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts." Dumbledore turned to face him, "Good luck, Professor."

The students in the room all began to applaud but Abigail only grew worried. She looked around for a moment, looking up at her father before addressing the three who sat near her. "Is there a particular reason he needs luck?" she asked warily, "Dumbledore makes it sound like there is a chance he could die."

"Oh, it's nothing too serious," Hermione brushed off. She shifted in her seat as she reached forward and placed some food on her plate, "The last two Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers caused some problems but I'm sure your father will be fine."

"That's..." Abigail began, shaking her head. "That's not comforting at all."

"Those were different circumstances," Harry explained as Abigail looked over at her after anxiously. "Something that was their own doing."

"Right," she trailed off as she looked down at her food, no longer hungry. Harry opened his mouth to try and assuage her fear's but ultimately decided against it, concluding that whatever he said could possibly make it worse for the girl. She had so many reasons to be worried, the trio wouldn't even understand where she would start.

"Potter," someone hissed from the table next to them. "Potter," they tried again only this time louder. The four of them turned and Abigail noted that they were from the Slytherin house if she remembered correctly. The boy with bright blonde, almost white hair, had a snarky smile on his face as he spoke. "Is it true you fainted?" he asked in amusement, "I mean, you actually fainted."

Abigail narrowed her eyes at the boy's attitude. She did recall her dad's explanation of all the houses but she hadn't realized how on the nose they had been. This boy was, for lack of a better word, an asshole.

"Shove off, Malfoy," Ron scowled as he forced Harry to turn back around.

Harry frowned, "How did he find out?"

"Just forget it," Hermione suggested as Dumbledore spoke up again.

"Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs," the Headmaster explained. "Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid." The three others seemed to be happy with this and Abigail took it as a good thing. There was a notable shift in the room's atmosphere as he continued, "Finally, on a more disquieting note at the request of the Ministry of Magic. Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban until such a time as Sirius Black is captured."

Abigail glanced over at Harry and it was clear that he was unhappy with this news, "The dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day-to-day activities, a word of caution. Dementors are vicious creatures." There were whispers amongst the students before he went on, "They'll not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving. But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light."

Harry remained silent for the remainder of the feast as Ron and Hermione discussed what Abigail could only deduce was Ron's eating habits. She was hardly paying attention seeing as she was more worried about Harry and she wasn't sure why. After all, she had only met the boy a few hours ago and at least one of them was unconscious most of the time.

The students were dismissed to go back to their houses and they all flooded out of the Great Hall almost immediately. It took Abigail a moment to realize what had happened and she stood up, making her way out as well.

"Hey, Harry," Abigail spoke up as she made her way into the corridor with the rest of the school. Harry stopped and nodded for Hermione and Ron to go ahead. "Are you alright?" she asked the boy. "After what Dumbledore said, you seem..." she began, "Well, you seemed upset."

He smiled slightly at this. "Uh, yeah," he nodded. "I'm fine." He glanced around them for a moment as though he were making sure no one was listening to what he was about to say, "Not something I ever wanted to have to experience again." He frowned, "And now that they're here at Hogwarts..."

"Dumbledore said they wouldn't be on the grounds," Abigail reminded him. "They won't be able to affect you from that far."

"Yeah, I, uh, I guess you're right," he nodded but she could tell he wasn't convinced. She could tell that the boy was upset and uncomfortable. "We should catch up with everyone."

Abigail nodded in agreement before the two walked to their house in silence.

"Fortuna Major," Seamus, one of the other Gryffindor boys in third year, tried. He turned to everyone in a huff, "He won't let me in."

"Here," the lady suggested, raising her glass, "Listen."

Harry stepped forward, "Fortuna Major."

"No, no," she shook her head as raised her glass again. "Wait, watch this." She then sanga a high note clearly in an attempt at breaking the glass and Abigail grimaced. She tried singing the high note again and hit it quickly against the tree, "Oh, amazing! Just with my voice."

"Fortuna Major," Harry tried again.

"Yes, alright," the lady huffed before swinging open, "Go in."

"Thank you," he replied before entering the common room with Seamus. :Still doing that after three years."

"She can't even sing," Seamus pointed out and Harry nodded in agreement as everyone flooded into the house.

"This is a common thing?" Abigail inquired as she followed Hermione up to their room. Hermione nodded, "Hmm."