"Is it here?" Terry asked in surprise.
"Yeah. The house is under a charm, you won't see it. Give me your hand, I'll lead you," Harry said. "The protection here is way stronger than at my parents' place, I told you..."
"Whoa! I see the mansion now, but it wasn't there before!"
"That's what I'm saying... My folks had a similar one, but not as strong. My godfather personally set up the access for me here..."
Harry knocked on the door with a coded knock, and it swung open.
"What is that?" Terry whispered.
"Not what, but who—a house-elf. And don't yell, or the portrait will start screaming," Harry nodded toward a painting of a stern-looking lady. She was dozing. "She taught me some serious swearing! When she starts shrieking, you'd never think she was a noble lady! Hm, and there are guests in the house..."
"You told me about house-elves, but I didn't think they were so... so..." Terry struggled to find the right word, eyeing the elf warily.
"Just toss your backpack in the corner," Potter said. "Shhh! Come on, let's go..."
"Sirius, my boy," a voice drifted from the living room, "you do understand the Order needs a headquarters!"
"Of course! But let it be anywhere but my house," Sirius replied firmly. Harry gave Terry a thumbs-up.
"But why, my boy?"
Harry and Terry simultaneously turned at the rustling of a dress. Bellatrix was descending the stairs.
Harry put a finger to his lips, made wide, exaggerated eyes, and gestured for her to come closer. To her credit, Mrs. Lestrange showed no surprise. She silently approached, leaned in, and wrapped an arm around each teenager's shoulders as she listened.
"But this house is perfectly protected!"
"Then find yourself another house and protect it as much as you like!"
"No one would ever think—"
"No one would ever think a Death Eater lives here!" Sirius said mockingly. "The perfect place for Order meetings!"
"Well, your cousin could live somewhere else for a while," Dumbledore said kindly. "With her sister, for example..."
"Aunt, you're hurting me..." Harry said quietly, and she loosened her grip on his shoulder. Terry let out a sigh of relief. "Okay... I get it now. Aunt, could you call the house-elf and ask him to escort Terry?"
"Of course... Kreacher!" she commanded.
"Yes, Mistress Bellatrix?"
"Take the young man to his room and bring his things there," she ordered.
"Terry, I'll explain everything later," Harry said briefly. His friend nodded and followed the house-elf upstairs. "Aunt, please wait here and enter on the code word... 'lemon drop'!"
"You're unbearable!"
"I know," he replied smugly and barged into the living room, interrupting the argument. "Godfather! I'm here!"
"Harry!" Sirius called, grabbing him into a bear hug. "Wow, you've grown!"
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, hello! What are you doing here?" Harry asked as Sirius set him down. "Sorry, I didn't see you at first."
"I'm here on business, my boy," Dumbledore smiled.
"Ah! That makes sense! That's sacred... Want a lemon drop?" Harry asked, pulling the said lemon drop from his pocket.
Almost immediately, the doors burst open, and Bellatrix stormed in, far more irritated than the script required.
"Your house-elf is completely out of control!" she told Sirius. "Do something before I kill him!"
"Aunt Bella!" Harry exclaimed happily and threw himself into her arms. "You look amazing!"
"Don't flatter me, you little brat," she muttered darkly, barely keeping her balance.
"No, really! Aunt Petunia is so jealous of you she even dyed a streak of her hair right here..." he demonstrated. "But it looks awful on her, unlike you... Aunt, you promised to tell me—"
"You forgot to greet the headmaster."
"Not true, I did!" He turned to Dumbledore. "Didn't I, Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yes, of course, my boy," the professor replied with a pale smile. The dark looks from the two Blacks were clearly not improving his mood. "Sirius, think about it. Your house is absolutely essential to us, once it has been cleansed of the last traces of dark magic..."
"What, throw out the library and the entire inheritance?" Harry asked in surprise, popping a lemon drop into his mouth. He had already figured out that this somehow unnerved the headmaster. "Wow... Sirius, I wouldn't agree. Who knows what useful stuff you've got lying around? And then the Weasleys will barge in, half of it will get swiped, the other half thrown out, and what will you do?"
"Ahem..." Sirius exchanged a desperate glance with his cousin. She just narrowed her eyes, as if to say, "Your own fault."
"We... we will discuss this proposal and inform you of our decision," he said with difficulty.
That sentence clearly didn't come easily to him.
"Kreacher," Bellatrix commanded. "Dinner!" She turned to the headmaster. "We were very pleased to see you, Professor Dumbledore. It's wonderful that you don't forget my cousin!"
"Yes, dear," he said, clearly realizing he was being dismissed, and smiled again. "I hope, Sirius, that upon reflection, you will understand that this is all for your own good! And now, if you'll excuse me..."
"Damn," Harry said when Dumbledore left. "Sirius, why did you even let him in?"
Sirius shrugged, while Bellatrix snapped angrily:
"My cousin has always been known for his intelligence and quick thinking! Block the fireplace, Sirius! Why must I remind you every time?"
"Yeah, yeah..."
"And forbid access to that...!" She barely held back a curse. "And to the others as well!"
"But, Bella..."
"I said, forbid it!" she raised her voice. "I understand that you don't enjoy my company, but I do not wish to come downstairs in the morning and see a crowd of unpleasant people whose visit I wasn't even informed about! I might be in a dressing gown, and appearing before strangers like that is the height of impropriety!"
"Alright, alright!" Sirius waved his hands. "I'll do it!"
"Immediately!" she ordered. "Now... Kreacher! Where's dinner?"
"Forgive me, mistress, how many people should I serve for?" the elf asked, his ears pressed back in fear.
"Four," she answered coldly. "Do not ask such questions in the future! Only those who live in this house sit at the table unless you are explicitly told about guests in advance. And move faster, you lazy creature!"
"Whoa..." Harry breathed. "I need to learn that tone, Aunt. I like it."
"Learn, boy," she sighed and sat down. She didn't look well. "Go fetch your friend."
"And is it alright that he's a Muggle? Won't you be ashamed to sit next to him?" he asked cautiously.
"I suppose, in light of new trends, I should gain the appropriate experience," Bellatrix said grimly. "Besides, we've already sat next to each other."
Terry was the last person Harry needed to worry about—his mother had trained him well. At the table, he displayed impeccable manners, and even Bellatrix's dark glares couldn't unsettle the worthy heir of the Higgs family.
"Sirius," Harry asked over dessert, "why is the house such a mess?"
"I haven't lived here," Sirius snorted. "And Kreacher alone can't keep such a huge place in order! Especially when the owners are absent."
"Then let's do it ourselves!" Harry suggested excitedly. "Right, Terry?"
He winked at his friend, and Terry, setting down his utensils, politely replied, "If Mr. Black doesn't mind, I'd be happy to help Harry. There really is... quite a lot of cobwebs. Besides, my mother can't stand disorder, and I take after her."
Harry had a slightly different opinion on whom Terry took after, but he tactfully kept it to himself. Especially since the idea of searching the Black family house had come from Terry in the first place. A well-protected manor like this had to be hiding something forbidden—who could resist?
"Go ahead," Bellatrix shrugged. "Just don't touch anything that seems suspicious. I'm talking about you, Harry—you'll be able to sense it, but your friend won't. You're responsible for him."
"Of course, Aunt," he replied seriously, exchanging another look with Terry.
"Take Kreacher with you," Sirius added. "He can help haul out the trash and let you know if you come across anything... particularly Dark."
"Gladly, godfather," Harry said primly. "Just, uh... tell him to listen to me, or I'll give him a good kick if he doesn't!"
"I will, I will!" Sirius laughed, visibly more at ease...
...Two days later...
"Damn," Terry muttered.
Both teenagers sat on the floor before a heap of items they had dragged out from the most unimaginable corners of the vast house. There was plenty of junk—but also a fair number of strange artifacts. Some Sirius could identify, some Bellatrix, and a few even the portrait of Walburga (who cursed them viciously but ultimately succumbed to Harry's favorite tactic of overwhelming chatter). Yet, nothing resembling a Horcrux had turned up.
"So much rubbish," Harry shook his head. "Hey, Kreacher!"
"Yes, young master," the elf responded grimly, appearing out of nowhere. Being forced to obey a Potter clearly irked him.
"Listen, have you seen a locket with snakes on it?" Harry asked, giving a brief description. He had read about Slytherin's locket in an old book from the house's library. "What's with you?"
The elf trembled and pressed his ears flat.
"He has," Terry concluded. "Harry, ask him..."
After an interrogation that required Bellatrix's involvement, Harry became the owner of a snake-adorned locket—possibly the very one they were looking for. Unfortunately, there was no way to verify it. So he pocketed the locket, intending to slip it to the professor later. Bellatrix was distracted, and Terry wasn't about to give him away...
The holidays were turning out to be quite productive.
"Aunt!" Harry's voice echoed through the house. "Aunt, you promised to show me something!"
"I can't do it with your wand or your cousin's," she replied. "And I don't have my own."
"Oh, come on, that's not a problem..." Harry pulled out a dreadful-looking creation of unknown craftsmanship, the one he had once again borrowed from Snape for the summer. "It's weak, but I should be able to grasp the essence, right?"
"Hmm..."
"Can I be present?" Terry asked politely. "It sounds fascinating!"
"Just stay out of the spell's path, young man," Bellatrix frowned, and somehow, the lesson progressed...
"Will you come see me off?" Harry questioned sternly when it was time to part ways with his relatives. "School starts any day now!"
"I'm not sure we'll be welcome," Bellatrix snorted.
"Aunt Bella, I don't care what anyone thinks. What matters is that I'd be happy," he stated firmly. "Please, see me off to school—it's important to me!"
"I'll be there for sure," Sirius said, glancing sideways at his cousin.
"Well then..."
*
Morning at King's Cross Station was clear and bustling. A sea of people swirled on Platform 9 ¾.
"Maybe we shouldn't get any closer?" Petunia Dursley said hesitantly.
Harry had dragged his family along with a piercing, "Oh, ple-e-ease, Auntie, Uncle, everyone has someone to see them off, and I'm supposed to be the ultimate orphan? Let's take Dudley too, he'd be interested!" To which Dudley promptly declared, "No, no, I've got practice today," and magnanimously allowed his cousin to take his old gaming console—only for Harry to dramatically announce that this dreadful school had no electricity and no working toys. At that, Dudley was horrified and insisted that his parents simply had to escort their nephew. And, of course, they could not refuse their own son's wishes.
"Aunt Tuney, we have to, I'm not some rootless nobody!" Harry insisted, pulling both her and Vernon towards the platform. His uncle grumbled under his breath, glancing around suspiciously.
"Will we be able to get back?"
"Where else would you go? See that couple over there? Those are the Grangers, both regular people—dentists, by the way. They come and go just fine, don't worry! Oh, and there's Terry!"
"Hey, lemon eater!" Terry called out. "Good morning, Mr. Dursley, Mrs. Dursley…"
"Hey there, apple moth! Hello, Mr. Higgs, Mrs. Higgs..."
"You're here!" Petunia brightened at the sight of familiar faces.
"Yes, Terry wanted to see Harry off, and we couldn't refuse," said Mr. Higgs. "My employers set up a… well… a passage for us."
With a soft pop, two more people appeared.
"Sirius!" Harry beamed. "Aunt Bella! Let me introduce you..."
The introductions dragged on—both Blacks were wary of Muggles, while the Dursleys recoiled from pureblood wizards.
"You've really stirred things up," Terry muttered.
"But it's fun!" Harry replied, keeping an eye on the arrival of the Longbottoms—who looked deeply unsettled by the presence of Bellatrix Lestrange—as well as other Gryffindors. "Look, there's Fatty. You'll recognize Frizzhead yourself—hard to miss her—and the redheads? Those are the Weasleys, almost the full set."
"I see them."
"Malfoy!" Harry yelled, spotting another family. "What are you standing there for? Get over here! Oh—Lady Malfoy, Lord Malfoy, my apologies..."
The Malfoys approached, their smiles tight. Narsissa quickly took charge, hugging and chatting with her sister and cousin before engaging in a polite conversation with Mrs. Higgs. Meanwhile, Lucius twirled his cane, making Mr. Dursley visibly uneasy.
"Potter, as usual," Draco muttered. "You know..."
"I know that all summer, your parents didn't even think to visit their dear sister and nephew. So let them deal with it now!"
"You're a bastard," Draco declared.
"Did you teach him to say that?" Terry asked in utter delight.
"Who else?"
"Vince, Greg! Theo!" Harry waved, receiving a wave in return, though they didn't come over. "Hmm, seems like we're quite a crowd..."
Another pop, and two more figures appeared.
"And here comes Luna," Harry said with satisfaction, now waving both arms. "Lovegood! Over here!"
"Hello, Harry," Luna said serenely as she approached. "This is my father. Dad, this is Harry."
"A pleasure," Potter said. "Allow me to introduce you… These are my aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, and Mr. and Mrs. Higgs—you probably know them. This is my godfather, Sirius Black, and my other aunt—Bellatrix Lestrange. And this is Terry Higgs—my best friend."
"Xenophilius Lovegood," he bowed slightly, though he seemed visibly surprised by this peculiar mix of relatives. "And my daughter, Luna."
"She's actually quite something," Terry jabbed Harry in the ribs. "Lucky you! Meanwhile, Martha dumped me… Said she prefers the guy from the basketball team."
"Find what she truly likes," Luna said serenely.
"Oh, as if I haven't tried! Easier to just find someone else," Terry scoffed.
The "relatives" were deep in conversation—Lord Malfoy was negotiating something with Mr. Higgs, Lady Malfoy was interrogating Sirius and Bellatrix, Mrs. Higgs had buttonholed Mr. Lovegood, and Mr. and Mrs. Dursley listened intently, while young Malfoy subtly drifted toward his own friends.
"Harry," Bellatrix suddenly commanded. "Come here. Bring the girl with you."
Terry's eyes widened. The others fell silent.
"Lovegood..." Bellatrix murmured, taking the girl's chin and lifting it. "Not bad. Harry, see that she does something about her hair."
"Huh?" Harry blinked.
"A lady can have short hair," Bellatrix unconsciously touched her own cropped locks, "a lady can have no hair at all. But she should never be unkempt. I think… if properly brushed, it would already be much better. Perhaps pulled back at the temples..."
"Hmm, you know, Luna, that might actually suit you," Harry said thoughtfully. "What else do you suggest, Aunt?"
"Her hands," Bellatrix said, catching Luna's wrist. "A lady may have long nails, or short ones, but never broken or bitten ones. Remember that."
"Yes, ma'am," Luna replied unbothered.
"My nephew... so-called," Bellatrix glanced at Harry, "cannot have a disheveled fiancée."
"A fiancée? So soon?" Petunia started to say but quickly fell silent.
"What's wrong with that?" Mr. Lovegood asked cheerfully. "In my time, they married right at birth… or before birth, even. And your nephew, I see, is already quite capable of making a choice. I won't stand in their way—I love my little girl dearly, and if she's happy with Harry..."
"Mr. Lovegood is an incredibly kind-hearted man," Mrs. Higgs chimed in. "And, dare I say, creative!"
"And wealthy," Mr. Higgs added softly, dissolving any remaining doubts the Dursleys had. In reality, Lovegood was not particularly rich—but wealth, after all, was relative.
"Yes, the boy is growing up!" Vernon mused.
Terry cackled wickedly.
"Don't snort, worm-eater," Harry told him. "See those blonde braids? That's Hannah. Go introduce yourself!"
"Are you insane?" Terry recoiled. "She's cute, sure, but… I'm not a wizard!"
"Too scared?" Harry smiled sweetly.
"I'll introduce them," Luna declared, slipping free from Harry's grasp, grabbing Terry's sleeve, and dragging him along. "Hi, Hannah! This is Terry, Harry Potter's friend. He really wanted to meet you…"
"Terence Higgs, at your service," Terry introduced himself with practiced ease.
"Nice to meet you," Hannah said, puzzled. "But I don't remember you. Did you study somewhere else before Hogwarts?"
"Alas! I will never study there. I'm a Muggle," he said with a dramatic sigh. "I only saw a very beautiful girl in Harry's magical photos… A shame we'll never meet again!"
"Well, not necessarily…" she murmured shyly. "That's not exactly forbidden…"
"I'm writing to Harry," he said, coming to help.
"And he can pass something through him or me," Luna interjected.
"Well, there you go," Hannah smiled. "I… I don't mind. It's just…"
"Who would I even tell?" Terry smiled that smile that melted everyone—well, except maybe the stern Martha. "I'll write to you if you don't mind, Hannah!"
"I don't mind…" she replied, watching the strange Muggle being dragged away by Luna Lovegood.
"You're a legend, mate," Harry said seriously, giving him a hearty slap on the back. "You got her in no time!"
"Wait, do we have a new sister-in-law now?" Mrs. Higgs turned around.
"Not yet, Mom," Terry answered diplomatically. "But who knows? She seems cute, and Harry, you said she's not dumb?"
"Far from it," Harry replied. "But she's got character."
"Oh, that's nothing," the younger Higgs waved it off. "As if I haven't dealt with strong personalities before…"
He glanced at his mother, Mrs. Dursley, and Mrs. Lestrange.
"It's time to go," Harry said diplomatically. "Or the train will actually leave without us. Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon…" He moved in to hug his relatives. Petunia teared up, stroking his messy hair, while Vernon sighed gloomily. "Godfather…"
Sirius pulled Harry into a tight embrace.
"Aunt Bella…" This one, he could only kiss on the hand. "Thank you for the lessons!"
"Always a pleasure," she snorted. A borrowed wand was still better than nothing—thank you, "dear nephew." "Write."
"Gladly, Auntie! Mr. Higgs, Mrs. Higgs… Mr. Lovegood…" Harry looked around. "Where did the Malfoys disappear to?"
"There," Terry pointed. The Malfoys were embracing and instructing their only heir. "Leave them be, let them live their lives."
"True…" Harry sighed. "Alright, fruit-moth… I'm counting on you for homework."
They exchanged playful jabs and a brief hug.
"Oh! I promised to kiss Terry when I saw him," Luna suddenly remembered and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "He's nice, and his Wrackspurts are well-trained!"
"Hey! Stop seducing my girl!" Harry grabbed her by the shoulders and winked at Terry. Terry put on an exaggeratedly offended look. "Well, we've got to go, or the train really will leave. See, Malfoy and his lot are already packed up…"
"See you, lemon eater," Terry smirked, clapping Harry on the shoulder. "We'll write!"
"Luna!" Mr. Lovegood made a strange gesture; his daughter responded in kind before Harry dragged her into the train.
"Odd girl," Bellatrix muttered darkly.
"But pureblood," Sirius retorted vindictively, apparating with her to Grimmauld Place.
"Perhaps you'd like to have lunch at my place?" Mr. Lovegood offered to the Dursleys. It would have been awkward to refuse, so they agreed. "Ah, wonderful. Expect you all at this address…" He handed over a business card. "In an hour. You'll have enough time to get there—just in time for lunch!"
"Are you coming with us?" Mrs. Higgs asked cheerfully, hugging her son. He was waving after the scarlet train. In the window of the last carriage, Harry was leaning out, shouting something, but the roar of the wheels drowned him out. Luna was responsibly holding onto his sleeve to keep him from falling out. "No? Well, you'll manage. Too bad Mrs. Lestrange already left—she's so stylish!"
Then she glanced at Petunia's dyed hair, making the woman blush involuntarily.
"See you soon," she said, and the Higgses left along with Lovegood, nearly bumping into Granger and Weasley, who shot a disapproving look at the Muggles bold enough to use a Portkey in the middle of the platform.
The Malfoys had vanished even earlier, along with their acquaintances, leaving only the Dursleys standing in plain view.
"Let's go," Vernon grumbled, scowling. If the column hadn't let him through, he might have smashed through it with his head. But all went smoothly, and he and his wife found themselves in regular London.
"Bloody wizards!"
"But Mrs. Lestrange really is so stylish…" Petunia clutched her hands to her chest. "I should get a haircut and a perm. And, Vernon, we are absolutely going to Lovegood's for lunch! This is a very useful connection—you know Higgs never does anything for free!"
"Oh, yes," he sighed, inspecting the business card. "You're right, we'll just about make it. But don't you need to change?"
"I won't have time," she sighed. "But we're dressed quite decently, dear. Let's go!"
*
"Hurry up, or all the seats will be taken!" Harry dragged Luna down the aisle, and she didn't resist. "Here, this looks empty!"
"Someone's sleeping here," she said melancholically, inspecting her nails.
"Oh… well, we'll talk quietly and won't disturb him," Harry slowed down.
"Who do you think it is?"
"The trunk says R. J. Lupin, Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Luna replied. "Harry, was Mrs. Lestrange serious about my hair?"
"Yes. Auntie always speaks seriously. I mean," he corrected himself, "your hair is beautiful, but it needs some care! Terry will send you the shampoo, I even… gkh-hh…"
"I understand," the girl said quite seriously. "That will suit me. Let him send it. I like your friend, too bad he's a Muggle. He would definitely be in Ravenclaw!"
"Hm, maybe…" Harry scratched his head. "Glad you took a liking to him…"
In truth, he was thinking about how the surname of the sleeping man in the compartment seemed suspiciously familiar, and what to do about it.
"Potter!" Malfoy had arrived, this time without his usual cronies, but with Nott instead. "Did you hear?!"
"Hear what?" Harry asked lazily, pulling a lemon from his bag.
"The most dangerous Death Eaters have escaped from Azkaban, and they're after you! That's why Hogwarts will be guarded by Dementors! My father told me!"
"Blimey," Potter said. "Luna, want a tangerine? Grab one yourself… Wouldn't it be simpler to assign a couple of Aurors to me? Here, by the way…"
"How should I know?" Malfoy sat down across from him and absentmindedly took half of the tangerine. "Theo, take some… I'm afraid to fly now! If I do a loop-the-loop and a Dementor is nearby, I could lose balance…"
"And how many times have I told you that flying on a broom isn't for respectable people?" Harry laughed.
"You're just…" Malfoy huffed and suddenly froze.
The train jolted and stopped.
"No, I've been wanting to pull the emergency brake for a while, but what bastard did it instead of me?!" Harry asked. "Malfoy, sit! Nott, hold him!"
"What's going on? I want to know what's happening…!" Malfoy struggled.
"I said—sit," Potter commanded in Aunt Bella's tone. "We'll find out soon. Wands at the ready, gentlemen… and lady."
"I don't know much, Harry," Luna said calmly.
"That doesn't matter, any support is important," he replied. "Malfoy! Stop grumbling! Or you'll get smacked!"
That worked like magic on Draco, and soon four teenagers had their wands at the ready. Lupin was asleep.
The door shuddered and swung open. A Dementor stood in the doorway—a vile creature radiating cold and something else utterly repulsive…
Nott reacted first, hurling a simple spell at the Dementor. Potter followed up with a few deadly but not particularly complex ones—his Aunt Bella had taught him the Unforgivables but strictly forbade their use except in desperate situations, and this was clearly not one of them. Over his shoulder, Luna cast something unidentifiable—not strong, but the creature didn't seem to like it. Malfoy snapped out of his stupor and fired off something nasty, forcing the Dementor to retreat.
"Calm down, children, I'll drive it away," said Lupin, who had woken up. A silvery mist chased the Dementor out. There was screaming in the corridor. "Are you all alright?"
"Luna?" Harry turned to the girl. "Guys? Ah, we're all alive, sir. What the hell was that? Why was it on the train?"
"Have some chocolate," Lupin said, ignoring the question. "It helps…"
"Thanks, but we'll stick to tangerines," Harry snorted, putting away his wand and sharing with Luna. "Guys? How're you?"
"Fine…"
"Sir, you should check on the others," Potter said. "Not everyone is as awesome as us! Guys, want another tangerine?"
"Sure, you weirdo…" Nott muttered, starting to peel one. "Draco?"
"Are you insane?!" the heir of an Ancient and Noble House exclaimed, but then deflated, grabbed half a tangerine, and began chewing. "On the train! A Dementor! I'm writing to my father!"
"Go ahead," Potter nodded. "Be thorough. Mention that we had a Defense professor right here, and he didn't save us immediately. Don't forget that part!"
"And how do you know he's a professor?" Malfoy asked eagerly.
"Oh, I know a lot of things," Harry grinned. "Don't believe me? Wait for the feast…"
"No, if you're saying it like that, you're not lying," Draco said thoughtfully. "I'll write as soon as things settle down and send it as soon as we arrive. And what's with all the screaming?"
"Probably Dementors checking other compartments," Harry snorted. Luna was calmly polishing her nails. "We chased them off here, but again—not everyone is as sharp and resourceful as we are!"
The teenagers exchanged glances.
"Crabbe and Goyle?"
"Oh, they can handle themselves," Malfoy waved it off. "Don't worry. But honestly, Potter, that was impressive—not freaking out at the sight of a Dementor…"
"Hmm, was I supposed to freak out?" Harry asked.
"Well… Bad memories, all that…"
"First and foremost, I wanted to destroy it," Harry said pleasantly. "For my godfather, for Aunt Bella, for everyone else… Tell me, was there really room for bad memories in all that?"
"Oh," Draco said.
"They weren't just bad, they were…" Harry smiled. "Think about it—can a Dementor kill someone who hates it? Who vividly imagines what he'll do to this particular Dementor for his family and enjoys the thought?"
"You really are a Slytherin," Theo noted after a pause.
"Could be," Harry said. Luna leaned against his shoulder. In the carriage, people were still screaming. "Now hush, we're victims of aggression! Malfoy, I said hush! Theo, just smack him already, you're closer!"
"No need, I'm already suffering…" Draco groaned.
"How are you all doing?" Lupin asked, opening the door.
"Eating tangerines," Potter replied, pulling another one from his bag. "Want one? By the way, what happened, why are we stopped?.. Sir," he added after a moment's thought.
"Give me a slice," Luna tugged at his sleeve.
"Take half!" Harry offered generously. "I've got plenty. Theo, Draco, catch!"
Both got hit in the face with tangerines and started peeling them intently. Arguing with Potter was more trouble than it was worth.
"Chocolate?" Lupin asked, somewhat lost.
"Thanks, sir, but we prefer vitamins," Harry scoffed.
So, Lupin. Heading to Hogwarts. As a professor. Just brilliant.
He exchanged a glance with Luna. She only smiled that usual strange, otherworldly smile of hers.