Chapter 42: Dementors

After crossing almost every full compartment, Chris and Ginny found Colin and Luna.

"Hello, Ginny! Hello Chris! It's very good to see you." Luna said happily. 

"It's nice to see you to Luna," Chris replied and sat down next to Colin. "How are you, Colin?" 

"I'm good. Do you know, I think my brother is a wizard too. This summer he showed many signs like me." Colin replied excitedly. 

"Really? That's great Colin. You father must be very happy." Ginny said. 

"He is." Colin grinned. "How was your Egypt trip, Ginny?" 

"It was very nice," said Ginny. "What about you Luna?" 

"Oh! It was nice to explore so many new magical plants and magical beasts." Luna said excitedly. 

"So anyone noticed that the Prisoner Sirius Black was in Muggle news too," Colin said suddenly. 

"He was in the Muggle news too?" Ginny asked. 

"Yeah. I saw that too. He killed thirteen muggles twelve years ago in bright daylight." Chris answered. "I heard in Diagon Alley that he was the right-hand man of Voldemort." Ginny flinched hearing the name. "Sorry, Ginny." Chris quickly added noticing her. 

"I don't understand how he left Azkaban and more importantly why now?" Luna said seriously. 

"Maybe he found a chance only this time," Colin suggested. 

"Do you know who guard the Azkaban, Colin?" Chris said. "When last year I heard the name Azkaban many times, I did a little research on it. Azkaban is guarded by Dementor, they feed on human happiness and can extract souls with their Dementor's Kiss. They don't have eyes, they feel human presence by their emotions. You can't fool them like that." 

Colin and Ginny shivered. 

"So you think that Black knew the trick before?" Luna asked. 

"Maybe and I think, now he is after something that's why he escaped from Azkaban," Chris answered. "Don't know for sure though." 

"Can we talk about something else?" Ginny said. 

"Like about Harry Potter?" Chris suggested smirking. 

"CHRIS!" Ginny scowled loudly. 

"What? I was teasing Colin." Chris said and everyone started laughing. 

Mid-afternoon, just as it had started to rain, blurring the rolling hills outside the window, the plump witch with the food trolley arrived at the compartment door. Chris brought many things for all four of them. They ate those while talking and laughing. The rain thickened as the train sped yet further north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering grey, which gradually darkened until lanterns flickered into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. The train rattled, the rain hammered, the wind roared, when the train started to slow down. 

"Are we already here?" Colin asked. 

"I think so. This train doesn't stop otherwise." Ginny said. 

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. Chris 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. Ginny stood up and grabbed Chris's hand. 

"Ginny, it's ok. Everything will be fine." Chris said holding Ginny's hand. Though she assured Ginny, she felt something was definitely not fine. "Let me see what's going on." 

Chris tried to leave but Ginny didn't let go of her hand. Chris sighed, "Fine. Come with me. Let's find Fred, George or Ron. Luna, Colin, we'll be back soon." 

"Ok," both said, and holding Ginny's hand Chris left their compartment.

As Chris and Ginny were crossing the dark corridors, they collided with someone. 

"Who's that?" 

"Who's that?" 

"Chris?" 

"Hermione?" 

"What are you doing?" 

"Ginny was looking for Ron." 

"Come in and sit down." 

In complete darkness, suddenly Ginny pushed Chris, Chris tripped over Hermione's leg and fell on someone. There was lots of "ouch" and "ah" sounds came because of this. 

"Sorry.. sorry.." said Hermione. 

"Chris is that you?" Said the person under Chris. 

"Umm - Yes," replied Chris and tried to get up. "Quiet!" said a hoarse voice suddenly. Chris could hear movements in the corner. None of them spoke. There was a soft, crackling noise and a shivering light filled the compartment. Chris found herself over Harry, seeing Harry's red face Chris hurriedly got up. The person who asked them to be quite appeared to be holding a handful of flames. They illuminated his tired grey face, but his eyes looked alert and wary. As soon as Chris sat beside Ginny the door slid slowly open. Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. Ginny shivered badly and curled up in a corner. Chris squeezed her hand. Chris was feeling bad too but it was different, she was feeling something bad was going to happen. And then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it was trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings. An intense cold swept over them all. The unfamiliar boy beside Chris was trembling and sweating. Chris patted his back. Harry's condition was worst of all. Suddenly Chris saw Harry passed out on his seat then fell on the floor, eyes closed, twitching. 

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The man with the flames came forward and said, "None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go." 

But the Dementor didn't move. Chris got up from her seat and shouted, "You heard him, now, leave." 

Chris didn't know why she did that but slowly the Dementor turned to her and then left. After a few seconds, the light came back and the train started to move. The person with the flames looked at her, with a curious and suspicious look. Chris turned away from his gaze and focussed on Harry.