A Little Help from a Snake // Tomarry

19: Lone Wolf*

Revised: July 13, 2021

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Summary: Harry boards the train and meets the new D.A.D.A professor

"There you are," Draco said as Harry stepped into the compartment.

"Yeah, Mr. Weasley wanted to talk to me about —" He broke off as he caught sight of the man lying against the window, fast asleep. Although young, there were lines on his face and gray flecks in his hair that spoke of premature stress.

"That's Professor R. J. Lupin," Pansy told him. "I'm guessing he's the D.A.D.A teacher this year."

"Most likely," Harry said, remembering Lockhart with no small amount of distaste. "He better be a good one."

"Anyone would be better than the other git," Draco said, having followed the same thought.

Pansy nodded in agreement. "So," she began, giving an excited little bounce, "Hogsmeade. I can't wait."

"Do you know what they have there?" Harry asked.

"Well, there's this sweets shop, Honeydukes, that's really popular," Pansy replied. "You can get all kinds of stuff there."

"I've seen some of the older students with pepper imps," Draco recalled. "They make you smoke at the mouth."

"There's also the Shrieking Shack," Pansy added in a hush. "They say it's the most haunted building in all of Britain."

"Haunted? We literally live with ghosts," Harry pointed out, not understanding the logic. Upon reflection, there were many things he didn't understand. Who in their right mind would think that first years would be able to get to class on time when they've never been at Hogwarts before?

"Well, yeah, but they're all friendly," Draco said. "I mean, there's Binns, that boring tosser, and the Bloody Baron isn't pleasant to be around, but besides them."

One o'clock hailed the arrival of the trolley witch.

"Should we wake him up?" Pansy asked uncertainly, glancing at Lupin. She prodded him, but he did not stir.

"Don't worry, dear," said the witch, as she handed a large stack of cauldron cakes. "If he's hungry when he wakes, I'll be up front with the driver."

It began to rain mid-afternoon. Lupin continued to sleep on, occasionally letting out a grunt and shifting around.

'He's in pain,' Azure remarked softly. 'Poor wolf.'

'Wolf? As in a werewolf?' Harry asked, surprised.

'Yes.'

Lupin winced a little in his sleep.

The train began to slow, but Harry knew they weren't there yet. Then the lights went out.

"What's going on?" Draco said.

"Do you think we've broken down?" Pansy fretted.

"Maybe."

Azure pressed herself against Harry. 'Bad creature out there. Very bad.'

"What did she say?" Pansy asked, having guessed correctly that the snake was worried.

"There's a bad creature, but she didn't say what kind."

"There can't be," Draco said, sounding as if he were trying to reassure himself as well as the others. "They wouldn't allow anything dangerous on the train."

"Quiet." It was Lupin that had spoken. A light flickered on, revealing the flames in his hand. "Stay where you are," he said, moving toward the door.