Are We Mad? (Professor R.J.Lupin)

Chapter 1: get a grip

Photography by me taken of a beautiful church in Derbyshire.

Ella being Ella arrived later than she planned on doing to the Hogwarts Express only just making it on time. She sighed frustratedly walking through the Gryffindor part of the train looking for a compartment that wasn't full of people she found irritating until she found a compartment with only 4 people in, 3 that she knew to be Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley who was Fred and George's younger brother. She played Quidditch with Harry as they were both on the Gryffindor team along with Fred and George who were 2 years younger than her. There was a gentleman sat in the corner who Ella had never seen before in her life, but she noticed that he was a fair amount older than her, early 30's maybe? She decided that sitting with Harry, Hermione and Ron couldn't be all that bad besides everywhere else was full. Harry noticed Ella stood thinking and motioned for her to join them. She pulled open the compartment door and took a seat next to the man sleeping in the corner.

"Who on earth is that?" Ella questioned staring at the man ", And do you think he's really asleep?"

"He seems to be, he's not moved since we've been here" Hermione stated.

"Maybe he's dead" Ella joked, Harry and Ron smirked while Hermione shook her head. The train began to make its way out of the station the wheels squeak loudly as it did so. Ella sighed again smoothing down her Gryffindor robes

"Bloody hell Ella why are you always ready so early?" Ron stated

Ella simply rolled her eyes and stated "Because I like to be ready early" a slight smirk appearing on her face and she pulls out a book from her bag and began to read blocking out from whatever the three were talking about however she couldn't help get distracted when the topic of Sirius Black arose listening intently.

No one in her family ever talked to her properly about Sirius although she knew she was related to him she wasn't exactly sure how. So many secrets were kept in her family and she didn't like not knowing things about herself that were brushed under the carpet hardly ever to be mentioned. The only thing she knew about him was the burn on the family tapestry and what was said about him in the papers. She couldn't help but think of her own face on the tapestry resembling Sirius', burned. Her family has also disowned her for not believing in pureblood supremacy. Ella thought it was disgusting although she still lived in her parent's manor that doesn't mean she believes in what they say or what they have done. No one ever visited her after being disowned and Ella was okay with that although she dreaded the day when her parents would find out. They were unaware that Ella was a so-called Blood Traitor as they're rotting in Azkaban, "where they belong" Ella thought. She knew it was a horrible thing to think but what her mother and father had done in their lifetime was far worse. She felt a wave of guilt crashing down upon her for abandoning her parents so easily and not caring that she was to probably never see them again as they always made sure she was looked after when she as young and left her with money when they left. As she realised, she was beginning to sympathise with her parents she quickly shoved that thought to the back of her mind reminding herself "they got what they deserved".

Ella began to get more comfortable on the seat realising they were probably only halfway there leaning back until she remembered the stranger sleeping next to her.

"Let me get this straight, Sirius Black has escaped for Azkaban to come after you?" Ron said and look of concern for his friend plastered across his face. Ella stopped reading her book and sat looking at the 3 intensely not believing what she was hearing.

"Yeah." Harry stated quietly.

"But they'll catch black won't they I mean everyone's looking for him." Hermione said reassuringly although Ella could sense the fear in her voice.