Seeing a Stranger

Chapter 3

"Are you sure that you are alright?" Oliver asked, helping her into a carriage that would take them from Hogsmeade Station to the castle.

"I'm fine, I promise. Still a little shaky though," Eranne said, as she lost her footting on the carriage steps.

Eranne had been happily listening to the new training program Oliver had devised over the summer for the Gryffindor House Quitidtch team, when the train had suddenly stopped and all the lights went out. She sat bolt upright and closed her eyes, using her Searcher skills to push her mind towards the source of the situation. When she found it, she bit her lip to keep from screaming. She suddenly felt as cold as ice, as if all happiness had been pulled into the void of the black figure's cloak. It was a dementor of Azkabn, and it was getting on the train. She had never seen one before, but heard of them often from her grandfather's stories about the first War.

When she tried to bring her mind back, she had to use all of her strength to do so. The dementor semed to be sucking the power out of her as well. Oliver told her when she came to that she had been shaking violently, and when he called to her, she didn't respond. She felt spent. Obviously, she should have withdrawn at the first sense of the dementor. She wondered if her Great Aunt Arisinoe would be angry with her if she knew.

Oliver had insisted for the rest of the train ride that she lie down with his cloak on. She was feeling unnaturally cold, and didn't argue, but a secret fear drove through her as she was lying there: Would her friends think that she couldn't handle herself? She could deal with them hating her much more than she could deal with them always coddling her.

Oliver eventually managed to get Eranne up the stairs and into the carriage. When they reached the castle, he insisted that she go see Madam Pomfrey right away. Truth be told, she would have rather endured the odd looks and be at the Welcoming Feast.

"How am I ever going to get back into the swing of things if I can't even make it to the Feast?" she complained as he essentially carried her up the stairs to the hospital wing.

"Come on, we're still going to the feast, I just want to make sure you are alright first. No, I want someone other than you to tell me that you are alright, Eranne," she said, anticipating her protest, "You would tell me that you were alright even if you had a fork stuck in your hand and were bleeding over everyone else's dinner."

"You better make sure that I make it to the Feast, or maybe I'll stick a fork in your hand, Oliver Wood."

"Ah! Mister Wood, what happened?" Madam Pomfrey asked as Oliver carried Errane through the door. He set her down on a bed, still mumbling protests, but when the nurse came around the curtain and recognized Eranne, she started to bustle off.

"Not again. This girl..."

"Wait," Oliver said. She's fine, it was nothing - well, nothing like before. She started shaking on the train, and it seems like the strength got zapped out of her. I just wanted to make sure that it was nothing serious, and she'll kill me if we don't get to the feast. Will she be alright?"

The matron looked at Eranne questioningly. "What happened?" she asked her.

"The train stopped, and I wanted to see what was wrong. I used my powers, and saw a dementor. It was harder for me to come back to myself, I felt like I was being pulled into it. When I came back to my mind, I was cold, and tired. I'm fine, really."

The matron seemed to accept this version of events, and handed Eranne some chocolate. "This should be enough to make you feel better for the time being, but you need to get a good night's sleep tonight, Miss d'Berwyn. Being in close proximity to a dementor seems to bring these symptoms on, and I don't think that there is any serious problem. Once you have eaten your chocolate, you may go down to the Feast. I hope, young lady, to be seeing you a great deal less this year."

Eranne smiled at the woman, and nodded. Madam Pomfrey rushed off, leaving Oliver and Eranne to laugh quietly as Eranne ate the chocolate given to her. It certainly made her feel better, and in minutes the two Seventh-year students were on their way to the Great Hall, and to the feast.

Rushing in, the two took their seats next to Percy, the rest of the Weasley's, Harry, and Hermione. They seemed to have missed the Sorting and Announcements. Many students, Eranne noted, presumeably First- and Second-year students, had looked at her as she had proceeded down the table with a questioning glance. After seating herself, she looked up at the staff table at Professor Dumbledore, who smiled at her and rose.

"Your attention for one more announcement, please."

The whole Hall fell silent. Eranne was amazed such a man existed that could command the silence of a large group with one simply stated, rather quiet request.

"As many students have just noticed, there seems to be one more face that may be new to some of you this year. I am pleased to report that Eranne d'Berwyn of Gryffindor House has returned to Hogwarts after a short absence, and will be completing her last year with us. Welcome back, Miss d'Berwyn." Dumbledore raised his glass to her, and Eranne blushed deeply. The students at Gryffindor table began to shout and yell and clap in such a way as only Gryffindors can truly do.

After the noise died down, Eranne helped herself to the Feast, and introduced herself to her new housemates. She couldn't help overhearing that the most popular topic of conversation seemed to be the escape of Sirius Black, and the posting of dementors around the perimiter of the school. Hearing about the dementors, she shuddered. Sirius Black - She had momentarily forgotten the conversation with her parents the day before, caught up in all the fear of coming back. Her thoughts turned again to new information she learned from students sitting close to her: If Sirius Black murdered her father, and then betrayed Harry's parents and killed 13 people in broad daylight, what was he after now? What other person did he want to kill?

"Eranne," Oliver said as he nudged her, bringing her back from her thoughts.

"Hm - What is it, Oliver?" Eranne looked up and saw that people had begun to stream out of the Great Hall towards their respective dormitories. "Sorry," she muttered. "Thinking about something my mother had told me yesterday..."

"Let's start walking to Gryffindor Tower and you can tell me. Percy's going to have our heads for walking in late to his little speech."

"You are right about that. Lead on, Oliver."

They walked most of the way to the Tower in silence until Eranne finally blurted out, "Sirius Black killed my father."

"Really? Why did your mother wait until now to tell you?"

"I don't know. I think that she thought I was safer knowing with all that has happened in the past few days. She doesn't talk about my father and what happened much at all, I reckon that it slipped her mind, and Black escaping made her remember. But the funny thing is, there definitely was something that she wasn't telling me, but I have no idea what it is, or what it's about. I know I shouldn't worry about it, but now I have so many questions running through my head, I feel the only way to clear my head so I can focus on school is to answer them. Ma and Grandfather and Professor Lupin were talking about it, and I overheard. They almost didn't want me coming back this year because Black had escaped and is supposedly coming here. But I don't think that he is a threat to me, I was five when he killed my father and certainly no threat to him. They mentioned something about forcing me to help him locate You-Know-Who... I don't know, Oliver. I do know this is going to drive me crazy until I find out what exactly is going on."

"Why don't you talk to Dumbledore in the morning? I'm sure he can answer some questions for you. He seems to know everything,' Oliver answered. "Don't think about it anymore tonight. Look, were almost caught up with the Gryffindors. Let's run so we can catch up. Neither of us know the password yet."

Eranne nodded, tapped Oliver on the shoulder, and said, "You're it!" She ran off towards the crowd in full speed, Oliver just behind her. When they reached the Fat Lady Eranne pushed her way through the crowd, shouting "Pardon Me!" the whole way through, received a very nasty look from Percy when, right in front of all the Gryffindors she was grabbed by Oliver from behind just as the last student was entering the Common Room. Oliver raised both hands in silent triumph as they all quieted to hear Percy's speech, which neither Eranne or Oliver particularly paid attention to as they had heard it many times before, but clapped enthusiastically for their friend anyway.

After the other students had dispersed, the three said goodnight to each other and headed to bed. Upon entering her room, Eranne was greeted by her housemates Trina and Alexa. After promising to tell them everything that had happened to her after a good night's rest, Eranne changed into her nightgown, crawled into bed, and fell asleep, exhausted, with a large smile upon her face.

The following days turned quickly into weeks as Eranne slipped back into her school routine. Her fear of being behind in classes, due to her absence, was quickly quieted. I have to remember to thank Aunt Arsinoe for the extra tutoring, she frequently thought. She studied hard, went to every one of Oliver's Quidditch practices, and still had time to spend time with Percy, Trina, and Alexa. She also was getting to know Penelope better as time went by, and Eranne soon began to count the younger girl amoung her very good friends.

It was soon announced that the first Hogsmeade visit, something Eranne had always looked forward to, would be taking place on Halloween. She and Oliver had already made plans to go together, and meet Percy and Penelope later in the day at the Three Broomsticks. On the night before Halloween, Percy, Oliver, and Eranne were sitting in large chairs around the fire, finalizing their plans for the following day.

"No, we have to go to the supply shop -" Oliver protested.

"Oliver, no one but you plays Quidditch. If I say we can stop there, will you come with me to look for a new cloak?" Eranne said, smiling. Oliver might love Quidditch, but he hated shopping.

"Now, now. That's not fair. You could spend all day in the robe shop!"

"Oliver, you would spend all day in the Quidditch shop. How about we act as each other's timekeepers. No more than one hour in either shop."

"That's not enough time, Eranne" Oliver looked downtrodden, and Eranne laughed.

"Do you want me to come with you or not?" she joked. "The only way I will is if I don't have to spend all day in one place. I want to hit up Honeydukes, and Zonko's too. I haven't played enough tricks on Percy yet this year. I feel like I am off my game."

"Merlin, Eranne, I thought you had grown up!" Percy snorted, trying to sound impressive. Eranne laughed again.

"Oh, the incident on the train was only the beginning. Can't let the Head Boy get a big head, can I?"

"You sound like Fred and George, Eranne."

"I did teach them a thing or two, when we were younger. I fear, though, they have gone beyond my teaching."

"I'll say; they're horrible at home. There is always banging and loud noises coming from their room - I can never sleep!"

"So, as I was saying, can we meet you at the Three Broomsticks around 3-ish, Percy? Unless you and Penelope want to come to Honeydukes with us...have you bought her a gift yet?"

"Why would I buy Penelope a gift? It isn't her birthday..." Percy said, looking utterly confused.

"I knew it! You are hopeless! Girls like gifts - Listen, I'll pick something nice up for you from Honeydukes. Something small, to show her you care."

"Really? You think that she will like it?" Percy's expression changed to that of a two-year old in a candy store.

"I promise she will." Eranne said, smiling. "And what about you, Oliver? Do you have a lady that you want to impress?"

"Not unless you want to buy something for yourself," Oliver smiled at her.

"I'm flattered, really, I am. But the sooner you get yourself a girlfriend, the sooner I no longer have to answer questions about your hobbies, eating habits, and fashion sense." The three friends laughed out loud at this.

"People ask you that?" Oliver looked genuinely surprised.

"All the time. What is Oliver's favorite dessert? What does he dream about? What are his hobbies? Please, find some one soon, I can't take it anymore!" Eranne said, with a smile on her face, looking at her watch. "Oh! It's getting late, and I am not waking anyone up tomorrow. I'm going upstairs, and I want you to go to bed soon too, okay?"

"Yes, Mother," Percy retorted.

Eranne gave each boy a kiss on the cheek, and went upstairs to bed. The two boys watched her disappear up the staircase, and when they heard the door shut, Percy turned to Oliver and said,

"When are you going to tell her?"

"Tell her what?"

"Tell her that you have been holding a candle to her since our Third Year?!?! Oliver, you have to tell her."

"She doesn't fell that way about me."

"I don't think that you have given her a chance, with all the talk about her being like your sister. You have to tell her the truth - you still have feelings for her, it's so painfully obvious to everyone but you two. Come on, mate."

"So what am I supposed to do, tell her, and then what? Run away? There's a pretty good chance of that happening."

"Just tell her," Percy urged as he rose from the chair, and started up the staircase for their room.