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Heri? Is that you? What's happening?" "No idea — here, sit down —" There was a loud hissing and a yelp of pain; Neville had tried to sit on one of the other boys and stepped on a foot while he was at it. "Everyone sit down and belt up," Marcus commanded. He cast a light-making spell, prompting the rest of them to do the same. "Vaisey, go ask the conductor what the Hell's going on." "Why does it have to be me?" Heri heard Vaisey grouse, but he got up all the same and she felt him move past her. The door slid slowly open before Vaisey could reach it. Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in Vaisey's hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. Heri's eyes darted downward, and what she saw made her stomach contract. There was a hand protruding from the cloak; glistening, greyish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water . . . But it was visible only for a split second. As though the creature beneath the cloak sensed Heri's gaze, the hand was suddenly withdrawn into the folds of its black cloak. Then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings. An intense cold swept over the compartment. Heri felt her breath catch. The cold went deeper than her skin. It was inside her chest, it was inside her very heart . . . Heri's vision went black and she felt herself falling. She couldn't see. She was drowning in cold. There was a rushing in her ears as though of water. The roaring grew louder and louder — And then, from far away, she heard screaming, terrible, terrified, pleading screams. She wanted to help whoever it was, she tried to move her arms, but couldn't . . . a thick white fog was swirling around her, inside her — And then the fog churned and suddenly she was staring into a gaping maw. Closer and closer — she was being eaten alive! No! It was (The sounds of someone stumbling from a room — a door bursting open — a cackle of high-pitched laughter —) swallowing her and it was dark and confining and she couldn't breathe and — War. Towering nightmares and the screams of the wounded. ("Not Heri! Take me instead!") Blood everywhere; on the ground, in the air, washing in with the tide filled with the dead, and then— She was running. She was running ("Stand aside, you foolish girl!") because he was chasing her. A mocking voice echoed from behind ("I told you to move, mudblood!") her, but he would not catch her! He was not worthy! — They were sending her away? Why? No . . . No, don't! She would ("Not Heri! Not my baby! Please — I'll do anything —") be good! Mother, please, I'm sorry! No, I don't want to be alone—! Betrayal. It was all a lie. ("Not Heri! Kill me instead!") They had lied to her! Lied to her! How dare they—?! "Heri! Heri! What's wrong?! Wake up, Heri, please!" The tempest of anguish lifted enough for Heri to hear the crackling of glass breaking and wood splintering. In the background, there were shrills of screams. ("Mama loves you, Heri. Be strong.") She distantly noted that her own voice was amongst the screaming. Heri had to be carried off of the train. When she came to, the train was moving again and she was bundled up in someone's winter cloak. She had been told that the new D.A.D.A. professor had shown up while the foul beast ("Dementor," Neville had choked out, pale as milk) was looming over her and she was in the throes of a fit and making things explode while the others were taking cover. The professor had ordered them to keep her warm, gave them a bar of chocolate to feed her when she woke up, and told them to make sure she saw the nurse when they reached school. By the time they finally arrived, she was still too shaky to walk by herself. As Heri was hauled into the castle, they were hailed by Professor McGonagall over the crowd streaming into the school. "Flint! I want a word with Potter!" She then tacked on, "Granger, a moment with you as well," when she spotted Hermione Granger from Gryffindor. "What d'you need with Heri?" Graham asked warily when they reached the professor. Professor McGonagall had a way about her that made students feel as if they were constantly on the verge of being in trouble. "Calm yourself, Montague — I just want a word in my office," she told them. "The rest of you can move along. This discussion won't need a procession." McGonagall had the remaining three students (including Marcus since he was still carrying Heri) accompany her across the entrance hall, up the marble staircase, and along a corridor. Once they were in her office, a small room with a large, welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned to the seats. When Marcus settled Heri into a chair, the professor nodded her thanks to him and told him that he was free to return to the Great Hall. After a comforting stroke to Heri's hair, Marcus retreated. Once they were in her office, a small room with a large, welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned to the seats. When Marcus settled Heri into a chair, the professor nodded her thanks to him and told him that he was free to return to the Great Hall. When it was just the three of them, she settled herself behind her desk and said abruptly, "Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter."