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Harry Potter, embarrassed, pulled himself back onto the bench set of the Hogwarts Express. He still felt the clawing chill that that hooded creature had brought with it. And the screams he had heard still rang unsettled in his ears.
He about jumped out of his skin when he heard a loud snapping noise. Professor Lupin gave him a sheepish look and showed Harry the chocolate bar he was dividing into pieces for everyone in the compartment.
"Sorry about that Harry. I didn't mean to startle you," Professor Lupin said reassuringly.
Harry took a few deep breaths to try to settle his ragged breathing, "It's fine, sir. What was that thing? And why chocolate?"
Professor Lupin gave him a grave look, "That was one of the guardians of Azkaban. A dementor. They are among the foulest creature to walk this earth. They feed on happiness and sow misery. Chocolate works to counteract their effects."
Harry shivered and couldn't help but agree with the description. He asked, "Who screamed?"
Harry glanced around the compartment. Ron and Hermione gave him confused looks. Neville was looking pale and had a faraway expression.
Harry's eyes lingered on Ginny. She was as white as a sheet and trembling uncontrollably. And Harry knew without conscious effort that she was remembering Tom and the chamber.
Harry wanted to comfort her but couldn't quite figure out how. He didn't want to draw attention to her. He remembered all too well how her brothers tended to treat her like she was made of glass and how furious that had made her. He didn't want to be the cause of her brothers restarting that treatment thinking they were somehow helping her. And he knew if he were the one being comforted, he would want it to be private.
Hermione broke his silent contemplations, "No one screamed, Harry. The dementor entered. We started feeling the effects. Then you collapsed and Professor Lupin chased it off with a spell."
Professor Lupin cut in, his face pale and pained, "Dementors make people relive the worst memories of their lives. I fear the screams may have belonged to Lily, your mother. I used the Patronus charm which is the only thing that works as a defense against Dementors."
Harry froze. Had he just heard his mother's voice for the first time in 12 years? He asked tentatively, "Did you know my parents, sir?"
Professor Lupin passed out the pieces of chocolate while trying to obscure his face. He shook himself and met Harry's gaze, "Lily and James were among my best friends, Harry. I miss them dearly. Come to my office once we're settled into the castle and I'll tell you the tale and answer any questions you have about them."
Professor Lupin paused and his gaze quickly darted to Ginny and then back to Harry. He continued, "Your mother always felt the best way to sort out your own troubles was to help others. And in giving assistance you may find perspective and a greater understanding of your own plight. Now, I need to speak to the engineer. Make sure to eat that chocolate. It will help."
On that enigmatic note, Professor Lupin exited the compartment.
For a few moments, all Harry could do was stare at the compartment door. Of all the places to come across a friend of his parents, their new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor hadn't even crossed his mind.
His memory flashed back to the photo album that Hagrid had given him at the end of his first year. Could Lupin have been one of the other people in some of the photos? Hagrid had never mentioned any names when he gave Harry the album. Now, he wished he had asked.
Harry absently took a bit of his chocolate and felt a warmth begin to return to his limbs. He had not even realized just how cold and heavy they had felt until he felt the sensation defusing out of him.
Feeling somewhat normal for the first time since the dementors appeared, Harry reflected on what Professor Lupin had said about his mother and glanced at Ginny again. She was looking a bit better for the chocolate but still had a faraway closed-up look about her.
Harry felt his heart go out to her. He remembered all too well how lonely she had been after the events of the Chamber of Secrets and how much a simple game of exploding snap had seemed to mean to her. Maybe he could get through to her again. After all, he himself knew a lot about being lonely and separated from others due to the lingering effects of Voldemort's cruelty.
Harry had been observing Ginny for a few moments asking himself how to reach out when she finally noticed and met his eye. She subtly cocked her head in confusion but did not break eye contact.
Harry mouthed, Follow my lead.
At Ginny's nod of understanding, Harry rose and said, "I'm going to go see if I can track down the food trolley for some more chocolate."
Before Ron or Hermione could offer to join him, Ginny piped up, "Good idea, Harry. I could use some fresh air, so I'll help you look."
Harry and Ginny exited the compartment and made their way towards the overflow luggage car at the back of the Express. Harry had Ginny wait as he checked the car. Thankfully, it was deserted as he had hoped. Harry found a lone truck and gestured for Ginny to sit with him.
The pair sat in silence for a few moments lost in their own recollections before Harry shook himself – recalling his mother's sentiment. He murmured, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Ginny sighed, "Not really. You?"
"Me either," Harry said sadly, "Was it Tom?"
"Hmm," Ginny confirmed, "You too?"
"An older version but it must have been. Who else would cause screaming like that..."
The pair lapsed into silence. They listened to the constant clicking and clacking of the train for several moments. Ginny broke the silence, "Can I ask a favor, Harry?"
"Of course, Ginny," Harry tilted his head, "What can I do?"
Ginny blushed but forced herself to reply, "Can I hug you? I really need one and I think you probably do too."
Harry nodded hesitantly and opened his arms. Ginny moved slowly, just as hesitant until she allowed herself to sink into Harry's shoulder. Their arms snaked around each other gently as if worried the other would break.
Harry and Ginny stayed like that – loosely holding each other listening to the clattering of rain on the roof of the Hogwarts Express – for a great deal longer than either expected. The comfort they both drew complimented the chocolate they had consumed earlier and chased away the remaining moroseness that the dementors had left in their wake.
Even though no words were spoken, the knowledge that the other knew of and understood a bit of their suffering and pain greatly comforted them. Harry knew that Ginny alone among his friends could understand what it was like to be singled out by Voldemort and bear the stigma with which that attention was bestowed from the other students. And Ginny knew that Harry alone understood the torment that Voldemort was capable of and how it stayed with you long after the encounter had passed.
The pair heard the familiar chime announcing their imminent arrival at Hogwarts and with clear regrets released each other. Ginny smiled softly at Harry, and he returned a shy grin.
At once they both said, "Thank you..."
Ginny giggled and Harry insisted she talk first. Ginny made an amused face at him and continued, "Thank you for doing this, Harry. I really needed this."
"Of course, Ginny," Harry said nonchalantly, "You looked just about how I was feeling and figured getting away would do us both some good. Plus, we're friends, yeah? And friends are supposed to be there for each other."
Ginny was clearly touched as her expression soften, "You're a good friend, Harry. I never thanked you for playing exploding snap with me last term. It meant a lot."
"I'm just happy I could help. You're a good friend too, Ginny. Who else can I tease your brothers and Hermione with?" Harry reply while unconsciously running his hand through his already messy hair.
Ginny laughed heartily and then hugged Harry hard. Harry chuckled with her and patted her on the back only a little awkwardly. Ginny only let the hug go on for a few seconds before releasing him. She asked, "Can we do this again if we have any more run-ins with the dementors this year?"
Harry readily nodded, "I think it would be best if we did. Chocolate and hugs seem to be the perfect remedy I think."
"I agree completely," Ginny added sobering, "That and it'll give you some practice being touched. Don't think I haven't noticed how you tend to flinch away from other people's touch."
Harry felt his jaw drop and felt as if he had suddenly come to resemble a fish.
"Oh, don't give me that look," Ginny teased, "it's okay, Harry. I only offer because I seem to be one of few you don't mind. But we can forget I ever said anything if you'd prefer. I just know your relatives are awful and you deserve more hugs than you're getting."
Harry recovered after a few moments of silence, "How...how did you know all that?"
Ginny tilted her head slightly, "Well, being the youngest means I've gotten pretty good at finding out information my parents and older siblings think I'm too young for. And excluding last year, I've always been fairly insightful and persistent. Mainly to avoid Fred and George's pranks."
"That makes sense. I've always been fairly good at reading people's moods because of my uncle." Harry confessed.
Ginny nodded and seemed to repress some nasty remark about Uncle Vernon. She said instead, "So what do you say to my plan?"
"As long as it's just you, alright. I trust you, Ginny," Harry replied softly.
Ginny gave a curt nod, stood, and offer Harry her hand, "Good. Well, we best go change into our robes before Ron and Hermione send a search party."
Harry chuckled and took her hand. Harry and Ginny returned to the compartment hand-in-hand feeling lighter than they had in months.