one;
a journey's lullaby
"close your eyes and dream,
let your mind take you away"

Hope walked as if she was in a trance. Her empty eyes stared straight ahead as she passed slowly through the the barrier leading to the world of magic and fantasies, leaving behind the world where fresh flowers rested upon a newly dug grave. She didn't speak a word when she found an empty compartment, remaining emotionless as she lifted her trunk onto the overhead storage. She lowered herself into a seat softly, her posture remaining stiff and her eyes empathetic. She stared at the wall across from her without actually looking at it. Her mind was rid of any and all thoughts as they drifted away from her, hovering above her head, waiting to make their attack. She stayed in a catatonic state until she changed into her robes, waiting - though for what she did not know. It wasn't until there was a knocking on her compartment door that her thoughts came crashing down and she moved in a panicked manor. She situated herself so that she was curled up laying across two seats, immediately closing her eyes. She evened out her breathing right before the door was slid open and someone walked in, their shoes thinking softly against the floor of the train.

"Hope?" The whisper reached her ears and brought sudden images of smiles, books piled upon each other, and worn down sweaters, accompanied by the smell of chocolate. She was tempted to open her eyes, but she didn't. Remus whispered her name again, voice as quiet and gentle as ever. Once more, Hope considered revealing that she was not, in fact, asleep, but even the boy she'd always dreamed would be her knight in shining armor couldn't help her now. When she didn't respond he took a seat opposite her, sighing as he dropped into the seat. Eventually, the study lull of the train proved to be too relaxing, and she fell asleep.

_________

Remus roamed the train. He'd told his friends he was going to get some sweets, but really he just needed a moment to himself. The full moon was nearing and he could feel it's impending arrival draining him. He went towards the quietest compartment he could find and knocked on the door, receiving no answer. He slid open the door slowly, revealing a seemingly sleeping Hope. He briefly wondered why she hadn't sat with the girls from her dorm.

"Hope?" He whispered, in case she was awake, but she didn't reply. He tried saying her name again, but she remained in her peaceful state. Once he was fairly certain she was asleep he let himself fall into the seat across from her and sighed. He pulled out a novel he'd brought with him and began to read, thankful for the quiet. Occasionally he glanced at Hope, checking to see if she was still asleep. Her presence was comforting, despite her state of unconsciousness. She slept blissfully through the rest of the train ride, only stirring when Remus made an attempt to wake her. He said her name softly, shaking her gently. She jolted awake and he jumped back, startled.

"Remus?" She asked, her voice thick with exhaustion.

"Yeah, sorry, we've just arrived," he said. She looked unfairly adorable, he thought absentmindedly, with sleep still hanging on her features.

"No, no it's fine. I - um, I guess we should get going, uh..." She was disoriented from her slumber, and he smiled lopsidedly at her confusion.

"Here." He offered her his hand. She seemed reluctant, but finally tugged on her sleeve and placed her hand in his. He pulled her up quickly, causing her to almost lose her balance, but he caught her at the last second.

"Are you okay?" He questioned. Though she had just woken up, she seemed off. She was unsteady on her legs and as he held her her hands shook. He looked at her with concern, searching her eyes for anything to clue him in to her peculiar behavior.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She smiled at him. The upturning of her lips was enough to convince him that she was, indeed, okay. For a split second a feeling of accomplishment washed over her, having fooled him. But as soon as she recalled why she had needed to fool him it faded. She reached up to grab her trunk, but immediately pulled away when her sleeve began to fall down. She turned around quickly, ready to ramble an explanation to Remus, but he was facing the other way, getting his own trunk.

"Oh, here, let me help," he offered when he saw her. She didn't say anything, just stepped out of his way, mentally cursing herself for not at least nodding. He was one of her closest friends after all, and he was being so polite, she should say something. But her mouth stayed sealed shut, forming itself into a small, thin smile when he handed her the case.

They walked off the train together without either of them saying a word. Hope prayed for a carriage ride that was just as quiet but their friends - or, more specifically, Remus's friends - caught up to them.

"Moony!" James Potter called out, "Where have you been? We were waiting for you to come back from getting the sweets but you never showed." Remus audibly and visibly sighed, and Hope pitied him. She, and practically everyone else in Gryffindor house, knew what came next.

"I didn't get to ask - during the prefects meeting, did you talk to Lily? Did she mention me?"

"She did, as a matter of fact," Remus replied. Hope frowned and looked up at her taller friend, only to find he had a slight smirk on his face. "She said, 'I swear if Potter even comes near me I'm going to hex him into next year.'" He looked over at Hope and winked, causing her to smile slightly. Not an entirely real smile, of course. The days of genuine smiles and Hope Artin coexisting were long gone.

__________
a/n
this is a little short but i hope you enjoyed it

in case anyone is wondering, this book is going to be split into four parts with ten chapters each. i already have the first part written, i just need to edit some things.

i decided i had to publish this chapter today because it's official spetember 1st, 2017, the day harry potter sees his son albus severus off to hogwarts and the last day of the harry potter series. i hope at least some of you are crying with me.

edited