Chapter I – The Hogwarts Express
A/N: Once again, thanks to MayaPotter97 for the idea.
Tristan's POV
I was waiting inside a compartment, looking out of the window at the same time. This was one of the rare occasions when Tristan Trinity could be found sitting quietly, doing nothing in particular. Especially not talking loudly or planning another prank.
The compartment door slid open and in stepped my best friend, Rose Clare, and her boyfriend of two years, Corey Snow.
"I see you haven't put your hair properly this year too, Tristan," said Rose is a mock-apprehending voice, glancing at my spikes.
It was unusual for a seventh year and a fifth year to be this close. Rose and I were practically brother and sister. Each had immense love for the other.
"Third wheel, guys!" Corey said, laughing.
"Oh shut up." I said.
Rose and Corey sat themselves on the opposite seats, while I continued my silent vigil outside the window.
"What's up with you, Tristan? I haven't seen you so grim, ever. Something wrong?" Corey asked seriously.
"I was wondering what it's gonna be like, this year." I said. Both of the others understood what I was referring to.
"With Dumbledore gone, and Snape as Headmaster, Death Eaters will be crawling the grounds. I think the time for students to decide where their loyalties lie has come." Rose said quietly.
"That is true, even though I hope it hadn't been," I said.
"I assume they're going to bring Dumbledore's Army back. You plan on joining?" Corey asked us.
"Maybe." Rose and I said together.
The tension diffused. All three of us started laughing together, and my mood returned to its normal. "You two freak me out sometimes, the way you think the same thing!" Shouted Corey above the laughter.
The next half hour of the train journey was fun. All of us had forgotten our conversation about Death Eaters and Dumbledore's Army, until we felt the Hogwarts Express rumbling to a halt.
"What's happening?" Rose asked.
"I don't know," I said.
But we knew in a few minutes. Three men, cloaked in black, with their wands out, were searching through every compartment on the train. Death Eaters, for sure. The darkness that had been growing on me all day came flooding back.
The Death Eaters neared our compartment. Suddenly, Corey gasped. "They're searching the train for Potter!" I immediately realized that this must be true. I felt nauseous too.
The compartment next to ours contained Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley. I recognized the, the moment I laid eyes on them. Who wouldn't? They were the three left from the Ministry Six. When the Death Eaters came near our compartment, Neville walked out and shouted, "He isn't here, loser!"
I myself had the urge to laugh and to shout "Yeah, loser!" at the same time. I curbed both, and watched. The Death Eaters snarled, and stepped forward. Suddenly, they looked into our compartment and one of them said, "Sit down, pig-face, or you'll have to watch that pretty girl there suffer a lot of pain…"
I didn't even hear Neville's reply, "Like I haven't heard that before!" In an instant, Corey and I were on our feet, our wands out and ready. Corey was a year younger than me, but still taller.
"I'd like to see you try," I growled.
"Sit down, boy!" One of the Death Eaters replied.
I didn't obey, naturally. Corey and I kept our wands pointed at the Death Eaters, and they at us, as they moved ahead.
After they had gone a few compartments ahead, we sat down, after Neville gave us an appraising look and a whispered invitation to the reinstatement of Dumbledore's Army.
"That was horrible!" Rose said.
"I know! But I bet we'll have to get used to Death Eaters now," Corey said.
"No, the fact that you thought I couldn't defend myself was horrible!" Rose said, her chest puffing with anger.
Corey and I glanced at each other, and burst out laughing.