The Second Day – Part 1
Dawn broke over the island, and Harry slowly opened his eyes to see the cause of his abrupt departure from sleep. Hermione was waiting for him by his bed.
"Wake up, Harry" she said, "We've got so much to do" and Harry reached for his glasses.
"You do know that it is almost half five?" he questioned her, and Hermione nodded.
"We have the rest of the island to explore" said the bushy haired girl. She was as eager as any other time Harry had seen her excited.
"I'm up, I'm up" and Harry pushed the covers off him. After Hermione had gone back to her room, he went for a shower before dressing in some jeans and a shirt before heading down for breakfast – his still wet overalls lay in the corner of the bathroom. The hotel was lucky in that it served many people going to work on an early train, so there was a small breakfast open at that time in the morning. After eating as much as they could, the pair went back upstairs where Harry closed and locked his door. Taking out his wand, he performed a drying charm on the overalls, but he preferred to leave the marks in. He met Hermione outside his door, and they headed down to the station where a station porter took them to the sheds.
"Peep Pip Pip Peep" whistled the engines when they saw the two, "Good morning" and the pair responded in kind.
"Where are you going today?" asked Thomas.
"Oh we don't know" said Harry, "Just do as much as we can on our other day here" he added.
"I hope you haven't forgotten that you promised to ride on the express" said Gordon.
"Oh we haven't" said Hermione.
"Good" said the big blue engine, "Douglas told us about what you did in the early hours of today, and we all wanted to thank you for helping to save Oliver and his brakevan" Gordon added.
"Well we could hardly let an engine like that go to scrap, could we?" Hermione said, and the other engines agreed. The only two that didn't say anything were James and Douglas. Douglas was tired from the escape attempt, while James was the standby engine overnight.
"Indeed" said Henry. "Ever since the diesels took over on the other railway, things have not been the same for steam engines" he added.
"No they haven't" said Thomas in agreement.
"We are the last line of hope for a proper railway" said Percy, and Gordon looked at him. Harry and Hermione knew the two of them often had arguments over things Percy said. "But when Flying Scotsman came here, the Fat Controller told him to let everyone know that we still used steam engines everyday. Know we are the last refuge for all that is good about railways. These new diesels have no…" Percy railed off as if trying to think of how to end the sentence.
"Soul?" offered Gordon.
"Soul? That's the right word, Gordon. These new diesels have no soul" Percy said.
"We may disagree on many things" said the other engine, "But you are completely right on this one, Percy. Out of all those built at the same time as me, only Flying Scotsman exists. They rebuilt all the others into A3's – even did it to Flying Scotsman himself. Though he considers himself to be an A1 at heart. Most of our brothers and sisters on the other railway have been scrapped. Those that survive do so as unmoving exhibits in museums, or else on little preservation lines. That is no way for a steam engine to live out its remaining years. You know what?" Gordon asked everyone.
"What?" replied Thomas.
"I'd like to have that Dr Beaching in front of me" Gordon said, "I know I wouldn't stop in time" and the engine puffed away slowly.
"He never has been the same since he found out that all his Doncaster brothers and sisters got scrapped" Edward said. "Oh it isn't very often, but sometimes he gets a little upset" and Harry and Hermione nodded.
"Well we don't like to use diesels, but there isn't any option where we live" Harry said.
"No steam engines at all?" said Thomas in surprise.
"Well only those at little preservation lines" amended Harry.
"Well why don't you live in Sodor?" asked Percy innocently.
"Well why not?" Hermione questioned him.
"After we have finished studying… perhaps" Harry said, and Percy beamed a bright red – almost the same red as James.
"Well we can't stand here and talk all day" said a voice, and they turned to see the Fat Controller standing behind them. "Now you all know what work you have to do today?" he asked the engines, and they said yes. "Well off you go then please" and the engines puffed onto the turntable one by one.
"Good Morning" said Harry and Hermione to the Fat Controller.
"Hello, you two" he replied, "So, what do you want to do first?" the man asked.
"Well we thought of a few passenger runs. We promised Gordon we'd go on the Express though before we left" Hermione said.
"Well I hope you have a good time" he said, "I have to go to an early meeting. Rather then use my car, I decided to catch a cab ride in Thomas as far as possible" and that explained why he was wearing overalls like the footplate crew and Harry and Hermione.
"Could we join you?" asked Harry, "At least as far as the station. We could ride on the steps if we held on tightly to the handrails" and after a thought, the owner of the railway agreed. The little party got on Thomas and set off for the station where Thomas always pulled an early train before going to Annie and Clarabelle for the rest of the day. Percy always made sure that there was a lot of steam heat in the heaters in the two carriages before passengers boarded. The day station master nearly had a heart attack when he saw Harry and Hermione hanging on to Thomas's sides, but said nothing when he saw his boss was in the cab. After watching Thomas depart with his early train, the pair of them waited for Henry to back down on his train. They would ride in the cab as far as Wellsworth – returning on a local stopper. They both loved going through the countryside, and the smell of warm oil and coal filled their nostrils with a smell unique to steam railways. Harry wondered if he could bottle the smell to take back to Salem with them. Hermione was remembering as much as she could from Henry's crew – Charlie Sand and Sidney Lever. The pair of them had been crewing trains for many years, and sometimes Henry refused to work if both were ill or otherwise absent.
"Care for a go?" offered the fireman, and Hermione jumped at the chance.
"Is she always this eager about stuff?" asked the driver with a chuckle.
"Only about school work" Harry told him, laughing at the sight of Hermione going like a blur.
"I think that Hermione is doing a good job" called Henry.
"Looks like you've been made redundant" said Henry's driver to the fireman, and the fireman took it in good stead. They made a few stops where passengers got on and off, and continued all the way to Wellsworth. Henry pulled up slowly to the platform before stopping at the top of the slope down to track level. Harry and Hermione got out Henry's cab and thanked the crew and Henry for a pleasant ride, and they saw him off on the rest of run.
"So where next?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Well we could go to the other side" her boyfriend replied, "And catch a train back to Tidmouth, or we can wait ten minutes and get one to Knapford. I suppose we could always get one to Brendam Docks again and see what is going on there" and the two of them discussed their plans as they waited at the edge of the other platform. They decided to catch the boat train to the docks, so they waited for it to arrive. To their surprise, the engine was not a steam engine, but a diesel locomotive in bright green paint.
"Hello" the engine said, "Are you two our visitors?" he asked.
"We are" said Harry. "My name is Harry, and this is my best friend Hermione" and Hermione gave a little wave.
"I am a Metropolitan-Vickers, diesel-electric, Type 2" said the diesel, "But you may call me BoCo – everyone does. You seem a little surprised to see me here" BoCo said.
"We are" said Hermione, "Gordon said that diesels are not exactly in his good books".
"Ah yes" said BoCo, "Well Gordon makes an exception in a few cases. My case is that I was sold for disobeying an order given to me by my old owner" and Harry looked surprised.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I refused to tow steam engines to scrap yards" BoCo said. "When I told Gordon that, he changed his opinion of me somewhat" and BoCo chuckled.
"Are you going to the docks?" asked Hermione.
"Yes" replied BoCo.
"Well we are heading the same way" she said. "Is it possible that we can ride in your cab?" and BoCo's driver agreed at once. After making a stop due to a faulty signal, they reached the docks and Harry and Hermione went to visit the foreman. He was delighted to see them again, and they had some tea before leaving to stand outside and watch BoCo go past with the boat train. After that, they met with two yellow or gold coloured steam engines called Bill and Ben. The foreman warned them that they would often play tricks on unsuspecting people or engines. According to him, they still talked about when they had talked of putting Gordon into the sea.
"They remind me of the Weasley twins" Harry said to Hermione.
"God alone knows what would happen if they ever met up" she said, and there was a doubt if the island could stand up to the combined forces of trickery. They took a small green steam engine – the engine's name was Duck – back to the main station, and then they went to the buffet for a bacon sandwich each. They ate them sitting on the platform. After they had finished, they went up to the waiting Gordon who was going to pull the express. He said hello to them, and they got in the train in the brake coach. They sat with the guard who chatted to them about his time on the railway, and Harry and Hermione laughed at several of them. Some included times when Thomas was in trouble – mainly the time he was nearly arrested! Once they arrived at Barrow, they helped to stable Gordon on a siding before heading over to the mess for some tea. When they got there however, the five of them found that the kettle was broken. The other railway's mess's kettle was working, so they hatched a plan. While the guard created a distraction by blowing steam and making Gordon whistle at odd intervals, Harry, Hermione and Gordon's crew launched a daring commando raid on the mess. They gathered up some tea bags, milk and sugar before doing a runner for Gordon. As they had no hot water, they siphoned some off Gordon's boiler and added the tea bags and milk to suit. The tea was a little bit sweet, and had a taste of oil and coal, but Harry and Hermione thought it was still very good indeed. The return trip was made an hour or so later, and the pair rode in the coaches until they came to a stop at a signal. It turned out that the signal was broken, so the driver received permission to Proceed on Caution to the next signal. The pair of them went up the track to Gordon, and climbed into the can to help the fireman out.
#
Snape was able to find out quicker then expected, and he managed to slip out of Hogwarts without Dumbledore knowing. Once he was past the boundaries, he apperated to where Voldemort was. He made his way to his master, and reported that he had news.
"What news do you bring?"
"I have discovered what the words you took from Potter's mind mean, My Lord"
"Very good, Severus. Tell me what you know?" Voldemort commanded.
"The talking trains are located on the island of Sodor. It is located off the west coast of England, and it is unique for having steam and diesel engines that can talk. Thomas is apparently one of these engines."
"And Potter is still there?" Voldemort mused. "Who do we have here at the moment?" he asked Snape.
"I do not know, master" the man replied, "I only concerned myself with getting the information to you quickly. I did pass Bellatrix, Lucius and Pettigrew though. I believe they would be more though – I am uncertain" and Voldemort considered something in his mind.
"Summon all those in this house to appear in my presence in two hours. Send word to others who are our best fighters as well. If Potter is still on this island, then we might be able to strike him down and remove the last obstacle in my way".
"It will be easier then normal, my lord"
"Oh? How so?"
"This island has no magical persons living on it"
Even better" Voldemort said, "Now go and do as I have ordered" Snape bowed and then left the room. He told the others he saw, and then left the house. He went right back to Hogwarts, and headed for where Dumbledore resided. Once he was informed of Voldemort's plan, Dumbledore sent word of who the other Death Eaters were to be found. Amelia Bones was suspicious of where the information had come from, but when she sent Aurors to the homes of those named, she found them all there – taken by surprise. After making himself out of breath, Snape returned to riddle manor, and told Voldemort about the capture of those he was sent to get. He had only just been able to get away without being spotted by the Aurors.
"I am sorry I failed you, Snape said, but Voldemort waved him off.
"It is of no matter. I have enough fighters to do the job. This day will go down in history as they day that potter stopped being a treat to me. We will leave in three hours. That will allow for anyone who escaped arrest to arrive here. You have done well, Severus. You shall return to Hogwarts and stay there until I call for you, or you have news or information I should have"
A/N:
Dum Dum Dum Dum Dummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
So, Harry and Hermione are enjoying themselves, while Voldemort prepares to attack them. The time has come to let you all know something that only Miz636 and scout-01 have known. Voldemort will attack the island of Sodor. There are too many opportunities to pass up here, esp. with one unlikely fighter! The death of the character has been put back to a later chapter, but I will eveal who you all voted for.
Dean – 24% (8 votes)
Seamus – 21% (7 votes)
Lavender – 12% (4 votes)
Parvati – 12% (4 votes)
Hermione – 9% (3 votes) ((Though she was only added as a ringer to see who'd vote for her even though she survives everything))
Hannah – 6% (2 votes)
Luna – 6% (2 votes)
Neville - 6% (2 votes)
Padma – 3% (1 vote)
Susan – 0% (no vote)
Out of that, you seem to have wanted Dean to die. Well you all got it wrong. The character to die is (&$£* (sorry – computer malfunction). I strongly suspect joemjackson of rigging the vote somehow.
Thomas references are, for those who not know, as follows: "Thomas In Trouble", "The Diseasel" and "Tender Engines" (the original book title being the story Tenders for Henry from "Enterprising Engines"). Percy's and Gordon's comments are taken from actual speaches about a certain Mr Beaching (may he burn in hell for all time) otherwise known as the man who scrapped steam. (Not all that important to the plot line, but I like to provide historical information). Now I will not reveal what happens, but Harry is forced to kill people, and those who like the model version of Thomas to the CGI version of Thomas may get exactly who I mean, when I mention that Canadians are amights the Death Eaters.
Well that is all folks. The next update will be for the fic that has my name in it, and also I'm Not Going. Oooooooooohhhhh… there was one other thing, if you look at my fanfic status page, there is a message about True Friends 2
Regards
Pixel