Of a Running Train, Angelic Runes and Bat-Bogey Hexes

by padvaniglia

For a girl who has fought a mad anarchist, defeated one of the Superior Demons and returned from Hell, a simple train ride was the only thing that could restore her grip on reality. But even the Richmond-New York railroad route can hide a thousand pitfalls... And Isabelle'll find herself embroiled in a fierce confrontation between strange hooded men and guys with amazing powers...

1. Context Notes

CONTEXT NOTES

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This story was born a bit by chance, a bit for fun, in the early days of the pandemic, just before a chemistry test (good memories) and I've been working on it again just this past month: clearly, it was meant to amuse me while writing and future readers, without any pretension or formal sophistication. It was a sort of creative experiment, to see how I could handle multiple characters at the same time, a race against time "To catch a thief" style, a fairly obvious sub-plot, and the reconciliation of two diametrically opposed universes, without bordering on OOC (i.e.: what I fear most).
Consequently, a few clarifications are in order (needless to say, the more serious elements will be in the clear minority, but I like to think that light-heartedness is the missing ingredient these days):

1) The story does not take place in a specific year, and any reference to real events or people is purely coincidental;

2) In terms of the Shadowhunters Universe, we are in the period of time between the events of "City of Heavenly Fire" ("The Mortal Instruments") and "Lady of Midnight" ("The Dark Artifices"), without taking into account "The Eldest Curses": there will be slight references to both series, without major spoilers. The main character, Isabelle Lightwood, is therefore in her early twenties: although in the first books she may appear invincible, I've been able to deepen her character through stand-alone books, so you'll see a slightly more fragile Isabelle, without any mask as a defense - the way I've always imagined her.

3) In terms of the Harry Potter Universe, I had to make a few changes to the age of the characters, so that I could bring it closer to Isabelle's age. Therefore: twenty for Lily Luna Potter, Louis Weasley, Lorcan and Lysander Scamandro; twenty-two for Albus Severus Potter, Scorpius and Rose Granger-Malfoy, Roxanne Weasley, Alice and Frank Longbottom, Molly and Lucy Weasley; twenty-three for James Sirius Potter, Dominique Weasley and Fred Jr. Weasley. Consequently, Teddy Lupin and Victoire Weasley are thirty and twenty-eight years old respectively. In this story, Rose and Scorpius are twins, under the surname Granger-Malfoy: being a fan of the fanon couple Draco and Hermione, I always imagined the two of them as siblings.

4) In this story, Ron Weasley is engaged to Gabrielle Delacour, with whom he had an only son, Hugo Weasley, aged thirteen and still in his third year at Hogwarts. According to PotterPedia, Gabrielle returned to England after the end of the Second Wizarding War and joined the Wizarding Council: in this story, she undertook the career of Medimaga at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries;

5) In this story, most of the young protagonists are members of the Auror Corps, except: James Potter, Seeker of the Chudley Cannons; Dominique Weasley, owner of a haute couture boutique for wizards and Muggles in Paris; Albus Potter and Molly Weasley, Healers; Roxanne Weasley, Chaser of the Holyhead Harpies; Lorcan and Lysander Scamandro, Custodes Silvae (specialising in Magizoology); Alice Longbottom, Special Investigation Team; Frank Longbottom, Psychologist; Louis Weasley, Curse breaker; Victoire Weasley, Obliviator; Teddy Lupin, Employee of the Office for International Magical Cooperation;

6) In this story, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley are part of the Auror Squad, while Hermione Granger is an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries and Draco Malfoy is a Potioneer at the Ministry;

7) In this story, reference is made to a Time Turner: this is a little poetic license, given my great passion for time travel and 'Doctor Who';

8) In this story, the Order of the Phoenix has been restored as an aid to the Auror Department in the hunt for the last surviving and escaping Death Eaters: all the characters mentioned are active members.

For those who prefer to read accompanied by music, I wrote on the notes of:

- "Phoenix", Fall Out Boy;
- "Immortals", Fall Out Boy;
- "La paura del buio", Maneskin;
- "Follow you", Imagine Dragons;
- "Red Desert", 5SOS;
- "Dark Side", Blind Channel;

Hoping that these small changes will not deter you from continuing the story, enjoy your reading!