New Job, Same Problems
After being fitted out with overalls, tools, a locker and several passes that would allow him free travel on the railway, Harry started his first day on the North Western Railway which mainly involved being shown around Tidmouth station and informed about all of the rules and regulations that applied to the station with regards to his job. The week after he started, Harry was sat in the break room of the yard talking to a few of the other members of staff. He sat back as they told him stories including the time that one engine had gone so fast that a hole had opened in one of his coaches which had to be repaired by newspapers and a passenger's shoelaces.
"Right, lads, we've got a spot of work on" the Foreman said as he came in. "The school in the town has had half of its roof blown off, and the supplies to repair it are coming up on a special freight from Wellsworth. Our job is going to be to unload it from the trucks and put it into the builders wagons. The signaller is going to stop the train at the milk platform and we're going to jump inside the guard's van at the back"
"Are they tarped over?" asked one of the workers.
"I don't know, but I expect they would be" and the Foreman looked at Harry. "I know you'd want to help, but I need someone to stay in the office in case there is a last minute change of plans" and Harry nodded in agreement.
"Are you expecting anything to happen?"
"No, but I like to be ready for anything" and the Foreman waited for the men to finish their mugs of tea before leading them out for the short walk over to the milk platform. Harry watched them go round the corner before turning back and, with a flick of his wrist, used a bit of magic to clear up and organise the paperwork. As he was checking equipment, the telephone went off and Harry rushed over to answer it.
"Tidmouth Sheds, Gang Mess"
"It's the signalman here at Whaley Road – I've got a derailment just past my box"
"What sort of a train is it?" Harry asked, getting down all the details as quickly as he could.
"It's a mixed freight – dry goods" the signalman reported. "I'd just got a message from the box down the line when I heard an almighty racket. I looked out and saw the train tipping over…" the man stopped speaking.
"What is it?" Harry asked urgently.
"The special…!" and the man rushed to throw every signal into danger but it was too late – Harry heard the sickening sounds of a medium speed collision through the phoneline. "You'd better send everything you can up the line to me" and then the line went dead. Harry quickly got in touch with the signalbox controlling the yard and had them get an engine hooked up to the breakdown train and to alert the Fire, Rescue and Ambulance people of what's happened and the location.
# # # # #
Everybody came back from the special goods load and grabbed all the emergency equipment they could carry – shoving it into the breakdown crew coach along with some first aiders. Duck, a green tank engine that talked endlessly about the Great Western Railway, was quickly coupled up and pulled the coach, the two cranes and some trucks as quickly as possible. After about five minutes, the brakes were applied and loud bangs could be heard as the train ran over the detonators to protect oncoming trains. The crash site was terrible with debris littering the entire area – wood and blood mixing in a macabre way.
"Harry – you, John and Dave go up and see what it is like up front. The rest of us will make safe this debris and get the cranes started" the Foreman said. Harry went forward with the other two past the debris and to where the engine was and he groaned and felt his stomach turn as he saw an arm laying several feet from its owner.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph" one of the man with Harry crossed himself at the sight.
"Help…" a low moan came from the cab of the engine which was buckled badly on one side and which had twisted so that the entire engine had flipped almost completely to the left.
"I'll get in there" said Harry, "I'm the smallest after all. You look after that poor bastard" he indicated the fireman laying on the ground" and he crawled under the side of the cab and looked at what he had to work with. The driver was crumpled up against the controls with broken legs, broken arms, bruises, bleeding and was in a terrible state. Harry swore softly, glanced around and then took his wand out and cast a few healing spells before it was too late.
"Are you alright in there?" asked Dave.
"Yeah, but we need somebody here quickly – the driver isn't looking good"
"Bet he's better than the fireman – he's brought it" Dave replied.
"What caused the derailment?" asked Harry as he shifted the driver to a position on his back.
"Some stupid bastards put bricks on the line – run over that at full speed and you…" John stopped talking as somebody talked to him and Dave.
"Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"Its George" George was the Foreman. "Can you get the driver out?"
"I don't know what is broken exactly" Harry said, "But I have an idea to get him out of the cab"
"Cut through the cab roof?"
"Not likely" said a voice indignantly.
"Quiet, you silly engine – can't you see somebody is hurt and another is dead?"
"Oh" the voice replied.
"Nearest road is quite a bit up the line" Harry said, remembering a track guide he had seen some days before.
"So?"
"So I was thinking we can improvise a spinal board. The special was carrying wood and ropes and stuff, right?"
"I get what you're thinking" George said. "Do what you can for the driver and we'll be right back" and him, John and Dave left the fireman's body where it was. Now was not the time to think of the dead but to try and save a life. Once they had gone, Harry cast a few healing charms along with giving the driver a blood replenisher.
"I hope this works" he muttered as he remembered all of the healing spells they had used during the war.
# # # # # #
"Sir!"
"What is it?" asked Kingsley, looking up from paperwork.
"We found him" replied the excited young Auror.
"Found who?"
"Harry Potter"
"At last… Round up every Auror and Hit Wizard you can and get them here for a meeting at eight tonight – we'll take that little brat by force"
