A/N: This is good. Thank you for the review, Dark Moon and your patience. On with the story, will Voldie finally escape from the iron fists of the mad scientist? Will Harry and the gang get to Diagon Alley before it's too late? Find out now! And my story's getting a bit "moralistic" lately.
Disclaimer: HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of Warner Bros. Harry Potter Publishing Rights belongs to J.K. Rowling. Nike shoes belong to the Nike Company.
Chapter 5
Two Experiences
The next day, Harry, Ron, Hermione woke up from an unusually loud splash. "Hey!"
It was Dumbledore. He was holding a bucket.
"I have to give you a 'WET' alarm clock. Otherwise, you will still be in Dreamland. "
Then, they heard a crash. They quickly went downstairs and found Remus Lupin on the ground with a hole on the wall.
"I heard of your plans. No one goes on an adventure without MOI! My werewolf instincts sometimes...help."
"OK," said Dumbledore. "Are our bags packed. Do we have the Firebolt? Are our wands ignited? Then LET'S GO!'
When they reached the station, they groaned. They clearly forgotten that to get on the train, they need to get pass the electronic gates to the platform. And do that, they need a...
"Ticket. We need tickets. But how?" They are now under the Engorgio-ed Invisibility Cloak. "An hour's time, the Portkey will be activated. We must get in!"
Then Remus took out a piece of rock and said, "Who needs tickets when you have..." He pounded the rock onto the ground, leaving a pile of dust. He pointed his wand at the pile and muttered some words. Then, he picked up the pile and blew them into the air. A moment of silence, then...
BAM! A flash of light blinded their eyes, then, it cleared. It seemed normal but...
"Time-Freeze Rock. Enables people to freeze time but it will soon run out, so, COME ON!"
"But how do we get past the electronic gates?" Hermione asked.
"Simple." He then climbed the gate and jumped over. The rest did the same. "Quickly, to the platform!"
It was a race against time as they looked for the train. "There!" The train stood there. The crowd was not moving at all. Just stood there. Ron looked at a fat boy and quickly slapped his buttock. "Cool, but as hard as rock." Remus pulled Ron out and shouted, "JUMP!" Then, his watch clicked.
BOOM! Another flash appeared. At the same time, they jumped and went straight under the Invisibility Cloak.
Then, a voice from the speakers said, "Train from Platform 5 leaving." They're just on time!
But still, it was as slow as ever. The train only seemed to move a centimeter per second. "We'll never get in time!" Dumbledore clearly stated. Sirius then said, "I can speed it up. Just watch me." He then took off his bottom garments.
"Er..." But just before that, he touched his big buttock and the...
"AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!" Hermione screamed. "SHHHHHHHH!" Dumbledore quickly gestured. But who cares? She fainted *bang*. The Marauders' Butt V2 was in Sirius' hands.
He then tapped it three times. Immediately, the expected sprout of gas shot out.
"EEEEWWWWW!!!!" The passengers and the conductor rushed for the emergency exits and jumped off. Too bad it will be a long way down.
Harry then folded back his Cloak and stared around. The passengers were nowhere to be seen. "To the cockpit!" They soon rushed and Remus pulled the gear to the maximum as possible.
The speed only increased to an inch per second. Then, Sirius, tapped the Butt 11 short taps and 2 long taps. At first, steam came out through its anus, then it gave a hiss and BOOM! The Butt suddenly grew booster rockets and fired in mid-air and pushed against the windscreen. At first, they thought the windscreen will crash, then the train suddenly sped up. "The force of the Butt pushing against the train is actually moving the train. The speed we're traveling now depends on how fast the Butt is moving. The speed of it is now increasing the train's speed to a thousand miles per hour!" explained Sirius.
They enjoyed the smooth ride, until...
"The station! Quickly brake!"
Sirius then tapped a sequence on the Butt. It then dropped on the train floor.
"OK...turn off the engine!"
Sirius pressed the brake pedal. Nothing happened until a voice came from the speakers...ERROR!!!
"I'll check it out!" Ron rushed to the back and saw steam, sparks and fire coming out of the engine. "IT'S OVERPOWERED!" He thought for a while, then pointed his wand at the engine, "INCENDIO!"
The explosion destroyed the entire back carriage but thanks to the impact, Ron was pushed away from the fire. "Phew!" Then, he knew where he was.
He was on the railroad.
"AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!" He quickly cling to the railing of the back carriage but his legs can't make it. So, poor Ron had took run while his hands cling to the railing. Harry found a panicked Ron on the railing. He said, "I'll help you!" But then, suddenly, there was a flash of light behind him. He turned around and found something worse than cling and run.
Another train.
"AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!" He then ran faster but the train was too fast. Ron did something foolish: he leapt his legs off the railroad and tried to push the back train away. Ron's legs kept bending and straightening and re-bending again.
"Ron, what are you doing?!"
"I can't get squashed, so what am I so supposed to do?"
"But you're in a critical position. Because the engine had exploded, this train will lose power and will eventually slow down. But the back train will be constant, so..."
Ron gulped. "Oh...HHHEEELLLPPPPP!!!!! Speed up so I can escape!!!"
Sirius took out a spare engine and fixed it to the train. The conductor on the rear train let out a horn and slowed down. And Ron ended up running on the railroad clinging to the out-of-control train. Then Ron's hands slipped off the railing.
"My legs are aching!" said Ron as he rubbed his legs, and then...HONK!!!!
"AARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!" shouted Ron as he chased after the out-of-control train while being chased by another train, "SLOW DOWN!!!!!"
"You said to speed up to escape the train!"
"YIKES!!!"
Ron finally slowed down because he got tired and forgotten all about the rear train...
"AAARRGGHHH!!!" yelled Ron as he was pushed by the rear train. The G-forces kept him on the windscreen. The shocked conductor quickly pressed the panic button that set off the emergency button and all the passengers including the conductor jumped out of the train. But the train still had the accelerating power on...
Ron quickly thought of something, something quite foolish, but it's worth the try. After all, he can't stay there forever...
He used a frog move and leapt up high and landed SPLAT on the roof of Harry's train. As the train sped along the rails at high speed, sparks began to come out of the wheels. The speed made the front of the train turn red-hot and the sound of the rumbling trains echoed around the tunnel. And suddenly the speed of the fast train broke a few bolts of the rails and practically de-railed the tracks. And so the abandoned train that was at the back of the train that Harry and the gang hit the loose bolts, flew into the track that was no longer there and overturned skidding near the tunnel wall. Then it exploded.
"What was that?" said Dumbledore as the sound of the explosion echoed around the tunnel joining with the sound of the train, "And what has happened to Ron?"
"I'll check it out," said Harry as he raced to the back of the train.
When he reached there the railing at the back of that car was on fire. He tiptoed at looked above the fire. Then, he saw debris scattered along the railroad and the infrastructure of the train caught in a vicious fire.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Harry then walked sadly back to the cockpit.
"He's dead. The explosion had burned him to ashes," he reported. The others took out their tissue and said their solemn regrets.
Harry: He may be a nuisance, especially on fourth year, but he's a good friend, a friend who will never return. *blows nose on tissue*
Hermione: He may copy my homework sometimes, but still he has red hair. I never seen red hair in my life ever.*blows nose on tissue*
Sirius: He had twin brothers who landed themselves in more detentions than me! But then again, as my godson's bestest best friends, I support him well. *blows nose on tissue (which sounded like a trumpet)*
Dumbledore: I doubt he will not get even ONE pass in his O.W.L.s. But he is a smart fellow. I'll miss him...very much. *blows nose on tissue*
Remus: He beats me in chess every time. He is also a sensible fellow. I would like to see him take off those legs from that Boggart spider again and again and again and...
Hermione: STOP THAT! *slightly sobbing*
Remus: Okay. *blows nose on tissue*
Meanwhile, Ron was on top of the train. He closed his eyes and felt his arms, hands, feet, legs, toes, chest and the rest of his body to see whether he made it all in one piece. Surprisingly, he did it.
"HEY GUYS! I MADE IT! I MADE IT! I MADE IT!" He jumped on the train and repeated those words again.
Harry softly said, "See, I still hear him, thinking he had survived, when he didn't."
Everyone agreed, "Yes, we are hearing him alright." Then, an owl came down heading towards Dumbledore. It was carrying...
A Howler.
Dumbledore touched the scarlet envelope, and opened it.
"YOU MURDEROUS DINGBAT! I THOUGHT I COULD ENTRUST MY SON IN YOUR CARE BUT THEN GUESS WHAT? HE GOT INVOLVED IN A TRAIN ACCIDENT! HE WAS INCINERATED!!!!!!! YOU ARE A LOUSY HEADMASTER! I'VE LEFT AN EXPLODING MECHANISM IN THIS VERY HOWLER SO THAT AFTER I END MY MESSAGE, IT WILL SELF-DESTRUCT! THAT WILL TEACH YOU A LESSON ABOUT MESSING WITH ME! THIS IS MOLLY WEASLEY SO GOOD BYE!"
Dumbledore quickly threw the envelope through the window. The Howler then burst into flames.
"She was right. I am a lousy Headmaster. I do not deserve to be the head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry II." Saying those words, he appeared a piece of parchment out of nowhere and wrote:
To Whom It May Concern,
This will be the last time you will hear from me. Soon, I will go to somewhere far from here, maybe the Galapagos where I could spend the remains of my life with giant turtles.
I am not worthy of holding the rank of Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry II. I know you will be surprised in hearing these words, but they are true. I am useless and when a friend needs my help, I didn't and the result was painful to my ears. From today onwards, Albus Dumbledore, known to be one of the best wizards in the world, has fallen into darkness.
A friend died because I did not help him when he needed it. His mother called me a "murderous dingbat". She also told me I was a lousy person. She was right. From the moment you receive this letter, I will resign and retire from this suffering job.
But let's not forget duties. Prof. Minerva McGonagall will replace me as Headmistress. Prof. Fidelius Flitwick will be Deputy Headmaster.
As for the rest of the students, I wish you good luck in your studies and be a great wizard, probably greater than ol' Albus. I just say:
DRACO DORMIENS NUNQUAM TITILANDUS.
Your failed Headmaster,
Albus Dumbledore
"YOU CAN'T RESIGN LIKE THAT!" Hermione shouted. "HOGWARTS NEEDS YOU!"
"Which is the entire opposite. I'm too old. They don't need me."
"Don't give up!" Sirius replied. "When I found out Peter Pettigrew betrayed Lily and James, I was heartbroken. It was my fault the switch happened. I planned that switch. And did I quit? NO! Instead, I went on, searching for Peter. Eventually, I ended up in Azkaban. When I found out Peter was in rat form ready to strike, I was about to vomit. I knew I will never make it to Hogwarts. But did I give up? Not even once! I attempted to escape and find Harry. And I did! Don't you see, professor? If you find a fault within yourself, do not quit immediately. Instead, repair that fault and turn over a new leaf. "
Dumbledore thought for a moment. Then, the same look of triumph Harry saw in fourth year appeared again in his eyes. "Sometimes, for a Marauder, you are wiser than usual. You are right. I will not give up! Note to myself: Make sure no student get outside a train or attempt to explode an engine." He tore up his letter and threw the pieces out.
Ron was on top of the train when he heard all these and shouted, "GO, PROFESSOR!"
Harry smiled, "See, professor. Even the ghost of Ron is supporting you! But it must be an audio hallucination."
Hermione said, "If that's a hallucination, that means I'M having hallucinations also!"
Everyone else replied, "So do I!"
Dumbledore ordered, "Harry, check outside...NO! I rather do this. I can't make mistakes happen again."
After a while, Dumbledore was pinching his cheek with his right hand and slapping himself with the other hand.
"I MUST BE DREAMING!" Harry and the rest went outside to see. "If we are having audio hallucinations..." Dumbledore said. "...I have worse! I'm having VISUAL HALLUCINATIONS!"
He pointed to the top of the train. A waving Ron was jumping up and down at the sight of them.
Harry then rubbed his eyes and looked closely, "How peculiar! I'm having visual hallucinations as well!"
"Or is it?" Remus then took a huge boulder and threw it to Ron. With his quick reflexes, he used his wand and blew up the boulder.
"It's Ron!!!!!! HE'S STILL ALIVE!!!!"
Ron climbed down a ladder and into the cockpit.
"Darn, I regret saying those regrets!" said Sirius as he banged his fist onto a lever. Unfortunately that lever is the throttle lever...
"YIKES!!!! It's going faster!!!!" yelled Ron.
The train slid along the tracks, de-railing some and caused sparks to fly off from the wheel. The echo grew louder. Soon enough, the train flew into a sharp turn.
"WHOA!!!!" shouted Remus as the train nearly overturned from that high-speed corner.
After the turn the track ahead was straight. Harry could see lights on that end.
"I think I'm getting sick," said Hermione as her stomach grumbled.
"The lights! We are near our station!" said Harry.
"Holy Moly!!!!!" said Dumbledore as he pulled the brake lever and held it down.
The screeches echoed around the tunnel. Sparks flew from the wheels as the brake hub slowed the wheels down. The train shook violently. The friction caused smoke to rise from the wheels and finally, there was fire on the wheels.
"The wheels are on FIRE!!!!" yelled Ron pointing at the side.
Dumbledore held the lever at all his might. But the friction made the brake hub to break....
"Oh no! The brakes are gone!" shouted Sirius in a panic expression.
Then the train emerged into the lights and along the platform tracks. But still the train only slowed down a tiny bit.
"Jump out of the train in a count of 3!!!!" shouted Dumbledore to drown the echoes of the train. The fire caused by the train wheel's friction spread to the bottom of the metal floor of the cockpit making the floor hot. So there was no need to jump at the count of three.
All of them jumped out and tumbled onto the platform at the last second as the train sped out of the platform, into a corner and finally the sound of the train could not be heard.
The people waiting on the platform stayed still and stared in shock with their jaws dropping and their eyes wide-open.
Then a very stout and well-fed owl came down and dropped a letter on Dumbledore's head. He opened the envelope and this was what it read:
Sorry for the misunderstanding. I hope you are still alive from the explosion I set in that howler. This is Molly Weasley. Goodbye and good luck in the mission. And please tell Ron...DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT BY CHEATING DEATH!!!! Be careful.
Dumbledore folded the paper and put it in his pocket. Suddenly, Dumbledore stared at the railroad with shock.
"What is it?" said Remus.
"Well, after this station there is a railroad junction and you see another train will be turning to the right of the junction. The train that we boarded on will have to stop at the junction when the other train passes by. And after that train goes, our train will continue. But our train cannot stop because there is no conductor which means that it will..."
But there was no need of Dumbledore to continue...CRASH!!!!! Steel beams flew into the station. Suddenly, a bright yellow train smashed into the wall of the tunnel in a tilted position and overturned just before it totally jumped off the track and skidded across the station platform upside down.
The shocked waiting people screamed and dashed up the stairs that exited the station. Smoke rose from the overturned train and suddenly there was fire.
"It's going to explode!!!" yelled Dumbledore.
All of them ran up the stairs at 60 miles per hour. They zoomed out of the station just on time as the explosion occurred.
"OOPS!!!" said all of them as they put on the Invisibility Cloak. Luckily nobody was there.
They were on time. But the "Ron's Death" had wasted a lot of time. Because of that, they now only have...
"5 MINUTES!!!"
They reached the Underground. But the security was tight. Guards were standing everywhere. Some were walking around and some were resting. But the most scary part was that each of them were carrying a long, bloodshot-red rifle. Just by looking at it, Harry knew it was very dangerous.
"An EQ-65 RISK 907! The most lethal rifle in the world. They can shoot their ammunition to a range of 160 miles!" whispered Hermione. At that time she saw a guard reloading his rifle with green bullets.
"The GS-22M bullet! The most deadly bullet in the world. They even have a flammable poison in it!" said Hermione again, "I thought the rifle and the bullet were banned from being used."
"Maybe since the "alien incident", the government lifted the ban," replied Dumbledore.
"Hold it! How did you know about these rifles?" said Remus to Hermione.
"Muggle studies. What else."
"Deadly rifle. Deadly bullet. Now what!" said Sirius.
Then, Remus said, "Harry, did you know "Riddikulus" works on Muggles too?"
"Er...no?"
"Then, you try."
Harry lifted his wand at the nearest guard and whispered "Riddikulus!"
Then, all of them were stunned in shock.
The guard next to him also reacted.
"AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!" He lifted both his arms into the air. A smell of rotten flesh filled the air.
The other guards held their breath, all thinking the same thing, "Albert sure has smelly armpits!"
They ran away from the site to the nearest bathroom. The guard that Harry cast the spell on asked the Armpit Guard, "What happened?"
Then, the guard pointed to his feet, "NIKE SHOES!"
Then, both of them ran into the men's bathroom, screaming all the way.
Harry and the rest took off the Cloak, laughing all the way. Hermione then asked, "Harry, you could have transformed him into a lizard or a spider (Ron gulped) but DON'T TRY TO SCARE US BY MAKING HIM WEAR NIKE SHOES!"
Harry calmly said, "I can't scare them off if I don't make him wear Nike..."
"STOP SAYING THAT NAME!"
Sirius asked him, "How can you just laugh? It's a catastrophe! You're never scared of the consequences?"
Harry replied, "I worn Dudley's pair once."
Then, all of them took 6 steps away from Harry.
"Hold it," said Dumbledore as he pulled his sleeve to reveal his digital watch, "30 seconds!"
"YIKES!!!"
All of them zoomed to the Leaky Cauldron.
A/N: I'm so cool! Sorry this took so long, but I MUST have insane ideas.
Next: Will Voldie have a chance to break from his dangerous prison? Because soon he will find something that will change his life...forever!