Disclaimer: What goes here? Oh, right. The thing that says I own nothing. I remember.

A/N: Another day another chapter…thanks to all who read this story. Keep the reviews coming.

Chapter 8—The Train Called "Splendor's Way"

Harry walked beside Alexia to gate 78 ½. The train that sat behind that gate was nothing like the Hogwarts train. Then again, this was nothing like a trip to Hogwarts. The train looked as if it had sat at the gates and not moved for centuries. Rust engulfed the outside of the train, so bad, that the name couldn't be seen. Harry would have thought it a joke if the conductor (named Kennigs) hadn't said it: "Splendor's Way," which happened to be what Dumbledore had told Alexia and Harry.

"Welcome 'board," the old man wearing a tattered gray uniform said, removing his hat. The removal of said hat showed his half baldhead, which was surrounded by a small amount of silver hair. "Dumbledore says ya'd be 'rriving—great wizard, he is. I knows it were you o' course, Alexia, but ya can't n'ver be too sure with all that happen'd afore… but when I sees this un, I knows you was ya. Harry Potter, ya looks just like ya father, ya do; but ya gots your mother's eyes. How many times ya hear that afore though?"

The man named Kennigs laughed playfully and went into ferocious fits of coughing. "I'm k. I'm k. That happens some, old age. Well, hop on. We ain't have all days." Harry got inside the ugliest train he'd seen, followed by Alexia and Kennigs. "Ya's the only two passengers…Dumbledore wanted it that way."

Harry walked around the dusty train before taking a seat. Alexia laughed and plopped down in the chair in front of him. "This brings back memories. But then, it had a sparkle."

"You've rode this train before?" Harry asked. Alexia shook her head. "What was it like then?"

"Well, it was a wonderful adventure just set foot in this train. I remember it like yesterday. I was five years old. My father and I were going to Australia to meet my mother, sister and brothers. They were already there. Anyway, this was the train we took. It was beautiful—" Alexia was interrupted by Kennigs.

"If ya're going to tell a story 'bout me train, I'd rather like ta help ya tell it." He sat down in the seat beside them.

"Who's driving the train, if you're back here?" Harry asked.

"Oh. No one. It drives itself. This train is special, unlike any ya've ridden on," Kennigs said.

"As I was saying, the train was beautiful. We sped off into the horizon. I remember my father telling me stories when I was little about the train. It was supposed to have been the best train ever made that also contained a bit of magical powers, for it was as you floated along on the tracks without touching them." Harry looked to Kennigs who shook his head repeatedly with a smile, verifying that every word was true.

"I was five, like I said, and I so excited that I got to ride the train. Only the greatest wizards and witches were able to ride the train; the train itself kicked off anyone who wasn't. It was on that trip that I met a great man, Albus Dumbledore. He sat in that seat right there and we sat in the one across from him. I remember that he was very friendly toward everyone and everyone knew him.

"Well anyway, I was so in love with this train. It was all I talked about for weeks. I told my siblings about the marble floors, velvet curtains, floating trays, ghost orchestra… everything. It was the most marvelous memory of my father…and one of the last good ones. We had played games on the train and he and Dumbledore did tricks with there wands to amuse me. I'll never forget how we floated across the ocean. I asked them how we did that if there were no tracks. I had no idea of the piece of history I was riding in."

She laughed at her child self and Harry felt a twinge of envy as they rode along. She pulled that memory from her heart and he had no memories of anyone…except Sirius, but now the only memories he could think of, was of him dying. "You said that was one of the last good memories. What happened?" Alexia looked as if she had been hit across the face as she looked from Harry to Kennigs, suddenly horrified, face.

"Well, yes. On the trip home, my sister got to ride back as well, because she was not very happy that I got to do it alone. So my father said he would take us both. On the way back, well…when we came back, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Mentioned was starting his reign of evil and unbeknownst to my father, "Splendor's Way" was on his target list." Alexia sighed.

Kennigs looked at her. Then she began again. "There was an attack. The train was bombarded with Death Eaters, who were doing what they do best on Voldemort's orders. My father hid my sister and me under the seat and went for the attack. He wanted to help save everyone and he did. Half of the Death Eaters were destroyed because of him and your grandfather, Dennis Potter.

"But when the battle was over, my sister was no where to be found. She had completely disappeared. I hadn't even noticed it and she was right beside me. My family looked for months but there was no sign of her. And the train stopped taking passengers. My father joined the original Order not long after that and died after I had started Hogwarts. Then I got word, that my mother was killed. My brothers and I were devastated and we had nowhere to go.

"So, in the summers we were under Dumbledore's care, per my father's request and spent most of my childhood at Hogwarts. When we grew up, one brother died at the hands of a Death Eater toward the final days of You-Know-Who and then the other went to Azkaban, with Sirius Black, falsely accused as well because there was proof that he was

'involved in murderous activity.' It was all rubbish of course," Alexia said nonchalantly.

"What happened to the train? Why didn't it take passengers?" Harry asked, avoiding the real questions that burned in his mind.

"Dat's easy, them Death Eaters. Dey was takin' control ov'r her. Weren't lettin' anyone who weren't a follower ride, except me acause dey thought I have to drive her. Really though, I were spyin' for Dumbledore. But fer years dey have control and den when dey were left, the train sat here an' no one will ride on her. Dey says 'it evil train now' and no one go near it. But Dumbledore still used her for Order things. She ain't really evil." Kennigs told Harry. He stood up and went back to the front of the train, leaving Alexia and Harry alone.

"So, did you know my parents?" Harry finally asked.

"I knew that was coming. Yes. I went to Hogwarts with them. They were all extraordinary people—your parents, Remus, Sirius…it was a huge loss to the Wizarding World."

"Did—"

"No more questions. I won't be allowed to answer them. Besides, we've arrived." Harry looked out of the dirty window beside him into the landscape that was Romania.

A/N: Yeah then…another chapter ASAP…I'm out for the week. Don't forget to Review!