'SILENCE!'
The hustle and bustle of the students in the corridors was suddenly interrupted by a very firm, dark voice coming from the direction of the entrance doors. These doors, Timothy noticed, had been opened from the outside and a number of people clad in red (and sometimes blue) uniforms were climbing into the waggon. Among them Timothy saw his older brother Matth, his friend Sturgis Podmore who had obviously been promoted Sergeant, and some officers. He also recognised the person who had given the order. He was one of his Slytherin classmates' father and, Timothy knew, one of the leading officers within the army. Colonel, he seemed to remember.
'YOU!' the person in question bellowed. 'Get over there! How dare you!'
Some students moved around. More soldiers were filing in. Timothy could not see very well from his place, but he noticed that inside his compartment, Severus had jumped up from his seat, now pressing against the door from the inside, not making a sound.
'And YOU, Sirius Perseus Black!' the colonel continued, 'don't think I didn't see that! You two, come over here! NOW! What happened!'
Timothy observed two of the Gryffindor boys in the front moving towards the bull-sized soldier at a snail's pace, not as cheeky, it seemed, as only one or two minutes ago. They were trying to explain what exactly had happened and how their friend had disappeared, which sounded very much like what Timothy had heard other people tell. A bunch of masked wizards and witches had appeared at the compartment window, someone had been snatched from almost each compartment - sometimes more than one - and then the mysterious intruders had vanished again, leaving everyone in doubt about their motives.
Colonel Snape listened to this story, then to another one sounding exactly the same, considered for a few seconds, and then started walking the corridors causing a number of students to hurriedly hop back into their compartments. It did not seem possible for two people to stand side by side in this corridor, especially if one of them was the size of a small dragon.
The colonel halted in front of Timothy's department. Like with the others, he peered in, apparently to count the people inside, but this time his look assumed a new quality at the sight of his son. For a moment, the big man just remained standing where he was, gazing into the face of his small son as though lost in thoughts, then he snapped back into reality.
'Severus,' he said sternly. 'Are you well?'
Timothy's friend gave a timid nod. 'Yes, sir,' he managed, noticeably avoiding the taller man's eyes as he did.
'Speak up,' said the soldier grumpily. 'And look me in the eye.'
Severus did. Timothy could see a brief spark of anger in his black eyes, which was gone the same instant.
'Yes, sir,' he managed once more, lifting his head just enough to return his father's glare. The soldier's eyes narrowed.
'Tone,' he hissed. Then straightened up again. 'Anyone missing from this compartment?'
Timothy shook his head.
'No, sir,' he replied. 'None of us. Only half-bloods, as far as I know. None of our kind.'
'That, at least, is something,' replied the Snape. 'A valuable point, Nott. I shall be wanting to investigate this matter.'
Timothy nodded briefly, waited until the man had left the compartment and then turned to Severus.
'What's up?'
Severus was brooding. 'Nothing,' he replied darkly.
Timothy decided to leave the matter at that. There was no use arguing with a Snape who had made up his mind. Instead, he began chatting about the event they had just witnessed. Just like his fellow students, Timothy had no intention to roam the train's corridor again now, knowing that at least three soldiers would be sitting in each waggon, guarding. Even after the train had taken up normal speed again, it was unusually quiet everywhere. No wonder, Timothy thought. Most people had just lost a friend or relative through the window of their compartment. And still no one knew why.
Then, suddenly, the door slid open again. Slowly, as if trying to make this a surprise, the lanky figure of Rodney Robertson appeared in its frame. A soldier of low rank, who had taken up the position of the Potions teacher during Timothy's and Severus's second year at Hogwarts. Now, it seemed, he was happily back in the army and serving under Colonel Snape as he had used to the years before.
Timothy knew all this, because Severus had mentioned it more than once during the last year. Still, when Robertson's face appeared in his sight Timothy could not help remembering how the blonde man had given him the best marks he had ever received for any subject in his life. Severus, on the other hand, had used to regularly fall to pieces in Potions that year. Timothy had observed, not without worry, how Severus had started skiving off the subject he had used to get carried away with, had failed one essay after the other, and how he had got into regular fights with the man who was now standing in the compartment doorway, grinning contemptuously down at the small, black-haired boy. Severus gazed up, his face darkening. Robertson on the other hand, settled down next to Timothy and in front of Severus, addressing the latter.
'You not been kidnapped?'
Severus glared.
'I didn't think they'd take you,' remarked Robertson. 'The Colonel didn't either. One would have expected him to worry, no? What with this train being attacked... and his only son in it... but he was all cool and unmoved. We could see it from the distance, you see. From The Forest. The train goes right through it, although all you can see from in here is Muggle Scotland. That's how it is meant to be, of course. They don't want you youngsters to be scared of The Forest.'
'What forest?' said Timothy, finding himself curious in spite of Severus's murderous facial expression. 'There trees all around.' And he pointed at the landscape outside.
'Yes, but that isn't The Forest,' replied Robertson impatiently. 'Surely you have heard how the wizarding world is glued together by the old place?'
Both boys were shaking their heads now.
'In ancient times,' Robertson explained, 'there was just our world, which we shared with the Muggles, and there was the place, which only a selected number of people even knew, but no one lived there. Warlocks went there every now and then, of course, and some Muggle priests had heard of it, but never actually been there. They couldn't go, of course, not without magic. No one was interested in the place, until Merlin found a way to use The Forest to our advantage. We started having a necessity for places that no Muggle could go to, and Merlin built these places inside The Forest. A bit like the old settlers used to in the original world. You cannot simply cut down the trees, of course. It is all done via spells and incantations neither of you would be capable of using.' He grinned.
Severus looked up. 'What does this forest look like?' he said quietly, his voice as small as ever, but with an edge to it. Robertson gave him a belittling smile.
'You would probably pee in your pants should you ever go there. Most students do at one point, out of sheer curiosity - although I doubt you've had the guts so far. It needs pure nerve to walk through The Forest, especially by yourself.'
'Hang on,' said Timothy, frowning. 'You mean to say that the Forbidden Forest is part of this... this place?'
'Naturally,' replied Robertson coldly. 'What did you think? Hogwarts is the only place where you can enter The Forest as easily as that, by the way. We try to shut it out. Imagine if just anyone walking Diagon Alley could suddenly end up in a place like that. Only soldiers are allowed to pass it, and apart from Hogwarts there is only three entrances that are technically accessible for the common wizarding people. And, of course, there is leaks every now and then, which we try to repair as soon as we become aware of them. King's Cross was such a leak only a few weeks ago, but luckily we found it and have been able to stop people from going through now.'
Timothy shook his head. 'You mean it is completely forbidden to cross this... forest?'
'Of course, stupid,' said Robertson impatiently. 'That's why it is called Forbidden Forest. Hogwarts is an exception, though, because to learn how to deal with all that is in The Forest and thus our magical world, one needs to get in contact with it every now and then. I still think Dumbledore could have a closer eye on it, as especially Gryffindors like to sneak off and into it every once in a while, but he seems to think it...' He considered for a few moments, 'instructive,' he then said. 'I believe that's how he put it.'
'So this 'forest' looks basically like the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts?' said Timothy curiously. Robertson shrugged and nodded.
'But don't think it is as harmless as it looks from the outside. When you're in it, it looks more like a jungle really. Very dark... one can feel it's endlessness. There is all sorts of unknown factors in there. Animals, Magical Creatures... are you doing Care of Magical Creatures already?'
Timothy shook his head. 'We're only entering third year now.'
'Well, you'll love it,' said Robertson. It is closely linked with Defence Against The Dark Arts, only easier, and even more practical when it comes to walking The Forest. And you will,' he nodded at Timothy with an annoying smile under his blonde goatee, 'even if Severus doesn't.'
'I have been to this forest,' Severus suddenly said, and Timothy gave him a surprised look.
'You have?'
'Yes,' said Severus simply. 'It was an accident. I met Sergeant Podmore in there, but I didn't find it particularly frightening and I certainly didn't see any wild animals.'
'You've been lucky then,' said Robertson coldly. 'Podmore is lenient. Usually, people are not allowed in The Forest, accident or not. The colonel would have torn you to pieces, had he been the one to find you.'
Timothy saw Severus's eyes widen in horror for a second, and then narrow again, angrily.
'What do you know?' he spat. 'Father would have known it was an accident!'
Robertson shrugged. 'I told you, it doesn't matter.' Suddenly, a small, evil smile appeared on his face and Timothy felt that it sent a shiver down his own back. 'If I was you,' the man continued, 'I'd want to be sure that he doesn't find out. A simple lie will do.' He grinned.
Severus's face assumed the colour of sour milk.
'I won't!' he said hurriedly. 'I... I mean I don't...'
'...lie,' interrupted Robertson. 'I know. I wish you the best of luck then.' He raised. 'Thank you for the entertainment,' he said. 'Unfortunately for all of us, I have other duties to attend to. But I shall be interested to hear how you wind yourself out of this one, Severus. The colonel really isn't in the best of moods these days anyway.'
He nodded again, grinning lightly, and left the compartment. Severus remained sitting, dumbstruck, staring after the lanky soldier first, and then at Timothy.
'You think he is going to tell on me?' he whispered after a moment's forced silence.
Timothy shook his head. 'He is teasing you,' he replied. 'I can see why. It is too easy to have you on, mate. You look hilarious when you're afraid.'
'I'm not,' retorted Severus. 'I'm never afraid.'
But that was a lie, and Timothy knew it.