September 1944
What with being away in Little Wakering, a village that had remained virtually free from war damage, nothing could have prepared Poppy for returning to London. It was immediately obvious that the city had endured a great deal of bomb damage over the summer. Buildings on every street had large chunks missing from their walls, and while Poppy, Minerva, Ro, Malcolm, Emery, Erika, Johnnie and Aunt Felicity were journeying from Erika's flat to Kings Cross Station they came across many empty spaces on streets where an unfortunate house had been reduced to nothing more than a pile of rubble.
"It's crazy," Ro murmured when they turned onto a particularly damaged road, sounding unusually subdued. "How much this place has been flattened. I swear it wasn't this bad at the beginning of summer."
"London's been under fire from these Muggle rockets constantly since June." Aunt Felicity said, her hand on Ro's shoulder. "They seem to be tailing off for now, though goodness knows how long it will be until it all starts up again."
"I suppose it's easy to forget about it while we're at Hogwarts." Minerva shrugged. "Apart from our own letters from family, we don't hear anything. Really, I think Professor Dippet should tell us what's going on."
Erika nodded in agreement. "I was in my seventh year during the main Blitz - you didn't hear anything apart from what Mum said in her owls. Or when people disappeared from school for a week or so because a relative had been killed."
Poppy shuddered, thinking of her own parents in their London hospital. "Don't," she said hoarsely, "it's too close right now, I don't want to think about it." She smiled gratefully at Minerva as she put her arm around Poppy's shoulders.
"Don't you worry Pops." Ro said with an attempt at sounding carefree. "We'll be at Kings Cross in a few minutes, then we'll be on the train and away from it for another year."
As it turned out, getting to Kings Cross didn't mean the end of their war-caused troubles in the slightest. Erika and Johnnie left them at the station door to get to the Ministry of Magic, so it was Aunt Felicity who took them through onto Platform Nine and 3 Quarters. Once on the platform Poppy had to blink a couple of times to check her eyes weren't playing tricks on her; the Hogwarts Express wasn't there.
"Merlin's Beard, how do they forget to bring the train to the station!" Ro exclaimed, gesturing pointedly to the place where the engine usually stood. "We always go to Hogwarts on September 1st, it's not like they can get the date wrong or anything!" It was clear that everyone else on the platform shared in Ro's thoughts. Poppy spotted Abraxas Malfoy with his father who was shouting angrily at the train conductor, and Wilhelmina Grubbly was stood with her two sisters looking rather lost.
"Hey, isn't that the Minister of Magic?" Ro asked suddenly, pointing across the platform. "I remember him from when he came into Hogwarts during the petrification epidemic." Sure enough, Larry Spencer-Moon was stood with his father and a young boy who looked like he could be Larry's brother.
"I wonder if he knows what's going on." Poppy wondered, and was proved right seconds later when the Minister lifted his wand to his throat before starting to speak.
"Hogwarts Students and their parental figures, please may I have some quiet," the Minister started, and silence fell on the platform. "As I'm sure you've guessed by now, the Hogwarts Express will not be taking the students to Hogwarts this year. I regret to inform you that as the train passed Sheffield yesterday it sustained significant bomb damage, and will need extensive repair work before it can run again. Professor Dippet and I have arranged a system of Portkeys to transport the children to the Hogwarts grounds."
Several people started shouting as the Minister paused, seemingly unhappy with the arrangement. "A monumental magical object rendered useless after a single encounter with some Muggle playthings, and Portkeys used as a substitute," hollered the man stood next to Walburga and Alphard Black, who Poppy could only guess from his similarity to Alphard was their father. "This is unacceptable, Spencer-Moon!"
"You are forgetting, Mr Black, that before the Hogwarts Express was invented by one of my predecessors, all children travelled to Hogwarts via Portkey!" Mr Spencer-Moon shouted over the din, which quieted down immediately on his response to Mr Black's statement. "This will take quite some organising, so it is essential we have co-operation from all if we are to get every child safely to the school. The Portkeys will leave in 2 minute intervals, with each Portkey taking a maximum of six children from any house in one year. To begin the operation, please may we have the first years on the edge of the platform where you will be ticked off our register before using the Portkeys to travel. Please leave your luggage, it will be transported separately."
"That's you two then." Aunt Felicity said, looking down at Malcolm and Emery. "Be good, both of you, and don't forget to write regularly to your parents and I." She kissed Emery's cheek and ruffled Malcolm's hair before pushing them in the direction of the platform edge where dozens of first years were gathering near a mountainous pile of newspapers. The train conductor beckoned the first group of students forward and handed them a newspaper, before turning to a long list he pulled out of his waistcoat pocket.
"I can see Irma and Septima over there, let's go find them so we can go together."Ro suggested, distracting Poppy's gaze from the train conductor. She and Minerva both nodded, but as they tried to slip away they were interrupted by Aunt Felicity.
"Heading off to find your friends?" Aunt Felicity asked; she had briefly met Irma and Septima when they brought their school supplies in Diagon Alley. She ignored Ro's protest as she swept her into a hug, rocking her in her arms for a moment as she said "Make sure you write, I want to hear everything you three get up to."
"Muuum, we promise." Ro rolled her eyes as Aunt Felicity held her tight, leaning into her for a moment before wriggling out of her arms. "Every Quidditch match, everything we do at Christmas, as long as you promise that Mallory won't send me any more boring books!"
Aunt Felicity laughed. "I'll do my best. See you in July, and make sure you bring Poppy and Minerva home with you. The house hasn't been this loud for years, it'll seem quiet now with just Tavin, Heidi and Anja to go home to." She briefly hugged Poppy and Minerva before finally letting them get away into the crowd.
As they pushed their way through the sea of people, Poppy kept an eye on what was going on at the edge of the platform. Although she'd read about Portkeys in one of her books about the wizarding world, she'd never seen them in action before. Six first years were holding leather boot, and after the train conductor read out their names he started counting down with his pocket watch. The moment he finished counting the boot and students started whizzing around, rising slightly off the ground before vanishing into thin air.
"Have you ever used a Portkey before?" Poppy asked, becoming more nervous by the second.
Ro nodded. "Once; I was about four and we went for a family camping trip in the New Forest. Hi Septima, hi Irma!" she grinned as they reached the twins, who holding tightly to each other's hands as people pushed and shoved all around them.
As Poppy was about to say hello, she was interrupted by the train conductor shouting several familiar names. "Pomona Grubbly, Rosmerta Grubbly, Malcolm McGonagall, Emery Hooch, Imogen Farley, Winston Spencer-Moon!" Poppy stood on her tiptoes just in time to see Malcolm and Emery holding onto a newspaper along with Larry's brother, Wilhelmina's two sisters and a blond-haired girl she didn't recognise, before the Portkey activated and they were spun out of sight.
"We've got a while before they reach the third years, so let's try and find Millicent." Septima suggested. They all nodded in agreement, and as the rest of the first years and all the second years were Portkey-ed away to Hogwarts they scoured the platform for any sign of Millicent.
Their search turned more hurried as the third years were called up to take the Portkeys, though a flash of golden-brown hair on the edge of the platform caught her attention as the train conductor shouted out the second round of third year names. "Emily Stretton, Mali Shafiq, Sylvia Macmillan, Helen Lambert, Millicent Bagnold, Bonnie Dale!" Ro and Septima both waved frantically as they realised Millicent was leaving, and she flashed them a grin before disappearing along with her Portkey.
"In that case, we ought to go up." Minerva said, and they pushed their way through the crowd to join the queue of third-years. The next Portkey took the four Gryffindor boys in their year - Lyall Lupin, Hector Bones, Stanley Sanders and Edwin Doyle - along with Jimmy Stebbins and Norma Clarke from Hufflepuff. They were followed by Druella and Abraxas' gang of Slytherins, who took the time to sneer in Poppy and Irma's direction before vanishing, then went three Ravenclaw boys, two more Hufflepuffs and a single Slytherin. Just as Poppy, Ro, Minerva, Irma and Septima were about to go up to get the next Portkey, Wilhelmina Grubbly came sprinting up to them.
"I think all my dorm-mates have gone, d'you mind if I join you?" she asked between puffs of breath.
"Sure you can!" Ro grinned as the train conductor ushered them forward and held out a newspaper, which they all took hold of tightly.
"Minerva McGonagall, Penelope Pomfrey, Septima Vector, Irma Vector, Rolanda Hooch, Wilhelmina Grubbly!" The train conductor shouted, before counting down from 5 using his pocket watch.
As he yelled out the number one, Poppy felt as if someone had reached into her torso and grabbed around her intestines to yank her backwards. She saw the platform spinning around them, everything apart from her friends' faces around her blurring as they increased in speed. Kings Cross vanished behind a cloud of white, which cleared a second later just as the ground rushed up out of nowhere and slammed into her feet. Septima lurched into her and they both fell over backwards, Poppy closing her eyes tightly as her stomach threatened to bring her breakfast back up. She lay there for a moment, concentrating on breathing evenly and regaining her sense of balance, before very slowly opening her eyes and sitting back up.
Ro was the only one standing; everyone else was either just managing to sit up or still sprawled out on the grass. Septima had propped herself up on her elbows, breathing heavily, while a ghostly pale Minerva on Poppy's other side was pressing a hand tightly to her stomach as she sat up. Wilhelmina's rosy freckled face had taken on a slight green tinge, and the moment she tried to stand had her hunched over and throwing up. Irma was still lying down, her hands covering her face so it was impossible to see her expression.
"Well that was certainly a lot quicker than taking the train." Ro said breezily, prompting Poppy to take a good look at their surroundings. Hogwarts Castle was just behind them, and they were sat on the Quidditch practise field just underneath Ravenclaw Tower. All around them were other Portkeys arriving, and teachers were running around helping shaky students through the door and into the school.
"I never want to do that again." Septima said faintly, and Minerva and Irma both slowly nodded their agreement. "I feel like I've left most of me back in London."
Ro laughed at Septima's response, her loud cheeriness making Poppy wince. "Ah come on you lot, it's not that bad," she grinned, offering Minerva a hand and pulling her up. Wilhelmina had sat back down, her head in her hands, but Irma and Septima had both struggled to their feet whilst clinging onto each other for support.
"We've got the sixth group of third years here!" A shout behind them made Poppy turn around to see Professor Merrythought heading towards them. "Welcome back, all of you, how are you feeling after your travel?"
"Not so great," Wilhelmina groaned as Minerva and Septima helped her slowly to stand up.
"You're not the only one dear, I think Madame Quinine has the entirety of the first years in the Hospital wing with Portkey Sickness. Professor Dippet did suspect this would be the result of bringing you all here by Portkey, but with no other choice we just planned ahead by packing several of the classrooms with plenty of cushions for you all to rest on. Third year girls are in my room, so once you've got your bearings back I'll take you all up there."
Poppy suddenly realised she was the only one still on the floor, and smiled gratefully when Professor Merrythought helped her shakily stand up. "Ok to walk?" she asked, her expression sympathetic as she looked between Poppy and the other girls.
"Yeah, I think," Poppy started with a tiny nod, but moving her head caused her vision to dip again as if she was still spinning. "I think I'm going to-" her warning was interrupted by her stomach lurching nauseously, and she doubled over with arms wrapped around her middle as she was sick onto the grass.
"There there, you're alright, I've got you," she heard Professor Merrythought say soothingly, rubbing her back with her wrist as she used her wand to produce a handkerchief. "Give your face a wipe then we'll get you all to my classroom where you can lie back down."
Once Poppy felt steady enough to walk, they set off slowly for the fourth floor DADA classroom. They arrived to see the desks swept to one side and the floor covered in cushions and blankets, with most of the girls in their year already sat down and talking in soft murmurs. The rest of the day was spent simply sitting quietly (or sleeping in the case of Wilhelmina, Millicent and a few others), before going down to the Great Hall when evening fell for the Sorting Ceremony.
School robes had been abandoned as several people were still feeling queasy from taking the Portkeys, so it looked as if was simply another evening meal rather than the Start of Term Feast. The golden plates and cutlery were already set up ready for when the food appeared, but the last thing on Poppy's mind at that moment was food. The first years were looking even more nervous than usual, and several including Malcolm and Pomona Grubbly were still distinctly pale when Professor Dumbledore led them into the Hall. In his hands were the rickety three-legged stool and the Sorting Hat, which he placed down in front of Professor Dippet's lectern. Once the Sorting Hat had finished its song, to the applause of everyone in the Hall, Profesor Dumbledore began calling forward the first years to be Sorted.
The first name Poppy recognized was Imogen Farley; the blond-haired girl that Malcolm and Emery had taken the Portkey to Hogwarts with. She didn't look nearly as fazed as most of her classmates as she sat down on the stool and Professor Dumbledore dropped the Hat over her eyes. There was a couple of minute's silence, longer than anyone had waited so far, before the Hat shouted out "Slytherin!" Imogen grinned at Malcolm and Emery as she headed towards the Slytherin table, and Poppy couldn't help but feel surprised. She'd learned from Irma that not all Slytherins were like the Blacks or Abraxas or Druella, but there were still very few that were overly friendly with people from other Houses.
"We'll have to ask Irma to take that one under her wing; if Emery likes her she can't be that bad." Ro whispered under her breath. Pomona Grubbly was called forward next, and like the only other Hufflepuff so far, Dedalus Diggle, there were mere seconds before the Hat announced its choice. Rosmerta joined her on the Hufflepuff table not long after, both of them grinning excitedly at Wilhelmina.
Emery was the next person called, and Poppy quietly asked Ro "Do you think he'll be in Gryffindor too?"
Ro nodded without hesitation. "All my siblings have been in Gryffindor, even though every one of Mum's family has been in Hufflepuff. Same with Aunt Mabel- she used to be a Macmillan before she married Uncle Georg- so he's bound to be with us." The name was familiar to her, and Poppy wondered for a moment whether Sylvia Macmillan in their year could be a relation of Emery and his sisters. She clapped happily when Emery joined the Gryffindor Table, those signature yellow eyes alight with renewed joy.
Unfamiliar names passed by for a while, a couple sharing names of people from their year and usually joining the House of their older siblings. "Malcolm McGonagall!" jolted Poppy's memory back two years ago to Minerva's five and a half minute long Sorting, but it didn't take nearly as long for the Hat to proclaim Malcolm a Gryffindor has it had taken for his sister.
"Being honest I thought he would be in Ravenclaw," Minerva commented, "though Mother's family have always been Gryffindor so I suppose it's not too surprising. I take it your father and siblings were in Gryffindor too?" Minerva asked Ro, but she shrugged with an uncertain expression.
"They were never sorted properly," she said, to Poppy's surprise. "They still lived in Germany when they were children, Oma and Opa only moved to England when dad turned of age. He did his NEWT years here, Aunt Alyson started in fourth year and Uncle Georg in second."
"Why did they decide to move?" Poppy asked, but Ro's answer was drowned out by applause for Winston Spencer-Moon being announced a Gryffindor. The last Gryffindor to join the Table was Atticus Weasley, who concluded the Sorting Ceremony. As Professor Dumbledore returned to his seat between Professor Merrythought and Professor Dippet, he stood up to make his usual speech.
Unlike previous years, Professor Dippet had a lot more to say than just 'tuck in' or words to that effect. "As I'm sure you've all gathered solely from the destruction of the Hogwarts Express, this year will be quiet different to anything we've ever experienced before. This country is facing two wars; not only is the Muggle war still raging over our heads, but you may not be aware that the Wizarding World is still facing a significant threat from Grindlewald."
"Grindle-who-now?" Poppy hissed, but Ro didn't seem to hear her. She'd gone absolutely rigid, staring at the top table with a haunted expression that Poppy hadn't seen since the days of the petrification crisis. It wasn't just her; there were sharp breaths from all over the Hall and Professor Dumbledore suddenly looked very uncomfortable.
"Gellert Grindlewald is a Dark Wizard, who has been making anti-Muggle attacks all over Europe in a bid to enforce wizard supremacy since the early 1910s. Ministers for Magic of many European Countries have appealed to us in recent weeks, and our own Ministry is currently building up a force of Hit Wizards to aid in the defensive campaign. There have been British Aurors stationed in Europe for the past decade, but this is the first time where wizards will be conscripted to fight. He has not yet dared to attack Britain, but he has grown to a strength where we could expect an invasion at any given moment.
The Hall had fallen into a shocked silence at his words, fear on the faces of students and staff alike. Ro was shaking slightly, gripping the table edge so hard her knuckles were turning white.
"To ensure we ourselves are protected, we will be following several regulations recommended to us by the Minister of Magic. There has been a small group of Aurors placed in Hogsmeade village, as we believe that should Grindlewald decide to focus on our country then this school will be largely targeted. As Apparation is impossible within the grounds, they will be alert for anyone attempting to fly into the castle on broomsticks. Due to this, Quidditch practice and Flying Lessons will take place only on the Quidditch pitch and anyone flying beyond the audience stands will be at risk from attack by the Auror Guard. Hogsmeade visits will also be restricted to all those who are not yet of age. I am aware these regulations will be greatly inconvenient, but they are necessary to keep us all safe."
When Professor Dippet sat back down, food appeared on plates covering all the tables. But the atmosphere was nowhere near the usual excitement and cheer. "So much for getting away from the war." Ro commented bitterly, spearing a potato so hard that she stabbed her fork right into her plate.
With a churn of her stomach that had nothing to do with Portkey sickness, Poppy couldn't help but agree with her.
Author's Note:
A long chapter, but with how action-packed third year will be I didn't want to split it into two. I'm sure you've all realised what I meant by third year starting with a bang. I'm not sure if it would be canonically possible, but as I touched on in chapter 1 I think it's unlikely the wizarding world would escape the Muggle bombings entirely unscathed. As for the Grindlewald stuff, I've based their reactions both on the response to WW2 and some of the precautions taken in the books in the Second Wizarding War. They'll play a large part in the next chapters.
The reason behind my decision in making Ro's family German is because Rolanda is a traditionally German name. I noted this down right at the start when I was finding names for Ro's siblings, so they've all got German names along with Ro's dad (Luther), her Aunt Alyson and Uncle Georg, and all of Georg's children. Ro's reaction to Grindlewald will be explained later, don't you worry.
Many new characters here! Winston Spencer-Moon is another invented child of Minister for Magic Leonard Spencer-Moon, Larry's younger brother. We also have our first Weasley- I figured that with how many of them there are (I read somewhere that Arthur has several siblings as did his father!) are there would just be a constant stream of them throughout history. To anyone who hasn't guessed it, Wilhelmina's younger sisters are Pomona Sprout and Madame Rosmerta. I know in canon there is only a two year overlap in Minerva and Pomona's school years, but I wanted to change it. They'll be reasonably important characters due to their friendship with Malcolm and Emery (and Wilhelmina will get more of a mention as a result). There's also Imogen Farley, the surname taken from Gemma Farley who is the Slytherin prefect from the old Pottermore site. Again, she'll be quite an important character for the above reasons.
Things will really start to heat up next week, as I'm sure you've already guessed!