Chapter 7: The Hogwarts Express

If you were to look up King's Cross Station in the Muggle's Guide, it would provide the following:

First year Hogwarts students should mind the ghost, she's battle ready. While most Muggle's use this train station for regular and long distance travel, wizards can find the Hogwarts Express at Platform Nine and Three Quarters. No other railways have been made for the Magical world, leaving the comfort of travel to students.

Both Harry and James stared at the wall standing in between platforms nine and ten. Both boys were worried about their owl cages smashing in on their birds rather than themselves hitting a wall. "How hard exactly do we need to concentrate? I don't want to think about something at the last second and fail to pass through." Lily looked down at James with a smile on her face and her voice shook a little from holding back a chuckle. "Don't worry about it, just focus on the wall and don't break your path".

James looked down once more at Bandit, his feathers had fluffed up a little from the busy crowd bustling by, then he turned towards Harry. "I'll go first, see you on the other side." James started off towards the wall, picking up speed very slowly, and trying to just focus on the brick wall that faced him. Soon the noise of trains departing from the station was replaced with a loud roar of wind and right before James' trolley made contact with the wall, it opened up and let him pass.

The modern style train station was replaced with an older built station that hadn't been touched in years. The bricks didn't have any chips, the pavement that was crowded with children and parents was spotless without any trash laying around, then James noticed the scarlet red train engine that was carrying eight passenger cars behind it. James was about to say "Wow" but he was rammed into by Harry who was coming in right behind him. The trolley that James was pushing flew from his hands, towards the crowd and when Lily came through, she found both her boys chasing after the loose trolley.

Bandit wouldn't stop hooting as the trolley sped past family after family. Eventually a boy with fiery red hair and a rat on his shoulder, jumped in front of the trolley and stopped it with his body.

"Ronald!" A lady with lighter red hair yelled over at the boy as James came up and saw the boy that stopped his trolley. "Thank you," James walked over to greet the boy who was making sure his rat was still on his shoulder. "Don't mention it, lucky nobody got hurt." The boy was already wearing his Hogwarts robes, which looked old and faded, while everyone else was wearing regular "Muggle" clothes as Lily called it.

Harry and Lily soon joined up with James, when Lily let out a sudden gasp, seeing some familiar faces that she had not seen in a decade. Soon from the other side of the platform came a whole bundle of fiery red hair family members of the boy.

"Richard!" Lily said as everyone began to eye each other while the three boys stood in the middle by the trolley. Standing around the Potter's was the Weasley family, containing Molly and Arthur Weasley and their six kids, including Ron who was standing in the middle. Next to the huge family was a tall and thin man with darker red hair, Richard Weasley, and his daughter who was the same age as Ron. "Lily! It's been ages!" Richard said, greeting an old friend.

"I'm Ron, Ron Weasley." James shook Ron's hand then Harry did the same after introducing themselves. "How about your rat's name? I would like to thank him too for stopping the cart as well." James pulled his trolley out from the huddle of people and the three boys moved to the outside to continue their conversation. "Scabbers, I'm surprised he stayed on my shoulder, tougher than he looks." The rat gave a little squeak at the complement and James thanked the rat with a pat on its head. "You've got quite a big family." Harry said, trying to add to the conversation. "Yeah, mum and dad always wanted one, and were lucky to have two sets of twins."

James and Harry looked around at the Weasley family and saw two sets of twins, one with identical boys that looked about thirteen years old, and another was a set of girls with one sporting bright crimson red hair and the other had rainbow streaks dyed into her hair, they look about a year younger than Harry and James. "And I thought James and I looked too much alike. Your brothers look like the same person." The set of twin boys with red hair both matched in height, facial structure, and speaking pattern when they would talk to one another. "They live for that, they even speak like they have the same brain. It's scary sometimes."

"Since when have you had a daughter?" Lily said with amazement as Richard Weasley and his daughter, Ella Weasley, moved forward to catch up with each other. "Since after Hogwarts, the world does move ya' know." The man laughed as his daughter rolled his eyes and Lily gave a chuckle. "I heard the news and was going to write but was busy at the Ministry, plus this womp rat needed to empty our vault for school supplies". "It wasn't my fault the books cost that much!" Ella said back at her dad's taunt. "Where's your wife?" Lily asked, "Either in Japan or Westonover, been traveling to find some 'thing' for her coven." Richard had last talked to his wife a couple months ago before they fought about her recent adventure then the news of another on the cusp of Ella starting Hogwarts. "Oh, Coven, which one did she join?" Lily asked, "She's an honorary member of the Salem Coven, trying to work her way over to America for a permanent spot on their grove".

While the Potter's and Wealsy's conversed with each other, another family came through the platform wall. Neville Longbottom, a boy of eleven, sporting dark brown hair and wearing a polo shirt with formal dress slacks, looking like a kid who's dressed for church. Behind Neville were his parents, Alice and Frank Longbottom, both walking with crutches to support their wounded legs, and his grandmother, Augusta Longbottom, who wore a giant hat with a stuffed raven on the side, holding onto an olive branch. "I swear everytime we see the Weasley's their family gets larger." Augusta said while moving towards a bench that sat against one of the walls.

Both Alice and Frank looked over at the massive huddle of red hair and noticed Lily Potter from among the crowd. Alice and Frank had been close friends with the Potter's during school and kept up with the family until the accident happened. Both had felt horrible for Lily and had reached out to her any needed help but it seemed Lily Potter was preoccupied with other things.

While the Longbottom family settled down on the bench, a man with a thin mustache and a pointed beard walked up to the family. "Glad to see you'd finally arrived." The man said with a sneer, "Glad to see you too Algie." Augusta said back with just as much of a sneer. "Rebecca! Come over here!" Algae yelled for his ward, Rebecca Longbottom, formerly Rebecca LeStrange, who was the age of thirteen and wore a leather jacket with ratted jeans and black diamond jeweled shoes. "What? I was talking with Nym, she was trying to catch me up with her summer." Algie looked down at his ward with disgust, "I don't care about your friends, you must guide your cousin this year, we can't have him make a fool of the family." Both Alice and Frank started to spit back defense and retorts for their son but Algie didn't seem to care.

"You've noticed the Potter's I'd take it, surprise you're not gushing over their son's like the Weasley's." Algae looked over at the huddle of people near the front of the platform and gave a cold spiteful laugh towards the group. Frank, Alice, Neville, and Augusta all looked over at the huddle again and noticed the two boys that resemble James Potter, who were talking to the youngest Weasley boy. "Neville, why don't you go over and introduce yourself. Try and make some friends." Augusta said, nudging the boy towards the mass of people.

"I think I'm good with boarding right now, wanna make sure I find a seat before too many people get on." Neville looked over at the Hogwarts express and figured he would try and hide his face in a book or something until they got to Hogwarts. "Nonsense, you can ask to sit with them." Augusta said back, finally pushing Neville forward with his feet dragging against the ground. "You act like they're going to bite you Neville!" Now Augusta and Neville were inches away from the Potters and Weasleys, and the group of people had all turned to look at the scraping noise that approached from behind.

"Gussi?" Mrs. Weasley said.

"Molly!" Augusta said.

"Hi I'm Neville," Neville said to the group of boys.

"Is that?" Lily said, looking behind the older and younger Longbottom.

"I believe so." Richard said, now seeing Frank and Alice Longbottom.

"Oh no," Ella said, seeing her neighborhood bully, Rebecca Longbottom.

Each kid loaded their trunk in the compartment below the passenger car and watched as they slid back and moved away on a conveyor belt. "So, they'll just appear at our beds when we arrive?" James asked while holding his book bag and owl cage. "Yep, just make sure you drop off your birds before you get sorted. I won't be able to speak to you guys until breakfast tomorrow but I'll be watching from the staff table.." Lily hesitated a little before continuing to speak to her boys. She knelt down to look both of her boys in their eyes and almost started to cry seeing a reflection of her own, "Try to not be pressured about what house you want or are going to be in. I've seen students hold grudges straight into adulthood because of house fights. Just remember that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."

With that, Lily kissed both her boys on the head and watched as they boarded the Hogwarts Express. "Love you boys, keep an eye on each other!" Lily said while the boys walked into the passenger car and disappeared from her sight.

Harry and James walked down the corridor right behind Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom, who opened the first door of an empty compartment and sat down on either side of the benches. Harry followed inside but James stopped and thought about Draco Malfoy and wondered if he was already on the train. "I'll be right back, here take Bandit." James handed Bandit's cage over and watched as Harry placed him next to Hedwig who hooted excitedly. "Where are you going?" Harry asked James, "Going to look for somebody, gonna try and make friends before we arrive." James then took off down the corridor checking each compartment for the white blonde haired boy.

After what felt like walking the length of ten train cars, James came upon a door with a sign above that read 'Dining Cart and Lounge'. James wondered why they would waste the space on a dining area and not seats, because most seats were already full. He opened the door and was treated to the smell of sweats and fresh baked goods. As he observed the room he saw a small line of students of different ages waiting to buy snacks from the counter that sat an elderly witch behind. Couches sat around an unlit fireplace and next to the seating area was a piano that was playing all by itself. The witch was currently counting out coins of different metal and size while a boy with half green and half black hair waited with a small cauldron pasty and a bottle of water in his hand. On the shoulder of the boy sat something that James couldn't make out but it glowed brightly when the boy picked up the food. James decided while he was here, he might as well get something to snack on.

James stood in line right behind a girl with curly brown hair and was carrying a backpack that looked like it weighed a ton with the way it sagged and stretched the fabric. James thought about what was in his backpack- his robes, fantastic beast and where to find them, and his bag of Galleons- and didn't think they needed to bring their entire reading material with them on the train.

"Does that hurt?" James asked the girl, who turned around at the sound of James' voice. James was not surprised to see that the girl was reading a book while waiting in line, "Does what?" The girl asked. "Your backpack, it looks awfully heavy." The girl closed her book, while leaving her bookmark sideways marking the last line she was reading. "Well it's a long train ride and I wanted to do some light reading." James rose his eyelids at that, "Light, reading? You plan on taking a test afterwards?" James asked sarcastically. "I wouldn't say a test, more like an estimate on what I need to improve on." James almost laughed at the girl's words but realized she was being serious.

"You do know that we are going to school to learn these things rather than be tested on what we already know." The girl gave a little scowl at James then turned back towards the front of the line, which had moved to where they were halfway to the counter. "I don't need your opinion on my studying techniques, I will do plenty fine on my own." As she spoke, she went to step forward in line but tripped over her own foot, causing her backpack to fling her books across the floor. Some of the surrounding students laughed but James quickly dropped down and began picking up her books and bookbag. "I wasn't trying to be rude, just being curious. I've never met anyone who's read all their school books before they went to school." The girl's face reddened as James realized he was speaking about her. "Oh, I didn't… I mean, can we start over? I'm James, James Potter."

The girl let out a little gasp as James went to give her back her bookbag, "Jiminy Cricket! Are you serious?" James thought she was joking now, "Why would I lie about my name? If I'd lie about it, I would use Bruce Wayne or Peter Parker, something dumb like that.", "I've read about you in some of my books, you're thought to be dead." The girl grabbed her backpack and pulled out a slightly torn book with the title 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts'. "Whadya know, I'm in a book!" James read through the passage about The Dark Lord and his assault on the Potter's and noticed also that the book didn't name the wizard. "Who was this dark wizard anyway? Everyone keeps saying Who Know Who? Like I'm suppose to know." The girl looked at James in amazement as she couldn't believe that James Potter didn't know Voldemort's name. The girl leaned into James' ear and whispered the name then told him that most people don't say the name because they are still afraid of the dark wizard even though he's dead. While standing in line, James noticed something small sitting on the shoulder of another student but couldn't make out what it was.

"I'm Hermione by the way, Hermione Granger." She stepped forward to the counter as she introduced herself and turned to talk to the witch behind the counter. While Hermione was busy ordering, James pulled the Muggle's Guide out of his right pocket and typed in Voldemort and read the following text: Reference to Voldemort has been removed by the British Ministry of Magic, but Moldy Shorts was a dark wizard that reign over a long period of war and death. Boldy Warts was destroyed by the two Potter boy's causing an unknown accident killing both parties. Everyone today owes a debt to the Potter's for their sacrifice to the Magical World.

By the time James finished reading the guide, Hermione was done paying for her snacks. "Uhm, I'll have some of these licorice wheels and a bottle of water." The witch behind the counter told James his total and he told the witch to keep the change. "I'm trying to look for somebody but you're more than welcome to join me in finding a seat." Hermione looked at James with a studying look then responded, "I've already left some of my stuff in another compartment with some other… friends, but I'll catch you when we get to Hogwarts." Both said their goodbyes and headed in different directions. James thought about just heading back to the compartment where Harry was but decided that he would eat his snack while continuing to look and when he finished, if he hadn't found the Malfoy boy then he would go back.

As James walked through the corridors, seeing groups of students doing different magical things like casting spells, throwing small balls that splattered against the wall then bounced back to the thrower's hand, playing cards that popped when laid down on top of another card, and chocolate frogs that hopped around, trying to break free. While walking, James decided to put in his headphones and listen to the music his mother had put onto his MP3 device. Powering on the device instantly started to play the first song queued up which was David Bowie's Changes.

"C-c-c-C-Changes,

Time to face the strange,

Changes"

Earlier that Day

Draco Malfoy was currently in a daze. The gleaming scarlett train engine shined more brightly than ever, the color glowing right off the metal. The near empty platform looked like it stretched on for days and the only way he would know where to go was because of Marcus Flint. The older boy looked buff in body tone with a long face with deep, set in, features. His smile was something that magic itself couldn't fix, it would've scared Draco but the calming music that played in his head seemed to ease his mood. He was ready for Hogwarts and ready to make his mother proud of what he'll do.

"We'll take the last car, keep most of the crowd away. Make sure you keep a hold of my hand, if you lag behind you could get lost." Marcus grabbed tightly around Draco's hand and stepped aboard the last train car but knew the trek back to the actual last car was at most ten minutes to get to.

"Sunshine and Lollipops," Draco made a pop noise after the word and began singing the upbeat song. "What the hell happened to you." Marcus's voice bore sadness while he spoke to Draco, trying to engage with the boy that was dropped on him last second by his family. "You do know where you're going? Right?" Draco gazed back at Marcus with eyes clouded over and glinted with green when the light reflected off them. "We are going to Hogwarts so I can learn to be a better wizard and run the family so my poor mother can relax at an early age." Marcus decided at that answer he would just stay quiet and not ask questions, he was getting paid for this after all.

Eventually they made it to the last car and entered the compartment with its two velvet covered benches and storage racks that hung above them. Marcus pulled a book out from his pack and Draco stared wistfully out the window, seeming to be in awe of the families on the platform.

More students pilled their way into the train and found their started to thunder down the corridor when the door to the compartment opened, revealing a group of boys in green trimmed robes. "Marcus, didn't know you were with this brat." The boy in front spat towards Draco as he spoke and the other boys chuckled in response to their friend. "Why don't you do us a favor and bugger off till we finish with Mr. Malfoy, over there".

Marcus stood up and got in the front boy's face and spat directly on the boy's robes. "Why don't you piss off, he hasn't bothered you, Hell! He hasn't even been sorted yet!" Marcus noticed the other boys move their arms towards their wands but didn't bother to reach for his. "I'll let that little bit of spit slide off cause I'm in a good mood. Leave and we won't leave a mess for you in return."

Both boys stared at each other fiercely, the harsh electric blue of Marcus's eyes reflecting in the dull brown of the other boy's eyes. The train started to move off to Hogwarts, shaking each boy in their stance, when finally, someone acted.

"Stupify!"

A bolt of red shot forth towards Marcus and instantly rebounded back, towards the group of boys, knocking the caster back down to the ground, unconscious. "I've been dealing with you bloody morons for over six years, you don't think I would start to carry protective clothing." Marcus chuckled a little at the group of angry boys who stared back with evil intent in their eyes.

"You better watch your back at school Marcus, can't always be around Malfoy to save him." The boys all sneered around at each other and left towards their compartment. "I already told you I do have it watched, dumbass." Marcus muttered, slamming the compartment door shut and returning to his book. Draco was still staring out the window, not seeming to notice the altercation that Marcus prevented from happening. Before continuing on his book, Marcus took out his wand and cast some notice-me-not spells and relaxed a little knowing nobody would bother them for the rest of the train ride.

Present Time

James kept walking down the corridors while his MP3 player continued on playing music. Tunes from The Beatles, Steve Miller Band, and Queen played on while he continued to search for Draco. He soon finished his snack and water and was preparing to go back to sit with Harry when he realized he had been walking for over ten minutes and hadn't reached the back of the train yet. He continued walking to see if he could peer out one of the windows to see how many cars were left but he passed by a compartment and saw Harry sitting down with the Weasley's and Neville Longbottom.

He didn't know how but he had been walking in a circle and somehow missed Draco while walking. "Damn it." James said defeated and entered the compartment and sat down next to Harry. Inside the compartment were the Weasley twins, Fred- the one with twenty-seven freckles- and George- the one with thirty-nine freckles-, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom and Ella Weasley. The twin Wealsey's were currently teaching Ron a spell to turn Scabber's fur golden.

"It's not that hard Ron. Just wave your wand around and say the following, Fortunate Comportrament." Ron looked doubtful at his brothers and small squeaks filled the compartment while the group awaited Ron's choice. "I don't think that's a spell. And why would I want to change his fur, he's just a rat." Before Ron could react, George grabbed a hold of Scabbers and started to say the incantation. "Fortu-" Fred was cut off by a kick to the shin, administered by Ron and smacked George across the face, getting a hold of Scabbers and keeping him close.

"Boys!" Ella yelled over the scuffle, stopping the boys in their place. "Could you all act normal for once, I don't need any professors thinking I'm like your bunch".

"What's wrong with our bunch?" Fred and George said back hurt. Ella laughed at that, "Please, I've heard the horror stories from Percy. Not only is there a poltergeist prankster I have to look out for, but you two seem to be just as much trouble makers." Fred and George both laugh, "Trouble? Us? We madam are proud pranksters and jokesters. We mean no harm".

"Unless you're Slytherin, then we mean a little." George added after Fred finished speaking.

"What's so bad about Slytherin?" Harry asked the group. "Well, the fact that most of you know who's minions came from that house and the fact that any wizard who has turned evil has been from Slytherin." George said proudly, until Ron butted in, "Wasn't Maleficent a Ravenclaw?".

"Doesn't count, she was really a dragon trapped inside a human body."

"How about Gaston LeGume, the ever so dashing Hufflepuff, who attacked the beast and nearly exposed the magical world?"

"He was insane the whole time. Anyone who cares about their looks that much should be locked in a padded room."

"Then How about-"

"We get it Ronald that your brain is working, maybe you should give it a rest." Ron's face turned a bright red at George's words but didn't speak anymore. "Anyways, ever since you know who has been defeated, Slytherin has just been filled with hateful kids of those parents. You'll see later today, let's just hope you all end up with us".

"What house are you both in?" James asked but then immediately regretted as the Weasley twins began to break out into song.

"OOOOhhhhh!"

"We're the bravest,

And the strongest,

Never will turn our back on friends.

We Roar!

Roar!

We fly right on by,

But at the end of the Day,

When everyone sleeps,

Us Gryffindors,

Will be partying,

Until we fall asleep!"

Fred and George held out the last note for an ungodly amount of time until a bang on the compartment wall cut them off. "We are in Gryffindor, thank you very much, and hope that you both join us this year." Harry and James looked at each other, not knowing if they would give any thought to this sorting process. If their mother's words were anything to heed then it would probably be best that way.

"Well, I hope to be put in Ravenclaw and leave the childish antics to you Gryffindors." Ella added to the conversation. "What about you Neville?" Everyone now stared at Neville, who was busy staring out the window at the grassy hills that passed on by. "What? Oh, uhm, my parents were in Hufflepuff so I'd imagine that's where I'll probably go." Neville answered back.

Before anyone else could speak, the compartment door was flung open and a dark skin boy with a sports jersey on walked in and addressed Fred and George. "Well if it isn't the dynamic duo! The lords of fire and its works! The foundlings of Hogwarts!" Ella and Ron started to laugh as Fred and George stood up and ushered the boy out of the compartment and shut the door behind them.

"Who was that?" Harry asked.

"Lee," Both Ella and Ron said.

"Who's lee?"

Ron looked at Ella who said, "I'll let you take this." Ron cleared his throat and began to speak, "Fred and George have an unofficial third twin named Lee Jordan. He's probably the best hype man you could get but he does not shut up." Ron chuckled at his words, "He's one of the biggest reason's our mother always finds out what they do at school. She just goes over on a visit, dropping off a pie or casserole and Lee just yaps away about Fred and George." Harry looked a little confused, "Then why are they friends with him?".

"Because he's extremely funny" Both Ron and Ella said then both laughed a little.

Time passed as the train made its way across the countryside. Both Harry and James had let Hedwig and Bandit out of their cages and let both of them perch on the storage rack above. Fred and George eventually came back saying that Lee was just looking to spout off some jokes that he'd worked on over the summer.

A shovel hit a pile of coals. Sweat rolled down the grimey face's of the two conductors. A tune was playing as they worked, following along with the beat of the train.

"Shovel, shovel, shovel yo-ho!

Pass the time with a single yo-ho!

Shovel the coal and watch it glow,

The fire burns as we go.

We sing our song,

Every year,

Thousands of miles traveled,

Far and Near.

Shovel, shovel, shovel yo-ho!

We pass the time as we go!"

The steam billowed out and joined the surrounding clouds, filling up the sky as they passed along.

Down below the train, hanging from the arms of a whatever, inside an redecorated cardboard box were rats. These rats had paid their way onto the train to hopefully be smuggled into the Magical world. Standing in the front of the box, stood a rat with a conductor uniform on and was currently speaking inaudible facts over the train wheel high squeals.

"And over to our left is more grass and trees." The rat spoke with a brooklyn accent and passed out tiny packets of peanuts to these rather normal looking rats.

"Rizzo! My arms!" The whatever above shook widely, as his arms were starting to strain from laying under the train car and holding up the box of rats.

"Gonzo, calm down. We're supposed to be wizards, leading the regular to the magical future." Rizzo the rat took his seat and tried to relax just before Gonzo lost his grip, dropping the box, which started to bounce between the tracks and the bottom of the train, only to be flung away when an opening between the cars appeared.

"Whoops!" Gonzo pulled back his extended limbs and hung on for the ride to Hogwarts. "I sure hope Rizzo is alright".

Currently the box of rats was flying over, going about 6 knots, towards a large and looming forest that seemed to never end. The box soared, wind blasted past the rats ears, and then the box made contact with the ground. The rats were scattered around the nearby trees and each more dizzier than the last. Rizzo eventually got to his feet and helped the others up.

"Everyone okay?" Rizzo leaned against the nearest pine tree and caught his breath. "Pardon our inflight detour, but as you may have noticed, we have entered the Enchanted Forest." The rats awed at his words and each swept their eyes across the forest.

"Look at these redwoods." Said one of the rats.

"No, their elm trees." Said another.

"You're both wrong." Chimed in Rizzo, "There Perceptians, they change to reflect whatever tree you want them to be." Again the rats awed at Rizzo's words. "Now, as we have more ground to cover and less time, we shall take an advance tour through the Enchanted Forest." Rizzo trotted in place a couple of times and led the group off in a light jog.

Back on the Hogwarts Express

James was currently reading through Fantastic Beast and Where to find them when the train blew a loud whistle and started to slow down. "Put the window down, you're all going to want to hear this." George put down the window and Fred motioned for everyone to peer out the window. Two voices from the front of the train began to bellow.

"HI-HOOOOOO!" The two voices boomed past the passenger cars and James could now see the forest that loomed ahead. Once again the two voices bellowed, "HI-HOOOOOOOO!" and to most people's shock, another, much larger group of voices answered back from the forest, "HI-HOOOOOOOO!".

"Where are we entering?" James asked.

"The Enchanted Forest, the most magical place in the world." George said over the loud call that was being repeated.

It seemed that the track divided right in the middle of the forest and the surrounding trees seemed to not stop growing for James. The September heat seemed to disappear and was replaced with a gust of chilly wind.

When the train had entered the forest, the trees were growing closely together but as they got further in the trees seemed to be spaced out more and more as they passed. Soon cabins and houses could be seen in the forest and people stood by and waved as the train passed by and gave a hollar of "Hi-Hoo!" to answer the call.

"Do people live in the forest?" Harry asked as he watched a group of kids play at a nearby playground and waved at them. The kids all waved back at Harry and he could see that the kids were all different species- trolls, gnomes, centaurs, and even some fairies- then a giant foot broke through the trees and a loud, deep laugh could be heard. A Giant poked his head down from the trees and stared in awe at the train.

"Well mostly magical beings but some wizards live out there." Fred said back as more and more people appeared around trees to stare and wave at the train.

The cold wind began to frost over the windows and snow started to fall. The trees started to show coats of snow on their branches and the ground sprouted out wild blue and violet flowers that glowed in the snow. Soon a bright white light started to glisten through the trees and illuminate the Hogwarts Express. A gleaming white manor could be seen as the train passed through the Enchanted Forest and it seemed to be the source of the light.

"Let me guess, the House of White?" James said, taking in the bright manor that shone brightly with the snow reflecting the light around the forest.

"The resting place of the fairest of them all." George replied back, bowing his head a little.

Soon the call of Hi-Ho was becoming louder and closer when everyone on the train was greeted by a crowd of people gathered by a statue that was presumably of Snow White. Everyone waved at the train as they passed by then George spoke up. "Well, better change into our robes, we're almost there".

Remus Lupin stood on the sidewalk of the Enchanted City and inserted his headphones in his ears for his afternoon run. The day was as normal as any other day, carriages pulled by some invisible force went by him on the brick paved road, shops were filling the streets with smells of their delicacies and lines of people spilled out of each business, and musicians lined the streets with hats, instrument cases, and anything else they could find to put out for collecting money while they played covers of famous songs that most people would know. While most citizens of the Enchanted city wore stylish robes and fancy shoes, to show off their fashion sense and try to match the social elites of their time, Remus Lupin always wore baggy clothes that seem to sport tears along the sides that were sewn back together and jeans that were stretched to their limit at the seams.

By the time Remus reached the edge of the city the sun was starting to tuck itself away for the day. This would usually cause people to turn back to the city but Remus's senses were heightened during the night and made his run through the Enchanted forest safer than most. The surrounding sycamore trees started to spread apart the further away Remus got from the city and soon he found the paved path turned to dirt and his trail started to lead right by the Hogwarts Express tracks.

The trail led on through the forest and eventually Remus came upon the local watering hole that many of the natural wildlife visited. He bent down to get a drink and cupped some water into his hands and stopped at the mercury glaze that tainted the water. Remus searched around the pool of water to see what the source of the taint was or could be. Nothing could be seen around the edge except for the flora that grew from the grass into the water. It was only until the glint of the moonlight hit the water that Remus noticed something white at the bottom of the pool.

Leaking mercury colored blood down at the bottom of the drinking hole was a unicorn. Its eyes were black as the night sky and its hair shimmered motionless under the water. Panic tried its best to work its way through Remus' brain but soon the roaring sound of the Hogwarts Express drew his attention away from the poor unicorn. The train was starting to slow down as it was nearing the edge of the forest and readying to pull into the Hogsmead station. The thought of Dumbledore filled Remus' head and thought if the trip towards the school would be worth it tonight.

After deciding that with the sorting happening tonight, it would be better to visit the castle tomorrow and hope this new discovery doesn't mean bad news for the new school year.