Chapter 408: Train Attack
The Hogwarts Express clattered along the tracks, a deep crimson iron beast cutting through the pristine white snowfields of winter—unmistakably conspicuous. Of course, if a Muggle had seen it, they’d have simply blinked and looked away, its existence erased by magic.
Inside, the carriage was warm and enchanted. Students shed their heavy cloaks and gathered together, laughing and chatting. In Wade’s compartment, a crowd had piled in, all eyes fixed on the magical puppet battle between Harry and Neville.
Harry’s puppet was a lion, Neville’s a monkey—both gifts from Wade the previous year. School professors forbade students from bringing magical puppets into classrooms or the library; normally, such toys were only played with in dormitories or the common room. But here, on the train, surrounded by friends, even a simple game felt electrifying.
The lion and the monkey were roughly the same size, equally matched in power. They clashed fiercely, roaring with high-pitched, childish fury. The air filled with cheers:
“Go! Go! Bite its back!”
“Throw it! Toss that big lump out! A bear hug!”
The lion leapt onto a pile of snacks, launching a sudden pounce. The monkey dodged, then kicked the lion square in the nose. Both tiny creatures squealed in mock rage, circling each other—until the monkey, hindered by the cramped space, slipped and fell.
A wave of cheers erupted. The Weasley Twins jumped up, shouting, “Loser pays! Loser pays!” Grumbling, the supporters handed over a few snacks. George even slipped a few extra into Harry’s hand.
“Now it’s my turn!” Kariel squeezed past, eyes shining. He pulled out a lynx. “Watch this—my Mollysha can beat anyone!”
Liam smiled, placing a white leopard onto the table. “Funny,” he said, biting his lip, “my Oscar’s a feline too.”
“Then let’s see who’s stronger!” Kariel declared, fired up.
Another round began. Students pressed against the door, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the fight. Wade leaned against the window, twirling his wand, secretly casting an Invisible Expansion Charm on the compartment.
He didn’t understand it—why had it started? Harry had just casually asked about holiday plans as he passed by. Then it became a duel between Wade and Michael. Neville showed up. Then Kariel. And now, like a magnet, the compartment had drawn a whole crowd.
This transfer student had an almost uncanny pull. Soon, the compartment felt like it might burst.
Unless he turned into a falcon and flew out the window, escaping through the entrance was impossible.
Wade’s gaze lingered on Kariel’s flushed, excited face. He remembered Dumbledore’s words from yesterday.
After the Apparition practice ended, Dumbledore had suddenly asked him, “Do you know why I kept Kariel and Abigail at school? Even though we both suspect they might be trouble?”
Wade hesitated. “To… show mercy and love?”
It wasn’t surprising. That was the most defining trait of Dumbledore in Wade’s mind: Love was the greatest magic.
Dumbledore chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Don’t mistake me for some sentimental old fool, Wade. I know when to be merciful, and when to be cautious.”
He continued, calm and certain: “I kept them here because I knew—so long as I’m at Hogwarts, they can’t do anything here.”
“That’s not because they’re evil,” he added. “Abigail is an outstanding professor. Kariel is a bright, enthusiastic child. They’re not our enemies.”
“The ones pushing them forward—hiding behind them—are the real threat. Don’t confuse the two, Wade.”
Wade frowned. “But… what if we let them go, and something bad happens?”
“Don’t let fear of the future erode your principles,” Dumbledore said. “If you dwell on every worst-case scenario, your mind will never rest. And don’t push someone who might stand with us onto the side of our enemies. Offer respect. Offer kindness.”
“A wizard’s connection with another wizard is subtle, mysterious. Sometimes, it changes fate without anyone even realizing.”
Wade stared at the white-haired headmaster. But in his mind, he saw the fate of Harry’s parents—his father trusting Peter Pettigrew with his life, his mother defying house and faction to defend Snape in front of their group.
Yes, wizard-to-wizard bonds were powerful… but even kindness could sprout bitter fruit.
Dumbledore seemed to sense Wade’s doubt. “Don’t let fear of tomorrow make you betray your own heart, Wade. The most important thing is to walk the right path—not because it’s safe, but because it’s true.”
---
On the train.
Wade exhaled slowly, deeply.
Without the advantage of foresight, life was this fragile. If he’d known the enemies’ plans, their hideouts—just like he’d known Voldemort’s—he’d have already sent someone to storm their door.
But now, all they could do was wait and investigate.
And worse—these enemies had shattered Wade’s original safety plan.
When he first arrived, he’d hoped that if Voldemort rose again, as in the original story, he could take his parents and flee abroad. At least in the original timeline, Voldemort’s power hadn’t spread beyond Britain.
But this new threat—Werewolves, vampires, Muggles—all united—suggested that the outside world might be even more dangerous than Britain itself.
At least here, wizards rarely killed.
As he thought these thoughts, the compartment erupted in cheers. Liam’s leopard had defeated Kariel’s lynx. The next battle began. Outside, in another compartment, a song started—then grew into a full chorus.
They sang Christmas carols, then the Hogwarts school song, then a popular magical hit: “A Pot of Boiling Love.”
Michael, sitting beside Wade, hummed along:
“Wand sways, love ignites, lighting the secrets of old spells… This is a pot of boiling love, stewing the magic flame of joy. No matter how time turns, love never fades…”
His breath fogged the window. He drew a heart in the condensation, stared at it—then suddenly shivered.
“…That’s weird,” he said, rubbing his arms. “Why’d it get so cold all of a sudden?”
Theo, who had been leaning on Neville, jolted awake. He glanced out the window. “Snow coming?”
The sky outside was heavy, thickening into a deep, oppressive gray. The lights in the corridor and compartments dimmed. Snowflakes drifted down in quiet, fine patterns.
Students grumbled, rising to grab thicker cloaks.
“Something’s wrong,” Michael said, puffing out breath. “Wade, look!”
Frost patterns, delicate as feathers, began spreading across the glass. The temperature plummeted—bone-chilling. One moment they were in a cozy carriage, the next, it felt like they’d been flung into the open air.
Wade felt a chill. He’d seen this before—somewhere in memory.
Then, the train lurched. It slowed… then stopped completely.
Lights flickered and died.
Silence.
“Wha—what’s happening?”
“Did you step on my foot?”
“Who pushed me?”
“Lumos!”
Wade pointed his wand. A bright light flared, illuminating the compartment. Neville lay on the floor. Harry was frantically fumbling to straighten his glasses.
Other compartments lit up one by one.
Hermione’s voice rang out: “It’s the train—something’s broken. Probably the warmth charm failed. I’m going to find the driver!”
“Wait, Hermione—don’t run around!” Padma urged, grabbing her arm. “Stay here!”
“I’ll be back in a minute,” Hermione said, already pushing open the door, wand glowing.
“Wait—me too!” Harry finally pulled his wand free, stumbling to his feet. Ron burst out from another compartment.
“Back inside!” Wade finally pushed through the crowd, voice firm. “Stay put! Don’t move!”
Hermione flinched at his expression, then was pulled back by Padma.
Wade felt it—the cold. It wasn’t just air. It was a presence. A suffocating chill that drained all warmth, all joy. His breath froze. His body trembled uncontrollably.
From the far end of the train, screams echoed—student panic, raw and terrified.
Wade clenched his teeth. He raised his wand.
“Patronus Charm!”
A dazzling silver eagle burst from the tip, wings spread wide. It shot through the tunnel, a streak of light, and slammed into a towering, unnatural shape at the corridor’s end.
A Dementor.
It stood outside a compartment, black cloak billowing, one hand—cracked and rotten—reaching forward. It was trying to seize something… someone.
But before it could, the silver eagle struck it square in the chest.
The Dementor was flung backward, weightless, as if made of smoke. The eagle didn’t stop. It chased the creature until it was driven clear off the train.
Then, it circled the train, wings gleaming like moonlight. The silver light it cast painted the entire exterior, illuminating the darkness.
And then, the students saw it.
Dozens of Dementors—hundreds—hovered in the air, surrounding the train. They drifted like shadows, hungry, waiting. But the silver eagle blocked them. They couldn’t breach the barrier.
Wade’s teeth ground together. He could hear the sound.
He remembered Rita Skeeter’s report: “The Ministry sent a special unit to capture the Silent Shadow…”
Yes—special. Dementors sensed emotion. They fed on happiness, hope, draining the soul. And the Silent Shadow was born from despair and pain.
The Ministry thought to use the Dementors’ attraction to dark emotions to track the Shadow. But they never considered—what if the Shadow didn’t obey them?
Wade strained to maintain the Patronus. But he didn’t know if it was his magic that was weak… or if the students’ fear and hopelessness were too tempting.
The Dementors were driven back—but they lingered, circling, never truly leaving.
The eagle couldn’t chase them all. The train was too long. If it went one way, the others would rush in.
If only there were two Patronuses—slightly weaker, but still effective. Then he could let them fight.
But Patronus Charm wasn’t a spell every student mastered. On this train, only Wade and Harry had learned it… and Harry.
“Harry!” Wade gritted out. “Patronus Charm!”
Harry staggered to his feet, pale as death. Still, he raised his wand.
“Expecto… Patronum!”
“Expecto… Patronum!”
“Expecto…”
Silver mist leaked from the wand tip—faint, trembling, like a candle about to go out. It was the same weak, flickering glow as when he’d first learned the spell.
“Patronus Charm!” Harry gasped, leaning on Neville for support. He tried to recall happy memories—his mother’s laugh, the Quidditch cup—but instead, a woman’s scream pierced his mind.
“Don’t move, Harry… don’t move… just kill me… please… have mercy…”
His head split open. Darkness swallowed him. The wand fell from his fingers with a soft clack.
“Harry!” Neville cried, scrambling to catch his friend.
Wade’s forehead broke into cold sweat.
This was the first time facing Dementors on this scale. It was no wonder Harry couldn’t hold on.
But now—what next?
Just wait? Until help arrived?
A single drop of sweat fell to the floor.
“Keep going, Wade!” Michael shouted. “I already sent messages to my dad and the professors!”
“Me too!” someone else yelled. “My mom said she’ll come as fast as she can!”
“My aunt works at the Ministry! They’ll do something!”
The students, frozen in terror moments ago, now shouted, frantically searching through their friends’ books, reaching for every possible connection.
But the train was stopped in the middle of nowhere. No one knew where they were. Even if their parents tried to Apparate to help, they’d only guess at a rough area—then search blindly.
“Patronus Charm!”
Wade’s eyes snapped open.
A flash of silver—then the figure of a massive, silver Doberman burst into the air, charging through the corridor, growing brighter with every step.
Wade whirled around.
There, standing outside the train, wand raised, was Professor Abigail. Her wand tip blazed with silver light.
(End of Chapter)
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