"Clang-clang-clang--"
The train moved steadily northward.
A heavy rain was falling outside, turning the windowpanes a thick, sticky gray that gradually deepened until the lights in the corridors and on the luggage racks came on.
The train swayed, raindrops pounded the windows, and the wind howled, but Professor Lupin still slept.
Inside the carriage, Hermione was sharing an anecdote she had heard.
"In order to obtain the Hogwarts Express, the Ministry of Magic carried out a large-scale project, which involved 167 Oblivion Charms and the largest-scale Concealment Charm in British history. The Muggle railway employees who took part felt that they had put something important in the wrong place for the following year.
Some pure-blood families protested strongly, feeling that using things made by Muggles was unsafe, unhygienic, and demeaning.
After the Ministry of Magic stated that students could either take the train to school or not go at all, this kind of opposition disappeared."
"That's amazing. In other words, this train was made by Muggles? I thought it was made by magic."
"People from pure-blood families are really as funny as Malfoy. They only know how to sing the opposite tune."
"Speaking of Malfoy, he has changed a lot recently. I remember two years ago, you were going to duel with him at night? In the end, he didn't come at all."
"Hermione, do you have to talk about this at this time?"
Ron interrupted her dissatisfiedly. Ginny giggled beside her, finding it very interesting.
"Oh, Damon, this is my new friend. Isn't he cute?"
Hermione suddenly remembered something and fumbled to untie the bag tied to a basket. A large ginger cat easily jumped out, stretched, yawned, and then jumped into Ron's lap.
The drum in Ron's pocket trembled, and he had to say to Hermione:
"Do you really have to let it out now? It'll scare Scabbers."
He covered his pocket and whispered soothingly:
"It's okay, Scabbers, I won't let it hurt you."
"I just wanted Damon to meet it, not to hurt your mouse."
Hermione was a little annoyed, but Damon's response immediately brightened her mood.
"This cat seems very human-like."
At this moment, Crookshanks had already jumped into Damon's lap and rubbed his hand affectionately.
Although it was a little ugly.
Damon didn't say this out loud. The cat, clinging to him affectionately, suddenly froze and silently jumped back to Hermione's position.
"Yeah, I think Crookshanks is incredibly smart."
Hermione happily hugged her large cat, even though she hadn't bought it for its intelligence—Crookshanks had been living in the pet shop for quite a while before Hermione bought it because of its strange appearance.
"Smart? I just hope he doesn't hurt Scabbers."
Ron disagreed, still eyeing Crookshanks warily—as if Crookshanks were now staring at Ron's pocket with his yellow eyes.
Just then, the train slowed down.
"We should probably be arriving
soon," Ron leaned forward, glancing out the window at the now completely darkened area, then at Professor Lupin. "Do you think we should wake him?"
"We can't be arriving,"
Hermione checked her watch, confirming it wasn't time yet.
"Then why did it stop?"
The train was moving slower and slower.
The sound of the wheels faded, while the roar of wind and rain outside the window grew louder.
Harry, who was closest to the door, stood up to check the corridor.
People were peeking out from the various carriages along the corridor.
"Hmm—?"
Damon suddenly felt something, put down his book, and stood up.
"What's wrong, Damon?"
Seeing Damon stand up, Neville instinctively sensed something was amiss.
"Bang!"
The train jolted and came to an eerie halt.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Luggage fell from the luggage racks one by one, and with that sound, all the lights suddenly went out, plunging everyone into darkness!
"Snap."
A snap of fingers echoed through the darkness, and then the room was as bright as day—a wand had appeared in Damon's hand, a bright light gleaming like a small sun on its tip.
The panicked young wizards instantly calmed down. Just as they were about to speak, a warning voice echoed from the corner.
"Huh?!"
Lupin, who had been sleeping with his eyes closed, sensed a powerful magical force and jolted awake!
When he discovered the source of the magic was a boy dressed like a student, his expression was filled with surprise, and the traces of saliva at the corners of his mouth made him look a little funny.
"What happened?" His voice was gruff and low.
A young wizard pressed against the wall, staring at him with a look of uncertainty.
"Something disgusting is coming,"
Damon replied curtly, wand in hand, as he began to exit the carriage.
"Wait, this isn't right!"
Lupin instinctively tried to stop the impetuous student. Bright light shone on his face, illuminating his tired, gray complexion and wary eyes.
In the bright light, his eyes met those of a calm, azure blue, and then fell silent.
"I'm with you."
Lupin followed the unknown boy in some silence.
Then he heard the children's voices in the corner:
"Damon, what's going on?"
Damon? Such a familiar name. Transfiguration Master Damon White?!
Lupin quickly connected the name with the Transfiguration Master who had risen to fame in the past two years.
He had done considerable research before teaching at Hogwarts, and he was naturally aware that this Transfiguration Master was a student there.
"Master White? Have you noticed anything?"
Lupin asked cautiously, following Damon closely.
"We're out the door."
Damon suddenly glowed with a powerful fluorescent light, and a dragon-like shadow hovered over her shoulder.
"Whoa!"
The train compartment door suddenly flew open.
A cloaked monster, towering to the ceiling, burst into the train!
His face was completely hidden beneath his hood. Harry and Ron, following Damon out of the compartment, saw a hand reaching out from under the cloak. It was shimmering, gray, thin, and scabby, like something dead and rotting in water.
As if sensing their gaze, the hand quickly retracted.
Then, the thing beneath the hood drew a breath—a long, slow, trembling breath, as if straining to absorb something more than just air.
Everyone felt a chill run through them.
Harry felt his breath catch in his chest.
But as the situation worsened, a thunderclap suddenly exploded in his mind!
"Get out!"
With that cry, a golden dragon roared out, swallowing the mountain-like shadow in one gulp!
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(End of this chapter)