"Fantastic!" Ron shouted, pressing both hands against the window frame. "That's brilliant! The train's really going faster!"
Harry, Ron, Fred, and George all squeezed in front of the window, staring outside with wide eyes. The Hogwarts Express was accelerating, and the countryside beyond the glass began sliding backward at an unbelievable speed, fields and trees blurring together into streaks of green and gold.
Fred, unable to resist, shoved the window open. A blast of wind rushed in at once, roaring through the compartment like a storm and whipping everyone's hair to one side. Robes snapped wildly, loose parchment flew into the air, and several things on the table were blown straight onto the floor.
"Squeak!"
Ron's grey rat was nearly swept away by the sudden gale. Scabbers panicked and dug his tiny claws into Ron's robes, clinging to him with desperate strength as his whiskers trembled in the wind.
Harry's owl did not fare much better. Hedwig's feathers were blown into disarray, and she flapped frantically in her cage, looking deeply offended by the chaos around her. A few loose feathers drifted through the carriage, spinning like pale snowflakes before being thrown against the wall.
Poor Neville suffered the most. The wind caught his robe and flipped it over his face, leaving him struggling blindly beneath the fabric. He flailed for a few seconds, nearly sliding off the seat before managing to grab the edge and steady himself.
"Oh! This is amazing!" Fred yelled into the wind.
Harry, Ron, and the Weasley twins leaned toward the open window, shouting excitedly as the train thundered forward. None of them had ever experienced anything like it, and the rush of speed made their hearts race in a way that was both frightening and intoxicating.
"Do you still want to go faster?" Jamie called with a grin. The train had become much louder after accelerating, and if he spoke any softer, the sound of the wheels would swallow his voice completely.
"Faster!" Fred shouted without hesitation.
"Keep going!" George yelled, his face bright with excitement.
The Weasley twins feared boredom far more than danger, and this was exactly the sort of ridiculous adventure they loved most. As far as they were concerned, if the train could still accelerate, then it absolutely should.
Jamie increased the flow of magic. Fortunately, he was not an ordinary young wizard, or the Hogwarts Express would have drained him dry in an instant.
"Clatter-clatter-clatter!"
The train sped up again. The wheels hammered over the tracks, the metal joints groaned under the strain, and the entire carriage trembled as if it had woken from a long sleep and suddenly decided to run. Somewhere beneath them, sparks flashed briefly, bright and sharp.
The wind pouring through the open window became even stronger. It swept through the compartment with such force that no one could keep their eyes fully open, and the air struck their faces like a series of cold slaps.
"Snap!"
Hedwig was buffeted by the wind and slumped sideways in her cage, stunned more by surprise than harm. Ron's fat rat was thrown against the compartment door, then slid down in a dazed heap before scrambling back toward his owner.
Neville curled up in the corner, clutching Trevor tightly against his chest. He looked terrified that if he loosened his grip for even a second, either the toad or he himself would be flung across the compartment.
"Close the window!" Tyler shouted over the roar. "The train is still speeding up. You'll be blown out if you keep leaning there."
"Close it!" Harry yelled, one hand clamped firmly over his glasses.
The wind was so fierce that he was afraid his glasses would be torn from his face and vanish forever. Ron and the twins could not endure it much longer either, because the air now struck their cheeks painfully, almost like tiny blades.
"Help me!" Ron shouted, grabbing the window frame with both hands.
He tried to force it shut, but the pressure was too strong for him alone. Harry and the Weasley twins rushed in to help, and with all four of them pushing together, they finally managed to drag the window closed.
"Phew!"
Harry, Ron, Fred, and George collapsed back into their seats, all breathing hard. The compartment had become a complete mess, with lunch boxes shifted out of place, napkins scattered, feathers drifting across the floor, and Neville still half tangled in his robe.
"That was brilliant," Fred said, still glowing with excitement. "I don't think any prank we've ever done comes close to this."
"Absolutely a historic achievement," George said, nodding with deep approval. "We may have to write this one down, assuming anyone believes us."
Outside the compartment, the sudden acceleration of the Hogwarts Express had thrown the entire train into confusion. Every carriage felt the change, and the voices of students rose in a chaotic wave through the corridor.
"Oh, Merlin's beard! What's happening? Why is the train so fast?"
"Close the window, you idiot! The wind nearly took my robes!"
"Watch where you're looking! Turn around!"
The train was full of startled shouts, panicked laughter, and the thumps of luggage sliding from racks. Some students were terrified, some were thrilled, and some seemed unable to decide whether they should scream or cheer.
"Do you still want it faster?" Jamie asked, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
"Of course," Fred said immediately. "The faster, the better."
"We're going to check the other compartments," George said, rubbing his hands together. "It sounds wonderfully lively out there."
The twins' smiles became almost wicked. They loved seeing people in ridiculous situations, especially when the chaos was harmless enough to laugh at and dramatic enough to remember.
"If we're going faster, I can't handle it alone for long," Jamie said, glancing at Tyler.
His meaning was clear. With his own magic alone, he could keep the train accelerated, but if they wanted to push it even further, he needed Tyler's help.
Tyler said nothing. He simply placed his hand over Jamie's and channelled his own magic into him.
They were originally one person, split into two bodies by Equal-Fate Twin Magic. Their magic came from the same source, so sharing power between them was far smoother than it would be for ordinary wizards.
With Tyler's support, Jamie increased the output again. Magic surged into the hidden channels of the Hogwarts Express, rushing through its old enchanted frame and driving the train faster than it had likely ever moved before.
"So, we'll go see what's happening elsewhere," Fred said, already stepping toward the door.
"Purely to make sure everyone is safe, of course," George added, though his grin made that excuse impossible to believe.
"Don't tell anyone we made the train speed up," Tyler said. "And if you get the chance, start spreading the idea of going to Hogsmeade once we arrive early. Make sure most of the students hear about it and want to join."
"Understood," Fred said, giving a sharp salute.
"Leave it to us," George said. "When it comes to spreading exciting bad ideas, we are professionals."
The Weasley twins might not always be reliable in normal matters, but when it came to stirring up students, few people at Hogwarts could compare. Aside from Slytherin, they had friends, acquaintances, and prank victims in every corner of the school.
After the twins left, Ron remained in the compartment, practically vibrating with excitement. He turned to Harry and began talking at once, his hands waving as if he could hardly contain everything he wanted to say.
"That was amazing! It was so exciting! Did you see how fast everything was moving?"
Harry's face was also flushed with excitement. Perhaps he had been born suited to Gryffindor after all, because the thrill of danger and adventure had risen in him so quickly that he had almost forgotten his earlier fear of being expelled.
The train thundered onward, and the whole carriage began to shake more violently. At such a speed, travelling in a straight line was merely thrilling, but whenever the track curved, the ride turned into pure terror.
.....
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