The others look confused, honestly Harry is confused because despite being ready, despite being prepared, it wasn't the sa as his own third year. For one, there is no ice on the windows, no subtle creeping horror, or fears.
Had the Dentors not reached them yet? Were they after soone else instead? He frowned and stood, earning wide-eyed stares from the girls. "I need to go check" he announced, leaving no room for debate or argunts.
And the argunts were coming, he could see them in all of their eyes, sothing primal and protective, sothing that he imagined would be in his own eyes if it were Hermione or any girl telling him the sa. He would want to keep them safe, protected.
Perhaps those ntalities were reversed in this world as well, maybe it was Cavewon who were referenced for being overprotective and possessive.
Any further comnts were interrupted by the sound of glass shattering and screams a few carriages down. Within seconds Harry, along with the others, were in the hallway, pulling open the only unopened door as others peeked out in concern and fear.
Inside was a sight that froze the others in terror. It wasn't a cloaked creature, wasn't a soul devouring monster that held down one of the students, snarling in her face.
"Werewolf…" Hermione gasped out, eyes widened as she stood behind Harry in the doorway.
The boy-who-lived, on the other hand, didn't hesitate. His wand was out, and it took barely a mutter to toss a spell that launched the creature back out the window it ca from. The teenager, soone he vaguely recognized as belonging to Slytherin, was shook up and injured but it didn't appear to be serious.
Then ca the thumps from the roof, more clawed limbs, more muscle, more fur, dozens or more creatures and Harry Potter realized that it wouldn't be Dentors this year that would be the source of his concerns.
His mind whirled, processing the situation, trying to co up with a solution using what he knew of the creatures. Assuming everything was true between universes, and those magical laws did seem to be the sa in both, they tended to be more primal, but more dangerous, in their transford states. Drawn by flashy displays or the sights and slls of battle.
Panic was beginning in the surrounding area, younger students crying older students freaking out, and not for the first ti did Harry wonder why adults weren't stationed on the Hogwarts Express more often.
"Evacuate the back of the Express, move all the students into the forward cars and secure them." He ordered, voice sounding older than he rembered it being. Others looked ready to protest, until a howl echoed.
That sound, that bone-chilling blood-curdling sound was enough that the older students began herding the youngers forward, vague promises about how 'everything would be okay' were whispered and muttered for those speaking just as much for those in terror.
"What do we do?" Amy asked, voice hardened as much as she could manage. Still, the boy could see uncertainty and fear in her eyes, not that he blad her. By this point in his original life, he had faced far worse things than Lycans, but she wasn't him and he was infinitely glad for such a fact.
With a gesture he pointed towards where the other students were passing them in their rush to perceived safety. "Go, I'm going to draw them back as best I can." Harriet was shaking her head in refusal, and he understood. He wouldn't have wanted to abandon anyone either, but the situation was different. "I need you to go. I can fight but not with you this close. I can't risk holding back to make sure I don't hurt you too."
In the end it was Hermione who grabbed onto the two witches and gave a pull, Luna who held Ginny's arm to guide her to safety. The remainder of the hallways was empty, quiet save for the sounds on the roof, the cracking of glass as the monsters made their way inside.
As Hermione finished pushing the last of the students through to the next segnt, closing the door behind her, she glanced back one last ti, and the sight had the air leaving her lungs.
Harry struck his wand against his forearm, igniting the end like one would do a match. With a twirl he lifted it above his head and then flas poured forth, sliding down and around his body like water. They twisted and ford, shaping long robes of living fire.
He shone like a warrior of old mixed with the birth of a star, and even as she forced herself on, she knew it would be a sight never surpassed.
****
To say the room was tense would have been an understatent. Snape was glaring at Riddle, Grace was eting the glare with a challenging look of her own, and the other staff mbers seed to be stuck siding with one individual or the other.
Do they go with the Potion mistress on the grounds that she was doing what had been necessary to protect students and save lives? Or would they choose their innocent colleague who had been wrongfully accused on the basis on circumstantial evidence?
Dumbledore had made her case ti and ti again of trusting those they worked with, but for the present 'conflict' she opted to stay neutral. Hogwarts needed a functional staff of professors and adults first and foremost. Their petty squabbling and differences ca after the children.
As the Headmistress prepared to interrupt whatever argunt was brewing a sudden, and urgent, tapping at the window drew everyone's attention. It was an owl, one looking rather distressed, clutching a small piece of parchnt.
It took only a few quick strides to reach the barrier and allow the poor creature in before taking the object and scanning it over, her skin paling as she did so.
"Headmistress," McGonagall inquired, "what is it? What…"
"The Express has stalled, there is an ergency, Werewolves."
No one so much as breathed for what felt like an eternity before the room was filled with a flurry of movent.
Old rivalries were forgotten as a moving plan was set in motion, Sprout would race to Pomfrey and contact St. Mungos for additional help. Dumbledore, Riddle, Snape, McGonagall, and Flitwick would imdiately grab brooms and head to the train to assist.
The remaining professors would begin contacting the Aurors, Wizengamot, and any other dical services that might be available should the worst co to pass.
___________________________
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