Hogwart's Future - Book 2 ✔️

Chapter 36

Charlene's POV
A few days later

I scoured the room, looking for anything else I had to pack. I found a pair of socks underneath my bed. They didn't seem like mine but never mind. That should be everything.

I put Vicky in a small handbag that I'd borrowed from Ebony. She still hadn't told me how to shrink her back down so we had to upgrade from a paper bag.

I didn't even know why I bothered packing. Sure, I was going on the train but I'd be returning here with Ebony's parents. They're a big deal in the ministry, but they don't know anything yet, and I was supposed to tell them and take them back here to look for their daughter, and for me to look for her and my brother, or anyone else really. We have a list of people who'd gone missing. It had reached twenty now and we'd started getting worried. With last year in mind, it was even worse. The parents hadn't even known that their kids are missing, so to find that out now.. At least it isn't my job.

I walked outside and managed to get to the train untouched. I saw people getting on it, all except for one.

" Hey, Jasper! " I said. He turned to me.

" Aren't you getting on the train? " I asked.

" Not today. I'm staying here. Just saying goodbye to my buds. " He said. " Aren't you staying? "

" Yeah, but I've got to break the news to Ebony's parents. Then I'll be back. " I said. " Fun. "

" In that case.. " He said. " I'll go with you. I know the Cartnesss pretty well. "

" Yeah. " I said. " Thanks. "

" No problem. Let's find a seat, shall we? " He said.

I nodded. At least I won't be alone this time.

We managed to find an empty compartment, right at the back. I'd noticed a lot of half empty compartments. I'd even gone by Seraphina and Mia. I guess they look pretty lonely when they're not in their trio.

We sat down just as the train started moving. I put my suitcase on the seat next to me and kept my handbag on my lap. I undid the zipper on it to let Vicky have some air.

" So, how did you manage to get your parents to let you stay? You're Professor Malfoys kid, right? " He said.

" Yeah. He's staying to look for Derek. My brother. " I explained.

" Merlin I'm so sorry! I completely forgot! " He said.

" It's fine. " I said.

He let out an exaggerated sigh. " I'm safe! "

I chuckled a bit. " For now. "

He laughed. " You know, you're nothing like what Ebony said you were like. "

" Which is..? " I asked.

He cleared his throat. " A cold, merciless ice queen who has a dislike towards the entire human and wizarding population. " He said in a posh voice.

I shrugged. " Yeah, but you're you. "

" Have you taken pity on this soul?! " He said in mock anger. " How dare you, I'm awesome! "

I laughed. " This is exactly why. "

" Yay! " He said. " I am awesome! "

I looked out the window. We were approaching the station! I could just about make out the faces of Ebony's parents. They looked so exited..

Suddenly, the train stopped in its tracks. It started going backwards.

" What the hell is happening? " I asked.

" I've got no idea.. " Jasper said. I closed the bag that Vicky was curled up in, earning a sharp hiss on her part. The train had gone dead silent. Then the noises started. It begun with a small meow, probably from one of the many pet cats here. Then it got worse. Soon, even Vicky was at it, hissing non stop. Then I heard a howl. Did someone bring a dog on board? Then a growl. Then a roar.

" Cora, block the door with the suitcase. Now! " Jasper said. I managed to fit the handle of my baggage exactly behind the seats, so no one could open the door. I saw Jasper fiddling with the window locks.

" They're locked. The glass is bulletproof, so no one should be able to get in. " He said.

" What's going on? " I asked.

" I've seen this before. Those aren't animals, they're students. " He said.

" What?! " I said.

" It's hard to explain. Do you know that protective bubble charm thing? " He asked.

" Yeah.. " I said.

" Cast it. Quick. " He said.

I took my wand out of my pocket, murmured the spell under my breath, and with a swish of my wand we had a transparent dome covering the entire room.

" Ok, explain. " I said.

" I'll try. " He said. " So me and my friends were walking in the forbidden forest on a dare . "

" Yeah? " I said.

" And we started seeing there marks in the trees. Not scratch marks or anything, but a symbol like thing. It looked similar to the dark mark but, I dunno, different. " He said. I looked through the window and saw a figure walking towards us. Wisps of smoke came out of their wand, seeping under the compartments. At some point the lights had turned out, making it look even more terrifying.

" And we started hearing the wild animal noises, like now. " He said. The sounds had grown closer and closer. I looked out of the window that showed the outside of the train. We were in the middle of nowhere. Considering that we were going backwards ever so slowly.

" I decided to go look. They were students. " He said. " Around ten of them. It was ages ago, but I think that's where they are. "

The doorknob started to jiggle. " Get down! " I whispered to him. Smoke started flowing from under the door, fogging up the dome. I couldn't make out the persons face because of the smoke, but I could tell that they were looking right at us. It tried the doorknob one more time, before giving up and rushing to the front of the train. I stepped out of the dome to clear off the smoke. I looked through the window that showed the people in the compartment next to us, only to be met with gleaming red eyes staring at me, then scratching on the glass between us hysterically. I quickly jumped back into the dome.

" Jasper.. " I said, shaking.

" Yeah ? " He said. He looked visibly afraid.

" I think we're the only ones left.. " I said.

He edged closer to me. " Umm, the ministry will be here soon. All the parents saw the train go back, right? " He said.

" Yeah.. They did. " I said.

" We'll be ok. It's all going to be OK. "