Master of Death

The Beginning of the End

~ *~* ~ *~* ~ *~* ~ *~* ~ *~* CHAPTER XXV *~* ~ *~* ~ *~* ~ *~* ~ *~* ~

The excitement was palpable, a constant hum of energy flowing throughout the student body. The upgrades to the train had been fantastic. The rooms changed shape and size depending on the needs of those inside, the bathrooms were large and comfortable and there were dining cars! One was between in the middle of the first eight cars and the other between the last eight cars with the Teachers car and the Medical car in the dead center of the train. If they did not feel like eating in the Dining cars, there were menus in each compartment that they could order from, using their bank keys or cards to pay for their meal upon delivery.

While each car had a Mascot on it, each compartment, eight to a car, had one as well from each house and they liked to switch, changing the colors of the interior as they went. It was fun because everyone got to be an Honorary member of each house as they chattered away with friends and family. Many of the older students who were returning to Hogwarts were a bit wary of these changes, even more so at the rather friendly air around everyone. They had grown up used to the tension, the rivalries and the rather blatant bullying and favoritism. Though they can admit that having actual food and space to simply lounge was a nice improvement and wished this was done when they had still been students.

The teachers on the train were Severus, Filius and Rye. They held the Prefect meeting, handing each Prefect a clipboard with a magically updating roster for each of the cars as well as a list of offenses ranging from rowdiness to full out fights and their matching punishments. Severus impressed upon them that they do not get to act like they are above the rules either and told them what will be tolerated vs what will not be. He left the threat of detention with either himself or Professor Nubia hanging over their heads and they gulped. Filius just squeaked happily into his tea, letting the two most feared Professors handle things. The Head Boy and Girl, Hermione and Draco, were given even stricter rules, but the two did not balk at them. They understood that while they held a lot of power for students, maybe ranked as TA's, that did not mean they actually were on par with the actual teachers.

With a final set of warnings, they went off to do their rounds. The rosters helped them keep track of their House's students as well as communicate with each other if there is an issue. The Medical car was a full on traveling Hospital with 10 healers and two Mediwizard assistants. A fully functional Potion lab, spelled and warded to the nines to allow the delicate potions to be brewed without issue. There were also three Potion Masters on board to do the brewing. So far other than a few motion sick students and one who had a panic attack, so far nothing major has happened.

As the day drew to a close and the closer they got to Hogwarts, the more palpable the excitement got. The energy and noise was now a constant hum, like an overactive beehive. All anyone could talk about was the new classes, the discoveries made about the former Headmaster and this undercurrent of tension, a wariness that had many fidgety and twitchy. Was the new Headmaster going to do right by them? What about the new teachers? How much has changed in Hogwarts, did the castle itself change?

When the announcement was made that they would be arriving in less than 10 minutes, to please get ready and to start lining up in an orderly fashion, it was all anyone could do to not burst out of their skin. The train began to slow down, the motion much smoother than before and pulled to a full stop with hardly a shift. The conductor's voice calling out over the PA to inform the students to leave their trunks, gather up their familiars and to please be careful when disembarking the train. Their first look at Hogsmeade Station was an awed one. Brilliant crystal torches stood towering over even Hagrid, shining with pale moonlight, bright enough to allow them to see not only the station but also the path leading to the docks. It showed stone steps and hand railings with flame torches stationed periodically down the path and out of sight.