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The Express Train gradually picked up speed, winding through mountains and fields. Seen through the glass, the scenery outside seemed to have been given a special filter, becoming greener and clearer.

For most of the journey, Harry and Ron played Wizard's Chess. One of them scratched his head before giving up the struggle, carelessly making random moves regardless of the board's state while talking about next year's Quidditch team. The other occasionally let out meaningless chuckles as the pieces shouted rather impolite words.

Ginny leaned against Harry, flipping through the quizzes in The Quibbler.

Loren sat with Hermione as she read The Daily Prophet. The papers were now full of articles on how to resist Dementors, how to see through Polyjuice Potion and confirm whether friends and family had been replaced by disguised impostors, the typical symptoms of the Imperius Curse...

The latter half contained reports from the Ministry of Magic, describing what measures the Aurors had recently taken against Dark wizards, how many Dementors had been captured and detained, and recruitment notices aimed at Werewolves. The readers' letters section printed several hysterical passages. An old witch living alone in Cornwall claimed she had seen Voldemort walk past her front door one morning.

"There's hardly any useful information..." Hermione sighed gloomily, tilting her head onto Loren's shoulder. "But every sign points to the war starting soon."

"It hasn't truly begun yet." Loren closed the newspaper for her.

"The Ministry of Magic doesn't have much time left."

"..."

The two chatted quietly, and the journey passed amid their idle conversation.

At lunchtime, they bought a huge pile of Cauldron Cakes and Pumpkin Pasties, their sickly-sweet fragrance filling the entire compartment.

The exquisite sweets sent them into a deep sleep. By the time they woke, towns had appeared beyond the windows. A