Heavy Rain

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard.

"Just stick out your

Ernie froze instantly, his mouth still hanging open, before his entire body lost its balance and he tumbled out through the carriage window.

"Hey!"

Todd shot up from his armchair, drawing his wand and pointing it at the figure in front of the carriage.

A series of whistling sounds rang out, followed immediately by a flash of intense green light, then red.

In an instant, the carriage window shattered. A strange, eerie green glow emanated from Todd's body as he was thrown backward, slamming hard into the Brass Bed Frame before collapsing onto the floor, motionless.

With a loud bang, the carriage door swung open. Amidst the howling wind, a figure dripping with water from head to toe stepped onto the bus.

Under the dim light inside, a sinister luster glinted off the Metal Mask beneath the hood.

Death Eater!

Snape recognized the intruder's identity.

"Drop your weapons. We will not harm innocent wizards."

A low, cold voice emanated from beneath the mask.

Taking a deep breath, Snape quietly tightened his grip on his wand beneath his robes.

"McKinnon, come out. We require your assistance with a small matter."

No sooner had the words left his lips than the sound of spells popping and intense fighting erupted from upstairs, followed immediately by a woman's scream.

A minute later, accompanied by the sound of clattering footsteps, a middle-aged man wearing a green printed dress walked sideways down from the second floor.

As he descended, he struggled with one hand to rip the yellow scarf tied around his neck, tossing it aside.

He pointed his wand behind him, and the McKinnons—a family of three bound into a bundle—floated a few inches off the ground, drifting down the stairs after him.

"This thing is disgusting. Next time, it's your turn to wear it."

The Death Eater in women's clothing complained to his companion.

"Enough. Since we've caught them, let's head back as soon as possible."

"Wait, there's someone else here."

The Death Eater dressed as a woman pointed a finger at Snape, who was standing by the window.

"He saw my face."

Just as Snape prepared to fight back, the masked Death Eater said dismissively, "Oh, McNeil, I know him."

"Severus Snape, a classmate of my son's, and also a member of Walpurgis."

"Why are you calling my name, Avery!"

McNeil said with some indignation.

"Hello there, Severus."

Old Avery spoke as if he were in high spirits, walking right up to Snape.

"I've heard some interesting things about you from my son."

"But as it happens, since you are about to become a good servant of the Master, I am now prepared to give you an opportunity to pledge your loyalty in advance."

He pointed his wand at the McKinnons.

"Kill this girl, using the spell Bellatrix taught you."

Snape glanced toward the side out of the corner of his eye.

Mr. McKinnon's head hung low against his chest, blood still seeping from his temple.

Mrs. McKinnon and Marlene had their mouths tightly bound with coarse hemp rope, able only to emit whimpering, groaning sounds.

"Mmph..." Marlene's eyes were brimming with tears, looking toward Snape in a silent plea.

"Kill... kill her?"

Snape pulled his wand from his robes with a tremor, looking at Old Avery with an expression of panic and fear.

"But, I... I haven't successfully cast that spell yet... can I really do it?"

"Tell me your choice: do it or don't."

Old Avery said coldly, ignoring Snape's question.

"Alright..."

Fear laced Snape's voice as he slowly raised his wand.

"Sectumsempra!"

He hissed the incantation through gritted teeth, frantically aiming his wand at Old Avery's neck and slashing it horizontally with all his might, while simultaneously lunging beneath the brass bed frame.

Blood gushed from Old Avery's neck, forming a dark red splash of ink.

His eyes widened, filled with disbelief and terror; he opened his mouth, but only a faint, guttural sound escaped.

Old Avery's body swayed in place for a few moments before hitting the carriage floor with a dull, heavy thud.

"Avery!"

McNeil roared in fury, shifting his wand away from the McKinnons and firing a barrage of spells that crisscrossed toward Snape.

Snape rolled out from under the bed, casting spells blindly behind him.

The carriage windows shattered instantly under the impact of the flying curses, emitting a series of sharp, crackling sounds as shards rained down like hail.

Wind and rain poured into the carriage from all directions, sending the items inside swirling and flying about.

Crouched behind the armchair where Ernie had just been sitting, Snape panted heavily; McNeil's spells were so intense that he could barely lift his head.

Just as his mind raced, searching for an opportunity to escape, a loud, echoing crack pierced the tense air.

Snape cautiously poked his head out and saw a tall figure with slightly greying hair suddenly appear inside the carriage.

Before McNeil could even react, the figure had already leveled his wand at him—

"Petrificus Totalus!"

His arms and legs snapped together, and his entire body fell backward with a thud, stiff as a wooden board.