John did not sit in the student carriages.
He had never been one to put up with discomfort.
In that respect, he was quite the Slytherin.
The crowded student carriages were noisy, while the staff carriage had enough room to set up several tables for a feast.
John's headmaster, Professor Slughorn, had once treated his favored students to cold roast quail here.
It would probably have been delicious served hot.
John entered the carriage.
It was not occupied on every journey.
Professor McGonagall, for instance, practically lived at the school and rarely had occasion to sit here.
Professor Slughorn had retired, and Professor McGonagall had taken over.
Snape was still the Potions professor. John felt that if his former Head of House failed to become the Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts again, he would end up cursing the position like Voldemort.
This year's Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Charles Xavier, had been forced to take a year off for personal reasons.
According to some irresponsible Gryffindors, Snape might have drugged him.
They swore it was true, because at last year's Christmas feast, Snape had done the unthinkable and poured Professor Xavier a glass of hot mulled wine.
John did not think Snape would go that far.
Besides, even if he had, there was no evidence to prove it.
A Potions Master was the finest poisoner in the world.
Those students could never have spotted it.
"Am I the only one?"
John picked a seat at random and sat down.
It seemed there were no new professors this year.
The Hogwarts Express was not as fast as the Sea Train.
But the scenery along the way was part of its charm.
By evening, the train gradually slowed along tracks bathed in dusk.
Hogsmeade Station.
Before John