Everyone hurried toward the sound like a swarm of summoned ants, and sure enough, they discovered something unusual by a window near its source.
Under the moonlight, the bats perched on the branches outside gathered in clusters, gradually transforming into human figures. They wore long robes, their faces as pale as paper. On closer inspection, two sharp fangs protruded from the corners of their mouths. They were unmistakably vampires, slowly emerging from the dark forest and approaching the Hogwarts Express.
"They really are vampires." There was a trace of excitement in Hugo's voice. Clearly, the joy of seeing mysterious creatures had overcome his fear, leaving him as excited as an explorer discovering a new continent.
"They're not going to attack the train, are they?" A hint of fear crept into Ron's voice.
"Don't worry, little sister. This train is sturdy. Last time, we set off a whole big jar of Exploding Rocks and didn't even shatter the glass," George suddenly said, appearing out of nowhere.
Fred agreed. "Exactly. Besides, Professor Marlene Queens is right up in the locomotive. Unless the Hogwarts Express is at a station, the locomotive is the only place anyone can get on or off. They can't get in anywhere else. The professor will definitely protect us. She's really powerful, and she has lots of powerful toys."
As if to prove Fred's words, the vampires outside began their attack. As they swept their long sleeves, streaks of red light flew toward the windows like waterfalls of blood.
Just as the red light was about to strike the windows, a soft white glow rippled across the glass. The instant it touched the blood-red waterfalls, it dissolved them like a red-hot iron rod touching snow.
"See? No problem," George said smugly. "I told you the Hogwarts Express could take it."
Fred nodded and said earnestly, "Exactly. If you want to blow it up, you have to do it from the inside. Blowing it up from outside means finding a way to break through the defensive magic first. It'd be much easier from inside." With that, the two began cheerfully discussing which materials would make more powerful magical explosives. If one ignored what they were saying, one might have mistaken them for two top students with a passion for learning.
Harry patted Herman's shoulder, leaned close to him, and said in a voice as cold as the north wind in winter, "Now do you know why I wasn't running? The vampires can't get in at all."
Herman couldn't help shivering at Harry's icy words and struggled to explain. "Well, I only took you along because I meant well."
Just as Herman's mind raced, trying to think of something that would save him from Harry settling the score afterward, a tremendous boom came from the front of the train, like a dull clap of thunder. Then the Hogwarts Express shook violently, like a little boat in a storm. The shaking didn't last long, however, and it steadied after a few seconds.
The noise successfully caught Harry's attention-or, more precisely, everyone's attention. They all looked curiously toward the front of the train, wondering what had happened there, like a group of curious children waiting for a mysterious gift to be unveiled.
At that moment, the prefects began moving through the carriages, Percy among them. "Everyone, return to your compartments!" he called loudly. "Don't wander around. The professors are dealing with the problem, and we'll be moving again soon." His voice rang out like a clear bugle call.
Herman and the others hurried into the compartment Quirrell had just left. Since it was a professor's compartment, and no student would willingly share one with a professor, it was empty.
But once Herman's group of six and the twins entered, the compartment was packed like a tin of sardines. The twins squeezed onto one side with Neville and Hugo, while Harry, Draco, Ron, and Herman squeezed onto the other. It was so crowded that Herman wanted to sit on the table.
After all, Herman felt none of the secret delight of being squeezed in with pretty little girls, because Harry had finally drawn her wand and was pressing it against his lower back like an icy dagger. Herman sat with exceptionally proper posture, daring to rest only a third of his bottom on the seat, as though he were sitting on a needlepoint.
Seeing Percy passing the compartment door, George hurriedly reached out and tugged at Ron opposite him. "Quick, go ask your brother what's happened to the Hogwarts Express and why we've stopped."
Ron was very curious too. At George's words, she quickly stood up, opened the door a crack, and timidly asked Percy, "Percy, why has the Hogwarts Express stopped?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Percy looked down and saw his little sister. He hesitated, but still answered, "Professor Marlene said the mountain ahead collapsed and buried the tracks, so we had to stop. But the professor has already started dealing with it. It won't delay us for too long."
"The mountain collapsed? That must have something to do with the vampires," Herman muttered after hearing Percy's answer.
Percy glanced at the vampires still lingering outside the window and occasionally attempting another attack. "Probably," he said hesitantly. "But don't worry. The professor will deal with it. Besides, she's already informed Headmaster Dumbledore. Everything will definitely be fine."
Everyone visibly relaxed at the mention of Dumbledore's name. As long as the headmaster knew, everything would certainly be fine. Such was their faith in the greatest wizard of the age.
Herman also breathed a sigh of relief, but then asked curiously, "What does Professor Marlene teach?" He had no recollection of that name at all. Could there be other changes in this world?
This time, Percy didn't need to answer, nor did he have time to. He still had to maintain order in the other carriages.
After all, they were all children. The screaming hadn't stopped since the vampires attacked, and the prefects went back and forth soothing the children like kindergarten teachers.
George answered, "Professor Marlene teaches alchemy. You can't take her classes yet. But she's really nice. If you go to her with questions, she's happy to share her knowledge. We've learned lots of useful things from her."
Fred nodded in wholehearted agreement. "Right. If there's something interesting you want to make, the professor's even willing to provide materials as well as guidance. She's helped us a great deal with all our little gadgets."
An alchemy professor. The original story really hadn't introduced her, so it wasn't surprising that I didn't know about her.
After all, the original story was only a book, with limited space. Many things received only a passing mention. In a real world, there would certainly be plenty of unmentioned details filled in to make the world make sense.
"So Professor Marlene is the professor on duty. I wonder what exactly happened up ahead, and when the professors will sort it out," Hugo interjected as he watched the activity outside, his eyes full of puzzlement.
The scene shifted back a little in time, to the locomotive of the Hogwarts Express. Although the Hogwarts Express was a magical train, and its so-called steam engine was merely an imitation rather than its actual power source, an enormous boiler had still been built to make the imitation as perfect as possible.
However, this boiler needed no coal and even shone constantly with a soft light, like a warm fireplace.
Professor Marlene Queens sat before the fireplace, reading a book on alchemy to pass the time during her shift. Every so often, she looked up at the tracks ahead, estimating that they would reach Hogwarts in another hour or so. The timing was just right, neither late nor too early, like a precise clock.
But when Marlene looked up again, she was astonished to see the distant mountainside suddenly split apart with a tremendous crash. Then an enormous mass of rock buried the tracks ahead.
Marlene hurriedly stood and waved her wand. Every control lever in the locomotive's cab dropped at once. Accompanied by the piercing screech of brakes, the Hogwarts Express came to an emergency stop, its immense momentum nearly derailing it.