Chapter 80 - 80. Choo Choo Cachoo (1/2)

The journey was uncomfortable, owing to the fact that they were jammed in the back of the taxis with their trunks. They were very relieved to get out at King's Cross, even though the rain was coming down harder than ever, and they got soaked carrying their crossing the busy road and into the station.

Ryan was used to getting onto platform nine and three-quarters by now. It was a simple matter of walking straight through the apparently solid barrier dividing platforms nine and ten. The only tricky part was doing this in an unobtrusive way, so as to avoid attracting Muggle attention. They leaned casually against the barrier, chatting unconcernedly, and slid sideways through it. . . and as they did so, platform nine and three-quarters materialized in front of them.

The Hogwarts Express, a gleaming scarlet steam engine, was already there, clouds of steam billowing from it, through which the many Hogwarts students and parents on the platform appeared like dark ghosts.

”You're going to have an interesting year,” said Dad, his eyes twinkling. ”I might even get time off to come and watch a bit of it. ”

”A bit of what?” said Tonks.

”I'd invite you for Christmas, but. . . well, I expect you're all going to want to stay at Hogwarts, what with. . . one thing and another. ”

”You'll find out this evening, I expect,” said Mom, smiling. ”It's going to be very exciting – mind you, I'm very glad they've changed the rules -”

”What rules?” said Harry, Tonks, Daphne, and Luna together. ”I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you. . . . Now, behave, won't you?” giving a hard stare at Ryan mostly who whistled nonchalantly and said ”Wonderful weather isn't it?” as he looked up at the downpour and gloomy dark skies.

The pistons hissed loudly and the train began to move.

”Tell us what's happening at Hogwarts!” Tonks yelled out of the window as Mom and Dad sped away from them. ”What rules are they changing?”

But Mom only smiled and waved. Before the train had rounded the corner, she, and dad, had Disapparated.

They quietly went back to their compartment. The thick rain splattering the windows made it very difficult to see out of them. ”Bagman wanted to tell us what's happening at Hogwarts,” she said grumpily, sitting down next to Harry. ”At the World Cup, remember?” Ryan didn't let on that he already knew what was happening but just watched them try to guess with frustrated frowns on their faces.

”Shh!” Hermione whispered suddenly, pressing her finger to her lips and pointing toward the compartment next to theirs. They listened, and heard a familiar drawling voice drifting in through the open door.

”. . . Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore – the man's such a Mudblood-lover – and Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of riffraff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line than Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not just the defense rubbish we do. . . . ”

Hermione got up, tiptoed to the compartment door, and slid it shut, blocking out Malfoy's voice.

”So he thinks Durmstrang would have suited him, does he?” she said angrily. ”I wish he had gone, then we wouldn't have to put up with him. ”

”Durmstrang's another wizarding school?” said Harry.

”Yes,” said Hermione sniffily, ”and it's got a horrible reputation. According to An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe, it puts a lot of emphasis on the Dark Arts. ” Where is it? What country?”

”Well, nobody knows, do they?” said Hermione, raising her eyebrows.

”Er – why not?” said Harry.

”There's traditionally been a lot of rivalry between all the magic schools. Durmstrang and Beauxbatons like to conceal their whereabouts so nobody can steal their secrets,” said Hermione matter-of-factly.

”Come off it,” said Tonks, starting to laugh. ”Durmstrang's got to be about the same size as Hogwarts – how are you going to hide a great big castle?”

”But Hogwarts is hidden,” said Hermione, in surprise. ”Everyone knows that. . . well, everyone who's read Hogwarts, A History, anyway. ”