Life Begins Anew

Chapter 53 Escape!

Hermione gasped out as Harry looked to her. “We have got to get off this train or we will all be killed!”

Harry looked to her with horror. “Are you sure Hermione?”

“Yes!” She whispered urgently. She looked out the window, noticing a forest 100 yards from the train. She hoped the snow was not too deep. “Pass the word along. I am going to use the bathroom and check the rear door.”

Hermione made her way to the bathroom and looked back, making sure their guard was not looking through the window of the front carriage door. Sure enough, the rear door was locked. She wondered if whoever planned this was foolish enough not to ward the door. Using her silent magic she thought “Alohomorra!” She heard the click of the door as the lock released. Thank Merlin for small miracles.

She silently casted “Muffilato” to envelope the carriage as she spoke. “There are Deatheaters on the train, and this train will soon stop. The goal is to kill us all. When the train begins to slow, we must leave by exiting out the rear door. I have unlocked it. Make for the forest and stay where you are. Harry, Ron, and I will gather you up.”

There were a few frightened screams from the first years as a couple of students demanded to know how she knew.

Harry stood up, the whole carriage became quiet. “It does not matter how she knows. I trust her and I am leaving this train. I will have a better chance to survive outside. We are all here together on one carriage. It will be like leading cattle to slaughter.”

Ron stood up as well. “I am following Harry and Hermione. They have never been proven wrong. Remember the cover up when Harry told everyone that the He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named returned and how they painted him as crazy along with the Headmaster? And then it was proved that he was right in the end? Hurry and make a decision as there is not much time.”

Harry spoke out. “Who is with us?”

Hermione began an illusionment charm that would show an image of the students quietly chatting. “There! That should hold them long enough for us to escape.”

The older students recognized the charm and immediately raised their hands, with the First years joining shortly. There was no way they were going to be by themselves.

They felt the train slow. “Do not take anything and leave now. Ron you go first and everyone line behind him. Go!”

Ron pushed open the door and immediately jumped falling into the snow and stood up, snow midway up his leg and began sprinting toward the forest. He looked back to see other students follow, making a line to the forest.

Hermione and Harry jumped last, making quick time to the forest edge, panting as they watched the train round the bend. They watched as it began to snow, fat flakes coming down hard and fast. Thank the Gods as the fresh snow would cover their tracks.

She had looked into her pouch after Harry and Ron left her room and knew that there was a tent in it. She quickly pulled it out and charmed it up and went inside. She made the interior larger and placed a roaring fire into the two fireplaces.

“Come Harry!” Hermione urged the shivering wizard as she began to walk along the edge of the forest.

Ron met up with them ten minutes later with most of the group. Hermione urged them into the tent and started toward the tent placing strong wards and a forget me charm. Her last act was to conceal the tent by using “Natura Abscondere”.

She entered the tent looking at the shivering students huddled next to the fires. She grabbed some large blankets and quickly replicated enough for the group. She started to strip. “Now is not the time for shyness! Strip out of your wet clothes and wrap yourselves with a blanket.”

They looked to her in shock for a moment and noticed Harry and Ron doing the same and quickly complied.

A Hufflepuff First Year looked at her. “Why not use a drying charm Head Girl?”

“All underage witches and wizards must not perform magic. Remember the Underage Magic trace? They will find us despite my wards if it is used!” She told the young student.

She watched as the group sat down, looking miserable, but feeling the warmth return to their bodies.

Hermione walked into the kitchen, noticing that it was well stocked with food. She replicated enough broth for the group and heated it up, asking Ron, Harry, and Seamus to distribute it to the group.

They sat down on the floor, wrapped in their blankets and sipping appreciatively at their bowls of broth, wondering what would become of them.


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Voldemort looked to Severus and Bellatrix. “Time to take care of our mudblood problem and kill Harry Potter.” The Dark Lord chuckled, pleased with his plans.

They watched the Dark Lord disappeared and pressed their wand to their Mark as they followed him.

Severus found himself at the side of the railroad tracks with fifteen Deatheaters as the train stopped before them.

“Go Deatheaters and secure the carriages. Leave the last carriage alone.” Voldemort commanded coldly.

He watched as they quickly complied.

Screams were heard from the students as the Deatheaters walked the carriages, silencing the carriages and freezing the students to their seats.

Soon a Deatheater kneeled before Voldemort, kissing his hem and announcing. “All is secure My Lord. We did not approach the last carriage as you commanded.”

Voldemort walked down the carriages, noticing the students frightened looks and darkly chuckled, feeling the fear emanating from the students. Severus and Bellatrix followed behind him.

“So, my faithful Aurors. How did the trip go? Voldemort asked of them.

“Very well, My Lord.” Danvers answered. “They have been quietly chatting and have not realized that anything is amiss.”

“Excellent! Inner Circle, enter the carriage and draw your wands and cover them.” Voldemort commanded.

Severus entered the carriage first, noticing Hermione chatting with Harry and his heart sank. She did not get out in time. Then he noticed the chill in the compartment and remarked to Bellatrix. “It is too cold in here. Something is amiss.”

Bellatrix eyes narrowed as she remarked. “You are right Severus. They should have shut up in fear by now.”

They felt the Dark Lord walk between them.

“What is this?” Voldemort angrily shouted as there was no reaction from the mudbloods. He strode to the rear of the carriage, noticing the rear door open. Whirling around and pointing his wand he shouted “Finite Incantantum!”

Voldemort watched as the chatting mudbloods disappeared, leaving an empty carriage. He growled out. “Unfreeze the students and make them exit the train. I have a lesson to teach.”

Severus and Bellatrix unfroze the students, bellowing at them as they forced them out of the train. Everyone recognized the unmistakable voice of their ex Potions professor.

The students stood shivering as Voldemort appeared. “I wish to teach you a lesson of what happens if you go against me or fail in a task that I have assigned.”

Four Deatheaters dragged the two aurors forward and tossed them into the snow in front of the Dark Lord.

“Watch students and learn!” Voldemort coldly chuckled and began to torture and kill the two wizards.

Voldemort watched in satisfaction as all the students sobbed uncontrollably, looking at the bright red spots in the white pristine snow. “Tell your parents. No one is safe from me if they defy me. Now get back on the train!” He commanded.

Soon the train departed, leaving the Deatheaters and Voldemort. “Deatheaters, they cannot be far. Find them and do nothing and report to me!” Voldemort watched as his followers disappeared.

He turned to Severus. “How could a few mudbloods realize the danger Severus?” His wand pointed to his right hand man.

“My Lord, I imagine it was Hermione Granger. She must have realized all the mudbloods grouped together, and those foolish Aurors not allowing anyone to leave or enter the carriage. She is supposedly a very bright witch. And with the train slowing at an unannounced stop….”

Voldemort entered Snape’s mind, watching the eager student raising her hand constantly in his class, irritating his knight. Then the observation that the mudblood was always in the library, reading books that was not on the curriculum.

Voldemort looked thoughtful as he pressed his wand to his mark. Soon Sara Snape appeared bowing and kissing his hem.

“Sara, I must push my plans forward. Execute now what I commanded of you earlier.” He commanded of the dark witch.

“Your will My Lord!” Sara replied and apparated away.

The Dark Lord disappeared, leaving Severus to look at the bright red spots, thankful that his witch got away.


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Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked to the sleeping group, feeling the exhaustion set in.

“What now Hermione?” Harry softly asked.

Hermione turned to Ron. “What do you think?”

Ron looked thoughtful. “They will search for us. I say we stay here for a week. Hopefully they will think that we are following the train tracks toward King’s Cross and make their search based on that. After all, we are in the wilderness, and hopefully they will think that we fell due to the elements.”

Harry nodded, agreeing with the plan.

Hermione fingered her pouch. “Did you two look at the contents of your pouches?”

Ron looked to her. “I did after we got to the tent. I have a tent and five phials of Felix. Obviously these pouches were created by Snape.”

Harry affirmed the same.

Hermione looked to them, exhaustion taking over. “Let’s go to sleep. Tomorrow we can discuss with the rest of the group our plans on staying.” She yawned widely as she fell to the floor.

Harry and Ron joined her, wrapping their arms around her as they fell into an exhausted sleep