Eservanix

"Eservanix."

Chapter Nine-The Last Premonition.

The cheering was earsplitting and deafening. Harry and I hugged each other. Ron let out a whoop and Hermione was grinning from ear to ear.

"Thank God!" Hermione said, happily.

"Naturally the virus didn't start at the school. It started on the Hogwarts Express. Malfoy started the whole thing," Ron said stretching.

"He really is a git," Harry muttered.

I giggled.

"More than a git. He's a retard."

Ron and Harry snorted with laughter.

Ginny was able to come home. She was happy to be going back to school also. About a week before we were to go back, we got all of our school robes and books together and packed them in our trunks. The letters came from Hogwarts stating that the minute a student is feeling ill, to alert someone immediately and that there were going to be extra precautions in the school. Each student's wand was going to given a thorough going over. It was going to be checked for spells, viruses and other things before boarding the train. A trained wizard will be waving something like an iridescent wand over the students' wand. It would show anything up unusual.

Ginny didn't blame me at all, which was a relief and I'm glad things would be okay from now on.

KING'S CROSS STATION

SEPTEMBER, 1st

We put all our stuff on a trolley and walked toward platform nine and three-quarters. People were hurrying to catch other trains. It was Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Ron and I. Mr and Mrs. Weasley brought us to King's Cross Station. We paused before we went through the barrier.

"Ok. I hope you guys have a good second term," Mrs. Weasley said, giving us all a hug and kiss.

"Yes, and stay out of trouble," Mr. Weasley said, winking and Harry and Ron.

"Who us, Dad? Why, we're insulted!" Ron said, mockingly.

We all laughed.

Mr. Weasley gave Ron and Harry a handshake and gave Hermione, Ginny and I a hug.

"Okay, guys! See you soon!" Mrs. Weasley said, waving.

We waved back.

Ron and Hermione went through the barrier, then, Ginny, then, Harry and I.

Students were already standing on a slight line, waiting to board the train. The scarlet engine was just waiting patiently with smoke billowing and falling around it. The students' luggage was already on board the train. We loaded ours, then went to stand on the line.

"What's this line for?" I whispered to Neville Longbottom, who was in front of us.

Neville turned around, frowning.

"I think it's to check our wands, but I'm not sure," he replied.

"Yes, Neville. It is," said Dean Thomas, who was a head of Neville.

"Oh. That's right! The new checking-student's-wand-thing!" Ron said, nodding.

A wizard in a black robe was standing beside the first passenger car with an illuminated iridescent wand. A girl with blond hair handed him her wand. He ran his illuminated wand over hers, then, handed it back to her. Then, the next student did the same thing.

"I suppose we've got to take out our wands," Harry said, pulling his out from his pocket.

We all did.

Once everyone's wands were checked, we were finally able to board the train. We found a compartment to ourselves and sat down.

Luna Lovegood joined us shortly.

She sat down next to Ginny and looked around at us.

"So, what do you think is going to happen now? Did you hear about that virus?" she asked, dreamily.

"Yeah," Ron said, eyeing her like she was a four-headed Hippogriff.

"My Dad thinks it was the Rovenstort Virus," she said.

"The Rovenstort Virus? What's that?" I asked, tilting my head.

Before Luna could reply, Hermione took it up.

"It's supposed to be a virus thought extinct in Medieval times. It attacked the human brain and nervous system, causing madness, vomiting of blood and it's passed on by saliva or open wounds," Hermione replied, but there was a touch of doubtfulness and scoffing in her voice. "But the only thing is, there hasn't been any proof of it."

Luna bristled.

"What about the medieval case in 1332?"

Harry, Ron and I exchanged looks.

"They determined that it wasn't the Rovenstort Virus. It was the Jynzix Virus," Hermione said, promptly.

"Okay. I'm not a medical expert or anything, but is there like a non-medical term to describe what we're talking about?" Ron asked slowly.

Hermione looked at him.

"The Jynzix Virus was a virus that effected the stomach. Vomiting, diarrhea, disorientation, and lethargic. At first, people thought that it was the Rovenstort, but on further examination, they found out that it wasn't."

"Ah," Ron said, nodding, but he still looked confused.

Luna fell silent.

Around a half an hour later, the witch with the food cart came around. Harry bought snacks and passed them around. We were happily eating and talking until the compartment door opened. Ginny stepped in with Michael Corner, her boyfriend.

"Hi!" Hermione said, brightly.

"Hi," Ginny said, as she and Michael sat down beside Luna.

Ron was watching Michael with the utmost revolting expression on his face and intense dislike. Luna smiled at Ginny and Michael.

"How are you, Ginny?" Luna asked.

"Good. You?" Ginny replied.

Luna nodded.

"Wow. I wonder where that wood came from that made Draco's wand?" Michael mused.

"I know! It's totally weird! Maybe at some point in the Congo?" Hermione asked thoughtfully.

"Maybe. I was wondering the same thing," Ron said, through clenched teeth as he still watched Michael.

"I think we'll never find out," I added, nudging Harry and tilting my head toward Ron.

Harry followed my gesture.

"Ron. Have you been practicing the Starfish movement for Quidditch?" Harry asked, quickly, hoping to take Ron's mind of Michael.

"Huh? Oh I was going to use it when we practiced at home, but wasn't able to," Ron said, meaningfully.

I knew what he meant. Ginny's accident.

"Oh. Right," Harry said.

"How come?" Michael asked innocently.

"None of your business," Ron snapped immediately.

Michael looked directly at Ron.

"What's your problem, mate? I was just asking. You didn't have to get short with me,"

"Oh yes I did," Ron said, seething. "How come you're going out with my sister?"

Realization formed on Ginny's face.

Hermione, Harry and I exchanged glances. This was not going well.

"Because I like her!" Michael replied indignantly and without a hesitation or sign that he was afraid of Ron. "Do you have a problem with that?"

"Afraid I do," Ron snarled.

"Ron! Stop it!" Ginny said angrily.

Ron wasn't listening.

"Sorry, pal, but it's not up to you. It's up to Ginny to decide who she wants to go out with," Michael said, coolly.

"That's where you're wrong!" Ron growled as he lunged off his seat and grabbed Michael. They began fighting and punching each other.

"Ron! Michael! Stop!" Ginny shrieked.

Harry went to pull them apart, but in doing so, Ron accidentally knocked Harry down as he fought. Harry cracked his back on the edge of the seat. Hermione, Luna and Ginny were shouting for the boys to stop, but it was no good. Finally, I decided to put a stop to it. Full of determination, I took a deep breath, got up and grabbed the neck of Ron and Michael's robes. Michael, in the heat of the moment, ended up punching me in the nose. I felt blood flowing from my nostrils and streaking down to the collar of my shirt. I yanked them apart.

"Enough!" I shouted angrily.

Ron and Michael glared at each other, but the minute Ron's eyes landed on me and then Harry, who was wincing and massaging his back, Ron's angry mood vanished. Michael looked angry still.

"Holly! You're bleeding!" Hermione gasped.

I cupped my hand to my nose.

"Let's go Ginny," Michael said, not even apologizing to me.

"You hit Holly! Don't you want to apologize?" Ginny asked startled.

"I guess so. Are you coming?" Michael asked, brushing off the question quickly.

Ginny's eyes narrowed.

"No. Go yourself," she said coldly.

Michael shrugged and left the compartment without even a glance back or mere trace of guilt.

The blood was still flowing.

"There should be someone on board who can help. Maybe that witch," Hermione said.

"I'll come," Ginny offered.

Hermione and Ginny left to find someone who could help.

Luna was just watching us intently.

Ron was quiet and looking at me with a sickened expression and he was pale.

Harry was okay now.

"Lay down on the seat," Harry said. "And tilt your head back. Try pinching your nostrils."

I did that. Harry was hovering above me. My heart was pounding in my chest. He was almost on top of me. My stomach flipped.

"Let me see," he said, as he gently took my hand away.

It was still bleeding, but not as much.

We stared into each other's eyes for a moment. The compartment door opened and Harry looked up.

"Oh. Let's see. This will help her," said the witch who pushed the snack cart.

She pulled out her wand and waved it at my nose. The bleeding vanished and it stopped.

"Thank you!" Hermione said, relieved as she let out a sigh.

"You're welcome, my dear," she said, kindly and left.

Hermione and Ginny sat back down.

"What were you thinking!" Ginny snapped at Ron angrily. "You really are childish!"

Ron didn't answer.

"Ugh. I'm sorry. I can't be in the same compartment as a baby! Grow up, Ron! I'm getting older! Michael likes me for who I am! Why can't you just accept that?" Ginny snapped as she got up and also left the compartment slamming the door shut behind her.

Hermione was looking at Ron reprovingly, but said nothing.

I slowly sat up. Harry was sitting next to me.

"Are you okay, Holly?" Ron asked, quietly.

"Yes. I'm fine," I replied, glancing down at my shirt.

There was still blood on it.

"I think we'd better change into our robe and uniform," I said.

"Good idea. Ron and I'll wait outside till you change, then when we come in, just wait outside till we change," Harry said, nodding.

Ron and Harry left the compartment. Hermione, Luna and I began pulling on our uniforms and robes.

"I really can't believe Ron would stoop that low to start a fight," Hermione mused as she was just finished pulling on her robe and fastening the clasp in front of it. I pulled on my grey pleated skirt. I tucked the white shirt into the waistband of the skirt, but left the grey vest hem over the skirt. I put on my tie and tucked that into the neckline of the vest. I pulled on my knee socks and shoes and then my robe, fastening the clasp. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and fastened it with a white hair rubber band.

"I know. Why is he so against Ginny dating?" I asked.

"It's normal. He's being a big brother," Hermione said shrugging. "That's my guess."

"Okay! We're done!" I called.

Ron and Harry entered. We waited outside until they changed, then resumed talking in the compartment.

Harry checked his watch.

"We should be there in about an hour," he replied.

"Thank God!" I sighed. "I'm hungry for some real food!"

We all laughed except Ron. He was still looking at me guiltily.

Suddenly, a flash went off before my eyes. I saw the train braking sharply for some reason. The pistons screeched. The passenger cars began derailing and falling onto their sides. I heard screams. One by one the passenger cars zigzagged off the tracks, kicking up dust and grass as they skidded on the ground. The engine teetered on its wheels on right side, before it too, fell over onto its side. The flash vanished.

I jumped.

"Another premonition?" Hermione asked, studying me.

"Yeah! The same one where...." My voice trailed off, as suddenly, there was a violent jerk and the screeching of pistons erupted. We were thrown off our seats. Harry landed on top of me. Hermione, Luna and Ron were thrown against the compartment door. Then, we felt the car derailing and moving sideways. Hermione and I were screaming.

Then, the car began tipping over. From the force, I felt myself lift off of Harry and fly out the window. I felt my stomach hit something solid and tall. I saw the car lying on its roof before I felt my body sliding down off the object and blackness swallowing me up.

HARRY.

My head felt like lead and a sharp pain shot through my skull. There was a throbbing in my temple. I opened my eyes. I was lying on my side. My glasses were askew. I straightened them and saw the window was shattered and gone. I was lying on what was the floor. The seats were making up the ceiling. Every bone in my body was aching. I propped myself up onto my elbows and looked around. Hermione was lying on her stomach. Ron was lying on his back. Holly was no where to be seen.

I shakily got to my feet.

I went over to Hermione and crouched down beside her. I shook her awake.

"Hermione? Are you okay?" I demanded.

Hermione's eyes fluttered open.

"Harry?" she asked, groggily.

"Yes. Are you alright?" I demanded as I grabbed her hand and helped her up. She had a small gash on her forehead from which a small trickle of blood oozed down her temple.

"I'm okay. Ron? Holly?" she said, looking around.

Ron groaned and started stirring. He slowly got to his feet. His left cheekbone was bruised and his lip was cut and bleeding. Luna was stirring also.

"Is everyone alright?" Luna asked.

We all nodded.

"Where's Holly?" I demanded.

"I don't know," Hermione said, weakly.

"We've got to get out of here and see if we can find her and others," I said, as I dropped to my hands and knees and crawled out of the broken window. Hermione followed next, then Ron and Luna.

When we were outside of the car, into the cool afternoon air, did we realize what was really going on.

Hermione grabbed my arm and let out a feeble squeak. The rest of the passenger cars were either lying on their sides, roofs, or still on their wheels on the tracks. A few cars had derailed, including the scarlet engine, which was lying on its side. Some students were shakily climbing out of windows. We recognized them. Neville, Ginny, Dean, Seamus, Hannah Abbot, and a Ravenclaw girl named Claire Sanders. They looked unharmed, but shaken. Then, about another 100 or so students were climbing out of the cars. Ginny, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Hannah and Claire headed toward us.

"What happened?" Ginny asked, hugging herself.

"I don't know," Hermione said.

"I think the emergency brake was hit for some reason," Neville said, in a small voice.

"I'm going to take a look toward the front where the engine was. Stay here," I said.

They nodded. I began walking toward the front of the train around the entanglement of passenger cars. Smoke was billowing up from the engine, which was lying on its side. I saw the conductor pinned underneath it. He wasn't moving. Tearing my eyes away, I moved toward the front of the engine to see what caused it to stop short. I stopped in my tracks. There was nothing there.

I began heading back toward Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Claire, Dean, Luna, Seamus, and Hannah when I saw Holly.

She was sitting by a tree.

"Holly! Thank God!" I cried relieved as I began running toward her. Ron and Hermione also had relieved expressions on their faces. I approached Holly.

"Holly?" I asked.

She was sitting facing the tree, with her legs around the stump. Her arms were limp at her sides and her head lolled to the side. I crouched down beside her. I gently turned her face toward mine, and let out a cry.