Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Crossover ❯ Terry Boot ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11

When the train had stopped and the light had gone out, everyone around Terry (and Terry himself) had panicked. Obviously, they had good reason to do so, especially if you considered the whole deal with the Dementors during third year and the Headmaster's little announcement during fourth year. That, and lets not forget what had happened less than three months earlier.

When the screams began, two of the girls had begun to cry. But, somehow, that had managed to calm him down quiet a bit. He might not be as brave as a Gryffindor, but he also wasn't a spineless Slytherin. Damnit, he wasn't going down without a fight.

A gesture of his caused the others to quiet, all of them becoming attentive to his orders. Peeking out the window told him very little: it was dark and, worst of all, it had begun to rain, making it virtually impossible to distinguish anything out of a certain range.

That left the door.

The corridor was dark and quiet, but by no means empty. Small figures that he quickly recognized as his schoolmates were moving in small groups towards the rear of the train.

-"Padma!!"

At his soft hiss, the dark haired girl froze like a deer in headlights.

-"Terry! You frightened me!"

-"What's going on?!"

-"Deatheaters, at the front of the train. Madam Hooch told us to go to the rear."

Fear was blatant on her pretty features and he couldn't help wishing he could reassure her. Not the time, though.

-"Alright, we are coming with you."

At his words, the others in the compartment followed him outside. Dark eyes flashed with something akin to happiness, before Padma nodded and began her trek down the corridor.

Terry could feel his heart throb at her expression, but convinced himself that she was only relived that she wouldn't be alone and that they were all going to be safe soon. Yes, that had to be it.

The two last cars of the train were becoming crowded. In every compartment people would sit on people or on the floor, all of them trying to make as little noise as possible.

Terry had barely enough time to sit down next to Padma, when a loud cracking sound could be heard from the very back of the last car. It raised in pitch until they all had to cover their ears in pain, and then it suddenly stopped.

The "seventh" years (should be eight years, in his opinion) reacted immediately, pulling everyone they could to their feet and ordering them to move towards the middle of the train.

The older Gryffindors and Slytherins moved to take defensive positions near the doors of the last car, but before they could reach them they were flung open and the Deatheaters began pouring in.

The air suddenly went alight as curses and counter-curses began flying all around them. Terry grabbed onto Padma's hand with only one thought: he had to keep her safe.

Both of them made the run down the corridor, leaving the screams and the battle behind. Close to the middle of the train, he stopped their crazed sprint and began trying the exit doors.

-"Terry, what are you doing?"

-"Looking for an exit."

-"But… Parvati and the others are still there!!"

-"I'm getting you to safety first. Then I'll come back and help."

Before she could answer, another voice did.

-"The outside is even worse than inside the train, Mr. Boot, so you might as well come with us."

They both spun in time to see madam Hooch and Professor Snape appear from within the shadows, the later being the one that had spoken. Both teachers made quiet the pitiful sight: robes torn and bloodied, faces bruised and pale.

-"We should get some more kids, Severus, before trying another run towards the woods."

-"The dark man nodded and turned back to the two teens.

-"Come with us."

It was as direct an order as orders get, so they did as told.

Wands in hand, they began moving again, this time towards the battle.

They had barely moved three cars closer, when they found an open door. There were no signs of battle or even a scuffle, but quiet a lot of people had gone out, as attested to by the amount of footprints visible on the mud. Snape inspected everything around them and even poked his head out the door.

-"I believe it's safe. The Deatheaters have concentrated on the spots were the magical protection around the train could be breached. Mr. Boot, take Miss Patil with you and run into the woods. Try to go straight to Hogwarts, we don't know what else they have planned. They might have taken Hogsmead, for all we know."

Brown eyes locked on black, and Terry finally nodded. He would do it, if only because then Padma would be safe.

With one last look, he grabbed her hand and sprinted into the darkness.