Jory raised his hand. "If the train uses coal like others, perhaps the refilling charm was used so that there was always coal burning in the furnace until it completed the journey,'' he said.

"Repello Muggletum, you mean?" West provided helpfully, turning to look at Sophie and beaming at her, all big blue eyes and white teeth. It did raise questions in the boy though; why weren't there more protective repelling charms? Like ones to keep out bad guys? Like the Inimicum spells? Cos if they were there, surely all that stuff with deatheaters and dementors wouldn't have happened?

Strange. Maybe they didn't work on moving places? Only if you were stationary?

Sophie wasn't expecting this at ALL. When West actually complemented her answer, she quickly turned her head in his direction and gave him a biig smile. This kiidddd was SO smart! And apparently liked Charms a lot!

That was always a plus! Spells were cool.

"Yeah, that!" He was a second year, what?? Sophie was impressed! And he was already thinking about other things now! She resisted the urge to ask why he wasn't in Ravenclaw. They were in a class - and professor Scabior's class! -, so they'd better not start chatting right now... Nodding her head as she turned again to face the front of the classroom, the badger kicked her legs and twirled her quill between her fingers.

Smart kid was smart!

Sophie was also still wondering how it was possible to be snowing in September...

Throughout the entire class so far, Silvia had remained quiet, taking notes. She knew bits and pieces of what they were discussing, but not too many details. There just hadn’t been any need to thoroughly study the specifics of the Hogwarts Express history before now. Though she could probably give some sort of answer. Eh, maybe she’d just let the other students answer for now. She was content to just take notes, especially since, after the incident just a few weeks ago, she was really interested in where the topic was going. And her mind may have been a little distracted in between the note taking, already contemplating, again, what may have caused the train to stop this year.

Kat thought. A spell that can make an object stop moving. WAIT. What spell was that? She remembered the incantation... but not the name. Err... Think, Katrina Marie Hudson, think harderrrrrr.

She was panicking on the inside. The answer was at the tip of her tongue. What... what..... Then she remembered. "Probably it could be the Freezing Charm, Professor," Kat said. Making a guess wasn't bad, right? "Immobulus is the incantation."

Theodore shrugged his shoulders, but raised his hand anyway. Everyone had pretty much said all of the obvious answers, so Theo decided to hatch a plan to the professor instead.

"I think he could have used an invisibility spell, for an extra precaution." He nodded.

Ella looked at the small train in front of her thoughtfully, trying to think of the numerous spells Ottaline Gambol would have placed it. Her first thoughts obviously had to do with making it move by magic, though someone had already shared that answer. Next she figured that Gambol would have wanted to protect the train so that Muggles and other outside forces could not interact with it. Concealment charms would work for that, though yet another classmate mentioned that too. Darn. The only other thing she could think of was the Shield Charm. Gambol would want to protect the students from harm, yeah? "Professor, I think that Gambol would have used the Shield Charm to help protect the train as best she could from attacks, though clearly that didn't work out so well..."

Nigel bet there were a lot of awesome spells this guy used on the Hogwarts express. Nigel just did not know any of them.

"Did he used spells like they use at the Quidditch world cup to keep muggles away?"

It was always important to keep muggles away . They ruin a lot of things. But they are muggles after all so you expect it.

Dang! All of the eager beavers beat her to the punch. Still she didn't want to see like she wasn't paying attention or not participating so she raised her hand. "Professor I agree with those that said the repellant charm." She was not going to say that she agreed with Soapy...no way! So she would just simply refer to her at that girl! Hmpf!

Hannah felt like the professor was trying to get away from what really happened though and she hoped that he would tell them eventually. She had to admit that she was pretty curious. It was all pretty fishy to her!

Accio Train... no, that was weird... yet maybe it would work. Maybe Depulso then, someone pushes it. Sarah listened to what the others had said. She liked West's answer (he was very clever in her opinion) and Kurumi... How did Kurumi think of that! That was much too clever.

As Professor Scabior corrected, gave comments on their answers, Beezus had quickly scribbled the things he was saying on a piece of parchment on her desk. She was very aware that it was all chicken scratch, but at least she had some sort of reference.

Hmm. There was a form of magic that brought about the recent failure of the Hogwarts Express. BINGO. He said it himself. The question was.....was it pure accident or planned? And if the latter was right, who would even think of doing such. More so, why? Yeah, questions just kept on rushing one after another. She terribly wanted to bring it all up and have Scabior give them hints if he knew anything. Beezus wants to know if her hunch is correct.

When he asked them to give charms that Ottaline Gambol had probably used on the train, the brunette didn't offer an answer. Why? 1. Almost all possible answers were already laid on the table. 2. She wasn't good at memorizing incantations, let alone suggesting a kind in accordance to its function 3. She was trying to read the notes she jotted down 4. She wanted to know what perfume Messer was wearing.

He smelled so good!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Jory raised his hand. "If the train uses coal like others, perhaps the refilling charm was used so that there was always coal burning in the furnace until it completed the journey,'' he said.

Aspen liked this answer, but it... brought up another thought. She tapped her wand on the train before her thoughtfully and halfway, sort of, all while still staring at Louisa, raised her hand.

"IF the train is actually running on coal, and since it has a coal car, we can assume it's at least capable of locomotion via coal -- then perhaps it simply is running on coal? We're told it's powered by magic, and since there were some Pureblood wizards upset about muggle transportation when the train was introduced, perhaps... those parents were just appeased with a fib to get students on the train. Maybe it's running muggle magic. Have you ever checked?" Did he want to go check right now? Aspen was down for it. Right now. Let's gooooo!Conspiracy theory! Yeah!

But to answer the question with ONE spell or charm, Aspen shrugged. "There are a lot of students here and that train is normal sized by all outward appearances. I've never not had a seat or felt cramped on the train, so I'd wager the insides are expanded with magic. Or the luggage cars shrunk." Hmmm.

Again. Did he want to go CHECK and see? Like detectives. History Detectives.

Minerva sat and listened to some of the other responses. She tired to figure out a different spell that might have been used for the train, but it seemed like everyone was saying all the likely answers. Was there something that was being missed. She thought hard, but couldn't come up with anything, so instead she just continued to listen to the other students as they said their answers.

There was still more to say about the train? It wasn't boring, it was just SO MUCH! All Ness could do was absorb it in her mind and take down a few notes too. She needed to make sure she knew this well and notes were her easiest way of studying.

What charm or spell? Pout..and what was that mans name.

Whatever it was, she never caught it in time and that meant blanks in her notes. Great just great. What if a question involving this mans name was asked in her OWLs? That meant she would fail. Oh gosh the stress! She shook her head quickly and tried to focus on an attempt to answer. She raised her hand. "Um..." The answer left her mind, which was partly because Oakey had just passed her note back to her.

She took a quick look at it, looked at the Professor and began flailing inside. The Professor hadn't noticed the note right? She hopped not, but just in case she kept it hidden under desk and waited before she wrote back.

'You seem to be close to Dylan, the snake captain. I was wondering if you could maybe spy on him for me?' She scribbled and then handed it secretly back to her friend.

It was something big to ask, and maybe even rude, but she felt she could trust Oakey.

Ottaline Gambol... what an odd name ... Emil thought to himself. He looked through his notes, and saw that name. Luckily, he had his copy of A History of Magic with him and quickly scanned for that name as well. Turns out she used to be a Minister (Ministress, because she was female? ... he mused) of Magic and had the idea for the train.

What a fascinating woman... in the 1800s as well? Goodness, I didn't know such equality existed in the magical world. I'm very impressed. ... was all he could say to himself, as he is interested in many legal mumbo-jumbos... human rights being one of them.

I know Britain had queens, but that title is passed down. A minister is elected, so she must've been tough woman ... and he started peering into his book about Equality within the Magical World instead of paying much attention to the lesson at hand.

Raising her eyebrows Louisa opened her mouth to ask if he seriously didn't believe in wizardy gangsters, "Ar-"...

... but the train moved again drawing her attention completely away from Scabior. She wished the train moved on its own. It wouldn't be HALF scary now that Aspen was the one pushing it... and waiting. As if Louisa was supposed to push it back or something. So the head girl eyed it and crossed her arms.

As the professor started talking again, she abandoned the girl and whatever her intention was with the train pushing game. But the other Ravenclaw won't stop STARING and playing with this stupid toy. In one swift motion, Louisa clasped her hand on the train keeping it in place, "Stop staring at me." She told the girl without moving her gaze off Scabior's face.

She wanted to agree with Aspen's answer, about the interior extending effect of magic, but... her mouth refused to utter the words. So she just sat there. Most of the students already offered good guesses, no need to repeat any.

One spell or charm that had placed on the Hogwarts express?

Hmmmmm...

He was about to answer Muggle-Repelling Charm till he heard Sophie already used that as her answer. He raised his hand up in the air and said "How about Concealment Charms, Professor?" Surely Ottaline Gambol placed that charm on the Hogwarts express too, no?

Messer eyes went from Professor Scabior to Beezus, he noticed that the older Ravenclaw didn't offer Scabior any answers. She always full of answers. Is she okay?

James were stumped. How could anyone expect a first year to know that? Maybe it was a spell that had a name that was latin or something for train... He wrote down some notes in his book. This Hogwarts express was interesting

"There are many trains out there that are red." It wasn't exactly uncommon. Now if the train was a neon orange, that would drwa some suspicion.


"Currently the train doesn't run on coal." He pointed to number nine on the list. He'd explain it more. "Not all the time at least."


Hmm. "Yes. That was already pointed out. Pay attention.." He pointed to thelist once more.


"You have a very good point there." Very good.


Well...hmmmm. "That would make it almost impossible you all of you to board the train now wouldn't it?." If it were invisible. Probably more than half the students would miss it.


"She didn't. But she probably should have." So good guess there. "One was placed on the train after the second attack though."

It DID have a coal car yes! "No I have not checked Miss Odessa, I haven't been on the Hogwarts express in more than fifteen years." And why would have have wanted to check then? Pssh. He hadn't cared. "But your observation-all of your observations-" Anyone who had noted hat there was a coal car and it would be a waste to just have it there. "-are right in some sort of way."

The note sprung up into the air and flew into the hands of the History of Magic Professor. Since WHEN were notes allowed to be passed around in his class. Unfolding the parchment skimmed the quick message. "Interesting. Miss Dixon, why don't you come up here and read this out loud for me." Like, now. Since it was SO important.

He was waiting.

And WHILE he was waiting, he created another list on the board.

Used On the Hogwarts Express:
Locomotor Locomotive
Concealment Charms
Obliteration Charm
Colour Enchantment
Repello Muggletum
Expansion Charm
Refilling Charm (for emergencies)
Shield charm (placed after second attack)
+Some others


"For those of you who have taken into account the coal car good job. The train does not run on the use of coal though. As Mister Odessa first said, Locomotor Locomotive happens to be how the train gets to Hogwarts. The coal train is there for a reason however." He paused so people could take notes. It was important. "When the Ministry decided how the train would run they approved of the idea of a backup method. And so the idea to leave the coal car in tact so it could be used in emergencies if ever Locomotor spell failed." Backup method. Wizards had them. "Which if anything, is the main reason why the Hogwarts Express has a conductor." Was that all cleared up? If not someone better rase a hand since he was moving on.

"Some of you might ask, why the coal car was not used most recently, and the answer to that is simple, the whole train was shut down. All the engines. The Locomotor charm taken off. Everything completely shut down. What could have caused this?"

OOC:The lesson will continue in 9 hours.

Sarah wrote down more things, including the thing on the board.
She answered simply, "Dark Magic". She was sticking to her guns, that was her opinion from the begininning, she even let her housemates know of her opinion at the opening feast. Maybe it had to do with the bookshop lady that disappeared last term... Oh.. she needed to go to the library sometime.

Annabelle saw what the professor was writing on the board. She decided to copy it down into her notebook.

Belle wondered why the Locomotor charm was taken off. Belle was stumped, what could have caused it? Belle could only guess, "Professor i think the train stopped because the conductor or the charm was not powerful enough for the whole train to continue going or maybe someone knew the counter charm to lift the spell off the train?"

Minerva thought about this next question and really was completely unsure of what the answer was. Why was the entire train shut down, "Professor could it have been a brake problem instead of a engine problem." That could have stopped the train, because even with coal if you had no brakes you were still going to be in danger. So that's the only thing she could think of.. well that and something evil might have tried to get them. A little horror went on her face, no no.. nothing evil would have been after a bunch of students that had to be very untrue. Shaking it out of her head so she wouldn't think of it again.

Hannah took notes just because she didn't want the professor saying that she wasn't paying attention or some other nonsense like that.

Now back to the whole train situation. Hannah was really not sure why the whole train shut down. It didn't make sense to her something magical just stopped working unless whoever casted the spell didn't do it right or if somebody messed with it.

"Professor I still think that somebody had to have messed with the Locomotor Locomotive spell. Or did some kind of hex on the train." Really how did the train just shut down like that?

Hmm. It was odd. Why did the whole train shut down. Indy considered the question for a few moments, thinking about it, and writing a few notes onto her piece of parchment. She raised her head as she heard someone else go on about dark magic. That could be true. But she wasn't too sure. Why stop a group of students getting to Hogwarts? She didn't get that, nor think it was too true. Although she herself hadn't really thought of anything yet. She chewed on the end of her quill trying to think about it. She looked to a hufflepuff who had answered. "If it had been the brakes surely someone would've been able to make them work..." She mused outloud, raising her hand, and then dropping it again as she thought again. "Maybe the charms failed? Although that would seem bad, I mean they haven't failed before." Obviously. They had gotten to school every year before.

Sophie had to supress another chuckle as professor Scabior told Elliot to pay attention. Hah! This was the best History of Magic class EVER! First she was called to the front, then this... heehehehehe! It all even made the badger smirk. And Sophie wasn't someone who smirked a lot.

Ahem, moving on.

The third year was happy that they had now a spells list!! She quickly wrote all of them down so she could research each of them later. Some of them sounded like advanced magic and it made it all even more interesting. Sophie wanted to learn advanced spells soon! And LOOK! Colour Enchantment! She wondered if that was in any way different from her all time favourite Charm. She was most definitely going to the library later that day.

All that information about the car coal thing made Sophie even happier. SEE! The backup plan was a Muggle method! She eeeeeeyed Elliot and smirked again. HEH! Professor Scabior was her favourite professor at the moment. Lalalalalalalalala!

Sophie had no idea about his next question though. She had been too upset on the train to even care WHY it stopped. She was worried enough about the fact that it HAD stopped to ponder the reasons behind it. "Dark ma-" She started after raising her hand, but someone else had been faster.

"It has to be some really powerful magic, otherwise the backup plan would have worked." Right? Because if even the backup plan failed, then something had been reeeally wrong! But Sophie didn't know what it was, so no more guessing.