The Secret Passage
The Hogwarts Express chugged away from Platform 9¾, leaving behind a trail of steam and the bustling excitement of a new school year. Inside one of the compartments, four friends were already deep in conversation.
James Potter, with his untidy black hair and mischievous grin, leaned back against the seat. Sirius Black, his loyal companion, was sprawled across the bench, his eyes sparkling with his usual rebellious glint. Remus Lupin sat quietly, flipping through a textbook with an air of studious intent. Peter Pettigrew, looking slightly nervous but eager, fidgeted with the strap of his bag.
“Did you hear about the new professor?” James asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.
Sirius rolled his eyes. “Let me guess. Another dark wizard enthusiast?”
“No, it’s not that bad,” Peter chimed in, glancing nervously at his friends. “Professor Delaney is supposed to be an expert in ancient runes. I heard she’s from Ravenclaw.”
Remus looked up from his book. “Well, that might be interesting. Hogwarts needs more diverse subjects. But I hope she’s not as strict as some of the other professors.”
James grinned. “We’ll find out soon enough. But for now, I’m more interested in our latest prank.”
Sirius’s face lit up with excitement. “Right! We need to come up with something brilliant to start the year off with a bang.”
Remus sighed, though a small smile tugged at his lips. “We’ve got to be careful this year. The school’s already on edge with everything going on.”
Peter nodded vigorously. “Yeah, and with the Ministry’s new security measures, we need to be extra sneaky.”
As the train rattled along, James and Sirius began discussing their plan for the perfect prank, while Remus and Peter listened, a mix of apprehension and amusement on their faces. Little did they know, their playful plans would soon take a backseat to more pressing matters.