Chapter 37: The Innocent Whomping Willow

They flew steadily north, periodically checking the direction of the train below. Each descent revealed a different scene. London was soon far behind, replaced by neatly arranged green fields, sprawling purple moors, villages with church spires resembling children's toys, and finally, a bustling city where countless cars moved like colorful ants.

However, after hours in the air, Harry had to admit that the novelty was wearing off. The toffees had left them parched, and there was no water. Both he and Ron had shed their robes, but Harry's shirt clung uncomfortably to his back, and his glasses kept sliding down his nose. He stopped marveling at the clouds' fantastical shapes and began longing for the train miles below, where a plump witch might be pushing a trolley of ice-cold pumpkin juice.

"It shouldn't be far now," Augustus said, his gaze fixed on the tiny, ant-like houses sprawling under the vast sky. The sun was beginning to dip below the clouds, painting the sky pink. He turned to Ron and said, "Let's descend to check the train again."

The train was still beneath them, winding around a snowy mountain. Under the clouds, the light was much dimmer.

Ron pressed the accelerator, climbing upward again, but the engine began to whine.

"Maybe it's just tired," Ron muttered. "It's never gone this far before..."

As the sky grew darker, the whining grew louder. They all pretended not to notice. Stars began to sprinkle the sky, and Harry pulled his robe back on, trying to ignore the windshield wipers' feeble movements, which seemed like a form of protest.

Augustus drew his silver wand and cast Reparo, mending the car's overworked parts. The old vehicle regained a bit of its vigor.

"Not far now," Ron said, though it sounded more like he was speaking to the car than to Harry. He patted the dashboard nervously. After a while, they dipped below the clouds again, squinting into the darkness for familiar landmarks.

"There!" Harry shouted, startling both Ron and Hedwig. "It's just ahead!"

On the dark horizon, beyond the lake, the towering silhouette of Hogwarts' turrets and spires loomed.

In Augustus's view, the majestic Hogwarts castle was growing closer, and it seemed like they might actually make it without further mishap. Hopefully, nothing would go wrong before then.

Unfortunately, the car began to shudder and slow down.

"Come on, be nice," Ron coaxed, shaking the steering wheel gently. "We're so close—just a bit more..."

The engine groaned and hissed, steam billowing from under the hood. As they flew over the lake, Harry clutched the edges of his seat tightly.

The car jolted violently. Harry glanced out the window, seeing the still, smooth surface of the black lake a mile below. Ron's knuckles were white on the steering wheel. The car shook again.

"Help us out," Ron muttered to the vehicle.

They flew over the lake... the castle was just ahead... Ron stomped on the accelerator.

With a loud clunk and a series of bangs, the engine gave out completely.

"Oh no," Ron said in the sudden silence.

The car tipped forward, plunging toward the castle walls at an increasing speed.

Augustus stood up in his seat, pointing his wand ahead of the plummeting car. A spell shot forth, creating layer upon layer of invisible cushioning in the air. The car slowed its descent, landing in a sweeping arc.

The vehicle grazed a wall, narrowly missed the dark greenhouses, and bounced across the black lawn.

Ron let go of the wheel, pulling his wand from his pocket.

"Stop! Stop!" he shouted, hitting the dashboard and windshield with his wand. The car continued to drop rapidly. The ground rushed up toward them—

"Watch out for that tree!" Harry yelled, grabbing the wheel too late—CRASH.

A loud, metallic thud echoed as they slammed into the thick trunk of a massive tree. The car jolted violently, steam billowing from the mangled hood. Hedwig screeched in terror. Harry hit the windshield, earning a golf-ball-sized lump on his forehead. Ron sat beside him, pale and groaning in despair.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked, glancing at the disheveled Augustus and a ghostly pale Ron.

"My wand," Ron said in a trembling voice. "Look at my wand."

It was nearly snapped in two, hanging together by a few splinters.

Harry was about to suggest they could fix it at school when something heavy slammed into his side of the car. The force sent him crashing into Ron. Then, a deafening thud struck the roof.

"What is that?" Ron gasped, staring at the windshield. Harry turned in time to see a branch as thick as a python strike the glass. The tree they had hit was now attacking them, its gnarled branches pounding every reachable part of the car.

"Ack!" Ron cried as a twisted branch smashed a dent into his door. Smaller branches rattled against the car like a hailstorm. A massive limb, as thick as a battering ram, was battering the roof, threatening to cave it in.

"Stay in your seats!" Augustus commanded, raising his silver wand. Sparks crackled at the tip as he aimed at the enormous willow.

The air around the tree shimmered as if encased in an invisible barrier. In moments, blue lightning bolts formed overhead, intertwining in a web that encircled the thrashing tree. The bolts crackled and struck the willow repeatedly. With a groan of protest, the tree's branches splintered, its bark charred black. In no time, the once-raging tree was silent and still.

Harry and Ron stared in shock.

"Is it dead?" Harry asked dumbly.

"Who knows? Maybe," Augustus replied, his tone equally dull.

"Poor thing," Ron muttered, shuddering at the memory of the relentless lightning.

"Let's go," Augustus said, cleaning his wand with a cloth. "The Sorting Ceremony might still be happening, and we could make it in time for dinner."

The three of them climbed out of the battered car and headed toward the castle.

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