Malfoy's furrowed brows were reflected in the train window.
Compared with the playful obstruction they had encountered last time, this attack was genuinely unexpected.
"Come and sit down."
Just as Luna was about to return to her seat, Malfoy pulled her over and made her sit beside him, away from the window.
"You're being awfully enthusiastic. I'm not sure I can handle it."
Luna chuckled as she teased him. However, her somewhat dreamy eyes gradually brightened, as though she had begun to think about something.
Perhaps she, too, had sensed that something was about to happen.
Suddenly, several shrill screams came from the neighbouring compartments.
The train shook violently several times. Loud explosions erupted at both ends of the carriage, growing closer and closer, while the shaking became increasingly frequent.
At that moment, a thick, hairy claw suddenly extended from the left side of the window.
Its sharp claws curled into a fist and slammed heavily against the glass.
The large window cracked, forming a dense network of fine lines resembling a spiderweb. Then, it suddenly collapsed, shattering into countless pieces.
The glass fragments shot towards the two of them like sharp blades.
But they struck an invisible barrier instead.
The fragments fell to the floor with a clattering sound, scattering across the compartment.
The ambush had been well concealed.
"Not all Werewolves are fools."
Malfoy's spell swiftly halted the flying shards of glass.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
He drew his wand and cast the spell at the approaching enemy, while reminding Luna, "Be careful."
A blinding flash of light appeared and vanished in an instant.
After leaving several marks on the train's outer wall, the sharp claws gripping it slid down reluctantly.
Then several more claws emerged from below.
Finally, a head appeared.
A Werewolf's head.
It had a pair of sharp, curved ears, scarlet gums, and a wide-open maw. Its wolf-like features clearly overwhelmed its human characteristics, giving it a cruel and bloodthirsty appearance.
A foul, fishy stench wafted into the compartment.
Luna showed no sign of panic. In fact, she seemed more nervous about nearly falling over earlier.
She calmly nodded.
At some point, however, she had begun gripping the hem of Malfoy's robes tightly.
Even so, these Werewolves could not force their way inside.
Flaming whips twisted and spun with remarkable agility within the confined space.
Painful howls rang out.
The Werewolves roared in despair before falling away from the train once more. The raging flames quickly devoured their fur, burning their bodies until they were almost cooked.
A dozen Giants, each as large as a mountain of flesh, stood in a line and blocked the train. They began frantically waving the tree trunks in their hands.
This was an obvious conclusion for anyone responsible for planning the attack.
The Hogwarts Express was relatively easy to target.
Hogwarts Castle, on the other hand, was much more difficult to deal with. Even though Dumbledore was dead, protective enchantments left behind by the four founders still remained, along with the professors currently at the school.
It was not an easy target.
Compared with the castle, the Hogwarts Express was a much better choice.
Professor McGonagall had clearly considered this possibility as well and had made preparations.
A remaining Werewolf that had been hiding nearby suddenly leapt from the bushes beside the train.
It landed on all fours before standing up and climbing onto the carriage.
"Don't let them bite you!"
Lupin shouted a warning to the students during lunchtime.
As everyone knew, being bitten by one of these creatures was never a good thing.
Suddenly, a series of explosions erupted, causing the entire train to shake violently.
The Giants swung their thick arms, smashing their fists and weapons against the Hogwarts Express.
The train's iron body was crushed inward, leaving large dents in the red metal panels.
Faint panicked screams could be heard from the students inside.
Then a series of flashing spells shot out from an unknown carriage and struck the Giants.
The spells bounced off without causing any visible damage.
Compared with the relatively weak magical resistance of Werewolves and ordinary wizards, Giants seemed to possess an innate immunity to magic.
At the same time, this resistance came with certain limitations.
Weak spells posed no threat to them whatsoever.
However, from an unknown carriage, several dimly glowing spells suddenly shot out.
They curved around the corners and struck the group of Giants with astonishing accuracy.
A charred, roasted smell immediately spread from their necks and shoulders.
Their thick fur curled from the heat, glowing with a dazzling red light. Tiny red points rapidly expanded, releasing an astonishing amount of heat.
In the blink of an eye, the entire bodies of the Giants transformed into blazing fireballs and were completely engulfed in flames.
The Giants roared in agony.
Their attention was no longer focused on the train. Instead, they frantically pounded at their own bodies, trying to extinguish the flames.
The corridor descended into chaos as numerous students rushed out of their compartments.
It seemed that the intruders had entered through the windows of the private compartments.
It was worth mentioning that Moody's teaching had produced excellent results. Whether his lessons were genuine or merely a façade, he had been extremely responsible.
Despite encountering some difficulties, the students successfully repelled the evil creatures.
"Restored to its original state!"
Malfoy pointed his wand at the shattered window.
The fragments rose from the floor and returned to their original positions, restoring the glass to its former smoothness.
"How did the spell you used earlier curve?"
Luna's eyes immediately lit up, as though she had witnessed something extraordinary.
"Just a little trick."
Malfoy had no intention of explaining further.
About five minutes later, Pansy entered the compartment.
She looked rather listless, as though dealing with the aftermath of the attack had exhausted her.
"Draco, are you all right?"
She asked instinctively.
"I'm not sure what to say, but it does feel a little strange."
Malfoy shrugged.
"How did she get in here?"
Pansy immediately noticed Luna sitting beside Malfoy. Her expression changed, and she questioned Luna with obvious displeasure.
"We're all classmates. We should help each other."
Luna smiled faintly and offered Pansy her seat.
Just as the tension between them began to rise, the train suddenly jolted violently, interrupting the potential conflict.
Soon, the three people in the compartment felt the scenery outside the window begin moving backwards.
The train gradually picked up speed.
Nothing else happened during the remainder of the journey, and everything proceeded normally.
Mad-Eye Moody wore a bowler hat pulled low over his eyes, but he looked just as intimidating as ever.
He held a long wooden cane in his rough, tangled hands and wore a large travelling cloak.
The old Auror limped through the train on his wooden leg, patrolling the carriages.
The thick fog gradually dispersed.
However, the sky suddenly darkened.
There was almost no transition. The railway tracks, which had been faintly visible through the white mist only moments earlier, were now completely concealed by darkness.
A series of sounds resembling zzzz echoed through the train.
It sounded like air escaping from a football.
The Hogwarts Express finally arrived and came to a stop at the platform.