The two boys went towards their compartment and halted as soon as they changed wagons. There were no students on the corridor and the sounds of the constant chuffing of the train mingled with the subdued noises of students chatting away excitedly in their compartments.

"What was it you wanted to say, Nathan?"

"I was wondering why you didn't check if she had the watch? It surprised me you asked her so few questions," Nathan said, his forehead creased into a slight frown. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not questioning your methods. Please don't think that."

"Don't worry. I'm not that easily offended," said Tem.

At least he hoped he wasn't, feeling an uncomfortable tinge in the back of his head. "Partly based on my assessment of her character and background. Mind you, there are enough examples of rotten apples falling far from the tree, but I want to give the daughter of an Auror the benefit of the doubt. Sadly, there weren't too many details that would have caused me to think otherwise," said Tem, pouting a little. "But we will keep her under close scrutiny. She would have been able to dart quickly in and out of a compartment. Her circus-ready show earlier attested to that. And she is taller than me."

"Yeah, she is. That was outstanding, though, how she caught the bird," said Nathan with an excited voice.

"Hmm, so that impressed you? I wasn't sure, according to your behaviour you could've despised and already sentenced her as the culprit."

Nathan's eyes widened in shock. "No, no. That wasn't it. Oh no, do you think–she thinks–that I think she’s a thief?"

"No, I don't think that she thi ..., never mind. Just no," said Tem, exasperated.

"Ok, good. It wouldn't do to get on the bad side of the cool kids on my first day." Nathan relaxed.

"You think running around with me asking uncomfortable questions will help you with that?" asked Tem, raising an eyebrow, head tilted slightly.

"Ehem, now that you mentioned it. Probably not. Unless we figure it out," said Nathan.

Tem's face remained unconvinced. "Ugh, I mean you figure it out and I help," added Nathan.

"That's not what I mean. You have to be prepared to ask the tough questions and risk alienating people. A decent detective can't appease everybody. You have to choose what is more important to you." Tem stared at Nathan, as hard as an eleven-year-old boy could muster.

He had experienced this first hand. People became uncomfortable around him, even when he solved their problems. He assumed they were asking themselves if he could read their minds and unearth secrets they put so much effort into burying.

The other boy looked back, trembling a little, uncertainty showing in his eyes.

"No. You're right. This is the right thing to do, even if it might come with a couple disadvantages." Nathan exhaled slowly, visibly calming down.

"Are you sure? You don't have to help me. I’ve been doing fine on my own so far," said Tem, keeping his voice casual.

Who was he kidding? It was actually pleasant to have somebody to interact with. Being a single child with no relatives close to his age, he was used to spending time on his own or in the company of older people. Therefore, he had assumed their way of talking to fit in more easily. Well, that and his tendency to mimic the famous detectives he read about in his favourite novels.

"Yes. I'm sure. Plus, this is too exciting and interesting to miss. I can't go back to my compartment now, and just sit there, can I? I'd be back five minutes later," said Nathan, his voice growing steadier with increasing conviction.

"You could continue learning spells with Gerald. You were excited about that," said Tem, looking away.

"I guess I could," said Nathan, once again thoughtful. "But soon we’ll be in school studying spells. Hold on. Are you trying to get rid of me?" Nathan frowned at Tem.

"No, no. Only making sure you are where you want to be. Well, now that's settled, let's find the trolley witch and ask her some questions." Temsivar changed the subject and turned away from Nathan, hiding his relieved smile. The two investigators made their way through the wagon to the next in silence.

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Upon entering the wagon they could already see the trolley full of sweets, accompanied by the elderly witch, cheerfully providing her goods to students in their compartments. Tem slowed down a bit, reminded of his own unfailing appetite, rummaged for one of his own inside his pockets.

"Let's wait for her to move on to the next compartment. You want some toffees?" said Tem.

"No thanks. I need to stay sharp and observant," said Nathan, slight agitation in his voice.

"What could be better than some fuel then, but fine." Tem bit into his toffee and chewed gleefully.

The moment the compartment doors closed and the trolley started moving again, Tem and Nathan dashed forward.

"Excuse me, Mam. Could we bother you with a few questions?" asked Tem hastily.

"Oh dears, did you eat all your sweets and need new ones? I have to say it's not good to overdo it. I can't help but make you children happy. So, what will it be?" asked the trolley witch with a warm smile.

Tem succumbed to the urge to look at her offerings but caught himself. "No, thank you, but that's not it. We were wondering if you saw anything suspicious while serving the last wagon? Particularly when Mr Caervey's watch was stolen."

"Ah, such a despicable thing. Never, never in all my years working on the Hogwarts Express have I encountered a theft. I was sure I wouldn't see the day such an unthinkable thing could happen." She peered at the boys in anguish, as if having to swallow a particularly bitter lemon.

"Yes, but did you see somebody moving away quickly from that compartment, or looking around suspiciously? When you were at our compartment, the one in question was four stops down the wagon," said Tem.

"Well, mind you, my dear. My eyesight ain't the best anymore, and I was occupied with serving you. Except for a rat—must have belonged to a student—darting along the corridor, I didn’t see anybody. Later, other students came out of their compartments. Oh, and that gruesome yelling. No, my dears, I could not have imagined living through such a day." The trolley lady put a hand over her heart, seemingly upset.

"What did the rat look like? Did it come out of the compartment?" asked Tem, mildly interested.

"Hmm, it was black. It was running along the corridor. I didn’t see it coming out from anywhere."

"Thank you, Mam. We won't keep you any longer."

"You're most welcome. Anything from the trolley?"

Tem looked at the sweets once again, took a deep breath, and pulled himself back again. "No, thank you, I have enough. I think."

Nathan shook his head, scribbling in his notepad. He had upgraded his parchment to a small ring binder.

"Well, you know where to find me. Have a delightful trip." The boys expressed their thanks again, and the witch moved along towards the next compartment.

Deep in thought, Tem turned and strolled down the corridor. Nathan followed, examining his notes again. After a short while, he started to talk.

"Most curious. The few people who could've seen something didn’t see anything. Nobody that went by and could've been responsible. It's as if they were invisible, or extraordinarily quick. For what? A watch with sentimental value at best? It just doesn't add up." He was kneading his chin again in thought.

"What about the rat? You were interested in it. Could it have something to do with the theft?" asked Nathan.

"I'm sure the trolley lady would've seen if the rat was carrying a watch. So no, most unlikely. I wanted to make sure. Who knows, could've been an Animagus or somebody who trained his rat to steal for them. But I'm spitballing here." Tem sighed deeply.

"What's an Animagus?" asked Nathan.

"A witch or wizard who can transform into an animal. They are very rare and need to register themselves. It's highly advanced transfiguration magic. I doubt there is one on this train."

"That would come in handy, though. Also, absolutely cool! Imagine you could transform into an eagle and soar through the air. Uh, maybe the eagle was in cahoots with the rat and distracted Caervey on purpose?" Nathan looked at Tem with an excited expression.

"Hmm, one shouldn't dismiss unlikely scenarios. Wait, you're kidding though, aren't you?"

Nathan grinned. "I guess a little. Holmes tends to say when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

"I don't think we are at such a junction yet. But I will keep it in mind," said Tem, frowning. "For now I feel like I'm missing some detail that would point in a certain direction. It is unheard of that anybody would steal on the Hogwarts Express. So, maybe we have to go at it from a different angle, and ask who could have a motive to take that watch."

Nathan pulled out his parchment and studied it intently. "Caervey didn't provide any potential suspect he could think of."

"Now that you mention it again, I find it a bit odd. It's like he doesn't want to open some other can of worms. Considering he seemed rather vindictive towards Rowle," said Tem.

"We could ask some of the other Gryffindors in his year?"

"Or perhaps better yet, a Slytherin. They won't hold back spilling any dirt they have on Caervey."

"So, how do we find some more fifth years? Ask an older student to point us in the right direction?"

"I guess. The bigger problem might be to get them to talk to us, if Caervey and Rowle are any indications."

"Maybe we should find somebody from Hufflepuff? I read they tend to be a helpful and kind bunch. If you can believe the generalisation in the book," said Nathan, shrugging. Tem joined in with a shrug of his own.

They decided to try to ask whoever crossed their paths, but most of the other students weren't helpful. Not even the Hufflepuffs. While the story of the stolen watch got around quickly on the Hogwarts Express, older students didn't care for two eleven-year-old boys trying to play detectives. Motivation dwindling, they decided to go back to their compartment for now and look at the information they had already gathered.