The boys took off towards the next wagon, a spring in their steps, eagerly looking through the windows into the compartments, keeping an eye out for the boy. Even though he was trying to keep his expectations forcibly low and pretend to be in control in front of Nathan, Tem was hoping for some genuine progress. While such a powerful motive could mean a straightforward explanation for the theft and make this case nearly boring, a win for him was more important right now. So what, if the case was effortless? Harder cases will come around soon enough, he was sure.

Suddenly, close to them, compartment doors were thrown open and a wailing girl stormed out of it.

"Thieves!" she shouted in a deafening volume. The boys flinched and huddled back a few steps. The girl's face was broad and flustered, puffy with tears. Some of her dark hair fell tousled into her face, giving her a feral demeanour. All tensed up, her hands balled to fists, she let out another bellow, "Prefects! I need a prefect right away! Martens!"

Apparently, she believed, just screaming all over the wagon was the quickest and easiest way to garner the attention and support of a prefect. The girl, wearing her Gryffindor robes, seemed in fourth or fifth year, and therefore knew of the usual non-existence of teachers on the train.

Other compartment doors opened and students poked their heads out, wanting to know what the fuss was about. Tem inhaled deeply once, catching himself again. As nobody appeared to her aid right away, he stepped once again closer to her.

"Excuse me, Miss. May I help you? What happened?" Tem approached her as calmly as possible, hoping to reassure her.

"Are you a prefect? No! Get lost, boy." She looked down at him angrily. "Martens!"

Out of her compartment walked another girl, also in Gryffindor robes. She had a slender face and red, straight long hair. "Eleanor, please. Stay calm. We'll find a prefect soon enough and resolve everything," said the red-haired girl in a soothing voice.

Tem hoped the other girl was successful in her attempt, unable to ascertain sufficiently the emotional state of the victim of, seemingly, another theft.

"Please, Ms Eleanor. We are investigating the theft of another item. A watch belonging to Mr Caervey. You know each other?" asked Tem.

"What? Damian was robbed of his watch, you say? Well, that can't be a coincidence," said Eleanor, still very much agitated. She turned back to her friend, who was still standing inside their compartment. "I told you right away, Ginny, something like that was bound to happen."

The red-haired girl's face contorted into a grimace.

"Don't you think you're jumping to conclusions?"

"No," said Eleanor resolutely, "he threatened me, didn't I tell you? What else do you need?"

Tem's and Nathan's heads whipped back and forth between the girls like spectating a Tennis match.

"Ok, ok. But how should he have done it? Please, I'm just saying you shouldn't accuse anybody prematurely. It might backfire and you regret it," said Ginny, continuing with her reasoning.

At this point, Tem felt as if they took away his work. The questioning he would've attempted was playing out in front of him with no effort on his part. While still useful he didn't like it one bit. His face fell into a deep frown, considering all these girls were saying produced more questions than answers. He tried to clear his throat for some attention, but it was a rather pitiful attempt, not having the hoped-for result.

"I'm telling you. Jim said to me last year, I'd regret what I supposedly had done. He used the first opportunity to get back at me. How can you still deny his involvement, now that we know Damian is missing his watch?" Eleanor looked expectantly at Ginny, who could only frown back at her.

A large boy came huffing down the corridor. Slightly flustered and confused, he asked, "What's with all the ruckus? Another theft, Ms Harris?"

"Exactly! So you know about Damian's missing watch? What are you doing about it?" She pointed accusingly at the Gryffindor boy, wearing his prefect badge on his robes.

"Well, what can I do? We are still riding the train. The thief can't get away. I sent an owl ahead for an inspection by the teachers when we arrive. Spells to summon the missing item didn't work. You can't expect me to search every single student? I don't have that authority," said the Gryffindor prefect, back in his element after the initial setback.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"You don't have to search all the students! Just one!" shrieked Eleanor. "Jim Krane is the thief!"

Taken aback by the renewed outburst the prefect Martens took a step back again, appearing a bit helpless.

Tem stepped forward decisively, and proclaimed with a strong and loud voice, "Based on what I could ascertain, your necklace was stolen, Ms Harris.

Additionally, you have not left your compartment for at least," he checked his watch, "approximately 70 minutes, maybe since the train ride started. No one entered your compartment and with potential three other eye-witnesses, no one saw your jewellery vanish from your body. This makes it a seemingly impossible theft.

There is a connection between you, Jim Krane, and Mr Caervey, who the latter feels unnecessary to provide. This stands in contrast to you, but might still pertain to the Shrieking Shack incident. Am I correct in my assumptions?"

Silence was the first reaction to the investigator's staccato speech. The three older students standing in front of Tem only stared at him for a few seconds before Eleanor Harris found her voice again.

"Uhm, yes. I guess. How do you know of the Shrieking Shack?" Something else suddenly dawned on her. "And more importantly, how do you know my necklace was stolen? That's quite suspicious." The girl's eyes narrowed, as she planted her hands on her hips.

"Based on your reaction, the necklace seems very important to you, which is why you like to wear it at all times. You have slight scuff marks in your makeup and on your neck, but you also wore the necklace before you changed into your school robes. Now there is some makeup residue on your uniform coming from the chain and pendant. The necklace must be adorned with a slightly heavier pendant, perhaps a picture pendant.

As for the Shrieking Shack incident, I told you, I am investigating the case. I was, in fact, on my way to question Mr Krane about his potential involvement."

Stunned, the girl only stared at the small boy standing in front of her. Soon, she got a hold of herself again and said hesitantly, "Alright then. Yes, it’s true. I have been wearing my pendant all day long, which I usually do. And yes, it mysteriously vanished. I didn't realise it right away. Ginny mentioned it a few minutes ago after she realised something was off."

"You think another student, Jim Krane, is the thief based on previous comments towards you?" asked Tem.

"Yes! I'm sure of it. I don't know how he did it, but he had a long summer to think about it, friendless as he is," replied Eleanor, a sneer in her voice.

"Why do I keep hearing my name all over this train?" A small, stocky boy with black slightly longer hair came down the hall.

Tem identified him as Jim Krane, based on the description he had been given. Great, he would not have to continue searching for him.

The boy was wearing his Slytherin robes and upon seeing Eleanor Harris standing amidst the commotion, his face contorted in a mild grimace. "Ah, I see. The bane of my existence, one of them at least, is at it again." The boy sighed. "What is it now?"

"Don't play dumb! You know exactly what's up. Give me back my necklace!" shrieked Eleanor. Jim frowned, and said, "You're right. I had all summer to think about last year, but stealing from you was certainly not what I came up with." While this retort sounded menacing, his gaze remained neutral, bored in a way.

His reaction surprised Tem. While it seemed sincere to him, overall this boy was not making the best case for himself. On the contrary, it rang like a threat. The Gryffindors must've played quite the number on him, for this vitriol to fester next to what happened last year at Hogwarts. There must be more behind the story he had gathered from Marie. Now, in front of another pulk of spectators, was not the time to go in depth on that topic.

"Mr Krane, I'm sure we can clear all of this up if you're willing to answer a few questions," said Tem calmly.

"Who are you?" asked Jim.

"We are investigating the mysterious thefts of various objects on the Hogwarts Express. Mr Caervey has tasked me and my associate to find his watch. Furthermore, the occurrences seem to be connected and your name was mentioned multiple times now," said Tem.

"Oh, sure. Of course, Damian is also involved." Jim slurred these words slightly, not showing much emotion. "We aren't even back at Hogwarts, yet they find a way to badger me. Has anybody considered they might use this to make my life miserable?"

Tem's eyebrows lifted. He had not examined this interesting proposition so far.

"Of course, Mr Krane." He had reassured himself again. "Every possibility will be equally assessed and only facts will lead to the culprit."

"What? You're taking his side now!" shouted Eleanor. "It makes no sense. Why would I try such a dumb thing?"

"True, why would you, when you can just leave me to rot somewhere. Maybe this time you're out for my reputation?" said Jim, yawning.

"Please, Ladies and Gentlemen. This will not help at all. Please let me conduct a questioning in private with each of you and I will be able to mediate between everybody involved. This will be the best for everybody," said Tem.

He was hoping to reason with these two. Seeing their interaction was providing him with valuable information, but somehow he had the feeling he could bring forth more by questioning them.

"Did you find Damian's watch?" asked Eleanor, an unsure waver in her voice.

"Not yet. We're still in the midst of the investigation. We were on our way to ask Mr Krane a few questions in order to find out any potential involvement on his part."

"Fine. Let's get into our compartment. I'll answer anything you want to know. I just want my necklace back." With a sniff, Eleanor turned, ignoring Jim, and went into her compartment.

"Mr Krane. Are you willing to respond to a few questions afterward? This would go a long way to clear any suspicion towards you by the victims," said Tem.

"They won't rest before they see me expelled or something. Alright, I'll play along. I'll be in my compartment, the last in this wagon." Jim turned and strode away.

Tem looked around to Nathan with an expectant face. The other boy could only shrug. Hogwarts was bound to become very interesting.