Chapter 4: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

Back in Diagon Alley, the bustling energy was just as lively as it had been that morning—but without the stern presence of Professor McGonagall, the Gray family felt far more at ease. Shopping became a genuine adventure.

The Grays seriously explored every shop—well, almost every one. There was just one exception: a shop specializing in animal innards and eyeballs. The moment they stepped inside, a massive, rolling eyeball caught their eye. Fiona shrieked and bolted out in an instant.

Ferdinand bought several clever magical trinkets: a broom that swept the floor on its own, a golden bird that flitted through the air like a living spark, and a talking wizard’s chess set. He double-checked with the shopkeeper each time, making sure none of the items carried any “dangerous” or “harmful” magic.

Wade, meanwhile, spent over an hour in the bookstore, overwhelmed by the sheer number of books he wanted. But with only a month until school started—and knowing Hogwarts would have far more books—he ultimately narrowed it down to his absolute must-haves: Common Charms and Counter-Curses, Healing Manual, and An Easy Introduction to Ancient Runes.

He also picked up two self-writing quills. The shopkeeper warned him, though, that these weren’t suitable for homework—because they recorded every fleeting thought in the owner’s mind, down to the tiniest, most embarrassing idea. Even someone with strong mental discipline might accidentally write something that would ruin their reputation.

As Wade stepped out of the bookstore, arms full of new books, he spotted his parents sitting at a sidewalk ice cream stand, happily licking cones. Ferdinand held a golden owl cage in his other hand, inside which perched a remarkably sturdy-looking young owl, currently using its head to draw perfect circles on the cage floor.

“Dad, you bought another owl?” Wade asked.

“Indeed,” Ferdinand grinned. “Since you’ll need to bring your owl to school, and if your mum and I want to send you letters—well, apparently the Muggle post office can’t deliver to Hogwarts. So we got one. His name’s General Bard. A fine fellow.”

Wade leaned down. “Hello, General Bard.”

General Bard opened his beak and yawned dramatically.

“Look, I got one too,” Fiona chimed in, opening her hand to reveal a tiny, white hamster curled up peacefully in her palm. “Isn’t she adorable?”

“She’s so sweet,” Fiona added with a bright smile. “I swear, wizards’ pets seem to have eaten some kind of ‘intelligence potion’—they’re way smarter than ordinary animals. She’s not afraid of me at all—she even seems to understand my commands!”

“Adorable, yes,” Wade said, raising an eyebrow. “But, Mum… aren’t hamsters on an owl’s menu?”

He’d only recently learned this himself—after buying an owl and then being told by the shopkeeper that owls primarily ate mice, birds, fish, or insects. In short: carnivores. He silently apologized in his heart for the pine nuts he’d once fed the school owl.

“It’s fine,” Fiona said. “Your dad will keep an eye on General Bard. Oh, by the way, this is Miss Mirelle.” She turned to Wade with a serious expression. “Wade, you really should name your owl now!”

“Hmm…” Wade glanced around. His eyes landed on a stationery shop called Evant, its bold 【EVA】 letters shining brightly under the sun.

“Let’s call her Ava,” he said casually.

…

The Gray family lingered in Diagon Alley for several days. Ferdinand could now chat effortlessly about Quidditch matches and the various models of the Nimbus 2000. Fiona had furnished her hamster, Miss Mirelle, with a complete set of miniature furniture—each piece enchanted with a self-cleaning charm—along with a wardrobe of tiny dresses, wizard robes, hats, and rainbow-colored socks.

Of course, as parents of a first-year at Hogwarts, they’d signed a confidentiality agreement with Professor McGonagall on the first day, pledging not to reveal any secrets of the magical world to Muggles, and vowing to safeguard any magical items from falling into non-magical hands.

One month vanished in the blink of an eye.

On the morning of September 1st, Fiona once again checked Wade’s trunk, making sure everything was packed—down to the nail clippers and ear picks, as well as all his winter clothes.

Ferdinand drove him to King’s Cross Station.

Platform Nine and Three-Quarters—the gateway to the magical journey. At first glance, it looked like nothing more than a plain wall between platforms nine and ten.

Wade pushed his trolley, the owl cage balanced on top, and approached the barrier. He glanced back. His parents stood there, smiling and waving.

He waved back with a grin, then turned and ran straight through the wall.

Fiona clapped a hand over her mouth, stifling a sob.

Ferdinand wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “If only we could go with him to the platform…”

“Don’t tell him,” Fiona sniffled. “I don’t want Wade to feel sad. Going to school… it should be happy.”

Ferdinand gently patted her. “Don’t worry. I’ve been asking around these past few days. The wizarding world is peaceful now. The greatest wizard of our time, Albus Dumbledore, is Headmaster. Wade will be safe at Hogwarts.”

“I’m… I’m sorry…”

A soft, timid voice spoke beside them.

Ferdinand looked down—and instantly recognized the boy.

“You’re… Harry Potter?!” he exclaimed in surprise.

“Yeah,” Harry mumbled, nervously brushing his messy hair over his scar. He’d forgotten he’d met the couple before—at the Leaky Cauldron. It was just so crowded, and the lighting so dim. Now, though, a flicker of hope lit up his eyes. “I… I just overheard you talking about Hogwarts. I don’t really know how to get there…”

“Oh,” Ferdinand realized. “See that wall? Just push your trolley straight through it. If you’re nervous, close your eyes. You won’t hit anything.”

This wasn’t something Professor McGonagall had told them—it was a story his parents had once told him, back when he was still a child, before it was confirmed he was a squib. They’d shared many tales of the magical world then. But after that, they’d never spoken of it again.

“Oh… okay,” Harry said, uncertain. He studied the couple’s faces—friendly, kind, but was this a joke?

Seeing their encouraging smiles, and the way they seemed to be waiting to see him pass through the wall, Harry took a deep breath. He pushed his trolley forward slowly, heart pounding.

If I crash into the wall, I’ll just get laughed at. No big deal…

But the expected impact never came.

In an instant, the world around him erupted into a roar of voices and laughter. Before him, stretching into the distance, lay a massive, scarlet train—its iron tracks vanishing into the horizon.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end