Chapter 9: The Hogwarts Express
Chapter 9: The Hogwarts Express
In the British wizarding world, September 1st is an extremely significant date, especially for witches and wizards who are eleven years old or above but have not yet graduated.
This is the day that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry commences its new term.
For young witches and wizards who have just turned eleven, the days leading up to this one are filled with eager anticipation and excitement for what lies ahead.
However, for those between the ages of twelve and seventeen, the start of term may not hold the same appeal, as it signifies the end of their carefree summer vacation and the inevitable confrontation with the mountain of homework they had conveniently forgotten about.
This is certainly not welcome news.
This contrast in sentiments is particularly evident in Kyle and the Weasley twins, Fred and George.
In the empty space in front of their shabby dwelling, Kyle stands at the forefront, brimming with enthusiasm, while the older twins linger behind him, their faces etched with tension. The duo whispers anxiously to each other from time to time, as if they are the ones embarking on their first journey to Hogwarts.
Yes, Kyle is joining them on this trip.
Initially, Chris had planned to take him directly via Disapparating, but just before their departure, they were met with a knock on the door, behind which stood Mrs. Weasley.
It seemed as though she had anticipated their plan, for her first words to Chris were of caution. She expressed her concern about the abundance of Muggles at King's Cross Station, stating that using Disapparating could easily attract unwanted attention and pose a safety risk. She firmly insisted that Kyle travel with them.
Chris was about to retort, but upon seeing Mrs. Weasley's determined expression, he could only nod in agreement, swallowing his unspoken words.
Meanwhile, Kyle, feeling a bit exasperated, rubbed his temples helplessly.
He really wanted to point out to Mrs. Weasley that in the eyes of Muggles, having nine people emerge from a Ford would be far more startling than suddenly having two additional people appear.
After all, there was no Ganges River involved, and Ford was not exactly synonymous with a certain high-end car bearing a rhombus logo, where one could comfortably fit as many people as they wished.
Unfortunately, at the tender age of eleven, his opinion held little weight, and he found himself being politely ignored.
As he pondered this, Mrs. Weasley suddenly appeared by his side and asked with a concerned look, "Dear, have you packed everything you need?"
"Of course," Kyle replied, kicking a large trunk by his feet. "Before leaving, I checked three times to make sure I didn't forget anything."
"That's good," Mrs. Weasley said with a nod and a smile.
Just then, Mr. Weasley pulled up in front of them, driving an old-fashioned car that seemed to be from a bygone era.
This was to be their mode of transportation—a well-loved, second-hand (or perhaps ninth-hand)
Ford that Mr. Weasley had sourced from somewhere, and he absolutely adored it.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Mr. Weasley urged.
Following his prompt, Chris was the first to get into the car.
Seeing this, Kyle realized that his attempts at persuasion were too late, and he reluctantly climbed in after him, followed by the rest of the Weasley family.
The interior of the car had been enchanted with the Spacious Charm, ensuring that despite the nine passengers and their substantial luggage, there was ample room for everyone.
Mr. Weasley's driving skills were commendable; Kyle didn't experience any noticeable bumps along the way, nor did he feel any abrupt braking or lurching forward as the car accelerated. It was a far smoother ride than a certain bus he knew.
Around ten o'clock, they arrived punctually at King's Cross Station.
Fortunately, the scenario that Kyle had imagined did not unfold, or perhaps more accurately, people simply didn't pay attention to an old and decrepit Ford. Their group smoothly made their way to a pillar located between platforms nine and ten.
Beyond this point, there was little to no concern about being discovered by Muggles.
The area was protected by Muggle-Repelling Charms, causing ordinary people to subconsciously overlook any magical occurrences. In the rare event of an unusual situation, members of the Ministry of Magic stationed nearby would promptly address the issue, ensuring everyone's safety.
The group efficiently lined up and, under Mrs. Weasley's direction, took turns stepping through the pillar, arriving at the renowned Platform Nine.
The atmosphere here was markedly livelier than the Muggle side of the station.
Hearing the familiar voice, Kyle turned around eagerly and saw Diana smiling at him.
"Mom?" Kyle exclaimed in surprise. "I thought you still had a mission..."
"Of course, I've completed it." Diana crouched down and straightened Kyle's clothes. "Today is your first day of school, and I didn't want to miss such an important occasion."
"I'm glad you're here." Kyle said happily.
It would have indeed been a pity if only Chris had come to see him off to Hogwarts.
Diana chatted with Kyle for a while longer, only leaving him to board the train just before its departure. She gave him a final reminder, "I assume Chris has already briefed you about Hogwarts, so I won't repeat it, but there's one thing I don't think he mentioned."
With her deep blue eyes fixed on Kyle, she said seriously, "Dear, your father and I graduated a long time ago, and we don't wish to reminisce about our school days. So, please, don't let us receive any letters from the professors, including Dumbledore, alright?"
"Don't worry, Mom." Kyle smiled reassuringly. "I won't break any rules, so they have no reason to send letters home."
"Of course, dear." Diana gently kissed Kyle's cheek and watched as he boarded the train. "Also, don't forget to let us know which house you're sorted into."
"I will." Kyle nodded and turned to climb onto the train.
A few minutes later, the train slowly pulled away from the platform, and Diana finally averted her gaze.
Not far behind her, Chris had just finished talking to a middle-aged man and quickly joined Diana.
"Mr. Diggory was bragging about his son again?" Diana asked with a smile.
Obviously, she was familiar with the man Chris had been speaking to.
Amos Diggory, like Chris, worked in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry of Magic, and he also had a child attending Hogwarts, a year older than Kyle and in the same year as the Weasley twins.
However, unlike the mischievous twins, Diggory's son excelled in all areas, much like Percy had been.
As a result, Amos Diggory, the proud father, had become something of a show-off, constantly boasting about his son's achievements to anyone who would listen.
Once or twice would have been tolerable, and people would politely join in the praise, but his incessant bragging became tiresome.
Thus, Diggory had gradually become one of the least popular personnel at the Ministry, especially among parents whose children attended Hogwarts but performed averagely. They would go out of their way to avoid him unless absolutely necessary.
Even when they did cross paths, they would keep their heads down and hurry past, avoiding conversation if possible.
For those who couldn't escape, like sharing an elevator or being colleagues in the same department as Chris, they would exchange brief pleasantries before quickly finding an excuse to leave, not giving him a chance to change the subject.
And this time, Chris had no choice but to endure the conversation.
"Cedric is indeed outstanding."
Chris sighed. "Never mind that. Are you sure your mission is really over?"
Although he didn't know the specifics of the Department of Mysteries, he was aware that their missions usually lasted at least a month, and it was almost unheard of for one to be completed in just a couple of days.
"Of course not." Diana narrowed her eyes. "But my colleagues are easy to talk to. I just took a little leave, and they won't mind."
(End of Chapter)
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