Chapter 975: Harry and King's Cross Station
Chapter 975: Harry and King's Cross Station
"Harry, where are you headed after we get back?" Ron asked quietly, gazing out the window at the passing scenery on the Hogwarts Express.
"Of course, back to Grimmauld Place, number twelve," Harry replied. "Sirius is waiting for me. He mentioned in his letter that he wants to open a shop with me in Diagon Alley."
"That's great," Ron said. "You won't have to go back to your aunt and uncle's place anymore."
"You're right," Harry agreed with a smile.
Before this, his first stop during every holiday was always Privet Drive, number four. Even last year, he stayed there for a month until he officially came of age and was escorted away by members of the Order of the Phoenix.
Although that experience improved his relationship with the Dursleys, and Dudley's attitude towards him changed significantly, if he were to return this year, Uncle Vernon would likely still greet him with a stern face.
That family to feel like they were allergic to wizards, and as long as he held a wand, there was no way their relationship could genuinely improve.
Fortunately, he didn't need to go back, as Sirius was waiting for him.
Harry also looked out the window, and for a moment, his anticipation for a new life gradually eased the bittersweet feeling of graduation.
"I just heard that you're going to open a shop in Diagon Alley," Ginny said as she opened the compartment door and stepped in. "Doesn't that mean you'll be close to Fred and George?"
"I'm not sure," Harry replied, coming back to his senses. "Sirius didn't tell me the address of the shop, so I don't know if it's near his place or not."
"You can't be far from them," Hermione said with certainty.
"Why?"
"Are you really a child from a wizarding family?" Hermione looked at him in disbelief, explaining, "Or did you not notice at all?"
"Notice what!" Ron grew impatient. "Can you please be clear?"
"The location of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes is a bit deeper into Diagon Alley, and the shops closer to The Leaky Cauldron have already opened."
"Is that clear enough?"
Ron's face turned slightly red. To be honest, he hadn't noticed this... Perhaps it was also because he rarely visited Diagon Alley.
After all, given the Weasley family's situation, Ron only had the opportunity to go there once a year when he was younger, and the route was always fixed, so he couldn't wander freely.
Strictly speaking, he might not have visited Diagon Alley more times than Hermione.
"Alright, now that we've graduated, can you two please stop arguing?" Harry couldn't help but speak up, standing between the two.
"So, what are you planning to sell?" Ginny also chimed in, helping to divert the conversation.
"I don't know," Harry shook his head. "But I feel like Sirius... well, he doesn't seem to have much talent for business."
"That's impossible," Hermione said doubtfully. "Sirius is from the Black family, and they are incredibly wealthy. As far as I know, many magical industries are connected to the Blacks.
"For example, the largest magical botanical garden mentioned in the fifth-year career guidance, which is a Black family business."
"Black... magical botanical garden?" Ron looked at her in surprise. "How do you know that!"
"Perhaps it's because I can read," Hermione said seriously. "If you could read too, you would have noticed that the person who bought that botanical garden two hundred years ago was also named Black."
Ron's face turned even redder, but he still stubbornly explained that only Hermione would pay attention to career guidance, and who would bother to notice those small flyers...
Seeing his embarrassed expression, everyone couldn't help but laugh.
"It might be because Sirius didn't have any business sense after he graduated and moved in with my dad," Harry said with a smile. "Remember the ice cream shop he opened in Diagon Alley last year to protect me?"
Hermione nodded.
Not only did she know about it, but she had also visited it a couple of times.
"Sirius not only didn't make a profit, but he also ended up owing over a thousand Galleons."
Ron's wizard chess piece fell to the ground, and the knight climbed up from the floor, limping to Ron's feet and angrily pulling out his sword, which he then used to vigorously stab at Ron's boot.
"Ouch!" Ron cried out in pain, instinctively kicking the flag, which fell to the ground and shattered.
But Ron didn't care about that. He stared intently at Harry.
"You just said that Sirius not only didn't make a profit but also owed over a thousand Galleons?"
"It should be over a thousand... But I guess that's one way to put it," Harry nodded.
Ron clicked his tongue.
This was somewhat upsetting news... His father's annual salary was just over a thousand Galleons.
"It's hard to believe, isn't it? But it's true." Harry said, "Lupin was out of his mind those days, and he's lost a lot of weight."
"What does this have to do with Professor Lupin?"
"It seems that the Screaming Ice Cream Shop was bought by Lupin and Sirius together."
"Bought..." Ginny opened her mouth, "I'm not talking behind Professor Lupin's back, but can he really afford that much money?"
"It's borrowed from Kyle, and it needs to be paid back." Harry explained, "But in the past few years, because of Voldemort... well, you know, business in Hogsmeade hasn't been great."
"Oh..." Everyone in the compartment nodded in agreement.
They somewhat understood Lupin's situation, and it was indeed not pleasant news.
"But Sirius has said that he will take responsibility for this loss." Harry added.
"That's why I said, Sirius has no business sense at all."
"And compared to opening a shop in Diagon Alley, I'd rather become a professional Quidditch player. Oliver Wood has said he'll help me keep an eye out for any team that needs a Seeker."
"But he also told me that the Seeker position isn't in high demand in professional teams. He suggested I could try being a Chaser, but I've never been a Chaser, so I've been hesitating."
Harry sighed and looked out the window. "After returning this time, I plan to ask Sirius for advice, or maybe train my Quaffle-throwing skills."
"I think..." Ron looked at him, and blurted out, "If you want Sirius to give you advice, he'll most likely buy a team directly and make you the Seeker."
Hermione and Ginny both nodded in agreement.
Although they didn't know how many Galleons it would take to buy a team, they knew that Sirius could definitely afford it.
"Please don't." Harry's face turned pale.
He wanted to become a professional player, but not in such a high-profile way... After all, he had enough of the so-called 'savior' identity, and he would go crazy if he had one more title.
"You must keep it a secret, and don't tell Sirius."
The group laughed again.
By noon, the snack trolley arrived outside their compartment.
Harry almost bought all the snacks on the trolley, saying it was a reward for keeping the secret, and the table was filled with treats.
"This is too much, we can't finish all this!"
"It's fine, you can take it back." Harry said.
In a daze, he felt like he was back to the first time he was on the Hogwarts Express, where he also bought all the snacks on the trolley.
Cauldron Cake, Licorice Wand, Chocolate Frog... These treats were once the most delicious things he had ever tasted.
But now, he was almost tired of these snacks.
...
The compartment was filled with laughter and chatter, as the train sped along and suddenly slowed down, gradually coming to a stop at King's Cross Station.
Students got off the train and headed towards the platform.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and a few seventh-years lingered, all walking at the back of the crowd.
They waited until the long line disappeared, and the platform became quiet again, before they finally approached the wall that was magically disguised.
"Haha, I knew they would be the last ones out, Mom, you didn't believe me."
Harry hadn't fully exited the wall when he heard Fred's voice.
"I didn't doubt it, in fact, you, Charlie, Bill, they were just like you in their seventh year."
It was Mrs. Weasley's voice.
She hurried over and gave Harry a hug.
"Congratulations, dear, congratulations on your graduation..."
Her voice was a little choked up, as if she was thinking about the first time she met Harry.
It was also at King's Cross Station that a little boy in ill-fitting clothes ran to find them.
Now, that little boy had graduated.
(End of Chapter)
"What are you going to do there?" Harry asked.
Graduation was a significant event, and if it weren't for something more important, Sirius would have definitely come.
"He's busy..."
"Snape's second hearing has started," Fred said, beating Mrs. Weasley to it.
"After this hearing, we'll know for sure if he's a Death Eater or one of Dumbledore's people."
"What does this have to do with Sirius?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"He's probably gone to pray," George said with a suppressed laugh, "praying that he's a Death Eater."
"Maybe Sirius will personally throw him into Azkaban."
"Stop it, you two..." Mrs. Weasley glared at them, then turned to Harry, sighing.
"Alright, since you already know, I might as well not hide it from you.
"Snape presented a memory at the previous hearing... It's related to you, and that's why Sirius went."
"If you want to go too, you'd better hurry up," Fred said, "while the hearing is still ongoing, we can take you to the Ministry of Magic."
"On the condition that you can get into the Hearing Chamber," George added.
Harry hesitated for a moment, subconsciously wanting to agree.
But the next second, he suddenly realized that he should have seen that so-called memory, and it was on the night Voldemort attacked Hogwarts when Snape personally handed it to him.
Harry's expression became complex.
If the content of that memory was true, it could completely prove that Snape was one of Dumbledore's people, and he had helped Harry a lot.
But on the other hand, it was Snape who leaked Sibyl Trelawney's prophecy, causing Voldemort to target his family.
Harry didn't know how to face Snape and whether he should continue to hate him. He was even thinking that it would have been better if Snape had died in that war, so he wouldn't have to struggle...
"Harry, Harry..." A series of calls brought him back to his senses, and when he looked up, he found everyone staring at him.
"What are you thinking about, Harry?" George asked, "Make a decision quickly. The hearing started an hour ago, and if you keep delaying, you'll miss it."
"Ah, it's fine," Harry forced a smile, "I saw that memory before, so I don't need to go this time."
"Ah, you've seen it?" Fred quickly walked over, his eyes bright as light bulbs.
"Quick, tell us, what was in that memory..."
"We're really curious..."
"I'd dream of attending this hearing..."
"But we don't have an invitation, and we can't get into the Hearing Chamber..."
"Dad insisted we come to pick you up..."
"He doesn't trust us!"
Fred and George surrounded Harry, one on each side, trying to hear the content of the memory from him.
Just as Harry was in a dilemma, a dark shadow appeared behind them.
"You two, stop it, don't ask Harry these things!"
Mrs. Weasley reached out and grabbed their ears, pulling them up.
"Ow, it hurts, Mom..."
"Let go, Mom, I only have one ear left!"
Fred and George stood on tiptoes, crying out in pain.
Hearing 'one ear,' Mrs. Weasley suddenly softened and released her grip.
But she said, "If you ask Harry these questions again, I'll twist your other ear, got it?"
"Got it, got it..."
"We won't ask then."
The two huddled together, rubbing their ears, whispering to each other.
Mrs. Weasley pretended not to hear, patting Harry's arm.
"Alright, dear, since you're not going to the Ministry of Magic, let's go home. How about the Burrow? Sirius will be there too."
"Great," Harry said happily.
At this moment, Hermione's parents arrived, and they agreed to meet at the Burrow later, then parted ways.
Harry followed the Weasley family out of the station to the car parked at the intersection.
But just as Harry was about to get in the car, he suddenly paused, his eyes fixed on the parking lot in the distance.
"What's wrong?" Ron also looked over, but everything seemed normal.
"Nothing, nothing," Harry said, watching a middle-aged, chubby wizard walking out from behind a car, talking on the phone, and then laughing as he sat in the car.
He must have recognized the wrong person... Why would Uncle Vernon still come to pick him up?
...
End of Chapter
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