Chapter 975: Harry at King's Cross Station
Chapter 975: Harry at King's Cross Station
"Harry, where are you headed after returning this time?" Ron asked softly, gazing out the window of the Hogwarts Express at the fleeting scenery.
"Of course, I'm going back to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place," 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 uncle and aunt's place anymore."
"You're right," Harry agreed with a smile.
Before this, his first stop every holiday was always Privet Drive in Little Whinging. Even last year, he stayed there for a month until he came of age and was escorted away by members of the Order of the Phoenix.
Although that experience had improved his relationship with the Dursleys and Dudley's attitude towards him had changed significantly, if he were to return this year, Uncle Vernon would likely still greet him with a stern face.
That family seemed to have an allergy to wizards; as long as Harry held a wand, there was no way their relationship could truly improve.
Fortunately, he didn't need to go back, as Sirius was still waiting for him.
Harry also looked out the window, and for a moment, his anticipation for a new life gradually dispelled the melancholy of graduation.
"I just heard that you're going to open a shop in Diagon Alley," Ginny said, opening the compartment door and stepping in from outside. "Doesn't that mean you'll be neighbors with Fred and George?"
"I'm not sure about that," Harry said, coming back to his senses and thinking for a moment. "Sirius didn't tell me the address of the shop, so I don't know if it's next to his."
"You can't be far from them," Hermione said confidently.
"Why not?"
Hermione looked at him in disbelief, "Are you really a child from a wizarding family? Or did you not notice at all?"
"Notice what!" Ron was getting impatient, "Can you be more clear?"
"The location of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is a bit deeper into Diagon Alley, and the shops outside near 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 went to Diagon Alley.
After all, given the Weasley family's situation, Ron only had one chance to go there each year when he was younger, and the route was fixed, so he couldn't just wander around.
Strictly speaking, he might not have gone to Diagon Alley more times than Hermione.
"Alright, you've all graduated. Can you please stop arguing?" Harry couldn't help but speak up, standing between the two.
"So, what are you planning to sell?" Ginny also spoke up in a timely manner, helping to change the topic.
"I don't know," Harry shook his head. "But I feel that 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 industries in the magical community are connected to the Blacks.
For example, the largest magical plant nursery mentioned in the fifth-year career guidance is a Black family business."
"Black... magical plant nursery?" Ron looked at her in surprise, "How do you know that!"
"Maybe because I can read," Hermione said seriously. "If you could read too, you would notice that the person who bought that plant nursery 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 with those small flyers...
Seeing his embarrassed expression, the others couldn't help but laugh.
"Maybe because after Sirius graduated, he went to live with my dad," Harry said with a smile. "He really has no talent in this area. Do you remember the cold drink 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 a couple of times.
"Sirius not only didn't make a profit but also owed more than a thousand Galleons."
Clang!
The wizard chess piece in Ron's hand fell to the ground, and the knight crawled up from the floor, limping over to Ron's feet. It angrily drew its sword and stabbed at his boot.
"Ouch!" Ron cried out in pain and instinctively kicked the flag, which flew out and shattered on the ground.
But Ron didn't care about that; he stared intently at Harry.
"You just said that Sirius not only didn't make money but also owed more than a thousand Galleons?"
"It should be more than a thousand... But it's fine to say it like that," Harry nodded.
Ron smacked his lips.
It 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 so out of it those days, he lost a lot of weight."
"What does this have to do with Professor Lupin?"
"It seems that the Screaming Cauldron was bought by Lupin and Sirius together."
Ginny opened her mouth in surprise, "I'm not gossiping behind Professor Lupin's back, but could he really afford it?"
"It's borrowed from Kyle, and needs to be repaid," Harry explained, "but these past few years, because of Voldemort... well, you know, business in Hogsmeade hasn't been great."
"Oh..." The others in the compartment nodded in unison.
They somewhat understood Lupin's situation, and it wasn't exactly cheerful news.
"But Sirius said he'd take responsibility for the loss," Harry added.
"That's why I said Sirius has no business sense."
"And compared to opening a shop in Diagon Alley, I'd rather become a professional Quidditch player. Oliver Wood has already said he'll keep an eye out for teams that need a Seeker."
"But he also told me that Seeker positions aren't that sought-after in professional teams. He suggested I try out for Chaser, but since I've never been a Chaser, 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 intensively in pitching techniques."
"I think..." Ron looked at him, and the words slipped out, "if you want Sirius to give you ideas, 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 Sirius could afford it.
"Please don't," Harry's face paled.
He wanted to become a professional player but not in such a high-profile manner... After all, he was tired of the so-called 'savior' identity he carried, and he'd go crazy if he had one more title.
"You must keep it a secret and never tell Sirius about this."
The group burst into laughter again.
By noon, the snack trolley arrived outside their compartment.
Harry almost bought out the entire trolley of snacks, claiming it as a reward for keeping his secret, filling the table with a generous spread.
"This is too much, we can't possibly finish all this!"
"It's fine, you can take it back with you," Harry said.
For a moment, he felt like he had returned to his first time on the Hogwarts Express, when he, too, had bought every snack on the trolley.
Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, Chocolate Frogs... Back then, he had thought these snacks were the most delicious things he had ever tasted.
But now, he was almost sick of them.
...
The compartment was filled with laughter and chatter as the train sped along, slowing down at one point and gradually coming to a stop at King's Cross Station.
Students poured out of the train and headed towards the platform.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and a few seventh-year students lingered, all of them ending up at the back of the crowd.
They waited until the long line ahead of them disappeared, and the bustling platform became quiet again before they approached the magically disguised wall.
"I told you they'd be the last ones out, Mom, but you didn't believe me," Fred's voice rang out.
"I didn't doubt you. In fact, when you, Charlie, and Bill were in your seventh year, you were just like Harry."
It was Mrs. Weasley's voice.
She hurried over and gave Harry a hug.
"Congratulations, dear, congratulations on your graduation..."
Her voice choked up, perhaps recalling the first time she met Harry.
It was also at King's Cross Station that a little boy in ill-fitting clothes had run up to them asking for directions.
Now, that little boy had graduated.
Harry hugged her back and said sincerely, "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley."
As he spoke, he subconsciously looked ahead.
Fred and George were there, along with Bill.
Charlie had already returned to the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary, and Bill was staying temporarily because he was about to marry Fleur.
Only these three, Harry searched but couldn't find the person he wanted to see the most.
"Where's Sirius?" he couldn't help but ask.
"Oh, I was just about to tell you. Sirius went to the Ministry of Magic," Mrs. Weasley said as she escorted Harry out.
"What's he doing there?" Harry asked.
Graduation was a significant event, and Sirius would have definitely attended if not for something more important.
"He has something..."
"Snape's second hearing has begun," Fred said, cutting in before Mrs. Weasley could speak.
"After this hearing, we'll know for sure if he's a Death Eater or Dumbledore's man."
"What does that have to do with Sirius?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"He's probably there to pray," George said with a smirk, "Praying he's a Death Eater."
"Maybe Sirius can personally throw him into Azkaban."
"Stop it, both of you..." Mrs. Weasley glared at them, then turned to Harry and sighed.
"Alright, since you already know, I won't hide it from you.
"Snape presented a memory at the previous hearing... It's related to your mother, and that's why Sirius went."
"If you want to go, you should leave now," Fred said, "The hearing hasn't ended yet, and we can take you to the Ministry of Magic."
"On the condition that you can get into the courtroom," George added.
Harry hesitated, instinctively wanting to agree.
But the next moment, he suddenly realized that he should have seen that memory before, and it was the one Voldemort gave to him on the night he attacked Hogwarts.
Harry's expression became complicated.
If the content of that memory was true, it would completely prove that Snape was on Dumbledore's side, and he had helped Harry a lot.
On the other hand, it was also Snape who revealed Sibyl Trelawney's prophecy, causing Voldemort to target his family.
Harry didn't know how to face Snape and whether he should continue hating him. His heart grew more conflicted.
He even thought that it would have been better if Snape had died in the war, then he wouldn't have to struggle with this dilemma...
"Harry, Harry..." A series of calls snapped him back to reality, and he looked up to find everyone staring at him.
"What are you thinking, Harry?" George asked, "Make a decision quickly. The hearing started an hour ago, and you'll miss it if you delay any longer."
"Ah, it's fine," Harry forced a smile, "I've seen that memory before, so I don't need to go this time."
"You've seen it?" Fred quickly walked over, his eyes shining like light bulbs.
"Quickly, tell us what's in that memory..."
"We're so curious..."
"We dream of attending this hearing..."
"But we don't have an invitation, so we can't get into the questioning room..."
"Dad insisted that we come to pick you up..."
"He doesn't trust us!"
Fred and George surrounded Harry, one on each side, hoping to hear the contents of the memory from him.
Just as Harry was feeling troubled, a shadow appeared behind them.
"You two, stop it! Don't ask Harry about this!"
Mrs. Weasley reached out and grabbed their ears, pulling them up...
"Ouch, Mom..."
"Let go, Mom, I only have one ear left!"
Fred and George hopped in pain.
Hearing the words 'one ear,' Mrs. Weasley suddenly softened and released her grip.
But she said, "If you ask Harry these questions and make him feel awkward again, I'll twist your other ear, understand?"
"Understood, understood..."
"We won't ask anymore."
The two of them huddled together, rubbing their ears and muttering softly.
Mrs. Weasley pretended not to hear and patted Harry's arm.
"Alright, dear, since you're not going to the Ministry, let's go home. How about going to 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 and towards the car parked at the intersection.
But just as Harry was about to get in the car, he paused, his eyes fixed on the parking lot in the distance.
"What's wrong?" Ron also looked in that direction but didn't notice anything unusual; everything seemed normal.
"Nothing, nothing," Harry said, as he watched a middle-aged Muggle, who had just finished a phone call, walk out from behind the car and laughed before sitting inside.
He must have mistaken him for someone else... How could Uncle Vernon still be here to pick him up?
...
(End of Chapter)
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