Over the following weeks, Alistair trained in Occlumency every day under Abernathy’s supervision, with Vinda and the other members of the Alliance occasionally joining the sessions.
What had begun as a chaotic lesson gradually became more structured, and Alistair’s control over his thoughts improved surprisingly quickly.
By the end of August, he could keep his surface thoughts hidden even when Abernathy actively tried to penetrate his mental defenses.
He was still far from mastering Occlumency, but the progress was enough to give him some confidence about entering Hogwarts.
Before he knew it, September 1st had arrived.
Alistair woke earlier than usual that morning and finished preparing long before it was time to leave.
Abernathy came to collect him and Apparated with him to King’s Cross Station, where they made their way toward the concealed entrance to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
As they stood near the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten, Alistair glanced around but couldn’t find the person he’d expected to see.
“Abernathy, where’s Mrs.
Rosier?” he asked.
He had assumed Vinda would be there to see him off, but Abernathy had been the only person waiting at his door that morning.
Abernathy gave him a knowing smile.
“Alistair, as a man, you should understand something.
No matter how strong a woman appears, her heart can still be surprisingly soft.” He lowered his voice with exaggerated seriousness.
“Vinda couldn’t bear the thought of watching you leave for Hogwarts, so she decided it would be easier not to come at all.” Alistair looked slightly surprised, unaware that Abernathy was repeating an excuse they had agreed upon in advance.
The truth was that Vinda was already carrying out the plan to enter Hogwarts under another identity, and none of them wanted Alistair learning about it beforehand and trying to stop her out of concern for her safety.
Alistair thought about the weeks he’d spent with the Alliance and felt an unexpected heaviness in his chest.
These people were Dark wizards who used Unforgivable Curses with terrifying ease and regularly misunderstood almost everything he said, yet their concern for him had never felt false.
They had protected him, trained him, prepared everything he needed for school, and treated his future as though it were the most important thing in their lives.
Leaving them behind, even temporarily, therefore felt stranger than he’d expected.
Abernathy apparently noticed the change in his expression and gave his shoulder a firm pat.
“All right, Alistair.
It’s time to go,” Abernathy said.
“Once you’re at Hogwarts, remember to write to us.
If you need money, supplies, information, or anything else, tell us instead of trying to handle everything alone.” His expression became much more serious as he leaned closer.
“And most importantly, if you’re ever truly in danger, you know what to do.” Alistair nodded and reached beneath his clothes.
He pulled out the pendant that had been taken from the Grindelwald family holdings.
The old piece of jewelry bore an unusual symbol: a triangle containing a circle, divided by a straight vertical line.
Alistair had been told that it was important to the Alliance, though they hadn’t given him a complete explanation of its history.
Abernathy immediately tucked the pendant back beneath Alistair’s coat.
“Never display that openly.
It’s a symbol that certain people may recognize.” He lowered his voice.
“But if you’re in danger, channel your magic into it.
Wherever we are, we’ll know, and we’ll come as quickly as we can.” “I remember,” Alistair assured him.
Abernathy studied him for another moment before finally stepping aside.
“Good.
Then go.
You don’t want to miss the train on your first day.” Alistair took hold of his luggage trolley, faced the apparently solid barrier, and pushed forward.
Despite knowing perfectly well what was supposed to happen, he still closed his eyes just before reaching it.
Instead of crashing into brick, Alistair passed smoothly through.
Abernathy remained behind for several seconds, watching the place where the boy had disappeared.
He was about to leave when his expression suddenly sharpened and his hand moved instinctively toward his wand.
A familiar voice immediately sounded behind him.
“Abernathy, who gave you permission to improvise that ridiculous speech?” His tension disappeared at once.
Abernathy turned and found Vinda standing several steps away.
She looked noticeably different from usual, wearing a tall hat, her hair arranged into a long ponytail, and a dark-green coat that helped alter her familiar appearance.
Abernathy examined her and smiled.
“Vinda, no matter how much you change your appearance, you still carry yourself like everyone else should move out of your way.
You may want to tone that down before you stand in front of Dumbledore.” Vinda ignored the advice and narrowed her eyes.
“Who told you to say that nonsense about strong women having soft hearts?
Since when did you become such an expert on women?” Abernathy’s confident smile immediately became awkward.
He opened his mouth, failed to produce a useful answer, and wisely decided to remain silent.
Vinda gave him one last unimpressed look before turning toward the barrier.
“Still, you were right about one thing.” Her voice softened slightly.
“I don’t like leaving him alone there.” After a brief pause, determination returned to her expression.
“So I’ll make certain that when Alistair eventually leaves Hogwarts, he walks out of that castle with his head held high.” With that, Vinda passed through the barrier toward Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, leaving Abernathy behind.
On the other side, Alistair’s sadness had already been largely replaced by excitement.
A scarlet steam engine waited beside the crowded platform, its smoke drifting overhead while students and families moved around it in every direction.
Seeing the Hogwarts Express in person still felt unreal, although one detail immediately stood out to him.
“So that’s the Hogwarts Express,” he murmured.
“It’s definitely more old-fashioned than I expected.” The train was clean and impressive in its own way, but Alistair had grown up in modern America before arriving in this world and was accustomed to newer trains, subway cars, and the kind of transportation technology that belonged to a much later era.
He reminded himself that this was Britain in 1990 and, more importantly, that the Hogwarts Express was a steam train whose value came from magic and tradition rather than modern engineering.
Even so, he couldn’t help staring at it with a mixture of fascination and mild disbelief.
A voice suddenly came from behind him.
“It is old, but I suppose that’s part of what makes it the Hogwarts Express.” Alistair turned around and saw a handsome boy standing nearby with an open, friendly expression.
Beside him stood a middle-aged man carrying some of the boy’s luggage, looking considerably more proud than the student himself.
“First year?” the boy asked with a smile as he extended his hand.
“I’m Cedric Diggory.” Recognition immediately flashed through Alistair’s mind.
Cedric Diggory was a name no Harry Potter fan could easily forget.
In the future, he would become one of Hogwarts’s most talented students and eventually its champion in the Triwizard Tournament, though Alistair had no intention of revealing that he knew any of it.
Before Cedric could say anything else, the man beside him proudly cut in.
“My son was one of the best students in his year last term.
Excellent marks across his subjects.” Cedric immediately looked embarrassed, clearly accustomed to his father’s habit of advertising his accomplishments to strangers.
Alistair suppressed his recognition and shook Cedric’s hand with a bright smile.
“Nice to meet you.
I’m Alistair Vance, and yes, this is my first year.” He looked Cedric over with deliberately exaggerated admiration.
“Is every Hogwarts upperclassman this good-looking and academically successful?
If so, first year is going to be more stressful than I expected.” Cedric visibly reddened at the compliment and seemed unsure how to answer.
The reaction only made the middle-aged man behind him look even more pleased.
“No, no, don’t worry about that,” Amos Diggory said proudly.
“Cedric simply works hard.
You’ll find plenty of Hogwarts students who aren’t nearly as serious about their studies.” Cedric immediately turned toward him.
“Dad, don’t say that about everyone.
People are good at different things.” He looked back at Alistair and smiled apologetically.
“But if you ever have questions or need help once school starts, you’re welcome to find me.
And if you happen to be Sorted into Hufflepuff, that would make things even easier.” Alistair stared at him for a moment.
Friendly, modest, academically successful, and already offering to help a first-year he’d met less than a minute ago.
So this is what having a Hufflepuff upperclassman is like.
Alistair immediately liked it.
End of Chapter 11 [Reader Support Milestones]