Thick clouds of smoke billowed from the steam locomotive, drifting above the platform.
The crowded station buzzed with noise and chatter, mixed with the hooting of owls.
Cats of every color darted between people’s feet.
Guoguocha crouched atop Vaughn’s suitcase, glancing at the backs of its fellow felines before settling into a calm, dignified silence.
Harry had already disappeared.
The area was packed with people, and that reckless guy had no idea where he’d wandered off to.
Vaughn didn’t bother looking for him.
Standing on tiptoe and scanning the crowd for a while, he finally spotted Fred and George.
Squeezing through the crowd, he made his way over and asked, “Why is it only you two?
Where’s Percy?” “Haven’t seen him.
The esteemed Prefect Percy is very busy.
One blink, and he vanished.” “Huh?
Fred, when did Percy become a prefect?
How come I didn’t know?” “You couldn’t possibly not know, George.
He mentioned it at least once…
no, twice…
no!” The twins shouted in unison, “He talked about it all summer!
Hahaha!” At that moment, Percy appeared, somehow having changed into a brand-new set of robes.
He wore a stern expression as he said, “If I were you, Fred and George, knowing your brother has become a prefect, I’d show a little restraint and stop making things difficult for him!” “Merlin’s beard, Fred, I’m terrified!” “I know, George!
It’s horrifying.
He sounds like he’s become the Headmaster!” “You…” Percy took a deep breath and finally decided they weren’t worth arguing with.
He walked over and patted Vaughn on the shoulder, dramatically flicking his new robes so Vaughn would definitely notice the shiny silver P badge pinned to his chest.
“Vaughn, my dear brother, if you have any problems after arriving at school, remember to come to me!” Vaughn smiled and nodded.
“Of course, Percy.” Just then, Mr.
and Mrs.
Weasley arrived with Ginny and Ron.
It was almost eleven o’clock, and the white steam pouring from the locomotive had grown even thicker.
The train was about to depart.
Molly had no choice but to say goodbye to her children one by one.
When it was Vaughn and Ron’s turn, she wiped at the corners of her eyes emotionally, looking as though she wanted to pull both boys into a hug and never let go.
“You’ve grown so much, and you’ve never been this far from home before.” “Don’t worry, Mom.
We’re just going to school, and Hogwarts is the safest place in the world…” Vaughn comforted her against his better judgment, silently adding in his heart: For now, anyway.
“Once we get there, we’ll write letters to you and Dad.
And to Ginny too.” After comforting his mother, Vaughn hugged Ginny.
The little girl had already cried herself into a mess of tears and was clutching tightly at his clothes.
“Vaughn, I don’t want you to go…” “But your brother has to go to school.
Besides, you’ll be coming to Hogwarts next year too.
Then we won’t have to be apart.” It took quite a while before he finally managed to calm her down.
During the entire process, Ron didn’t say a single word.
Mostly because he was crying so hard that his nose wouldn’t stop running.
Under the waving farewells of Mr.
and Mrs.
Weasley and Ginny, Vaughn and Ron pushed their mountain of luggage onto the train and began searching for an empty compartment.
The front cars were definitely out of the question.
Those belonged to the older students.
Percy had already bragged about having access to a prefect compartment near the engine.
That left only the rear cars.
After a lengthy search, they finally found an empty compartment.
The train let out a long whistle and began to move.
Ron immediately abandoned the luggage and threw himself against the window, pressing his face to the glass as if hoping to catch one last glimpse of their parents.
But he saw nothing.
The thick smoke concealed the platform.
All he could make out were countless waving arms.
The boy curled up in his seat, looking dejected.
Vaughn pulled out his wand and used the Levitation Charm to stow their luggage neatly away.
Seeing Ron’s expression, he thought for a moment before pulling a piece of candy from his pocket.
“Here.” Ron blinked in surprise before accepting it.
As he unwrapped the candy, he mumbled, “Th-thanks, Vaughn…” “Call me big brother.” With a wicked grin, Vaughn ruffled his hair into a complete mess, instantly destroying the small bit of gratitude Ron had just begun to feel.
Ron flushed red and flailed wildly, trying to escape Vaughn’s hand.
“In your dreams!” At that moment, the compartment door slid open.
A thin figure stood outside, dragging a large suitcase.
He looked nervous, timid, and slightly dazed.
“Excuse me…
may I sit here?” Harry Potter felt that today had been absolutely awful.
First, his aunt and uncle had dumped him at the station, and he couldn’t find Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Then, after finally meeting a kind woman and successfully entering the platform, he spent ages squeezing through the crowds before barely managing to board the train.
After that, he couldn’t find a compartment.
He had initially gone toward the front of the train, only to be driven away by older students wearing silver snake badges on their chests.
So he had wandered all the way to the rear cars.
Nearly every compartment was full.
After searching for what felt like forever without finding a seat, he spotted two red-haired boys.
He recognized them.
They were from the family that had helped him earlier outside the platform.
Their bright red hair was impossible to miss.
Especially the tall boy named Vaughn, whose reddish-brown eyes resembled precious gemstones.
Harry had never seen a boy so handsome before.
Even the movie stars Aunt Petunia liked weren’t as handsome as him.
Of course, what left the deepest impression was what Harry had witnessed moments earlier.
Vaughn had waved his wand and made the luggage float.
Magic…
Harry didn’t know what came over him.
Acting on impulse, he pushed open the compartment door.
The moment the question left his mouth, however, he wanted to retreat.
He was a complete stranger barging in on two brothers.
What if they didn’t like being disturbed?
What if they told him to leave?
His thoughts tangled together chaotically.
Having grown up with the Dursleys, he was accustomed to being cautious, compromising, and staying out of trouble.
Inside the compartment, Vaughn was equally surprised.
When he hadn’t seen Harry earlier, he’d assumed Harry had already found a seat somewhere.
He couldn’t help looking from Harry to Ron.
The magical world did believe in destiny.
After all, destiny itself was a form of magic.
Could it be that the Golden Trio were fated to meet no matter what?
After pondering the question briefly and deciding he couldn’t figure it out for now, Vaughn kept his expression calm and smiled.
“Of course.
Come in.” Harry thanked him awkwardly and turned to drag in his suitcase.
Then he heard a spell being cast.
“Wingardium Leviosa.” His luggage instantly floated into the air, lifted by an invisible force.
Inside the cage, Hedwig flapped her wings in alarm, but it was completely useless.
Harry hurriedly turned around.
He saw Vaughn holding a wand made of pale wood with knotted ridges, directing the suitcase onto the luggage rack.
Hedwig’s cage gently settled onto the small table beside the window.
There was also an enormous cat there.
The cat glanced at Hedwig before returning its attention to the rat cage in the corner.
“Uh…
uh…” Harry was completely dazzled.
For several seconds, he couldn’t even speak.
Finally, he stammered, “Thank you.
Thank you.” “You’re welcome.
Come sit down.” Vaughn smiled.
“My name is Vaughn Weasley.
This is my younger brother, Ron Weasley.
Nice to meet you, Harry Potter.” Harry stepped into the compartment with his shoulders slightly hunched.
Hearing that, he immediately responded nervously.
“Hello, Vaughn…
uh?” His eyes widened.
“How do you know…” Vaughn pointed at his forehead.
“I saw your scar outside the platform.” So it wasn’t because of magic…
Harry secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as he was about to reply, the freckle-faced boy named Ron Weasley suddenly sprang to his feet.
Staring at Harry’s forehead with wide eyes, he blurted out, “Harry Potter?!
The Harry Potter?”