Early that morning, Mrs.
Weasley’s furious shouting echoed throughout the Burrow.
“Percy!
Percy!
Where are your robes and cauldron?
And what is this bag stuffed full of letters?
Clean them up immediately!” “Fred!
George!
How many times do I have to tell you?
None of these strange candies are going to school with you!
Take them all out!” “Ron!
What time do you think it is?
Get up this instant and check your luggage again!
If I don’t see you downstairs in five minutes, I’ll throw you into the pond, lock you in the cellar, and you can forget about going to Hogwarts!” “Merlin’s beard, one day you lot are going to drive me to an early grave!” “You should all learn from Vaughn.
He packed everything two days ago.
Not only does he have all his school supplies, he has to bring a whole pile of potions and ingredients too.
Such a hardworking child…” Molly wiped at the corner of her eye.
Then, in the next instant, she spotted something and immediately swung her wand.
“Scabbers, Accio!” A fat old rat came squealing through the front door and flew into her hand.
Her thick fingers closed around it, and the rat’s legs instantly stiffened straight out.
“Ronald Weasley!
Where exactly are your eyes?
You can’t even keep track of your own rat!
Oh, Marmalade, you little sweetheart.
If I hadn’t seen you chasing him, he might have gotten lost.
Come here, Mummy has dried fish for you.” “Meow~” The chaos continued for more than two hours.
After checking everything several times and confirming that everyone had packed all their belongings, Molly finally nodded in satisfaction.
At that moment, a car horn sounded from outside.
Leading the charge, Molly picked up Vaughn’s trunk full of potion ingredients while her sons followed behind.
As they stepped outside, they found a car parked in the open area before the Burrow.
Arthur Weasley stood proudly beside it and slapped the roof.
“Come on, children!
Today Dad is taking you to the station the Muggle way!” An ordinary car obviously couldn’t hold that many people.
But Arthur was a wizard.
Even if he worked for the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, nobody should expect him to follow regulations.
There was a shed beside the Burrow dedicated solely to housing the vehicle.
Throughout the summer, Arthur had been modifying it.
Occasionally, when Vaughn, Fred, and George had nothing better to do, they would help him.
Both the passenger compartment and the trunk had been enchanted with Extension Charms, making the interior astonishingly spacious.
Arthur had even attempted to make it fly, though the project remained unfinished.
The family loaded their luggage into the enlarged trunk and piled into the car amidst considerable commotion.
Throughout the process, Molly’s shouting never stopped.
Fred and George were roughhousing again.
Percy was sulking because his letters had been confiscated.
Ron was clutching Scabbers tightly while kicking his legs and yelling for Marmalade to stay away from him.
Every few moments, someone would cry out after having their ear twisted by Molly.
Arthur completely ignored the chaos.
Excitedly turning the key, he attempted to start the car while simultaneously reading the instruction manual and a road map.
Sitting in the front passenger seat, Vaughn looked speechless.
“Dad…
do you actually know how to drive?” “Of course, of course I do!
I’ve practiced for at least three days.
Oh, Vaughn, could you help me understand this?
Clutch?
It says I need to release it?
And what exactly is a gear?
How do I change it?
Oh ho!
Incredible!
Muggles are marvelous!” Ten minutes later, the car had traveled less than fifty meters.
Finally reaching the limits of his patience, Vaughn kicked Arthur out of the driver’s seat, cast a Muggle-Repelling Charm on the vehicle, and took over.
Though deprived of his fun, Arthur’s childlike enthusiasm remained entirely intact.
“That’s my boy!
The genius of the Weasley family!
I knew you liked Muggle things too.
Don’t worry, son.
By the time you come home for the holidays, I’ll definitely know how to drive it.
Then I’ll take you…” He snapped his fingers.
“What’s the Muggle word?
Ah, right!
For a drive!” Vaughn rolled his eyes.
The car sped along the roads.
Thanks to the Muggle-Repelling Charm, they never attracted the attention of any traffic police.
Unfortunately, they still didn’t arrive at King’s Cross Station until half past ten.
The family tumbled out of the vehicle in another wave of disorder and rushed into the station, searching through the crowds for Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Ever since his letters had been thrown away, Percy had remained in a terrible mood.
Being jostled by the crowd only worsened it.
“Too many Muggles,” he complained.
“My silly boy, this is a Muggle train station,” Molly replied.
“Of course there are lots of Muggles.” “There!” Ginny shouted from atop Arthur’s shoulders.
“The third pillar!” With that, the family hurried toward it.
“Percy, you go first…
Good.
Fred, you’re next.” “I’m George, Mum!” “Oh—sorry, darling.
Mummy got you mixed up.” The twins exchanged mischievous grins.
“George” leaned over and kissed Molly on the cheek.
“Actually, I’m Fred!
Ha ha!” Laughing loudly, he pushed his trolley straight through the barrier.
Walking behind Molly and Arthur, Vaughn looked around Britain’s oldest railway station.
It was his first visit.
Honestly, he felt a little disappointed.
The station’s age showed everywhere.
Many facilities looked worn and outdated.
Several sections appeared downright shabby.
Only the great arched roof retained a hint of its former grandeur.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed someone following behind them.
A suspicious-looking figure pushing a trolley piled high with luggage and an owl cage.
It was a young boy.
He appeared malnourished—short, thin, and wearing broken glasses.
There was something awkward and clueless about him.
Compared to this kid, even Ron—the family punching bag—looked tall, sturdy, clever, and energetic.
The boy noticed Vaughn staring at him.
He froze awkwardly in place.
It looked as though he wanted to approach, but lacked the courage.
Nervously, he wiped sweat from his forehead.
The movement revealed a lightning-shaped scar.
The moment Vaughn saw it, he knew exactly who the foolish-looking kid was.
Harry Potter.
The famous Boy Who Lived.
“Hurry, Vaughn.
You’re before Ron in line—oh!” Molly, who had turned around to call him, noticed Harry as well.
Of course, his hair had already fallen back over the scar, so she didn’t recognize him.
Still, the sight of a lonely child instantly awakened her maternal instincts.
She waved him over.
“Are you a first-year student too, dear?” “Y-yes, ma’am.” Harry nervously rubbed his hands against his trousers.
“Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, ma’am.
I don’t know where it is or how to get there.” “That’s alright, dear.
Look over there.
The third pillar between Platforms Nine and Ten.
There’s a barrier there.
Just push your trolley straight through.” Harry followed her instructions.
With his eyes squeezed shut and his entire body trembling as though marching toward his execution, he charged at the pillar.
Then he vanished.
Vaughn followed immediately behind.
He jogged forward without hesitation.
There was no resistance.
No impact.
Nothing at all.
The world simply darkened for a moment.
When light returned, he found himself standing beside a deep-red steam locomotive at a platform crowded with travelers.
Mounted on the train was a sign that read: HOGWARTS EXPRESS.