When the car pulled up in front of Harry, it took him two full seconds to process what he was seeing.
From the outside it looked like a regular luxury car—nothing like the old-fashioned wizard vehicles from the other world.
“We’re taking this?” Harry looked up at his mother.
“Of course.
It’s much too far to walk, and using the Floo wouldn’t be dignified.” Lily smiled.
“But the ground outside doesn’t look like it’s made for driving.” Harry remembered the dead yellow wasteland stretching beyond the manor walls.
No roads.
Not even flat land.
“It’s a flying car, sweetheart.” Lily laughed.
“You don’t get out much.
That’s perfectly normal.” Harry caught the gentle excuse.
This had to be something common in this world.
“This is the Fire Dragon III, built by the Weasley factory.
It’s an honor to serve you, Madam Potter, Young Master Potter.” The driver stepped out and bowed.
He was a handsome man with light blond hair, perfect posture, and a shy smile.
Harry noticed Aunt Petunia blush when she looked at him.
“This is Eamon, our family driver,” Lily said quietly.
“All flying-car drivers have to be wizards.
His last name is Potter, so he’s trustworthy in most situations.” Harry understood immediately.
That meant he could talk freely with Eamon about anything except where he really came from.
Petunia opened the back door and ushered them inside.
The interior was enormous—way bigger than it looked from outside.
Harry was pretty sure the space was larger than his bedroom back at Privet Drive.
Petunia climbed in after them and silently prepared snacks and tea.
Eamon started the car.
Harry felt no vibration at all.
The scenery outside simply began sliding backward, then tilted as they rose smoothly into the sky.
They were actually flying.
And Harry couldn’t feel a single bump.
The second they left the manor grounds, the light dimmed.
Thick, gray clouds covered the sky.
No sun anywhere.
Nothing like the bright, sunny estate Harry had seen from inside the protective barrier.
He reached for the window button, but Lily stopped him.
“Not yet.
The air outside is toxic.
Without proper shielding it would rot your skin right off your bones.
Remember that Muggle we saw?” Harry yanked his hand back fast.
He definitely didn’t want to end up like that radiation victim.
Since he couldn’t open the window, he pressed his face to the glass instead.
They passed through a milky-white barrier.
On the other side the world turned dead.
Nothing but cracked yellow earth and black ash as far as he could see.
No life anywhere.
The wasteland was so vast Harry wondered if most of the planet looked like this now.
Only Potter Manor glowed like a jewel set in the middle of the destruction.
Wait—where was Crown Road?
The Hogwarts letter from this world had listed the address as “Potter Manor, Crown Road End, Slytherin District, New London.” “Mom,” Harry turned to her.
“Where’s Crown Road?” “We’re almost there.” Lily pointed upward.
“We just need to reach the right height.” Harry started to look up when the car gave a tiny jolt.
The view outside changed instantly.
A pale golden layer now blocked the wasteland.
Harry could see faint ripples where something occasionally brushed against it.
The golden field stretched wide, protecting an enormous floating road that looked wider than any highway Harry had ever seen in the other world.
It reminded him of the manor’s outer barrier—only much bigger, and it was holding up an actual road.
The car sped along the glowing highway.
“You can open the window now,” Lily said, tapping the glass.
The window slid down and fresh air poured in.
“The road has its own magical protection.
No radiation or toxins up here.” Harry stuck his head out.
It really was a road.
Even though it looked slightly transparent, he could see people walking on it—stopping now and then to check something.
“Mom, what are those people doing?” “They maintain the road.
This floating highway was built with alchemy.
The workers have to inspect the core runes regularly.
It’s not an easy job—you need at least a Hogwarts-level education plus top marks in both Alchemy and Transfiguration.” “But there aren’t many people on it.
Does the road even need to exist?” “Our manor is at the very end of Crown Road, so you won’t see much traffic yet.
Once we get closer you’ll understand.
Not every wizard is as rich as we are.
Plenty of people need this road because they can’t afford better transport and they can’t survive out in the wasteland.” Lily was right.
As they flew farther, Harry started seeing real traffic—people walking, riding bikes, even horse-drawn carriages all floating along the golden road.
Everyone used different methods.
Some had feathers stuck in their shoes that let them glide through the air.
Others just walked normally on the invisible surface.
Harry watched, fascinated, as their car overtook one group after another.
Before he knew it, the car began to slow.
A massive golden barrier appeared ahead.
Beyond it rose a city of tall buildings glowing with inner light, the whole place bathed in warm golden sunshine even though the real sun was hidden behind the clouds.
“That’s New London,” Lily said.