The noise around him suddenly became much louder.
People chatted excitedly.
Students hurried back and forth.
Owls hooted from their cages.
Vincent opened his eyes.
A scarlet steam locomotive stood beside a crowded platform.
Across its side, gleaming gold letters read:
Hogwarts Express.
He had successfully entered Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Everywhere he looked were witches and wizards.
Adults in robes guided children his own age toward the train.
For the first time since arriving in this world…
Vincent found himself surrounded by hundreds of magical people.
Parents hugged their children goodbye before stepping back onto the platform.
Students crowded the corridors, hauling trunks, cages, and broomsticks into the compartments.
Vincent followed the flow of passengers.
As he walked, a tall, thin red-haired boy hurried past wearing immaculate school robes.
Pinned proudly to his chest was a silver prefect badge.
Percy Weasley.
Vincent recognized him immediately.
The train was only moments from departure.
The adults gradually disembarked, leaving the corridors packed with first-year students searching for empty compartments.
Vincent struggled to drag his trunk through the crowd.
Just then—
“Look!”
“That’s Harry Potter!”
“I can see his scar!”
“Really? Let me have a look!”
The corridor ahead had become almost completely blocked.
Dozens of children crowded around a compartment door.
Standing on tiptoe, Vincent looked over their heads.
Inside sat Harry Potter.
Beside him was a red-haired boy.
Ron Weasley.
Just as expected.
A moment later, the compartment door slid shut.
A bushy-haired girl with large front teeth folded her arms.
“Everyone, please stop crowding the doorway.”
“We need room to move through the corridor.”
Hermione Granger firmly closed the door.
Harry…
Ron…
Hermione.
The Golden Trio is complete.
Harry glanced briefly toward Vincent.
Then looked away again.
The last time they had met…
Vincent had been in his Animagus form.
Harry had no reason to recognize him now.
I wonder whether anything unexpected happened during Harry’s trip to Diagon Alley.
Did Hagrid tell him anything after separating from Professor Dumbledore?
Did Dumbledore leave any instructions?
Vincent wanted to ask.
Unfortunately…
The crowd outside Harry’s compartment showed no signs of dispersing.
“My mum says dangerous Dark wizards are becoming active again!”
“Do you think it’s because of Harry Potter?”
“I don’t know!”
“But imagine being in the same year as him!”
“Or even the same House!”
The children continued talking excitedly.
News of increased Auror patrols had clearly spread throughout the wizarding community.
Because of the recent attack…
Harry’s fame had grown even greater than it had in the original timeline.
In the books, only a few students had approached him on the train.
This time…
Half the first years seemed determined to see him.
Just then…
Someone called Vincent’s name.
“Vincent!”
He turned.
Neville Longbottom stood in a nearby compartment, enthusiastically waving him over.
“There you are!”
Vincent smiled and left the crowded corridor.
Neville immediately pulled him inside.
The compartment already held two other students.
One was a boy with sandy-brown hair and an ordinary appearance.
The other was a blonde girl with bright blue eyes.
“Neville’s told us loads about you.”
The boy grinned as he extended a hand.
“I’m Seamus Finnigan.”
“He says you taught yourself loads of spells before even starting Hogwarts.”
Vincent shook his hand.
So this is Seamus…
Harry’s future dormmate.
The one famous for accidentally blowing things up.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“I’m Vincent Eden.”
The blonde girl smiled warmly.
“I’m Julianne Hough.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
The name wasn’t familiar from the novels.
But Vincent vaguely remembered it from another life.
Julianne Hough…
Wasn’t that the name of the actress who portrayed one of Hogwarts’ background students in the films?
Looks like this world’s background characters borrowed names from their actors.
Simple enough.
The train lurched gently.
With a loud whistle…
The Hogwarts Express pulled away from King’s Cross.
Everyone settled into their seats.
Neville could barely contain his excitement.
“My toad almost escaped again this morning!”
“But your spell saved me!”
“I shrank Trevor’s travel box with Reducio, and when he jumped out, I caught him by his back legs!”
He laughed happily.
Julianne looked amazed.
“You already know Reducio?”
“I tried learning it over the summer.”
“I accidentally vanished my mother’s dressing table.”
“We still haven’t found it.”
Vincent smiled awkwardly.
“I’ve just had a little more practice.”
Outside the window…
London gradually disappeared behind rolling countryside.
Meanwhile…
The crowd outside Harry’s compartment had finally dispersed.
Should I go now?
Harry would only become busier after arriving at Hogwarts.
There would be crowds at the boats…
Crowds at the Sorting…
Crowds afterward.
If Vincent wanted to ask about Dumbledore and Hagrid…
This might be his only quiet opportunity.
Ron and Hermione were inside as well.
That wasn’t a problem.
Both would eventually become Dumbledore’s most trusted allies.
Even if they overheard something…
They wouldn’t intentionally cause trouble.
The real problem was another passenger.
Scabbers.
Peter Pettigrew.
The rat hiding inside Ron’s pocket.
I’ll have to find an opportunity to separate him from the others.
Vincent glanced around his compartment.
Neville…
Seamus…
And Julianne were chatting happily.
“I saw a green pigeon this morning,” Seamus declared confidently.
Julianne laughed.
“I nearly missed the train.”
“I tripped over a wizard’s suitcase.”
“I felt so bad that I bought him a copy of the Daily Prophet.”
“I hope I’m sorted into Gryffindor.”
“They’ve produced so many famous duelists.”
“It’s definitely the best House.”
Neville shook his head.
“I think it depends on the person.”
“A House becomes great because great witches and wizards belong to it.”
Then he looked toward Vincent.
“My grandmother wants me in Gryffindor.”
“But I’ve already decided.”
“I’ll be happy in whichever House Vincent joins.”
Seamus blinked.
“He’s really that impressive?”
“In that case…”
“I hope we’re all sorted together.”
Neville smiled brightly.
“That would make studying much easier.”
“What do you think, Vincent?”
There was no answer.
Vincent’s attention had already shifted back toward the corridor.
Harry’s compartment door was finally clear.
He stood.
“I’m going to the bathroom.”
After closing the compartment door behind him…
He heard Julianne’s puzzled voice from inside.
“Wait…”
“Do trains even have bathrooms?”