The morning of September 1 arrived sooner than Felix would have liked.
He had been awake before the sun had properly risen, lying in bed and staring at the ceiling while the anticipation of the day settled over him.
Hogwarts was no longer something he had imagined from the memories of another life.
It was real, and in a few hours, he would be stepping onto the Hogwarts Express and beginning his own time at the castle.
By breakfast, Felix had stopped pretending he wasn’t excited.
Starla noticed almost immediately, watching him with an amused smile as he finished his meal.
“You’ve checked the clock four times,” she said.
Felix glanced toward the clock and then back at her.
“Have I?”
Soren lowered his cup with a faint smile.
“Five, actually.”
Felix sighed.
“Fine. I’m excited.”
“You should be,” Starla said warmly.
“You’ve been waiting for this for years.”
Felix smiled.
She was right.
He had spent years preparing himself for Hogwarts, studying magic, learning from the knowledge preserved by his family, and remembering everything he knew about the world he had once only read about.
Yet none of that had quite prepared him for the simple feeling of actually leaving home for the first time.
After breakfast, Felix, Starla, and Soren left Falker Manor for King’s Cross.
Felix sat quietly for much of the journey, occasionally glancing down at the silver Falker signet ring on his finger.
Hogwarts had once been a distant idea, something that existed in books and memories.
Now it was only hours away.
When they arrived at King’s Cross, the station was already crowded with travellers.
Felix followed his parents through the station until the familiar Weasley family came into view.
Molly spotted Starla first, and the two women greeted each other warmly.
Arthur was nearby with the children, while Percy stood with the air of someone who already considered himself an experienced Hogwarts student.
Charlie was there as well, carrying his school things, while Ron and Ginny remained close to Molly.
Fred and George were impossible to miss.
Fred noticed Felix first and immediately nudged George.
“There he is. Our favourite Falker.”
George looked over and grinned.
“We were beginning to think you’d decided to stay home.”
Felix walked over with a smile.
“And miss Hogwarts? Besides, I thought you two needed someone responsible to keep you out of trouble.”
Fred stared at him.
“Responsible?”
George shook his head.
“He’s been here for five seconds and he’s already lying.”
Felix laughed.
“I said I’d try.”
“That sounds much more believable,” Fred said.
Molly glanced over at the three boys and smiled knowingly.
“I’m beginning to think putting the three of you in the same year was a terrible idea.”
“It was an excellent idea,” Fred replied.
“The best idea anyone has ever had,” George added.
Arthur laughed from beside them.
“I’d enjoy watching you explain that to Professor McGonagall.”
Fred and George exchanged a quick look.
“We’ll let Felix do that,” Fred said.
“Definitely,” George agreed.
“He looks trustworthy.”
Felix shook his head.
“I’m already regretting becoming friends with you.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Fred assured him.
While the adults continued talking, Felix noticed Ginny standing nearby and watching the older children with an expression of quiet frustration.
She eventually stepped closer.
“I wish I could go too,” she said.
Fred immediately looked at George, and George gave him a knowing grin.
“Don’t worry, Ginny. We’ll bring something back for you from Hogwarts.” Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
“Something amazing,” Fred added.
“Something you can’t get anywhere else. Something rare, exotic, and probably completely unnecessary.”
Ginny’s face brightened despite herself.
“Really? What are you going to bring me?”
Fred paused as though he were considering the question seriously.
“A toilet seat.”
“From Hogwarts,” George added.
“An ancient one. Maybe even enchanted.”
Ginny stared at them.
“A toilet seat?”
“It’s the thought that counts,” Fred said, trying not to laugh.
Molly turned around immediately.
“Fred. George.”
The twins straightened, though neither looked particularly guilty.
“Yes, Mum?”
“You are not bringing Ginny a toilet seat from Hogwarts.”
Fred frowned thoughtfully.
“What if it’s a very nice toilet seat?”
“No.”
George nodded as though Molly had rejected a perfectly reasonable proposal.
“What about a suit of armour?”
“No.”
“A dragon?” Fred suggested.
“Absolutely not.”
The twins exchanged a glance, apparently deciding that the conversation had ended before they could come up with anything worse.
George leaned toward Felix and muttered, “She’s very difficult to shop for.”
Felix laughed, while Molly gave all three boys a warning look.
Not long afterward, the families began gathering their belongings and making their way toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten.
Felix already knew what was waiting on the other side, but seeing the Weasleys casually disappear through the barrier still felt strangely satisfying.
He followed with his parents, and a moment later, the busy station gave way to the hidden platform.
The scarlet Hogwarts Express stood waiting beneath the roof, steam drifting around the carriages while students hurried about with trunks, cages, and owls.
Felix slowed for a moment as he took in the sight.
He had seen the train countless times in another life.
Seeing it in person was completely different.
“This is it,” Felix said quietly.
Starla smiled beside him.
“Your first day.”
Felix nodded, looking toward the train.
For years, September 1 had been something he had known was coming.
Now it was finally here.
Starla adjusted the collar of his robes.
“Remember, you don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Enjoy yourself, learn as much as you can, and make some good memories.”
“I will.”
“And write to us,” she added.
“I promise.”
Soren gave Felix a calm look.
“And don’t let your new friends convince you that every rule is merely a suggestion.”
Felix glanced toward Fred and George, who were already watching him from beside one of the carriages.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Fred cupped his hands around his mouth.
“Felix! Hurry up! We’ve found a compartment!”
George leaned out beside him.
“Or stolen one.”
“Borrowed,” Fred corrected.
“Permanently,” George added.
Felix laughed and picked up his luggage.
Before boarding, he turned back toward his parents.
“See you at Christmas.”
Starla pulled him into a hug.
“I won’t.”
Soren placed a hand on Felix’s shoulder.
“Make the most of it.”
Felix nodded.
“I will.”
He gave them one last smile before climbing aboard the train.
The corridor was already crowded with students, luggage, and parents trying to squeeze past one another.
Felix spotted Fred and George waiting near a compartment, both looking entirely too pleased with themselves.
“There you are,” Fred said.
“We were starting to think you’d decided to stay on the platform.”
“I was saying goodbye to my parents.”
George nodded seriously.
“Understandable. We were going to send a search party.”
“You two would probably get lost.”
“Impossible,” Fred said.
“We know exactly where we’re going.”
George glanced down the corridor.
“At least, I think we do.”
Felix laughed and followed them into the compartment.
He carefully placed Kratos’s cage where it would remain secure before sitting down.
Fred immediately pointed toward the cage.
“You actually brought a falcon?”
“Of course,” Felix replied.
“His name is Kratos.”
George stared at the bird for a moment before grinning.
“That’s brilliant.”
“Very dramatic,” Fred added approvingly.
“I like it.”
Kratos turned his head toward the twins and watched them with sharp greenish eyes.
George leaned closer to Fred.
“Think he likes us?”
“He’s probably deciding whether we’re worth eating.”
Felix shook his head.
“Don’t worry. He has good taste.”
Fred put a hand over his heart.
“That was cruel.”
George nodded.
“Absolutely devastating.”
Outside, another whistle sounded from the front of the train.
The platform was still filled with parents saying their final goodbyes, but the Hogwarts Express was preparing to leave.
Felix looked through the compartment window one last time.
His parents were still standing on the platform, with Molly and Arthur nearby and the rest of the Weasleys gathered around them.
Then the train gave a long whistle.
The Hogwarts Express began to move.
The platform slowly slipped away as the train gathered speed, carrying Felix farther from London and closer to the castle he had known for years without ever having truly seen it.
Fred settled back into his seat and looked at Felix with a grin.
“So, first things first. We’ve got an entire train to explore.”
George nodded.
“And an entire school once we get there.”
Felix raised an eyebrow.
“You two aren’t planning something already, are you?”
Fred looked offended.
“Planning?”
George smiled innocently.
“We would never.”
Felix stared at them for a moment.
“That’s exactly what someone planning something would say.”
Fred and George exchanged a glance before bursting out laughing.
Felix shook his head, smiling despite himself, and settled back into his seat as the Hogwarts Express carried them toward their new life.
Hogwarts was waiting.