"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY! YOU HAVEN'T EVEN PACKED YET?!"
"I WAS JUST ABOUT TO START!"
The cacophony at the Burrow was, by all metrics, on-brand for a Weasley morning. Fred and George were charming toast to jump like frogs, Percy was muttering about the sanctity of order, and Ron was half-dressed, searching for his wand like it had decided to flee his bag.
I sat at the table, legs crossed, sipping tea calmly amid the chaos, like a king who had conquered the storm. Hermione was already reviewing her list—twice—making check marks with extreme prejudice.
Molly Weasley flitted about, wielding her wooden spoon like a general's baton.
Arthur sat beside me, his recent suspension from the Ministry finally lifted. He still looked mildly guilty about it, but that didn't stop him from sneaking a second slice of toast.
I leaned toward Fred and George.
"Remember: first distribution goes through me. Coordinate with the clipboard, and never—ever—send out something untested."
Fred winked. "Define 'untested'."
"Define 'waking up covered in purple feathers and regret'," I replied.
Instead of our usual chaotic dash to King's Cross, this time we had a Ministry-provided car. It was sleek, discreet, and definitely enchanted. The kind of car that looked like it could quietly flatten a dragon if needed.
Hermione and I waited at the station entrance. Dan and Emma Granger were already there.
"We made it with five minutes to spare," Emma said brightly. "That's a Granger record."
Dan raised a brow at me. "You packed everything, right? No surprises this time?"
I nodded with a gentle smile. "Triple-checked, just to be safe."
I reached into my bag and pulled out a bundle wrapped in green velvet—four identical small notebooks.
"These are for all of us," I said. "Linked notebooks. Anything you write in one appears in the others. Think of it as a magical group chat—without emojis."
Dan looked at the notebook like it might bite.
Emma, on the other hand, hugged me. "Thank you, Sky. This will make keeping in touch so much easier."
"Just don't write anything incriminating. The pages can remember."
Dan nodded sagely. "Like my taxes."
Before we turned to go, I handed Dan one final object—a stout, charmed trunk.
"This stays locked unless it's an emergency," I said. "Inside is something important. Let's just call it insurance. If you ever need to reach me, it'll help make that happen."
Dan gave me a skeptical look, but Emma was already examining the locks.
Hermione's eyes widened as I handed her one of the journals. "Is this really enchanted? A group notebook? Sky, this is brilliant!"
Before I could even respond, she threw her arms around me in a full-force Hermione-sized hug. I wobbled slightly but managed to keep my footing.
Emma stepped forward and hugged Hermione tightly. "Take care of each other, alright?"
Dan followed with his own stiff but genuine hug. "No dueling dragons, please."
"No promises," I said, smirking.
Emma clasped my hand warmly. "We're proud of you both. Safe travels."
The Weasleys were already halfway through the barrier.
I grabbed Harry's shoulder before he could follow.
Ron, noticing the interaction and spotting the book, immediately turned on his heel and darted ahead without a word—like the very sight of literature gave him hives.
This reaction was understandable; ever since I forced him to finish his summer homework back at the Burrow, he'd been twitching at the mere sight of a textbook. The PTSD was real.
It didn't help that I'd magically glued him to a chair to stop his escape attempts while I lectured him daily. Fred and George helped too—mainly by making popcorn and commentary.
Molly saw it all, but since it was for Ron's own academic good, she turned a blind eye with remarkable grace.
"Ron, go ahead," I said. "Harry, this is for you."
I handed him a worn, cloth-bound book.
"Just read it. Quietly."
Harry blinked. "Occlumency?"
"You'll understand soon."
As he turned to cross the barrier—thunk. He bounced back like a pinball.
Hermione gasped. "The portal's blocked!"
I sighed. "Dobby."
Pop.
"Dobby only meant to protect Harry Potter, sir!"
"And I meant to enjoy breakfast without a goblin uprising ever happening, yet here we are."
I snapped my fingers. A Dunce cap appeared. I plopped it on Dobby's head.
"Corner. Timeout. Thirty minutes. Go."
He vanished with what looked to be a sulking expression and snapped away.
Harry blinked. "That's... your elf?"
"Unfortunately."
Once through the barrier, everyone began splitting off to find their own compartments. Fred and George disappeared in a flash. Hermione stuck close.
"That girl is staring at you."
I turned to see a girl—blonde, wide-eyed—watching me from a few compartments down. She waved like we were long-lost cousins.
"Friend of yours?" Hermione asked.
I tilted my head thoughtfully. "Yes?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me or asking me?"
I shrugged and turned toward Luna. "Hey Luna! You need a friend?"
Luna's face lit up instantly. "I would be so grateful to have a friend!"
Hermione blinked. "Well... that answers that."
Inside our cabin, I pulled out the trunk and dropped a scroll on Harry and Ron's laps.
"Sign it."
Ron squinted. "Legal documents already?"
"It's a magical secrecy agreement. You want to see what's in the trunk, you sign."
They exchanged uneasy glances first, as if half-expecting the scroll to bite them. After a long moment of hesitation and a mutual shrug, they both signed.
Ron looked back toward the compartment door. "Wait, why didn't she have to sign?"
I shrugged. "Although Luna's new to the group and may not provide much—yet—she has a particular set of skills. Skills that would make life a living nightmare for people like you."
Ron looked suitably unnerved and suitably confused about the pixie by my side.
I opened the trunk, revealing the hidden ladder down into my personal warehouse.
Ron stepped inside and screamed. "IS THAT A QUIDDITCH PITCH?!"
Harry stared in awe. "How... how big is this place?!"
"Big enough for secrets."
"And you just carry this around with you everywhere?!"
Hermione, for once, was too stunned to speak immediately.
Then she turned to Harry with a look of grateful exasperation.
"Thank you," she said, visibly relieved,
"for being the only one besides me who realizes how completely insane this all is.""
I just looked at them in confusion.
"I don't get it." I said with a shrug.
They explored like kids in a toy store. Ron ran for a broom rack. Harry touched every shiny surface like he was checking if it was real.
The new archery range caught their attention next.
"Mate, this is nuts," Ron said. "You're a legend."
"No, I'm pretty sure that's Harry. Don't tell anyone. Well. Not that you really can. That's what the scroll was for."
While they tested brooms, I returned to my lab.
Stacks of open books. Quills scribbling. The unfinished Neverending Guide glowed faintly in its binding.
Hermione stepped in, arms folded.
"Still working?"
"What else would I be doing?"
She smiled and stood beside me.
"The year ahead looks insane already."
"We've handled worse."
We shared a quiet moment as the ring ring ring echoed across the warehouse, signaling our approach to Hogwarts.
I closed the book gently.
"We've got time. We'll deal with it."