The thick smoke from the steam locomotive lingered over the platform. The crowd bustled noisily, voices mixing with the hoots of owls, while cats of various colors darted between people's feet.
Hexby perched calmly on Vaughn's suitcase, quietly watching the backs of the other students with serene steadiness.
Harry had disappeared into the crowd, and with so many people around, it was impossible to tell where he'd gone. Vaughn didn't bother searching for him. After tiptoeing and craning his neck for a while, he finally spotted Fred and George and squeezed over to them.
"Why are only you two here? Where's Percy?"
"I dunno. The great Prefect Percy was very busy and vanished in a blink."
"Huh? Fred, when did Percy become a prefect? How come I didn't know?"
"You have to know, George. He's said it at least once... no, twice... actually—"
The twins shouted in unison: "He's been saying it all summer! Hahaha—!"
Just then, Percy appeared in a new robe from who-knew-where, his expression stern: "If I were you two, Fred and George, and knew my brother had become a prefect, I'd show more respect and stop making his life difficult."
"Merlin's beard, Fred, I'm shaking!"
"Yeah, George, terrifying. His voice makes him sound like the Headmaster!"
"You—" Percy took a deep breath and decided to ignore them. He walked over and patted Vaughn's shoulder, making a show of shaking out his robes so Vaughn could clearly see the shiny P badge on his chest. "Vaughn, dear brother, if you have any questions at school, be sure to come to me."
Vaughn smiled and nodded. "Alright, Percy."
At that moment, the rest of the Weasleys arrived with Ginny and Ron. It was almost eleven o'clock, and the steam grew thicker as the train prepared to depart. Molly began saying her goodbyes one by one.
When she got to Vaughn and Ron, her eyes grew misty. She clutched them tightly, reluctant to let go. "You've never been this far from home before."
"Don't worry, Mum," Vaughn said, comforting her even though he didn't believe his own words. "We're just going to school. Hogwarts is the safest place in the world…"
At least for now, he added silently in his heart.
"When we arrive, we'll write to you and Dad—and of course Ginny," he added.
After soothing his mother, Vaughn knelt down to hug Ginny. The little girl was already crying and clung to his robes.
"Vaughn, I don't want you to go…"
"But I have to, Ginny. And next year, when you come to Hogwarts too, we won't have to be apart anymore."
After a while, he finally coaxed her. Ron hadn't said a word through all this—he was too busy crying himself.
As the Weasleys and Ginny waved goodbye, Vaughn and Ron pushed their suitcases onto the train and began searching for an empty compartment.
The front of the train was out of the question—it was reserved for upper years. Percy had bragged earlier about the special prefects' compartment up front.
So, the two made their way toward the back of the train.
At last, they found an empty compartment just as the train gave a long whistle and began to move. Ron tossed his luggage aside and ran to the window, pressing his face to the glass in a final attempt to catch a glimpse of his parents.
But he saw nothing.
The smoke from the locomotive had swallowed the platform, and only a few waving arms were faintly visible. Disheartened, Ron curled up in his seat.
Vaughn pulled out his wand and levitated both their suitcases into place.
Seeing Ron's dejected face, he paused, then reached into his pocket and took out a piece of candy. "Here."
Ron blinked in surprise, took it, and mumbled while unwrapping it, "Th-thank you, Vaughn…"
"Call me brother!" Vaughn gave him a playful head rub. Whatever moment of sentiment had briefly touched him vanished.
Ron's face turned red as he squirmed, flailing his arms to escape. "Don't—! You think you're so—"
At that moment, the compartment door slid open, and a skinny figure stood outside, dragging a heavy suitcase and looking lost.
"Excuse me… can I sit here?"
Harry Potter thought today couldn't get any worse. First, he'd been left at the station by his aunt and uncle and couldn't find Platform 9¾.
After much confusion, a kind lady helped him find the way, and he'd made it through, only to be nearly swallowed by the crowd and barely make it onto the train. But then he couldn't find a place to sit.
He'd tried the front, but older students with serpent badges had chased him off.
So he kept walking, car to car, but every compartment was full. Just when he was about to give up, he spotted two red-haired boys.
He recognized them.
They were from the family that helped him outside the platform. Their bright hair made them stand out, especially the tall one with reddish-brown gem-like eyes: Vaughn. He was easily the most handsome boy Harry had ever seen—more charming than any actor Aunt Petunia admired.
But what really stunned Harry was what he saw just moments ago: Vaughn casually waving his wand to float their luggage.
Magic…
Harry didn't even know what possessed him to open the door. But once the words left his mouth, panic struck. He was a stranger. What if they didn't want company? What if they chased him away?
Years of living with the Dursleys had taught him to be cautious and apologetic.
Inside the compartment, Vaughn blinked in mild surprise. He thought Harry had already found a seat.
He glanced at Harry, then at Ron.
In the magical world, fate wasn't just superstition—it was a kind of magic itself. Was this the beginning of the legendary trio?
He couldn't know, not yet. So Vaughn simply smiled and said, "Of course. Please, come in."
Harry let out a sigh of relief, bowed his head, and turned to drag his suitcase when he heard a voice:
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
His suitcase suddenly lifted off the floor, floating through the air by an invisible force.
Hedwig screeched in her cage, but could do nothing as her cage settled gently on the small table by the window.
A large cat sat there too. It gave Hedwig a glance before turning its eyes back to the mouse cage in the corner.
"Uh, uh…" Harry stood there dumbfounded, his mouth agape. After a moment, he stammered, "Thank you—thank you so much."
"You're welcome. Come sit down!" Vaughn said warmly. "I'm Vaughn Weasley, and this is my brother, Ron Weasley. Hello, Harry Potter."
Harry shuffled in, shoulders hunched, and replied stiffly, "Hello, Vaughn… eh?" His eyes widened. "How did you know—?"
Vaughn pointed to his forehead. "I saw your scar earlier, back on the platform."
So it wasn't mind-reading… Harry sighed with relief and was about to respond—when Ron suddenly leapt up, eyes wide, staring at his forehead.
"Harry Potter?! That Harry Potter?!"