Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

On September 1st, Albert woke up early, climbed out of bed, got dressed, and stretched a little to fully wake himself up.

Today, he was finally going to Hogwarts. He could not help feeling a little excited.

After washing up, Albert began checking his luggage.

"Awake? Then come downstairs for breakfast." Daisy, wearing an apron, pushed open the door and entered the room. She said to Albert, who was checking his luggage, "Oh, put your robes and pointed hat on top of your luggage so they'll be easy to find when you change on the train."

"Albert, are you really not taking Tom to school?" Nia, dressed in pajamas and holding the shorthair cat, hurried into the room.

"Let Tom stay here with you," Albert said.

"What about Shira?" Nia asked again.

"She'll fly to Hogwarts to find me herself. I asked already; there's an Owlery at the school, and she'll stay there." Albert did not want to take an owl to King's Cross Station. It would attract far too much attention.

Breakfast was as simple as ever. Daisy had also prepared a ham sandwich and a can of drink for him, so he would have something to eat if he got hungry.

There would naturally be food for sale on the train, so Daisy was not worried about Albert going hungry. Herb had given him all the remaining Galleons, a considerable amount. They were not worried that Albert would spend recklessly, since he had never done anything like that before.

Albert cast the Levitation Charm on the heavy Leather case and easily lifted it into the car.

"Did you bring the camera?" Herb asked. "The one your grandfather Luke bought for you?"

"I did. I'll write home every week and send back photographs along with the letters." Albert said he had not forgotten. He would take pictures of some things at Hogwarts and share them with his family.

"Good." Herb nodded. "Let's go."

The family arrived at King's Cross Station before ten. Herb helped Albert place the Leather case onto a luggage trolley.

Albert pushed his luggage to the wall between Platforms Nine and Ten. He made a quiet gesture, then casually reached a hand into the wall. Sure enough, it passed right through.

Albert sighed in relief and returned to Herb's side. "Okay, I'm going in by myself."

"Remember to write," Herb said. "And send photos."

"I know." Albert looked at his younger sister. "Nia?"

"That's so unfair. I want to go too." Nia reached out and gave Albert a hug.

"Don't make trouble at home, and don't cause everyone problems," Albert reminded her.

"I won't." Nia turned her head away, pretending to be angry.

"See you during Christmas break, son." Daisy gave Albert a farewell hug, kissed his cheek, and said, "Then we'll take you all skiing."

"I know. See you at Christmas." After looking around to make sure no one was watching, Albert pushed the trolley and broke into a jog toward the wall.

"He disappeared." Nia pointed at where Albert had vanished.

"Magic is always so amazing. Let's go home." Herb put an arm around his wife and daughter. "Don't worry. Albert will take good care of himself."

On the other side of the brick wall, Albert found himself in another station. A deep red steam locomotive stood beside the platform, its sign reading: Hogwarts Express.

There were not many passengers on the platform. The train departed at eleven, and it was not even ten yet. He had arrived an hour early.

As soon as he entered the platform, a new notification appeared on his panel: discovered Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, reward: 100 experience.

Exploring the map also gave experience, though very little. Albert did not pay much attention to it. Then, as if remembering something, he quickly moved away from the entrance to avoid being hit by anyone coming through behind him.

Where the ticket barrier should have been was now an archway, with a sign hanging above it: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

Sure enough, it was much like the books described.

Come to think of it, this was Albert's first time riding such an old-fashioned train. It really was an antique.

Pushing his luggage along the platform, he casually found an empty compartment. He used the Levitation Charm to move the Leather case inside, found a place to set it down, and closed the door behind him. Then he began changing into his wizard robes.

Not long after Albert opened the window, Shira flew over and landed on the table. Apparently, she had not planned to fly to Hogwarts herself. She intended to catch a ride instead.

"What a clever little thing." Albert stroked the snowy owl's head, took out some owl nuts from the case, and poured some for Shira.

"Oh, right, photographs. I almost forgot." Albert took his camera back onto the platform and snapped several close-up shots of the Hogwarts Express.

Unfortunately, his photography skills really were not very good. The pictures he took could only be called average.

Fortunately, Luke had probably anticipated this and prepared plenty of film for him.

"This one's not bad." Albert picked out a photo showing the locomotive, nodded in satisfaction, and returned to his compartment.

He sat by the window, half-hidden behind it as he watched the platform. After some time, more and more passengers arrived, and it even began to drizzle.

"It feels like it rains every time someone goes to Hogwarts." Albert could not help making a snide remark. It seemed coming early had been the right choice.

The wizards on the platform all held umbrellas as they hurriedly said goodbye to their families through the rain, looking somewhat bedraggled.

I wonder how many familiar faces I'll see.

Albert did not expect to encounter the protagonist yet. He had entered Hogwarts even earlier than Harry Potter. He should be in the same year as the Weasley twins and Cedric Diggory.

Fortunately, he was not in the same year as The Boy Who Lived. Albert had no desire to get too involved with Potter.

After all, that was The Boy Who Lived, born with both protagonist's plot armor and a death-seeking aura. If ordinary people got caught up in his mess without luck protecting them, they might end up dead. Cedric Diggory was an example.

The rain outside grew heavier, so Albert pulled the window shut a little more. After eating her fill, Shira began to doze off. Owls were nocturnal birds, after all.

He took a chocolate candy from his pocket, unwrapped it, and put it in his mouth. Listening to the rain outside, Albert was in a good mood.

As long as he was not standing out in the rain himself, he did not dislike rainy weather.

The train corridor gradually became livelier, but Albert had closed his compartment door, so the noise outside did not affect him much.

He opened Dark Forces: A Defensive Guide and slowly flipped through it, using the book to pass the trivial hours. Albert had read this book more than once, and he had tried some of the spells within.

In fact, throughout the entire summer, Albert had tried every spell he knew except the Unforgivable Curses. He had even attempted the Patronus Charm, though naturally, he had failed.

"Hurry, hurry, the train's about to leave!"

A group of people on the platform caught Albert's attention. They were hurriedly saying goodbye, and among them was a pair of red-haired twin brothers.

"Is that The Weasley Family?" Albert studied the famous group and found them rather amusing. Ron Weasley in particular still looked a little foolish. There was a girl beside Ron, who should be Ginny. She clung tightly to Mrs. Weasley, apparently upset that she could not go to Hogwarts.

Albert compared Ginny to his own younger sister. Well, his sister was definitely cuter.

The Weasley Family looked rather rushed. Something had probably delayed them before they came to the station.

Albert withdrew his gaze because someone was knocking on the door.

A young Black boy stood outside the compartment door.