The day after the end-of-year feast...
At last, the wardrobes were empty, the bookshelves were empty, and all their belongings had been packed into their trunks.
The House-elves carried all their luggage onto the train.
Summer holiday notices were handed out to every student, warning them that magic was forbidden during the break.
Hagrid took them aboard the Thestral-drawn carriages and saw them off to Hogsmeade Station.
This time, on the journey home, he could not stay in the same compartment as Astoria. Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Zacharias Smith, and several other Hufflepuff students pulled him into their compartment.
"This is wonderful! We finally broke that embarrassing record... Jon, it's all thanks to you!" Susan said, looking immensely relieved.
"We can't be satisfied with such a tiny achievement!" Zacharias said with an unusually mature air, patting Jon on the shoulder. "Next year, we need to work even harder. At the very least, we have to take second place in the House Cup!"
Second place might be a little difficult, considering there are two overpowered monsters ahead of us... Jon thought to himself, though he kept a cheerful smile on his face.
They sat aboard the Hogwarts Express, chatting and laughing all the way.
The farmland outside the windows grew greener and tidier. The train passed one small town after another, drawing ever closer to London.
Jon took off his wizarding robes and changed into the short-sleeved shirt and jeans he was more accustomed to wearing.
At last, the train pulled into Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at King's Cross Station.
It took them quite some time to get through the platform barrier.
A shriveled old wizard stood guard at the ticket gate for Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, allowing only two or three students through at a time.
That way, a huge