Hogwarts Express Encounters

The Potter couple were both gentle, warm people. They greeted Sean amicably and showed no disdain whatsoever toward his family. As fellow parents of students, they all got to know one another pleasantly.

"I suppose you don't know how to get onto the platform yet, do you?" Lily asked gently.

"No, ma'am." Sean nodded slightly, discreetly observing her.

Though it would be very rude if he were caught, Sean simply could not suppress his curiosity.

This was Lily Evans from the original story, a woman without a single negative portrayal, someone who represented all that was good. Of course, she was Lily Potter now.

Her slightly wavy red hair was neat and fitting, her emerald-green eyes clear and captivating, and a gentle smile always rested on her face. Like her name, she was a lily—pure, dazzling, yet never scorching.

He quickly looked away, because Harry, eager to show off, grabbed Sean and pulled him over.

"Hey, see that pillar? Just charge straight into it. Remember, you can't go too slowly."

Speed? Sean suddenly understood why no Muggles had ever barged in.

He pushed his suitcase forward, then glanced at the Potter family, who were still standing where they were. "Then we'll head in first?"

"Go on. We still have people to wait for."

Sean nodded, pushed his suitcase, and suddenly accelerated. The wall drew closer and closer. The instant he hit it, he felt as though he had entered a cloud. His vision went dark, then bright, and after passing through the wrought-iron archway, Sean found himself standing on a platform packed with travelers.

Beside him, the deep crimson Hogwarts Express (uncertain) rested on the tracks.

Smoke from the steam engine drifted above the chattering crowd, while cats of every color weaved between people's feet. Amid the hum of conversation and the clatter of heavy luggage being dragged along, owls screeched sharply back and forth to one another.

Sean could not help but smile.

With his father's help, he carried his heavy suitcase and found an empty compartment. By the time he had put his luggage on the rack, the train whistle was already blaring.

"I should get off now, son. Take good care of yourself, and remember, write whenever you can... if that owl really is useful." Allen gave his son a tight hug.

"Don't worry, Dad." Sean hugged his father in return.

"Woo—" The whistle sounded. Sean waved hard at his family on the platform. He saw his little sister Ayla pumping her short legs as she ran alongside the train for a stretch, only to trip and fall.

"Careful, Ayla!"

But Ayla quickly got back up, kept running, and waved at him continuously with a bright smile.

Sean's nose stung. "Wait for me at home! I'll mail you a Hogwarts toilet seat!"

Only when the platform behind him was completely out of sight did Sean return to his seat.

"All right. Starting now, learn how to be a wizard," he murmured.

Before his words had even faded, the compartment's sliding door opened. A little girl with thick, fluffy brown hair stood before him.

"Hello, is anyone sitting here? Oh my God, the compartment I was in is now filled with smoke and undergoing emergency rescue efforts. I'm a little hopeless about those red-haired brothers... I mean, I'd like to find somewhere more normal and safely make it to Hogwarts." The girl held her chin slightly high as she explained at a rapid pace.

Sean smiled faintly, stood up politely, and made an inviting gesture. "Of course. I was just worried I'd get bored on my own."

"Oh, thank you very much." It had to be said that with his handsome looks and proper manners, Sean had never failed when dealing with girls.

Of course, that third-year senior who looked like a first-year did not count. She might have Veela blood, after all.

The girl's face reddened slightly. After thanking him, she sat down.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Sean, Sean Wallop." He introduced himself with a smile.

"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger. Did you come alone? When I passed by this compartment earlier, I only saw you."

"Not exactly. My parents brought me here, but they got off earlier."

"Then, are your parents wizards? I mean, my parents don't know anything about magic, so when I got my acceptance letter, I was incredibly surprised, but also especially happy because, I mean, as far as I know, this is the best School of Magic—all the textbooks, I've memorized them. Of course, I only hope that will be useful." She finished in a rapid-fire rush.

"Yes, I'm the same as you, though the textbooks are quite long. I only taught myself a little."

Their similar family backgrounds made Hermione feel a little closer to him, and the floodgates opened at once. "Right? The textbooks are really amazing. I never could have imagined it. I tried a few little spells during the summer, and they all worked, but there'll definitely be more advanced magic to learn after we enroll. I'm a little worried about whether I'll be able to keep up..."

Sean listened to Hermione's chatter with a smile, showing no impatience at all. From time to time, he offered a few sincere responses.

The two chatted for quite a while—mainly Hermione talking—when a commotion came from the corridor. A smiling, dimpled woman pushed open the compartment door and asked, "Dear, would you like to buy anything to eat from the trolley?"

"Of course." Sean stood up and bought a huge pile of snacks, placing them on the seat. Hermione tried to take out her purse, but Sean stopped her with a smile.

"Consider it a little gift for our first meeting," he said.

Hermione accepted his kindness, but she still said, "Then next time, I'll treat you."

Sean smiled and nodded.

Unwrapping a Chocolate Frog, Sean tossed it into his mouth, feeling the strange sensation of it still wriggling inside his mouth. He picked up the card from the wrapper. It showed a cool-looking, handsome old man.

"Oh, Grindelwald." Hermione glanced at it. "I read about him in a book, but I don't know much about him."

Sean nodded in agreement, then turned the card over.

Gellert Grindelwald, current headmaster of Newmontgard School of Magic

Widely recognized as one of the greatest wizards of this century

Grindelwald's well-known contributions include:

Founding Newmontgard School of Magic and the Wizarding Reform Association

Improving more than fifteen powerful spells

Promoting the development of awareness of rights within the modern Wizarding World

Professor Grindelwald enjoys chamber music and Wizard Chess

He put away his second Grindelwald card—he already had four Dumbledore cards—then turned curiously to her. "Come to think of it, you received two acceptance letters too, didn't you?"

Hermione, who was puffing out her cheeks as she sipped Steamed Honey Water, put down her drink and covered her nose. It was an irritating beverage that produced steam after being drunk, and covering one's nose could effectively prevent the steam from escaping through the nostrils.

She kept it covered for a while. Only when wisps of transparent steam were all that remained escaping from her nostrils did Hermione say with a red face, "Yes, I received two as well. But the boy who came to recruit me had a rather unpleasant argument with my father. Just like that person, I think Newmontgard is a little too arrogant when dealing with ordinary people. I don't like that."

Hermione's bright voice carried out of the compartment and happened to reach the ears of several people passing by.

A boy with light blond hair, though an alarmingly sparse amount of it, pulled open the compartment door.

"Shouldn't wizards be above ordinary people?"