Platform 9 and Three-Quarters

"Professor..." His voice came out choked, his eyes rapidly reddening.

"Could you... could you please not leave? I... I'm scared alone..."

He tilted his face up, tears swirling in his eyes, poised to fall but not yet spilling, the dependence and terror in them utterly real. "Here... there's only you..."

Professor McGonagall's body froze on the spot. She was used to handling students' mischief, inter-house conflicts, even the Dark Lord's threats.

But faced with such a pure, almost desperate plea from a child, her usual sternness and distance crumbled in an instant.

At this moment, the boy looked so small and helpless, as if a single gust of wind could knock him over.

She was silent for a few seconds, a fierce internal struggle raging within her.

In the end, her sense of duty and a strong protective instinct toward this particular student won out.

She let out a soft sigh. Instead of brushing away the small hand clutching her robe, she sat down on the slightly hard edge of the bed, keeping that position.

"Mr. Leoqi," her voice was gentler than ever before.

"I'm only leaving to handle some necessary enrollment matters, to ensure you can board the Hogwarts Express smoothly. I promise you, you will be safe."

Seeing the lingering unease on the boy's face, she added:

"The Leaky Cauldron is a reputable establishment. Old Tom will look after things here. Besides, your wand is right beside you. Remember, the wand chooses the wizard; it inherently holds the power to protect you."

Yet Skofot only gripped her robe tighter, as if it were his only lifeline, and tears finally slid silently down his cheeks.

Professor McGonagall stopped trying to reason with him.

She simply sat there quietly, using her steady presence as a form of comfort.

The only sound left in the room was the boy's barely suppressed, faint sobbing.

Time passed bit by bit. Perhaps it was the warmth after a full meal, or the emotional highs and lows, or maybe the weakness effect from the [Rabbit Rhymer] card—Skofot's eyelids began to droop, and the hand clutching her robe gradually loosened its grip.

Professor McGonagall carefully adjusted her position so he could lean more comfortably against the pillow.

She didn't rush to leave. Instead, she remained seated by the bed, maintaining her protective stance, until the boy's breathing became even and deep, and he had completely fallen asleep.

After sitting still for a while longer, ensuring he was fully asleep, she rose extremely slowly and gently, tucking the corner of the blanket in.

She took one last look at the boy, who still had a slight frown on his sleeping face, then turned and left the room, silently casting a simple alert charm outside the door.

She had to go arrange the next steps, but this child—Skofot Tom Leoqi—had officially become one of her, Minerva McGonagall's, special responsibilities to watch over and protect.

[Emotion Points +5]

[Emotion Points: 370/100]

The moment the door clicked softly shut, Skofot, who should have been sound asleep, quietly opened his eyes. They were perfectly clear, with not a trace of drowsiness.

He curled his lip and muttered to himself, "This professor's Emotion Points really aren't easy to squeeze out."

He sat up, rubbing his slightly stiff neck from holding the same position for so long.

With a thought, the translucent system panel materialized before him again.

His gaze swept over the Card Draw area, where a line of small text read:

[Next Card Draw Cooldown: 5 days 0 hours 3 minutes 27 seconds.]

"Five more days..." he murmured to himself.

His eyes landed on the Emotion Points balance in the corner—370 points, enough for now, but who would complain about having more cards up their sleeve?

He nimbly got out of bed and straightened his second-hand black robe.

With Professor McGonagall temporarily gone, this was the perfect chance for some free time.

He needed something that was entirely his own.

Stepping out of the Leaky Cauldron again and passing through that magical brick wall, he re-entered the sunlit Diagon Alley.

This time, he didn't linger on the main street. Instead, he turned into a pet shop that looked less conspicuous.

The shop was filled with a mix of smells—the hooting of owls, the meowing of cats, all overlapping.

He didn't take long to pick. His eyes settled on the most spirited-looking brownish owl, which also had the most reasonable price.

It stood on its perch, tilting its head and looking at him with round eyes, as if carrying a hint of curiosity.

Skofot paid, picked up the cage with the owl, and calmly returned to his room at the Leaky Cauldron.

He placed the cage by the window, added some water and food, then ignored it. He lay back down on the bed, closed his eyes to rest, and waited patiently.

Five days passed peacefully amid regular (though low-quality) meals and seemingly idle waiting.

On the morning of the sixth day, just as the agreed time arrived, a restrained yet clear knock sounded at the door.

Skofot immediately sprang up from the bed, quickly adjusted his expression to one of anticipation and unease.

He opened the door. Standing outside was Professor McGonagall, dressed impeccably.

"Good morning, Mr. Leoqi." Her gaze swept swiftly across the room.

Seeing his packed suitcase and the owl cage by the window, she gave an almost imperceptible nod. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, Professor," Skofot replied softly, obediently picking up his suitcase and birdcage.

Professor McGonagall led him through the Leaky Cauldron once more, stepping out into the Muggle World of London.

The bustling crowds and noisy traffic made Skofot frown subconsciously, but he quickly returned to his usual composure.

They arrived at a quiet street corner near the Leaky Cauldron.

Professor McGonagall raised her hand and smoothly hailed a black taxi.

She pulled open the door and gestured for Skofot to get in.

"The driver will take you to the station," she said, pressing the previously exchanged Pounds Sterling into his hand, her tone stern and clear, "Walk straight through the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't hesitate, just go right in. The Hogwarts Express will be waiting there. Understood?"

Skofot nodded, lifting his face to muster an expression laced with gratitude and a hint of timidity:

"Understood, Professor. Thank you... for everything you've done for me."

Professor McGonagall looked at him, her gaze behind her glasses seeming to soften for an instant, but she maintained her professorial authority:

"It's the school's responsibility. Go on, the train won't wait."

Skofot said no more, bending down to slip into the back seat of the taxi.

The door slammed shut with a bang, cutting off the inside from the outside.

Professor McGonagall stood by the roadside, watching the taxi merge into the traffic until it vanished completely from sight. She let out a slight sigh, then turned, her figure quickly disappearing into the passing crowd.

Inside the car, Skofot leaned back in his seat. The deliberately maintained timidity on his face rapidly faded, leaving only calm.

He patted the warm wand in his pocket, then glanced at the owl cage at his feet.

Hogwarts... a new stage.