Platform

The scarlet Hogwarts Express stood beside the platform, its massive body gleaming in the sunlight.

Steam billowed from the chimney, carrying the metallic scent unique to old steam engines and forming white clouds above the platform.

Although she had ridden it once before, Lucretia still stood there with her eyes wide open.

Little Barty noticed her reaction, and an indescribable pleasure rose within him.

Something he had long grown accustomed to seemed to take on an entirely new feeling in her eyes.

It seemed the plan to secretly take her and Regulus to explore the hidden passages of Hogsmeade could be moved up.

Mr. Crouch's appearance immediately brought subtle changes to the platform.

The previously noisy conversations quieted somewhat as people began whispering among themselves.

Some wizards deliberately turned away to avoid his gaze, as though afraid of being noticed.

Others hurriedly straightened their robes and stepped forward to greet him.

"Mr. Crouch! I never expected to see you here."

A well-dressed middle-aged wizard hurried over and respectfully held out his hand.

Mr. Crouch gave a brief nod. "Ravens, has the council been running smoothly lately?"

After answering with a smile, the wizard called Ravens turned his gaze to Lucretia. "Thanks to you, everything is proceeding according to plan. And this young lady is...?"

Mr. Crouch placed a hand on Lucretia's shoulder. "Lucretia Crouch. She is starting at Hogwarts this year."

Surprise flashed in Ravens's eyes, but he quickly resumed his polite smile. "Oh, that is wonderful. I hope you enjoy yourself at Hogwarts, Miss Crouch."

Similar conversations repeated themselves again and again.

Every few steps Mr. Crouch took, another wizard came forward to greet him.

Little Barty had long been used to all this, but he did not miss the faint unease on Lucretia's face.

He spoke to her quietly. "Don't worry. They are only interested in Father's position. It will not be like this at Hogwarts."

Soon, the train whistle sounded, reminding everyone that departure was near.

Mr. Crouch handed several bags full of Galleons to Little Barty and Lucretia, then nodded at them. "Remember to write. This is your allowance for the school year. Tell me immediately if you need anything."

This was probably the warmest farewell he could offer.

Lucretia handed the bags to Little Barty and said to Mr. Crouch with some gratitude, "Thank you and Mother for specifically bringing us here."

Madam Crouch gave Lucretia a gentle hug and quietly reminded her about keeping warm and taking her medicine on time. Then she turned to Little Barty and looked at him as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Little Barty spoke calmly, his voice gentler than usual. "We will see each other again soon, Mother. I will take good care of her too."

Amid the chaos of the platform, Little Barty took Lucretia's hand to make sure she would not get lost in the crowd.

"Stay close to me in a moment. The seats on the train will fill up quickly, so we need to find a less crowded compartment first."

Lucretia did not hear a word Little Barty said. She was still looking around curiously, her attention drawn to everything around her.

A little boy's pet owl had flown out of its cage, and he jumped about anxiously but could not catch it.

Several older students were showing off the new flying brooms they had bought over the summer.

Farther away, a boy in Gryffindor red robes was tossing around little trinkets that burst into colorful smoke, earning eye rolls from the girls passing by.

As they moved through the crowd, Little Barty felt countless gazes upon them.

Some were purely curious, some held scrutiny, and others came with whispered discussions.

The Crouch family's newest member had always been a hot topic within the Ministry of Magic. Now, they finally had the chance to see her for themselves.

Suddenly, Lucretia stopped and stared toward the other side of the platform.

"Is that Lily Evans, the one Mr. Potter talks about so often?"

Little Barty followed her gaze and spotted a red-haired figure chatting happily with another girl.

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A few steps away from her, James stood there like an idiot, holding a bouquet of brightly colored magical flowers and deliberately acting ridiculous in an attempt to attract their attention.

"Potter is wasting his effort again."

When James approached and tried to offer the bouquet, Lily did not even spare him a glance. She walked right past him, her long red hair cutting an arc through the air.

James froze in place, still holding out the magical flowers, his expression as though he had been hit by a Petrification Spell.

The bouquet drooped limply in his hand, and several petals drifted to the ground.

"Last time, Mr. Black said he had asked her out seventy-eight times without succeeding."

Little Barty's tone was mocking. "Seventy-nine times. Potter really is persistent, proving through his actions what it means to keep fighting despite repeated defeats."

"Barty! Little sister!"

A familiar voice rang out amid the noisy crowd, carrying a strangely reassuring strength.

Regulus was breaking away from a group of Slytherin students and waving at them.

At the sight of a familiar face, Lucretia's tense shoulders relaxed, and a relieved smile bloomed across her face.

"Brother Regulus!"

Regulus walked over and gently patted her back. "It's all right. I'm here."

He then turned to Little Barty, and the two exchanged a brief nod.

"Did you come alone?"

Lucretia asked Regulus, noticing that no other members of the Black family were around him.

Regulus nodded, an unreadable expression flickering across his face. "Mother was furious with Sirius. Kreacher brought us here."

Little Barty's gaze swept over the group of Slytherin students behind Regulus.

They were curiously examining Lucretia. Some were whispering to one another, their eyes carrying a hint of judgment.

One older girl even looked Lucretia up and down, inspecting her clothes.

Little Barty's tone was much colder than usual when he spoke to them. "We're getting on the train. Don't block the way."

Meeting his gaze, those students could not help taking a step back.

The three of them dragged their luggage toward the train, and Regulus took the initiative to carry Lucretia's trunk.

Little Barty followed closely behind them, scanning the surroundings.

The train corridor was much narrower than Lucretia had expected and was already packed with students. Perhaps Professor McGonagall had brought her aboard from the very back last time, so there had not been many people.

They switched positions.

Little Barty led the way, impatiently shoving aside younger students blocking the path.

With one hand, Regulus shielded her, while with the other, he used his wand to steady the Levitation Charm on their trunks.

Regulus pointed toward a compartment ahead that seemed to have some empty seats.

"Barty? That place should..."

He was interrupted when a red-haired girl suddenly leaned out from a nearby compartment and anxiously looked around.

When she saw the white cat in Lucretia's arms, she instinctively patted Lucretia's arm.

"Oh, not that poor little Annie."

After speaking in a friendly manner, she looked at Luna a few more times.

"Wow, your cat is beautiful."

Luna seemed to enjoy the compliment and elegantly licked her paw.

Lucretia looked up and realized she was facing Lily, leaving her momentarily surprised.