Platform 9 3/4

Albert woke early on September 1st, climbed out of bed, got dressed, and moved around a little to wake himself up completely.

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, and 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 and keep you company," Albert said.

"What about Shera?" Nia asked again.

"She'll fly to Hogwarts to find me herself. I asked, and the school has an owlery where she can stay." Albert did not want to bring an owl to King's Cross Station. It would draw far too much attention.

Breakfast was as simple as ever. Daisy had also prepared a Ham Sandwich and a can of drink for him to eat when 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, and it was quite a considerable amount. They were not worried about Albert spending recklessly either, since he had never done anything like that before.

Albert cast the Levitation Charm on the bulky trunk and easily lifted it into the car.

"Did you bring your camera?" Herb asked. "The one your Grandfather Luke bought you?"

"I did. I'll write home every week and send back photos 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.

"That's good." Herb nodded. "Let's go."

The family arrived at King's Cross Station before ten. Herb helped Albert place his trunk on a luggage trolley.

Albert pushed his luggage to the wall between Platforms 9 and 10. He made a quiet gesture, then casually reached a hand into the wall. Sure enough, it passed through.

Albert let out a sigh of relief, returned to Herb's side, and said, "Okay, I'm going in by myself."

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

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

"So sneaky. I want to go too." Nia reached out and gave Albert a hug.

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

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

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

"I know. See you during Christmas Holiday." After looking around and making sure no one was watching, Albert pushed the trolley and jogged toward the wall. "He disappeared." Nia pointed at the spot where Albert had vanished.

"Magic is always so amazing. Let's go home." Herb wrapped 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, with a sign on the train that read: Hogwarts Express.

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

After entering the platform, a new notification appeared on the panel: discovered Platform 9 3/4, received 100 experience points.

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

What had originally been the ticket barrier had now become an archway, with a sign above it reading: Platform 9 3/4.

Sure enough, it was much like the book described.

This was also Albert's first time riding such an old-fashioned train. It really was an antique.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He sat by the window, watching the platform through the partially covered glass. After a while, more and more passengers appeared on the platform, and a light rain actually began to fall.

"Why does it always rain whenever people go to Hogwarts?" Albert could not help complaining. It seemed he had been right to arrive early.

The wizards on the platform all carried umbrellas as they hurriedly said goodbye to their families in the rain, looking a little bedraggled.

I wonder how many familiar faces I'll see?

Albert did not expect to meet the protagonist just yet. He had entered Hogwarts even earlier than Harry Potter, so he should be in the same year as the Weasley Twins and Cedric Diggory.

Fortunately, he was not in the same year as the Savior. Albert had no desire to get too entangled with Potter.

After all, he was the Savior, born with both a protagonist's halo and a death-seeking halo. If ordinary people got caught up in his affairs without a luck halo protecting them, they might end up dead before they knew it. Cedric Diggory was one such example.

The rain outside grew heavier. Albert narrowed the gap in the window a little. After eating her fill, Shera began dozing off. Owls were nocturnal birds, after all.

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

As long as he was not the one getting drenched in the rain, he did not dislike rainy weather.

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

He opened The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection and slowly flipped through it, passing the trivial time by reading. Albert had read this book more than once, and he had tried some of the spells in it.

In fact, over the entire Summer vacation, Albert had tried every spell he knew except the Unforgivable Curses. He had even attempted the Patronus Charm, though naturally, he had not succeeded.

"Hurry, hurry, the train is about to leave."

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

"Is that the Weasley family?" Albert studied the famous family 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 with his own sister. Yes, his sister was definitely cuter.

The Weasley family seemed somewhat rushed. They had probably been delayed by something before coming to the station.

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

A Black Haired Lad stood outside the compartment door.