A Beating from Reality

After Harry and Ron went missing, Percy was the one who was most worried.

Although it wasn't his fault, as the oldest Weasley family in school, Percy had a responsibility to take care of his mischievous younger brothers and sisters.

This was originally Charlie's responsibility, but since Charlie had already graduated from school, the responsibility fell to Percy.

He didn't forget to send letters to his family by owl, telling them about Harry and Ron's disappearance.

However, Percy was unaware that the Weasley family, who had just returned to their car from the platform, were stunned to find that their old Ford had been stolen.

The Weasley Couple never imagined that someone would steal their Ford.

The Ford was enchanted; ordinary Muggle wouldn't even notice it, let alone try to steal it.

As for the claim that the Ford car flew away on its own, the Weasley Couple would never believe it, even if they were beaten to death. If that were true, it would have caused a sensation long ago.

After searching the surrounding area without success, Mr. Weasley's face was filled with undisguised disappointment. Just as they were about to Apparition home, they received a letter from Percy via owl, informing them that Harry and Ron were not on the train, and even guessing who had secretly driven away in the Ford!

"How dare they... do that!"

Mrs. Weasley clutched the note Percy had sent, gritting her teeth as she turned to her husband, complaining, "It's all your fault! I told you so long ago, don't let them get away with this! Now look what's happened! They stole the carriage and are planning to drive themselves to Hogwarts! I've never seen anything like it..."

"Alright, Molly, Harry and Ron will be fine." Mr. Weasley took a deep breath to calm himself down. He stared grimly at the empty parking space, put his arm around his wife's shoulder, and comforted her, "Let's go home and wait for news!"

Mr. Weasley had no better idea than that once the car was airborne, they would have no chance of finding Harry and Ron.

As for whether the two could arrive at Hogwarts safely, Mr. Weasley wasn't worried at all; flying with the train, they certainly wouldn't get lost.

However, Mr. Weasley felt he might need to go back and make some preparations, just in case.

"No matter what, we're going to give Ron a good beating this time."

At this moment, Ron, who was fantasizing about descending from the sky in a car and stopping on the lawn in front of Hogwarts Castle to greet the envious and jealous students of the whole school, had no idea of the fate that was about to befall him.

They were still following the Hogwarts Express above the clouds, while Fred and George below, startled by their own bold speculation, opened the window and tried to stick their heads out to look for Harry and Ron, who were following the train in a Ford.

"Stop looking. Even if Harry and Ron really are going to school in a Ford, they won't let you see them. They'll either be flying in the air or invisible." Albert looked at Fred and George, who were trying to stick their heads out of the window, with a speechless expression.

"Oh, right, Dad's Ford can indeed become invisible," George muttered under his breath.

Judging from Fred and George's expressions, they seemed disappointed that they couldn't ride in a Ford to Hogwarts School.

Albert shook his head at the sight.

After lunch, the group got together and played a few rounds of Wizard Card. Then, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan took turns asking Albert about his trip abroad.

Annoyed by the questions, Albert began to pretend to be sleepy and casually answered their inquiries.

As they approached the school, the carriage door was knocked on again, and Hermione came looking for them with a Daily Prophet.

"The Ford Anglia can fly, much to the astonishment of Muggle." Fred took the Daily Prophet and read the headline softly, "Two Muggle in London are convinced they saw an old car fly over the post office building."

"I remember your father worked in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, didn't he?" Albert suddenly asked.

"Is it really Harry and Ron?" Hermione's face was very ugly. She hadn't expected that Harry and Ron had deliberately missed the train for such a reason.

"It's probably them."

"How dare they..."

"Maybe it's to show off!"

"Speaking of which, your brother is really a pain in the neck." Albert took the newspaper, carefully read the headline, and shook his head. "I bet they're still gloating!"

Hermione's expression darkened further.

"He's definitely going to get fined now!" Lee Jordan said.

"Probably fifty to a hundred Galleon," Albert said, closing the newspaper and handing it back to Hermione. "Unless someone is specifically targeting him, he shouldn't lose his job."

"Of course, Harry and Ron probably won't be expelled either," Albert said to Hermione, whose face was grim. "After all, Dumbledore values the Savior highly; if it were someone else, they would probably be in real trouble. However, they'll likely get points deducted and be put in solitary confinement."

The envy and jealousy on Fred and George's faces were completely replaced by astonishment.

"Now, do you still envy them?" Albert turned to Fred and George, asking with a smile.

Both of them shook their heads. Based on Albert's analysis, they already knew that Harry and Ron, who were sitting in the Ford ready to show off, were in big trouble.

"It's unbelievable," Hermione murmured as she walked away, finding it hard to believe that Harry and Ron would do something so foolish.

They didn't talk much for the rest of the journey.

The train finally pulled slowly into Hogsmeade Station. As Albert and his companions disembarked with the crowd, they overheard many students whispering about how some people had come to school by car.

Undoubtedly, many students think this is incredibly cool and wish they were the ones riding to school in cars.

Fred and George's expressions grew increasingly complicated. If it weren't for Albert, they probably would have thought the same thing! "First-year students, come here!"

A familiar voice came from not far away. A burly Hunting Grounds manager was waving to the panicked new students, preparing to take them through a traditional Crossing the Lake ceremony.

The remaining students rode in Thestral Carriage towards Hogwarts Castle under the cover of night.

Behind the winding Thestral Carriage, a Ford car sped across the lake, flew over the dark greenhouses and vegetable gardens, flew over the lawns outside Hogwarts, and crashed into the trunk of the Whomping Willow.

There were no cheers from the students as expected, nor any envious or jealous glances; only the enraged Whomping Willow. Before Harry and Ron could even face the harsh realities of life, they were instead brutally beaten by the Whomping Willow's branches.

Having just escaped death, the two no longer felt the excitement they had when they first rode in the car; instead, they were filled with confusion and lingering fear. They had no idea what they were about to face.