Hogwarts Express

Thick smoke billowed from the steam engine, hanging over the platform. The crowded throng buzzed and shouted, mingled with the cries of owls, while cats of every color darted around people's feet.

Guoguo Tea crouched atop Vaughn's trunk, glanced at the backs of its fellow cats, and remained quiet and composed.

Harry had already vanished. People were everywhere, and who knew where that reckless guy had run off to? Vaughn did not make any special effort to look for him. Standing on tiptoe and scanning the crowd for a while, he finally spotted Fred and George, squeezed over, and asked:

"Why are only you two here? Where's Percy?"

"Didn't see him. The honorable Prefect Percy is terribly busy. He disappeared in the blink of an eye."

"Huh? Fred, when did Percy become a Prefect? How did I not know?"

"You couldn't possibly not know, George. He mentioned it at least once... no, twice... no!"

The Twins shouted in unison, "He talked about it all summer! Hahaha—"

Then Percy appeared, somehow having changed into a new robe. With a stern face, he said, "If I were you, Fred, George, and knew my brother had become a Prefect, I'd behave myself and not make things difficult for him!"

"Merlin's beard, Fred, I'm terrified!"

"Yeah, George, how terrifying. The way he talks, you'd think he'd become Headmaster!"

"You..." Percy took a deep breath and finally decided to ignore them. He came over and patted Vaughn on the shoulder, ostentatiously shaking out his new robe so Vaughn could clearly see the P badge pinned to his chest. "Vaughn, dear little brother, if you have any problems after getting to school, remember to come find me!"

Vaughn nodded with a smile. "All right, Percy."

Just then, The Weasleys arrived with Ginny and Ron. It was almost eleven o'clock, and the white smoke pouring from the steam engine grew thicker—departure was near, and Molly had no choice but to say goodbye to each of the Children.

When it came to Vaughn and Ron, she wiped at the corners of her eyes emotionally, as if she wanted to hold them both in her arms and never let go. "You've grown up so much, and you've never been this far from home."

"Don't worry, Mum. We're going to school, and Hogwarts is the safest place in the world..." Vaughn comforted her against his conscience, silently adding—

That might not be true in the future!

"Once we get to school, we'll write to you and Dad. And Ginny too, of course."

After comforting his mother, Vaughn hugged Ginny as well. The Young Girl had long since cried herself into a tearful mess, clutching his hem and refusing to let go.

"Vaughn, I don't want you to leave..."

"But your brother has to go to school, and Ginny can come to Hogwarts next year too. Then we won't be apart anymore."

It took quite a while to finally soothe her. During that time, Ron did not say a word, because he was crying so hard his nose was running too.

As The Weasleys and Ginny waved goodbye, Vaughn and Ron pushed their heaps of luggage onto the train, searching for an empty compartment.

They definitely could not go toward the front of the train. That area was for upper-year students, and Percy had previously shown off about having a Prefect-only compartment near the engine.

So the two of them could only look near the rear.

After much effort, they found an empty compartment. The train let out a long whistle and started moving. Ron dropped his luggage and rushed to the window, pressing his face tightly against the glass as though he wanted one last look at Dad and Mum seeing them off.

But he saw nothing.

Thick smoke obscured the platform. All he could see were arms waving through the haze, and the boy curled up dejectedly in his seat.

Vaughn took out his Wand and used the Levitation Charm to stow both of their luggage.

Seeing him like that, Vaughn thought for a moment and pulled a piece of candy from his pocket.

"Here!"

Ron froze for a moment, then accepted it. As he unwrapped the candy, he mumbled, "Th... thanks, Vaughn..."

"Call me big brother!"

Vaughn wickedly ruffled his hair, instantly erasing the small bit of gratitude that had just risen in his Inner Heart.

His face turned red as he flailed around, trying to break free of Vaughn's hand while shouting, "In your dreams—"

At that moment, the compartment door was pushed open. A thin, frail figure dragging a large trunk stood outside timidly and blankly. "Excuse me... may I sit here?"

Harry Potter felt that today had been absolutely terrible.

First, his aunt and uncle had dumped him at the station, and he had been unable to find Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

After finally meeting a kind-hearted lady and successfully entering the platform, he had pushed through the crowd in a muddle for ages before barely managing to board the train, only to find himself unable to locate a compartment.

At first, he had gone toward the front of the train, only to be driven out by upper-year students wearing Snake Badges on their chests.

He had made his way all the way to the rear, but almost every compartment was full. After wandering around for quite some time without finding a seat, he saw two red-haired boys.

He knew them.

They were from the kind family that had helped him outside the platform earlier. Their fiery red hair was far too conspicuous, especially the tall boy with reddish-brown eyes like gemstones, the one named Vaughn. He was the most handsome boy Harry had ever seen, even more handsome than the male movie stars Aunt Petunia liked.

Of course, what impressed Harry most was the scene he had just witnessed, of Vaughn waving his Wand and making luggage float.

Magic...

Harry did not know what had come over him. On impulse, he had walked over and pushed open the door, but the moment the question left his mouth, he wanted to retreat.

He was a stranger who had suddenly appeared before two brothers. What if they did not like being disturbed? What if they drove him away?

His thoughts were a tangled mess. Having grown up with the Dursleys, he had long become accustomed to being cautious, yielding, and backing down.

Inside the compartment, Vaughn was equally surprised.

When he had not seen Harry Potter earlier, he had assumed Harry had already found a compartment.

He could not help looking at Harry, then at Ron.

The Wizarding world did indeed have the concept of Destiny, and that too was part of Magic. Could it be that the Golden Trio were destined to meet?

After thinking it over, Vaughn decided he could not make sense of that question for now. Without showing anything on his face, he smiled at Harry. "Of course. Come in."

Harry thanked him awkwardly and turned to drag in the trunk behind him. Then he heard an incantation:

"Wingardium Leviosa."

His luggage immediately floated up, lifted into the air by some mysterious force.

Hedwig flapped her wings frantically inside her cage, but it was useless.

Harry hurriedly turned around and saw Vaughn holding a knobby Wand, directing his trunk onto the luggage rack. Hedwig's cage, meanwhile, settled onto the small table beside the window.

There was also a huge cat there.

It glanced at Hedwig, then continued staring at the mouse in the cage in the corner.

"Uh, uh..." Harry was utterly dazzled, almost unable to speak. It took him quite a while before he stammered out, "Thank you, thank you."

"You're welcome. Come in and sit down!" Vaughn said with a smile. "I'm Vaughn Weasley, and this is my younger brother, Ron Weasley. Hello, Harry Potter."

Harry entered the compartment with hunched shoulders. Hearing that, he immediately replied stiffly, "Hello, Vaughn... huh?" His eyes widened. "How did you know...?"

Vaughn pointed at his forehead. "I saw your Scar outside the platform."

So it was not because of Magic...

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to answer, the freckle-faced boy named Ron Weasley nearly leaped to his feet, staring wide-eyed at Harry's forehead.

"Harry Potter?! The Harry Potter?"