The next day, the first school year came to an end, and the students began their journeys home.
Charlie dragged his suitcase toward the Hogwarts Express.
The station was bustling with people, just like it had been when they first arrived.
Before the train had even left, Harry already looked reluctant to go.
"Charlie, I'm going to miss you."
Charlie: ??
Please don't. The thought of you missing me makes me sick.
Charlie edged away from Harry.
Ron sighed.
"Don't mind Charlie, Harry's been like this all morning."
"He really doesn't want to go home."
Harry stared at him as if he'd said something utterly absurd.
"Home? Oh, Ron, if that place can be called home, then Snape's office could just as well be a bedroom."
"I swear, if I could, I'd stay at Hogwarts until graduation."
Harry kept rambling on and on.
Charlie ignored his bizarre comparison and pulled out a piece of parchment. It was the Summer Notice the school had sent out.
It was covered in rules, but the most important one was this: students were forbidden from using magic outside school, to avoid exposing the Wizarding World to Muggles.
"Little System," Charlie called silently.
[What are Your Majesty's orders?]
"Can you deal with the Trace that restricts magic?"
[How could anyone be allowed to discover Your Majesty's whereabouts? This servant already removed the Trace from Your Majesty's Wand.]
Charlie nodded with satisfaction.
No wonder the Ministry of Magic hadn't caught him using magic outside school before.
The train began to move slowly. Hogwarts Castle grew smaller in the distance, then finally vanished behind the mountains.
A few hours later, the train arrived at King's Cross Station.
Charlie said goodbye to everyone, dragged his luggage through the barrier at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, and returned to the