King's Cross Station

Yulian tried it for a while and found that the wand felt like an extension of his arm, much smoother to use than the Willow Wand he had practiced with before.

"How much?" he asked eagerly, already pulling out his money pouch.

"Seven Galleons," Ollivander said, then added with a sly glint in his eyes, "But you have to promise me one thing: if you ever come across a lost wand, bring it back. They... get homesick too."

"What do you mean?"

Exactly what I said. You'll understand when you come across one." Ollivander was quite the old riddler himself.

Just then, the girl came over too. She stared at his wand for a few seconds, then suddenly said, "...It's pretty special." After a pause, she added, "But mine will definitely be better."

"We'll see when you find one," Yulian said with a smile.

"I will." She lifted her chin. There was no hostility in her eyes now, only a little more curiosity.

As they left, they brushed past each other at the door. The girl said quietly, "Elizabeth Rosier. See you at Hogwarts."

"See you at Hogwarts, Shilam Yulian Black," Yulian replied.

Neither of them knew that years later, one would study Ancient Runes in Gryffindor Tower, while the other brewed antidotes in the Slytherin dungeon—and that, because of certain events, they would become each other's most trusted allies.

September 1, 1991, King's Cross Station, London.

The morning sun generously bathed Charing Cross Road, shining on Yulian Black's brand-new, tailored suit.

He hadn't worn his "tactical" Hogwarts uniform. It was his first day at school, so he figured he should keep a low profile. After all, Yulian had always considered himself a modest and reserved person.

(Leah, his elementary school classmate: What a show-off! Thomas, his middle school classmate: Such a poser!)

He pushed a suitcase that wasn't particularly large. It looked smaller than twenty inches, but it was another bit of leftover stock his grandfather had somehow gotten hold of, reinforced inside with the Undetectable Extension Charm.

Besides his uniform, textbooks, cauldron, and other school supplies, the suitcase also held Yulian's guitar, calipers, and various controlled weapons.

His bag was also stuffed with "motion-sickness-proof mints" specially made by his grandfather, Alphard (supposedly steeped in moonlight), as well as sandwiches his grandmother, Elodie, had insisted on giving him—with the excuse that "food on the train is all made with magic, so it might not fill you up."

His parents stood nearby. Clara's eyes were slightly red, while Altair tried to stand tall, doing his best to conceal his reluctance with the steady composure of a businessman.

After all, the books they'd recently read had told them that their son was going to a magical castle, where there were books that bit, hats that talked, all sorts of ghosts, and even Trolls that might crawl out of the dungeons at any moment.

"I told you not to worry," his grandfather, Alphard, said softly. "Hogwarts is the safest place in all of Europe. Dumbledore is there."

"Remember, Shilam," his father said in a final reminder, lowering his voice so Alphard wouldn't hear. "I don't trust that Dumbledore fellow. If anyone bullies you, don't forget the fighting skills I taught you, in addition to the magic your grandpa taught you."

"Dad, it'll be fine." Yulian patted his skinny chest. "Don't worry."

"At least one letter a week!" Clara called after Yulian, though he had already walked some distance away.

Yulian smiled, shook his head, and waved. Just as he was about to head toward the iconic barrier between Platforms 9 and 10, the corner of his eye caught sight of someone who stood out from the crowd.

Amid the bustling crowd, a girl stood alone in a corner. She looked about Yulian's age, but her clothes were completely out of place among the people around her.

A heavy cloak, sewn from some kind of dark animal hide and coarse linen, wrapped her from head to toe. Tiny bone ornaments and feathers decorated its edges.

Her skin was almost translucent, and her cheeks were faintly flushed, as if from the cold wind. Her long silver-white hair was woven into elaborate braids that fell over her chest.

Her most striking feature was her eyes: a pair of icy blue eyes, clear and wary, yet carrying a hint of bewilderment, like a snow fox that had wandered into human territory.

She clutched a long, narrow object wrapped in animal hide to her chest, glancing around nervously from time to time. She was clearly looking for something, yet didn't dare ask anyone for help.

Yulian stopped in his tracks. Ever since he'd gained the Magic Resonance Library in his mind, he'd been able to sense the magical currents around him.

A strange magical current emanated from the girl. Unlike a wizard's, it wasn't contained within her; instead, it seemed to blend with the surrounding air, the light, and even the emotions of the crowd. It was primal and ancient, with a faint chill to it.

Yulian walked over, doing his best to make his smile friendly rather than threatening. "Hello," he said clearly but gently. "Are you looking for Platform 9¾?"

The girl's head snapped up. A flash of surprise crossed her icy blue eyes, then they grew guarded again. She didn't answer right away, instead examining Yulian closely, her gaze lingering for a moment on the Hogwarts crest pinned to his chest.

"...Yes." Her voice was cool, with a faint Northern European accent, like a stream flowing beneath ice.

"But I can't find the entrance. The... warmth here is making me feel a little confused." She frowned uncomfortably. The body heat given off by the Muggles around them seemed to bother her.

"Don't worry, it's easy. See that pillar between nine and ten?" Yulian said with a smile. "Just push your luggage trolley and run at it. Trust me, you won't crash into it."

"Run at it? Into a wall?" The northern girl looked doubtful, clearly finding the suggestion absurd. "Have you tried it?"

"This is my first time too." Yulian scratched his head awkwardly. "But I think that's right."

The doubt in the northern girl's eyes deepened, and she instinctively took a step back.

As the two of them stood at an impasse, a voice came from behind them.

They both turned. An East Asian girl had appeared in front of them. She had an athletic build and was pulling a silver-gray leather suitcase.

Her hair was a soft, light gold, like ears of wheat kissed by the sun, and was casually tied into a low ponytail. A few loose strands rested against her smooth forehead. Her brows were gently arched, and the corners of her eyes tilted up slightly. When she smiled, shallow dimples appeared at the corners of her eyes, giving her a gentle yet lively air.

She wore a simple white shirt and light blue jeans, with a beige knitted cardigan over them. A small cherry-blossom brooch pinned to her collar complemented her tranquil, distinctly East Asian charm.

Yulian noticed the colorful stickers on her suitcase. Some showed ravens, and one was a tiny golden ball with wings—the Golden Snitch? They were quite cute.

"Are you new Hogwarts students? Don't know how to get to the platform?" the girl asked in a clear, pleasant voice, like a softly chiming wind chime.

"Y-yes, we... it's our first time here." It was the first time in Yulian's life that he'd seen an East Asian girl, so he stumbled over his words. It definitely wasn't because she was beautiful.

"My name's Cho Chang." The girl smiled and held out her hand, her fingertips cool. "It looks like you don't know how to get in. Come, follow me."