King's Cross Station

Yulian tried it for a while, feeling that the wand was like an extension of his arm, much smoother than the willow wand he used for practice.

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

"Seven Galleons," Ollivander said, then added with a glint of cunning in his eyes, "But you have to promise me one thing: if you ever find a lost wand in the future, please send it back. They... miss home too."

"What do you mean?"

"Literally, you'll know when you encounter it." Ollivander was an old riddle-teller.

At this moment, the girl also walked over, stared at his wand for a few seconds, and suddenly said, "...It's quite special." After a pause, she added, "But mine is definitely more powerful."

"We'll see when you find it," Yulian chuckled.

"I will," she said, lifting her chin. The hostility in her eyes was gone, replaced by a hint of curiosity.

As they left, the two brushed past each other at the doorway. The girl whispered, "Elizabeth Rosier, see you at Hogwarts."

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

Little did they know that years later, one studying ancient runes in a Gryffindor tower and the other brewing antidotes in a Slytherin dungeon would become each other's most trusted allies due to certain events.

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

The morning sun generously bathed Charing Cross Road, also illuminating Yulian Black's brand-new custom-tailored suit.

He wasn't wearing the "tactical" Hogwarts uniform; it was better to keep a low profile on the first day of school. After all, Yulian considered himself a person of consistent modesty and introversion.

(Elementary school classmate Leah: Smug git! Middle school classmate Thomas: Show-off!)

He was pushing a not-so-large suitcase. Although it looked smaller than 20 inches, it was a leftover from his grandfather, who had somehow acquired it from who-knows-where. It had been reinforced with an Undetectable Extension Charm.

Inside the suitcase, besides the school uniform, textbooks, cauldron, and various other school supplies, were Yulian's usual items: his guitar, a vernier caliper, controlled knives, and so on.

Additionally, his bag was stuffed with his grandfather Alphard's specially made "anti-motion sickness mints" (said to be steeped in moonlight) and sandwiches his grandmother Elodie had insisted he take – her reason being, "The food on the train is all made with magic, it might not be filling enough."

His parents stood by his side. Clara's eyes were slightly red, while Altair tried to stand tall, attempting to mask his inner reluctance with the composure of a businessman.

After all, they knew from their recent reading that their son would be going to a castle full of magic, with books that bite, hats that talk, all sorts of ghosts, and perhaps even trolls that might crawl out of the dungeons at any moment.

"You don't need to worry," his grandfather Alphard said softly. "Hogwarts is the safest place in all of Europe. Dumbledore is there."

"Remember, Shilam," his father cautioned one last time, lowering his voice so his grandfather wouldn't hear, "I don't trust that Dumbledore fellow. If anyone bullies you, besides the magic your grandfather taught you, don't forget the combat skills I taught you."

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

"At least one letter a week!" Clara couldn't help but shout as Yulian's receding figure walked away.

Yulian smiled, shook his head, waved goodbye, and was about to head towards the iconic dividing wall between Platforms 9 and 10 when his peripheral vision caught an out-of-place figure.

Amidst the bustling crowd, a girl stood alone in a corner. She looked about Yulian's age, but her attire was completely out of sync with her surroundings.

A rather thick cloak, sewn from some kind of dark animal hide and coarse linen, covered her from head to toe. The edges of the cloak were adorned with tiny bone ornaments and feathers.

Her skin was pale to the point of transparency, with a faint blush on her cheeks as if from the cold wind. Her long, silver-white hair was braided into intricate plaits, falling down her chest.

Most striking were her eyes – a pair of ice-blue irises, clear, alert, and with a hint of bewildered helplessness, like a snow fox lost in the human world.

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

Yulian stopped. Ever since the Magic Resonance Library appeared in his mind, he could sense the magical fluctuations around him.

This girl emanated a peculiar magical fluctuation, not contained like a Wizard's, but rather integrated with the surrounding air, light, and even the emotions of the crowd. It was primal, ancient, and carried a hint of chill.

Yulian walked over, trying to make his smile appear friendly and non-threatening. "Hello," he said in a clear but gentle voice. "Are you looking for Platform 9¾?"

The girl's head shot up, a flicker of surprise in her ice-blue eyes, before she quickly regained her guarded stance. She didn't answer immediately but studied Yulian carefully, her gaze lingering for a moment on the Hogwarts crest already pinned to his chest.

"...Yes," her voice was cool and clear, with a subtle Nordic accent, like a stream beneath the ice.

"But I can't find the entrance. The... heat here is confusing me," she said, frowning uncomfortably, as if the body heat radiating from the surrounding Muggles was unbearable.

"Don't worry, it's simple. See that pillar between 9 and 10?" Yulian said with a smile. "Just push your trolley and run towards the pillar. Trust me, you won't crash into it."

"Run into it? A wall?" The Northern girl's eyes were filled with disbelief, clearly finding the suggestion absurd. "Have you tried it?"

"It's my first time too," Yulian said, scratching his head awkwardly. "But I think it's correct."

The Northern girl's disbelief deepened, and she instinctively took a step back.

As the two stood in a stalemate, a voice came from behind them.

They turned to see a girl with an Eastern appearance standing before them. She had a well-proportioned figure, like someone who exercised regularly, and was pulling a silver-grey leather suitcase.

Her hair was a soft, light gold, like sun-kissed wheat, casually tied into a low ponytail, with a few stray strands framing her smooth forehead. Her brow bones were gentle, the corners of her eyes slightly upturned, and when she smiled, faint dimples appeared, giving her a warm and lively aura.

She wore a simple white shirt and light blue jeans, with a beige knitted cardigan over them. A small cherry blossom brooch was pinned to her collar, complementing her understated Eastern charm.

What Yulian noticed were the colorful stickers on her suitcase, some with raven designs, and a small winged golden ball (a Golden Snitch?), exuding cuteness.

"Are you new Hogwarts students? Don't know how to get to the platform?" the girl's voice was crisp and pleasant, like the tinkling of wind chimes.

"Yes... yes, we... we're... first-timers," Yulian stammered, seeing an Eastern girl for the first time in his life, though it wasn't because he was seeing a beauty.

"My name is Cho Chang," the girl said with a smile, extending her hand. Her fingertips were slightly cool. "You two look like you don't know how to get in? Come, follow me."