9¾ Station

Before he could say anything else, Cho Chang had already taken his wrist. Her palm carried a faint scent of gardenias. "Don't be afraid. Just follow my pace and keep Hogwarts in your mind," she said, pulling her suitcase as she led the way toward the brick wall.

Yulian could feel the strength of her fingers, warm and steady. He followed obediently, watching Cho Chang pass through the brick wall without resistance. The wheels of her silver-gray suitcase left a brief, ghostly trace across its surface before disappearing from sight.

He took a deep breath and followed right behind her, passing through the thin magical barrier. The northern girl rolled her eyes at what lay ahead, then followed with her bundle in her arms.

The scene changed in an instant. The red Hogwarts Express belched clouds of steam, and the white smoke drifting from its chimney mingled with the sunlight, forming shafts of golden light.

The platform was crowded with wizarding families. Some children were already dressed in black wizarding robes, excitedly calling to one another. The hoots of owls, the croaks of toads, and the parents' reminders blended into a lively symphony.

"Goodbye! I'm going to find my classmates." Cho Chang smiled and waved to them. "I hope you both end up in Ravenclaw."

"Welcome to Platform 9¾." Yulian smiled, holding back his excitement as he spoke to the northern girl beside him.

The northern girl stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at everything before her, shock filling her ice-blue eyes.

"Thank you." Her voice was still cool, but now it held a trace of sincerity. "My name is Lyria."

"Shiloh Yulian Black. Just call me Yulian." Yulian pointed at her bundle. "Your things are unusual."

Lyria instinctively hugged it closer, as if it were her only support. "It's important."

Just as the two of them were about to board the train, a young man in a neat uniform and a bowler hat stopped them. He was handsome, but his gaze was sharp as an eagle's. The little finger on his right hand was missing.

He held what looked like an ordinary ticket punch, but Yulian keenly noticed runes flowing faintly along its edges.

"First-years?" The man's voice was even and professional. "May I see your tickets?"

Did the Harry Potter books have a ticket inspection scene? It didn't seem so. But it probably didn't matter.

Yulian didn't give it much thought. He and Lyria both took out their tickets.

After inspecting them carefully, the man let his gaze linger on Lyria for a few extra seconds, especially on the hide-wrapped bundle in her arms.

"Your first time on the Hogwarts Express?" he asked Lyria, his tone giving nothing away.

"Yes," Lyria replied curtly, instinctively uneasy around the man.

"We're both first-years, so of course it's our first time," Yulian said, puzzled.

"Have a pleasant journey." The man returned their tickets and gave a slight nod without saying anything more, then turned toward the next group of students. His figure soon disappeared into the steam and crowd.

"Who was he?" Lyria asked Yulian quietly.

"I don't know. A ticket inspector, I guess." Yulian shook his head, but a ripple of unease stirred in his heart. The man didn't feel like an ordinary railway employee. He seemed more like... some kind of watcher.

"Forget about him," Yulian said, patting Lyria on the shoulder. "Let's find a compartment and sit down. By the way, do you know which house you want to join?"

Lyria shook her head, confusion flickering in her ice-blue eyes. "I don't know. I just... I don't mind which house I end up in."

The Hogwarts Express let out a long, shrill whistle, as if urging those who hadn't boarded yet to hurry.

The platform was filled with noise. Owls flapped their wings, toads hopped restlessly in their cages, and parents gave their children one last set of reminders and hugs. Some were even secretly wiping away tears.

Yulian sat by the compartment window, his gaze passing through the billowing white steam to settle on a red-haired family not far away. They had to be the Weasley family. You didn't see a crowd of wizards that big gathered together otherwise.

Mrs. Weasley was straightening her youngest son's collar. He looked embarrassed and impatient. Two tall, identical boys were laughing and jostling each other, while the youngest girl looked around, excitement written all over her face.

Farther away, a tall, upright boy was walking slowly across the platform. He had light brown curls, a nearly perfect-looking face, and a warm, confident smile.

Behind him, Cho Chang, whom Yulian had just met, was chatting quietly with several Ravenclaw girls. They kept sneaking glances at his back, their cheeks faintly flushed.

Yulian understood at once: Cedric Diggory, Hufflepuff's pride.

"He's quite handsome," the usually cold Lyria remarked, speaking up first.

Yulian realized Lyria's gaze was following Cedric's profile too.

"Definitely. Don't you think he looks like a vampire?"

"Hmph." Lyria snorted and rolled her eyes at Yulian again, then fell silent.

Suddenly, Yulian's attention was drawn to several suspicious-looking adults at the edge of the platform.

They wore dark, old-fashioned long coats and had eyes as sharp as hawks. They scanned the crowd back and forth, apparently searching for someone in particular.

Even more alarming, the one-fingered ticket inspector from earlier was standing in the shadows by the entrance to Platform 9¾. His gaze was like a blade as he kept the group in his sights. His right hand remained at his waist; it was easy to imagine that what he'd draw wouldn't be an ordinary ticket punch.

"Who are they looking for?" Lyria's voice came from behind him, cool as frost.

Yulian didn't answer. He only shook his head slightly.

Just then, he caught sight of a small figure—Harry Potter was standing at the edge of the crowd, dragging an old, battered suitcase and looking rather ill at ease.

Yulian's heart warmed, and he instinctively wanted to open the door and get off the train to greet him. But as soon as he pulled the compartment door open, he found the corridor completely jammed with a flood of young wizards.

Some were fighting over window seats, while others were showing off their newly bought Chocolate Frog Cards. The clamor was loud enough to lift the carriage roof.

"Never mind. I'll talk to him once the train's moving," Yulian murmured, turning back to his seat.

The compartment was small, with only two facing soft seats. Lyria sat across from Yulian by the window, carefully laying the long, hide-wrapped object across her lap. She folded her arms around it as if it were a treasure.

Her cloak was still wrapped tightly around her, leaving only her pale, delicate face exposed. Wariness and distance glimmered in her ice-blue eyes.

"Are you from somewhere far north?" Yulian asked tentatively.

"Somewhere in Norway. Farther north is the land of eternal night." Lyria's brief reply sounded like a stream beneath a layer of ice, but she didn't name a specific place.

The two were chatting casually when the compartment door suddenly opened a crack.

A figure slipped inside nimbly, moving as fast as a cat. She quickly shut the door and leaned against it, warily looking out into the corridor for a few seconds. Only after confirming that no one had followed her did she let out a long breath.