Platform, Castle, Evening Prophet

The journey from London to Hogwarts was rather long. Koster and Roger did not chat for very long before leaning back in their seats and falling asleep.

By the time Scott woke up, the sky outside the window had grown quite dark.

"In five minutes, the train will arrive at Hogwarts. Please leave your luggage on the train. It will be delivered to the school for you."

The conductor's voice carried through every carriage as the speeding train gradually slowed. Hogsmeade Station, the final stop, was close at hand.

At the conductor's reminder, Scott took out his Pocket Watch and checked the time.

Roger was also awakened by the conductor's announcement. Sitting in his seat, he looked through the window at the lights of Hogsmeade in the distance.

"Let's go, Roger."

Scott called out as he rose and pushed open the compartment door. Roger stood, casually tugged at his robes, and the two of them walked to the carriage door to wait.

With a long whistle, the train slowly came to a stop, and students from the other compartments began filing out as well.

When the carriage doors opened, Scott and Roger were among the first to get off. They crossed the platform and headed toward the row of battered carriages waiting outside it.

At that moment, Hogwarts' Keeper of Keys and Grounds, Rubeus Hagrid, stood on the other side of the platform. As he did every year, he called out to the new students in his booming voice. "First-years! First-years, over here!"

His unusually enormous size made him highly conspicuous amid the crowd. He held his Magic Lamp high overhead, like a beacon guiding those new students who knew nothing at all.

"Look at those little ones. Hagrid looks like an ostrich mother leading a flock of ducklings," Roger said with a laugh, pointing at the stumbling first-years.

"I remember you used to be one of those ducklings too," Scott said irritably.

Even so, he started laughing as well.

After all, Roger's comparison... was actually rather fitting.

The nearby students were also amused by Roger's words.

Scott naturally turned to greet the girl walking behind them.

"Hello, Penelope."

Penelope Clearwater was a sixth-year Ravenclaw student like the two of them. With her beautiful long brown curls, she was a clever and lovely female prefect.

"Good evening, Scott." Penelope covered her mouth and laughed a few more times. "Oh, and Roger, you made me laugh."

"Of course. Thank you for the compliment, Miss Clearwater."

Roger put on an exaggeratedly proud expression, making Penelope laugh without stopping.

The three of them climbed into the same carriage and took their seats.

Before the carriage set off, another figure suddenly climbed aboard.

"Good... evening, Penelope."

The tall, skinny red-haired boy got in and immediately sat beside Penelope. He greeted her quietly, and both Scott and Roger could hear the nervousness in his voice.

"Good evening, Percy."

Penelope was far more composed than he was.

Percy Weasley, a Gryffindor student in the same year as Penelope.

There's definitely something going on between those two!

Roger waggled his eyebrows at Scott.

You don't say.

Scott returned a calm look.

Percy Weasley seemed only then to notice the other two people in the carriage. He lifted his head slightly and said somewhat reservedly, "Hello, Davis, Trollope."

"Hello, Weasley."

Scott and Roger replied in equally lukewarm tones.

At that moment, the carriage began moving. Percy withdrew his gaze and leaned close to Penelope to whisper with her.

Scott and Roger, who had practically been ignored, exchanged looks and began discussing their respective electives for the new school year.

Since third year, Scott had taken Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Care of Magical Creatures. He had no plans to make any changes in the new school year.

Roger, however, was hesitating over whether to drop one subject.

"I regret it. I really shouldn't have chosen Divination," Roger said gloomily. "Just like Professor Trelawney said, I completely lack the 'Inner Eye.'"

Roger had chosen Divination out of interest, but the subject was simply too unusual. Anyone without a talent for prophecy could never achieve much through hard work alone.

"Maybe you should consider dropping it," Scott suggested. "Go talk to Professor Flitwick. He should agree to your request."

"All right, I'll go." Roger accepted his suggestion.

"Oh, are you talking about Divination?" Percy suddenly cut in. "Professor McGonagall says Professor Trelawney is a fraud. But it's easy to get high marks in that class. As long as you 'predict' a miserable future for yourself during the exam in front of Professor Trelawney—naturally, the more miserable, the better."

After saying that, he looked at the two boys with a rather smug expression.

Scott and Roger exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Then Percy added, "You should know that I earned twelve certificates in last year's O.W.L.s."

"Oh, I know you're brilliant, Percy."

Penelope gave Scott and Roger an embarrassed look, then began talking about some amusing experiences from her summer holiday to divert Percy's attention.

Scott and Roger did not speak again.

When the carriage stopped before the gates of Hogwarts Castle, the two of them hurriedly jumped down first.

They quickened their pace toward the Great Hall. Roger sighed softly, "Beautiful Miss Clearwater, the flower of Ravenclaw—her taste really isn't very good. I understand that Weasley wanted to share some useful experience with us, but he really doesn't know how to talk to people, does he?"

Scott merely smiled without answering and turned to look behind him.

A slightly plump boy was hurrying over from behind. He squeezed directly between Scott and Roger and said excitedly, "Good evening. Scott, you always seem to notice people looking at you from outside your field of vision. Can you tell me how you do it? Oh, right, were you just talking about Penelope's boyfriend, Percy Weasley?"

Roger froze in astonishment for a moment, then laughed. "Eddie, you're always so sharp when it comes to gossip. I can't help suspecting that you have more than two ears and one mouth."

"Oh, thank you for the compliment, Roger."

Eddie proudly raised his chin.

"I happen to have a fresh and explosive piece of news here!"

He smugly pulled a newspaper from his robes and gave it a shake.

"Did you know? The Chosen One, Potter, and his little friend Weasley missed today's train back to school. I suspect they drove a Flying Car to school."

"A flying car?"

Roger snatched the newspaper from Eddie's hand. It was a freshly printed Evening Prophet.

Scott leaned over for a look. The headline on the front page read—Ford Anglia Car Flies, Muggles Greatly Astonished.

As they walked, Roger read aloud, "Two Muggles in London are convinced they saw an old car flying past the post office building... At noon in Norfolk, while Mrs. Hetty Bayliss was hanging out her washing... Mr. Angus Fleet of Peebles reported to the police..."

At that point, the surrounding students also gathered around and craned their ears to listen as Roger read the paper.

Roger quickly finished reading the report and stuffed the paper back into Eddie's hands. "Eddie, the paper doesn't say Potter and Weasley were driving the flying car."

"But I think it was them," Eddie insisted.

"Is that true? Weasley, did your brother drive a flying car to school?" someone in the crowd asked Percy.

Before Percy could answer, Scott sharply lifted his head.

Following Scott's gaze, Eddie happened to see a Ford Anglia falling from the sky, skimming past the walls of Hogwarts Castle.

"Look, the Flying Car is here!" Eddie immediately shouted excitedly.