Crazy Car

On the first day of term, Snape told Muya to pack her things and make her own way to Platform 9 3/4 to catch the train. Fortunately, Muya remembered the route.

Muya did not have much luggage, just one trunk.

She had no idea who had modified this trunk for her, but it was wonderful. Dumbledore would know; she could ask him later.

Muya pulled her little trunk through the men and women carrying suitcases in both hands, looking rather out of place.

When she reached the space between Platforms Nine and Ten, Muya immediately spotted familiar faces.

The Weasley family, Harry, and Hermione were all there.

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, and everyone," Muya said as she pulled her trunk over and greeted them.

"Oh, child, you're Ya Mu, aren't you?" Mrs. Weasley asked with a smile.

Muya nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Weasley."

Muya noticed Ron and Harry seemed to breathe sighs of relief. "What's wrong with you two?"

"They were afraid Snape was following behind you!" Fred and George covered their mouths as they snickered.

"You two, stop fooling around. It's time to go in." Percy checked the watch on his wrist, looking so serious that even Muya fell silent.

"All right, children. Ginny and I will go in first. You can follow one by one." Mrs. Weasley took Ginny and rushed toward the pillar, vanishing in an instant.

Percy and Mr. Weasley went next.

The Weasley twins followed close behind. Hermione told Muya to go first, and Muya nodded in agreement.

Muya waited for Hermione, then boarded the train with her. The two of them sat with Ginny, and the three girls soon began chatting.

"What is the Sorting Ceremony actually like?" Ginny looked full of anticipation, reminding Muya of this day last year, when she had been utterly bewildered as the mind-reading Sorting Hat placed her in Hufflepuff.

Muya glanced at Hermione. "Can we tell her?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. Anyway, it won't be anything like what her brothers told her."

Ginny really had asked her brothers. The twins said she would have to fight a Troll, while Ron said she would have to tame a three-headed dog... In short, none of it was trustworthy.

As she watched the scenery passing by, Muya suddenly saw a car flying above the train.

Muya: ...Huh?

"Hermione, Hermione, there's a car above the train!" Muya tugged at Hermione, who was reading.

Hermione wondered if Muya was hallucinating. A car above the train? That was impossible. Who would be bold enough to do that?

"Merlin's beard! It's Ron and Harry!" Ginny's mouth fell open in shock.

Hermione: ...

Muya: ...

So Harry and Ron had not boarded the train at all. They had even stolen the family car and planned to drive it to Hogwarts.

Hermione switched seats with Muya and leaned against the window to look above the train. The car was still some distance away, and the airflow was strong, so she tried calling out to them several times, but they did not respond.

Though they had no idea what had made the two of them drive here, they could only hope that they reached the school safely.

When Muya and the other two got off the train, Draco approached them from ahead. "Ya Mu, have you made friends with another Weasley again?"

Draco frowned deeply at Ginny beside Muya, though Muya clearly did not notice.

"Wow, Draco, you're not using hair gel anymore. You really do look better like this." Muya's heartfelt praise made Draco swallow the complaint he had been about to voice.

Can't find the book by searching its title? Try searching for the author instead; perhaps it was simply renamed!

"Of course. I was handsome to begin with." During the summer, Muya had sent a letter to Malfoy Manor saying that she wanted to see him without hair gel in the new term, and that he would surely look good that way too.

I'm not doing this because of Ya Mu. I just wanted to change my hairstyle.

Draco walked ahead, his ears red.

Hermione had not paid any attention to Draco from beginning to end. She knew that if any professor saw Harry and Ron arrive in a car, their House would definitely lose points!

Hermione and Muya had no choice but to stay obediently in the Great Hall, or they might lose points too. Ginny, meanwhile, was waiting to be Sorted.

"Ya Ya, come sit across from me." Cedric waved at Muya.

Muya nodded and walked over.

That intimate nickname startled Sean and Vester beside him. "Ya Ya?!"

"Cedric, why are you suddenly calling Ya Mu by her given name?" Sean pouted.

"You can call me Ya Ya too." Muya scratched her head. "Besides, I think I've always called you by your given names."

Sean and Vester smiled as well.

It was time for the Sorting Ceremony. The familiar process began again, with Professor McGonagall placing the Sorting Hat on every first-year student's head. Ginny was assigned to Gryffindor as she had wished, just as Ron had said. Their whole family was in Gryffindor.

Outside the castle, however, a car suddenly flew straight into the Whomping Willow. After being attacked again and again by the tree, it reversed, spat out Harry, Ron, and their luggage, then charged into the depths of the Forbidden Forest.

The two of them ran to the entrance of the Great Hall and watched the Sorting Ceremony inside.

"Oh, Harry, look. Snape isn't even in his seat," Ron said.

"Maybe he's sick and didn't come today." Harry clung to the doorway and spotted Muya applauding.

Ron said excitedly, "Maybe Dumbledore fired him. You know, so many people at school don't like him."

"Maybe—" a cold voice sounded behind them, "he is waiting to hear why you two did not take the school train."

Black robes, a hooked nose, and greasy black hair—it was Severus Snape, who was not currently seated in the Great Hall.

Harry and Ron despaired.

Snape was delighted.

Muya was still wondering why Snape had not returned to the Great Hall.

The three absentees were now in an underground classroom.

Muya went to find Hermione. "Harry and Ron still aren't here?"

Hermione shook her head. "I haven't seen either of them."

Then, under Muya and Hermione's watchful eyes, McGonagall and Dumbledore left their seats together.

Muya had a bad feeling. "Something may have happened to them."

Hermione had guessed it too. Snape must have caught them. Oh, what on earth was wrong with those two?

Muya returned to the Hufflepuff table, and she soon learned what had happened to Harry and Ron.

She thought Harry and Ron definitely had not come to school in that car on purpose. They would not do something like that merely for the thrill of it.

Some students said it was incredibly cool, while others said they would definitely be expelled.

Dumbledore would never expel Harry, because he was the Savior from the prophecy they talked about.

Muya returned to the common room.

She would visit Harry and Ron tomorrow.