The Express Train

September first.

London had a rare clear day.

The clouds were still thick, but a slit had been torn through the middle, letting the morning light leak down to shine on the wet road surface, leaving a thin layer of watery gleam.

"Not bad."

Gavin stood at the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron, looked up at the sky, and gave his first evaluation of the day.

"Better than the day the Knight Bus set off."

All of his luggage was stuffed into that dragon hide bag. According to Mundungus Fletcher, an Undetectable Extension Charm was attached to this bag; it looked ordinary on the outside, but the inner space was ridiculously large.

Gavin tried it out, and his conclusion was that the space utilization rate of this contraption could probably cram a one-bedroom apartment in London inside it.

"Technology... no, magic changes lives."

He hailed a taxi and headed straight for King's Cross Station.

King's Cross Station.

There were a lot of people.

People dragging trunks, hurrying along, looking up at the indicator signs, and young faces going on a far journey for the first time, not understanding much of anything but trying hard to look calm.

From time to time, children and adults pushed trolleys loaded with luggage past, with owls or cats locked in cages, looking every bit like Hogwarts students.

Gavin followed the flow of people to the platform.

He looked up at the platform sign.

Platform 9.

Platform 10.

Between them was a wall.

Made of brick, gray, and completely unremarkable. If there was anything special about it, it was that pedestrians instinctively avoided it as they passed, like some kind of unexplained instinct.

"Just this?"

If he hadn't known in advance, he would probably have just thought that running headfirst into it belonged to some sort of overflow of mental state.

He didn't go over right away.

In case he found the wrong wall and performed a public flesh-and-blood crash into the bricks at King's Cross Station, his social score for the day would immediately drop to zero.

So he stood to the side, ready to observe for a while.

He didn't have to wait long.

A whole family of redheads.

Noisy and boisterous, walking with a swagger, moving through a bunch of hurried Muggles with a huge pile of luggage, looking as out of place as if they had crossed over from another channel.

"Hurry up, don't block people!"

"Hold your trunk steady!"

"Don't squeeze your sister!"

"—Of course it's packed with Muggles here—"

"All right, all right, one at a time."

The redhead woman stood still. "Percy, you go first."

No sound of impact.

No sparks.

The boy named Percy charged into the wall.

Right after that, two redheaded twins also charged in noisily.

At that moment, a black-haired boy pushing a huge pile of luggage, on top of which was a pretty white owl, appeared next to the redhead family.

After some conversation, the black-haired boy also charged into the wall.

The redhead family vanished behind the wall one after another, and the surrounding Muggles continued walking, checking their watches, and carrying their luggage, as if nothing had happened.

"Muggle-Repelling Charm? The Leaky Cauldron edition?"

Gavin nodded.

"It really is a completely unsurprising design."

He didn't wait any longer, pushing his luggage cart toward that wall.

No acceleration, no hesitation.

Just like passing through an ordinary path.

The moment he drew close to the wall surface, he instinctively slowed his breathing.

Next second—

The world changed its appearance.

Steam rushed over.

The sound of wheels rubbing against iron rails, the hoots of owls, the clattering of luggage carts, and the sounds of farewells and urging rising one after another instantly entered a much more vivid and bustling world.

The Hogwarts Express stopped on the platform.

A red body, black wheels, steam slowly rising from the bottom.

Like a giant beast that had woken up but hadn't fully opened its eyes yet.

Gavin stood in place and paused for two seconds.

A wonderful experience, looking like a wall yet having nothing? Space overlapping?

He went over the experience just now in his heart and finally gave a conclusion:

At least it's more reliable than the Knight Bus.

This could be considered his highest evaluation of the United Kingdom Wizarding World's transportation system so far.

There were many people on the platform.

Children, parents, cages, trunks, luggage carts, and small animals escaping from prison from time to time.

Most of the new students carried similar states—excitement, nervousness, and the apprehension of leaving home for the first time.

Gavin withdrew his gaze and got on the train.

There were already quite a few people sitting in the corridor. Some compartment doors were open, some were closed, and sounds of conversation intermittently came from inside.

He walked all the way inward, his expression calm.

Until he passed by a compartment, his footsteps paused slightly.

The door was not tightly shut.

A very recognizable conversation came from inside.

"Are you really Harry Potter?"

"I... I think so."

"Do you have that scar? That lightning-bolt one?"

"Uh... yes."

Gavin stood outside the door and glanced inside.

A black-haired boy, wearing glasses, with a slightly restrained posture, as if he wasn't quite used to being stared at.

A red-haired boy with an excited expression, obviously not expecting "the legendary figure to be right beside me."

An owl's cage could also be seen in the corner of the compartment.

Is this considered the wheel of fate beginning to turn?

He muttered inwardly.

Then... continued walking forward.

No greeting, no stopping.

Gavin had no intention of contacting the main character group; the plot would develop on its own, the boss would walk away very peacefully, and he could just be a lazy winner.

They fight their battles.

I play my games.

The division of labor was very reasonable.

As long as he didn't actively crowd toward the center of the plot, many troubles would most likely detour on their own, and he would at most check in on famous scenes and observe from afar.

Hopefully so.

He continued walking inward.

The other end of the carriage was noticeably much quieter; after the crowd dispersed, even the footsteps grew lighter.

Just as he was about to find an empty compartment to sit in at random, a voice came from the side.

"This side is still empty."

Gavin turned his head.

An upperclassman boy was standing at the compartment door, gesturing toward him.

Quite tall, with a clean demeanor, his school robes worn neatly, and a very natural politeness on his face.

He looked like that kind of "other people's child" in the mouths of teachers and parents.

"Thank you."

Gavin didn't stand on ceremony and walked straight inside.

There was another person inside the compartment.

A dark-haired girl sat by the window with an open book spread across her knees. Hearing the commotion, she raised her head, glanced at Gavin, and nodded gently.

She possessed delicate facial features and a quiet temperament. She wasn't the type to instantly stun someone at first glance, but she was very comfortable to look at, like a cup of tea at just the right temperature.

"A first-year?"

The boy asked.

"Mm."

"Cedric Diggory."

He said, extending a hand.

"Gavin."

The girl by the window closed her book and spoke as well.

"Cho Chang."

After the three of them exchanged brief greetings, the atmosphere naturally quieted down.

It was slightly awkward.

"What year are you both in?"

Gavin spoke first to break the silence.

Cho Chang: "Second year."

"Third year." Cedric added, then looked at him. "You're a first-year, right?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Mostly the height."

"..."

This was also the part Gavin was currently unsatisfied with.

Yet for Cedric to just blurt it out like that was a bit impolite.

Gavin glanced at Cedric, who was flashing a big, silly, beaming grin, and decided to launch a counterattack.

So he asked, "Are you two a couple?"

Cedric couldn't smile anymore at that. Like a face-changing performance in Sichuan opera, his complexion gradually turned beet red.

On the contrary, Cho Chang was very calm. Poised and graceful, she smiled and said, "No, we're just friends."

"Oh, friends~"

When Gavin said this, his eyes drifted toward Cedric, and he proceeded to ask, "Then you guys..."

Cedric hastily interrupted to prevent him from asking any more devastating questions.

"Well, Gavin, isn't there anything you want to know about the school?"

As he spoke, he blinked hard at Gavin.

Gavin decided to spare the senior some face for the time being and temporarily drop the offensive.

He thought for a moment and asked the question he cared about most.

"How's the food at Hogwarts?"

The air fell silent for a second.

Cho Chang laughed out loud first.

Cedric was also stunned for a moment.

"Your first question is this?"

Cho Chang asked.

"Of course, this is very important."

Gavin said righteously and with a sense of justice.

"It directly affects one's quality of life."

"That makes sense."

Cho Chang nodded in agreement.

"Then I can give you a piece of advice first."

"Please go ahead."

"Don't hold too high of expectations."

Gavin nodded.

"I'm mentally prepared."

"Where are you from?"

Cho Chang asked.

"Chinese, my parents do business in the United Kingdom, temporarily settled in London."

"No wonder."

She understood almost immediately.

"Then you probably can't adapt to British food anymore."

"I'm still trying to adapt."

"Did it work?"

"Judging by current results, no."

Cho Chang's smile was even more pronounced this time.

That feeling of "I've finally met someone who understands" welled up instantly.

"When I first came to the UK, I thought I could tough it out too."

She put her book aside, her tone carrying a very sincere sense of emotion.

"Later I discovered that willpower can't solve this problem."

"Indeed."

Gavin felt a deep sense of empathy.

"Some things don't become delicious just because you endure them."

"Like what?"

Cedric chimed in with a strong desire to learn.

Gavin glanced at him.

"White bread."

"Baked beans."

Cho Chang continued.

"Cold meat slices."

"Mashed Potatoes."

The two looked at each other and fell silent simultaneously.

Obviously, they both recalled some rather unpleasant memories.

Cedric sat nearby and thought earnestly for a moment.

"I think Mashed Potatoes are pretty good."

"That's because you've eaten this since you were a child."

Cho Chang looked at him.

"You've never eaten normal food."

"You guys are joking, right?"

"This is a fact."

Gavin added.

Cedric opened his mouth, and ultimately decided not to confront the two people who had already formed a strategic alliance head-on.

"Then what do you guys consider normal?"

He asked.

This time it was Gavin and Cho Chang's turn to perk up simultaneously.

"A lot of things."

Cho Chang said.

"Like Cantonese Cuisine."

"Like Chow Fun."

Gavin followed up.

"Roast Duck, Char Siu, Wonton Noodles, Clay Pot Rice."

"And Hot Pot."

"And Malatang."

"And Xiaolongbao."

"And--"

Cedric heard halfway and suddenly raised a hand to signal a pause.

"Wait."

"Half the things you guys just said, I've never even heard of."

"Then your life still has plenty of room for improvement."

Gavin said earnestly.

Cho Chang laughed so hard that her shoulders shook slightly.

"He's right."

"You two are teaming up against me."

"We're only telling the truth." Gavin shrugged.

"Can I change factions now?"

Cedric asked.

"Sure."

Cho Chang nodded generously.

"Provided you first admit that British food is mostly just 'edible' and can't yet be called cuisine."

Cedric was silent for two seconds.

"...I'll concede half. I think Fish and Chips is actually pretty good."

"Then you're a lost cause." Cho Chang teased.

The atmosphere in the compartment instantly relaxed a lot. That initial sense of unfamiliarity was washed away by the topic of food in a highly efficient manner.

Afterwards, the conversation naturally shifted from food to the school.

Cho Chang talked about some of Hogwarts' daily routines—just how cold the castle got in winter, how the Common Room was much more comfortable than it looked, how strict the library's librarian was, and how certain older students sometimes pulled dangerous stunts in the corridors that were hardly suitable for first-years to copy.

Cedric added plenty of much more useful content. Which staircase was most prone to wrong turns, which professors were best not to be late for, and how the Hufflepuff stands actually had a pretty good view during a Quidditch Match.

"Do you play Quidditch?"

Gavin asked.

"I just joined the Hufflepuff House team." Cedric said with a hint of pride.

"I'll reserve judgment on this sport for the time being."

"Why?" Cedric widened his eyes, simply unable to believe that anyone could dislike Quidditch.

"The rules don't look much like a seriously designed sport."

Cedric was stunned.

Cho Chang looked over as well.

"You haven't even started school yet, and you're already criticizing Quidditch?"

Gavin: "Just a preliminary judgment."

Cedric laughed: "Suddenly I'm a bit curious what 'seriously designed' looks like to you."

"Rules that have been seriously designed should at least explain why one ball is worth a hundred and fifty points and can end the match directly."

Cedric opened his mouth.

No response came.

Cho Chang blinked, then lowered her head and smiled, "This question... I really hadn't thought about it before."

"Things you're used to are precisely the hardest ones to suspect." Gavin put on a knowledgeable air, successfully making Cho laugh once again.

"You talk a lot like a Ravenclaw."

Cedric evaluated.

"Is that so?"

"Then where do you want to go?"

Cho Chang asked.

Gavin thought about it.

"I'm more concerned about whether the dorms and the kitchen are far apart."

Cho Chang laughed first.

"Definitely sounds like something you'd care about."

Gavin nodded: "That's important."

Cedric: "If you get sorted into Hufflepuff, the kitchen will be very close to you."

"That sounds like a bonus."

"Are you actually seriously considering that factor?!"

"Of course."

The three of them chatted for a while longer.

Most of the time, Cho Chang and Gavin were talking, while Cedric listened from the side and occasionally chimed in.

A bit later, Cedric distinctly realized a problem—

The two of them cooperated exceptionally smoothly when it came to "bashing British food while simultaneously glorifying Eastern cuisine." And as a native-born Briton, it was hard for him to occupy favorable ground on this topic.

"I have a feeling of being left out."

His tone was sour.

Gavin thought about it, "When I get the chance, I'll have my parents bring some Eastern snacks over for you to try."

"It's a deal!"

Cedric also wanted to have more common ground with Cho Chang.

Time passed very quickly in such unhurried chatting.

The train passed through the countryside, the scenery outside the window shifting bit by bit from the edge of the city to vast fields and woods.

Unawares, the sky began to darken.

The sky outside the window turned from grayish-blue to deep blue, and the last shred of twilight on the distant ridge line was being swallowed up bit by bit by the night, like a thin golden thread.

The compartment was quiet for a moment.

Even the conversational pace, which had been very relaxed just moments before, naturally slowed down.

"We need to change our clothes." Cedric stood up first.

"By the way, Gavin, you don't know what the Sorting Ceremony is yet, do you?" Cho Chang blinked.

"Don't know, nobody told me." Gavin couldn't bear to pierce their bubble and intended to play along with their act.

Cedric became very excited, preparing to tease this very mature-looking first-year boy, "I heard that this year we have to stay awake amidst the singing of Sirens~"

"No, no." Cho Chang joined the discussion with an equally mysterious expression, "I heard this year we have to dodge a Fire Dragon's breath without a single scratch."

"Really? How terrifying~~" Gavin rolled his eyes, utterly unable to keep up the act.

"How come you don't believe it? I thought about that for ages." Cedric felt quite regretful.

Back when he started school, he'd been fooled by his dad for ages, only discovering the truth during the sorting itself, and ever since then he'd really wanted to turn the tables on other new students.

"Sirens sound pretty fake, don't they?"

Cho Chang didn't spare Cedric any mercy at all.

"How so?" Cedric felt he'd made up a pretty good story. "No wait, a Fire Dragon isn't much better, is it?"

The train began to slow down.

Outside noises multiplied. Someone was packing luggage, someone was starting to get nervous, and someone was asking if they would be sorted immediately after getting off the train.

"We're almost there."

Cedric stood up and packed his things neatly.

"After you new students get off, just follow the crowd."

Cho Chang reminded him.

"Don't wander off, the older students have a different route to the school, we're heading out first."

"Alright."

Gavin nodded.

The train slowly came to a halt.

The doors opened.

Steam billowed up.

Through the steam and the dim lights of the station, outside lay a darkness Gavin had never seen in his life born of a modern metropolis, as if swallowing everything.