Fifteen Years Later

Autumn of 2009 seemed to arrive all at once.

The morning of September 1 was crisp and golden, like an apple.

The little family crossed the street briskly amid the noise of traffic, heading toward the enormous, soot-blackened train station. Car exhaust and the vapor from pedestrians' breath glittered like spiderwebs as they drifted through the cool air.

A large cage rattled atop the luggage trolley pushed by the parents, while the owl inside hooted in displeasure.

"Dad, I still don't understand why Britain still has cars and why Hogwarts still uses trains.

Other countries and magical schools all use solar-powered flying cars and Anywhere Doors.

And I'm already in fourth grade—I'll be starting fifth grade this year!

Why do you still have to see me off?"

The black-haired little girl raised an eyebrow.

"Meiling, you're still a child.

It's tradition.

Britain's traditions must never be abandoned, no matter what." Harry explained awkwardly.

Ginny looped her arm through Harry's and rolled her eyes. "It's almost eleven. You two, father and daughter, stop dawdling."

"It's not my fault!" Meiling puffed out her cheeks. "It's obviously Ryan.

He kept making a fuss about coming along.

Did he forget that he's still in preschool?

Unbelievable. Someone like him even shares a name with Uncle Smith."

After Meiling's little complaint, the family passed through the crowd toward the dividing wall between Platforms 9 and 10. Travelers stared curiously at the owl, then began discussing it openly.

"Are they wizards?"

"They definitely are. That man is Harry Potter, Britain's astronaut."

"Sigh, if only I were a wizard."

"Exactly. Astronauts are basically either wizards or Smashers. Ordinary people like us don't meet the requirements at all."

"But Nebula Gas is too expensive! The Werewolf Virus is cheaper."

"Are you crazy? We're not Squibs. We can become