Edward spread his arms and backed away, laughing.
"Miss Audrey Hall, welcome to...
my world!"
Half an hour later.
Audrey finally calmed down.
The two walked side by side along the bustling streets. Audrey's emerald eyes could barely take everything in; everything she saw challenged her understanding of the world.
Vehicles that ran without horses-weren't those supposed to be trains? Why were they so short?
The colorful neon lights hanging everywhere-were those gas lamps? But why did they come in so many colors?
Those buildings in the distance rose dozens of stories into the sky, their tops out of sight. How had anyone built them so tall?
When night fell and all sorts of bright lights illuminated the streets, Audrey felt even more as though she were dreaming. Only then did she truly understand what "another world" meant: a world utterly unlike Loen, beyond anything she had imagined.
The feeling of being a country bumpkin visiting the city grew stronger and stronger.
After that, Edward took her around much of London. She asked questions the entire way like a curious child, about everything from culture, history, and architecture to technology and customs. At his wits' end, Edward bought her a few books to read on her own.
Only when the lights gradually began to go out did Audrey reluctantly return to Hogwarts with Edward, drifting off to sleep filled with boundless longing and anticipation.
Early the next morning.
Audrey dragged Edward and Lilith out of bed. The drowsy boy and cat made their way into the common room. Edward rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Miss Audrey Hall, this behavior isn't ladylike at all. It hardly suits your station."
She tossed her long golden hair and said cheerfully, "But this isn't Backlund, and I'm not some noble young lady here. Right now, I'm just a new student at Hogwarts."
"All right, then. What does our new student want, waking me up so early?"
Audrey raised her chin slightly. "Hogwarts, A History says that, starting in the 1830s, new students have taken the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade, then crossed the Black Lake in boats to reach Hogwarts Castle."
Edward pressed a hand to his forehead. "But... we're already in Hogwarts Castle."
"Don't you think it would be more interesting to experience it ourselves?" She took Lilith from Edward's arms. "Don't you agree, Lilith?"
Lilith gave a lazy meow, found a comfortable position in her arms, and fell asleep again. "(????) zzZ"
Edward sighed.
"All right, we'll do it your way."
As usual, Edward first took her to Diagon Alley by Apparition, then hailed a car to King's Cross Station. Although she had already experienced it the previous night, Audrey was still fascinated by this means of transportation, which was smoother and faster than a carriage.
"Will we have cars like this in our world someday? If I took one back and gave it to the Church of Steam and Machinery, do you think they could invent something like it?"
Edward thought for a moment before answering, "Hmm, that would be difficult. You're missing a crucial energy source-petroleum." That was also why Emperor Roselle had failed to bring about a further technological revolution.
"What a shame." She sighed, her fingers gently stroking Lilith's soft fur. "I'd love to buy a car and take it back as a present for Papa, but I know that would cause you trouble."
Or Steam might immediately make you His blessed, then announce that the Church of Steam and Machinery was being renamed the Church of Technology on the spot, and rename Himself the God of Technology.
At ten in the morning, they finally arrived at King's Cross Station. Neither had any luggage, and they made their way straight to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Audrey knew exactly what to do throughout the process; she had clearly done her homework beforehand.
A scarlet steam locomotive stood beside the crowded platform. The sign on the train read: Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock.
Passengers streamed along the platform, all wearing the same wizard robes. The oldest were sixteen or seventeen, while the youngest were barely ten. They brought their pets with them, mostly cats and owls, which made all sorts of noises. Lilith irritably opened her eyes and glanced at the pets, then covered her ears with her forepaws and burrowed deeper into Audrey's arms.
The first three carriages were already full of students. Some leaned out of the windows to speak to their families, while others horsed around in their seats.
Audrey remarked,
"This is the first time I've seen so many children. I have to say, they're really... far too noisy."
They picked a relatively quiet compartment. Audrey sat by the window and entered her spectator state to observe the people passing by.
"That white-haired boy must come from a wealthy family. He's so arrogant, as though he doesn't think anyone else matters."
"That short, plump boy was brought here by his grandmother. In the short distance between the platform and the carriage, he forgot his belongings several times. Careless, with a poor memory."
"Those twin sisters look slightly different from everyone around them. They must belong to another ethnic group. One is warm and lively, while the other is relatively quiet, but they have one thing in common: they're a little vain."
"Oh, are those four red-haired children from the same family? Hmm, their home must be very lively..."
"That man looks as though he's always tired, but there's a shrewd gleam in his eyes."
"Huh? I think we saw the old man beside that little girl yesterday. That's right, he's the owner of that shabby, filthy pub."
With a blast of its whistle, the Hogwarts Express set off toward Hogwarts Castle.
Chapter 34: Audrey bullies the children
The Hogwarts Express traveled through the wilderness, gradually leaving the city and its inhabitants behind.
Before long, three boys entered Edward's compartment together. Leading them was the arrogant white-haired boy, Draco Malfoy. He was looking back at his two cronies, boasting about how much money his father had donated to Hogwarts this time, and how even Headmaster Dumbledore had to listen to him.
Just as he was getting carried away, Crabbe and Goyle suddenly stopped and stared into the compartment. Malfoy said irritably, "What are you gawking at?"
He turned and saw two older students looking at him. He froze for a moment, thinking, What a beautiful girl, then lifted his chin. "I'm Draco Malfoy. My father is Lucius Malfoy, a school governor at Hogwarts. Can we sit here?"
"Of course."
Edward gestured for them to sit opposite him.
Goyle and Crabbe sat on either side, with Malfoy in the middle. He glanced at Audrey first, looking somewhat surprised, then asked uncertainly, "Are you from one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight too?"
The Sacred Twenty-Eight Malfoy mentioned referred to the only twenty-eight wizarding families considered "truly pure-blood" since the 1930s. The Malfoy family was one of them and had always taken pride in that fact.
Audrey shook her head. "Sorry, I'm not."
Malfoy's arrogance returned. "What a pity. You should know that in the wizarding world, only our twenty-eight families count as true pure-blood wizards. Oh, no, it should be twenty-seven now. The Weasley family stopped deserving to stand alongside us long ago. Just look at those penniless wretches with their red hair and freckled faces. They can barely afford to feed their own children."
Just as he finished, Ron happened to pass by and snapped angrily, "Malfoy, what are you saying? Do you want a beating?!"
Before Malfoy could speak, Goyle and Crabbe stood up, clenching their enormous fists and glaring threateningly at Ron. "Ron Weasley, do you want a beating?"
"You..."
Startled, Ron backed away and bumped into the Weasley twins. One of them grinned. "Oh, oh! Is our little brother about to have the first fight of his life today?"
The other cheered him on too. "Go on, Ron! Draw your wand and challenge him to a duel!"
Ron's face turned scarlet. He reached out, intending to retrieve the wand buried at the bottom of his trunk, but remembering that he didn't know a single spell only made him more embarrassed. He wished he could jump out of the window.
Edward spoke up then.
"Hey, that's enough, you two. Do you want your little brother getting written up on his first day of school?"
The Weasley on the left immediately waved at him. "Hey, Edward! Long time no see. Didn't you say you'd visit us at the Burrow over the holidays? You stood us up again!"
"Exactly! We even made several prank items especially for you. Don't tell me you went off to play with Cedric instead."
"Next time, definitely. Next time." Edward laughed it off.
The Weasley on the left glanced into the compartment. A flicker of admiration crossed his face when he saw Audrey. "Oh, I don't think I've ever seen this beautiful young lady before. Is she your friend? Or your... girlfriend?"
Edward gave her a helpless look. "Sorry. These two are the Weasley brothers. That's just how they are."
Audrey remained perfectly at ease and smiled. "I'm Audrey Hall, Edward's friend. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Edward stood and pushed the Weasleys out. "All right, take your brother and find somewhere to sit."
His gaze lingered on Ron's bulging pocket. The creature hiding inside had to be Peter Pettigrew. The plot has already gone off the rails anyway. I'll report him to Dumbledore later!
Huh? Why is reporting someone my first reaction whenever I run into a problem? I must have caught it from Klein!
"See you in a bit, then."
"What a shame. Ron's first battle ended in defeat because he was too scared to fight."
Flushed with humiliation and anger, Ron pushed past his brothers and left, dragging his heavy trunk.
Once the three brothers were gone, Malfoy looked at Edward with disdain. "Hanging around with disreputable people like the Weasleys? How pathetic!"
With that, he stood and walked out, his two cronies hurrying after him.
Edward and Audrey exchanged a look. Audrey sighed. "There really are self-important young nobles like that in every world. Papa even wanted me to befriend people like him. How awful."
"Do you mean the third prince, Edessak Augustus? I seem to remember he was courting you?"
Audrey nodded. "But I don't like him, even though he's already one of the better princes."
Edward hesitated for a while before saying, "Unfortunately, thanks to certain people's machinations, he later fell in love with a man and became a sacrificial pawn."
"???"
Audrey's eyes instantly widened. "How... is that possible?!"
That was the kind of world Lord of the Mysteries was: a demoness died for love, a conspirer died for loyalty, and the prince who fell in love with a demoness died because of a conspiracy.
The rest of the journey passed without incident, apart from Miss Hermione Granger taking Neville around to look for his toad as usual, then somehow getting into a quarrel with Malfoy's trio. In Qidian fanfiction, she had to look for that toad thousands of times a year, running into all sorts of bizarre protagonists along the way. Edward wasn't among them, though, because he was pretending to sleep at the time. To be honest, first-year Hermione wasn't particularly likable.
Audrey rested her chin on her hand beside the window, admiring the scenery rushing past. Her lovely profile was reflected in the glass, complementing the beautiful landscape outside.
Edward couldn't help stealing a few more glances at her. Only when their eyes met in the reflection did he turn away and close his eyes for a nap.
The sky outside gradually darkened. Once night had enveloped the land, the train slowed and finally came to a stop.
The passengers jostled one another as they crowded toward the doors and stepped onto a small, dark platform. Although autumn had only just begun, it was surprisingly cold here. The little first-year wizards huddled like quails, tucking their heads down and shivering, while Edward and Audrey had put on warm coats well in advance.
Just then, an enormous figure approached carrying an oil lamp. "First-years! First-years over here! Harry, over here! All right?"
Hagrid smiled through his bushy beard. "Come on, follow me. Any more first-years? Mind your feet. All right! First-years, follow me. Is Miss Hall here? Sorry for the trouble, but please come with me too."
Edward took out his wand and cast a Waterproofing Charm on her, then said, "You'll have to go the rest of the way yourself. Watch your footing."
"All right. See you soon."
She waved and followed the little first-year quails down the steep, narrow path.
At the end of the narrow path, a black lake suddenly opened out before them. On a high hillside across the lake stood a magnificent castle, bristling with towers, its windows sparkling beneath the starry sky.
"So this is what Hogwarts Castle looks like from a distance."
By the time Edward reached the dining hall in Hogwarts Castle, it was already packed. Everyone was sharing stories about their holidays. Some whispered in little groups, while others talked loudly and at length. The place was bustling.
As soon as he reached the Hufflepuff House section, Cedric waved and called, "Hi, Edward! Over here!"
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