Chapter 4: Journey to Hogwarts
Returning to the manor, night had already fallen. A diminutive house-elf wobbled behind the Julius family, carrying a bundle of cauldrons and books. Perched on Augustus's shoulder was a pure white gyrfalcon, surveying its surroundings with an air of dominance, as if the entire manor was about to become its domain.
"Alright, Zenny, pack Augustus's books, cauldrons, and other magical tools into his trunk. Then prepare dinner for us," Clovis instructed the house-elf with a wave of his hand.
"Yes, Master," Zenny nodded obediently and vanished with the items.
After enjoying the sumptuous dinner prepared by the house-elf, Augustus returned to his bedroom. Opening his trunk, he removed all the books and reclined in a chair to read. Reading had long been ingrained in Augustus's soul since his time as a magical apprentice. The skill of speed-reading was one of the fundamental abilities of a competent wizard. For a wizard, the allure of knowledge was boundless, and acquiring it was a paramount task, no matter the time or place.
The next day, Augustus dressed in a simple white robe and headed to the dining room early. His gyrfalcon, having just returned from its morning hunt, followed him inside. His parents were already there.
"Son, today is your first day at school. Your mother and I wish you the best of luck. Now, eat your breakfast, and we'll take you to the station," Clovis said with a smile as Augustus approached the table.
After breakfast, the enormous carriage once again rose slowly into the air before accelerating sharply, soon disappearing into the clouds.
When the carriage landed at King's Cross Station, it was already noon, the peak of the bustling crowd. Despite its size, the carriage seemed to attract no attention from the busy commuters.
Disembarking with his black trunk, Augustus walked toward the platform. The Julius family's striking appearance turned heads, but what truly captivated the crowd was the pure white gyrfalcon on Augustus's shoulder—a rare king among birds of prey.
Reaching the space between Platforms 9 and 10, which appeared to be an ordinary brick barrier to others, Augustus saw instead a massive white portal radiating dazzling light.
"Alright, see you later," Augustus said, waving to Clovis and Aurora before pushing his trunk and walking directly toward the barrier with his gyrfalcon.
"Strange, I thought the boy would ask me about it. How did he know how to enter the platform?" Clovis remarked to Aurora, sounding a bit disappointed, as they watched Augustus vanish between Platforms 9 and 10.
A scarlet steam engine billowed smoke above the chattering crowds. Cats of various colors darted between people's legs, while the buzz of voices and the clatter of heavy luggage filled the air. Owls screeched back and forth, adding to the cacophony.
"What a lively scene," Augustus murmured with a faint smile as he boarded the train, maneuvering his trunk. Passing through a corridor, he overheard snippets of conversation.
"Grandma, I lost my toad again!" a round-faced boy exclaimed.
"Oh, Neville..." sighed an elderly woman.
Further down, a boy with long, messy hair opened a box to reveal a furry, long-legged creature, causing a group of children to scream and scatter in fright.
Navigating through the noisy crowd, Augustus reached the rear of the train and found a compartment with only two occupants. Opening the door, he stepped inside.
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For Harry Potter, today had been fortuitous. First, he was kindly helped onto the platform after struggling to figure it out. Then, he met a friendly family on the train and befriended their youngest son, Ron. As the two discussed the lightning-shaped scar on Harry's forehead, the compartment door slid open again.
Blinding sunlight poured into the compartment through the window behind the door. Standing there was a youth clad in a white robe, exuding elegance and composure. His golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, and his silver eyes added an air of mystery. On his shoulder perched a pure white gyrfalcon, looking equally regal.
"Excuse me, is there room here?" a cool voice asked, sending a thrill through Harry, who sensed that this boy might also be a first-year student.
"Of course, please come in," Harry said, standing up and stepping aside to let the boy in.
Augustus smiled at Harry, entered the compartment, and placed his trunk on the luggage rack. After settling in, he sat down. Harry, smiling warmly, introduced himself:
"I'm Harry Potter, and this is Ron Weasley. We're both first-years."
Hearing the name "Harry Potter," a flicker of surprise crossed Augustus's otherwise composed expression but vanished quickly. With a calm demeanor, he replied, "Hello, I'm Augustus Julius. Pleased to meet you. I'm also a first-year."
Harry felt strangely pleased by Augustus's indifferent reaction to his famous name, a stark contrast to the attention he'd been receiving in the wizarding world.
"Wait, Julius? As in the Julius family—the one renowned for producing Ministers of Magic?" Ron exclaimed, his reaction far more animated than Harry's, given his familiarity with wizarding history.
"Well, if you mean the Julius family, then yes," Augustus replied evenly, showing no trace of pride.
"Your falcon is stunning. What's its name?" Ron asked enviously, gazing at the majestic bird.
"Her name is Chelsea," Augustus replied lazily, stroking the gyrfalcon's feathers as he leaned back in his seat.
"I have a rat. It's called Scabbers. Percy didn't want it anymore," Ron said, pulling a fat, gray rat from his jacket pocket. "It's useless—always sleeping. Percy got an owl when he became a prefect, and my parents couldn't afford to buy me one, so they gave me Scabbers instead." Ron's ears turned red as he realized he'd said too much and turned to gaze out the window.
Augustus glanced at the seemingly oblivious rat sprawled on the table and allowed a faint, inscrutable smile to cross his lips.
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