Chapter 25: Hogwarts Express

'Magical alchemy is definitely something I need to study seriously in the future.'

Less than twenty minutes later, the enchanted car stopped outside King's Cross Station. Declining Tonks' offer to escort him inside, George pushed his trolley while mulling over his thoughts.

The journey from the Leaky Cauldron to King's Cross hadn't been entirely smooth—traffic had been terrible. However, the Ministry's car, imbued with advanced spatial magic through alchemy, solved the problem. With a press of a button, Aldo compressed the car, allowing it to slip effortlessly through spaces barely wide enough for a person.

The magic in this world was truly fascinating, and magical items crafted through alchemy were equally remarkable. George imagined that if he mastered alchemical magic, he could transform the mutant school into a Hogwarts-like magical fortress—impenetrable without his permission.

"Platform Nine and Three-Quarters."

Arriving at the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten, George confidently pushed his trolley straight into the wall. A peculiar sensation, as if passing through a transparent veil of water, enveloped him. Moments later, the magical platform unfolded before his eyes.

The most striking sight was a crimson steam engine emblazoned with the words: Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock departure.

He had read about this magical train in history books, understanding that mastering the wizarding world's history was as crucial as mastering its spells. After all, many spells and counter-spells were embedded in historical narratives.

The Hogwarts Express, built in the mid-19th century, was the result of a collaboration between a Muggle engineer, Muggle railway workers, and the Ministry of Magic. It was also the occasion of the most extensive use of memory charms and Muggle-repelling spells in history.

The train was commissioned under Minister Ottaline Gambol, who, concerned about the safety and comfort of children traveling by Portkey, took inspiration from Muggle steam trains. Though some pure-blood families protested, Gambol enforced the policy by declaring Hogwarts admission contingent upon using the train.

The Hogwarts Express operates six times annually: on September 1st for the start of term, twice during Christmas and Easter breaks, and once at the end of the school year in June.

At this early hour, the platform wasn't crowded. A few wizards, young and old, wandered about with pets and luggage.

George found his way to a compartment marked for first-years. After stowing his luggage on the overhead rack and placing the owl cage in a corner, he addressed his pet: "Sleep well, Paige, and don't scare the other students."

The owl hooted softly, settling down as George opened a book titled On the Importance of Basic Magical Theory. He intended to make good use of the five- to six-hour journey.

As time passed, the platform filled with more wizards, accompanied by an assortment of magical pets. The lively chatter spilled into the train.

"Wow, is that your pet? What a massive owl!"

A boy wearing a camera around his neck wandered into George's compartment, drawn by Paige's size. After stowing his belongings in the corner, the boy began snapping pictures of the owl with his magical camera.

"Hi! My name's Colin Creevey."

"Just call me George," he replied with a polite nod.

The name sounded familiar—Colin Creevey, the avid fan of Harry Potter. If memory served, Colin idolized Harry and loved photographing him at every opportunity.

"George, I—"

Colin was a lively chatterbox who quickly made himself comfortable beside George, enthusiastically recounting his life story. He was a Muggle-born wizard, passionate about photography, and had spent his pet fund on a magical camera. His greatest idol, of course, was Harry Potter.

"And you? I've been talking so much, but I don't know anything about you!"

To avoid prolonging the conversation, George offered a brief and direct answer: "I'm an orphan. Never met my parents and don't have any family, so there's not much to say."

Colin's face fell, and sympathy softened his expression. He quickly changed the subject.

"So, what does your owl eat? It's huge!"

"An eagle owl," said a dreamy voice from the doorway, interrupting them. "They're commonly found across Eurasia and Africa, nesting in mountains, plains, and forests. Their diet includes field mice, hares, and pheasants, though they sometimes eat frogs, snakes, or lizards. They're also one of the rare species said to be immune to a Basilisk's stare—the other being the Phoenix."

Both George and Colin turned to see a pale-skinned girl with large, unfocused silver eyes and dark golden-brown hair standing in the doorway. Her ethereal appearance lent her an otherworldly aura.

"Immune to a Basilisk's stare?" George asked, startled. "I've never seen that in the books I've read."

He scrutinized the girl. If her claim was true, it was critical information, particularly since he knew a Basilisk would appear at Hogwarts this year—a thousand-year-old one at that.

This revelation couldn't be ignored.