(9) Platform 9¾ And Malfoy

September 1st, the start of term at Hogwarts.

The Grangers brought Ian and Hermione to London's King's Cross Station.

"We're here," Mr. Granger said with a heavy tone, silently unloading the children's luggage from the car.

Mrs. Granger, her eyes slightly red, kept kissing Hermione and Ian's foreheads repeatedly.

Mr. Granger glanced at the pillar between Platforms Nine and Ten, frowning with concern. "Are you sure it's safe to enter through here?"

"Professor McGonagall said so, so it must be fine dear." Mrs. Granger replied, hugging the two children tightly while dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. "Hermione, Ian, you must write to me and Dad often."

"I will, Mom," Hermione said, hugging Mrs. Granger back, her eyes also beginning to redden.

Ian gave Mrs. Granger a hug as well. "I'll write too, Aunt Granger."

"Professor McGonagall mentioned that only wizards can enter Platform Nine and Three-Quarters," Mr. Granger said reluctantly. "Hermione, Ian, this is as far as we can take you."

"Uncle Granger, Aunt Granger, don't worry. I'll take good care of Hermione," Ian assured them.

Mr. Granger patted Ian's shoulder, his eyes filled with trust. "Ian, with you around, we feel much more at ease. But make sure to take care of yourself too."

"Of course, Uncle Granger!" Ian nodded, glancing at Hermione, who was still reluctant to part. "Hermione, it's time to go."

Hermione gave Mrs. Granger another tight hug, then took Ian's hand. "Goodbye, Mom and Dad!"

"Goodbye, Uncle Granger, Aunt Granger," Ian said.

With that, Ian and Hermione pushed their luggage carts and ran straight toward the pillar without looking back.

Their figures quickly disappeared from the Grangers' sight.

Mr. and Mrs. Granger stood in place for a long time before withdrawing their gazes.

"They'll make lots of friends," Mr. Granger said softly, placing a hand on his wife's shoulder.

Mrs. Granger leaned into his embrace and nodded gently. "I know, but I can't help worrying."

"Ian is a sensible child. He'll take good care of Hermione," Mr. Granger reassured her.

"I know," Mrs. Granger sighed. "As long as Ian's with her, I feel more at ease."

...

On Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, a scarlet steam engine stood by the platform. A sign on the train read: Hogwarts Express, 10 o'clock.

Ian and Hermione walked along the platform, pushing their luggage. Soon, they found an empty compartment.

After loading their luggage onto the train, they sat by the window, waiting for the train to depart.

Noticing Hermione still looking forlorn, Ian gently held her hand. "Hermione, we can go home for Christmas break. Don't be sad, okay?"

The warmth from Ian's hand dispelled the sadness lingering in Hermione's heart. She turned to look at Ian and nodded lightly. "Okay."

She understood the reasoning, but it was her first time leaving her parents, and it was inevitable for her to feel a little sad.

Fortunately, Ian was with her.

"Hermione, let's go look for my brother on the train," Ian suddenly remembered the matter at hand.

"He's the famous Savior; he should be easy to find," Hermione said, letting go of Ian's hand and walking with him out of the compartment.

The train was bustling with activity, filled with young witches and wizards like them, dressed in their freshly bought robes.

Ian held Hermione's hand, carrying the small green snake, as they searched through the train car by car. "Excuse me, have you seen Harry Potter?"

"Oh?" Two first-year wizards turned to look at him.

"You're looking for Harry Potter?"

"Are you fans of the Savior?"

"You little guys don't know but you first have to fight a troll in order to meet him."

"Don't forget about the part where you'll have to kiss a toad."

Hearing that tone, Ian instinctively looked up and saw two somewhat familiar faces.

Fred? George?

Ian was momentarily stunned; he hadn't expected to run into the Weasley twins so quickly.

"Ehm.. I'm Ian Potter. I'm looking for my brother—"

Before Ian could finish speaking, Fred and George's eyes widened in shock, cutting him off mid-sentence.

"Wait! Did you say you're Ian Potter?"

Ian nodded helplessly. "Yes, the real deal."

"Merlin's beard! The Daily Prophet reported a few days ago about the 'other Savior' still being alive!"

"Mum cried her eyes out when she read it."

"She kept saying, 'That poor boy, he's alive, thank goodness!'" Fred and George alternated speaking so quickly that Ian couldn't get a word in edgewise.

"Excuse me, could we pause for a moment?" Ian interrupted, rubbing his temple in exasperation. "Perhaps you know which compartment my brother, Harry Potter, is in?"

Fred and George exchanged a glance, then shrugged in unison. "No idea! We don't know him."

Ian: "..."

He had almost forgotten that at this point, the twins hadn't met Harry yet.

"Alright, if you see my brother, could you ask him to come to this compartment?"

Ian pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket, wrote down the compartment number, and handed it to Fred.

"No problem, oh mighty Savior's brother," Fred and George said in unison, giving Ian an exaggerated salute with mischievous grins on their faces.

Ian rolled his eyes in exasperation and, pulling Hermione along, turned and walked away.

The two continued searching for Harry on the train, running into several "Harry fans" along the way, and even an encounter with a certain "destined troublemaker."

"So the reports were not lies after all! Your companion, wait, is she a muggle born? Potter, you'll find that in the wizarding world, it's families like ours—purebloods—that you'll want to be friends with," Draco said arrogantly, glancing at Hermione before extending a hand to Ian. "I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."

Hearing words identical to the movie script, Ian's lips twitched slightly.

Without even glancing at Draco's outstretched hand, Ian pulled Hermione along and walked past him.

"Malfoy, if you want to be friends with me, spare me your nauseating pureblood supremacy spiel," Ian said dismissively as he passed.

Draco froze in place, his hand still extended mid-air, his face turning an unattractive shade of red and pale white.

Never in his life had anyone insulted him so publicly!

Ian suddenly stopped, turned, and glanced at Draco with a raised eyebrow. "However, if you're willing to set aside your prejudices, I might consider it. After all, more friends mean more opportunities, don't you agree?"

Draco's expression became even more complex, his emotions warring across his face.

He opened his mouth as though to respond, but after a moment's hesitation, all he managed was a single word: "What?"

Ian chuckled softly, said nothing further, and continued down the corridor with Hermione.

He had made his stance clear.

If Malfoy continued clinging to his pureblood supremacy ideology, there was no way they could be friends. Ian would never tolerate anyone looking down on his cute little friend.

However, if Malfoy was willing to change, Ian wouldn't mind giving him a chance.

After all, to truly defeat Voldemort, he needed to first dismantle the Death Eaters from within. And that effort had to start with heirs like Malfoy from the pureblood families.