Chapter 9: The Hogwarts Express

In the wizarding world, September 1st is a very important day, especially for witches and wizards over the age of eleven who have not yet graduated. On this day, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry begins its school year. Young witches and wizards who have just turned eleven eagerly await this day, counting down with anticipation, hoping it will come quickly.

However, for those aged twelve to seventeen, it's not necessarily a day of excitement. The start of the school year marks the end of a carefree summer holiday, bringing with it the realization that all the work they had blissfully forgotten about is now waiting for them. And that, of course, is not good news.

This feeling was especially true for Kyle and the Weasley twins. In the front yard of The Burrow, Kyle, standing in front, looked excited, while Fred and George, who were behind him, seemed nervous, whispering to each other occasionally as if they were first-years heading to Hogwarts for the very first time. Yes, Kyle was here too.

Chris had planned to Disapparate with him directly to King's Cross, but just before they could leave, Mrs. Weasley had appeared at the door. She seemed to know exactly what Chris had in mind and, without missing a beat, told him that there were too many Muggles at King's Cross for it to be safe to Disapparate. She insisted that Kyle should travel with them instead. Chris, seeing Mrs. Weasley's determined expression, swallowed his objections and simply nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Kyle rubbed his forehead in mild frustration. He wanted to point out to Mrs. Weasley that, in the eyes of Muggles, seeing nine people pile out of a Ford would be far more conspicuous than two people suddenly appearing out of thin air. After all, they weren't in India, and the Ford wasn't some sacred vehicle with a diamond-shaped logo allowing infinite passengers. But, at eleven years old, his opinion didn't carry much weight, so he stayed quiet.

Just then, Mrs. Weasley approached Kyle and asked kindly, "Dear, have you packed everything?"

"Of course," Kyle replied, giving a light kick to the large suitcase at his feet. "I checked it three times before we left. Everything's in there."

"That's good," Mrs. Weasley said with a smile and a nod.

While they were talking, Mr. Weasley arrived, pulling up in an old, vintage car. It was their mode of transport for the day—a Ford that had passed through at least nine different owners and been bought from who knows where. Yet Mr. Weasley adored it and treated it with great care.

"What are we waiting for? Get in the car," Mr. Weasley said, ushering Chris to get in first.

At that point, Kyle realized it was too late to object, so with a resigned sigh, he climbed into the car, followed by the rest of the Weasley family.

The inside of the car had been enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm, so despite squeezing in nine people and a hefty amount of luggage, it didn't feel cramped at all. Mr. Weasley, a skilled driver, kept the ride smooth, with no noticeable bumps, sudden braking, or awkward starts—certainly better than a ride on the Knight Bus.

They arrived at King's Cross Station at around ten o'clock, right on schedule. Thankfully, Kyle's earlier fears didn't come true; in fact, the people around them paid no attention to the old, rickety Ford. The group made their way seamlessly to the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.

Once they reached this spot, they no longer had to worry about being noticed by Muggles. A nearby Muggle-Repelling Charm ensured that ordinary people would instinctively avoid the area. Even in rare instances when something unusual did catch a Muggle's eye, members of the Ministry of Magic stationed nearby would handle it swiftly. It was a very secure process.

Under Mrs. Weasley's guidance, the group lined up and, one by one, passed through the seemingly solid barrier, emerging on the other side at Platform 9¾. The platform was bustling with life, much busier than the area outside. Next to it stood a dark red steam train, proudly displaying a sign that read: Hogwarts Express.

"Looks like I'm not late after all," came a gentle voice from behind Kyle.

Hearing the familiar tone, Kyle spun around quickly and saw Diana smiling warmly at him.

"Mum?" Kyle exclaimed in surprise. "You had an errand to run earlier…"

"It's already taken care of," Diana replied, kneeling down to straighten his clothes. "Today is your first day at school. I wouldn't miss such an important day for anything."

"That's great," Kyle beamed. It would have been a real shame if only Chris had been there to see him off to Hogwarts.

Diana spent a few more minutes chatting with Kyle, making sure he was ready. She didn't let him board the train until it was almost time for it to depart. Just before he left, she said, "I'm sure Chris hasn't given you the full Hogwarts lecture, so I won't repeat it."

Diana's deep blue eyes locked onto Kyle's, and her tone became serious. "Dear, your father and I graduated a long time ago, and we don't want to relive our school days by hearing from your professors—especially Dumbledore. So, please, no letters from Hogwarts, okay?"

"Don't worry, Mom," Kyle grinned. "I'll follow the rules, there's no reason for them to send any letters to the family."

"Of course, dear," Diana replied, kissing Kyle lightly on the cheek and watching him step onto the train. "And don't forget to let us know which house you're sorted into."

"I won't," Kyle nodded before boarding the train.

A few minutes later, the train slowly began to pull away from the platform. Only then did Diana finally turn her gaze away.

Not far behind her, Chris had just finished talking to a middle-aged man and walked over to her.

"Mr. Diggory showing off his son again?" Diana asked with a laugh.

It was clear that the person Chris had been speaking with was someone she knew well. Amos Diggory, like Chris, worked in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry of Magic. He also had a son attending Hogwarts, though his son was a year older than Kyle and in the same year as the Weasley twins. However, unlike the mischievous twins, Cedric Diggory was outstanding in every way—much like Percy Weasley had been in his early years at Hogwarts.

Amos, being a bit of a braggart, took every opportunity to boast about his son's accomplishments. If he'd only done it once or twice, people would praise him in return, but since he went on and on about it, it had become tiresome. Eventually, Amos earned a reputation as one of the more unpopular people in the Ministry, especially among parents whose children had more average achievements at Hogwarts. Many avoided him whenever possible.

If they happened to cross paths, they would quickly look away and try to avoid conversation, speaking only if absolutely necessary. When avoidance was impossible—like when trapped together in an elevator—or if they worked in the same department as Chris, they would exchange a few polite words before quickly finding an excuse to leave, never giving Amos a chance to turn the topic toward Cedric.

This time, Chris hadn't been able to dodge him.

"Cedric is very talented," Chris admitted with a weary smile. "But never mind that. Is your task really complete?"

Though Chris wasn't privy to the details of Diana's work in the Department of Mysteries, he knew that missions originating from there usually took at least a month to finish. It was hard to believe it had been wrapped up in just two days.

"Of course not," Diana said, narrowing her eyes playfully. "But my colleagues are quite laid-back. They won't make a fuss about me taking a little time off."