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The afternoon passed quickly.
And with that, the first half of the school year officially came to an end.
Winter break was just about to begin.
Students practically rushed back to their dorms to grab the luggage they were taking home.
Tonight, they would board the Hogwarts Express and return to their warm homes. By tomorrow morning, the train would arrive at Platform 9¾, where their families would be waiting to greet them.
First-year students bolted toward their dorms like mad. Hogwarts might be full of magical wonders, but it had been four months since they'd last seen their parents. Their excitement was understandable—after all, they were only eleven years old.
For most of them, this was their first time being away from their parents for so long.
Older students were much more composed. They strolled toward their dorms, chatting and laughing. Their conversations were different, too—they were already mature and independent enough to plan hangouts with friends over the holidays.
Though Harry didn't feel sad or upset about not having any family, seeing his classmates so excited did leave him feeling a bit empty.
He considered traveling around the world during the holidays, but the thought of going alone—of all the loneliness that would bring—quickly made him abandon the idea.
Harry stood in the dorm room, watching the other four frantically tearing through their belongings, packing like mad.
He said, "What are you all in such a rush for? The train won't even leave for another hour or so."
Suddenly, something dark flew at Harry. He dodged it reflexively, and when he looked to see what it was, his face darkened.
"Which one of you idiots threw your underwear at me?!"
The room went dead silent.
Everyone followed Harry's line of sight—and sure enough, lying on the floor behind him was a pair of underwear.
They exchanged looks, then all said in perfect unison, "That's definitely not mine."
No one dared to claim it. Doing so would be social suicide.
Fuming, Harry pointed his wand at the offending garment. Poof—it turned to ash.
The four boys shivered. Their hands slowed down immediately. Better not provoke Harry when he's in this mood.
Harry sat on the edge of his bed and asked, "Ron, didn't you say your parents were planning to visit your brother Charlie this year? You and Fred and George were all supposed to stay at school, right?"
While stuffing clothes into a worn-out suitcase, Ron replied, "Yeah, that was the plan. Charlie wasn't supposed to get time off from work, so my parents were going to visit him. But a few days ago, they sent me a letter saying Charlie's job gave him the holidays off after all—he's already home now."
"Oh…" Harry nodded.
Soon, the boys finished packing. Harry watched them lugging big, heavy bags with difficulty and couldn't help but feel a little exasperated.
He scolded them, "Don't you lot know how to use magic? Honestly, what have you even been doing all term?!"
"Oh, right!" they all suddenly remembered.
With a few flicks of their wands, the Floating Charm was cast, and their luggage floated neatly behind them as they made their way downstairs.
The room suddenly felt much emptier. Harry let out a sigh—he was the only one left.
How boring.
Soon after, Harry headed downstairs as well.
He still had to see Hermione off.
The school courtyard was bustling with students going to and fro, with a swarm of floating trunks above their heads.
Hermione stood near the fountain, looking just like a princess—radiant and eye-catching even in a crowd. She glanced around now and then, clearly looking for someone.
When she spotted Harry, her eyes curved like crescent moons, and her sweet expression made more than a few hearts skip a beat.
About half an hour later, the courtyard was packed with people. Then Hagrid's towering figure appeared in the crowd.
He grunted, "Follow me."
The great gates of Hogwarts slowly opened. They had passed through them before for broomstick lessons, but this time felt completely different.
Because this time—they were going home.
A procession of hundreds of students flowed out of Hogwarts, retracing the same path they had taken months ago.
They descended the stone steps, crossed the snow-covered lawns, stepped onto the gravel and cobblestone path, and made their way to the docks. There, small boats awaited them by the shore. At Hagrid's signal, they climbed aboard.
The boats set off, gliding through a pitch-black tunnel before emerging from a hidden cave entrance.
They looked up to see ivy-covered cliffs towering above them. Soon, they reached the center of the black lake—where they saw Hogwarts again.
The grand castle stood tall on the hillside, its many towers piercing the sky, and its windows twinkling under the starlight.
As the students realized they were truly leaving Hogwarts, a wave of reluctant sorrow filled their hearts—just like the feeling they'd had months ago when they left home for the first time.
Memories of the past four months played through their minds, and they realized—
They had fallen in love with this magical school.
After disembarking, they followed a narrow trail lined with tall trees. Everything around them was pitch black.
When they reached the end of the path, it suddenly opened up—revealing the small platform where they would board the Hogwarts Express.
Looking back, the dense foliage along the tracks blocked any view of the castle.
Hermione looked a little hesitant, as if she were trying to make a decision.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked, noticing how quiet she'd been—she hadn't said a word the entire way.
"It's nothing…" Hermione muttered in frustration.
She scolded herself silently: Hermione, why are you so cowardly? You're about to be away from Harry for so long! If you want to do something, stop hesitating!
In the distance, a light appeared—it was the headlamp of the Hogwarts Express.
The rumble of the train grew louder: clack-clack, clack-clack...
Woooooo...
Screeeeech…
With a piercing screech, the train slowed down and came to a perfect stop at the platform.
Students swarmed onto it like a hive of bees.
But Hermione didn't move. Even as people rushed past her, she stood frozen.
"Harry!"
"Hmm?" Harry turned toward her, puzzled.
Hermione looked at him, but when she saw the confusion on his face, she hesitated again—too embarrassed to speak.
"It's nothing, really… I was just—ah!" Someone bumped into her from behind, and she stumbled right into Harry's arms.
Harry caught her. Once she steadied herself, he didn't let go.
"If you've got something to say, better say it now," he whispered into her ear.
Hermione leaned against him, not daring to look up. In a voice softer than a whisper, she murmured, "That… bet… you… I…"
Harry gently held her and smiled. "I thought you'd forgotten. Alright then—come on, quick!"
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