Time passed like a river in flood, rushing forward without ever turning back. Almost before anyone noticed, September 1st had arrived, and with it came the start of a new term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
At Number 17, Godric's Hollow, Tyler Blake and Jamie Campbell had woken early. After eating the breakfast prepared by the house-elf Timo, the two of them began checking their trunks, robes, books, and other school supplies.
Hogwarts only had two proper holidays during the school year. One was the Christmas holiday in winter, and the other was the long summer holiday after term ended.
Neither Tyler nor Jamie planned to return home for Christmas. The reason was simple: the holiday was short, and there were no family members waiting for them in the manor anyway.
Since there were no relatives at home, coming back or staying at school made little difference. For the two of them, Hogwarts was far more useful than an empty house.
"Timo, you'll come to Hogwarts with us," Jamie said while fastening the lock on his trunk. "You can ask Headmaster Dumbledore for permission to stay in the Hogwarts kitchens. Without the food you make, Tyler and I may not survive school meals for long."
"Oh!" Timo cried, pressing both hands to his chest as his eyes filled with tears. "Timo is so touched that the two Little Masters like Timo's cooking. Timo will go to Hogwarts, and Timo will always take care of the two Little Masters."
"All right, everything is packed," Tyler said, glancing over the luggage. "Timo, you can go to Hogwarts first. We'll meet you there later."
"Yes, Little Master. Timo will go first." Timo bowed deeply to both of them, then snapped his fingers and vanished from the house with the unique magic of house-elves.
"Actually, we could Apparate directly to Hogsmeade," Jamie said, resting one hand on his trunk. "From there, reaching Hogwarts would be simple."
"That would be boring," Tyler replied, shaking his head. "Riding the Hogwarts Express is part of the Hogwarts experience."
"The Express?" Jamie gave a sarcastic smile. "That old train can hardly be called fast. It takes six or seven hours to travel from London to Hogsmeade, and somehow they still call it an express."
"You can't compare it with modern high-speed trains," Tyler said. "Besides, you know how conservative the wizarding world is. Even the Hogwarts Express was opposed by some wizards when it first appeared."
"Foolish and ignorant," Jamie said dismissively. "Yet they still look down on Muggles. That alone says plenty about the current state of the wizarding world."
"Magic. Strength. That is what we pursue," Tyler said lightly.
In a certain sense, they were not so different from Voldemort. They all sought the ultimate form of power, though Voldemort had chosen the crudest and most self-destructive path.
To create Horcruxes, Voldemort had split his soul again and again until he had damaged himself beyond recognition. His appearance had become monstrous, and his once-brilliant mind had clearly suffered for it as well.
It was almost difficult to connect the Dark Lord with the clever, charming Tom Riddle who had once studied at Hogwarts. Back then, even Dumbledore had praised his talent, and Tom had been intelligent enough to deceive almost everyone around him.
London's King's Cross Station was already crowded by the time Harry Potter arrived. Travellers hurried across the concourse with suitcases, children, newspapers, and cups of coffee, while announcements echoed overhead in a constant blur of Muggle noise.
Harry had already walked back and forth between the platforms several times. No matter how carefully he looked, however, he could not find the so-called Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
"Hagrid must have forgotten to tell me I need to tap the first brick on some wall or something," Harry muttered under his breath. "There's no Platform Nine and Three-Quarters here."
He had walked between Platform Nine and Platform Ten more than once, pushing his trolley in awkward circles while trying not to look lost. He had even asked one of the station guards for help, but the man knew nothing about Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Hogwarts, or magical trains.
Worse, the guard had looked at Harry as though he were making fun of him. After years with the Dursleys, Harry was painfully used to adults assuming the worst of him, but that did not make the situation any less embarrassing.
"Seriously, London gets old quickly," a voice said nearby. "Once the Hogwarts term ends, we can go to the Continent and have a proper look around."
Harry froze the moment he heard the word Hogwarts. He turned around quickly, suddenly so hopeful that he almost forgot to keep hold of his trolley.
Two boys were walking through the station.
For a moment, Harry could only think of the word handsome. The boy on the left had shoulder-length black hair, delicate features, and light-blue eyes so clear they reminded Harry of the sea.
The boy on the right was just as striking. He had golden shoulder-length curls, sharply defined features, and the sort of face that looked as if it had been carved for a museum statue. His eyes were also light blue, though unlike the other boy's calm gaze, his had a sharper edge to them.
"It's ridiculous that they placed Platform Nine and Three-Quarters here," the blond boy said. "This place is full of Muggles coming and going. If someone isn't careful, they'll be seen."
"It's hidden, so Muggles can't see it," the dark-haired boy replied. "There should also be a Muggle-Repelling Charm set around the entrance, though there is still a chance of someone noticing something strange."
He glanced toward the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten. "Honestly, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters would be better placed somewhere more secluded. Wizards are simply too arrogant to believe Muggles could discover their secrets."
Harry heard Platform Nine and Three-Quarters again, and relief surged through him. These two boys clearly knew where it was, which meant he finally had someone to ask.
"Um… excuse me," Harry said, pushing his trolley toward them quickly. His face warmed with embarrassment, but he forced himself to speak. "Do you know how to get to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters? I'm a first-year at Hogwarts."
"Are you…" Tyler looked at the short boy pushing the luggage trolley and recognised him at once. "Harry Potter?"
"Sorry… you know me?" Harry asked, glancing up at Tyler a little timidly.
"Oh, of course," Tyler said with a smile. "Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. Who in the wizarding world doesn't know you? Especially with that lightning-shaped scar on your forehead. It's practically your signature."
"Yes, this scar!" Harry seemed pleased that the boy in front of him recognised him, and he lifted the fringe from his forehead, revealing the lightning-shaped scar.
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