The familiar, bustling platform of King's Cross Station, Platform 9¾, was alive with the usual hum of excited chatter, steam billowing from the Hogwarts Express, and the calls of students bidding last-minute farewells to their families.
Alex stood beside his mother and sister, feeling the weight of the final moments before the journey back to Hogwarts.
"Yes, Mum," Alex said, a slight smile on his face as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. "I'll write, and yes, I'll take care of myself."
His mother, ever the image of elegance, still couldn't help fussing over him. "And remember, no more dangerous duels, alright?" she added, her voice full of maternal concern.
"I'll do my best," Alex responded, knowing full well that avoiding danger at Hogwarts was almost impossible.
Turning to his younger sister, he smiled warmly. "And you – have fun at Beauxbatons, Okay? Don't cause too much trouble, but definitely pull some shenanigans for me."
His sister grinned, a mischievous spark in her eyes. "Oh, you know me. I'll try not to outdo your reputation. Maybe only a few night explorations around the castle"
"Just don't get caught, Okay?" Alex said, patting her head as he ruffled her hair.
"Meany…" She said puffing her cheeks as Alex smiled to himself
The final whistle of the train blew, signaling that it was time.
Alex quickly jumped aboard the slow-moving Hogwarts Express, turning back one last time to wave at his family as he said for the last time "Good bye!"
His father had left for work a few days earlier, leaving his mother and sister to see him off, still them coming all the way to London was enough for him.
As the train picked up speed, Alex found himself an empty cabin and settled himself in.
The soft thrum of the wheels on the tracks provided a steady rhythm, a welcome backdrop to his thoughts as he gazed out the window.
The summer had been transformative for him.
Alex had undergone grueling physical training under his father's watchful eye, pushing his body to new limits.
He now stood taller, nearly 5 foot 10 inches, with a more muscular frame. His robes concealing the "sleeper build" he had developed, lean and athletic, but capable of explosive strength.
The training had honed his endurance, his swordsmanship had improved to the point where he could take on experienced squires, and his magic... well, his magic was changing too.
He could feel it – his magical reserves growing, maturing alongside his body. It was as though the two were linked, his physical strength and progressing age amplifying the depth of his magic.
And it wasn't just his body and magic that were developing, his Mind too was developing extraordinarily.
His practice of the "Mastery of Magical Minds" had progressed smoothly, and although he knew it would take years to fully master, his mental defenses had become nearly impenetrable. Any attempt at mental intrusion now was not only detected but repelled instinctively, thanks to the training of his subconscious mind that instinctively repelled everything of foreign nature.
The boy who had left Hogwarts at the end of the last school year was not the same one returning now.
He had grown, in ways more than one.
But his musings were short lived as he was interrupted by the sudden sound of the cabin door sliding open.
"Alex!"
came the simultaneous exclamation from both Tonks and Beth, who rushed into the cabin.
Before he could react – Or say anything – both girls hugged him tightly from either side, practically squeezing the air out of him.
Alex chuckled, caught off guard by their exuberance and eagerness as he said "I missed you too, but we've got the whole train ride! You should sit down before you crush me."
They finally let go, laughter on their lips as they took their places beside him – Tonks on his left, Beth on his right. Alex immediately felt the weight of their presence, their excitement was palpable.
As he opened his mouth to ask about their summers, Beth was quicker, grabbing his face and pulling him into a soft, sudden kiss.
Alex blinked, momentarily taken aback, but returned the kiss as Beth pulled away, a playful grin on her lips.
"Silly, it's not time for words yet," she teased, her voice light.
Tonks, with a smirk, chimed in, "For once, I agree with the Vixen." She leaned in and kissed Alex as well, the moment electric.
As their lips met, Beth wasn't about to be left out. She leaned into Alex's neck, sniffing softly, her breath warm as she nipped at his earlobe with a mischievous bite.
"Beth, what are you – " Alex tried to speak, but was quickly silenced by the overwhelming presence of both girls. The cabin's atmosphere was charged with unspoken tension, excitement bubbling between the three of them.
Just as things were about to escalate further, the cabin door slid open again. The sudden sound startled the three of them.
Alex turned as he saw a familiar face standing at the entrance to the cabin.
It was Victor.
Victor was standing in the doorway, his face an absolute picture of disbelief as he muttered nervously "I didn't come at the right time, did I?" Victor asked, his voice flat and his expression betraying his inner turmoil.
The mood in the cabin instantly shattered.
Beth huffed in annoyance, letting out a sigh. "Whatever, you're already here, might as well make yourself at home."
Tonks snickered as she adjusted herself, sitting back properly, while Alex, still trying to regain his composure, motioned for Victor to join them.
Victor, still clearly embarrassed, shuffled into the cabin and sat down awkwardly across from them.
After a brief, awkward silence, Alex decided to break the tension. "So, how did your summer go, Victor?"
Victor, happy to focus on something less mortifying, perked up. "It was great, actually. I visited Brazil, made some good friends with some Latino witches from there"
"They're different, in a good way. Very passionate about their magic. And their Quidditch – let me tell you, it's insane…"
"…"
"…"
"Yeah, and then I was like 'You guys are getting paid?', sheesh… Should have seen my face there…" Despite being a cockblock, Victor's storytelling skills were exceptional as the mood in the cabin was lifted almost entirely
Tonks laughed a bit as she said "Sounds like you had a blast. I spent my summer at the ministry for an internship under Mad-Eye. The man's a nightmare to work under, but I learned a lot – especially about being paranoid. Not that I wasn't before."
Beth chimed in next, her eyes lighting up. "I interned at my parents' workshop this summer. Turns out, enchanting things comes pretty naturally to me. My mom even let me design a few pieces that went into production. I think I've found my calling."
The conversation flowed easily after that. Each of them shared their summer stories, the camaraderie in the cabin growing as the awkwardness melted away.
"The Daily Prophet had painted Alex as something of a prodigy after he'd broken all the records at Hogwarts" Tonks said, taking out a piece of a newspaper containing the information as the three of them laughed.
But Alex deflected most of their praise.
"You're like the second coming of Merlin, mate," Victor joked, earning a laugh from the group.
Alex shrugged, a grin on his face. "I trained a lot, that's all. Nothing fancy."
"Yeah, right," Tonks said, nudging him playfully. "Stop being so modest. Take credit once in a while."
"Plus, I'm sure you were up to something crazy this summer" Victor said, taking out a few snacks from his small bag of holdings.
Beth leaned into Alex's side, resting her head on his shoulder. "He's always up to something," she said, her voice full of affection.
Alex only smiled, not offering much detail about his own training.
His summer had been more intense than he let on, but he kept most of it to himself. His friends didn't need to know the exact extent of his efforts, not yet.
As the hours passed, the scenery outside the window began to change.
Rolling green fields gave way to the familiar landscape of the Scottish countryside, signaling that they were drawing closer to Hogwarts. Alex watched as the views shifted, a sense of anticipation building in his chest.
Another year at Hogwarts was about to begin, and Alex felt ready – ready for the challenges, the mysteries, and the adventures and Missions that lay ahead.
But most of all, he felt at peace with Beth and Tonks by his side again.
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