ShareAfter they loaded the luggage into the car trunk, Vison opened the back door, letting Harry climb into the back seat while he took the front passenger seat himself.
Lupin sat behind the steering wheel, staring at it while muttering, "So… how do you start this thing?"
Watching Lupin's confused expression, Vison kindly reminded him, "Don't forget to turn the key."
Lupin blinked in surprise, then quickly followed Vison's advice. He turned the key, and the engine rumbled to life, causing the car to tremble slightly.
"Oh—okay, that's simpler than I thought," Lupin nodded in satisfaction, gripping the steering wheel with both hands, looking eager to give it a go.
Harry glanced at him curiously. "Mr. Lupin, have you driven a car before?"
"Of course," Lupin replied, patting his chest. "Just yesterday, I tried it for the first time."
"..."
Harry turned and gave Vison a wary look, silently asking if it was really safe to let Lupin drive.
Vison smiled and spread his hands. "Don't worry, Harry. I'm watching him closely. At least he hasn't driven the car into a river yet."
"That's so reassuring," Harry muttered, tugging at his seatbelt to double-check it was secure.
…
Though, along the way, they did hit a couple of trash cans—and a squirrel that darted across the road.
Fortunately, Lupin reacted quickly, and the only casualty was the car's headlight.
At long last, they arrived at King's Cross Station in one piece.
The station was bustling with people. Lupin left first, explaining that a batch of herbs at his plantation was about to mature and he needed to harvest them before they spoiled.
Vison cast a Levitation Charm on Harry's trolley, lightening the load so Harry could pull it along easily.
"Where do we go now?" Harry asked, glancing at the crowd moving around them.
"Between Platforms 9 and 10," Vison answered.
It had been a long time since Vison had returned to this familiar station. King's Cross was almost exactly the same as it had been more than a decade ago. Except now, the brick walls were darker, stained by years of water marks, and the signage had aged. But the layout was unchanged.
Vison led Harry toward a pillar situated between Platforms 9 and 10.
Up ahead, a family was gathered near the entrance to Platform 9¾. Judging by their distinct red hair, it was unmistakably the Weasley family.
Vison stood back, observing as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley busily sent their children through the barrier.
"Alright, alright, Fred, George, listen to your brother," Molly Weasley was saying as she fussed over Ginny's collar and gave the twins a firm warning.
Fred and George exchanged identical eye rolls, looking dramatically skyward.
At that moment, Arthur Weasley, lingering at the rear, noticed Vison and Harry waiting behind them.
"Kids, hurry along now! There are people waiting behind us," he called to the dawdling twins, then gave Vison an apologetic smile.
Vison waved it off and pulled out a silver pocket watch, checking the time. "It's fine, Mr. Weasley. We've got plenty of time before the train leaves."
Arthur exhaled in relief.
Vison watched the busy father with a knowing look. "Must be quite the challenge, managing so many children."
But to Vison's mild surprise, Mr. Weasley chuckled warmly.
"Not at all," he said.
By now, the twins had slipped through the barrier, disappearing one after the other.
Arthur's attention drifted to Harry, standing a bit stiffly beside Vison. "Ah, are you here to send your child off to school too?" he asked with a friendly smile. "Is he a first-year?"
"That's right," Vison replied. "It's his first time heading off to school."
Harry nodded awkwardly, feeling a bit self-conscious under Arthur's gaze.
Arthur's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Oh? Then you must be his father." He squinted, studying Vison, then glanced back at Harry, his expression turning a little puzzled. "You look awfully young for that!" He chuckled and rubbed his thinning hair.
Harry flushed slightly and coughed into his hand, while Vison smiled easily and offered an explanation. "Well, actually, he's a friend's child."
Arthur immediately caught on that it wasn't a topic to press. He nodded understandingly.
Just then, Mrs. Weasley called out after sending Ron through the barrier. "Dear, we should get going."
"Coming," Arthur replied, then dipped his head politely to Vison and Harry. "Well then, best of luck to you both."
With that, the Weasley family disappeared through the barrier, leaving Vison and Harry standing at the entrance.
Harry glanced around and noticed that the people bustling by didn't seem to pay them any mind. It was as if they couldn't even see the barrier.
Some kind of magic, he supposed.
"Alright," Vison said, tugging lightly at Harry's sleeve. "Let's go in too."
Harry nodded, took a deep breath, and pushed his trolley forward. He fixed his gaze on the pillar and, following the Weasley children's example, charged at it.
Even though he knew he wasn't going to crash, he couldn't help but shut his eyes just before impact.
When he opened them again, he found himself standing in a completely different place.
A grand, old-fashioned red steam locomotive loomed ahead, billowing smoke. Children about his age were boarding the carriages, their voices mingling in a cheerful, chaotic buzz.
Harry looked around and saw a sign: Platform 9¾.
This was it—the real departure point for the Hogwarts Express.
As he stood there, soaking it in, he noticed many others in wizard robes like Vison's, which made him feel a little less out of place.
Vison stepped through the barrier behind him and, seeing Harry still rooted to the spot, gave his shoulder a light pat. "Alright, Harry. Time to get on the train. Find yourself a good seat while they're still open."
Snapped out of his daze, Harry looked at the train, then back at Vison. A flicker of reluctance crossed his face.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then scratched his head and muttered, "Thank you, Professor. I'll write to you. See you during Christmas break."
He'd already peeked at the Hogwarts timetable and knew he wouldn't be home again until the December holidays.
Vison's lips curved into a small smile. "See you soon, Harry."
I wonder what face he'll make when he sees me at the Hogwarts opening feast? Vison mused to himself, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
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