The Knights of the Platform
The day to go back home arrived, and the children didn't take even a moment to get everything ready and sit waiting on the Hogwarts Express for the departure toward King's Cross, where they would all see their families again.
Harry, Percy, Ron, Hermione, and Neville were sitting in the same compartment. Harry had a thoughtful expression, while Ron was giving both Neville and Percy a beating at wizard chess. For some interesting reason, the pieces seemed to have a life of their own and would not stop insulting them; the two of them were trying to play together to defeat Ron, who was strangely good at that game.
"Are you an idiot? If I move there, I'll obviously be destroyed; why don't you send that pawn instead," said the knight from atop its horse, glaring angrily at Percy.
"Ah… sorry," Percy replied quickly and respectfully, having an angry knight in front of him.
"And why do I have to be destroyed!?" the pawn complained furiously. Neville really didn't know what to do, and it seemed none of the pieces had any respect for him or Percy.
Ron had a slightly proud, smug smile.
Hermione, meanwhile, was "reading something light"; although when she lifted a book so enormous that it possibly weighed more than she did, Percy and Ron muttered at the same time:
"Light?"
And immediately after, they laughed foolishly.
"Aaah, I give up!" Percy shouted, unable to continue. Not only did he have to think through every move because Ron was already several steps ahead, he also had to deal with the damned pieces that didn't want to obey him.
"Hehe… I've played wizard chess since I was little. It was the only thing I was really better at than my brothers," Ron said with a genuinely happy smile.
Being a child with so many older brothers, everything he did had already been done by them before. And not only that; his brothers, not counting the twins too much, were good students, with excellent grades and prefect badges. Being good at something the others weren't gave him a bit of personal pride.
"Everyone is the genius of their own lamp," Neville suddenly said.
They all looked at him for a moment. It was a rather nice saying, in a way.
"That was a saying my mother liked," Neville commented with a slight smile, although he didn't say much more. His expression became somewhat sad for some reason.
"Well, it's a good saying," Percy said with a quick smile. "After all, I'm really bad at magic compared to Harry; but I'm very good with a sword."
Harry glanced at Neville for an instant before changing the subject.
"What plans do you have for Christmas?" he asked.
Ron was the first to answer.
"Actually, there was almost a change of plans. My parents were going to visit my brothers; and the twins, Percy, and I were going to stay at Hogwarts, which would've been annoying. Luckily, it seems Gringotts called Bill to return. He works breaking curses for them in the pyramids of Egypt," Ron said quickly. "And since Charlie was only one person, it was easier for him to come than for my parents to go see him. He had to leave his dragon-handling job in Romania for a few days."
That way, he ended up explaining his two older brothers' jobs as well. His family truly was a magical family in every sense.
"My parents and I always celebrate together. And then we call our relatives on the phone; they're dentists," Hermione said, taking the chance to explain her parents' jobs too.
"Wow, then our house is the loudest one. So many people arrive that Aunt Mor has to expand the space with magic so everyone fits. Sometimes, if Gema gets annoyed with Luther or Arthur, a sword duel starts in the backyard; Mark always ends up being defeated easily," Percy said with amusement as he remembered past celebrations.
"Well, Mark is a pure-blood wizard, and he's forbidden from using magic or potions… which are the only things he's good at," Harry commented with a slight smile. "Then we go visit our cousin Dred on his island, and we take him lots of food. Although he seems to like desserts the most."
Ron opened his eyes in surprise. "His island? Is your cousin a millionaire?"
It was the first time he had heard of someone owning an island.
Harry and Percy glanced sideways at each other.
"Yes?" Percy answered.
"Why the question?" he added, confused.
"Ahem… I mean, technically it is his island; so yes," Percy said quickly.
Ron simply shrugged, thinking it was cool to have one's own island.
"And you, Nev?" Percy asked Neville, who stayed silent for a moment.
"Ah… um… I… I'm going to visit my parents. And… just that," Neville said quickly.
"You don't live with them?" Hermione asked, noticing he had said "visit."
"No… I live with my grandmother Augusta," Neville explained. "Sometimes my Uncle Algie and my Great-Aunt Enid go too, and we have dinner together at my grandmother's house."
"Then I guess all our celebrations are pretty normal," Percy said, nodding.
"No. I don't think a sword-fighting competition in your backyard is normal," Ron said, amused.
The five continued talking as time passed on the train. They smiled now and then at the silly things they said, without realizing how fast the hours go by when you're having fun; especially with friends.
And when they finally noticed, outside the window the Express was already entering the station, and the platform was completely visible.
…
All the students began getting off the train while some were already meeting up with their families, who waited for them on the platform with wide smiles. The platform was incredibly noisy on these days when the students traveled; normally, during the week, the place was almost completely empty.
On that same platform, Sally was waiting, looking at every student who stepped off so she could find her two children. She felt genuinely happy to see them after months without them. Although they talked almost every night thanks to the two-way mirror, she was excited to see them in person.
And her sons were just as excited, because the moment they got off the train, they searched for her face among the crowd. When they saw her, both of their faces lit up completely, and they ran toward her.
"Mom!" both said before approaching and hugging her, each from one side. Sally hugged them tightly, truly happy.
"My boys… look how much you've grown," she said. After months without seeing them in person, they had grown several centimeters more. Percy seemed to be one or two above Harry.
The friends of the group quickly approached to introduce their own families.
Harry and Percy were about to say something to introduce their mother, but at that moment strange noises and bothersome movements were heard around them; some people complained after being pushed abruptly.
Sally raised her gaze with a frown and saw how, from different spots, wizards began pulling out their wands while shoving through the crowd.
A second later, several spells were already flying straight toward them.
The people around froze, shocked by how fast and suddenly everything was happening. And amidst that commotion, a blond man who was receiving his Son watched the scene with slight excitement, amusement… and an evil smile.
Sally, from the joy of seeing her children, had lowered her guard and didn't have time to draw her wand. She only managed to touch her magical tome inside her bag as she stepped in front of the two of them, protecting them.
But before she could pronounce a spell, a black shadow moved so fast that in an instant it appeared in front of Sally and the boys.
The figure wielded two swords with such speed and precision that each spell was repelled and, not only that, returned to its casters with more force and velocity.
The wizards who received their own spells fell to the ground as their bodies began to rot; others started transforming into something grotesque, covered in boils that burst and bled out between painful screams. Some seemed to have been sprayed with acid, watching in horror as their bodies turned to pulp.
That showed just how evil and lethal their attacks had been.
Several other wizards didn't even manage to pronounce their spells, because daggers appeared at their necks, pointing at the skin, ready to pierce them if they said a single word. They were people who had materialized out of nowhere. One of the attackers didn't even notice until it was too late; he let out a simple vowel in a moment of fear… and the dagger went through his neck without hesitation.
At the same time, the corpses and the twisted bodies from the returned spells were suddenly covered by black blankets held by figures who moved with perfect coordination.
The man who had repelled the spells turned around with an amused smile. It was Dorian.
"What's up? Seems like you got a pretty friendly welcome," he said, greeting the kids. His clothes were completely black for camouflage except for his blond hair, which seemed to shine quite a lot, and his perfect face, which obviously drew more attention than necessary.
Sally let out a sigh, slowly regaining herself. Harry and Percy, still surprised, watched as the Knights appeared among the crowd, approaching quickly to create a protection zone around them, pushing away those who had been too close.
They all wore cloaks and robes for camouflage, but by then they already held swords, ready to attack at any strange movement.
Since weapons were forbidden in magical areas, they respected that rule; they carried no guns. But they didn't need them either. If they wanted to eliminate everyone present, they could do it with their blades alone.
Upon seeing the swords and the impeccable coordination of the men, many wizards realized who they truly were: the Muggle Knights.
Several families hurried to leave the place immediately.
Especially someone who wanted to leave as soon as possible, his face slightly pale: Lucius Malfoy. He was holding Draco by the arm. The boy received a direct look from Dorian, with that smile that never reached the eyes.
Lucius's fear multiplied. He rushed his son and disappeared from the area as fast as possible.
Meanwhile, Harry and Percy snapped out of their initial shock and observed the black blankets covering the bodies twisting underneath. No sound could be heard, surely thanks to enchantments, but the movements of pain were still there.
Their friends and relatives who were approaching also froze when they were quickly surrounded by people who watched them closely, cautious. They didn't really know what to do, so they simply lifted their hands instinctively.