The train clattered steadily along the tracks, the rhythmic sound of iron wheels on rails both soothing and monotonous. Outside, the early autumn landscape blurred by, fields tinged with gold, hedgerows still stubbornly green, and the occasional cluster of trees showing the first hints of amber. Inside, the compartments were alive with the chatter and laughter of returning students, but Harry found himself mostly quiet, sitting opposite Neville and Luna, staring absently at the passing countryside.
Neville nudged him lightly. "So… how was the summer holidays? I mean, now that… you know… the Ministry stuff is… well, it's finished… technically."
Harry's mouth twitched faintly. "Finished," he repeated. His voice carried the weight of weeks spent under scrutiny, under threat, and in courtrooms where every gesture was measured. "Finished for now. But Fudge and his lot… they won't stop trying. Their reputation's gone. This trial was a failure, and now the British Ministry looks… fragile. People will talk."
Luna, sitting cross-legged beside him, tilted her head slightly, her silver eyes thoughtful. "I saw the reports. The Daily Prophet made it sound like something out of a storybook, Toruk, flying across the Wizengamot. Wandless. Incredible."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "That's exactly what it was like. Wandless. And yes, everyone's still talking about it. Some are afraid, some are impressed… and some are trying to twist it to their advantage."
Neville shivered. "I still can't believe you did that. A Patronus… without a wand. That's not even supposed to be possible."
Harry's lips curved faintly. "It's possible if you've… learned things most wizards never will. Dumbledore and the ICW know. They haven't said a word to the Ministry, which is… useful. But it means I have to be careful. Everything I do is under a microscope."
Luna reached out, resting a gentle hand on his arm. "I think it's brilliant. You should be proud, Harry."
He looked at her and Neville, his expression softening. "Thanks. It's not easy, though. Every time I do something like that, I wonder if I'm changing too much… or if people can even handle it."
They were quiet for a moment, the rhythmic clatter of the train filling the space between them.
The compartment door clicked, and then opened quietly. Ron and Hermione stepped in, both looking slightly harried, still flushed from prefect duties. Hermione immediately muttered a few silencing charms, and the compartment seemed to settle, noise from the train carriage and hallways outside dulled to a gentle hum.
"Hey," Ron said, dropping into the seat across from Harry. "All quiet now?"
Harry nodded. "Finally. Listen, Neville, Luna… I should tell you something."
Neville leaned forward eagerly. "What is it?"
Harry took a breath. "My last journey… to Hogwarts Legacy. I went there… in the past. It's real. I lived through it. Dumbledore and the ICW have seen it, they know it happened, and… well, no one's saying anything about it, but it matters."
Luna's eyes widened. "Really? So… all those adventures, the ancient magic… you actually experienced them?"
"Every bit," Harry said, his voice calm, measured. "And it's not just magic like we know it. It's older, rawer. It's a different school, different rules, and… I learned a lot. Things I'll use. Things I'll need."
Neville shook his head, half in awe, half in disbelief. "I… I don't even know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," Harry replied. "Just… remember that there's more out there than what we've been told."
The train slowed as it approached Hogsmeade Station. Students began gathering their trunks and pets, laughter and chatter filling the corridors once more. Harry stood, brushing off his robes, and offered a hand to Neville and Luna to help steady themselves.
Outside, the carriages waited, pulled by the skeletal thestrals that moved with quiet grace. Harry paused for a moment, reaching out to pet the closest creature. Its leathery skin was cold but warm to the touch, a pulse of something almost sentient beneath his palm. The thestral blinked slowly at him, wings flickering like shadows, and then nudged him gently as if approving.
The journey to Hogwarts passed without incident, the fields giving way to familiar forested slopes, and soon the castle loomed ahead, sharp and ancient against the morning sky. The carriages came to a halt, and students spilled onto the grounds in a mixture of excitement and exhaustion.
The Great Hall was alive with chatter, the ceiling enchanted to mirror the sky outside, clouds drifting lazily across a blue expanse that threatened rain. Long tables were already set with plates of steaming toast, fruit, and pastries. The house-elves moved efficiently between tables, ensuring no one went hungry.
Dumbledore rose to speak, and the room quieted almost immediately. His eyes twinkled behind half-moon spectacles.
"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts," he said, voice gentle but commanding. "We have endured a tumultuous summer, and while the Ministry continues to struggle with… internal challenges, this year is a chance for learning, growth, and courage. Let us proceed with care, and let us remember that unity is our strength."
Applause broke out, but it was interrupted when Dolores Umbridge rose from her seat near the faculty table. The air seemed to tighten around her, a mixture of tension and restrained fury radiating outward.
"hem hem," she said, her voice saccharine but slicing, "I must remind the students and staff that proper conduct must be maintained, that all magical actions must be reported, and, most importantly, that the Ministry's guidance is to be adhered to at all times."
A ripple of murmurs swept through the students. Some rolled their eyes. Some stiffened.
Dumbledore raised a hand slightly, calm but deliberate.
"Thank you, Professor Umbridge," he said. "Your remarks are noted."
She pressed on, ignoring the headmaster's tone. "And furthermore, any failure to comply with Ministry regulations may result in disciplinary action, as well as review of personal magical conduct…"
The students exchanged uneasy glances. Several staff members, particularly those aligned with the Order, muted the growing tension with barely concealed glares.
Harry, sitting quietly at the Gryffindor table, kept his hands folded, eyes calm but sharp. Ron leaned close. "She's relentless, isn't she?" he muttered.
Hermione pressed a hand to her lips. "Yes, but that's what makes her dangerous. She's not going to stop until she has complete control."
Ginny, sitting nearby, bit her lip and whispered, "Let's just hope she's limited to words for now."
The students were buzzing, exchanging opinions about Umbridge's interruption and the implications of her words. Whispers ran through the Gryffindor table, the Slytherins sneering quietly, the Hufflepuffs frowning, and the Ravenclaws whispering theories to each other.
Dumbledore finally spoke again, his voice gentle but firm. "Let us enjoy this feast. There will be time later to address concerns and questions, but for now, let the warmth of Hogwarts and friendship guide your hearts."
The students settled, though the tension lingered like a shadow just outside the firelight. Plates filled with steaming food, but conversations remained low, cautious, punctuated by glances at Umbridge or the headmaster's reassuring nods.
Harry let his gaze wander over the room, quietly noting the reactions, the slight hardening of faces among some students, the supportive smiles of friends, and the subtle relief among those who had feared Umbridge's influence.
Even in her interruption, her presence had confirmed what Harry had known for some time: the Ministry's reach was still dangerous, and vigilance would be required.
But for now, he let the smells of fresh bread and roasting meat, the warmth of the hall, and the quiet companionship of his friends remind him that Hogwarts was home. And for this moment, that was enough.
The students and staff quietly exchanging looks, some of approval, some of unease, all aware that the year ahead would test them in ways more subtle and more dangerous than any feast, and that Dolores Umbridge had already made it clear she intended to be a constant presence in their lives.