Early in the morning on September 1, 1991, before the sun had even risen, the entire city was still shrouded in a thin layer of morning mist.
Severus woke up early as usual, but today felt somewhat out of the ordinary.
In previous years at the start of term, he would always rush through breakfast and head straight for Hogwarts.
But today, he was in no hurry to leave. Instead, he sat at the dining table, his gaze both tender and solemn as he watched Harley sitting opposite him.
"Harley," Severus said softly, his voice betraying a deep concern, "you've lived in a girls' school before and have had little contact with boys your age—they might not be as simple and kind as you imagine... In fact, most of the time, they are just a bunch of utterly foolish monsters!"
Hearing this, Harley couldn't help but widen her eyes. What was her old man up to, giving her a lecture on morality first thing in the morning?
Severus continued to explain patiently, "I grew up through that age myself, so I know the psychological activities of boys that age like the back of my hand. You can trust me on this."
"Once you board the train, you must be cautious. Try to avoid contact with males as much as possible, especially those who take the initiative to show you kindness!"
Harley curled her lips, somewhat speechless. She was only eleven years old; even if someone approached her on the train, they wouldn't have any ulterior motives... At most, they'd just want to be friends. Severus was being way too paranoid.
Severus analyzed the situation for Harley seriously: "First, you and Miss Granger should find an empty compartment and sit down. If you run into Cho Chang, you can politely invite her to join you. If other strange girls walk into the compartment, you can decide whether to let them sit based on your own preference; if you feel uncomfortable, you can directly ask them to leave. Everything is according to your will, understand?"
Harley nodded, indicating she understood her father's meaning.
Then, Severus's tone became increasingly stern: "However, there is one thing I must emphasize clearly. If any strange boy shamelessly tries to squeeze into your compartment, you must absolutely not tolerate such behavior. Kick him out immediately and without hesitation!"
"If that fellow dares to be stubborn and refuses to leave—remember, I permit you to take necessary measures to force him out, including using minor spells or physical force. You'd best record the boy's name and appearance in detail. After arriving at Hogwarts and attending the Welcoming Feast, report the situation to me immediately. I shall personally ensure he experiences a'special encounter' he'll never forget, guaranteed to make his seven years at Hogwarts etched into his very bones!"
Looking at Severus's terrifying expression, Harley felt that if a boy who couldn't read the room really did appear before her, he would likely be used by Severus for potion testing for the next seven years.
Hiss~
Severus gripped Harley's shoulders tightly, his eyes firm and persistent, refusing to back down as he said, "I need you to solemnly promise me that you will follow my advice and not put yourself in danger."
Harley felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. It was just a ride on the Hogwarts Express to school, only a single afternoon. Why was Severus acting like she was going on an adventure in the Forbidden Forest?
But facing Severus's determined attitude, Harley knew there was no escaping it.
Harley took a deep breath, looked up at Severus, and said seriously, "Alright, Dad! I swear by the name of Merlin that I will absolutely follow your 'advice' on the train. Is that enough?"
Hearing this, the tension on Severus's face eased slightly. He patted Harley's shoulder gently, expressing his satisfaction.
Lily, sitting nearby, had been quietly observing the conversation between father and daughter, her eyes sparkling with the amusement of watching a show.
Severus had been appearing somewhat restless for the past few days.
Especially last night, he had barely slept, tossing and turning in bed like a child, muttering all sorts of strange things.
Sometimes he would wake up suddenly and urgently shake the sleeping Lily beside him, asking anxiously, "What should we do if Harley meets a nasty brat on the train who won't leave her alone?"
Whenever this happened, Lily would patiently comfort him and tell him not to worry too much.
However, Severus remained unable to calm down. In his agitation, he even threatened to personally accompany Harley on the train to ensure she arrived safely at Hogwarts.
Fortunately, after some earnest persuasion from Lily, Severus finally abandoned this ridiculous idea and went off to work alone after receiving his daughter's promise.
After breakfast, Lily and Harley carefully checked all the items they needed to bring. Once confirmed, they prepared to set off for King's Cross Station in The Granger Family's car.
As soon as Lily opened the door, she saw James, Sirius, and Lupin sitting on Three Broomsticks, each looking as tense as if they were facing a great enemy.
Lily looked at them with suspicion and asked in confusion, "Hey, what on earth are you three doing? You look like you're about to head into a major battle."
Hearing this, James immediately struck a pose of righteous loyalty and answered passionately, "Hey, Lily, today is the day Harley goes to Hogwarts! Harley is so cute; what if she runs into some messy bad boy on the train who tries to harass her?"
"After communicating with Brother Severus, we decided to take action ourselves. We'll escort the train on our broomsticks, staying vigilant at all times. As soon as we spot some reckless fellow daring to lay a hand on Harley—hehe, then don't blame us for being unkind! We'll definitely catch that wretched guy and send him to Azkaban for life!"
Sirius, standing aside, also solemnly displayed his Auror badge, indicating they indeed had the power to send people to Azkaban.
Harley facepalmed helplessly. She was truly exasperated by this bunch of show-offs; this had to be an abuse of power!
After hearing James's words, Lily almost fainted from anger.
She roared furiously, "Enough! You three idiots, stop making fools of yourselves here, alright? Get lost right now, and stop making a mess of things!"
Without another word, she raised her hands and dealt several fierce punches to James and Sirius.
"This is a violent assault on an Auror, it's illegal... Ouch!"
Sirius still tried to bluff his way through with a few words of defense, but he was quickly beaten into a scurrying retreat.
James rubbed the spots where he'd been hit, muttering pitifully, "Ouch, that hurts... Lily, I'm doing this for Harley's sake—"
Lily rolled her eyes and retorted crossly, "Forget it! Harley is already eleven; she knows what to do. There's no need for you to meddle!"
After a bout of chaotic commotion, Harley finally got into The Granger Family's car and began her journey to King's Cross Station.
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