September arrived like a whisper of change, the sky above London painted in soft shades of grey and gold. The air was sharp with the scent of fallen leaves and the first hints of autumn rain. King's Cross Station buzzed with the same mixture of chaos and routine that marked every start of term. Families clustered near the barrier to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, hugging tightly, speaking in hurried tones before sending their children off to another year of magic. Owls hooted impatiently from cages, cats hissed from their carriers, and the shrill whistles of station workers echoed over the murmur of hundreds of voices.
Through it all, the scarlet Hogwarts Express waited like a living thing, steam pouring from its chimney in thick white clouds that rolled and swirled around the legs of passersby. The haze softened the edges of the crowd, making the scene almost dreamlike.
Richard Magus stepped onto the platform with the same grace that had defined him since the day he first walked into Hogwarts. His movements were unhurried, deliberate, weaving through the bustle with a precision that seemed to part the crowd without effort. His trunk glided smoothly behind him, enchanted to follow with perfect obedience.
Coeus and Hera perched upon his shoulders, the sleek black of their feathers gleaming faintly in the morning light. Their twin heads turned in opposite directions, scanning the platform with identical intensity but differing personalities in their eyes: Coeus' calm and calculating, Hera's sharp and mocking. Their presence drew minimal stares and whispers, but Richard paid no attention. He walked as if the world existed only to make way for him.
It didn't take long for him to spot Colin standing near one of the train's entrances. The boy's mother fussed with his scarf, tugging it too tightly around his neck while scolding him about writing more often. Colin wriggled free with an exasperated grin, and when his eyes found Richard, his face lit up.
"Richard!" Colin called, jogging over with his usual energy that seemed to contrast with Richard's quiet demeanour. "About time you showed up. Thought mum was going to smother me to death."
Richard's lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile, a rare expression that made Colin grin wider. "Not likely," Richard said smoothly. "Good summer?"
Colin's eyes gleamed with pride. "Busy. Practised spells every day like you said."
"You'll need it," Richard replied, his tone carrying an unspoken weight that made Colin pause. "Magic is a very powerful force."
Colin smirked, undeterred. "I know that."
"Hello, Richard. Colin has talked so much about you." Mrs. Farrow said while walking up to the boys.
"And he's said much about you, Mrs. Farrow, although he forgot to mention how beautiful you were," Richard said with a smirk.
"What the hell, Richard. Don't flirt with my Mum." Colin said in protest.
Mrs. Farrow gave a smile before saying, "Thank you for the compliment, Richard. You boys had better get on board before they leave without you. "
Without another word, the two moved together toward the waiting train, giving a small wave back to Mrs. Farrow. They climbed aboard, entering the narrow corridor where students were laughing, shoving, and shouting farewells out the windows. The smell of polished wood and faint steam mixed with the chatter, giving the air that familiar sense of excitement and nervousness.
The train gave a soft lurch, ready to depart, as they finally reached an empty carriage. Sliding the door shut behind them, the noise of the corridor dulled to a distant murmur.
Inside, the carriage was bathed in the soft golden light of the morning sun streaming through the windows. Colin dropped onto one of the cushioned seats, stretching his legs and sighing contentedly. Richard sat opposite him, his hands resting lightly on his knees.
For a moment, the rhythmic sound of the train preparing to move filled the silence between them. Then Colin leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and smirked.
"So," he said, his voice carrying both curiosity and amusement, "what's up with you and that Ravenclaw girl, huh?"
Richard's gaze remained steady, his voice as calm as ever. "Who knows, Colin."
Colin chuckled, shaking his head. "Still mysterious, as always. You know, one of these days, you're going to have to tell me what's really going on in that head of yours."
Richard said nothing, only allowing the faintest shadow of a smile to linger on his lips. Outside, the train let out a long, echoing whistle, and with a slow, powerful pull, the Hogwarts Express began its journey north.
The door to the carriage slid open with a sudden clatter, letting in a rush of chatter from the corridor before it was pulled shut again. Arjun entered first, his movements smooth and confident, the faintest smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. He had grown over the summer, his posture carrying more certainty than before, and there was a glint in his eyes that suggested he had secrets of his own.
Malcolm trailed behind him, already halfway through a Chocolate Frog, the wrapper balled up in his fist. He had changed too, broader in the shoulders, his boyish roundness fading into something sharper, though the mischief in his grin remained the same.
"There you are," Arjun said, sliding into the seat beside Colin without hesitation. "Thought you'd ditch us and sit with some Ravenclaws or something."
Richard's gaze met his, calm and unwavering. "Well, it appears you and Colin have been talking a lot this summer."
Malcolm plopped down across from Arjun, legs sprawled, chewing noisily before speaking. "Feels weird, doesn't it? Being the second-years now. First-years are gonna look at us like we're gods."
Colin snorted, leaning back in his seat. "Speak for yourself. They'll probably just be scared of Richard."
Richard raised an eyebrow slightly, but said nothing. His silence seemed to encourage the joke rather than deny it.
Malcolm smirked, licking chocolate from his fingers. "Good. They should be."
The train rattled to life beneath them, the rhythmic clatter of wheels over tracks filling the pauses between their words. Steam curled outside the windows, and the countryside began to slide by in a blur of greens and golds.
The conversation soon shifted into an easy flow. Arjun bragged lightly about his summer in India, recounting how his grandfather had shown him several old spell scrolls. He spoke of dusty libraries, secretive lessons, and charms older than Hogwarts itself. Colin leaned in, clearly intrigued, firing off questions that Arjun answered with mock patience.
Malcolm chimed in between bites of his sweets, telling a dramatic story about how he accidentally caused a small explosion while experimenting with potions in his father's shop. Colin burst into laughter, and even Arjun's smirk softened into genuine amusement.
They swapped bits of gossip they'd overheard, rumours of a new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor who was supposedly strict, whispers about a new Flying professor, and the inevitable speculations about Quidditch tryouts.
"You know," Arjun said at one point, glancing at Richard, "the team captain was asking about you last year. Thought you'd make a good Chaser."
"I'm not interested in being a Chaser," Richard replied smoothly. "I'd rather be a Beater."
The carriage was filled with a camaraderie that was quieter than most groups of boys their age. There was no shouting, no chaotic wrestling. They teased each other, but it was the kind of teasing that strengthened bonds rather than frayed them.
Outside, the sky had begun to clear, sunlight breaking through the clouds and flooding the compartment with a warm glow. The train surged forward, cutting through the countryside of the Scottish Highlands, carrying them back toward the castle that had already begun to feel like home.
The door slid open again with a soft rattle, and Elliot stepped inside. He crept, almost as if he were trying not to disturb the atmosphere already formed between the others. His robes were neatly pressed, his hair slightly windswept from the platform breeze. Offering a small, almost shy smile, he nodded to the group before slipping into the seat beside Richard.
"Elliot," Richard greeted, his tone calm as ever, accompanied by a slight, acknowledging nod.
"Richard. Colin. Arjun. Malcolm," Elliot replied, his voice soft but steady, carrying just enough warmth to show his genuine happiness at seeing them again. "It's good to see you all."
Colin grinned widely. "Same here. You look like you spent your summer doing exactly what I expected, reading nonstop."
Elliot gave a slight shrug, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "And practising. A lot."
"Good," Richard said simply. The approval was subtle, but Elliot caught it; his smile grew just slightly, a flicker of pride in his eyes.
With all five of them together, the carriage felt complete. Conversation flowed easily, layered with the sounds of the train clattering along the tracks. They spoke of what spells they'd tried over the summer, which ones had worked and which had left minor scorch marks behind. Malcolm described a failed attempt at a fire charm that nearly singed off his eyebrows, drawing laughter from Colin and a raised eyebrow from Arjun.
Talk shifted to what awaited them this year.
"I heard the new Defence professor is strict," Arjun said, leaning back with his arms crossed. "Supposedly ex-Auror. Might actually teach us something useful."
"Better than last year's," Malcolm muttered. "That guy barely made it through the term without hexing himself."
"And Quidditch," Colin added eagerly. "Slytherin's winning again. No question."
Richard listened quietly, his gaze distant for a moment before adding, "We'll see. Teams change, strategies change. Keep your eyes open."
The train rattled on, the sunlight cutting through the windows in shifting patterns as the countryside blurred by. There was a specific energy in the compartment, anticipation mixed with confidence, the kind that came from no longer being the youngest in the castle.
After a while, Richard rose smoothly, brushing an invisible speck from his robes. His movement drew the others' attention immediately.
"I'm going to say hello to some others," he said, his voice calm, deliberate. "I won't be long."
Arjun raised an eyebrow, smirking faintly. "Who are you going to see? Maybe a certain Ravenclaw?"
Richard's lips curved into the faintest trace of a smile. "Something like that."
Without another word, he slid the door open. The sounds of the bustling corridor rushed in: laughter, chatter, the thud of trunks, the excited energy of students reunited after a long summer. Stepping into the flow of voices and movement, Richard blended in effortlessly, yet somehow stood apart, already in control of his presence.
Richard moved through the crowded train corridor with the same ease he always carried, slipping past groups of laughing students and the occasional trolley witch. The train rattled as it cut through the countryside, but he walked with the steadiness of someone who always knew exactly where he was going.
He found Martin seated alone near the back of one carriage, half-hidden behind a stack of books. The Hufflepuff's posture was tense at first, but his face lit up when he noticed Richard.
"R-Richard!" Martin said, closing his book hastily. "I didn't think you'd, uh, stop by."
Richard slid the door open and stepped in, offering a faint nod. "Martin. How was your summer?"
Martin's shoulders relaxed as he spoke about helping his parents in their garden and practising simple spells when he could. "I, I think I've gotten better with Lumos. And I didn't freeze up as much when I tried more charms."
"You're improving," Richard said, his voice calm but carrying quiet approval. "Keep at it. Confidence makes the spell. Now I remember you said in our letters that you were at your grandad and grandma's farm, how was it?"
Martin's smile widened, his nervousness melting into something steadier. "Yeah, it was amazing. We harvested some ingredients to sell."
"That's good, probably pretty nice learning a lot of new things. Well, I should go. I'll see you at the Sorting."
Richard gave him one last nod before moving on, leaving Martin staring after him.
The following person Richard visited was Lisa. She was laughing with another Hufflepuff girl when Richard approached. She stopped mid-laugh when she saw him at the door, her eyes brightening.
"Richard!" she said warmly.
He inclined his head slightly, stepping into the carriage. "Hello, Lisa and friends."
They spoke briefly, Lisa talking excitedly about her summer helping at her family's bakery and practising Charms.
"You've grown a bit," Lisa remarked, smiling. "You're so tall now, and your eyes look like a Lavender flower."
"Well, thank you, you've definitely opened up a lot more over the summer," Richard said smoothly, his tone even but warm enough to make her smile linger.
When he excused himself, she called after him, "Don't forget to talk to me at the feast!"
Richard gave a slight wave without looking back.
The next person Richard was going to say hello to was Poppy. She was seated with two other Ravenclaws, but she straightened the moment she saw him. "Magus," she greeted, a genuine smile touching her lips.
"Pomfrey," Richard replied, stepping closer. "Good summer?"
She nodded eagerly. "I spent most of it helping at a small clinic. Learned a lot about healing spells."
"Dedication will be your strongest advantage, Poppy," Richard said. His words were steady.
Poppy flushed slightly, ducking her head with a smile. "You really think so?"
"I wouldn't say it otherwise."
The two Ravenclaws and Hufflepuff students sitting with her glanced between them curiously, but Richard ignored their stares. He asked her a few more questions about her studies, listened to her answers with focus, and then excused himself.
"See you at the Sorting," Poppy said softly as he left.
And last but not least, Richard found Caroline. She was sitting by the window, reading quietly, the light catching in her dark hair. She looked up as he approached, and her expression softened instantly.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," she said with a small smile.
"I wouldn't leave you waiting," Richard replied, sliding into the seat beside her.
Their conversation was longer than the others. Caroline spoke about practising spells in secret over the summer, about how she felt more confident now than she ever had. Richard listened, occasionally giving quiet encouragement or advice.
"You'll surpass most of them soon," he said at one point.
Caroline met his gaze, her smile stronger now. "Only because of you."
"You had it in you already," Richard said. "I just helped you see it."
The train rattled on. Eventually, Richard stood. "I'll get going. It's your third year now, you've got your electives, and you're going to get very busy. So stay sharp."
"I will," she said, her voice steady.
Richard returned to his own carriage with the same calm presence he had left with. Sliding the door open, he found Colin, Arjun, Malcolm, and Elliot still chatting. They looked up as he entered.
"Finished making your rounds?" Arjun asked with a smirk.
"Yes, Arjun, I have," Richard said, taking his seat.
The train continued to race north, the chatter of students blending with the sound of wheels on the tracks. Outside, the sky stretched vast and endless.
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