On the morning of September 1st, Albert woke early. He climbed out of bed, got dressed, and stretched until his limbs felt properly awake.
Today was the day. He was finally going to Hogwarts. The thought sent a small thrill through him.
After washing up, he began checking through his luggage one last time when the door opened.
"Awake already? Come down for breakfast," said Daisy, wearing her usual morning apron. "Oh, and remember—put your robes and pointed hat on top of your trunk so you can reach them easily on the train."
"Albert, are you really not taking Tom to school?" Nia's voice came from the doorway as she bounded in, still in her pajamas and clutching the short-haired cat.
"Let Tom stay here and keep you company," Albert replied with a smile.
"What about Shera?" she asked, frowning a little.
"It'll fly to Hogwarts on its own," said Albert. "I asked—there's an owlery there where it can stay."
He didn't want to carry an owl through King's Cross Station; it would have drawn far too much attention.
Breakfast was simple, as always. Daisy packed him a ham sandwich and a can of drink "just in case," though she knew the train sold plenty of food. Herb had also given him all the remaining Galleons—a generous amount. Neither parent was worried about Albert wasting money; he had never been the reckless type.
Outside, the heavy trunk floated effortlessly into the car as Albert flicked his wand and cast a Levitation Charm.
"Did you bring your camera?" asked Herb. "The one your grandfather Luke bought you?"
"Of course. I'll write every week—and send pictures," Albert assured him. He fully intended to capture a bit of Hogwarts life for his family.
"That's my boy," Herb said, satisfied. "Let's go."
They arrived at King's Cross before ten o'clock. Herb helped load the trunk onto a trolley while Albert glanced around.
At the wall between Platforms 9 and 10, Albert reached out casually—his hand slipped right through.
He grinned. "It works."
Turning back, he said, "Okay, I'll go in first."
"Remember to write," said Herb, "and send photos!"
"I know." Albert looked toward his little sister. "Nia?"
"That's not fair—I want to go too!" she huffed, hugging him tightly.
"Don't cause trouble while I'm gone," Albert said, patting her head. "And don't annoy anyone."
"I wouldn't," she muttered, pretending to be offended.
Daisy hugged him next and kissed his cheek. "See you at Christmas, dear. We'll go skiing then."
"Deal. See you at Christmas."
Albert glanced around once more, made sure no one was watching, then jogged straight at the wall—and vanished.
"He disappeared!" Nia gasped.
"Magic never stops being amazing," Herb said, putting an arm around his wife and daughter. "Come on. He'll be fine."
On the other side, Albert stepped into another station entirely. A gleaming scarlet steam engine stood waiting beside the platform. A brass sign on its side read: Hogwarts Express.
Few people were around yet—it was still an hour before departure.
As he crossed the platform, a familiar message appeared before his eyes:
Discovered Platform Nine and Three-Quarters – +100 Experience Points.
So exploration granted experience too. Noted. He quickly moved aside before someone walked through the barrier behind him.
The entry arch now bore a sign reading Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. It looked exactly as the books had described.
Albert smiled faintly. His first time boarding such an old-fashioned train—it really was an antique.
He found an empty compartment, floated his trunk inside, and shut the door before changing into his robes.
Moments later, a flutter of white caught his eye—Shera swooped through the window and landed neatly on the table.
"So you decided to hitch a ride, huh?" Albert said, stroking the owl's head. He poured out a few owl nuts from his trunk.
Then he froze. "Ah—photos! Almost forgot."
He hurried back onto the platform, camera in hand, and snapped a few shots of the train's gleaming engine. The results were… mediocre at best, but thankfully his grandfather had sent plenty of spare film.
"This one's decent enough," he said, picking one photo and returning to his compartment.
He sat by the window, half-hidden behind the curtain, watching as the platform gradually filled. Light rain began to fall, tapping softly against the glass.
"It always rains when I go somewhere," Albert muttered, amused. "Good thing I came early."
Families huddled beneath umbrellas, waving tearful goodbyes.
Albert wondered idly how many familiar faces he'd see this year.
He knew he wouldn't meet the protagonist yet—Harry Potter hadn't entered Hogwarts. This year, he'd share classes with the Weasley twins and Cedric Diggory instead.
That suited him just fine.
He had no desire to be caught in the gravitational pull of the "Boy Who Lived." With that kind of protagonist halo—and a death-seeker's luck to match—anyone standing too close risked an early grave. Cedric Diggory had proved that much.
Outside, the rain grew heavier. Albert cracked the window shut and watched Shera finish eating before she tucked her head under her wing to nap.
He unwrapped a chocolate, popped it into his mouth, and leaned back, listening to the steady patter of rain. He didn't mind it, so long as he was dry.
The corridor outside grew noisier as more students boarded, but Albert's closed door muffled most of the chatter.
He opened Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection and began reading to pass the time. He'd gone through this book more than once—and tested several spells within it over the summer.
All except the Unforgivable Curses, of course. He'd even tried the Patronus Charm, though unsurprisingly, without success.
"Hurry! The train's leaving soon!" someone shouted from the platform.
Albert looked up, intrigued. A large family was saying hurried goodbyes—a mother, father, and several red-haired children.
"The Weasleys," he murmured, watching them with amusement. The twins were unmistakable, and little Ron stood there, looking slightly lost. Beside him, a girl—Ginny, no doubt—clung to her mother, unwilling to let go.
Albert couldn't help comparing her to his own sister. Nia's cuter, he thought.
The Weasleys looked flustered, probably delayed by something earlier that morning.
Just as Albert turned back to his book, there was a knock on the compartment door.
Standing outside was a young Black boy.