Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The Hogwarts Express
[Check Out My P4treon For +50 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/roooaaa]
===
"Magical alchemy... I definitely need to study that properly in the future."
In less than twenty minutes, the magical car stopped outside King's Cross Station. George declined Tonks's kind offer to escort him inside and pushed his trolley, deep in thought.
Actually, the journey from the Leaky Cauldron to King's Cross Station wasn't that smooth; they hit traffic.
But the Ministry of Magic car clearly had high-level spatial magic enchanted onto it through alchemy. Aldo simply pressed a button, and the car seemed to compress itself, effortlessly slipping through gaps between vehicles that were less than a person's width.
The spells in this world were astonishing, and the magical items created through alchemy were equally wondrous.
If he mastered magical alchemy, he could completely transform the mutant school into a magnificent magical castle, similar to Hogwarts. Without his permission, ordinary people wouldn't be able to break in.
"Platform Nine and Three-Quarters."
Arriving at the wall between Platforms Nine and Ten, George pushed his trolley directly into it.
Then, something miraculous happened: he and the trolley passed through as if colliding with a transparent curtain of water, completely unhindered.
The scene shifted, and a very peculiar platform appeared before him.
The most striking feature was the deep red steam locomotive, bearing the inscription: Hogwarts Express, departs at eleven o'clock.
He had previously seen relevant introductions to this marvelous magical train in specialized magical history books.
To deeply understand the magic of this world and navigate the wizarding world with ease in the future, mastering magical history was of paramount importance.
Many magical learning and破解 methods could actually be found in magical history.
So, he spent a certain amount of time each day studying various history books he had purchased.
The Hogwarts Express was built in the mid-19th century, a joint effort by a Muggle engineer, numerous Muggle railway workers, and most of the Ministry of Magic wizards at the time.
This magical railway line also involved the largest use of the Obliviation Charm and the largest-scale Muggle-Repelling Charm in the world.
It originated because the very responsible Minister for Magic, Ottaline Gambol, felt that young wizards traveling to Hogwarts via Portkeys was too unsafe and uncomfortable. Every year, young wizards were lost due to improper Portkey use.
Inspired by Muggle steam trains, the Hogwarts Express and its extremely long railway line came into being.
It is said that this initiative faced protests from some pure-blood families, but it was forcefully suppressed by the Minister for Magic, who threatened that anyone who didn't take the train wouldn't be admitted to Hogwarts.
This magical steam train traveled between Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at King's Cross Station in London and Hogsmeade Station six times a year.
Once for the start of term on September 1st, four times for Christmas and Easter holidays, and once for the summer break in June.
At this moment, thick steam from the locomotive filled the platform. Because George had arrived relatively early, there weren't many young wizards or wizard parents seeing them off, and it wasn't noisy yet.
Pushing his cart into the carriage marked for first-years, he casually found an empty compartment. He deftly stowed his luggage on the overhead rack, then placed the owl's cage in the corner of the compartment closest to him.
"Be a good boy and sleep. Don't squawk and scare the young wizards who will come in later."
After instructing Page, George took out a copy of On the Importance of Fundamental Magic Theory and began to read intently.
From London to Hogwarts, it would take about five or six hours, and he couldn't just waste that time.
As time passed, more and more wizards, both big and small, appeared on the platform outside the train windows. There were also all sorts of magical pets, and young wizards gradually began to enter the carriage.
"Wow, is that your pet? What a huge owl!"
A small boy with a magical camera around his neck, passing by George's compartment with his own small trolley, was attracted by the enormous owl, Page, and involuntarily walked in.
He placed his luggage in the corner, picked up his magical camera, excitedly took a few photos, and then introduced himself to George:
"Hello, my name is Colin Creevey."
"Just call me George."
George looked up at the boy and nodded with a smile.
This name sounded somewhat familiar to him. He seemed to be a huge fan of Harry, who loved taking pictures of his idol, Harry.
"George, I..."
Colin had a very lively and talkative personality. He made himself at home, sitting next to George, and started chattering away.
At this point, George had no choice but to put away his magic book and chat with him for a few minutes.
Through their conversation, he learned that Colin came from a Muggle family and had a younger brother named Dennis Creevey.
Because he particularly loved photography, after seeing the marvelous magical camera in Diagon Alley, he used the money he had saved for a pet to buy it instead.
His most admired idol was Harry Potter, mentioned in A History of Modern Magic, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Important Magical Events of the Twentieth Century, who, despite being only one year older than him, had defeated Voldemort, who had struck fear into the wizarding world.
"Oh, right, George, I've talked so much, but you haven't told me about yourself yet?"
After a long string of chatter, Colin suddenly realized he knew nothing about George.
To avoid further rambling, George simply smiled and said:
"I'm an orphan. I've never met my parents and have no family, so there's nothing much to say."
Colin was momentarily stunned, then a sympathetic look appeared on his face. He quickly changed the subject:
"Oh, right, your owl is so big. What does it usually eat?"
"Eagle owl, usually found mostly in Eurasia and Africa, primarily inhabiting mountain forests, plains, wilderness, forest edges, sparse woodlands, and exposed high mountains and cliffs.
They like to eat field mice, wild rabbits, and pheasants, and sometimes also frogs, snakes, and lizards.
It is said to be one of the few owl species immune to the gaze of a Basilisk. The other is the legendary phoenix."
At this moment, a somewhat ethereal voice suddenly spoke at the compartment door.
George and Colin turned to look. It was a small girl with silver eyes and dark golden-brown hair. Her skin was very fair, her eyes wide, but her gaze was unfocused.
So, her overall demeanor seemed somewhat ethereal, giving off a peculiar, eccentric vibe.
"Eagle owls are immune to the gaze of a Basilisk? I don't seem to recall seeing any related information about that in books."
George looked at the girl with some surprise and asked.
Since he had bought an eagle owl as a pet, how could he not have researched relevant information? Most of what the girl had just said, he had indeed seen in his research, except for the last part.
However, whether this last piece of information was true was extremely important, because a Basilisk, a thousand-year-old one at that, would indeed appear at Hogwarts this year.
So he had to verify it carefully.
===
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 50 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 15 power stones I will publish the next chapter.
https://patreon.com/roooaaa