On the first of September, Albert woke up early, got out of bed, got dressed, and moved his body a little to wake himself up completely.
Today, he was finally going to Hogwarts, and he couldn't help but be a little excited.
After washing up, Albert began to check his luggage.
"Awake? Then come downstairs for breakfast." Daisy, who was wearing an apron, pushed open the door, entered the room and said to Albert, who was checking his luggage, "By the way, put your robes with the pointy hat at the top of your luggage, so that you have it easier when you change in the car."
"Albert, are you really not taking Tom to school?" Nia, in her pyjamas, hurried into the room clutching the short-haired cat.
"Let Tom stay with you." Albert said.
"What about Sheila?" Nia continued to ask.
"She'll fly to Hogwarts herself, I've asked and there's an owlery over by the school, she'll be staying there." Albert didn't want to go to King's Cross Station with an owl, it would draw a lot of attention.
Breakfast was simple as always and Daisy prepared a ham sandwich and a canned beverage for him should he get hungry.
Food was naturally sold on the train and Daisy wasn't worried about Albert going hungry, Herb had given him all the remaining galleons, which was a substantial amount, and they weren't worried about Albert spending it frivolously as there was no precedent of him doing anything similar.
The bulky suitcase was lifted into the car with ease as Albert used the levitation charm.
"Did you bring your camera?" Herb asked, "The one Grandfather Luke got you?"
''I got it with me, and I'll write home every week and send back photos with it." Albert stated that he wouldn't forget to take pictures of some of the things at Hogwarts and share them with his family.
"That's good." Herb nodded, "Off we go."
The family arrived at King's Cross Station just before ten o'clock and Herb helped Albert put his suitcase on the trolley.
Albert pushed the luggage to the wall that between platforms 9 and 10, he covertly reached into the wall and was able to get through.
Relieved, Albert returned to Herb's side and said, "OK, I'll go in myself then."
"Remember to sent letters." Herb said, "And pictures."
"Got it." Albert looked to his younger sister. "Nia?"
"That's unfair, I want to go too." Nia reached out and gave Albert a hug.
"Don't cause any trouble at home." Albert instructed.
"I won't." Nia turned her head away and pretended to be angry.
"See you during winter break, son." Daisy said as she gave Albert a parting hug and kissed him on the cheek, "We'll take you guys skiing."
"Got it, see you during winter break." Albert pushed the cart and after looking around to make sure no one was paying attention to him, he accelerated towards the dividing wall.
"Disappeared." Nia said as she pointed to where Albert had disappeared.
"Magic is always so fantastical. Let's go back." Herb said as he reached out and put his arms around his wife and daughter, "Don't worry, Albert can take care of himself."
On the other side of the brick wall, Albert found himself at a different station, a deep-red steam locomotive idling by the platform, the sign hanging from the train read, Hogwarts Express.
There weren't many passengers on the platform, the train was leaving at eleven and it wasn't even ten yet, he had arrived about an hour early.
Upon entry to the platform, the panel all showed a new prompt, 'Discover Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, gain 100 Experience'.
Discovering the world also gives experience, just very little, Albert didn't care too much, he seemed to remember something, and hurriedly moved away from the entrance to avoid being bumped into by people entering after him.
Where the original ticket checkpoint was, was now turned into an archway, with the signboard: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters hanging above it.
Sure enough, it was pretty much as described in the book.
That said, this would be the first time Albert had ever taken such an aged train, and it was quite an antique.
Pushing his luggage and strolling onto the train, he casually found an empty compartment, used a levitation charm to move his suitcase into it, found a spot to set it down, and closed the door behind him. And then, started to change himself into his Wizard robes.
Albert hadn't opened the window long before Sheila flew over and landed on the table, it seemed that she wasn't going to fly to Hogwarts on her own, but rather, she was going to hitch-hike.
"What a clever little fellow." Albert stroked the snow owl's head, took some owl nuts out of the trunk, and poured some for Sheila.
"Right, almost forgot to take a picture." Albert went back to the platform with his camera to get some close-up pictures of this Hogwarts Express.
Unfortunately, his skills at taking pictures were not that great, and the pictures were only mediocre.
Luckily, Luke had probably expected this situation and had prepared quite a few negatives for him.
"This one is good." Albert picked a photo with the locomotive in it, nodding in satisfaction, and retraced his steps back to his compartment.
He sat down against the window and gazed half-hidden at the platform. After some more time, the passengers on the platform gradually became more numerous and began to drizzle lightly.
"It almost seems that whenever one goes to Hogwarts, it rains." Albert couldn't help but let out a sigh, feeling that he had been right to come early.
The Wizards on the platform, all with umbrellas in their hands, looked a bit wretched as they hurriedly said goodbye to their families in the rain.
I wonder, how many known people will I be able to meet?
Albert didn't expect to meet the main characters yet, he had entered Hogwarts even earlier than Harry Potter, and he would be in the same year as the Weasley twins and Cedric Diggory.
Luckily it wasn't the same term as the Boy-Who-Lived either, Albert didn't want to get too involved with Potter after all.
After all, that is the Boy-Who-Lived, born with a lucky and a death-defying aura, if an ordinary person is caught in the fallout and does not have a lucky aura themself, he might be done for, like Cedric Diggory.
Outside, the rain is getting heavier and heavier, Albert narrowed the window gap a little bit, Sheila ate her fill and began to snooze, owls are after all nocturnal birds.
Pulling a chocolate candy out of his pocket, he opened the wrapper and put it in his mouth and nibbled on it, listening to the rain outside, Albert was in a good mood.
He didn't hate the rain as long as he didn't get wet himself.
The corridor grew lively, but Albert closed the door of his compartment so the noise didn't affect him too much.
Cracking open The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, he flipped through it slowly, passing the time by reading. It was a book Albert had read more than once, and some of the spells, he had tried.
In fact, throughout the summer holiday, Albert tried all the rest of the magic he knew, except for the Unforgivable Curse, even the Patronus charm, which naturally was unsuccessful.
"Hurry up, the train is leaving."
On the platform, a group of people attracted Albert's attention, a family was hastily saying goodbye, among them was a pair of red-haired twin brothers.
"Are those the Weasleys?" Albert surveyed the group of notable characters, feeling rather jovial. Ron Weasley, in particular, was looking a little goofy right now. There was a girl next to Ron, presumably Ginny, who was following closely behind Madam Weasley and seemed to regret about not being able to go to Hogwarts.
Albert compared Ginny to his own younger sister, and sure enough, his own sister was cuter.
The Weasleys looked rushed, they had probably been delayed by something before coming to the station.
Albert withdrew his gaze as there was a knock on the door.
Outside the compartment stood a black boy.