Huh? There's a magic school here.

August 25th has arrived. Today is the homecoming day for Hogwarts' second-year students, and also the arrival day for the first batch of first-year students. Andres has been extremely busy lately, and today he has arranged for Elliott Turner to help keep an eye on the entrance to Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station.

He himself had forgotten to upgrade the Sorting Hat due to previous negligence, so this morning he upgraded the Sorting Hat, which was sound asleep in the cupboard. He spent a thousand system points on this, and the Sorting Hat opened its eyes the instant it was upgraded.

"Thank you, Principal Andres! I feel much clearer-headed now."

"You're welcome. I'll need your help in the next few days!"

"This is my duty and my honor!"

After upgrading the Sorting Hat, Andres didn't rest. He still needed to go to the Owl Tower to feed Thunder, who would be a year old in a few months. Andres thought that he could take Thunder outside to raise him then.

Elliott Turner was strolling around King's Cross Station. Being an Auror, his vigilance and abilities were still outstanding. He was capable of handling any leaks, so he would be needed for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, after the upperclassmen finished their term today, the student council presidents and prefects would come to assist him.

In fact, Darius, Diane, and the other prefects had already been notified to cooperate with Elliott Turner in this matter. Although Platform Nine and Three-Quarters had been materialized with some protective capabilities, such as the Muggle Expulsion Charm and the Concealing Trace Charm, no one could guarantee that nothing would go wrong. Therefore, apart from Bernhard, who had already returned to school, the student council presidents and prefects arrived at King's Cross Station two hours early.

Elliott Turner, along with nine students, made a total of ten people, which he divided into two groups. The boys patrolled King's Cross Station with him, while the girls maintained order on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and helped watch over the luggage, preparing to place it in the prefects' carriages when Hogwarts arrived.

The boys weren't just wandering around aimlessly on the platform; some were reading newspapers, others were drinking coffee, mostly appearing to be doing nothing. The girls didn't need to keep a constant eye on the little wizards either; they just needed to make sure they didn't cause any trouble on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, since there were always a few mischievous kids who would accidentally swing their wands and cause some damage.

Half an hour later, students and parents began arriving at King's Cross Station. It seemed a bit early, as some parents were dropping their children off on their way to school because they had errands to run in London that afternoon. Then, gradually, more and more people arrived at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Parents waited with their children for the Hogwarts Express to arrive.

At 1:30 PM, several whistles drew everyone's attention. A black and red steam train approached from afar and slowly came to a stop at Platform 9¾. After the train stopped, the locomotive continued its rumbling sound, and then all the carriage doors opened automatically, and the footboards automatically extended onto the platform.

The young wizards began waving goodbye to their parents and families, and the platform was filled with the reluctance of parting and warnings from parents to their children.

A little girl stuck her head out of the train carriage and shouted goodbye to her parents on the platform.

"Mom and Dad, you should go back now! I'll write to you if I miss you, so don't worry about me."

On the platform, a stern father patted his son on the head and threatened him.

"If you dare not study magic properly, you brat, I'll beat you up!"

"Dad, are you sure you want to beat up a wizard?"

"So what if you're a wizard? Even if you become a wizard, you're still my son! But now that I think about it, beating up a wizard might be a pretty good experience, right?"

Seeing his father's increasingly excited gaze, the young wizard quickly grabbed his luggage and ran off.

The Allens also came to take their son Marion to school today; this is the first time the child has been away from home for such a long time.

Mrs. Allen was reluctant to part with him and kept shedding tears.

Mr. Allen could only keep comforting him, saying that his son was just going to study, it wasn't a matter of life and death! Besides, it was only a matter of time before the child grew up and left his parents to make his own way in the world!

Marion also gently comforted his mother from the side.

"Mom, don't cry. I'm just going to school. I'll be back in three months for Christmas!"

"I know you must behave well at school and not cause any trouble! Also, take good care of Orange and don't let it eat random things."

"Don't worry, Mom. Don't you know your son well? As for Ju Chang, he's very smart! He's even started being picky about food now!"

The orange cat, perched on the suitcase, grumbled a few times in dissatisfaction when its little owner complained about being a picky eater. It even gave Marion a cute but fierce wave of its paw, as if to say, "If you complain again, I'll beat you up!"

Mrs. Allen burst into laughter at the sight, and as her son pushed the luggage into the car, the Allens turned and left.

Darius, outside the platform, found Elliott Turner leaning against the wall, pretending to rest.

"Professor, I just counted. All 58 second-year students and 120 first-year students have entered the station. We can go in now."

"Great, nothing unexpected happened today! Let's go in too."

After speaking, Darius turned and waved to the other three prefects who were looking at him, and they each entered Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Elliott Turner was the last one to enter, and he looked around warily before going in.

After boarding, Elliott Turner found an empty compartment, lay down on a bench, and pulled his hat over his face. He sighed, reminiscing about how many years it had been since he'd ridden the Hogwarts Express. He really missed it! He wondered how his old classmates from back then were doing; he could never go back!

After getting in the car, Marion pushed the cart forward, trying to find a private room to sit down.

But when he opened the first private room, it was already occupied. Marion noticed that the four people in the room seemed familiar; they must be his senior classmates. Before they could even ask anything, he apologized and went to find the next room.

Finally, when he opened the door to the fourth private room, it was empty. Marion breathed a sigh of relief and quickly put his luggage inside. He laboriously put the smaller items on the rack, which contained the robe he would change into later. He stuffed the larger items under the bench; these could be taken directly to his dormitory. Just as he finished settling his luggage and was carrying the orange robe, the door to the private room opened.

A head popped in and asked Marion.

"Are you a first-year student? Can I share a private room with you?"

“Of course, I’m Marion’s first-year student this year!”