Lucifer made a sharp mental note to always leave for the King's Cross station far ahead of schedule in the future. If he continued to rely on the chaos of the Weasley household, he'd risk being late every single morning for the train to Hogwarts.
In his estimation, taking the Knight Bus or simply calling upon a House-elf would be infinitely more efficient, guaranteeing an early, stress-free arrival.
Before they left, he had smoothly offered to 'Apparate' the entire group directly to the platform to bypass the hassle. They promptly declined. What Lucifer hadn't known, but was quickly told by Remus Lupin that a massive cluster of witches and wizards Apparating simultaneously into a single, crowded public space could cause serious Ministry alerts and security concerns.
"Then we'd better go, now," Lucifer said turning on his heel and heading straight down to the heavy front door of Grimmauld Place. He had gotten fully dressed and ready an hour ago.
He had also already released Rowena, his owl, letting her get a proper head start on the long flight north to Hogwarts. She thoroughly hated being crammed into her wooden travel cage for extended periods unless it was entirely her choice, and Lucifer never forced her into it.
A second later, Hermione came running down the stairs, looking thoroughly flushed as she cradled a squirming Crookshanks in her arms. The large, ginger, bandy-legged cat clearly did not appreciate being held like an oversized infant, his squashed face twisted in a silent feline scowl.
She ground to a halt right in front of Lucifer, letting out an envious sigh.
"How on earth do you manage to get ready so quickly?" She asked, thoroughly exasperated as she blew a stray bushy lock of hair out of her eyes.
"All of my belongings are kept permanently in my enchanted pouch. I never have to manually pack or reorganize anything," Lucifer said with a lazy, elegant smirk. He extended a pale hand and gently stroked Crookshanks right between his ears. The grumpy cat immediately melted, leaning into the touch and letting out a loud, rattling purr of pure contentment.
"We can't leave just yet until Sturgis Podmore arrives," Alastor Moody barked, stomping heavily up the corridor toward Lucifer, his wooden leg thudding against the floorboards.
"Let me be his stand-in, and let's go the absolute second everyone else is ready," Lucifer offered casually. He locked his gaze onto Moody, whose large, electric-blue magical eye instantly swiveled inside its socket to drill straight into the celestial boy. "You really want to be his guard stand-in, Morningstar?"
"Yeah. We'll be late if we keep waiting around on him," Lucifer responded, completely unfazed by the veteran Auror's intense stare.
"Alright. POTTER! MOVE YOUR ARSE!" Moody suddenly roared up the stairwell, his gravelly voice echoing off the ancient walls. A moment later, Harry came scrambling down the steps, looking a complete mess. His shirt was only half-buttoned, his trunk was wobbling dangerously, and his round glasses were sitting completely sideways across his nose.
"What?" Harry gasped as he reached the base floor, accidentally letting go of his luggage. The heavy trunk slammed onto the floorboards, bursting wide open and spilling clothes, parchment, and books everywhere.
Lucifer rolled his eyes. With a subtle, effortless tilt of his head, his dark eyes briefly glowed a dangerous, vibrant crimson. In a flash of telekinetic, every single stray item belonging to their friend flew through the air, packed themselves back into the trunk in perfect order, and the lid slammed shut with a sharp, resonant 'click,' locking itself securely.
"Morningstar here is going to be our final guard," Moody announced to the gathered group.
"Final guard for what?" Harry asked, blinking as he straightened his sideways glasses.
"Your official vanguard for the trip to King's Cross, obviously," Moody growled as though he were explaining basic math to a toddler.
"Why?" Harry scoffed, crossing his arms defensively. "Do you honestly expect Voldemort to be hiding inside a public trash bin down the street?"
"He's supposed to be lying low, no. But I'm talking about his Death Eaters," Moody's voice dropped into dark, and menacing,"They can blend into a crowd of ordinary Muggles a hell of a lot better than he can."
Before Harry could offer another sarcastic retort, a large, shaggy black dog padded silently out of the shadows, planting its front paws firmly beside his boots.
"Don't complain, Harry. You've honestly no idea how incredibly important you are now," Tonks said, stepping out from the kitchen while letting out a massive, exhausted yawn. Today, her hair was styled in tight, bouncy curls with a dramatic, gradient purple hue, making her look precisely like one of those drug-addled muggle rock chicks from an underground concert.
"Oh, thanks. I really don't know," Harry muttered with a heavy pout, kicking a loose floorboard. "If Voldemort's any kind of man, he should be going after Dumbledore, not some random 'fifth-year' student who isn't even a Prefect..."
Hearing the bitter sting of rejection in Harry's voice, Hermione looked instantly flustered, her eyes darting between him and Lucifer, completely at a loss for words. Fortunately, the awkward tension was broken as the rest of the Weasley clan filed down the stairs within the next minute.
Gathering their coats, entire group made their way out of the gloomy house and into the crisp autumn air. The weak, pale September sun greeted them, bathing the street in a cold, golden light.
Because Arthur hadn't been able to secure official Ministry cars this time around due to Fudge's growing paranoia, they had no choice but to walk the entire distance to the station.
It was only a twenty-minute journey, but it quickly became an absolute drag for almost everyone. Molly, in particular, kept complaining loudly about the sheer absurdity of how Muggles traveled daily without a single lick of magic to assist them.
Lucifer, naturally, walked with effortless, regal grace, entirely unaffected by the physical exertion. The only mildly eventful thing that occurred during the trek was Sirius, who, in his dog form, took immense joy in bounding into alleys and terrifying several stray alley cats into spitting fury.
When the chaotic group finally arrived at the bustling King's Cross station, they had to linger conspicuously around platforms nine and ten, waiting for a safe, coordinated moment when no Muggles were looking to cross the solid brick barrier.
On the 1st of September, the station was always an absolute madhouse. Young witches and wizards from every corner of the country hurried through the concourse accompanied by their frantic parents. Every single year at this exact time, the 'Ministry of Magic' would deploy a massive number of stealth personnel to prevent the oblivious Muggle public from noticing anything unusual.
After all, over a thousand children completely disappearing into thin air after colliding face-first with a solid brick pillar would inevitably attract unwanted media attention. To combat this, nearby undercover wizards were constantly working in the shadows, casting 'Confundus and Memory' charms in rapid, flawless succession.
One by one, the group casually leaned against the barrier, slipping through the magical veil. They stepped onto Platform 9 ¾, greeted instantly by the roaring chatter of hundreds of families and the magnificent, bright scarlet steam engine that never failed to leave the younger students in complete awe.
As they walked down the platform, Hermione couldn't help but look around with a slight frown. Over the past few years, she had noticed that the average wizard's attitude toward casting memory spells on Muggles was incredibly casual. They never seemed to care whether their magic was far too forceful, often causing unnecessary mental harm. Every single year, there were documented incidents of reckless wizards misusing the Confundus charm and accidentally turning perfectly ordinary Muggles into barmy, confused idiots.
"Nice dog, Harry!" A loud, cheerful voice called out over the screeching steam. It was Lee Jordan, a tall Gryffindor boy with long dreadlocks, waving enthusiastically from a carriage door.
"Thanks, Lee!" Harry shouted back, grinning widely as Sirius wagged his shaggy tail frantically against his legs.
A moment later, Moody came stomping through the barrier, easily pushing a massive luggage cart piled high with all their heavy school trunks—minus Lucifer's, of course.
"All okay," the old Auror muttered covertly to Molly and Tonks, his scarred face scanning the rafters.
"Don't think we were followed..." He had pulled a regular muggle porter's cap low over his forehead, deliberately hiding the fact that his large, electric-blue eye was moving independently, spinning wildly to look backward through his own skull.
Arthur came rushing through the barrier seconds later, flanking a breathless Ron and Ginny. They had almost finished unloading the luggage cart onto the train's storage area when Remus Lupin finally slipped through the veil, closely followed by Fred and George.
"No trouble on the rear?" Moody growled, his hand resting instinctively near his wand pocket.
"Nothing at all," Lupin replied calmly, adjusting his patched traveling cloak.
"Good. But I'll still be reporting Sturgis Podmore directly to Dumbledore the second I see him," Moody spat, his normal eye narrowing in irritation. "That's the second time the fool has completely failed to turn up for his shift in a week. Morningstar here had to cover his post. He's getting to be just as unreliable and reckless as Mundungus Fletcher."
"And that is truly saying something," Lucifer chimed in smoothly, a dry smirk on his lips.
"Well, look after yourselves," Lupin said with a warm smile, stepping forward to shake hands with the teenagers. He paused on Harry last, clapping him firmly on the shoulder with a look of deep affection. "You too, Harry. Be incredibly careful this year."
"Yeah, keep your head down and your eyes peeled at all times," Moody added, shaking Harry's hand with a surprisingly firm grip. "And don't forget, all of you... be extremely careful what you put into writing. If you're ever in doubt, don't put it in a bloody letter at all. The Ministry is intercepting mail."
"It's been absolutely great meeting all of you properly," Tonks said brightly, stepping in to pull both Hermione and Ginny into a warm, lavender-scented hug. "We'll see you all very soon, I expect."
Lupin shifted his posture, walking over to stand directly in front of his 'second-favourite' student, "Lucifer," he said quietly, his amber eyes locking onto the youth with a look of profound trust. "I trust you'll continue to look after Harry? Keep him steady?"
"Won't stop now," Lucifer nodded firmly, matching the former professor's gaze with absolute, certainty.
"Good, good," Lupin smiled, letting out a sigh of relief just as the train's loud, echoing warning whistle pierced the station air, signaling imminent departure.
"Quick, quick, get on!" Molly said distractedly, her panic flaring up as she began hugging the children completely at random. "Write to me... be good... if you've forgotten a single thing we'll send it right on... onto the train now, hurry!"
Just before Harry could step up the metal stairs of the carriage, Sirius suddenly reared up on his hind legs, placing his large front paws heavily on his godson's shoulders.
He began enthusiastically licking the godson's face, completely ignoring the laughs from nearby students. Smiling broadly, they all boarded the train, rushing to the windows to wave goodbye. The Hogwarts Express let out a massive cloud of white steam, slowly picking up speed.
Sirius bounded joyfully down the platform, keeping pace with Harry's window until the train cleared the station archway. Within a few seconds, the adults were completely out of sight.
"I'm just so incredibly glad he got to leave that awful house, even if it was just for an hour," Hermione said softly, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she watched the tracks. "Two whole months he'd been cooped up inside it."
"Well," Fred suddenly interrupted, clapping his hands together loudly to grab their attention. "Can't stand around chatting and being sentimental all day, gents. We've got urgent joke-shop business to discuss with Lee. See you lot later." Without waiting for a response, he and George turned and disappeared down the narrow corridor to the right.
The train was gathering serious speed now, causing the passing muggle houses and green fields outside to become a blur of motion. The carriage swayed rhythmically, forcing them to balance themselves against the wood paneled walls.
"Shall we go find an empty compartment?" Harry asked, looking over at Ron and Ginny.
"You, Weasley, and Ginny go ahead," Lucifer said, adjusting the collar of his jacket. "Hermione and I have to head up to the Prefect's carriage first."
"It shan't take very long at all, Harry, don't worry," Hermione added quickly, noticing the sudden flash of isolation in his green eyes.
"Oh," Harry said, his voice dropping slightly. "Right. Fine. We'll go look for a spot."
"Don't worry, we won't be trapped there the entire journey," Lucifer said with a wicked, knowing smirk. "Depending on who the Slytherin Prefects turn out to be, I doubt I'll be able to stand being in the exact same room with them for long anyway."
"We'll find you three the moment we're dismissed," Hermione promised. She and Lucifer began walking down the corridor toward the front of the train.
He effortlessly pulled her heavy trunk behind him with one hand, while Hermione carefully held a now-sleeping Crookshanks. As they navigated the bumpy walkway, she leaned closer to him. "Who do you think the Slytherin Prefects are going to be?"
"It will be a massive upgrade even if Malfoy is the male prefect," Lucifer chuckled darkly. "I can't stand Graham, honestly. The boy has the personality of wet cardboard."
"Oh, tell me about it. And all of the Slytherin girls in our year are either completely mean, harlots, or utterly brutish," Hermione muttered, wrinkling her nose in pure distaste as she recalled her past encounters with Everett, Pansy, Astoria, and Millicent. "Knowing Snape's absolute lack of taste, he will almost certainly choose Parkinson."
"Yeah, let's just get this over with," Lucifer said encouragingly, though Hermione still snarled her nose at the thought.
When they finally arrived at the spacious Prefect Carriage, they pushed the door open and walked inside. The designated student leaders from the other houses were already comfortably settled. Lucifer immediately recognized Padma Patil and Anthony Goldstein representing Ravenclaw, alongside Hannah Abbott and Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff.
"And we are 'still' waiting on the bloody Slytherin Prefects. Merlin's beard," The RavenClaw Head Girl muttered savagely. She was a tall, seventh-year student who looked completely on edge, almost kicking the wooden seat below her in absolute frustration. She scowled harder by the second, her patience clearly wearing dangerously thin.
Lucifer didn't recognize her, so he simply ignored her temper tantrum and quietly slid into a plush seat right beside Hermione. In doing so, he completely missed the subtle, intense sideways look Padma Patil was currently shooting his way from across the aisle.
The heavy compartment door slid open with a dramatic click. Hermione looked up and practically wanted to vomit. Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson strutted into the carriage, deliberately chest-forward as they proudly flashed their gleaming green-and-silver Slytherin Prefect badges to the room.
"Now that absolutely everyone is finally here, we can begin," The Head Boy announced. He was a stern-looking seventh-year with curly brown hair, and he immediately shot his furious female partner a sharp, warning glare, silently telling her to conduct herself professionally.
The Head Girl cleared her throat loudly, her sharp voice cutting through the murmurs of the carriage. "Congratulations, all of you, for being officially selected as Hogwarts Prefects. You have clearly demonstrated the core qualities of your respective Houses better than anyone else in your Fifth Year... With this badge comes special privileges, as well as significantly heightened expectations from the faculty."
She took a step forward, her eyes scanning the room. "As Prefects, you all will possess the authority to take away house points from any rule-breakers you catch, and you are permitted to hand out detentions if you deem the punishment is suited enough for the infraction."
"Furthermore," The Head Boy took over smoothly, "Prefects may also formally block another Prefect's decision, provided they are in the exact same school year as you. However, you can only do so if the original reason for taking off points or giving a detention is proven to be invalid... Lastly, you all now have full access to use the exclusive Prefect's Bathroom located on the Fifth Floor. It is exactly the fifth door to the left of the large stone statue of 'Boris the Bewildered."
After finishing her introductory speech, the Head Girl let out a loud, dramatic huff, crossing her arms tightly as she leaned back against the compartment door.
'…You will be tasked with leading the first years this year straight to their respective Common Rooms," She continued, her sharp tone snapping everyone back to attention. "And exactly twice a week, you will be required to patrol the corridors. In previous years, the rotation was much more frequent, but given that this is your O.W.L. year, the faculty agreed to reduce it... The specific two days assigned to you will fluctuate randomly each week. We don't want anyone in the student body getting an understanding of a possible schedule."
The Head Boy stepped up beside her, clearing his throat. "Remember that you Prefects cannot take points off other Prefects, nor can you give another an official detention. Trying to do so would completely defeat the core purpose and hierarchy of the position. However," he added, his eyes narrowing slightly as they swept across the room, "We can give any one of you a detention. And it goes without saying that any Professor can still give you a detention. So mind yourselves. You are Prefects now, and you have been trusted with an amount of authority you've simply not had in previous years."
He paused, letting the weight of the warning settle over the fifth-year students. "Any questions?"
"Jus—" Hermione began, her hand instantly twitching upward. She was bursting to ask about the glaringly obvious flaw in the selection process, but before she could utter another syllable, Lucifer's elbow shot out, catching her painfully right in the ribs. She let out a muffled 'oof,' glaring sideways at him.
"Yes?" The Head Girl's eyes locked onto her, noticing the sudden movement. "Did you have a question, Granger?"
"Yeah, actually, I have one," Hermione pressed on, rubbing her side. She loved Lucifer with all her heart, but she absolutely wasn't going to let his pragmatic silence stop her from addressing the elephant in the room. She stood up a fraction straighter, pointing a firm, accusatory finger directly across the aisle at the two Slytherins. "Why are 'they' Prefects? What was the criteria exactly?"
"What's the matter, Granger?" Malfoy taunted instantly, a vicious, ugly sneer twisting his pale features as he leaned back in his seat. "Upset you won't have authority to give me a detention the moment I step out of line?"
"No," Hermione snapped, her nostrils flaring as her amber eyes flashed with brilliant rage. "I just didn't realize that being a whiny, entitled little bitch was considered a core Slytherin quality worthy of a leadership badge."
"Enough, both of you!" the Head Boy barked, his voice slamming down like a gavel. "You are Hogwarts Prefects now. Start acting like it."
"Just don't ask me to shake his hand at the welcome feast," Hermione muttered under her breath, crossing her arms tightly with a fierce, stubborn frown. "I honestly don't know where it's been, and I value my hygiene."
The Head Boy and Head Girl quickly moved past the sudden outburst, briskly covering a few minor operational details regarding train security before curtly announcing that the meeting was adjourned. They were all free to 'return back' to their regular compartments for the remainder of the journey.
xxxxxx
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