Chapter 10
Before school started, Sainz had already reviewed all the required courses for first through third years.
Third year marks the beginning of intermediate wizarding education, and the material is noticeably more advanced than in the first and second years.
It might be quite challenging for an actual first-year student, but for an adult, it was still manageable.
Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic—these subjects, which required incantations or rote memorization, could all be studied effectively at the Leaky Cauldron, though some of the more powerful spells were exceptions.
As for Potions and Herbology, which required hands-on practice, one couldn't simply rely on reading or wand-waving. These subjects would need to be learned more intuitively and specifically after arriving at Hogwarts.
In the blink of an eye, it was September 1st—the first day of school.
"Tom, thank you for taking care of me for the past month. I'm off to start a new chapter today."
"Yes, yes. Who doesn't dream of going to Hogwarts? I still remember my own school days at Hogwarts like they were yesterday. Back then I—"
"I'm sorry to interrupt your wonderful memories, Tom, but I have to go. My ticket says the train leaves at eleven, and it's already ten. I don't like being late."
"Good, good, Sainz. Punctuality is a fine trait. Do you need help with your luggage?"
"No, thank you." Sainz pulled his inconspicuous suitcase and got into a taxi waiting in front of the bookstore at 48 Charing Cross Road, heading to King's Cross Station.
Looking out the window, he saw, for the first time, the entrance to the magical world from the perspective of a Muggle.
The Leaky Cauldron, squeezed between a tall bookstore and a record shop, was so small and grimy that none of the hurried passersby even glanced at it.
As Harry Potter once observed, for such a famous place, it really was too dark and dirty. Even during the day, candles were burning in the bar.
In less than twenty minutes, they arrived at King's Cross.
The taxi driver was friendly, even helping him carry the luggage from the trunk to the station entrance. The service was great. The fare was thirteen pounds—not exactly cheap for a trip under three kilometers, but not outrageous either.
The oriental boy dragging a suitcase and carrying a birdcage immediately stood out in an era when information didn't travel as fast.
What really drew attention, though, was Speed—a striking bird of prey, rarely seen in the Muggle world.
In truth, the best option might have been letting Speed fly to Hogwarts himself. But Sainz was worried the bird wouldn't be able to find the place, or worse, wouldn't be allowed in. It was their first time, after all. Next time, he could let him go on his own.
Speed could easily fly at over 300 kilometers per hour. Britain's north-south axis wasn't more than a thousand kilometers—at that speed, it would only take two or three hours to get from London to Hogwarts. Even if he flew a little slower and took breaks, it would still be much faster than the Hogwarts Express.
Sainz observed the crowd carefully and quickly noticed several "suspicious individuals" who thought they were blending in well—but weren't.
They were clearly Ministry of Magic operatives sent to guard against potential exposure of the wizarding world.
Sainz's appearance had also caught their attention. Some of them looked like they wanted to approach and offer help, but when they saw how calm and unfazed he was by Muggles, they hesitated and backed off.
He ignored the noise around him and walked directly toward Platforms Nine and Ten, heading for the wide column between them. When the moment was right, and no one was looking, he leaned casually against the pillar.
Darkness and light flashed in his vision, and in an instant, he'd crossed from a late 20th-century train station to an early 19th-century platform.
In Sainz's past life, Platforms Nine and Ten at King's Cross were on opposite sides of the tracks—there wasn't any pillar, nor was there a Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Now, a sign hung above a quaint platform: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
A crimson steam locomotive sat by the crowded platform.
On the front of the train, a sign read: 5972, Hogwarts Express, o'clock.
Thick smoke from the steam engine swirled above the busy crowd. Cats roamed between people's legs.
Over the buzz of conversation and the rumble of rolling luggage, the hooting of owls rang sharp and high.
Perhaps he had arrived a bit early, because the number of students wasn't as large as he'd expected. Or maybe most had arrived but hadn't yet boarded. The crowd on the platform seemed to be mostly parents seeing their children off.
The first few carriages were already full. Some students were seated and playing games; others leaned out of the windows to chat with family.
Sainz walked to the back of the train, found an empty compartment, and sat down.
It was only ten thirty—still early. He pulled out the Healing Manual and continued studying the common healing spells used in the magical world.
Time always flies when you're immersed in study. Before he knew it, a voice broke his concentration:
"Excuse me, can I sit here?"
A clear, childish female voice pulled him back to the present.
"Wow, that looks really fierce! Is it your pet? What's its name?"
"Of course. The seats on this train aren't reserved—anyone can sit here," Sainz replied, closing his book.
The girl standing in front of him looked about his age. Her skin was tan by white standards, and her long black hair was tied into a ponytail.
"Hello, I'm a first-year too. Sainz Autumn. Obviously, I'm an Oriental who grew up in Scotland. This is Speed, an Asian peregrine falcon."
In order to ease her nerves, Sainz offered an introduction first.
"Wow, you're a first-year too? Hi! I'm Angelina Johnson. I thought you were a third- or fourth-year. You look…"
"No need to be embarrassed. I am taller than most kids my age. I'll be twelve soon, actually. It's just that my birthday is after September 1st, so I didn't get my letter last year. That's what Professor Sinistra told me."
"That's amazing—you're so tall… I was almost in your situation too. Barely missed the cutoff for last year. Were you reading just now? The Healing Handbook! Do you want to become a Healer at St. Mungo's someday?"
"Maybe. I just want to learn more. I lived in the Muggle world before this and didn't know anything about the magical world. Reading helps me catch up."
Sainz didn't try to hide his background. It was easy enough to find out anyway.
Now that she was standing upright, he noticed that she was indeed a little taller than the average girl.
"What about you? From the way you talk, it sounds like you already know quite a bit about magic. Is your whole family magical?"
"Half and half. My mom's a witch, and my dad's a Muggle. He was really shocked when he found out my mom was a witch—hahaha!
But they get along really well now, and my mom's told me a lot about the wizarding world."
"So you've known about magic since you were little. You must already know a lot of spells?"
"Nope! My mom always said I was too young to use magic properly, so she never let me touch a wand. But I do have a kid's flying broom. Oh, and—Speed is so cool, isn't he?"
The little girl had clearly never had anyone to show off to before—now she was happily offering up all her magical knowledge without even being asked.
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