## Chapter 323: The Crimson Train
The next day was the start of the school term. When Wade came downstairs, dressed neatly, he saw their neighbor sitting in the living room.
The one-eyed Alastor Moody was meticulously examining a piece of sausage on his fork.
Upon hearing footsteps, his blue magical eye swiveled, looking directly through the back of his head towards Wade.
"No need to be up so early, lad," Moody grumbled. "Don't worry about traffic, because I'll be taking you to the station."
"Mr. Moody?" Wade asked in surprise.
"Hm," Moody grunted in response. "Dumbledore told me his plans. He's thought things through quite well, but not well enough—a busy place like the station is perfect for observing people."
"So thank Alastor, he's really thoughtful."
Fiona happily placed a perfectly toasted slice of bread on Moody's plate. "Buttered toast, done just right."
Moody sniffed, examined it carefully, and then said, "Smells delicious, your cooking is excellent, Mrs. Gray."
"Actually, it's all thanks to Coco and the others at home!" Fiona asked, "Would you like some steamed egg custard, Alastor?"
"Yes, thank you very much."
Moody was always polite to Fiona, whether it was because he was eating her food or out of genuine chivalry.
Ferdinand asked Wade, "Are all your bags packed?"
"Yes, they are," Wade replied. "It's just Eva doesn't want to go in her cage. You can just let her fly over to me tonight."
"That works too, saves a mess on the train," Ferdinand said.
Before leaving, Wade hugged both his parents. When Fiona's eyes welled up, he smiled and winked, "Don't worry, Mom. If you miss me a lot, I can be back tonight."
Fiona knew he meant "fly back," and she immediately burst into laughter, though she shook her head and said, "You have to follow the school rules, Wade. Don't get caught by a teacher and expelled!"
She held him tightly for a long moment before finally letting go.
The subtle tension in the air recently had even the usually carefree Fiona feeling the pressure, making the farewell feel particularly worrying and difficult.
Ferdinand's parting words were as always, "Stay safe, Wade."
Wade nodded, took Moody's arm, and with a pop, they vanished from the spot.
It seemed that no matter how much time passed, the stomach-churning sensation of Apparition would never change.
Wade leaned against the wall, taking a moment to recover before he felt better.
Looking up, they were already at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
A crimson steam train was parked in the station, puffing smoke from its top. The platform was filled with students and parents saying goodbye, and various animals in cages were squawking and barking, making the whole place chaotic.
Moody watched for a moment, then suddenly snorted coldly, "More people are keeping rats again... Dumbledore should add another school rule, prohibiting the keeping of rodents on school grounds!"
Wade looked around. Many girls or first-year students were carrying hamster cages, inside which were chubby pets, some even asleep.
It was as if they had all forgotten the distaste Peter Pettigrew had brought upon everyone.
However, this scene also reminded Wade of Miss Millicent, the pet Fiona used to have.
Although Wade didn't like such pets, he had to admit that it brought Fiona a lot of joy.
"They must be Magic Golem Pets," Wade observed carefully for a moment before saying, "I've seen several identical white hamsters."
"Magic Golem Pets?" Moody was silent for a moment, then asked strangely, "Do those things need to be put in cages?"
Wade thought for a moment: "...Personal preference, I guess?"
Moody shook his head, perplexed. "...Let's find a car."
Wade had arrived earlier this time, so Michael and the others weren't there yet. Wade found an empty compartment, and Moody came in and looked around. After confirming it was safe, he let Wade enter.
"Always be alert, lad!"
The retired Auror gave one last instruction, and once he saw Wade seated, he vanished from the spot with a pop.
Wade took a book from his pocket and placed it on the table. He had only been reading for a short while when he felt an intensely strong gaze fixed on him.
He turned his head and saw Harry's squashed face through the glass, staring at him mournfully.
"..."
Wade was speechless for a moment before he opened the window. "...Harry? What are you doing?"
"Wait!"
Harry ran around to the train door, boarded the compartment, then slapped a crumpled piece of paper he had been clutching in his hand onto the table in front of Wade. He then forcefully smoothed it out, pulled it open, and slapped it down on the table again.
The newspaper was still wrinkled, and a distorted face came into view.
Harry's voice echoed faintly, "Wade, is this the—noble, elegant, kind Umbridge?"
Heaven knows! How shocked he was when he saw that newspaper!
He couldn't imagine what on earth Wade was thinking to praise such a person so effusively.
Wade cleared his throat and retorted indignantly, "Harry, how can you judge a book by its cover? Does being ugly mean one isn't even worthy of elegance?"
Harry, who had been stern-faced, faltered and was momentarily stunned, even feeling as if he truly didn't have much of a point.
He sat next to her, racking his brain for a while, but couldn't figure out how to respond.
Wade chuckled, opened his book, and continued studying Handbook of Magical Creatures Research.
The blood and wolf fur Claire gave him couldn't go to waste, but to analyze them more thoroughly, he first needed to establish a more solid theoretical framework.
The quiet in the compartment lasted until just before departure, when Harry heard the noisy Weasley Family outside.
Harry rushed out like a gust of wind, and then Wade heard him greeting the Weasley Family.
The young Wizard, who often seemed a bit shy in the original story, now appeared much more lively and confident, no longer the little boy in the plot who yearned for love yet often avoided it.
After a while longer, Michael, Theo, and Ryan also found their way to the compartment, greeted everyone, and their luggage quickly filled the luggage rack.
A long whistle blew, and the conductor began to close the train doors one by one.
Hermione also came by at that moment, bringing everyone gifts she'd brought back from her trip to France—
Small iron towers that could breathe fire; the flames were slightly warm, not hot to the touch.
"France also has some interesting magic. I bought several Magic Books and even rewrote my A History of Magic essay."
Hermione said excitedly, "If I get the chance, I really hope to visit Beauxbatons Academy in France! Oh, and did you all get The Monster Book of Monsters? I wanted to preview it, but I haven't been able to open it properly."
"Just stroke its spine," Wade said, "like you're petting a cat."
Hermione was taken aback. "That's all it takes?"
"Of course," Wade said. "The book is actually like a little animal."
"I'll go try it! If it works, I'll probably be finished reading it by the time we get to school!"
Just as she arrived in a whirlwind, Hermione left in a whirlwind.
Wade smiled, and with the slight swaying of the train, he felt his heart beating rapidly.
Tonight at the latest… he would finally get the Time-Turner he had been dreaming of!
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