Victor called a taxi, and the whole group headed to the station. Near the main entrance, they spotted the Granger family, who were just finishing saying their goodbyes to their daughter.
Victor transferred Adele's suitcases onto a luggage trolley, while he himself held only a single, compact rolling suitcase. As they approached the Grangers, Mrs. Granger looked at him with a smile:
— Victor, please look after my girl.
— I'll try, — he smirked, — but that's no easy task. Sometimes your lovely daughter can be quite reckless.
Hermione pouted and wound up to swat him, but catching Adele's heavy, unblinking stare, she immediately changed her mind and lowered her hand.
— Mom! — she flushed. — I can take care of myself; I don't need a babysitter!
After chatting for a few more minutes, the Grangers said their warm goodbyes, got into their car, and left. The group headed deeper into King's Cross Station. Hermione kept turning her head left and right, clearly looking for someone in the crowd.
— Who are you looking for? — Victor inquired.
Hermione sighed heavily:
— Harry. I'm so worried about him—he hasn't replied to a single one of my letters all summer. I'm afraid those Dursleys simply locked him up and won't let him come to Hogwarts this year.
— Don't worry, — Victor replied indifferently. — It's still early. And even if they don't let him go, Dumbledore will personally fetch his favorite.
— Isn't he your favorite? — Hermione arched an eyebrow.
— What gave you that idea? Yes, we spend time together occasionally, but we're just... well, friends. If Dumbledore has to choose between us, he won't hesitate to choose the Boy-Who-Lived.
Hermione grew thoughtful but didn't argue.
— Alright, I'll go first, — she said.
With a short run, she confidently dove into the brickwork between platforms nine and ten and vanished into the wall. Adele watched the barrier, mesmerized. Victor placed a hand on the handle of her trolley and gave it an encouraging squeeze:
— Well, shall we go together?
She looked at him, and gaining speed, the two of them dove into the masonry. A moment later, they were on the other side. Before them, in all its glory, stood the scarlet Hogwarts Express steam engine, shrouded in clouds of steam, surrounded by hundreds of children noisily chatting or hugging their parents goodbye.
The Flamels emerged from the barrier next. They approached the train staff loading the luggage, and after handing over the bags, headed toward the carriage doors.
— Well, children, the time has come to say goodbye, — Nicolas said, and for the first time in a long while, his voice held a note of genuine sadness.
Victor was silent for a moment, looking at the couple, then slowly stepped forward and hugged Perenelle.
— Even though we only met recently, I've grown very attached to you. I'm going to miss you.
Perenelle smiled warmly and pulled him close with one arm while beckoning Adele with the other. The girl timidly stepped closer, and Perenelle pulled them both into a tight embrace.
— I shall miss you as well. Our home will feel quite empty without you.
After a moment, Victor gently pulled away.
— Right, that's enough. It wouldn't do for anyone to see the "King of Slytherin" being so sentimental. It ruins my image.
Perenelle laughed brightly.
— King of Slytherin? — She shook her head and let go of Adele. — Very well, off you go. And don't forget to write!
Victor nodded and, taking Adele by the hand, entered the carriage. Hermione, after a brief goodbye to the Flamels, followed them.
As soon as he entered the corridor, he found Daphne leaning casually against the wall. She stood with her arms crossed and a mischievous smile.
— I saw everything. Your image just collapsed with a deafening crash.
— Daphne, dear, eavesdropping isn't nice, — Victor smiled. — You know, one could get a swat on their lovely bottom for that.
— Still a brute, — she rolled her eyes theatrically. — And here I was starting to worry you'd gone soft over the summer.
— Don't count on it. I haven't changed a bit. This year, Slytherin will shine in my reliable and strong hands.
Daphne gave an ironic snort.
— By the way, meet the new Princess of Slytherin, — Victor introduced the girl standing beside him. — This is my little sister, Adele.
— Pleased to meet you, — Daphne studied Adele with a hint of curiosity.
— So, have you secured us a compartment yet? — Victor asked.
— Naturally. Come on.
Victor smiled contentedly and followed her down the narrow corridor.
— There she is, my right hand! How I missed you this summer.
They reached the compartment, where George stood outside like a guard of honor. Victor lightly tapped Daphne's shoulder. She sighed and mouthed the name to him: "George."
— GEORGE! My boy! — Victor called out loudly. — How are you? Tell me, how was your summer?
The boy beamed upon seeing him:
— Victor, hi! Everything's great, this summer I...
— Whoa, whoa, slow down! — Victor cut him off mid-sentence without ceremony. — I only asked out of politeness. Honestly, I couldn't care less what you were up to.
With those words, Victor entered the compartment and shut the door firmly, leaving a stunned George alone in the corridor.
Once inside, Daphne suddenly frowned.
— Is something wrong? — Hermione asked, noticing the sharp change in her expression.
The Slytherin sank tiredly onto the seat and closed her eyes.
— I left my sister, Astoria, here. Но but she took her things and left.
— Maybe she just decided to find her friends? — Hermione tried to soothe her.
But Daphne only shook her head bitterly:
— No. She just doesn't want to be in the same compartment as me.
— Why? — Victor asked curiously, making himself comfortable.
Daphne granted him a cold, piercing look.
— Because of you. At Hogwarts, I'm the "right hand of the great Victor Moss." But at home, in my sister's eyes, I'm the one who shamed the family name by becoming your servant.
— Oh, don't worry about that, — Victor gave a dazzling smile. — I'll "re-educate" her this year. I have a lot of experience in that department.
— And how? By tying her up and choking her, like you did to me? — Daphne asked acidly.
Victor tapped his finger against his lips, lost in thought.
— Hmm... Is she pretty?
— Yes, but I'm asking you: don't touch her. I'll handle it myself.
Hermione, who had been listening with curiosity, interjected:
— He... he choked you?
— Oh yes, — Daphne said nonchalantly. — At the very beginning of first year. With a bedsheet.
Hermione's imagination helpfully provided a mental image. Blushing deeply, she abruptly turned to the window.
— Ha! Turns out Hermione is a pervert, — Victor pointed a finger at her shamelessly.
— W-what? No! That's not it at all! — she shrieked.
— Yeah, sure. Then why are you blushing?
— It's just... it's terribly stuffy in here!
— Oh, come off it, — Victor smirked at her torment. — There's nothing to be ashamed of. We're all a little perverted deep down.
— I SAID—I AM NOT LIKE THAT! — Hermione jumped up, her face burning. — Fine, I'm going to look for Harry and Ron. I feel uneasy that I still haven't seen them!
She bolted out of the compartment, slamming the door behind her.
— Well, she's offended, — Victor sighed theatrically. — Why can't people just be honest with themselves, like I am?
— Maybe because normal people have a conscience? — Daphne countered, straightening her skirt.
— That "conscience" thing again... such a burden on life. Fortunately, I'm entirely free of it.
The train began to roll smoothly, and Hermione, having returned to the compartment, didn't sit down. She paced in circles, wringing her fingers.
— Where could they have gone? Fred swears they arrived at the station together! I've gone through every carriage, checked every compartment—they aren't on the train. What have they gotten into this time?!
— Did you check the lavatories too? — Victor asked lazily, leaning back.
— It's not funny! How can you be so calm when our friends are missing?
— I'm sure they're fine. People like Potter and Weasley always run into trouble, but it usually works out.
Then Adele lightly tugged his sleeve.
— What is it, honey? — Victor's voice softened instantly.
— There's a boy... he almost fell out of a car, — she pointed a finger out the window toward the passing clouds.
Hermione immediately pressed against the glass, squinting into the blue sky.
— What car? I don't see anything!
— It flew away... above the clouds, — Adele replied.
Victor smiled and pulled his little sister close. She trustingly rested her head on his shoulder.
— Adele, cars don't fly. You must be exhausted from all the traveling. Get some sleep.
Hermione let out a miserable groan:
— Gasp! I can't stand this. I'll go check everything one more time, maybe I missed a service room.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Daphne, who had remained silent until then, said calmly:
— I saw the car too. And I think that really was Harry dangling outside the door.
— Yes, it was him. And Ron was at the wheel, — Victor kept his eyes closed, unmoving.
— And you didn't tell her? — Daphne arched an eyebrow.
— She shouldn't know. She's already on edge. I don't want to listen to a lecture all the way to Hogwarts about how irresponsible those two are and how many rules they've broken. I value my ears.