In the early morning, Mrs. Weasley's roar echoed through the Burrow once again.
"Percy! Percy! Where are your robes and cauldron? And what are all these letters doing still packed up? Clean them up right now!"
"Fred! George! How many times have I told you? You are not bringing those weird candies to school! Take them all out—every single one!"
"Ron! What time do you think it is? And you're still sleeping? Get up right now and double-check your luggage! If I don't see you downstairs in five minutes, I'll toss you into the pond and lock you in the cellar. Forget about going to Hogwarts!"
"Merlin's beard, one of these days you lot will drive me mad!"
"You should really take a page from Vaughn's book. He packed two days ago! Not just the regular school supplies—he's even taking potions and ingredients. Poor boy worked so hard..."
Molly sniffled and wiped her eyes, but then her gaze landed on something, and her expression turned fierce. She waved her wand angrily. "Scabbers, get over here!"
A fat rat came squeaking through the doorway, flying into her firm grasp, its limbs flailing pitifully.
"Ronald Weasley! Are you blind? You can't even keep track of your own pet! If it weren't for our darling Hexby chasing it down, we'd have lost it completely. Come here, sweetie, Mommy's got some dried fish for you~"
"Meow~"
The chaos raged for over two hours. Only after Molly checked everything—again and again—did a car horn sound outside the Burrow.
Molly led the way, helping Vaughn carry his heavy box of potion ingredients, followed closely by her sons.
Out front, a beat-up car waited in the clearing. Arthur Weasley stood proudly beside it, patting the roof like it was a treasured steed.
"All aboard, kids! Today, Daddy's taking you to the station Muggle-style!"
Naturally, a regular car couldn't possibly hold so many people—but Arthur was a wizard, and despite working for the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, no one expected him to actually follow Muggle laws.
He'd been tinkering with the car all summer in the shed beside the Burrow. Vaughn, Fred, and George often helped when they were bored.
The trunk and interior had been enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm, making the inside ridiculously spacious.
Arthur even tried making it fly—but that part hadn't quite worked yet.
Luggage was stuffed into the trunk, and the family clambered in, jostling and shouting. Molly's scolding never stopped—Fred and George were bickering, Percy sulked over his discarded letters, and Ron clutched Scabbers while screaming for Hexby to back off.
Every few minutes, one of them yelped in pain as Molly twisted their ears.
Arthur, completely unfazed, cheerfully fiddled with the car's controls. He turned the key with a grin, flipping through a driver's manual and peering at a road map.
Vaughn, sitting in the passenger seat, was speechless.
"Dad… can you even drive?"
"Of course I can! I've practiced at least three days—Vaughn, can you check what this says? 'Clutch'? 'Gear'? How does that work? Amazing! Truly magical, these Muggles!"
Ten minutes later, the car had only made it 50 meters…
Vaughn, fed up, threw Arthur out of the driver's seat, cast a Muggle-Repelling Charm on the vehicle, and took the wheel himself.
Arthur, ever the child at heart, didn't mind at all.
"That's my boy! The Weasley genius! I knew you'd appreciate Muggle stuff too. Don't worry, son, once you're back from school, I'll learn to drive properly, and then we'll go on a—what do Muggles call it—yes, a road trip!"
Vaughn rolled his eyes.
The car sped along the road. Thanks to the Muggle-Repelling Charm, they weren't stopped by the police. But by the time they arrived at King's Cross, it was already half past ten.
They spilled out of the car and pushed through the crowded station, searching for Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Percy, still sulking, muttered, "Ugh, too many Muggles."
"Silly child, of course there are—it's a Muggle station."
"There! The third pillar!" Ginny, perched on Arthur's shoulders, spotted it first.
The family surged toward it.
"Percy, you go first—good. Fred, now you—"
"I'm George, Mum!"
"Oh—sorry, baby, my mistake."
The twins exchanged mischievous grins. George reached over and patted her cheek. "Actually, I'm Fred. Ha!"
He burst out laughing as he pushed his cart through the barrier.
Vaughn, walking behind Molly and Arthur, took in the sight of the ancient station. It was his first time here, and to be honest, he found it underwhelming.
The place was clearly old and crumbling in spots, with outdated facilities. Only the tall archway retained some trace of its former grandeur.
Then he caught a glimpse of a lone figure tailing them—a small boy pushing a cart piled with luggage and an owl cage. He looked thin, sickly almost, with broken glasses and a vacant, confused expression.
Compared to him, even Ron—the-spoiled-brat at home seemed tall, healthy, bright, and lively.
The boy noticed Vaughn watching and froze, unsure whether to approach. He hesitated, nervously wiping sweat from his brow, revealing a lightning-shaped scar.
The moment Vaughn saw it, he knew who the boy was—Harry Potter!
The legendary "Boy Who Lived."
"Come on, Vaughn, you're up next—oh!" Molly, who turned around to call Vaughn, noticed Harry, too. Though his scar was now hidden under his messy hair, she didn't recognize him.
Still, the sight of a lonely child stirred her maternal instincts. She smiled warmly and waved. "Hello, dear. First year at Hogwarts?"
"Yes... yes, ma'am." Harry mumbled, rubbing his hands on his pants nervously. "Platform Nine and Three-Quarters... I don't know how to—how to get in..."
"No problem, love. Look here—see that pillar? Between Platforms Nine and Ten? Just walk straight at it. Push your trolley and don't stop."
Harry blinked, nodded, and—with eyes squeezed shut—bolted forward like he was running from death. And disappeared.
Vaughn followed next. Jogging lightly, he felt no impact—just a moment of darkness, and then light. He found himself standing on a bustling platform beside a scarlet steam locomotive.
On the train was a gleaming sign:
[Hogwarts Express]