Truth be told, even when an idea seemed abstract or half-formed, Tom's imaginative whims had a strange tendency to manifest in the most unexpected ways—this time included.
Things did not go smoothly at first. No matter how hard Tom tried, the Eagle Owl showed absolutely no intention of taking flight while carrying him. It glared, fluffed its feathers, and refused to cooperate, as though silently questioning Tom's sanity.
In the end, however, Tom succeeded.
His solution was simple, if somewhat unorthodox. He packed all of his school necessities—and himself—into a neatly sealed parcel. Somehow, impossibly, the massive Eagle Owl picked up the package, which was actually larger than its own body, and took off without difficulty. With a powerful beat of its wings, it soared into the sky and flew steadily toward the Lovegood family home.
Tom, who had not expected the plan to work at all, wore a complicated expression the entire way.
An owl carrying a parcel several times its own weight, flying to a place it had never visited before? One could only say that this was the wizarding world at its finest. It was absurd, unreasonable, and yet undeniably magical.
As for the experience of traveling by owl—
(╯｀□′)╯︵┻━┻
Whoever said the Knight Bus was the worst form of transportation in the wizarding world clearly had never tried this. Tom silently vowed to argue with them if he ever got the chance.
After finishing his shopping, Tom's life returned to a peaceful routine.
He woke up naturally every morning, basked lazily in the sunlight, and napped whenever the mood struck. Occasionally, he accompanied Luna while she read through Hogwarts textbooks, offering commentary or quietly listening as she spoke aloud. His days passed comfortably, without worry or urgency.
If not for the occasional need to reply to Hannah's increasingly inquisitive letters, Tom might have believed that time had reversed to the days before he ever received his Hogwarts acceptance letter.
Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—reality refused to let him forget.
The robes hanging neatly in the wardrobe, each bearing the name "Tom Lovegood."
The wand that now unmistakably belonged to him.
And Hannah's near-daily letters, filled with curiosity, excitement, and barely concealed anticipation.
All of it served as a constant reminder: he was now an incoming Hogwarts freshman.
Time slipped by unnoticed, and before Tom realized it, September 1st arrived—the day all new students were to report to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Tom politely declined the Lovegood family's offer to escort him to King's Cross Station. Instead, he once again relied on the same ability he had used to reach Diagon Alley, teleporting himself directly onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
(－‸ლ)
A smart cat doesn't ram its head into a wall—even if that wall doesn't actually exist!
To be honest, part of Tom was tempted to teleport directly to Hogwarts itself, just to see whether the school's famous Anti-Apparition Jinx could block his method of travel. Unfortunately, since he had no idea where Hogwarts was actually located, he had no choice but to abandon the idea.
Of course, if he truly wished to avoid the train, there was always another option: asking George to "mail" him directly to the school.
However, when he considered the distance involved—and the unforgettable "comfort" of owl-based transportation—he very wisely dismissed the thought.
Speaking of which, George was the name Tom had given to the Eagle Owl, in memory of a cowardly cousin he would never see again.
He had briefly considered naming the owl "Jerry," but ultimately decided against it. Naming an owl after a mouse would imply that he missed that irritating rodent, and Tom refused to entertain such an idea. Absolutely not.
Just like before, when Tom activated his ability, he felt his paws uncontrollably pull something black from beyond his field of vision. It swept over his eyes, plunging him into momentary darkness. When light returned, he was standing amid the chaos of a bustling platform.
A scarlet vintage steam train waited nearby, its polished engine proudly displaying a sign that read: Hogwarts Express.
The platform was packed with people. Because the space was relatively narrow, the noise was overwhelming.
Excited conversations overlapped endlessly. Cats meowed from inside carriers. Owls hooted irritably from atop trunks and shoulders. The combined cacophony assaulted Tom's sensitive ears until they rang painfully.
(;ﾟДﾟ)
If I stay here any longer, my ears are going to explode!
Without hesitation, Tom scrambled onto the train and ducked into the first empty compartment he could find. As for his luggage, it remained stored safely in that mysterious space he could access at will.
The moment the compartment door slid shut, the noise vanished.
Silence.
Tom let out a long, heartfelt sigh of relief. For a brief moment, he had genuinely believed his first day of school might end with a trip straight to the Hospital Wing.
Finally able to relax, Tom squinted contentedly and lay down on the table, letting the warm sunlight stream in through the window. The gentle rocking of the train, combined with the warmth, made it difficult to stay awake.
Waiting was always agonizing. Perhaps because he had arrived so early, it felt as though he had been sitting there forever, yet the train still hadn't moved.
Before he realized it, his eyelids grew heavy.
Tom yawned lazily.
And then, he fell asleep.
When Tom woke again, he immediately sensed motion. The train was already underway, steadily heading north.
Clearly, he had missed the legendary "savior's" first appearance.
(￣▽￣)*
It doesn't really matter anyway~
Tom had never been particularly interested in the so-called savior. No matter how the original story portrayed him, in Tom's eyes, Harry Potter was ultimately just an ordinary wizard—one who could do nothing without a wand.
If not for Dumbledore's careful guidance, and if not for that "power-strip spirit" who shared his name being overly obsessed with prophecies, would Harry truly have been the one to defeat Lord Voldemort?
Tom was deeply skeptical.
But then another thought occurred to him.
Why is it so quiet? Has no one entered this compartment at all?
Tom glanced around, confusion evident in his expression. As the first non-human student ever admitted to Hogwarts, he had expected at least some kind of reaction from his peers—just like on the platform earlier.
Even amidst the crowd, he had felt curious gazes, whispered discussions, and open stares, especially from students who had personally witnessed his arrival.
However, the moment he looked beside him, confusion gave way to helpless resignation.
[Hannah, I think you can take your hand off my head now, don't you?]
Sitting next to him was Hannah Abbott—the first friend Tom had made in the wizarding world outside of Luna's family.
Unfortunately, Hannah's hand was not behaving appropriately.
It was currently kneading his head without pause.
"Ah! Tom, you're awake!"
Hannah quickly withdrew her hand, though not without reluctance. She wore an unmistakable praise-me expression.
"When I came in, you were sleeping so soundly. I locked the door so no one else would disturb you!" she said proudly. "See? Wasn't that thoughtful? So about this—"
Before she could continue, Tom cut her off mercilessly.
[One thing is one thing. I appreciate you guarding my sleep, but taking advantage of me while I was unconscious is another matter entirely!]
"How can you be so heartless~"
Hannah pouted dramatically.
(´;ω;`)
If I'd known, I would have brought a good-looking pet cat. Maybe I could've traded it for the right to pet Tom…
If Tom knew what she was thinking, he would have been absolutely furious. He had said it before—he was not interested in being treated like a pet cat!
After sulking silently for a moment, Hannah finally spoke again, her voice softer this time.
"So," she asked, smiling gently,
"What do you want to do?"
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