Britain seemed to have rain in every season.
Dark clouds sagged low over the sky, as heavy as spilled ink, and the rain fell fast and close together, drumming against rooftops and earth alike. It drowned out all other noise, leaving the world hushed as though only the rain itself remained alive.
Esther lay sprawled on the living-room sofa, flipping through a book titled Lost Ancient Spells.
Three days had passed since she fainted in Flourish and Blotts. She couldn't remember the moment she went down, but according to Ernie, her dramatic collapse added yet another wave of chaos to a bookstore that had already been well on its way to total disaster.
Even though the doctor later confirmed that she was perfectly fine—and had merely passed out from excitement and a lack of oxygen in a crowd—
the second-hand embarrassment did not disappear in the slightest.
If anything, waking up only made the shame worse.
Groaning, she covered her face with the book.
Her parents had been called away on a business trip, so they weren't home today. Worried about leaving their precious daughter alone, they asked Ernie to stay with her for a few days.
From the kitchen, where he was fighting a heroic battle of wits with several appliances at once, Ernie poked his head out.
"What happened? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, no. I'm fine. Absolutely fine."
Just… mortified.
What kind of transmigrator faints the first time they meet the protagonist?
This had to be a once-in-a-multiverse embarrassment.
Ernie scratched his head. "If you're okay, can you help me with something? How do you use this blender again?"
Wizards—especially pure-blood ones—were notoriously clueless about Muggle technology. Ernie's few encounters with appliances had all happened at his aunt's house.
Esther sat up and headed for the kitchen. She wasn't much of a cook herself, but she did at least know which buttons to press. After a long session of trial, error, and mutual despair, the two of them produced two plates of something… dark. And lumpy. And mysterious.
Ernie carried them to the table. The pair stared at the dishes, eyes wide, neither willing to be the first to risk their life.
"Um… I suddenly realize I'm not that hungry," Ernie ventured.
Esther sighed, accepting defeat. To avoid dying by their own cooking, she reluctantly dug into her treasured stash of snacks.
The area wasn't convenient like London had been; she couldn't just pop out to buy whatever she wanted or ask a housekeeper to fetch it. Since everything was far away, she always stocked up on treats in bulk.
Oh, how she missed the glorious food-delivery apps of her previous life.
She unwrapped a milk candy, savoring it while silently mourning.
Ernie, meanwhile, sampled the Muggle snacks with enthusiasm and introduced her to several wizarding treats—Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum—most of which she'd never tried. But the Hogwarts Express food trolley would take care of that soon enough.
For the first time in both her lifetimes, she was actually excited about the first day of school.
Time slipped by, and a few days later her parents returned—just in time for September 1st.
Together, with Esther practically vibrating with excitement, they made their way to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
The old steam engine puffed thick clouds of smoke, and chatter from families blended with the cries of owls and cats, filling the air with a chaotic, wonderful noise.
"Sweetheart, take good care of yourself at school. Write to us if you need anything," her mother murmured, kissing her forehead.
Her father—even he—looked slightly emotional.
"Study hard," he said. "And don't even think about dating."
Ah.
There he was. Her familiar father.
"Oh, stop it," her mother scolded him lightly, then turned to Esther with a conspiratorial smile. "Though… if you happen to meet a very charming boy, it's perfectly fine to make the first move."
Esther ducked her head, cheeks warm.
"Mum, Dad… did you two start dating at Hogwarts too?"
Her parents exchanged a look. Her mother beamed.
"Yes! And your father chased after me first."
Her father coughed loudly and attempted to change the subject.
"It's getting late. Ernie's already waiting for you. Hurry and get on the train."
His flustered expression made Esther laugh. She was just about to tease him when a voice called from behind her.
"Esther! Over here!"
She turned to see Ernie leaning halfway out of a train compartment, waving excitedly.
Following his line of sight, she also spotted her uncle and aunt standing below the train, clearly there to see him off.
To have raised a child like Ernie—one who befriended both Muggle-borns and Muggles—her aunt and uncle certainly weren't blood-purist extremists like the Malfoys. In fact, her mother had only reconciled with her family after her strict grandfather passed away.
She felt her father behind her… abruptly give her a push toward Ernie.
Esther: ???
She looked back at him in disbelief.
Was he really that eager to ship her off?
But Davis only urged, "Go on, don't make Ernie wait."
Meanwhile, her aunt and uncle were already walking over.
"Darling Esther! It's been so long. You've grown even prettier."
Her uncle smiled kindly.
"Come to our home for Christmas. I've got a big present waiting for you."
Esther beamed.
"Thank you, Auntie, Uncle!"
"What a sweet girl," her aunt said, planting a kiss on her cheek. Then she yelled at her son, "Ernie! Aren't you going to come down and help your sister with her trunk?"
Ernie froze for a second, then obeyed with a startled "Oh!" and jumped off the train to grab her luggage.
"No really, it's fine—I can carry it myself," Esther protested.
"Nonsense," her aunt said indulgently. "Your brother's a strong boy; let him do it. And if he ever refuses to help you at school, write to me. I'll sort him out."
Ernie, good-natured as ever, nodded earnestly.
"Don't worry, Mum! I'll be the best big brother!"
The train let out a long, echoing whistle, urging the students aboard.
Her aunt reluctantly released her, and Esther and Ernie climbed onto the train.
As Esther turned back one last time, she saw her parents standing side by side, waving at her with bright, loving smiles.
***
If you enjoyed the chapter, please leave a vote and share your thoughts in the comments. I'd love to hear what you think! 💕
Don't forget to check out my Telegram channel for more fresh updates and newly added novels.
https://t.me/starlitscript