After passing through the barrier, Tom and the others arrived at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
An old-fashioned steam train stood waiting. Young witches and wizards, poised to begin their studies, bid farewell to their families, while older students boarded with more nonchalance.
"Wow…"
Harry gazed around, fascinated by everything.
A family with distinctive red hair walked past.
"Fred, George, you go on ahead. Percy, remember to look after Ron. Don't let Fred and George lead him astray." The middle-aged woman, clearly their mother, fussed over her sons. A little girl stood beside her, too young to start school yet.
"Come, let us board, or Cassandra will grow impatient," Tom said, heading towards the train, Harry and Hermione trailing with their luggage.
...
After stowing their trunks, Harry and Hermione walked through several carriages filled with students until they found Cassandra's. She was embroiled in an argument with a group of older students.
"Cassandra, trying to monopolize an entire compartment is going too far!"
"Indeed. We are all pure-blood wizards, from powerful families. We are not intimidated by you."
"They only humor you because they are infatuated with you. We will not tolerate such behavior!"
Tom was momentarily taken aback.
Cassandra glared at the group. Then, she saw Tom and her face lit up.
"Teacher!" Cassandra rushed towards him, relieved.
The others noticed Tom, but none recognized him; Voldemort had faded into obscurity long before they were born. However, they weren't afraid. Tom looked barely an adult, and they outnumbered him with two older wizards amongst them.
The older students, faces contorted with anger, tried to confront Tom.
Unwilling to waste time, Tom drew the Elder Wand and tapped it lightly. The students stiffened, then began hopping away from the carriage in an orderly fashion.
Humiliated, the students muttered threats under their breath as they were forced away.
"Telling my father won't be enough! I'm telling my grandfather!"
"You're dead! I have connections on the school board!"
"I'm going to the Ministry of Magic! You'll be receiving a lawyer's letter!"
Tom knew they would carry out some of their threats, perhaps even some of their boasts, but ultimately, they would suffer the consequences.
Cassandra watched them go with a smug expression.
Having spent the last few days with Death Eaters, Harry remained unfazed.
As for the students' comments, Harry thought this was just what life was like as a Death Eater—constantly misunderstood.
Hermione, ever the innocent, looked worried. "Was that really necessary?"
Adopting a world-weary tone, Harry replied, "You get used to it. There will always be people who want to harm us, and we can't let them bully us."
Hermione seemed to consider this, remembering her experiences at Muggle school. Perhaps Harry was right.
Pleased that Hermione understood, Harry thought, She's teachable! I'll recruit her into the Death Eaters at school! Hehehe… Hmm? Am I being corrupted by my teacher?
...
Meanwhile, in other carriages…
"Hey, did you hear? Harry Potter is supposedly enrolling at Hogwarts today."
"Really?! The one who supposedly killed hundreds and robbed Ollivander's Wand Shop, the savior?"
"I heard there's a bounty on his head—a thousand Galleons!"
"What?! A thousand Galleons!"
Several students began to plot, intent on capturing the Savior and claiming the reward.
But their ambition quickly faded.
"But I heard Harry Potter is allied with Tom Riddle, and is constantly at his side. Do you think Tom Riddle will come to Hogwarts too?"
"Impossible! Albus Dumbledore is at Hogwarts, after all."
The young wizards had no idea Albus Dumbledore had already been defeated by Tom Riddle. The professors had kept the students away during the fight, so they only knew there had been a commotion, nothing more.
News spread quickly, growing more outrageous with each retelling. By now it's become a fact.
In one compartment sat a group of pure-blood wizards.
"What did you say?! Harry Potter is going to kill everyone at Hogwarts with the Dark Lord?!"
"Speaking of which, the first year with him — the guy who kicked us out earlier — had a lightning bolt scar on his forehead."
Malfoy slammed his hand on the table, his face pale as he turned to the first year who had spoken. "Shafiq, what did the guy who kicked you out look like?!"
"W-what's wrong with you? Why are you so agitated?" Shafiq stammered, startled by Malfoy's reaction.
"Never mind! Answer my question!"
Reluctantly, Shafiq described Tom's appearance, adding, "I'm going to write to Grandpa later and have him teach him a lesson!"
"..."
Malfoy was speechless.
Crabbe and Goyle exchanged worried glances, wondering what was wrong with their leader.
Shafiq waved a hand at Malfoy. "Malfoy, what is it…?"
"Who are you? Do I know you?" Snapping out of his daze, Malfoy recoiled from Shafiq, looking disgusted.
Damn it, these guys have made a huge mess. This is no place to stay; we have to get out of here right now.
I need to distance myself from these guys… No, I'll have to find Voldemort and explain that I had absolutely nothing to do with them.
The thought of being on the receiving end of Voldemort's Avada Kedavra without a chance to explain made him queasy.
"Crabbe! Goyle! Come with me!"
---