Chapter 12 The boy who looked a little downcast in front of the platform
On the first day of September, Aaron packed his things early in the morning and, accompanied by Gines, hurried to King's Cross Station.
He pushed a trolley with two large suitcases on it; one contained his luggage and textbooks, and the other held other items.
He had two wands hidden on him; he planned to use the black one normally, while the white one he did not intend to show easily, either as a trump card or to deal with emergencies.
Gines cast a small Levitation Charm on the two large suitcases, making them not as heavy as they looked.
On top of the suitcases was a dressed and very cute white kitten, Abey, quietly lying on the suitcases, drawing many Return rate for their combination.
Aaron looked at Gines, smiling nervously and excitedly, "Uncle Gines, once I enter the station, you won't be able to control me anymore, will you? Are you reluctant?"
"Reluctant? Not really, after all, I've been mentally prepared for this for a long time.
However, those few who have been secretly following you are probably going to be happy for a while."
Aaron's expression stiffened, and he felt a little angry in his heart. He was already eleven years old and still hadn't figured out the security forces secretly following him, which made him a little annoyed.
"Well, at this point, can you tell me who they are?" Aaronasked with some anticipation.
Gines hesitated, "There are six in total; two of them secretly protect you at all times, rotating shifts every three days.
In terms of combat power, they are all elite Aurors.
It's also fortunate that your activity range, young master, is mostly Diagon Alley and the Castle; if you were running around everywhere, they might need to Apparate to change shifts in time."
"Heh heh!" Aaron sneered. He would remember these people; when he became powerful later, none of them would escape.
A gentleman's revenge is not too late in ten years, he considered himself not a sinister villain, but definitely not a gentleman either, and he couldn't wait that long.
Gines noticed the change in Aaron's expression and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, silently mourning for these diligent bodyguards for a second in his heart.
As a butler, he didn't have to worry about being held accountable later, but the remaining few would probably be in for a beating.
Entering the station, Aaron and Gines waved goodbye.
He leisurely pushed the trolley by himself, feeling the breath of "freedom" in the aisle. Although his sense of security dropped by a tiny bit, his mood was exceptionally relaxed.
He walked past Platform 1, Platform 2, and didn't stop until Platform 9.
At this moment, he noticed a boy not far ahead, also pushing a trolley, with a white owl quietly sitting in a cage on the trolley.
He was discussing something with the station guard, but the result seemed unsatisfactory. The guard walked away with big strides, while the boy looked anxious and uneasy, standing stunned on the spot.
Aaron immediately guessed that this poor kid was also a Hogwarts freshman, but it was clear that he didn't know how to get to the Platform.
A young Wizard asking a Muggle who had no idea about the existence of magic where the Platform to the magic school was, was truly something else.
For the sake of possibly being future classmates, Aarondecided to help him, so he simply pushed his trolley over.
"Hello!"
A simple greeting seemed to startle the boy. He turned his head in a bit of a panic, looking at Aaron, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
However, it wasn't because of Aaron's appearance, but because Aaron was also pushing something similar to his, and precisely because of this, he looked even more nervous.
"It looks like you might need a little help!"
"Ah! Yes, I do.
Do you know how to get to Platform 9 3/4?" the boy asked somewhat awkwardly.
"You've come to the right person; I happen to know where that Platform is.
However… as a young Wizard about to enroll, it's quite rare that you don't know where the Platform is.
Didn't your family come with you?"
The boy hesitated for a moment, wanting to speak but holding back.
Aaron also saw that he had something difficult to say, so he didn't ask further, "Come with me! It seems you don't get along very well with your family."
"Thank you!" the boy said in a low voice, silently following behind Aaron.
The two walked a short distance forward, arriving between Platform 9 and Platform 10.
Aaron pointed to a stone wall at the junction of Platform 9 and Platform 10, "That's it, Platform 9 3/4. Just run into it."
The boy nodded, then pointed at the stone wall in front of him in astonishment, "Are you saying we have to run into it?"
"Exactly, you go first," Aaron said calmly.
The boy became somewhat hesitant, and a hint of suspicion appeared in his gaze towards Aaron. Is this guy trying to trick me on purpose?
"How about you go first? I don't have any experience."
"It's precisely because you don't have experience that I'm letting you go first. If I go in, I won't come out to help you again," Aaron said, then looked at the somewhat shy boy who was still unwilling to move, frowning, "You don't believe me, do you?"
"I…" The boy pondered for a moment, "A little, after all, it's a wall, and this is our first time meeting."
Aaron felt offended. He had kindly brought this future classmate to Platform 9 3/4, but he didn't expect the other party to doubt him.
"May I ask, are you a Half-blood Wizard or a Pure-bloodWizard? Or are both your parents Muggles?"
"Both my parents are Wizards," the boy said hesitantly.
"Oh?" Aaron carefully scrutinized the reserved boy in front of him, asking in confusion, "That shouldn't be! According to that, you're considered well-established in the Magical World, but your understanding of the Magical World seems pitifully small."
"My parents passed away when I was one year old; he has been living with my aunt and uncle."
"Oh! That explains it," Aaron said with a look of realization, "They definitely aren't good people."
"Indeed, wait, how did you know?"
"You're wearing clothes that are more than one size too big, and your glasses frame is taped together. I really can't understand what kind of family would treat their relative this way," Aaron said, pointing at the boy's coat and glasses, his eye twitching slightly.
This was the first day of school! Dressing like this was a bit unseemly.
Fortunately, they wear uniforms at Hogwarts, so these casual clothes wouldn't be used, but this boy's situation was unusually bad; it was hard to say if he even had a uniform prepared.
"Given that, your suspicion of me is understandable, after all, your thinking is still stuck in the Muggle world, so I'll reluctantly forgive you," Aaron said, then pointed to the wall in front of them, "This Platform is a wall to Muggles, but to Wizards, it's a door, and to you, it's a grand entrance to the Magical World.
I'll only demonstrate once, but after that, I can't control it anymore; you're on your own."
Hearing this, the boy became a bit anxious; to be precise, he regretted it a little, because he felt that Aaron wasn't lying to him.
Besides, even if he was lying, what could happen?
Compared to escaping that family and the miserable school arranged by his aunt and uncle, was hitting a wall really that hard? At most, he'd just be ridiculed.
"Wait, how about I go first after all!" the boy said in a hurry.
Aaron stopped his forward movement and turned around, looking at the boy playfully, "Are you sure?"
"Uh… not entirely sure.
But I don't know any other way, so I might as well try a long shot!"
"Excellent." Aaron snapped his fingers, "You're a little smarter than I thought, so… please."
The boy took a deep breath and charged forward with his trolley. As he approached the wall, he closed his eyes, mentally preparing himself to be flung back.
However, nothing happened. He indeed passed through the wall and arrived at the real Platform 9 3/4.
Aaron watched the disappearing boy, shrugged, and calmly pushed his trolley through the wall.
After all, this door only required a running start for those who were coming for the first time and found it fun or weren't fully mentally prepared; he didn't need it at all.