Chapter 139 Timely Material Assistance
A few hours later, Harry and Ron no longer found any joy in driving back to school; instead, they even felt a bit tormented, both mentally and physically, and were exceptionally tired.
The only edible things in the car were toffees, but candy couldn't be a meal, and eating too much made them thirsty, yet there wasn't a drop of water in the car.
The scenery of the azure sky was beautiful, but after staring at white clouds for several hours, visual fatigue was inevitable.
The sun also shone directly on the windshield, raising the temperature inside the car considerably, and even after taking off their jackets, both still felt drenched in sweat.
"I finally understand why Aaron didn't want to get in the car; this experience is truly not something an ordinary person can endure." Harry leaned back in his seat with a wry smile, his eyes full of helplessness.
"You're a bit better off; you just have to lie down, but I still have to drive!" Ron gripped the steering wheel, looking utterly resigned. "I really want to drink water now, I really want to lie down and rest, I really miss the ice-cold pumpkin juice on the train."
"Who doesn't?" Harry pursed his lips, then leaned his head out the window, observing the train moving steadily below. "The direction is right, but it should still be a long way to Hogwarts."
"Don't say that last part; there's no worse news than that." Ron rolled his eyes, exasperated. "Harry, why do you think we didn't get onto Platform 9 3/4?"
"I don't know; I don't have the mind to think about it right now."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of knocking on the car door clearly reached both their ears.
"What's that sound?" Harry asked.
"Probably a bird!"
Ron didn't think much of it, but no sooner had he spoken than the knocking sounded again.
The two turned their heads to look, meeting a pair of clear eyes; Abey, dressed in white, was looking at them from outside the car window.
Its wings flapped continuously, keeping pace with the Ford, and it carried a medium-sized backpack on its back.
"Abey!" Harry said with a hint of surprise. "Did Aaron send you to find us?"
Abey nodded, opened the back door, and slipped inside, placing its backpack down.
"Is this for us?" Ron looked at the full backpack, feeling a surge of anticipation.
Abey gave him a proud glance, then somewhat reluctantly opened the backpack and emptied its contents.
Bread, cakes, chocolates, Every Flavor Beans… everything imaginable. These were all things Harry and Rondesperately needed right now, but what made them happiest were the bottles of ice-cold pumpkin juice and mineral water.
Gulp!
Ron swallowed, looking at the cute pet in the back. "Well done, I love you so much."
Abey took a step back in distaste, then pulled out a note Aaron had left from its pocket and handed it to Harry Potter.
"Let me see what it says." Harry took the note and read its contents aloud: "Consider this my treat to you both, as thanks for the Weasley's hospitality. But remember, no littering from high altitudes."
"He doesn't need to tell us that; we know common sense." Ron couldn't help but laugh, reaching back for a bottle of ice-cold pumpkin juice and chugging half of it in one go. "I'm alive again."
Harry also took a bottle of pumpkin juice and a few small cakes, eating and drinking, his fatigue instantly reduced by more than half. "Suddenly, I feel like this is the right way to do a road trip."
"But it's still not as good as the train, at least you don't have to drive.
And you don't have to fly so high because you can't be invisible." Ron said, "Next time I take the train, I definitely won't be late."
Just then, Abey patted Harry's shoulder, then pointed to Aaron's note, as if to say he hadn't finished reading.
Harry realized and looked at the back of the note: "A friendly reminder: brace yourselves. I don't think this car's performance can last that long."
Ron's face changed. Although he knew this was just Aaron's guess, it was a possibility, and he didn't want to be forced to land halfway.
"Abey, did Aaron tell you how to solve the problem?"
Abey hesitated, then jumped to the front and pulled a black wand from Harry's clothes.
The two looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
They were indeed Wizards, but they were only second ClassWizards. Controlling a flying car was not just difficult for them, it was utterly impossible.
"Ron, I might…" Harry said awkwardly, "You know what I mean?"
Ron nodded blankly. Others might not know Harry's skill level, but his best friend knew it perfectly.
Together, they could at most use a Levitation Charm to keep the car from suddenly falling, but making it go forward or backward was truly beyond them.
"Actually, the situation might not be as serious as he said; after all, this car was carefully modified by my dad." Ronsaid unconvincingly, trying to convince Harry while also trying to cheer himself up.
"But Mr. Weasley probably hasn't flown this car for so long!"
"It at least took you from Surrey to Devon. With a bit more effort, it might just make it to Hogwarts."
Hearing this, Harry breathed a sigh of relief. By this standard, the car was still reliable.
In the back seat, Abey had completed the task Aaron gave it, nimbly put on its backpack, opened the car door, and flew down.
Back in the train compartment, Draco looked at Abey's empty backpack and couldn't help but curiously look at Aaron. "What did you send it to do?"
"Of course, I sent it to help those who need help." Aaronsmiled meaningfully. "After all, I'm so kind."
"Senior is truly compassionate." Colin said earnestly.
Watching Colin, his junior, give a thumbs-up, Draco's mouth twitched. This child… he would be easily misled in the future. Harry Potter having such a fan, he didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse.
The train traveled on the long tracks, emitting large amounts of white smoke from its chimney, passing through dusk with a clatter and entering the night.
As Hogwarts drew closer, the Wizard students on the train all changed into their Wizard robes.
Colin carefully checked his wand. "We're almost at Hogwarts. I heard that all first Class students have to be Sorted."
"Which House do you want to go to?" Draco asked. "Forewarning, the proud Slytherin will not accept Muggle-born Wizards, unless your ancestors…"
"I want to go to Gryffindor."
Draco, who hadn't finished speaking, felt a bit awkward. Was the celebrity effect really that strong these days?
"Ahem! Take my advice, don't go to that House.
Although you might not get into Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are also good. There's no need to choose the same House as Harry Potter just because you admire him."
"Alright, don't meddle in this matter. What Colin wants to choose is his freedom." Aaron said, exasperated. "Besides, some Houses aren't ones he can just go to."
"Alright!" Draco spread his hands, no longer speaking.
After all, the Sorting was decided by the Sorting Hat. Colin's thoughts held a certain weight in it, but they weren't absolute.
Aaron stood up from his seat, looking out the window. In the dark clouds, there seemed to be a black shadow rising and falling.
"How pathetic! That car has probably reached its limit."
"What are you looking at?" Draco walked over to Aaron, following his gaze, but saw nothing.
"Nothing." Aaron chuckled, then walked out of the compartment. "I'll be back in a bit."
"Senior, what did he go to do?" Colin asked.
Draco had no ill will towards this prospective Gryffindorstudent, but no particular fondness either; he just sat back in his seat. "How should I know?"
In the corridor, Aaron walked through compartment after compartment, his gaze quickly scanning familiar and unfamiliar faces, finally stopping in front of one compartment.
"Hi, Aaron, what are you doing here?" Fred greeted him.
Aaron glanced at Ginny sitting by the window, then at Fredand George, raising an eyebrow. "Um… isn't Percy here?"
"He's in the Prefect's compartment." George said. "He's been like that ever since he became a Prefect."
Aaron hesitated for a moment, then looked at Ginny and said, "Harry and Ron have something urgent, perhaps, possibly, probably, maybe, might just…"
"Does one sentence really need to be that long?" Fredinterrupted Aaron with a laugh. "Just say what you mean."
"Alright! I mean they might miss Ginny's Sorting ceremony."
"Huh?"
All three were somewhat surprised.
"What could be more important than a sister's Sorting ceremony?" George frowned.
"Harry Potter won't be coming either?" Ginny said with some regret.
Aaron nodded, not denying it.
"Which compartment are they in? We'll go talk to them." Fred stood up, and George followed suit.
"I only said it was a possibility; they might still make it.
Besides, the train is almost stopping. You probably won't have time to find them now."
Aaron stood at the compartment door, blocking the two. If the prank-loving twin brothers knew how Harry and his friends were traveling, they would most likely try to join them halfway.