Harry's twin || Between Light and Shadow

Chapter 15: Flying Car

"I said no, Arthur, not in broad daylight—"

They finally reached King's Cross at a quarter to eleven. Arthur dashed across the road to fetch trolleys for their trunks, and they all hurried into the station. Percy went through the barrier first, followed by Arthur, Fred, George, and Daisy. Molly and Ginny came through right after. A scarlet steam engine waited on the platform, smoke drifting over the heads of the chattering crowd. But Harry and Ron were nowhere to be seen.

"Oh dear!" Molly exclaimed, glancing at the clock. "No matter! You all worry about yourselves for now. We'll handle Ron and Harry!" She shooed the others toward the train, giving everyone a quick hug before they hurried aboard.

"Hogwarts Express departing soon!" a voice called, accompanied by the train's whistle. Daisy barely made it through the door before it closed. The group collectively sighed in relief, their hearts still pounding from the rush. They exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

"Come on, let's find an empty compartment," Fred said. "I don't want to stand here the whole ride."

Daisy waved goodbye to the Weasleys and made her way through the train, searching for her friends. She hadn't seen Pansy, Daphne, and Tracey all summer, though they'd exchanged letters. Finally, she spotted them in a compartment and flung the door open.

"GUYS!" she shouted.

"DAISY!!!" they yelled back in unison, their faces lighting up with excitement.

"Oh, how are you? We thought you'd missed the train!" Tracey said.

"Almost," Daisy replied, collapsing into a seat. "I came with the Weasleys, same as last year, but this morning was a disaster. They kept forgetting things and turning back."

"Ugh, of course it's the Weasleys," Pansy said, rolling her eyes.

Daisy shoved her trunk onto the rack and settled in. "So, what's new with you guys?"

As they caught up, Daisy glanced out the window and saw something flying alongside the train. She pressed her face to the glass and gasped. It was Arthur's car, and inside she could just make out the figures of Ron and Harry.

"Oh my god," she muttered, facepalming.

"What is it?" Daphne asked.

Daisy pointed out the window.

"Oh, that can't end well," Tracey said.

"Gryffindors," Pansy scoffed.

---

The train slowed and came to a halt with a squeal. "We're here," Daphne said as Tracey bounced up from her seat. "Sit back down, Tracey. Let the first years go first. I don't want to fight the crowd."

Daisy chuckled, remembering her own first year. Once the platform had cleared a bit, they grabbed their trunks and climbed into one of the horseless carriages waiting outside. The door shut with a snap, and the carriage lurched forward, joining the procession rumbling up the track toward Hogwarts Castle.

Through the gates flanked by winged boars and up the sweeping drive, the carriages swayed dangerously in the growing gale. As they came to a halt before the great oak doors, Daisy and her friends dashed up the stone steps into the torch-lit entrance hall. They left their luggage and hurried into the Great Hall, where the start-of-term feast was in full swing.

The Hall looked magnificent as always, with golden plates and goblets gleaming under hundreds of floating candles. The four House tables were packed with chattering students, and the staff sat at the high table, facing their pupils. Daisy and her friends joined the Slytherin table, their stomachs growling in anticipation.

"I hope there aren't too many first years to sort. I'm starving," Daisy sighed.

Her friends laughed. "You're always thinking about food," Pansy teased.

"That's not true!" Daisy protested, though her eyes were already imagining what feast will be laid out before them.

As the sorting began, Daisy's gaze wandered to the high table. She noticed two empty seats—one presumably for Professor McGonagall, who was with the first years, and another for Hagrid, who was likely at the lake. Her eyes landed on Gilderoy Lockhart, resplendent in aquamarine robes, and she frowned. Then she noticed Snape leaving the Hall, his expression dark.

"Where's he off to?" Tracey wondered.

Before Daisy could answer, the doors opened, and silence fell as Professor McGonagall led the first years in. The sorting began, and Daisy tuned out until Ginny's name was called. The hat barely touched her head before it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" Ginny's eyes met Daisy's, and Daisy gave her a reassuring smile.

After the sorting and Dumbledore's speech, the feast began. Daisy dug in with gusto, her earlier unease forgotten.

Midway through the meal, Snape returned, looking furious, and left again with McGonagall and Dumbledore, who seemed unusually flustered.

"Potter and Weasley aren't here, are they?" Daphne pointed out.

"Pfft, they're in trouble," Pansy said with a smirk.

"What'd they do?" Millicent Bulstrode asked.

"They flew a car to school," Daisy sighed, shaking her head.

"Hah! Potter and Weasley, coming to school in a flying car? They're definitely getting expelled!" Draco crowed, his voice carrying across the table.

The Slytherins erupted into laughter, and the news spread like wildfire through the Hall. Daisy couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Harry and Ron, even as she rolled her eyes at their recklessness. It was going to be an interesting year.