Early the next morning, everyone stood at the door of the Shabby Residence, getting ready to head to King's Cross Station.
Soon, a blue car drove over from the distance.
Usually, Ministry cars were in short supply at this time, but when Fudge heard that Harry was here, he directly ordered their best car to be dispatched.
This could be considered a favor returned.
Ever since coming back from the Ministry of Magic that day, Harry had been staying at the Burrow and didn't reveal a word about the assassination attempt, saving the Ministry from a lot of trouble.
As a reward, lending them a car to get to the station seemed a small thing—naturally, Fudge didn't object.
Besides, this way was also safer.
They'd confirmed that the Ministry worker who tried to assassinate Harry was indeed under the Imperio, so to prevent anything from happening before Harry returned to Hogwarts, Fudge even sent an Auror as the driver.
Except this Auror didn't seem all that reliable.
With her head of fiery red hair, Tonks was clearly in a foul mood, and she didn't stop talking for a second—either cussing at someone or cussing at the car, and even Bill sitting beside her didn't escape her wrath... because he hadn't helped her berate the guy who'd crossed the road recklessly a moment ago.
Ginny sat behind her, arms wrapped around herself, shivering, barely daring to breathe, worried Tonks might turn around and drag her into it as well.
Going back to school wasn't a happy thing to begin with, and paired with such a hot-tempered driver, the whole ride was deathly quiet—it was almost scary how silent it was.
Thankfully, after half an hour, they finally arrived at King's Cross Station.
Tonks was the first out of the car. The instant she opened the door, her hair shifted from red to a brilliant bubblegum pink.
"We're here."
She patted the car door and said with a smile, "Everyone get out, remember to grab your luggage, don't forget anything."
Everyone filed out without a word, took their luggage from the trunk, and hurried toward the station.
Nobody talked along the way—not even Fred and George, who usually loved to make a racket, managed to keep quiet for once.
It wasn't until they'd passed through the wall and entered Platform 9¾ that Fred finally let out a breath of relief and said:
"Merlin as my witness, I am never, ever riding in a car with Tonks again!"
"If there's ever a next time, I'd rather walk all the way from home," George said.
The others all nodded in agreement.
"Alright, let's get moving," Mrs. Weasley added from the side. "Tonks is a good person... of course, as long as she's not driving," she silently added in her mind.
It was the first time Mrs. Weasley realized just how fierce Tonks could be behind the wheel, like she'd turned into someone else entirely.
She'd wanted to remind Tonks to mind her image several times during the drive, but couldn't find a chance to cut in at all; when she finally managed a word, Tonks didn't even hear her, lost in her temper.
In the end, she could only sigh quietly to herself and pretend she hadn't heard anything.
On the platform, the Hogwarts Express was already waiting.
"Ah, I really wish I could go back to Hogwarts this year," Bill said, hands in his pockets, staring wistfully at the deep crimson train.
"Why's that...?" George asked.
"You lot are in for an interesting year," Bill's eyes sparkled. "I might even take leave just to watch some of it…"
"Watch what?" Fred was getting impatient.
It had been like this all holiday—Mr. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, Percy... everyone was being cryptic.
But no matter how he asked, Bill would just smile and say nothing.
Kael knew—typical wizard mischief. Like the Sorting for first-years—all for the sake of 'surprises'.
Tsk, it's just the Triwizard Tournament, so what's the big deal... So as George looked over, he shrugged and said, "Don't look at me, I've no idea either."
Just then, the train's whistle sounded.
They quickly boarded, poking their heads out the window to talk to Mrs. Weasley and Bill.
"Thank you for letting us stay, Mrs. Weasley!" Cho said, waving her hand.
"Oh, I was happy to have you, dear," Mrs. Weasley replied. "I'd love to invite you to spend Christmas at our house, but... I suppose you might not be willing, because... for one reason or another."
Ron wanted to ask more, but the train had already started moving, drowning out his words in the steam and whistles.
Mrs. Weasley waved at them with a smile, and before the train even rounded the bend, she and Bill Disapparated away.
Kael and the others went back to their compartment, while Fred and George kept complaining that everyone was keeping them in the dark.
Cedric turned his face away, suppressing a laugh. Clearly, he knew, too, but wasn't planning on telling them either.
Honestly, watching Fred and George like this was pretty entertaining.
Once the train got going, rain started up again, pounding against the windows in a steady rhythm, making it hard to see outside.
"Where's Conna?"
At that, Cho suddenly asked, "Didn't she get on the train?"
"She should be in another carriage right now," Cedric said, looking at Kael. "Hurry up and get it out, we should be headed over there too."
"Get what out?" Fred asked instinctively.
He watched as Kael pulled an envelope out of his pocket.
"Ding!"
As Kael opened the envelope, a round object tumbled onto the table.
"Oh, damn it!" Fred and George's faces instantly turned sour, as if they'd just swallowed a handful of liver-flavored Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
They knew that thing all too well—Percy hadn't stopped showing his off the past two years.
Prefect Badge!
"Oh, another Prefect among us, how wonderful..." George drawled.
"No, actually it's two," Cho smiled as she pinned her own Prefect Badge onto her robes.
Looking at Fred and George again, their faces had turned exactly the color of liver.
The pair had always claimed, and firmly believed, that they'd never want to be Prefects in their life—but now that certainty was shaking.
Who could've guessed—out of the six of them, except for the two of them, everyone else was a Prefect.
This was a bit much. How were they supposed to hang out together now?
But that wasn't all—Kael and the others strutted around with their Prefect Badges on display, intentionally or not, in front of them for a good while, just refusing to leave.
Fed up, Fred and George grabbed their bags, shoved the compartment door open, and went off to find Lee Jordan.
Prefects, big deal—they'd leave if that's how it was!
The compartment instantly broke out in laughter.
"Are we being a bit too much?" Honest Cho asked in a small voice.
"Don't worry, they're not that petty," Kael said, patting his suitcase. "Besides, I have a way to make them forget their annoyance and gladly call us Prefect."
The three of them left the compartment, laughing, and headed toward the front Prefects' carriage.
Sure enough, Conna was there. Seeing Kael and Cho, her nerves quickly eased.
"What took you so long?" she asked.
"Had to give Fred and George a little surprise, obviously," Kael grinned. "You really should have joined us—it'd have been even more impressive."
"What?" Conna didn't get it.
Cho leaned in and whispered something to her, and soon enough, Conna couldn't help but giggle too.
"Aren't you worried they'll turn your badge into 'Big Head Boy'?" Conna teased. "Like Percy's."
"Not worried," Kael said confidently with a wave, "They won't get a chance."
…