Kael and the others had changed out of their Wizard's Robes in advance, and when the train finally came to a smoky stop, they got off with their trunks just like always.
There was a long queue at the platform exit, only two or three people allowed through at a time. After more than ten minutes, they finally made it outside the station.
This time, there were even more people picking them up than last year.
Both Chris and Diana had come, as well as the Weasleys, Moody who had come back the night before, Tonks, Lupin, Sirius, and Auror Kingsley.
Of course, those people were probably here for Harry, nothing to do with him... Well, maybe to keep an eye on someone else, too.
Newt Scamander.
For reasons unknown, he was here as well, standing there with a smile, watching Kael.
"Oh, dear." Diana came forward and hugged Kael, "How was school?"
"Pretty good," Kael said. He also noticed that there were even more Aurors and Beaters around King's Cross Station, all looking tensely at Newt, as though facing a great enemy.
"Why are you all here?" Kael looked at Newt, asking curiously.
"I went to help Dumbledore sort out a little trouble..." Newt said with a smile. "I happened to be passing by on my way back, so I decided to stop in."
"Was it those guards?" Kael asked.
Newt nodded with a smile.
Behind Kael, Hermione, who was talking to Mr. Granger, had been staring at Newt the whole time. Suddenly, she lowered her voice and exclaimed, "I just remembered, that's Mr. Newt Scamander! Oh my God, I can't believe I'm actually seeing the legendary Master of Fantastic Beasts."
"Scamander?" Mr. Granger asked in confusion, "Is he famous?"
"He's a household name in the Magic Realm." Hermione said excitedly. She opened her trunk and rummaged through it, "I want to get his autograph... Where's my 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'? I remember I put it in here... Ah, found it!"
When Hermione walked over with the book, Newt was also quite happy to sign his name in it.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Weasley was hugging Fred and George tightly, looking very happy.
And Moody, Lupin, and Sirius were seriously explaining something to Vernon Dursley.
Vernon Dursley was red-faced with anger, just about to explode, when he saw Moody take off his hat, revealing that swirling Magic Eye.
Vernon Dursley jumped back in fright, crashing heavily into a baggage trolley, his rage instantly gone.
"Don't do anything stupid, we'll be keeping an eye on things," Lupin said in a kindly tone. "And, if you don't let Harry use the connectivity..."
"It's called a telephone," Harry said quietly.
"Yes, that's what I meant..." Lupin nodded, "If we can't reach Harry, you'll be in a world of trouble."
Nobody could tell if it was fear of these people or the gold coin about the size of a bottle cap in his hand, but Vernon finally grunted gruffly, which counted as agreeing.
"Alright, it's not safe here, we should head back now," Mr. Weasley said.
"Where are you all headed?" Chris asked.
"The Square," Mr. Weasley said vaguely. "Aren't you?"
"No, we need to go home first," Chris shook his head.
"Need a ride?" Mr. Weasley said, "We have three cars this time."
"It's fine, we're Apparating back."
"Alright then, see you tomorrow." Mr. Weasley and Sirius left with a few of the kids.
Kael looked around, about to say goodbye to Conna, but oddly enough, he didn't see Conna anywhere.
"She didn't come out of the station?" Kael asked, puzzled.
"She did," Cho said. "I was with her."
"So where is she?"
Just as Kael was wondering, Diana suddenly seemed to spot a familiar face off to the side. She waved and called out, "Hey, Severus, is that you?"
Following her gaze, Kael saw a man in a black cloak, hair greasy as ever—who else could it be but Snape? And Conna was right beside him.
But Snape acted like he hadn't heard Diana at all, walking even faster.
Conna, on the other hand, turned around and gave Kael a helpless shrug.
...