The days that followed passed like running water, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for school to begin.
During that stretch, Vera's Magic Circuit successfully advanced to Awakened · High Tier. Her mana cap rose to 90, and her recovery rate increased to 19.5 per hour.
Through constant practice, she had already mastered every basic spell listed in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1, and she could now skillfully use the basic techniques of Multi-Casting.
The potions Snape sent were indeed far more effective than the ones from St. Mungo's. At the very least, she no longer had to endure that bone-deep pain, and even her day-to-day movements had become much easier.
Every day, Kreacher made sure she took her potions on time and prepared all sorts of nutritious meals, making certain her condition would be strong enough to handle the school life ahead.
And so, on September 1st, morning sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains. Vera sat in her wheelchair as light streamed through the stained-glass window, scattering faint rainbow hues across her silver-gray hair.
"Miss," Kreacher called from outside the door, "are you ready to leave?"
"Yes."
Vera came back to herself and wheeled to the doorway.
Everything had already been checked over—not just the required books, but also a number of magical tools that would probably come in handy later. She had brought all of them.
"Miss truly doesn't need Kreacher to accompany her?" the house-elf asked worriedly as he pushed her to the fireplace, his eyes full of concern.
"I can take care of myself now," Vera replied calmly. "Besides, you're more needed here."
Kreacher sniffed. "Master Regulus said the same thing the first time he went to Hogwarts…"
Vera didn't interrupt the elf's muttering. Ever since her acceptance letter had arrived, Kreacher had been slipping into memories like this more and more often.
She merely adjusted her collar in silence, looking at the girl in the mirror—a pale-faced girl with silver-gray hair falling over her shoulders, black eyes carrying a composure far beyond her years.
"Is all the luggage ready?" she asked softly.
Kreacher straightened his hunched back at once. "Everything is packed in the expanded storage space in Miss's wheelchair!"
Vera lifted her head just in time to see Nox leap down from a beam, landing lightly in her lap, the silver fur at the tip of its tail brushing against her wrist.
After that, with hardly any effort, Vera made her way alone through the Floo Network to King's Cross Station.
Only after passing through the magical barrier to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and arriving before the steam-shrouded Hogwarts Express did she realize just how many students and parents had already gathered there.
She pushed her wheelchair slowly forward alone, her gaze sweeping over the excited first-years and the reluctant parents saying their farewells.
Nox poked its head up from her lap as well, curiously taking in everything around it.
Then, all at once, a familiar voice rang out from behind her.
"Vera! I'm over here!"
Turning at the sound, she saw a shock of slightly messy black hair springing out from the middle of the bustling crowd, lit by the sun.
Harri Potter was waving frantically at her, green eyes behind her glasses shining brightly.
She was dragging a suitcase that was obviously bigger than she was, with a bulging backpack slung over her shoulders, and the whole sight of her looked just a little on the verge of collapse.
Almost unconsciously, Vera pushed her wheelchair a little closer. Nox, perched in her lap, also began wagging its tail excitedly.
"You're finally here!" Harri ran over to her, breathing hard, her little face flushed from the sprint. "I started waiting half an hour early—I was almost starting to think you weren't coming!"
Vera raised a brow slightly. "We never agreed to come together."
"But I said I'd see you when school started!" Harri declared righteously, fumbling to push her slipping glasses back into place. "And we're friends, aren't we?"
Before Vera could answer, Harri had already taken it upon herself to start pushing her wheelchair.
"I'll push you inside! The platform's way too crowded—I just saw some older students nearly knock people over. It's dangerous!"
The instant she felt the push, Vera instinctively tightened her grip on the armrests. But right away, she sensed the difference between Harri and Kreacher.
The girl behind her was a little awkward with the force she used, but unexpectedly steady, and it didn't give Vera that unpleasant feeling.
"Where's your luggage?" Harri asked as she pushed her through the crowd, glancing around in fascination.
"In the expanded compartment of the wheelchair," Vera answered briefly.
Harri's green eyes widened immediately. "Wow! That's so cool!"
She bent down and leaned close to inspect the wheelchair's armrest, her nose nearly brushing the metal. "That looks way more convenient than an ordinary trunk."
Vera subtly leaned away, putting a bit more distance between them. "It's only a small trick."
"It is not just a small trick!" Harri straightened up and kept pushing her forward. "I'd bet you're the only person on the whole platform who thought of doing this!"
Vera tipped her head slightly back and looked at Harri's sparkling eyes, momentarily distracted.
This girl seemed to regard every single thing in the magical world with wonder and excitement, like a dry sponge greedily soaking up every drop of water it could find.
From a plot perspective, that was good. Curiosity made one better suited for adventure.
Very soon, the two of them found an empty compartment.
Harri struggled to stuff her luggage inside, then turned back, hesitated for a moment when she looked at Vera, and asked in a small, red-faced voice, "Do you need me to carry you in?"
Vera shook her head and drew her wand from the wheelchair armrest. "I can do it myself."
She softly cast the Levitation Charm, and under the support of magic, her body rose lightly into the compartment and settled steadily onto the seat.
Nox sprang up onto the bench with agile ease, then turned back and let out a meow at Harri.
Harri's eyes widened even further. She hurriedly sat down beside Vera.
"That's amazing! You can already use magic before classes have even started?"
Vera slid her wand back into her sleeve. "It's only a basic spell."
"That's still incredible!" Harri said excitedly. "You have no idea—when I was living at my aunt's house, I wasn't even allowed to say the word 'magic.'"
Her voice suddenly grew quieter, and her fingers unconsciously rubbed at the tape on her old glasses. "They always said I was a freak… said my parents died in a drunk-driving car accident…"
Vera's gaze fell to Harri's thin, bony wrists, the unmistakable result of long-term malnutrition.
Without realizing it, for the first time, she began seriously wondering what kind of childhood the Savior of this world had actually lived through.
"Now you know the truth," Vera said softly. "They were heroes."
Harri looked up, clear light shining in her green eyes. She clasped Vera's hand in return and nodded hard.
"Mm! Thank you, Vera!"
Vera froze for a moment, then quietly tried to pull her hand back.
But failed.
The Savior…
was actually pretty strong.
Watching the crowd on the platform grow thinner and thinner, Vera thought to herself in silence.
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