Three days after the book signing was Sean's birthday. It was also the first time since arriving in this world that he got to eat a proper birthday cake.
Herns had finally given up on making one himself and bought it instead.
On the evening of August 21st, Sean and Herns didn't invite any friends for a party. Instead, the customers in the Leaky Cauldron spontaneously celebrated for him, which left Sean feeling a little embarrassed.
"Hey Tom, what did you get Sean for his birthday?" someone teased.
"Give it a few more years—once Sean's an adult, just hand the bar over to him!"
"Hey, I'm not dead yet," Old Tom snapped, gritting his teeth.
But deep down, he had already considered it.
Sean wasn't family, but he had grown up in the bar. The regulars all knew him well. Letting him inherit the place wasn't a bad idea.
"Alright, alright, stop messing around. I don't want to end up sleeping on the streets tonight," Sean said.
Meanwhile, in a potion shop in Knockturn Alley, Haierbo stood cloaked, looking down at a man kneeling on the floor, forehead pressed to the ground.
"Do this properly, and the next Minister of Magic in Britain will be you."
The man's body trembled—whether from fear or excitement, it was hard to tell.
Haierbo tossed something from beneath his cloak.
A Pain Mask.
It landed beside the man's head, making him flinch violently.
"Take it," Haierbo said with a sneer. "Wear it when necessary. It will grant you power."
This was already the third Pain Mask to appear.
The first had been used by Kautz during the inter-school tournament, causing serious trouble for Hogwarts. The second had gone to Quirrell, though he never got the chance to use it.
Both were now in Dumbledore's possession.
Yet Haierbo showed no concern at all for such high-level alchemical artifacts.
"Yes…" the man stammered.
"You may leave."
The man crawled backward a few steps before scrambling to his feet and fleeing.
"Can someone like that really be trusted?" Salazar's voice echoed.
"A coward is the easiest to control," Haierbo replied. "Didn't you see how terrified he was? Fear keeps him obedient. Whether he succeeds is another matter."
Ten days later, King's Cross Station.
Sean arrived early, standing outside Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Inside his suitcase, Jerry scratched impatiently at the lining.
"Hold on, hold on. I'll let you out once we're on the train," Sean said, tapping the case.
He wasn't entering yet.
He was waiting.
Waiting for Dobby.
He wanted answers.
Before, Dobby hadn't revealed anything—not because of magic, but because of loyalty. Lucius had simply ordered him not to disclose certain matters, and Dobby had obeyed absolutely.
"Pressure him, persuade him… one way or another, he'll talk," Sean thought.
Dobby wasn't like the Black family's house-elf Kreacher. He might be a bit unstable, but he was still reasonable.
Students began arriving one after another.
Most of them recognized Sean—the school's rising star—and whispered among themselves as they passed.
"Sean, why aren't you going in?" Cedric asked, now looking even more handsome than before.
"Hey, Cedric. You go ahead—I'm waiting for someone."
"Alright. See you at school."
Cedric waved and disappeared through the barrier.
The pillar was enchanted with multiple spells, including a basic Confundus Charm to prevent Muggles from noticing anything unusual.
"Hey, Sean!" Angelina greeted him as she passed.
"Sean! Sean!" Cassius's voice rang out.
He ran over and hugged Sean tightly. "Were you waiting for me?"
"I was waiting for someone—but not you," Sean said, pushing him away. "Go grab us a good compartment."
Chris finally arrived as well.
After being confined at home all summer, she looked noticeably brighter upon seeing Sean.
"Chris, Jerry's in here. Take him to the train and let him get some air," Sean said, handing her the suitcase.
"And you? Waiting for someone?"
"Yeah… Mrs. Weasley. Got something to tell her," Sean lied casually.
"Alright, I'll head in first."
"Hey, my hero!" Zacharias Abbott called out cheerfully as he passed.
A while later, a girl with light brown hair approached.
"Sean, why are you just standing there?" Penelope asked.
Now a fifth-year, she had grown even more elegant. Many students secretly admired her, though rumors said she was already involved with Percy.
"I'm waiting for the Weasleys," Sean said, teasing.
"Alright then. See you inside."
Time ticked closer to eleven.
The train was about to depart.
Finally, the Weasleys arrived in a rush.
Molly spotted Sean from afar.
"Sean! Why aren't you going in?"
"Just about to," he replied.
Molly led Ginny through the barrier first, followed by Percy, the twins—
And then Harry and Ron.
Sean activated his Magic vision.
Dobby should be nearby.
In his memory, this was when Dobby would seal the barrier.
But—
Nothing.
No extra magical presence.
Just Harry and Ron.
"You two go ahead," Sean said.
They nodded and pushed their trolleys forward—
And passed straight through.
No accident.
No crash.
Nothing.
"Where's Dobby?" Sean frowned. "Wasn't he supposed to stop Harry?"
With less than a minute before departure, another figure rushed toward the platform.
Draco.
Sean blinked in surprise.
And once again—
Both of Draco's parents were with him.
"What's going on with the Malfoys? Their family dynamic suddenly improved this much?"
Draco hurried forward with the ferret cage in hand. The family glanced at Sean but said nothing, entering the platform together.
At that point, Sean followed.
Parents stood beside the train, seeing their children off.
It made sense for Molly—Ginny was a first-year.
But Draco was already in second year.
Yet both his parents had come.
That was… unusual.
The Hogwarts Express had five carriages, each divided into compartments. The first carriage contained prefect compartments, a dining area, and space for first-years.
Sean boarded the fifth carriage—the Slytherin one.
He easily found the fourth-year compartment.
Jerry was already lounging on Chris's lap, giving Sean a disdainful look as he sat down.
"You were only in the suitcase for a bit. Was it really that bad?" Sean said. "Alright, I'll take you out for a walk."
Chris handed Jerry over.
"I'll go take a look around," Sean said to her and Cassius.
In reality—
He was heading to the second-year compartment.
He wanted Jerry to check Draco's ferret.
To see if something… wasn't right.
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