Arthur didn't waste his last few weeks in London. The time between visiting Diagon Alley and September 1st was really important to him. He saw it as a chance to get a lot done. While the other kids were playing outside in the hot courtyard, Arthur turned his bedroom into a temporary school room. He was determined to make the most of this time. The other orphans were happy to run around and have fun, but Arthur had other plans. He wanted to learn as much as he could before September arrived.
Billy became his lookout, perched at the door to warn Arthur whenever Mrs. Cole or the other boys approached. In exchange, Arthur would show Billy the progress he'd made, letting the soft, white glow of his wand illuminate the room during their late-night talks.
As September 1st arrived, Arthur had already made significant progress in his development, notably enhancing his abilities. He had thoroughly studied the Standard Book of Spells, treating it as a manual, and practiced each spell until it became second nature, allowing him to perform them effortlessly without much thought.
.....
It was pretty quiet when he finally packed up and left. Mrs. Cole felt a sense of relief wash over her, to be honest. The way he would stare at her, never blinking, made her skin crawl - like she was being scrutinized all the time. She was glad to have her space back, without those piercing eyes on her every move.
At the gates of the orphanage, the air felt thick and gray. Billy stood there, looking smaller than usual, clutching a tattered coat around his shoulders.
Arthur could barely hear Billy's voice, it was so weak, but it was steady, and it sent a shiver down his spine as he said, "You're really going," the words hanging in the air like a challenge, or a goodbye.
Arthur raised his trunk, and the vine wood wand felt warm against his arm. It was a feeling he liked. When he looked at Billy, his serious face relaxed a bit. Billy was special - he was the one person who always made Arthur's life better in this strange world. Billy was always there for him, a steady friend in a world where everything else could change in an instant. Arthur could count on Billy, and that meant a lot to him. In a world that was always unpredictable, Billy was the one thing that stayed the same.
Arthur looked at Billy with a serious face. "I am," he said. But then he added, "It doesn't matter that we're far apart. Our plan is still on." He stopped for a moment, thinking.
"You remember the rules, right? We write to each other every Saturday, no matter what. One letter a week. And if something changes here, I'll let you know how to get in touch with me, so you'll always know what to do."
Billy's voice was so quiet it was hard to hear, but his words were clear, "Just don't change into someone I won't recognize anymore, Artie."
Arthur never made that promise, and he knew better than anyone that growing up meant letting go of things that no longer mattered. He just said, "I'll catch up with you at Christmas, Billy.
...
As he stood on the pavement outside King's Cross Station, he felt a strange sense of readiness. He checked his Interface one last time before entering the terminal.
[ Magic : Beginner (05%)
•Mana sense: Beginner (18.2%)
•Lumos : Beginner (92.1%)
•Alohomora: Beginner (21.4%)
•Wingardium Leviosa: Beginner (15.8%)
•Magical Theory: Beginner (48.0%)
•Transfiguration Theory: Beginner (12.0%)
•Reparo: Beginner (06%) ]
Getting to the beginner level, 90% with Lumos, was a big hurdle for him. But once he reached that point, everything changed. The spell stopped flickering and became a steady, cold ball of light that just stayed on, even if he stopped concentrating for a few seconds. It wasn't hard anymore, it was just something he could do, a controlled beam of light that he could turn on and off whenever he wanted.
As he lugged his trunk towards Platforms 9 and 10, he couldn't help but think of Professor McGonagall's instructions on how to locate the entrance. But, to his surprise, his Mana Sense picked up on it before he even had a chance to put her words into action. There was this faint, almost imperceptible disturbance in the air, like a tiny ripple, near a sturdy brick pillar that seemed to blend seamlessly into the rest of the wall.
He stopped a few yards away, observing.
A large family of red-headed people was gathered nearby. They were loud and disorganized, dragging trunks and owl cages with a complete lack of social awareness.
Arthur watched as a small, skinny boy with messy hair and broken glasses approached them. The boy looked lost. Arthur recognized the look—it was the look of someone who had spent too long in a place they didn't belong.
One at a time, the boys with red hair would run towards the wall and then they would disappear.
Efficiency: Low, Arthur thought, noting the frantic energy of the group. Risk of exposure: High.
Arthur waited until Harry, the boy with glasses, had gone through the barrier. Then he started walking forward, keeping a steady pace. He didn't hurry, just kept his eyes on the pillar in front of him. As he got closer to the bricks, he didn't even flinch. He just kept moving, his eyes fixed on the spot where he was headed. The bricks were getting closer and closer, but Arthur didn't slow down or speed up. He just kept walking, steady and calm, until he reached the center of the pillar.
He stepped through.