September 1st at King's Cross Station had never been a pleasant memory for him.
In her memory, this place was always filled with the smell of Muggle sweat and cheap perfume, along with a suffocating feeling.
Tamara Riddle stood between Platform 9 and Platform 10, pushing a trolley that was far too heavy for her current self.
The stupid cat named Nagini in the cage was tirelessly trying to scratch the lock, making an irritating noise.
"Be quiet."
Tamara scolded in a low voice, while tucking a strand of curly hair that had fallen onto her cheek back behind her ear with some annoyance.
She really missed those Death Eaters now; though they were foolish, at least they could help her carry her luggage.
And now, the great Dark Lord had to push a heavy suitcase himself and struggle through the crowd of Muggles.
In her heart, she cursed every Muggle in her way with the most vicious language, but she had to maintain a distant and polite expression on her face.
Just as Tamara was preparing to find a gap when no one was looking to dash straight into the barrier, a noisy sound reached her ears.
"Hurry up, Percy, or we'll miss the train."
Tamara stopped in her tracks and turned her head slightly.
What met her eyes was a crowded group of redheads.
The Weasleys.
They were the famous blood traitors of the wizarding world.
Even though they possessed the oldest pure bloodlines, they had allowed themselves to degenerate, becoming close to Muggles and shouting in this Muggle-filled station, utterly disgracing all Wizards.
Tamara's gaze swept over the short, plump woman with the loud voice—Molly Weasley.
And the group of chattering children around her.
Percy Weasley was puffing out his chest, his prefect badge polished so brightly it looked like he wanted to stick it on his forehead.
Fred and George were trying to put a long-haired spider down Ron's collar.
And the youngest redhead girl, Ginny, was clutching her mother's hand with a nervous look on her face.
Tamara let out a cold snort in her heart, a sense of disdain arising from the depths of her soul.
[Ding! Key plot character group detected: The Weasley Family.]
[Triggering Side Quest: An Elder's Care.]
[Quest Description: As a first-year little girl traveling far from home alone for the first time, it's normal to feel lost and helpless when facing a solid wall. At this moment, a warm-hearted mother is right before your eyes. Why not go and ask for help?]
[Quest Objective: Gain Molly Weasley's favor and accept her help.]
[Quest Reward: Love +5.]
[Failure Penalty: Fall flat on your face while passing through the barrier and be disgraced in front of all the new students.]
Tamara's fingers suddenly tightened on the trolley's handle, her knuckles turning white from the force.
"What did you say?" she asked through gritted teeth in her mind. "You want me to beg that blood traitor? Even find a way to make her... like me?"
[Yes, host. Mrs. Weasley is famously warm-hearted in the wizarding world. Gaining her approval will help you establish a good public image.]
"...Damn thing."
Tamara closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, the coldness and disdain in her eyes had vanished without a trace.
In its place was a timid look, filled with a bit of confusion and helplessness.
She pushed the trolley, deliberately slowing her pace, and stopped not far from the Weasleys. Her gaze drifted between the wall and the Weasley Family, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her clothes.
[Harmless (Basic) skill activated—]
Molly Weasley noticed the lonely-looking little girl almost instantly.
"Oh, dear."
Molly pushed aside the bickering twins and walked over quickly, her face wearing that maternal glow that made Tamara's skin crawl.
"Dear, are you going to Hogwarts too?" Molly asked gently, her gaze sweeping over Tamara's huge trunk and the black cat.
"Is it your first time? Where are your parents?"
Tamara looked up, her large obsidian-like eyes quickly welling up with a layer of mist.
"I'm an orphan, ma'am."
Her voice was soft, carrying a heartbreaking strength: "Professor Dumbledore gave me the ticket, but I... I don't know how to get in. I can't find the platform."
Molly Weasley's heart melted instantly.
"Oh, you poor little thing!"
Molly let out a cry of sympathy. Without hesitation, she opened her arms and gave Tamara a somewhat suffocating hug.
"Don't worry, dear, just follow us! Everyone here is going to Hogwarts."
The moment she was held tightly by those two soft and warm bodies, Tamara's entire being went stiff.
A strong scent of soap, onion soup, and some kind of cheap yarn flooded her nostrils.
The scent wasn't unpleasant; it even carried a sense of domesticity called "home."
But it was like taking goblins living in a cave and forcing them to bask in the sun; Tamara felt uncomfortable all over.
"Let go of me... you..."
Tamara roared frantically in her heart, even wanting to cast a Crucio directly on this woman.
[Warning! Rejection reaction detected, please endure it.]
Tamara forcefully suppressed the urge to push Molly away.
In that suffocating embrace, she struggled to raise her hand and gave Molly two extremely stiff pats on the back.
"Thank you... thank you, ma'am."
Her voice was muffled, sounding as if she was about to cry from being moved. In reality, she was about to cry from discomfort, but the effect was similar.
"What a polite, good child." Molly released her and warmly pulled Tamara into the Weasley Family line.
The twins walked over, looking at Tamara curiously.
"Whoa, this cat is so cool," one of them said, pointing at Nagini. "Looks like it wants to bite someone."
"What's its name?" The other reached out to pet it but was dodged.
"Nagini," Tamara introduced in a low voice.
"Cool name," the other twin whistled. "I'm Fred, and this is George. Welcome to Hogwarts, little beauty."
"Tamara Riddle," she introduced herself briefly. Tamara didn't want to have too much interaction with this family yet.
And she simply couldn't tell which of the two brothers in front of her was which.
They clearly looked exactly the same.
"Alright, stop your babbling." Molly gave her son a smack on the back of the head. "Go on!"
"Don't be afraid, dear." Molly stood beside Tamara and patted her head lovingly. "Just walk straight toward the ticket barrier between Platform 9 and Platform 10. If you're nervous, just follow behind Ron."
The redhead boy looked at Tamara a bit shyly. He usually dealt with his brothers and hadn't seen many people his age, but when he saw her, Ron felt his breath quicken.
"You can go first," Ron stammered.
"Thank you." Tamara gave a polite smile and pushed her trolley straight into the wall.
The next second, the noisy Muggle station vanished.
In its place was a massive train puffing scarlet steam, parked beside a platform crowded with people.
It was the Hogwarts Express.
Thick white smoke swirled over the heads of the crowd, cats of all colors darted between people's feet, various magical creatures scurried about the platform, and piercing cries intertwined with the clamor of the crowd.
This was the wizarding world.
This was the place she had once conquered and would conquer again.
[Ding! Quest completed: An Elder's Care.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Love +5.]
[Current Attributes: Love: 10, life: 0, wisdom: 10, Courage: 0.]
[Evaluation: Although your heart is full of resistance, you have to admit that hug was quite warm, wasn't it?]
[Spell Unlocked: Scourgify]
"...To hell with warmth."
Tamara cursed in her heart, looking down at the sleeve of her robe that Molly had wrinkled.
"This is a greasy disaster."
She raised her hand, and the holly wand slid into her palm.
"Scourgify."
A glimmer of light flashed, and the cuff instantly became as neat as new, even the bit of station dust that had just stuck to it was gone.
Tamara pushed her trolley toward the back of the train, muttering, "Let me find a compartment without any idiots and get some rest."
Just as she had dragged her luggage onto the train, a thin, black-haired boy wearing round-rimmed glasses appeared at the platform entrance, panting as he pushed his trolley.
Harry Potter.
The boy who survived at her hands.