[Note: Read up to Chapter - 86 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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"Excuse me, Mr Shafiq?"
Just as Aris and his companions were about to step through to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, a voice called out from behind.
Aris turned around and spotted a familiar, slightly scrawny figure.
"Harry Potter?"
He sighed inwardly.
Was this fate or just a coincidence?
He'd run into the young saviour of the wizarding world—completely lost, as expected.
"Sorry to bother you, sir," Harry said, looking a bit sheepish. "I'm trying to find Platform Nine and Three-Quarters… I thought you might know how to get there?"
"Of course," Aris nodded, pointing toward the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten. "Just walk straight through that pillar between platform nine and ten over there. Don't slow down, don't stop. Just head straight through it."
"Er… what?" Harry blinked, unsure whether Aris was pulling his leg.
"He's not joking," Henry chimed in kindly. "That's how it's done. Walk through, and you'll find the train on the other side."
Harry still looked uncertain when another voice rang out behind him.
"Packed with Muggles, of course, everyone, keep close! Don't dawdle, or you'll miss the train!"
Aris didn't even need to turn around to recognise the unmistakable voice of Mrs Weasley.
Sure enough, a group of red-haired wizards appeared, pushing their trolleys and weaving through the crowd.
"Hello there—are you also heading to…" Harry began.
"Platform Nine and Three-Quarters?" Mrs Weasley finished for him, giving him a warm smile. "Of course, dear. First time at Hogwarts, is it?"
"Yes—I'm Harry. Harry Potter."
"Oh, good heavens!" she said with a little gasp.
"Blimey—is it true?!" came an excited voice from behind.
"Are you really Harry Potter?!" exclaimed a red-haired boy who was about the same height as Aris.
"Ronald, don't gawk," Mrs Weasley scolded gently, casting a disapproving glance at the boy. "He's not some exotic creature in a zoo."
"That's right—my brother's surprised by just about everything," one of the twins chimed in with a teasing grin. "Don't take it to heart."
"Sorry," Ron mumbled, his ears going pink. "It's just… you're really famous, that's all."
"It's alright," Harry smiled kindly. He could tell they weren't being mean, just a bit lively.
"Right then, the platform's about to close—hurry along, all of you!" Mrs Weasley called, shepherding the children with practiced ease. She gave Aris a quick once-over and added curiously, "And this silver-haired young lad—he's a student too, I take it?"
"Yes, ma'am," Aris answered politely with a smile.
"Well, best get a move on, then!"
With that, Mrs Weasley led the way and guided a small red-haired girl—Ginny—through the magical barrier.
"Come on, kids," said Arthur Weasley, who had been quietly smiling at them all. As the twins headed through the wall, he gave Aris a thoughtful look, clearly wondering about the boy's identity.
But he said nothing in the end and simply followed his sons onto the platform.
Moments later, the rest of the Weasleys had vanished through the barrier, leaving only Harry, Ron, and Aris behind.
"Let's go too!" Ron called, and he and Harry disappeared through the barrier together with Aris, Luna, and Henry following them.
Arriving at the platform, Aris saw it… the Hogwarts Express—the iconic train with its gleaming scarlet engine. It looked brilliant and reminded him of those old trains he saw at the museum.
After he had watched enough, and it was time to board it, he glanced at Luna, who was clearly trying to mask a hint of envy. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and smiled, then stepped onto the train.
"Uncle Henry, take Luna home safely later, alright? And keep an eye out," Aris said, turning to his Henry, who seemed to have become his butler.
"Of course, young master."
Then Aris looked at Luna. "Don't forget—send me an owl once you're home. Let me know you got back safely."
"I will," Luna nodded, her voice soft.
Feeling reassured, Aris smiled, then turned and walked towards
"Brother, remember to write to me!" Luna called after him.
"Don't worry," Aris grinned over his shoulder. "I won't let Iris sit idle—she'll be delivering letters when I get the chance!"
He gave a final wave, and soon his figure disappeared into the train.
With a lurch, the Hogwarts Express slowly began to move.
Luna stood quietly, wiping the corners of her eyes, rubbing the moisture into her palms so no one would notice.
"Come on then, Miss Luna," Henry said gently. Though he was feeling a bit down himself, he kept his voice calm and kind. "He'll be back before you know it. Partings like these—well, they just make reunions that much sweeter, don't they?"
"Mhm."
The girl watched the train as it disappeared into the distance, and silently made herself a promise:
She would study even harder, read even more, and gather all the knowledge she could.
That way, next time her brother asked a question, she'd have the answer.
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Inside the train
Aris didn't particularly care where Harry and the others had gone—he simply found an empty carriage and stepped in.
However, after only a few minutes, a small head poked around the doorframe.
"Harry?" Aris raised an eyebrow, surprised.
He'd picked a carriage at random, and somehow the so-called Boy Who Lived had found his way to him again.
Was this what people called fate?
"Erm… excuse me, Mr. Shafiq, I found your compartment on purpose," Harry said a bit sheepishly. "If you don't mind, could I sit here? There's something I'd like to talk to you about."
"Of course. But you should really just call me Aris. We're going to be classmates, after all."
"Thanks!" Harry smiled and slid into the seat opposite him.
"So?" Aris asked, cutting straight to the point. "What is it you want to talk about?"
"Well…" Harry hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Hagrid mentioned that your situation might be even rougher than mine…"
"So I was wondering—how do you stay so calm? Like, none of it bothers you?"
Aris nearly laughed out loud.
This boy thought he was some kind of guru?
How does one stay calm under pressure? Shouldn't that be a question for Dumbledore—the most powerful man in Hogwarts?
Why ask him?
Still, Aris gave it some thought and then smiled faintly.
"It's actually rather simple," he said.
"When you've got absolute strength, everything else becomes much easier to deal with."
"I know that probably sounds a bit far-fetched… but there's another option."
"You could just toughen up your face."
Harry blinked. "What d'you mean?"
"Well," Aris shrugged, "in this sort of situation, as long as you're not embarrassed, it's everyone else who feels awkward."
Harry furrowed his brow, seriously considering that for a moment.
"So, Aris… how exactly do you train your face to be thick?" he asked earnestly.
Aris: "…"
Looking at the saviour of the wizarding world sitting across from him with such an innocent expression, Aris suddenly had no idea how to respond.
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Drop power Powerstonessssssssss!
[Note: Read up to Chapter - 86 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]