tradition

03

The Hogwarts Express gleamed in the bright August sunlight, a striking scarlet serpent winding its way along Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station. The platform was a bustling sea of students, parents, and luggage trolleys, all moving in a chaotic symphony of farewells and reunions. The air was filled with the familiar scents of locomotive steam and the distant promise of the Hogwarts feast, mingled with the fragrance of freshly baked cauldron cakes and chocolate frogs from the snack trolley.

Briar's mother hugged her only daughter tightly and whispered in her ear, "Stay safe, keep your brother safe." Briar nodded, holding her brother Adam's hand as they boarded the train together. "Go find your friends and find me once the train stops," Briar instructed her brother. Adam nodded and sprinted off to find the compartment his friends were in. Briar sat in an empty compartment and opened a small book.

"Hey, Briar," Eloise said softly, opening the compartment door. Briar nodded and gently put her book down. As the three girls settled together in one of the compartments of the Hogwarts Express, the hum of the train and the distant chatter of other students provided constant background noise. The conversation had taken a serious turn as they discussed the recent news of Muggle attacks. Eloise, her usually cheerful demeanor subdued, leaned forward with a furrowed brow. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on her, and it showed in the tension around her eyes and the way she absentmindedly twirled a strand of her hair.

"I don't understand," Briar scoffed as Georgia sat next to her. Muggle attacks had become more frequent, and the sense of foreboding that accompanied each new report was inescapable. It was clear that the Death Eaters were escalating their campaign of terror, targeting innocent people who had no way of defending themselves. This knowledge left a bitter taste in their mouths as they contemplated the cruelty and senselessness of the violence. "It's terrible," Georgia said quietly.

Briar nodded, her expression grave as she tucked a loose curl behind her ear. The news of the attacks had reached her through the Daily Prophet, but it was the conversations she had overheard between her parents that truly unsettled her. Her parents, usually so composed and confident, had spoken in hushed, anxious tones, revealing the depth of their concern. They were worried not only about the immediate danger to Muggles but also about what these attacks signified for the wizarding world. The Death Eaters were sending a clear message of intimidation and supremacy, aiming to spread fear and chaos. Briar could feel the weight of this reality pressing down on her, making the upcoming school year seem fraught with uncertainty and danger.

Georgia, who had been gazing out the window, turned back to her friends, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination. The landscape outside the train blurred past, but her mind was fixated on the unsettling events unfolding in the world. She had always believed in the inherent goodness of people, but the recent surge of violence had shaken that belief. The Death Eaters' actions were driven by a twisted ideology, one that deemed Muggles as inferior and expendable. It was infuriating to see such baseless hatred manifest in such horrific ways. The thought of innocent people suffering and living in constant fear made her blood boil. Georgia felt a renewed sense of purpose, a determination to stand against the darkness that threatened to consume their world.

Eloise sighed, her shoulders slumping as she shook her head. The pervasive fear was not limited to the Muggle world; it was seeping into the wizarding community as well. The attacks had created an atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia, causing people to turn on each other. The unity that had once defined their world was fraying at the edges, replaced by mistrust and accusations.

~

The train gradually slowed to a halt as it approached Hogsmeade Station, the familiar sight of the castle's turrets just visible through the misty twilight. The air was thick with a sense of urgency and vigilance, a stark contrast to the usual excitement and chatter that accompanied the start of the school year. The platform was crowded with students disembarking, but the presence of Aurors and heightened security measures was unmistakable. The girls clutched their belongings tightly, feeling the weight of the new precautions. Briar scanned the crowd for a familiar head of messy black hair, but Harry was nowhere to be seen. Her heart sank a little as she failed to spot him amidst the throng of students.