The Rise of the God-Emperor

CH 20: A Sudden Return

The day had started like any other end-of-year departure. The Hogwarts Express was waiting on the tracks, and students excitedly chatted with their parents on Platform 9¾. The usual blend of magic and mundane farewells echoed through the station, wands and luggage carts, owls and cats mingling freely. But as Harry stood with his trunk, something in the air felt... wrong.

He glanced around the crowded platform, his eyes narrowing as he noticed a few unusual figures near the edges—dressed in suits and dark glasses. They didn't belong here, not with the cheerful chaos of students reuniting with parents. Muggles, certainly, but they moved with too much precision, their eyes scanning the platform with a cold detachment.

Before Harry could react, there was a sudden metallic clang. The sound of engines revving broke the joyful atmosphere like a blade through parchment. Black armored vehicles rolled onto the platform, soldiers pouring out in organized ranks, and behind them, men and women in lab coats—scientists, armed with strange devices that hummed ominously. The entire platform fell into stunned silence as the Muggle forces swarmed the space.

"What the—" Ron's voice cracked, his face pale as he pointed. "What are they doing here?"

Hermione's eyes widened, her voice trembling. "No... this can't be. They—they've found us."

Harry's mind raced. He had been feeling the tension building all year, the slow convergence of the magical and Muggle worlds, but now the collision was happening right in front of him.

"Get the students back on the train!" Harry's voice was calm, cutting through the rising panic. He raised his wand, stepping forward. "NOW!"

The effect was immediate. Parents hesitated, confusion and fear flashing across their faces, but the students responded to Harry's command. Some ran, others dragged their friends along, but one by one, they started to flee toward the Hogwarts Express. The Muggleborn students, especially, moved with wide-eyed fear, knowing their families were at risk.

Hermione grabbed Harry's arm, her voice tight. "Harry, we need to do something! They're taking—"

"We can't fight them here!" Harry snapped back, his eyes flashing with urgency. "We'll protect the students first. Get them on the train!"

Ron stood frozen, staring as soldiers began pulling Muggleborn parents toward their armored vehicles. "Blimey, they've got my—"

Harry's jaw clenched. "MOVE, RON!"

With a shove, Harry pushed Ron toward the train. His heart ached at the sight of the parents being dragged away, but there wasn't time to think about that now. He had to keep the students safe.

The last of the children scrambled aboard, and with a final glance back at the chaos on the platform, Harry followed them into the Hogwarts Express. The door slammed shut behind him, and the train lurched forward, pulling away from the scene of disaster. Soldiers shouted, parents screamed, but the students were safe—for now.

Inside the train, the atmosphere was thick with fear and confusion. Children huddled together in their compartments, some sobbing, others staring out the windows with wide, tear-filled eyes. The Muggleborn students were the worst—shaking, knowing their parents had been taken and there was nothing they could do.

Ron slumped into a seat, his hands trembling. "They... they took people. They took Muggles, half-bloods. What do we do, Harry?"

Harry didn't answer immediately, his thoughts racing ahead. He was thinking of Hogwarts, thinking of how to get these students back to safety, thinking of how this had happened right under their noses.