章 37: Return Amidst the Chaos

As the end of summer approached, Harry found himself counting down the days until he'd return to Hogwarts. This past summer with the Weasleys had been an unexpected joy, filled with laughter, good food, and friendship. But as much as he loved the Burrow, nothing could replace the thrill of Hogwarts, and he couldn't wait to be back in the familiar halls.

Raja had been a regular visitor to the Weasleys over the summer, stopping by to check in on Harry, brainstorm plans for the new school year, and experiment with his alchemical studies alongside Hermione's eager research into new spells. They had all grown closer, and Raja was grateful that the Weasleys had accepted him as one of their own.

The day before they were to leave, Raja and Harry packed their trunks, sharing stories of the mischief they planned for the coming year. But their enthusiasm turned to nervousness the next morning when the family arrived at King's Cross Station.

The Barrier Problem

They bustled through the crowds, each loaded down with trunks and caged owls. Percy led the way, with Mrs. Weasley hurrying along behind him. One by one, each of the Weasleys ran through the barrier between platforms nine and ten, disappearing from sight as they passed.

Finally, it was Harry, Raja, and Ron's turn. Ron grinned at them, motioning for Harry to go first. "Ready to get back to Hogwarts?"

But as Harry pushed his trolley toward the barrier, he crashed into it with a loud thud, causing people nearby to turn and stare. He looked back in shock, rubbing his shoulder.

"That's strange," Harry muttered. "The barrier didn't open."

Ron tried again, ramming his own trolley into the wall, only to find himself blocked as well. Raja frowned, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. "Something's wrong. It's like the barrier's… sealed off."

Harry's heart raced with panic. "But what are we going to do? The train's about to leave, and we'll miss it!"

They shared a worried glance, each of them realizing that if they didn't think of something quickly, they'd be stuck in the Muggle world for the entire term. Just then, Ron's face lit up with an idea.

"The car!" he whispered, glancing toward the parking lot where his father's enchanted Ford Anglia was parked. "We could fly to Hogwarts!"

Raja raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure it's safe?"

Ron grinned. "Probably not, but it's better than missing the entire year!"

They nodded in agreement, adrenaline fueling their excitement. They hurried to the car, loading their trunks and Hedwig's cage into the back before squeezing into the seats. Ron took the wheel, his grin widening as he pressed a button to make the car invisible.

"Here goes nothing," he muttered, shifting into gear.

The Flight to Hogwarts

With a jolt, the Ford Anglia took off, soaring over the station and rising high above the city. The boys laughed, exhilarated by the feeling of flight, watching the rooftops pass below as they flew farther and farther from London.

"This is amazing!" Harry shouted, looking out over the countryside, his worries forgotten in the rush of excitement.

Raja, sitting in the back with Hedwig's cage, glanced nervously at the fuel gauge, noticing it waver. "Let's just hope we don't run out of gas halfway there."

Ron waved off his concern, adjusting the steering wheel as they climbed higher. "Relax! This thing has never let us down before."

But as they got closer to Hogwarts, the car began to stutter, shaking and dropping altitude. Harry grabbed the seat in front of him, his excitement quickly turning to dread as the car bucked and lurched in midair.

"Uh, Ron… something's wrong!" Harry shouted, his knuckles white as he clung to his seat.

"I can't control it!" Ron cried, his hands gripping the wheel as he struggled to keep the car steady. The engine coughed and spluttered, and the car began to descend, dropping dangerously low.

Ahead of them, the looming silhouette of Hogwarts appeared, along with something far more menacing—the Whomping Willow, its massive branches swaying menacingly in the breeze. The boys could see the tree's limbs whipping around, ready to strike anything that got too close.

"We're heading straight for it!" Raja yelled, his eyes wide.

Ron yanked the wheel to the left, but the car responded sluggishly, dipping straight toward the Whomping Willow's waiting branches.

The Whomping Willow Attack

With a tremendous crash, the Ford Anglia plummeted into the branches of the Whomping Willow. The tree responded instantly, its thick limbs lashing out and slamming against the car with a force that made it shudder. The boys were thrown against their seats, bracing themselves as the branches hammered down on the roof and doors, denting the car's frame.

Ron frantically twisted the steering wheel, trying to get the car to move, but the tree's branches struck again, crushing the roof and shattering the windshield. Harry ducked as a branch came within inches of hitting him, his heart pounding.

"Hold on!" Raja shouted, reaching for his wand. With a quick incantation, he cast a protective shield over the car, temporarily deflecting the tree's blows. The shield shuddered with each impact, but it held just long enough for them to catch their breath.

"Nice one, Raja!" Harry shouted, feeling a surge of hope as the protective barrier bought them a few precious seconds.

But the Whomping Willow was relentless, its branches swinging wildly, testing the shield's strength. Raja focused, reinforcing the shield with more magic, though he could feel the strain of holding it up against the tree's assault.

"Ron, can you get us out of here?" Raja called, gritting his teeth as he maintained the spell.

Ron struggled with the gear shift, finally managing to get the car into reverse. "I'll try!" he shouted, pressing down on the accelerator. With a screech, the car lurched backward, narrowly dodging another swipe from the tree.

Just as the shield began to weaken, the Ford Anglia managed to break free from the tree's branches, rolling backward onto solid ground. The boys let out a collective sigh of relief, their hearts still pounding from the close call.

Ron pulled the car to a stop, and they scrambled out, each of them feeling a mixture of fear and exhilaration. They stood for a moment, catching their breath as they looked up at the still-swaying branches of the Whomping Willow, which seemed to be settling down, as if disappointed that it hadn't managed to crush them.

"That was… too close," Harry muttered, glancing at the dents and scratches on the car. "Thanks, Raja. That shield saved us."

Raja gave a shaky smile. "We've got to be more careful next time."

But as they turned to look at the car, it gave an odd shudder, as though protesting the rough journey. Without warning, the doors flung open, and their trunks and Hedwig's cage were unceremoniously thrown out onto the ground. Then, with a loud rumble, the car lurched forward, its engine sputtering angrily as it drove itself off into the Forbidden Forest, disappearing among the trees.

"Guess it's had enough of us," Ron said, watching the car vanish with a mixture of surprise and sadness.

Returning to the Castle

The boys gathered their belongings and made their way toward the castle, feeling relieved to be on familiar ground. But their relief was short-lived. As they entered the entrance hall, they were greeted by the disapproving glare of Professor McGonagall, who had her arms crossed, her expression as severe as they had ever seen.

"Well, well," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "If it isn't Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Kumara. Arriving in style, are we?"

Harry, Ron, and Raja shared a nervous glance. McGonagall's expression softened slightly as she addressed Raja. "I expected more caution from you, Mr. Kumara. You should know better than to join in on such reckless antics."

Raja ducked his head respectfully, feeling both chastened and grateful that McGonagall wasn't entirely unforgiving. "We were… delayed, Professor," he said quietly. "It won't happen again."

McGonagall's gaze shifted to the others. "Let's hope so, for all your sakes. Now come along. The Headmaster will want a word with you."

They followed McGonagall through the castle, each step filled with a sense of dread as they wondered what Dumbledore would say. When they reached his office, she gestured for them to enter, and they found themselves face-to-face with Dumbledore, who regarded them with a look that was neither angry nor disappointed, but rather… curious.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement as he listened to their explanation. When they finished, he leaned back in his chair, his hands folded.

"I trust you have all learned a valuable lesson about the importance of… punctuality," Dumbledore said, his voice gentle but firm. "Hogwarts is a place of learning, and it would be a shame if you spent this term learning from outside its walls."

The boys exhaled in relief, realizing they weren't going to be expelled.

Dumbledore nodded toward the door. "You are dismissed. But remember, sometimes the greatest adventures are the ones we don't plan."

As they walked out of the office, Harry felt a sense of gratitude for Dumbledore's understanding. He glanced at Ron and Raja, a grin breaking across his face.

"That was close, but we made it," he said, a spark of excitement in his eyes.

The three friends made their way back to the Gryffindor common room, the thrill of the day's journey lingering in their minds. They were back at Hogwarts, and no matter what challenges lay ahead, they knew they could face them together.