Chương 9: Platform 9¾

In the eyes of Tom Abernathy, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron, the young wizard he kindly accommodated was indeed an exceptional individual.

At such a young age, living on his own, working four jobs every day, and not indulging in the typical habits of young wizards – his only passion was reading. Such discipline, such determination, even most adult wizards couldn't match, or so he thought.

What's more, Kevin had not only been diligent but had displayed tremendous magical talent. In these two months, he had taught Kevin four spells: the Levitation Charm, the Summoning Charm, the Water-Making Spell, and the Reparo spell. Kevin could master any of these spells after a single viewing. And one should remember, Kevin was a Muggle-born wizard, which meant that he had not received any wizarding education before receiving his Hogwarts letter, but his performance surpassed that of even half-bloods and pure-bloods.

Tom himself had never encountered such a gifted young wizard. Consequently, Kevin's treatment at the Leaky Cauldron improved further.

Apart from the customary ham sandwiches in the morning, Tom occasionally prepared some snacks for him. Kevin had also met Tom Abernathy's granddaughter, Hannah Abernathy, a healthy-looking girl with golden hair. Yes, she was none other than the Hufflepuff's Head of House at Hogwarts.

Over these two months, the two had become friends.

As the first day of school approached, Kevin resigned from several part-time jobs. After working for two months, Kevin had saved up 25 Galleons. With this money, he purchased a new robe from Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, specifically for formal occasions, and a brass collapsible telescope from Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment.

He didn't buy a cauldron because the two owners of Slugs and Jiggers Apothecary had given him a robust old cauldron as a gift. Hayden Crystal, from the Magical Menagerie, had also given Kevin an owl for delivering messages, and he named it "Homer" as a tribute to his previous life.

Before heading back to school, Kevin did a final check of his attributes panel:

Name: Kevin Green

Race: Human

Level: LV2 Wizard/LV1 Mind Mage

Attributes:

Strength: 7

Constitution: 7

Agility: 8

Intelligence: 14

Perception: 12

Charisma: 14

Skills: Unrivalled Insight, Psychic Ability LV1, Magical Power LV2, Magic Resistance LV1

Spells:

0-Level: Legilimency (Constant), Scourgify, Tergeo, Levitate, Luminos, Copy Charm, Accio

1st Level: Occlumency, Severing Charm, Read Magic (Constant), Speak with Animals (Constant), Comprehend Languages, Scholar's Touch

2nd Level: Reparo

4th Level: Dimensional Anchor

After two months of continuous spellcasting, Kevin's wizard level had increased by one, which also elevated his magical power level and granted him basic magical resistance. His Strength and Constitution had both increased by 1 due to two months of relatively nutritious meals, and the numerous Galleons in his pocket. Kevin's two months had been particularly enriching.

As he watched Kevin bid farewell with his suitcase, Tom Abernathy felt a touch of sentimentality. The scrawny wizard who had inquired about the cheapest room as if it were yesterday felt like he'd grown considerably in such a short span of time. Fortunately, they had bought the robes one size larger, or it might have been too tight for him now.

"Kid, make sure to study hard at Hogwarts and don't waste your talents," Tom waved from behind the counter.

Kevin returned the gesture and then left the Leaky Cauldron.

At half past ten, Kevin arrived at King's Cross Station.

With his luggage, cauldron, books, and his pet owl, he was an eleven-year-old child carrying a significant load, and it took him some effort to get everything sorted. He silently vowed that if he had the opportunity, he would study the Disillusionment Charm. Whether this spell could improve his travel experience significantly remained to be seen.

He quickly found Platform 9 and Platform 10, with just a few columns separating them. Kevin, counting them, reached the third column and then touched it. The column was tangible. This meant that one needed to reach a sufficient speed to pass through it. So, pushing his luggage cart, he dashed toward the brick column with a resolute attitude.

In the blink of an eye, the scene before his eyes transformed completely. It was as though he had travelled back a hundred years from the end of the 20th century to this antique platform, with passengers in retro attire and the sight of white steam billowing overhead.

Next to the crowded platform was a deep red steam engine with a sign hanging that read, "Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock."

Since there was still some time left, Kevin quickly boarded the train. What was it like to ride a train full of students? At that moment, the only thought in Kevin's mind was that it was way too noisy. The sounds of friends playing, saying goodbye to parents, and the rush to stow luggage surrounded him.

"Hey, you're Kevin Green!" a voice filled with delight echoed from behind him.

Kevin turned to see a familiar face: black, curly hair, glasses, and a somewhat handsome appearance. Wasn't this his elementary school classmate, Harry Potter? Until he received his letter to Hogwarts, he had thought they merely had the same name.

Now, upon closer inspection, the boy before him did have a hint of a Saviour's aura.

"Hello, Harry! I can't believe I bumped into you here," Kevin tried to express his surprise.

"Excuse me, pardon me, thank you," Harry Potter, dragging his luggage, made his way through the crowd. "This is amazing, Kevin. I never expected you to be a wizard too. Uncle Vernon did everything in his power to prevent me from receiving my letter. Fortunately, Hagrid came to rescue me."

His excited expression made it seem like Kevin was not just a schoolmate but a long-lost friend.

Kevin understood. For a boy who had lost both parents and suddenly entered a foreign world, it was natural to be a bit overwhelmed. When he met a familiar face during such times, it was easy to treat them as a psychological anchor. That's why new college students often organize gatherings for people from the same hometown.

"I didn't expect to meet you here either," Kevin nodded and then raised the large suitcase in his hand. "How about we find an empty compartment and sit down? If we don't hurry, we might have to sit apart."

And so, the two of them walked all the way to the back of the train to find an empty compartment.

Once their luggage was stowed, Harry couldn't help but speak, "When did you find out you were a wizard? I once turned my teacher's wig blue, and I even accidentally opened the reptile house at the zoo. But I only found out I was a wizard this summer; all of those were just the effects of magic."

"I found out from a young age that I could move objects with my mind, just like you. However, I only realized this summer that it was magic," Kevin shared his own experiences with Harry.

"Maybe we can play together during the summer holidays in the future," Harry suggested with enthusiasm. Finding a friend who was also a wizard among his acquaintances was quite a nice feeling.

"Of course, no problem," Kevin agreed half-heartedly. In his opinion, once they were sorted into different houses at school, their relationship might fade away a bit.

With his unparalleled insight, his current priority was to research and comprehend magic to become a powerful wizard surpassing even Albus Dumbledore. As for the adventures of the Chosen One in the original plot, it wasn't that important to him.

Just when Harry Potter was in high spirits, talking enthusiastically and Kevin was absentmindedly listening to him. Suddenly, both of them felt a jolt.

The train was starting to move, and it was beginning its journey north from London to the Scottish Highlands.