As the end of the month rolled around, Nolan packed his belongings, coiling the white snake Sheila around his wrist. Accompanied by Miss Theresa, his maid, he left Randall Gorge and set out for London.
The next time he might return would probably be Christmas. When he departed, he didn't bid farewell to any of his kind. Half a year apart was a mere blink of an eye for a vampire. Even if Nolan were to stay at Hogwarts for the full seven years, it would still seem fleeting to them. There was even a good chance that the ever-forgetful Baron Dura wouldn't notice he had left in the first place.
Nolan and Miss Theresa didn't use any magical methods to travel; instead, they opted for Muggle transportation, taking the Underground to King's Cross Station in London.
"What platform was it again?" Nolan asked Miss Theresa, pushing his luggage trolley.
"Nine and three-quarters," the calm maid replied, stroking Miss Nancy's fur.
"Why three-quarters?"
Miss Nancy, the black cat, muttered under her breath, "Good question."
Which was to say, it didn't know either.
At that moment, a cheerful voice rang out, "Hey, we meet again!"
"Hm?"
Turning his head, Nolan saw the black-haired girl he had run into at Flourish and Blotts. The scent he liked—the distinct purity—still lingered around her. Walking alongside her was another girl who appeared slightly younger.
"Good morning," Nolan greeted her with a straightforward nod.
Perhaps due to the excitement of starting at a magical school, the older girl's ears were flushed red. She grabbed Nolan's arm as soon as she saw him, chattering excitedly without pause. "Oh my gosh, I could barely sleep last night! My dad told me they sort us into houses with a wizard's hat. That's so strange. How can we trust a hat to decide for us?"
Nolan shrugged indifferently. "Maybe the hat uses magic to read what's in your head. Dumbledore must want to know who the real troublemakers are at his school, so he probably reviews all our memories after the Sorting Ceremony."
"Ew!" The girl squealed, horrified. "They can't do that!"
"Who knows," Nolan replied lightly before turning his attention to the younger girl, who was looking up at him with admiration. "Is this your sister?"
"Yes! Her name is Bai Chang. She's a year younger than me. I'm Cho Chang," she said with a bright smile. Then, crouching slightly, she whispered encouragement to her sister, "If I can go to Hogwarts, maybe you can too next year!"
"But..." Bai murmured pitifully, "I still can't break a vase like you can! If I don't get in, it must be Mom's fault for being a Muggle!"
Cho's expression hardened as she flicked her sister's forehead. Hands on her hips, she scolded, "Don't talk about Mom like that!" But then she let out an awkward laugh, realizing she might have come across as too harsh in front of the handsome boy. Worried about making a bad impression, she quickly changed the subject. "I don't know your name yet!"
Nolan wasn't paying attention to Cho anymore. He was busy observing the wall between Platform Nine and Platform Ten. Without looking at her, he answered, "Nolan Von Draugr."
Cho blinked a few times. "Nolan? Like the name of the Norns?"
"You know Norse mythology?"
"Huh? Isn't that from Greek mythology?"
"The Greeks also have their Three Fates, but the Norns are from Norse mythology," Nolan corrected.
"If it's Sun Wukong, I'd know that one," Cho said with a grin.
"I know that one too," Nolan replied before turning to Miss Theresa. "I'm off. You can take Miss Nancy back home. If she wants fish, buy her some, but don't lose her again. Remember, she has no sense of direction."
Miss Nancy let out an indignant screech, "I do not lack direction! I merely struggle with the Muggle world!"
Nolan, along with Cho—who had just said goodbye to her parents and sister—crossed the barrier to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. It was simpler than they had imagined.
"Oh my goodness, I thought we were going to crash!" Cho clutched her chest, her heart still pounding from the experience.
Following the line of young witches and wizards pushing their trolleys, they turned a corner and found themselves greeted by a vibrant sight: a bright red steam engine that looked comically outdated yet charming in its way.
The platform buzzed with life as students shared stories of their summer adventures, while others eagerly tried to persuade the first-years to join their respective houses. Gryffindors, in particular, seemed the most enthusiastic.
"Gryffindor is the best!" they declared.
"And whatever you do, don't end up in Slytherin! That house is full of bootlickers!" they warned.
Cho appeared to have made up her mind to stick with Nolan. Struggling with her heavy suitcase, her small frame wobbled as she moved. At last, she found an empty compartment and collapsed onto a seat, panting. "Is Gryffindor really the best?" she asked.
Nolan casually lifted his suitcase with one hand, placing it on the luggage rack. "If I were them, I'd say my house was the best too," he said softly.
"But they said Slytherin is the worst!" Cho huffed indignantly.
"Maybe they have a grudge against Slytherin," Nolan replied.
"Hmph…" Cho puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction. Her father had been a Hufflepuff, but she didn't like Hufflepuff much, thinking the students there were too simple-minded and hardworking for her taste. Hoping to chat more about the Sorting Ceremony, she looked over at Nolan, who seemed completely uninterested in the topic.
Frustrated, she glanced between her own luggage and the boy seated calmly across from her. "You could at least help me put my suitcase up!"
"It's not impossible."
"Then help me!"
"Alright…" Nolan sighed, lifting her suitcase with ease and placing it on the rack. Sitting back down, he added, "Miss, next time you want someone to help you, try using words to ask. And don't forget to say thank you."
"But at school, the boys always scramble to help me!"
Without looking up from the chunky game console he had just pulled out, Nolan retorted, "That's because they're idiots." Familiar music played as he powered up the device. "But I'm not."
Before long, the train was about to depart, and their quiet compartment gained two more visitors.
One was a girl with striking silver hair and the delicate features of a porcelain doll. The other was a freckled, brown-haired girl with an approachable demeanor.
"Hey, guys," the brunette peeked in and asked, "all the other compartments are full. Mind if we sit here?"
Cho immediately sprang to her feet, trying to appear gracious. "Oh, of course! Please, have a seat. I'm sure Nolan doesn't mind, right?"
"I don't mind, but next time, you should ask me first," Nolan replied, eyes glued to his game console. He muttered under his breath, "Why can a carp evolve into a dragon anyway…"
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