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On the morning of the first of September, I packed necessary things: underwear, socks, and other stuff, put on a new school uniform that consists of the same dark gray trousers, shirt, jumper, and a tie. After making myself invisible to muggles, I dropped a bag behind my shoulder and apparated to King's Cross Station. Such a strange feeling. Jon always gave me a ride before, but now…

Pirate unexpectedly landed on my shoulder, and I had to stretch my arm, so this awkward but big owl could sit on my elbow bend. It seemed like muggles didn't notice him, but it could happen. Some magical animals, just like wizards, sometimes acquire extraordinary abilities, although this mechanism has not yet been identified. It's funny how the Pirate let the Knights see him.

"What did you come for? Such a calm owl. Do you want to go to Hogwarts with me? Didn't like the idea of going to America?"

"Ho-Ho!" the owl stared at me with one eye, leaning in my direction. He clearly agreed with my thoughts.

"Then off you go. You'll settle down there in the Hogwarts' owlery".

"Ho-Ho-Ho!" the owl was pleased, he flew off of my hand, and I couldn't see him anymore in the blueness of the morning sky.

Grinning after the bird, I went to platform nine and three-quarters. Ordinary people were still scurrying around, but what amused me was a bunch of extremely suspicious and completely, well, not at all prominent wizards, who almost dash to the wall between the ninth and tenth platforms, simultaneously turning circles around this place. Of course, the center of this flickering was Potter and the big black dog, and in some distance, you could see the worried Mrs. Weasley. A strange, slightly stooped, and plump station employee was pushing in front of him a freight cart full of things and suitcases, and even from under a low cap pulled down, an artificial eye in a copper-colored frame could be seen. If you take a closer look, you can see a few more people standing out from the general crowd.

I have never understood this, and once again, I am surprised that wizards have just an innumerable amount of clothes, comparable in style and purpose with the muggles' clothes. But as soon as the clothes of ordinary people fall into their hands, the wizards immediately try to find the most extraordinary use for it, which is completely contrary to the real one. In general, the gaze involuntarily catches the wizards, although they looked ordinary but a bit eccentric.

I decided not to show my, of course, terrible sense of humor. Instead, I just walked through the crowd and, without hiding, got through the wall to the magical part of the station.

It was the same bright platform, the same bright colors, fussy children and teenagers, joyful parents who accompanied their children to school, the same scarlet train with a locomotive that made a couple of beeps. Hermione was standing near one of the passenger carriages in the school uniform. She already put on a robe. Next to her was a huge travel suitcase with a handle and on wheels. The naked eye could see a couple of rune chains along the edge of the lid.

I managed to approach quite unnoticed, but when I got almost close, Hermione turned sharply in my direction and recognized me, smiled happily, immediately rushed to hug me.

"Max!" She almost hung on my neck, "I missed you so much!"

"Me too, Mione" I hugged her as well.

"Let's take a compartment."

Hermione grabbed her suitcase by the handle and literally flew into the carriage. We found the compartment immediately. Many students so far preferred to communicate outside the train. Quickly placing our luggage under the seats, we sat down by the old habit, opposite each other.

"You can not even imagine!" Hermione's face expressed both joy and resentment. "My parents started a real campaign to change my priorities. Not a second of rest, not a moment when it was possible to get distracted from reality. By hook or by crook, they wanted me to stay in France and enter the Beauxbatons."

"It looks like they failed."

Of course, the girl nodded confidently, and a couple of unruly strands strayed out from behind her ear. Her hairstyle is simple now, her hair is long, but everything is neatly gathered and pinned up. Nevertheless, this very hair still tended to make a mess on her head.

"Judging by your late arrival, they held out to the last."

"And not only that," Hermione smiled weakly. "Parents sold all the property here, and in fact, I had... nowhere to return. That's it ... I have all my things in this suitcase."

Hermione shrugged.

"You could have written to me. I definitely have a place to live. Already two houses."

"You didn't say."

"You didn't ask."