The train to London had arrived, and the young wizards, each with their luggage in tow, began to make their way towards the exit under the guidance of the conductor, ensuring an orderly departure to avoid any chaos or mishaps.
Hermione, feeling the strain of the journey, rubbed her sore neck, stifling a yawn behind her hand as she trudged forward. Luke followed closely behind, effortlessly carrying both their small, manageable suitcases.
As they neared the exit, a narrow passage formed by pillars allowed only a few individuals to pass through at a time, a precaution taken to avoid alarming the Muggles outside.
Walking side by side with Hermione, Luke guided them through the pillars, leading the way to London's King's Cross station.
Outside, a cluster of parents awaited the arrival of their children, most of them belonging to Muggle families.
Among them stood the Grangers, eagerly anticipating their daughter's return.
Spotting her father's familiar gesture, Hermione hurriedly tugged Luke along. "This way, this way!"
"Good morning, Mr. Granger!" Luke greeted politely, handing over the luggage to Hermione before turning to address her father with a gentle nod.
"Good morning, Luke," Mr. Granger replied warmly, returning the gesture with a smile.
Observing the courteous demeanor and impeccable manners of the blond boy before him, Mr. Granger couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. It was evident that Luke embodied both grace and propriety—an impression that only grew stronger with each encounter.
Additionally, he had just noticed that Hermione had been holding his hand throughout the journey, and as they approached their destination, she discreetly released it.
"Luke, would you like to join us for the holidays?" Mrs. Granger, a kind-hearted woman, couldn't help but express concern for the orphaned boy in front of her.
"No, ma'am, I still need..."
"Luke is going to work at Diagon Alley, and I'm going with him too!" Hermione firmly interjected before Luke could finish, displaying a determined tone.
"No, you have to go back..."
Mrs. Granger's words were cut short as Mr. Granger gently pulled her aside.
"Perhaps we can have a discussion, can't we?" Mr. Granger suggested with a smile, affectionately stroking Hermione's curly hair. Hermione's eyes brightened, understanding that her father's words granted permission.
"That's wonderful!" She nodded in satisfaction, shooting Luke a playful wink.
Luke, feeling a bit uneasy about this impromptu meeting with Hermione's parents, touched the tip of his nose unconsciously.
Suddenly, Fred's voice called their attention. He and George approached with a piece of paper in hand, followed by the red-haired Weasleys, including a somewhat apprehensive Ron.
Mrs. Weasley, holding a transcript, chided Luke for not cherishing his outstanding achievements. The twins handed the transcript to Luke, urging him to play with them in the future.
As the Weasley brothers left, George gave Luke a wink, leaving him slightly perplexed.
Mrs. Granger, curious about Hermione's grades, inquired, "How did you fare, Hermione?"
Hermione, thinking of Luke's guidance, responded, "My grades aren't much different from Luke's; after all, he's always helping me with my studies." She then pulled out her transcript from her pocket, showcasing her academic achievements.
A string of O's, almost identical to Luke, caught Mrs. Granger's attention as she glanced over the transcript. Her eyes lit up with recognition as she looked at Luke, nodding in satisfaction at the sight of the familiar handwriting.
At that moment, Luke had a sudden realization about the significance of being a twin.
As the noon approached, Luke bid farewell to the Granger family, ready to return home. However, just as he was about to leave, he froze, realizing that he had forgotten something important—his frog cub.
There had been no sign of the frog cub when he left, and now he was concerned it might be traveling to another world again.
In his dusty room, a vortex formed, and Luke, activating his divine power, returned home. However, upon landing, he noticed two small footprints on the ground.
"Great, just what I needed," Luke muttered, frowning as he used his wand to clean up the mess.
He had already shielded the tracking wire on his wand with magic power during the train journey, ensuring the Ministry of Magic wouldn't be able to trace his magic usage.
Once the dust settled, Luke tossed his suitcase aside and prepared lunch. Later that afternoon, he planned to visit Diagon Alley to look for suitable shops.
With a substantial amount of Galleons he should be able to rent a shop for two months. Luke finished his meal and changed into a black sweater, despite the winter weather in England.
He had set a spatial coordinate near the Leaky Cauldron Bar, saving time on taking a taxi. Upon entering the Broken Cauldron Bar, Luke was greeted by a bustling crowd of wizards, chatting and drinking in a harmonious atmosphere.
After ordering a cup of hot cocoa, he walked through the walls into Diagon Alley. As he wandered, he stumbled upon a shop that was up for rent, originally selling magic items. Due to poor income, the owner was looking to rent it out.
"This shop's location is ideal," Luke thought to himself, remembering his second year at school when he needed to purchase many items, including books. If Hermione were to join him, he knew she'd appreciate the bookstore across the street.
For someone who craved knowledge, nothing was more alluring than books.
After negotiating with the owner, Luke secured the shop for two months at the price of one hundred Galleons, which he deemed reasonable.
With that, the potions shop was on the verge of opening its doors.
....
Join my exclusive Patreon community for 30 thrilling chapters! Free members get two or more advanced chapters FREE. Don't miss out, join now!
Link: pa*treon.com/MidnightWonder (Remove the *)