After two long weeks in the hospital, William finally finished all his check-ups and returned home.
Once he arrived, his sister Annie fussed over him, making sure he hadn't returned with any missing parts, but his parents, Roy and Leanna, had barely reacted.
Thanks to Nicolas Flamel's magic, they'd had their memories altered to forget what happened at Gringotts and had even taken a dose of Felix Felicis, leaving them in such high spirits that they thought it had been a perfect day.
It seemed Annie had grown a lot, too, and wasn't as mischievous as she used to be.
The rest of the summer passed in a blur, and soon it was time to return to school.
On September 1st, Roy drove William to King's Cross Station, where they met up with Hermione and her family.
After farewells, William picked up Boba Tea's cage and, with Hermione by his side, stepped through the barrier to Platform 9¾.
This time, they didn't encounter any curious Muggles, and the journey went smoothly.
The platform was already bustling with people; excited students moved to and fro, families exchanged goodbyes, and the air was filled with a lively energy.
Hermione gazed at the Victorian-style train in awe. "It looks amazing."
"Come on, let's find a large compartment," William said, leading the way. There were quite a few of them, so they'd need a larger compartment to fit everyone.
They hadn't gone far when William spotted Lee Jordan standing beside the train, yelling to gather a crowd of younger students around him. He stood at the center, holding a box like some kind of salesman with a captive audience.
"What's going on?" Hermione craned her neck to see, but the crowd was blocking her view.
"Let's get closer," William said, guiding her to the edge of the circle.
Lee waved his hand and announced loudly in his signature baritone, "Gather round, everyone! Don't miss out!"
He sounded like some sort of dark lord, gesturing theatrically as he continued, "Let me tell you all something—Britain's gender ratio has been severely skewed, and it's even worse at Hogwarts!"
He spoke passionately, spittle flying.
"So getting yourself a girlfriend is not just a luxury; it's a necessity! Take William Stark, for instance—youngest Order of Merlin recipient; surely, everyone's heard of him?"
The crowd responded with murmurs of excitement.
"Yes!" came the eager reply.
Taken aback by the sudden mention, William felt a bit awkward, and Hermione turned to him, raising an eyebrow.
"William's a close friend of mine," Lee said with a conspiratorial tone.
"The type you share underwear with, even. And what did he say to me in first year? 'A girlfriend is something you've got to work on from a young age!'"
"Ohhh!" The crowd seemed to accept this wisdom as gospel truth.
Hermione's expression turned into a stunned stare, as if seeing William in a whole new light.
William was bewildered. Had he really said something like that? Impossible! If anyone would say such a thing, it'd be Cedric, not him.
Lee continued, "The importance of learning how to woo a girl cannot be overstated. It's an art form, a vital skill. So…what do you think is most important in this process?"
Someone from the crowd shouted, "Looks, galleons, talent…"
"Exactly!" Lee pointed his thumb at the kid who'd shouted. "But let's be real, not everyone's got looks, money, or skills…or maybe not even one of these! Ouch, right?"
The crowd laughed.
"But don't worry! I've got a special tool to help you snag that dream girl!"
William half-expected Lee to pull out a vial of Amortentia, but instead, Lee lifted the box, casting a sly smile.
"This, my friends, is the newest breed of black widow spider from Ilvermorny in America, certified by Newt Scamander himself! It's incredibly dangerous and listens only to me."
Lee's face lit up as he opened the box, revealing a creature with long, furry legs that immediately caused the students around him to shriek and scramble backward in a mix of horror and excitement.
"Now, listen! All you have to do is release this spider, let her panic, and then swoop in to save her. Works every time. You'll be the hero in no time!"
With a mischievous grin, he opened the box. The spider's long, hairy legs were enough to make the kids scream again, excitement now bordering on mania.
"Come on, don't miss out! I'm taking pre-orders now. With this spider, you'll reach the peak of your romantic life. It's only ten Sickles. Ten Sickles! You won't find a better deal!"
A swarm of students rushed forward with coins in hand, and Lee grinned from ear to ear.
William chuckled and pulled Hermione out of the crowd.
"Is that black widow spider really from Ilvermorny?" Hermione asked, puzzled.
"Of course not. It's just a type of pouch spider from South Africa," William replied with a smirk. "Its venom's mild and treatable with just a drop of antidote."
"Do you think it'll really help anyone get a girlfriend?"
"Well, maybe for some, but it depends on the girl's smarts and the boy's charm."
"It seems awfully misleading," Hermione huffed, her sense of fairness piqued.
"It's just a little scheme for pocket money, Hermione," William explained. "Lee will probably sell that spider after he's made his first round of profits, and then Hogwarts will be overrun with similar ideas. Soon it'll be snakes and toads everywhere. Lee's just adding some fun to school life and making some money on the side—theres no harm done."
Hermione fell silent. She was beginning to realize that Hogwarts wasn't quite like what she'd imagined, and it certainly wasn't like any Muggle school she'd ever heard of.
They boarded the train, stowed their belongings in their charmed bags, and settled into a compartment.
Through the window, William spotted Neville with his grandmother, Augusta Longbottom.
It looked like Neville had lost his toad, Trevor, again, and his grandmother was scolding him sternly.
Hermione leaned out and waved. "Neville!"
He turned to see them and gave a cheerful wave in return.
Augusta had packed an enormous bag for Neville, stuffed to the brim.
As she straightened his collar, she said in a stern voice, "Do me proud, Neville. You're going into Gryffindor, you hear me? Your parents were Gryffindors!"
Her voice carried over the bustling platform, causing other witches and wizards to turn and stare at the unusual duo.
Neville's face turned red as he cast his gaze downward.
With a sigh, Augusta said, "Go on, then. Remember to write if you need anything."
Neville struggled under the weight of his oversized luggage as he trudged toward the train.
His toad, Trevor, suddenly leapt out from somewhere and landed right on Neville's head, lounging there as if Neville were the pet and Trevor the master.
"Let's go help him," Hermione said, motioning for William to come along. She dashed out to give Neville a hand.
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