Just as William was about to head out after Hermione, he heard a familiar voice call from outside the train window, "Fred, George, are you there?"
Looking outside, he saw Mrs. Weasley with her sons and daughter. In no time, the twins leapt off the train and strode over to her, with Percy following behind.
Percy had finally achieved his ambition of becoming a prefect, proudly displaying a gleaming badge on his chest.
"Oh, Percy, so you're a prefect now?" Fred exclaimed with exaggerated surprise.
"You should have told us sooner! We would've prepared a gift for you!"
William chuckled. Fred had a knack for that dry, sarcastic tone.
"Wait, I think he did mention it… once or twice," George chimed in.
"Or maybe it was twice…"
"Wait a second…"
"He only mentioned it the entire summer," they finished in unison, laughing.
"Shut it!" Percy snapped, fuming.
"Oh, Percy, how did you get a new robe?" Fred asked with a frown.
"Well, I am a prefect," Percy said proudly. "You two got new robes, too."
George replied smugly, "We paid for ours ourselves, not with family money."
Percy scoffed. "From Akali's Magical Shop? You're wasting your time! You two are leading William astray, too.
"He has a bright future ahead of him as a Merlin awardee; he shouldn't be messing around with you two on some silly business venture. He should've taken me to the ceremony instead of wasting an invitation on you two!"
It was clear Percy resented William for choosing the twins over him as companions at the ceremony.
Mrs. Weasley gave Percy a fond smile.
"Alright, dear, next time there's an event like that, I'll be sure to have your father send the invitation your way. Now, have a great term, and don't forget to send an owl as soon as you're settled."
After giving Percy a kiss on the cheek, he strode off, dignified and with purpose.
Then she turned to the twins. "Now, it's your turn. I expect you two to behave this year! And if I hear so much as a whisper of trouble…"
She trailed off, recalling how last year she'd forbidden them from throwing dung bombs at the Slytherin table, only for them to do it anyway.
The twins glanced at her with mild disappointment, clearly hoping for some new inspiration, but she remained silent.
"Right, well… no pranks, understood?" she concluded. "And keep an eye on Ron, please."
"Don't worry, Mum. Ron'll be fine with us," George said, giving Ron's shoulder an encouraging pat.
Ron beamed up at his brother, eagerly clutching at George's new robe, as if he'd do whatever George asked him to.
The twins had already promised him a new wand and a Map of hogwards, and he'd overheard them telling Ginny that next year they'd buy her new robes and books as well.
That meant he was set for the future, right? Fred and George couldn't possibly spoil Ginny without giving him the same, he thought.
Lost in this pleasant thought, Ron barely noticed Fred waving toward the train.
William waved back but was pulled aside by Hermione, who had run out to help Neville and then hurried back, grabbing him by the sleeve.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"It's Neville," she said breathlessly. "His trunk got stuck."
"Why don't you use levitation charm to lift it?" William suggested.
Hermione knew that spell; he'd taught her that and a few others over the summer.
"Just come and see for yourself," she replied, pulling him toward the train entrance.
When they arrived, a small crowd had already gathered. Neville's trunk was wedged in the doorway, blocking the entrance.
Several Slytherin students stood around him, looking down from the platform and laughing.
"Hah, look at this idiot," one of them sneered. "My dad told me the Longbottom kid's basically a squib. Apparently, once his uncle tried to push him off the Black Lake pier to get his magic to show. Almost drowned him." The group burst into laughter.
William recognized Draco Malfoy among them, animatedly recounting the story to another boy, Arthur, a second-year Slytherin. The two seemed to be fast friends.
"I bet he should be going to a Muggle school," one of the boys jeered, making the others laugh louder.
Neville's face flushed red as he struggled to push his trunk onto the train, saying nothing in his own defense.
The trunk was clearly enchanted to be much larger than usual, blocking the doorway completely.
The passengers behind Neville were growing impatient and muttering for him to hurry up, though no one moved to help.
Hermione stepped forward and declared, "Nothing's wrong with a Muggle school! If you've got so much free time, why don't you lend a hand?"
She scowled, tugging on the trunk with all her might, but it was stuck too tightly to budge. She tilted her head, giving William a look that clearly said, "Your turn."
William stepped forward, feeling the eyes of the crowd on him. Evidently, the tales from the previous year had spread, and many were curious to see if he was as impressive as rumored.
"Oh, look who's here! Stark himself," drawled Marcus Flint, a fifth-year Slytherin and Beater for the Slytherin Quidditch team.
There were rumors he'd be captain this year. He crossed his arms and smirked, "Let's see if the Merlin awardee can handle it. Should be a breeze, right?"
There was a challenge to his tone.
William eyed him warily, noting Flint's hand on his thick wand as if he was ready to cast a spell.
With a calm smile, William raised his own wand, a shimmer of light flashing as he cast his spell.
The crowd watched closely; most had never seen William cast anything.
The rumors about him capturing a Death Eater remained just that—rumors. This was their first chance to see him in action.
Flint lifted his wand as well, casting his own spell, clearly confident that a fifth-year like himself could best a second-year. His spell struck Neville's trunk, just as William's spell took effect.
With a flash, Neville's trunk transformed into a magnificent phoenix, trailing a long, fiery tail. The phoenix opened its beak, releasing a spell straight toward Flint's face.
William had cast two spells: one to transfigure the trunk into a phoenix and another to add a Shield Charm onto it. Flint's spell bounced off William's charm, making it appear as if the phoenix had retaliated.
Thanks to Professor Flitwick's training, William's speed and experience with dueling magic were leagues above Flint's.
Flint's head swelled visibly, turning his face into something resembling a large, round pumpkin.
Stammering, he pointed at William, as though he wanted to say something menacing, but his lips were so swollen that all he managed was a garbled mumble.
His classmates hurried him away toward the train.
With another flick of his wand, William guided the phoenix in a graceful arc before it landed softly on Neville's shoulder.
To everyone's surprise, the phoenix began to sing—not the usual harsh tones of Fawkes, but an uplifting version of the Hogwarts school song in a bright, new melody.
Applause broke out around them.
Hermione clapped her hands enthusiastically, her eyes shining as if she herself had cast the spell.
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