September 1st, King's Cross Station was bustling with people.
Charlie walked through the crowd of Muggles, pushing his luggage cart toward Platform 9 ¾.
Just as he passed through the barrier, he saw Mrs. Weasley pulling Harry by the arm, followed by Hermione and a large group of redheads.
"Charlie!" Ron saw him first and waved.
"Good morning, Ron."
Charlie pushed his cart over.
"Mrs. Weasley."
"Oh, Charlie, you've arrived just in time." Mrs. Weasley let go of Harry and turned to look at Charlie.
"The Quidditch World Cup was truly harrowing; it's fortunate you were there."
"It was nothing." Charlie replied casually, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
"Where is Mr. Weasley?"
He was used to seeing the Weasley family all together; it felt strange not to see Mr. Weasley today.
Ron spoke up first.
"Dad is handling things at the Ministry of Magic; he couldn't get away."
"What happened?"
"Someone named Mad-Eye Moody was misusing magic in a Muggle community. Since it involved Muggles, Dad had to go deal with it." Ron lowered his voice.
"But Moody claims someone broke into his yard."
George leaned in and whispered.
"Moody is always acting crazy, looking at everyone like they're out to get him. Maybe a stray cat wandered into his yard, and he thought a Dark Wizard had arrived."
Mrs. Weasley glared at George.
"Don't say such things! Mr. Moody is a friend of Dumbledore's, and he was the most formidable Auror in his youth! He put half the criminals in Azkaban."
"Yes, yes, yes."
George shrank his neck and dragged his trunk toward the Hogwarts Express.
Mrs. Weasley urged them.
"Hurry up and get on the train, don't delay!"
Fred and George were the first to jump on.
Fred walked over to Charlie and muttered in a low voice.
"Dumbledore is also a bit crazy, though he is certainly a brilliant genius."
Charlie glanced at him. Young man, would you dare say that to Dumbledore's face?
"That person's name is Moody, right?"
"That's right."
Charlie suddenly remembered that night at the Ministry of Magic stealing the time-turner; someone had seen through the disguise of his invisibility cloak.
When the person shouted at him, the name they called was Moody.
How could someone so sharp misjudge what had broken into his yard?
Charlie knew better, but he didn't say it out loud.
Because under normal circumstances, he wouldn't know Moody.
After boarding and sitting down, Harry and Hermione leaned out of the window to thank Mrs. Weasley.
They had stayed with the Weasley family for a long time during the summer holidays; Harry and Ron lived together, and Hermione and Ginny lived together.
"Thank you for taking care of us during this time, Mrs. Weasley." Harry said.
"You're welcome, dear." Mrs. Weasley waved with a smile.
"I was planning to invite you to visit for Christmas, but I'm sure you'd rather stay at Hogwarts this year."
Hermione blinked.
"Why?"
"Because it will be very exciting and interesting this year." Mrs. Weasley's tone was mysterious.
Ron immediately leaned toward the window.
"Mum, what on earth is it?"
Mrs. Weasley shook her head, lips pressed shut, refusing to reveal a single word.
The train slowly started moving, and Fred was so anxious he shouted directly out the window.
"What is happening at Hogwarts?!"
George followed suit and shouted.
"Just tell us one thing! Just one!"
Mrs. Weasley waved with a smile and Apparated away.
Fred sat back in his seat, feeling restless.
"This is torture."
"It's all Percy's fault." George gritted his teeth.
"Dad was going to tell us during the World Cup, but he insisted on stopping him."
Fred continued.
"He didn't even come to see us off today, saying he was too busy helping Crouch."
"Tch." George rolled his eyes.
"Hopefully, Crouch will remember his name next time."
The train started, and Fred and George returned to their compartment.
Ron's new Owl was making a racket, flapping around in its cage; he had named it Pig.
Seeing that Pig wouldn't quiet down, Ron simply covered the cage with a purple robe, trying to make it settle.
Charlie glanced at the garment and said.
"Why did you bring your mother's clothes on board?"
Ron looked aggrieved.
"Thank you, Charlie; you've completely broken my already fragile pride."
Charlie was bewildered by this.
Hermione covered her mouth, laughing.
"That is Ron's dress robe for this term."
"What?" Charlie paused, his gaze landing on the purple robe again.
Honestly, it was as rotten as the heel of the leather shoe Uncle Tom had kicked his backside with. The cuffs and collar were covered in tattered lace.
"Mum said this is secondhand, bought from a thrift shop." Ron's voice was filled with despair.
"She said it could still be worn after a wash and told me not to be picky."
At that moment, a mocking voice came from the doorway.
"Even my grandmother wouldn't wear clothes like that."
Draco stood at the door with a punchable smile on his face, while Goyle and Crabbe stood behind him like two door gods.
Although the relationship between Draco and Harry and Ron was a bit subtle now—more than enemies, less than friends.
He still couldn't suppress his nature to mock others.
Ron's face turned crimson instantly: "Eat dung, Malfoy."
Pure verbal abuse, the ultimate enjoyment.
Draco didn't care at all; instead, he laughed even harder.
"No way, no way, Weasley, surely you aren't planning to participate in that activity, are you? Wearing this?"
Ron was stunned: "What are you rambling about? What activity?"
Seeing that Ron didn't know, Draco got even more excited.
"Your dad and brother work at the Ministry of Magic, yet you don't know?" He spread his hands exaggeratedly.
"Oh, right, I suppose your dad's rank is too low to have the authority to know. Minister Fudge probably never discusses important topics in front of him."
Draco laughed loudly, and Goyle and Crabbe giggled along.
Ron's face flushed red, and he clenched his fists. Harry and Hermione were also very dissatisfied with Draco's mockery.
Seeing him looking so smug, Charlie frowned.
Damn it, people who talk in half-sentences are the worst.
"Either explain it, or get out." Charlie said calmly.
Draco's laughter stopped abruptly, and he shrank his neck.
Oh no, he'd gotten too carried away and forgotten that Charlie didn't know either.
He looked at Charlie's expression and gestured for him to come out.
Charlie stood up and followed him out.
Draco closed the compartment door and lowered his voice.
"Actually, after you returned from my house, I learned from my father that Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament this term."
"What is the Triwizard Tournament?" Charlie asked.
Draco's eyes lit up, and he began to explain enthusiastically.
The Triwizard Tournament is a traditional competition between the three major wizarding schools of Europe: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang each send a champion to participate.
The competition has three tasks, all of which are extremely dangerous.
"It is said that people often died in the competition in the past, which is why it was suspended for many years." Draco's tone was filled with excitement.
"But the Ministry of Magic decided to restart it this year, and there will be many restrictive measures to ensure safety."
"I think the champion will definitely be you, Charlie."
After hearing this, Charlie already had an idea; this term would be interesting.
After letting Draco take his two goons back, Charlie turned and returned to the compartment.
As soon as Charlie sat down, Harry, Ron, and Hermione crowded around impatiently.
"What activity is it?" Ron asked eagerly.
"Tell us!" Hermione couldn't help it either.
Harry also stared at Charlie, his eyes full of curiosity.
Charlie smiled mysteriously.
"You'll know when you get to school."
[The Emperor is extremely double-standard, tyrant points + 10]
"What?!" Ron's eyes widened.
Hermione gritted her teeth: "Charlie!"
Harry took a deep breath; people who talk in half-sentences are the worst!
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