A sharp Hogwarts

I have to admit that the tall and burly Mr. Dursley is very intimidating even in the wizarding world.

Under the push of Mr. Dursley, Dahlia and others quickly squeezed through the crowd and arrived near the back of the car.

While Vernon was helping Dalia unload the suitcase from the cart, Petunia turned her head and looked at the window of the carriage not far away.

"Harry - are you still up there? Come and help me -"

"Well, I'll be down right away, Aunt Petunia."

Harry poked his head out of the window to take a look, and quickly jumped off the pedal and got out of the car.

With the joint efforts of the three of them, they dragged Dalia's heavy suitcase onto the train and pushed it into the corner of the compartment.

Afterwards, Harry followed Dahlia back to the platform, and together they stood in front of the train door and listened to Petunia Dursley's rambling instructions.

"You two, when you get to Hogwarts, remember to write home to say you're safe. Also, when you get to school, don't get too close to other wizards. Just concentrate on studying magic seriously. The people in the wizarding world Children don't care about academic performance, but you two are different. By the way, the temperature may cool down after a while. I heard that the winter at Hogwarts Castle is quite cold. Remember to put on thick clothes - be sure to do it when cooking magical dishes. Be careful not to put your fingers under the blade, and remember to put out the fire when you're done-"

"Oh, and don't forget to write back frequently. If there is something missing, we will find a way to buy it for you and send it over."

"You are like Daria, Harry. You must help each other in school and don't let bad students bully your sister. Do you understand?"

This seemed to be a necessary step for every family. Petunia stood on the platform and gave serious instructions over and over again.

Harry agreed vaguely, feeling very moved in his heart - over the past few days, Harry had clearly felt the change in the attitude of the Dursleys towards him.

Maybe before it was just to maintain his food, clothing, food, accommodation, and schooling, but since the arrival of the owls, especially after they came back from Diagon Alley, Aunt Petunia's care and concern for him this month has undergone earth-shaking changes, and he has I no longer had my room where I was shouted at and pointed at, and I even took the time to go out and buy a new set of pajamas, shoes and socks.

Dalia also nodded absently, staring nervously at the station staff walking back and forth not far away.

Like most trains in the UK, tickets for the Hogwarts Express are randomly checked.

Typically, adults boarding a train alone are stopped and questioned by station guards.

Groups like Dalia's usually wouldn't be bothered by anyone coming to question them.

unless……

"Hey, hello-"

Mr. Dursley looked at his nagging wife and suddenly turned around and waved to the station staff who were patrolling not far away.

"I want to know, your train...well, how long does it take to get to that magic school?"

"Normally it takes eight and a half hours, arriving in Hogsmeade at approximately 07:30 pm."

"Hogsmeade? Wait—the school's name isn't—"

"Hogsmeade Village is right next to Hogwarts, and the railway tracks are only built there. After students arrive at the station, they will take a boat or car to the castle."

As if he had guessed Vernon's question, the middle-aged wizard started to explain before he could finish his words.

As he answered, he glanced at Mr. Dursley's carefully ironed gray suit, with a trace of amusement and impatience flashing in his eyes.

Oh, obviously, it is another new parent from a Muggle family - most of the trivial matters and troubles on platform 9? are more or less related to these Muggles.

Under the influence of Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts' enrollment has expanded a lot over the years, and there are several times more new students from the non-magical world than usual.

"Eight and a half hours, and we have to transfer once at the terminal. Are the wizards' magic carpets out of stock..."

Vernon raised his eyebrows, snorted from his nose, and finally swallowed back the sarcastic words.

"So, their lunch and dinner were all left in the car, right? Hogwarts won't let students go hungry all the way to school, right?"

"There are snack carts on the Hogwarts Express."

"Free self-service pickup?"

"It costs money," the middle-aged wizard replied politely, glancing at Vernon's beer belly, "the money in the magical world is not the paper in the non-magical world."

"Oh - I understand, the magic school is so stingy that it can't even afford lunch for eleven or twelve-year-olds?"

Vernon Dursley snorted and muttered.

"Ha, even magic dishes - that's so funny -"

"It's a little funny, absolutely."

The middle-aged wizard nodded, and his voice suddenly turned cold.

"But there are funnier things, such as the old magic school generously allowing some country bumpkins to enroll, and then being accused of being stingy."

"Who are you calling a redneck?"

Vernon Dursley's smile disappeared and he stared at the wizard with narrowed eyes.

"I remind you, you'd better watch what you say -"

"Oh, I'm sorry." The middle-aged wizard said, but there was no trace of apology in his words. "I'm not offending you, I just objectively think that some students and families at Hogwarts should put themselves in their rightful place. After all, they have not received an education like 'us' since they were young and do not understand our world. Think about it. Look, many of them have never even heard of Hogwarts before receiving the letter from Hogwarts. What they focus on is always whether this bread is a little more expensive than that bread..."

"I don't see the advantage of understanding this crazy world -"

"Dad, forget it..."

Dalia looked at the increasingly tense atmosphere, raised her hand and tugged on Mr. Dursley's sleeve, and gave him a quick wink.

Seeing that she could successfully evade the fare, it was really not a wise choice to argue at this time.

"Mom accompanied me in Diagon Alley and exchanged a lot of galleons. You don't have to worry about me being hungry on the train..."

"Yes, Uncle Vernon, I have a lot of Galleons here too—"

Harry on the side also reacted instantly, grabbed a handful of gold coins from his trouser pocket, and tried to calm the dispute between the adults.

"If Dalia's place isn't enough, I'll be there, and we're not hungry now—"

"It's not about money - forget it, that's all for today."

Mr. Dursley looked at the two children beside him, then at his wife beside him, and let out a long breath.

Vernon suddenly realized that this was not the unhappy table from more than ten years ago—nor was it the first time he had encountered such condescension.

He glanced at the gold coins in Harry's hand, and a smile appeared on his face behind his beard. This brat wasn't that annoying after all.

"Harry, you boy—keep your money yourself. Do you think I'm poor?"

Mr. Dursley raised his hand for the first time and rubbed Harry's messy hair vigorously.

"And don't blame me for not warning you. If you squander all your gold coins in advance, I won't pay you any tuition fees."

"Wait - what is that?"

At this moment, the middle-aged wizard suddenly asked.

Vernon thought the other person was looking for trouble, but soon realized that the guy was talking to Harry this time.

The middle-aged wizard stared closely at Harry's forehead, looking at the lightning-like scar, and suddenly recalled a word he had just heard.

"Wait...you just said...Harry? Could it be that you are-"

"What is it?" Harry took two steps back.

"Harry Potter?!" the middle-aged wizard said excitedly, "The Boy Who Lived—Harry Potter!"

"Oh, yes. Yes, I am."

Harry said, uncomfortably letting his hair down to cover the scar on his forehead.

He didn't like the look in other people's eyes, nor did he like the title "The Boy Who Lived".

This reminded him of the last time they went to the zoo, the curious looks and pointing fingers that everyone looked at the animals around the cage.

"Ha - you told me earlier - oh, yes, I heard that you later lived with Muggles."

The middle-aged wizard glanced at the Dursleys with an expression of sudden realization.

"Speaking of..."

He clenched his chin and thought for a few seconds before speaking slowly.

"I just suddenly remembered that the Hogwarts Express has special subsidies for non-magical students."

"Mr. Potter, please give me your ticket and I will make a note for you."

The middle-aged wizard took the ticket from Harry's hand, flicked it with his fingers, and several lines of light ink writing appeared on the back of the ticket.

"All right--"

He casually handed the ticket to Harry, shook his finger proudly, and said with a smile.

"After the train starts, the salesperson will push the trolley over. Then you can just give this to her."

"It's not unlimited self-service, but it should be enough to fill you up - of course, you can at least try one of everything."

"Uh—thank you."

Harry collected the ticket blankly and thanked him carefully.

Then, in Dalia's desperate eyes, Harry raised his finger and pointed at her and said seriously.

"Well, what about Dalia - well, she is my cousin. If we talk about subsidies for non-magical students, then she is actually..."