The Hogwarts Express let out a piercing whistle, a plume of steam rising like a ghost above the bustling platform of Hogsmeade Station. Students swarmed the train in a flurry of excitement and exhaustion, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they said hurried goodbyes or squeezed past each other to find seats.
Ethan stepped onto the train without fanfare, moving through the crowded corridor with calm, measured steps. He weaved around groups of Gryffindors already exchanging summer plans and a gaggle of Hufflepuffs trying to squeeze their oversized luggage through a compartment door. With ease, he continued toward the far end of the train, slipping into a quiet, empty compartment.
He shut the door, the muffled noise of the corridor fading into a dull background hum. For a moment, he stood still, his eyes drifting to the window. The cool, misted glass revealed the distant towers of Hogwarts, the great castle looming against the backdrop of the mountains.
It felt surreal, watching it fade into the distance.
Ethan sank into the plush seat by the window, resting his head against the cool glass. The train shuddered, then slowly began to move, the platform slipping away as the endless green of the Scottish countryside stretched out before him.
He watched as the towering spires of Hogwarts shrank, swallowed by thick forests and rolling hills. It wasn't until they were completely out of sight that he let out a slow, measured breath.
It was over.
His first year at Hogwarts had ended.
A year filled with study in the library, the quiet thrill of spell practice in the Room of Requirement, and the competition with Hermione Granger. He had read, he had learned, and he had grown stronger, yet he still felt like he had barely scratched the surface of magic's vast potential.
His lips curved slightly, a faint smile more of quiet satisfaction than joy. There was always more to learn. More secrets to uncover.
And next year, he would be back. Stronger. Smarter.
The rhythmic clatter of the train on the tracks filled the compartment, a soothing, steady sound that seemed to lull the rest of the world into a quiet hum. Occasionally, shadows passed by the frosted glass of his compartment door, students searching for seats, loud bursts of laughter or chatter muffled by the closed door.
But none entered.
Ethan preferred it this way. Solitude was a familiar companion, a comforting silence that let his thoughts wander freely. He didn't need the noise, the pointless conversations about summer plans, or the empty chatter about House points. Let them have their friendships and celebrations.
His gaze drifted to the rolling countryside outside, the golden light of late afternoon slowly melting into warm shades of orange and pink. The distant mountains were bathed in a soft glow, their peaks crowned with the last touch of daylight.
Ethan's mind wandered, recalling the spells he had practiced, the techniques he had studied. He considered what he would focus on over the summer, Transfiguration, Charms, perhaps even a few more advanced Dark Arts spells, if he could find the right books. He would need to see what the Wright's manor had in stock inside its own library, and he would be free to study without the prying eyes of teachers or students.
The journey continued, the sky darkening to a deep, star-speckled blue. The train's steady rhythm was a calming backdrop, the occasional flicker of lantern light from the corridor the only interruption.
Soon, the sprawling countryside gave way to the familiar sight of London, the soft orange glow of city lights spilling over the distant rooftops. King's Cross Station loomed ahead, and the train began to slow, a low screech of metal on metal as it pulled into the platform.
Ethan stood, gathering his neatly packed belongings. He moved with quiet confidence, slipping out of his compartment and blending into the bustling crowd of students flooding onto the platform. The noise was overwhelming, but he navigated through it, stepping past laughing friends, tearful goodbyes, and cheerful reunions.
And then, just beyond the tide of students, he saw her.
His mother stood waiting near the far end of the platform, her posture elegant and poised. She was a woman of sharp, graceful features, her dark hair tied neatly back, her robes impeccably tailored and understated in their sophistication. Her deep blue eyes, the same shade as his own, found him instantly.
Ethan made his way to her, his expression polite with a smile on it. He had always been careful with his mother, understanding that she valued decorum and intelligence above all else.
"You look well," she greeted, her voice calm and even.
"I've kept myself busy," Ethan replied, his tone measured.
Her lips curved slightly, a faint smile that never quite reached her eyes. "I expected nothing less."
Without further words, she placed a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder.
CRACK.
The world twisted, a sensation of being pulled and squeezed in every direction at once. The bustling noise of King's Cross vanished, replaced by a brief, suffocating stillness.
And then they were standing on a quiet, cobbled path, lined with carefully trimmed hedges. Before them stood a large, stately house, The Wright Manor.
It wasn't the towering, ostentatious estate of some of the older pure-blood families, but it was no modest cottage either. The house stood tall, its stone walls wrapped in creeping ivy, the tall iron gate opening to a neatly kept garden. Warm light spilled from the windows, casting a soft glow over the pathway.
Ethan took it all in, his gaze steady and unreadable.
Home.
It was a place he had never actually been to before, yet something about it felt… right. Perhaps because it was his by name, a place he was meant to belong to.
They walked in silence up the cobbled path, the warm light from the manor's windows growing brighter as they approached the door. It opened for them, a house-elf with large, round eyes and a neatly pressed uniform bowing deeply as they entered.
"Welcome home, Mistress Wright. Young Master Wright," the elf intoned, his voice high and respectful.
Ethan offered a polite nod, but his gaze was already sweeping over the grand entrance hall. Dark wood paneling lined the walls, an elegant crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and a grand staircase curved upward to the second floor.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Yes, this was where he belonged. A place of quiet, of knowledge, of comfort.
His mother paused, looking at him with a hint of something almost resembling warmth. "You've done well this year, Ethan. Top marks."
"Im glad I didnt disappoint you." he teased.
"See that you don't." She turned, her robes swishing softly as she ascended the staircase.
Ethan remained for a moment, standing in the warm glow of the entrance hall. His gaze lingered on the grand staircase, then the rows of shelves lining the walls, filled with books of all shapes and sizes.
Home.
A place to study. A place to learn. A place to grow. For now, he would need to unpack. Then, he could relax.