After a few weeks of training with Alphonse, I managed to gain better control of the wand. My magic had reached a more acceptable level in terms of handling, largely thanks to my practice of control and meditation to improve and release certain key points so the flow of magic could move much better through the channels.
My body now bore more bruises than before due to this strenuous process. Even with my prior knowledge of how to carry it out, it was still quite tedious, difficult, and painful.
Alphonse had noticed the bruises but always managed to dispel any doubts with the excuse that they came from my individual training sessions with the wand.
Alphonse, on the other hand, wrote letters to Amelia every day, telling her everything we lived and trained through day by day. Likewise, we constantly received letters from her describing the state of the house and how Prik had kept everything in order, not just the garden but the entire home.
At night, I spent time researching more in the bestiary, where all kinds of creatures could be found—their appearance, threat level, abilities, food, and other characteristics that made sure the beast would not feel threatened, but rather allow safe contact with anyone.
Iolita had mostly kept to the sidelines, lying down as she watched the training sessions I had with Alphonse.
We still hadn't discovered the direct connection between the two gems. We had searched through different encyclopedias and scrolls for anything similar or related, but it seemed an increasingly difficult task. Still, Alphonse never lost hope. "Nothing is impossible," he would often say.
I had visited Diagon Alley more often, and I also came to know Knockturn Alley, which is the more public version of the secret Blood Cauldron Alley, but without as many illegal components or materials. As for Blood Cauldron Alley, since it was such a secret place, the illegal magical materials found there were more and more impressive: creature eggs, parts of magical creatures' bodies, dangerous potions, and other artifacts for the Dark Arts.
Regarding the hunter Rakan, I had been talking with him about the different creatures found in various parts of the continent. I also learned about creatures I hadn't known before and strengthened my knowledge of those I already did.
Now only one night remained before entering Hogwarts, and I felt somewhat restless about being in this place. It was strange to think that at this point in my life, before, I had been preparing to enter the Beauxbatons Magical Academy—a time when I was far less prepared than I am now.
"Still awake, my lord? Are you nervous about tomorrow?" – Alphonse knocked on the door and entered cautiously.
"To be honest, I'm not nervous, nor afraid. I know it's a good place and that I'll learn a lot. I'm just a little thoughtful about what comes after."
Alphonse came closer and sat on the edge of the bed, looking out the window reflectively.
"I see. And why is that?" – Alphonse asked without taking his eyes off the starry night.
"That I won't be able to achieve everything I've planned, and that I won't be able to be as happy as I am now."
I knew this would be one of the few conversations I would have with Alphonse after entering the academy, and I wanted to take the chance to speak sincerely with him about how I felt.
"Humm, so that's it. Don't fear failure. If you must fear something, fear that the opportunity won't exist—and you still have it. Just don't hide, and live. Seek the sun and you'll see tomorrow," – said Alphonse as he took my hand.
"And if everything just goes wrong?"
"Trying doesn't guarantee you'll succeed, but not trying guarantees you won't. Accepting that things change may be a challenge, but it's the essence of life—a constant flow of changes and transformations. Open yourself to what's to come. Experiences and opportunities can be just as enriching, even if they're painful," – said Alphonse.
"Have you ever felt afraid of losing yourself and losing everything?"
"Hahaha, you're very thoughtful tonight, my lord… but you know? I'll confess something. Once, I asked your mother a similar question, and she answered me saying: 'People come and go, seasons never last, your current situation is not your final destiny, something better always comes, something to teach you, a hero to save you.' You don't know how much I agree with her to this day," – Alphonse said as he got up from the bed and closed the blinds.
"A hero? And who is your hero, Alphonse?"
"I could say your parents. After my losses, they gave me a reason to keep going; they trusted me and helped me. I could tell you it was them, but I wouldn't be sure… I'd say my greatest hero is you, my lord."
"Me?"
"That's right. Looking at you is seeing how far you've come. You faced your trauma and came out the other side fighting for what you want. That makes me very proud of you. You survived. You are a survivor. And I truly am proud of you, because I know how hard it is to take care of ourselves. But you are incredible. You still have much to grow and discover, but… I can't help feeling proud of the person you are now," – said Alphonse as he came closer again and tucked me in.
Because of his words, I couldn't hold back the tears that streamed from my eyes, which Alphonse immediately wiped away with a smile. After that moment, Alphonse and I wished each other good night, and each slept in our own room.
Maybe I can't be saved because of my past, but I must try for this past. I must push forward, I must become something more. People need hope, and I will create that path.
___________________________________________
September 1st
We are now at King's Cross Station in London, a Muggle train station that is one of the busiest in the city. It is a perfectly normal station, with large plastic numbers on each track and guards who have never heard of Hogwarts. After walking for a few minutes, we positioned ourselves between stations 9 and 10, where Muggles normally gather. At first glance, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters (Platform 9¾) cannot be seen.
Since Alphonse already knew how the entrance worked, he took the cart where I carried all my school supplies and luggage to stand between the pillars of stations 9 and 10.
"To enter Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, you must walk directly into the apparently solid metal ticket barrier that divides platforms nine and ten," – Alphonse explained.
There was a guard standing just outside the entrance to regulate the comings and goings of the platform. Especially every September 1st, as the overload of the clock neared eleven and the InterCity 125 pulled into platform nine, a strange crowd of Muggles occasionally turned their heads. A crowd of wizard children, carrying enormous trunks and caged owls, made their way to the solid metal barrier between platforms 9 and 10.
Moments before entering through the two stations, a rather striking and noisy family passed in front of us.
"Excuse me, may we go first? You know, with so many children, this is madness," asked the stout woman with her two redheaded twin sons and two younger ones. I would say one of them was almost the same age as me, a boy with a somewhat familiar resemblance…
"No problem, go ahead," – said Alphonse calmly and politely.
"Wait for me here, children," – the stout woman instructed her other two kids.
"I want to go too," – said the youngest red-haired boy.
"Son, you still have one more year to wait. In the meantime… Fred and George, hurry up, people are waiting. Percy is already on the other side," – the woman shouted to her two older sons.
What? Those are the Weasley brothers. That means… that boy there is Ron. It's the great Weasley family. I didn't think I'd see them so soon here, and especially Fred, who I only ever came to know through stories.
After the Weasley family passed through the metal barrier, the great home of the famous Hogwarts Express came into view. A glance back at the barrier revealed that it was, in fact, an iron archway with the words "Platform 9¾." Above the smoke of a steam line billowing from the Express, a sign announced that the Hogwarts Express departed at eleven o'clock sharp.
This was quite different from how it was done at the Beauxbatons Magical Academy, where all the students and staff were transported by the Beauxbatons carriages. The carriages were light blue, pulled by a dozen winged horses.