The summer holiday passed quickly, and before anyone realized it, September 1st had arrived.

  Early in the m, even before daylight broke, Mrs. Weasley's loud voice echoed throughout the Burrow, "Wake up!"

  Eda was jolted awake by this ear-pierg call. She got out of bed, shook Ginny awake, and then walked out of the room.

  As she stepped into the hallway, she noticed that two people were already sitting i. Percy was rubbing his eyes, his nightcap still on, and Charlie was slumped in his chair, nodding off.

  The three early risers sat i in silenone of them fully awake. Their minds still lingered on the fort of their soft, warm beds.

  "Where's Mr. Weasley?" Eda asked.

  "There was an emergency st night. Arthur was called back to the Ministry to work overtime. He won't be able to take you all to the station today," Mrs. Weasley said, standing at the foot of the stairs, waiting.

  After a while, when no one else had e down, Mrs. Weasley lost her patience. She grabbed a feather duster and charged upstairs. She kicked open the door to Fred and Gee's room ohird floor.

  The three i heard a scream, and moments ter, the twins hobbled dowairs, rubbing their behinds. Behind them was a sleepy-eyed Ginny.

  The small dog, Garlon, whimpered in fear in Ginny's arms, frightened by Mrs. Weasley's fierce demeanor.

  Mrs. Weasley stormed out of the twins' room and tinued upstairs with the same ferocity. Ihan two minutes, she appeared, dragging a groggy Ron by his ear for everyoo see.

  Breakfast was already prepared, and Mrs. Weasley served everyone a rge pte of food, though she did a sie herself. She was still busy i, pag a huge pile of sandwiches and pies—food for the kids to eat orain.

  Everyone, except for the twins, sat quietly in their seats, eating their portions without making a sound.

  No one dared make any noise, especially if they didn't want to face the wrath of Mrs. Weasley.

  If anyone doubted her fury, they only o look at the twins, who didn't even dare sit down caressing their swollen bums.

  After finishing breakfast, Mrs. Weasley used the feather duster to chase everyone back upstairs to finish pag. Luckily, Eda didn't have much to pack, and with Ginny's help, she was the first one ba the kit.

  The other Weasley siblings gradually returned downstairs, their suitcases beside them. Ron, however, had nothing with him. He was an i bystander caught in the crossfire, having been unjustly smacked by the feather duster.

  Mrs. Weasley checked each person's suitcase before heading back upstairs to make sure nothing important was left behind. She wao gather everything in one go to spare poor Errol, the family's overworked owl, from more trips.

  As expected, there were a few fotten items in ea. Mrs. Weasley used magic t them all downstairs, and everyoepped forward to cim their belongings and stuff them bato their suitcases.

  Even with everything ated for, Mrs. Weasley was still anxious. She opened every suitcase again to i eae thhly, even cheg Galleon's dog food and toys.

  By 10:30, under Mrs. Weasley's lead, the entire family finally made it to King's Cross Station. Eda's suitcase and dog crate were pced owins' trolley, but she wasn't idle. She held onto Ron with her left hand and Ginny with her right, following the others closely.

  Ron, clearly unfortable being dragged along, kept his head down, blushing in silence. Ginny, oher hand, was the plete opposite. She chattered nonstop, remindio write to her once she got to school—at least oer a week.

  Weaving through the bustling crowds, the group finally arrived at the barrier leading to the ptform. Charlie was the first to pass through, followed shortly by Percy, who tried to appear nont as he crossed.

  Wizards o pass through the barrier to reach the ptform, and they must be careful not to let Muggles see them disappear.

  "W-Woof?"

  While the Muggles didn't notice Charlie and Percy vanish, Garlon, trapped in his cage, saw everything. He stared in terror at the barrier as if it were a maing monster.

  Fred pushed the trolley toward the barrier, and Garlon started barking frantically. The moment they touched the wall, Garlon shut his eyes tight, only to discover he wasn't dead but had arrived in a strange new pce.

  The barking had drawention of a few Muggles, but sihey didn't witness Fred's magical disappearahey quickly lost i. Eda, relieved, guided Ginny toward the barrier.

  Oher side, Eda saw Fred and Gee standing nearby, scolding Garlon. Ginny quickly rao stop her brothers.

  Eda released Garlon from his cage and attached a leash to him. Garlon was eager to chase the cats roaming the ptform, but he couldn't break free and whimpered pitifully in pce.

  After the twins loaded the luggage onto the train, they returo say goodbye to Mrs. Weasley, and soon Charlie and Percy joihem.

  After giving Charlie and Percy a few final words of advice, Mrs. Weasley turo the twins. "Do you really think I don't know about the trouble you caused st school year?"

  The twins stayed silent. Now wasn't the time to provoke Mrs. Weasley's anger—sometimes it was best to admit defeat and stay quiet.

  "If I hear that you've broken school rules again this term, I'll have your father personally e a you!"

  "Don't worry, Mum. We're not eleven anymore," the twins said in unison. They were twelve now, after all.

  Mrs. Weasley shot them a stern look and then turo Eda. "Dear! I'm leaving these two in your care. If they misbehave, don't hesitate to give them a good beating!"

  "Mum!" The twi utterly wronged. Aside from Eda gettier grades thahey sidered her their equal in every other aspect.

  "And you," Mrs. Weasley tinued seriously, "no sneaking around the castle at night, and definitely no leaving the grounds. If you dare team up with those two, I'll tan your hide just the same!"

  "Sigh~ It's always those twing me along. I've always refused, but they're just too persistent…" Eda responded smoothly, shifting all bme from herself. She definitely didn't want to feel the sting of a feather duster!

  The twins gred daggers at Eda, but she shot a menag look at Charlie. He was defihe one who had ratted them out. Charlie, however, ignored her threat, focused on talking with Ron, reminding him to take care of their mum and Ginny.

  A loud whistle sounded, and the guards began urging everyoo board the train.

  Mrs. Weasley hugged each of them in turn, saving the hardest pinch for the twins as a final warning.

  Just as everything seemed fine, Ginny suddenly burst into tears. They all rushed to fort her before b, and after receiving a slew of promises, Ginny finally calmed down.

  Eda didn't escape either, having signed an "unfair treaty" with Ginny. The oer-a-week deal turned into a letter every three days!

  The train gave another whistle, signaling that it was time to depart. All the students had boarded by then.

  Eda waved at Mrs. Weasley from the window. They wouldn't see each ain until Christmas.

  Steam billowed from the engine as the train slowly began to move.

  After rounding a bend, the ptform and the people waving goodbye faded from view.

  Eda and the twins made their way down the corridor to the partment where they had stowed their luggage. They slid the partment door shut. And with that, the new school year at Hogwarts had officially begun.

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