9 A Magical Year Begins

"A Magical Year Begins"

"Mm mm"

Everyone on the Express followed the humming until they found the culprit: a well-dressed blonde boy with blue eyes, cheerfully walking down the aisle while singing a song. A couple of little girls were drawn to him—he looked like a prince.

"It looks like this one is empty," said the young boy, none other than Stephen, very pleased with the surprise his entrance had caused. He felt this was going to be a great year at Hogwarts.

As he thought about the pranks and mischief he could pull at school, he heard someone at the door. Turning around, he saw two red-haired boys hesitating over who should open it. Finally, one of them decided to do so.

"Hello, how are you?"

"We didn't know if we should come in."

"Or not."

"He's Fred."

"And he's George."

"We're the brothers of the guy you left hanging like a piñata."

"Unfortunately," the twins introduced themselves. They spoke at the same time, making it hard to keep up with them.

"Hi, I'm Stephen Flamel, nice to meet you," Stephen responded, surprised to run into the twins again.

"Yeah, we heard before."

"When Dad was…"

"Surprised, haha," they said in unison as they sat down.

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. It was the snack trolley lady, asking if they wanted anything.

"No, thanks."

"We're good."

"We stole the cookies Percy was keeping."

"Haha, they were under his bed," said the twins, showing a jar of cookies.

"It's fine, guys, pick whatever you want. My treat," Stephen said with a smile. The twins were delighted.

"Awesome! Rich kid is paying!"

"Rich kid is the best!" the twins cheered as they began selecting sweets. Even though they were pranksters, they knew not to take advantage of others, which Stephen appreciated.

"Alright, but if you keep going, the lady won't be able to sell to anyone else," Stephen said as he approached the trolley. "If I buy one of everything, will there still be enough for others?" he asked, earning the trolley lady's appreciation.

"Yes, dear. I have plenty more, don't worry. In the past, Slytherin kids used to buy up all the sweets for themselves, so now I come prepared," the woman said with a satisfied smile.

"Then, that's what I'll do," Stephen said, setting up the table in the center so everyone could enjoy. The twins eagerly helped move the sweets.

"Hey, rich kid, I like you."

"Yeah, rich kid, you're awesome," the twins said, though Stephen was starting to lose track of which was which.

After stuffing themselves with sweets and listening to the twins' stories about the pranks they played on their brothers, Fred and George asked a question.

"So, Stephen, we'd like to know something."

"Yeah. Do you also know how to make those tools?"

"The ones like the one that left Percy hanging?"

"We're dying to know," the brothers asked.

"Hmm, yeah, actually, I made that one. You didn't think a defense tool would activate just because my foot bumped into it, did you? The tools my grandfather gave me only activate in life-threatening danger," Stephen explained, making a disgusted face. "Ugh, this candy tastes like vomit!"

"Hahaha, one time—!"

"Wait, that tool with those awesome enchantments… you made it yourself?" the twins exclaimed at the same time, shocked.

"Haha, your surprised faces are priceless. I wish I had a camera," Stephen said, spitting the candy into a jar.

"That means, Fred…"

"That means, George…" They looked at each other, then at Stephen seriously.

"Please teach us how to make prank tools— I mean, alchemical tools," they asked in unison.

"Sure," Stephen agreed instantly, popping another candy into his mouth.

"Wow, you agreed too easily."

"Way too easy. I was planning to offer you the cookies in exchange," the twins said to each other.

"So you wanted to bribe me with cookies, huh? Well, I'll take the cookies," Stephen said, extending his hand.

The brothers hesitated, exchanging glances, before slowly handing over the cookies as if they were a precious treasure.

"Wow, these are amazing. You never thought about selling them? Your mother could make a lot of money," Stephen said, taking one and reluctantly returning the jar.

"Amazing, right? But I don't think she'd sell them. After all, she has to take care of a lot of kids," Fred commented as he fought his brother for the last cookie.

"Yeah, there are so many of us at home that she doesn't have the time," George added, eyeing the half-cookie he had managed to grab.

"But I suppose your younger siblings will go to Hogwarts in a few years," Stephen remarked.

"Yeah, but it'll be another two or three years before they can," George said.

"Then make some money and help your mother open a shop, problem solved," Stephen suggested.

"Actually, our plan is to open a joke shop."

"Yeah, that's why we wanted you to teach us," Fred and George said enthusiastically.

They spent the day on the Express until they finally arrived at Hogwarts. Dressed in their robes, they got off the train and gathered with Hagrid, who led them toward the castle.

"Careful with your heads, everyone," Hagrid warned as they crossed a dark bridge. Finally, they reached the magnificent castle and headed up the stairs where Professor McGonagall awaited them.

"I'll leave them here, Professor," Hagrid said before departing.

"Attention, please. In a moment, you will enter in a line, where you will be sorted into your houses. Remember that houses will gain or lose points based on your behavior," McGonagall explained, giving the Weasley twins a particularly sharp look.

"(I felt like she looked at me too… Was that my imagination?)" Stephen thought as McGonagall left.

Stephen watched, waiting for something interesting to happen, but most students were calm and chatting. Eventually, McGonagall returned and called the students one by one.

When it was Stephen's turn, he approached the stool with the wrinkled hat. The hat began to sing, and Stephen was surprised to feel a magical pulse emanating from it. An old wizard was staring at him, looking both shocked and delighted.

"Now, Stephen Flamel," McGonagall announced as Stephen sat under the hat.

"Ooooh, hmm, excuse me, child, could you turn off your Occlumency? Don't worry, no secrets leave me, not even for the headmaster," the hat said, noticing the anti-Occlumency amulet Stephen had activated.

"Oh, sorry," Stephen said, touching the necklace to deactivate the barrier.

"Hmm, I see why you're so careful. You have a brilliant mind filled with memories of other worlds. Hmm, I see the thirst for knowledge of Ravenclaw in you, but at the same time, you seem to resent it after so long. Hmm, I see your desire for friendships like in Hufflepuff. And though you lack much ambition for Slytherin, your pureblood status could bring any house to its knees. Courage is overwhelming—especially if you're willing to destroy yourself to save a world… Gryffindor!" the hat finally shouted.

"(I bet it just wanted to see my memories)," Stephen thought as the hat sorted him into Gryffindor after taking so long. He returned to his seat, reactivating his anti-Occlumency barrier.

After the Sorting, the feast began, and Stephen smirked mischievously.

"So, nothing about the third floor or other dangerous places? Just as I thought, these years will be so boring until Harry arrives. Then it's my duty to make them fun," he murmured to himself, his grin catching the attention of the girls and scaring the boys.

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