The Black Bloodline of Hogwarts

Julien tried it for a while and felt that the wand was as easy to use as his own arm, much smoother than the willow wand he used to practice with.

"How much?" he asked impatiently, already pulling out his money bag.

"Seven Galleons," Ollivander said, then added with a sly glint in his eyes, "but you must promise me one thing: if you ever find a lost wand, please return it. They... miss home too."

"What do you mean?"

"It means exactly what it says; you'll understand when you encounter it." Ollivander was quite the riddle-maker.

At that moment, the girl walked over, stared at his wand for a few seconds, and suddenly said, "...It's quite special." After a pause, she added, "But mine is definitely more powerful."

"Let's talk about it when you find it," Julien said with a smile.

"I will." She raised her chin, but the hostility in her eyes was gone, replaced by a hint of curiosity.

As they left, the two brushed past each other at the door. The girl whispered, "Elizabeth Rosier, see you at Hogwarts."

"See you at Hogwarts, Shrem Julien Black," Julien replied.

Little did they know that years later, one would be researching ancient runes in the towers of Gryffindor, and the other would be concocting antidotes in the cellars of Slytherin, yet they would become each other's most trusted allies because of certain events.

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King's Cross Station, London, September 1, 1991.

The morning sun generously shone on Charing Cross Road, illuminating Julien Black's brand-new haute couture suit.

He didn't wear the "tactical" Hogwarts uniform; it was best to keep a low profile on his first day of school, as Julien considered himself to be a person of modesty and restraint.

(Elementary school classmate Leia: You smug brat! Middle school classmate Thomas: You show-off!)

He was pushing a small suitcase. Although it looked less than 20 inches, it was some leftover stock that his grandfather had somehow acquired, and it had been reinforced with a Seamless Stretching Charm.

The box contained not only school uniforms, textbooks, crucibles, and other school supplies, but also Yu Lian's personal items, such as his guitar, calipers, and controlled knives.

In addition, the bag was filled with "anti-motion sickness mints" specially made by his grandfather Alfander (supposedly soaked in moonlight) and sandwiches that his grandmother Elodie insisted on giving him—the reason being that "the food on the train is all magically created and probably won't keep you full."

His parents stood to one side, Clara's eyes were slightly red, while Altair tried to straighten his back, attempting to use a businessman's composure to hide his reluctance.

After all, they knew from the books they had been reading recently that their son would be going to a magical castle with books that bite, talking hats, all sorts of ghosts, and maybe even giants that might crawl out of the cellar at any time.

“I told you not to worry,” Grandfather Alphard said softly. “Hogwarts is the safest place in all of Europe. Dumbledore is there.”

"Remember, Shrem," the father said one last time, lowering his voice so his grandfather wouldn't hear, "I don't trust this Dumbledore. If anyone bullies you, besides the magic your grandfather taught you, don't forget the fighting skills I taught you."

"Dad, it'll be fine," Julien patted his thin chest. "Don't worry."

"At least one letter a week!" Clara couldn't help but shout as she watched Julien's retreating figure.

Julien smiled, shook his head, waved, and was about to walk toward the iconic partition between platforms 9 and 10 when he caught a glimpse of an incongruous figure out of the corner of his eye.

In the bustling crowd, a girl stood alone in a corner. She looked about the same age as Julien, but her clothes were out of place among the people around her.

A thick cloak, made of some kind of dark animal hide and coarse linen, wrapped her from head to toe, with small bone ornaments and feathers adorning its edges.

Her skin was so white it was almost translucent, with a faint blush on her cheeks, as if brought on by the cold wind. Her long, silvery-white hair was braided into intricate plaits and hung down to her chest.

What's most striking are her eyes—a pair of ice-blue pupils, clear, alert, yet with a hint of bewilderment, like a snow fox that has wandered into human territory.

She clutched a long, rectangular object wrapped in animal hide tightly in her arms, glancing nervously around every now and then, clearly searching for something, yet afraid to ask anyone for help.

Julien stopped in his tracks. Ever since he had access to the Library of Magical Resonance in his mind, he could sense the magical fluctuations around him.

The girl exuded a peculiar magical aura, unlike the restrained aura of a wizard. Instead, she seemed to blend into the surrounding air, light, and even the emotions of the people around her, primal, ancient, and carrying a hint of chill.

Julien walked over, trying to make his smile friendly rather than threatening. "Hello," he said in a clear but gentle voice, "Are you looking for platform 9¾?"

The girl abruptly looked up, a flicker of surprise in her icy blue eyes, which quickly returned to its guarded state. She didn't answer immediately, but instead scrutinized Julien, her gaze lingering for a moment on the Hogwarts crest he was already wearing on his chest.

"...Yes." Her voice was cool and clear, with a barely perceptible Nordic accent, like a stream flowing beneath the ice.

"But I can't find the entrance. The heat here... is making me a little confused." She said, frowning uncomfortably, as if the body heat emanating from the Muggles around her was unbearable.

"Don't worry, it's simple. See that pillar between 9 and 10?" Julien said with a smile. "Just push your luggage cart towards that pillar. Trust me, you won't break it."

"Run over there? Run into the wall?" The girl from the north looked at her with suspicion, clearly finding the suggestion utterly absurd. "Have you even tried it?"

"This is my first time too," Julien said awkwardly, scratching his head. "But I think I'm right."

The girl from the north looked even more disbelieving and instinctively took a step back.

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, a voice came from behind.

The two turned around and saw an Asian girl standing in front of them. She was well-proportioned, like someone who exercised regularly, and was dragging a silver-gray leather suitcase.

Her hair was a soft, light gold, like ears of wheat kissed by the sun, casually tied into a low ponytail, with a few wisps of hair clinging to her smooth forehead. Her brow bone was gentle, her eyes slightly upturned at the corners, and when she smiled, shallow dimples would appear at the corners of her eyes, giving her a warm and lively temperament.

She wore a simple white shirt and light blue jeans, with a beige knitted cardigan over them, and a small cherry blossom brooch at the collar, which complemented her gentle oriental charm.

Julien noticed several colorful stickers on her suitcase, some with raven patterns and one small golden ball with wings (the Golden Snitch?), which looked quite cute.

"Are you new students at Hogwarts? Don't know how to get to the platform?" The girl's voice was clear and melodious, like the gentle tinkling of wind chimes.

"Yes...yes, we...we...this is our first time here." Julien was seeing an Asian girl for the first time in his life, so he stammered a little, not because he saw a beautiful woman.

"My name is Qiu Zhang." The girl smiled and extended her hand, her fingertips slightly cool. "You seem to have no idea how to get in? Come on, follow me."