The Hogwarts Express soon arrived at the station.
Wade and Tom had already changed into their school robes in advance.
"First years, this way!" Mr. Ogg's booming voice echoed below the train.
Anne leaned against the compartment door, taking deep breaths. Clearly, she was still nervous about tonight's confession.
"You can take the Felix Felicis now. Just one drop will do," Wade said with a smile.
"Now?" Anne asked.
"The potion lasts for twelve hours, so there's plenty of time. Besides, by taking it early, you'll start noticing more details that can help you succeed. Details determine success or failure."
After saying that, Wade followed the crowd off the Hogwarts Express, with Tom right behind him, holding Nagini in his arms.
Anne watched their backs, then took out the small bottle of Felix Felicis from her pocket.
…
At the start of term, only the first years crossed the Black Lake by boat.
As for students from the second year and above, they went directly from the station to the castle by Thestral-drawn carriages.
Wade found an empty carriage and climbed in first.
Tom stood beside the Thestral, glancing back for a moment before climbing into the carriage.
"Anne seems to have taken another one," Tom said.
"Tom, the guidance of Felix Felicis works in mysterious ways," Wade replied with a smile.
Aside from bringing good luck, the potion's greatest effect was that it heightened one's observation and thought process, allowing them to easily notice factors that benefited what they were currently doing.
Since Anne had chosen another carriage, it meant there was something on that one she needed to learn—something that would greatly help her when she went to 'confess' to Dumbledore.
Wade looked out the window and happened to see Charlie and Henry passing by together.
"Charlie! Henry! There's still room here!" Wade called out.
Hearing him, both Charlie and Henry quickly ran over.
"What a coincidence!" Henry said cheerfully. "We just went to look for Alphard. On our way back, we spotted you."
By the time Henry and Charlie climbed aboard, the carriage was almost full.
"How's Alphard? Where is he? Why didn't he come with you? There's still a seat left," Tom asked.
Charlie shook his head. "It's bad… really bad… don't wait for him, he's not coming."
"Yeah… awful," Henry sighed helplessly. "I'm just endlessly grateful that over the holidays, I managed to make my parents give up on marrying into the Black family! Guess why they changed their minds? It's because of Alphard!"
"Because of Alphard? He convinced your parents?" Tom asked, puzzled.
Henry gave a bitter smile. "You could say that. After my parents saw his injuries—and learned they were caused by his sister—they never brought up the marriage idea again."
"Alphard's sister just warned us not to go near him anymore… what an idiot," Charlie said angrily. "Doesn't she know Alphard shares a dorm with you guys? If Henry hadn't held me back just now, I would've—"
Tom didn't think much of it, but Wade immediately caught on to the real issue.
"Has Walburga suddenly grown that bold? And… Alphard didn't even fight back?"
"Yeah… I don't know why she's suddenly become so aggressive," Charlie said, shaking his head. "After the club was founded, she had actually toned down a lot. But near the end of the holiday, she suddenly got tough again."
Wade thought for a moment, then chuckled. "A reed in the wind… of course she's acting tough now—she's got backing."
"You mean… they found someone to support them?" Henry asked in confusion.
Wade analyzed calmly, "Have you forgotten the news you told me today? Grindelwald has forcefully taken up residence at Hogwarts, and both Dumbledore and Headmaster Dippet can only stand by and watch. That says it all—Grindelwald's faction is strong, and Dumbledore's is weak. Now tell me, wouldn't the pure-bloods who side with Grindelwald suddenly feel powerful again?"
"Ah! That makes sense now!" Henry said, suddenly enlightened.
Charlie then asked slowly, "So… does that mean your parents might have also…"
Henry's smile vanished at once.
"Ahem, I was just saying, they probably wouldn't…" Charlie quickly tried to cover his words.
"No… I'm a pure-blood, aren't I? You think I don't understand how pure-bloods think? Especially my parents… with their personalities, they'd surrender without hesitation!" Henry said helplessly. "And they definitely joined secretly, without telling me…"
Wade nodded slightly. He already had his answer.
At the start of the year, many pure-blood families had tried to cozy up to him—or more precisely, to the mysterious "family" rumored to stand behind Wade Reynolds.
But that was back when Grindelwald hadn't yet risen to power.
Now, with Grindelwald's influence overwhelming even Dumbledore and Headmaster Dippet, those families would naturally shift their allegiance.
Siding with the powerful Grindelwald, who could offer them tangible benefits right now, was far more practical than supporting the elusive "Reynolds family" that none of them had ever even met.
After all, Grindelwald gave them real rewards, while Wade's supposed backing was like a reflection in the water—beautiful, but untouchable. The pure-bloods knew which choice made more sense.
"So, it seems those restless ones are about to make their move," Wade said with a smile.
"What should we do then?" Tom asked.
"If anyone in the club wants to quit, let them. But once they leave, getting back in won't be easy," Wade said decisively. "As for their retaliation—what's there to worry about? We'll just keep beating them."
"And what about Grindelwald…"
"That's the real problem. Grindelwald does have the authority to control us. Strictly speaking, he's even Dumbledore and Dippet's superior."
"Then… what if he orders us to disband the club?"
Wade rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That depends on how far Grindelwald intends to go. If he still values his image and the reputation he's worked so hard to build, there are ways to deal with it."
"Dumbledore would never allow the club to be disbanded," Charlie said firmly.
"Don't be so sure, Charlie. Knowing Dumbledore, if he wants to protect us and prevent direct conflict with Grindelwald, he might tell us to lie low for a while. But… wait—no, hold on!" Wade's eyes lit up. "Grindelwald would never forcibly disband our club!"
"Why not?"
"It's simple—he doesn't want us to hate him," Wade said with a smile. "If all of us start resenting him, then no matter what he says, we won't listen. In that case, his coming to Hogwarts would lose all meaning."
Wade had indeed overlooked one important point just now—Grindelwald was not Umbridge.
If it were Umbridge, she'd have no qualms about disbanding a club.
But Grindelwald was different. He had come to Hogwarts to make the students accept his ideals.
If he were to dissolve the most popular club in the school now, and all the students ended up hating him, how could they possibly agree with his views afterward?
Charlie and the others didn't quite grasp it—they were still young and didn't really understand Grindelwald.
But since Wade said Grindelwald wouldn't disband the club, then he wouldn't.
The club had been around long enough for its members to form a deep trust in Wade Reynolds.
If you couldn't understand one of Wade's decisions, then the problem was with you—not with him.
That had long become a shared belief among the club members.
It was also one of the main reasons Tom lacked confidence in taking Wade's place as the club's leader.
As they spoke, the carriage gradually came to a stop.
The students jumped down and began streaming through the main gates of Hogwarts Castle.
Wade noticed Anne entering from the other side of the gate, her expression much calmer than before.
Clearly, she must have learned something that gave her enough confidence for what she planned to do tonight.
Not far behind Anne, Walburga was striding forward proudly, followed by several other students from pure-blood families.
Poor Alphard was trapped in the middle of them. His eyes were red and swollen, his front teeth had grown abnormally large—so much that they extended past his chin—and his face was bruised in patches of blue and purple.
It was obvious he had been hit with several nasty jinxes.
Wade strode forward and blocked Walburga's path.
"Alphard, come here," Wade said gently.
"Get out of my way! Don't think you can make my brother mix with you lot again!" Walburga snapped aggressively.
"Your brother?" Wade asked coldly. "Is there a sister anywhere in the world who treats her brother like that?"
In most families, it was normal for siblings to fight, but even when they did, few ever crossed the line.
Judging from the curses on Alphard, it was as if, in a Muggle family, a sister had pulled a knife and stabbed her brother during an argument.
This had long gone beyond ordinary sibling quarrels.
"He's my brother! I can do whatever I want with him! What can you do about it?" Walburga said arrogantly.
It had to be said—Walburga was the perfect example of a traditional pure-blood heir: every word and action radiated sheer stupidity and arrogance.
"I'm Alphard's friend. I won't stand by and watch him get hurt. If you try to stop me… I won't hold back, even if you are his so-called sister."
"You dare?" Walburga shouted, drawing her wand, her voice trembling despite her fury.
The pure-blood students behind her also drew their wands, fixing their eyes on Wade.
"You can try," Wade said calmly.
Walburga and the others instinctively stepped back.
Even though Wade hadn't drawn his wand, simply standing there quietly, they still felt an indescribable pressure and danger—as if they were facing a venomous serpent ready to strike.
"Wadth… I phine.. youn't aind ee.." (Wade, I'm fine… don't mind me…)
Alphard looked at Wade with tears in his eyes. Despite his oversized front teeth making speech nearly impossible, he still struggled to open his mouth, trying to tell Wade not to get involved.
He didn't want Wade to get into trouble.
Alphard knew very well that his family had officially pledged allegiance to Grindelwald, and now that Grindelwald had taken up residence at Hogwarts, Walburga's arrogance clearly came from having powerful backing.
Wade spoke gently, "Don't worry, Alphard. Even the man she relies on—I've already crossed wands with him once. There's nothing to be afraid of."
As soon as Wade finished speaking, a crowd had quietly gathered behind him. Every one of them stared at Walburga's group, their gazes sharp as needles, piercing straight into them.
Alphard forced his swollen eyes open wider, looking at his friends standing in front of him, determined to etch this moment into his memory forever.
The ideals of the Student Mutual Aid Social Hub (SMASH) were no empty words.
_________
o(*￣▽￣*)ブSupport and read two weeks ahead of WN at-
Patreon/Captain69