"Echoes of Departure"
"And why did you buy so many things? We were supposed to buy stuff for us," said Percy, looking at Mark with disapproval while following him, his arms full of enormous bags that seemed ready to burst.
Harry glanced at him sideways, wondering why he didn't just store them in his magic bag. But knowing Mark—and he knew him very well—he realized it was only because he liked to show off.
"Why wouldn't I buy things if I can?" Mark replied with a slightly arrogant smile. "There are so many interesting things, and I have the money for it, don't I? So I'll just buy everything that catches my attention."
He paused for a moment, then added with a tone of generosity, "Besides, I bought you guys an owl that looked interesting, so don't complain."
He pointed at the cage Harry was carrying in his arms. Inside, a snowy owl was resting peacefully; her pure white feathers shimmered faintly under the light of Diagon Alley.
"Well… thanks," said Harry with a sincere smile. He loved the gift, especially because it had been for his birthday, which had passed a few days earlier. It was a small gesture, but one that made him happier than he wanted to admit.
"And you, brat? Don't you want one?" Mark asked, turning to Percy.
"Mmm… no. For some reason, I feel like the owls in that place hated me," Percy replied, scratching his head awkwardly. He remembered how, the moment they entered the shop, all the birds had turned their eyes toward him with such hostility that one of them had even tried to peck him in the face.
Even the owl Harry was holding now—though she didn't seem to hate him—was staring at him as if he were an idiot; with that same regal, superior air of a queen looking down from her throne.
Maybe that was why his brother had chosen her. Harry found it amusing how the owl looked at his brother, and even more so when he touched her for the first time. In that instant, the pendant he wore against his chest grew slightly warm, and for a brief moment he felt as if something invisible had dissolved in the air, as though a presence had vanished. Yet, the other owls in the shop kept watching them with that same strange feeling.
Harry didn't pay it much attention. He left the owl shop happily with his new companion, whom he named Hedwig.
"Well, it's time to go back," said Sally once she saw that they had everything they needed. Then she glanced at Mark, who carried far more bags than her sons, but decided not to comment.
The group began walking back through the Alley, surrounded by the bustling crowd moving in every direction. However, Harry and Percy now knew that among the passersby were hidden knights. They had recognized them during the encounter with Lucius; some were even their neighbors in disguise.
Percy suddenly widened his eyes, as if something had just occurred to him.
Harry noticed it immediately.
"What's wrong?" he asked curiously.
"If they're knights, maybe they're watching us… then they probably saw when I hid the broken vase by burying it in the front yard," said Percy with a mix of fear and resignation, imagining the scolding his mother would give him.
"Why did you bury it in the front yard?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"Because it wouldn't fit down the toilet… like your shirt," Percy replied casually.
"What?" Harry's eyes went wide. "What shirt? You're not talking about my favorite shirt, are you?" he asked, his tone growing serious.
"It can't be that favorite if you didn't even notice it was missing," Percy said calmly.
"It's because I wanted to save it to wear at Hogwarts!" Harry shot back, now visibly annoyed. But he knew he couldn't argue in the middle of the street, especially not in front of his mother… and besides, he was holding Hedwig.
So, he resorted to his secret weapon.
"Mom," he said, walking toward Sally with an indignant expression.
"Ah! Mommy's boy," Percy exclaimed, realizing what his brother was doing. It was the same move he himself kept in reserve for extreme emergencies.
…
The days passed smoothly. Percy and Harry became increasingly aware that they would soon leave for Hogwarts and be separated from their mother, so they clung to her like barnacles, following her everywhere—even to work.
It had become normal to see them running around while Sally worked. The old man there—who had grown fond of them—would often call them over to tell stories about ancient relics and how he had found them. Both boys listened in fascination, though sometimes they noticed how their mother grew a little tired from their constant company.
When that happened, they decided to visit Dred to train for a while, giving her some rest.
During one of those sessions, Percy was sparring with his sword against Dred, only to be defeated with ease, while Harry provided magical support from behind. Despite their teamwork, they were still up against a professional… which meant losing, over and over again.
Lying on the ground, Harry looked up at the clear sky above the island before slowly getting to his feet. He took off the red hat he had worn for years, the one he'd gotten during his first hunt with his aunt.
It had a peculiar ability—it allowed him to see small glowing particles floating in the air, though he hadn't yet learned to control them. According to his aunt, those particles might be fragments of the mist that transformed into what they called ancient magic.
Harry had tried everything to master them: whispering, touching them, even trying to eat them—but nothing worked. The particles remained there, flickering like tiny invisible fireflies that seemed to mock him.
"It's so useless," Harry muttered in frustration, looking at his hat with a tired expression. For a moment, he thought about throwing it into the nearby sea, but he knew it would be pointless. If he did, it would just come back.
That sea was peculiar too. It had a strange magical barrier that, once you crossed a certain point, brought you right back to where you started. An endless, mysterious loop that explained why Dred was trapped there and couldn't escape.
They had also asked him how it was that the two of them could enter the island while no one else could. Dred had only replied that it was because of their blood, though he never explained any further.
"All adults are so… ugh," thought Harry, irritated. He was usually the calmer of the two, but sometimes he lost his patience—especially when he remembered that soon he'd be far away from his mother.
"I really am a mama's boy," he murmured with a mix of resignation and sadness.
Then he turned his head and saw Percy lying on the ground, spread out like a starfish. He picked up a stick from the ground and began poking his brother's stomach absentmindedly.
"But Percy is one too," he added with a faint smile.
"Hey… are you dead?" Harry asked, crouching down while adjusting his wizard hat and poking him again with the stick.
Percy opened his eyes with a slightly melancholic expression, staring at the sky. "Harry… tomorrow we have to take that stupid train, right?" he asked sadly. It was obvious he felt just as unhappy about leaving their mother behind.
"Yeah," Harry replied quietly, sharing the same feeling.
"We won't see Mom for months, maybe," Percy added.
"Yeah," Harry repeated, pouting slightly.
Both remained silent for a moment, listening to the murmur of the wind and the gentle sound of the waves.
"We have to work hard, Harry," said Percy, his face growing more serious. "We have to learn everything we can—every bit of useful magic. We'll become strong, powerful wizards so we can help Mom. I don't know what's waiting for us, but we'll face it together, just like we always have."
Harry looked at him silently, then nodded with a small but determined smile. "Yeah."
Their spirits lifted slightly, and in that moment Dred, who was watching them from afar, let out a soft smile. He had seen them grow up since the very first day he met them. He knew that the two of them, together, could overcome anything the future had in store.
…
At last, the day of their departure arrived. Percy and Harry hugged their mother and their Aunt Mor tightly on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. It had been surprisingly easy to get there, mostly because they had met a kind family heading to the same place.
The two brothers kept their heads slightly lowered, unable to hide their sadness at leaving Sally and Mor behind, while all around them other children were glowing with excitement to begin their lives at Hogwarts.
"Don't make those faces, you should be as happy as the others," said Sally with a loving smile as she looked at them. "Don't worry; if you ever feel lonely, you can send me letters with Hedwig. I'll answer as quickly as I can."
"I just need one more piece to finish the two-way mirror; once I do, we'll be able to talk anytime," added Mor with a calm smile.
"Alright," they both replied at the same time, though without much enthusiasm, before giving their mother one last hug. They knew it would be months before they saw her again—maybe not until the holidays—and that was a long time for two boys who had never been apart from her.
Sally hugged them both tightly, a tear escaping from one eye. There was worry in her gaze, but she wouldn't let them see it.
"Have fun, study hard, eat well, sleep well, don't get sick, behave… and remember, I love you very, very, very much," she said, holding them even tighter.
Then the two slowly let go and walked toward the train, their eyes glistening. They climbed aboard and found an empty compartment where they could sit together. Leaning out the window, they waved at their mother and aunt.
The whistle of the train marked the beginning of their journey. Steam filled the air, and the Hogwarts Express began to move—slowly at first, then gaining speed as it headed toward Hogsmeade.
Around them, dozens of parents waved at their children; some with joyful smiles, others with discreet tears, all sharing the same mix of pride and nostalgia.
Sally watched her boys as she waved softly. Her smile remained, though her eyes were moist. Mor, standing beside her, looked at her calmly.
"Don't worry, they'll be fine," said Mor, placing a hand on her shoulder. "If that's the school of those four, they'll be safe. Well… except for one of them, who was an idiot."
Sally let out a weak laugh, though the concern lingered in her chest. "What if the monsters find them?" she asked in a quieter voice.
"Don't worry," Mor replied confidently. "They're surrounded by humans blessed by the Goddess of Magic. It'll be hard to find them, even for the monsters. As long as they keep their pendants, they'll be safe."
Sally looked at her with a hint of confusion. "Those pendants are that powerful?" she asked.
"Yes, they are," Mor replied without hesitation. "They were created by someone very powerful."
She didn't elaborate further, and Sally didn't press the matter. Still, those words brought her a bit of peace.
"Let's go back," Mor said after a moment. "I've got a lot of work to do, but maybe I can move my cleaning zone a bit farther south."
Sally smiled, looking toward the direction the train had gone. "That would be nice," she murmured.
The steam in the air slowly dissipated, and only the fading echo of the train remained—carrying away her children… and a piece of her heart.