Re:HP-A New Life

I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.

https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon

_________________________________________

Chapter 62: A Flight to Remember

The enchanted Ford Anglia hummed steadily as it glided through the evening sky. The wind whipped through the open windows, tangling Rose's fiery hair as she leaned forward with excitement. Below them, the Hogwarts Express rumbled along its familiar track, curling through the lush green countryside like a crimson serpent.

Ron's grip on the steering wheel was tense. His knuckles had turned white, and sweat beaded on his forehead. "I can't believe we're actually doing this," he muttered nervously.

Rose grinned, the thrill of the adventure lighting up her face. "Admit it, Ron—it's brilliant."

Harry, sitting calmly in the backseat, wasn't so sure about that. His mind was already calculating the risks, planning for contingencies, and wondering what he could've done differently to prevent this whole situation.

I should've handled Dobby better, Harry thought grimly. If I had, Ron and Rose wouldn't have felt desperate enough to resort to this madness.

The car wobbled slightly as Ron overcorrected a turn. Harry instinctively gripped the edge of his seat. "Steady, Ron," he said calmly. "Don't fight it. Just guide the car."

Ron nodded, his expression determined. "Right. Guide it. Got it."

As they soared over rolling hills and dense forests, the looming silhouette of Hogwarts Castle appeared on the horizon, its turrets and towers bathed in the soft glow of twilight. The Hogsmeade Station came into view, and the train began to slow as it approached the platform.

"There's the station," Harry pointed out. "Head for that clearing near the village. We'll land before anyone sees us."

Ron adjusted the car's trajectory, descending toward a discreet patch of trees on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. The car wobbled slightly as it descended, but Ron managed to land it with only a few bumps.

"Not bad," Harry admitted, stepping out of the car. "Now we need to cover our tracks."

Rose looked around, brushing her windswept hair out of her face. "So, what's the plan?"

Harry flicked his wand, and with a murmured incantation, Rose and Ron's luggage vanished from the back of the car.

"I just moved your things into my compartment on the train," Harry explained. "Hold on."

Before they could react, Harry grabbed their arms, and with a soft pop, they disappeared from the clearing.

They reappeared inside Harry's empty compartment on the train, their luggage neatly stacked by the seats.

Ron staggered slightly, his eyes wide. "Blimey, I'll never get used to that."

Rose blinked in surprise. "That was impressive, Harry."

Harry dusted off his robes and looked at them seriously. "Listen—if anyone asks, I was on the train the whole time. I had nothing to do with you flying that car to school."

Rose's expression soured. "That's not fair! You were with us!"

Harry crossed his arms, his gaze steady. "You had plenty of options. You could've used the station floo to contact your parents or teachers. But no—you stole the car and flew it to school. That was the most reckless and dangerous choice."

Rose pouted but couldn't argue. "Still unfair," she muttered under her breath.

Ron suddenly paled, his face draining of color. "Mum's definitely going to kill me. They've probably noticed the car's missing by now."

Before Harry could respond, the compartment door slid open.

Hermione and Neville stepped inside, both looking curious.

"There you are!" Hermione said, her brow furrowing as she looked at Rose and Ron. "I looked everywhere on the train for you two. Where were you?"

Rose hesitated for a fraction of a second, then forced a smile. "Uh... we just need to hurry and get off the train," she said quickly, grabbing her bag.

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "That doesn't answer my question."

Neville, oblivious to the tension, grinned. "Glad we found you, though! I was wondering if you'd missed the train or something."

Harry cleared his throat. "We should get moving. Don't want to be late for the carriages."

Hermione frowned but seemed to let it go for now.

As the train pulled into the station, Harry watched Rose and Ron out of the corner of his eye. They were nervous but doing their best to keep their cool.

They'll learn from this, Harry thought. And if not, well—I'm not covering for them next time.

Stepping off the train, the students were greeted by the familiar sights and sounds of Hogsmeade Station. The carriages waited, drawn by the Thestrals only some students could see. The air was crisp with the promise of a new term.

Harry, Rose, Ron, Hermione, and Neville made their way toward one of the carriages. Rose and Ron exchanged uneasy glances, clearly worried about the repercussions of their wild flight.

As they climbed into the carriage, Harry caught Rose's eye. "It'll be fine," he assured her quietly.

She huffed. "You're way too calm about this."

Harry shrugged. "What's done is done. Just be ready to face the consequences."

The carriage jolted forward, carrying them toward the gates of Hogwarts. The castle loomed in the distance, majestic and timeless.

As they neared the entrance, Harry couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Despite the chaos of the summer and the reckless antics of the day, they were back where they belonged.