The arrival of Chocolate brought great joy to Phineas. At first, the little creature was panicked and frightened in the unfamiliar environment. But after getting used to the house-elves, its mischievous nature came out in full force.
The six-storey Black family mansion, including the basement, became a paradise for the energetic kitten. It jumped onto cabinets, darted under tables, and explored every corner freely. Unlike most cats, it wasn't lazy or aloof. Whether it was the unique breed or the dark, eerie atmosphere of the house, Chocolate proved to be anything but ordinary.
Phineas didn't mind. House-elves trained under Kreacher had long mastered the art of remaining unnoticed, so Phineas often felt like he lived alone. But now, Chocolate brought life and warmth to the silent mansion.
Amid Chocolate's daily chaos, time flew by. Soon, it was August 31st—the day before departure for Hogwarts.
Phineas had chosen to travel by train. Chocolate wasn't yet comfortable with Apparition, but more importantly, Phineas wanted the opportunity to make friends. He wasn't a recluse or a scholar obsessed with magic. Nine years of solitude had only deepened his longing for companionship.
As a pure-blood wizard, Phineas had to purchase his own ticket, which meant arriving at the station a day early.
Under Kreacher's guidance, Phineas visited King's Cross Station for the first time.
The Hogwarts Express departed from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters—a platform invisible to Muggles and inaccessible through conventional means. Naturally, tickets weren't available at any Muggle booth.
Phineas entered a public restroom on the station's right side and stepped into the second cubicle. It looked perfectly ordinary, except the flush button didn't quite work—though that was irrelevant. Drawing his wand, he tapped a small paper box fixed beside the toilet.
A faint vibration ran through the floor. The toilet vanished into a hidden space, covered by a wooden board, forming a new flat surface. The wall in front split open, revealing a hidden passage.
After a short walk, he reached what looked like a Muggle ticket booth.
"I need a ticket to Hogwarts," Phineas said calmly.
He didn't specify the date. The Hogwarts Express only ran six times a year: September 1st, Christmas, Easter, and the end of term. Unless under special circumstances, the train always departed at 11 a.m. sharp on September 1st from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, bound for Hogsmeade.
In exchange for a few Knuts, the wizarding clerk handed Phineas a ticket.
That evening, Kreacher carefully packed all of Phineas's school supplies into an enchanted trunk. Phineas, cradling Chocolate in his arms, went to bed early, filled with excitement and anticipation.
He woke just after five the next morning. Despite the maturity of his previous life's memories, he was still nervous. After all, Hogwarts—a school he'd once dreamed of—was finally within reach.
Phineas hadn't slept well. Rubbing the sleepy Chocolate beside him, he sat up, snapped his fingers, and had breakfast served to his bedside by a house-elf. It was a luxurious start to an important day.
After a hearty meal, he dressed casually. He refused to wear the Hogwarts robe yet—it was cumbersome and ugly, only useful within the school itself. Most wizards in the Ministry of Magic wore modern attire these days. He planned to change into his school robes on the train.
By 10 a.m., Phineas and Kreacher Apparated directly to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, bypassing the Muggle section entirely.
The scarlet steam engine stood proudly at the platform, its polished front bearing the inscription: "Hogwarts Express – Departing at 11:00".
Steam hissed around the crowd of students and families. Cats wove between legs and trunks, owls hooted from cages, and luggage clattered noisily against the ground.
Among the bustling crowd, Phineas stood out. With only one suitcase and a house-elf by his side, he looked calm, collected, and entirely in control.
Even so, the excitement in his chest was undeniable.