Hogwarts' Golden Glory

There, Kane Malfoy stood in front of the bookshelf, pulling out a few notes from a thick book, "Breakthroughs in Modern Alchemy."

His movements were slow and meticulous, as if he were memorizing the contents of each page.

Draco looked at Kane, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

At the other end of the lounge, several upperclassmen Slytherins watched the two brothers, exchanging glances.

"I heard that old Malfoy has been under a lot of pressure lately," a boy whispered, "from the Department of Mysteries."

"Is the wind shifting?" another girl raised an eyebrow. "If that person really..."

"Shh." The third person stopped them, his eyes scanning the lounge warily.

Outside the window, in the black lake, a giant squid lazily waves its tentacles.

Saying goodbye to each student.

Inside the Hogwarts Express box.

When the box door was opened, Kane was examining a complex rune sketch.

Igor stood quietly on his shoulder, his silver eyes half-closed, as if he were dozing.

Draco entered, followed by Crabbe and Goyle.

"Get out," Kane said to his two henchmen without looking up.

Crabbe and Goyle looked at Draco.

Draco waved his hand, and the two left dejectedly.

The door to the private room closed, leaving only the two brothers.

Draco sat down opposite Kane, crossing his legs. "When are you leaving?"

"I'll be leaving soon."

"My mother wrote to ask about our summer vacation plans. I told her I was going to do 'independent research'."

Kane put away the parchment: "And then?"

"Then Dad wants to know what kind of research it is that's worth you running off to some desolate place like Morag during your summer vacation." Draco stared at him. "Don't tell me you were really researching the legend of the water monster."

Igor stirred slightly, its beak brushing against Kane's earlobe, as if to remind him of something.

The train emerged from the tunnel, the light flickering in and out of the compartment. Kane gazed at the darkness rushing past the window: "Some things need to be seen with your own eyes."

"What is it?" Draco leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Is it related to that person? Dad said... some people are starting to become active again."

Draco didn't name names, but Kane knew who he was referring to—Voldemort, or rather, his remaining forces. The Malfoy family was always exceptionally sensitive to shifts in the political climate.

Igor opened his eyes fully, his silver pupils gleaming faintly in the dim light.

"Maybe," Kane didn't deny it, "so I have to go."

"You're alone?" Draco frowned, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards Igor. "And with it? If it really is related to those people..."

“It’s more convenient for one person,” Kane interrupted him. “Igor isn’t a pet, he’s a companion.”

Draco was silent for a moment, then his expression turned serious, a rare occurrence for him. "You're always like this, Kane. First year was about Sirius, second year was about the Chamber of Secrets, and now this. You're only twelve, not an Auror."

“Age doesn’t matter.” Kane took a sealed little bag from the box and pushed it to Draco. “Take this back with you. If there’s anything… unusual happening near the manor during the summer holidays, crush the crystal inside. I’ll know.”

Draco took the bag; it was heavy, and something inside was slightly warm. "What's this?"

"The early warning system, I made it myself," Kane said. "Remember, anything that seems amiss."

Igor let out a soft cry, flew down from Kane's shoulder, and landed on the small bag. It tapped the surface of the bag with the tip of its beak, and a dark gold pattern flashed by before disappearing into the leather.

"Is it...reinforcing?" Draco asked uncertainly.

"We're marking it," Kane said. "That way, no matter where the bag is, Igor can sense its condition."

Draco stared at the phoenix, and suddenly felt his throat go dry.

This bird—this creature—possesses abilities that are probably far more complex than they appear.

There was another knock on the compartment door. This time it was Pansy Parkinson, who poked her head in: "Draco, Blaise got some Butterbeer from Hogsmeade in the next compartment, do you want some…?"

"I'm not going." Draco said without turning his head.

Pansy paused for a moment, looked at Kane, then at Draco, her gaze lingering on Igor for a second before she wisely closed the door.

"You really should make more friends," Draco muttered. "Apart from Granger, who occasionally discusses things you don't understand, you hardly talk to anyone."

"I don't need friends," Kane said. "I need allies. And allies are earned through strength, not through idle chatter."

Igor flew back to Kane's shoulder and began preening his feathers with his beak, acting as if it were none of his business.

Draco rolled his eyes. "You're starting to sound more and more like Dad." He stood up, walked to the door, then stopped. "Be careful, brother. Mom said the stars this summer indicate... something dark is gathering."

"I will."

After Draco left, the box fell silent again.

Kane stood up shortly after the train left Hogsmeade Station.

Igor took flight from his shoulder, circled once in the cramped compartment, and landed on the window frame.

Phoenix's silver eyes were fixed on Kane, awaiting instructions.

"Ready?" Kane asked softly.

Igor nodded—an extremely human gesture.

As soon as the train left Hogsmeade, Kane stood in the center of the compartment.

He didn't use his wand. He simply looked at Igor on his shoulder.

Phoenix met his gaze with her silver eyes, then nodded gently.

Igor spread his wings. Dark golden light flowed from between the feathers, spreading like water and enveloping Kane's entire body. It was warm, carrying an ancient aura.

Kane closed his eyes. He could sense what Igor was doing—not breaking through space, but finding a ready-made path within it. Phoenixes were born to travel through the "gaps" of the world, and Igor was showing him those gaps.

The private room began to become transparent. The seats, windows, and walls faded away like a painting.

Igor flapped his wings. Each flap created ripples of light. When those ripples reached the edge of the box, they didn't bounce back, but merged into it—like pebbles thrown into water, but the surface remained in all directions.

Then Kane sensed it: the train was still running beside him; he could hear the wheels, but the sound was distant, as if through a thick pane of glass. They were now in some kind of interlayer, in the gap between realities.

Igor flew forward. Not really flying, but a kind of... gliding. Along some unseen path.

Time has become strange. It might only take a second, or it might take a long time.

A point of light appeared ahead. The point of light expanded into a halo, and through the halo, one could see the scene on the other side: a wasteland, heather bushes, and a gray sky.

Ig let out a cry. The sound echoed in the interlayer, as if confirming something.

Then they went through.

The next second, the private room was empty.

Only the scenery outside the window continues to flash by, while the dents on the seats slowly recover, proving that someone once sat here.