[The Ford Anglia is parked at King's Cross Station as numerous people walk past it. In the station, Mia, Ron, Ginny, Percy, Fred, George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley are desperate to catch the Hogwarts Express before it leaves.]
Mr. Weasley: 10:58. Come on, come on!
Mrs. Weasley: Train will be leaving any moment!

"Why were you late?" Hermione asked, a mix of concern and curiosity in her voice. She couldn't help but feel anxious for her friends, especially after the events of that day.

"The traffic was insane," Ron replied, a hint of defensiveness in his tone as he glanced at Hermione.

"I'm pretty sure that's not the only reason," Mia teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she observed Ron's reaction.

As Mia's playful remark elicited laughter from the twins and chuckles from Neville, Dean, and Seamus, Ron's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. It was a well-known fact among their friends that Ron had a tendency to oversleep.

Arthur and Molly exchanged concerned glances, their worry evident as they awaited an explanation. They had been told about the unsettling events of the day and were eager to hear Ron and Mia's account of what had transpired.

Mr. Weasley: Fred, George, Percy, you first [Fred pushes his cart through the barrier to Platform 9¾, followed by Percy and George]
Mrs. Weasley: [patting Ginny on the back] Okay. [Ginny pushes her cart and runs through the wall; Mr. and Mrs. Weasley follow]
Mr. Weasley: After you, dear. [Mrs. Weasley disappears through the wall; Mr. Weasley goes in immediately after her]

"We should have gotten Mia and Ron through first, before we did," Molly said, blaming herself, as Arthur comforted her with a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Yes, you should have," Sirius said seriously, causing Mia and Remus to react with a mix of surprise and admonishment.

"Sirius! Stop it!" Mia interjected firmly, her tone carrying a hint of frustration as she reprimanded him.

Mrs. Weasley: [meeting up with Ginny as she stands by the Hogwarts Express, which is just about ready to go] Come on, Ginny. We'll get you a seat. Hurry! [the three run for the train; outside, only Mia and Ron are left]

"We should have noticed that you two weren't right behind us back then. Mia, Ron, we're so sorry," Arthur apologized, his brow furrowing with concern, his regret evident in his tone and expression.

"It's okay, Mr. Weasley. We get it. We still managed to get to the school and everyone was okay," Mia reassured him with a kind smile, her words carrying a calming tone to alleviate his worry.

Ron, feeling uneasy under the weight of Arthur's apology, rubbed the back of his head nervously, sensing the depth of his concern.

"What?" Remus asked, his expression reflecting a tinge of fear as he awaited Ron's response, concerned about what he might reveal.

Mia, attempting to ease the tension, smiled nervously and shrugged, her gesture communicating a mix of reassurance and apprehension as she grappled with the memories of that unsettling day.

Mia: [turning to Ron] Let's go. [Ron nods; then they push their carts directly for the wall. However, instead of going through the wall, Mia inexplicably crashes into it and falls over; Ron loses control of his cart, and falls over as well. A station agent, the same man Mia saw a year ago, notices while speaking to a woman, and approaches Mia and Ron as they get to their feet, groaning from their slight injuries.]

Everyone, including the Slytherins, laughed at the amusing recollection, only to be startled into silence as they realized that the entrance had been closed. The adults shared the same realization, their expressions filled with concern as they stared at the closed entrance.

Molly and Arthur, already feeling guilty for missing Mia and Ron's entry to the train, now felt an additional pang of remorse as they understood the reason behind their absence.

"What happened?" Fudge asked, confused about the sudden closure of the gateway, his concern mirroring the others in the room.

"It's been closed. But it takes strong magic to do that. But the barrier has never been closed before," Amelia explained, her tone reflecting her bafflement. The unprecedented closure of the barrier left everyone perplexed.

"The question is who did it?" McGonagall voiced the pressing inquiry that weighed on everyone's mind, seeking clarity from the two friends.

"You'll know soon," Mia assured them.

Station Agent: Oy! What do you two think you're doing?

"It's not like we did it on purpose," Mia said sarcastically,

Mia: Sorry. Lo-lost control of the trolley. [the agent shakes his head at them and walks away; Mia glances at Ron] Why can't we get through?
Ron: I don't know. [touching the wall with his hand, discovering the bricks have become solid] The gateway's sealed itself for some
reason. [Mia touches the wall to see that it's completely solid]

"Mia," Remus called out, drawing her attention. "Who did it?"

"You'd be surprised," Mia responded cryptically.

Remus and Sirius exchanged a curious glance, both raising a brow in unison, their shared skepticism evident in their expressions. The air in the room grew heavy with anticipation as they awaited further explanation, their curiosity piqued by Mia's enigmatic response.

Mia: [hearing a clock chime, she and Ron look up at a nearby clock displaying the time 11:00] The train leaves at exactly 11:00. We've missed it!
Ron: [glancing at the clock in horror, then turning to Mia] Mia... if we can't get through, maybe mom and dad can't get back.

"It makes sense," Ginny chimed in, her voice betraying her surprise at Ron's logical statement that didn't revolve around food. Even his brothers, accustomed to Ron's usual quips, were taken aback by his unexpected insight, their raised brows and exchanged glances revealing their astonishment.

Ron, fully aware of their incredulity, glared at them, an annoyance evident in his expression. He relished in the rare moment where his intellect had caught them off guard.

"Ron is smarter than what you think, he'll surprise you," Mia chimed in with a playful smile, coming to Ron's defense and acknowledging his capabilities, her words laced with a hint of mischief and genuine admiration.

"Mia!" Ron protested, his cheeks turning slightly pink as Mia's praise drew attention to him, a mixture of embarrassment and gratitude evident in his reaction.

Mia: [trying to decide what to do about their dilemma] Maybe we should just go and wait by the car.

"Please, go back and wait at the car," Sirius pleaded at the screen, concern evident in his voice.

"That's Mia and Ron we're talking about, they obviously won't stay at the car," Charlie remarked with a knowing smile, exuding confidence in their adventurous nature.

Mia and Ron shared a silent look, their expressions mirroring understanding and amusement as they exchanged knowing smiles.

Ron: [the sound of these words suddenly gives him an idea] The car... [Mia glances at him, wondering what he's got in mind The Ford Anglia lifts off into the sky, with Ron driving and Mia in the front passenger seat. Down below, a Muggle looks up at this curious sight.]

"Press the invisibility button!" Fred said, frustration coloring his tone as he urged Ron to take action.

"I did!" Ron retorted, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

"After what? After being exposed to the Muggle world?" George narrowed his eyes, his tone laced with admonishment.

"We already got scolded enough. I don't need you to barge on my head again," Ron responded, expressing his frustration at the situation and pushing back against George's reproach. The tension in the air was palpable as the siblings navigated the aftermath of a misstep.

Mia: Ron, I should tell you, most Muggles aren't accustomed to seeing a flying car.
Ron: Uh, right. [He presses a button, and the car turns invisible. Later, while they're flying over the mountains, the car reappears.] Oh, no! The Invisibility Booster must be faulty.
Mia: Well, come on then, let's go lower. We need to find the train.
Ron: Okay. [Ron brings the car down, so that they are flying right above the train tracks on a viaduct.]

"We weren't really far away," Mia said, her laughter punctuating her words as she recalled the events that followed.

"No, we weren't," Ron chimed in, his own laughter blending with Mia's.

"Were you really far behind?" Hermione inquired, her curiosity piqued.

The two exchanged a knowing look.

"Just watch," Mia replied, sharing a smile with Ron as they hinted at the forthcoming revelation, a sense of mischief dancing in their eyes.

Mia: Now, all we need to do is catch up with the train.
Ron: We can't be far behind. [A train whistle sounds.]

"Is that?" Draco said, his voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of bewilderment as he heard the sounds of the train growing louder, yet there was no sign of it in front of them.

Mia: Do you hear that?
Ron: We must be getting close.
Mia: Hold on... [Mia and Ron slowly turn around. Hedwig's eyes go wide. The boy and girl scream when they see the train is right behind them. Ron gets the car out of the train's path, sending them into an uncontrollable flight around the viaduct. While they're above the train, Mia falls out of the car, but she manages to grab on to her door.]

The scene unfolded with some of the younger students letting out shrill screams, their hands instinctively flying to cover their mouths in shock as the ominous sounds reached a crescendo. Meanwhile, the older students, their faces etched with worry and disbelief, watched the unfolding chaos with wide-eyed alarm.

Amid the chaos, Mia and Ron found themselves unable to suppress their laughter, which bubbled forth uncontrollably. Perhaps it was the absurdity of the situation or Ron's exaggerated expression of horror that set them off, but their raucous amusement contrasted sharply with the tense atmosphere surrounding them. Their peers regarded them with a mixture of disbelief and concern, exchanging perplexed glances as they struggled to comprehend the pair's seemingly lighthearted response to a perilous situation.

"YOU TWO COULD HAVE GOTTEN YOURSELVES KILLED?"

Molly's frantic voice pierced through the commotion, her eyes searching desperately for reassurance as she scolded them, her maternal instincts overriding any sense of decorum.

Sirius, his frustration palpable, joined in, bellowing at Mia and Ron with a mixture of incredulity and exasperation. "You two were in mortal danger, and you're laughing?" His tone was incredulous, his concern for their safety fueling his outburst.

Ron: Mia! Hold on! [reaching towards Mia] Take my hand! [Mia tries to grasp Ron's hand, but she can't hold it for long] Hold on!

"Mia!" Almost everyone in the Hall yelled at the screen, their collective concern and urgency echoing through the space.

The tension in the Hall was palpable as every eye remained fixed on the unfolding scene. A hushed silence fell over the room, thick with apprehension and uncertainty, as the gravity of the moment gripped everyone present. No words were spoken as they all held their breath, united in their shared anxiety as they watched the events unfurl before them.

Mia: I'm trying! Your hand's all sweaty! [Mia finally manages to grasp Ron's hand, and Ron pulls her back into the car] I think we found the train.
Ron: Yeah.

"Oh, you think so?" Pansy retorted sarcastically, her tone laced with skepticism and derision.

"Seriously?" Blaise interjected, his incredulity evident as he sought to express his disapproval or disbelief at a situation unfolding before them.

[As the Ford Anglia flies alongside the Hogwarts Express, it puts on its headlights and flies off. Soon enough, Harry and Ron are flying over the lake, and have arrived at Hogwarts.]
Ron: [glancing at the castle with a smile as he turns to face Mia] Welcome home. [Mia smiles, happy to be back at Hogwarts after such an unpleasant summer]

Many smiled at Mia's reaction, finding solace in the fact that she had found a place where she felt at home, a welcome change from the hardship she had endured in her previous environment. This moment of joy and contentment amidst the trials of her past was met with warmth and encouragement from those around her.

[Suddenly, the Anglia experiences a major turbulence as it steers on the left side of the castle, then right. Ron holds the wheel while panicking. The car drives down, still going forward.]

"Oh Merlin," Molly exclaimed, her voice carrying a note of exasperation and annoyance as she lamented the fact that trouble had already found them as soon as they had arrived at the school.

"I can't watch this!" Remus admitted with a pained expression, unable to bear the unfolding events before him.

"Pull up!" Cho's urgent plea cut through the tense atmosphere, her tone conveying the necessity for immediate action.

"Jump out of the car!" Oliver's desperate cry filled the air, his panic evident in his voice as he sought a quick solution to the escalating problem.

"That will kill them!" Ginny's sharp retort reverberated through the turmoil, her concern for the safety of the occupants of the car ringing out fiercely as she countered Oliver's alarming suggestion.

Mia: Up! UP!
Ron: [stepping the pedals which had no effect of braking] It's not working!
[Mia does her best to grab the gear shift to keep the car down. Unfortunately, it's headed for a tree and Ron is screaming while turning.]
Mia: Mind that tree!

The exclamation "Oh, No!" reverberated through the minds of several students, teachers, and families, encapsulating the shared sense of concern and apprehension that permeated the atmosphere. The collective unease hinted at an impending challenge or unexpected turn of events, leaving everyone on edge as they braced themselves for what was to come.

Ron: [grabbing his wand from the top compartment followed by tapping to the steering wheel] Stop! Stop! STOP! [the wand breaks in half The car crashes into the giant tree, landing in the middle of it. Ron stares at his broken wand.]
Ron: My wand. Look at my wand.
Mia: Be thankful it's not your neck.

Many winced at the look of Ron's wand,

"Why didn't you tell us, Darlin? We would've gotten you a new wand," Molly inquired.

"It was a good thing too, it saved us in the end," Mia responded.

Ron paused for a moment, contemplating Mia's words, before realization dawned on him. "Oh, yeah," he acknowledged, finally connecting the dots.

The rest of the group exchanged puzzled glances, trying to make sense of the cryptic exchange.

"Wait and you'll see," the duo teased in unison, their enigmatic response eliciting scowls from the others as they eagerly awaited an explanation.

[Something suddenly hits the car.]
Ron: What's happening?
Mia: I don't know. [Mia and Ron scream as the tree comes to life, beating up the car with its branches. Eventually, the car falls out of the tree and lands on the ground.]

The sudden shift in the atmosphere left everyone on edge once more, as if the group simply could not catch a break.

Mia: Come on, go! Fast! [Before the tree can grab them again, Ron quickly drives the car out of the tree's range. A moment later, the car throws out Mia, Ron, and their luggage. It ends by throwing Hedwig's cage to Mia and Scabbers' cage to Ron.]
Ron: Scabbers, are you okay?

Mia, Sirius, Remus, Hermione, and Ron glared at the screen.

[the car drives off on its own] The car! [Mia and Ron chase after the car, only to see it drive off into the forest] Dad's gonna kill me.
[Mia and Ron walk into the Entrance Hall with their belongings and pets, which they leave with the rest of the students' luggage.]

Draco's question was laced with a tinge of anxiety, "So, life threatening situations are normal for you guys?" he inquired, a note of trepidation evident in his voice.

The trio's simultaneous affirmation reverberated through the room, underscoring the weight of their experiences. "Yes," they replied in unison, their voices carrying a solemn acknowledgment of the peril they had faced.

Mia's foreboding remark added another layer of apprehension. "And the year hasn't even begun yet," she stated, her words casting a palpable sense of unease over the group, leaving them nervously anticipating what lay ahead.

The onlookers' reactions were a mix of shock and deep concern, their expressions reflecting the gravity of the trio's admissions. Their faces mirrored a combination of disbelief and apprehension as they grappled with the realization of the daunting challenges that awaited the group.

Mia: See you, Hedwig! [she and Ron then run up the steps] So a house-elf shows up in my bedroom, we can't get through the barrier to Platform 9¾, we almost get killed by a tree... clearly someone doesn't want me here this year.

"Clearly!" Sirius scoffed.

[reaching the top of the stairs, they come face-to-face with the caretaker, Argus Filch and his pet cat, Mrs. Norris]

"Seems like you guys just can't catch a break, can you?" Dean remarked, a fond smile lighting up his features as he gazed at his friends.

In unison, the trio replied, "No," reaffirming the recurrent challenges that seemed to dog their path.

Filch: [glaring at them with a malicious smile] Well, take a good look. This night might well be the last you spend in this castle. [Mia and Ron glance at each other nervously] Oh, dear, we are in trouble.

"Can we please get rid of him?" Seamus pleaded with the teachers, his tone reflecting a deep unease and apprehension regarding Filch's presence.

"Yeah, he's scary," voiced some of the younger students, expressing their discomfort and fear towards Filch and Mrs. Norris.

[he smiles more devilishly; moments later, Mia and Ron are standing in Severus Snape's classroom]

Remus scoffed.

"Not Snape!"

Snape: [holding up a newspaper article about their flying car at King's Cross Station] You were seen by no less than seven Muggles! [furiously throws the newspaper aside and glares at them] Do you have any idea how serious this is?! You have risked the exposure of our world. Not to mention the damage you inflicted on a Whomping Willow that's been on these grounds since before you were born!

"Bastard," Sirius seethed under his breath, his gaze fixed in a blazing glare aimed at Snape.

Ron: Honestly, Professor Snape, I think it did more damage to us.
Snape: Silence! [walking around his desk towards them] I assure you... that were you in Slytherin and your fate rested with me, the both of you would be on the train home tonight! As it is.
Professor Dumbledore: They are not.

"Oh, thank Merlin."

Remus and Sirius breathed out loud, their expressions reflecting a palpable sense of relief at the prospect of a fair judgment. The weight of Snape's bias against Mia, transcending mere house rivalries, resonated with the group, evoking a shared understanding of the severity of the situation.

A chorus of sighs and murmurs of relief swept through the room, as many students echoed the sentiment. The collective exhale of tension underscored their shared trust in Dumbledore and McGonagall's impartiality, expressing a deeply held belief in the faculty's capacity to mete out fair and just consequences.

[Mia, Ron, Snape, and Filch turn towards the doorway to see Dumbledore standing there, accompanied by his associate, Professor McGonagall. Both of them are looking stern.]
Mia: [glancing at Dumbledore and McGonagall] Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall.
Snape: Headmaster, they two have flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry. As such...

"Blah, blah, blah," Sirius mocked Snape in a low tone, unable to contain his disdain for the potions master.

Snape's sharp hearing caught Sirius's derision, and he turned to glare back at Sirius, his eyes simmering with barely restrained anger.

Sirius met Snape's glare head-on, a steely determination hardening his expression as their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills.

"Sirius!" Remus interjected, his tone laced with caution, hoping to defuse the rising tension between the two men.

Professor Dumbledore: I'm well aware of our bylaws, Severus, having written more than a few myself. However, as Head of Gryffindor House, it is for Professor McGonagall to determine the appropriate action.
Ron: We'll go and get our stuff, then.
Professor McGonagall: What are you talking about, Mr. Weasley?
Ron: You're going to expel us, aren't you?
Professor McGonagall: Not today, Mr. Weasley. [Mia and Ron are both relieved by this] But I must impress upon both of you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be writing to your families tonight. And you will both receive detention. [Mia and Ron turn back to Snape who casts a glare of pure venom at them]

Sirius and Remus, along with Molly and Arthur, held their breath, the tension in the room palpable as they awaited Mia's relative's reaction to the letter. McGonagall's expression grew increasingly concerned as she realized the possible implications of her actions for Mia.

"How badly were you punished when you got home?" McGonagall inquired, her voice laced with worry, her furrowed brow reflecting genuine concern for Mia's well-being.

"They were... fine, But nothing out of the ordinary. I'm used to it, remember?" Mia responded, her attention fixed on the screen, a palpable urgency evident in her demeanor as she silently pleaded for the next scene to unfold.

"You shouldn't have to be used to it," Amelia interjected, voicing her concern for Mia's well-being, her warmth and empathy evident in her tone.

"I know, but I am. And I can't change that. We'll talk about all of this later. For now, let's just keep watching," Mia responded, a slight edge in her voice reflecting her determination to push forward despite her inner turmoil.

The room fell silent, each person holding their breath in anticipation of what would happen next as the tension in the air became almost tangible.