Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

In front of the large floor-to-ceiling mirror, Russell helped Charlie adjust his clothes one last time. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and looked up to say to Charlie,

“Just in time. I reckon Dab will be bringing those Americans over around the time you get back.”

Charlie raised an eyebrow noncommittally, habitually stroking the inconspicuous ring on his finger as he said,

“None of that is a big deal… Even if I'm not here, the factory will operate as it always does. Just let them have a good tour.”

As he spoke, Charlie paused, seemingly thinking of something. He lowered his head and asked Russell,

“Are there any well-known newspapers or publications in the American wizarding world?”

“Uh… that…”

Hearing this sudden question, Russell couldn't help but be taken aback. He scratched his head, thought carefully for a moment, and then continued,

“There seems to be one… but Russell doesn't pay much attention to these things, so I don't remember the name.”

“Never mind…”

Charlie laughed, a hint of new calculation appearing in his eyes.

“What do you think about spending some money to have them bring an American reporter along?”

Charlie looked at Russell and continued, but it was more like talking to himself, not expecting Russell to provide any worthwhile answers in this regard.

After all, Russell was an extremely reliable assistant when it came to factory management.

He could easily sort out the originally chaotic situation in the shortest amount of time, ensuring that every step was carried out in an orderly manner and that every order and raw material in the factory was uninterrupted.

However, once outside the factory, any external matters were beyond Russell's ability to handle…

Russell himself was well aware of this. Therefore, when it came to factory matters, especially specific plans involving the external environment and marketing, he would not hesitate to report them to Charlie and unconditionally trust the decisions the latter made.

Facts had proven Russell right. Although he didn't understand Charlie's occasional unfathomable maneuvers, each time, they powerfully demonstrated Charlie's extraordinary wisdom and vision.

“Probably… not bad, although I don't understand why you want to call a reporter,” Russell replied casually, his hands still busy adjusting Charlie's hem.

“Aren't those American wizarding folks boasting about being open and inclusive?”

Charlie's eyes narrowed slightly, and the original smile on his lips diminished, turning into a faint trace. His tone still carried that inexplicable quality that Russell couldn't understand, as he slowly said,

“Really… I hope they are as inclusive as they claim to be.”

… … … … … … … … … …

With the final long and sharp blast of the brass whistle, the Hogwarts Express, which had been speeding along, finally began to slow down gradually, decreasing from its original speed to a stop.

“Quick!! Harry, look quickly!! Outside!!”

Ron had already jumped up from his seat. He grabbed the few pieces of luggage he had with him and pressed his face almost entirely against the glass, his eyes shining with excitement as he looked outside.

Looking at the castle in the distance outside the train window, which was constantly enlarging before his eyes, Ron's face no longer held the gloom and anger it had just had.

The incident of being lectured by Draco had long been thrown to the back of his mind.

Now, all Ron could think about was the wonderful life that was about to begin at Hogwarts, and there was no room for anything else.

Watching Ron jumping up and down like a monkey, Harry smiled sincerely.

He carried his luggage in one hand and raised the brass birdcage containing Hedwig high in the other, fearing that the extremely beautiful white bird in the cage would be uncomfortable in the slightest.

Inside the birdcage, Hedwig stood steadily on the perch. Her eyes, which had been closed, opened halfway slightly as Harry moved, glancing at the surrounding environment before cooing twice to herself, flapping her wings, and closing her eyes again.

“Come on, Ron! It's almost there! Let's go too.”

Harry's small face flushed. He turned his head and looked at the children of the same age, wearing the same school uniforms, outside the compartment, chattering, laughing, and pulling their luggage as they swarmed out, his heart also infected by this lively and noisy atmosphere, and could not help but beat faster.

“Oh! Right!”

Ron finally reacted, hurriedly moved his face away from the glass, and then stretched out his hand, grabbed the brown rat that was still lying on the table, and threw it into his pocket.

He lowered his head, reached into his pocket, and rubbed the poor head of the rat named Scabbers a few times, ignoring its struggles, and then continued,

“Come on, Scabbers! Be good, I'm going to take you to school soon!”

After saying that, the two looked at each other, nodded together, and then plunged into the vast crowd outside the compartment heading towards the door.

“Hey! Be careful, my robes!”

“Did someone kick me just now?”

“Ernie… where are you!? Ernie.”

“Let me go back!! My toad and luggage are still in the compartment, let me go back!!”

In the jostling and surging crowd, Harry's pace seemed particularly difficult. He didn't even have time to look at Ron, who had come out with him, and could only take care of himself so as not to be pushed and shoved to the ground by the crowded flow of people.

“Hey! Sorry, I'm holding an owl cage…”

“Please let me through, this cage doesn't look very sturdy…”

“Ah, my foot!”

… … … … … … … …

“Buzz!!!!!”

Along with the rolling white steam emerging from the front of the train, the train, which had been rushing forward, seemed to be gently lifted up by a pair of large white hands.

The speed decreased sharply, and finally, it stopped safely in front of the platform.

“Puff—squeak”

The doors on the side of the carriage opened immediately after the train came to a smooth stop.

In an instant, the crowd that had been packed tightly was suddenly given a vent. With a "boom," the bustling little wizards shouted and rushed out, or rather, were squeezed out, and almost instantly, they quickly filled the originally empty platform.

Harry held his birdcage firmly, but he himself was still dizzy from being bumped around.

He shook his head vigorously to recover from the dizziness of being swept along with the crowd.

Looking up and around, he could no longer see Ron's figure beside him.