At Hogsmeade Station, Liam Hale boarded the Hogwarts Express alongside Kingsley Shacklebolt, carrying his enchanted suitcase with him.
Although Liam was fully capable of traveling directly to the Ministry of Magic using his improved Apparition, he chose not to.
His version of Apparition could bypass anti-Apparition wards entirely, a capability he considered one of his most valuable trump cards. Revealing such an ability to a Ministry Auror—even one like Kingsley—would be foolish.
As a result, he reluctantly took the train instead.
As for Evan Rosier, he had already been transferred to Azkaban several days earlier.
Oddly enough, the man had seemed delighted when he left.
His enthusiasm had been so genuine that the Aurors escorting him to prison had seriously wondered whether he had gone insane.
The carriage reserved for Liam and Kingsley was otherwise empty.
Once they settled in, the Hogwarts Express slowly pulled away from the station. The countryside outside the window began sliding past at increasing speed.
Liam opened his suitcase and pulled out a book he had borrowed from the Hogwarts library.
Fantastic Beasts and Their Habitats.
The book contained extensive information about magical creatures, their breeding habits, and the unique properties of materials harvested from them.
There were several reasons he had chosen it.
First, he intended to continue researching the Animagus transformation. A deeper understanding of magical creatures would undoubtedly prove useful.
Second, the book contained detailed descriptions of numerous magical ingredients, which would broaden his knowledge of alchemical materials.
Most importantly, it was a perfectly ordinary book.
Reading a collection of Dark Arts research notes in front of Kingsley would only create unnecessary trouble. He was already heading to a Wizengamot hearing. There was no reason to hand the Ministry additional excuses to question him.
Dumbledore would also be blamed for granting a first-year student access to restricted books.
So Liam settled comfortably into his seat and began reading.
After several minutes, Kingsley finally broke the silence.
"Liam, I have to admit, you're impressive. Evan Rosier was known as one of the toughest Death Eaters around, yet you somehow got him to confess everything. Even the Ministry's professional interrogators couldn't manage that. How exactly did you do it?"
Kingsley's voice carried genuine curiosity.
Without looking up from his book, Liam answered calmly.
"You really don't want to know."
Kingsley blinked.
"Come on. I'm an adult."
"So?"
Liam finally lifted his head.
His silver eyes locked onto Kingsley's.
"Are you crueler than Rosier?"
The question caught Kingsley completely off guard.
For several seconds he couldn't answer.
Something about those silver eyes unsettled him.
They seemed impossibly deep, like an endless abyss capable of swallowing thought itself.
Eventually he looked away.
"No. Comparing me to a Death Eater isn't exactly fair."
Liam lowered his gaze back to the book.
Kingsley secretly released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
The pressure disappeared immediately.
"Then that's your answer."
Liam casually turned a page.
"If you want evil people to fear you, you have to be more terrifying than they are. The Death Eaters fear Voldemort because he's stronger and more ruthless than they are. Why shouldn't they fear me for the same reason?"
Kingsley frowned.
"I really wish I hadn't heard that."
"That's because you asked a question without wanting the honest answer."
Liam sounded completely unconcerned.
Kingsley opened his mouth, then closed it again.
After thinking about it carefully, he realized Liam wasn't wrong.
Fear controlled people like Rosier.
Violence controlled people like Rosier.
The Dark Lord had built his entire organization around that principle.
Liam was merely stating an unpleasant truth.
Still, hearing such words from a child was deeply unsettling.
After a moment, Kingsley changed the subject.
"Tell me something. Why don't you want to lead the Death Eaters? That answer might actually help you during the Wizengamot hearing."
The question was sincere.
Kingsley still remembered Liam's first arrest.
Back then, the Ministry had received reports of a young wizard connected to multiple murders.
The Auror Office had initially sent two Aurors.
Both had been defeated.
Then four.
Then six.
The number continued increasing until more than twenty Aurors had finally succeeded in capturing him.
Twenty.
The only other wizard who had ever required that level of response was Voldemort himself.
And now, less than half a year later, Kingsley felt something he never expected to feel toward a nine-year-old boy.
Unease.
Perhaps even fear.
Azkaban should have broken Liam.
Instead, he seemed stronger than ever.
At the same time, Kingsley couldn't help admiring the boy's courage.
Very few people dared say Voldemort's name aloud.
Liam used it casually.
Liam snorted.
"Do I really need a reason?"
He closed the book.
"They're a group of incompetent idiots."
Kingsley stared.
Liam continued matter-of-factly.
"Most of them learn one Unforgivable Curse and suddenly think they're powerful enough to terrorize the world. They're arrogant, shortsighted, and obsessed with killing people."
His expression showed genuine disdain.
"Why would I want people like that working under me?"
That answer genuinely surprised Kingsley.
"You look down on the Death Eaters?"
"Of course."
Liam sounded as though the answer were obvious.
"If I ever wanted companions, I'd rather find people who share my goals. People who constantly push themselves to become stronger. People who study magic because they love magic."
He paused briefly.
"Not idiots who spend their lives murdering random strangers."
Kingsley couldn't help laughing.
"I never expected to hear something like that from a nine-year-old."
Liam smiled faintly.
"You also never expected to need twenty Aurors to arrest me."
Kingsley groaned.
"Do we really have to keep bringing that up?"
"Probably."
For the first time during the trip, Liam actually looked amused.
Kingsley shook his head helplessly.
After a brief silence, his expression became more serious.
"Liam, there's something important you should know before we reach the Ministry."
Liam raised an eyebrow.
"Go on."
"At the Wizengamot hearing, watch out for Dolores Umbridge."
Kingsley's voice dropped lower.
"She's the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister and one of the judges participating in your case."
Liam waited.
Kingsley continued.
"She doesn't like talented young wizards. Especially talented young wizards who refuse to follow authority."
That sounded exactly like someone Liam would dislike.
"She'll probably try to make things difficult for you. Don't let her provoke you."
Kingsley hesitated before adding another warning.
"And now that Voldemort escaped before his execution, you need to be careful."
Liam studied him for a moment.
"I understand."
Then his expression became curious.
"But why are you telling me all this?"
Kingsley looked out the train window.
Rolling green hills flashed by beneath a gray sky.
For several moments, he said nothing.
Finally, he spoke.
"I don't think you'll become a dark wizard."
Liam remained silent.
Kingsley continued quietly.
"Honestly, I think you might be the only person capable of stopping Voldemort someday."
The countryside continued rushing past beyond the glass as the train carried them toward London.
....
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