Chapter 5

As summer ends, the Weasleys and Harry scramble to reach King’s Cross. After multiple delays, they arrive with minutes to spare, but when Harry and Ron attempt to pass through the barrier to platform nine and three-quarters, it seals, stranding them as the train departs.

Reasoning it’s an emergency, Ron decides to fly Mr. Weasley’s enchanted Ford Anglia. The Invisibility Booster falters, but they manage to track the Hogwarts Express through intermittent cloud checks. Hours later, as dusk falls and the engine strains, Hogwarts comes into view just as the car fails, sending them into a desperate glide.

They narrowly miss the castle and crash into the Whomping Willow, which savagely attacks the car. The Ford restarts in reverse and escapes the tree’s blows, then ejects the boys and their luggage before driving off into the Forbidden Forest. Ron’s wand is broken; Hedwig flies to the castle.

Trying to slip inside, Harry and Ron are intercepted by Snape, who confronts them with a newspaper reporting Muggle sightings of the flying car and damage to the Willow. McGonagall and then Dumbledore question the boys. Dumbledore, gravely disappointed, warns them but withholds expulsion; McGonagall assigns detention and no point loss.

After a meal conjured by McGonagall, they head to Gryffindor Tower, learn Ginny has been Sorted into Gryffindor, and are met by raucous house applause. Despite Hermione’s disapproval and Percy’s irritation, the boys retreat to their dormitory, bruised but relieved to remain at Hogwarts.