Готовый перевод Тейлор Поттер и философский виал / Taylor Potter and the Philosophical Vial: Глава 3. Путешествие в Вормвартс с платформы 9 и ¾

Chapter 3. Journey to Wormwarts from Platform 9 and ¾
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After her confrontation with Rachel, the Dursleys left Taylor alone, and throughout August, the girl enjoyed peace, quiet, and solitude. Normally, this would have meant only a delay, followed by an explosion, a hurricane, a storm of malice and punishment that would make ordinary pinches and douses seem like child's play. But now... oh, now Taylor had Wormwarts, and in her mind, she was already there.

She imagined Wormwarts as something like Toybox Alley—vast, bright, filled with wonders, strange mechanisms, flying things, and people with superpowers. And nine months of schooling away from the Dursleys! So Taylor read her textbooks, practiced with a baton, ran, practiced insect control, and even decided to sew herself a costume using spiders, but progress was slow. Still, Taylor trained and studied with all her might, and she was quite nervous, terrified at the thought of failing, of not being able to cope, of being kicked out of Wormwarts, and then the Dursleys' vengeance would fall upon her.

Taylor's entire savings from her piggy bank were spent on a ticket to Grand Central Station and a tattered, tattered suitcase on wheels. ATMs refused to accept the goblin debit card, and getting into the Leaky Scanner again was impossible because Taylor couldn't remember the way.

"Platform 9 and 3/4," Taylor said, pulling out her tablet and placing her finger on it.

A map of the station appeared on the screen, and a thick green line immediately appeared — the route to the destination. Looking around and not seeing the Dursleys nearby ("You need it, so go yourself!"), Taylor smiled as usual and followed the route. There was some pushing and shoving, carts were moving, and people were shouting something over the PA system, but overall, nothing serious, just an unusual feeling, too many people.

Platform 9 and 3/4 was, of course, missing, and Taylor paused, looking at the signs for "Platform 9" and "Platform 10." The program pointed directly at the column, a huge pillar ahead, and Taylor wondered. There were no thinkers like the ones in "Leaky Scanner" nearby, but maybe one was sitting right in the column? Or did she have to use her hand? Could the column simply be a three-dimensional illusion, like the pictures in Toybox Alley?

"Did we really have to travel all the way in the car? Couldn't we have flown?" a voice said nearby, and Taylor immediately became wary.

The voice belonged to a girl slightly younger than Taylor, but one who made young Potter want to bite her finger out of envy. The little blonde was “gorgeous” and “radiant” in almost the literal sense, while Taylor herself was awkward, skinny, and bony.

“You can’t, Victoria,” the plump woman answered sternly.

Taylor liked her at first glance — so good-natured and homely, the kind who definitely wouldn't put anyone in a corner, punish them, lock them in a closet, spank them, or tug at their ears! She was a true mother of the family, for besides the pretty little blonde (the woman herself was fair-haired), there were four other children, all carrying wheeled suitcases and tablets. The eldest of the four, with a haughty expression, nodded approvingly at the "gorgeous" girl's remark but said nothing. The twins, brother and sister, very much like their mother, seemed to be bubbling with energy, stamping their feet and dancing, in stark contrast to the youngest. The quiet and calm girl with chestnut hair simply stood and waited.

Taylor watched out of the corner of her eye, through the insects that had settled on the family and were flying around. What if they weren't capes? Taylor didn't want to get into a conversation and embarrass herself if things went wrong, so she decided to wait and watch.

"We have to follow the rules," the woman said. "Come on, Carol, you go first."

Taylor blinked in confusion as the girl stepped directly into the column. Or rather, not quite that. Taylor didn't see the step; she simply sensed through her mind that the girl, Carol, was inside the column, and only then did she remember that this same Carol had just been on the platform.

It would be logical to assume that this was some kind of superpower, but still, what was the principle?

"Come on, Crystal, activate the ticket. You follow her, Eric," the woman said a little impatiently. "The train will be leaving soon!"

Taylor glanced furtively at her tablet, pointed to "Ticket," and suddenly a new message appeared: "Authorization initiated, please wait..." and, a few seconds later, "Activate key ticket?" Now everything was clear to Taylor, and all she had to do was wait for her turn. When the family disappeared into the column, Taylor waited a minute and followed suit.

"Authorization completed, starting scanning," said a pleasant female voice.

From the inside, the column looked more like a closed telephone booth.

"Welcome to platform 9 and ¾ Taylor Potter," said the voice.

A section of the wall disappeared, revealing a vast platform. The train was already parked alongside, and children could be seen getting settled, rolling their suitcases, and the sounds of shouts and greetings, as well as the parting words of parents and relatives, could be heard. They needed to hurry, but Taylor couldn't resist asking.

"Doesn't anyone see that people enter a column and disappear?"

"The artificial Stranger effect in action. Enjoy your studies at Wormwarts, Miss Potter," the voice said.

After which, Taylor was carefully and gently carried out onto the platform.

"What...," but the door and the passage in the column have disappeared.

Taylor ruffled her black hair in confusion and walked toward the train. Why travel when you could fly, teleport, create portals, and ride on the backs of enormous animals and birds? Taylor didn't know the answer, but she hoped Wormwarts would hold the answers to all her growing questions. The spacious compartment, with its soft seats and folding table, was almost twice the size of the closet, and Taylor immediately wanted to live there.

Through the insects she'd planted earlier, she sensed the family she'd seen earlier. Through the window, Taylor saw the commotion on the platform, the children, almost unabashedly, demonstrating their superpowers, and their parents, in fact, not far behind. Only now, in this second and minute, did Taylor finally allow herself to relax, believing that she truly belonged to another world.

A world where there was no place for the Dursleys.

"Hello," came a voice from the entrance.

There stood the quiet, brown-haired girl Taylor had seen earlier at the train station.

"Amy Weasley," the girl introduced herself as she sat down.

She was dressed in something like a robe, white and red.

"Taylor Potter," Taylor introduced herself automatically, wondering what to do.

A new friend is great, and she's living with a Cape family — that's amazing! But why would she even come into Taylor's compartment? Did she follow her? Did she just sit down right away — the impudence? After living with the Dursleys, Taylor, to put it mildly, wasn't very fond of having her personal space invaded, and she already perceived the compartment as something truly personal.

"Potter?" Amy asked, surprised. "The Taylor Potter? Do you have a scar on your forehead?"

"Yes," Taylor replied.

She was enjoying the conversation less and less, but then Amy smiled shyly and extended her hand toward Taylor. A fly perched on her outstretched index finger.

"Sorry," Amy said, "but I thought it was really curious that someone was following us, so I went to see who it could be."

"Were you able to track me down?" Taylor ruffled her hair again in a gesture of confusion and despair.

"This is my strength, I feel and know how living organisms work."

"Oh!" Taylor said, suddenly understanding.

Her mistrust and hostility instantly vanished. She pushed her hair back from her forehead and showed Amy the lightning-shaped scar. Amy asked warily:

"May I touch it?"

"Okay! " Taylor replied with a sudden, reckless cheerfulness.

Amy's fingers were cool and gentle.

"Are you having problems with your eyesight?" she asked in surprise, sitting back down.

"Well... a little," Taylor replied sheepishly.

There was no point in hiding now, and she took out her glasses and put them back on.

"It's a pity I can't influence the brain," Amy sighed, "then I could fix your eyes."

"Wow!" Taylor exclaimed in admiration. "You only touched me with a finger!"

"That's why I always ask permission," Amy sighed. "You need to eat more, Taylor."

"I wouldn't refuse," Potter patted her skinny stomach.

Meanwhile, the train had already started moving unnoticed and was rushing along the rails, softly, silently and quickly.

"Well, I have some sandwiches," Amy pulled a bag out of her pocket, "Victoria made them for me for the trip. She's my little sister, and she's not going to Wormwarts until next year. She's a big fan of yours, by the way."

"Yeah?" Taylor mumbled, already sinking her teeth into the sandwich. "Delicious!"

"Do you like it?" Amy asked in surprise. "Victoria's a terrible cook."

"You'll live with the Dursleys, and you'll be happy with this," Taylor replied, eating her sandwiches.

Meanwhile, Amy swiped the card against the green rectangle on the table. A 3D menu appeared in the air, and a female voice announced.

"Unfortunately, your card doesn't have enough funds, Amy Weasley. Would you like to send a request to Sarah Weasley?"

"No!!" Amy shouted, jumping up. "You don't have to send anything to Mom!"

"Would you like a glass of water?"

"Wait," Taylor said, finishing her last sandwich and wiping her hands. "Need money?"

"Yes," Amy sighed.

"Right now! Just a second!" Taylor snatched the card and placed it on the rectangle.

A wave of green immediately swept across the menu, and Amy's eyes widened in surprise.

"Wow! Unlimited order!"

"Please make a choice, Taylor Potter," the system said.

"Order!"

"Me?" Amy asked in surprise.

"Should I thank you for such wonderful sandwiches, especially from such a beautiful fan of mine?" Taylor joked, a little wearily.

"Yes, that's right," a shadow crossed Amy's face, and she began poking her finger at the lines of the 3D menu.

The last ice in their relationship was broken, and soon they were eating, drinking, and chatting about everything, as if they had been friends since childhood.

"What is this?" Taylor asked, confused, turning the white square over in her hands.

"It's a cape card; they usually come as a gift with candy boxes," Amy replied absently, licking a huge yellow-orange lollipop. "They feature various famous capes and information about them. Many people collect the cards, trade them, and show off their collections."

"But... it's nothing here?"

"You have to lick the card," Amy giggled and added, "'unlicked' cards are valued higher, if you're smart enough to activate them without using your tongue, of course."

Taylor licked, tasting the sour taste.

"Oh, Dumbledore!" Amy remarked. "She shows up a lot!"

Taylor stared at the image, as if trying to get from Headmaster Dumbledore right now what Rachel Hagrid had promised: answers to her questions.

FORTUNA DUMBLEDORE - CURRENTLY HEADMASTER OF WORMWARTS

Recognized by many as the greatest modern-day Cape, Professor Dumbledore is particularly renowned for her defeat of the Dark Cape Eden de Wald in 1945, the discovery of twelve new powers, and her collaboration with Nicholas Manton in the fields of alchemy and shard transmutation. Professor Dumbledore enjoys classical music and green tea.

The woman, wearing a tight suit and a wide-brimmed fedora, sat playfully and seemed to wink at Taylor. Young Potter rubbed her eyes in surprise. No, she wasn't imagining it; the image was actually winking.

"It's a simple program," Amy explained, "it has a scanner and it reacts to the movements of your facial muscles or something like that, I'm not good at this tech stuff."

"Listen, is this a real image?" Taylor asked, puzzled. "She defeated someone seventy-six years ago, didn't she?"

"Real," Amy waved her hand dismissively, licking her fingers. "Nobody knows how old she is, but everyone agrees she's the greatest cape of our time."

The door swung open. A girl stood there, a predatory smile on her face, her eyes instantly darting around the compartment, lingering for a moment on Taylor.

"Aha!" the girl exclaimed. "They'll help you here, Chris!"

She almost pushed the boy, who was clutching his bloody head, into the compartment.

“I’m Lisa Granger,” the girl introduced herself, without removing the predatory, joyful smile from her face.

"Amy Weasley."

"Taylor Potter."

Lisa's hand pointed at the wounded boy.

And this is Chris Longbottom, a novice Tinker who decided to pass the time on the road by designing a frog.

"A toad," Chris corrected her sadly, still holding his head. "And then it'll jump!"

“Okay, I’ll cure you,” Amy waved her hand, “if you don’t mind.”

"I don't mind," Chris said, stepping forward and leaning over.

He hit his head again and fell, while Amy, on the contrary, jumped up. While she was touching Chris's head, Lisa sat down opposite Taylor and stared at her intently and scrutinizingly.

}}A scar on her forehead, black hair, the age matches—it's Taylor Potter. Her posture, her hairstyle, her clothes—she's reserved and withdrawn. She's reserved and withdrawn, unaware of her heroic deed or the Dark Cape. She knows nothing about the Dark Cape or capes in general, or Wormwarts, and has lived outside the cape world. She's shy, embarrassed, reserved, and mistreated by her family. She was mistreated by her family, knew about capes, disliked capes, and hid information about them from Taylor. They hid information about Taylor's parents. She's happy to have new friends, but confused by the situation. She doesn't know what to say or how to react. Confused by my gaze. She doesn't know what to say and is preparing to show aggression.

Lisa looked away, looked at Amy Weasley, and the continuing force provided her with a new stream of information.

Her hand movements and posture are confident; she knows what she's doing. She knows what she's doing, and she knows how to treat. She knows how to treat, but she doesn't like to treat. She doesn't like to treat, doesn't want to treat, and considers treatment a duty and obligation. She has a duty and obligation to her family, and she loves her family. She loves her large cape family. She loves her large family and considers Taylor a friend. She considers Taylor a friend, and that's why she's irritated by my arrival. She's irritated by me and by me: I interrupted a conversation with her friend and pushed Chris's treatment session. She's irritated by me, doesn't quit her treatment out of a sense of duty, and is preparing to become aggressive.

"Hello, Taylor Potter," Lisa smiled, this time in a friendly tone. "You and Amy have a lot in common, you know?"

Taylor glanced at Lisa with disbelief, but said nothing in response.

Sorry for intruding so rudely, but Chris really needed help; bleeding from the head is very dangerous.

"You're a Thinker, aren't you?" Amy said, standing up and wiping her blood-red hands.

That's right, Thinker - 6, super intuition, Lisa Granger at your service.

"Your intuition was right this time," Amy said, "but still, it's better to knock first!"

Then there was a knock on the door. Lisa giggled, and Amy, biting her lip in frustration, went to answer it. Standing there was a boy Taylor knew from the one she'd met at Sabah Suits. Behind him stood twin girls, blond and mighty, and Taylor suddenly thought that perhaps gaining superpowers often involved turning your hair white.

"The train's information system says Taylor Potter is in this compartment," the boy said. "Is that true?"

"Yes, I'm Taylor Potter, so what?"

"This is Jessica, and this is Nessa," the boy pointed at the twins, "and I'm Max. Max Malfoy."

Lisa smirked and Amy made a strange sound.

"What?" the boy snapped. "Oh, right, you're a Weasley!"

Then he fixed his gaze on Lisa.

"Why are you smirking?"

\\Looking for a fight. Looking for a fight, he'll emerge victorious in. Confident in his abilities and the twins' support. Wants to show Taylor the superiority of purebloods. Confident in the superiority of pureblood capes over everyone else. Wants to convert Taylor to his ideals. Knows that Taylor's parents are capes, knows nothing about Taylor, and has interacted with Taylor before. Confident in the superiority of pureblood capes over everyone else, knows that Taylor defeated the Dark Cape, and is confident that Taylor shares his ideals.

Meanwhile, Malfoy took Lisa's silence as a victory and turned to Taylor.

"You'll soon realize that some capes are better than others, and I can help you make the right connections and the right kind of friends."

"I think I know who's the right kind myself," Taylor narrowed her eyes.

Lisa smiled again. Taylor was angry about the intrusions, Amy's treatment, and the knocking situation. Max was looking for a fight, and now one was almost inevitable.

"Be careful, Potter," Malfoy replied, "or you'll end up like your parents."

Taylor jumped up, drawing her baton. Amy stood up too, clenching her fists. The twins behind Max grew in size, drawing their weapons. A strip of metal erupted from the wall, knocking Taylor's baton away, and Max shook his finger.

“As you can see, you can’t wi…,” a crimson beam hit him in the chest, throwing him into the corridor.

The twins turned their heads, and Amy quickly touched them both. Two normal-sized bodies fell to the floor. Chris stood up, shaking his burned hand and tossing the gun to the other.

“Yes, you can’t win,” Lisa said with a smile.

"We'll meet again!" Max promised in response.

The twins' bodies were wrapped in metal cocoons, which rolled down the corridor after the retreating Malfoy.

"Purebloods," Amy snorted darkly after him. "Ugh!"

Taylor, on impulse, walked over and hugged her, stroked her head, and held her close.

Considers Amy her best friend. Wants to comfort her best friend. Doesn't know how, never had friends. Wants to comfort her friend, doesn't know how, and replicates what she saw in her relatives' family. Doesn't realize what she's doing. Comforting through hugs, through close physical contact and stroking, replicates the attitude of adult relatives towards their daughter, cousin Taylor. Doesn't realize what she's doing. Amy isn't aware of what's happening; she enjoys friendly hugs. Calming through hugs and stroking, aggression levels decrease.

Lisa sighed. She wanted to be petted too.

"Attention!" came from the overhead speakers. "Arrival at Wormwarts is scheduled in twenty minutes. Prepare for arrival!"

Rachel Hagrid met them on the platform, screaming.

"First year - here! To the lake shore!"

Taylor realized that they were about to ride on the backs of huge dogs, and with a delighted squeal, she pulled her new friends forward, towards a new life and adventures.
* * *

Chapter 4. The Sorting Helmet

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