# **Platform 9¾ – The Unorthodox Entrance**
Rolly Kapoor eyed the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10 with the same enthusiasm one might reserve for a dentist appointment. His parents hovered nervously behind him, their trolley stacked with trunks and a comically large bag of homemade *parathas*.
**"Beta, you just need to run at it—"** Mrs. Kapoor began.
**"Running is effort,"** Rolly declared. His eyes landed on a nearby luggage trolley. **"I have a better idea."**
Before his parents could protest, he climbed onto the trolley, sat cross-legged atop his trunk, and gave himself a lazy push. The trolley rolled forward, picking up speed as it hurtled toward the barrier—
**"RAHUL KAPOOR, YOU—!"**
**WHOOSH.**
The platform erupted into noise as Rolly burst through, the trolley screeching to a halt just inches from the Hogwarts Express. A nearby first-year yelped and dropped his toad.
**"Sorry,"** Rolly said, not sounding sorry at all.
**[AFK System: Improvised Entrance Detected!]**
**[Reward: "Lazy Ingenuity" – +5% creativity when avoiding effort.]**
---
### **The Train Ride – Chaos, Chocolate Frogs, and The Boy Who Lived**
Rolly dragged his trunk onto the train, scanning compartments until he found one with only **two occupants**: a red-haired boy nibbling a droopy sandwich and a black-haired boy with round glasses staring out the window.
**"This seat taken?"** Rolly asked, already sliding the door open.
The redhead—**Ron Weasley**—shook his head. **"Nah, go ahead."**
The bespectacled boy—**Harry Potter**, though Rolly didn't realize it yet—glanced up. **"You're a first-year too?"**
**"Yep,"** Rolly said, flopping onto the seat. **"Rolly Kapoor."**
**"Harry,"** said Harry.
**"Ron,"** said Ron.
Silence. Then—
**"Blimey, you're Harry Potter!"** Ron blurted, nearly choking on his sandwich.
Harry shifted awkwardly. **"Er—yeah."**
Rolly blinked. **"Who?"**
Ron gaped. **"You don't know—? The Boy Who Lived? You-Know-Who? The—"**
**"Nope,"** Rolly said. **"But congrats, I guess?"**
Harry snorted. **"Thanks. That's… refreshing."**
The door slid open again. A bushy-haired girl peered in.
**"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost—"** She stopped, staring at Rolly, who was now lying across two seats. **"Why are you taking up all the space?"**
**"Efficiency,"** Rolly said.
**"I'm Hermione Granger,"** she said, as if challenging him to care.
**"Cool."**
Hermione huffed. **"Do you know any spells yet?"**
Ron mumbled something about his brother's failed transfiguration attempts. Harry admitted he'd never even heard of magic until a month ago.
Rolly held up a hand. *"Accio chocolate frog."*
Nothing happened.
Hermione rolled her eyes. **"You have to *mean* it—"**
A **chocolate frog** suddenly smacked into the window, slid down, and landed in Rolly's lap.
**[Partial Success!]**
**[Lazy Summoning: Now works 30% of the time.]**
Hermione's jaw dropped. **"You—how did—?!"**
Rolly shrugged. **"Dunno. It just kinda… happens."**
Harry laughed. **"That's brilliant."**
Ron, now thoroughly invested, leaned forward. **"Do it again!"**
Rolly sighed. *"Accio pumpkin pasty."*
This time, a pastry **soared through the open compartment door**, smacking a passing Draco Malfoy square in the face.
**"WHAT THE—?!"** Draco spluttered, cream filling dripping down his robes.
Rolly, Harry, and Ron dissolved into laughter. Hermione looked torn between disapproval and fascination.
**[AFK System: New Friendship Parameters Detected!]**
**[Harry Potter: Amused (+10% charisma around him)]**
**[Ron Weasley: Impressed (Wants to exploit your skills)]**
**[Hermione Granger: Intrigued/Annoyed (Will study you like a textbook)]**
## **Scene 1: The Unorthodox Entrance**
Rolly Kapoor's luggage trolley screeched to a halt just inches from the Hogwarts Express, sending a flock of first-years scrambling. A half-giant with a wild beard bellowed over the crowd.
**"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!"** Hagrid waved his pink umbrella like a battle flag.
Rolly blinked up at him. **"You're… tall."**
Hagrid chuckled. **"Yeh'll be tall too if yeh eat yer vegetables."**
**"Pass,"** Rolly said.
**[AFK System: New Ally Detected – Rubeus Hagrid]**
**[Trait: "Gentle Giant" – +10% tolerance for absurd behavior]**
---
#### **Scene 2: The Boat Ride – Chaos on the Lake**
Hagrid herded the first-years toward the black lake, where a fleet of tiny boats waited.
**"No more'n four to a boat!"**
Harry, Ron, and Hermione clambered into one. Rolly eyed the boat suspiciously.
**"This seems unstable."**
**"Oh, don't be a baby,"** Draco sneered, shoving past him.
Rolly sighed and stepped in—
**SPLASH.**
The boat tipped, dunking Draco into the lake. Rolly, somehow, remained perfectly balanced on the edge, dry as a bone.
**[AFK System: "Serendipitous Balance" Activated]**
**[Skill: "Dry as a Biscuit" – Avoid unintended water exposure]**
Hagrid bellowed with laughter as Draco sputtered. **"Yeh alright there, Malfoy?"**
**"I HATE YOU, KAPOOR!"**
The boats glided across the lake. Then—
**"Heads up!"** Ron yelped as the giant squid's tentacle breached the surface, dripping onto them.
Rolly held up a hand. *"Accio umbrella."*
Hagrid's pink umbrella yanked free from his coat and sailed into Rolly's grip. He opened it just as a wave splashed over their boat—shielding Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
**"THAT WAS BRILLIANT!"** Ron yelled.
**"Give that back!"** Hagrid grumbled, snatching the umbrella.
**[AFK System: "Improvised Heroics" +5]**
**[Reward: Temporary "Crowd Favorite" status]**
---
#### **Scene 3: McGonagall's Welcome – The Ghostly Interruption**
At the entrance, Professor McGonagall stood waiting, her lips pursed.
**"Welcome to Hogwarts. The Sorting Ceremony will—"**
**"OOOOOOOH!"** A pearly-white ghost phased through the wall, his head lolling. **"Fresh meat!"**
First-years screamed. Rolly yawned.
**"Nearly Headless Nick,"** McGonagall said sternly. **"Not now."**
The ghost swooped down, stopping inches from Rolly's face. **"You there! Why aren't you frightened?"**
Rolly shrugged. **"You're see-through. Not exactly threatening."**
Nick's jaw dropped. **"I'll have you know I've terrified hundreds of—"**
**"Boo,"** Rolly said flatly.
The Bloody Baron, drifting nearby, **snorted**.
**[AFK System: Ghostly Diplomacy Success]**
**[Perk: "Unfazeable" – Immunity to supernatural intimidation]**
McGonagall pinched her nose. **"Follow me."**
---
#### **Scene 4: The Sorting Ceremony – The Hat's Dilemma**
The Great Hall's enchanted ceiling twinkled with stars. Rolly ignored the gasps, eyeing the stool like it was a napping hazard.
**"Kapoor, Rahul!"**
The Sorting Hat mused: *"Hmm… Not ambitious, but you bend luck to your will. And *merlin*, you're lazy."*
Rolly thought, *Just pick. I've got a nap scheduled.*
The Hat chuckled. *"Better be…* **SLYTHERIN!"***
Draco, still damp, looked betrayed. **"HOW?!"**