She laughs. "What's taking him so long, right, it's just the one world."

"How long do you suppose it'd take him if there were three?"

"Maybe less time? He could play them off one another or something? Nah, by that logic he should rule Britain already."

"Would we definitely know if he was just the puppet-ruler of Britain?"

"I think it would look a little different."

"Okay, true."

And fall arrives, and back the students go to school.

"I wonder if this train actually saves net travel time."

"Compared to what?"

"Compared to everyone going direct to Hogwarts. Going to London first only helps if it's closer. If you live in Hogsmeade, say, it's dumb."

"Might be hard for Muggleborns to get there at all otherwise."

"I'm not sure how Muggleborns from Ireland are supposed to get here, either."

"Good question. I have no idea."

"Maybe they get Portkeys or something? Stoller won't know, she lives nearish by London."

"I don't actually know any of the Muggleborns in our year well, I think a couple of the Ravenclaw girls are but don't ask me where they're from."

"Roberts has a bit of an Irish accent but it's possible she doesn't live there, I guess."

"D'you know if there are Muggleborns who turn down wizarding school entirely -"

"...are they allowed? If they did accidental magic..."

"I don't know if they're allowed. I could've said I wanted to be taught at home, but..."

"It might be they could pick a different school, if they knew about them."

"And get themselves to Beauxbatons how, exactly?"

"Yeah, no idea."

"Hurry up, Timothy."

New firsties are sorted.

There is one more firstie Slytherin girl than sixth year Slytherin girl, so Miranda says she'll pick up a new firstie - Stoller will just have to share - and maybe one won't want a mentor or somebody else will take a pair or a boy will chip in or something.

The firsties, unaware they are being intervieweed for menteeship, sit down and are varying degrees of awed at the appearance of the feast.

Welcome to Hogwarts, firsties, what are you excited about, are you related to anyone we know...