What happened to our hero is, unfortunately, a mystery. Then the beat-up car drives off to live under the protection of the Forbidden Forrest. It even makes sure to throw the pet cages where the boys can catch them rather than hurting the animals. The Ford Anglia takes a beating from the tree but gets to safety before throwing the boys and their school trunks out. They land in the branches of the Whomping Willow. The car crashes into a tree, but not just any tree.
He tries to cast a spell to stop them but breaks his wand. Ron loses control of the gears, almost as if the car takes over. They follow the train all the way to Hogwarts, but rather than getting out at the train station with the other kids, flying onto the grounds. Yes, this could be incompetence on Ron's part, but it could be the Ford Anglia waking up.
It jostles and flips, nearly throwing Harry out. This ride is more interesting than the last because Ron has no idea how to fly the car. The two of them cannot get through the barrier to Platform 9 3/4, so they make the ever-logical decision to steal the Weasley car and get there themselves. The most remembered role of the Ford Anglia is getting Ron and Harry to Hogwarts.
