"Excuse me, have any of you seen a toad? Neville, he—"
This time, the compartment door was opened by a little girl already wearing her Hogwarts robes. She had thick, bushy brown hair and a pair of front teeth that were slightly prominent, though not nearly as exaggerated as the books from Leo's previous life had described.
As expected, it was Hermione Granger.
"Neville?" Ron replied helplessly. "That fat— I mean, Neville already came by asking."
Hermione ignored his wording entirely. Her attention had already shifted to the wand Ron had just pulled out.
"Are you going to use magic?"
She sat down across from Ron as naturally as if the compartment belonged to her, folded her arms, and watched with obvious anticipation.
"Ahem. Hermione Granger."
Leo cleared his throat, interrupting Ron before he could perform the famously doomed spell.
Honestly, he felt offended.
First Neville had missed him completely, and now Hermione had done the same. Neville was one thing, since they didn't know each other, but Miss Granger and he had clearly met before.
Such a large person was sitting right there, and she hadn't even greeted him.
"Huh? Who called me?"
Hermione turned toward the voice, then finally saw Leo sitting beside her with a speechless expression.
Her eyes widened.
"Leo! Long time no see!"
She immediately reached toward his face.
Leo reacted instantly. He grabbed the two remaining steamed buns beside him and stuffed them into her hands before she could pinch his cheeks.
Hermione looked down at the buns, then back at Leo, visibly disappointed.
After their meeting in Diagon Alley, she had gone home and remembered this little boy who was the same age as her but only reached around her ears. His face had looked far too pinchable, and now her opportunity had been blocked by steamed buns.
"Leo, you two know each other?" Ron asked curiously.
Harry also looked interested.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself," Hermione said at once. "I'm Hermione Granger. My parents are ordinary Muggles who can't use magic. When I received my Hogwarts letter, Mum and Dad and I were all stunned. Imagine finding out magic truly exists in the world…"
Once she began speaking, she became like a tap that had been turned on fully.
She explained her Hogwarts letter, her parents' reaction, her shopping trip to Diagon Alley, how she had met Leo, and how he had recommended several useful books to her.
Ron and Harry stared at the extremely expressive girl.
Then they looked at Leo.
Leo, too, looked slightly stunned.
He knew Hermione could talk, but he hadn't expected her to talk this much.
At the same time, he noticed a blond boy standing outside the compartment door with two larger boys behind him.
Judging by his expression, Draco Malfoy had come looking for him.
Over the past half month, Leo had visited Diagon Alley several times. During those trips, he had not only met Hermione Granger, but also the proud little Draco.
Draco noticed Leo looking at him and opened the compartment door.
"Nicholas," he said arrogantly. "I didn't expect you to be friends not only with the shame of wizarding nobility, the Weasley family, but also with a Mud—"
He didn't finish.
Leo had already anticipated the word. Before Draco could say it, Leo moved from the innermost seat to the doorway, hooked an arm around Draco's neck, and gently pulled him away from the compartment.
"My dear little Draco," Leo said warmly. "Long time no see. You came to find me, didn't you? Come on, let's catch up."
Draco, trapped in the crook of Leo's arm, found himself unable to say anything useful.
Crabbe and Goyle looked like they wanted to stop them, but Leo's friendly tone made the situation confusing enough that neither dared act.
Inside the compartment, Ron understood exactly what Draco had nearly said. He quickly changed the subject.
"Hermione, do you want to try Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans? There are loads of flavours. Fruit, meat, earwax, bogey…"
"Oh, really?"
Hermione was still slightly bewildered by how quickly everything had happened, but curiosity won. She accepted the distraction and began examining the sweets.
Outside the compartment, Draco finally pulled free and sucked in several breaths.
"Leo, were you trying to choke me?" he snapped. "And how many times have I told you? My name is Draco Malfoy, not little Draco."
"Of course, little Draco. It won't happen again, little Draco."
Draco's face flushed with irritation.
Leo smiled and asked, "So why did you come?"
"Nothing," Draco said after carefully straightening his robes. "I merely came to see whether you had missed the train, so I could write a letter expressing concern for your fragile little heart."
Leo looked at him in amusement.
Truly, Draco was a proud little tsundere.
"Listen, Draco," Leo said, his expression becoming serious. "Hermione is my friend. You are also my friend. I don't want conflict between you two in front of me."
Draco's expression shifted slightly.
Leo continued, "Also, my family are Muggles. I'm Muggle-born. So don't let me hear that word from you."
After a pause, Leo stepped back.
"I'm going back. Do you want to come with me, little Draco?"
"My name is Draco!"
Draco glared at Leo's back.
He didn't believe Leo was truly Muggle-born. Not completely. During their conversations in Diagon Alley, Leo had known things even some prominent wizarding families barely discussed. When Draco had mentioned it at home, his father had suggested Leo might come from some ancient reclusive family that had become isolated from wizarding society for unknown reasons.
Draco trusted that explanation more.
If Leo knew what the Malfoys had guessed, he would probably have admired the reasoning of old magical families. It wasn't entirely correct, but it was surprisingly close. Ambot Nicholas alone had travelled widely, gathered knowledge from across the world, and left behind enough secrets to rival a family legacy.
Leo returned to the compartment and ignored Crabbe and Goyle.
Ron and Harry looked as though they had survived a disaster.
"Oh, Leo, you're finally back," Ron said with relief.
"Yes," Harry agreed. "Finally."
Leo found their expressions rather funny, but he was professionally trained and would not laugh.
Unfortunately, he failed.
"Pfft. All right, all right. Let's be understanding, Ron. Didn't you learn new things? If your mum knew, she'd probably praise you."
Ron's expression collapsed.
"And Harry," Leo added, "look at your brand-new glasses. You can practise being a good listener."
Harry smiled awkwardly.
Leo then turned toward Hermione. He couldn't be biased, after all.
"But seriously, Miss Hermione Granger, shouldn't you take a break and drink some water? Not everyone can absorb so much knowledge from the beginning like you."
Ron and Harry nodded vigorously.
Hermione's face flushed. She lowered her head and focused on the snacks, but she was secretly pleased.
Praise was always nicer than criticism.
"Leo is right," Draco said from behind him.
Ron's mood instantly changed.
"Why are you here again, arrogant Malfoy?"
"This compartment does not belong to the Weasley family," Draco replied.
Surprisingly, he did not escalate further. Perhaps he remembered his father's words. Perhaps Leo's warning had worked. Either way, Draco soon looked toward Hermione and gave her a formal little bow.
"Miss Hermione Granger, please forgive my rudeness just now. I am Draco Malfoy, of the Malfoy family, and also Leo's friend. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Hermione raised her still-reddened face.
"It's all right. I accept your apology, Draco Malfoy. Besides, you said you're Leo's friend, and I'm also Leo's friend, so everyone here is Leo's friend. That makes it fine."
Just like that, the small storm passed.
Ron and Draco still disliked each other, of course, but with Leo present, the atmosphere remained strangely peaceful. In the end, they were only around eleven years old. How much deep hatred could children truly carry? Most of them forgot today's troubles by tomorrow.
Time passed quickly amid awkward conversation, snacks, and the rumble of the train.
At last, the whistle sounded.
The Hogwarts Express had arrived at Hogsmeade Station.
"First years, this way!"
Because of everything that had happened earlier, Leo, Ron, and Harry had not changed into their robes in time. They hurriedly put them on before getting off the train. Draco and Hermione had changed much earlier, so they were already prepared.
"First years, this way!" Hagrid's huge voice boomed over the platform. "Don't worry about your luggage. The house-elves will take it to your rooms after you're Sorted."
The first years gathered around Hagrid's enormous figure.
Then Neville's anxious voice rose again from the crowd.
Hermione slapped her forehead.
"Oh! I forgot to help Neville find his toad."
Leo sighed.
"It's fine. Watch."
He silently waved his wand.
A toad immediately shot out from under someone's robe and flew neatly into Neville's hands.
Neville stared at Trevor, then hurried over to thank Leo.
Leo used the same half-truth he had told Ron and Harry, explaining that he had practised too much household magic at home, so it had become familiar.
"What a powerful young wizard," Hagrid praised loudly. "Beautiful bit of silent magic too. Even many adult wizards can't manage that."
The surrounding first years immediately looked at Leo with admiration.
Harry now understood that Leo's magic was impressive. Ron and Hermione looked proud to have such a capable friend. Draco, meanwhile, became even more certain that Leo absolutely did not learn all of this in only two months.
Only Leo's smile froze.
He had forgotten Hagrid was watching.
Mentally, he slapped himself several times.
Tonight, once it was late, he would enter Dongtian and use the new alchemy method he had learned to strengthen his glasses. He needed better suppression immediately.
More importantly, he could only pray that big-mouthed Hagrid would not tell anyone.
At least not Dumbledore.
Under Hagrid's guidance, everyone reached the edge of a vast black lake.
Small boats floated quietly on the water. At Hagrid's direction, the first years climbed aboard in groups of three or four.
Then, with the castle glowing across the dark lake, Hagrid led the new students toward the opposite shore.
....
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