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As they passed through the barrier of Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, a whole new world unfolded before the three of them. A deep red Victorian-style steam locomotive stood quietly on the tracks.
"This is amazing!"
Hermione exclaid, glancing back in awe at the wall behind them, while Harry tried to gently touch it with his palm. The opening of the magical world's gates was a wonderful and indescribably fascinating experience for the two children.
"Is this train also powered by magic?" Harry, who had clearly beco much more cheerful after paying the "friendship fee," stared in awe at the Hogwarts Express not far away.
Although the train looked no different from the ones Muggles used, the various people coming and going around them gave this wizard-exclusive platform a distinct and colorful atmosphere.
It was a sight you would never see at a Muggle station.
The steam from the locomotive gathered above the chatting crowd, while cats of all kinds weaved around people's feet and shoes. Owls screeched at one another in an unpleasant manner, their cries louder than the clattering sounds of heavy trunks being dragged, pulled, slapped, and knocked about.
The first few compartnts were already packed with students. So stuck their heads out the windows to talk with their families, while others were fighting over seats.
It was a lively scene.
Even Harry's owl was straining to stick its head out of the cage.
"It's just a partially magic-modified train. No one really knows why the Ministry of Magic hasn't upgraded or replaced it in so many years. Commissioner Smith could've easily used this project to line his pockets," Ian said sowhat sentintally, weighing the pouch of coins in his hand.
He hadn't originally intended to accept this "tribute" from Harry Potter. Just like how he never planned to take a red envelope from Hermione's father either.
Even though he knew the Potter family's mountain of gold galleons would probably never run out, Ian still had a bit of dignity. He usually wouldn't even consider extorting an ordinary young wizard.
"Commissioner Smith?" Harry Potter repeated the unfamiliar na.
"Probably so departnt head at the Ministry of Magic. I read about the Ministry in The Wizarding World, it's basically the governnt ford by wizards," Hermione began showing off the knowledge she had cramd in over the past few weeks.
However—
She clearly still didn't understand much about the adult world...
"There's plenty of ti to chat during the slow journey on the Hogwarts Not-So-Express. What matters now is that we find a compartnt, bigger ones are always first co, first served."
In the end, Ian still slipped Harry Potter's coin pouch into his pocket. He had already figured out the perfect way to handle this batch of galleons.
And it was very simple.
He'd use the money to buy a bunch of shampoo from the Potter family brand, then gift it all to his dear uncle. That way, the galleons would flow right back into the Potters' vaults, restoring his conscience.
Most importantly, if Harry Potter's parents were watching from the afterlife and wanted to co back as vengeful spirits to avenge their son, they'd logically go after Snape, the one who ultimately benefited.
Surely his dear uncle wouldn't mind getting such an opportunity to see his first love and radiant moonlight again... This was a textbook three-way win!
While contemplating this, Ian led the two little brats through the entrance of the train. The compartnts, obviously expanded with an Extension Charm, made both Harry and Hermione gasp in surprise.
"The space in here is huge!" Harry looked around the wide corridor in disbelief. Just this passage alone seed wider than the entire train from the outside.
"I knew it, I knew it! This must be the Undetectable Extension Charm!" Hermione once again flaunted her knowledge. After seeing Ian's money pouch earlier, she had beco quite fascinated by that particular piece of magic.
"You really know a lot, unlike ... I still can't even use my wand properly," Harry said sincerely. His heartfelt complint made Hermione puff up her chest like a proud peacock.
"Die, my enemy!"
Just then—
Suddenly—
A burst of noise disrupted the conversation between the three of them. Harry didn't react much, but the previously proud Hermione was so frightened that her face turned pale and she nearly collapsed to the ground.
"Soone actually used the Avada Kedavra Curse on the school train?!" She scread in sheer terror.
A flash of green light shot past her cheek and she was nearly scared to death on the spot.
"Don't worry, Hermione. It's just a modified version of the Lumos Charm… these little brats have picked up so bad habits," Ian said with a chuckle, glancing at the young wizards chasing each other through the train corridor.
"Little Professor…"
"Sorry! We didn't an to scare her!"
…
The group of little wizards, who had just been playing a chaotic ga of make-believe, imdiately straightened up when they saw Ian, like students caught by a teacher, and respectfully put away their wands, giving him a small bow.
"Go play in the Slytherin compartnt. The new students there love sticking close to their seniors," Ian pointed the rowdy kids toward the carriages mostly occupied by Slytherins.
In an instant—
The young wizards lit up at the sight of Hermione's quail-like reaction. It was as if they had just received an NPC side quest, and off they charged toward the Slytherin-heavy compartnts, shouting excitedly.
"Little Professor really knows how to have fun!"
"Of course! We're using spells he invented!"
"Alright boys, ti for so pranks!"
…
The chatter the young wizards left behind made Harry suddenly realize what Ian had ant earlier by "bad habits." He wasn't lacking in emotional intelligence, he understood perfectly, and sensibly chose not to voice his thoughts aloud.
"That really wasn't the Avada Kedavra Curse?"
Only after the young wizards had run off did Hermione wipe her face and recover a bit. The green flash still lingered in her mory, it looked exactly like the color of the Kedavra Curse she'd read about in books.
"We haven't gotten to that lesson yet," Ian replied in a way that made Harry feel the words carried a deeper aning.
Hermione, still full of lingering dread, felt a chill down her spine.
"Doesn't Hogwarts not teach such dangerous charms?" She asked, genuinely believing that the wonder of magic should never include sothing as evil as the Unforgivable Curses.
"If there's a need, soone will teach them. That's called 'teaching on demand,'" Ian said casually, as he opened door after door of compartnts, finding none of them empty.
He continued walking forward with his two younger juniors.
Soon, Ian spotted a pair of twins hawking sothing in the train corridor.
"What are they selling?" Harry was already reaching into his pocket, eager to do sothing he had never dared before: spend money on friends. Clearly, he was carrying more than just that one pouch of galleons he had given Ian.
"Go have a look and you'll see."
Ian was also curious about what the two "Trading Geniuses" were up to this ti. When he walked up to the twins, the young wizards crowding around them instinctively made way.
"Oh! Look who it is! Our star of Hogwarts! The legend of tomorrow! The invincible Ian!"
George cried out in an exaggerated tone the mont he saw Ian.
"And he's brought his two newly acquired attendants!" Fred quickly chid in. Neither of them nor the surrounding students had recognized Harry Potter, who was still unused to his fa and had purposely grown his hair long to cover his scar.
Staying beside Ian, Harry felt extrely relaxed. This outstanding senior always drew the spotlight, allowing him to avoid the awkwardness of being identified as the Boy-Who-Lived.
(To Be Continued…)
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