Chapter 8: Chapter 8
Our conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door of our compartment. Waving Harry down, I stood up to open it, to find a bushy haired girl with two rather large front teeth along with a boy who seemed scared by anything and everything.
"What's up?" I flashed a smile at the both of them as the girl I knew as Granger asked me, "Have you seen a toad? This boy," she pointed to the scared kid beside her, who I knew to be Neville, "has lost one."
"No, I haven't. But you should probably try asking the prefects for help, they might be.." I cut myself off mid-sentence as a combination of face reading and Legilimency told me the smartest witch of her generation had already done that, and hadn't received any proper assistance. I suppose it was more painful for her as the prefect she talked to was from Gryffindor, her favourite house.
"Hmm. Never mind then, just tell me what's this toad's name." I asked them as I took out my wand, and as soon as I received the expected answer of "Trevor", I quietly whispered Accio Trevor while thinking of a toad, and voila! The toad flew in from somewhere and started hovering in front of my wand. I deposited the toad in Neville's outstretched hands and quietly walked back up to my seat, silently slipping into the role of an unfathomable Chinese Grandmaster.
The three members of my audience looked at me with varying degrees of shock and a certain witch was trying to burn a hole in my head with her glare filled with curiousity. I had increased my admiration level (* ding! Admiration +10) with the Boy-Who-Lived and The Boy-Who-Killed-Nagini was looking at me like I was his saviour and lord, which was very uncomfortable.
"How did you do that? I thought the summoning charm could only be learnt by the students in higher years. Are you from a pureblood family? Is that the only high-level charm you know? Can you teach me? No, wait, can you tell me which books you read to learn this spell? Is it possible for this spell to be learnt by anyone? Can you show me what spells you know? What year are you from? Maybe you aren't a first year like us and that's why you could cast that spell. Yes, that seems like a valid re-" Hermione's tirade was cut off by a silencing charm cast by yours truly, which was met with thankful looks from both Harry and Neville, who for some reason was still standing at the corridor in front of my compartment.
"Miss, please, one question at a time. Can you do that?" I was met with a nod from a somewhat angry and tearful Hermione. "Mister, you can have a seat too, come on in now, don't be shy" I addressed the shy scaredy Neville to sit with us. Hermione and Neville took a seat opposite me, alongside Harry.
I dispelled the Silencio and flashed a friendly smile at the two, "Let's introduce ourselves first, ok?" On receiving a nod of acceptance from everyone, I began our rounds of introduction. Harry's introduction was of course met with gasps and a not so subtle glance towards the scar on his forehead. Hermione of course stated her name rather confidently, while Neville whispered his name, timidly.
"Alright, Miss Granger, you can start asking questions now". My statement was met with Hermione's eyes glowing with curiousity and her entire being seemed excited somehow.
"What year are you in?"
"First Year, same as you"
"Really?..So are you from a pureblood family?"
"No, I am a muggleborn and I was raised in an orphanage."
"Ah, ok. Sorry about that. How did you learn the summoning charm then?"
"Because I am a genius."
"Sorry?"
"I am a genius, Miss Granger. Mr. Potter here had the same reaction as you when I uttered that fact. Why is it so hard for people to accept that some people are more naturally gifted than others?"
"..."
My "outburst" was met with blank stares all around the cabin.
"What? Is spouting the truth considered a crime here?" I asked them, with a challenging tone.
"..."
I was once again met with blank stares, this time with the addition of a gaping mouth.
"Well, I don't care if you don't believe me. The reason I know and can cast so many charms above my year level is because I am a genius and I practiced a few of them more vigorously so I am better at those."
Harry was the first to recover, maybe because he had already experienced my enigmatic grandmaster persona earlier, followed by Hermione and Neville.
"I can help you with magic, if you wish to, you know." This statement was followed by some excited cheers and rapid nods all around. Hermione, seemed a little let down, probably because she didn't think anyone of her year would be so far ahead, however she still seemed enthusiastic about the prospect of learning magic. I had to control my urge to use my Legilimency on her, it would quickly become a bad habit if I started to randomly use mind magic on everyone.
We then proceeded to chat about random stuffs, and the fact that Neville was from an old pureblood ancient family was quickly forgotten when the two learnt that Harry didn't know anything about Voldymoldy and the significance of his scar. The two then proceeded to "educate" him, Hermione started quoting books while Neville pitched it with stuff that he knew by being from an ancient family.
I didn't participate much in the conversation but took care to not look as bored as I felt. Their conversation was quickly interrupted when there was an announcement that we would reach Hogwarts soon.
I quickly cast the makeover spells I knew on the three of them, receiving appreciative nods. I also told them our trunks would be sent to our rooms so we didn't need to labour under their weight, Hermione nodded as if she obviously knew it, which I guess she might. I have never read Hogwarts : A History nor was I planning to.
I of course, took my trunk with me, as it was nothing more than a chain. Neville too had a trunk with a shrinking enchantment but he left it on the train itself when we started boarding down.
Hogwarts was visible from this distance, though vaguely, and it took our breaths away.
It was magnificent.
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