Setting Off for Hogwarts

At the sight, Chu Yao thought, Wow! It's Fred and George! Alive and kicking! Ahhh, here they are in person! You can't tell from my face, but what do I do? My former Harry Potter fan self is a little excited!

She did her best to maintain a calm expression as she followed Harry through the crowded corridor, looking for an empty compartment.

At last, they found an empty compartment toward the back of the train. They hurried inside and sat down, breathing a sigh of relief.

But before they had even settled into their seats, someone pulled the sliding compartment door open from outside with a clatter.

A boy with fiery red hair, a face full of freckles, and a smudge of dust on the tip of his nose poked his head in and asked somewhat awkwardly, "Excuse me... is there room to sit here?"

He pressed his lips together slightly and added, "The other compartments all seem to be full."

Seeing another boy his own age, and one who looked quite friendly, Harry immediately nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! You can sit next to me!"

He shifted farther in to make room for the new boy.

Chu Yao naturally knew that the boy before her was Ron Weasley, one of the future golden trio.

She took off her sunglasses and gave him a friendly smile. "Please, have a seat," she said in a clear voice.

Only then did Ron get a good look at Chu Yao.

She had fair skin, large, bright black eyes, delicate features, and an outfit entirely unlike those of the young witches and wizards around her, with an indescribable beauty and air of luxury.

His cheeks turned red in an instant. He walked in awkwardly and sat down beside Harry, mumbling, "Th... thanks."

Merlin! She... she's so pretty!

Inside the compartment, Ron and Harry came together for the first time. The Hogwarts Express puffed out white steam and slowly pulled away from the platform, carrying them toward the magical castle full of unknowns and adventure.

Ron rubbed his hands together a little awkwardly and was the first to introduce himself. "I... I'm Ron Weasley."

Harry followed immediately, sounding much more at ease. "I'm Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter?!" Ron's eyes went as wide as saucers, and his gaze locked onto Harry's forehead. His voice rose with excitement. "Th... that scar? Does... does it really exist?"

His tone was full of pure curiosity and disbelief, without a trace of malice.

Harry seemed accustomed to the reaction. He nodded readily and swept aside the tousled black hair on his forehead, revealing the famous lightning-shaped scar.

"Wow!" Ron exclaimed, leaning closer. "It really is there!"

After the two boys exchanged a few words about the scar, full of amazement, Ron suddenly remembered that there was a third person in the compartment, and that they had completely ignored her.

He scratched his red hair, looking a little embarrassed.

Harry realized it too, and a trace of embarrassment appeared on his face. He hurriedly introduced Chu Yao to Ron. "Oh, right, this is Chu Yao. She's from the East."

Chu Yao had been watching their interaction with great interest. When the conversation turned to her, she smiled and nodded, adding in fluent English, "Yes, I'm Chu Yao. You could say I'm an exchange student from the East."

"The East?" Ron's curiosity immediately shifted to the new topic. He blinked, his face still flushed with excitement. "How is Eastern magic different from ours? Do you use wands too?"

He pointed to the Elder Wand Chu Yao had placed beside her.

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