What Has My Gryffindor Ever Done to You?

Practice, practice a thousand times?

Hermione stared wide-eyed at Andy, who was sitting across from her. This little brat wasn't bluffing, was he? But when she thought of the Levitation Charm Andy had cast earlier, Hermione could not help feeling discouraged. Compared to the Little Wizards of the Wizarding World, the gap between them was simply enormous.

This wouldn't do. I had to work even harder and memorize every book in the library.

Hermione silently encouraged herself.

"Hermione, are you all right?" Andy was rather puzzled as he watched the brown-haired girl's expression constantly change.

What was this? Was she trying to outdo me?

Andy did feel that his magical ability was somewhat insufficient. After all, this term's boss, Quirrell, was an adult wizard. Even if he was not quite right in the head, his strength definitely wouldn't be weak.

Although Andy had no intention of guarding the Philosopher's Stone or fighting his way through trials to defeat a boss, having more strength to protect himself was always a good thing.

"It's nothing."

Hermione shook her head, then asked curiously, "By the way, have you always lived in the Wizarding World?"

"Yeah!"

Andy explained, "My family lives in St. Catchpole Village. It's a village where wizards and Muggles live together."

Andy briefly described the village's layout, then asked, "What about you?"

"My parents are both dentists, and our family lives in the suburbs of London. Oh, you know where London is, right?" Hermione spoke very quickly.

"I do!"

Andy nodded. "My family went to London on holiday a few years ago, and the Ministry of Magic is in London too."

"I know about the Ministry of Magic," Hermione quickly said. "I read about it in a book. The Ministry of Magic was established in 1707, and its predecessor was the Wizard Council. The Ministry participated in drafting the International Confederation of Wizards' 'Secrecy Law,' and it still upholds and enforces it to this day."

All right.

Andy believed that the brown-haired girl before him really had memorized a great many books. She also seemed eager to prove herself; every time she spoke, she did so very quickly, always beginning with, "I read it in a book," before rapidly and precisely giving the answer.

After briefly chatting with Hermione about the differences between the Wizarding World and the Muggle World, Andy saw that the train was about to depart. Hermione took a book out of her backpack. "I'm going to read. What about you?"

"I want to take a nap. I got up too early this morning," Andy said lazily.

Hermione placed the book on the little table and looked at Andy with a serious expression. "I advise you to memorize all the textbooks again. Once we get to Hogwarts, we'll have the Sorting Ceremony."

"Maybe they'll test our spellcasting ability, or perhaps there'll be a written exam," Hermione guessed.

"Oh, right!"

Hermione continued, "Do you know how Hogwarts sorts students into Houses?"

Of course, the Sorting Hat had the final say.

But he couldn't say that.

"I don't know!"

Andy shook his head. "But don't worry. No one has ever died during Hogwarts' Sorting Ceremony. And injuries like broken bones and Splinching can be healed quickly with magic."

"You can recover overnight."

Hermione: "..."

Hermione lowered her head to read, only to find that she could no longer focus on the book.

"Is the Sorting Ceremony really that dangerous?"

Half-disbelieving and half-worried, Hermione glared at him. "Has your family really never told you how Hogwarts sorts students?"

"No, it's the annual tradition."

Leaning against the compartment wall, Andy smiled. "But don't worry too much. With your level, you'd be a top student at Hogwarts."

Andy could not help thinking of Ron.

That guy was truly a hopeless slacker.

Before school started, Andy had met Ron a few times. The boy had not only failed to practice magic, but had not even opened a textbook—not once.

Hermione shot Andy a glare. She did not believe him.

She had noticed Andy back on the platform and had seen him cast the Levitation Charm.

She had followed him over because she wanted to learn more about the Wizarding World.

Yet based on what she had learned so far, it seemed that any random child in the Wizarding World was far more outstanding than she was.

Every spell had to be practiced a thousand times!

Oh no, I had to work even harder.

With that thought, Hermione opened her book and forced herself to read its contents.

Whoosh!

Just before the train was about to depart, the compartment door was pulled open again.

"H-hello, can I sit here? There aren't any other seats left." The round-faced boy spoke with a slight stutter.

"Of course!" Hermione glanced up at the round-faced boy, then lowered her head and continued reading.

The round-faced boy glanced at Andy, who was resting with his eyes closed, hesitated for a moment, then sat down beside him.

Andy opened his eyes and nodded in greeting.

"Why did you get on so late?" Andy asked curiously.

Andy had spotted the round-faced boy the moment he arrived at the platform. The two had even exchanged a glance from afar.

Andy remembered him because the round-faced boy kept a toad as a pet.

That was seriously hardcore! Didn't he find it disgusting? "I-I don't have a very good memory. My grandmother told me a lot of things..."

At that, the round-faced boy froze in shock. "Oh no, I've already forgotten what my grandmother told me!"

Andy: "..."

Hermione: "..."

"My name is Hermione, Hermione Granger. What about you?" Hermione was the first to introduce herself.

"Neville, Neville Longbottom!" Neville jerked suddenly, his voice unusually tense.

Had his family sheltered him into stupidity or something?

"My name is Andy Collins. You can call me Andy," Andy said.

"H-hello, Andy," Neville hurriedly replied.

After the three introduced themselves, Hermione went back to reading, and Andy closed his eyes to rest again. Only Neville looked especially awkward. He seemed to want to say something, yet had no idea how to begin.

Whooo—

The train slowly began to move. Andy opened his eyes and watched the scenery outside the window roll backward.

Hogwarts, here I come.

Seeing Andy open his eyes, Neville looked like a drowning man who had suddenly been saved. He spoke almost as if he were shouting, "Andy, which house do you want to join?"

The compartment fell silent for a moment, and Neville's face turned bright red.

That one sentence seemed to have used up all his courage.

"Ravenclaw, probably! Or Hufflepuff or Slytherin would be fine too. Anything but Gryffindor," Andy said lazily, his tone casual.

Hermione shot him a glare, and Neville seemed rather unhappy as well.

What did Gryffindor ever do to you?

Getting into Gryffindor was Neville's dream.

Both his parents had graduated from Gryffindor. His grandmother had even told him that if he couldn't get into Gryffindor, he needn't come home.

Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were one thing, but he actually dared rank Slytherin above Gryffindor.

Where's my sword?