September 1st,
At eleven in the morning, the Hogwarts Express departed King's Cross Station's Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on time.
In the new term, Hermione and Ron had become Gryffindor prefects.
But neither of them stayed in the prefects' carriage. Instead, they remained in Compartment W as they had in previous years.
Sitting by the window, Ron still could not believe that the school had chosen him as a prefect.
Even if Vincent was not around, surely it should have been Harry's turn.
"Harry—"
Ron called out several times before Harry finally pulled his gaze away from the opposite diagonal seat.
"What is it, Ron?"
"Harry, why do you think Professor Dumbledore made me a prefect?"
Harry shook his head. "I don't know, but Ron, since it was Professor Dumbledore's decision, it means he believes you can do a prefect's job well."
Ron looked at Hermione, who was chatting with Ginny across from them. "But I don't believe I can do it well. My grades are so bad, and I'm worse than Vincent and Hermione at everything..."
He suddenly straightened his back. "Though if we're competing over who can lose more points, I'm confident about that."
Harry smiled and shook his head. "Isn't that a good thing? Ron, being a prefect is great training for you. You should trust Professor Dumbledore's judgment."
Ron took a deep breath, and the back he had just straightened slumped again. "I still don't think I can do it."
Harry did not know what else to say.
When Ron had first learned he had been chosen as a prefect, he had been thrilled. But ever since boarding the train, he had been constantly wavering between hope and worry.
He was severely lacking in confidence, afraid of messing things up no matter what he did, yet