Homecoming

The train moved slowly, and the scenery outside the window changed rapidly.

Aaron placed Abei on the table, and it eagerly took out the roasted chicken wrapped in a bag, tore off a chicken leg for itself, and began to eat it by itself.

"It still eats so much." Ron swallowed hard, resisting the urge to snatch the food from the beast's mouth.

He could never forget the scene after Abei transformed; with his small frame, one swipe of his claw would probably knock him unconscious.

"Isn't it normal for dragons to have a bigger appetite?" Aaron Lunren said matter-of-factly. He didn't have many concerns and tore off another chicken leg and put it in his mouth.

To be fair, the food at Hogwarts is quite good.

"Is it really a dragon?" Hermione raised an eyebrow, wanting to touch it, but she stiffly restrained herself halfway through reaching out.

"That's right, but it's a dragon that has never appeared in the Magic World before."

It's unique; there's only one of its kind.

"That's so cool!" Ron exclaimed. "If Charlie knew, he'd probably drop everything and come back to see it."

"Don't be a fool." Harry gave Ron a look, and he shrugged dejectedly. "Even if we wanted to keep it a secret, we couldn't keep it for long."

If the college professors know about it, then Dumbledore must know about it too.

"Don't worry, they'll keep it a secret," Aaron said calmly. "I've successfully convinced Dumbledore that I can keep it even at school."

"That's wonderful." Hermione said with a big smile. "You'll have it much easier from now on, and so will we."

"By the way, Aaron, do you have any plans for your vacation?" Harry asked.

"Me? I'll probably go back to Diagon Alley and continue running my Small Shop!"

It's been almost a year since I went back. I don't know how things are going, but they shouldn't be too bad.

For me, not losing money is a win.

The three looked at each other, somewhat bewildered.

In their minds, the Ministry of Magic would never allow a little kid to open a shop in Diagon Alley.

"Did your family help with this?" Hermione asked.

"Of course, when I was nine years old, my uncle set up a shop for me."

It's not very big, but it has all the necessary permits and licenses, and it's definitely operating legally.

"Nine years old?" Ron's lips twitched. When he was nine, he was still happily following his older brothers around!

"Isn't this self-reliance a bit too early?!"

"That's really exaggerated," Harry said with an awkward laugh.

For the first eleven years of his life, he was either bullied by Dudley, by Dudley's friends, or by them all together. It was a truly heartbreaking story.

"Gaius Beverage Shop isn't very famous, but it's enough to earn some pocket money," Aaron said with a hint of pride. "I'm usually there. You can go there if you want to find me."

If I'm not online, you can leave me a message or something, and I'll reply the next day.

Of course, you're always welcome to visit my home.

"I probably can't go." Harry shook his head with a wry smile. "The holidays are for you to go home, but for me, they're not at all."

The three of them simultaneously cast a complex look at Harry, mixed with sympathy, but they didn't know how to comfort him.

He lost his parents at the age of one and was sent to live with his uncle, but he received no love whatsoever. All he received was unfair treatment. It seemed that all they cared about was ensuring that Harry wouldn't freeze or starve to death.

If he could stay at the school, Harry would definitely choose to stay, but obviously he can't, otherwise he wouldn't be on the train now.

"Why don't you come to my house?" Ron suggested. "I'll have an owl deliver the letter to you. It's perfectly normal to visit a classmate's house during the holidays."

"You come to my house every few days; they shouldn't stop you."

Harry's eyes lit up. Although, based on his understanding of his aunt and uncle, they might really stop him, because that family just didn't want to see him suffer.

However, they might not stop him, because they don't like seeing him and prefer to avoid him altogether.

The chances of letting him out are slim, but not nonexistent; it's still a glimmer of hope.

The train had been traveling for a long time, and Aaron took the opportunity to collect the rewards from his three missions.

[Help Slytherin win the House Cup; Reward: 500 Magic Points]

[Gain the approval of at least three professors; reward 500 Magic Points]

[Slay Voldemort's remnant soul; Reward: 1000 Magic Points]

He got two thousand Magic Points just like that, and with what he's saved up now, he's broken through the three thousand mark. This feeling of getting rich overnight is a bit hard for him to get used to.

But then came ecstasy. With this wealth, he could leapfrog to the level of Magus in no time, and Abei could evolve again, this time awakening his innate skill.

Besides that, he can also make some appropriate purchases. As long as it's not too expensive, he's willing to put down an order even if it hurts.

Aaron opened his eyes only when the train stopped at platform 9¾.

"Arrive?"

Harry nodded. "Um... do you feel a little soreness in your shoulders?"

Aaron was still a little confused, but the next moment he found Hermione leaning on his shoulder, sleeping very soundly.

"Grass!

When did this happen?

"About two hours ago!" Harry said with a playful smile, "You were all asleep, and I felt too embarrassed to wake you."

Aaron pursed his lips and gently pulled his shoulder away. "I admit that waking up beforehand is a little awkward, but at least it's better than you."

Harry's expression changed, and he turned to look at Ron, who was perched on his shoulder, and felt inexplicably heartbroken.

At this moment, an old guard knocked on the carriage door and woke up the remaining two people, "Children, it's time for you to get off the train."

Pick up your suitcase and line up in line.

We need to leave this platform in batches; too many people can leave at once, otherwise the Muggle will notice.

They waited in line for a very long time before it was their turn.

As soon as Aaron came out of the platform, he saw Jeans smiling and greeting him. "I've been waiting for half an hour. Young master, you'd better be faster next time."

"You shouldn't be telling me this." Aaron rolled his eyes and casually handed the suitcase to the Butler.

Jeans smiled and took it, then glanced at him holding Abei and frowned slightly. "Has Abei gotten fat?"

"Uh... that's not important."

Abei nodded vigorously; its appetite was just that big, and there was nothing it could do about it.

Jeans walked up to Aaron, picked up Abei, and weighed him carefully. "He has indeed gained weight, by a kilogram. It seems I'll have to give him a new diet when I get back."

Abei's face fell, her entire expression filled with unhappiness.

It's obvious that Jeans would definitely cut a significant portion of the meat in his recipe, or replace it entirely with vegetables; he's absolutely capable of doing that.

Thinking of this, Abei immediately put on a pitiful expression and gave Aaron a resentful look.

"Surely not!" Aaron chuckled. "Is it really necessary?"

"I will listen to the young master."

However, I must warn you, if you continue to spoil it like this, it probably won't be long before it gets so heavy you can't even lift it.

"After thinking about it carefully, it seems that it is indeed necessary."

Jeans smiled with satisfaction. "Young Master, we should go back now. The head of the family and his wife will be back today."

Are your parents home too?

"They're on a train, they should be back before us."

"They haven't seen you for over half a year, and they've said more than once that they miss their precious son."

Aaron only believed half of this statement, because even before he started school, his family had only been together a handful of times.

"I'll go say hello to my friend first."

"It should be."

Aaron walked up to Draco. Standing next to him was a middle-aged man with a cold face, light blond hair, and blue-gray eyes, who was probably his father.

Seeing Aaron approach, Lucius's pale face broke into a smile. "You must be Aaron!"

Draco wrote to me more than once, saying that he had made a very good friend.

His excellent academic performance wouldn't have been possible without your help; thank you so much.

"You're too kind. It's what I should do as a friend," Aaron said, neither humble nor arrogant, displaying remarkable confidence.

"Malfoy Manor welcomes you anytime."

"If I have time, I will definitely go."

"Harry Potter!"

Just then, a loli-like scream rang out, and Lucius frowned slightly.

"Is that Weasley?" Draco asked, looking at the little red-haired girl standing next to Mrs. Weasley. "I've heard they have a youngest sister."

"Obviously, I saw her when I came to the station last year," Aaron said. "Judging by the time, we should see her at the new student entrance ceremony this year."

"That's truly tragic," Draco said, shaking his head.

Aaron's lips twitched, but he didn't say anything.

After all, Malfoy and Weasley have been at odds for centuries, so this attitude is normal.