Bouncing Was Different

"Speaking of Galleons, Harry, did you hear about Gringotts? The Daily Prophet was full of it—they said someone tried to rob one of their heavily guarded underground vaults!"

"Really? What happened afterward?"

"Nothing happened, but there was something else in the paper that I found strange." Ron had already pulled his old robes from his trunk as he spoke.

"What was it?"

"The paper said that a new Hogwarts student made Gringotts rewrite its rules for exchanging Galleons!"

Ron put on his robes and continued, "I wonder who could be that impressive. Those Goblins at Gringotts aren't easy to deal with."

Bouncing was very good at finding things, especially shiny things. Of course, those were also its favorite things to find.

But it could find other things too.

By the time Mu and the others caught up to Bouncing, it had already cornered a Golden-backed Toad by the bend in the last carriage.

Bouncing pointed its little paw at the toad, then turned and chirped at Mu as if urging them to hurry up before the toad escaped again.

Mu simply walked over and picked up Bouncing. He did not really want to touch the toad, since he had never liked grabbing slimy, damp things as a child.

Hermione stood to one side as well, while Neville rushed over and caught the toad.

"Thank you for helping me find Trevor. I'm Neville Longbottom. I'll find a way to pay back those two Galleons—"

"Oh, there's no need. Bouncing is my little steward too. Giving the Galleons to it doesn't cost me anything."

Bouncing had been proudly sitting in Mu's hand, but the moment it heard him mention Galleons, it hurriedly covered the little pouch on its belly.

"All right, then. Thank you, Bouncing."

After thanking it, Neville carried the toad back the way he had come, all the while telling it not to run off again.

"I think I saw it in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."

Hermione looked at Bouncing with great interest, then paused in thought. "But I'll need to confirm it. I can give you an answer tomorrow."

"You mean Bouncing is a magical creature?" Mu looked at Bouncing in surprise as well.

"Of course. Some ordinary animals can help find things too, but they would never want money as a reward."

Only after Bouncing crawled back into Mu's pocket did Hermione take a careful look at the boy standing slightly taller than her.

His jet-black hair fell softly across his fair forehead.

His azure eyes were deep and bright, as though a single glance could draw someone in completely.

He had a high nose bridge and sharply defined features.

At that moment, a beam of light happened to fall across Mu, making him seem oddly out of place in this world.

"I still don't know your name," Hermione asked boldly.

"Mu. Mu En Scarlett."

"Well, Mu, I suggest you hurry back to your compartment and change into your school robes. I asked the conductor up ahead just now—we should be arriving at the school soon."

When Mu returned to the compartment, it had become a complete mess. Snacks from the little table were scattered all over the floor.

"What happened?" Mu looked at Harry.

"Nothing. Malfoy and the others came by just now."

Before Harry could finish, Hermione, who was standing beside them, had already frowned. "You didn't fight, did you? We haven't even arrived yet, and you're already causing trouble."

"No! Scabbers was the one who had a fight." Ron held Scabbers high in the air as he spoke, as though it had accomplished something extraordinary.

Hermione was about to press further when an announcement sounded through the train.

"The train will arrive at Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train. We will deliver it to the school for you."

"All right, let's go. Mu still needs to change." Hermione shot Ron a glare and stormed off.

Listening to Ron and Hermione's sulky bickering, Mu merely smiled and returned to the compartment, taking the robes from his suitcase to change into.

After enduring four years of rumors and slander, Mu had long since lost interest in childish squabbles and barbed exchanges with people his own age.

All he wanted now was to study magic properly.

Harry hurriedly gathered up the unfinished snacks on the table, while Ron seemed to notice something that interested him.

"Is your uniform old too?"

Seeing the worn marks on the cuffs of Mu's robes, Ron asked with shining eyes.

"That's right. I bought it at a secondhand robe shop in Diagon Alley. What do you think? Doesn't it fit well?"

Though Mu had lived in two different worlds, the finest clothes he had ever worn were these robes.

When he put them on, he still felt a small thrill. After all, they were proof that he was a Young Wizard.

"You just gave Bouncing two Galleons. Why didn't you buy new clothes?"

Ron could not understand Mu's reasoning at all. To him, giving money to a pet while wearing old clothes himself was as absurd as agreeing that a House-elf did not need to work.

"That's different. Bouncing is my best friend."

Mu wanted to explain further, but the train had already come to a stop.

Students began filing out of the carriages, while the older ones shouted for the new students to hurry up and get off the train.

The platform outside was dark and narrow, and they could only make out their surroundings by the light from the train.

"First Years, First Years, over here! Harry, are you all right?"

A very tall, burly man appeared on the platform—the tallest person Luan had ever seen.

Harry exchanged a few words with the burly man, and then everyone followed him down a small path.

Walking through the woods was no hardship for Luan. When he had guarded Hazelnut Forest at York Farm, he often had to patrol at night and drive away small animals sneaking in for a bite.

Neville, however, was having an extremely difficult time. Every few steps, he either stepped into a puddle or kicked a rock or branch.

Supporting Neville with one hand as he listened to the boy repeatedly thank him or apologize, Luan felt that Neville had surely triggered every hidden trap along this path.

After they finally made their way through the woodland trail, the view before them suddenly opened up.

Luan guessed there was a great river nearby, because he could see starlight reflected on the water.

Farther away stood a building like some enormous beast, but night had fully fallen by then, and its few faint lights were nowhere near enough to reveal its full shape.

The burly man at the front shouted for four people to board each boat, but his voice was so loud that it woke Bouncing, who had been sleeping in Luan's pocket. A tiny head poked out at once.

"Oh, look! It's a Niffler!"

Luan was just about to board, but the burly man bent down in front of him and looked at Bouncing, who was climbing out of his pocket.

"First Years can't keep a Niffler as a pet. Didn't you know that, child?"

Hagrid looked at Bouncing with great interest, then turned to Luan.

"Ah! But Bouncing has been with me for a long time."

"His name is Bouncing, is it? Hello, Bouncing. I'm Hagrid."

Seeing the finger the giant named Hagrid extended, Bouncing seemed to understand him. It even stretched out its tiny paw and shook it.

"Oh, he's very clever. But, child—"

"You can call me Luan."

"All right, Luan. If you want to keep Bouncing, remember to ask your Head of House for a note approving the adoption after the Sorting. Well, it might help."

"All right. Thank you, Hagrid."

"You're welcome. Of course, if your Head of House won't allow it, you can come find me. I'll find Bouncing a good place in the Forbidden Forest."

While Luan and Hagrid were talking, most of the students had already boarded the boats. Only two boats remained.

Hagrid took one by himself, while Luan headed for the other.

"I saw you with one of the Weasley children just now, didn't I?"

Luan took the last seat in the boat and looked at the small, thin blond boy speaking from the front.

Please support with follows, monthly votes, and recommendation votes.