The Start of Term

On August 31, Bing Huan packed his luggage. Tonight would be his last night living next door to Professor McGonagall. In an unprecedented move, Professor McGonagall came to help him pack, all while nagging:

"From now on, you'll be living in the dormitories with your classmates. Don't be naughty, especially with Fred and George. You three were the most troublesome before. Although you'll be in the same year as the new students,

you arrived earlier than them, and you're more mature than the other children. You need to keep an eye on certain things."

Bing Huan pulled the earnest professor over to a seat. "Pro-fess-or~, I'm just not living next door to you anymore. I'm not leaving Hogwarts. Save those words for when you can keep lecturing me in the common room." As he spoke, he began massaging Professor McGonagall's shoulders.

Professor McGonagall shot him an annoyed look. "What, you already know you'll be sorted into Gryffindor before the Sorting?"

Knowing she was not angry, Bing Huan continued grinning cheekily. "Of course. I'm this fierce—where else could I go but Gryffindor?"

"Hmph. You're all talk. Maybe you'll end up in Slytherin."

"A lion and a snake? Wouldn't that make a chimera?"

"Cheeky brat!"

The next day, Professor McGonagall unusually did not get up until eight. When she came out, she found breakfast on her desk. Beside it were a serving of ginger milk curd and several ginger salamander biscuits.

...You little rascal. No matter which House you end up in, I hope you achieve great things.

"Ah-choo! Who's talking about me?" The person in question, Bing Huan, was currently sitting in the headmaster's office. "Old Dumbledore, term's already starting. Where's that old friend you mentioned? Don't tell me it's you."

Dumbledore seemed especially happy today. "This old friend is rather special. It took some procedures to get him in, but I guarantee you'll be surprised."

Bing Huan took a sip of tea and frowned. "Who is it? So mysterious..."

"What, don't I count as a surprise?" Before the words had faded, a familiar voice rang out. The newcomer had short white hair, wore a black formal suit, and regarded Bing Huan mischievously with his mismatched eyes.

"Old Grindelwald?!" Bing Huan sprang to his feet and pounced on him. Then he seemed to remember something. "Wait, no. How did those people at the Ministry of Magic agree to let you in?"

Grindelwald raised an eyebrow. "Just a few minor procedures. Albus and I moved the residents of a village away in advance. Then I publicly announced that I couldn't stand going a day without seeing Albus, made a huge scene in that village, and had your master guarantee that I wouldn't cause trouble at Hogwarts."

"Of course, afterward, we helped the residents restore their village," Dumbledore added.

"So, Old Grindelwald, are you coming back to teach? Dark Arts Defense?"

Grindelwald waved a hand. "Forget it. Just having me stay here has everyone on edge. It's only because the two of us visited those families over the past few days that word hasn't spread. Teaching is out of the question for now, though who can say what will happen later?

By the way, shouldn't you be heading to the station to pick someone up? They'll be arriving soon." He even raised his eyebrows at Bing Huan.

Someone immediately reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "What are you saying?! What kind of thing is that to say?! Do I look like some love-struck idiot who can't wait?!! Huh?"

"I meant Harry Potter. What did you think I meant?"

"You meant Harry Potter? I thought you meant Harry Potter. Hahahahahahaha."

Stare~ x2

Bing Huan (⁄ ⁄•⁄△⁄•⁄ ⁄)

(¬､¬) (￢_￢)

"See you!" The boy finally could not keep it together and used Flying Thunder God to flee.

At King's Cross Station, Bing Huan thought it over again and again before deciding to board the train first. He simply did not notice that, on his path of following his heart, he had wandered over to Platform Seven with his acceptance letter in hand.

"Bang!" Sounded nice. Hurt like hell.

"Hiss~ Did I run into the wrong pillar?" He was clutching his head and about to check the platform sign when someone said, "This is Platform Seven. You're a new student too, right?" It was that familiar bushy hair, though the buck teeth from before seemed to have been restrained.

"Do you remember me? My dad told me afterward that you were the one who saved me from those bad people. Sorry about before—I was too scared." Hermione said with a smile.

"Ah? Oh, it's—it's fine. It's normal after just waking up." Bing Huan wanted nothing more than to smack himself. Can you be a little more promising?

"By the way, we only met once three years ago. You can still recognize me?"

Hermione froze for a moment, then replied, "I don't know why, but I seem to remember things about you especially well. Actually, when I saw you wandering around the hall just now, you looked familiar. I just wasn't sure enough to approach you. I only confirmed it after getting closer."

Raised eyebrow, secretly pleased.JPG

Hermione looked at Bing Huan. "A belated introduction. I'm Hermione Granger. Where's your luggage?"

"I'm Bing Huan. I-I'm from China. As for my luggage, it's already in here." He raised the Storage Ring on his hand.

"In the ring? Is this a magical item? How does it take things in and out?" The novel object made the young witch very excited.

"It's a cultivation item. I used to cultivate in China. How about I put your luggage in it too? Pushing it around must be tiring."

"Thank you, but which is stronger, cultivation or magic?"

"Well, the two are actually good at different things. For example..."

After putting her luggage into the Storage Ring, Bing Huan helped Hermione carry her owl. The two chatted as they boarded the Hogwarts Express, though it was not actually any faster.

There was none of the awkwardness one might expect from a reunion. They simply began chatting naturally, even though this was their "first" time exchanging names.

"So you plan to run for prefect in the future? Looks like I'll have to rely on you to look after me."

After finding an empty compartment, Hermione spoke about her goals at Hogwarts. "Then you'd better follow the school rules properly. If you fall into my hands, hmph hmph~" The young witch was quite pleased by the flattery and began protecting the dignity of her position as a "prefect."

"Huan!"

Outside the compartment, a boy with a scar on his forehead looked at Bing Huan in surprise.

"Harry, it's been a few days. Come sit with us." Hearing that, Harry sat opposite Bing Huan, unable to hide his excitement for his new life.

"Let me introduce you. This is Harry Potter, he's in our year. This is Hermione Granger. She's my—my friend, ahem."

"Is it really you? Lots of books have records about you."

"Records about me?" Harry felt dizzy.

"You don't know? If it were me, I'd definitely find every book that mentioned me. Before coming here, I read quite a few—A History of Magic, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, Important Magical Events of the Twentieth Century.

Oh, right, I also tried several spells, and they all worked. Let me show you. Reparo~" She took out her wand and waved it at Harry's glasses. The cracks vanished instantly.

"Um, is anyone sitting here? Everywhere else is full." A red-haired boy stood outside the compartment, looking at the three of them awkwardly. It was Ron, the one who had helped Harry get into the station earlier.

After sitting beside Harry, they exchanged names again. "You're the— I mean, do you really have..." As he spoke, Ron pointed at his own forehead.

Harry generously showed him his lightning-shaped scar. Just then, an old woman pushing a trolley came by. "Would you children like some snacks?"

"No need, I brought some."

Harry watched Ron raise a sandwich, then pulled out several Galleons and made a grand gesture. "We'll take all of it."

Bing Huan stopped Harry. "Why get that much? Ma'am, four of each will be enough. And don't eat too many snacks."

The young witch beside him rubbed her stomach as well. "Come to think of it, I am a little hungry."

"All in, ma'am."

Harry: (‧_‧?) You'd better be joking.

After eating a quick meal, Hermione began previewing her textbooks, while Bing Huan leafed through an ancient alchemy text. Nicolas Flamel and Newt had once prepared an entire roomful of books for Bing Huan to enrich his life. Ron was introducing Harry to his favorite sport, Quidditch.

Just as he reached the most excited part, new visitors arrived. A blond boy and two followers stopped at the compartment door. Harry recognized him at once as the boy he had met at Madam Malkin's.

"Looks like the rumors were right. You're Harry Pot↘ter, aren't you? My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. You'll soon find that not all wizards are alike. If you don't want to make friends with the wrong sort, I can help you with that."

With Harry's "polite refusal" and Draco's furious reaction, things quickly escalated until both sides were ready to fight.

"Want to fight, Potter!"

"Not unless you leave right now."

Hermione tugged on Bing Huan's sleeve. "Huan, let's stop them. We can't let them cause trouble before they even reach the school."

Bing Huan gave her a reassuring look and closed his book. "All right, boys. Any more excitement, and this will go too far. Stop now."

"Who are you?"

Bing Huan yawned. "Just an ordinary student. But I have a few words for you. Draco, when you introduced yourself, you emphasized Malfoy. As the heir of your family, that shows you have a strong sense of belonging, which is good.

But I hope you remember this: your name is Draco Malfoy. You are Draco first, and only then a member of the Malfoy family. A family's glory is built on its members. A true nobleman would not behave as you just did."

Bing Huan glanced at Crabbe and Goyle behind Draco. "I have no interest in lecturing brats who are evil by nature. Too lazy to talk. You're not worth listening to me. Get lost."