Worn Out

Time passed quickly.

Outside Lynn's front door, he solemnly and resolutely placed the key to his house in Hermione's hand, as if an American president were handing over the nuclear launch button to his successor.

"I'm leaving these flowers to you. Remember to water and weed them often. The tables, chairs, and floors inside need to be cleaned at least once a month, and the quilts and carpets should be aired out whenever the sun is shining..."

Although Hermione felt that Lynn was acting a little like a nagging old woman, kind-hearted as she was, she kept nodding to show that she would remember all his instructions.

"And most importantly, don't tell anyone about the superpowers. If anyone asks where I've gone, just say I've gone away to boarding school."

After all that, Hermione felt this was the most useful thing Lynn had said.

"Then... will they let you come back at Christmas?"

Hermione was reluctant to part with Lynn. She did not have many close friends, and although they had not known each other for long, Lynn had already become her best friend. Besides, they shared a secret.

Having won a little girl's heart, Lynn showed not the slightest remorse. With a heartbroken expression, he said,

"I want to come back too, but they probably won't let me leave. Still, I'll send you a Christmas present."

Lynn glanced at the time on his watch.

"It's getting late. I have to go, Hermione."

He opened his arms and smiled at the girl.

"Give me a hug."

Hermione looked miserable. Her tears had yet to fall, but they were already glistening in her eyes. She stepped forward and hugged Lynn.

"I hope everything goes well for you there."

Lynn stroked the girl's head before letting her go.

"It will."

He hailed a taxi with his luggage, then turned back and waved at Hermione.

"Goodbye, Hermione. Umr, you say goodbye too."

"Chirp, chirp."

Umr poked its head out from Lynn's hair and chirped twice at the girl.

Hermione stood where she was, wiped the corner of her eye, and waved at them.

"Goodbye, Lynn and Umr."

The taxi gradually drove away, carrying Hermione's blessings for them and her anticipation for their next meeting.

Sitting in the car, Lynn also felt a little sad about the parting.

Of course, he could not possibly have any romantic feelings for a ten-year-old girl. That would be far too absurd. Liking little girls in real life was a capital crime.

Ever since arriving in this world, he had been single-mindedly plotting how to escape the orphanage. He had no interest in talking much with those bratty children who thought they were so clever when they were actually dumb as rocks.

Hermione was also a child, but perhaps because she was the protagonist of this world, she was much smarter than children her age.

She had a few minor flaws, but that little bit of tsundere pride only made her more adorable.

She was countless times better than those brats.

So, she was Lynn's first friend in this world.

Still, Lynn was not the sort to wallow in melancholy.

This was not a permanent farewell.

In the future, Hermione would attend the same school as him and become his junior.

It was actually quite interesting to think about.

Lynn's home was not too far from the train station. After about an hour's drive, the taxi brought him there.

After he got out, the driver helped him load all his luggage onto a trolley, and Lynn gave him a tip for it.

King's Cross Station was in central London. There was a huge flow of people here, and most hurried along with brisk steps, as though everyone was pressed for time.

"Platform Nine and Three-Quarters..."

Lynn looked at the train ticket in his hand and pushed his luggage-laden trolley to the space between Platforms Nine and Ten.

A group of strangely dressed people had already gathered there. They stood together yet split into separate groups, seemingly chatting casually, while actually taking turns passing through a wall between Platforms Three and Four.

Anyone even slightly observant would have noticed that something was off about them, yet not one person in the constantly moving crowd around them paid any attention.

Clearly, a Muggle-Repelling Charm had been placed here as well.

Lynn pushed his trolley over and stood beside the group. A few people noticed him, but when they saw the wand lying atop his suitcase, they said nothing.

At that moment, Lynn noticed a plump middle-aged witch. She was alone, watching over a pile of luggage and anxiously looking around as though waiting for someone.

Suddenly, a group of red-haired boys ran over and gathered around the plump witch, all wearing unpleasant expressions.

"Mum, I searched everywhere in the direction we came from. I even ran into Fred, but I still couldn't find Scabbers."

One of two identical red-haired boys said this.

"Same here." The oldest-looking boy appeared dejected. "Percy and I even went to ask the Muggle station attendants for help, but the moment they heard we were looking for a rat, they threw us out."

The boy named Percy looked the most heartbroken of all.

"It must be because I never fed him properly, so he wanted to leave. But our family is like this—even the children can't eat anything very good. What good food could we possibly give a rat?"

Molly Weasley, the middle-aged witch, looked rather unhappy. It was unclear whether it was because Scabbers was missing or because of Percy's words.

Listening to their conversation and seeing that striking red hair, Lynn naturally guessed that this was the Weasley family.

Of the seven Weasley siblings, Bill had already graduated from Hogwarts, while Ron and Ginny had not yet enrolled.

The four Weasleys Lynn had encountered were Charlie, the second eldest; Percy, the third; and the twins George and Fred.

Unprompted favors hid ulterior motives, so Lynn had no intention of approaching them. It seemed they had lost that ugly, poor little rat Scabbers, but they would definitely find him again.

Otherwise, how would Ron inherit Scabbers later on? And who would Sirius Black seek revenge against?

Just as most of the wizards sending young witches and wizards off to school had already passed through the wall, and it was nearly Lynn's turn, Umr suddenly leaped onto the suitcase in excitement, as though it had caught something.

"Chirp!"

Umr grabbed a rat's tail and excitedly waved the poor creature around as it ran up to Lynn to claim credit.

The rat looked thoroughly frightened and utterly listless. One toe was missing from its front paw, making it especially conspicuous.

Lynn exchanged a strange look with the expectant Umr.

It couldn't be this much of a coincidence, could it?

Umr did not care about any of that. It only wanted to trade this rat to Lynn for food.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp!"

Lynn took the rat by its tail from Umr and casually rewarded it with a biscuit.

Scabbers did not struggle in his hand, dangling upside down in midair with the look of someone who had been thoroughly worn out.

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