013. Broken

Time passed quickly.

In front of Linley's house, he solemnly and resolutely handed the house key to Hermione, as if the President of the United States was handing over the nuclear launch button.

"I'll leave these flowers to you. Remember to water them and weed regularly. The tables, chairs, and floors inside the house should be cleaned at least once a month. Also, the quilts and carpets need to be aired out when the sun is out..."

Although Hermione felt Linley was acting a bit like a busybody, her kindness made her nod continuously, indicating she would remember all his instructions.

"And the most important thing, don't talk about the superpowers. If anyone asks where I'm going, just say I'm going to a boarding school in another city."

After saying so much, she felt Linley's last instruction was the most useful.

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

Hermione was reluctant to part with Linley. She didn't have many close friends. Although they hadn't known each other for long, Linley had become her best friend, and they even shared a common secret.

Linley, having captured the heart of a girl, showed no remorse. He said with a pained expression, "I really want to come back, but they probably won't let me. However, I'll mail you a Christmas present."

Linley glanced at the time on his watch.

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

He opened his arms and smiled at the girl.

"Give me a hug."

Hermione looked very sad, her tears not yet falling but welling up in her eyes. She stepped forward and hugged Linley.

"I hope everything goes well for you there."

Linley patted the girl's head and let go of her.

"I will."

He pulled his luggage and hailed a taxi, looking back at Hermione and waving.

"Goodbye, Hermione. And goodbye, Umr."

"Meow meow."

Umr poked its head out from Linley's hair and meowed twice at the girl.

Hermione stood in place, wiping the corners of her eyes, and waved at them.

"Goodbye, Linley and Umr."

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

Linley, sitting in the car, also felt a touch of sadness at parting.

He certainly couldn't have romantic feelings for a 10-year-old girl; that would be too absurd. Pedophilia in the real world is a capital offense.

Since arriving in this world, he had been focused on how to get out of the orphanage and had no mood to interact much with those brats who thought they were so clever but were actually incredibly foolish.

Although Hermione was also a child, perhaps because she was the protagonist of this world, she was much smarter than her peers.

Even with a few minor flaws, her slight tsundere nature only made her more adorable.

She was infinitely better than those brats.

Therefore, she was Linley's first friend in this world.

However, Linley was not one to dwell on melancholy. This parting was not a final goodbye.

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

He found the thought rather amusing.

The distance from Linley's house to the train station wasn't too far. The taxi took about an hour to get him there.

After getting out of the car, the driver helped him load his luggage onto a trolley. Linley gave him a small tip for his trouble.

King's Cross Station is located in the heart of London. It was very crowded, and people were mostly in a hurry, with everyone rushing for time.

"Platform Nine and Three-Quarters..."

Linley looked at the train ticket in his hand and pushed the luggage trolley to the area between Platform Nine and Platform Ten.

A group of strangely dressed people had already gathered here. They stood together, yet separated into different groups, seemingly chatting, but actually passing through a wall between Platform Three and Platform Four.

Anyone paying a little attention would notice their abnormality, but the constantly flowing crowd around them did not notice anything.

Clearly, the Muggle-Repelling Charm had also been cast here.

Linley also pushed his trolley and stood beside this group. A few people noticed him, but they also saw the wand placed on top of his luggage, so they didn't say much.

At this moment, Linley noticed a plump middle-aged witch guarding a pile of luggage alone, anxiously looking around for something.

Suddenly, a group of red-haired boys ran over and gathered around the plump witch, their faces looking quite distressed.

"Mom, I've searched everywhere we came from, and I even ran into Fred, but I still couldn't find Scabbers."

One of the two identical red-haired boys said.

"Us too," the oldest-looking boy said with frustration. "Percy and I even went to ask the Muggle station staff for help, but they kicked us out as soon as we mentioned we were looking for a rat."

The boy named Percy looked the most upset.

"It must be because I haven't been feeding it well, that's why it wants to leave. But our family is like this, even the children can't eat very good food, so what good food could we give a rat?"

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

Linley, overhearing their conversation and seeing the conspicuous red hair, 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 Linley encountered were the second eldest, Charlie, the third eldest, Percy, and the twins George and Fred.

No good deed goes unpunished. Linley had no intention of getting involved. It seemed they had lost that short, scrawny rat, Scabbers, but they would surely find it again.

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

Just as most of the wizards sending young wizards to school had passed through the wall, and it was Linley's turn, Umr suddenly became excited, as if it had grabbed something, and jumped onto the suitcase.

"Here!"

Umr grabbed a rat's tail and excitedly waved a pitiful rat in front of Linley, seeking praise.

The rat looked startled and listless. One of its front paws was missing a toe, which was very noticeable.

Linley's gaze met Umr's expectant one with a strange expression.

Could it really be this coincidental?

Umr couldn't be bothered with all that; it just wanted to trade this rat for food from Linley.

"Here, here, here!"

Linley took the rat's tail from Umr and casually rewarded it with a biscuit.

Scabbers didn't struggle in his hand, hanging upside down in the air, looking thoroughly worn out.

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