Summoning Charm

"Hey, hasn't anyone ever taught you what manners mean!"

Pansy Parkinson's eyes went wide in an instant as she shot up like a little lioness.

Rage nearly robbed her of her senses.

Why!

Why did these damned people have to ruin her good thing!

"Pansy, calm down."

Seeing this, Klein wasn't surprised at all.

From Pansy's initial bossy tone to her flustered correction and greeting, he'd already known she wasn't some gentle, shy girl.

But what did it matter? Compared to those imperial ministers from before, whose plucked eyelashes could hide four or five schemes, this girl's "act" could almost be called adorable.

The truly rude ones were the people barging into their compartment.

"Huh."

Startled by the words, Pansy froze on the spot.

She'd actually lost her temper in front of Klein?

This was a disaster!

"Sorry, what did you just say?"

Thanks to Klein, the atmosphere eased a bit.

He put down his book and smiled at the newcomers with restraint, his movements as if carrying some magic, effortlessly drawing all the attention in the compartment to himself.

"Sorry to bother you, but have you seen a toad? Neville—oh, that's him—his pet's gone."

Meeting those blue eyes, the curly-haired girl's heart trembled slightly, and her voice softened considerably.

"A toad... Well, I have to admit, I don't get the appeal of those things. So, Neville, could you describe your pet's breed and features? Maybe I can help you find it."

Klein blinked, turned to the round-faced boy, and assumed a posture of serious listening.

"You can help me? Oh, I mean, thank you. Trevor is a Black-spectacled Toad, really cute, with a ring of black bumps around its eyes like a pair of glasses. Oh, and the webbed toes on its left front leg are a bit injured."

Neville tried hard to recall Trevor's appearance, his chubby arms gesturing wildly, looking a bit ridiculous.

But Klein listened intently, occasionally asking for details. When they finished, he stood up and patted Neville's round shoulder.

"Don't worry, you'll be reunited soon."

"What?"

Hearing this, the curly-haired girl and Neville were baffled. Pansy also forgot her frustration for a moment, a puzzled look in her eyes.

Hadn't Klein been in the compartment the whole time? How could he know where Trevor was?

"Trust me."

With several curious gazes on him, Klein didn't explain. He just smiled easily, gave a slight flick of his lowered arm, and the wand hidden in his sleeve landed steadily in his palm.

"Accio Trevor."

Raising his hand, he cast the spell with casual ease.

"Wow!"

At Klein's action, his "little audience" couldn't help but gasp, especially the curly-haired girl, whose expression was quite the spectacle.

"Don't look at me like that, please. We're wizards... Wait, something's flying over."

The barely contained excitement in their eyes made Klein a bit uncomfortable, but before he could say anything else, a sizable toad flew into the compartment. He had to stop talking and quickly catch the unappealing little creature.

"Trevor!"

Neville cried out in delight, his eyes full of gratitude as he looked at Klein.

"I told you, you'd be reunited soon."

Handing over the toad with a smile, Klein naturally took a handkerchief from his suit's breast pocket and wiped his hands.

As he wiped, he explained patiently.

"Sorry, Neville, no offense meant, but I really don't like these animals. Please understand."

Sincere and direct, Klein's personal charm instantly magnified in Neville's heart. Faced with someone so "perfect," what else could he say? The guy had done him a huge favor.

"It's fine, I should thank you, uh—"

Neville's face flushed red as he tried to offer a proper thanks, but the words got stuck in his throat.

He didn't even know the other's name yet.

"Klein. Klein Grindelwald."

As if reading Neville's mind, Klein made the introduction at just the right moment.

"Klein, thank you!"

If not for still holding the toad, Neville would have really wanted to shake Klein's hand—never in his life had a boy his age been so friendly to him.

"Klein, was that the Summoning Charm you just used!"

No sooner had Neville finished expressing his thanks than the curly-haired girl blurted out impatiently, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"I've tried a few simple spells at home too, just for practice, and they all worked, but a spell like the Summoning Charm is still too hard for me.

No one in my family knows magic, so when I got my Hogwarts letter, I was really surprised, but also really happy, because, I mean, as far as I know, this is the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry—I've memorized all the textbooks. My name is Hermione, Hermione Granger."

Hermione was very excited, speaking at a rapid pace; aside from Klein, Neville and Pansy could barely keep up.

"It's nothing, Hermione. With practice, you'll definitely be able to do it just like me."

Klein's attitude was very modest, implying that this wasn't a difficult spell and mastering it was no big deal.

He wasn't lying.

Compared to spells like Starfire Skyfall or Ghoul Reanimation, the difficulty of the Summoning Charm was utterly unremarkable.

"Still, you're really impressive. Mastering that spell before even starting school—you're practically—"

Hermione was still searching for an adjective in her mind, but Pansy didn't want to stay silent any longer. She coughed twice inappropriately, cutting her off abruptly.

"Since the matter's been resolved, could you please leave!"

Though they had only just met, Pansy already hated this girl called Hermione—that fake, ingratiating expression was utterly disgusting.

Hermione froze, then glared at Pansy with annoyance, reverting to her original haughty demeanor.

This sharp-tongued, mean girl was just as detestable!

"Children, we'll be arriving in twenty minutes. Put away your snacks and change into your robes."

Just then, the trolley witch in the corridor gave a friendly reminder. Hermione and Pansy exchanged a fierce glare but still didn't budge.

"I think I'd better go. Neville, can I change in your compartment?"

Glancing subtly between Pansy and Hermione, Klein took down his trunk from the overhead rack and asked softly.

Once he got an affirmative answer, he nodded to the two girls, then followed Neville out without looking back.

Staring at the retreating figure, Hermione and Pansy couldn't help feeling a pang of loss, an indescribable taste in their hearts.

"It's all your fault!" "All your fault!"

They spoke in unison, then both froze.

In the end, a thousand words boiled down to just one.

"Hmph!"