Accio

"Hey, did nobody ever teach you what manners are?"

Pansy Parkinson's eyes went wide. She sprang to her feet like a little lioness.

Her anger had nearly driven her out of her mind.

Why?

Why did these damn people have to ruin her moment?

"Pansy, calm down."

Klein wasn't surprised.

From Pansy's initial imperiousness to her hurried attempt to be polite, he'd known she wasn't a gentle, shy girl.

But what did that matter? Compared to the imperial ministers of his past, who could hide four or five schemes beneath a single plucked eyelash, this girl's "disguise" was downright adorable.

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

"Uh..."

Pansy froze in place, stunned by his words.

Had she really lost her temper in front of Klein?

This was a disaster!

"Sorry, what was that?"

The tension eased a little thanks to Klein.

He set down his book and gave the newcomers a reserved smile. His movements seemed almost magical, effortlessly drawing every gaze in the compartment to him.

"I'm terribly sorry to disturb you. Have you seen a toad? Neville—oh, that's him. His pet has gone missing."

Meeting those blue eyes, the curly-haired girl felt her heart give a slight flutter. Her voice softened.

"A toad? Well, I have to admit, I can't appreciate the charm of those things. So, Neville, could you describe your pet's kind and features? Perhaps I can help you find it."

Klein blinked and turned to the round-faced boy, adopting an attentive expression.

"You can help me? Oh, I mean, thank you. Trevor is a Black-spectacled Toad. He's very cute, with a ring of black bumps around his eyes, like he's wearing glasses. Oh, and he hurt one of the webbed toes on his left forefoot."

Neville tried hard to recall what Trevor looked like, gesturing with both chubby arms. It was a rather comical sight.

But Klein listened intently, occasionally asking for more details. When they were done, he stood and patted Neville's plump shoulder.

"Don't worry. You'll be reunited with him in no time."

"What?"

The curly-haired girl and Neville were both baffled. Pansy temporarily forgot her irritation, too, and looked at him in confusion.

Klein had been in the compartment the whole time. How could he know where Trevor was?

"Trust me."

Several curious gazes settled on him. Klein didn't explain; he merely smiled. His lowered arm gave a slight shake, and the wand concealed in his sleeve landed neatly in his palm.

"Trevor, Accio."

He raised his hand and cast the spell as casually as if it were nothing.

"Wow!"

The "little audience" couldn't help exclaiming at Klein's movements, especially the curly-haired girl, whose expression was quite something.

"Could you stop looking at me like that? We're wizards—wait, something's flying over here."

The excitement held back in their eyes was a bit much for Klein. Before he could say anything, a rather large toad came flying into the compartment. He had to stop mid-sentence and quickly catch the unappealing little creature.

"Trevor!"

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

"I told you—you'd be reunited in no time."

Smiling, Klein handed over the toad, then naturally took a handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped his hands.

As he wiped them, he patiently explained.

"Sorry, Neville. I don't mean anything by it, but I really don't like these sorts of animals. I hope you understand."

Klein's sincerity and frankness made his personal charm expand a thousandfold in Neville's eyes. What could he say to someone so "perfect," especially when he'd just done him such a huge favor?

"It's fine. I'm the one who should thank you. Um..."

Neville blushed. He wanted to thank Klein properly, but when the words came, he didn't know what to say.

He still didn't know Klein's name.

"Klein. Klein Grindelwald."

As if he'd read Neville's mind, Klein introduced himself at just the right moment.

"Klein, thank you!"

If he hadn't been holding the toad, Neville would have loved to shake Klein's hand. Never before had a boy his age been so kind to him.

"Klein, that was the Summoning Charm, wasn't it?"

Neville had barely finished thanking him when the curly-haired girl eagerly spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.

"I tried a few simple spells at home, just for practice, and they all worked. But a spell as advanced as the Summoning Charm is still too difficult for me.

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

Hermione was excited and spoke very quickly. Apart from Klein, Neville and Pansy could barely keep up with her.

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

Klein was very modest, saying it wasn't a difficult spell and that there was nothing remarkable about mastering it.

He wasn't lying.

Compared with spells like Starfire Skyfall and Ghoul Reanimation, the Summoning Charm was hardly impressive.

"Then you're still amazing. You've mastered the spell before even starting school. That's just..."

Hermione was still searching for the right word when Pansy, unwilling to stay silent any longer, gave an ill-timed cough and abruptly interrupted her.

"Now that this is settled, could you please leave?"

Though they'd only just met, Pansy already hated this "Squirrel Spirit" called Hermione. Her false, ingratiating expression was downright sickening.

Hermione stared at her in surprise, then looked at Pansy in annoyance, her original haughty manner returning.

She found this sharp-tongued girl just as unpleasant!

Just then, the conductor in the corridor offered a friendly reminder. "Children, we'll arrive at our destination in twenty minutes. Put away your snacks and change into your robes."

Hermione and Pansy exchanged a fierce glare, neither budging.

"Looks like I should be going. Neville, could I use your compartment to change?"

Klein glanced discreetly at Pansy and Hermione, then took his suitcase down from the luggage rack and asked softly.

When Neville agreed, Klein nodded to the two girls, then followed Neville out without looking back.

Watching him walk away, Hermione and Pansy couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. An indescribable feeling stirred in both their hearts.

"It's all your fault!" "You're the one to blame!"

They spoke in unison, then froze at the same time.

In the end, all they had to say boiled down to a single word.

"Hmph!"