The Missing Boy, The Flirtatious Roommate

The girl likely didn't expect Scott to be watching the door before she opened it, which resulted in her meeting his gaze the moment she pulled it open.

She pursed her lips in embarrassment under Scott's stare, bracing her hand against the door to stand a bit straighter.

"Harry Potter and Ron Weasley?"

Scott spoke in a measured, deliberate tone, his voice somewhat low.

He had not yet finished his voice change, and to avoid the embarrassment of his voice cracking, he always subconsciously slowed his speech and lowered his register.

"I'm sorry, I haven't seen those two gentlemen, Miss Granger," he replied politely, shaking his head at Hermione Granger.

Of course, he actually knew that those two boys were likely driving a car through the sky at that very moment.

"Oh, thank you."

After Hermione Granger offered a quick word of thanks, she glanced at the book in his hand—Vacation with a Hag.

On the cover, Gilderoy Lockhart's photo flashed a goofy, "charming" smile at her.

Seeing that she hadn't left, Scott was a bit surprised. He asked, "Is there anything else, Miss Granger?"

The young witch raised her eyebrows and spoke at a rapid-fire pace: "Were you just reading Vacation with a Hag? I must apologize for rudely interrupting your wonderful reading time, but I don't know your name yet. Oh, right, do you know me?"

Scott chuckled softly. "Of course I know you, Miss Granger—the one who helped protect the Philosopher's Stone alongside the 'Boy Who Lived,' Mr. Potter, last school year, and contributed fifty points to Gryffindor's House Cup at the end-of-year feast. By the way, Scott Trollope, Ravenclaw house, about to enter my fourth year."

"Oh, thank you, Mr. Trollope. And, I really am so sorry for interrupting your reading..."

Hermione Granger continued to speak at an incredibly fast speed.

Scott was just about to bid her farewell, but he didn't expect her to be finished yet...

"...Of course, I've already finished that book, it's really quite good. I mean, Professor Lockhart's books are all amazing, simply fantastic. This year's Defense Against the Dark Arts class is something to look forward to, isn't it? Well then, see you at Hogwarts."

After rattling off this long string of words, she backed out of the compartment, pulled the door shut behind her, and hurried away.

What a whirlwind of a girl.

Scott shook his head and then fell into deep thought.

He reviewed the general "plot" of the school year in his mind—the diary, one of Voldemort's seven Horcruxes, would manipulate the youngest Weasley daughter, Ginny Weasley, into opening the Chamber of Secrets and releasing the Basilisk within to attack Muggle-born students.

This plot was extremely unfriendly to a Muggle-born young wizard like him. Because he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't run into a lethal Basilisk in the school corridors one day.

It seemed he couldn't just coast through this school year—thought Scott, who had been keeping his head down for the past three years.

During the summer break, he had turned several plans over in his mind regarding this "plot" and finally drafted a generally safe and feasible scheme.

Adventure was out of the question; he wanted to nip the danger in the bud while ensuring his own safety.

At this moment, he reviewed his plan once more, then relaxed and pulled a pocket watch from his robe pocket to check the time.

12:43 PM, over an hour since the train had departed.

He prepared to take out his packed lunch to fill his stomach.

But just as he opened his backpack, he suddenly stopped his movements and turned to look at the compartment door.

Another five seconds passed, and the compartment door was pulled open once again.

"So, you're here, Scott."

A tall, sturdy boy poked his head in to take a look, then strode into the compartment and sat in the seat opposite Scott.

"Hey, Roger."

Scott took a paper bag containing a burger out of his backpack and asked with some surprise, "Why are you here? I thought you'd be with your current girlfriend... that... Hufflepuff... Miss Mill?"

Roger Davies, a Ravenclaw student in the same year as Scott, and also his roommate in their dormitory.

"Mill?" Roger grinned at Scott. "We've already broken up."

Upon hearing this news, Scott only paused his hand for a second (offering a moment of silence for his own effort in trying to remember Miss Mill), then asked casually, "And when did this happen?"

Roger said with a grin, "A few days after the final exams last year."

Scott looked at Roger calmly and said nothing.

Another page had been added to Roger's extensive romantic history, but he had no interest in offering any commentary.

"Are you really not even a little curious about why we broke up?"

Roger took advantage of Scott opening the paper bag to snatch a burger from inside.

"Believe me, Roger."

Scott handed Roger a bottle of cola.

"If you had a roommate as exceptionally fickle as mine, you would also be used to all this after three years and lose all interest in his dating life. I suspect even Eddie has no interest in spreading this kind of overly frequent 'dating news' anymore."

Eddie Carmichael, their other roommate, a boy who had started school a year after them and was usually very keen on spreading all sorts of gossip.

Roger shrugged, chewing the burger as he mumbled, "The way you put it, it sounds like your fickle roommate is a terrible guy."

Scott gave Roger a slightly exaggerated fake smile and said, "To me, he's still a good roommate; his fickleness has nothing to do with me. After all... I'm not close with the girls he dumps, and... I'm not dating him."

"Fair enough."

Roger took this as a compliment; he happily popped the cap off the cola and raised the bottle toward Scott.

"To good roommates."

"To good roommates."

Scott raised his unopened cola bottle and clinked it against his.

Roger didn't mind; he just stared at Scott with a strange smile, winking and asking, "The girl who just left this compartment was that Gryffindor 'Savior' Potter's little friend, 'Miss Know-It-All,' right? How do you know her?"

Scott gave him an annoyed look, swallowed the food in his mouth, and said, "Just met her. She asked if I had seen her friends Potter and Weasley; those two boys might have missed the train. Why, didn't she ask you?"

"Maybe I missed her because I was in the bathroom?"

Roger found this news quite amusing and said with a laugh, "Trouble on the very first day of the new school year? Truly worthy of the 'Savior'."

Scott thought to himself that this was only the beginning; the "Savior" always needs to go through hardships before he can defeat the Dark Lord and save the world, right?

At this moment, Roger noticed the book Vacation with a Hag that Scott had placed on the seat beside him and asked curiously, "You actually read this kind of novel?"

"Novel?" Scott deliberately raised an eyebrow and looked at him questioningly. "This is the textbook for this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts class."