Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

After the three of them had chatted for a while, Cho Chang predictably found their compartment and, at Cedric's invitation, sat down. After a perfunctory round of holiday small talk, Avada's misfortune began—

They all talked about Quidditch.

If Avada still had some interest in Flying Broomstick technique itself, he had zero enthusiasm for the sport of Quidditch. Setting aside his mediocre athletic talent, the absurd rules and even more absurd rule enforcement were enough to make him keep his distance.

Ever seen a sport where a player who barely engages in combat can end the match at any moment?

Ever seen a sport with unlimited overtime and laughably low foul penalties?

Quidditch.

So even though a sport played and competed in three-dimensional space was certainly entertaining and dramatic, Avada only watched it for the fun of it. As for playing himself or fervently supporting some team—no thanks.

Still, from their conversation, he heard that Baron and Cho, now entering second year, both planned to try out for their house Quidditch team. He'd definitely go watch.

"God, Baron, I just remembered—you said you have a Nimbus 2000 at home, right... You didn't bring it, did you?"

Just as they were talking about Quidditch tryouts, Cho suddenly turned to Baron with a horrified look.

"What's with that face?"

Baron laughed at her expression. "Relax, I'm not crazy enough to use the latest top-tier broom in a school match. That would be too unfair... Besides, with my skill, I can't even bring out the Nimbus 2000's potential. It'd be wasted on me."

Avada's lips twitched. Sounded like some Chosen One was getting a dig.

"Well, thank goodness for that."

Cho smiled wryly. "Even the richest players only bring a Nimbus 1700 at most. If you actually pulled out a Nimbus 2000, I'd be... wah!!"

She suddenly shrieked and jumped up, startling the other three.

"What's wrong?!"

Avada and Baron instantly stepped back and drew their wands, eyes sharp as they looked at Cho, who was standing on her seat, still shaken.

Cedric glanced between them, hesitated, then reached for his wand—but didn't draw it right away. Instead, he moved closer to Cho. "What is it? Cho?"

"I don't know,"

Cho's voice was still shrill. "Something cold and slimy just touched my ankle..."

The three frowned and bent down to check under the seats. Under Cho's seat, they found a large toad, lying motionless in the corner.

"Probably someone's pet toad wandered in here."

Avada had been zoning out, but now his Magic Sense picked up a red life force at Cho's feet. He cast a Levitation Charm, floating the toad in front of him—no way he was touching it.

Guiding the toad with the charm, he slid open the compartment door. "You guys keep talking. I'll see if I can find the owner. If not, I'll hand it to a prefect."

"Alright, thanks."

Avada nodded and left the compartment.

'If I'm not mistaken, this is Neville Longbottom's toad. Didn't expect to run into it myself.'

With a silent sigh, he guided the toad into the corridor. Under its bewildered gaze, he knocked on compartment doors one by one—he had no idea where Neville was, so this was the only way.

"Sorry, has anyone here lost a toad... Oh, Shabi, you're here too?"

"You're trying out for Quidditch? That's great. I'll definitely come watch. Good luck."

"Excuse me, has anyone here lost a toad... Sorry to bother."

"Pardon me, is this toad yours... Hey, what's going on here?"

In the compartment he'd just opened, two boys sat facing each other, and a girl stood by the door with her back to him. One red-haired boy had a rat on the snack-laden table, wand aimed at it...

'Pilgrimage to the Holy Land.'

Avada marveled inwardly. He never thought he'd get to witness this scene.

Still, he remembered that before Hermione met Harry and Ron, Neville had already come by—but he hadn't run into Neville earlier. Probably missed him outside some compartment.

"Oh, that must be Neville's toad! Thanks so much."

The bushy-haired girl—Hermione Granger—took the floating toad with a delighted expression, nodded her thanks to Avada, then explained, "They were about to demonstrate turning a rat yellow. I was just about to watch..."

Avada glanced at the rat, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Then, expression unchanged, he turned to the two boys and smiled. "Fancy meeting again, Harry. And you must be Ronald Weasley—Ron, right?"

"Hi."

Ron naturally remembered Avada's face, and his brothers' mention of his name, so he nodded in greeting. "I was about to cast a spell on this rat. Want to watch?"

"I'd love to."

Avada smiled and sat down next to Harry. Hermione took the seat beside Ron. Then Ron raised his wand, cleared his throat, and chanted:

"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow!"

Unsurprisingly, nothing happened.

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" Hermione asked. "Doesn't seem very impressive, does it? I've tried a few simple spells at home, just for practice, and they all worked. My family—"

"Wait,"

Avada cut Hermione off—uncharacteristically—and smiled at Ron. "Don't be discouraged. It's just a problem with your incantation. Let me show you the proper way."

Then, under the curious gazes of Hermione, Harry, and Ron, he drew his wand, aimed it at the rat, and intoned in a solemn voice:

"Holy sunlight, beautiful daisies, sweet buttercream—please bestow your power upon this silly fat rat's body, and let it take on your colors!"

A moment later, under the trio's expectant or astonished gazes, the rat's body actually turned yellow!!

"How is that possible?!"

While Harry and Ron marveled at Avada's exquisite Color-Changing Charm, Hermione frowned deeply, pondering this scene that nearly overturned the magical worldview she had just built. It took her a long moment before she reacted: "I've got it!"

"The time between when you finished the incantation and when the spell took effect was way too long. So what turned the rat yellow wasn't that nonsense rhyme at all!"

"You must have used a Non-verbal Spell! Right?"

She looked at Avada with a smug expression, as if to say, Your trick is seen through.

"You caught me?"

Avada was genuinely surprised this time—he knew Hermione was knowledgeable, but he hadn't expected her to already know about Non-verbal Spells before even enrolling!

He turned back to look at Ron, who seemed a bit resentful, and gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry, just a little joke. The Color-Changing Charm isn't something you can master yet—at least not until the second semester of first year. And your rat should return to normal in about five minutes. Well, I should get going—my friend is waiting for me."

He stood up, said his goodbyes to the three, pulled open the door, and stepped out of the compartment. Then the corners of his mouth lifted uncontrollably.

Hermione Granger was clever, but unfortunately not clever enough.

While reciting that string of "prayers," he had secretly cast a Tracking Charm on Peter Pettigrew, followed by the silent Color-Changing Charm.

The Tracking Charm was effective for three months. As long as he found an opportunity to get close and renew it, the effect could be maintained indefinitely. That way, Pettigrew's movements would always be under his surveillance. Even if he left Hogwarts and the Marauder's Map became useless, he could still sense Peter's location.

He really wanted to cast his true name at him, but unfortunately, in Avada's plan, Peter had another use.

Thanks to "Serious Profiteer" for the tip!