I Think This Behavior Is Very Rude

I Think This Behavior Is Very Rude

After the topic of wands, the compartment finally became unusually quiet. Mainly because Hermione was a little afraid to keep talking to Silvan, worried that he might upset Neville again.

Silvan was happy for the peace and quiet. Once the train was no longer rocking so badly, he went back to reading the book in his hands.

Compared with chatting with Miss Know-It-All, wands were far more interesting.

Ollivander had given him this book before he left, and much of its contents had opened Silvan's eyes.

How should he put it? Ollivanders Wand Shop had endured for over two thousand years now, with a history even longer than Hogwarts's. What it had left behind was more than just that tiny, rundown shop in Diagon Alley.

Although the book in Silvan's hands was not among the oldest batch, merely a "new book" from over five hundred years ago, it was more than enough for him.

From morning to afternoon, the sky gradually darkened. When Silvan looked up again, Hermione and Neville had already disappeared, leaving him alone in the compartment.

"Are we there?" Silvan instinctively looked out the window.

The sky hung low and was shrouded in gray, making the atmosphere feel somewhat oppressive.

But then the lights in the compartment came on. Under the dim yellow glow, the view beyond the window instantly turned pitch-black, and nothing could be seen.

Hermione returned as well.

"Silvan, you..." She opened the compartment door and paused slightly.

"What is it?"

"Ah, nothing." Hermione shook her head and explained, "I thought you were still reading, so I came to remind you to change into your robes. We'll be arriving soon."

"Thank you." Silvan nodded.

"You're welcome," Hermione said.

She had come back for her luggage, and she could remind Silvan while she was at it.

But before she could pull down her trunk, Silvan stopped her.

"There's no need. Someone will help us carry our luggage."

"Are you sure?" Hermione was doubtful.

"Of course." Silvan smiled. "If everyone had to drag several huge trunks around, the school's transportation might not be enough."

Hermione was even more puzzled.

She really wanted to ask what sort of transportation it was, but at that moment, the train came to a complete stop.

"Please leave your luggage on the train. We will send it to the school for you." The announcement echoed through the train, confirming Silvan's words.

They really did not need to carry their luggage.

"First-years, first-years, this way!" Another unfamiliar voice called from outside.

"We should get out quickly too," Hermione said, watching in confusion as Silvan took a small leather bag down from the luggage rack.

"It's safer to carry valuable things myself." Silvan slung the bag over his shoulder and covered it with his roomy robes.

During the process, occasional clinking sounds came from inside the bag.

Hermione suddenly guessed what it was.

Gold and silver coins, probably. If so, he really should carry them himself. All her money was in her pockets, though she did not have nearly enough to need a separate bag.

That was hardly surprising. A wand family was practically an arms dealer in the wizarding world. They certainly would not be short on money.

Speaking of money, she had just met a boy whose family was supposedly very wealthy. He had no manners at all, bringing two lackeys with him and practically looking down his nose at everyone.

Compared to him, Silvan had a far better personality. He had always been patient with both her and Neville.

He was just a little too diligent, reading the whole time on the train.

Even though it was recreational reading rather than textbooks, she could not help feeling a slight sense of crisis.

Silvan, however, had no idea what Hermione was thinking. After changing into his robes, he followed the crowd off the train.

Outside, a huge giant held up a lantern and shouted loudly:

"...Sorry, Harry, I don't have time to tell you more right now. First-years, come this way!"

Neville, who had gotten off earlier, was already standing beside him and was waving vigorously at Silvan and Hermione.

"This way, hurry!"

"Neville..." Hermione hurried over and asked, "Did you find your toad?"

"No." Neville's face immediately fell. "I asked in every compartment, but everyone said they hadn't seen Trevor..."

"Maybe he's hiding in some secluded corner." Hermione said, "It's all right. I'll go find the conductor right away and ask him to help look while they're moving the luggage. The train is only so big. We'll definitely find him."

"Thank you, Hermione." Neville was so touched that he nearly cried.

He truly was moved. In all his life, Hermione was the first stranger willing to help him like this.

But before they could do anything, a piercing cat's yowl drew everyone's attention.

On the other side of the crowd, Silvan had one hand gripping the scruff of his pet's neck, forcibly pulling something from its mouth...

A toad?

At that moment, a lantern appeared above them at just the right time.

In its light, Neville clearly saw what the toad looked like.

"Trevor!" he shouted ecstatically, racing over and taking the toad from Silvan's hand.

"Thank you!"

"Don't mention it." Silvan shook his head. He wanted to say something else, but Hagrid had already come over.

An eleven-foot giant made an indescribable impression on the new students. Everyone's attention was drawn to him, Neville included.

So Silvan said nothing more.

Led by Hagrid, the group began making their way forward, stumbling along the path.

Silvan walked at the very back, looking at Tom, whose face was full of indignation.

"I wasn't trying to steal your prey," Silvan said, regardless of whether Tom could understand him.

"...But Trevor is a pet too. Strictly speaking, you two are half-colleagues. Personally, I think eating a colleague is very rude."

"Aow!" Tom howled.

"You think so too, right?" Silvan said to himself, stroking Tom's head.

Tom was completely dumbfounded. When had he agreed? He had clearly been cursing just now.

That was his prey!

He had caught it in the grass by the roadside. How did that make it a colleague?

And even if it really was a colleague, he had eaten plenty back at the pet shop. If they were talking value, he was worth at least fifteen Galleons.

Unfortunately, Silvan could not understand what he was saying and kept talking to himself.

"Before we reach the castle, let's make an agreement. Don't eat colleagues, all right?"

"Aow!"

"If you eat one, I'll have to compensate its owner. You know I don't have many Galleons, and they all have other uses..."

"Mrr... aow!" Tom continued struggling.

"Of course, if you insist on not changing, I can only save money elsewhere... such as trying whether a half-blood magical creature can replace a regular wand core."

Silvan suddenly narrowed his eyes. "I remember that the cats at Eeylops Owl Emporium all have a bit of Kneazle blood, which is why they're especially intelligent. You should too, right?"

"Meow~"

The pressure on his wrist abruptly eased, followed by a soft, damp sensation against his hand.

Looking again, Tom, who had been struggling fiercely moments ago, had suddenly become docile. He was now obediently licking Silvan's hand, and even his voice sounded much more like a normal cat's meow.

It was still a little rough, like he wanted to sound cute but did not quite know how.

But none of that mattered.

"Good Tom..." Silvan smiled and stroked the cat's head. "I knew you could understand me."