Boarding the Train

"We're supposed to go through this wall, right?" Mr. Granger looked uncertainly at the partition between the two platforms.

Gemini nodded, stepped forward, and pressed his hand against the wall.

An incredible sight unfolded as Gemini's hand simply vanished into the wall, causing Mr. and Mrs. Granger to gasp.

Hedwig perched on Gemini's shoulder, passing through the dividing wall between Platform 9 and Platform 10 with him. After a brief moment of darkness, Gemini's vision cleared, and sunlight once again fell upon his face.

A deep crimson steam train stood beside a platform crowded with travelers. A sign on the train read: Hogwarts Express, Eleven O'Clock.

Turning around, the dividing wall had transformed into an wrought-iron archway, bearing the inscription: Platform 9.

Soon, the Granger family also came through.

Unlike Gemini, the Granger family was stopped by two men in robes as soon as they entered the station. After confirming they were parents seeing off students and not Muggles who had stumbled in, the men reluctantly let them pass.

Steam from the train billowed above the chattering crowd. Cats of various colors darted between people's feet. The din of conversations, the rumble of luggage, and the hooting of owls filled Gemini's ears.

The first few carriages were already packed with students. Some leaned out of the windows to talk to their families, while others were roughhousing in their seats.

"Want to get on the train together? Miss Granger?" Gemini asked gently.

"No!" Hermione shot Gemini an annoyed glance.

"Alright then." Gemini nodded and turned to Mr. and Mrs. Granger, giving them a slight bow. "Thank you both for letting me hitch a ride. I won't disturb you any further."

"Okay, goodbye, Gemini," Mr. Granger waved with a smile. "I wish you success in your studies."

"And I wish you a prosperous career and a happy family," Gemini bowed slightly and turned towards the rear carriages.

There weren't too many people on the platform now, so he could pick an empty carriage and claim a seat.

Arriving at an unoccupied carriage at the very back of the train, Gemini took a window seat, retrieved his Charms textbook from his storage space, and began to read.

Knowledge was always the most important weapon; Gemini, a firearms dealer, had always believed this.

The noisy environment outside the carriage didn't affect Gemini in the slightest. He sat there quietly, reading, as still as a painting.

Before long, a small figure with messy hair appeared at the compartment door. Gemini looked up to see Hermione leaning against the sliding door, arms crossed, looking at him with amusement.

"I thought about it, and it's better to sit in a carriage with someone I know. Am I disturbing you?" Hermione turned her head, shuffling her feet on the ground.

"Of course not," Gemini smiled gently.

Hermione finally relaxed and sat opposite Gemini, her gaze sweeping over the book in his hands. "Oh, are you reading your Charms textbook? Have you learned any spells?"

Gemini chuckled lightly. "Just taking a quick look."

"Really? I've mastered quite a few," Hermione tilted her chin, acting like a proud little peacock.

"You're amazing," Gemini applauded, praising her.

"Thank you." Hermione's cheeks flushed, realizing she might have gotten a little carried away.

Silence fell in the compartment again. While Gemini was reading, Hermione stared intently at his handsome face for a few moments before asking, "Why did you lie to me that time?"

"That time?" Gemini blinked, then after a few seconds, realized what Hermione was referring to. He couldn't help but chuckle. "I just wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble. A small lie that cost nothing could save a lot of time. It was a worthwhile trade."

"I didn't mean to target you. If it were anyone else, the outcome would be the same."

"Um, sorry to interrupt you."

As soon as Gemini finished speaking, a small, chubby boy peeked into the compartment door, looking timidly at the two inside. "Can I sit here?"

It was almost time for departure, and even though they were in a carriage towards the back, the area outside the compartment had become more crowded.

"Of course," Hermione nodded at the chubby boy.

"Thank you, my name is Neville Longbottom."

The chubby boy glanced at the gentle Gemini, then at the somewhat striking Hermione, and finally sat hesitantly beside Gemini.

"A pleasure, Hermione Granger."

Hermione nodded.

Gemini closed his Charms book and said kindly, "Gemini Fox, just call me Gemini. It's nice to meet you."

Upon hearing this, Neville's face paled, and he opened his mouth in astonishment, looking at Gemini fearfully.

His legs trembled, and he wanted to shift his position to get further away from Gemini, but he was afraid of being misunderstood.

"You know him?" Hermione looked at Neville, puzzled by his reaction.

Neville looked at Gemini, feeling his gentle demeanor. He finally mustered his courage and turned his gaze to Hermione.

"You haven't heard of him?" Neville whispered. "About Gemini?"

"Ha..." Hermione glanced at Gemini and asked, "Let me guess, did he get into another fight?"

Neville's small face turned pale. "A fight? I don't think you can call it that? It was more like a one-sided beating."

"Looks like I guessed right," Hermione said, looking at Gemini's handsome face with a hint of mockery. "Who did you beat up this time? Or were you robbed again, and had to fight back?"

Gemini thought for a moment, then sighed in resignation. "I forgot his name."

Hermione: "..."

Neville: "..."

"Holy crap, this guy is definitely ruthless!"

"The one who got beaten up was Marcus Flint, someone from the Flint family, but Gemini isn't to blame for this."

Neville explained, "That Marcus guy insulted Gemini first, and then Gemini broke his arm and kicked five of his ribs."

"Broke five of his ribs with one kick?" Hermione's eyes widened in disbelief. "What did he say to you?"

Gemini shrugged his shoulders. "Mudblood."

"What does that mean?" Hermione asked, confused.

Neville explained in a low voice, "It's a derogatory term for wizards born to Muggles, a very vicious insult."

"It's roughly equivalent to what Muggles call a mongrel or something..." Gemini said after thinking for a moment.

"Good kick," Hermione glanced at Gemini, raising an eyebrow. "But how exactly did you break five of his ribs with one kick? Is there a technique?"

Gemini smiled gently. "I'm just a bit stronger."

My strength... it's only around four or five tons, give or take.

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