Boarding the Train

"Are we supposed to walk through this wall?" Mr. Granger looked uncertainly at the barrier between the two platforms.

Gemini nodded, stepped forward, and reached out to press his hand against the wall.

An incredible sight appeared: Gemini's hand simply vanished into the wall, making Mr. and Mrs. Granger gape in disbelief.

Hedwig perched on Gemini's shoulder as he passed through the barrier between Platform 9 and Platform 10. After a brief moment of darkness, the view before him suddenly opened up, and sunlight once more fell across his face.

A deep red steam train stood beside a platform packed with travelers. A sign hanging from the train read: Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock.

When he turned around, the barrier had become a wrought-iron archway bearing the words: Platform 9.

Before long, the Granger family came through as well.

Unlike Gemini, the Grangers were stopped the moment they arrived on the platform by two men in robes. Only after confirming that they were parents seeing off a student rather than Muggles who had wandered in by mistake did the men let them pass with slight apologies.

Smoke from the steam train drifted continuously above the chattering crowd. Cats of all colors darted between people's feet, while the clamor of conversation, the scrape of luggage, and the cries of owls filled Gemini's ears.

The first few carriages were already crowded with students. Some leaned out of the windows to speak with their families, while others roughhoused in their seats.

"Would you like to board with me, Miss Granger?" Gemini asked gently.

"No!" Hermione shot Gemini an annoyed glare.

"All right, then." Gemini nodded, turned to Mr. and Mrs. Granger, and gave them a slight nod. "Thank you both for giving me a ride. I won't disturb you any longer."

"Very well, goodbye, Gemini." Mr. Granger smiled and waved at him. "I wish you every success in your studies."

"And I wish you a thriving career and a happy family." Gemini gave a slight bow, then turned and headed toward the rear carriages.

There were not especially many people on the platform yet, so he could pick an empty compartment and claim a seat first.

Gemini found an empty compartment near the back of the train, took the window seat, pulled out his Charms textbook from his storage space, and began reading.

Knowledge had always been the most important weapon. As an arms dealer, Gemini had always believed that.

The noisy surroundings outside the compartment did not affect Gemini in the slightest. He simply sat there quietly reading, peaceful as a painting.

Before long, a petite figure with bushy hair appeared at the compartment door. Gemini looked up to find Hermione leaning against the sliding door, arms folded as she watched him at her leisure.

"I thought about it, and it's still better to sit in a compartment with someone I know. Am I disturbing you?" Hermione turned her head away, rubbing the toe of her shoe against the floor.

"Of course not." Gemini smiled gently.

Only then did Hermione relax. She sat across from Gemini, her gaze sweeping over the book in his hands. "Oh, you're reading the Charms textbook? Have you learned any spells?"

Gemini chuckled. "I'm just looking through it."

"Is that so? I've mastered quite a few." Hermione lifted her chin, like a proud little peacock.

"You're amazing." Gemini clapped his hands in praise.

"Thank you." Hermione's cheeks reddened as she realized she might have gotten a little carried away.

The compartment fell silent again. While Gemini read, Hermione stole several long looks at his handsome face before finally asking, "Why did you lie to me that time?"

"That time?" Gemini paused. A few seconds later, he realized what Hermione meant and could not help but laugh. "I only wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble. A tiny lie that cost nothing could save a great deal of time. It was a very worthwhile trade."

"I wasn't deliberately targeting you. It would have been the same with anyone else. The outcome wouldn't have changed."

"Um, sorry to interrupt you."

Just as Gemini finished speaking, a chubby boy stood timidly at the compartment door, looking at the two of them. "May I sit here?"

It was nearly time for departure. Even though they were seated in one of the rear carriages, the corridor outside the compartment had grown crowded.

"Of course." Hermione nodded to the chubby boy.

"Thank you. I'm Neville Longbottom."

The chubby boy glanced at the refined and gentle Gemini, then at Hermione, whose bearing stood out somewhat. In the end, he hesitantly sat beside Gemini.

"Nice to meet you. Hermione Granger."

Hermione nodded.

Gemini closed his Charms book and said gently, "Gemini Fox. Just call me Gemini. Nice to meet you."

At those words, Neville's face went pale. His mouth fell open as he stared at Gemini tremblingly.

His legs shook. He wanted to shift away from Gemini, but he was afraid Gemini would misunderstand.

"You know him?" Hermione was puzzled by Neville's reaction.

Neville looked at Gemini, sensing his gentle demeanor. In the end, he gathered his courage and turned his gaze toward Hermione.

"Haven't you heard?" Neville said softly. "About Gemini?"

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

Neville's little face went pale. "A fight? I don't think that really counts. It was more of a one-sided beating."

"Looks like I guessed right." Hermione looked at Gemini's handsome face mockingly. "Who did you beat up this time? Or did someone try to rob you again, forcing you to fight back?"

Gemini thought for a while, then finally sighed in defeat. "I forgot his name."

Hermione: "..."

Neville: "..."

Damn, this guy was definitely ruthless!

"The one who got beaten was Marcus Flint, from the Flint family. But this wasn't Gemini's fault."

Neville explained softly, "That Marcus insulted Gemini first. Then Gemini twisted his arm and kicked him hard enough to break five ribs."

"Five ribs with one kick?" Hermione's eyes widened. "What exactly did he call you?"

Gemini spread his hands. "Mudblood."

"What does that mean?" Hermione asked in confusion.

Neville explained quietly, "It's a derogatory term for wizards born to Muggles. It's an extremely vicious insult."

"It's probably like calling someone a dog bastard in the Muggle world..." Gemini said after thinking about it.

"Good kick." Hermione glanced at Gemini and raised her brows. "But how did you break five of his ribs with one kick? Was there some technique to it?"

Gemini smiled gently. "I'm just a little stronger than most."

His strength... was only around four or five tons, more or less.

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