A Special Way of Making Friends

"I stopped you just now only because I wanted to tell you that violence can't solve problems. Whatever it is, we can sit down and talk it out calmly.

"Trying to snatch snacks through violence like you just did is unacceptable too. If you want some snacks, you can politely ask these two classmates to lend you some. I'm sure that if your attitude is good, they won't refuse."

Perhaps feeling that he had hit a little too hard just now, Jerry coughed and explained again.

Then he turned to Harry and Ron and asked:

"You two, don't you think I'm right?"

Harry and Ron stiffened, then immediately nodded like pecking chickens.

"See? If you'd been more polite just now, they would have been willing to share some snacks with you!"

Jerry turned back toward Little Malfoy and his two companions, who were huddled trembling in the corner beside the compartment door. He softened his tone as much as possible.

"We're all new students this year. We might even end up in the same house. How about it? Let's shake hands and be good friends from now on! What, you don't want to?"

When Jerry held out his hand and fixed them with a sharp gaze, Little Malfoy and his two companions changed expression. They hurriedly stood up, stretched out their right hands, and placed them over Jerry's.

When Harry and Ron saw Jerry turn to look at them, they exchanged glances before stepping forward and placing their hands on top as well.

"Hermione, you two come over too. It'll feel more festive with everyone!"

Jerry waved his free left hand at Hermione and Neville.

Still rather bewildered, Hermione pulled an equally bewildered Neville over. After hesitating for a moment, they placed their hands on the pile too.

"Good. Hand in hand, heart to heart, let's forget this unpleasantness, study together, improve together, and become the best salespeo—oh, no, the best Wizards!"

He had almost blurted out the old sales department slogan from his previous life.

Watching Little Malfoy and his two companions flee in panic after shaking hands, once he had permitted them to leave, Jerry smiled and turned to Harry and Ron.

"Hello, my name is Jerry Carmen."

"Harry Potter."

"Ron Weasley."

Although Harry and Ron's minds had not quite caught up yet, they still responded instinctively.

"In five minutes, the train will arrive at Hogwarts. Please leave your luggage on the train. We will deliver it to the school for you."

At that moment, an announcement suddenly rang through the entire train.

"It was nice meeting you, but we're almost there. We need to go back to our compartment and pack up. See you later!"

Hearing the reminder that they were about to arrive, Jerry waved at the two of them, then pulled Hermione and Neville toward the compartment door.

"Jerry, thank you for helping us just now!"

Just as the three were about to leave the compartment, Harry and Ron finally came to their senses and thanked Jerry at the same time.

"No need to thank me. We're all classmates, and I like winning people over with virtue!"

Jerry winked at Harry and Ron, then disappeared through the compartment door with Hermione and Neville.

"Winning people over with virtue?"

A string of question marks seemed to rise over Harry and Ron's heads.

Was that really winning people over with virtue?

"Jerry, are you very good at fighting?"

Inside the compartment, Hermione watched Jerry stuff Crookshanks into the cat carrier and asked curiously.

Hermione appeared to be someone who valued rules greatly, but as a Gryffindor, she was also someone willing to break them to help her friends.

Like when she set Professor Snape's robes on fire, went with Harry and Ron to retrieve the Philosopher's Stone, stole Professor Snape's ingredients to make Polyjuice Potion, and so on.

So deep down, Hermione actually approved of Jerry teaching Little Malfoy and his two companions a lesson to help Harry and Ron.

She was simply curious why Jerry was so good at fighting.

Jerry's eyes shifted. Since Hermione might become, perhaps even be the only person with whom he could discuss magic and improve together, he felt that he should establish a fairly positive image in front of her.

"Well, that's a long story."

Furrowing his brows, Jerry pretended to sigh and explained sadly:

"Actually, I wasn't very good at fighting at first either. But there was no choice. You know, I was born in an orphanage, and in an orphanage..."

He did not elaborate further.

But the clever Hermione had clearly already understood something from Jerry's expression, and sympathy appeared in her eyes.

Sometimes, no matter how realistic or detailed a fabricated lie was, it could never be as convincing as what the other person imagined for themselves.

By then, Hermione had already pictured a tragic tale of Jerry being abandoned at an orphanage from birth, bullied constantly while growing up, and eventually developing his fighting skills.

"It's okay, Jerry. Things will get better!"

Hermione stepped forward and gave Jerry a big hug.

"Uh... yeah. Yes, things will get better!"

Jerry had no idea what Hermione had imagined, but it seemed to be something favorable for him, so he did not say anything more.

"The train has stopped. We can get off now!"

Unlike Hermione, Neville had not imagined anything. He had been confused from beginning to end. Only when he saw the train stop did he snap out of it and call out to the embracing Hermione and Jerry.

As the train pulled into the station, the previously empty corridor quickly filled with Little Wizards emerging from their compartments.

Jerry, Hermione, and Neville struggled into the crowd and were jostled along with the flow of people as they got off the train.

Hogsmeade Station, the final stop of the Hogwarts Express, was also a very cramped platform.

"First-years! First-years, over here!"

Jerry, Hermione, and Neville were squeezed among the crowd on the platform, unsure which way to go, when a deafening voice suddenly came from the far left side of the platform.

They turned to look.

A giant roughly three or four meters tall, with a thick bushy beard, was holding up a magic lamp and shouting loudly at the crowd.

"That must be Hagrid!"

With that sort of size, the only one at Hogwarts could be Rubeus Hagrid, the half-giant half-Wizard known as the Keeper of Keys and Grounds.

The three pushed through the packed crowd and, after much struggling, finally joined all the other first-year students beside Hagrid.

This included Harry, Ron, and Little Malfoy's trio, who stood far away from Jerry.

Hagrid smiled and spoke to Harry alone for a few moments. Then, carrying the magic lamp, he led all the first-year students down a steep, narrow path to the left of the station.

"Hermione, if it's hard to walk, you can hold onto my arm!"

Seeing that Hermione was having trouble walking, Jerry offered her his arm.

Since it was downhill and the path was extremely uneven, the Little Wizards stumbled along as they walked.