Hogwarts Express

A golden light flashed—a gold pull! Jerry's lips curled upward slightly. He really was blessed with incredible luck.

Free talent points: +1

Jerry considered his options for a while. He could no longer add points to his Dark Magic talent. He wanted to improve both Potions and Charms, and Transfiguration was a good option too. Now he was having trouble choosing. After some thought, he decided to save the point for now and attend a few days of classes at Hogwarts first. Then he could put it wherever he needed it most.

Divination was not even under consideration. Adding just one point there did not seem as useful as improving the other talents, and Jerry had always felt that Divination was unreliable.

Early the next morning, Jerry got up and packed his things. He declined the nun's offer to see him off and dragged his trunk to King's Cross Station in London alone.

"Is this the wall?" Standing between platforms nine and ten, Jerry was not sure. He decided to wait a little and see whether any wizarding families came through.

"Hurry up, Fred."

Not far away, six or seven people were heading toward Jerry. They all had red hair and looked like a family. A plump woman led the way, holding a little girl's hand.

Jerry recognized them. They had to be the Weasley family, and the black-haired boy beside them with round glasses was surely the famous Harry Potter.

"Hello, ma'am."

Jerry greeted them.

"Hello, dear. Are you starting your first year too?" the woman asked, taking in Jerry's clothes and the unfamiliar bird he had with him.

"Yes, ma'am. I can't find Platform 9¾."

"Don't worry, dear. It's this wall here. Fred, you go first."

Fred pushed his trolley straight toward the wall and vanished through it with a whoosh.

"Thank you, ma'am. I understand now. Sorry for the trouble."

"What a polite young boy. This is Ron, and this is Harry. They're starting their first year too. You might even end up in the same house."

"Hello, Ron, Harry."

After greeting them, Jerry went on ahead and reached Platform 9¾.

A steam train stood beside the platform, bearing the words Hogwarts Express and the number 5972.

Jerry cast a Levitation Charm on his luggage, then pulled it aboard the train. He found an empty compartment and sat down by the window.

It would take some time to reach Hogwarts. Jerry felt he should not waste it and wanted to make full use of the journey, so he took out The Theory of Defense Against the Dark Arts and began leafing through it.

"Hello, is this seat taken? May I sit here?"

Just as Jerry was absorbed in the world of magic, a gentle voice sounded beside him.

The speaker was a little girl with long, thick, bushy brown hair.

"Of course. I'm the only one in this compartment. Sit wherever you like."

"Thank you. My name is Hermione Granger. I'm starting my first year." After thanking him, Hermione sat down opposite Jerry.

"Jerry Green. I'm starting my first year too," Jerry introduced himself with a smile.

"That book you were reading is for this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts class, isn't it? Are you from a wizarding family?"

"No. I think my parents were Muggles. I've never met them, so I don't know whether they were wizards. I grew up in an orphanage."

"I'm sorry, Jerry. I didn't know you were an orphan."

"It's all right, Hermione. We're friends, aren't we?" Jerry said with a smile. With his shining golden hair, he looked as warm as the winter sun.

"Yes, Jerry, we're friends. You have no idea how excited I was when I received my Hogwarts letter. My parents didn't believe magic existed. Later, a Professor McGonagall came to our house and explained it to them..."

Hermione suddenly brightened and began talking nonstop. Words spilled from her mouth in such a stream that Jerry could barely keep up.

"I'm telling you, Jerry, I've practically memorized all the first-year textbooks. You know, since we come from Muggle families, we're bound to be far behind students from wizarding families. I was very worried at first. I only felt a little better after memorizing the textbooks, but I don't know whether that will be enough."

"I've done much the same, though not as much as you. I've only learned a few spells from the textbooks."

"Really? Just like me! I practiced some of them over the summer too..."

Whether it was because they both came from Muggle families or because he loved studying as much as she did, Hermione suddenly opened up. She talked on and on, as though she wanted to share every thought and feeling with Jerry.

Jerry showed no impatience at all. He listened with a smile, occasionally asking a small question. After Hermione answered, he would look enlightened or thoughtful.

The two chatted for a long time, until a boy with an honest, good-natured face came in.

"Is there still room in this compartment?"

"Yes. Please, have a seat."

"Thank you. My name is Neville Longbottom. I'm starting my first year."

"So are we. This is Hermione, and I'm Jerry," Jerry said, introducing them both to Neville.

Since all three were starting their first year, they had much the same things to talk about and soon got to know one another.

As they chatted, the conversation turned to the Sorting.

"I think that, as such a prestigious school, Hogwarts must decide the Sorting through an entrance exam," Hermione said confidently.

"But my gran told me it depends on talent. I'm so stupid, I feel like they'll expel me." In complete contrast to Hermione's confidence, Neville was rather insecure, which also had to do with his childhood experiences.

"Don't be so pessimistic, Neville. Receiving a Hogwarts acceptance letter means you're qualified to become a wizard too. Hogwarts never expels students without good reason," Jerry and Hermione reassured him.

"Which house do you want to go to?"

"I want to go to Gryffindor most. My gran said both my parents graduated from Gryffindor. As long as it isn't Slytherin, though. I've heard everyone in Slytherin is a Dark wizard."

"I want to go to Gryffindor too. The headmaster of Hogwarts graduated from Gryffindor," Hermione added.

"I don't really mind. Every house has its own strengths, so I'm fine with any of them. We'll be studying wherever we go. But Hermione, I think Ravenclaw would suit you."

Hermione thought that made sense and nodded, then began discussing spells with Jerry again.

Hermione also demonstrated a few spells she had taught herself over the summer.

Jerry did the same.

Watching from the side, Neville was a little stunned. He had a feeling these two would become important people someday.