The train slowly pulled away from the platform, the houses outside the window gradually receded, and the Hogwarts Express officially headed towards the castle.
Once the carriage door closed, the group finally relaxed completely, and their conversation became even more relaxed.
They talked about Draco's aggrieved look when Hermione kicked him out, about Ron's hostility towards Draco back then, and about Harry and Sirius's summer vacation...
We chatted and laughed all the way, and time flew by.
When the train came to a halt with a clatter, we had arrived at Hogsmeade Station.
The platform was still crowded and noisy, with Hagrid standing at the front, waving to welcome the first-year students.
Draco and the others wanted to go over and say hello, but there were too many new students and Hagrid was too busy to move around much, so they could only nod from afar and couldn't chat for long.
The second-year students, carrying their luggage, followed the flow of people off the platform and were immediately enveloped by the cool night air.
Unlike their panicked state in first grade, this time they knew the way well, but they all stopped in their tracks when they saw the carriage ahead.
"That carriage... how did it move by itself?"
"No horse?! Could it be Levitation Charm? But it's too stable!"
A murmur of conversation rose and fell around them, and many second-grade students stared wide-eyed at the carriages that were waiting quietly in the open space.
Last year they came by Hagrid's small boat; this is the first time they've seen these "driverless" carriages.
Harry stood in the crowd, but his eyes were fixed on the front of the carriage.
In his eyes, the carriages were not driverless at all; several emaciated Thestral with scaly fur stood quietly there.
Its bat-like wings were folded at its sides, and its empty eye sockets stared into the void, exuding an indescribable eeriness.
He frowned, puzzled: Why can't everyone else see it? Why can only he see it?
Hermione quickly noticed Harry's unusual behavior and overheard the surrounding chatter, so she explained the situation to her roommates:
"That's not driverless; the chariot is pulled by Thestral, magical creatures that only those who have witnessed death can see."
As soon as he said that, the surrounding noise instantly subsided by more than half.
All eyes fell on Harry, filled with understanding and pity.
No one brought up those heavy past events; they simply gathered around him, cautiously asking:
" Harry, what do Thestral actually look like?" "Are they really as terrifying as the legends say?"
"They're very thin, their fur is a bit like dragon scales, their wings are like bat wings... They don't have eyes, but they seem to be able to sense everything around them." Harry snapped out of his reverie and began describing them to the classmates who had gathered around.
"My God, they have no eyes?"
"Scale-like fur? That sounds amazing!"
"It's such a shame we can't see it! I really want to see it with my own eyes!"
The surrounding students gasped in amazement; some were curious, some were regretful, but none were afraid.
Even the older students passing by couldn't help but stop and listen intently to Harry's description, clearly filled with longing for this mysterious creature.
Just as Harry was earnestly describing the shape of the Thestral's wings, Draco had already asked the system if it had anything that could see the Thestral.
[Do you want to search for "items that allow you to see Thestral "?]
Draco's eyes flickered, and taking advantage of everyone's attention being focused on Harry, he silently replied in his mind: [Query.]
[Search successful: Death Glasses.]
[Effect: When worn, it allows you to clearly see spirit-like magical creatures such as Thestral, regardless of conditions. Exchange Price: 1 point of Fortune Points /set.]
"So cheap?" Draco was secretly delighted. He had already accumulated enough Fortune Points to squander, and without thinking, he said, "[Exchange for two sets.]"
[Exchange successful. Items have been stored in System Space and can be retrieved at any time.]
Almost simultaneously, Harry also finished his description.
The crowd gradually dispersed, and everyone, filled with curiosity, walked one after another towards the carriage.
Draco calmly retrieved the two pairs of glasses from his System Space.
They looked like ordinary black sunglasses, but they stood out conspicuously at night.
The four walked to a carriage, Draco suddenly looked at Hermione, a mysterious smile playing on his lips, " Hermione, do you want to see Thestral?"
Hermione was taken aback, then chuckled, "What kind of mischief are you up to now? Do you think you can make me see things out of thin air?"
"Me too! Me too!" Ron shouted, raising his hands.
Draco glanced at him sideways, and said without any politeness, "Get out of my way."
"Hey!" Ron retorted, "You're prioritizing your girlfriend over your friends!"
"You're right," Draco said matter-of-factly, without any attempt to hide his opinion, which made Ron roll his eyes in exasperation.
Hermione shook her head helplessly and pressed, "What method is it?"
Draco stopped teasing her and took out two pairs of black sunglasses from behind his back, handing one pair to Hermione.
"Pfft—" Ron laughed first, " Draco, are you alright? Wearing sunglasses at night? Are you trying to play the Squib or fall into a ditch?"
Harry couldn't help but smile; the road beside the Thestral carriage was smooth, but this outfit was indeed somewhat comical.
"Put them on properly, don't let them fall off." Draco completely ignored their mockery, gently reaching out to support her cheek and help her put on her sunglasses.
The moment the sunglasses were on, Hermione froze, then gasped, her eyes fixed on the carriage ahead. "This... this is Thestral?!"
Ron's laughter stopped abruptly, and he said disbelievingly, "Broken sunglasses can see? Impossible! You'll have to try it on me!"
"Fine, don't believe me then." Draco crossed his arms; he had already seen through the kid's intentions.
"Big brother! I believe you! I was wrong, okay?" Ron immediately changed his tune, leaning closer and looking at him expectantly. "You try it on me, just one glance!"
Draco glanced at him and said, "Wait."
Ron's face fell instantly, and he could only watch longingly, his heart itching as if countless tiny insects were crawling inside him.
Hermione was completely absorbed in the scene before her. She reached out and cautiously approached the nearest Thestral.
The Thestral seemed to sense her kindness, lowered its head slightly, and rubbed its eyeless head against her fingertips.
"It's so gentle..." Hermione murmured softly, her face full of a tender smile.
Draco put on another pair of sunglasses, walked over to Hermione, and whispered a few words to the Thestral in a tone only magical creatures could understand.
Something amazing happened.
The Thestral seemed to understand him, nodding at him and gently flapping its wings, emitting a low neigh.
When Draco looked at Hermione again, his eyes softened instantly. "So, you saw it? Happy?"
"Super happy!" Hermione nodded excitedly.
Ron, watching this scene and then looking at his own empty hands, couldn't help but let out a wail:
"Can't you two consider the feelings of a single person? And where are my sunglasses?!"