NOVEL NEXT Book Two: Chapter 2: Disembarking
As Hermione was about to continue interrogating Neville, who was already trembling and looking ready to flee the compartment at any moment, Glenn...
...closed the compartment door.
One Neville was enough for Hermione to bombard with questions for nearly an hour; any more people would be too much. Hermione needed a break too.
Neville's world went dark.
Bloody hell, he thought, I've walked right into a trap.
Glenn, who had taken Crookshanks into his arms and was gently stroking him, finally intervened to stop Hermione from further questioning the nearly fainting Neville. After being stopped, Hermione calmed down and realized she had been extremely impolite earlier. It wasn't right to try and squeeze every bit of information out of someone you've just met.
Sustainable development was the key.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Neville. It's just that this is my first time meeting a pureblood wizard, and I was too curious..." Hermione sincerely apologized to Neville.
Neville forced out an awkward smile, still trembling. "It's alright."
"...I'll ask you about other things later," Hermione added.
Thud. Neville, unable to catch his breath, fainted.
Hermione looked innocently at Glenn.
After Glenn administered a Calming Draught and Cheering Solution to Neville, the latter slowly regained consciousness. Hermione didn't continue her questioning and obediently started reading a book, which made Neville breathe a long sigh of relief.
Grateful, he looked towards Glenn, but upon seeing the black cloth covering Glenn's eyes, he froze again. Afraid of hurting Glenn's pride, Neville carefully asked, "Um, Glenn, your eyes..."
Glenn nodded and replied honestly, "Yes, I can't see right now, but it's only temporary."
"Oh, that's great! Uh, sorry... I didn't mean it like that, you know," Neville scratched his head, happy that Glenn would recover, but then realizing his words might be misinterpreted, he apologized again.
Glenn shook his head lightly, indicating it was fine, and then silently recalled the feeling of casting spells and the magic circuits in his mind, studying.
Neville's image in Hermione's mind suddenly became friendlier. She thought to herself, "It seems not all pureblood wizards are unpleasant." She took out some snacks and offered them to Neville, "Here, have some snacks."
Neville was pleasantly surprised, thanked Hermione, accepted the snacks, and slowly enjoyed them while also taking out a book to read on his own.
However, Neville kept feeling something was off until he saw Crookshanks elegantly walking on the table with his bow-legged gait.
"Ah!" He was very alarmed but afraid of waking Glenn, who appeared to be resting, so he exclaimed softly.
"What's wrong?" Both of them asked simultaneously. Hermione drew her wand, and Glenn put his hand inside his cloak.
"My Trevor is missing. He's my pet, a toad," Neville said with a crestfallen face. Due to Hermione's nonstop questioning earlier, he hadn't noticed his pet had gone missing.
Hermione thought to herself: This isn't my fault. Trevor would have gone missing even if I hadn't been asking questions.
"I have a terrible memory. I'm always losing him. My gran used to help me find him before..." Neville looked very upset. Hermione closed her book and said, "Come on, let's help you look for him."
Glenn suggested that the two of them search towards the front and back of the train, while he would tap the ground with his cane around the compartment, sensing and analyzing the surrounding information.
But many students had brought pets, and the chaotic information blended together, making it slightly difficult to analyze effective information.
Fortunately, there were very few young wizards who kept toads as pets. After isolating a few information points about toads, Glenn walked towards the most peculiar location.
Surely no one would put their pet on the snack trolley in the middle of the aisle.
As expected, he successfully found an ownerless toad.
"Are you Trevor? If so, make two sounds," Glenn asked, holding the toad in one hand.
Young wizards' pets often have a bit of intelligence. Don't ask why; the answer is unknown.
The little creature made two definitive croaks, and Glenn took it away.
He walked towards the back of the train, intending to inform Hermione that she no longer needed to search.
Walking slowly with his cane, he sensed Hermione's presence.
He stopped in front of a compartment and lightly tapped the ground with his cane, sensing that besides Hermione, there were two boys and a rat inside.
Glenn silently memorized this information.
"Hermione, let's go. I've found Trevor. We should inform Neville," Glenn said softly, interrupting Hermione who was enthusiastically discussing several books. He also nodded towards the two people in the compartment as a greeting.
Hermione quickly stood up, hastily said goodbye to Harry and Ron in the compartment, and followed Glenn towards the front of the train.
"The boy with glasses is Harry Potter, the one who defeated Voldemort, but he doesn't seem any different from us. The redhead is Ron Weasley, from the pureblood Weasley family. What surprised me is that neither of them can cast a proper spell," Hermione chattered to Glenn about what had happened in the compartment, clearly shocked that the two couldn't perform magic.
"Perhaps most young wizards haven't cast spells yet. Insufficient magical power is one reason, their elders' concern about magical outbursts is another, and lack of guidance is a third," Glenn briefly expressed his view. "You could ask Neville later... or maybe not, poor thing." Hermione irritatedly gave Glenn a light slap.
They found Neville in the corridor near the front of the train and returned Trevor to him.
Neville was very excited and kept thanking them.
The three returned to the compartment, finally settling down.
As the sky darkened and the train was about to arrive, they could vaguely see a small village emitting a faint glow at the end of the tracks.
Glenn stood up and called Neville out, leaving the compartment for Hermione to change into her robes.
Many boys came out of the surrounding compartments, exchanged glances, and smiled at each other.
Many were also curiously looking at Glenn, with his black silk-covered eyes and cane.
Fortunately, Hermione finished changing at this point and came out holding Crookshanks, allowing the boys to take their turn.
The train's announcement sounded: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately." Hearing this, Neville seemed a bit nervous. He straightened his luggage and suddenly noticed something, asking curiously, "Glenn, where's your and Hermione's luggage?"
Glenn patted his waist pouch, gesturing.
Neville was slightly shocked and asked in a low voice, "Undetectable Extension Charm?"
Glenn nodded. It seemed pureblood families knew quite a bit.
"But isn't that strictly regulated by the Ministry of Magic and not allowed for private use?"
Glenn shrugged: "It's fine as long as it's not discovered." He had already quickly changed into his robes and was waiting for Neville to finish.
After the three were fully prepared, people in other compartments were still not completely ready, so they naturally walked at the front of the line when the train arrived, avoiding the need to squeeze through the narrow compartments with other young wizards.
The giant man with a beard in front of them happily greeted Glenn and Hermione: "Hey, Glenn, Hermione, congratulations on your official enrollment." In the past few days, through Dumbledore's introduction, the two had also met the gamekeeper of the Forbidden Forest and keeper of keys at Hogwarts, Hagrid. Both of them had a good impression of this friendly and simple giant.
Neville was frightened by Hagrid's large size and shrank behind Glenn, but feeling it was inappropriate to hide behind someone with visual impairment, he stepped forward and greeted Hagrid.
"H-hello, I'm Neville Longbottom."
"Longbottom? Oh, are your parents Frank and Alice? They were true heroes..." Hagrid looked emotional, as if recalling something, but suddenly noticing Neville's uncomfortable expression, he immediately apologized, "Sorry, Neville, I just..."
Neville shook his head, "It's alright, it's not your fault."
Hermione frowned, sensing there was some hidden story. Glenn gestured for her not to inquire. If Neville wanted to talk about it, they would be willing to listen; if not, they would respect his privacy.
Gradually, all the young wizards disembarked from the train. At Hagrid's call, all the first-year students gathered in front of him.
"Come on! To Hogwarts!" he shouted in his rough, booming voice.