the sun had barely touched the horizon.
Hermione fell silent, quietly eating her lunch. From the corridor outside their compartment, the trolley witch's calls could be heard. Harry stopped her and bought a cup of pumpkin juice. Ron still hadn't returned by the time Hermione finished her meal. Harry, meanwhile, pulled out a blanket, shooed Hedwig off the seat where she'd been dozing, and lay down for a nap.
Hermione glanced at Harry, who was settling in for sleep, then pulled out a book and began flipping through it. Swish, swish, swish. She was turning the pages so quickly that Harry couldn't possibly drift off.
"Are you actually reading, or are you just trying to get back at me by turning pages that fast?" Harry grumbled.
"I am not! I've already finished this book at home, that's why I'm turning the pages so quickly."
"Well, then, perhaps you could find a book you haven't finished?"
"I've finished them all!" Hermione declared proudly.
"Then read this one!" Harry sat up with a sudden jerk, pulled Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them from his trunk, and tossed it to her.
Hermione curiously began flipping through it and was quickly engrossed. At last, the frantic rustling of pages in the compartment quieted.
Harry didn't know how long he'd been dozing when he vaguely felt the compartment door slide open.
"Has anyone seen a toad?" a timid voice asked.
"No, but I can help you look!" Hermione offered eagerly.
After a while, Harry sensed someone had returned, followed by the sound of muffled sobs from within the compartment. With an internal sigh, Harry pushed his blanket aside and sat up again, finding Hermione sitting opposite him, her eyes red-rimmed.
Spotting Harry awake, Hermione frantically grabbed a book to hide her face, the cover's Kneazle agilely rolling over.
"First time I've seen someone read a book upside down," Harry drawled. "Put the book down, I saw everything."
Hearing Harry's sarcastic tone, Hermione finally lowered the book. She burst out, "Go on, laugh! I knew you'd be just like them. No one wants to be my friend!"
After Hermione finished venting and explaining the whole ordeal, Harry slowly said, "Why didn't you use a spell to shut Malfoy up? And what about that Longbottom fellow? You helped him find his toad, but he just stood there, watching you get picked on, doing nothing?"
"He did not! Neville tried to stand up for me!"
"Hahaha, then why are you back here, crying your eyes out?" Seeing Hermione speechless, Harry pressed on, "I'm starting to think you're a big fibber and haven't actually read any books at home. Otherwise, why wouldn't you know a single spell?"
"I really have finished Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1! I even learned the Unlocking Charm!"
"The Unlocking Charm? Are you hoping to use an Unlocking Charm to make people shut up?"
Hermione suddenly stood up, and Harry braced himself for a fight, but she merely pulled open the compartment door, intending to leave.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Harry waved his wand, pulling Hermione back onto the seat.
Hermione forgot her anger, asking in astonishment, "How did you learn the Levitation Charm? I tried it exactly as the book said, and I couldn't do it at all!"
"I was born knowing the Levitation Charm," Harry said, instantly shutting down the conversation. Hermione fell silent.
The compartment door opened again, revealing another person with red hair. "I'm Percy Weasley, a Gryffindor prefect. Someone told me that Slytherins were bullying a Muggle-born witch. Do you need any help?"
"No, it's alright now," Hermione hesitated, still not wanting to make a fuss.
Percy looked suspiciously at Harry, who was sitting down. He stepped into the compartment and said, "Were you threatened by him? Don't be afraid, he wouldn't dare do anything with me here."
"If you had any basic common sense, you'd deduce from my clothes that I'm from the Muggle world too," Harry said exasperatedly.
Percy scrutinized Harry's attire, and his ears turned the same color as his hair. "I'm sorry, I thought... Well, if everything's alright, I'll be going then." As he exited the compartment, Percy suddenly turned back to Hermione. "If those Slytherins bother you again, you can find me in the front carriage."
Once Percy had left, Harry slowly said to Hermione, "Clever tactic. The prefect didn't go after Malfoy; he came after you instead. That tells me the Malfoys are quite powerful." He thought Hermione actually had some brains.
"No, it's not that. I just felt I was partly to blame for the conflict," Hermione said, a little embarrassed.
Harry stared at Hermione in surprise, deciding to retract his previous thought and concluding she had no brains whatsoever.
"So how did you learn it, then?" Hermione finally mustered the courage to ask.
"Learn what? The Levitation Charm? I told you, I was born knowing it."
Hermione was silent for a moment, then lowered her head and whispered, "I'm sorry. Am I really annoying? I don't have any friends, so I don't know how to interact with people."
Sighing, Harry said helplessly, "I truly wasn't lying; I was born knowing the Levitation Charm. But I suspect there's a unique wand movement for it that the book doesn't mention."
"I thought you..."
"Thought I was messing with you? Please, I've met more arrogant people than you; you're not even in the running."
Hermione looked up, her lips moving as she softly mumbled "thank you."
A sudden quiet fell over the compartment until Hedwig's gentle hooting broke the stillness. Harry noticed that it had grown dark outside. He pulled a pre-packed rat from his trunk and tossed it to Hedwig. As for Humphrey, he was already full and lazily sprawled on a pile of books. Harry casually removed his wizard's hat and placed it on Humphrey's head.
"Is that Hedwig? She's beautiful."
"Thanks, I think so too." Harry noticed Hermione was still gazing at Hedwig with envy, so he asked curiously, "Why don't you have a pet? Judging by your parents' clothes, you don't seem to be short on Galleons."
"Oh, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to keep one alive."
"Is it that you wouldn't be able to keep one alive, or that you think you won't make any friends, so you don't see the point in having an owl?"
Hermione didn't argue, simply returning the book to Harry.
A moment later, the compartment door opened again, and Ron returned. He pulled out a tattered robe from his trunk, hesitated for a moment, and then told them, "You two had better change into your school robes now. We'll be arriving soon." Ron then left.
After changing into his robes, Harry leaned back leisurely in his seat, Hedwig perched on his arm, admiring the view outside the window. Hermione suddenly spoke. "So, are we friends now?"
"If you really have read all your first-year textbooks, then I suppose we can be," Harry said casually, stroking Hedwig.
The Hogwarts Express slowly came to a stop, and Harry opened the window, sending Hedwig off into the twilight. Hermione suddenly extended her hand to Harry, her large front teeth showing as she smiled. "Well then, a formal introduction. I'm Hermione Granger, and I'm hoping for Gryffindor."
"Pffft," Harry couldn't help but snort with laughter. Seeing the girl's face flush, he composed himself slightly, gave her hand a brief, casual shake, and said, "You know who I am."