Chapter 5: Chocolate Frogs

Xian, taking notes on the side: Actually, no.

[The wrist must flick and shake.

Getting the incantation right is also very important—absolutely do not pronounce the 'f' as an 's'.

It should be 'Wingardium Leviosa', and that 'ga' must be drawn out and enunciated clearly.]

Xian looked at the notes he had taken and placed his quill back with satisfaction.

As long as he put it away fast enough, the ink wouldn't dry, allowing him to write a little longer.

"I've practiced a full fifteen times, Hermione. Am I not the dumbest little wizard?"

A hint of worry crept into Justin's voice. Facing an unfamiliar field, even he, who had been optimistic all along, felt a bit disheartened.

Xian, putting away his notes: Actually, no.

"I don't know either. With only myself as a reference standard, I can't judge..."

Hermione frowned and shook her head, then suddenly her eyes lit up.

"Xian, you... you know the Levitation Charm too, right?"

Suddenly called upon, Xian nodded. At the same time, his wrist flicked and shook.

"Wingar—dium—Leviosa!"

[You practiced the Levitation Charm once at beginner standard. Proficiency +3.]

As Xian's incantation rang out, the feather wobbled and floated up once more.

"Cool!"

Justin exclaimed in admiration. Compared to his own Levitation Charm which only flew for a second, Xian's was obviously a bit more proficient.

"You'll definitely pick it up quick, right? I mean, for a little wizard like you from a wizarding family."

Justin's words made Xian tilt his head in slight confusion.

Seeing his inquiring wide eyes, Justin's own eyes widened in surprise.

"You're not from a wizarding family? You're a Muggle-born?

That means you only started learning magic this summer... in two months, you learned difficult magic like Transfiguration?"

Xian nodded calmly.

"What's that saying? Mer... Mer?"

Justin seemed to want to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.

"Merlin."

Hermione whispered a reminder.

"Merlin..."

Justin repeated it softly, his gaze toward Xian suddenly turning warm.

"Hermione and I, we're both... Muggle-borns, meaning our parents aren't wizards.

Oh, that means all three of us in this compartment are Muggle-borns.

How奇妙... I heard there are more pure-blood wizards in the magical world."

Just as he was marveling, the noise outside grew louder, faint "clangs" audible.

Strangely, this sound didn't disappear quickly like other rowdy noises, but grew louder and louder.

Before long, the compartment door opened, and a plump witch wearing an apron entered, the trolley in front of her drawing the trio's attention.

"Dearies, would you like to buy some food?"

The plump witch had dimples and a kindly smile; even her voice carried warmth.

Xian glanced at the dazzling array of goods on the shelves, then forcibly looked away.

It had been a long time by now, and Xian was very hungry.

He knew the Hogwarts Express would run for a long time, from morning till night.

But he had no way to bring food. Nurse Anna wouldn't let him take so much as a slice of toast.

It'll be fine once we get to Hogwarts.

Xian thought.

"One of everything... two servings."

Justin had barely spoken the first word before the trolley witch's smile grew even more radiant.

"Alright, dearie. That's Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Liquorice Wands... that'll be one Galleon and five Sickles."

Her mood seemed to have improved too, and she began introducing the foods to Justin.

Hearing the price, Hermione was startled. She was about to dissuade him but was blinded by the Gold Galleons Justin produced.

Justin paid quickly, then explained with a slightly red face

"This money was originally for me to go to Eton College. But the very next day, I received my Hogwarts acceptance letter.

Although Mother thinks Hogwarts isn't as good as the Eton College I originally planned to attend...

But think about it, learning magic is far more tempting than being a lawyer or business elite..."

He finished, stuffing a pile of Gold Galleons into his trunk.

Only then did Xian remember who he was

Justin Finch-Fletchley.

A sincere, kind Hufflepuff.

Once participated in the Duelling Club, joined Dumbledore's Army.

Worth mentioning: when he realized he'd misunderstood Harry as the Heir of Slytherin, he actively shook Harry's hand and apologized.

Braver and more sincere than other little wizards who pretended nothing happened.

What made him most memorable was refusing Eton College to attend Hogwarts.

In Britain, good grades alone don't get you into Eton. Every student is of noble birth.

"My aunt's, son's, classmate's, uncle's nephew got into Eton! Hah, jealous, you bunch of bumpkins! Wild seeds like you, don't even dream of it."

This was what Nurse Anna often mocked them with, reflecting Eton's status from the side.

In other words,

Justin was Hogwarts' hidden rich kid.

Confirmed pure bloodline.

Xian thought.

The plump witch had already pushed her trolley away, muttering "met two generous little wizards," disappearing outside the compartment.

Inside the compartment,

Justin placed all the snacks on the table.

"Help eat some?"

Snacks piled into a small mountain, Justin's voice came from behind the pile.

"I definitely can't finish them, please."

"You're trying too hard."

Hermione unceremoniously took a Butterbeer, then whispered to Justin.

"Shh—"

Justin made a quiet gesture, then both sneaked a glance at a certain little wizard.

His clothes were somewhat worn, pilling, even slightly unraveling at the arms.

If one ignored his slightly pale, handsome face, he looked just like those unwanted kids in orphanages.

"Try this Chocolate Frog? I heard all little wizards in the magical world love this."

Faced with Justin's tempting whisper and the proffered Chocolate Frog,

Xian swiftly took it.

"Thank you."

His voice was very soft.

No difficulty can defeat me, but temptation can't be resisted.

Xian fell under capital's sugar coating.

"My Chocolate Frog!"

Just as Justin shared successfully and happily unwrapped his candy, his Chocolate Frog suddenly jumped, about to hop out the window.

"Wingar—dium—Leviosa!"

A calm voice rang out. Xian, having anticipated it, waved his wand, and the Chocolate Frog fell into Justin's hand.

"Chocolate Frogs jump once."

Xian explained slowly, then took small bites of the Chocolate Frog while reading *One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi*.

The sky slowly darkened.

(End of Chapter)