Practise, practise thousands of times?
Hermione stared blankly at Andy sitting across from her, this little kiddo couldn't be bragging, could he?
But when she thought of the Levitation Charm that Andy had cast earlier, Hermione couldn't help but feel a pang of discouragement. The gap between herself and the young wizards of the magical world was just too great.
This can't go on, I have to work harder and try to memorise all the books in the library.
Hermione secretly pumped herself up.
"Hermione, are you alright?" Watching the face of the brown-haired girl in front of him constantly changing, Andy was a little puzzled.
What's going on here?
Are you doubting me inwardly?
Andy felt that his magic level was somewhat less than adequate, after all, the BOSS of this term, Quirrell, was an adult wizard, and even if he was not quite in his right mind, his strength would never be too watery.
Although Andy didn't have the idea of guarding the Philosopher's Stone and breaking through to fight the BOSS, it was always good to have extra strength for self-protection.
"It's nothing."
Hermione shook her head, then asked curiously, "By the way, have you always been living in the magical world?"
"Yes!"
Andy explained, "My family lives in St. Catchpole Village, a village where wizards and muggles coexist."
Andy briefly described the layout of the village and then asked, "What about you?"
"My parents are both dentists, and my family lives on the outskirts of London. Oh, you know where London is, right?" Hermione spoke in a very quick manner.
"Know!"
Andy nodded, "We travelled to London as a family a few years ago, and the Ministry of Magic is also in London."
Hermione hurriedly said, "I know the Ministry of Magic, I've read about it in a book. The Ministry of Magic was founded in 1707, it was formerly known as the Wizards' Council, and the Ministry of Magic participated in and formulated the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, and it is still enforced to this day."
Right!
Andy was convinced that the brown-haired girl in front of him had indeed memorised a lot of books, and she seemed eager to prove herself, speaking very quickly whenever she spoke, and opening her mouth with 'I read that in a book' and then quickly and precisely stating the answer to the question.
After a brief chat with Hermione about the differences between the wizarding world and the muggle world, and seeing that the train was about to depart, Hermione took a book out of her backpack, "I'm going to read, what about you?"
"I'm going to squint for a bit, I woke up too early this morning," Andy said lazily.
Hermione placed the book on the small table and looked at Andy with a serious and solemn expression on her small face, "I would suggest you better memorise all your textbooks, when we get to Hogwarts, there will be a house sorting ceremony."
"Maybe they'll test our spell-casting skills, or maybe conduct a written test." Hermione guessed.
"Right!"
Hermione continued, "Do you know how Hogwarts sorts the houses?"
Of course, it was up to the Sorting Hat to decide.
But that couldn't be said.
"No idea!"
Andy shook his head, "But don't worry, no one has ever died in the Hogwarts' sorting ceremony. Moreover, traumatic injuries like broken bones and splitting can be healed very quickly with magic."
"It can be healed in one night."
Hermione: "..."
Hermione looked down at her book but realised she couldn't read anymore.
"Is the Sorting Ceremony really dangerous?"
Hermione, a little disbelieving and a little worried, looked on with glaring eyes, "Has your family never told you how Hogwarts sorts houses?"
"No, it's a sort of fun secret."
Andy leaned sideways against the wall of the compartment with a smile on his face, "But don't worry too much, a student of your level is an honour student at Hogwarts."
Andy couldn't help but think of Ron.
He was truly a school dud.
Before the academic year started, Andy and Ron had also met a few times, but it turned out that this guy hadn't even opened his textbook once, not to mention practising magic.
Hermione shot Andy a blank look, she didn't believe that.
She had spotted Andy earlier when she was at the station and had seen the Levitation Charm that Andy had used.
She had followed him here because she wanted to learn more about the magical world.
However, just from the information she had learnt so far, it seemed that any random little kid in the magical world was much better than her.
Practising each type of magic thousands of times!
Gosh, I must try harder than this.
With that thought in mind, Hermione flipped open the book and forced herself to read the contents.
Woosh!
Just before the train was about to start, the door to the compartment was once again pulled open.
"Hello, gu-guys, can I sit here? There are no other seats left." The round-faced teenager stammered a bit.
"Sure!" Hermione glanced up at the round-faced teen, then looked down and continued her reading.
The round-faced teen glanced at Andy, who was having a nap with his eyes closed, and hesitantly sat down next to Andy.
Andy opened his eyes and nodded as a greeting.
"Why are you getting on the train so late?" Andy asked curiously.
Andy had just seen this round-faced teenager when he arrived at the platform, and the two of them even exchanged glances from afar.
Andy could remember it because this round-faced teenager had a toad as a pet.
It was simply difficult to forget!
Doesn't he find it repulsive?
"I... I don't have a good memory... My grandma told me a lot of things..."
When he said this, the round-faced teenager's entire body froze in shock, "It's over, I've already forgotten what my grandma instructed me to do!"
Andy: "..."
Hermione: "..."
"I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger, and you are?" Hermione greeted first.
"Neville, Neville Longbottom!" Neville's entire body jerked, and his tone seemed extraordinarily nervous.
Did he get locked up 'silly' by his family?
Andy said, "My name is Andy Collins, you can call me Andy."
"Y-you, hello, Andy," Neville said, in a hurry.
After the three said hello, Hermione continued to read her book and Andy continued to have a nap with his eyes closed, only Neville looked extra awkward, he seemed like he wanted to say something but didn't know how to begin.
Wooooooooo...
The train slowly started, Andy opened his eyes and looked out of the window at the scenery that kept receding.
Hogwarts, here I come.
Seeing Andy's eyes open, Neville spoke as if a drowning man had suddenly been saved, speaking as if he was yelling, "Andy, which house do you want to sort into?"
The compartment was silent for a moment, and Neville's face turned red.
One word seemed to have drained his courage.
"Ravenclaw, I guess! Maybe Hufflepuff and Slytherin will do, as long as it's not Gryffindor." Andy's whole body slouched lazily, and his tone was casual.
Hermione sniffed and glared over, and Neville seemed a little upset as well.
What's wrong with our Great Gryffindor?
Getting into Gryffindor, was Neville's dream.
Both of his parents were Gryffindor graduates, and his grandmother had even told him that he shouldn't come home if he couldn't get into Gryffindor.
Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are fine, but how dare you put Slytherin ahead of Gryffindor.
Where's my sword?
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