The toad was once a popular creature several decades ago.
When it first appeared, its role wasn't about expressing individuality or status, but rather as an ingredient in potion-making.
Young wizards would extract materials from toads to brew potions.
They often carried boxed toads to school, using them in potion-making or charms.
It wasn't until the Ministry of Magic passed laws prohibiting the cruel treatment of animals that this practice became illegal. When the risks outweighed the benefits, many abandoned this unbalanced practice of gaining rewards while shouldering risks.
Without any benefits, and provided one's tastes weren't too peculiar, the toad, an unappealing creature, was seldom kept as a pet.
Now, here in Norway, he was the only one with a toad as a pet, and it wasn't his choice but that of his unreliable uncle.
The toad his uncle had chosen didn't offer him any assistance; on the contrary, it often wandered off, causing him considerable trouble.
Zhao Lun had no affection for the toad either. Once he found it, he returned it, then drew out his wand and cast a spell to clean it.
He sniffed; there was no odd smell, and his hands were now free of any unpleasant odor, restored to cleanliness. Magic, as always, was indeed convenient.
"Is that magic?"
At some point, Hermione had appeared beside him, gazing at his wand curiously.
Zhao Lun's wand was large and elegant, exuding a certain charm that made her want to examine it closely.
"No, it's magic. Magic tricks are just sleight of hand performed by Muggles."
"Magic is real power."
Zhao Lun cast a charm, causing the book in his hand to float into the air. He then dismissed the magic and caught the book before it could fall.
His display of skill stunned the other companions in the compartment, leaving them awestruck and filled with greater admiration.
For a wizard, winning the respect of other wizards is of great importance, and magical prowess plays a significant role in achieving that.
"Was that a spell? It looked amazing."
"I've tried a few spells myself, and they worked. But none of my family members are wizards, so things always go wrong."
"Now we're heading to Hogwarts. I'm so excited because it's the best school for learning magic. To prepare, I've memorized all the textbooks, hoping it'll be useful."
She plopped down on Zhao Lun's mat, determined not to appear weak. When she spoke of having memorized all the textbooks, a hint of pride gleamed in her eyes.
The others, overhearing her words, looked at her with expressions of surprise, envy, and jealousy.
"Impressive!"
Zhao Lun also praised her. Her talent was formidable—she had a photographic memory, a skill that many envied, a rare and highly sought-after ability.
"What book are you reading? This is The Mysteries of Wizards. I've already finished it. I also read Famous Wizards of the Modern Era, which mentions a lot of renowned figures. Dumbledore is one of the most famous people of modern times. It's said he led the charge against the Dark Lord."
Mentioning Dumbledore, Hermione's admiration was palpable, as though she were a devoted fan. The others, too, seemed to hold Dumbledore in high regard.
But when the Dark Lord was mentioned, the faces of the companions turned pale. The mention of the Dark Lord's name seemed to send a chill through the compartment, and for a moment, no one dared to speak.
"Really? The book says there are four houses at Hogwarts. Which one do you plan to join?"
Zhao Lun, seemingly unperturbed by the mention of the Dark Lord, continued speaking with her.
"I looked through the book's introduction. Of course, I want to be in Gryffindor! Plus, Dumbledore was from Gryffindor. But Ravenclaw's also good... Still, I think I'll go with Gryffindor."
Hermione's desire to join Gryffindor was evident, especially when she spoke of Dumbledore with such reverence.
"And you? Where do you want to go?"
She turned the question back to Zhao Lun.
"Me? Either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw would be fine, but I lean more towards Ravenclaw, because it's the hall of knowledge. Ravenclaw values wisdom, and there will be many like-minded individuals there."
"Of course, there are also many beautiful girls in Ravenclaw, but in Gryffindor, I know someone who would definitely want me to go there. He says Gryffindor is a lot of fun. I'm not opposed, but I'm torn... What do you think, which one should I choose?"
Zhao Lun seemed conflicted. Gryffindor was fun, with more lively individuals, while Ravenclaw was a sanctuary for wisdom. Both had their merits.
"I think you should choose Gryffindor."
Ravenclaw, with its many beautiful girls? Was he drawn to them? Hmm, Hermione shot him a side-eye.
"Thanks for the suggestion. What about you guys?"
Zhao Lun thanked her, then looked at Norway and Aibo.
"I don't know."
Norway appeared uncertain, even worried he might not be accepted. His face darkened at the thought.
"Gryffindor."
Lavender Brown piped up.
"I'm not sure either. Maybe Hufflepuff; my mom's from there."
Hannah Aibo seemed flustered, her golden braids swaying as she fidgeted, looking rather cute.
"Hey! Did you hear? Harry Potter is on this train! He's also going to Hogwarts."
Finally, the conversation turned to the legendary savior. Hermione was particularly curious about meeting him, but her pride kept her from openly expressing it.
"If you want to meet him, just go to the last carriage. Though, I suspect he wouldn't appreciate being disturbed by strangers."
Zhao Lun said, recalling that the famous savior, having boarded late, was likely seated in the last carriage.
"Why?"
Hermione asked, puzzled, and the others also perked up, eavesdropping on the conversation.
"You can ask him yourself."
Zhao Lun didn't elaborate further—explaining too much would be troublesome.
None of them foolishly went to search for the savior, and the compartment soon returned to its usual rhythm. Conversation resumed.
After midnight, a trolley lady arrived, offering a variety of snacks: "Children, would you like to buy some treats?"
The group was intrigued and approached the trolley to inspect the offerings.
The cart was filled with Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocogoggles, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, sandwiches, ice creams, and some strange foods Zhao Lun had never seen before. Regardless of whether they were tasty, they certainly looked appealing.
Zhao Lun, with no lack of money, bought a bit of everything, even requesting extra items and having them packed. He planned to share with the companions in the carriage.
"Alan, you bought so much—are you going to finish it all?"
Hermione asked, while the others turned to look at him.
"Oh, part of it's for everyone, the rest I'm sending to my little sister. She's never had these treats, so I'm sending some back for her to try."
"Here, I'll treat you all."
Zhao Lun packed the items while leaving the unpacked ones spread out for others to take.
"Oh, thanks. I've had these before, but I really like the Pumpkin Pasties—sweet and delicious."
"Of course, Chocolate Frogs and sandwiches are good too."
Lavender had bought some snacks as well—just Pumpkin Pasties, fewer varieties than Zhao Lun's, but she didn't hesitate to partake in his generous offer.
"My grandmother prepared some food for me, but I forgot it at home."
Norway was shy, unsure whether to admit it or not.
"My mom also packed some food for me."
Hannah opened a box containing neatly prepared food, offering it for everyone to try.
"I brought some too."
Hermione added.
"Looks good. We can all try each other's food."
Zhao Lun suggested, and sampled their offerings. Honestly, they were quite delicious. It seemed their parents had put a lot of care into preparing the food, showing how much they loved their children.
The atmosphere was warm, and the unfamiliarity dissolved with the exchange of food. As they spoke, the mood lightened.
Chocolate Frogs were a popular wizarding confection, each containing a trading card of a famous wizard, with detailed accounts of their contributions. The frog-shaped chocolate was enchanted to appear like an actual frog.
Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans were a quirky snack in the magical world, with beans of varying shapes, colors, and flavors. A packet could contain flavors like strawberry, melon, pepper, peach, beef, orange—and, if one wasn't lucky, potentially unpleasant flavors like earwax.
Rumor had it that there were 700 different flavors of Bertie Bott's Beans.
Zhao Lun sampled everything he had bought, even trying Bertie Bott's Beans. He was fortunate, not encountering any revolting flavors.
The Chocolate Frogs also came with a trading card, each featuring a vivid and lifelike image. Zhao Lun, recalling his previous life when he collected instant noodle cards, felt nostalgic and kept the cards as a memento.
Outside the window, the rural landscape rapidly flew by, gradually becoming more desolate. The once flat fields were replaced by dense forests, winding rivers, and deep green hills.
"Oh no, my toad's gone again!"
Norway's voice rang out once more, and he hurriedly bent down, searching