Hearing that familiar voice, Hermione froze.
Could she really be missing Caelan so much that she was hearing things?
Why on earth would his voice be here?
As if to validate her suspicion, Caelan’s voice sounded once more.
“Let me help you with that.” “Caelan?!
What are you doing here?!” Hearing the voice she knew so well a second time, Hermione was certain she hadn’t misheard.
She spun around abruptly, her mouth dropping wide open in shock when she saw Caelan standing there.
Never in her wildest dreams had she expected to run into him here.
Weren’t all the people here Hogwarts students?
Why was he here?
Could he be a first-year student too?
Countless questions whirled through Hermione’s mind, but she couldn’t find a place to start.
She could only stare at Caelan in utter astonishment, her mouth still agape.
“We can talk later.
Let’s get your things inside first—we’re blocking the entrance for everyone else.” “Oh—right!” Hermione dazed-ly relinquished part of her trunk’s handle, helping Caelan carry the luggage onto the train.
Truth be told, her trunk wasn’t light by any means.
Coupled with the fact that the luggage racks were a bit high for children their age, getting it up there was no easy task.
Seeing Hermione looking troubled, Caelan drew his wand, gave it a flick, and cast a Levitation Charm.
As if lifted by a pair of invisible giant hands, the trunk on the floor floated into the air and settled obediently onto the luggage rack.
A passing young wizard watched with eyes wide and mouth agape, their gaze toward Caelan instantly filling with deep respect.
They assumed Caelan was an older student who simply looked young.
No first-year could possibly cast a spell so proficiently, right?
“Caelan…
you’ve already mastered the Levitation Charm?” Hermione looked at her luggage, her mouth—which she had managed to close with difficulty—gaping open once again.
“I tried a few spells at home myself, but I only succeeded with [Lumos] and [Reparo].
I tried the Levitation Charm, but I could barely make a feather float.
How on earth did you manage to lift something so heavy?
How did you do it?
If you received an acceptance letter, you should’ve told me sooner!
I thought I wouldn’t see you for a long time…
Oh…
you didn’t know I received a Hogwarts acceptance letter either.
Sorry, I didn’t tell you before.” Once her curiosity and thirst for knowledge were ignited, her words ran as long as Merlin’s beard.
“Let’s find a place to sit down and talk properly,” Caelan said, already thoroughly accustomed to Hermione being like this.
“I only found out when Professor McGonagall came to see me.
I really had no idea that the distant school you mentioned was Hogwarts.” “Does that mean we’re going to be classmates again?” “Evidently so.” Caelan looked back and smiled at Hermione, sliding open a compartment door and making a welcoming gesture.
But after Hermione glanced inside, she didn’t enter immediately, instead adjusting her hair slightly.
“You sit first, Caelan.” “Sure.” Though finding it a bit odd, Caelan didn’t decline and took a seat by the window.
Hermione’s expressive eyes subtly scanned the seat across from Caelan.
“Caelan, could you explain the key points of the Levitation Charm to me?” Saying this, the young girl naturally sat right beside Caelan, pressing close to him as if the seat opposite were already fully occupied.
“Of course.
When casting the Levitation Charm, you need to pay attention to your wrist movement and vocal intonation…” In truth, given Hermione’s intelligence, a minor charm of this level only required a bit more practice.
She was merely using this opportunity to sit close to Caelan and spend a little more time with him.
“When you have time later, just practice more.
*Yawn~*” As Caelan spoke, he couldn’t help letting out a yawn.
He had been reading and practicing spells for days on end, and now, sitting on the train’s cushioned seat with warm sunlight streaming through the window, he felt genuinely drowsy.
“Are you sleepy?
Take a rest,” Hermione said.
“Alright.” Caelan leaned back against the seat and leaned his head toward Hermione, resting it on her shoulder.
He wasn’t actually *that* exhausted, but hey—a guy had to use a little strategy, didn’t he?
The young girl turned her head somewhat stiffly, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Caelan, who had closed his eyes.
The corners of Hermione’s mouth curved up uncontrollably.
She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, glanced outside to make sure no one was paying attention, and finally relaxed.
She picked up a book and began to read.
Caelan wasn’t actually sleeping.
Instead, he pulled up his system panel in his mind to inspect the Guilt Points he had just acquired.
The Guilt Points he had accumulated previously were mostly spent redeeming [Spell Inspiration], but he had gathered quite a few more at the station just now—enough to redeem another trait.
Looking at the panel, Caelan was surprised to find that the available traits had refreshed.
[Perpetual Guilt] [Description: You did nothing wrong!
It’s the world’s fault!
People constantly feel guilty toward you.
Within the time limit (1 day remaining), collect Guilt Points to redeem traits.] [Current Guilt Points: 207] The current available traits had been refreshed: [Vanish Without a Trace: Shh!
Nobody’s looking at you.
Slightly reduces your presence, making you less noticeable.
(Cost: 180)] [Potion Prodigy: What genius?
I simply spend the time others use for drinking coffee on practicing potion-making.
Easier to get bursts of inspiration while brewing potions, slightly increasing the chance of brewing perfect-quality potions.
(Cost: 200)] [Potion Dependent: Potions are here!
Give them to me!
Gulp, gulp, gulp!
Grants stronger resistance to potion side effects.
(Cost: 190)] Tch.
Had [Vanish Without a Trace] become a permanent fixture?
How was it still here after a refresh?
Actually, this trait wasn’t useless.
When wandering around campus late at night (violating school rules), it would be of immense help in dodging the caretaker.
But right now, there were clearly better choices available.
Between [Potion Prodigy] and [Potion Dependent], Caelan chose [Potion Prodigy] without hesitation.
He didn’t need to act as a potion test dummy right now or rush to increase his negative effect resistance.
The corridor outside remained somewhat noisy, with students bustling back and forth and a medley of voices mixing together.
“Uh…
sorry.
May I ask…
c-can I sit here?
Everywhere else is full.” A round-faced boy carefully slid open the door, poking half his head in, asking rather bashfully.
“Shh.
Sit down,” Hermione put a finger to her lips, signaling him to keep his voice down so as not to wake Caelan, then gestured for him to sit opposite.
“Oh, thank you.” Neville carefully slid the door wider, squeezed his body through the gap on tiptoe, and sat down opposite Caelan without making a sound.
He cautiously observed his two classmates.
Seeing Caelan resting his head on Hermione’s shoulder, he thought the two must have a very close relationship.
He felt he ought to introduce himself.
But Hermione had just warned him not to wake the sleeping boy, leaving him flustered and rubbing his palms continuously against his robes.
Just as Neville hesitated over whether to speak, the boy opposite slowly opened his eyes.