“You’re amazing,” Neville said, looking at Leon with a face full of admiration while clutching his toad, Trevor.
As someone who was also born into a wizarding family, the number of spells he had mastered so far could be counted on one hand.
Furthermore, they weren’t standard, commonly used spells, but just a few simple household charms that occasionally helped his grandmother clean up.
Compared to Leon, who was also a first-year freshman, Neville felt like a Muggle.
“It’s alright.
I’m sure you could master them too under the same conditions,” Leon said modestly to Neville.
At the same time, he extended his hand.
“Leon Levatain John.” Faced with Leon’s self-introduction, Neville hurriedly set Trevor aside, wiped his hands, and finally shook Leon’s hand.
“Neville Longbottom,” he replied.
“I’m Hermione Granger.” Hermione naturally wasn’t about to miss out on the introductions.
Having exchanged names, the three of them grew much closer.
Thanks to Leon’s help, Neville’s fondness for Leon skyrocketed.
Leon also appreciated Neville’s personality and was happy to chat with him further.
The same went for Hermione.
She really liked making friends.
Although her exceptional grades had previously alienated her from her peers, leaving her with very few friends, she fully intended to start anew now that she was in a different environment.
So, at Leon’s invitation, Neville stayed in the compartment, and the three of them chatted and laughed together.
Because Neville was born into a pure-blood wizarding family, Hermione talked to him the most, eager to use their time on the train to get a clear picture of the wizarding world.
Leon was also very interested in the daily life and habits of the wizarding world.
After all, these little details hadn’t been disclosed much in the books or movies, so he would occasionally toss questions at Neville as well.
Though still a bit reserved, faced with an enthusiastic Hermione and Leon, Neville racked his brains to answer their questions, and the expression on his face gradually relaxed.
While everyone was chatting animatedly, there was another knock on the compartment door.
However, this time it wasn’t a student, but the train’s trolley vendor.
Facing a cart stacked high with snacks, both Hermione and Neville were tempted.
After all, no child could resist the charm of treats.
But because they were short on cash, they could only silently weigh their options in their minds.
Although Leon didn’t care much for sweets, he was quite interested in the candies and snacks of the wizarding world.
Without any hesitation, Leon bought one of everything on the cart, and even bought three portions of some treats he had long anticipated.
Such as Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, and Cauldron Cakes.
“Thank you.” With the generous Leon around, Hermione no longer needed to agonize over which one to buy, and she immediately and unceremoniously began choosing the treats she was interested in.
Neville seemed much shyer, but under Leon’s enthusiastic hospitality, he eventually picked a few items, never stopping his expressions of gratitude.
After paying the fee of four Galleons and eleven silver Sickles and sending the vendor on her way, Leon picked up a Chocolate Frog.
He tore open the pentagonal packaging, revealing the lifelike frog-shaped candy with a chocolate coloration inside.
The moment the lid was opened, the Chocolate Frog was eager to leap away.
Leon, who was well-prepared, grabbed it in one swift motion.
Watching the little creature struggle in his palm, smudging chocolate all over his hand, Leon’s interest grew even stronger.
“It’s actually alive!” Hermione looked at the kicking Chocolate Frog in Leon’s hand with a shocked expression.
“Is that a real frog?” “Of course not, it’s just enchanted.
Although it moves, it’s essentially still chocolate, and it’s super sweet.” Neville also liked Chocolate Frogs and had already collected a bunch of the famous wizard cards hidden inside them, so he was naturally no stranger to this treat.
“Leon, check who the card in the box is first.
If it’s a particularly rare wizard, like Cornelius Agrippa, you could sell it to Chocolate Frog card collectors for up to five Galleons.” “Oh?
Let me see.” Hearing this, Leon kept his right hand clenched around the Chocolate Frog while using his free left hand to fish out an equally pentagonal card from the box.
On the card was a plump witch with a kind face and a dignified bearing, holding a gleaming golden goblet in her hand.
Noticing Leon’s gaze, the witch on the card gave him a genial smile and raised the golden cup in her hand.
“It’s Helga Hufflepuff, one of the four founders of Hogwarts.
There’s still a house named after her in Hogwarts today,” Neville explained, recognizing the witch on the card immediately.
“She moves!” Hermione marveled, her focus on the card’s ability to make movements.
“Isn’t that normal?
Portraits and photos in the wizarding world can all move,” Neville replied as if it were a matter of course.
“Muggle photos can’t do that.
Whatever they look like when taken, the content on the photo is frozen at that exact moment,” Hermione explained.
“That’s really magical.
But wouldn’t it be boring for the people in the photos to just stay there forever?” Confronted with this new piece of information, Neville also looked surprised.
Clearly, both sides found the photos described by the other to be quite novel.
Leon didn’t voice an opinion.
He simply stared at Helga Hufflepuff’s picture for a moment before putting it away.
Then, he ruthlessly opened his mouth and stuffed the still-struggling Chocolate Frog inside.
The moving Chocolate Frog felt to Leon as if he were gnawing on a live frog.
Fortunately, it was made of chocolate, so aside from the sickly sweet taste, he didn’t encounter any strange flavors.
But for Leon, it was still far too sweet.
Once he finished this single Chocolate Frog, he lost all interest in them.
Since Chocolate Frogs contained moving wizard photos, Hermione couldn’t wait to tear open a box of her own, finding a new card inside.
On the card was an old man with silver hair and a long beard, wearing half-moon spectacles.
When Hermione looked at him, the old man smiled and waved at her before disappearing from the card.
“It’s Headmaster Dumbledore!
His card is probably the most common one in Chocolate Frogs,” Neville continued his impromptu lecture.
“I know, he’s the current Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where we’re heading.” Hermione nodded, no stranger to Dumbledore’s name—after all, it was written right on the acceptance letter.
Furthermore, Hogwarts: A History detailed many things about Hogwarts.
Even though they hadn’t met yet, Hermione already had an initial impression of Dumbledore in her mind.
Powerful, wise, and approachable.
“Indeed, Dumbledore is the greatest wizard in the world right now.
He fought You-Know-Who countless times and held the line until the famous Harry Potter killed You-Know-Who, putting an end to the Death Eaters’ evil plans.” Neville also held Dumbledore in high esteem.
Or rather, there was hardly anyone in the wizarding world who didn’t look up to and admire Dumbledore.
At this, Leon merely smiled as he watched the two launch into a new discussion centered around Dumbledore.
He picked up the Helga Hufflepuff card again and fell into thought.