In the blink of an eye, September 1st arrived—the day Adrian Ambrosius would finally begin his journey to Hogwarts.
After passing through Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Adrian Ambrosius settled quietly into his own luxurious private compartment.
He had originally wanted to sit in an ordinary carriage and get to know his future classmates, but…
It was simply far too noisy.
Forget it.
There will be plenty of opportunities to make friends in the future.
For now, I’d rather enjoy a little peace and quiet.
However, Adrian Ambrosius’s presence had already begun to alter the original storyline.
While walking through the corridor, he happened to run into Harry, who was still searching for his compartment.
“Hello, Mr.
Potter,” Adrian Ambrosius greeted.
Harry, who had been walking with his head lowered beneath his oversized cloak, immediately looked up at the familiar voice.
“It’s you, Mr.
Adrian Ambrosius!
H-Hello.”
“Just call me Adrian Ambrosius,” he replied with a smile.
Harry scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“Then…
you can just call me Harry.”
Glancing at Harry’s ticket, Adrian Ambrosius noted that Hagrid had treated him fairly well by buying him a private compartment.
Unfortunately, it was still just an ordinary one.
“If you’re looking for your compartment,” Adrian Ambrosius said, “why not join me instead?
Mine’s spacious, and I’m the only one there.
We can chat during the trip.”
Harry blinked in surprise.
“R-Really?
Thank you very much!”
Thus, Adrian Ambrosius led Harry into his first-class compartment.
The spacious cabin, bright lighting, and plush sofas made it feel like the difference between a luxury sleeper cabin and a crowded hard-seat coach.
Over the next while, the two chatted casually.
The more Adrian Ambrosius spoke with Harry, the more impressed he became.
It’s honestly remarkable that Harry never turned dark.
After enduring such abuse throughout his childhood, he had still managed to retain a kind and gentle heart.
The protagonist’s halo really is something else.
But this wasn’t the Harry Adrian Ambrosius wanted to see.
Harry’s entire life had essentially been guided—if not manipulated—by Dumbledore and Snape.
Perhaps only after Voldemort’s death did he finally get to live for himself.
It might actually be interesting to raise a different Harry Potter.
As their conversation continued, Harry increasingly felt that the handsome boy before him was incredibly knowledgeable and wise, while Adrian Ambrosius patiently explained many of the basics of the wizarding world.
At this point, Harry was like a blank sheet of paper.
Whoever reached him first would leave the first stroke of color.
Fortunately, the first wizard Harry had truly met was Hagrid.
Though intimidating in appearance, Hagrid possessed a kind and gentle heart, which had prevented Harry from developing any unhealthy views.
Had someone with darker intentions reached him first, however, whether Harry would have remained righteous—or fallen into darkness—would have been anyone’s guess. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Just as Adrian Ambrosius was about to explain the situation at Hogwarts, a knock interrupted their conversation.
Outside the glass door of Adrian Ambrosius’s exclusive first-class compartment stood a red-haired boy with freckles covering his face.
“Um…
hello,” he said timidly.
“I can’t seem to find a seat.
Would it be alright if I stayed here for a while?”
With that unmistakable appearance and those familiar lines…
Who else could it be?
Ron Weasley.
Adrian Ambrosius’s expression remained calm, though inwardly he sneered.
How convenient.
There were plenty of empty seats throughout the train.
Why skip all of them and come specifically to my compartment?
Were your older brothers really so heartless that none of them would even take you in?
What a flimsy excuse.
Adrian Ambrosius studied Ron carefully.
He refused to believe Ron had wandered here by accident.
What exactly are you trying to accomplish, Ron Weasley?
Is your innocent appearance really genuine?
Harry, on the other hand, thought nothing of it.
He genuinely wanted to let the boy in.
After all, making another friend sounded nice.
But then he remembered that this was Adrian Ambrosius’s compartment.
He wasn’t really in any position to make the decision.
So he remained silent.
Instead of answering Ron immediately, Adrian Ambrosius merely looked at him with a faint, unreadable smile.
Within Adrian Ambrosius’s clear golden eyes seemed to lie a strange power that pierced straight through people’s hearts.
Under that gaze, Ron appeared even more uneasy, making his already nervous expression seem increasingly pitiful.
“I-If it’s inconvenient…
then forget it.”
His face looked troubled and embarrassed, yet his body betrayed none of the stiffness or trembling one would expect.
His heartbeat remained steady.
His posture relaxed.
In other words…
His emotions weren’t matching his performance.
Not bad, Adrian Ambrosius thought.
For someone this young, your acting skills are genuinely impressive.
Watching silently, Adrian Ambrosius applauded inwardly.
Go on.
Show me your performance.
Even under Adrian Ambrosius’s scrutinizing gaze, Ron suddenly clenched his teeth, as though making a difficult decision.
Could I…”
Just look at that teary-eyed expression.
Even Harry was beginning to soften.
He looked ready to pull Ron inside himself.
“How unsightly.”
A childish yet arrogant voice interrupted Ron’s performance from behind.
A neatly dressed blond boy with slicked-back hair approached from another first-class compartment, followed closely by two large, burly boys.
“Someone from the Weasley family,” he sneered, “actually has the nerve to wander into the first-class section, disturb Lord Adrian Ambrosius, and bother Harry Potter as well.”
“What an eye-opening display.”
“You…”
Ron flushed crimson.
“W-Who are you?”
The blond boy smirked.
“My name is Draco Malfoy.”
“Surely even a fallen family like the Weasleys has heard the Malfoy name.”
Of course Ron knew exactly who the Malfoys were.
Once upon a time, both the Weasleys and the Malfoys had belonged among the Sacred Twenty-One families.
But now…
The gap between them was worlds apart.
The Weasleys struggled to make ends meet in their cramped, ramshackle home.
The Malfoys enjoyed immense wealth and prestige throughout the wizarding world.
Draco looked Ron up and down with obvious disdain.
“Threadbare robes.”
“Worn-out shoes.”
“I suppose everything you’re wearing belonged to one of your older brothers first.”
The words struck Ron where it hurt most.
Poverty.
Inferiority.
As the least favored child in his family, these were the deepest wounds in his heart.
Ron clenched his fists so tightly that his lips began turning pale.
He was furious.
“Someone like you coming here…” Draco continued contemptuously, “I imagine you’re hoping to get close to Lord Adrian Ambrosius or the famous Harry Potter so you can improve your circumstances.”
“How utterly pathetic.”
“That’s enough, Draco.”
For the first time, Adrian Ambrosius spoke.
“You’ll all be classmates soon.”
“Is this really how you want to treat a future classmate?”
“I doubt you’d want to bring disgrace upon the Malfoy family.”
“Hmph.”
Draco cast Ron one final look of contempt before turning toward Adrian Ambrosius.
Standing outside the glass door, he performed a flawless aristocratic bow.
“Lord Adrian Ambrosius.”
“It’s been a long time.”