Adrian Ambrosius nodded.
“I don’t think it’s that serious.
Besides, Draco, you really should work on that sharp tongue of yours.”
By blood, Draco’s mother and Adrian Ambrosius’s mother were distant cousins.
In a sense, he and Draco were related.
Although Adrian Ambrosius held a favorable opinion of many members of the Weasley family—Arthur and Molly Weasley, as well as Fred and George—their optimism and resilience were truly admirable.
Those qualities had carried them through some of the darkest moments of their lives.
But not every Weasley possessed that same warmth and courage.
Some were ambitious and calculating.
Percy Weasley, the family’s third son, was one example.
Ron, even at his current age, was already beginning to show signs of becoming another.
The fact that eleven-year-old Ron had managed to find Harry so precisely was too convenient for Adrian Ambrosius to dismiss as mere coincidence.
Still, Adrian Ambrosius couldn’t be certain of the truth.
Ron was only eleven.
His personality had yet to fully develop.
Besides…
Ron still had an important role to play.
Adrian Ambrosius discreetly glanced toward the rat peeking out of Ron’s pocket.
Scabbers.
Or rather…
Peter Pettigrew.
That rat would become the key to everything later on.
Without him, Voldemort’s resurrection would likely be delayed for years.
With a gentle tap of his finger, the compartment door slid open.
Smiling at Ron, Adrian Ambrosius said,
“Come in.”
Ron blinked in surprise.
“H-Huh?”
“We’ll all be classmates soon,” Adrian Ambrosius said warmly.
“Besides, the trip is rather dull.
It’s always better to have one more person to talk to.”
Draco frowned.
“Lord Adrian Ambrosius, this fellow—”
Adrian Ambrosius shot him a knowing smile.
Instantly, a flood of unpleasant memories surfaced in Draco’s mind, and he wisely fell silent.
He merely shot Ron one last glare.
“Draco,” Adrian Ambrosius continued, “would you like to join us as well?”
Draco forced out an awkward smile.
Sit together?
Absolutely not!
Who knows what new way this devil has planned to humiliate me today?
I’d rather stay far away.
Harry found the exchange rather strange.
The arrogant young master standing before them actually seemed…
afraid of Adrian Ambrosius.
“Thank you for the invitation, Lord Adrian Ambrosius,” Draco replied politely, “but there are three of us.
It would probably be inconvenient if we all came over.”
“What a pity,” Adrian Ambrosius said with a shrug.
“Then I won’t disturb you any longer.”
Draco performed another elegant bow before throwing one final contemptuous look at Ron, who continued pretending to be harmless.
Although Ron burned with anger beneath Draco’s ridicule, surprisingly, he didn’t lash out.
He simply endured it in silence.
With Draco gone, the compartment returned to normal.
“So,” Adrian Ambrosius asked with a smile, “your name?”
“Ron.”
“Ron Weasley.”
“Very well.”
Adrian Ambrosius tilted his head.
“Ron…
aren’t you getting tired of standing there?”
“Haha!”
Harry burst into laughter, instantly lightening the atmosphere.
Everything afterward unfolded much like it had in the original story.
Ron took out his cold sandwich, doing his best to create an image of a poor, pitiful boy.
In response…
Adrian Ambrosius simply bought every snack cart on the train.
Harry, who had never enjoyed so many magical sweets before, and Ron, who had spent most of his life eating leftovers from his older brothers, quickly buried themselves in mountains of candy.
“Oh?”
Harry had just opened a Chocolate Frog.
Besides the chocolate itself, each package came with a collectible Wizard Card.
Seeing Harry’s curiosity, Ron eagerly explained,
“Those are Wizard Cards.
They feature famous witches and wizards.
Let’s see who you got.”
Harry turned the card over.
” Adrian Ambrosius…
Ambrosius?”
He looked at Adrian Ambrosius in surprise.
“Is this…
your card?”
A few short lines were printed beneath the portrait.
Adrian Ambrosius Ambrosius
A brilliant wizard of this century.
Recipient of the Order of Merlin, Third Class.
Holder of numerous important patents in Potions and Alchemy.
Ron stared with wide eyes.
“Harry, your luck is incredible!”
“I’ve collected more than five hundred Wizard Cards, and I’ve never gotten this one!”
Harry scratched his head.
He had no idea what the Order of Merlin was.
Nor did he understand Potions or Alchemy.
But one thing was obvious.
Adrian Ambrosius was amazing.
Ron spoke with obvious admiration.
“Harry, you probably don’t realize just how incredible Adrian Ambrosius is.”
“The Order of Merlin is awarded to witches and wizards who’ve made outstanding contributions to the magical world.”
” Adrian Ambrosius received his first Order of Merlin when he was only seven years old.”
“Nothing like that has happened in nearly a thousand years.”
“As for his achievements in Potions and Alchemy…” Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“You’ll understand once you start studying at Hogwarts.”
Harry looked at Adrian Ambrosius with even greater admiration.
“So…
you’re really that amazing.”
Adrian Ambrosius simply shook his head.
“It’s not nearly as extraordinary as it sounds.”
“You don’t need to place too much importance on titles.”
He picked up his teacup before continuing.
“The Order of Merlin is simply recognition granted by a committee of influential wizards.”
“It reflects what you’ve accomplished in the magical world—nothing more.”
“Ron just mentioned that there are over five hundred different Wizard Cards.”
“And there have been countless recipients of the Order of Merlin.”
“But among all of them…”
“Only a handful ever became truly great wizards.”
“Fame is both a convenience and a burden.”
“It opens doors.”
“But it also weighs heavily upon you.”
“If you lack the strength to support that reputation…”
“It will eventually crush you.”
“The only thing that truly matters…”
“…is constantly becoming stronger.”
Adrian Ambrosius looked directly into Harry’s emerald-green eyes.
The lightning-shaped scar on Harry’s forehead stood out clearly.
“Harry.”
“In terms of fame…”
“You’re actually far more famous than I am.”
Harry blinked.
“Me?”
Ron nodded enthusiastically.
“Of course!”
“You’re Harry Potter!”
“The Boy Who Lived!”
“Almost everyone in the wizarding world knows who you are.”
“But…”
Harry looked confused.
“I don’t know anything about any of that.”
Adrian Ambrosius slowly turned the delicate porcelain teacup in his hand.
“Believe me.”
“Once school begins…”
“Far more people will be watching you.”
“You’ll become the center of attention.”
Ron nodded vigorously.
“Exactly!”
“Don’t you realize just how famous you are?”
“I…
don’t.”
Harry’s expression remained uncertain.
Adrian Ambrosius looked at him quietly before asking,
“Fame isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”
“But…”
“Are you truly prepared to bear everything that comes with it?”