“Would you like a fortune told?
Just one Galleon per reading.” Wade looked at Harry expectantly, making the words that had nearly reached Harry’s lips die in his throat.
Harry was interested, but only as a bit of fun—not enough to spend money on it.
His parents had left him a considerable inheritance: piles of Galleons, stacks of Sickles, and mountains of Knuts.
But given the rather questionable exchange rates of the wizarding world’s currency, even after converting all the silver and bronze coins into Galleons, he had inherited only a few thousand Galleons.
It was certainly a fortune for a child.
But he had no source of income, and he still had seven years at Hogwarts ahead of him.
He needed to spend his money carefully.
Paying one Galleon for a single fortune-telling session seemed far too extravagant.
“Fair enough.” Wade could naturally tell Harry had declined, but he wasn’t bothered.
He had considered making money through divination, but for now, it was nothing more than an idea.
The train gave a jolt and began moving, gradually picking up speed.
Outside, the scenery slipped past faster and faster.
The two boys instinctively turned toward the window, both filled with excitement for the hopeful future awaiting them.
“Wade,” Harry said, breaking the silence, “how much do you know about Hogwarts?” “Not much.” Wade shook his head before sighing dramatically.
“I’m not like you.
I grew up in an orphanage.
If an owl hadn’t shown up with my letter, I wouldn’t even have known I was a wizard.” “Huh?
You too?” “What?” Wade froze for a moment before looking genuinely surprised.
“You too?” “You’re Harry Potter—the famous Harry Potter.
How could you have only just found out you’re a wizard?” “I grew up with my aunt and uncle.
They’re Muggles, and they never told me anything about my parents.” Wade stared at him in stunned silence.
The Boy Who Lived—the savior of the wizarding world—actually knew even less about the magical world than he did.
At that moment, the idolized image of Harry Potter he’d built up in his mind shattered…
quite naturally.
6 The legendary hero instantly became nothing more than an ordinary classmate.
This was the perfect moment to draw a line between admiration and reality.
After several seconds of silence, Wade looked at Harry seriously.
“Harry, as a Seer, let me give you one sincere piece of advice.” “Prepare yourself.” “The next stretch of your life probably won’t be very pleasant.” Harry frowned.
“What do you mean?” “You really don’t understand?” “So many people have expectations for you.
But if you turn out not to be what they imagined…
those expectations will become disappointment.” After saying that, Wade felt he should offer the Boy Who Lived a little encouragement.
“But that’s only a minor bump in the road for you.
You may not know much about the wizarding world, but that doesn’t stop you from being a genius.” “You’re that sure?” “Of course.” “Both your parents were exceptionally talented.
Having inherited their blood, there’s no way you’ll be ordinary.” “Not just anyone can become the Boy Who Lived.” “The wizarding world chose you, Harry.” “You’ll run into a few setbacks at first, sure…
but no protagonist ever has a completely smooth journey, right?” Harry nodded thoughtfully.
His confidence grew just a little.
“Excuse me.” The compartment door slid open, revealing a red-haired boy with a smudge of dirt on his nose.
“Mind if I sit here?
Every other compartment’s full.” Absolutely not.
Go away!
Wade screamed internally.
If time could rewind, he’d definitely choose a different compartment.
One with more people.
Preferably one with only a single empty seat.
Oddly enough, thinking that made his Clown Potion digest just a little more.
“Come on in.” Harry warmly invited the boy inside and gestured for him to sit beside him.
“I’m Ron.
Ron Weasley.” “Wade Moreya.” Wade replied expressionlessly, his tone carrying unmistakable distance.
“I’m Harry.
Harry Potter.” Ron’s eyes slowly widened.
“So it’s true…
you really do have…” “Have what?” “That scar.” “Yeah.” Harry smiled and brushed his bangs aside, revealing the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.
“Brilliant!
Did You-Know-Who do that?” “He did.
But apart from a flash of green light, I don’t remember anything.” The two boys chatted on and off, finding more and more common ground as they talked.
Without either of them realizing it, a friendship quietly began to form.
Meanwhile, Wade silently gazed out the window, acting as though he were invisible.
He had absolutely no intention of joining the conversation.
This is perfect.
Just pretend I don’t exist.
By noon, the train had left London behind.
The buildings outside gradually gave way to open fields and rolling pastures.
A rattling sound echoed through the corridor as a middle-aged witch pushed a snack trolley past their compartment.
“Anything from the trolley, dears?” “No thanks.
I brought my own.” Ron blushed with embarrassment as he pulled out a neatly wrapped sandwich.
The Weasleys were famously poor.
His pocket money had never exceeded a single Galleon, and this lunch had been prepared by his mother before he left home.
Harry, on the other hand, casually pulled several Galleons from his pocket, leaving Ron staring enviously.
He bought a little of everything.
The total came to eleven Sickles and seven Knuts.
Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, Drooble’s Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Cauldron Cakes, Pumpkin Pasties, and Licorice Wands soon covered the empty seat.
He didn’t recognize any of them.
“Want some?” “Really?” “Of course.
There’s no way I can finish all this by myself.” Ron immediately abandoned his dry sandwich and grabbed a Pumpkin Pasty.
Even his pet—a scrawny gray rat—received a small tub of popcorn.
Wade didn’t stand on ceremony either.
He helped himself to two Cauldron Cakes and a box of Chocolate Frogs.
“What’s Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans?” Harry asked.
“They come in every flavor imaginable,” Ron explained between bites.
“Chocolate, peppermint…” Before Ron could finish, Harry popped one into his mouth.
His expression instantly became strange.
“…spinach, liver, tripe.
George once got one that tasted like bogeys.” Harry silently spat the bean back out.
Then he picked up an elegant little box.
“Is this an actual frog?” “It’s just enchanted chocolate,” Ron explained.
“People mainly buy them for the collectible cards inside.
Every pack comes with a Famous Wizard Card.
I’ve collected nearly five hundred already.” Harry opened the box.
A chocolate frog leapt out and landed on the compartment window.
“Watch it!” The Chocolate Frog climbed higher, reached the open window, then made one final jump before the rushing wind swept it away.
“Tough luck.” “They only get one jump.” Wade shook his head.
He opened his own Chocolate Frog.
The moment it sprang into the air, he caught it firmly in one hand and tossed it straight into his mouth.
Not bad.
Actually…
it tasted even better than ordinary chocolate.
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