After introducing themselves once more, Elavin and Harry invited the Weasley twins to sit with them.
“Do you want to sit down and chat?” “Thanks for the invite, but we’ll have to decline.
We’re heading to the middle of the train — Lee Jordan brought along a whole bag of spiders.” At the word “spiders,” Ron instinctively recoiled.
“Our little brother’s in your hands.
See you later.” “Alright, have fun.” The moment the twins left, Ron wasted no time closing the door.
Elavin lay back down again.
But after the interruption, he was no longer sleepy, so he just lay there, pretending to be asleep, listening to Harry and Ron’s quiet conversation.
Ron was clearly less emotionally mature than his brothers.
After just a few exchanges, he steered the topic to the scar on Harry’s forehead.
Soon, they were talking about their families.
“…I didn’t know anything about wizards, my parents, or Voldemort until Hagrid told me.” “You actually said You-Know-Who’s name?!” Ron was so startled he barely dared to breathe.
His face showed both shock and excitement.
“I should have known — only you…” Harry quickly said, “It’s not about bravery or anything.
I just didn’t know his name was supposed to be unspoken.
I still have a lot to learn…” “You do have a lot to learn, but that doesn’t include ‘not saying someone’s name.'” Elavin’s sudden interruption made them both stop.
“Uh…
I thought you were sleeping.” “When you whisper, how am I supposed to sleep?
If you talked normally, I might actually fall asleep more easily.” Ron asked again, “Why is that?” “Well…
it’s probably a habit from before.
You know, I didn’t grow up in a great environment, so I always slept with noise around.” Hearing that, Ron felt like a knife had stabbed his heart.
I shouldn’t have asked!
Harry looked at Elavin.
“Why did you say that what I need to learn doesn’t include ‘not saying someone’s name’?” “Listen, Harry.
After I bought my textbooks, I already read A History of Magic, so I have a rough understanding of Voldemort.” Elavin looked Harry in the eyes.
“With all due respect, the guy is fundamentally a completely low-tier terrorist with no intellectual depth.” Hearing Elavin also boldly say “Voldemort” and even insult him, Ron was again too scared to breathe.
He suddenly felt a bit itchy.
Looking down, he saw that the fat rat Scabbers in his arms had woken up at some point and was trembling nonstop.
Ron assumed it was because Harry and Elavin had mentioned the fearsome name.
The reason Voldemort could run rampant was solely because others feared his power.
But a rule built on fear will never last.
Voldemort is destined to lose in the end.
Harry asked again, “Why?” Elavin answered, “Because humans evolved by facing fear, overcoming it, and eventually harnessing it.
The anthem of humanity is the anthem of courage.
The greatness of humanity is the greatness of courage.
Voldemort will never understand that, even in death.” Elavin clenched his fist, his voice rising with passion.
“As humans, we should learn to face fear, overcome it, and make ourselves brave — not learn to be timid and weak.
Answer me, Harry.
Will you be a warrior, or will you be a coward?” Elavin’s words crashed into Harry’s heart like a charging bull.
Harry felt his scalp tingle, his heart pound, his blood boiling in his veins.
He had never experienced anything like this before in his entire life.
In his entire life, every word was familiar, but strung together they became extraordinary, unforgettable, thunderously stirring.
Suddenly, many thoughts came to him.
The first thing he thought of wasn’t Voldemort.
Instead, he thought of his life with the Dursleys.
If Voldemort was the most terrifying existence in the wizarding world, then Uncle Dursley — no, Vernon Dursley — was the most terrifying existence in his own life.
In a sense, Vernon Dursley was another Voldemort.
But even while living under their roof, even in isolation and facing daily oppression and abuse, he had never stopped resisting, never lost his courage.
Eventually, he had weathered the storm and Hagrid had come, defeating “evil” and “fear.” Wasn’t that proof in itself?
Harry suddenly understood.
It was like a bolt of lightning flashing through his mind, opening something up, connecting everything.
Never in his life had he felt such a clear understanding of the words “fear,” “courage,” and “resistance.” “Elavin, I get it now.” Harry tightly grabbed Elavin’s hand and shouted excitedly.
“You’re right.
Humans should learn to be brave.
Face fear, overcome it, and make it their own.
‘Daring to say Voldemort’s name’ is brave.
Calling him ‘He Who Must Not Be Named’ is cowardly.
I want to be a warrior, not a coward.” Elavin nodded approvingly.
“Looks like you’ve got it.” “Yes, I’ve got it!” “Good.
Very spirited!” Elavin leaned back again.
“Then you two keep talking.
I’m going back to sleep.” Harry: “…” Ron: “…” Scabbers: “…” … Around half past twelve, a clack clack noise came from the corridor.
A smiling, dimpled woman slid open the compartment door.
“Dears, would you like to buy anything to eat?” She had already developed a sharp eye for spotting students who might have more money.
Of course, whether students had money or not didn’t affect her work.
“Food?!” Harry jumped up first and rushed into the corridor to start buying a lot of snacks.