The three conspirators hadn’t forgotten Neville’s missing Trevor despite all their secret plotting.
Unfortunately, even after searching Compartment Z from top to bottom, they couldn’t find a single trace of a toad.
Either Trevor had already hopped back on his own…
Or Hermione had found him.
“Mate, I really don’t think you should go in there—”
Fred grabbed Vincent just as he reached for Compartment W’s door.
“Trust me, she’ll absolutely laugh at you.”
George nodded with complete seriousness.
“Even though we have a little sister, girls become completely unreasonable sometimes.”
“For example?”
“Well, before we boarded the train, Ginny suddenly started crying and begged Mum to let her come look around.”
Fred covered his eyes dramatically with his fist and put on a crying voice.
“Mum, can I go on the train and see him?
Please, Mum…”
George instantly straightened his face into a serious expression.
“Ginny, witches never cry so easily.”
Then he immediately dropped the act.
“That was Percy speaking.
A brother we both dislike.”
Just imagining an older brother lecturing his crying little sister with a straight face was enough for Vincent.
No way was Percy a qualified big brother.
“So naturally, I made a little joke.”
George stepped in front of Fred, who was still fake crying.
“Alright Ginny, we’ll bring you back a Hogwarts toilet seat~”
“Pffft—!”
Vincent burst out laughing.
Of all gifts…
A toilet seat?
Why a toilet seat?!
“And Ginny laughed exactly like that!”
Fred gave him a thumbs-up.
“My dear friend, you truly possess incredible acting talent!”
George once again put on Percy’s stiff expression.
“Vincent, I recommend attending Magical Drama Academy after graduating Hogwarts.”
“Trust my judgment.
You’ll become the wizarding world’s biggest superstar.”
Vincent laughed so hard he nearly collapsed against Compartment W’s door.
“Fine, fine.
I get what you’re trying to say.”
He’d understood this truth in his previous life.
Forget little girls.
Even boys had moments where they admired older girls.
“But I still think I should face this.”
After finally calming down, Vincent reached for the compartment door again.
“I believe she won’t laugh at me.”
Even with Blondie’s nonstop insults, Hermione had ultimately let go despite knowing a fight was about to happen.
Sure, she stayed angry afterward.
But she wasn’t the type to forget favors.
“Sorry to bother—wait, you found Trevor?”
Neville suddenly shrank backward.
The little toad that had escaped earlier was sitting comfortably in his arms.
Still not over her anger, Hermione kept her face hidden behind a huge book.
“Trevor came back himself.”
“Don’t worry.
I won’t tell anyone your little secret.”
“I already said it’s not—”
“Come on.”
George immediately grabbed Vincent before he entered.
“We still need to discuss how we’re going to—”
Fred instantly slapped a hand over George’s mouth.
This matter was top secret.
No leaks allowed.
A pair of brown eyes slowly peeked over Hermione’s giant book as she suspiciously watched the three leave.
What exactly needed to stay secret?
Vincent had somehow met two older students during a single train ride.
Whatever they were discussing…
It definitely wasn’t good.
Beat up Blondie again?
Snap.
Hermione closed her book.
As an outstanding honor student, she absolutely couldn’t allow bullying.
Sure, his mouth was terrible.
And yes, he did threaten to kick everyone out of Hogwarts.
But his crimes didn’t deserve death.
Hermione silently made up her mind.
Not only would she watch them carefully before the train arrived—
She’d also keep a close eye on them after school started.
Compartment V.
The moment the twins noticed Ravenclaw’s school beauty hiding here, both subtly gave Vincent a thumbs-up.
“This is Cho Chang, she’s—”
“We know who she is.” ×2
The twins sat down across from Cho completely naturally.
Wonderful.
Vincent had been misunderstood again.
He looked toward Cuckoo, who was comfortably squinting while lying in Cho’s arms.
And immediately suffered emotional damage twice over.
That little traitor.
Every ounce of extra fat on him absolutely needed to be worked off.
Vincent had practically fed half the mice on Oxford Street to this bird.
Yet somehow that loyalty lost to a pretty senior’s warm embrace.
Before a bloody family-cleansing scene could happen, however, the twins became interested in Hermione’s “little secret.”
“Mate, that’s why she got leverage over you, right?”
“No!”
Vincent denied it instantly.
“It’s not some shameful secret.”
“Cho already knows.”
“Ooooooh~”
George dragged out the strange tone.
“My good brother, you really were preparing for the future.”
To prove his innocence, Vincent immediately opened his suitcase.
“It’s this thing.
My parents secretly packed it.”
The twins instantly stared at the silver object with glowing eyes.
“Fred…
I think we found new entertainment.”
“George…
I was thinking exactly the same thing.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Now seeing it clearly, Cho looked fascinated.
“Can I touch it?”
“My parents never let me handle Muggle objects.”
Well…
All three young wizards simply thought it looked interesting.
None of them understood the danger.
Vincent skillfully checked the chamber, then smoothly removed the magazine.
“Woooow~”
The twins made exaggerated expressions.
“That’s unbelievably cool~”
Cho knew exactly what they were like.
Still holding Cuckoo in one hand, she carefully reached out and touched the wooden grip beneath the silver body.
“It’s harmless now.”
“You can try pulling the trigger.”
Her warm fingers wrapped around the cold metal.
She aimed it carefully toward the train window.
Click.
“Clickclickclickclick—”
Cho’s movements grew faster and faster.
She looked as happy as a child with a new toy.
“This is so fun~”
Vincent disagreed completely.
The Browning L9A1 had originally been designed by Belgium’s FN company for the French army.
Later, in 1954, the British military officially adopted it.
Even decades later, it remained in service.
That alone proved something:
This was a genuine weapon of war.
“Don’t look at me like that…”
Vincent avoided Cho’s gaze.
“If my parents gave it to me, then it’s my responsibility to make sure nobody misuses it.”
The twins’ hidden plans instantly collapsed.
Weapons from the Muggle world—
Just like cursed Dark Magic objects—
Were dangerous and deadly things.
“Sorry…”
Cho handed the pistol back with a guilty expression.
“I didn’t understand what it represented.”
Vincent took it gently.
“It’s okay.”
“Everyone gets curious about unfamiliar things.”
“Even me.”
Mature.
Open-minded.
Easy to talk to.
Those were now the impressions all three shared of him.
“You absolutely have to join Gryffindor!”
“I think Ravenclaw suits you too.”
Both the twins and Cho sincerely accepted him as a friend.
Vincent suddenly smiled mysteriously.
“Or maybe…”
“I’ll end up in Slytherin with all the annoying people?”
…