With all their friends gathered, the Hogwarts Express had set off, and the peace in the compartment was thoroughly disrupted. Although Draco's nemeses were Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, teasing Ron's little sister Ginny was still a guilty pleasure for him.
Of course, this often resulted in trouble. Whenever Draco indulged in such antics, he had to be prepared for Hermione to challenge him to a duel.
Fighting? Naturally, he couldn't win. But showing up? Absolutely. Mocking? Definitely part of the plan.
Glenn leaned back in his seat, unaffected, silently pondering some matters. Hermione, meanwhile, looked helplessly at Ginny and Draco as they sparred verbally. Neville gave an apologetic smile to Hannah sitting beside him, while Luna, seated on Ginny's right, gazed off into some unknown spot, likely having discovered something fascinating yet again.
Fortunately, Draco only teased Ginny for a short while before ceasing his sharp, signature remarks.
Although Ginny's retorts were equally biting, she still couldn't outmatch him. Besides, bullying a girl a year younger wasn't exactly commendable—especially since she was Hermione's good friend.
Look, Hermione's warning glare was already cutting into him like knives.
Fine, fine, not worth the trouble. Better to save the taunts for Harry and Ron once they got to school—that was far more entertaining.
Hmm, though lately, those two seemed to have gotten smarter. Not as fun as before.
What a pity.
Seeing Draco finally shut his mouth, Ginny took a deep breath, calming herself after being thoroughly annoyed. She then picked up a book and started reading.
The compartment returned to tranquility once more, with only the rhythmic sound of the train wheels outside the window breaking the silence.
"Clatter, clatter, clatter…"
Thanks to the window, the sound wasn't loud or jarring. In fact, it was soothing once you got used to it.
Soft, warm light filtered through the train window, filling the compartment with a cozy, lazy atmosphere. Even Ginny, who had been fuming earlier, was now completely relaxed.
The light passed through Hermione's fluffy bangs, casting a glow on her face. Her brown curls, cascading down her sides, lit up with a beautiful shade of chestnut.
Under the light, Hermione's long, thick lashes became distinctly visible, trembling slightly as her gaze moved across the pages of her book. Beneath those lashes, her brown eyes were focused downward, deeply immersed in the mysteries of the text.
On her smooth face, fine, soft peach fuzz—usually unnoticed—became faintly visible under the gentle light, adding a touch of innocence and charm to her features.
Her delicate nose and rosy lips—her slightly upturned nose tip and moist, tender lips—moved subtly as Hermione silently mouthed the words she was reading, exuding pure sweetness.
Why such detailed observations, you ask? Naturally, it was Glenn's heightened perception at work.
He couldn't help it. Ever since boarding the train and spotting Professor Lupin, Glenn had kept his heightened perception active for safety. Even while thinking, he continuously scanned the Hogwarts Express and its surroundings.
And somehow, his attention kept drifting to Hermione beside him.
This had been happening for quite a while, peaking after the two confessed their feelings for each other.
Love brought Glenn a sense of novelty and mystery. Despite his strong willpower and self-control, he couldn't resist the allure of the girl sitting next to him.
She was truly beautiful.
That was Glenn's thought.
Maintaining such a wide range of heightened perception was extremely draining, so every time he completed a scan, Glenn would glance at Hermione to "recharge."
It was fascinating.
Whether he looked at Hermione directly or observed her through heightened perception, the feelings she evoked in him were always unique. Yet his mood remained consistently uplifted.
Think about things, scan the surroundings, look at Hermione.
Think about things, scan the surroundings, look at Hermione...
Glenn tirelessly alternated between these three activities as time passed.
The journey on the Hogwarts Express was long. Unlike Hermione, most others couldn't maintain their focus for extended periods. Hermione quickly noticed this.
"Whew, immersing myself in reading is wonderful, but it's important to balance work and rest. Everyone, let's take a break, shall we?"
The young girl let out a long breath and closed Easy Introduction to Ancient Runes with a snap, signaling the end of reading time.
As if receiving an order, the others snapped out of their daze. Following Hermione's lead, they had been engrossed in their books, but their abilities weren't quite up to par. Now, as they stopped, their brains felt swollen and heavy.
Ouch, headache. Are we growing smarter?
The group slumped onto the sofa, exhaustion washing over them.
However, the sense of fulfillment and achievement from extended reading was undeniable.
"I've never read so much in one sitting before," Hannah murmured, leaning back in her seat.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" Hermione smiled at her and asked.
"Yeah, it does. Just a bit too tiring."
"No problem. I've prepared snacks to replenish energy and focus."
Hermione had planned ahead. With a snap of her left fingers, a small table in the compartment was instantly filled with various snacks and drinks.
It was Hermione's snack stash, often managed by Glenn. But sharing it with friends now shouldn't be an issue.
The table was laden with an array of treats: Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, Butter Puddings… even some chilled, unmelted ice cream.
As for drinks, there were plenty of options, though tea and lemonade were the most common.
Hannah was startled, staring dumbfounded at the pile of food and drinks that had appeared out of thin air.
"This is the Undetectable Extension Charm, Hannah. Remember to keep it a secret, okay?" Hermione teased with a playful smile, handing her a Licorice Wand.
Hannah, still stunned, nodded blankly and took the Licorice Wand from Hermione, biting into it gently.
To be honest, she was surprised. Hermione, the rule-abiding student, had secretly used a charm strictly forbidden by the Ministry of Magic.
And judging by the others' reactions, they were all used to it.
"Well, we all have our own storage items enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm," Neville said, scratching his head and showing Hannah his small pouch, indicating she didn't need to be too shocked.
"As long as it's not discovered, it's fine."
"You can't deny how convenient this charm is, can you?"
"Alright, now it's snack time. Let's enjoy some food and chat together!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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