Harry said, "That boy was really unpleasant. He provoked Draco first, but then tried to blame us."
Draco nodded vigorously. "The Weasleys are like that. Remember what I told you about the Sacred Twenty Eight?"
Harry nodded again.
Draco continued, "They're technically one of the Twenty-Eight, but they're the shame of the list."
Harry said, "Judging by his behavior, being called a disgrace seems accurate."
Draco thought for a moment and added, "Well… not all of them. My cousin taught me something: never judge an entire group because of one person.
That Weasley boy was annoying, sure.
But that doesn't mean every Weasley is.
Even though I don't like that family, my cousin said there are good ones among them."
Harry blinked in surprise. "Draco, you were falsely accused and you still defend them? I didn't expect that."
Draco flushed and scratched his cheek. "That's all because of my cousin. He knows everything."
Harry glanced at Karmit, who sat calmly reading opposite them. He couldn't help feeling a little envious.
Draco had a cousin who protected him and taught him.
And his own cousin…
He didn't want to think about that at all.
Just like Draco predicted, Ron wetting his trousers spread through the Hogwarts Express at lightning speed.
Teenagers loved gossip, after all, and no one would skip a story like that.
Ron, before even reaching school, had become infamous.
Percy was humiliated—as a Gryffindor prefect and a dedicated rule-abider, he felt Ron's behavior tarnished his reputation most of all.
As for hating Karmit?
Percy didn't dare.
Weak fear the strong, and Percy was no exception.
Fred and George, on the other hand, were unaffected— in fact, they were the ones who spread the story the fastest.
To them, it was just another bit of mischief, harmless fun. If Ron didn't like it… well, Ron's feelings weren't exactly a priority.
The train kept racing toward Hogwarts.
Karmit returned to studying magic runes, completely engrossed.
Time passed quietly— Until someone knocked on their compartment door.
A fuzz of brown hair peeked inside.
"Excuse me, have any of you seen a toad?"
Karmit's attention shifted.
Ah. The classic moment when every self-insert protagonist in a fanfiction "shines."
But since he'd already humiliated Percy earlier, there was nothing left to "shine" here. Still amusing, though.
Draco and Harry both shook their heads.
"No, we haven't seen one."
Hermione let out a small "Oh," and was about to leave—bwhen she finally noticed Karmit.
Her eyes widened.
"You!"
Karmit smiled. "We meet again, little dentist girl."
Hermione puffed up like an angry kitten.
"My name is Hermione. Hermione Granger. Not 'little dentist girl.'"
Draco blinked. "Cousin, you know her?"
Karmit nodded. "Yes. Back in Diagon Alley. While you were playing, Professor McGonagall brought Miss Granger and her parents to a café."
The moment Draco heard that someone needed to be escorted… he understood.
A Muggle-born?
His expression instantly turned disdainful.
Karmit's eyes narrowed in warning.
Draco stiffened in realization and quickly wiped the disdain from his face, pretending nothing had happened as he turned back to talk with Harry.
Hermione eyed Neville behind her.
"Neville, I don't think we'll find your toad. This is already the last carriage. Once we arrive at Hogwarts, we can get someone to help."
Neville nodded meekly. "Alright. Thank you, Miss Granger."
Hermione waved. "It's nothing."
Neville trudged away.
But Hermione— walked straight into their compartment… And sat directly beside Karmit.
Everyone froze— Draco, Harry, even Karmit himself.
What was this girl planning?
Hermione looked up at him confidently.
"Mr. Black, right? Professor McGonagall said you're very skilled already, even before enrolling.
I studied quite a few spells myself before coming."
She lifted her chin, proud and defiant.
Karmit immediately understood.
Ah. She was challenging him.
Little Miss Know-It-All had arrived with a mission: To verify whether all wizarding children were as advanced as people claimed.
A test. A probe.
A way to ease her anxiety about stepping into a new world.
Annoying? A little.
But clever? Very.
Draco scowled. "Miss, you're being rude. First, this is our compartment, and you weren't invited.
Second, how many spells you know has nothing to do with us. You're disturbing us, so please leave."
Hermione gave him a sharp, evaluating look.
"Firstly, every compartment on the Hogwarts Express is free to enter unless someone has formally reserved it.
Secondly, I was speaking to him, not you. Interrupting is also rude."
Draco turned red with anger.
Karmit hid a laugh.
Honestly— in a battle of wits, ten Dracos weren't worth one Hermione. And in a fight? Draco would still lose.
Spectacularly.
In canon, Hermione beat him verbally, magically… even physically once.
Poor Draco. He had no idea what kind of future enemy he had just provoked.
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