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Chapter 30: A Unique Way of Making Friends
Chapter 30: A Unique Way of Making Friends
"I stopped you just now to tell you that violence doesn't solve problems. We can sit down and talk things out calmly.
What you were trying to do just now—using violence to take snacks—is not acceptable. If you want to eat snacks, you can politely ask these two students to share some. I believe if you're polite, they won't refuse."
Jerry coughed, perhaps feeling he had been a bit too harsh, and explained again.
Then he turned to Harry and Ron and asked:
"Students, do you agree with what I said?"
Harry and Ron were taken aback for a moment, then started nodding their heads like chickens pecking at grain.
"See? If you had been more polite, they would have been willing to share some snacks with you!"
Jerry turned to look at Draco Malfoy and his two cronies, who were huddled in the corner near the compartment door, trembling. He softened his tone as much as he could:
"We're all first-year students this year. We might even end up in the same house. So, let's shake hands and be friends from now on! What do you say?"
Seeing Jerry extend his hand and look at them sharply, Draco Malfoy and his cronies' faces changed. Draco quickly stood up and extended his right hand to place it on Jerry's.
Harry and Ron, seeing Jerry turn to them, exchanged a glance and also stepped forward to place their hands on top.
"Hermione, come over too. Let's all do this together!"
Jerry extended his free left hand to Hermione and Neville.
Hermione, a bit bewildered, pulled the equally confused Neville over and hesitantly placed her hand on top.
"Great! Hands together, hearts together. Let's forget this unpleasantness, study together, improve together, and become the best... oh, I mean, the best wizards!"
For a moment, he almost slipped and said a business slogan from his past life.
Watching Draco Malfoy and his cronies run off after shaking hands, Jerry smiled and turned to Harry and Ron:
"Hi, I'm Jerry Carmen."
"Harry Potter."
"Ron Weasley."
Although Harry and Ron's brains were still processing what had just happened, they instinctively responded.
"The train will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train; we'll take it to the school for you."
At that moment, an announcement echoed through the entire train.
"Nice to meet you. But we're almost there, so we need to go back to our compartment and pack up. See you later!"
Hearing the announcement, Jerry waved to the two and led Hermione and Neville out of the compartment.
"Jerry, thank you for helping us just now!"
Just as the three were about to leave, Harry and Ron, finally realizing what had happened, thanked Jerry simultaneously.
"You're welcome. We're all classmates, and I believe in leading by example!"
Jerry winked at Harry and Ron, then led Hermione and Neville out of the compartment.
"Leading by example?"
A series of question marks appeared above Harry and Ron's heads.
Was that really leading by example?
"Jerry, are you really good at fighting?"
Back in the compartment, Hermione, who was putting Crookshanks into his cat cage, asked Jerry curiously.
Hermione appeared to be a rule-follower, but as a Gryffindor, she was also someone who would break rules to help her friends.
Like when she set fire to Professor Snape's robes, helped Harry and Ron get the Philosopher's Stone, and stole ingredients from Snape to make Polyjuice Potion.
So, when Jerry stepped in to help Harry and Ron by teaching the Draco Malfoy Trio a lesson, Hermione actually approved of his actions in her heart.
However, she was a bit curious about why Jerry was so skilled at fighting.
Jerry's eyes darted around, and he realized that Hermione, who might be the only one in the future capable of exchanging and advancing his magical skills, was someone he needed to make a good impression on.
"Well, speaking of which, sigh!"
Furrowing his brow, Jerry pretended to sigh, explaining with a touch of sadness:
"Actually, I wasn't always good at fighting. But, you know, I was born in an orphanage, and in an orphanage..."
He didn't elaborate further.
However, the clever Hermione seemed to have picked up on something from Jerry's expression, and her eyes showed a look of sympathy.
Sometimes, the most convincing lies are the ones the other person fills in themselves, no matter how real or detailed the story is.
At this moment, Hermione's mind was already filled with a tragic story of Jerry being abandoned at birth in an orphanage, growing up being bullied, and eventually honing his fighting skills.
"It's okay, Jerry, it will get better!"
Hermione stepped forward and gave Jerry a big hug.
"Um, yeah, it will get better!"
Jerry didn't know what Hermione had imagined, but from the situation, it seemed to be something positive, so he didn't say anything more.
"The train has stopped, we can get off!"
Neville, who hadn't been as imaginative as Hermione, had been in a daze the whole time. Now, seeing the train stop, he finally reacted and called out to the hugging Hermione and Jerry.
As the train pulled into the station, the previously empty platform was soon filled with young wizards emerging from the compartments.
Jerry, Hermione, and Neville struggled through the crowd, pushing and shoving their way off the train.
Hogsmeade Station, the final stop of the Hogwarts Express, was a very small platform.
"First years! First years over here!"
While the three of them were unsure where to go, a thunderous voice suddenly rang out from the far left of the platform.
Turning their heads, they saw a giant, standing about three or four meters tall, with a large beard, holding a magical lantern and shouting loudly to the crowd.
"That must be Hagrid!"
Given his size, this could only be the half-giant and half-wizard, known as the gamekeeper, Rubeus Hagrid.
The three of them pushed through the crowded platform, and after a struggle, finally joined the other first-year students by Hagrid's side.
This group included Harry and Ron, as well as the Draco Malfoy Trio, who were standing a distance away from Jerry.
Hagrid smiled and had a brief conversation with Harry before leading all the first-year students, lantern in hand, down a steep and narrow path to the left of the station.
"Hermione, if it's difficult to walk, you can hold onto my arm!"
Seeing that Hermione was having trouble walking, Jerry offered his arm.
It was a downhill path, and the ground was very uneven, making it difficult for the young wizards to walk smoothly.
(End of Chapter)
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