🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 5
Chocolate Frog
Shane, who was taking notes nearby: Actually, not really.
[You have to flick and swish your wrist.
Saying the spell correctly is also very important—never turn the “f” into an “s.”
It should be “Wingardium Leviosa,” and that “gar” must be long and clear.]
Shane looked at the notes he had written and put his quill back down with satisfaction.
As long as he put it back quickly enough, the ink wouldn’t dry, so he could write longer.
“I practiced it fifteen times in total, Hermione… I’m not the dumbest little wizard, right?”
Justin’s voice carried a bit of worry. Facing an unfamiliar field, even someone as optimistic as him felt a little discouraged.
Shane, putting away his notes: Actually, not really.
“I don’t know either. With only myself as a reference, I can’t judge…”
Hermione frowned and shook her head. Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
“Shane, you… can definitely do the Levitation Charm too, right?”
Being suddenly called, Shane nodded. At the same time, he flicked and swished his wrist.
“Wingar—dium—Leviosa!”
[You practiced the Levitation Charm once at beginner level. Proficiency +3]
As Shane’s spell sounded, the feather slowly floated up again.
“Cool!”
Justin exclaimed in admiration. Compared to his spell that only lifted for one second, Shane’s was clearly more skilled.
“You must have learned it very quickly, right? I mean, for someone like you who comes from a wizarding family.”
Justin’s last words made Shane tilt his head slightly in confusion.
Seeing his questioning eyes, Justin widened his own in surprise.
“You’re not from a wizarding family? You’re Muggle-born?
That means you only started learning magic this summer… Two months, and you already learned something as difficult as Transfiguration?”
Shane calmly nodded.
“How does that saying go? Mer… Mer…?”
Justin seemed to want to say something, but got stuck.
“Merlin.”
Hermione reminded softly.
“Merlin…”
Justin repeated in a low voice. Then his expression suddenly became friendly.
“Me and Hermione, we’re both… Muggle-born. You know, parents who aren’t wizards.
So that means the three of us in this compartment are all Muggle-born wizards.
That’s kind of amazing… I heard there are more pure-bloods in the wizarding world.”
Just as he was speaking, the noise outside grew louder. There were even faint “clang clang” sounds.
Strangely, instead of fading like other noises, it grew louder and louder.
Soon, the compartment door opened. A plump witch wearing an apron came in, pushing a cart that immediately caught their attention.
“Dear, would you like to buy something to eat?”
The plump witch had dimples and a warm smile. Even her voice was friendly.
Shane glanced at the dazzling display of snacks, then forced himself to look away.
It had already been a long time, and he was very hungry.
He knew the Hogwarts Express would travel for a long time, from morning until night.
But he had no way to bring food—Anna wouldn’t allow him to take even a slice of toast.
It’ll be fine once I get to Hogwarts, Shane thought.
“One of everything… no, two.”
As soon as Justin said the first word, the witch’s smile became even brighter.
“Alright, dear. Every-Flavour Beans, Drooble’s Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands… That’ll be one Galleon and five Sickles.”
She seemed to be in a better mood and even introduced the snacks.
Hermione was shocked at the price and was about to stop him, but Justin’s Galleon blinded her.
He paid quickly, then explained with a slight blush:
“This money was originally for me to go to Eton College. But the very next day, I received my Hogwarts letter.
My mother thinks Hogwarts isn’t as good as Eton…
But think about it—learning magic is way more attractive than becoming a lawyer or a business elite…”
After speaking, he put the remaining Galleons back into his trunk.
Only then did Shane remember who he was:
Justin Finch-Fletchley.
A sincere and kind Hufflepuff.
He had attended the Dueling Club and joined Dumbledore’s Army.
Notably, when he realized he had misunderstood Harry as the Heir of Slytherin, he took the initiative to apologize.
Compared to those who pretended nothing happened, he was much braver and more sincere.
What made him even more memorable was that he gave up Eton College and chose Hogwarts.
In England, it’s not just good grades that get you into Eton—those who enter are almost all from noble families.
“My aunt’s son’s classmate’s uncle’s nephew got into Eton! Haha, jealous? Trash like you wouldn’t even dream of it!”
These were words Anna often used to mock them, showing Eton’s status.
In other words,
Justin was a hidden rich kid at Hogwarts.
A pure-blood of wealth, Shane thought.
The plump witch had already pushed her cart away, muttering about “meeting two generous little wizards,” and disappeared.
Inside the compartment,
Justin placed all the snacks on the table.
“Help me eat some?”
The snacks piled up like a small mountain. His voice came from behind them.
“I definitely can’t finish all this. Please.”
“You’re being too obvious.”
Hermione said bluntly, taking a drink, then whispered to Justin.
“Shh—”
Justin gestured for silence, and the two of them secretly glanced at a certain boy.
His clothes were worn and slightly frayed. Even the sleeves were a bit torn.
If not for his pale but handsome face, he would look just like a child no one wanted from an orphanage.
“Want to try this Chocolate Frog? I heard wizard kids all love it.”
Facing Justin’s tempting offer and the Chocolate Frog in his hand,
Shane quickly took it.
“Thank you.”
His voice was very soft.
No difficulty can defeat me… but temptation can.
Shane fell under the sugar-coated trap of capitalism.
“My Chocolate Frog!”
Just as Justin happily unwrapped his candy, the frog suddenly jumped, about to leap out the window.
“Wingar—dium—Leviosa!”
A calm voice sounded. Shane had already expected it. With a flick of his wand, the Chocolate Frog dropped back into Justin’s hand.
“Chocolate Frogs jump once.”
Shane explained calmly.
Then he took small bites of his Chocolate Frog while reading One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.
Outside, the sky gradually grew dark.
