Harry Potter: Returns Back From Game of Thrones (ASOIAF) - 19

Chapter 19: Hermione Granger

Hearing Harry so calmly say "Avada Kedavra" and that person's name, Ron felt somewhat dazed.

"This... so that's how it was, Mr Potter."

He'd just been too excited seeing Harry, but when actually discussing Voldemort-related topics, he didn't quite dare speak.

It felt like, though they were communicating face-to-face, there was actually a thick barrier between them.

"Actually, I've always been curious—why do you use 'You-Know-Who' to refer to Voldemort?"

Ron was so frightened he could barely breathe.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"You said You-Know-Who's name!" Ron said, appearing both shocked and impressed. "I always thought that among everyone, only you—"

"It's just a name, no big deal. Is his name cursed?"

As soon as he spoke, Harry had a flash of inspiration—maybe it really was cursed.

Ah well...

With divine power protecting his body, he was immune to all evils. Even if there was a curse, it would be directly suppressed, not to mention that after Voldemort's death, this curse's effect would at least be greatly weakened.

"Forget it, let's not discuss this topic. Let's talk about other things instead."

The two chatted about many things. Ron was even more straightforward than Hagrid—if that was possible.

He couldn't hide anything, sharing everything—quite normal since he was still a child.

Harry liked interacting with people of such frank character, and it didn't require mental effort.

Harry learnt he came from the pure-blood Weasley family and had five brothers.

The two older brothers, Bill and Charlie, had graduated. Bill had been Head Boy; Charlie was Quidditch team captain. The third brother was a prefect, rather stuffy. The fourth and fifth brothers he'd just met—they were very outgoing.

This wasn't Harry's first time hearing about Quidditch. He understood it as wizard football. In the [Asian Parents] world, to avoid trouble, he hadn't displayed obviously inhuman strength, so he couldn't lead the national football team to the championship.

His highest achievement was the 2008 Olympic basketball championship, plus a bunch of individual events.

He'd previously played basketball as a desperate attempt at special recruitment. This time, unless there were attribute points to gain, he wouldn't play sports again.

Due to raising many children, the Weasley family seemed to have some financial difficulties.

Ron wore Bill's old robes and used Charlie's old wand—this was rather excessive. Wizards really had big hearts. Magic was already dangerous enough; wasn't he afraid of accidents using someone else's wand as a first-year?

Ron also had an old rat that Percy had discarded. Harry could see this rat was naturally evil, practically the bully among rats.

The overlord among beggars was still a beggar; the overlord among cockroaches and rats was still a pest.

If it didn't have an owner, Harry would definitely stomp this naturally evil rat to death.

The rat had a name—Scabbers—and was quite powerful, with at least 1 complete point of magical power. Was it some kind of variant? Or the Weasley family's guardian beast? Specifically protecting young wizards in the family?

Whatever. Harry already knew enough about Ron's situation. Just keeping a magical rat—no need to get to the bottom of it. Many people kept toads too, like that round-faced boy he'd seen before boarding, who was telling his grandmother he'd lost his toad. Some wizards had strange aesthetics indeed.

At noon Harry bought various snacks, and they ate together. Chocolate frogs came with collectible cards of famous wizards from ancient times to present. Ron had collected about five hundred, only missing Agrippa and Ptolemy—rather like trading cards in snack packages.

Harry opened a chocolate frog and took out the card.

The card showed a man's face wearing half-moon spectacles, with a long crooked nose and silver hair and beard flowing down. The name below read: Albus Dumbledore.

Text on the back:

Albus Dumbledore, current Headmaster of Hogwarts
Considered the greatest wizard of modern times,
Dumbledore's widely known contributions include:
Defeating the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945,
Discovering the twelve uses of dragon's blood,
Effective work in alchemy with partner Nicolas Flamel...

Dumbledore—Harry had heard his name countless times. The world's strongest wizard.

Strength was the reason for kingship. If Voldemort was the Dark Lord, this one could be called the White Lord.

Just then, someone else knocked on their compartment door.

The round-faced boy Harry had brushed past at Platform 9¾ entered, tears in his eyes.

"Sorry," he said, "I don't suppose you've seen a toad?"

Harry asked curiously, "Didn't your grandmother help you find it?"

Wizards should have ways to find their own pets.

"She did find it, but I lost it again!"

He ran away crying. Harry was somewhat speechless, calling after his retreating figure, "Have you considered releasing that toad and getting a new pet, like a kitten?"

No response—apparently he still liked toads.

"I don't understand why he's so upset," Ron said. "If I'd bought a toad, I'd try to lose it as quickly as possible. Though since I brought Scabbers, I can't really talk."

'So this rat holds such high status in your heart? You're not much better!' Harry complained internally.

Though this rat seemed cleaner and more hygienic than ordinary rats, if you ignored its evil thoughts, as a pet... still no good. It was too old and ugly. A hamster would be better.

Ron probably also noticed its poor appearance, complaining, "Yesterday I tried to turn it yellow to make it more interesting, but my spell didn't work. Let me show you now, watch..."

He rummaged in his trunk for ages, pulling out a very worn wand with some parts peeling off, one end flashing with white light.

"The unicorn hair's nearly poking out, but anyway..."

Just as he raised his wand, the compartment door opened again.

The toad-losing boy appeared before them once more, this time accompanied by a girl with bushy brown hair and large front teeth.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she said in an arrogant, condescending tone.

Harry was somewhat displeased. Though just a child, she was too rude. Didn't anyone teach her to knock?

"We already told him we haven't seen it," Ron said, but the girl completely ignored this, only staring at the wand in his hand.

"Oh, are you doing magic? Well then, let's see."

She sat down.

Ron was obviously startled and somewhat at a loss.

"Oh—all right."

He cleared his throat.

"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow,
Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."

He waved his wand, but nothing happened.

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" the girl asked. "Well, it's not very good, is it?"

"Just an occasional mishap, rude girl."

Having spoken, Harry drew his wand, used the same spell, and with high Charisma forced the magical rat to accept the transfiguration.