Chapter 41: Fun Facts In The Box

There was a knock on the door, and with a signal from Martin's eyes, Ben reluctantly opened the box door.

"Ben, you're all here. This is Goyle and Crabbe," Draco introduced his two followers as he walked into the box. Draco was stunned when he saw the scene inside.

Goyle and Crabbe were tall, and it was evident they saw what Draco saw. The two hefty men trembled with fear.

"Draco, you've arrived quite early. Please, have a seat," Martin greeted warmly.

Seeing that the three hesitated, Martin put his snake back into the suitcase.

"Don't be afraid. They are pets given to us by our mother. They won't bite. Ben, Darlene, and Alice, take them back," Martin reassured them. As for Jerome's snake, there was no need to worry; it was unwilling to move.

Ben closed the box door, walked over to Draco, and put his arm around his shoulder.

"Cousin, I didn't expect you to be so timid. Just a moment ago, you were saying you wanted to raise a dragon."

"Tch, who's scared? I just didn't realize Aunt Meira would agree to you keeping such pets," Draco retorted, unconvinced, as he took a seat on the sofa.

Goyle and Crabbe stood behind Draco, finding no seats for themselves.

Martin smiled. He knew Draco's courage well, but he kept silent to save face for his cousin.

A variety of snacks appeared on the table, including Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, chocolate frogs, and sour lollipops.

Draco picked up a bean and threw it into his mouth, frowning. "It's peppery and tastes really bad."

Goyle and Crabbe stared at the snacks on the table, but they dared not move without Martin's permission.

"You're welcome," Martin said, prompting them to start eating.

As the train journey progressed, the scenery outside the window began to change, revealing green mountains and flowing rivers.

Draco kept insisting he would be sorted into Slytherin, fearing the consequences if he didn't meet his father's expectations.

Only Martin listened quietly to Draco's concerns, while Jerome and the others were engrossed in their own activities.

"Do you remember that big guy from the other day? He was quite rude, and we didn't even provoke him."

Draco thought of Harry Potter. He had been hearing stories about Harry since childhood, and Harry's identity still intrigued him.

"Maybe he's not the same kind of person as us," Martin remarked, knowing Harry's identity.

Draco looked at Martin in confusion. "The Potter family is also pureblood. They're undoubtedly the same kind of people as us. Why would you say that, Martin?"

Martin didn't elaborate, knowing Draco might be disappointed.

Martin and Draco already knew how Hogwarts sorting worked, but they didn't learn it from Cole and Lucius.

This was part of a prank played by wizard parents on their children. The sorting ceremony, originally simple, was turned into a daunting task involving dragons or trolls.

Many first-year wizards were terrified to attend school, only to realize afterward that it was just a prank. They silently agreed not to spoil the surprise for their younger siblings, wanting them to experience the same fear.

Martin learned about this after Draco, fearful, came to him for answers. He didn't want to ask Cole and found out by wandering around Knockturn Alley.

Martin's behavior puzzled the wizard he accidentally attacked. The wizard thought he was about to die but ended up receiving ten gold galleons as compensation.

As for the mental damages Martin mentioned, the wizard attacked didn't understand, but he was glad to receive money for being beaten.

One such wizard started deliberately bumping into people in Knockturn Alley, hoping to profit from it. However, several dark wizards intervened, and the incidents ceased.

At this time, Martin was unaware that he had nearly sparked a new profession in the wizarding world.

Draco boasted about his plans for Hogwarts, particularly his ambition to become a Slytherin prefect. He insisted that Martin was the only acceptable choice.

Draco had endured much at Martin's hands over the years. Though Martin seemed friendly, those who knew him understood he was a typical aristocratic heir who wouldn't hesitate to assert his authority when necessary.

In another compartment of the Hogwarts Express, Harry, wearing round glasses, made new friends.

A red-haired boy named Ronald Weasley, with a dirty face and old clothes, hesitantly asked if he could try Harry's sandwich.

To ease the tension, Harry tasted Ronald's sandwich, and Ronald eagerly helped himself to the snacks on the table. Previously, he couldn't afford such luxuries, as Mrs. Weasley was frugal with her galleons.

During the journey, Harry and Ronald's friendship blossomed, and Harry felt optimistic about his future at Hogwarts, away from the oppression of the Dursley family.