62
Chapter 62, "Pride and Prejudice":
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"Boom, boom, boom."
A gentle knock sounded on the carriage door.
Theo, positioned nearby, stood up and opened the door cautiously. "Hello?"
Outside, Wade and the others heard voices:
"Is Mancini here? We're looking for Vader Gray—"
"I think we've got the wrong compartment—"
However, a chance glance allowed one of them to spot Wade seated inside.
The student looked surprised for a moment, his initial nonchalance giving way to a warm smile.
"So, you're really here?" He squeezed past Theo and entered with two others, as if they were old acquaintances. "Hey, Gray, how was your break?"
Theo found himself squeezed into a corner, helplessly watching as three much taller students crowded in. The space suddenly felt cramped.
-- Who are these guys?
Wade raised an eyebrow, about to reply, when Michael interjected. Rising to his feet, he greeted with a smile, "Long time no see, Prewett. Heard you guys went to Iceland for Christmas?"
Prewett turned to Wade, smiling. "Yeah, saw some amazing sights. And after I got back, I heard about the Book of Friends—" He looked at Wade. "—It's incredible! I immediately bought the full hardcover set. Twelve books, one for each month."
Michael chimed in, "The Prewett family never fails to impress. Even Marchionne had to give in. We managed to snag a limited edition copy. If we want another, we'll have to wait a couple weeks."
"Don't worry, won't be long. Marchionne moves fast when money's involved. Of course," he added casually, glancing at Theo, "it's different from some others..."
Arrogance flickered in his eyes.
Though the Mancini family was quite wealthy—certainly richer than the Weasleys—Theo, sorted into Hufflepuff, seemed to have been labeled a "fool" and relegated to the bottom rungs of their disdainful hierarchy.
Ryan's expression darkened, ready to stand up, but Theo held him back, silently urging him to stay quiet.
Michael, seemingly oblivious, continued with a smile. "The Prewetts are an old family—these two here—"
The two Slytherins behind Prewett eyed Wade with keen interest, occasionally glancing at Michael. Completely ignoring the two Hufflepuffs in their patched green and silver scarves, their demeanor was distinctly aloof—typical Slytherin behavior.
Among the various houses, only Ravenclaw Academy had a cordial relationship with Slytherin, though even that was limited to polite greetings and brief exchanges.
Prewett, waiting for a cue, introduced, "This is Gaston Yaxley—"
The blond-haired boy with thick eyebrows smiled and nodded at Wade.
"And Onell Fawley—"
The darker-skinned boy with a softer expression greeted Wade kindly.
"—They're both sixth-year Slytherins. Heard the creator of the Book of Friends was in this compartment, so we wanted to meet you."
Prewett's smile remained, but his eyes urged Michael to step aside—clearly signaling him to move.
Michael complied, stepping aside. As he did, he winked at Wade, silently conveying a message.
Gaston Yaxley stepped forward, extending a hand. "Hello, Mr. Grey."
Under Michael's watchful gaze, Wade stood and shook hands. "Hello."
Even with a somewhat reserved tone, merely accepting the handshake was enough to signal friendship in Slytherin eyes.
A faint smile touched Yaxley's pale face. "I didn't expect the creator of the Book of Friends to be so young. Ravenclaw hasn't seen such talent in years, Mr. Grey. You're truly gifted and capable. With time, you could rival even Terrence Murray. You deserve a bigger stage to showcase your talents."
Pausing, he added with a hint of condescension, "The Yaxley family would be interested in offering you some support."
Though Prewett maintained his smile, a hint of jealousy flickered across his face.
Michael noticed, glancing at Fawley on the other side—whose impeccable smile revealed nothing.
"Thank you for your kind offer. I'm honored." Wade replied politely. "But I'm only an apprentice in alchemy, far from Professor Murray's level."
"Of course, Murray is unmatched," Yaxley conceded. "But I see even greater potential in your future." His words carried a subtle condescension. "While the alchemy in the Book of Friends is basic, students in sixth and seventh years can replicate it. What's truly admirable is your innovative idea—how did you conceive it?"
Wade nodded, explaining, "I wasn't the first—have you heard of the Muggle Internet?"
"—Muggle?" The three faces changed simultaneously, as if they'd heard something distasteful.
"Yes," Wade smiled. "The Internet uses TCP/IP protocol for data transmission—"
He proceeded to explain the workings of computers, the Internet, cloud computing, electronic chips, wide-area networks, data planes, and more—touching on e-commerce's future, the integration of AI and big data, blockchain technology, and digital currencies.
Wade was the sole speaker in the compartment, leaving everyone else wide-eyed and speechless, like ignorant children. Even students who'd come hoping to meet Wade lingered by the door, hesitant to enter, as if some magical barrier kept them at bay.
After a pause, the three Slytherins, politely resisting the urge to interrupt, bid their farewells and hurriedly left. Their faces were ashen, as though they'd weathered a storm. Their hurried departure left a sense of awkwardness trailing in their wake.
Theo closed the door with a spell, locking it. The four inside burst into laughter.
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