Chapter 20: The Two Sides

Luke and Hermione returned to their compartment.

"That Ron is so petty," Hermione grumbled in frustration. "His rat wasn't even really eaten."

Luke, holding Booker in his arms, shook his head with a wry smile. "You can't blame him, Hermione. If Booker had been the one pinned down, that rat wouldn't have made it out alive."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at Luke's response, sensing how much he valued the things and people around him.

"I don't blame Ron, honestly," Luke continued, sitting down and placing Booker, who was still a bit shaken, on the table. He began gently stroking the cat's fur while also playfully poking its head. "But something's off about that rat of his."

Booker, meanwhile, was attempting to bite Luke's finger in retaliation for the poking, but Luke was too quick for him.

The playful interaction between the two showed Hermione that Luke wasn't really concerned about the incident with Ron.

"Malfoy—he's one of those unfriendly people, right?"

Hermione asked, recalling the arrogance and bluntness in Malfoy's words. She sighed, "I thought all noble kids would be like you."

Luke glanced at Hermione's discontented expression and chuckled. "There are a few like me, but families like the Malfoys—they're what you'd call the hawks among the nobility. Though to be fair, the Malfoy family isn't really aligned with any faction."

Seeing Hermione's confused look, Luke sneered slightly. "Lucius Malfoy, the current head of the family, is someone I've heard about. When Voldemort was at his peak, he stood behind him without hesitation. But the moment Voldemort was about to fall, Lucius paid a hefty price to clear his name."

"Neither loyalty nor character are present there. The Malfoy family cares most about their own interests—so much so that they're willing to abandon their dignity for it."

Luke's voice took on a tone of disdain as he added, "The fact that a family like the Malfoys is one of the noble leaders in wizarding Britain today shows just how far the noble class has fallen."

Hermione watched Luke with a mix of curiosity and amusement. His indignation seemed genuine, but she thought he might be exaggerating a little.

"Why are you telling me all this?"

She asked, looking at Luke seriously.

Luke smiled warmly. "You're someone exceptional, Hermione. You are, and you will be, in the future. As for why I'm telling you now—you'll understand in time."

Hermione, sensing the mystery radiating from Luke, couldn't help but feel intrigued. She knew she wasn't particularly striking in appearance—after all, they had just seen an older student, Cho Chang, who was far more attractive.

So what did Luke see in her? Could he really recognize her potential? That seemed impossible... unless he could see into the future.

As Hermione's thoughts spiraled, she suddenly shivered. It dawned on her that this wasn't just any ordinary world—it was a magical one. And if her memory served her correctly, there were indeed Seers in history, those capable of glimpsing the future.

Could it be that the boy in front of her was one of them?

The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. The air of mystery surrounding Luke intensified in her mind.

Meanwhile, Luke, noticing the change in her expression, wasn't sure what exactly Hermione was imagining, but whatever it was, it certainly wasn't a bad thing for him.

Glancing out the window, Luke noticed the landscape shifting. In the distance, a large lake came into view.

"Get ready," Luke said with a gentle smile. "We should change into our robes. We're almost there."

---

"Ron, I know you're upset that Booker almost bit Scabbers, but Luke did apologize, didn't he?" Harry said with a bit of exasperation, trying to comfort his friend.

Honestly, if it hadn't been for their shared confrontation with the 'vicious' Malfoy earlier, Harry would have already gone off to join Luke.

Ron held his fat rat tightly, his face troubled.

"I know, Harry, but at that moment, I just couldn't control myself. The thought of Scabbers almost being killed— I just couldn't stay calm."

The rat in Ron's arms, still looking frazzled, squirmed furiously.

But to Harry, it seemed like Scabbers was more interested in getting back to the table to steal some snacks. Or perhaps it was just suffocating because Ron was holding it too tightly.

Of course, Ron insisted that the rat had been frightened half to death by Luke's cat, and there wasn't much Harry could say to convince him otherwise.

"How about this: when we get off the train, we can talk to Luke properly? You can tell he's a good guy"

Harry suggested cautiously, hoping to defuse any lingering tension. He didn't want to see his new 'battle companion' from the Malfoy encounter at odds with his longtime friend. He had so few friends as it was, and he couldn't afford to lose any.

Ron looked conflicted for a moment. Deep down, he knew he didn't need to create a rift between himself and Luke. After all, from Luke's words and actions so far, he clearly wasn't like Malfoy.

Luke didn't belittle him for being poor, nor did he use his power to bully others. Even if Ron wanted to confront Luke physically, he knew he couldn't win. Harry might not have realized the level of that fire spell, but Ron did. It was far beyond what even a prefect like Percy could manage.

But Luke had still apologized immediately, which showed he wasn't unreasonable. A wizard like that could definitely become a friend.

After a moment's hesitation, Ron finally nodded and said, "Alright, when we get off, let's go talk to Luke."

Harry beamed at this response, nodding enthusiastically. "That's the spirit, Ron!"

Scabbers, taking advantage of Ron's moment of distraction, quickly wriggled free from the stifling embrace and leapt back onto the table. The rat took a deep breath, then resumed stuffing itself with snacks as if nothing had happened.

Harry, observing the rat's behavior, furrowed his brow slightly.

He couldn't shake the feeling that this rat was a bit too… human-like. But then again, remembering how intelligent Luke's cat seemed, he reconsidered. Perhaps magical creatures were just naturally smarter.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Harry couldn't help but feel an instinctive sense of disgust whenever he looked at Scabbers.

"Look! There's the Black Lake, Harry! Let's change into our robes—we're almost there!"

---

(T/N: Below are the original author's note)

Author's Note (Optional to Read):

Some thoughts to share with you all, feel free to skip if you're only here for the story:

P.S. I'm pretty sure Luna will be the main love interest. However, that doesn't mean Luke won't interact with other girls. He'll have friendships with both boys and girls, and while those relationships may develop, they'll never cross the line of romance. I just don't believe that, based on Luke's character, there wouldn't be other girls interested in him.

Also, as the author, I'm just a person—and yes, a single one at that—so it's perfectly normal for me to be intrigued by the idea of a sweet love story. It's only natural, right? I hope you all understand.

P.P.S. As for readers who think my writing is elementary, well, I'll admit my skills are a bit average. But there's no need to keep pointing it out. If you think it's not great, why not give it a try yourself? Writing isn't like playing sports or e-sports; it's something you can actually do. If you manage to write something, I'll respect that. If not, that's normal too. There are many writers out there, but only a few sign contracts, and even fewer finish an entire book. I'm not trying to brag, but even though my last book kind of fell apart, I did manage to tell a story that was over 1.6 million words long.

I get it, though—some readers like to "teach" authors how to write. But cut us some slack; crafting the kind of sophisticated prose you're asking for takes time and practice, and that's time I just don't have. Sure, I can refine my language, but squeezing out these 4,000 words a day is already like wringing water from a sponge.

Apologies if this came off as too much venting, but I don't really have plans to change.

Thanks for your time, and I apologize for rambling.