"Seven" has always been a magical number in the wizarding world.
And there happened to be exactly seven people in this compartment on the Hogwarts Express.
Sherlock, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Cho Chang, Luna, and Ginny.
Anyone with even a bit of magical knowledge would inevitably think of something upon seeing a group of seven people.
Especially after studying subjects like Divination, Ancient Runes, and Arithmancy.
Yet despite this powerful number, Oliver Wood, captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, seemed completely oblivious to everyone else's presence, talking only to Harry from start to finish.
Logically, it should have been Wood who felt embarrassed in this situation.
However, Wood was completely unaware.
He proved the rule that if you don't feel embarrassed, the awkwardness spreads to everyone around you.
So, Harry now felt embarrassed—extremely embarrassed.
He knew perfectly well that although Wood had opened with talk about the public trial, he didn't actually care about it at all.
Sure enough, he'd barely gotten halfway through before switching to Quidditch.
Harry would even bet Sherlock five Galleons that this public trial, which was so fascinating to everyone else, was nothing more than a passing breeze to Wood.
The only thing he truly cared about was Quidditch.
Looking at his friends' expressions as they struggled to hold back laughter, Harry couldn't help but sigh.
That said, being like Wood wasn't so bad.
Being focused on one thing, undisturbed by external matters.
"Yes, the Dementors won't be coming to the school anymore."
"That's wonderful!"
Wood's expression brightened immediately. He clapped Harry heavily on the shoulder. "By the way, our next match is against Ravenclaw. You can't go easy on them just because you're friendly with their Seeker!"
Harry. "..."
Stealing a glance at Cho Chang, Harry felt even more embarrassed.
'Come on, mate.
I know you love Quidditch, but this is too much, right?
Saying this right in front of the girl?'
Sure enough, upon hearing Wood's words, Cho Chang couldn't quite maintain her composure. She smiled slightly and said.
"Captain Wood, discussing a lady like this in her presence is hardly gentlemanly behavior."
Wood looked over at the sound, his expression showed surprise when he saw Cho Chang.
"Huh? Aren't you Ravenclaw's Seeker? What are you doing here?"
Cho Chang: "..."
This time it wasn't just Harry and Cho who were speechless.
Everyone in the compartment looked at Wood with incredulous expressions.
Such a big person sitting right next to Harry, who you've been talking to, and you only just noticed?
"Huh? Holmes, Granger, Weasley—you're all here too!"
"..."
Alright, so you really do only have eyes for Harry?
You're even more single-minded than Cho and Ginny!
Except for Sherlock, who wasn't surprised, and Luna, who didn't particularly care, everyone else couldn't help but show expressions of defeat.
However, Wood's performance continued.
He looked at Cho Chang with wary eyes. "I came to find Harry about Quidditch matters. You're not here for the same reason, are you?"
Anyone sorted into Ravenclaw was proof enough of being clever and perceptive.
Understanding the subtext immediately, Cho realized what Wood was implying.
She felt both annoyed and amused.
But considering this Quidditch captain's personality was just like this, and that he meant no real harm, she decided not to hold it against him and patiently explained.
"It has nothing to do with the Quidditch match, Captain Wood—we're discussing the public trial, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew..."
"Oh, that stuff doesn't matter!"
Hearing that Cho wasn't here to discuss Quidditch with Harry, Wood immediately lost interest.
He waved his hand dismissively, stopping Cho from continuing—even though the entire wizarding world had been discussing this matter for days.
Seeing how easily Wood believed her, Cho once again confirmed her assessment.
This captain truly meant no harm; he was just too obsessed.
"More importantly than that, Harry, there's something more urgent."
"What is it?"
"Have you ordered a new broom?"
"Huh?"
"What do you mean, 'huh'!"
Wood's eyes widened. "You'd better hurry up. You should know—you can't play Ravenclaw on that Shooting Star, it's even slower than a Comet 260!"
Although Cho was a good-natured girl, as the owner of a Comet 260, being repeatedly slighted by Wood like this finally made her unable to resist retorting.
"Captain Wood, Sirius's matter cannot be taken lightly."
"Why not?"
Wood turned his head, looking warily at Cho.
His expression suggested he was worried she was trying to extract tactical information from Harry.
Cho ignored Wood's suspicious look and took a deep breath. "Because Sirius gave Harry a Firebolt."
Having said this, she stared intently at Wood.
Wood's reaction was exactly as Cho expected. He immediately turned to Harry, with eyes wide.
"What? A Firebolt! Really? Is this true?"
When Harry nodded, Wood's excitement was palpable. "A real—genuine Firebolt?
My god, why didn't you say so earlier? This is simply, simply..."
"Calm down, Oliver."
Harry looked at Wood's energetic, eloquent display and couldn't help saying.
"Calm down? How can I calm down? That's a Firebolt!"
He suddenly reached out and grabbed Harry's shoulders, saying urgently. "Where is it? Quick, let me see it!"
Wood's fanatical manner startled Harry, who felt his shoulders going numb.
He quickly turned his head to the side. "It's with Ron, he's..."
Before he finished speaking, Wood had rushed over, directly pushing aside Ron, who was absorbed in the Firebolt.
"My god, it really is a Firebolt!"
Wood's eyes traveled from the golden registration number at the top of the broomstick all the way down to the perfectly smooth, streamlined bristles at the end, his gaze was filled with deep infatuation.
After a moment, he reached out to grip it, gently caressed it, and involuntarily let out a moan.
Ron: "???"
"I can't believe it—this is international-level equipment—compared to this, a Comet 260 is a joke!"
Cho Chang: (ー`ー)
As Wood spoke, he turned around and announced loudly. "No, I have to tell everyone else about this. Wait here!"
With those words, he rushed out like a gust of wind.
"..."
Everyone looked at each other.
"Sorry, Harry, I shouldn't have told him," Cho said apologetically.
"Uh... it's okay. I would have told him anyway, even if you hadn't, just... I didn't expect him to react like that."
Harry was even more embarrassed than Cho. He had also noticed that Wood's behavior clearly indicated he'd treated Cho as a spy trying to gather intelligence.
Everyone knew Wood was a fanatical Quidditch enthusiast. But his reaction seemed a bit too exaggerated.
However, before they could discuss this further, all the Gryffindor Quidditch team members who'd received the news had already rushed over.
"A Firebolt!"
"That's right, it's a Firebolt!"
"God, I wish I had a rich father..."
"Godfather, Katie. It's Harry's godfather who gave him this birthday present, not his father!"
"Practically the same as a dad. If someone would give me a Firebolt, I wouldn't mind calling him dad!"
"Where's your dignity, Angelina?"
"As long as I can fly on it, I don't care."
"..."
Everyone unanimously agreed that a Firebolt naturally deserved such honor.
After finally waiting for them to leave, everyone in the compartment let out a long sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness they finally left!"
Ginny said somewhat helplessly, "Really, even though George and Fred knew about this ages ago, they still had to join in the commotion!"
"You're celebrating too soon."
"What do you mean, Sherlock?"
"You'll know soon enough."
Just as Sherlock said, their compartment became extremely lively over the following period.
Someone had spread the word that Sirius had bought Harry a Firebolt.
More and more people specially came to this compartment.
This reminded Harry of his first year coming to school. But back then, people came to see him; now they came to see the Firebolt.
Of course, some first-year students also seized the opportunity, constantly crowding toward Harry.
Several bold young witches even got handsy with Harry, trying to get a clear look at the scar on his forehead.
"Hey, looking is fine, but keep your hands to yourself!"
"You two girls—are you here to see the Firebolt or Harry? Why are you crowding toward him?"
"I said don't touch randomly—where are you touching?"
"Seamus, what are you doing! Put your wand away, away!"
It wasn't until lunchtime that the students coming to view the Firebolt gradually decreased.
The friends in this compartment all had beads of sweat on their foreheads.
Especially Ron and Ginny.
When the crowd was at its peak, these two siblings had bravely stepped forward.
Ron protected the Firebolt.
Ginny protected Harry.
So, Harry now hurriedly thanked them both. Ginny gave him a sweet smile. "I'm sitting on the outside, of course I have to protect you!"
Cho Chang, sitting on the inside by the window next to Harry, raised her eyebrows slightly. Was she being too sensitive, or did those words have some hidden meaning?
Just then, Sherlock suddenly spoke. "I suggest everyone hurry and eat something—or just put this thing away."
"Sherlock, do you mean more people are coming?"
Harry immediately caught on.
"It's common sense, my dear Harry."
Sherlock said in a completely matter-of-fact tone, "Including the Gryffindor Quidditch team members, only about a third of the students on the entire train have come here, and most of them were Gryffindors.
So, after lunch, people from other houses will definitely come too—if you don't plan to refuse.
Also, you may have forgotten something. Hufflepuff has the largest student population in the school."
Hearing Sherlock's words, Harry's face immediately darkened.
He looked at Ron. "Maybe I should just put it away?"
"Don't!"
Ron panicked immediately when he heard this. "What's there to be afraid of? We need to let them know about this!
Not a single Slytherin has come yet!
This one Firebolt of yours is worth their entire team of Nimbus 2001s.
I really want to see the expressions on their faces!"
"But this way, you're working too hard."
"It's fine, he's obviously enjoying himself."
Hermione interjected.
Harry looked at Ron, who immediately gave him a determined look.
With that, Harry couldn't say anything more.
Actually, deep in his heart, he also wanted everyone to know he had a godfather who loved him.
When in doubt, ask Sherlock.
So, Harry immediately turned to Sherlock. "Sherlock, what do you think?"
"It's your decision," Sherlock smiled slightly. "There are no obvious pros and cons to this choice. Do whatever you want!"
"Harry, please!"
Ron put his hands together in a pleading gesture.
Seeing his best friend like this, Harry's heart softened, and he finally agreed.
Sure enough, after lunch, even more students came to see it.
Just as Sherlock had said, besides Gryffindor, people from the other three houses also came over, with the majority being from Hufflepuff.
With more people, the scene became even more chaotic.
Students lined up in a long queue outside the compartment, everyone standing on tiptoes, wanting to catch a glimpse of the Firebolt.
Some had even left this compartment already but came back, hoping to see the Firebolt again.
This inevitably led to conflicts.
Sure enough, a hot-tempered girl and hot-tempered boy got into an argument.
"Stop pushing! Are you blind?"
"Young people should watch their language!"
"Hey, you're crowding me!"
"What, you want to start something?"
Seeing the situation about to escalate, a tall, handsome upperclassman stepped in to prevent things from getting worse.
"Alright, alright, you two—give each other some space and you won't be crowded!"
"Hmph!"
These two young wizards clearly knew this boy. Both turned their heads away and stopped arguing.
Next, this upperclassman fully exercised his initiative and, together with other prefects, began maintaining order.
With this, the compartment environment immediately improved considerably.
After a while, once most people had left the compartment, this tall, handsome boy finally approached Harry.
He was Cedric Diggory, captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team.
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