The rhythmic clatter of the train wheels on the track was a soothing backdrop to the quiet rustle of turning pages. The peaceful atmosphere was suddenly broken by a sharp rap on the compartment door, followed by a hesitant question. "Excuse me? Are there any empty seats in there?"
Lucien and Hermione, both engrossed in their books, looked up simultaneously. Before either could reply, the door slid open with a whoosh.
Standing in the doorway were two young boys. One had perpetually messy black hair and a pair of round-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, a noticeable crack held together with tape. His almond-shaped, emerald-green eyes peeked nervously into the compartment. The other boy was a splash of vibrant color, with a shock of bright red hair, a long nose, and a constellation of freckles across his face. He was just as slender as the black-haired boy.
The two boys exchanged a quick, uncertain glance, and finally, the red-haired one spoke up. "Ahem, sorry to bother you, but all the other compartments are full." His voice was soft, and his expression was a mixture of awkwardness and hope. "Could we… could we two sit in here?"
Hermione didn't reply immediately. She had been quite enjoying the quiet, studious atmosphere she and Lucien had cultivated, and she wasn't eager for it to be disturbed. She glanced at the two boys again. The one with the glasses seemed quiet enough, but the red-haired one... he just looked boisterous. Even though it was their first meeting, she had a feeling he would be trouble. She shot a quick glance at Lucien, a silent question in her eyes, hoping he would prefer to keep their sanctuary to themselves.
Lucien, however, was sizing up the two boys with a thoughtful, half-smile playing on his lips, not noticing Hermione's subtle inquiry. Black hair and round glasses, green eyes, a shock of red hair and freckles. Oh, wasn't this the Savior and his loyal sidekick? What a remarkable coincidence. The complete set had finally assembled. This was an excellent opportunity for some preliminary observation. After all, repaying his Qilin loan depended on following Harry Potter's inevitable collision course with the Philosopher's Stone.
Lucien believed Dumbledore had everything arranged; the boy was destined to get the stone. Perhaps, with a little encouragement, Harry could be prompted to find it sooner. Then he could start his potion brewing earlier and pay off the loan as quickly as possible.
Just as Harry was beginning to squirm under Lucien's intense scrutiny, Lucien shifted his gaze. His smile became more pronounced, though it remained within the bounds of perfect politeness. "Please, come in."
Hearing Lucien's invitation, Harry and Ron quietly breathed a collective sigh of relief. Hermione, seeing the matter was decided, stood and moved to the seat next to Lucien, making room. Harry and Ron quickly stowed their luggage.
"Hello, I'm Ron Weasley," the red-haired boy said, ruffling his already messy hair as he introduced himself. Lucien and Hermione greeted him back, offering their own names.
Finally, all three of them looked at Harry. The seemingly thin and introverted boy was the only one who hadn't spoken yet. Feeling a bit uncomfortable under their combined gaze, Harry fidgeted. He had always been an outcast, ostracized by his aunt's family and his peers. This was the first time he had encountered so many people who were like him—people who, he presumed, could also use that strange ability called magic. He adjusted his cracked glasses and mustered his courage. "Hello," he said softly. "I-I'm Harry. Harry Potter."
Lucien merely nodded, having already expected it. Hermione and Ron's reactions, however, were much more dramatic. "You're Harry Potter!?" Ron exclaimed, his voice cracking with excitement. "You're the Boy Who Lived!"
Hermione, having come from a non-magical family, had only read about him in books over the summer. But for Ron, whose family was one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, Harry Potter was a living legend. "Do you... do you really have the... you know... the scar?" Ron asked, his eyes shining.
Harry nodded shyly, pushed back his fringe, and revealed the thin, lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. Ron was even more excited now, launching into a breathless tirade of all the wild rumors he'd ever heard about Harry, many of which left Harry himself completely bewildered. Hermione, who had initially found it interesting, pursed her lips in annoyance as Ron's stories became more and more outlandish. This red-haired boy was indeed very noisy.
Just as she was about to interrupt, the compartment door slid open again, revealing a smiling, dimpled woman with a trolley laden with sweets. "Anything from the trolley, dears?"
Ron stared wide-eyed at the colorful array of snacks, swallowing hard. He then turned away, pulling a lumpy, unidentifiable parcel from his pocket. "No, thank you," he mumbled. "I brought my own." The Weasley family's poverty was as real as their ancient lineage, and with five older brothers and a younger sister, Ron's pocket money was truly limited.
"I'll have some," Lucien said, breaking the silence. He casually pulled out a handful of Galleons and Sickles and handed them to the woman. Ron's eyes went wide. The coins Lucien had just produced were more than his entire year's allowance.
"Then... then I'll have some too," Harry said, also taking out a few gold coins. This only served to confuse Ron even more. The Potter family was that rich?
Lucien and Harry proceeded to buy nearly the entire trolley. Looking at the mountain of snacks piled on the seat, Ron swallowed again. He desperately wanted some but was far too embarrassed to ask.
"Help yourselves," Lucien said. With a languid wave of his wand, he sent several packages flying over to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Children are easily bought, he thought. Give them some food, and you can build a connection. He needed to build a good relationship with these three. That way, when they inevitably stumbled upon clues related to the Philosopher's Stone, they would think to discuss it with him, and he could keep track of their progress.
To Ron, Lucien's voice was almost heavenly. His generosity, coupled with his handsome face, made him seem like an angel. He was so overwhelmed that he completely overlooked the casual bit of wand magic, forgetting how rare it was for a first-year to so skillfully use a Levitation Charm.
Harry also shared his snacks, but without a wand, he could only hand them over one by one. Ron accepted them gratefully but was still more touched by Lucien's initial grand gesture.
Lucien opened a box of Chocolate Frogs. The enchanted frog inside gave one mighty leap for freedom, only to be snatched from the air in a swift motion and devoured. Chewing the sweet, Lucien flipped over the card inside. Each box came with a card featuring a famous witch or wizard. He glanced at the portrait. Snape. The Potions Master's cold, deep-set eyes peered out from behind his lank, greasy black hair, meeting Lucien's gaze. Tsk, tsk, tsk, Lucien thought with a grin. It's time for a wash. He briefly considered sending Snape a bottle of shampoo sometime in the future. He glanced at the back of the card, which listed Snape's achievements in Potions.
"Um, um..."
Lucien looked up toward the doorway. A chubby, round-faced boy stood there, looking incredibly nervous. "Have you seen my toad?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.