To Warren, teaching Draco Malfoy a lesson was a trivial matter.
But for Hermione, it stirred strange, unfamiliar emotions she struggled to understand. She watched Warren approach. She had rehearsed a thousand ways to thank him, but for some reason, she ended up stammering out a reprimand. "You shouldn't have used spells like that against them. What if they report you?"
She regretted the words the moment they left her lips.
Warren didn't seem to mind, though. He simply smiled. "At least they won't be bothering us for the next few hours. I'm heading back to my compartment. See you later, Miss Granger."
Merlin. What is wrong with you, Hermione Granger?
Hermione had the urge to smack herself. As Warren turned to walk away, she finally blurted out, "Thank you for earlier. You can call me Hermione."
Warren nodded. "All right, Hermione. You can call me Warren."
He raised his wand, just as he had the first time they met, and a subtle current of magic washed through her hair. This time, it didn't frizz up. Instead, it became smooth and sleek, falling softly against her cheeks.
He smiled at her. "Don't listen to Malfoy. You really are very pretty."
Hermione felt as if her brain had just overheated. Her face burned bright red.
Draco Malfoy's foul mood lifted considerably after he had his fun with the girl. He hummed a light tune all the way back to his compartment.
Before he even opened the door, he could hear Ron bragging inside.
"I heard what happened. Warren absolutely flattened Malfoy. I bet he hit him with some right nasty curses. Did you see his teeth? They looked like a warthog's. Maybe they'll stay like that forever."
Harry's shaky, excited whisper followed. "What sort of curse is powerful enough to do that?"
Who knows? Warren is always messing with strange things. He's got a mean streak. I wouldn't be surprised if he used an Unforgivable Curse on him.
Warren rolled his eyes. He slid the door open, and as the two boys stared at him in shock, he pointed his wand at Ron.
"Aaaaah!"
Ron screamed, scaring Harry half to death. Before Harry could react, Ron had scrambled behind him, using him as a human shield. His movements were so practiced it was almost sad. But why did he have to be the shield?
Having successfully terrorized his brother, Warren turned his attention to other matters. He took a seat, pulled out a Potions textbook, and began to read intently.
Harry glanced at Ron, whose face was now nearly as pale as Malfoy's, and stifled a laugh. Ron felt humiliated, but he didn't dare say a word. He simply glared at Harry.
Before long, the two new friends were whispering together again, discussing whatever caught their interest.
Nothing else of note occurred for the remainder of the journey. The twins stopped by once, knowing exactly how to stay in their benefactor's good graces. After greeting Harry, they mentioned they had borrowed a camera from an older student. They planned to take pictures of Draco Malfoy's miserable state and distribute them to the whole school, intending to publicize their dear brother's glorious achievement.
Twilight deepened, and the Hogwarts Express finally began to slow. By the time the train came to a stop, the world outside was completely dark. A voice echoed through the carriages. "We have reached Hogwarts. Please leave your luggage on the train. It will be delivered to your dormitories."
Warren had ensured that Harry and Ron changed into their robes well over ten minutes ago.
They stood nervously behind Warren. Harry kept wiping his sweaty palms on his robes. Ron's freckles stood out sharply against his pale face. Their imaginations ran wild with every rumor they had ever heard about the Sorting.
When the train finally stopped, Harry and Ron instinctively followed Warren, their minds blank. It wasn't until they were jostled off the train onto a small, dark platform that the biting wind woke them up.
Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, held a lantern high and scanned the crowd of first years. "First years! First years over here! You all right there, Harry?"
Even Hagrid's beaming smile couldn't warm Harry up. Seeing Ron clutching Warren's robes tightly, he grabbed on as well.
Warren glanced back at them. "Not so tight," he whispered.
They both shook their heads vigorously but didn't let go.
The older students dispersed quickly. Hagrid called out a few more times to ensure all the first years were accounted for, then led the way, holding his lantern high.
They followed a steep, narrow, and pitch-black path. No one spoke. They could see nothing but the lantern bobbing ahead of them as they stumbled forward, trying not to fall behind. Then Warren raised his wand.
"Lumos."
A soft glow pushed back the darkness. The first years, their faces suddenly visible, crowded around Warren like chicks around a mother hen.
They walked on in silence for a while. Then, rounding a corner, the narrow path opened up before them.
Ahead, at the end of the path, lay a vast, ink-black lake that stretched all the way to the foot of a mountain. Perched atop that mountain was a magnificent castle with towers clustered together and countless windows glowing with warm, welcoming light in the darkness.
Warren had to admit, the view was absolutely breathtaking.
Hagrid led them down to the shore, where a fleet of small boats waited. "No more than four to a boat. No crowding now."
Warren, Harry, and Ron got into a boat. Other first years tried to squeeze in with them.
Warren called out, "Hermione! Over here."
Fortunately, the darkness concealed Hermione's blush. She hurried over and climbed in, doing her best to act casual.
Ron glared at her the entire time. Harry, however, was pleased to have another person he knew sharing the boat.
Once all the first years were settled, Hagrid shouted an order. The fleet of boats moved out, gliding smoothly across the glassy lake.
As they drew closer to the mountain and the towering castle, the cliffs appeared to rise endlessly above them, suspended in the night air. The sheer scale of the sight took their breath away. Not a word was spoken.
Hagrid guided them ashore. They walked up a gravel path and a flight of stone steps to a huge oak door. Hagrid raised his massive fist and knocked three times.
The door swung open. A familiar figure stood there.
"The first years, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
Professor McGonagall wore her usual stern expression. Under her sharp gaze, the first years quickly stopped fidgeting and followed her meekly.
Warren, however, glanced around with curiosity as they passed through a doorway into a stone hall. The walls were stark and lit by flaming torches. Stone figures, like saints resting in niches, lined the walls, rising toward a ceiling lost in darkness. The atmosphere felt ancient and solemn.
Beyond this, they entered a vast, magnificent chamber ablaze with torchlight. A marble staircase spiraled upward, connecting to the upper floors of the castle.
//==============//