Chapter 97 Returning Home
The train slowly moved, and the scenery outside the window changed rapidly.
Aaron placed Abey on the table, and it eagerly took out the roasted chicken from its bag, then tore off a drumstick for itself and began to eat.
"It's still so gluttonous." Ron sniffed the aroma, swallowed, and suppressed the urge to snatch the food.
He couldn't forget the sight of Abey after it transformed. With his small frame, one swat would probably knock him out.
"Isn't it normal for a dragon to have a big appetite?" Aaronsaid as a matter of course. He didn't have so many qualms and tore off another drumstick, putting it into his mouth.
Honestly, the food at Hogwarts was quite good.
"Is it really a dragon?" Hermione raised an eyebrow, wanting to touch it, but stopped halfway, restraining herself.
"That's right, but it's a dragon that has never appeared in the Magical World.
One of a kind, there's only one."
"That's so cool." Ron exclaimed, "If Charlie knew, he'd probably drop everything and come back to see it."
"Don't be silly." Harry gave Ron a look. He shrugged sheepishly. "At this point, even if we wanted to keep it a secret, we couldn't for long.
The Professors at the school all know, so Dumbledore must know too."
"Don't worry, they'll keep it a secret too." Aaron said calmly, "I successfully persuaded Dumbledore, and now I can even keep it at school."
"That's great." Hermione smiled, "You'll have a much easier time from now on, and so will we."
"By the way, Aaron, do you have any plans for the holidays?" Harry asked.
"Me? I'll probably go back to Diagon Alley to continue running my small shop!
It's been almost a year since I went back, and I don't know how business is, but it shouldn't be too bad.
For me, not losing money is making money."
The three looked at each other, somewhat unable to react.
In their perception, the Ministry of Magic couldn't possibly allow a child to open a shop in Diagon Alley.
"Did your family help you set it up?" Hermione asked.
"Of course, when I was nine, I had my uncle get me a shop.
It's not very big, but all the procedures are complete, and it's definitely legal."
"Nine years old?" Ron's mouth twitched. When he was nine, he was still happily trailing behind his older brothers, playing!
"That's too early to be independent!
It's really quite exaggerated." Harry said with an awkward smile.
His first eleven years of life were spent either being bullied by Dudley, or by Dudley's friends, or by all of them together; it was practically a history of hardship.
"Gaius's Drinks, not very famous, but it can earn some pocket money." Aaron said somewhat proudly, "I'm usually there, so if you want to find me, you can go there.
If I happen to not be there, you can also leave me a message or something, and I'll reply the next day.
Of course, if you come to my house as a guest, you are also very welcome."
"I probably can't go." Harry shook his head with a bitter smile, "Holidays are going home for you, but for me, it's not at all."
The three simultaneously gave Harry a complex look mixed with sympathy, but didn't know how to comfort him.
His parents died when he was one, and he was fostered with his aunt and uncle, but received no love whatsoever, only unfair treatment. It seemed to them that ensuring Harrydidn't freeze or starve to death was enough.
If he could have stayed at school, Harry would definitely have chosen to, but clearly he couldn't, otherwise he wouldn't be on the train now.
"Why don't you come to my house!" Ron suggested, "I'll have an owl send you a letter. Visiting a classmate's house during the holidays is perfectly normal.
If you come to my house every few days, they shouldn't stop you."
Harry's eyes lit up. Although, knowing his aunt and uncle, they might actually stop him, because that family just didn't want to see him doing well.
But they also might not stop him, because they didn't like seeing him; out of sight, out of mind.
The chance of them letting him go, though small, wasn't zero. It was at least something to look forward to... The train traveled for a long time, and Aaron also took this time to claim the rewards for his three missions.
"Help Slytherin win the House Cup; Reward: 500 magicpoints"
"Gain the approval of at least three Professors; Reward: 500 magic points"
"Destroy Lord Voldemort's lingering soul; Reward: 1000 magic points"
Two thousand magic points were now in hand. Adding what he had saved, it had broken the three thousand mark. This feeling of getting rich overnight made him somewhat unaccustomed.
But then came the euphoria. With this wealth, he could cross into the Magician level in minutes, and Abey could evolve again, this time awakening a talent skill.
Beyond that, he could also make some appropriate purchases; as long as they weren't too expensive, he could reluctantly place an order.
When the train stopped at Platform 9 3/4, Aaron finally opened his eyes to the long whistle.
"We're here?"
Harry nodded, "Um... do you feel like your shoulder is a bit sore?"
Aaron was still puzzled, but the next moment he found Hermione leaning on his shoulder, sleeping very sweetly.
"Crap!
When did this happen?"
"About two hours ago!" Harry said with an amused smile, "You were both asleep, and I didn't want to wake you."
Aaron pouted, gently withdrawing his shoulder, "I admit it's a bit awkward to wake up first in these situations, but at least it's better than you."
Harry's face changed. He turned his head and glanced at Ron, who was slumped on his shoulder, feeling inexplicably disheartened.
Just then, an old guard knocked on the compartment door, waking the remaining two, "Children, it's time to get off.
Collect your suitcases and line up, please.
We have to exit this platform in batches; too many people leaving at once would be noticed by Muggles."
After queuing for a long time, it was finally their turn.
As soon as Aaron stepped out of the platform, he saw Ginessmiling and greeting him, "I've been waiting for half an hour, young master. You'll have to be quicker next time."
"You shouldn't be telling me that." Aaron rolled his eyes, casually handing his suitcase to the butler.
Gines smiled as he took it, then glanced at Aaron holding Abey, and couldn't help but frown slightly, "Has Abey gotten fatter?"
"Uh... that's not important."
Abey also nodded vigorously; its appetite was just that big, and it couldn't help it.
Gines walked up to Aaron, picked up Abey, and weighed it carefully twice, "It has indeed gotten fatter, by a kilogram. It seems I'll have to arrange a new diet for it when I get back."
Abey's face fell, his entire expression filled with unhappiness.
He knew without thinking that Gines would definitely remove a significant portion of the meat from its diet, or directly replace it with vegetables; he was absolutely capable of doing such a thing.
Thinking of this, Abey immediately put on a pitiful expression and gave Aaron a resentful look.
"It's not that serious, is it!" Aaron said with an awkward laugh, "Is that really necessary?"
"I'll listen to the young master.
However, I must remind you, if you keep spoiling it like this, it won't be long before it becomes too heavy for you to carry."
"I thought about it carefully, and it seems there really is a need."
Gines smiled contentedly, "Young master, we should head back. The master and madam will also be returning today."
"My parents are home too?"
"They took the train, so they should be back before us.
They haven't seen you in over half a year, and they've mentioned missing their precious son more than once."
Aaron only believed half of that statement, because even before he started school, the number of times their family was reunited could be counted.
"I'll go say hello to my friends first."
"Of course."
Aaron walked up to Draco, beside whom stood a stern-faced middle-aged man with light blonde hair and blue-grey eyes, who must have been his father.
Seeing Aaron approach, Lucius's pale face showed a hint of a smile, "You must be Aaron!
Draco has written to me more than once, saying he's made a very good friend.
He couldn't have achieved such excellent grades without your help, thank you very much."
"You're too kind, it's what I should do as a friend." Aaronsaid neither humbly nor arrogantly, showing great confidence.
"Malfoy Manor always welcomes you."
"If I have time, I will definitely go."
"Harry Potter!"
Just then, a loli-like scream came, and Lucius's brow furrowed slightly.
"Is that a Weasley?" Draco looked at the red-haired little girl next to Mrs. Weasley, "I heard they have a youngest sister."
"Evidently, I saw her when I came to the station last year." Aaron said, "Counting the time, we should see her at this year's new student ceremony."
"That's truly sad." Draco shook his head.
Aaron's mouth twitched, but he said nothing.
After all, the Malfoys and Weasleys had been at odds for hundreds of years, so such an attitude was normal.