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In the last compartment of the Hogwarts Express.
Listening to Sherlock, Harry, and Hermione loudly discuss the taboo topic, Neville Longbottom even forgot he was looking for his pet.
He tried to speak several times, but the words caught in his throat, and he stopped, trembling.
Ron watched the trio's normal conversation, hesitating several times as well.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he mustered the courage to interrupt them:
"W-wait a minute... Y-you actually said You-Know-Who's name directly!"
"Why not?"
Sherlock looked at Ron, who was almost breathless, and Neville, who genuinely couldn't breathe, and asked curiously:
"Are you very afraid?"
He knew the wizarding world was very sensitive about Voldemort's name; otherwise, books wouldn't use "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" as a substitute.
But he hadn't expected that even after more than a decade, his lingering influence remained.
Just mentioning the name was enough to make these two unable to handle it.
Seeing Ron and Neville nodding repeatedly, Hermione couldn't help asking curiously, "Why be afraid?"
"Of course, because..."
Ron wanted to answer but suddenly found he couldn't explain the issue clearly.
After pondering for a moment, he mumbled, "Mum and Dad used him to scare me since I was little... All children from wizarding families are told by their parents that his name is taboo.
Unless absolutely necessary, I don't want to say his name. I should say... no one wants to say it."
Neville, beside him, nodded vigorously, indicating he felt the same.
Ron looked at Harry with admiration, "But thinking about it, it makes sense, after all, it was you..."
Harry hesitated for a moment but still explained:
"Saying his name isn't because I'm brave or anything, it's because I never knew the name couldn't be said. Do you understand what I mean?"
Hermione nodded in agreement.
It was indeed like that for those born into non-wizarding families.
What Voldemort? Not even as scary as Mum calling me by my full name, okay?
"It can be said, there's nothing that can't be said."
Amidst the surprised gazes of the others, Sherlock stated calmly, "Fear comes from the unknown. The best way to eliminate fear is to face it."
Seeing Ron and Neville scared like quails, Sherlock directly offered a solution.
Harry and Hermione nodded repeatedly.
Ron and Neville, however, looked at Sherlock with worshipful eyes.
Amazing!
But that was all.
Even if they felt Sherlock was right, the upbringing they had received since childhood didn't yet allow them to do so.
Hermione and Neville stayed in the compartment a little longer. Only when a smiling woman pushed open the compartment door asking if anyone wanted snacks did the two get up to leave, continuing their search for Neville's toad.
Before leaving, Hermione didn't forget to remind Ron it would be best to get a new wand, as using an old one could likely lead to spell failures.
Ron: (ˇˇ)
Strangely enough, when Sherlock said the same thing, Ron could accept it.
But hearing it from Hermione, Ron felt extremely annoyed.
"Whichever house I get sorted into, I hope I'm not in the same one as her."
The moment Hermione left, Ron blurted out his true feelings.
Harry nodded absentmindedly, his attention still on Sherlock.
This new friend he had just met was simply too amazing!
Sherlock was now standing in front of the snack trolley lady.
He looked with great curiosity at the snacks he had never seen before.
Just from their appearance, these little treats exuded a magical aura.
A seemingly trivial matter, yet it was precisely the reason he had plunged into the magical world in the first place.
"Did you bring lunch?"
Sherlock looked towards Harry and Ron.
Harry shook his head.
To be fair, apart from punishments, the Dursleys hadn't starved Harry.
But they had never truly let him eat his fill either—Cousin Dudley always snatched away whatever he wanted to eat.
Under such circumstances, they naturally wouldn't have prepared lunch for him.
Ron mumbled softly that he had sandwiches.
Seeing his reddened ears, Sherlock immediately understood.
Wanted to eat, had no money.
Sherlock didn't say much more. After asking the prices, he bought some of everything.
In the end, it cost less than twelve silver Sickles.
Not expensive, but not cheap either.
"Lunch is on me, everyone. But these are just snacks, so Ron, give me your sandwiches first to tide me over."
Hearing Sherlock say this, Ron nodded eagerly in agreement.
His mother always forgot he didn't like corned beef, and Sherlock's suggestion suited him perfectly.
Besides, for him, snacks were inherently much more appealing than corned beef sandwiches.
Harry nodded without much hesitation. This was the first time a peer had shared food with him; the feeling was quite novel.
Through their interactions, Sherlock had already grasped both their personalities clearly.
Harry seemed solitary and introverted, but subconsciously, he was a strong and brave person, so his confidence allowed him to accept Sherlock's kindness readily.
Conversely, Ron, who appeared carefree, had actually lived in the shadow of five outstanding older brothers and harbored some insecurity.
If Sherlock had directly offered to treat him, he would likely have found it hard to accept.
But phrasing it differently—like an exchange, as now—he could accept it with peace of mind.
Besides, Sherlock wasn't lying; he genuinely felt he should have some proper food before indulging in snacks.
To his delight, Mrs. Weasley's cooking was good; the beef was delicious.
Next, the three began to feast, and the aroma of food soon filled the compartment.
Ron also started showcasing his expertise, introducing the various magically unique snacks to Sherlock and Harry.
For example, Chocolate Frogs weren't real frogs but essentially frog-shaped chocolates.
However, due to the enchantment placed on them, one had to be careful they didn't hop away when opening the package.
As for the taste, it was naturally very good; young wizards loved them.
However, Sherlock and Harry's attention was more focused on the cards included with these snacks.
Each pack of Chocolate Frogs came with a collectible card featuring a portrait of a famous figure from the wizarding world on the front and a brief biography on the back.
Harry got a card featuring Hogwarts Headmaster Dumbledore.
Photos in the magical world were different from those in the non-magical world; people in photographs could move.
So when Harry finished reading Dumbledore's biography and flipped the card back to the front, he was startled to find Dumbledore's face had disappeared.
"You can't expect him to hang around all day, can you?"
Ron explained casually upon seeing Harry's surprise.
When Harry told Ron that people in non-magical photos remained still forever, it was Ron's turn to be amazed. "They don't move at all? That's amazing!"
As they spoke, Dumbledore slipped back into the picture frame.
Harry couldn't help exclaiming, "It's truly amazing! Sherlock, aren't you surprised?"
Sherlock took a bite of a Chocolate Frog; the taste was indeed good.
He took the card from Harry's hand, looked at the disappearing and reappearing white-bearded old man, and smiled:
"This sort of thing... can actually be done without magic."
(End of Chapter)