HP: Hogwart's Model Wizard

For Kyle Jobar, who had grown up traveling by planes and high-speed trains, riding the Hogwarts Express—a classic steam locomotive—was nothing short of torture. 

The novelty wore off quickly after a few hours, as did the excitement fueled by the "Hogwarts buzz." After that, every flaw of the old train seemed magnified. 

For starters, it was slow—agonizingly slow. Kyle estimated the train's top speed to be around eighty, slower than some well-maintained cars. It wasn't particularly comfortable, either. The constant shaking and rattling made him question his life choices, and he was perilously close to losing his breakfast. 

Trying to pass the time by reading was a lost cause. 

Thankfully, his compartment mate, Cedric Diggory, was a lively conversationalist, making the journey bearable. 

After they'd discussed Hogwarts professors in depth, Kyle began asking about other topics. Cedric, ever eager to share, launched into descriptions of interesting places around Hogwarts, curious portraits, and secret nooks—all tidbits Kyle found fascinating. As thanks, Kyle generously shared his snacks for the journey: Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Cauldron Cakes—the works. 

Only one part of their conversation left Kyle a bit speechless: Cedric's explanation of the Sorting process. 

"Catching a Golden Snitch in under ten minutes to get Sorted?" Kyle raised an eyebrow, his polite smile unwavering. 

Right. Seemed plausible enough—if you ignored the fire-breathing dragon possibility. This was, after all, Cedric. 

"So, Kyle," Cedric began again, popping another Every Flavor Bean into his mouth. "Have you thought about which house you might be Sorted into? It'd be great if you joined Hufflepuff. But with how sharp you are, I'd guess Ravenclaw is more your style." 

He barely finished the sentence before his face contorted dramatically, his mouth twitching. 

"Oh, Merlin's beard—liver flavor," he groaned, reluctantly swallowing. 

Kyle chuckled but kept his thoughts to himself. "I've thought about it," he replied, grabbing a Bean of his own. "But I'm not picky. As long as someone's willing to take me in, I'll call it a win. Finding a Snitch in ten minutes? Not likely." 

Hmm... black pepper steak flavor. Not bad. 

"Don't worry. You'll be fine," Cedric reassured him, brushing off the concern with a wave. 

Just then, the compartment door slid open. 

Kyle and Cedric both turned toward the sound. 

The familiar mop of red hair belonged to another Weasley—not the twins this time, but Percy Weasley. 

"Hi, Kyle," Percy greeted, stepping into the compartment. "Fred told me you'd be here. Oh—you must be Cedric Diggory? I'm Percy Weasley. Nice to meet you." 

Cedric, caught off guard at hearing his name, quickly nodded and responded, "Uh, yes—nice to meet you too, Percy Weasley." 

Percy's formal demeanor made Cedric feel as though they were at an official Ministry event rather than aboard the Hogwarts Express. 

Kyle stifled a laugh, waiting until their pleasantries concluded. "What's up, Percy? Need something?" 

Having grown up around the Weasley siblings, Kyle was no stranger to Percy, though they rarely interacted directly. 

"Sorry to interrupt, but I do have a favor to ask," Percy began, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a gray rat missing a front paw. "Scabbers hasn't been looking well lately. I was hoping you might have more of that rat tonic you gave me before. If possible, I'd like to buy some." 

"Rat tonic?" Kyle's gaze landed on the rodent, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Sure, wait a second." 

He rummaged through his trunk and retrieved a small vial filled with red liquid, handing it to Percy. 

"Same as before—three drops once a week. This should last a while." 

"Thanks," Percy said, holding out three silver Sickles with a hesitant expression. "I know it's not enough, but it's all I have on me right now. I'll pay you the rest as soon as I can." 

"One Sickle is enough," Kyle replied, pushing back the extra coins. "It's just rat tonic—not exactly a high-value item." 

Percy hesitated, his face turning various shades of red and white, before sighing quietly. "Thank you, Kyle." 

"No need to thank me," Kyle said casually. "It's a business transaction." 

Percy let out a dry chuckle. "You're too modest. If this were any ordinary tonic, there's no way Scabbers could've lived eleven years. I'm sure this came from Newt Scamander himself. Only a legend like him could concoct something like this." 

Uh… 

Kyle suppressed a grimace, torn between correcting Percy and keeping the truth under wraps. Scabbers' longevity had absolutely nothing to do with the tonic—though explaining that would lead to more questions than he was prepared to answer, especially about Peter Pettigrew. 

Instead, Kyle had told Percy ages ago that rats, unlike most pets, absorb traces of a wizard's magic over time, which causes them to be rejected by their own kind. That tidbit, "endorsed" by Newt Scamander, was enough to make Percy accept it as gospel. 

Percy's diligence toward his pet was evident. He'd gone as far as to build Scabbers a small enclosure in his room and limited direct contact to special occasions, like today. 

Breaking the silence, Percy offered a final thanks. "If you ever need help with your studies, let me know. And I'll make sure to repay you after graduation." 

With that, Percy departed, leaving Kyle and Cedric sitting in stunned silence. 

Eventually, Cedric broke the ice. "Wait—can you really get rat tonic from Scamander?" 

"Not quite," Kyle shrugged. "I make it myself. And it's not just for rats—any pet tonic, really. It's not difficult, just tedious, so most people don't bother learning." 

… 

(End of Chapter)