As their conversation deepened, Hermione gradually discovered that Jerry possessed a wealth of magical knowledge comparable to her own. Though he hadn't memorized as many textbooks as she had, his grasp of magical theory was impressive, and he demonstrated considerable insight about various spells. His thoughtful perspectives drew her in, and with each exchange, Hermione found herself recognising more of herself in Jerry.
True to the old saying, "Empty talk means nothing; a thousand cups of wine are less than finding a kindred spirit," the pair became increasingly engrossed in their discussion. They were so deeply immersed that they barely noticed when the Hogwarts Express began pulling away from the station.
"You... hello, is there anyone sitting here? Everywhere else is full!"
A hesitant voice suddenly interrupted their animated conversation. Standing in the corridor was a round-faced boy with a slightly chubby appearance. In his left hand, he clutched a golden-backed toad, while his right hand grasped a battered suitcase. His eyes darted nervously to the empty seat across from Jerry and Hermione.
"No one's sitting there, please, join us," Jerry replied with a welcoming smile.
The boy's face brightened immediately. He pushed his suitcase into the corner of the compartment before settling into the seat across from them, the toad still cupped carefully in his hands.
"I... my name is Neville Longbottom. First year. You can call me Neville," he introduced himself, his voice tinged with nervousness.
"Jerry Carmen," Jerry offered.
"Hermione Granger," Hermione added.
They exchanged glances, both recognising the boy's anxiety, and deliberately softened their tones to put him at ease. Sensing their kindness, Neville gradually relaxed and joined their conversation.
Since Neville hadn't previewed any of the textbooks, the trio shifted away from discussing magical theory. Instead, they shared stories about their backgrounds and families.
When the topic turned to his family, Neville's initial nervousness faded. He became surprisingly animated.
"My grandmother raised me," he explained. "For years, my family thought I might be a Squib, someone born to magical parents but without magic themselves. My great-uncle Algie was always trying to catch me off guard, hoping I'd show some magical ability when I wasn't expecting it..."
Neville went on to recount several harrowing experiences: being thrown into the Black Lake by his uncle Algie and nearly drowning, and another incident where he was dangled out of an upstairs window and accidentally dropped.
Jerry and Hermione exchanged alarmed glances. The lengths to which pure-blood wizard families would go to test for magic seemed barbaric to them both.
Jerry knew more about Neville's background than he let on. From what he understood, Neville's parents had been Auror, magical law enforcement officers. During the First Wizarding War, they were captured by Death Eaters and tortured to insanity with the Cruciatus Curse, ultimately becoming permanent residents at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
Neville's grandmother had cast a Memory Charm on him when he was only a year old, hoping to spare him the trauma of witnessing his parents' torture. But such powerful magic performed on someone so young had likely caused unintended side effects, perhaps explaining Neville's notorious forgetfulness. However, Jerry wondered whether any one-year-old could truly remember such events anyway.
There were whispers that Neville might actually be the subject of Professor Trelawney's prophecy, the one marked to defeat Voldemort. His parents had indeed defied Voldemort three times, and Neville was born at the end of July. Some even claimed he had displayed extraordinary magic as an infant, able to wrap himself in his blankets magically.
If not for the damage caused by the Memory Charm and his subsequent difficulty controlling his innate magic, Neville's magical potential might have rivalled even Voldemort's.
But these speculations weren't particularly relevant to Jerry. He wasn't concerned with prophecies. What mattered was leveraging his knowledge of future events to strengthen his position and abilities.
After Neville finished, Hermione shared stories from her childhood before receiving her Hogwarts letter, and how everything had changed afterwards.
Unlike Neville, who came from a pure-blood wizarding family, Hermione had grown up in suburban London. Her parents were dentists, ordinary Muggles without connection to the magical world.
Perhaps because she hadn't been born into a wizarding family, Hermione seemed determined to prove herself. However, her family was financially comfortable thanks to her parents' careers, and she had enjoyed a happy, harmonious childhood.
When both had finished speaking, they turned expectantly to Jerry.
He hesitated for a moment before responding:
"I'm an orphan. I was left at an orphanage as a baby and grew up there. I don't know if my parents were wizards or Muggles. I only learned about magic when I received my Hogwarts letter."
"An orphan!" Neville and Hermione exchanged glances, their expressions softening with sympathy.
Though Neville's parents were hospitalised, he still had his grandmother and extended family who cared for him. And while Hermione had been born to Muggle parents, she was their cherished only child, never wanting for love or attention.
By comparison, Jerry's circumstances seemed truly unfortunate.
Hermione thought it was remarkable that Jerry remained so positive and optimistic despite such a difficult start in life. He speaks about his past without bitterness or self-pity. What courage and resilience that must take!
"Anything from the trolley, dears?"
A cheerful voice interrupted their conversation. A smiling, dimpled witch had pushed open their compartment door, revealing a cart laden with snacks and treats.
The three realised with surprise that it was already past noon, they'd been so engrossed in conversation that they hadn't noticed the time passing.
Looking at the assortment of wizarding snacks on the cart, their stomachs began to growl in unison.
"I'll take some Chocolate Frogs!" Neville was the first to his feet, rushing toward the cart.
Hermione and Jerry rose simultaneously, each scanning the offerings with interest.
Neville returned to his seat with an armful of Chocolate Frogs. Hermione selected a single Cauldron Cake, while Jerry purchased three Pumpkin Pasties and a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
The scholarship Hogwarts had provided Jerry amounted to 100 Galleons per year. After purchasing all his necessary school supplies, he had four or five Galleons remaining, enough to cover his modest yearly expenses.
Jerry could afford small luxuries with room and board provided at Hogwarts, and magical snacks being relatively inexpensive. His entire purchase today, three pumpkin pasties and a box of Bertie Bott's, cost just one silver sickle and fifteen bronze Knuts.
The Pumpkin Pasties would satisfy his immediate hunger; Jerry preferred them as a proper meal substitute compared to the other treats. However, upon his return, he was saving the Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans for his sister Aisha.
Bertie Bott's, the famous confection produced by the Worldwide Jelly Bean Company, boasted over 700 different flavours. They ranged from common delights like chocolate, peppermint, and marmalade, to unusual tastes like spinach, liver, and tripe. Most notoriously, they included revolting flavours such as vomit, earwax, and bogeys.
Jerry smiled to himself, imagining Aisha's reaction to this magical treat. Despite the risk of encountering a disgusting flavour, he knew his sister would be delighted by such a whimsical wizarding confection.