In the last car of the Hogwarts Express.
Listening to Sherlock, Harry, and Hermione loudly discussing the forbidden topic, Neville Longbottom even forgot about finding his pet.
Several times he wanted to speak up, but the words died on his trembling lips.
Ron watched the three's normal conversation, hesitating repeatedly as well.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he mustered the courage to interrupt them:
"Wait... wait a minute... you're actually saying You-Know-Who's name!"
"What else would we do?" Sherlock looked at Ron, who could barely breathe, and Neville, who literally couldn't breathe, asking curiously: "Are you very afraid?"
He knew the wizarding world was taboo about Voldemort's name—otherwise the books wouldn't refer to him as "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." But he hadn't expected that after more than ten years, his influence still lingered.
Just mentioning the name had left both boys unable to cope.
Seeing Ron and Neville nod frantically, Hermione couldn't help asking curiously: "Why be afraid?"
"Well, it's because..." Ron wanted to answer but suddenly realized he couldn't explain the issue clearly.
After thinking for a moment, he murmured: "Mum and Dad have used it to frighten me since I was little... All wizarding children are told by their parents that this person's name is forbidden.
Unless absolutely necessary, I don't want to mention his name—I mean... no one wants to."
Neville nodded repeatedly beside him, indicating he felt the same way.
Ron looked at Harry with admiration: "But thinking about it, that makes sense, considering it's 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 that name couldn't be said. Do you understand what I mean?"
Hermione nodded in agreement.
For those from non-magical families, it really was like that.
What Voldemort? That wasn't as scary as Mom calling me by my full name!
"It can all be said—there's nothing that can't be said." Under their surprised gazes, Sherlock said calmly, "Fear comes from the unknown. The best way to eliminate fear is to face it."
Seeing Ron and Neville cowering putting their head in chest, Sherlock offered a direct solution.
Harry and Hermione nodded repeatedly.
Ron and Neville looked at Sherlock with worship.
'Amazing!'
But that was as far as it went.
Even though they thought Sherlock was absolutely right, their upbringing still wouldn't allow them to follow suit.
Hermione and Neville stayed in the compartment a while longer, until a smiling woman opened the door asking if anyone wanted to buy snacks. Only then did the two get up to leave, continuing their search for Neville's toad.
Before leaving, Hermione reminded Ron that he should really get a new wand, since using an old wand could very likely result in spellcasting failures.
Ron: (｡•ˇ‸ˇ•｡)
Strangely enough, when Sherlock had said the same thing, Ron could accept it. But coming from Hermione's mouth, Ron found it extremely annoying.
"No matter which house I'm sorted into, I don't want to be in the same one as her."
As soon as Hermione left, Ron voiced his true feelings.
Harry nodded absentmindedly—his attention was still on Sherlock.
This new friend he'd just met was simply too amazing!
By now, Sherlock had moved to stand before the snack trolley witch.
He gazed curiously at these snacks he'd never seen before. Just from their appearance, these little treats were brimming with magical atmosphere.
Such seemingly insignificant things represented exactly why he'd thrown himself into the magical world in the first place.
"Did you bring lunch?" Sherlock looked toward Harry and Ron.
Harry shook his head.
To be fair, aside from punishments, the Dursleys hadn't let Harry starve. But they'd never really let him eat his fill either—cousin Dudley always grabbed whatever he wanted to eat.
Under these circumstances, they naturally wouldn't pack him lunch.
Ron mumbled quietly that he'd brought sandwiches.
Seeing his reddening ears, Sherlock immediately understood.
'He wanted to eat but had no money.'
Without saying much more, Sherlock asked about prices and bought some of everything.
The total came to less than twelve silver Sickles.
Not expensive, but not exactly cheap either.
"I'm treating everyone to lunch, though these are all snacks, so Ron, let me have your sandwiches first to fill up a bit."
Hearing Sherlock say this, Ron nodded eagerly in agreement.
His mother always forgot that he didn't like corned beef—Sherlock's suggestion suited him perfectly.
Besides, for him, the snacks were far more appealing than corned beef sandwiches anyway.
Harry nodded without much hesitation—this was the first time a peer had shared food with him, and the feeling was wonderful.
Through their interactions, Sherlock had already figured out both their personalities completely.
Harry seemed withdrawn and introverted on the surface, but subconsciously he was strong and brave, so his confident nature allowed him to accept Sherlock's kindness graciously.
Ron, who seemed carefree on the surface, had actually lived in the shadow of five excellent older brothers and was somewhat insecure inside.
If Sherlock had directly offered to treat him to food, he definitely would have found it hard to accept.
But phrasing it differently—like this exchange arrangement—made him feel perfectly comfortable.
Besides, Sherlock wasn't lying. He genuinely felt they should have some proper food before the snacks.
He was pleased to find that Mrs. Weasley was quite a good cook—the beef was delicious.
Next, the three began feasting, and the compartment was soon filled with the aroma of good food.
Ron also began showing off his specialty, introducing Sherlock and Harry to various magically-themed snacks.
For instance, Chocolate Frogs weren't real frogs but shaped chocolate bars with cream filling.
Rich milk flavor, silky texture, pure, smooth, and easily melting—they provided consumers with an entirely new taste experience.
They tasted quite good, and young wizards loved them.
However, Sherlock and Harry were more interested in the trading cards that came with these little treats.
Each Chocolate Frog package included a card featuring famous wizards' portrait photos on the front and biographical information on the back.
Harry got a card of Hogwarts Headmaster Dumbledore.
Magical world photographs were different from non-magical ones—people photographed would actually move.
So, when Harry finished reading Dumbledore's biography and flipped the card to the front, he was startled to find Dumbledore's face had disappeared.
"Well, you can't expect him to hang around all day," Ron explained casually, seeing Harry's surprise.
When Harry told Ron that people in non-magical photographs never changed once taken, it was Ron's turn to be amazed: "You mean they just don't move? How weird!"
While they talked, Dumbledore wandered back into the frame.
Harry couldn't help praising: "This is so amazing. Sherlock, aren't you surprised?"
Sherlock bit into a Chocolate Frog—the taste really was excellent.
He took Harry's card, watching the white-bearded old man disappear and reappear, and smiled: "This sort of thing... can actually be done without magic too."