"The Basilisk's history is so ancient that it's long been banned by the Ministry of Magic from being bred. That's why few books mention it—but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist."
"Just like the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. Most wizards don't believe it's real, but my father once had the good fortune to see one in Sweden."
The girl tilted her head as she answered.
"What's a Crumple-Horned Snorkack?" Colin asked, brimming with curiosity.
The girl explained, "It's a magical creature with a distinctive long horn, but it can't fly."
"Ah, that's probably a Graphorn," George interjected.
By now, George had figured out who this girl was—Luna Lovegood.
Her father was Xenophilius Lovegood, editor of The Quibbler, and her mother was Pandora Lovegood, who had died in a spellcasting accident when Luna was nine.
Clearly, inventing new spells without a solid foundation in magical theory is a dangerous business.
Given her family's deep magical knowledge, Luna's claims about the Ural Owl might have been true. But as for the Crumple-Horned Snorkack, George knew it was just something Xenophilius had made up to amuse his daughter.
The so-called "Snorkack" was actually a Graphorn—a beast with a horn that could explode.
"There's space here. Let me help you with your luggage."
Wanting to learn more from Luna about things not found in books, George stood and helped her lift her trunk onto the overhead rack.
"Thank you. I'm Luna Lovegood."
Luna, who was also interested in Ural Owls, didn't refuse. But when she saw how effortlessly the slender George hoisted her heavy trunk, she couldn't help but exclaim,
"You're really strong!"
Once seated, the three of them resumed chatting.
Mostly, it was the ever-curious Colin asking questions while Luna answered. George listened quietly, only chiming in when something piqued his interest.
"Woo woo—"
The long whistle blew—the train was about to depart.
Just then, the compartment door slid open, and a girl with thick, fiery red hair, bright brown eyes, and a face as delicate as a doll's stepped inside.
"Is this seat taken?"
She pointed to the spot next to Luna.
"Everywhere else is full."
"No, you can sit here," Luna replied gently with a smile.
The girl visibly relaxed. Thanks to her brothers' forgetfulness (not that she'd ever admit she was the one who nearly left her enchanted notebook behind), she'd been among the last to board.
"Little Ginny, we're here to help!"
A pair of identical red-haired twins barged in, laughing as they stowed their sister's luggage before being playfully shooed away by their exasperated sibling.
"Hi, everyone. I'm Ginny—Ginny Weasley."
Once her annoying brothers were gone, Ginny sat beside Luna and introduced herself confidently. She wasn't the shy type—except, of course, around Harry.
"Luna Lovegood."
"Colin Creevey."
"George."
The three introduced themselves in turn.
"George? That's my brother's name too—one of those two just now. George Weasley."
Ginny blinked. "Wait, what's your surname?"
"Just call me George," he replied with a smile, offering no further explanation.
Though pronounced the same, his name and George Weasley's were fundamentally different.
George Weasley was a Weasley by surname, with George as his given name.
But his name was 乔 (Qiáo) for the surname and 治 (Zhì, meaning "to govern") for the given name—a name chosen by his father, who hoped he'd grow up to become an official, governing the people.
So, by local naming conventions, he should've been called "Zhi Qiao."
But that sounded too awkward, so he simply told people to call him George.
"Ginny, how many brothers do you have?"
The kind-hearted Colin suddenly changed the subject, sensing that George, as an orphan, might not want to discuss his surname.
Ginny didn't overthink it, holding up both hands and folding down four fingers.
"Six. Bill works as a Curse-Breaker for Gringotts in Egypt, Charlie is a Dragon Keeper in Romania, Percy's in his sixth year, George and Fred are fourth-years—you just saw them—and Ron..."
"That many?!"
Both Colin and Luna looked shocked. Even for a wizarding family—let alone a Muggle one—that was an unusually large brood.
As George listened, his gaze drifted from Ginny's trunk before he sighed inwardly.
If every wizarding family had as many children as the Weasleys, wizards would've taken over the world long ago—Muggles wouldn't stand a chance.
As the four chatted, the train pulled out of King's Cross Station, speeding past fields dotted with sheep and cows as it raced toward Scotland.
This was their first time leaving home for the famed Hogwarts, and even the usually serene Luna was buzzing with excitement.
Their conversation never lulled.
Eventually, though, as the topics shifted from magic to childhood memories and family backgrounds, George quietly withdrew, picking up a book instead.
Around 12:30, a cheerful, dimpled witch slid open their compartment door and asked,
"Anything off the trolley, dears?"
"Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Liquorice Wands..."
Faced with the cart full of magical treats, all three shook their heads.
Colin, coming from a Muggle family, didn't have much money—he'd spent his savings on a magical camera.
Ginny, though from a pure-blood family, had a father disowned for his love of Muggle artifacts. With six children in school and this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts textbooks especially pricey, even her school supplies were mostly secondhand—no spare coins for snacks.
As for Luna, she wasn't short on pocket money, but she didn't seem particularly interested in sweets.
"One of each, please."
Knowing their situations, George stood and paid twelve silver Sickles and five bronze Knuts, then spread the snacks across the table.
"Ginny, you mentioned you know the Bat-Bogey Hex. Think you could teach me sometime?"
He slid a quarter of the snacks toward Ginny, whose eyes lit up instantly.
"Of course! It's my best hex—even George and Fred have fallen victim to it."
"Luna, I'd love to learn more about magical creatures."
He pushed another quarter toward Luna, who smiled and accepted without protest.
Finally, George set the last quarter in front of Colin.
"Mind taking a magical photo of me later? I'd like a keepsake."
===
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