Became good friends with the Boy Who Lived

Eris came in front of a creature with a dragon head and a horse body, and its chilling silver-white eyes stared at Eris.

"This... should be... a Thestral!" Hermione said in a trembling voice. Eras tentatively stretched out his right hand. The tall Thestral moved its big head closer and placed it on Eras' palm. Eras gently stroked the big head that looked like a dragon's head. The students passing by looked at Eras in confusion.

“Only people who have witnessed death can see them,” said Aris. “Many people regard them as bad luck, but in fact they are very spiritual and magical creatures.”

"But how do we see them?" Hermione asked puzzled.

"Have you forgotten? Miss Know-it-all, last year I accidentally killed a troll, and you were hiding behind me at the time." After saying this, Aeris walked into a carriage.

Hermione and Neville followed, and just as the carriage was about to move, a boy stuck his head in and said, "Can I ride in the carriage with you? If it's inconvenient for you, I'll go to the back and take a look."

"Don't be silly, Mr. Diggory," said Aris. "Come up here, there's room for one more person."

The boy was Cedric Diggory, who was going to be a fourth-year student this year. He smiled a very sunny smile and sat opposite Aeris and Hermione with Neville.

The carriage began to move slowly, and Cedric started talking to Aeris: "I recognize you. You are Aeris Grindelwald, who will be a sophomore this year. When we were still trying to figure out how to turn buttons into beetles, Professor McGonagall often praised you in class, saying that you were able to turn a match into the Sword of Gryffindor in your first Transfiguration class."

"It was just a joke," said Aeris. "Miss Know-It-All refused to talk for a long time because of it."

"How could I!" Hermione said in a reproachful tone, her face slightly flushed.

"But how do you know me?" asked Cedric.

"Your fame in Hufflepuff is no less than Harry's in Gryffindor," said Aeris. "Your classmates all think you are the best student in Hufflepuff, and even the hope for Hufflepuff's resurgence after Mr. Scamander. After all, Mr. Scamander did not graduate from Hufflepuff in the strict sense."

Cedric scratched his hair awkwardly and said shyly, "This is really embarrassing..."

"But I have a different opinion," said Aeris. Seeing Cedric's puzzled look, Aeris continued, "Hufflepuff has never declined, and the rise is nonsense."

Cedric laughed happily, shook hands with Aeris and said, "It's nice to talk to you, Aeris. Please call me Cedric or Ced from now on."

The carriage slowly stopped, and the students got off one after another. After entering the castle, they went directly to the auditorium to attend the welcome dinner. When Aerys sat down at the Gryffindor table, it seemed as if a long-lost sense of familiarity lingered in his heart.

The classmates who hadn't seen each other for a summer vacation were chattering about their experiences during the summer vacation. Seamus Finnigan was holding a copy of the evening report of the Daily Prophet with a strange look on his face.

"Seamus, what happened?" Aeris asked curiously.

Seamus spread the newspaper out on the long table. The headline showed a Ford Anglia coupe flying through the air.

Hermione also leaned over and looked at the Ford Anglia sedan in the photo. Suddenly, she thought of something and whispered in Aries' ear, "This... this... this can't be..."

Aeris nodded imperceptibly. Hermione sat back in her seat in disbelief, complaining in a low voice: "How dare they... How could they do this... Do they know what they are doing..."

Aeris said, "At least seven... non-magical people saw them, and they were almost going to expose the magic world to the public... In the end, they chose this... most thankless method."

"Then do you think they will be expelled?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"Probably not," Aris said, "Harry is destined to be Voldemort's nemesis. If we want to completely defeat Voldemort, Harry is an indispensable force. Professor Dumbledore will definitely not sit idly by."

Before Hermione could say anything else, this year's first-year students, led by Professor Flitwick, entered the hall in a mighty procession.

"Why Professor Flitwick?" Hermione asked curiously, "Where's Professor McGonagall?"

Aris glanced at Hermione strangely and said quietly, "It should be the two good students who protected her in the past."

The sorting began, and Professor Flitwick made the roster float automatically in front of him. A four-legged stool ran over like a wooden puppy, and Professor Flitwick placed the Sorting Hat on the stool.

The wrinkles on the Sorting Hat formed a fuzzy mouth and eyes, and it looked as if there was an abstract face on the hat, and it began to sing its own song again.

This year's ballad was completely different from last year's. It lasted for a long time, and when Aeris couldn't help but take a nap, the long ballad finally finished.

Warm applause broke out, and Aeris clapped his hands perfunctorily.

The applause gradually died down, and the Sorting Hat bowed to the four long tables in turn, then stood still.

Professor Flitwick said in a shrill voice, "Now, those whose names I call, please come forward, put the Sorting Hat on your head, sit on the stool, and wait for the Sorting."

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Professor Flitwick: "Ginny Weasley!"

The Sorting Hat: "Oops... Miss Weasley this time? You should go to Gryffindor!"

Warm applause broke out, and Percy clapped and shouted loudly: "My sister...that's my sister..."

........................

Professor Flitwick: "Luna Lovegood!"

The Sorting Hat: "Hmm... not bad... very good ~ Ravenclaw."

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Professor Flitwick: "Colin Clitwick!"

The Sorting Hat: "Gryffindor!"

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After the sorting, Professor Dumbledore stood up with his arms open as if to embrace all the students. He said gently: "Let's enjoy your dinner!" As he clapped his hands, all kinds of exquisite dishes appeared on the plates on the long table.

When he began to enjoy his dinner, Aris noticed that Professor Dumbledore had disappeared. He must have gone to deal with Harry and Ron.

As the dinner ended, Percy still led them back to the Gryffindor common room. After entering the common room, Aerys and Hermione did not choose to go to the dormitory to sleep, but sat in the armchairs, chatting while waiting for Harry and Ron.

After a while, Aesius patted his forehead and said quietly, "It seems that they don't know the password to enter the common room. Do you think the Fat Lady will let them in?"

Hermione exclaimed and ran to the entrance. Aris followed her and opened the portrait of the Fat Lady at the entrance. He saw Harry and Ron sitting against the wall, sighing. Aris said quietly, "It's been a long time, you two."

Harry and Ron quickly stood up, and Ron couldn't help complaining, "Why did you just come to open the door?"

Hermione glared at Ron fiercely and said bluntly, "Did I ask you to fly here?"

Harry looked a little embarrassed, "Come in first." Aries patted Hermione's shoulder gently, telling her not to be so excited.

Harry and Ron entered the common room. Some students who had not yet gone to bed applauded them enthusiastically. Fred and George jumped in front of them and complained in unison: "Why didn't you invite us to join you?"

After laughing and joking for a while, Harry and Ron finally got rid of their classmates' entanglement and hid in the four armchairs in the corner with Aris and Hermione.

Harry and Ron told their experiences, and Hermione recounted Aries's speculation on the train. Harry and Ron looked at Aries very strangely.

"These are just some inferences," Aeris waved his hand nonchalantly, "I have lived with you for a year. We lived together, studied together, played together, and got into trouble together. Based on your usual personalities, these are not difficult to infer."

"So, you think it was Dobby who stopped us from entering Platform Nine and Three-Quarters?" Harry asked eagerly.

"Not you," said Aris. "Just you, Harry. Ron was just implicated."

Ron looked odd, and Harry gave him an apologetic smile. Ron waved his hand and slumped back in the armchair, obviously not minding.

"Harry, you have to be careful," Aris warned, "that house-elf is very stubborn. I think it will attack you again."

Harry looked grim, and he said, "But I don't know how to guard against it..."

Aries' voice became serious. "This is just my guess. Everything else is fine. The only variable is that on the Quidditch field, the Bludgers are very easy to control. The magic system of house-elves is quite extraordinary. It is not difficult for them to control the Bludgers. You have to be careful during training, especially during competitions. If Mr. Dobby thinks that you can leave Hogwarts if you are seriously injured, he will definitely carry out some plans that he thinks are feasible."

Harry's face turned even uglier.

The next day, at the Gryffindor table, Draco sat next to Harry carelessly, chewing his breakfast while mocking Harry's actions yesterday. Harry responded mercilessly.

The postmen flew in one after another. Eric flew over and took away Draco's sausages and fried eggs, which made Harry, who was in a bad mood, laugh so hard.

Ron was trying to use tape to fix his wand that was about to break into two pieces. Aeris stopped Ron, took his broken wand, put it in front of him, pointed his wand at it, and whispered: "Restore it to its original state!"

With a "click", the broken wand returned to its original shape. Ron picked it up with surprise and looked at Aris in shock.

This was part of the power that Eris inherited from Helga, a deeper understanding of restoration magic and natural magic. Fortunately, the core of the wand was not broken.

"Don't be happy too soon," said Aeris. "This wand was never yours, and it doesn't acknowledge you as its owner. It belongs to one of your brothers, right? If you weren't related by blood, you wouldn't be able to cast spells with this wand. I've only barely repaired its appearance. It will be even harder for you to cast spells with it in the future. Also, try not to lend this wand to others, or the consequences will be disastrous."

"Who would borrow my wand..." Ron said glumly.

Before Ron could finish his words, an old owl flew over unsteadily, as if it had used up all its strength just to get here. It fell down all of a sudden, and the inertia caused it to knock over a row of tableware on the dining table.

"Weasley, keep your owl in check!" Draco said in dissatisfaction, as the old owl Errol knocked over Draco's oatmeal.

"This bird is so scary..." Ron said, "Oh... no..."

Seamus on the other side laughed, "Look everyone, Ron received a Howler!"

"You'd better open it quickly, Ron," Neville suggested, "My grandmother sent me one, but I ignored it, and the consequences..." Neville shuddered violently.

Ron grabbed the Howler and ran out of the restaurant. A moment later, Mrs. Weasley's angry voice echoed throughout the castle:

"Ronald Weasley, you bastard, how dare you secretly drive away that car? Your behavior is simply shameful. Your father is under investigation by the Ministry of Magic. This is all your fault. If you dare to make the slightest mistake in school again, I will take you back... Dear Ginny, congratulations on joining Gryffindor. Your father and I are proud of you..."

Ginny was sitting at the dining table, so shy that she almost crawled under the table.

Harry also had a bitter look on his face. He pushed his breakfast aside, obviously feeling uncomfortable and not wanting to eat.

Draco also received some packages containing various snacks. Seeing Harry's actions, he smiled and pulled Harry's breakfast in front of him and started to enjoy it without hesitation. But Aeris noticed that Draco stuffed his favorite snacks into Harry's pocket.

After breakfast, the Gryffindor students and the Slytherin students walked towards the greenhouse area outside the castle. Professor Sprout came from a distance, and Professor Lockhart followed with a grin on his face. Professor Sprout looked impatient.

After seeing the students, Professor Lockhart greeted them with a smile: "Good morning, children. Your Professor Sprout went to take care of the injured Whomping Willow. I happened to know a way to make the Whomping Willow recover quickly, so I helped a little."

Professor Sprout waved her hands irritably. It was obvious that Professor Lockhart was doing more harm than good. She said, "Well, Gerald, I'm going to take the children to class. How about it? Do you want to visit and learn?"

Professor Lockhart smiled awkwardly and hurried towards the castle.

Professor Sprout shook her head and took the students to the third greenhouse. She put a large flower pot on the table and said, "Today we are going to learn about mandrakes. Who can tell me what mandrakes are?"

Hermione raised her arms high.

Professor Sprout smiled kindly and said, "Miss Granger, you answer."

Hermione smiled shyly and said, "Mandra, also known as Mandrake root, is the main raw material of a powerful recovery potion. It can restore people who have been cursed by Transfiguration or petrified to their original state. But it is also very dangerous. Its cry can kill people."

Professor Sprout looked at Hermione approvingly and said, "Very good, ten points to Gryffindor! As Miss Granger said, the crying of a mandrake can be fatal. The mandrakes we have here are still seedlings. They won't kill people, but they can still make people comatose. We are going to repot the mandrakes today. Did you see the earmuffs I prepared for you? Yes, put them on, wear them tightly, and then..." Professor Sprout began to demonstrate the whole process of repotting a mandrake. Before Professor Sprout finished the operation, Neville rolled his eyes and fainted.

"Hey! Mr. Longbottom forgot to wear his earmuffs..." Professor Sprout said helplessly, "Don't worry about him, he will wake up on his own in a while." It seemed that the earmuffs could only block the shrill cry of the mandrake, but Professor Sprout's voice was heard by everyone without missing a word.