The consequence of the Weasley twins' actions was that their stash of Feiliba Fireworks and many fun items bought from Zoko's Joke Shop were mercilessly confiscated by Mrs. Weasley.
For a moment, Harry felt as if the two had lost their color.
However, they quickly perked up because this year Lee Jordan somehow caught a giant centipede, showing it off everywhere in a glass jar.
"Last year he caught a bag of spiders, this year it's a giant centipede." Ron peeked into the aisle, and the nearly one-meter-long centipede left quite a psychological shadow on him: "I really can't imagine what Lee Jordan will catch next year—perhaps a giant scorpion?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if he got a giant scorpion from the Silurian period." Hermione's face was pale, her big teeth barely concealed, "Where did he catch such a large centipede?"
"I heard he bought it from some wizard in Southeast Asia," Ron replied, "You know, the insects there are generally quite large, and the wizards there also like to cultivate some strange insects."
"I've only heard of them liking to eat centipedes there." Hermione said with lingering fear, "My goodness, those things are creepy at first sight, I really don't know how they can be eaten."
Ron, however, was indifferent, casually saying, "What's the big deal? When we brew magic potions, we use ingredients scarier than large centipedes all the time, and you still drink them, don't you?"
Hermione was momentarily at a loss by Ron's words but quickly realized there was some truth to them.
They had barely sat in the compartment for a moment before the train started rumbling and moving.
The trio's compartment was rather quiet, with no one bothering them.
This time Ron's mom didn't pack him any sandwiches because Harry had already prepared some snacks to share with his friends on the train.
When it was time for lunch, Harry took out all the food he'd bought and piled it on the seat.
Even Banban was enjoying himself, burying his head in a biscuit box, nibbling away happily.
"Your rat has quite the appetite." Hermione suddenly said, "It's almost finished a whole box of biscuits, how come it's not done yet?"
"Oh, he doesn't really eat them, just plays." Ron explained. He then picked up the box and shook it, causing the rat along with biscuit crumbs to fall out.
Harry didn't pay attention to this; he was still pondering how exactly he should talk to Vivi tonight.
Could he just say, oh Vivi, your money has been taken by your brother, and also—your brother has a boyfriend, which happens to be our principal, and they even broke up…
Well, Harry really couldn't imagine what kind of fury Vivi would unleash.
"Harry, Harry?" Hermione waved her hand in front of Harry's face, "What are you thinking? You look like you're not feeling well."
"No," Harry smiled, grabbing a Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean, "nothing."
He inspected the bean in the sunlight before popping it into his mouth.
"Cabbage-flavored."
"I really think you have something on your mind, Harry," Ron said with concern, "If you can, try to talk to us about it. It's good to have someone to share the burden with."
"Yeah, Harry," Hermione added.
"Hmm…" Harry thought about it and realized they were right, so he asked Hermione, "Hermione, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead," Hermione said, biting into a cauldron cake.
"Well... just hypothetically," Harry tried to make his wording as friendly as possible, "imagine you have a brother. You have millions in British pounds stored in the bank, but you have some business overseas, so you tell your brother that he can withdraw some money if needed, up to a hundred thousand. But he goes and withdraws all the money, leaving you only ten pence..."
As Harry said this, he saw Hermione clenching her tiny fists tightly.
"Then, your brother falls in love—but with a man. Later, because of some incident, your brother is reported by his boyfriend and sent to jail."
Harry took a deep breath and asked, "If it were you, what would you do with your brother when you returned?"
"Brother?" Hermione sneered, "I don't have a brother... only an enemy!"
With that, she turned sharply and glared at Ron.
Ron was swallowing a cookie when Hermione's glare startled him into a hiccup.
"Why… why are you looking at me? I'm not your brother!"
The compartment door suddenly opened.
"Hey, what are you all up to?"
The twins' leisurely voices rang out as they squeezed in beside Harry.
"Hermione, please don't bully our Little Ronnie—"
"By the way, I have a question for you." Hermione sat straight and said, "If, let's say, you had two million Galleons in savings, but one day you decide to go traveling and you entrust the key to Gringotts to your Little Ronnie, telling him he can withdraw up to a hundred thousand Galleons..."
"Impossible!" Fred and George said in unison, "We wouldn't let him withdraw even a Silver Sickle!"
"Fred! George!" Ron was angry, "I'm your real brother!"
"Not even a copper knut!" the two said again in unison.
"Stop for a second, I'm just hypothesizing!" Hermione slapped the chair, "If your Little Ronnie squandered all two million Galleons and fell in love with a man, only to be jailed by that boyfriend in Azkaban… what would you do with him?"