It goes without saying that the Hogwarts Express was not known for its population of indigenous wildlife, particularly toads.
"Some careless student must have dropped it," Fred remarked with a casual shrug, barely glancing up from his seat. "Just put it out in the corridor. Its owner is bound to trip over it eventually."
It was a rather callous suggestion, clearly showing zero concern for the amphibian's destiny. Then again, they didn't really need to worry. This was a magical train, after all. Unless the toad decided to end it all by leaping out a window, it wasn't in any mortal danger.
Lee Jordan sighed and bent down, scooping the creature up to remove it from their compartment.
Just as he straightened up, the sliding door rattled and slid open.
A round-faced boy peered inside timidly. His eyes were red rimmed, his nose was running, and his face was a mask of pure distress, looking as though he had been crying for the better part of the journey.
"Sorry," he stammered, "but have you seen a toad at all? His name is Trevor, and I've lost him again..."
The boy blurted out his trouble in one breath.
Lee Jordan's hand froze in mid-air. This was unfortunate, as he currently happened to be dangling a toad by one leg, looking rather like a dark wizard inspecting a potion ingredient.
Neville's gaze instantly locked onto his pet.
"Trevor!" he gasped, his eyes darting up to Lee.
The scene painted a grim picture. To Neville, it looked like this older boy was manhandling poor Trevor. The toad hung limply, looking rather defeated, which caused fresh tears to well up in Neville's eyes.
"What... what are you doing to him?" Neville's voice trembled, mixing a sob with a rare spark of indignation.
However, he didn't dare step forward. The boy in front of him was much taller, older, and sported dreadlocks that, to a terrified eleven-year-old, added an intimidating aura of coolness and danger.
Neville stood rooted to the spot, tears swimming in his eyes.
The optics of the situation were undeniable. It looked like a textbook case of schoolyard bullying.
Lee Jordan felt a wave of exasperation wash over him. How on earth had he suddenly been cast as the villain in this melodrama?
"Oi, don't cry!" Lee panicked, flailing slightly. He hastily shoved Trevor into Neville's arms. "I didn't do anything to him, I swear! He just... er... he looks like that because he's motion sick? Yeah, train sickness."
He had grasped for the first excuse that came to mind, though he was aware that 'toad motion sickness' was perhaps the least convincing lie in history.
Fred looked like he was about to explode with suppressed mirth. He bit his lip hard, his shoulders shaking silently. George nudged him sharply in the ribs with an elbow, warning him to keep it together.
"You really are a nasty piece of work, Lee," Maurise whistled from the corner, stroking his black cat with the air of an innocent bystander.
"Shut it, Maurise. You know exactly whose fault this is," Lee snapped, before turning back to the sniffling Neville. He tried to soften his voice. "Look, kid. Stop crying. Your toad is fine, I promise."
Neville looked up with teary eyes, glancing between the frustrated Lee and the safe toad in his hands. Slowly, he nodded.
"Neville? Did you find your toad?"
A new voice cut through the tension from the doorway.
A girl with a bossy sort of voice and lots of bushy brown hair appeared. Her sharp eyes swept the compartment, instantly assessing the tableau: a red-eyed Neville clutching a toad, an awkward-looking Lee Jordan, two red-headed twins sniggering in the background, and a boy with a black cat looking bored.
Her brow furrowed immediately. "Are you bullying a first year?"
Lee Jordan slapped a hand over his face.
Brilliant. Now he had to explain it all over again. The last thing he needed was a reputation for terrorizing first years before the term even started. He didn't need that kind of street cred.
...
After several minutes of chaotic explanation, made significantly more difficult by Fred and George chipping in with unhelpful comments, the air was finally cleared.
Hermione still looked skeptical of the group, particularly Lee, but she accepted that they weren't actually torturing the amphibian.
"Well," she said, her tone softening just a fraction, though still sounding rather like a teacher. "I suppose I misunderstood. I apologize for accusing you without the facts."
Neville peeked out from behind Hermione's shoulder. "Th... thanks for finding Trevor."
"No worries," Lee said, waving a hand dismissively, trying to regain his cool upperclassman composure. He discreetly wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
"I'm Hermione Granger," the girl announced, standing aside to reveal the boy fully. "And this is Neville Longbottom. We are first years."
"Fred Weasley."
"George Weasley."
"Lee Jordan. We're third years. And the statue in the corner is..."
"Maurise Black," Maurise said simply. "And like you, I'm a first year."
The revelation hung in the air. A first year hanging out with a pack of third years was an unusual combination.
Hermione's eyes widened slightly as she scrutinized Maurise.
"Wait!" she exclaimed, pointing a finger. "I recognize you!"
Maurise blinked. "Do you? Have we met?"
He looked closely at the girl with the bushy hair and the intense stare. He was fairly certain he had no memory of her.
"In Diagon Alley. At the Magical Menagerie," Hermione said, crossing her arms. "I tried to talk to you about pet care regulations, and you completely ignored me. It was very rude."
Maurise paused. The name 'Granger' clicked. Muggle-born, likely.
"Ah. Right. You," he said, feigning a sudden realization.
Truthfully, he hadn't registered her face at all that day. Few people bother to memorize the face of a stranger they bump into while shopping, especially when that stranger is lecturing them on regulations.
Hermione huffed lightly. She could tell he didn't actually remember and was just saving face to avoid an argument.
'Annoying boy', she thought.
Just then, a clattering sound echoed from the corridor, followed by a cheerful, dimpled woman sliding back their door.
"Anything off the trolley, dears? We have Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans!"
The trolley witch had arrived, effectively blocking Hermione and Neville's exit.
"We'd best be going, Neville," Hermione said, "now that your toad is safe."
"Oh, wait."
Neville awkwardly scratched his head. He reached into his pocket and bought a large box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans from the witch. He turned back and offered them to the compartment.
It was a peace offering, a gesture of thanks despite the earlier fright.
The group happily accepted. However, as they passed the box around, luck was not on Maurise's side.
He popped a bean into his mouth. Bogey flavor.
He tried another. Dirt.
As he chewed grimly, Maurise came to a silent, definitive conclusion.
He hated Every Flavour Beans.