"Don't mock me..." Hermione sobbed.
"What are you saying, Hermione, I'm completely serious. You really are a very talented girl, and on top of that, you also possess supernatural powers. Can you tell me what interesting things you read in your textbooks?"
Richard handed the girl a handkerchief. She took it and began wiping the tears from her face.
"Are you actually interested?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"Of course. I haven't read those books. I suggest we continue our conversation in the train compartment. I see the wizards are arriving. We should take the best compartment, since we're the first to arrive."
- Fine.
The boy and girl took the first compartment. Hermione began enthusiastically retelling the information she had gleaned from her wizarding textbooks.
Gradually, the platform filled with whimsically dressed wizards and witches. Some wizards could combine pajama pants with a jacket, or a skirt with a sweater. For this time, a man in women's clothing was outlandish.
Richard periodically glanced out the window. Looking at the platform again, he spotted a familiar face.
"Hermione," he interrupted the girl's story, "please excuse me. Please hold this compartment. I'm going to meet some friends."
- Of course, Richie.
After getting off the train, Richard hurried to greet his acquaintance. The chubby-cheeked boy looked around in bewilderment, standing near the entrance to an ordinary station.
- Justin! Hi.
Young Finch-Fletchley, noticing his acquaintance, was incredibly pleased. Smiling broadly, he said with relief:
- Richie. Richie! Richie, I'm so glad to see you! Look, I bought an expandable travel bag too.
Justin showed his friend a black leather suitcase.
- My dear friend, words cannot describe how glad I am to see you. What a wonderful suitcase. How did you get here?
"Okay, but Dad couldn't get through the column," Finch-Fletchley replied with a hint of regret.
"My guard couldn't even get to the crossing, so don't worry. Should we wait for Harry or go straight to the compartment?"
- Let's better wait for Harry.
Justin looked uncertain, looking around with curiosity and a little fear.
"Oh, my God," he whispered, "Richie, these people have absolutely no idea how to dress. Look at that wizard-is it just me, or is he really wearing a woman's nightgown?"
"Hmm..." Richard also noticed the elderly wizard. "A bit extravagant. Pink... Good thing it wasn't a peignoir, otherwise my eyes wouldn't have been able to bear the sight."
The boys kept a close eye on the barrier, so when Harry Potter walked past with a backpack on his back, habitually hiding the scar on his forehead with the peak of his baseball cap, he was immediately noticed.
"Harry. Harry!" Justin waved his hands, attracting attention.
Harry immediately spotted his acquaintances and headed toward them. Along the way, he kept glancing at the red locomotive, which had just fired up its boiler and was belching out thick clouds of smoke and steam.
"Hey, guys!" he greeted. "Justin, Richie, you're here."
"Scott didn't go with you?" Richard asked.
"My uncle said he was sick of looking at wizards' faces again, so he only walked me as far as the crossing," Potter replied.
"Guys, I've got us a great compartment," Richard said. "We need to hurry there, or the poor girl must be fighting tooth and nail to hold it for us."
"Who is that girl?" Harry asked curiously. "A friend of yours?"
"The daughter of the dentists I once had my teeth fixed by. Turns out she's a witch too. I'll introduce you now. By the way, Harry, did you and Scott go to Gringotts?"
"We went a couple of days after the shopping, when there was a crowd of wizards there," Harry answered. "My parents left me a decent amount of money."
"What about our suspicions?" Richard asked.
"It's fine, Richie," Potter replied. "The goblins checked the access logs-no one's been in my safe."
"Harry, I understand it's impolite to talk about finances, especially other people's," Richard continued, "but it's still not nice to have money lying around like dead weight. Have you thought about investing it?"
"I don't know," Potter shrugged. "Richie, I'm completely clueless about this. Any advice?"
"Of course, but it depends on how much money you have," Richard said.
- There are about fifty thousand galleons there.
Richard thought for a moment and answered when the boys reached the last carriage:
"It's not much, but you wouldn't call it a small sum either. I recommend you exchange ninety percent of your Galleons for pounds and buy shares in Nokia, Microsoft, and Intel. And then sell them in 2000, after you graduate from Hogwarts."
"Ugh, Richie," Justin grimaced. "Don't be as boring as my dad."
"Thanks, Richie, I'll think about it," Harry said.
Hermione welcomed Richard's return with joy and relief.
"Phew," she said, "it's you! I'm already tired of answering that this compartment is occupied."
Richard gave the girl a wide smile and said politely:
"Guys, this young lady is the very Hermione Granger I told you about. Hermione, let me introduce you to my friends."
Hermione eyed the new boys curiously. Her gaze shifted to the plump boy in a nice suit carrying a suitcase that Richard was pointing to.
"Justin Finch-Fletchley," said Rich. "The son of Lord and the well-known banker Robert Finch-Fletchley."
"Nice to meet you, Justin," Hermione replied politely.
- And this is Mr. Harry Potter...