HP: The Wizard Who Paints with Magic

"? ? !"

Hermione's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the toad in Ethan's hand, blurting out, "How is that possible?!" The textbook had clearly stated that the Summoning Charm couldn't be used on living things.

"Perhaps you should read more extracurricular books, Miss," Ethan said with a hint of disdain. He waved his wand, softly casting a Levitation Charm to float the ugly, slimy toad over to Neville. The round-faced boy, looking flattered, quickly took it, holding the toad as if it were a priceless treasure while stammering his thanks.

"An ordinary Summoning Charm indeed cannot be used on living creatures," Ethan explained, casting a quick Scourgify on his own palm. "But decades ago, a wizard invented a version of the charm specifically for certain creatures. For example, the great Magizoologist, Mr. Newt Scamander, and his Accio Niffler."

He put his wand away and smiled at a completely speechless Hermione. "Therefore, it's not impossible that I just happened to find 'Accio Toad' in an old book and learned it, is it?"

"..."

Hermione opened her mouth, but no words came out.

She had lost. Completely.

The spell she had intended to show off was now pointless. With Ethan's excellent Summoning Charm already demonstrated, any spell she performed would feel like a mere textbook recitation by comparison. Not only that, but even with all her diligent preparation and practice, she still couldn't compare to him.

This was a gap in talent.

As an academic overachiever, a fierce flame ignited in Hermione's eyes. A strong sense of crisis washed over her. Her gaze confirmed it: he was a powerful competitor for the future.

"You're from a wizarding family, right? My name is Hermione Granger, and my parents are Muggles. What's your name?"

Before Ethan could reply, an angry roar erupted from the corridor.

"Damn it! Whose cursed toad is that?!"

!!!

Neville's eyes widened in fear. He hugged his struggling toad tightly, terrified someone would take his precious pet.

At that moment, the others belatedly remembered. When the toad flew past, they seemed to have heard… a thud. And a scream.

"..."

Harry and Ron's expressions slowly turned to horror. It clearly meant some unlucky soul had been struck by a high-speed, flying toad.

One spell, multiple points of damage, Harry thought grimly. Ethan, where did you learn chain combos?

Ethan just offered a placid, "Eh heh."

Realizing what had happened, Harry and Ron instinctively stood up, blocking Ethan from view. Although Ethan's thought process seemed a bit different from a normal person's, their budding friendship wouldn't break that easily. Ethan was just fond of joking; he was good at heart. In the end, he had even helped Neville find his toad. Being rather slender himself, when Harry and Ron stood in front of him, they actually managed to hide him completely.

Draco Malfoy felt his day was going too strangely. First, he was tricked by that detestable Ethan, making a fool of himself in front of everyone. Then, while walking perfectly fine in the corridor, he was suddenly punched by a toad that flew out of nowhere.

Who did he provoke?

Draco was so angry his eyes were red. Young Master Malfoy had never suffered such an indignity in his life. When he stormed into the compartment and saw the idiotic fat boy holding the toad, his first instinct was to cast a jinx. If he knew one.

But just as he was about to explode, he caught a glimpse of someone else in the compartment—Harry Potter. The very Savior he had been looking for.

What a coincidence!

Draco's eyes lit up. He suppressed his anger, pulling the corners of his mouth into a sneer. "Being with this sort of person, things always go wrong, don't they?"

"..."

Harry's previously tense expression immediately darkened.

"I'm Draco Malfoy," he announced. "You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to make friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."

As he spoke, Draco instinctively extended his hand, but a tragic memory suddenly surged into his mind, making him freeze. Two seconds later, he retracted his hand as if nothing had happened, crossing his arms instead. Shaking hands… he'd rather not.

"I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks," Harry said coldly.

Beside him, Ron let out a loud laugh.

"..."

Rejected twice in one day, Draco could no longer contain his anger. "A red-haired weasel whose family is dirt poor, a fat idiot, and a bossy, buck-toothed girl… Ha!" he roared. "You'd rather hang out with these freaks than associate with your betters, would you! How degenerate!"

"If I were you, I'd be more polite, 'Potter'! Otherwise, be careful you don't end up like your parents! They didn't know what was good for them!"

Relying on the two tall, burly thugs behind him, Draco unleashed a torrent of insults without restraint.

"What did you say?!" Ron yelled, charging forward, only to be blocked by the two strong bodyguards.

Draco looked at their impotent rage, sneered, and felt his shattered pride return. That's right. He was the esteemed Malfoy, a pure-blood noble. How could he be intimidated by that kind of freak… Impossible, absolutely impossible!

"Get out," Harry said coldly, clenching his fists.

Draco curled his lip. "Oh, looking for a fight on the first day of school, are we, Savior?" With Goyle and Crabbe at his back, how could he lose? The two goons grinned menacingly, their greedy eyes on the unfinished snacks as they prepared to shove Harry and Ron aside.

Just then, a clear voice, utterly out of place in the tense atmosphere, sounded from behind them.

"You mean, I'm also one of the freaks, right?"

Harry whipped his head around. He saw Ethan, who seemed to completely misunderstand the situation, a friendly smile still on his face.

Oh no! Harry felt a wave of despair. Ethan was just as slender as he was; stepping out would just be asking for trouble.

However, what happened next made him freeze.

Draco Malfoy, upon seeing Ethan, reacted as if he had seen a ghost. His eyes widened, and his previously flushed face turned pale in a flash. His lips trembled, and he stumbled backward, nearly falling to the ground. It was as if a terrifying demon, not a thinly dressed, slender boy, stood before him.

"You—how are you here… Ethan Vincent!"

Hearing the name, Ron's eyes widened as if he'd been struck by lightning. A sudden, dawning comprehension washed over him as he looked incredulously from Ethan to Malfoy.

He finally remembered where he had heard that name.

It was from his father, who worked at the Ministry of Magic. One day, he'd come home sharing Ministry gossip.

Ethan Vincent, once listed in the Ministry's potential dangerous persons register, is an evil little artist whose drawings cause mental pollution!

His father had even forbidden them from looking at the issue of The Quibbler that featured Ethan's drawings. Ron only knew that his twin brothers had somehow managed to get a copy, and for the entire following week, for some strange reason, they hadn't touched their broomsticks.

So, it was this Ethan Vincent!!!

Now, Ron seemed to understand exactly who had made the esteemed Malfoy cry his eyes out on the platform…

(End of Chapter)

***

(End of Chapter)

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