Hogwarts Express and New Colours 4
People of the wizarding world are more or less sheep as he understood from his experiences in the past 2 years. But he is going to keep her around. Who knows how she would be useful for him in the future.
Harry saw Mrs Weasley and other Weasley children entering the platform and immediately went into the train and found an empty compartment and closed it off. He sat comfortably and read a journal on Charms which is written by his mother.
He felt her explanations to be short and simple to understand. Maybe it is his view. Professor Flitwick told him about his mother a few times in his class. He can understand why the diminutive man is much interested in her. She is a natural in charms.
Her explanations told him that much. He continued his reading when he heard a knock on his door and 2 girls were outside trying to enter. He waved his wand and the door opened. In came 2 girls. He knew only one of them well. The other is one he had a small crush on but didn't talk.
"Hmm, hmm," Padma cleared her throat to get his attention.
"Hello, Harry. Is this compartment empty? Most of them are filled including Cho's friends," she said gesturing to the Asian girl behind her. Harry nodded in understanding.
"Yes, you can sit here, Padma. The compartment is empty except for me," his reply shocked Padma. As she had always seen with his 2 best friends, Ron and Hermione. But nodded her head and took the seat opposite to Harry and Cho sitting beside her.
"Oh Harry, this is Cho Chang. Cho is our fourth year Ravenclaw," she said in a calm tone. Harry nodded to Cho and brushed his lips on her knuckles as the pureblood etiquette dictated.
"It's my pleasure to meet you, Cho," he said with a dramatic bow. Padma raised an eyebrow at his behaviour and reaction.
"What's this sudden change, Potter. I don't remember you being all charming last year and where are your friends? You three are always inseparable as far as I remember. Are you really our Harry Potter or an imposter?" Padma asked suspiciously. Looking at him closely. Harry chuckled at that. She is intelligent.
"Maybe I'm an imposter. What are you going to do, Padma? Are you going to shout to the whole train or complain to the driver or Prefects that I'm an imposter? I thought you are an intelligent Claw. Maybe you should be with your sister in the Lion's den," he said with a straight face.
Padma's face was pink in embarrassment at her outburst and being outspoken. Cho is silently giggling at the spectacle. Then Padma observed the way he told about their houses.
"What is wrong with your house? Aren't you the house of Courage and Brave? Who claims to be the noble lions that save others?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from her tone.
"Well, they can't be helped to be hot-headed I guess. Anyway, intellects like us should always be careful with those who act foolish," he said flatly.
Padma didn't doubt his intelligence, but the way he said it was different. She wanted to ask him more about it, but he started to talk with Cho.
"So tell me, Ms Chang, how was Hogwarts treating you?" he asked, diverting the topic and attention from him to Cho. Cho was surprised at suddenly being addressed by Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived.
She always felt him to be cute, but without his glasses, his face was even more charming and attractive. She had a small attraction to him but didn't speak about it. She cleared her throat to speak.
"Well, I think it is good. I'm at the top of my class and is going to try for the Quidditch team this year as I'm a fan of the game. After seeing your performance last year when you caught the snitch and brought victory to Gryffindor, I thought that our house team need a good seeker as our current seeker graduated last year," she explained.
"Well, it is a good idea, but if you like Quidditch so much then why didn't join till now?"
"I thought our team was good and doesn't need any new players as all the players were present last year and the selected ones were just substitutes,"
"Well, in that case, I think you are going to get competition. You have my best wishes for your trials," he said mysteriously with a small smile on his face. This confused Cho, but she just shrugged it off as his nature as she didn't know anything about him more than seeing him in the Great Hall or in passing between classes.
Padma was not like her though. She didn't know more about him personally, but her sister Parvathi always talks about him in their house that includes his behaviour and his attitude towards others.
This Harry Potter was not the one which she can relate to her sister's version about him. He looks more attractive, yes, but more outgoing and charming. She could go on about the differences, but the gist is that the Harry Potter people knew changed.