Chapter 2 The price of Merlin's card.

Aphrodite

While the two animals were happily playing in the empty space between us, the five of us opened a conversation to get to know each other better. If you exhale Irene and Hermione who had done their own pigeon-holing and were commenting passionately on the same book that, nor were they complicit with the magical creature accusations.

While these two were in their own world, which if the two boys hadn't bombarded me with questions, I would have joined in, I began to tease a tuft of the braid Irene had done my hair with that morning.

"So you come from Greece? " Harry asked, trying to draw Irene into the conversation, or so I thought.

"Yes, we're from the second largest city after its capital, Athens. " I replied quickly passing a tour guide tone however from the questioning looks I got back I realised that I probably don't have it with that profession.

"It is Thessaloniki. The second largest city in Greece. " Irene replied and I smiled apologetically I had forgotten to mention the name of the city.

"Really; it must be a nice city." Harry said, seeming to understand and we agreed.

"Yes, it's very beautiful there. There's plenty of places to sit and enjoy the day. " said Irene nonchalantly and I nodded.

Good years then. Riding around the village late, swimming with the family at the seaside, fighting with Mum and Stavros. The beautiful memories flashed through my mind and nostalgia overcame me for the people who raised me as their own child.

"... Plus it has great books that you can learn a lot about Greek culture, someday I would like to learn Greek and visit your country. " said Ermioni enthusiastically.

"Is Greece around? " Ron popped up curiously and we all looked at him in surprise.

Irene turned around at that moment and looked at me with intense eyes. I was so sure she wanted her answer. However I didn't let her, I knew that if she would have gaped her mouth would have said something bad So I elbowed her, a little harder than I wanted to, and smiled apologetically at the guys.

"No. It's far enough. "I finally replied while listening to Irene swear at me in Greek.

The kids laughed and then Hermione as if waking up turned and looked at Ron in frustration.

"Ron, I think we should have a geography lesson. " She said to him and he looked at her, souring his face.

For a little while longer we continued to talk and laugh with each other when a loud knock sounded from the door making us stop and look at her. Then what followed was a booming voice shouting "tickets" before the door opened and a small young man of about 25 got in. He greeted us by taking off his hat and smiling politely.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen. Your tickets please. " he said, and I immediately handed him mine and Irene's.

"Oh, come on, Peter. Four years of this every time, like you don't know us " Ron said as he took their tickets out of his bag.

" I might know you guys, trio of the alliance. Anyway the pretty ladies here I've never seen before" he said pausing and staring into my eyes he smiled first handing me the tickets.

Hermione was discreetly cheered and I continued to laugh feeling flattered. However, although the young man was handsome he didn't click with me.

"Thank you. " I said, passing them over and putting them in their place in the bag.

"Please only tell the truth. " he said as I chuckled.

"For the tickets, I said thank you. " I told him and this time everyone else laughed, including the woman pulling a cart full of treats.

The red-faced young man left our carriage, giving way to the woman waiting behind.

"What would you like to eat? I have sweet and salty snacks, cool refreshments and anything you could want." the plump but sweet looking woman asked in a pleasant voice as she looked at us with warm eyes.

" Ο! What's all this?" I exclaimed in surprise as my eyes were bulging with surprise.

"Well, there's a lot of things however I would suggest those are chocolate frogs. Very tasty," Hermione said, and Harry nodded in agreement.

"Good, which one is it? " Irene asked as she took her purse out of her bag.

"It's one of those boxes, a chocolate frog, gives as a gift a card with one of the most powerful wizards. " said Harry as Ron had already bought something that looked like a pie.

"Could I have three of everything? "He then went on to hand the lady a pouch full of silver coins.

"And I would like two of everything" said Irene quickly as she put three gold coins in the woman's hand.

The woman smiled and with a flick of her wand, what we ordered "flew" to us. Then she greeted us before moving forward.

"Wow, I didn't know you'd learned." I said quickly to Irene as she opened one of the two bottles of soda.

"I like math," she said simply, first tasting the pie.

" Α! Apple pie! " She laughed at Ron and he nodded, continuing to eat.

In less than five minutes the carriage was filled with packets of strange Multicoloured beans , polystyrene packets of chocolates, savoury and sweet pies that mooed filling the air with smells. Ron had already eaten a pie with some kind of meat and was about to open a horn pie when Hermione pushed him, making him stop.

Harry reached out his hand and handed us two of those packages that said " Chocolate Frog" , As the box came to my hand, I mumbled a shy "thank you" before I started to process it.

Although relatively light the blue box with the gold motifs that were carved and changed patterns every few minutes. as soon as I shook it before holding it upside down , I felt something trying to turn or rather settle into the box. My eyes rolled, but before I could say anything Irene called out, "Something lives in here."

"What's in it? " I asked the children as I looked Harry in the eyes with concern.

"If you're lucky, it'll have a chocolate frog in it." Said an interesting, I'd say, male voice that belonged to neither of the boys.

I turned around to see who the voice belonged to and before I knew it I was staring blankly at the new student who had entered the cabin. Before I turned my eyes away, I was able to keep his features.

If I judged correctly he must have been about a year or two older than me. His eyes were light gray While his hair was auburn and unruly It came into his eyes. He was quite tall, stocky while wearing the same black cloak as us though he had a yellow scarf.

"Come on open it, I'm always anxious to see what cards are hidden inside." He said and smiled sweetly before sitting down next to me.

"Still no one collection is it ? " Hermione said and moved a little further forward to get a better look at him while I now felt my cheeks burning.

"Yes since I was a little kid I have collected almost all of them , I miss the wizard Merlin though " she said sighing .

" Ό! You mean this card? " Irene asked, showing everyone the card, waving it around with a victorious look.

"Unbelievable! I've been looking for this card for years, I've never been lucky enough to get it. What an injustice that is. " He said sadly.

"Perhaps if you could trade it in? If you want when we get to school, I could give you whichever other card you want.. " he continued looking at her hopefully.

"Sorry, I don't intend to exchange it. " She said looking at him with a smile.

At that moment I looked at her with intense eyes and the look she gave me startled me. She was up to something.

"... BUT... " She said suddenly and the boy looked at her with a look that would do anything.

" If you'll do something I want, I'll give it to you. " She told him and he smiled.

" Yes of course whatever you want. " he said and nodded.