Dude, you're a bit too much.

Harry didn't have time to think about it.

Because his good friend, who was being praised to the skies, had come up with a new trick—he brought out a fat old mouse.

Harry noticed that Ethan's eyes sharpened the moment the rat appeared.

Like frozen lake water, those cobalt blue eyes coldly stared at the fat rat.

Even though his lips are smiling, the smile doesn't reach his eyes.

"Oh, how interesting, you have a cute little pet."

Ethan spoke slowly.

He changed his sitting posture, crossed one leg, and hid half of his body in the shadow cast by the window.

This made his whole demeanor solemn.

Ron became inexplicably nervous and stammered:

"Uh, yes, yes. Its name is Spotty, and it used to belong to my brother Percy. He became the prefect this year, so Dad bought him an owl and gave me this unwanted mouse..."

"Hmm."

Ethan responded through his nose, his gaze never leaving the snoring fat rat.

"Banban".

Or perhaps, the murderer who indirectly caused the deaths of Harry's parents—

Peter Pettigrew

Ethan rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

First of all, if I go up there and smash the rat to death, it will definitely leave Ron and Harry with an unforgettable impression.

However, his next direct route was not to Hogwarts, but to Azkaban.

It's perfect for keeping Sirius Black company, who was wrongly accused.

After all, at that time, Peter was still considered a hero for protecting Harry's parents.

Moreover, although it appears to be killing a rat, it actually involves killing a person.

I wonder if the wizard who killed the Animagus form will revert back to his original form after death.

Imagine the scene where a body suddenly lies on a train...

Please, this is a magical world, not some detective movie set.

Killing might have an impact on my soul.

Ethan thought to himself.

I'm an upright and kind little wizard, I would never be like some noseless monster who evilly divides his soul into seven parts.

What should I do...?

After much thought, Ethan came up with an idea.

On the other side, Ron had already picked up his old wand, ready to cast a spell on Scabbers.

Just then.

"Splash!"

The cubicle door was opened.

A girl with messy, brown hair like tumbleweed appeared at the door.

Beside him was a round-faced boy with a mournful expression.

The boy had come before and asked if anyone had seen his toad.

Have you seen a toad?

The girl asked the question as soon as she opened her mouth, revealing her two front teeth, while scanning the cubicle with her sharp eyes.

Their attitude was quite impolite.

Harry frowned, about to say they hadn't seen anything, when Ethan's intrigued voice rang out:

Which part?

"..."

The expressions on their faces went blank for a moment.

The poor, round-faced boy blinked blankly.

Realizing the meaning of those words belatedly, her previously flushed face turned deathly pale.

Ethan: "Haha, just kidding."

Harry chuckled dryly twice.

Ethan's sense of humor seems a bit unusual...

The brown-haired girl raised her eyebrows sternly, about to say something to reprimand him, when she saw Ron holding up a magic wand.

Then, changing the subject, she said, "Oh, are you casting a spell? Well then, let us see for ourselves."

"Okay, alright, cough cough."

Ron blushed and mumbled something, then solemnly cast a spell on Scabbers that had no effect whatsoever.

The fat mouse rolled over, only slightly awakened, but looked quite comfortable.

"Are you sure that's magic? It doesn't look very good, does it?"

The brown-haired girl made an arrogant comment, and was about to give a speech about her mastery of the textbook when Ethan interrupted her.

No one can give a speech in front of me.

"Hey, I've learned a magic trick too, do you want to see it?"

As Ethan spoke, he slowly pulled out his wand.

"Of course, of course!" Harry quickly replied.

Now he's willing to give anything to make his good buddy Ron less embarrassed.

Ron blushed and muttered a few words.

They wanted Ethan to cast a beautiful spell to shut that annoying girl up.

But he didn't want to see Ethan actually succeed in casting the spell.

I'm really torn.

But soon, Ron realized he had been worrying about it too early.

Ethan pointed his wand at Scabbers, smiling and reciting with perfect clarity:

"Avada Kedavra eating a melon."

The words fell.

The entire cubicle fell silent instantly, as if a pause button had been pressed.

Harry, Ron, the brown-haired girl, and the round-faced boy all stared at Ethan, dumbfounded.

It was as if he had suddenly turned into a giant wearing a skirt.

"--squeak!!!"

A piercing scream erupted from Ron's hand.

Suddenly, the fat rat convulsed, its missing toe leg kicking wildly, and its two beady eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

The look of fear on its face was as if it had suddenly confronted the deepest nightmare in its heart.

but--

It's just a mouse, isn't it?

Its tiny brain shouldn't have any "frightening nightmares".

"You...you killed my Scabbers?!" Ron shouted in terror, breaking the silence.

Ethan: <(￣︶￣)>

"...No, obviously not." The brown-haired girl snapped out of her daze, pursed her lips, and said, "He didn't even manage to cast it successfully; there wasn't even a beam."

"Your mouse should still be alive."

Although... it's a bit strange.

Hermione frowned.

If it had no effect, why did the mouse react so strongly?

Can an ordinary rat understand the spell "Avada Kedavra"?

"Yes, it was just a joke," Ethan said.

"I'm not that kind of dark wizard; how could I possibly cast such a terrible spell?"

"so--"

Ethan tilted his head and looked at the others:

Why aren't you laughing?

Everyone: "..."

Dude, you're a bit too much.

Ethan smiled gently and kindly.

You would never guess that just seconds before, one of the three unforgivable curses was used as a joke.

"...This isn't funny at all!" Hermione finally snapped, crossing her arms and snapping, "If this is all you can do, then I think you're nothing special!"

"Even worse than that redhead!"

As she spoke, she stared fearlessly into Ethan's eyes.

In a short time.

The atmosphere in the cubicle became tense.

Neville, who had only come to find the toad, seemed to wish he had never stepped onto this train carriage.

Ron was completely absorbed in his fat rat, muttering, "Blood Mom, hell! I hope it doesn't pull on my hand."

Harry looked left and right, wanting to smooth things over, but didn't know how to start.

He figured a good wizard like Ethan wouldn't really want to hurt someone else's pet.

Ethan's joke was just too ahead of its time.

It's like asking Dementors (Harry learned about these creatures from "Hogwarts: A History of the School") to sing a birthday song for you.

It was truly exciting.

But it is not necessary.

"...Oh dear, I've really been underestimated."

Ethan murmured, maintaining the smile welded to his face.

Holding a magic wand, he casually waved it in mid-air.

"A toad flies in."

Upon hearing this...

Hermione, as if flipped on a switch, launched into a tirade: "Summoning Charm? Haven't you read your textbooks? The Summoning Charm can only summon inanimate objects; you won't succeed that way—"

Before he could finish speaking...

A loud "bang" was heard not far away, followed by a scream.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flew through the corridor.

It bypassed the door frame and landed straight in Ethan's hand.

—And there it was, a disoriented green toad!