The person is at Hogwarts, but the system is in Middle-earth!

The Hogwarts Express, the steam monster that Rowe called the "Iron Dragon," was spewing thick smoke as it sped through the suburbs of London toward the northern moors.

The atmosphere was somewhat somber in a private compartment at the back of the train.

"Listen, this is not just a trip, it's a march."

Lowe sat by the window, drawing the curtains tightly shut except for a slit to observe the enemy's movements. He turned around, his gaze fixed intently on the two boys opposite him.

Harry Potter (the Ringbearer) looks bewildered as he holds a giant birthday cake box.

Ron Weasley (the loyal gardener Sam) was holding a chocolate frog in his little hand and stuffing it into his mouth.

[System notification: The initial formation of the Fellowship of the Ring has been established]

[Current members: Ranger (you), Ringbearer (Harry), Gardener (Ron)]

[Mission Objective: Ensure that the Ringbearers are not corrupted or assassinated before reaching Rivendell (Hogwarts).]

"Eat this." Rowe pulled a hard package from his backpack, which was enchanted with a Stretch Mark spell, and threw it on the small table.

"What's this?" Ron asked curiously, leaning closer. "A stone?"

"A substitute for Lambas." Rowe tore open the oil paper, revealing dark brown dried beef and brick-hard rye bread. "This is a soldier's ration. One bite is enough to sustain you for a whole day's march."

Harry looked at the "brick," then at the chocolate frog in Ron's hand, and cautiously asked, "Love, can't we buy some snacks from the cart? That lady just pushed her cart past..."

"No way," Rowe refused flatly. "Most of those brightly colored things are failed alchemical attempts. Moving frogs? They have souls! Eating them will curse you. And those beans!"

He pointed at a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans in Ron's hand, his eyes filled with disgust.

"It's full of dark unknowns. You might taste strawberries, or you might taste orc's foot skin. A true warrior never leaves his fate to luck."

Ron's face turned green, and he silently put down the beans in his hand.

"But this bread is too hard." Ron tapped the rye bread.

"Eat it soaked in water." Luo Wei took out his water bottle and poured a glass of water for each of them. "Remember, in the wild, only this kind of food can keep you alive."

Just as Harry and Ron were forced to start gnawing on the "bricks," Ron's coat pocket suddenly moved.

A fat, gray rat emerged, missing a toe and looking old and wretched. It smelled the beef jerky and tried to climb onto the table.

In that instant, Luo Wei's pupils contracted sharply.

[WARNING! Evil creature detected!]

[Target: Banban]

[System Determination: A variant of Grimma the Clever/The Cursed Traitor]

[Danger Level: Lurking Venom]

[Description: This is no ordinary mouse. Its eyes hold the cunning and betrayal of humans. It's eavesdropping! It's spying!]

"Don't move!"

Rowe let out a low growl and drew his Blackthorn Wood Wand from his waist with lightning speed.

"What?!" Ron hadn't even reacted yet.

"Take it!"

A muffled thud.

The hard tip of the black thorn plum cane slammed into the table, less than a centimeter from Banban's head.

"squeak--!!!"

The mouse let out a piercing screech, a sound completely unlike that of a mouse. It writhed frantically, trying to escape back into Ron's pocket.

"Oh my god! Rowe! What are you doing?!" Ron jumped up in fright, shielding the trembling mouse. "You want to kill Scabbers?!"

"It's not a rat, Ron." Rowe didn't retract his wand, his eyes fixed on Scabbers hiding under Ron's palm, his tone icy. "Look into its eyes. There's no bestiality in them, only greed and fear."

"It's just hungry!" Ron protested loudly. "It's just an old, molting mouse! It's useless, but Percy gave it to me."

"Indeed." Rowe put away his wand. "Traitors are always good at disguising themselves as harmless trash, until they slit your throat while you sleep."

Harry swallowed hard, and the "Lambas" in his hand suddenly lost its appeal. He felt that Rowe might not only be strange, but also somewhat dangerous.

"Stay away from it from now on, Ringbearer," Rowe warned Harry, turning to him. "Darkness always likes to seep in through these tiny cracks."

Just when the atmosphere in the private room reached its most awkward point, the door was opened.

A girl with thick brown hair and two large front teeth poked her head in. She had changed into Hogwarts robes and looked somewhat arrogant.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville lost a toad." She spoke quickly.

Luo Wei looked up.

[Biological scan completed]

[Target: Hermione Granger]

[Race Determination: Human -> Young Noldor Elf]

【Characteristics: Arrogant, insatiable, speaks extremely fast, and exudes an aura of superiority】

[Alliance: Lawful Good/Potential Strategist]

Elves! And the kind of Noldor elves who love to preach and look down on the intelligence of mortals!

The murderous aura emanating from Luo Wei vanished instantly, replaced by a slightly fussy politeness befitting a superior race.

He stood up, even straightening the collar of his robe, and nodded slightly to Hermione.

"Good day, wise lady." Lowe's voice became deep and magnetic. "We did not find the lost little creature."

Hermione was taken aback. She had prepared a whole lecture about "what are you doing" and "why aren't you changing your clothes," but this sudden display of aristocratic etiquette left her speechless.

"Uh, okay." Hermione blinked, her gaze falling on the deep dent in the table (the one left from inserting the wand) and the mouse Ron was protecting. "Are you casting a spell? I just heard someone scream."

"That was a tentative strike against the darkness," Lowe replied calmly, "but it was stopped by mercy."

Ron rolled his eyes. "He almost killed my rat!"

Hermione frowned and looked at Ron. "You're Ron Weasley, right? I heard that's your rat? That doesn't comply with the pet regulations in 'A History of Hogwarts'!"

Then she looked at Harry.

"My God, you're Harry Potter!" Hermione's eyes lit up. "I've read about you in books, in 'A History of Modern Magic,' 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts,' and 'Important Magical Events of the Twentieth Century.'"

Harry looked at her, bewildered. "Is...is that so?"

"If it were me, I would memorize all the books," Hermione said in rapid succession, "even if it's just to figure out why I'm famous."

"Books can only record the past, madam," Rowe suddenly interjected, his tone carrying a hint of elfin philosophy. "But true history is written with sword and blood. The fate of the Ringbearer, I mean Mr. Potter, is not on paper, but on the road."

Hermione turned her head and looked Rowe up and down.

"You talk strangely," she said bluntly. "Which family are you from? What's your name?"

"Love. Love Baggins," Love replied, "a humble traveler from the Shire."

"Baggins?" Hermione frowned, thinking. "That's not a surname on the pure-blood register. Are you Muggle-born?"

"Heroes don't ask about origins, just as spirits don't ask when they'll return." Rowe didn't answer directly, but looked out the window. "The fog is thickening, madam. That toad may be lost in the shadows of the Misty Mountains. I suggest you tell Mr. Neville that instead of searching, it's better to wait. Everything has its time."

Hermione opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to refute this illogical argument, but then she thought the statement made a lot of sense.

"Okay, you'd better change into your robes quickly. I just asked the driver, and we're almost there."

Hermione took one last look at the strange box: a terrified red-haired boy, a bewildered savior, and a weirdo who spoke like a bard and ate bread that looked like bricks.

She shook her head and closed the door.

"She's a little scary," Ron whispered.

"That's the arrogance of an elf." Rowe sat down again, picking up the half-eaten beef jerky. "You'll get used to it. On our journey ahead, we'll need her wisdom, even if she's a bit noisy."

He glanced at the darkening sky outside the window.

"Prepare your weapons, gentlemen. Night is falling, and we are about to step into the eye of the storm."