Harvey nodded and said, "Of course, but for now, this is just an unrefined idea in my head."
"Testing this theory is far beyond what young wizards of our age can accomplish."
"After all, the initial funding required for any magical research is no small sum."
"Then there is the Resurrection Stone, which only appears in legends; its trail is so ethereal it is nearly impossible to track."
"And following that..."
Harry Potter couldn't help but interrupt, "Harvey, I can sponsor your research! I believe every difficulty has a solution!"
Seeing that the big fish had finally taken the bait, Harvey felt all his hard storytelling had been worth it.
Harvey rubbed his hands together, suppressing the wild joy in his heart.
He put on a face full of bitterness and said:
"Harry, though this research might cause me to fall under a curse, I am willing to take this risk for a friend, so you can see your parents again!"
Hearing this, Harry's eyes welled up with moved tears. "Harvey, you are too great. But as your best friend, I cannot let you take such a massive risk for me."
Seeing this, Harvey panicked and quickly persuaded him: "It's quite alright; researching forbidden domains is my dream anyway."
"If I can complete this great work of magic, I believe it is worth even my life!"
Harry Potter truly believed this was just Harvey's noble excuse, and his heart was moved even further.
"It is truly my luck to have a best friend like you. I am willing to provide twenty thousand Galleons to fund your magical research."
Gulp. Harvey's heart pounded wildly, and he subconsciously swallowed.
"Harry, thank you for your trust. With this capital, I am certain that in the near future, I will complete this magnificent research into the resurrection of the dead!"
Hermione had been listening for a long time, stunned by the story of the Deathly Hallows.
However, a faint suspicion flickered in her mind.
Why did Harvey's expression look like he was desperately trying to hold back a laugh?
"Twenty thousand Galleons is no small amount, Harry. You must think this through clearly."
Hermione spoke up to caution Harry Potter.
She couldn't tell if Harvey's words were entirely true or a total fabrication.
But based on her understanding of Harvey, this whole thing looked incredibly suspicious.
Seeing someone interfering with his business, Harvey almost felt like strangling Hermione.
Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to get some money?
If I don't have money, how am I going to take care of you in the future?
Hermione was truly being too oblivious!
On the surface, however, Harvey echoed her with a look of total sincerity: "Yes, Harry, you should consider it carefully before deciding. Twenty thousand Galleons is a lot."
Hearing Harvey's warning, Harry's resolve actually hardened.
"No need for more words. I trust Harvey!"
"Next term, I will go to Gringotts and withdraw the money. The remaining fortune in the vault is enough to last me a lifetime anyway."
Harvey looked deeply moved, having finally successfully cashed in on this golden goose.
He gripped Harry's hand tightly in a gesture of friendship and promised, "I will not betray your trust. Believe me, this research will never let you down!"
Harry Potter nodded heavily, his gaze drifting as he began to envision the beautiful moment his parents would be successfully resurrected.
Seeing the matter settled, Hermione could only curl her lip and stop trying to persuade him.
But doubt remained in her heart. "Harvey doesn't look like the type of person who would sacrifice his life for magical research."
"I hope I'm just overthinking it..."
As the trio talked, the chimney atop the Hogwarts Express let out a "whoosh" of steam, and the train slowly began to clatter into motion.
A long whistle echoed over the tracks as the scenery outside the window began to drift away.
A middle-aged female trolley witch in wizard robes pushed a cart into the compartment.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?"
"We have Chocolate Frogs, Licorice Wands, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans... and more."
Harvey hadn't expected to find annoying sales pitches even on a magical train.
He shook his head expressionlessly, indicating he didn't need these snacks that only naive children would enjoy.
Hermione, however, was curious about magical treats. She took a little bit of everything, spending two silver Sickles in total.
Harry Potter seemed to feel that treating his best friends to snacks was a way to show his warmth and generosity.
He immediately asked the trolley witch for five whole Galleons worth of snacks.
Thinking she had met a gluttonous child, the witch smiled broadly and handed Harry a cloth bag stuffed with treats.
It was a bag over a meter high—nearly as tall as Harvey!
Harvey couldn't help but say, "Harry, these snacks could probably last you a year. Are you sure you can finish all of them?"
Harry Potter replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "These aren't for me. They're for you guys. Don't you like snacks?"
Having been mistreated by his aunt since childhood, let alone snacks, Harry often hadn't even had enough to eat.
Thus, he believed snacks were the most precious things in the world.
He wanted to treat Harvey and Hermione to snacks to express his most sincere gratitude.
Harvey really wanted to say he didn't like junk food, but to avoid hurting Harry's sensitive heart, he managed a forced smile.
"Thanks, Harry. You're very generous."
Just then, a slightly pudgy boy ran into the compartment looking panicked, his voice sounding close to tears.
"Has anyone seen my Trevor?"
Hah! Isn't this the future Swordmaster of Gryffindor?
"Trevor?" Harvey feigned shock. "Is Hogwarts really allowing students to bring weapons into the school?"
Harry Potter was also taken aback. He had only heard about "Trevor" being used as a joke for military gear in Muggle culture.
"Is Hogwarts that dangerous? Why else would a student bring a 'Trevor' to school?"
Hermione, starting to show signs of being a "know-it-all," thought for a moment and said uncertainly:
"In Hogwarts: A History, there are many cases of accidental student deaths. Could that be why one needs a weapon?"
The pudgy boy froze, utterly confused. "What weapon? Trevor... is a toad! Not a weapon!"
"Oh, it's just a pet!" Harry Potter said, feeling relieved.
Hermione, however, remained frowning. Once the idea was planted, she couldn't stop thinking about it—going to Hogwarts did seem life-threatening.
She slightly regretted not bringing a weapon for self-defense.
Harvey pointed at Harry's giant bag of snacks, which contained at least thirty or forty restless Chocolate Frogs.
He teased in a peculiar tone, "You lucky lad, is the toad you're looking for this one? Or this one, or this one, or this one...?"
The pudgy boy actually leaned over Harry's snack bag and carefully examined every single Chocolate Frog.
Then he grabbed his head in frustration and shouted, "No! None of these are my Trevor!"
Harvey: "..."
Is it a bit too much to mess with a kid who has a bit of a slow start? Harvey felt a hint of shame.