Ch: 37-44
Chapter 37: Neville's Natural Enemy
Leaving The Granger Family, Draco Malfoy turned and returned to the hogwarts express.
Walking to the outside of the compartment where Vincent and Goyle were, he subconsciously slowed his pace and looked inside through the window.
He saw the two big fellows sitting upright on the velvet seats inside the compartment.
Their backs were as straight as pines, their shoulders tense, their hands placed stiffly on their knees, and they didn't even dare to tilt their heads slightly.
That sitting posture was as stiff as a mannequin in a shop window, clearly a deliberate "performance" of being well-behaved, carrying an indescribable sense of comicality.
Perhaps sensing the gaze from outside the window, the two stiffly turned their heads to look at Draco Malfoy.
The moment their six eyes met, they forced a smile onto their faces, corners of their mouths stretched wide, but their eyes remained tense.
That smile looked worse than crying, exactly like two stone statues hit with a Freezing Charm.
Draco Malfoy didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the sight.
Such deliberate "discipline" would likely make anyone wary; who would dare step into this compartment?
Draco Malfoy pushed the door open and entered, the compartment door making a soft click.
Hearing the sound, the two immediately tried to stand up to greet him, but because their movements were too stiff, they nearly slipped off the seats, looking even more pathetic.
"Sit down." Draco Malfoy raised a hand to stop them, his gaze sweeping over their tense bodies as he spoke slowly: "Listen, do as I say. First, lean your back against the seat. No need to be intentionally upright; let the fabric of the backrest support your weight. Relax, be natural."
The two did as told, leaning back stiffly until their backs touched the velvet backrest.
"Second, put your shoulders back and let them sink." Draco Malfoy reached out and gently patted Goyle's shoulder, signaling him to relax. "Imagine they are like two stones, falling naturally. Don't hold them up."
Goyle and Vincent immediately tried to relax their shoulders. Their shoulders slowly sank, and their originally tense figures finally softened a bit.
"Third, put your hands on your stomach or thighs. Don't pick at things with your fingers; just spread them out, palms up or down, whatever is comfortable."
The two hastily spread their hands from their knees, palms down, resting them gently on their thighs. The movement still had a hint of deliberateness, but was much more natural than before.
"Fourth, look at the moving trees outside the window, or a fixed point in the compartment, like that lampshade." Draco Malfoy pointed to the brass lampshade at the top of the compartment.
"No need to scan around like you're on patrol. Just 'place' it, let your gaze have a landing point, make it look casual."
The two immediately turned to look out the window, their eyes falling on the trees receding rapidly, their gaze gradually losing its tension.
"Fifth, breathe in through your nose, hold for a second, then slowly exhale through your mouth." Draco Malfoy demonstrated the breathing rhythm. "Like slowly venting a boiler, keep it steady. Do it five times."
The two took a deep breath as told, paused for a moment, then slowly exhaled. Over and over, their originally hurried breathing gradually steadied, and the tension on their faces faded significantly.
Seeing their gradually relaxing appearance, Draco Malfoy continued: "This is the energy-saving state of our 'Boggart Skin.' When you don't need to actively perform 'Normal Form' tasks, keep it like this."
"It will save your energy, extend the duration of the disguise, and..." pausing, his sharp gaze swept over them, "make it harder for those observing us to judge our intentions."
"Now, maintain this mode until the next'scenario' is triggered, understood?"
Goyle let out a long breath as if a heavy burden had been lifted, a relaxed expression appearing on his face: "Boss, have we switched to Low-power mode now? Sitting like this is indeed much more comfortable!"
Vincent also nodded: "I get it, Boss! This is part of the disguise technique, to execute missions more sustainably without easily exposing our true purpose."
"Right." Draco Malfoy said helplessly, looking at their relieved expressions.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly: Sitting so stiffly just now must have been suffocating; it was hard for them to persist for so long.
"Keep it up, I've got high hopes for you." Draco Malfoy patted their shoulders with some encouragement, then turned and pushed the door to leave.
Leaving the two in the compartment, trying to adapt to this "energy-saving mode" posture.
Leaving Vincent and Goyle's compartment, Draco Malfoy continued down the corridor, his gaze scanning the compartment doors, looking for an empty seat.
By now, the compartments on the train were gradually filling up. Laughter and chatter drifted from various compartments, with only two still empty.
One was where Vincent and Goyle were, and the other was at the end of the corridor.
Walking to that compartment door, Draco Malfoy knocked lightly, then pushed the door open and asked gently, "Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?"
Inside the compartment, a round-faced, pudgy boy sat by the window, a hint of cowardice on his face, clutching an old toad cage in his arms.
Draco Malfoy recognized him; it was Little Fatty Neville.
Hearing Draco Malfoy's voice, he tensed up immediately as if pricked by a needle, snapping his head up.
The moment he saw Draco Malfoy, a flash of panic and unease crossed those brown eyes, and he instinctively shrank back.
His gaze quickly shifted to the girl beside him, his voice as thin as a mosquito's hum and somewhat stuttering: "Uh... I... I think... n-no one?"
Sitting in the seat opposite him was a girl with bushy curly hair, a pink hairpin in her hair, and a round face with baby fat, looking exceptionally cute.
Hearing Draco Malfoy's voice, she immediately turned. Her bright eyes sparkled with a new student's curiosity about everything, her gaze falling directly on Draco Malfoy, much steadier than Neville.
The girl answered quickly.
"Yes, no one's here! Are you a new student too?" Her tone carried a hint of friendliness, but her gaze revealed a scrutiny of the intruder.
"Yes, I'm also a new student this year." Draco Malfoy nodded, his gaze falling on the girl's cute face, which seemed a bit unfamiliar.
Hearing Draco Malfoy's answer, Neville clearly breathed a sigh of relief, but then frowned again, a conflicted expression appearing on his face.
Clearly, having someone who instinctively made him feel uneasy sit beside him was quite distressing for him.
Neville quickly looked at Lavender again, seemingly seeking some support, then mumbled very quietly, almost to himself: "Oh... um... o-of course..."
As he spoke, he scrambled to pull the snack bags and schoolbag from the empty seat next to him closer to himself, trying to clear a space, his movements frantic and clumsy.
In stark contrast to Neville's embarrassment, Lavender immediately flashed a brighter smile and said enthusiastically, "Of course you can! Are the other places full? The train is so crowded today!"
As she spoke, she proactively moved a magazine from the empty seat opposite her, waving to Draco Malfoy and enthusiastically patting the seat to invite him, "Sit here!"
While speaking, the girl's gaze didn't leave Draco Malfoy; instead, she took the opportunity of this "shared space" to observe him more naturally.
From the blonde hair on his head to the well-tailored robes on his body, and then to the wand at his waist, the curiosity in her eyes grew stronger, full of interest in this seemingly quite different new student, Draco Malfoy.
Draco Malfoy saw Neville's nervousness and unease; if he sat next to him, it would probably make him even more awkward.
So Draco Malfoy nodded to Lavender and walked over to the empty seat beside her and sat down.
[Ding! Original plot added, luck value increased by 20!]
Seeing that Draco Malfoy didn't sit next to him, Neville secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the tension on his face faded slightly.
He didn't say anything more, just turned more completely toward the window, leaving only a small portion of his face and a pair of eyes to carefully observe the movements in the compartment.
After settling in, Draco Malfoy turned to look at Lavender, a faint smile on his lips as he introduced himself: "I am Draco Malfoy."
"Malfoy?" Lavender was slightly stunned upon hearing the surname, then muttered it as she tried to search her memory for anything related to it.
"Oh! I think I've heard of it! My father mentioned it, saying it's a very famous family in the wizarding world."
Neville, sitting by the window, had his pupils contract slightly upon hearing the name "Malfoy." His body tensed imperceptibly for a moment, and his hand holding the toad cage tightened.
He repeated the surname in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of disbelief: "Mal... Malfoy..."
He had heard many negative comments from his grandmother about Pure-blood families like the Malfoys. This surname had long been labeled with "arrogant" and "dangerous" in his heart.
Seeing this, the smile on Draco Malfoy's lips deepened, and he deliberately joked, "Is that so? Then I'm quite honored to be so famous even before starting school."
The girl clearly hadn't expected that this seemingly arrogant and cold boy would actually say such a thing.
She was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh: "Haha, you're really interesting! You're completely different from what I imagined!"
She looked at Draco Malfoy with a smile, the curiosity in her eyes growing stronger, even carrying a hint of teasing: "Then should I take this chance to ask for an autograph? Maybe you'll become a very powerful Wizard in the future!"
"Of course!" Draco Malfoy responded with a smile.
After the joke, the girl also told Draco Malfoy her name. It turned out she was Lavender Brown, the one who supposedly dated Ron Weasley.
Neville, naturally, went without saying.
Watching the two become more familiar, Neville's reaction was several beats slower.
He just looked at Draco Malfoy blankly, as if he didn't understand the joke, his eyes full of confusion.
After a good while, Neville slowly came back to his senses, Draco Malfoy's words echoing repeatedly in his mind.
Incredible: A Malfoy... joking? And joking about "being famous" himself?
This was worlds apart from the "arrogant and dangerous pure-blood scion" template he had heard from his grandmother and imagined; it didn't match at all.
"He seems... not that scary?" This thought flickered quietly in Neville's heart for the first time like a weak spark.
Now, in the gaze Neville directed at Draco Malfoy, there was less fear and more confusion and curiosity.
The atmosphere in the compartment gradually relaxed due to these few jokes.
Draco Malfoy and Lavender Brown chatted idly about everything from wand materials to Hogwartshouses. Her personality was lively and cheerful, her speech very fast, and she could always find various topics to make the air in the compartment feel vibrant.
Neville sat by the window, occasionally stealing a glance at the two, the tension in his eyes fading a bit without him even realizing it.
Just then, in the corridor outside the compartment, a slender figure quietly stopped.
It was a girl holding a book, wearing a brand-new Wizard robe. Her gaze fell on the scene inside the compartment through the window.
Young Master Malfoy, who had helped her family on the platform not long ago, was sitting next to a girl, a faint smile on his lips, chatting happily with her.
While the pudgy boy was huddled by the window, secretly observing them.
Her footsteps paused. She stood outside the window, quietly observing everything inside the compartment, neither immediately pushing the door open nor turning to leave.
Just standing there, as if thinking about something.
Chapter 38: Unexpected
It was him.
Others were present.
There was an empty seat, and it wasn't next to him.
The moment Hermione stood at the door, a precise calculation had already flashed through her mind.
Suppressing the emotions churning in her heart, she pushed the door open with a movement that was deliberately steady yet slightly forced.
The three people inside the compartment looked over at the sound; when Draco saw Hermione, not a hint of surprise showed on his face.
Given his knowledge of the available seats on the train, Hermione's choice was exactly as expected.
Either go to Vincent and Goyle's side, or come here.
Compared to those two hulking figures who clearly looked like trouble, this place was obviously more to her liking.
A faint smile curled at the corners of Draco's mouth as he took the lead to greet her, "What a coincidence, Hermione."
To his surprise, Hermione only gave Draco a cool glance and walked straight to the empty seat opposite Neville, sitting down with crisp, decisive movements.
She set down the magic book in her arms, looked up at Draco, and said in a tone as cold as midwinter ice, "It's 'Miss Granger,' Malfoy. We aren't close."
As soon as those words were spoken, the air in the compartment froze instantly, and even the sound of the wind outside the window seemed to come to a standstill.
Neville looked as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning; he gave a violent shudder, and the toad cage in his arms nearly fell to the floor.
His eyes widened in terror like two startled rabbits, his gaze darting frantically between Draco and Hermione as if watching a duel about to erupt.
Finally, he jerked his head down, staring intently at his knees, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Neville's face turned beet red with his head lowered, the tips of his ears flushed crimson, and a storm was already raging in his heart: "It's over, Merlin! She—she actually snubbed Malfoy directly! He's definitely going to lose his temper! Will they start fighting? Should I do something? No... no... I can't do anything... Please, just don't notice me..."
Lavender's mouth hung open slightly in unconcealed shock, her round eyes filled with both the excitement of watching the drama unfold and a hidden sliver of timid fear.
Her gaze was like a searchlight, scanning back and forth between Draco and Hermione, unwilling to miss even the slightest emotional change on their faces, for fear of missing any detail of this great show.
Draco was also stunned, staring at Hermione in a daze; he didn't snap out of it until she was firmly seated.
What on earth was going on? At Ollivanders Wand Shop in Diagon Alley, the two of them had clearly gotten along quite well.
How could she be as cold as frost toward him after only a few days, as if they shared some irreconcilable blood feud?
Composing himself, Draco suppressed the astonishment in his heart and asked with a hint of confusion, "What happened, Miss Granger?"
Looking at Draco, Hermione's gaze didn't flicker in the slightest, her tone remaining calm and icy: "What happened, Mr. Malfoy, is that our initial interaction in Diagon Alley was built upon a critical information gap that you failed to disclose."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet compartment: "I didn't know then, nor did I have any intention of probing into your family background. But now I know."
"Everything your surname represents makes any expectation of a relationship beyond the most superficial of classmate bonds—based on that conversation in Diagon Alley—both inappropriate and impossible."
"Therefore, any proposal or hint regarding 'friendship' or a special connection is inappropriate and will not be accepted."
"I hope our interactions at Hogwarts can remain strictly within the boundaries of classmates. It's for the best for both of us."
Pausing for a moment, Hermione's gaze swept over Draco and fell back onto the magic book on her lap: "Now, if you have no other questions regarding academics or public affairs, I believe this topic can be concluded."
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, chilling the slight, vague anticipation in Draco's heart to the core.
Every word of hers was like drawing a clear line between Draco and herself, severing all possible intersections.
Neville shuddered violently again, but this time it wasn't out of fear; he finally understood the root of this conflict.
It was bloodline, it was stance, it was everything represented by the surname 'Malfoy' that made Hermione build a high wall against Draco.
He peeked up, stealing a quick glance at Hermione from the corner of his eye; the fear in his gaze instantly transformed into a complex emotion mixed with awe, sympathy, and a great sense of resonance.
He thought: "She... she understands everything, and she dares to say it directly to a Malfoy!"
This courage caused a sliver of unspeakable admiration to grow in the heart of Neville, a boy who had always been timid.
Lavender was listening with rapt attention, her eyes not blinking once.
It wasn't until Hermione finished her last word that she let out a long, silent breath, finally seeing the solution to this puzzle.
Her gaze swept between Draco and Hermione one last time before settling completely and steadily on Hermione, her eyes filled with support and admiration.
The slight lingering fondness and curiosity she had for Draco earlier had now vanished, replaced by a sense of relief: "Fortunately, I've seen things clearly."
Draco stared blankly at Hermione, looking at her face which was full of distance and resolve; it felt as if something had lightly pricked his heart, leaving a trace of inexplicable bitterness.
He nodded slowly, the smile on his lips long gone, his voice carrying a hint of hurt and loss that he hadn't even noticed himself: "I see."
Staying any longer would only increase the embarrassment and cause more unpleasantness.
Hermione's attitude was already so resolute that any further defense would likely just be seen as sophistry in her eyes, only making the situation more awkward.
Draco knew clearly that leaving now was the wisest choice.
He stood up, straightened his robes, and tried to make his tone sound as calm as usual, yet he couldn't hide that unspeakable loneliness: "I'll go see if there are empty seats elsewhere."
After speaking, Draco didn't look at anyone else in the compartment—not at the icy Hermione, not at the shocked Lavender, and certainly not at the timid Neville.
Without looking back, he pushed open the compartment door and walked quickly into the corridor, a bitter smile on his face.
Chapter 39: Ron's Prejudice and Harry's Confusion
The compartment door closed with a soft "click," isolating Draco Malfoy's slightly lonely back in the light and shadow of the corridor.
Hermione's gaze lifted slightly from the pages of her book, her peripheral vision catching the sight just in time.
As the footsteps grew distant, Draco's figure finally disappeared around the corner of the corridor.
A faint trace of hesitation, like a pebble thrown into still water, sent imperceptible ripples through her heart.
But this hesitation was only fleeting, suppressed by her immediately; her rationality, like hard ice, quickly covered that momentary wavering.
Lowering her eyes, Hermione's finger unconsciously traced the printed words on the page as she thought to herself: His disappointment is the inevitable result of his own actions.
The concealment in Diagon Alley, the deliberate friendliness on the platform, and that intimate form of address were all attempts at overstepping boundaries.
I made the correct and necessary response; I am not responsible for his emotions.
Thinking this, Hermione's back straightened further, and her gaze became clear and firm once more, as if that trace of hesitation had never appeared.
Lavender, sitting opposite her, could no longer contain herself; she let out a long, exaggerated sigh, her shoulders slumped, her hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her face full of regret and emotion.
She looked at the closed compartment door, speaking up for Draco: "Oh... this is just... so heartbreaking."
"He looks... heavens, he looks really sad," Lavender shook her head, her voice soft as if she couldn't bear to mention it again. "The way he looked when he left, all alone, without even looking back..."
Hermione's eyelashes flickered almost imperceptibly; her gaze rose from the pages for a very brief moment, glancing at the closed door before quickly returning to her book.
However, the pressure of her finger turning the page increased slightly, as if she wanted to press that unwarranted wavering entirely into the texture of the paper.
She didn't respond immediately, and a brief silence fell over the compartment, save for the sound of the wind outside whistling through the gaps, carrying the bustle of the journey.
Seeing Hermione remain silent, Lavender leaned in a bit closer, trying to communicate with her:
"Hermione, I know he might... er, his family's reputation really isn't great. But just now in the compartment, when he was chatting with me, he was quite witty, not at all arrogant and rude like the rumors say... Could there be... could there be some misunderstanding?"
Hermione finally looked up, her gaze calmly meeting Lavender's, still as rational and steady as ever: "Lavender, I understand that you want to see the good side of things; there's nothing wrong with that."
"But we need to distinguish between 'momentary behavior' and a 'consistent stance'."
"At the station, he displayed behavior consistent with public etiquette, which is good, but it only shows that he possesses basic social grace—or rather, he chose to display that grace at that moment and in that setting."
"This cannot offset, much less whitewash, the systemic contempt for the muggle-born that his family publicly represents."
"As for a 'misunderstanding'..."
At this point, Hermione's words paused briefly, her eyes darkening slightly as if she had remembered something deeper.
"I am not certain he harbors malice at this moment, but I must—and have the right to—take the most prudent precautions based on the most reliable information, which is the stance represented by his surname."
"The cost of mistaking potential danger for friendship is far greater than the cost of mistaking potential friendship for danger."
She looked at Lavender and said in a slightly softened tone, "I hope you can understand."
These words were clear and logical, every sentence carrying an indisputable logic that left Lavenderunable to argue for a moment.
Another silence filled the compartment as the sunlight from outside slanted in, casting a shallow shadow between the two.
After a long while, Lavender swallowed softly, her voice much smaller and more hesitant than before:
"I... I understand. You're right. I was thinking too simply, only seeing the surface politeness without considering the... complex things behind it."
Looking at her like this, the corner of Hermione's mouth turned up in an almost invisible arc—an expression of absolute, sincere satisfaction.
She knew that Lavender understood and accepted her stance.
This smile was fleeting; she soon lowered her head again, re-immersing herself in the world of the book as if that conversation about stances and choices was just a minor interlude on the journey.
Meanwhile, in the corridor, Draco was pacing aimlessly.
The gloom in his heart hadn't yet dissipated, but as he turned a corner, he caught sight of two familiar figures.
Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were standing side by side by the corridor window.
Both looked troubled; clearly, they hadn't found any empty seats and could only temporarily settle in the corridor.
Draco saw through their predicament at a glance.
They must have arrived too late, and all the compartments were full.
The factional struggle within Pure-blood families between those pro-Lord Voldemort and those pro-Muggle, and the way both families privately slung mud at each other, was no secret.
He was surely afraid Draco would make things difficult, so he was unwilling to take Harry into the "wolf's den" guarded by Vincent and Goyle; thus, they could only stand in the corridor and try to think of something.
With a thought, Draco stepped over.
The moment Ron caught sight of Draco, his body tensed up like a startled cat.
Then he subconsciously stepped half a pace to the side, shielding Harry behind him, his blue eyes filled with blatant wariness and hostility.
Harry, on the other hand, looked confused; he clearly didn't understand why Ron was treating the newcomer like such a formidable enemy, only eyeing Draco curiously before quickly looking away.
Stopping his pace, Draco spoke calmly: "There's an empty seat over there; you should be able to fit if you squeeze in."
Draco was referring to the compartment where Hermione was.
To his surprise, Ron reacted as if he'd heard a huge joke upon hearing this.
A blatant sneer curled his lips, and he even let out a cold laugh: "Oh, really? Thanks ever so much for your 'warm heart'."
Ron deliberately emphasized the words "warm heart," then turned and tugged on Harry's sleeve. "Let's go, Harry. We'll look elsewhere. No need to trouble Master Malfoy's kindness."
Harry grew more confused; he looked at Ron, then at Draco, but ultimately followed Ron as he turned away.
Before leaving, he hesitated for a moment and gave Draco a hurried nod as a greeting.
Watching their departing backs, especially Ron's red hair that seemed almost ready to stand on end, Draco couldn't help but chuckle.
This belly full of hostility was truly etched into his bones.
However, Draco didn't take it to heart—it really wasn't worth getting upset with the Weasley boy.
The corridor remained noisy, but Draco suddenly lost interest in continuing his idle wandering.
The disappointment of being shut out by Hermione just now had faded a bit, replaced by a strange sense of relief.
He returned to the compartment where his lackeys were and sat down.
Just then, a cold mechanical voice suddenly rang out in Draco's mind:
[Ding—original plot added, luck value increased by 20]
Slightly startled, a smile then curled the corner of Draco's mouth.
So that's how it is.
Thinking this, the last bit of lingering disappointment in his heart finally vanished.
The System's sudden reward served as a bit of a consolation.
Chapter 40: The Method to Find Neville's Toad
"Boss, you're back from your training?" Goyle's spirits immediately lifted upon seeing Draco.
Draco's heart stirred slightly; he suddenly felt that, for the time being, staying with these two dim-witted lackeys was more comfortable.
At least they wouldn't use cold logic to dissect you from the inside out.
Glancing at the empty compartment, Draco raised an eyebrow in feigned dissatisfaction. "You two, why isn't the camouflage in place yet? Why is there no one sitting with you?"
The two were stunned, and a few embarrassed flushes appeared on their faces.
They looked at each other as if confirming whether this "accusation" was true.
Goyle hesitated for a long time before finally squeezing out, "...Don't know."
Vincent scratched his head as well. "...Not many people on the train."
Draco was amused. Not many people on this train?
The corridor just now was as crowded as Diagon Alley on a market day; there weren't even any empty seats left.
Draco didn't expose them, following their lead. "Probably, it just so happened there was a seat when I came back."
The two visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and the blank embarrassment on their faces quickly dissolved.
It was replaced by a sort of "yes, that's it," almost grateful, dull agreement, as if they had finally found a reasonable explanation for their failure.
Since no one was willing to come to this compartment, it suited Draco perfectly.
The two lackeys sat on the opposite seats, while he took up one entire side of the bench.
He simply took off his shoes, stretched out his legs, and lay back, using the seat directly as a bed.
Seeing this, Goyle's face was filled with shock and confusion. "Boss, you..."
"This doesn't fit your etiquette," Vincent couldn't help but add.
Draco glanced at them lazily. "Can't I lie down if I'm tired?"
Goyle nervously poked his head out to look into the corridor. "If people passing by see this..."
"If they like watching, let them watch. Is that okay?" Draco said dismissively. "If someone comes, we'll naturally make room. If no one comes, we certainly shouldn't exhaust ourselves."
Their concepts were struck as if by a bolt of lightning, completely overturned.
They looked at each other, both wearing expressions of disbelief.
Draco continued to guide them patiently. "Are we supposed to sit upright for five or six hours? How exhausting."
Goyle immediately nodded. "Boss, what you're saying makes sense!"
The two looked at each other again, their eyes full of the realization that "it could actually be done this way."
Draco waved his hand. "Don't think too much about it. This is the boss's privilege. Learn more from your boss. If you get smart and become a little leader later, won't you have privileges too?"
Goyle nodded heavily. "...Learn from the boss."
Vincent followed suit. "Mm, privilege."
Draco shook his head and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Alright, keep an eye out. Wake me up when we arrive. I'm going to sleep for a bit."
Goyle immediately promised, "Don't worry, boss, we'll definitely wake you up right on time!"
Vincent asked again, "Boss, aren't you going to eat?"
"Talk about it when I wake up." Draco closed his eyes. "I heard the Hogwarts freshman feast has a lot of good food. I'm saving room."
At the mention of "good food," the focused alertness on their faces instantly collapsed.
It was replaced by a dull expression mixed with longing, agreement, and silly grins; their minds were clearly already filled with roast chicken, pies, and cakes from the Great Hall's long tables.
Ten minutes later, Draco fell into a deep sleep.
After an unknown amount of time, the compartment door was pushed open, and a clear female voice rang out from the doorway: "Anything from the trolley, dears? Chocolate Frogs, Cauldron Cakes, Liquorice Wands..."
Woken by the noise, Draco sat up.
A Saleswoman pushing a snack trolley stood at the door, the cart piled high with colorful candies and pastries.
At the sight of the snack trolley, Goyle's eyes went wide, and he nearly started drooling.
He hurriedly looked at Draco. "Boss, what do you want to eat?"
Vincent also rushed to add, "I have plenty of pocket money too!"
Waving his hand, Draco said, "Buy whatever you want for yourselves. I don't feel like eating anything for now."
With Draco's permission, the two immediately rushed to the snack trolley like released hounds and began to choose seriously.
Goyle said while picking, "Okay, boss, I'll buy more. Just tell me when you want to eat, boss."
Draco couldn't help but expose him. "You're just afraid you won't have enough for yourself."
Goyle scratched his head with a foolish grin. "Boss, you saw through me again."
Draco shook his head helplessly, and the Saleswoman was also amused by the boy's honesty.
As she collected the money, she asked casually, "Oh, by the way, a girl with bushy brown hair was with a round-faced boy who was about to cry. They said they lost a toad named Trevor. Have any of you seen it? The boy is frantic."
Draco slapped his forehead; how could he have forgotten about this.
He had previously thought about showing off his "precise positioning + summoning" skills in front of Hermione, but unfortunately, his luck value wasn't enough to exchange for the relevant ability.
But with Hermione's current attitude toward him, showing off wasn't very meaningful anymore. However, being able to earn some luck value was always good.
Draco pretended to be thoughtful. "I think I saw it just now, but I didn't pay much attention. I'll go look for it now. Come back in a bit; if I find it, I'll give the toad to you."
Goyle, who was picking snacks, looked up and glanced at Draco, feeling a bit confused: Just now? Hadn't the boss been sleeping the whole time?
However, the temptation of snacks was clearly greater; he soon threw that bit of doubt to the back of his mind and focused intently on his selection.
"Oh, that would be wonderful, sir. You're very kind." The Saleswoman gave a grateful smile. "Then I'll come back in about ten minutes to check? Thank you."
Nodding, Draco rolled off the seat and put on his shoes.
At this moment, his luck value was just enough to exchange for 'Accio'.
He immediately chose to exchange it in his mind without hesitation.
[Ding—Altered the original plot, luck value +10, learned 'Accio']
Having learned Accio, Draco pushed open the compartment door and stepped into the corridor.
He saw the 'Five-person Search Party' consisting of Neville, Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Lavenderasking door-to-door.
It seemed Harry and Ron had ended up in the same compartment as Hermione after all.
Finding an empty Restroom and closing the door, Draco pulled out his wand, pointed it in the direction the train was traveling, and whispered, "Trevor, Accio."
With a quick, powerful, and precise flick of his wrist toward the front of the train, a burst of silver light erupted from the tip of the wand, only to shrink back as soon as it appeared.
This meant the target was not in that part of the train.
Draco immediately turned around and cast the spell again in the opposite direction. "Trevor, Accio!"
This time, the silver light shot out, flashed through the space of the Restroom, and flew down the corridor.
Before long, a toad wrapped in silver light was seen flying from the other end of the passage, about a meter off the ground, heading toward Draco in a smooth arc.
At the same time, a tearful Neville was just backing out of a compartment in disappointment.
Just as he reached the middle of the passage, preparing to ask at the next compartment, he suddenly saw a dark shadow flying toward him.
He gave a cry of fright and instinctively tried to dodge, but it was too late; the toad was moving a bit too fast.
Chapter 41: Hermione's Doubts
Silver light pierced the air like a shooting star or a bolt of lightning, tracing a dazzling arc through the narrow train corridor.
At that moment, Neville only felt a blur before his eyes as a dark shadow rushed towards him with a gust of wind; terrified out of his wits, he let out a scream and leaned back.
However, in the next moment, a bizarre scene unfolded.
The dark shadow passed right through his head as if he were nothing but a phantom.
Neville felt his scalp tingle and he froze in place, his eyes wide as saucers, yet he was unable to make a sound.
Hermione, who was asking around in the neighboring compartment, heard Neville's cry and immediately stepped out, quickly walking to his side and grabbing his shoulders to ask urgently, "What's wrong, Neville? Are you all right?"
Harry, Ron, and Lavender also emerged from their compartment, surrounding Neville.
Everyone looked in the direction of his trembling finger.
The end of the corridor was empty, save for the Saleswoman picking out sweets for Goyle and Vincent.
"There's nothing there," Ron frowned, craning his neck to look around. "What did you see?"
"It flew away!" Neville finally came to his senses, his voice carrying a sob as he gestured to the scene just now. "My Trevor! He just... he went 'whoosh' right through me and then flew over that way! Really!"
Lavender's eyes lit up, and she almost jumped with excitement. "Flew away?! Oh! Maybe Trevor isn't an ordinary toad! Maybe he's been enchanted, or he's actually a cursed prince!"
Ron couldn't help but laugh loudly. "Flew... flew away?! Neville, have you been scared silly? If toads could fly, I, Ron Weasley, would go and become a Keeper!"
Hermione's brow furrowed as she analyzed calmly and rationally, "Neville, toads can't fly. They are amphibians; they don't have wings, and there is no known magic that can grant them the ability for sustained flight."
"What you saw must have been something else, or perhaps he just jumped very high and far, making it look like he was flying in the dim light."
"No! It wasn't jumping! It was flying!" Neville shook his head frantically, tracing arcs in the air. "He was wrapped in a light! That light... that light flew from over there, took Trevor, and passed through my head like I wasn't even there! Really! I'm not lying to you!"
Everyone looked at each other, and for a moment, no one could convince anyone else.
While they were arguing incessantly, Draco had already returned silently to his compartment with Trevor.
Inside the compartment, Goyle and Vincent were each holding a large bag of snacks, wearing satisfied, silly grins.
Seeing Draco return, the two immediately stood at attention.
Draco handed the toad to the Saleswoman and said calmly, "Ma'am, I believe this is the lost toad."
The Saleswoman was taken aback for a moment before breaking into a bright smile. "Oh! Wonderful! You found it! Thank you so much, sir! I'll take it to him right away."
Nodding, Draco added, "No need to reveal who helped him."
The Saleswoman blinked and smiled knowingly. "Of course, sir, I understand. I'll say... an anonymous gentleman found it in the corridor."
Draco was caught between laughter and tears. An 'anonymous gentleman'—wasn't that obviously him?
"No need," Draco waved his hand. "Just say you found it yourself."
The Saleswoman shook her head quickly. "How can I do that? That wouldn't be right; you're the one who helped."
"At the very least, just don't say anything. Just tell them the toad was found and return it to them."
Although she didn't quite understand, the Saleswoman nodded. "Alright, then I'll do as you say."
She thought for a moment and added, "Sir, could you watch the snack trolley for me for a moment? I'll go deliver it to them."
"No problem," Draco replied lazily, leaning against the door.
The Saleswoman was clearly very reassured by Draco's attitude of doing a good deed without wanting fame. She picked up Trevor and hurried toward the compartment where Neville was.
[Ding—Original plot added, luck value +20]
The system notification sounded in his mind, and Draco's lips curled slightly; his mood had improved considerably.
Once the Saleswoman was far away, Goyle couldn't help but lean in with a puzzled look. "Boss, didn't you say it's better to help when there are many people around? That way, we can appear more unfathomable."
"Wrong! Completely wrong!" Draco shook his head with an air of profound mystery. "I call that... environmental cleaning. Yes, seeing that toad hopping around was an eyesore! It was interfering with this young master's contemplation of life, so I just tidied it up in passing to maintain the compartment's class."
Goyle had a sudden realization and nodded heavily. "Oh... an eyesore..."
Draco nodded with satisfaction, wearing an expression that said, "You're learning."
Vincent asked again, "Then why be anonymous? Back at the platform, didn't you take the initiative to help the Granger family?"
"You certainly remembered the 'anonymous' part," Draco said indifferently. "Doing a good deed without leaving a name is to avoid unnecessary follow-up trouble."
"Think about it, if that kid came running over crying to thank me, do you think we'd still be able to rest properly?"
The two looked at each other and nodded in deep agreement.
Vincent remarked sincerely, "The boss really thinks of everything."
Hearing his lackeys' flattery, Draco leaned against the door and closed his eyes, his mood feeling a bit lighter for once.
Meanwhile, in Hermione's compartment, the atmosphere was entirely different.
The group's disbelief turned Neville's suppressed sobbing into intermittent whimpering.
He held his head and curled into a ball, muttering incessantly, "I really saw it... it flew away... I'm not lying..."
Hermione's brow furrowed deeper as her gaze swept between the corridor and Neville, clearly trying to explain everything with logic but unable to find a reasonable answer.
Ron had given up on complaining and was slumped in his seat, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Harry scanned the cracks in the floor over and over, as if Trevor might suddenly crawl out of some corner.
Just then, the compartment door was slid open with a'shua'.
"Good news, dear!" The Saleswitch's bright smile and cheerful voice broke through the oppressive atmosphere like a ray of sunlight. "Your toad has been found!"
She carefully held a dusty, confusedly kicking toad in her hand—it was indeed Trevor.
"A kind passerby found him in the corridor and asked me to bring him to you. Hold onto him tight; keep a closer eye on him next time!"
Time seemed to stand still for a second.
Sometime later—
"Trevor!!!"
Neville sprang from his seat like a cannonball, lunging in front of the Witch. His trembling hands almost snatched the toad away, pressing it tightly to his chest.
A loud sob erupted from his throat, but this time, it was pure, overwhelming ecstasy and relief.
He pressed his wet face against Trevor's cold skin, mumbling incoherently, "Thank you... thank you... Merlin... and that unknown kind person... thank you..."
"Merlin's baggiest underpants!" Ron exhaled sharply, collapsing into his seat with a relieved, silly grin. "Finally! I thought we'd have to listen to that crying all the way to Hogwarts!"
Harry's smile widened as he patted the still-shaking Neville on the shoulder.
Then he turned to the Saleswoman, his green eyes full of sincere gratitude and curiosity. "Ma'am, do you know who found him? We'd like to thank them in person."
Neville nodded quickly, choking out, "Yes... yes, I... I want to go thank them."
The Saleswoman smiled understandingly and, following Draco's previous instructions, cut the topic short. "An anonymous individual found him in the corridor and only said to return him to his owner. Well, all's well that ends well!"
She nodded to everyone and briskly closed the door as she left.
The moment the door closed, Lavender said excitedly, "Oh! This is so wonderful! An anonymous benefactor! On the train! It's just like a story from 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'! They must be a humble and kind person, maybe even a bit mysterious..."
Hermione looked down at her book, but her mind was racing: Was the anonymity really out of humility? Or was it because... they didn't want certain people to know they had helped?
"Give it a rest, Lavender," Ron rolled his eyes. "It was probably just someone who hates trouble and thought Neville's crying was too loud, so they just handed the toad to the Saleswoman to be done with it. 'Mysterious benefactor' my foot..."
He deliberately pinched his throat to mimic Lavender's tone, then shuddered. "I'm getting goosebumps."
Believe it or not, Ron had actually guessed correctly—Draco just didn't want the trouble.
Furthermore, Draco knew very well that with Hermione's penchant for overthinking and her preconceived biases against him...
Once she knew it was Draco who had helped, she would certainly suspect he had some ulterior motive, and might even take it as evidence of him being "hypocritical" or "pretending to be a good person."
Rather than that, it was better to remain anonymous and avoid unnecessary complications.
"No! They must be a good person! A very good person!" Neville hugged Trevor even tighter, burying his face in the toad's rough skin, his voice muffled. "They saved Trevor... I'll always pray for them..."
Harry sat next to Neville and smiled gently. "Regardless of who it was, they really did a huge favor. Perhaps they truly are a kind person."
Hermione, however, looked up and ended the small discussion in a tone so calm it was almost stiff:
"In any case, the problem is solved. We should focus on our arrival at Hogwarts rather than a stranger whose motives cannot be verified."
She paused and looked at Neville. "Neville, please make sure you keep a close eye on your toad."
As her voice trailed off, the compartment fell silent.
The scenery outside gradually shifted from open fields to rolling hills, with the silhouettes of majestic mountains faintly visible in the distance.
Chapter 42: Jealous Ron
The Saleswoman returned to Draco's side, a relaxed smile on her face: "Sir, sorry to trouble you, but the toad has been delivered to that young gentleman."
Straightening up from the carriage door, Draco gave a faint smile: "You're too kind, Madam. It was just a small favor. If there's nothing else, I'll head back inside."
"Of course, sir. Please, get some rest." The Saleswoman nodded in acknowledgment and continued pushing her cart toward the other carriages.
Nodding, Draco turned and returned to the compartment.
Goyle and Vincent were each clutching a large bag of snacks, their mouths covered in crumbs. Seeing Draco return, they immediately sat up straight in a panic, looking like two puppies caught stealing food.
Draco couldn't be bothered with these two gluttons. He found a seat by the window and picked up a magic book he'd brought from home, flipping through a few pages to pass the time.
The compartment fell silent for a while, with only the rustling of turning pages and the crinkling of snack bags.
After lunch, time slipped away bit by bit to the rhythmic clatter of wheels against the tracks.
The scenery outside the window gradually changed; the neat farmland had long since vanished, replaced by winding rivers and dark green hills.
The sunlight slowly faded, and the sky darkened bit by bit. The hills gradually merged into vast stretches of mountains and forests, their heavy silhouettes outlined in the twilight.
The train's speed gradually slowed, and the friction between the wheels and the tracks became softer.
Just then, the train's announcement echoed through the carriage: "We will reach Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train; we will deliver it to the school for you."
Vincent looked up and asked uncertainly, "Is that true? We don't have to carry our own luggage?"
Gnawing on a chocolate frog, Goyle said indistinctly, "The announcement said so, how could it be false?"
"Finally, we're here. My backside hurts from sitting so long." Vincent stood up and stretched, looking exhausted.
Goyle gave a chuckle: "Now you finally understand why the boss wanted to be more casual, right? If you'd kept up appearances the whole way, you'd be complaining about being tired just like him."
Glancing at them, Draco closed his book: "That's enough. Stop flattering me and hurry up and pack. Get ready to get off the train."
The two of them chorused an "Oh" and scrambled to stuff the snack bags on the table into their backpacks, then tidied up their messy clothes.
Just then, the compartment door was pushed open. Pansy leaned in, supporting herself against the doorframe, and complained, "Draco, you certainly know how to find some peace and quiet. The front carriages are noisy as death. Those freshmen are chirping and yelling so much."
She walked in as she spoke.
After glancing around the compartment, the corners of her mouth curled into a satisfied arc: "I heard that crybaby from the Longbottom family lost his toad, and the whole train knows about it? He didn't come running here, did he?"
"I haven't seen him," Draco replied flatly.
Pansy walked in and naturally sat down next to Draco, smoothing out her robes.
"We're almost at the station. My father said the Slytherin common room is under the Black Lake and you can see the Giant Squid through the windows. I hope our dormitory isn't too damp."
"It probably won't be," Draco replied casually, his gaze fixed on the night scenery outside the window.
Despite Draco's perfunctory response, Pansy enthusiastically chatted about various topics.
Draco chimed in every now and then, but she didn't seem to tire of it; instead, she grew more animated as she spoke.
Draco sighed inwardly. This girl's talkativeness was truly a match for Hermione's, though one leaned toward academics and the other toward gossip.
As they spoke, the train slowed even further. The scenery outside had been completely swallowed by the night, leaving only scattered lights in the distance and the dark silhouettes of the mountains.
Finally, with a slight screech of brakes, the train came to a slow stop.
The doors opened, and a blast of cold, damp air rushed into the carriage, carrying the scent of earth and lake water. All the freshmen in their brand-new school robes couldn't help but gasp, instantly breaking out in goosebumps from the cold.
But there was no time for that. The Young Wizards poured out of their compartments, crowding and jostling toward the doors.
The corridor was suddenly teeming with people, filled with excitement, tension, and anticipation.
Draco took his time.
With two big guys like Goyle and Vincent leading the way, the Young Wizards didn't dare approach their area.
The two were like moving meat shields, pushing back the crowd and blocking most of the cold wind.
The cold wind gusted in from the end of the hallway, making Pansy shiver involuntarily. She subconsciously leaned closer to Draco.
For the first time, she felt that having these two lackeys blocking the way wasn't such a bad thing after all.
Many pure-blood students also flocked behind Draco and the others, as if this spot had become a natural shelter from the wind.
Their carriage was quite far away, so Draco couldn't see Hermione and the others; he could only see a sea of heads bobbing ahead, like a flock of sparrows driven by the cold wind.
Stepping down onto the dark, cramped platform, mist swirled around their feet, and the cold seeped up through the soles of their shoes.
The Young Wizards were shivering, their necks tucked in as they huddled together.
In the distance, a dim yellow oil lamp swayed in the night, and a Giant figure was particularly striking under the light.
It was a Giant with a thick beard around his mouth and nose, wearing a tattered leather coat. He held up the oil lamp and smiled, shouting to the crowd, "C'mon, follow me! Any more first-years? Mind your step!"
At that moment, Draco quietly drew his wand and whispered an incantation.
"Warmth Protection."
A faint golden halo lit up at the tip of his wand, spreading out like ripples and falling over him, Pansy, Goyle, Vincent, and several other pure-blood students he vaguely knew nearby.
A gentle warmth instantly enveloped their bodies, sealing out the biting cold.
[Ding—Original plot added, luck value +20]
Draco nodded with satisfaction. Not only was he comfortable now, but he had also earned a bit of luck value in the process—truly killing two birds with one stone.
The few who had the warming charm cast on them were clearly stunned for a moment, then reacted with expressions of pleasant surprise.
Everyone cast grateful looks at Draco, whispering their thanks.
The surrounding freshmen also generally understood what had happened, and their gazes toward Draco were filled with a bit more awe and envy.
Pansy turned her head and gave him a sincere smile: "Thank you, Draco. You know I'm afraid of the cold; you're always so thoughtful."
Goyle scratched his head with a silly grin: "Thanks, boss! It's great following you!"
Vincent also nodded repeatedly: "Yeah, it was a bit cold before, but now it feels almost normal."
Not far away, Lavender was wrapping her robes tightly around her. Seeing this, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and exclaim in a low voice:
"Parvati, did you see that? It's Draco! He cast a warming charm on himself and his companions! He must be that You-Know-Who who returned Trevor! Only someone that kind and attentive would think of taking care of the ladies first on a cold night! He's like someone who stepped right out of 'History of Magic: Romantic Edition'!"
On the other side, Ron was rubbing his arms from the cold, muttering, "Tch, what's he showing off for? As if no one else knows how."
Despite his words, his body honestly leaned closer to Harry, trying to steal a bit of warmth from his companion.
Many freshmen cast secret, envious glances, thinking to themselves, "If only I knew that kind of magictoo."
The commotion in the crowd caught Hagrid's attention.
As his massive frame guided the flow of people, his small eyes quickly scanned over Draco's group.
Noticing the steady posture and lack of shivering among the people around Draco, he seemed to sense something.
But he didn't pay it much mind, simply continuing to shout loudly, "First-years! This way! Mind your step!"
As they walked, a boy squeezed out from the crowd and approached Draco: "Excuse me, sir. Your magicis remarkable. Could you... could you also help those students over there who are freezing? They don't look too good."
As he spoke, he pointed to several freshmen not far away who were huddled together, their lips turning purple from the cold.
Pansy's eyebrows shot up, and she spoke first: "My fellow student, I think the prefects and Professors would know better how to take care of everyone."
Hearing this nearby, Ron was first shocked, then a look of schadenfreude quickly appeared on his face. He whispered to Harry, "Hey, hear that? Someone wants Malfoy to show some kindness! I bet a Galleon he'll humiliate the guy and tell him to get lost."
Chapter 43: Palace Intrigue in the Tunnel
Harry didn't speak, only looking at the shivering first-years and then at Draco, a hint of complexity in his eyes.
It was a look mixed with doubt, surprise, and a faint wavering; the image of Malfoy they had discussed in the compartment developed a tiny crack at this moment.
Draco replied to Pansy flatly, "I saw."
Pansy thought Draco would refuse, and had even prepared a few sharp remarks in her mind, ready to complement his coldness with a beautiful display of "pure-blood indifference."
But she saw Draco suddenly raise his hand, and with a flick of his fingers, his wand lit up again with a faint golden light.
"Warming Charm."
This time, the halo no longer just covered the few of them, but spread out like ripples toward the shivering first-years.
The warmth fell upon them, and the Young Wizards were momentarily stunned.
Then they showed expressions of disbelief; the stiffness in their faces gradually softened, and their purple-tinged lips slowly regained color.
"Much better..." a girl whispered, her voice filled with the relief of a survivor.
"So warm..." another boy couldn't help but exclaim, taking a deep breath of the air that was no longer so biting.
The boy who had come for help stared blankly at Draco, his lips moving until he finally squeezed out, "Tha... Thank you, sir."
Retracting his wand, Draco said calmly, "You know, Young Wizards don't have much magic; you should have prepared properly to stay warm."
Truth be told, if everyone made requests, Draco's magic would certainly not be enough.
Pansy opened her mouth, the mean words she had prepared swallowed back down. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes before she returned to her usual arrogance.
Only the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, as if reluctantly admitting: this time, Draco had acted decently enough.
Goyle and Vincent exchanged a look, both seeing the "Boss is indeed unfathomable" admiration in each other's eyes.
Goyle couldn't help but give a thumbs up, whispering, "Boss, you're awesome!"
Not far away, Lavender was so excited she almost fainted, clutching Parvati's arm tightly. "I knew it! I knew it! He has a heart of gold! To think of others at a time like this, that is a true gentleman!"
Parvati was gripped so hard it hurt, and she could only roll her eyes helplessly. "Lavender, keep it down; everyone is looking at you."
Ron, who had been waiting to see a joke, now felt as if his face had been slapped swollen.
But he still stubbornly whispered to Harry, "Just you wait, he's definitely up to something bad."
Only this time, his confidence was clearly lacking, his voice so small it was almost inaudible.
Hermione, meanwhile, gradually fell into a deep, frowning contemplation.
She unconsciously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze moving back and forth between Draco and the first-years who had been given the Warming Charm.
Finally, she interrupted Ron's muttering in a calm but powerful tone, "Ron, he did help our classmates, and he pointed out the importance of preparation. That is a fact."
Ron opened his mouth but found himself speechless, only able to turn his head away resentfully.
At this, Hagrid's massive frame visibly paused.
The stern scrutiny in his small eyes was instantly replaced by astonishment and confusion, which then turned into a hint of approval.
He held up his lantern and shouted, "Hmph! Well said! Wizards need to know how to take care of themselves, and how to help their companions when they are able! Now, perk up, the Castle is right ahead!"
Some Pure-blood wizards bound for Slytherin were quite puzzled, even somewhat displeased.
Draco Malfoy had actually responded to a request from someone who was likely half-blood or muggle-born?
This didn't fit the "rules."
But a moment later, they rationalized Draco's behavior in their minds.
They saw it as a shrewd, statesman-like small-scale investment: showing mercy in full view of everyone could win favor and enhance the family's image, so why not?
As they walked, the yellow light in Hagrid's hand seemed to move downward, and the students followed him down a steep, narrow path.
The first-years formed a long line, walking one by one through the pitch-black passage. The darkness and cold intensified their unease, and the stone slabs beneath their feet were slippery and uneven; every step felt like treading into the unknown.
Hagrid's lantern was up ahead, but the light was limited, only illuminating a small area around him.
Most other places were shadows swallowed by heavy darkness.
Draco frowned, pulled out his wand, and calmly chanted, "Lumos."
A steady, bright light burst from the tip of his wand, like lighting a tiny sun in the darkness, illuminating a significant area around him.
[Ding—Original plot added, luck value +20]
Draco felt a surge of secret joy.
These Young Wizards were like a flock of fluffy little sheep, just waiting for him to shear their wool bit by bit.
For every extra thing he did, he could earn a bit more luck value; this was a very profitable deal.
Pansy immediately pressed close to Draco, whispering in a tone mixed with dependence and showing off, "Oh, Draco, it's so good to have you here; it's terrifyingly dark."
She always seized the first opportunity to flatter Draco.
Smugness almost overflowed from the corners of her mouth, as if Draco's brilliance was also her glory.
Goyle followed closely, grinning foolishly, "Boss, you've cured my eye ailment."
Vincent wouldn't be outdone, "You are my eyes, Boss."
Draco was exasperated, looking at the two with disdain, "Can you stop acting like this?"
The two chuckled.
The first-years within a few steps in front and behind, upon seeing this light, let out sighs of relief in unison, and their footsteps became steadier.
They instinctively drew closer to the light source, like moths to a flame, but this time, the flame was a symbol of safety.
Lavender's eyes began to sparkle again, "Oh, darling, did you think that by hiding in the crowd, I wouldn't notice you? Your blonde hair that still shines in the dark, your slightly furrowed brow as if thinking of an ancient Spell, your steady gesture holding the wand as if born to wield the light, and that thread of light glowing in the gloom, purer than a Unicorn's horn—all of it completely and romantically betrays you!"
Parvati was gripped so hard it hurt, and she could only roll her eyes helplessly, feeling embarrassed by her friend's eccentricity.
Pansy sneered, "If my dear Mrs. Parkinson heard that there were Cornish Pixies in the Hogwartsunderground tunnels imitating cheap novel lines from 'Teenage Magic Weekly,' she'd surely think a House-elf had served expired Love Potion as a drink."
Some Slytherin first-years frowned upon hearing this, but soon found a reason for Pansy in their hearts.
She was maintaining the dignity of "one of their own" and showing Slytherin pride to the other houses.
Some even let out low chuckles, thinking Lavender's romantic delusions were truly ridiculous.
Just then, Hermione's voice rang out calmly, "Miss."
She stopped, her gaze clear and firm. "I believe that at Hogwarts, the basis for judging others should be character and ability, not their family background or reading preferences."
"Using fictional scenarios like 'house-elves serving the wrong drink' or 'needing treatment at St. Mungo's' to belittle a classmate's personal feelings is neither humorous nor graceful."
She paused and continued, "Lumos is a simple Spell, but providing safety in the darkness is inherently worthy of affirmation."
"As for how others interpret it, as long as it doesn't harm anyone, that is their freedom."
"Aside from displaying meanness, I don't see how your remarks help with our primary task of safe passage."
Rebutted publicly by Hermione, Pansy turned pale with rage, her chest heaving.
She sneered at Draco, "See, Draco, this girl is indeed one of those people."
Hagrid had to intervene.
He turned back and roared, "What's going on back there! Keep quiet and keep up!"
Ron curled his lip and muttered, "Girls' business is so troublesome."
In his view, arguing incessantly over a show-off was simply beyond help.
Hermione didn't back down at all, turning to look at Ron, "Ron, this isn't showing off; this is basic safety measures and collective efficiency optimization."
"The tunnel is dark and slippery; low visibility directly leads to decreased travel speed and increased risk of falling."
"Providing lighting is the optimal solution to the current collective predicament."
"If one knows this Spell but doesn't use it for fear of being called a'show-off,' that would be irrational and irresponsible."
Hagrid agreed with a rumbling, approving voice, "That's right! Everyone learn from this! Lumos is a good Spell, used in the right place! Look out for each other and keep close to the light!"
Though Ron was dissatisfied, he didn't dare say more, for fear of provoking public anger.
Hermione then unhesitatingly pulled out her wand and chanted clearly and firmly, "Lumos!"
Another equally bright light lit up at the tip of her wand, overlapping and complementing Draco's light, together expanding the visible range of the tunnel.
Much of the darkness was dispelled, and the stone slabs underfoot became clear.
Someone couldn't help but exclaim, "Great! It's much brighter now!"
Hagrid laughed heartily, his laughter echoing in the tunnel, "Haha! Good! Excellent! Lighting the way together! That's Hogwarts! Keep going, children, we're almost there!"
Lavender excitedly grabbed Parvati again, "Look! Two lights! One from the noble golden morning sun, one from the wise silver moonlight! They though they haven't spoken, in this dark tunnel, they've completed a silent dialogue through light!"
Hermione replied coldly, "Light has no color, only wavelengths."
"Spells have no will, only utility."
"Personifying and romanticizing basic physical phenomena and magical applications is irrational and hinders effective cognition. Please focus on your feet; it's very slippery here."
Pansy's face was very ugly; she unconsciously leaned closer to Draco, as if to draw some sense of security from his light.
Her wary gaze stabbed in Hermione's direction, and she secretly cursed, "That wretched woman! She's imitating Draco! She wants to attract attention, to seem as excellent and important as Draco! How dare she mix her light with Draco's!"
The angry Pansy couldn't help but sneer again, this time targeting Hermione, "Oh, look, this miss has finally done something more than just using her mouth—she's done some practical showing off."
Hermione completely ignored Pansy; she didn't pause, didn't look back, and the light from her wandremained steady as if those harsh words didn't exist at all.
It made Pansy feel like she had punched a bale of cotton.
Fortunately, Hermione didn't engage her; otherwise, this war of words would likely have lasted until the Castle gates.
In this small passage, they had managed to walk out a several-hour-long palace drama; having too many girls together is truly a terrifying thing.
Chapter 44: Arrival
Near the end of the passage, the air seemed to change slightly, carrying a damp chill and a faint, fishy scent of water.
Hagrid's booming voice echoed through the narrow tunnel: "Turn this corner, and you'll get your first look at Hogwarts."
As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of irrepressible gasps came from the front of the line.
At the end of the narrow path, a vast expanse of Black Lake suddenly opened up.
The surface of the lake was like a mirror, reflecting the night sky and the starlight.
Following the line of the lake, one could see the brightly lit Hogwarts Castle perched atop a distant mountain peak.
At that moment, all the new students were so awestruck by the sight before them that they were speechless.
The Castle stood on a mountain across the lake.
To be precise, it was built on a mountain peak that had been leveled off.
That flat mountaintop and the towering Castle spoke silently of the builders' supreme magical prowess.
Thinking that the four founders of Hogwarts had personally laid the foundations, the shock in one's heart felt even more justified.
Countless windows cast a warm glow, outlining the Castle's silhouette against the pitch-black night sky, like a giant gem embedded in the mountain peak.
Even the starlight seemed a bit dim in its presence.
Hagrid pointed to rows of small boats gently floating on the water by the lake and shouted, "No more than four people to a boat."
His voice was like a heavy hammer, pulling the awe-struck Young Wizards back to reality.
"You two," Draco said, nodding his chin toward Goyle and Vincent, "go take a boat for yourselves."
Goyle froze, his massive head slowly turning toward the small boats, then looking down at himself, his face showing pure, slow-witted confusion: "Boss... why?"
"Hagrid said no more than four people to a boat," Vincent also said, puzzled.
"Exactly," Draco affirmed, "but he didn't say there *must* be four people to a boat. If you two sit by yourselves, won't it be much more comfortable?"
The logic was impeccable.
Goyle blinked, as if this sudden 'concern' and 'math problem' had struck a rarely used region of his brain. He froze for several seconds before finally nodding dumbly: "Right..."
But then he made an even more aggrieved expression: "But boss, we want to sit with you."
"Get lost," Draco said bluntly. "With that big ass of yours sitting down, I'd have to stand."
"Pfft—"
A burst of stifled laughter leaked out from Hermione's group.
Ron quickly covered his mouth, but his shoulders were shaking like a leaf in the wind.
He nudged Harry next to him and squeezed out an airy whisper through his teeth: "merlins beard... even if he is a bastard... that's bloody well right!"
Goyle froze, then actually looked down at himself, then at the narrow boat, showing an enlightened yet aggrieved, simple-minded expression: "Oh..."
Vincent started giggling and patted Goyle's shoulder, as if to say 'the boss is right,' then said to Draco, "Then we'll... take the boat behind you and follow."
Harry couldn't help himself either, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
This scene was truly a bit ridiculous, even a bit... real.
Hermione raised one eyebrow slightly, showing a trace of "enough already" helplessness.
She quickly shifted her gaze from this inefficient dialogue to the silhouette of the Castle across the Black Lake, as if estimating the distance and the magical creatures that might be lurking in the lake.
Childish, but at least harmless, and—objectively speaking—it did lighten the atmosphere.
Lavender, recovering from the shame and anger of being mocked by Pansy earlier, was also taken aback by this turn of events, then let out a "pfft" of laughter.
She looked at Draco's impatient yet matter-of-fact manner, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight.
"Oh," she whispered to Parvati, "he even has style when he's being mean... actually, he probably wants his friends to be more comfortable, right?"
A romantic filter can be accurately applied anytime, anywhere.
Pansy, standing next to Draco, was even more affected. She covered her mouth with her sleeve and let out a few triumphant, bell-like giggles.
She shot Draco a'See, you're still the best at handling them' look. The anger she had felt toward Lavender and Hermione earlier was significantly diluted by this joke that showcased absolute control and the 'intimacy' of their small group.
"Haha, you lad!" Hagrid's rough laughter rolled across the lake like muffled thunder as he guided the new students onto the boats like herding ducklings. "But don't worry, these boats are enchanted, they're sturdy! Goyle, Vincent, you two, take that one! Hurry up, everyone on board, don't dawdle!"
A wave of low, good-natured laughter and whispers rippled through the dock.
Tension and awkwardness receded like the tide, replaced by a relaxed sense of novelty.
Can that big guy really fill a whole boat?
Malfoy has a sharp tongue... but their relationship seems quite interesting?
No longer paying attention to the crowd's reaction, Draco was the first to step onto an empty boat, his movements smooth and elegant.
Pansy followed quickly like a shadow, taking the seat next to Draco.
Goyle and Vincent scratched their heads and obediently climbed into the boat behind them. The small boat visibly sank a bit, drawing another round of light laughter.
The lake surface shimmered, reflecting the starry sky and the Castle lights.
The small boats slid silently toward the center of the lake, as if pulled by an invisible hand.
The light, arguments, metaphors, and sarcasm from the tunnel earlier... all seemed like fading ink, dissolving into the misty evening breeze.
What occupied their minds now was the towering, mysterious Castle drawing closer, the cool lake water beneath them, the moonlight, and the excitement of the unknown.
A blond boy who had just used a sharp joke about a "big ass" to unexpectedly harmonize the atmosphere, leaving an first impression in some people's hearts that was slightly more complex than simple "dislike."
Once everyone was on board, Hagrid asked strictly, "Anyone not on a boat?"
No one answered.
Hagrid nodded: "Alright then, off we go."
The lake surface shimmered, and the small boats moved like a pack of black animals migrating, orderly and quiet.
Everyone was silent, staring at the massive Castle that rose into the clouds, their hearts filled with an indescribable awe.
As they approached the cliff where the Castle sat, they had to tilt their heads back to see it.
The Castle seemed to loom directly over their heads, like a sleeping giant beast, quietly looking down at these newly arrived Young Wizards.
As the first batch of boats neared the cliff, Hagrid suddenly shouted, "Everyone, heads down!"
The students, intoxicated by the grand scenery, were startled awake by this thunderous voice and hurried to duck low.
The boats glided along the cliff face, passing through a curtain of ivy that covered the lower part of the cliff, and entered a cave carved out beneath the precipice.
By the light of their wands, everyone saw that the passage was fashioned like a tunnel, with ancient runes and patterns carved into the stone walls, and a damp breath of air met them.
As the boats slowly moved deeper, they seemed to reach the underside of the Castle, finally arriving at a place resembling an underground dock.
Hagrid led the students off the boats, checked that no one was left on board, and counted the number of boats. After confirming everything was correct, he said, "Follow me."
A winding stone staircase coiled up the cliff. The stone steps were polished smooth but still bore the marks of time.
Everyone followed Hagrid up the stone steps, their footsteps echoing in the narrow space.
Finally, they arrived before a massive oak door.
The door was thick, carved with intricate patterns, and the iron door knocker gleamed coldly in the torchlight.
Hagrid's massive fist knocked three times on the door.
"Thump— Thump— Thump—"
The door opened instantly, as if someone had been waiting there for a long time.
Sure enough, after the door opened, a tall, thin, black-haired Witch in emerald-green robes stood at the entrance to greet them.
She stood straight as a pine, her hands folded in front of her, without a smile, her expression solemn.
Her gaze was like two precisely calibrated rulers, sweeping quickly and orderly across every face, as if completing a preliminary assessment of these new students in an instant.
Professor McGonagall's gaze lingered on Hermione's face for an extra half-second, seemingly taking extra notice of this young girl whose eyes held both calmness and curiosity.
Hagrid grinned: "The first-years are all here, Professor McGonagall."
Professor McGonagall nodded slightly: "Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take it from here."
With that, she raised her hand and pulled the large door wide open.
The students could finally see the scene inside—
On the stone walls on both sides, torches were placed at intervals, their leaping flames illuminating the interior brightly.
The ceiling was so high that standing there, one could hardly feel its presence, as if another night sky was directly overhead.
Everyone followed Professor McGonagall up a grand Marble Staircase. The stairs were wide and gentle, and the sound of footsteps echoed in the vast space.
From the right, noisy sounds were already coming through, mixed with laughter and the crisp clatter of cutlery.
"Finally, we get to see the nervous first-years' Sorting Hat moment," a senior student said in a low voice.
"Yeah," the person next to him exposed his past, "you were like a good little baby back then, like a prisoner waiting for judgment."
The other retorted, "You weren't any better. I was just afraid you'd leak some unknown liquid on the spot and make a fool of yourself."
Another person mediated: "Alright, everyone was the same. Let's just watch the new students embarrass themselves."
No more of their bickering could be heard after that; it seemed they were just teasing each other.
However, this conversation made the already nervous new students even more terrified.
Sorting? Judgment? Making a fool of themselves?
Unfamiliar words circled in their minds like small black bats, flapping their wings and stirring up waves of unease.