"Do not say you know me! You know nothing about me! I even considered you a friend, but you do not deserve my trust! I have figured it out now, you are a complete Malfoy, an evil Slytherin, just like they say! Arrogant, conceited, rude, and unscrupulous!" Ron yelled angrily at him, startling a flock of crows foraging in the vegetable garden.
"Yes, I am," Draco said coldly, his grey eyes fixed on him. Whether in his past or present life, being verbally attacked like this was commonplace for him; he was used to it.
He took a deep breath, lowered his eyes, and said wearily, "I am glad we made that clear."
Ron snorted, turned around, and strode away, leaving Draco standing there. Harry, who was waiting not far away, gave Draco an apologetic look and followed Ron.
Harry did not dare get too close; he did not want to get involved in the argument. In fact, he felt Draco's behaviour was understandable. Ron did have a strange fondness for the rat, and in some ways, Draco's prediction was basically true.
But Ron... Ron was his best friend. Harry felt a little sorry for Draco.
Draco stared at the crows that had landed again in the vegetable garden, watching them frantically search for something in the ground, trying to maintain an indifferent and calm expression.
Just then, two arms were draped over Draco's shoulders, one on each side. He looked up alertly, drew his wand, and saw it was Ron's two older brothers. Fred, as if it were commonplace, said, "It is all right, we get him into a huge rage about once a week—"
"Sometimes it happens twice," George said.
"In fact, he got angry at us this time too, yelling that we did not respect him or something. We think he was just jealous that we got the medals—" Fred said nonchalantly.
"Mum was so excited. The last time she was this excited was when Percy got the Prefect's badge—" George blinked.
"Oh no, it should be Bill's time—" Fred said, grinning.
"Or maybe it was Charlie's time—" George looked like he had not had enough.
"In fact, she has never been this excited before," Fred said bluntly to Draco.
Draco smiled faintly.
"It will not be long before this idiot comes back to you. I have always thought he needs to work on his emotional management..." George told him.
Draco pursed his lips, feeling that he really should not have bothered with a twelve-year-old child.
Besides, losing a pet is indeed quite heartbreaking. He said to his twin brothers, "I would like to ask you a favour. Use the dividends from my investment to buy Ron a pet, a decent owl or something. Judging from his expression, he probably will not accept my apology or gift."
On the morning of March 1st, Ron opened his eyes and found a small owl perched on his pillow.
"Where did you come from?" He looked at the little creature with curiosity. The owl flapped its wings excitedly and let out a short hoot.
"Your birthday present, a hornbill." George sat on the corner of his bed, casually toying with the wand in his hand. "Do not be angry at us."
"It is entirely mine?" Ron asked incredulously. He stroked the owl's feathers with a grin. "I am going to call you Pigwidgeon. Do you like the name?"
Pigwidgeon squealed happily and jumped around on his pillow.
"I cannot believe it. This must have cost a lot of money! You lot actually bought me an owl?" Ron asked excitedly.
"Oh, we made a little money, the Skiving Snackboxes sold very well," Fred said with a smile, ruffling Ron's messy hair, only to be met with an unhappy glare from Ron. "Do not tell Mum what we are doing."
"Even if she knows, it does not matter. You two are her proudest sons now. Two sons who have received the Order of Merlin! Percy has to take a backseat!" Ron said sourly.
"Do not cry like Ginny. We have got enough of a headache just trying to comfort her," George advised. "It is a good thing that the rat is gone. You know, he is a dangerous Death Eater. Draco told me he is worried sick about you sleeping with that Death Eater every night..."
"Do not speak up for him! I will never forgive him, you despicable Draco Malfoy, you ruthless Slytherin!" Ron shouted irritably, waking Neville Longbottom from his sleep next door.
"What happened?" Neville asked in alarm, huddled under the covers in a panic. "Has Malfoy come?"
"Why are you afraid of him?" Ron asked with a stern face.
"His eyes have always been terrifying, have you not noticed?" Neville said.
"Come on, Neville, do not boost his morale and diminish your own! Next time you see him, just glare at him..." Ron said angrily.
The twin brothers were utterly helpless. They exchanged a glance, shook their heads, shut their younger brother's angry words out of the door, and walked arm in arm towards the common room.