In early October, Draco's attention was largely focused on Quidditch.
One Thursday evening, Slytherin captain Marcus Flint called a meeting to discuss tactics for the new season.
In the chilly Quidditch changing room, Draco heard a resolute glint in Marcus's suppressed voice. Quidditch seemed to be the only thing on his mind all year.
"This is my last chance, and I want to end it in glory." A wild light shone in his eyes. "We had a chance to win last year, but the Quidditch tournament was cancelled. This year, we must take the Championship!"
"That is right, Marcus, we will definitely do it this year," said Chaser Graham Montague. "Our team is very strong this year."
Chaser Adrian Pucey next to him nodded in agreement.
"Derrick, Bole, what do you say?" Marcus asked, looking at the two Beaters.
"Of course, as long as I have a bat in my hand, I will not hold back," said Beater Peregrine Derrick, weighing the short bat in his hand.
"Even if the bat falls, we still have to try to knock someone down," Beater Lucian Bole said with a grin.
"Bletchley, Slytherin's best Keeper and 'underbelly'! Keep our goal in check, keep Slytherin's honour intact, can you do it this year?" Marcus said with deep feeling.
Miles Bletchley nodded, his face twitching, and said, "That being said, there is no need to use the word 'underbelly'..."
Marcus ignored Bletchley, patted Draco on the shoulder, and looked at him intently.
"And Draco, my favourite Seeker. Never missed a Golden Snitch. Keep it up this year."
Draco shrugged and smiled at Marcus.
Derrick made faces at everyone behind Marcus's back, and the team members, trying to suppress their laughter, had to put on serious faces in front of the brooding Marcus.
"Oh, Derrick, do not do that." Marcus said abruptly without turning around, startling Derrick. "This is not a personal matter. What I care about is that the Quidditch Cup, which Slytherin has kept for so many years, should not be handed over to someone else!"
This statement was very effective; it evoked a sense of honour and competitiveness in the other team members.
So the team members stopped joking around and started chanting slogans together, resolutely agreeing to the "three times a week" training plan.
They endured mud, gales, torrential rain, and omnipresent cold air currents as they fought for Slytherin's honour that year.
The Patronus Charm training days had to be moved to times outside of Draco's Quidditch training days.
The students accepted this well, and no one raised any objections.
"It is all right," Harry told him. "I have to train for Quidditch those days anyway."
After a period of practice, most students who received the Patronus Charm training were able to release a cloud of silvery-white mist in a fairly convincing way.
That day, Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw girl, conjured up a translucent, silvery-white animal. It darted about on the ceiling of the old classroom like a ghost in the mist; it appeared to be a rabbit.
"Very good," Draco said expressionlessly, with a hint of approval in his tone.
Luna Lovegood was an eccentric girl. She wore carrot-shaped earrings and a necklace made from a Butterbeer bottle cork. She was close to the Grey Lady and had even helped Hermione last year.
Upon hearing Draco's assessment, she smiled absentmindedly, her prominent eyes revealing a surprised joy.
"How did you do that? Conjure up an actual animal form?" Hermione asked, pursing her lips.
She was not making much progress and could only conjure up some silvery-white mist, just like Draco.
"In short, it is about finding happiness. You need to find the thing that makes you happiest. I changed it several times before I succeeded... Also, you need to have complete faith in your guardian spirit..." Luna shared her experience with those around her in her ethereal, otherworldly voice.
"Discover happiness...?" Draco pondered.
With a thought, he tried waving his wand, and a blurry silver-white shadow emerged from the tip, seemingly trying to solidify into some shape.
It is still a little short.
He let out a soft breath, knowing he would not get a second chance to practise, given that he had been tremblingly begged for help by that blasted Neville Longbottom once again.
Neville Longbottom, a diligent and hardworking potions disaster and cauldron killer.
-----------
On the Friday before Hallowe'en, Professor Snape, as usual, wandered amongst the students with a gloomy expression, mocking and humiliating their potion-making efforts.
Draco had reason to believe that Professor Snape had not recovered from the cross-dressing incident in Defence Against the Dark Arts class, since he was still hovering around Longbottom the most and did not hold back his insults.
Then, something unexpected yet perfectly logical happened... in his panic, Longbottom's hand trembled, and he blew up a cauldron.
The potion and its residue splashed everywhere, especially onto Professor Snape, who was closest to the eye of the storm; his black robes were covered in a wet, sticky mixture.
This was the most serious offence to Professor Snape, a Potions master.
He stood there furiously, his eyes flashing with a menacing glint.
"What happened, Neville? What did you throw in?" Hermione rushed over from the front of the classroom, looking alarmed. "I just went to the sink to wash my hands! It was only for half a minute!"
Yes, that is right. Draco thought. You cannot control a potion-making disaster like that.
Give up, Hermione Granger!
"Miss Granger, you should be thankful you escaped. Longbottom, stay and clean the Potions classroom! Potter and Weasley, why did you not remind Longbottom beside you that he was adding the wrong ingredients? Was it to show off how clever you were?" Professor Snape said slowly, a malicious glint in his eyes.
"Detention tomorrow. For the whole day."
"But, sir, Saturday is the day Hogsmeade is open to students," Harry said.
"That is a real shame," Professor Snape said gleefully. "I am afraid you will not be able to go."
"I have never seen such a shameless person..." Ron watched Professor Snape's figure disappear like the wind, his eyes blazing with fury.
On the eve of Hallowe'en, Harry and Ron came downstairs for breakfast, looking rather dejected.
Hermione tried to comfort them for a long time, but to no avail.
In the end, they could only watch helplessly as Hermione left the castle, all the way to the castle gates, until they were stopped by Mr Filch.
"Students who are not going to Hogsmeade, stop here!" he said gruffly to them.
"I will bring back lots of sweets for you from Honeydukes," Hermione said. She felt terribly sorry for them.
"Bring us back a whole lot," Ron said in a nonchalant tone, but his face betrayed his envy; Harry gave her a forced smile, which looked more like a grimace.
"The main group has already set off! Is this your first time going? You had better hurry, or you will get lost," Mr Filch said impatiently to Hermione, his mind filled with images of the leaky washrooms, the ceilings smeared with frog brains, and the classroom doors with Peeves blocking the keyholes.
Hermione looked back and saw that the students had already disappeared into the thick morning mist, becoming tiny black dots appearing and disappearing in the distance. She was a little anxious, but she could not bear to leave Harry and Ron behind; their expressions were too tragic.
Just then, Draco strolled out of the castle and casually greeted them.
Harry, as if seeing a saviour, quickly pulled him aside. "Do me a favour, Draco."
"What kind of favour?" Draco lazily scratched his platinum-blonde hair, looking as though he had not woken up yet.
"Sirius... he has been in a bad state lately," Harry said anxiously. "I have written him several letters, but he has not replied. I am very worried about him."
Draco pursed his lips.
He still harboured resentment over the business with the Cup. He also did not want any further dealings with that troublesome Sirius Black. Last time in Dumbledore's office, he had tried to avoid direct conversation or eye contact with the man.
"I finally managed to arrange to meet him at the Three Broomsticks today. But, you know, I cannot make it," Harry said, frustrated. "Could you go for me? And whilst you are at it, could you try to talk to him?"
"Why do you think he will listen to me? I have only met him twice!" Draco finally perked up, an expression of disbelief appearing on his face.
"Of all my friends, you are the only one who has really got to know him! You spent the most time with him, did you not?" Harry glanced up at the clock hands on the tower and said quickly, "Draco, please. I have to go to the Headmaster's office for a while."
Before Draco could even think of a single word to mock his "daydreaming," Harry and Ron had already hurried off towards the castle.
"Hey, wait, I have not said yes yet!" he yelled irritably at their backs; Harry, hearing this, ran off even faster, waving his hand haphazardly at him with his back turned.
So Mr Filch was finally able to slam the magnificent cast-iron school gate shut and hurry off to clean a leaky washroom.
Only Draco Malfoy remained standing outside the school gates, staring in disbelief at Harry's retreating figure; and Hermione Granger, now alone, stood beside him at the gates.
Good heavens! Are they the only two left? Hermione glanced back at the misty road, then looked at the frowning boy beside her, and suddenly realised something.
Are they going to walk this road alone? She silently repeated this fact, and a sense of happiness rose involuntarily in her heart.
He simply yawned lazily beside her, and she started experiencing shortness of breath again.
She stared intently at the stone pillars flanking the school gate, pretending to study the winged boars atop them... symbols of Chrysaor, supposedly Pegasus's brother... whilst trying to remain calm by recalling obscure passages from Hogwarts: A History.
Draco stood there for a moment, until Harry was out of sight.
He scratched his head in annoyance and sighed.
He should have just stayed in the common room and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
He already knew Hogsmeade inside and out, and there were secret passages to follow. For him, going or not going made no difference.
However, after glancing at the dazed little girl beside him, he suddenly became somewhat interested in Hogsmeade again.
"Shall we go?" He relaxed his brow and asked, looking at her pinkish profile.
"Okay..." Hermione said hastily, glancing at him furtively. "But I do not know the way."
"It is all right. I happen to know it very well." Draco smirked, hands in his pockets. "Come with me."
------------
Come support and get the advanced chapters:
patreon.com/Daoist_Kalyug