At dinnertime, Draco arrived looking as smug as ever.
He strutted over to Ron and immediately started throwing around words like pig brain and idiot.
"You're a coward, Malfoy!"
"Being around idiots makes you stupid."
Draco leaned down slightly, bringing his face close to Harry's. "Potter, I know you don't approve of what I did, but victory requires doing whatever it takes."
Harry's expression turned ugly. "Malfoy, a victory gained through underhanded means has no honor at all."
Draco was not surprised by this reaction.
He was patient. It had only been two weeks.
"Potter, think about it carefully. Wayne didn't come over either time."
Sowing discord might have been low-level, but it was effective.
"He's a selfish person. He wouldn't even give you any advice."
"Get lost, Malfoy!" Harry suddenly slammed the table and rose to face him.
"How do you know Vincent didn't do that?
You were planning to split us apart from the very beginning, weren't you?"
Ron, finally realizing it, hit the table even harder. "You're a complete villain, Malfoy!"
Draco looked toward an empty seat nearby and lifted his chin high, as though his confidence had swelled to the limit.
"Weasley, you should hide like Wayne does."
He casually met Harry's furious eyes. "Don't blame me, Potter.
Gryffindor isn't right for you."
Without a second thought, Harry slapped away the right hand Draco had extended.
"Malfoy, I will never agree with you. Never!"
Vincent pushed open the doors to the Great Hall and heard that furious shout.
Draco's face gradually reddened as he stared blankly at the boy before him, the one who was utterly at odds with him.
Who was Harry Potter?
The savior of the Wizarding World?
"Potter, it seems I misjudged you." He clutched his right hand. "You're just like the rest