You're Surprisingly Kind

Snape gave Harry a long look, tacitly accepting Dumbledore's suggestion.

Seeing that no one objected, Dumbledore asked, "I must say, arguments on the train to school are quite common. I've already heard Draco's version of events, but I'd like to hear what happened from your perspective."

"But... but Malfoy was on the train the whole time. How did he..." Ron's face flushed red. He had never expected Draco to pull the villain-accuses-first routine.

Draco pulled a mirror from his robes, a smug smile spreading across his face.

"A Two-way mirror. Father gave it to me before School Opening." Draco proudly waved the mirror in his hand. "See, Weasley? You have to admit that some wizard families are simply different. My father can give me the very best—"

Ron's face reddened even further at Draco's mockery.

"Mr. Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall's expression turned stern. "Please do not bring up irrelevant matters."

Draco was not frightened by Professor McGonagall's warning. Instead, he raised his brows provocatively at the three of them.

Harry had been thinking all the way here about how to make Malfoy lose more than he gained.

He had also heard what was said on the train. Malfoy's father, old Malfoy, was a Hogwarts school board member. His words surely carried considerable weight within the school. If things went badly, the school might not even be able to step in and protect a few helpless students like them.

Now that he had seen that Professor McGonagall was impartial, Harry decided to approach things from her angle.

He had heard long ago that Professor McGonagall was the Head of Gryffindor House, and his parents had both come from Gryffindor House.

His parents had been Head Boy and Head Girl, which meant they must have been Professor McGonagall's prized students.

He could guess the others as well. That plump witch with herb leaves on her robes had to be the Head of Hufflepuff; and judging by that greasy-haired professor's earlier reaction, he was undoubtedly the Head of Slytherin.

He did not expect to sway the Head of Slytherin with this, but he could still do his best to win over the other Heads.

So...

"Professor, I have something to say," Harry suddenly said.

"Go ahead, Harry." Dumbledore gave him an encouraging look.

Professor McGonagall nodded at him as well. Harry steadied himself and said, "I'm sorry, Professor. Actually, on the train, we didn't want to pay any attention to Malfoy. But after he learned that Hermione came from a Muggle Family, he called her that word..."

"What word?" Professor McGonagall's expression darkened. She could already guess what it was.

"It was... Mudblood, Professor." Harry secretly dug his nails into his palm and said pitifully, "I'm sorry, I don't know what it means, but I once heard my Aunt say that when my Mother came home during one holiday, she cried for a long time because someone at school had called her the same thing, saying she was a 'filthy little...'"

"Is that true, Mr. Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall demanded sharply.

Teachers truly had an innate authority over students. Clearly overwhelmed by Professor McGonagall's presence, Draco could only lower his head and answer, "Yes."

Harry felt half his worries settle. He looked up at the Head of Slytherin, only to find that the man was looking at him too.

"Enough!" Snape said coldly.

Was he going to defend Malfoy? Harry would not have been surprised. After all, the man was the Head of Slytherin; it was only natural for him to speak up for Malfoy.

"Mr. Malfoy, is this the breeding you call pure-blood? I truly hope Mr. Malfoy and Mrs. Malfoy can come to the school and see what kind of son they have raised—"

Snape paused, his expression returning to its usual blankness.

"After the Sorting, your House will lose twenty points!"

Harry was astonished. He had thought this Head would be difficult to get along with, but now he discovered that Snape was actually rather nice.

Cold on the outside, warm on the inside. A true Slytherin.

Harry was not the only one astonished. Ron was so shocked that his mouth nearly stretched to the back of his head.

He had heard more than once at home that Slytherin's bat-like Head never deducted points from Slytherin. It was not just Fred and George who said so—even Percy, the model student, said the same...

What was going on today?

Yet none of the professors present found this surprising. Professor McGonagall gave Draco a deep look, then said, "Since Head Snape has already punished you, I will not punish you further. Remember, Mr. Malfoy: at Hogwarts, that word is absolutely forbidden!"

Draco kept his head lowered, staring dejectedly at the floor.

He had never expected the Head of Slytherin to be the first to punish him.

"Also, Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall looked at Harry. "Standing up for a friend is commendable, but we do not encourage casting nasty curses on classmates."

Got it.

Harry understood immediately. Professor McGonagall had only said it was not encouraged—she had not said it was forbidden.

"Yes, Professor." Harry gave the professors present a deep bow. "It was our fault to cause trouble for all of you on the first day of school."

"Very well, Mr. Potter." A faint smile appeared on Professor McGonagall's stern face. "Return to the Great Hall with your friends. The Sorting ceremony is about to begin."

Harry led the still-dazed Hermione and Ron in bidding farewell to the professors, then turned and left the room.

"What a polite child," Professor McGonagall said, folding her hands together. "I think she truly resembles Lily..."

"Yes, Minerva." Dumbledore nodded knowingly, then glanced at the expressionless Snape. "Come. The Sorting ceremony should be starting as well."

When Harry and the others returned to the Great Hall, the young wizards immediately crowded around them.

"Oh no, what did you do? Are you all right?" Neville asked worriedly.

"We're fine." Ron patted his chest. "The professors didn't make things difficult for us at all. Look, aren't we back for the Sorting?"

His relaxed manner gave no hint that he had been worrying about getting expelled just moments ago.

"You think this is over, Weasley?" Draco's voice sounded from behind them. "We have a long road ahead of us!"

Seeing that Ron was about to say something again, Hermione hurriedly grabbed him.

"Don't pay attention to him, Ron," Hermione urged. "He's trying to provoke you so he can get something on you!"

"Oh, you're right." With his external brain connected, Ron's intelligent side once again took the high ground.