Tricking Draco

The next morning.

Brook and Hermione sat at the dining table, leisurely enjoying breakfast.

Harry and Ron came over.

"Thank you so much for last night, Brook." Harry thanked him again for what had happened the previous night.

"You already thanked me, didn't you?" Brook said with a smile.

Harry smiled shyly, just about to say something else.

Then Draco walked over with an incredulous expression.

"You still haven't been expelled?"

Although Harry had found last night's experience thrilling and exciting.

He certainly wasn't grateful to Draco because of it. Instead, he disliked him even more.

"Oh, how strange. Why would I be expelled?"

"Don't tell me you didn't go last night either?" Draco's voice dripped with mockery. "How rare for you to be smart for once."

"I'm not a coward like certain people," Harry shot back without backing down.

"I simply couldn't be bothered to duel someone like you!"

"Yeah, yeah! And then you tattled to Filch too. I really can't see what's so noble about you." Harry went all out.

Draco was furious and was about to make a move.

Brook's lips curled slightly. "I think Young Master Malfoy should discuss the matter of compensation."

"Compensation? What do I owe you compensation for?" Draco looked utterly confused.

"Sit down. I don't have a habit of looking up at people," Brook said unhurriedly.

Draco looked disdainful. What right did a Mudblood have to order him around?

Brook glanced around and lowered his voice. "Or does Young Master Malfoy want everyone to know that you stood them up last night?"

"So what? I was fooling these two idiots."

Harry and Ron immediately looked furious and were about to fire back.

"Is that so?" Brook's gaze sharpened.

"Then what do you think Snape or Slytherin would say if they learned that you didn't show up for the Wizard Duel as agreed?"

"W-What would they say?"

Draco's voice began to tremble.

He couldn't figure it out, but instinctively feared what Brook was about to say.

Brook pointed at the seat in front of him.

Draco sat down unwillingly.

"If they learned that last night, you cast aside Slytherin's honor and chose deception and tattling to avoid a fair and proper Wizard Duel, what do you think would happen?"

Brook spoke softly, but his words were like thunder in Draco's ears.

His whole body jerked.

He finally understood what Brook meant.

Although Slytherin was known for cunning and doing whatever it took, it valued honor greatly.

If the people in his House found out about this.

Then even though his Malfoy status meant nothing serious would happen to him.

He would inevitably be despised and ostracized.

"If you tell anyone, Harry and Ron sneaking out at night will become known too."

"So what if it does? They'll be punished, not me. Besides, I'm sure they'd be more than willing to go down with Young Master Malfoy, wouldn't they?"

Brook said indifferently.

Ron wanted to say that he did care, but Harry tugged at him, and he could only swallow the words.

"What do you want, then?" Draco asked helplessly.

"That depends on Young Master Malfoy's sincerity. After all, Harry and Ron suffered considerable mental damage because of what you did. As for this Mental Damage Compensation..."

"Mental Damage Compensation? What kind of thing is that?"

Draco didn't understand at first, but quickly caught on.

Wasn't that just another way of asking for money?

"I'll give you ten Gold Galleons."

Ron's eyes went wide.

Ten Gold Galleons!

Even if the four of them split it evenly.

He would get two Gold Galleons, eight Silver Sickles, and fourteen Bronze Knuts.

He had never seen so much money before. He wanted to agree immediately.

"Tsk, tsk. Is the Malfoy family's reputation worth only ten Gold Galleons?" Brook wore a disappointed expression.

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"Then twenty?"

Draco's imposing manner weakened as he spoke carefully.

To him, the Malfoy family's reputation was priceless.

"I think we should ask around instead. Maybe one of Malfoy's enemies would be willing to pay more for this information."

Brook closed his eyes, looking as though he no longer wished to negotiate.

"You..." Draco's face alternated between red and purple. He was clearly furious.

"Three hundred Gold Galleons. That's all the pocket money I have left for this year. If you're still not satisfied, then we'll go down together."

"You and Harry will go down together. That doesn't include me." Brook shrugged. "Still, since Young Master Malfoy is being so sincere, I'll take a loss and make a friend."

Draco gritted his teeth. Only a lunatic would want to be friends with you.

He took out a money pouch from his pocket and threw it onto the table.

Brook held out his hand, a sincere smile on his face.

"I truly do want to be your friend."

"Hmph!" Draco stood up angrily, ignored Brook's hand completely, turned, and strode away.

"Young Master Malfoy, come visit anytime!"

As soon as Brook finished speaking, Draco stumbled and nearly fell.

Hermione bumped Brook with her shoulder.

That was downright vicious.

She covered her mouth, trying her best not to laugh.

The moment she saw the mischievous smile at the corner of Brook's mouth, she knew he was up to no good.

So she had watched from the side the entire time without saying a word.

In the end, he had really tricked Draco.

"Haha." Harry laughed happily.

That felt amazing.

Today was truly the best day of his life.

Ron, meanwhile, stared fixedly at the money pouch, swallowing nonstop.

"Harry, although we got this money mainly because of you two, Hermione and I put in some effort too. How about we split it four ways?" Brook suggested.

"I don't need any. The three of you can split it. That makes one hundred each."

Harry hurriedly waved his hands.

He still had plenty of Gold Galleons in his vault and didn't care about this little bit of money.

Besides, seeing Draco suffer had already satisfied him completely.

Why would he want the money?

"That won't do." Brook tossed the pouch to Ron. "If you don't take any, how can I take any? If I don't take any, Geng... Anyway, you have to take it."

Ron caught the money pouch with trembling hands.

It took all his willpower not to open it and look at the Gold Galleons inside.

"All right, then!" Harry nodded.

"That's more like it! Ron, can you help divide it?" Brook asked.

"N-No problem." Ron replied with a stammer.

He would never accept charity from others.

But Brook had gotten this money for them, so it was rightfully his share.

He could take it with a clear conscience.

"Pure blood was an honor, but wasn't it also a shackle?" Brook said with feeling.

Harry didn't know whether Brook had said that for his sake or was merely musing aloud.

But it gave him something to think about.

Before he could understand the deeper meaning, though, another event that made him extremely happy happened that day.

A long, slender package carried by six long-eared Scottish Owls fluttered down in front of Harry.

There was also a letter on it.

After reading the letter, he could not suppress the smile on his face.

He quietly explained to Brook, "There's a Nimbus 2000 Flying Broomstick inside. Do you want to come outside and take a look with me? Professor McGonagall doesn't want too many people to know."

"I'll pass. You go ahead." Brook looked at the owls instead.

How had he forgotten about these things?

He had heard they made good soup.

He would have to try it someday.

When Harry dragged Ron outside, Ron was still somewhat distracted, his gaze fixed on the money pouch in his arms.

One share for Harry, one for me; one share for Brook, one for me; one share for Hermione, one for me.

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