Could Global Broom Company or Comet Trading Company have developed some new blade-shaped flying broom?... No, nearly a thousand years of experience had shown that only streamlined broom designs could fully unleash the power of the Flying Charm.
Malfoy frowned and pondered for a long while. After sizing Li Mu up from head to toe again, his eyes suddenly gleamed. "I know! I've heard about it! Hogwarts broke precedent this year and admitted two international students. One of them came from China—that's you, isn't it? You said you rode a sword using... using..."
"Sword Flight." Li Mu smiled. Malfoy truly lived up to having a father on the board of governors; his information network was indeed well-connected. He held out his hand. "I'm Li Mu from China. Nice to meet you."
Although Li Mu had some prejudices against Malfoy, he kept up appearances flawlessly. In his memory, Malfoy had indeed been an unpleasant person, but there was kindness in his heart after all. Besides, there was no need for him to argue with a spoiled little brat.
Malfoy nodded, and his expression visibly improved. He held out his hand as well, and their palms lightly touched.
"Sword Flight, right. A few books in my family's collection mentioned it specifically. It's a flying technique widely used by Chinese people. Still, it was probably forbidden in England." After shaking hands, Malfoy said softly, "In any case, welcome to England."
In the instant of that handshake, Draco Malfoy transformed into the picture of an elegant noble, finally displaying the fine manners of an ancient wizarding family.
The sight made Harry Potter waver. He hesitated, wondering whether he should offer his hand as well and show some friendliness toward his future classmate. But soon enough, Malfoy lost every bit of goodwill he had gained.
"Oh! Look at that man!" Malfoy suddenly called out, lifting his chin. Li Mu and Harry followed his gaze and saw Hagrid standing by the front window, his huge body blocking nearly all the light streaming in.
Hagrid held a large ice cream in each hand. Beneath his tangled hair and beard, he wore a simple, kind smile. He grinned at Li Mu and Harry, looking bright and cheerful—though his teeth were rather yellow, and there were quite a few cavities.
"That's Hagrid. He works at Hogwarts," Harry explained. He smiled at Hagrid through the glass.
"Really? I've heard of him too. He's a servant, isn't he?" Malfoy failed to notice Harry's gesture and went on speaking in a contemptuous, disdainful tone. "I heard he's a wild man who lives in a little hut on the school grounds. He's always getting drunk, trying to use magic, and usually setting his own bed on fire."
The more he spoke, the more disdainful he became, and Li Mu could not help frowning deeply. It had not felt so serious when he read the books, but hearing Malfoy's cutting words in person made irritation rise within him. He had originally wanted to ask about the other international student, but now he held himself back.
This was not a matter of being young or poorly raised. It stemmed from prejudice and discrimination deeply rooted in the heart. In any world, racists and extremists made most normal people uncomfortable.
Li Jianmin had demanded that Li Mu cultivate himself from childhood, to remain detached and calm, but he still could not stop himself from snorting. Setting the original story aside, after only a few hours together, he felt that Hagrid was a good friend—honest, warmhearted, and kind.
He turned to observe Harry. Harry Potter looked terrible, his face livid with anger. It seemed there was no need to wait for Malfoy to provoke him on the train. These two boys were destined never to become friends.
Draco Malfoy, however, clearly had not inherited the ability to read the room expected of those in high positions. He did not notice their reactions at all and continued chattering away. He moved from Hagrid to Harry's parents. Harry merely grunted a few perfunctory replies; he no longer wanted to discuss his deceased parents in front of this person.
Then Malfoy began saying that Muggles had no right to attend Hogwarts.
"I heard ancient China places great importance on Bloodline Inheritance. You don't have Muggle wizards there, do you? Your parents must have been very powerful wizards too, right?"
"No. I don't have a father or mother. I fell from the sky," Li Mu replied flatly.
The real Malfoy was quite the chatterbox, making Li Mu wonder whether he had been shut up in his manor for too long without anyone to talk to. Now, even chatterbox Malfoy was left speechless, making a vague "Uh..." sound.
Fell from the sky? What did that mean? Was it a joke? What kind of reaction was he supposed to have at a time like this?... Malfoy's little platinum-blond head took a long while to process it.
Fortunately, Madam Malkin's voice rang out just then. "All right, your clothes are ready."
Most of the time spent making the clothes had actually gone into measuring them. Once the measurements were finished, the witch took out some fabric and softly murmured a spell. The black cloth automatically cut and stitched itself together, becoming red-lined, black-faced wizard robes. The entire process took only a few minutes.
Li Mu and Harry both leaped off their stools at once. After paying, they headed for the door, only to hear Malfoy call after them, "Um... all right, then. See you at Hogwarts."
"Mm." Li Mu answered indifferently.
Harry Potter was even less inclined to respond and simply rushed out through the door.
Hagrid was waiting outside. He gave Harry and Li Mu an ice cream each. Then they walked and chatted, with Harry asking Hagrid questions most of the time, such as what Quidditch was.
Li Mu, meanwhile, had temporarily shifted all his attention to the ice cream. He had been in this world for ten years, spending all ten in deep mountain forests. When had he ever eaten snacks like these?
And ice cream in the magical world was made through special magic, condensed from natural ice elements... It really was delicious!
Next, they went to the neighboring Flourish and Blotts to buy the books they needed, then wandered around the street for a while, purchasing cauldrons, scales, and various other odds and ends.
What delighted Li Mu was that they actually sold cinnabar and Black Dog Blood here, even Yellow Talisman Paper—though there were only a few small stacks in total. Hagrid found it rather baffling to see Li Mu happily buying such "useless" things, but in the end, he did not ask anything.
The sky gradually darkened as the sun sank westward, casting a murky yellow glow along the layered clouds on the horizon. One by one, the items on Harry and Li Mu's shopping lists were crossed out with a pen.
"Only wands are left to buy—oh, right, I still haven't bought you a birthday present, Harry," Hagrid suddenly said.
"Oh, Harry, today's your birthday?" Li Mu was startled, finally remembering. The day that changed Harry Potter's life—when Hagrid found him at the Dursleys' home... today was Harry's birthday.
Having made up his mind, Li Mu smiled. "Since it's such a coincidence, I should buy you something too."
(End of chapter)
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