After paying for the wands, Draco and Hermione walked out of Ollivander's little shop side by side.
Professor McGonagall followed at a measured pace, her expression still somewhat wary, her gaze drifting between the two from time to time.
Draco turned to look at Hermione beside him. She clutched her wand box tightly, her face still bright with the pleasure of having found what she wanted. He asked softly, "Hermione, have you bought everything you need for school? Is there anything you've missed?"
Hermione smiled and shook her head, her tone cheerful. "I've got everything. Thanks to your help, it saved me quite a bit of effort."
"Then are you heading back now?" Draco felt a slight reluctance to part, but with the words on his lips, he found himself at a loss for how to keep the conversation going.
Noticing the hint of awkwardness in Draco's eyes, Hermione couldn't help giving a light laugh, her teasing reproach carrying a touch of girlish playfulness. "Isn't that a silly question? Now that I've got everything, of course I need to go back and get ready for school."
"All right..." Draco gave a sheepish smile. All the things that had welled up inside him now seemed stuck in his throat, leaving him filled with disappointment.
Just as Draco was considering another excuse to say a few more words, a familiar voice came from behind him, carrying an unmistakable air of authority. "Draco, what are you doing?"
Draco's heart tightened. He turned and, sure enough, saw his father, Lucius, standing a short distance away, watching them with a dark gaze.
Draco hurriedly turned back to Hermione, his tone rushed but earnest. "Hermione, my family's calling me. I'll go over now. See you another day."
Hermione nodded agreeably, a gentle smile on her lips. "All right, bye. See you at Hogwarts when school starts."
After they said goodbye, Draco walked briskly toward Lucius, while Hermione and Professor McGonagall gradually disappeared into the crowds of Diagon Alley, heading in the opposite direction.
When Draco reached him, Lucius raised an eyebrow, his tone probing. "Who were you talking to just now? You seemed quite engrossed."
"A fellow student who'll be starting at Hogwarts with me," Draco answered frankly, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Hermione's retreating figure in the distance. "You must have seen just now. Professor McGonagall was accompanying her to buy her supplies."
Lucius frowned slightly. Judging by the girl's appearance, she seemed to be Muggle-born. He was about to say more.
"What are you two standing here talking about? Come and give me a hand. These things are heavy. What are you waiting for?"
Narcissa's voice, after she had finished her shopping, interrupted the conversation between father and son.
She was carrying several bulging bags, her tone mildly reproachful but unable to conceal its gentleness.
"Coming," Draco hurriedly answered, taking the opportunity to change the subject. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, having finally managed to get through it.
Turning to Lucius, Draco urged him with a smile, "Come on, old man. Let's help Mother with her bags first."
At that, Lucius stopped pursuing the matter. He merely gave Draco a long look, a barely perceptible hint of scrutiny flashing in his eyes, before nodding his agreement.
Father and son walked briskly forward and took the bags from Narcissa.
Lucius raised his wand and waved it, silently reciting a spell. The heavy bags instantly became light.
Then he packed the many purchases one by one into a leather travel bag enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm, his movements deft and practiced.
Watching this marvelous sight, Draco marveled inwardly. Magic really is wonderful. With spells like that, carrying things on a trip is so easy. It saves so much trouble.
Narcissa straightened her skirt and turned to Draco, asking gently, "Son, you mentioned wanting a Chinese rural dog earlier. I looked around Diagon Alley for quite some time, but I couldn't find a shop selling them. I'm afraid you won't be getting your wish."
[Ding, the original plot has been altered. Fortune Points increased by 10.]
"It's fine. If there aren't any, never mind." Draco smiled and shook his head, not feeling particularly disappointed. Compared with getting a pet, meeting Hermione today had already been an enormous gain.
Lucius slung the travel bag over his shoulder and swept his gaze over Draco, asking gravely, "Draco, have your wand and school robes all been sorted out?"
"Don't worry, old man. It's all arranged," Draco replied with a nod. "Madam Malkin took my measurements for the robes this morning. She promised they'd be ready by teatime, so they should be done by now. I'll go and collect them."
At that, Lucius took enough Galleons from his money pouch and handed them over. "Go straight there and back. Don't take too long."
"All right." Draco took the Galleons and hurried toward Madam Malkin's Clothing Shop.
The moment he pushed the door open, he saw that Madam Malkin had already folded his finished robes neatly on the counter.
Seeing Draco arrive, Madam Malkin immediately greeted him with a smile. "Young Master Malfoy, you're just in time. Your robes are all ready. Have a look and see whether they're to your liking."
Draco approached and gave them a quick inspection.
The fabric was excellent, the workmanship fine, and the cut a very good fit. Quite satisfied, he handed over the Galleons. "Your craftsmanship is superb, madam. I'm very pleased. Here's your payment. Thank you for your hard work."
"You're too kind." Madam Malkin accepted the Galleons with a warm smile. "It's an honor to serve you, Young Master Malfoy. If you need anything in the future, do come by. I'll make sure everything is properly arranged."
"Certainly." Draco smiled and nodded, carefully packed away his robes, then turned and quickly left the clothing shop, heading toward where his parents were waiting.
Once he rejoined them.
Lucius inspected the parcel in Draco's hands. Seeing that everything was in order, he nodded. "Since we've bought everything, let's head home."
Draco and Narcissa had no objections, and both nodded.
Lucius reached out and took hold of Draco's and Narcissa's arms. A surge of magic abruptly rose around him, and the familiar sensation of dizziness began to creep in.
The next second, the power of Apparition swept the three of them off Diagon Alley's cobblestones. In the blink of an eye, they were back at the quiet, luxurious Malfoy Manor.
The manor grounds were lush with greenery, sunlight filtering through the branches and leaves in dappled patterns. Unlike the bustle of Diagon Alley, everything was peaceful and pleasant.
Meanwhile, at the other end of Diagon Alley, Professor McGonagall had led Hermione beyond the boundary of the Wizarding World and into the Leaky Cauldron.
Rather than taking Hermione away immediately, she walked straight toward a quiet, deserted corner deep inside the pub and motioned for Hermione to sit down.
Puzzled, Hermione set her purchases beside her and asked softly, "Professor McGonagall, we've bought everything we need today. Why are we still stopping here?"
Looking at Professor McGonagall's serious expression, she felt a faint unease stirring inside her, unsure what else the professor had to tell her.
Professor McGonagall sat down slowly, her back straight, an air of composure and authority surrounding her.
She looked steadily at Hermione and spoke in a tone like someone reading out a rigorous report:
"Miss Granger, regarding the boy who spoke with you in the wand shop just now-Draco Malfoy-I must now give you some important background information.
"This concerns your future school life at Hogwarts, and more importantly, your personal safety. You must listen carefully."
Hermione had been looking down, carefully placing her newly acquired vine wood wand into its box.
At those words, her fingers instantly stopped in midair. She slowly raised her head and looked directly at Professor McGonagall.
A flicker of surprise first crossed her eyes, then they quickly narrowed. In an instant, her entire attention sharpened, and she entered a state of highly alert analysis.
She also swallowed almost imperceptibly, clearly having realized the seriousness of the matter.
Hermione drew a deep breath and said slowly, in an extremely quiet yet unusually clear voice, "...I understand, Professor. Please go on. I'll listen carefully."
At Hermione's composed reaction, Professor McGonagall's gaze softened for an instant. She knew this child was clever and perceptive, and would surely understand her concern.
In the end, she suppressed her misgivings and gave a barely visible nod, saying gravely, "Very good. Everything I am about to tell you is objective fact. You need to consider this information alongside your experience in the wand shop and make your own judgment."
After a pause, Professor McGonagall explained the Wizarding World's concept of blood status to Hermione:
"Before that, you first need to understand three central concepts-Muggle, half-blood, and pure-blood."
"Muggles are ordinary people whose parents are both non-wizards, and who cannot perform magic. Half-bloods have one wizard parent and one Muggle parent. Pure-bloods have two wizard parents, and their families have possessed magical blood for generations, without any Muggle ancestry mixed in."
Hermione listened intently, silently committing these concepts to memory, not daring to miss anything.
Professor McGonagall continued, "Draco Malfoy comes from the Malfoy family, one of the oldest and wealthiest pure-blood families in the Wizarding World. They hold immense status and influence within it."
"But more importantly, this family has always openly and firmly supported the idea of 'pure-blood supremacy.' They believe that only pure-blood wizards deserve to possess magical power and are the rightful members of the Wizarding World. As for Muggle-born wizards, they have always regarded them with... profound contempt, sometimes even outright hostility. They scorn their company, let alone befriending them."
These words exploded like thunder in Hermione's heart. Her back instantly straightened, stiff as a cold plank, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around her wand box.
Scenes from the wand shop involuntarily flashed through her mind-the platinum-haired boy, his gentle words, his extensive knowledge, his profile as he concentrated on explaining wands.
But that image collided with Professor McGonagall's words, "profound contempt" and "hostility," shattering in her mind in an instant. She found it difficult to accept.
For a time, Hermione could not speak. She only felt a heavy weight in her heart, filled with shock and confusion.
Only after Hermione gradually recovered did Professor McGonagall continue, her tone carrying concern and caution. "Therefore, his taking the initiative to approach and befriend you today contains an enormous contradiction in itself, as well as unknown risks."
"Your talent and diligence should be allowed to flourish in a safe, equal environment, studying and pursuing truth, rather than becoming entangled in the Wizarding World's complicated family politics and bloodline disputes. That would be far too dangerous for you."
Hermione drew a deep breath, then let it out extremely slowly, as though calming the apprehension within her.
Only then did she raise her eyes. When she looked at Professor McGonagall again, the confusion and shock in them had gradually faded, replaced by a cold clarity.
She held her wand box firmly against her chest, as though the wand could give her strength.
Hermione answered with unusual composure, even a hint of distance. "A contradiction... yes, Professor. I hadn't thought deeply about it before you mentioned it, but now that I do, that's certainly true.
"I finally understand that inexplicable sense of incongruity I felt earlier. There is a clear logical disconnect between the extensive knowledge he displayed, his family's beliefs about blood status, and the attitude he ought to have. It's far too abnormal."
"I accept your advice." Hermione said this decisively, without the slightest hesitation. "A safe and equal environment is my first prerequisite for coming to Hogwarts and learning magic. I will never let myself fall into unnecessary danger, and I'll make sure my actions always follow that principle."
Professor McGonagall nodded in satisfaction, her tone softening somewhat. "A very wise choice."
She looked steadily at Hermione and cautioned her again. "I am not predicting what he will do in the future, nor am I dismissing him entirely. But people in the Wizarding World are complicated, and prejudice over blood status runs deep. Caution and vigilance are your most reliable shields in an unfamiliar environment. Do not lower your guard lightly."
Hermione slowly nodded, looking past Professor McGonagall toward the window of the pub.
It was as though she could already see through the scene before her to the complicated situations that would arise in Hogwarts' corridors, and the divisions and conflicts caused by blood status.
Her gaze gradually grew cold. When she spoke again, her voice regained its usual clarity and strength, but with an added metallic hardness. "Thank you for your honesty and guidance, Professor. If you hadn't told me this, I might have made a mistaken judgment based on incomplete information."
"At Hogwarts, I am first and foremost a student. My primary task is to learn magic and study knowledge. Anything that conflicts with that identity or complicates my circumstances will be secondary to me. I will never let it affect my central goal."
After Hermione finished this concluding statement, Professor McGonagall looked at the resolve and understanding in her eyes, and her concerns gradually faded.
After giving her an exceptionally solemn nod, she said gravely, "Then I believe you fully understand the situation and are prepared to face everything."
"I understand completely, Professor. Thank you again for explaining everything so clearly and thoroughly, and helping me avoid potential risks," Hermione thanked her sincerely.
At that moment, she finally understood the full meaning behind the veiled conversation between Professor McGonagall and Mr. Ollivander in the wand shop, as well as their unusual reactions.
It was all because Draco Malfoy's identity and behavior were so incongruous that they had felt doubts and concerns.
Only after explaining everything did Professor McGonagall rise and lead Hermione out of the Leaky Cauldron, heading toward the Muggle world.
Throughout the journey, Hermione remained silent, turning Professor McGonagall's words over and over in her mind. The goodwill and trust she had initially felt toward Draco were gradually replaced by wariness and distance.
Meanwhile, far away at Malfoy Manor, Draco knew nothing of this.
He was filled with delight, believing that by taking the initiative to befriend Hermione today, he had left her with a good first impression and laid a solid foundation for their future friendship.
He never could have imagined that the goodwill he had painstakingly cultivated would be completely destroyed by a single conversation with Professor McGonagall, and that the road ahead for their relationship was destined to be far more difficult and winding than he had imagined.