Draco agreed to accept Pansy's invitation, with calculations of his own deep down-he merely intended to use her as a shield.
As the young lady of the Parkinson family, Pansy had delicate, pretty features and had always been close to Draco, giving her a certain presence in pure-blood circles.
With Pansy at his side, those pure-blood girls who coveted the Malfoy family's standing or hoped to use the opportunity to attach themselves to him would see how close she was to him. Those who felt they could not match her status or looks would naturally refrain from rashly pestering him, sparing him a good deal of needless disturbance.
As for whether this would give Pansy the mistaken impression that Draco had feelings for her, that hardly mattered to him.
There would always be ways to clear up a little misunderstanding later. Securing some peace and quiet came first for now.
During his earlier dealings with Pansy, Draco had noticed that the girl was stubborn, with some of a young lady's spoiled ways. If he rejected her outright, she certainly would not let the matter rest and might even cause all sorts of trouble, which would only annoy him.
Fortunately, Draco had already privately thought of a plan. Once he found an opportunity later, he could subtly guide her into shifting her attention to someone else, without remaining entangled in this matter for long.
With that thought, Draco set these romantic trifles aside for the moment and returned his attention to studying spells.
After being held up by Goyle and Vincent earlier, then spending so long dealing with Pansy, the sun had climbed higher without his noticing. It was nearly noon already, leaving him little time to study ahead.
Draco immediately summoned the system's exchange interface and, with light swipes of his finger, carefully began filtering through the available spells.
Naturally, he prioritized the core material from the beginner volume of the Standard Book of Spells, choosing basic, practical spells of that sort. He also exchanged for several supplementary spells he would very likely need at school, all essential for everyday practice and handling lessons.
However, exchanging for Apparition earlier had already cost over a hundred Fortune Points, followed by a few scattered expenses. His Fortune Points had now nearly run dry, with only twenty remaining.
Never mind advanced spells-even slightly stronger intermediate spells were beyond his reach. He could only look at the more powerful magic in the shop with silent regret.
It seemed he would need to find more opportunities to earn Fortune Points in the future. Only with an ample supply could he use the system's power to improve his strength quickly.
Then he recalled the Puffapod Engorgement Charm competition Pansy had mentioned. An original plot event like this, which diverged from the course of the original story, would surely earn him quite a few Fortune Points if he participated.
As that thought crossed his mind, Draco felt a little more anticipation.
Time flew by, and Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye.
Draco kept his promise, arriving punctually at Parkinson Manor and heading straight for the daisy pavilion on the eastern side of the garden.
The pavilion stood deep amid the greenery, surrounded by daisies in full bloom, their petals beaded with dew and their refreshing fragrance filling the air. It was ordinarily a quiet, elegant spot, but now it was bustling.
It had already become a gathering place for young pure-blood wizards, who stood in groups of three or five, laughing and chatting without pause. All were children of prominent pure-blood families in the Wizarding World.
The moment he entered the area around the pavilion, a crisp system notification sounded in his mind: "Ding, original plot event triggered. Fortune Points increased by 20."
Draco understood. Just as he had expected, taking part in this competition earned him Fortune Points. His total had now risen to forty, which was still far from plentiful, but better than nothing.
Inside and outside the pavilion, the young wizards chatted in twos and threes, mostly discussing family affairs and magical studies. The atmosphere was lively, yet carried some of the reserve particular to children of pure-blood families.
Draco scanned the crowd and soon spotted Pansy.
She wore an exquisite, magnificent dress, its skirts adorned with fine silver threads that swayed gently in the breeze, making her figure look all the more slender and graceful.
Pansy was standing on tiptoe, looking all around, her clear eyes filled with urgency. She was evidently searching for Draco.
When her gaze met Draco's, her narrow, upturned eyes instantly lit up, undisguisable delight bursting into them as she felt a great sense of relief.
Pansy inwardly rejoiced: He came! He really came! My plan worked!
But that delight lasted only an instant. She quickly suppressed her smile, straightened her back with feigned composure, and walked toward Draco with elegant steps.
Her skirts fluttered lightly, lending her a proud, delicate air.
"You're here, Draco." Pansy stopped in front of him and spoke in a deliberately casual tone. "I thought you might get caught up in something... more interesting and forget our arrangement today."
Draco's lips curved into a smile. "How could I? How would I dare slight Miss Pansy's invitation?"
Unexpectedly, the moment Draco finished speaking, Millicent Bulstrode and the others nearby immediately broke into exaggerated, ingratiating smiles and even began applauding.
At this, the smugness in Pansy's eyes deepened. She lifted her chin and gave a little huff. "Good, as long as you know."
With that, Pansy raised her fingers, clad in a sheer glove, and lightly tapped Draco's cuff as though casually. The gesture carried a subtle intimacy without sacrificing a young lady's decorum.
Then Pansy turned toward the young wizards present and announced with deliberate emphasis, "Everyone here today is watching. Since you've done me this 'honor,' you had better perform well later. Don't disgrace the Malfoy family."
Draco shrugged helplessly and said quite casually, "I'll do my best."
With that, Draco headed into the pavilion.
Goyle and Vincent immediately puffed out their chests and followed behind him with solemn expressions, looking every bit like loyal guards protecting their master.
Pansy stayed right at Draco's side, her sharp gaze sweeping over their surroundings as though proclaiming her claim on him.
Draco's arrival instantly disrupted the flow of conversation in the pavilion, and everyone's eyes turned toward him with curiosity and awe.
Once Draco reached a seat toward the back of the pavilion and sat down, the young wizards around him gradually gathered closer, unconsciously centering their conversation on him.
The previously scattered crowd now gradually formed a circle with Draco at its center.
Pansy sat beside Draco, turned to look at him, and asked with a hint of expectation in her eyes, "What do you think of my outfit today?"
"Very pretty," Draco complimented her offhandedly.
"Oh? Just 'very pretty'?" Pansy raised an eyebrow, then spoke with some displeasure and a petulant air:
"Is your vocabulary really that limited? My mother said the weaving charms on the silver threads in this dress were worked using ancient techniques modeled on the gowns of medieval French witches. They give off a cool, moonlike shimmer as the light changes. It's exquisitely made."
Draco feigned realization and added a note of admiration. "No wonder it's so striking. I didn't realize so much went into it. It really is exceptionally exquisite."
Hearing this, Pansy smiled in satisfaction. "At least you have some taste, Draco."
Draco sat quietly for a while as the young wizards around him drew ever closer, presumably all hoping for a chance to strike up a conversation.
"I didn't expect you to enter this competition too, Draco." A steady voice came from behind him, and Theodore Nott walked slowly forward, his posture straight and his expression calm.
Draco turned to look at him and said with a smile, "I was bored at home. Coming here for a bit of fun seemed nice enough, just to pass the time."
Theodore nodded lightly and said with a hint of helplessness, "Lucky you, being able to do as you please. My father forced me to come. He even specifically told me to carefully 'assess every contestant's magical potential.'"
"Theodore." The moment Theodore finished, Pansy spoke from beside him, her tone carrying mockery and provocation. "From your tone, you make this competition sound like some sort of... entertainment beneath your notice?"
Her words bristled with hostility. She was evidently displeased by Theodore's dismissive attitude toward the competition, and even less willing to let anyone look down on the event she had so painstakingly prepared.
The atmosphere in the pavilion instantly grew delicate, and the lively chatter gradually died away.
Everyone's attention shifted to Pansy and Theodore, curious to watch the spectacle but not daring to interrupt lightly. They could only observe in silence.