Ever since Draco had taught Goyle and Vincent the knack of the Mending Charm that day, the two seemed to have vanished without a trace. Even with the start of term approaching, neither had come to see him again.
It hardly took any thought to know that those two were surely at home, painstakingly studying the Mending Charm.
Presumably encouraged by their success with the Engorgement Charm last time, they were intent on learning a new spell, earning another reward from their families, and getting a chance to show off in front of Draco.
This left Draco feeling rather reflective, and also reminded him that he could earn Fortune Points by teaching them spells.
As he thought about it, a vague idea began to form.
If he could take on a few more obedient, earnest underlings like them, wouldn't he be able to earn Fortune Points steadily every day?
He even imagined a possibility for the future: becoming a Charms teacher, spreading his teachings and taking on students far and wide.
Then he would surely rake in Fortune Points and never have to worry about running short again.
But such ideas were ultimately matters for later.
Leaving aside the considerable magical knowledge and qualifications needed to become a Charms teacher,
there was the current situation alone. Voldemort's shadow had yet to fade completely, and the Wizarding World was destined to be anything but peaceful in the years ahead. Whether he could safely make it that far remained unknown.
Besides, if Voldemort really was successfully killed in the future and peace returned to the Wizarding World, Fortune Points probably wouldn't be of much use by then.
Right now, however, his shortage of Fortune Points was a pressing reality.
After exchanging Fortune Points for basic spells and Apparition earlier, he had barely any left. Though he had subsequently earned twenty by entering the swelling pod competition, it was still a drop in the bucket.
His current Fortune Points weren't even enough to meet the threshold for advanced spells. Truly, some died of drought while others drowned in floods.
He could only hope to trigger more original plot events in the future, or teach his underlings a few more spells and slowly build up his points.
September first, the day term began at Hogwarts.
In the bedroom at Malfoy Manor, the air was so still it seemed almost frozen, with only the flames dancing in the fireplace.
An occasional soft crackle from the fireplace broke the silence. Warm yellow firelight filled the room, casting a gentle glow over its exquisite, luxurious furnishings.
On the expensive carpet in the center of the room stood a conspicuous, moderately sized trunk.
This was a magical traveling trunk his parents had specially prepared for Draco. Its body was made from some kind of glossy black dragon hide, fine to the touch yet tough in texture.
The trunk gleamed with a deep luster in the firelight. Its corners were fitted with brass clasps polished like mirrors, and an intricate, exquisite M-shaped crest-the emblem of the Malfoy family-was stamped where they fastened.
The inside had already been enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm and a Feather-Light Charm. Despite its compact appearance, the trunk could hold an enormous quantity of belongings and was effortless to carry.
Dobby the house-elf was not present.
Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy never allowed servants to interfere in matters involving the "dignity" and "privacy" of the young Malfoy heir's preparations for departure.
Narcissa stood before the trunk, her slender figure dressed in pale robes that made her seem all the more gentle and elegant.
A steady, soft silver glow shimmered at the tip of her wand. Rather than stuffing things in at random, she was conducting a final "inspection" and making "adjustments" to its contents.
With an almost imperceptible flick of Narcissa's wrist, the clothes inside, already stacked with razor-sharp precision, smoothed out their tiniest creases and settled even more neatly into place.
Several leather-bound volumes of advanced Potions notes with exquisite covers slowly slid into a dedicated pocket at the side of the trunk, settling securely in place.
A crystal-clear case holding several emergency potions silently locked itself into an inner compartment of the trunk.
Under Narcissa's gentle, precise movements, every detail was handled just right.
Draco stood beside her in brand-new traveling robes, with nothing to worry about. All he had to do was quietly watch his mother take care of everything.
Being so carefully looked after, without having to concern himself with a thing, was probably the most reassuring warmth most children could feel when leaving home for school for the first time.
Even wrapped in the Malfoy family's dignity and rules, that warmth still felt comforting.
"When you arrive at Hogwarts, remember to seek out Severus." Lucius's deep, resonant voice came from beside the window.
"He will give you a more precise list and tell you which... extracurricular reading materials are worth keeping on your bedside table. They will be of considerable help in establishing yourself at school."
Lucius had taken no part in packing. He merely leaned languidly against the window frame, carved with intricate serpentine patterns, his silver snake-headed cane resting lightly at his side, like a stern overseer.
At this, Draco nodded slightly and replied respectfully, "I understand, Father. Once I arrive at school, I'll contact Professor Snape promptly. I won't let your arrangements go to waste."
In truth, he thought, I'll count myself lucky if Snape even bothers with me then.
By then, Narcissa had completed her final "inspection."
She slowly took half a step back, carefully surveying the entire trunk. Only after confirming that everything was properly arranged and nothing had been overlooked did she nod in satisfaction.
Then she turned to Lucius and gave him a slight nod, signaling that everything was ready.
Only then did Lucius slowly move.
He left the window and walked soundlessly to the center of the room with light, ghostlike steps, stopping beside the trunk.
He did not even draw the wand at his waist, merely giving the dragon-hide trunk a casual wave of his silver snake-headed cane.
The movement was effortless, as casual as brushing a speck of dust from his sleeve.
Yet with that seemingly casual wave, the power of the spell instantly filled the room.
The air trembled slightly, giving off a clearly audible, low, pleasing hum, like precision metal parts fitting together.
Under the spell's influence, the sizable dragon-hide trunk began to shrink slowly.
It neither twisted out of shape nor collapsed under pressure. Instead, like the most precise mechanical model, it shrank evenly, steadily, and swiftly.
The grain of the dragon hide remained clearly visible throughout, without the slightest damage. The brass clasps retained their brilliant shine, perfectly preserving their original appearance.
In just one second, the trunk that had occupied the center of the carpet had shrunk into a miniature that could easily fit in a palm.
Draco stepped forward and gently picked up his miniature dragon-hide trunk. It still felt somewhat weighty in his hand, but most of its weight had been cleverly contained by magic within its tiny volume, so carrying it would not feel cumbersome.
As he carefully slipped it into a pocket specially sewn for it inside his new robes, Draco could feel the pocket sag slightly.
"Once you're in your dormitory at Hogwarts, you need only say 'Engorgio' to restore the trunk to its original size. Nothing inside will be damaged," Narcissa instructed gently as she came to his side.
"Remember, keep your magic steady and your movements precise when casting. Don't make any mistakes."
They had evidently taken it for granted that Draco had already learned the basic spell Engorgio.
After all, as the Malfoy family's heir, mastering such basic, practical magic was only natural and needed no further discussion.
What they did not know was that Draco had never specifically studied Engorgio before.
Fortunately, he had the system's assistance. Engorgio was hardly some rare, advanced magic, and exchanging for it did not require many Fortune Points.
So Draco immediately exchanged Fortune Points for the spell, mastering it proficiently in an instant and finding it effortless to use.
"Remember, Draco." Lucius's voice once again broke the room's silence. He raised a hand to straighten his already immaculate cuff and waited for Draco to look over.
He said, "Convenience should never come at the expense of composure. A house-elf can certainly pack all your luggage and spare you the trouble, but a true wizard knows how to use magic to make bulky luggage disappear elegantly before his eyes, keeping everything under his own control. That is the bearing and ability a Malfoy should possess."
As he spoke, Lucius glanced out the window. The sun had gradually risen higher in the sky, and golden sunlight streamed into the room through the carved window.
He lightly tapped his silver snake-headed cane against the floor, producing a crisp sound that broke the last of the quiet.
"Now," Lucius began, his words holding not a trace of the reluctance or warmth of a farewell, only an indifferent announcement of the next item on the agenda.
"Let us go to King's Cross Station. There are certain... acquaintances we haven't seen in a long time whom we ought to meet."
With that, he turned first and headed toward the door, the hem of his black robes sweeping through an elegant, clean arc as he moved.
Narcissa gently rested a hand on Draco's shoulder, her palm warm against him. She pressed briefly, as though conveying a final measure of encouragement and concern, then slowly withdrew her hand and hurried after her husband.
Draco steadied himself, suppressing his anticipation and slight nervousness about Hogwarts, then stepped forward to follow closely behind his parents toward the manor's exit.
Sunlight spilled behind them, stretching their three shadows long.