Harry said nothing. He merely looked at the shivering first-years, then at Draco, a hint of complexity in his eyes.
It was a look mingled with suspicion, surprise, and faint uncertainty. At that moment, a tiny crack appeared in the image of Malfoy they had discussed in the compartment.
Draco replied to Pansy calmly, "I saw them."
Pansy had assumed Draco would refuse. She had even prepared a few cutting remarks to back him up, ready to complement his coolness with a fine display of "pure-blood indifference."
Instead, Draco suddenly raised his hand. With a light flick of his fingers, his wand glowed faintly gold again.
"Warming Protection."
This time, the halo no longer enveloped only their little group. Instead, it spread toward the badly chilled first-years in rings like ripples on water.
As the warmth settled over them, the young witches and wizards froze in surprise.
Then disbelief appeared on their faces. Their stiff expressions gradually relaxed, and color slowly returned to their cold-purple lips.
"That's much better..." one girl whispered, her voice carrying the relief of someone who had narrowly escaped disaster.
"It's so warm..." another boy exclaimed despite himself, taking a deep breath of air that was no longer quite so biting.
The boy who had come to ask for help stared blankly at Draco. His lips moved before he finally managed, "Th-thank you, sir."
Putting away his wand, Draco said calmly, "You know, young witches and wizards don't have much magic. You ought to prepare properly for the cold."
To tell the truth, if everyone came asking, Draco certainly would not have enough magic.
Pansy opened her mouth, then swallowed the cruel remarks she had prepared. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes before her usual arrogance returned.
Only the corners of her mouth rose a little without her noticing, as though she were reluctantly admitting that Draco had conducted himself fairly respectably this time.
Goyle and Vincent exchanged a glance, each seeing the other's admiration: The boss really is unfathomable.
Goyle could not resist giving him a thumbs-up and whispering, "Boss, you're fucking awesome!"
Not far away, Lavender was so excited she nearly fainted. Clutching Parvati's arm, she said, "I knew it! I knew it! He has a heart of gold! Thinking of others even at a time like this-that's a true gentleman!"
Lavender's grip hurt so much that Parvati could only roll her eyes helplessly. "Lavender, keep your voice down. Everyone's looking at you."
Ron, who had been waiting to enjoy the show, now felt as though his face had been slapped swollen.
Still, he stubbornly whispered to Harry, "Just you wait. He's definitely up to something."
This time, however, he clearly lacked confidence, and his voice was almost inaudible.
Hermione, meanwhile, gradually sank into deep, frowning thought.
She unconsciously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze moving between Draco and the first-years who had received the Warming Charm.
Finally, she interrupted Ron's muttering in a calm but forceful voice. "Ron, he did help his fellow students, and he pointed out the importance of preparing beforehand. That's a fact."
Ron opened his mouth, only to find he had no reply. All he could do was turn his head away sullenly.
At this, Hagrid's enormous body visibly paused.
The stern scrutiny in his small eyes was instantly replaced by astonishment and confusion, then by a trace of approval.
He raised his oil lamp and called loudly, "Mm! Well said! Wizards ought to know how to look after themselves, and how to help their companions when they can! Now, heads up, everyone! The castle's just ahead!"
Some of the pure-blood wizards who would soon enter Slytherin were thoroughly puzzled, even displeased.
Draco Malfoy had actually answered a request from someone who was very likely a half-blood or Muggle-born?
That was not how things were "done."
But a moment later, they rationalized Draco's actions to themselves.
They regarded it as a shrewd little investment worthy of a statesman: showing kindness in front of everyone could win goodwill while enhancing the family's image. Why not?
As they walked, the patch of yellow light in Hagrid's hand seemed to move downward, and the students followed him downhill along a steep, narrow path.
The first-years formed a long line, walking one after another through the pitch-black passage. Darkness and cold heightened their unease, and the flagstones beneath their feet were slippery and uneven. Every step felt like treading on the unknown.
Hagrid's lantern was up ahead, but its light was limited, illuminating only a small area around him.
Beyond that lay shadows swallowed by thick darkness.
Draco frowned, drew his wand, and calmly said, "Lumos."
A steady, brilliant light burst from the tip of his wand, like a tiny sun kindled in the darkness, illuminating a sizable area around him.
[Ding-original plot added, fortune points +20]
Draco felt a surge of secret delight.
These young witches and wizards were practically a flock of fluffy little sheep, waiting for him to fleece them bit by bit.
Every extra thing he did earned him a few more fortune points. What a bargain.
Pansy immediately pressed close to Draco, whispering in a tone that mixed dependence with showing off, "Oh, Draco, it's so good to have you here. It's frighteningly dark."
She always managed to seize the first opportunity to flatter Draco.
Smugness practically spilled from the corners of her mouth, as though Draco's radiance were her glory too.
Goyle followed close behind, grinning goofily. "Boss, you've cured my bad eyesight."
Not to be outdone, Vincent said, "You're my eyes, boss."
Draco looked at the pair in exasperation and distaste. "Could you stop being like this?"
The two chuckled.
The first-years a few steps ahead and behind let out relieved sighs in unison when they saw the light, and their steps became steadier.
They instinctively moved toward the light like moths to a flame, except that this time, the flame symbolized safety.
Stars began sparkling in Lavender's eyes again. "Oh, darling, did you think I wouldn't notice you just because you were hidden in the crowd? That golden hair still shining in the darkness, those faintly furrowed brows as though you were pondering ancient spells, that hand holding your wand as steadily as if you were born to command the light, and that strand of light glowing in the gloom, purer than a unicorn horn-all of it has utterly, romantically given you away!"
Lavender's grip hurt Parvati so much that she could only roll her eyes helplessly, embarrassed by her friend's obliviousness.
Pansy sneered, "If my dear Mrs Parkinson heard that even the underground passages of Hogwarts had Cornish Pixies reciting lines from the cheap novels in Girls' Magic Weekly, she'd be sure the house-elves had handed out expired Love Potion as drinks."
Some of the Slytherin first-years frowned as they listened, but quickly found a justification for Pansy.
She was defending the dignity of "her own people," displaying Slytherin's pride to the other houses.
Some even snickered quietly, finding Lavender's romantic fantasies utterly ridiculous.
Just then, Hermione's calm voice rang out. "Miss."
She stopped, her gaze clear and firm. "I believe that at Hogwarts, people should be judged by their character and ability, not their family background or reading preferences."
"Belittling a fellow student's personal feelings with made-up claims about 'house-elves handing out the wrong drinks' and 'needing treatment at St. Mungo's' is neither humorous nor gracious."
She paused, then continued, "Lumos is a simple spell, but providing safety in the darkness is itself worthy of recognition."
"As for how others interpret it, that's their freedom, so long as they don't hurt anyone."
"Apart from displaying your spitefulness, I fail to see how your remarks help with our main task of proceeding safely."
Publicly rebuked by Hermione, Pansy went livid with anger, her chest heaving.
She gave Draco a cold laugh. "See, Draco? This young lady really is just like that sort of person."
Hagrid had to intervene.
He turned and bellowed, "What's going on back there? Keep quiet and keep up!"
Ron curled his lip and muttered, "Girls are such a bother."
To him, arguing so fiercely over a show-off was simply hopeless.
Hermione refused to back down. Turning to Ron, she said, "Ron, this isn't showing off. It's a basic safety measure and an improvement in group efficiency."
"The tunnel is dark and slippery. Poor visibility directly slows our progress and increases the risk of falling."
"Providing light is the optimal solution to the group's current predicament."
"If someone knows this spell but doesn't use it for fear of being accused of 'showing off,' that would be irrational and irresponsible."
Hagrid agreed in a rumbling voice full of approval. "Exactly right! Everyone, learn from that! Lumos is a good spell, and this is the right place for it! Look after one another and stay close to the light!"
Although Ron was dissatisfied, he dared not say anything more for fear of provoking everyone's anger.
Hermione now drew her own wand without hesitation and said clearly and firmly, "Lumos!"
Another equally bright light shone at the tip of her wand, overlapping and complementing Draco's pool of light, together expanding the visible area of the tunnel.
Much of the darkness was dispelled, and the flagstones underfoot became clear.
Someone could not help exclaiming, "Brilliant! It's much brighter now!"
Hagrid laughed heartily, the sound echoing through the tunnel. "Ha ha! Good! Wonderful! Lighting the way ahead together! That's Hogwarts! Keep going, children, we're almost there!"
Lavender excitedly clutched Parvati again. "Look! Two lights! One from the noble golden morning sun, one from the wise silver moon! Though they haven't spoken, they've held a silent conversation through light in this dark tunnel!"
Hermione replied coldly, "Light has no color, only wavelength."
"Spells have no will, only function."
"Anthropomorphizing and romanticizing basic physical phenomena and magical applications is irrational and obstructs effective understanding. Please watch your footing. It's slippery here."
Pansy's expression was ugly. She unconsciously pressed closer to Draco, as though trying to draw a little security from his light.
Her wary gaze stabbed toward Hermione as she silently cursed, That bitch! She's copying Draco! She wants attention. She wants to seem just as brilliant and important as Draco! How dare she mix her light with his!
Furious, Pansy could not resist another taunt, this time aimed at Hermione. "Oh, look. This young lady has finally done something practically useful to show off, instead of just relying on her mouth."
Hermione ignored Pansy completely. She would not pause or look back, and her wand's light remained as steady as ever, as though those grating words did not exist.
It left Pansy feeling as though she had punched cotton.
Fortunately, Hermione did not engage with her. Otherwise, this war of words might have continued all the way to the castle doors.
They had managed to turn a tiny passage into hours' worth of palace intrigue. Putting too many girls together really was a terrifying thing.