Mornings at Hogwarts always arrive quietly.
The sky outside the tower was just beginning to lighten, the morning mist was gently rolling across the lake, and the stone walls of the castle appeared a soft gray in the dim light.
Most students were still sound asleep, with only a few early-rising owls flitting past the window, leaving behind a few clear calls.
But in this seemingly tranquil moment, the heart of Hogwarts...
Inside the Headmaster's Office, however, a turbulent undercurrent was already brewing.
Lucius stood by the large floor-to-ceiling window, dressed in a well-tailored dark robe, his blond hair neatly combed, his expression cold and stern.
His gaze, peering through the glass, fell upon the distant, mist-shrouded Forbidden Forest, as if he had seen something there that displeased him.
" Albus," he finally spoke, "You should understand that this is not a trivial matter that can be laughed off."
Dumbledore sat behind his desk, a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes were unusually clear.
He slowly put down his quill, interlaced his fingers, and said softly, " Lucius, the Sorting Hat's choice has always been based on the student's inner qualities, not the family's expectations. Draco being sorted into Gryffindor is something that deserves... deep consideration."
"Thinking deeply?" Lucius sneered. "I'm more inclined to believe this was a serious accident. That hat—"
He paused, seemingly trying to suppress his emotions, "--Either there's a malfunction, or someone has tampered with it."
Dumbledore didn't immediately retort, but simply picked up a lemon candy from the table and slowly unwrapped it. "The hat is already on your son's head, Lucius. It has heard his thoughts, his fears, his desires, and you haven't."
Lucius's expression changed slightly.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the office door.
"Come in," Dumbledore.
Professor McGonagall entered, her expression very serious.
She nodded Dumbledore, then looked at Lucius with a calm and polite gaze. " Mr. Malfoy."
" Professor McGonagall." Lucius nodded slightly.
Dumbledore nodded slightly to Professor McGonagall: " Minerva, could you please go and fetch Draco Malfoy?"
Professor McGonagall immediately replied, "Of course, Principal."
She turned and left the office.
The morning air in the corridor was still a little chilly.
Professor McGonagall quickly located Percy, who was patrolling nearby.
" Mr. Weasley," McGonagall's voice was tense, "Please go to Gryffindor Tower immediately and bring Mr. Malfoy here. Alone. Do not cause any unnecessary disturbance."
Percy stiffened for a moment at the task.
But he immediately straightened his back, his voice carrying an almost mechanical obedience. "Yes, Professor!"
After saying that, he turned around and strode quickly toward the stairs.
Percy walked quickly and discreetly, trying his best not to attract attention.
But to others, his hurried manner made him look more like someone with a guilty conscience.
This is especially true for some people.
Good morning, Percy!
A familiar voice came from around the corner of the corridor.
George grinned and peeked out from behind the wall, with Fred close behind.
The two men sprang out like hounds that had caught the scent of blood.
"So rushed?" George raised an eyebrow. "Is there a ' Prefect- specific emergency mission'?"
Percy, without even looking at me, said, "This is none of your business, get out of the way!"
Fred immediately put his arm around Percy's shoulder, only to be unceremoniously shoved away.
"Don't be so formal, brother," Fred chuckled. "Judging by the direction you're going... are you heading back to the tower? You wouldn't be going to invite our esteemed new classmate, would you?"
He winked at George.
Percy's face darkened. "I said, get out of the way! This is Professor McGonagall's order!"
"Perfect!" George clapped his hands. "We also need to go back to the tower to get some 'things'."
He winked at Fred.
"Together, Prefect," George said with a smile. "We promise not to interfere with your official duties, unless you need a guard of honor."
Percy knew he couldn't shake them off and was afraid of wasting time, so he could only sternly warn, "No trouble! No talking! Just follow me!"
Then, he quickened his pace.
Thus, a strange sight appeared at Hogwarts in the morning:
Percy, the Prefect with a serious face and stiff steps, walked briskly ahead, followed by George and Fred, who tiptoed around, winked, and looked like circus clowns.
The Fat Lady had just been woken up by Percy with a new password, and she was still a little sleepy.
"It's you again?" She yawned. "Good morning, Weasley."
Percy quickly darted into the hole, and the twins slipped in like eels.
"One at a time! That's the rule!" the Fat Lady complained from behind, but only muttered a couple of perfunctory words.
There were only a few upperclassmen who had gotten up early in the common room, watching in surprise as the Prefect headed straight for the boys' dormitory stairs.
Percy knocked on the door of the first-year boys' dormitory.
Harry and Ron have probably just woken up; Seamus is yawning, Neville is looking for his socks.
Draco, who was closest to the door, opened it.
What he saw was Percy's face, which was etched with businesslike indifference.
" Malfoy," Percy's voice sounded particularly cold and hard in the quiet dormitory, " Professor McGonagall wants to see you immediately. Get dressed and come with me. Immediately."
The dormitory fell into a deathly silence.
Ron was wide awake, his eyes bulging.
Harry sat up abruptly.
Seamus turned his head.
Neville dropped the sock he was holding.
Percy told them, "Don't panic, everyone. This is just a routine procedural meeting to clarify any... administrative misunderstandings that may have arisen from last night's Sorting results. The Malfoy Alumni Association will have ample opportunity to seek legal advice."
"Okay," Draco replied calmly.
He quickly changed his clothes and went out with Percy.
You're in big trouble, Young Malfoy.
Just as I stepped out of the common lounge, George's voice came from the side.
Draco glanced at him indifferently. "What's the big deal?"
George's professional commentary expression froze instantly.
He hadn't expected Draco to respond.
He and Fred raised their eyebrows briefly in unison, exchanging a surprised glance.
This unexpected event did not throw them into a panic; instead, it ignited an even stronger creative desire within them.
George quickly suppressed his surprise and put on an even more "grief" and "insider" expression.
"What's the big deal? My dear friend, this isn't just an ordinary father picking up his son from school. This is..."
He paused, "This is a crisis public relations hearing for the Malfoy family's century-old reputation, and also the ultimate stress test of the Hogwarts Sorting System's millennia-old authority."
"And you are that unfortunate tester who stood on the crater of the volcano, and was even suspected of carrying matches."
Fred immediately chimed in from the other side, adding seamlessly, "To translate: Your dad thinks that old hat is either insane or cursed, causing it to mistakenly throw their family's shiniest emerald into the lion's den 'Dungbomb heap."
"I think his purpose in coming here is most likely to conduct on-site quality inspection, verify product defects, and request a return, or at least a change of packaging."
" George! Fred!"
Percy stopped abruptly, turned around, his face slightly flushed as he suppressed his anger.
"I warned you to keep quiet! This is not your comedy broadcast time! Nor is it the occasion to spread baseless speculation and... vulgar metaphors!"
After berating the two men, he said to Draco, " Malfoy, don't believe their baseless speculations. Your father has important matters to discuss with the headmaster, and Professor McGonagall only requests your presence."
Draco didn't respond to Percy, but instead said to George and Fred, "This is really serious. Are you going to help me?"
George and Fred stopped in their tracks, stunned.
They turned their heads in unison, staring at the back of Draco's head as if he had just uttered a fluent Runes.
"Is he serious? Or is he playing us?" George whispered.
"It doesn't seem like playing games. It's too calm," Fred analyzed. "It's more like... negotiating terms."
The two started walking again almost simultaneously, catching up with Draco, but their posture had changed.
They were no longer guards or interpreters, but more like two business consultants who had been presented with incredible proposals by potential clients.
George spoke first, his tone a mixture of disbelief and keen interest. "Help you? Malfoy, do you know who you're approaching with this... um... 'prospect of cooperation'? We're Weasley."
"Red hair, freckles all over the face, a Ghoul in the attic, and if I remember correctly, you probably thought we were close relatives of ' Pure-blood traitors' and 'red-haired weasels' just ten minutes ago."
Fred approached from the other side, analyzing. "What's the definition of 'helping you'? Helping you deal with your dad? Helping you stay in Gryffindor?"
He paused meaningfully, "Different goals can have completely different fees and risk levels, and our form of 'help'... may be rather unconventional."
" George! Fred! Shut up right now!"
Percy could no longer contain himself. He darted between the twins and Draco, arms outstretched like a wall trying to keep out the plague, his face flushed red.
He glared fiercely at the twins, his voice snarling through clenched teeth. "As Prefect, I order you both to stay put immediately and not follow me any further! One more step and I'll deduct fifty points from your Gryffindor! For each of you! And I'll immediately report you to Professor McGonagall for attempting to coerce a classmate and engaging in improper dealings!"
Then he abruptly turned to Draco, his eyes filled with offended wariness. " Malfoy! Don't answer them! They are... they are unreasonable! Come with me, now, immediately! If you don't want to get into bigger trouble than this!"
The two men simultaneously took a small step back the instant Percy erupted, raised their hands in a gesture of surrender, and wore exaggerated expressions of a mixture of fear and innocence on their faces.
"Wow, alert escalated, red alert!" George said to Fred, making sure Percy could hear him.
"Highest level of official jargon contamination detected." Fred nodded in unison. "I recommend an immediate evacuation to eliminate any sense of humor."
Then, in unison, the two tilted their heads at the same angle, frowned, and looked at Percy with the same curious Fantastic Beasts.
"'Coercion'?" George asked in a serious, academic tone. " Fred, did we just 'coerce' anyone? I seem to remember someone making a... um... 'business consultation request'?"
"'Unfair dealing'?" Fred just as seriously. "We haven't even offered a price! Percy, defamation requires evidence. At most, we're just... providing preliminary market analysis and risk assessment for free—that's charity."
"Let's forget about it," Draco suddenly said.
He looked down the corridor ahead. "I'm supposed to go to the Headmaster's Office. Do you want to go?"
George and Fred exchanged a glance.
"Seriously, Malfoy," George finally stopped joking and looked at Draco, "This 'invitation' of yours is quite bold. If we actually go with you, it would mean the three of us are officially tied together in front of Percy, your dad, and the Old Bee."
"The price for this 'help' is far more than just 'product testing.' Are you sure you want to take such a big bet?"
Fred nodded, then paused for a moment, equally serious. "Once we show up outside that door, it means the Weasley brothers are 'officially' involved in the Malfoy family affairs."
"This might cause some minor trouble for our future 'business,' for example, your dad might put us on his 'unwanted list.'"
"Of course, we don't care about that. But we need to know, do you understand what this means?"
Percy was completely devastated.
"Absurd! Shameless! Incomprehensible!" he repeated incoherently. "Are you negotiating a deal with a Malfoy?! This is Hogwarts, not Knockturn Alley!"
He tried to block Draco with his body while issuing an ultimatum-like, but probably ineffective, threat to the twins. "I'll say it again! Don't follow me! Otherwise—"
"Just kidding," Draco suddenly said.
He looked ahead, a very faint smile playing on his lips, "I don't have the mischievous pleasure of playing pranks on others."
After saying that, he stopped looking at anyone, started walking, and continued forward.
He didn't even wait for anyone's reaction, including Percy, who was about to faint from anger.
[Ding! Original storyline added, Fortune Points +20!]
A system notification sounded in his mind.