Just two minutes ago, Draco Malfoy had still been horsing around with Crabbe and Goyle.
Those two bumbling sidekicks had stupidly let slip something embarrassing about him in front of everyone. It had left Malfoy utterly humiliated.
So, flustered and fuming, he'd hastily said goodbye to the crowd of Slytherin first-years, dragged Crabbe and Goyle into a corner, and laid into them with a furious round of punches.
Unfortunately, the thick layers of fat on the two boys were like natural shock absorbers — a plush safety cushion against his blows. Malfoy ended up exhausted from the effort, while Crabbe and Goyle stood there entirely unfazed, showing no sign of pain at all.
"You tired, Draco? Maybe take a little break?" Goyle asked kindly, eyeing the sweat on Malfoy's brow.
"Yeah, Draco. You barely ate anything earlier, since you were too busy fighting over a seat," Crabbe added, utterly guileless.
Malfoy: "…"
He felt like a bathhouse attendant — working himself half to death scrubbing someone down, only to have the customer complain, "Did you skip lunch or something?"
"That's enough!" Malfoy finally gave up the struggle, rubbing his sore arms. "You're my guys, after all. I've decided to forgive you."
In truth, it wasn't forgiveness — it was resignation. He knew he had absolutely no way to deal with these two blubbering buffoons even if he didn't forgive them.
"Now come with me," Malfoy commanded, straightening up. "Time to teach a lesson to someone else who doesn't show me the respect I deserve. First we deal with Hayden — then tomorrow, Harry Potter."
"Yes, Draco!"
"You got it, Draco!"
Crabbe and Goyle stood at attention, like soldiers awaiting orders. Malfoy nodded like a general and waved dramatically.
"Move out! To the dorms!"
---
When Lycos opened his eyes, he saw the door to the dormitory had somehow swung open.
A pale-blonde boy was crouching near the entrance, arms over his head and shaking like a leaf. His eyes were red-rimmed, and his normally pale face had gone sheet white — nearly the color of the Bloody Baron.
"Ha-Hayden… I… I just wanted to give you a little… little scare. I-I didn't mean anything really—honest!"
Draco Malfoy was stammering with a hint of a sob, his words trembling on the edge of panic.
"I… I'll recognize you as the boss, alright?! Just please don't kill me!"
The tears he'd been holding back finally spilled from his eyes, one drop at a time, hitting the rug beneath him.
Only then did Lycos start to piece together what had happened.
Moments ago, he'd been experimenting with basic spells — Expelliarmus, Stupefy, Wingardium Leviosa — all to no effect. In a mix of frustration and idle curiosity, he'd muttered the most dangerous of the Unforgivable Curses:
Avada Kedavra.
And it had worked.
"I wasn't trying to kill you," Lycos said, drawing in a deep breath. He calmly shook his head. "Anyway, what were you saying earlier? Something about wanting to teach me a lesson?"
"No! No, I swear I wasn't!" Malfoy's head shook so fast it looked like it might fly off. "I didn't know you could cast the Killing Curse!"
As a pure-blood wizard from a Death Eater family, Draco had grown up surrounded by dark magic. He'd been told time and again by his father, Lucius Malfoy, that the Killing Curse was the most dangerous dark spell in existence — a power reserved for only the most fearsome of Dark wizards.
He'd never imagined that a brand-new first-year student could cast it.
And just now, that blinding green light had missed his head by less than an inch. Draco had never felt death breathe so close before.
BANG!
The half-closed dorm door suddenly burst open with a loud crash.
Crabbe and Goyle attempted to charge inside — but their combined bulk was too much for the narrow frame, and they became hopelessly wedged in the doorway.
"Draco! We heard you crying! Did Hayden do something to you?!"
"Don't worry, Draco, we're here to rescue you!"
Even jammed halfway through the door, the two of them struck poses meant to look heroic — ready to "save" Draco from Lycos.
"Shut up, you idiots!" Draco screeched, voice cracking from fear.
He was terrified that if they set Lycos off again, another Avada Kedavra might come flying.
Crabbe and Goyle were stunned. They'd never seen Draco so hysterical. For a moment, neither knew what to say.
Their pudgy bellies were still stuck fast in the doorway, their bulk nearly peeling off parts of the wall.
"Hayden — no, Boss Hayden," Draco turned back toward Lycos, voice trembling with sincerity. "I really didn't mean any harm. I've had a change of heart. I shouldn't be the one protecting you — you should be protecting me!"
"Draco… why are you calling him 'Boss'?" Crabbe blinked, confused.
"SHUT UP!" Draco shouted over his shoulder. "Get your fat arses out of the doorway, both of you! From now on, Hayden is my boss — which means he's your boss too! Got it?!"
"But…" Goyle tried to process this.
"No buts! Do as I say!"
"Alright, Draco!"
"No problem, Draco!"
The two of them straightened up and slammed their feet in a synchronized stomp — a weird pledge of allegiance that shook the floorboards beneath them.
"Boss!" they shouted in unison, turning their heads toward Lycos.
Lycos glanced at their heavy-footed salute and was sure he felt the ground tremble.
"…I don't recall agreeing to become your boss," he muttered, rubbing his temples.
What was this mess?
He'd barely started school, accidentally cast an Unforgivable Curse, traumatized his roommate, and now had three other Slytherins begging to follow him.
Do I… look like some kind of underworld crime lord?
Oh wait — Death Eaters are basically the wizard mafia. Never mind then…
He turned to see Draco still crouched on the ground, looking up at him with wide, desperate eyes.
Lycos sighed. Time to deal with the real issue:
No one could know he'd successfully cast the Killing Curse.
"You can keep a secret, can't you?" Lycos asked coldly, gently rolling his wand in his fingers. "If word gets out… I think you know what will happen."
"I swear I won't say a thing!" Draco raised both hands high above his head, voice trembling. "Honestly, I'll probably be the one secretly begging you to teach me magic! Why would I tell anyone?!"
"…Good." Lycos gave a slight nod and rose from the bed. "But if you really want to follow me…"
He walked over and stood in front of Draco, palm up.
"Let's see some sincerity, shall we?"
He grinned faintly.
"How about… you start by paying your protection fee?"