"Hey, are you going to Hogwarts too?" Draco asked tentatively.
"Yes," said Potter. He looked rather uncomfortable.
At this point, Potter probably knew nothing about the wizarding world. It was said that before coming to Hogwarts, he had been living with a Muggle family. What a life... Draco discreetly observed Harry's clothes and shoes beneath his robes... It seemed that the Muggle family had not been kind to him.
For a moment, Draco did not know what to say to begin the conversation. At this juncture, discussing anything would seem forced.
Discussing parents—Potter's parents were both dead. Discussing family background—although Potter's family was wealthy, it was obvious the money had never reached Potter's pocket. Discussing the matter of pure-blood and half-blood—Draco dared to swear on all the gold Galleons in his pouch that Potter would be filled with disgust toward him again, just as in his memories.
Discuss something Potter enjoyed—Quidditch?
But had the current Potter ever touched a broomstick?
No matter how interesting a topic was, it would undoubtedly be a significant psychological burden for someone utterly ignorant.
"Do you know which house you will be Sorted into?" After thinking for a long while, Draco could only choose a routine and tedious topic.
"I do not know," Potter became even more uncomfortable.
Obviously, Potter had no idea about the "Sorting."
Draco suddenly felt an odd sympathy for him.
Was it truly acceptable to enroll at Hogwarts with such uncertainty?
What had he experienced over the years?
Had those irresponsible Muggle relatives told him nothing?
Look at him—he resembled a lamb waiting for slaughter.
Sighing inwardly, Draco attempted to adopt a friendly, non-mocking smile. He tried to inject understanding into his tone and said to the boy, "Do not be nervous. I see you are not very familiar with the Hogwarts houses. If you do not mind, I can introduce them to you."
The black-haired boy regarded him curiously and nodded.
"There are four houses at Hogwarts: Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. These four houses correspond to the four Founders," Draco glanced at him and saw an expression of dawning comprehension on his face.
"The four houses value different qualities in students. For example, Slytherin favors ambitious and determined students, while Gryffindor prefers brave and daring students—" Draco noticed that Potter remained silent, but his expression was serious, as though he was committing these points of knowledge to memory.
How pitiful! These were matters so familiar to young wizards, yet Potter acted as though he had discovered treasure.
What had Dumbledore done—what had he been doing all these years?
His beloved "savior" lived like this, and he did not even consider looking after him?
Draco was complaining internally, but he did not cease speaking and continued introducing diligently: "Ravenclaw values wisdom and learning, while Hufflepuff prizes loyalty and integrity." Potter kept nodding beside him.
"In mainstream thinking, most people wish to join Gryffindor. Dumbledore, the current Headmaster of Hogwarts, is also from Gryffindor," Draco observed Potter's thoughtful expression and suspected he must be quite eager to join Gryffindor.
"Do you want to be in Gryffindor too?" Potter asked suddenly.
"No," Draco said frankly, "I shall probably go into Slytherin. Both my parents were Slytherins."
Draco never considered entering another house, not even upon being reborn.
He was a Slytherin through and through, and he never believed there was anything wrong with this house.
He said lightly, "Some people think that all Slytherin wizards are Dark wizards. Because the Dark Lord was also a Slytherin..."
As Draco expected, Potter finally met his gaze directly.
"V... You-Know-Who also attended Hogwarts?" Potter appeared somewhat uneasy.
"Yes," Draco answered casually on the surface, but in fact his words carried meaning. "Hogwarts has existed for a thousand years, and has only produced one individual like that. Slytherin also produced many outstanding wizards in its earlier years. Not all Slytherin students will become Dark Lords. Using the Dark Lord's mistakes to negate the achievements of an entire house is rather unfair generalization, is it not?"
Potter said nothing more and nodded silently again.
Draco finally reached his conclusion: "In short, I believe it is inadvisable to label someone based on appearances before you know them thoroughly."
Potter was lost in thought, regarding him as though he was moved.
Draco smiled slightly and turned to look at Potter. "For example, that man outside," he raised his chin toward Hagrid who was holding two ice creams outside the window. "Ordinary people would be frightened upon seeing such an enormous man. They would assume he must be a brute."
He noticed Potter's unconvinced expression and changed tack, continuing, "But I do not think that is necessarily true. I shall wager you a Chocolate Frog that he might be rather kind to his friends."
"Of course," Potter seemed somewhat pleased. He finally opened up. "I know him. He works at Hogwarts."
"Gamekeeper, correct?" Draco said flatly.
"You know him too?" Potter asked.
"He seems to have a talent for magical creatures. Perhaps one day, we can learn something from him," Draco suddenly recalled the wretched Hippogriff in third year.
He pursed his lips, automatically ignoring the fact that he had provoked the beast first.
And then there were the endless Blast-Ended Skrewts and Flobberworms.
Merlin... what could students possibly learn from Rubeus Hagrid? Useless trivia about Blast-Ended Skrewts?
Potter did not notice the subtle sarcasm in Draco's words. He took the initiative to continue the conversation, "Oh, he is a good person. He came shopping with me."
"You will make more friends when you arrive at Hogwarts," Draco said.
He wisely did not ask why Harry's parents were not shopping with him.
Potter was silent for a moment. He glanced at Draco and then asked cautiously, "What is a Chocolate Frog?"
Merlin, he did not even know this. Draco sighed.
"A type of wizard sweet. Frog-shaped chocolate—you can collect Famous Witches and Wizards cards inside..." Draco brightened and introduced it to him.
As he was speaking, he suddenly recalled his past life. He had taken the initiative to seek out Potter to befriend him on the Hogwarts Express, but had been met with coldness.
I thought Potter would enjoy this, would he not? There were numerous Chocolate Frogs on the trolley.
Goyle, the fool, had been bitten by Weasley's wretched rat when he took Potter's Chocolate Frog without asking.
Actually, it was rather rude—just taking it without asking permission.
However, Draco had been too angry at the time to stop Goyle.
At that time, he had reached out to Potter, but Potter refused and said to him coldly, "I can tell who the wrong sort are."
That statement had been quite wounding to one's self-esteem.
Thinking of this, although Draco maintained a reserved smile, he could not help feeling somewhat troubled.
"My dear, your robes have been measured," said Madam Malkin.
Best to stop while the atmosphere of their conversation remained pleasant. Draco jumped down from the footstool lightly.
"Then we shall meet at Hogwarts. I am Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, and you are..." At this moment, he was nervous internally, but his face showed a composed expression, and he extended his hand to Potter—
"I am Harry, Harry Potter," Potter hurriedly extended his hand and shook hands with Draco.
"Well, pleased to meet you, Harry Potter," Draco smiled faintly on his pale face and walked out of Madam Malkin's robe shop.
It went rather well, did it not? The moment the door of the robe shop closed, he breathed a sigh of relief.
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