Chapter 8: You Didn’t Listen to a Word, Did You?

"That wasn't exactly elegant for a wizard," Daphne said, shaking her head. "Sorry, it was just a reflex," Edward replied, unbothered by her critique. Compared to blasting Malfoy with a curse right in his face, this was definitely his gut reaction. Those three goons should be glad he didn't have a sword in hand. "Besides, I bet you've never seen Malfoy look like that before, right? Pretty amusing, don't you think?" His words hit a nerve. Daphne had desperately wanted to laugh earlier but held it in with every ounce of willpower. She wasn't about to make an enemy of the Malfoy family on the first day at Hogwarts. Her little quip earlier didn't count, of course. "Here's some advice: Draco's the type to hold a grudge. You'd better hope you don't cross paths with him too often at school." "Also, could you step out for a bit? I need to change," she added, pointing to the Hogwarts uniform robe beside her, its fabric noticeably less refined than what she was wearing. Edward nodded and turned to leave. But before stepping out of the compartment, he glanced back and noticed the open copy of Standard Spells, Grade 1 on her seat. Daphne was still practicing the Levitation Charm. That competitive streak of hers was something else. Smirking, Edward closed the door behind him. The sky darkened as the last golden rays of sunlight vanished below the horizon. The train, slowing down, finally whistled to a stop at the platform. "Alright, first-years, this way!" a deep, booming voice called from outside. "Come on, first-years, don't be shy—move it!" Edward, already in his wizard robes, stepped off the train and spotted a towering figure holding a massive lantern, herding the new students. He remembered this was Hagrid, Hogwarts' gamekeeper, a kind-hearted half-giant. The first-years trailed closely behind him, winding down a narrow path through a dark forest until they reached the edge of a glassy, obsidian-like lake. About ten small boats waited at the shore, four students to a boat. Edward picked one at random and, by chance, ended up with Daphne again. Also on board were a short-haired, mischievous-looking girl and a tall, lanky boy with a slightly gloomy air. Once full, the boats glided across the lake on their own, no rowing needed. A full moon peeked out from behind the clouds, casting silvery light across the landscape. Under the moonlight, the first-years finally saw Hogwarts in all its glory. Perched on a cliff across the lake, shrouded in faint mist, stood a majestic castle. Its countless turrets pierced the sky, and its windows twinkled under the stars. Edward thought it was the most beautiful, awe-inspiring, unforgettable sight he'd ever seen. Time seemed to freeze. Every first-year, boy and girl alike, stared up at the towering castle, gasps of wonder escaping their lips. Finally, as they passed through a cave beneath the cliff, losing sight of the castle, the students snapped back to reality. They sailed through a dark tunnel to an underground dock beneath the castle. After disembarking, they climbed a staircase through another tunnel, emerging onto a dew-soaked grassy clearing in the castle's shadow. After scaling two more flights of stairs, with most students starting to feel the exhaustion, they stopped before a massive oak door. A sharp-looking witch in a pointed hat and emerald-green robes stood waiting, hands clasped, surveying the group as if she'd been there for a while. "Professor McGonagall, they're all yours," Hagrid said. "Thank you, Hagrid. Well done," she replied with a smile. But as soon as Hagrid left, her expression turned stern, her piercing gaze sweeping over the students. "Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said briskly. "In a moment, you'll pass through these doors to join the rest of the school." "But first, you must be sorted into your Houses." "At Hogwarts, there are four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." "While you're here, your House will be like your family." "Good behavior earns your House points. Breaking rules will cost points." "At the end of the year, the House with the most points wins the House Cup." "The Sorting Ceremony will begin shortly. Wait here for now." With that, Professor McGonagall turned and pushed through the doors, leaving the slightly bewildered first-years whispering among themselves. "So, the rumors on the train were true?" a drawling voice cut through, grabbing everyone's attention. Edward didn't even need to look to know Malfoy was stirring trouble again. "Harry Potter, at Hogwarts," Malfoy said, standing over a boy with his two cronies in tow. The boy had messy black hair, thick glasses, and green eyes that glared at Malfoy with clear hostility. Beneath his fringe, a lightning-shaped scar was faintly visible. The famous Harry Potter. "This is Crabbe, and this is Goyle," Malfoy said, gesturing to the boys beside him. "I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." A boy next to Harry let out a soft chuckle. He had red hair, freckles, and a patched-up robe, but his face was friendly. Ron Weasley. Edward vaguely recalled the name from the platform, where Ron had been with his family, including his second-year twin brothers. "Find my name funny, do you? No need to ask yours," Malfoy sneered, his face darkening. "Red hair, hand-me-down robes—you must be a Weasley." Edward suddenly remembered: back on the train, Malfoy had mentioned wanting to meet the famous Harry Potter but got sidetracked after Edward put him in his place. Apparently, after being used as a cushion by Crabbe, he hadn't been in the mood to seek out Harry. But it seemed his mood had bounced back quickly, hadn't it? Clearly, he hadn't taken Edward's lesson about humility to heart. Edward didn't mind jogging his memory. "Potter, you'll soon learn some wizarding families are just better," Malfoy continued. "No one wants to be around riff—" He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze drifting behind Harry. Even Crabbe and Goyle took an instinctive half-step back. Harry and Ron, ready to fire back at the rude, snobbish boy, were thrown off by Malfoy's sudden change in demeanor. Is there something behind me? Harry wondered. Why does he look scared all of a sudden? They turned to look and saw a tall, handsome, sunny-looking boy standing there, unnoticed until now. "Malfoy, I'm guessing you didn't listen to a single word I said on the train, did you?" Edward said. Every pair of eyes shifted slightly upward to the boy behind Harry. No one expected someone to openly challenge Draco Malfoy before school even started. And it looked like Malfoy was actually afraid of him? Who was this guy? Then Ron's eyes lit up as he recognized him. "Tall, light brown hair—it's you! You're the one who gave Malfoy a thrashing on the train!"