"Weasley!"
Draco Malfoy's angry shout echoed through the Great Hall.
It drew the attention of many students.
Malfoy clutched the mechanical frog in his hand, squeezing it until it squeaked.
Ron, feeling somewhat in the wrong, disliked Malfoy but admitted that Malfoy was an innocent victim in this incident.
Ron glanced at the mushroom slices and creamy white soup clinging to Malfoy's head and lightly coughed:
"Sorry, my mechanical animal wasn't adjusted properly. I'll help you clean it up."
With that, Ron pulled out his wand, intending to use magic to clean Malfoy.
"Weasley! Don't point your old, dirty wand at me!"
Malfoy's furious yell made Ron freeze.
Malfoy opened his palm, glancing at the slightly deformed mechanical frog, and sneered repeatedly:
"Heh, since when did the Weasley Family have money to buy new magical items?"
"Don't tell me it's another one you picked up from some secondhand junk pile and pieced together?"
"You're a disgrace to Wizard families!"
With a crack, Malfoy slammed the little frog to the ground, its gears and parts scattering everywhere.
Ron's face flushed as red as his hair, his chest heaving. Faced with Malfoy's humiliation, he tremblingly raised his wand.
However, a voice once again suppressed Ron's impulsiveness.
"This is the first I've heard that the Malfoy likes to wash their hair with cream of mushroom soup."
Harry looked at Malfoy's hair, his smile completely unconcealed.
"But that doesn't look very healthy, Malfoy. I should send you a bottle of shampoo; the one my family uses is quite good."
"Potter!"
Malfoy immediately shifted his attack, and Harry, not to be outdone, retorted.
The Weasley Twins merely watched Malfoy and Harry bicker with cold eyes.
Teasing Ron was just playful banter; they would never tolerate outsiders bullying their little Ronnie.
Of course, the twins wouldn't stoop to ganging up on the foul-mouthed Malfoy boy.
However, the twins exchanged a knowing glance.
A normal prank wouldn't count as ganging up, would it?
While everyone's attention was drawn to Harry and Malfoy's shouting match, Lucien noticed Ron quietly picking up the mechanical frog's parts, gathering them in his hand.
So Lucien waved his wand, making all the scattered parts fly into Ron's hand.
Ron looked at Lucien, his eyes slightly red.
"Thank you, Lucien."
Lucien put away his wand and offered words of comfort:
"Don't mind those words. Temporary glory and superficial dignity are just appearances. The inherited qualities and knowledge of a family are the true foundation."
Hearing this, Ron pressed his lips together and nodded heavily.
However, not only Ron but others also heard those words.
"Grafton!"
Malfoy actually stopped his heated exchange with Harry and turned his gaze to Lucien, his face as dark as water.
"What right do you have to judge noble pure-blood families!"
"Hmph, you're nothing but a lowly Muggle-born!"
Malfoy's anger surged. He had been inexplicably made a mess by Ron and then mocked by Harry.
Now, hearing Lucien's words, Malfoy recalled the scene where Lucien had rejected him.
How dare a Wizard from a Muggle family reject the favor of a pure-blood, and how dare he discuss the glory of pure-bloods!
"Malfoy!"
Harry suddenly drew his wand. He would not allow Malfoy to say anything else to insult his friend.
Malfoy sneered, lifting his chin.
"What did I say wrong? A Muggle-born Wizard, no matter how hard he tries, will only ever be able to look up to the achievements of pure-bloods."
These words echoed through the crowd, surprisingly eliciting scattered agreement and support.
Most of those who spoke belonged to Slytherin. Their smiles were mocking, and their eyes held disdain as they looked at Lucien.
Slytherin House boasts the largest number of pure-blood Wizards, and the most prominent characteristic of this house is ambition.
They are extremely proud of their bloodline and have always looked down upon half-bloods and Muggle Wizards, especially the latter, whom these people consider to be of the lowest birth.
Lucien looked at Malfoy calmly, completely devoid of anger.
"How much strength has your family's glory and bloodline truly given you to speak to me with such confidence?"
Malfoy's head was already clouded with rage, and he glared at Lucien fearlessly.
"How dare you question the House of Malfoy!"
Lucien shook his head, his tone indifferent.
"I'm not doubting your family. Your ancestors, in their own way, have continued the family line to this day, passing on the so-called glory to you."
"But can you uphold the family's legacy? Are you worthy of having the family's glory on your lips?"
These words completely ignited Malfoy's fury. He pulled his wand from his robes.
"Grafton! I challenge you to a duel!"
"I will make you regret slighting the honor of pure-bloods, and I will make you apologize for daring to insult me!"
Facing Malfoy's exasperated demeanor, Lucien wore a half-smile.
Always wanting to duel at the drop of a hat.
Truly child's play.
Indeed, when the disparity in strength is too great, even the fiercest display is merely cute and amusing in the eyes of the opponent.
Before Lucien could respond, Harry spoke up sarcastically:
"Lucien, there's no need to agree. Malfoy is a liar and a coward."
"Malfoy once agreed to duel me in the trophy room, but he never dared to show up!"
Harry recalled how Malfoy had tricked him, resulting in his encounter with the Cerberus, and he seethed with anger.
So he exaggerated, portraying Malfoy as a deceitful liar who broke his promise and a coward who dared not fulfill a duel.
Malfoy's pale face turned crimson, his lips trembling with rage.
"Tomorrow at noon, right here!"
"I, Draco Malfoy, will engage in a Wizard's duel with Lucien Grafton!"
"I swear on the honor of the Malfoy that I will not go back on my word!"
Malfoy's loud declaration caused quite a stir, and more students heard his words and gathered around to watch the excitement.
Even the few Professors who had just arrived cast their gaze in this direction.
Lucien, at the center of attention, remained composed.
He had simply announced the duel time and place without waiting for a response from him.
These pure-bloods in Slytherin were truly troublesome.
Always with the discrimination, tsk. It was indeed the right choice not to go to Slytherin; it's much better to study peacefully in Ravenclaw.
Fine, one good punch now saves a hundred later.
It's just resolving a farce. He can demonstrate some impressive magic then to prevent future trouble and provocations.
He came to Hogwarts to learn, not to waste time playing these 'face-slapping' games with these children every day.
Lucien glanced at Malfoy's slender physique.
Hmm, the magic needs to be spectacular and powerful, but he also needs to hold back. He can't kill a classmate; that would be even more troublesome.
About two weeks in the Infirmary should be enough, and it won't affect the final exams.
Alas, he was still too benevolent, even caring about a classmate's academic performance.
"Troll—"
Professor Quirrell suddenly rushed into the Great Hall, his purple turban askew.
He ran to Dumbledore in terror, shouting as he ran:
"Troll—in the dungeons—I thought—you should know—"
After speaking, Quirrell collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
While the other students were bewildered and flustered, Lucien quietly watched Quirrell's performance.
Fainting on cue, he deserved an award.
"Ding, a loan has been triggered: Shapeshifting Flesh Puppet."
"Do you wish to borrow?"
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