It was almost as though fate itself had arranged the encounter.
The moment Harry Potter stepped into Madam Malkin's shop, Draco turned his head at the exact same time.
Their eyes met instantly.
Lucien nearly sighed aloud inside his own mind.
There it was.
The legendary first meeting.
Honestly, if anyone tried convincing him Draco and Harry were not destined to become entangled with each other forever, he simply would not believe it. Compared to this dramatic encounter, Ginny Weasley barely felt relevant.
Before Lucien could continue mocking the future internally, another system notification suddenly appeared.
[Congratulations to the host for meeting Harry Potter.]
[Achievement Unlocked: Meeting the Savior.]
[Achievement Points Awarded: 50.]
Lucien's eyes brightened slightly.
Just meeting Harry Potter awarded achievement points?
Coming to Hogwarts truly had been the correct decision.
Meanwhile, Madam Malkin greeted the newcomer warmly before Harry could even speak.
"New Hogwarts student, dear?"
She smiled kindly while adjusting a robe nearby.
"You're just in time. Two other boys are being fitted right now."
Harry nodded nervously.
At this point in his life, he still carried the shadow of the Dursleys heavily upon him. His oversized clothes and timid posture made him appear awkwardly out of place compared to the confident pure-blood children around him.
After Madam Malkin measured him quickly, Harry quietly stepped beside Lucien and Draco.
Draco immediately looked interested.
"You're starting Hogwarts too?"
"Y-yes."
"Do you have your own broom?" Draco asked enthusiastically. "Have you ever played Quidditch?"
Harry blinked awkwardly.
"No…"
"Do you know which House you'll be sorted into?" Draco continued proudly. "I'm definitely going into Slytherin. My father says—"
"Draco."
Lucien interrupted smoothly before Draco could continue rambling.
He noticed Harry's increasingly uncomfortable expression immediately.
"I apologise," Lucien said politely while offering Harry a faint smile. "Draco's a little overexcited today."
"It's alright."
Harry relaxed noticeably almost immediately.
Compared to Draco's naturally arrogant tone, Lucien's elegant and gentle manner felt dramatically easier to approach. More importantly, ever since entering Diagon Alley, everyone had stared at Harry like he was some sort of magical exhibit.
Lucien was the first person who looked at him normally.
"My name's Lucien," he introduced calmly. "Lucien Grindelwald. And this is Draco Malfoy."
"Harry Potter," Harry replied quickly. "Just Harry."
Draco's eyes widened instantly.
"You're Harry Potter?"
His voice rose loud enough for several nearby customers to glance toward them immediately.
Harry's expression stiffened again.
Clearly, he hated that reaction.
At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed from outside.
Hagrid ducked through the doorway after hearing the commotion.
"What's happenin', Harry?"
"Nothing," Harry answered quickly. "I was just talking to some new friends."
"Ah, good then."
Hagrid smiled warmly before extending one enormous hand toward Lucien and Draco.
"Pleasure ter meet yeh, boys."
Lucien greeted him politely without hesitation.
"Hello, Mr. Hagrid."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I've heard a great deal about you. Hogwarts' expert on magical creatures."
Hagrid immediately looked embarrassed.
"M-me?" He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Nah… I'm just the gamekeeper. I only keep a few creatures here an' there."
Lucien genuinely liked Hagrid.
Kind-hearted.
Loyal.
Emotionally straightforward.
And secretly wealthier than most people realized.
A very valuable person to know.
Harry stared at Lucien with visible admiration after hearing him speak so respectfully toward Hagrid.
But beside them, Draco frowned slightly.
His pure-blood upbringing instinctively rejected Hagrid's status.
"A servant at Hogwarts is hardly an expert," Draco muttered dismissively. "And he's only half-giant anyway."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Harry's expression darkened immediately.
Even Hagrid looked visibly uncomfortable.
His massive hands fidgeted awkwardly while uncertainty flashed across his face.
Without saying another word, Harry grabbed Hagrid's sleeve.
"Let's go look at the other supplies first."
Then the two left the shop together.
Draco blinked in confusion.
He genuinely did not understand what he had done wrong.
Lucien silently sighed.
Honestly, babysitting Draco Malfoy was exhausting.
"Draco," Lucien said calmly, "do you understand what you just did?"
Draco looked confused.
"…What?"
"You insulted Harry's friend directly to his face."
Draco frowned immediately.
"But what I said was true."
Lucien's expression gradually became serious.
"Draco," he said quietly, "do you believe pure-blood status makes you superior to everyone else?"
"No, I—"
"Especially people like Hagrid," Lucien continued calmly. "Mixed blood. Different heritage. Lower social standing."
"You instinctively look down on them."
"I didn't mean—"
Draco suddenly stopped speaking under Lucien's gaze.
The pressure in those blue eyes felt unexpectedly overwhelming.
Lucien stepped closer slightly.
"Listen carefully."
"Pure blood has never been an excuse for arrogance."
"A wizard's true nobility does not come from bloodline."
"It comes from the heart."
Draco froze.
Lucien's voice remained calm and steady.
"Perhaps someone lacks wealth."
"Perhaps they lack status."
"Perhaps they lack perfect manners."
"But if they possess courage, kindness, and integrity…"
"Then they are still noble."
Draco stared blankly at him.
Lucien continued slowly.
"A truly noble wizard shows kindness even toward the weakest servant."
"And courage even when facing the strongest enemy."
"To pursue knowledge."
"To explore magic."
"To contribute something meaningful to the wizarding world."
"That is what real nobility looks like."
Draco fell completely silent.
At eleven years old, he had not yet fully absorbed the ugliness of old pure-blood ideology. Beneath the arrogance and spoiled behaviour, there was still innocence left inside him.
And Lucien's words struck directly against it.
Lucien gently placed one hand on Draco's shoulder.
"You are the future heir of House Malfoy," he said softly.
"What you carry is not just your family's pride."
"You also carry responsibility toward the wizarding world itself."
Draco lowered his head slowly.
"Mistakes are not shameful," Lucien continued. "But knowing something is wrong and refusing to correct it…"
"That becomes regret."
"Do you understand?"
For a long moment, Draco said nothing.
Then finally, he looked up again.
His eyes had turned slightly red.
"Lucien…" His voice sounded strained. "I'm sorry. I…"
Lucien smiled faintly.
"I'm not the one you need to apologise to."
Draco swallowed hard before nodding slowly.
"…Will you come with me?"
His voice became noticeably quieter.
"I'm worried Harry and Hagrid won't forgive me…"
Lucien chuckled softly.
"Don't worry."
"Harry and Hagrid are good people."
"As long as you apologise sincerely, they'll forgive you."
Relief finally appeared in Draco's eyes.
About half an hour later, Harry and Hagrid returned to Madam Malkin's to collect their robes.
The moment Draco saw them, his entire body stiffened.
After several painful seconds of hesitation, he finally walked toward Hagrid awkwardly.
"M-Mr. Hagrid…"
Hagrid blinked in confusion.
"Eh?"
"I'm sorry."
Draco's face was completely red now.
"I shouldn't have insulted you earlier. I shouldn't have mocked your status or bloodline."
Hagrid stared at him blankly.
Draco clenched his fists tightly before continuing.
"A wizard's true nobility doesn't come from bloodline…"
"It comes from the heart."
"Even if someone lacks wealth or status…"
"As long as they possess a noble heart, they're still noble."
"And Harry…" Draco looked toward him awkwardly. "I'm sorry for insulting your friend."
"Please forgive me."
The entire shop became strangely quiet.
Hagrid looked utterly stunned.
Over the years, he had suffered endless discrimination due to his giant blood. Pure-blood children apologising to him—
Especially sincerely—
Was almost unimaginable.
"Did yeh really think all that up yerself?" Hagrid asked blankly.
Draco immediately shook his head.
"No. Lucien said it."
Then he repeated Lucien's earlier speech almost word for word.
The more Hagrid listened, the brighter his eyes became.
Finally, he slapped his enormous hand loudly against his knee.
"Well said!"
His voice boomed throughout the shop.
Harry looked equally impressed.
Meanwhile, Hagrid stared toward Lucien with genuine admiration.
"I can't believe an eleven-year-old said somethin' like that," he muttered. "Yeh're gonna become someone incredible someday, Lucien."
Then Hagrid suddenly wrapped Draco into a massive hug.
"Everyone says stupid things sometimes," he laughed warmly. "No hard feelings."
Harry nodded beside him.
"Yeah. It's alright."
Draco visibly relaxed.
At that exact moment, Madam Malkin finally approached carrying several completed robes.
"Your school robes are finished, dears. Would you like to try them on?"
"No need," Lucien answered smoothly. "If we can't trust Madam Malkin's craftsmanship, then there probably aren't any decent robes left in Britain."
Madam Malkin burst into delighted laughter immediately.
"Oh, what a charming young gentleman!"
Thanks to Lucien's effortless flattery, everyone received a generous discount.
Eventually, it became time to part ways.
As Harry and Hagrid left the shop, Harry kept turning around every few steps.
"Lucien…"
"Yes?"
"We're friends now, right?"
Lucien smiled warmly.
"Of course, Harry."
Harry's face brightened immediately.
"Then can I write to you sometime?"
"You're always welcome to."
"Me too!" Draco interrupted quickly. "I'll write as well!"
Harry nodded enthusiastically before finally leaving with Hagrid.
Lucien quietly watched them disappear into Diagon Alley.
Then he glanced sideways toward Draco.
The hesitation and confusion in Draco's eyes earlier had already transformed into determination.
Lucien smiled faintly.
Excellent.
Now House Malfoy had truly stepped aboard his ship.
And this time—
There would be no getting off.
....
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