It Seems Like Fate

The moment Harry Potter walked in, Draco turned around.

The two boys locked eyes.

A fateful encounter!

Dyroth couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Sure enough, Draco and Harry were about to cross paths. What was Ginny doing in all this? Just a third party, perhaps?

[Congratulations to the host for meeting Harry Potter and obtaining the achievement: Encounter with the Savior]

[Achievement point reward: 50]

"Meeting Harry Potter is enough to unlock an achievement?" Dyroth mused. The Hogwarts experience was already proving intriguing.

Before Harry could speak, Madam Malkin smiled warmly. "Are you here for Hogwarts robes? We have plenty in stock, and these two boys are just trying some on."

At that moment, Harry, burdened by the shadow of the Dursleys, exuded an air of timidity.

After being measured for his robes, Harry silently approached Draco and Dyroth.

"Are you a new student at Hogwarts too?" Draco asked, curiosity piqued.

"Yes, I am," Harry replied quietly.

"Do you have your own broomstick? Have you ever played Quidditch?" Draco continued without missing a beat. "Do you know which house you'll be sorted into? I'll definitely be in Slytherin!"

"My father says—"

"Draco!" Dyroth interrupted, noticing Harry's discomfort.

He offered Harry a gentle, apologetic smile. "Sorry, Draco's a bit too excited today. I apologize on his behalf."

"It's alright," Harry responded quietly.

Dyroth's polite demeanor immediately bridged the gap between them. While Draco appeared haughty, Dyroth seemed refined and considerate. More importantly, unlike others who stared at Harry like he was a rare specimen, Dyroth treated him like an ordinary person.

"My name is Dyroth Grindelwald, and this is Draco Malfoy," Dyroth introduced himself calmly.

"Harry Potter. Just call me Harry," Harry replied.

"The Harry Potter? The Boy-Who-Lived!" Draco exclaimed, his voice carrying across the shop.

Harry's face clouded with embarrassment at the unwanted attention.

Outside the shop, Hagrid, alerted by the commotion, hurried in.

"What's goin' on, Harry?" Hagrid asked, concern etched on his face.

"It's fine, Hagrid. I'm just chatting with my new friends."

Hagrid smiled broadly at the two boys. "Your friends, Harry?"

"Yes, these are my friends."

"Well then, hello there, young wizards!" Hagrid greeted them with a wave.

"Hello, Mr. Hagrid," Dyroth said with a slight bow. "I've heard of you—Hogwarts' expert on magical creatures."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Dyroth had a favorable impression of Hagrid. After all, who could dislike a kind-hearted giant who was an unknowing, generous benefactor of future events?

Hagrid, noticing Harry's admiration for Dyroth, blushed slightly. "Oh, I'm jus' the gamekeeper. I like raisin' magical creatures, but I'm no expert."

"A gamekeeper? You're practically just a Hogwarts servant!" Draco chimed in, his pure-blood bias evident as he sneered at Hagrid's half-giant status.

The moment the words left Draco's mouth, Harry's expression darkened, and Hagrid looked down, visibly uncomfortable.

"Hagrid, we'll come back for the robes later. Let's look at something else for now," Harry suggested, pulling Hagrid outside to avoid further embarrassment.

Draco's disdain for mixed-bloods was clear, and seeing his friends' respect for Hagrid only made his mockery more apparent.

Dyroth sighed inwardly.

"Draco, do you realize what you've just done?" he asked calmly.

"What do you mean?" Draco blinked, confused.

"Who is Hagrid to Harry?"

"Isn't he just a half-giant?" Draco replied, still not grasping the gravity of his words.

Dyroth's expression turned serious. "He's Harry's friend. Insulting your friend's companion in public—what does that say about your upbringing as the future heir of the Malfoy family?"

Draco fell silent, the weight of Dyroth's words sinking in. His pride, however, made it difficult for him to admit fault.

"I'm just speaking the truth! Hagrid's a half-giant, a—"

"Draco!" Dyroth cut in firmly. "Do you believe that being pure-blooded, from one of the Twenty-Eight Sacred Families, makes you inherently superior? Especially when dealing with mixed-bloods like Hagrid?"

"I... I didn't mean it like that..." Draco stammered, suddenly unsure.

"Listen to me, Draco," Dyroth said, meeting Draco's eyes with a steady gaze. "Pure blood doesn't make you superior. True nobility is not about lineage but about character."

Dyroth continued, seeing Draco's conflicted expression. "A noble heart shows kindness and tolerance, even to the humblest servant. It displays courage in the face of adversity. A true noble seeks knowledge, explores magic, and contributes to the wizarding world with their strength. That is what makes a wizard noble."

Draco fell into contemplative silence. At eleven, he hadn't yet been fully tainted by the prejudices of the older generation. There was still a sense of innocence and hope within him.

Dyroth placed a reassuring hand on Draco's shoulder. "Draco, you've had a good education and are the future heir of the Malfoy family. You're responsible not only for your family's honor but for the wizarding world as well. It's not shameful to make mistakes. What's truly sad is knowing you're wrong and refusing to change, only to regret it for the rest of your life. Do you understand?"

After a long pause, Draco looked up, eyes slightly red. "Dyroth, I... I'm sorry."

Dyroth shook his head with a small smile. "I'm not the one you need to apologize to."

Draco took a deep breath, his voice trembling. "Can you... come with me? I want to apologize to Harry and Hagrid, but... I'm scared."

Dyroth nodded reassuringly. "Don't worry. Harry and Hagrid aren't the types to hold grudges. As long as you're sincere, they'll forgive you."

Soon, Harry and Hagrid returned to Madam Malkin's.

Blushing with embarrassment, Draco approached Hagrid.

"Mr. Hagrid... I'm sorry," Draco muttered, his voice barely audible.

Hagrid looked puzzled. "Eh? What for?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Hagrid. I shouldn't have insulted you or looked down on you because of your lineage. The true nobility of a wizard lies not in their bloodline, but in their heart."

Draco then turned to Harry. "And I apologize to you too, Harry. I shouldn't have disrespected your friend."

Hagrid's eyes widened in surprise. He had never heard such words from a pure-blood wizard before. Most pure-bloods wouldn't even apologize, let alone acknowledge his worth.

"You really mean what you said?" Hagrid asked, astonished.

"I didn't come up with those words," Draco admitted, glancing at Dyroth. "They're what Dyroth said to me earlier."

Hagrid's face broke into a broad smile. "Well, those are some mighty fine words!"

For Hagrid, who had faced discrimination all his life, Dyroth's words gave him hope for a more inclusive future in the wizarding world.

"You've got a good friend there, Draco!" Hagrid added, giving him a hearty pat on the back. "And don't worry, everyone makes mistakes. I don't mind, and I'm sure Harry doesn't either."

Harry smiled and nodded. Draco's shoulders relaxed, relieved.

Just then, Madam Malkin's cheerful voice cut through. "Your robes are ready, dears! Would you like to try them on?"

Dyroth shook his head. "No need, Madam Malkin. If your craftsmanship wasn't trustworthy, there wouldn't be a single robe in Britain worth wearing."

Madam Malkin chuckled. "Thank you for the compliment, dear!"

Thanks to Dyroth's charm, they even received a discount on their robes.

As they prepared to leave, Harry hesitated at the door, looking back at Dyroth. "We're friends, right?"

"Of course, Harry," Dyroth replied with his usual gentle smile.

"Then... can I write to you when I'm back home?"

"You're always welcome to," Dyroth said.

"And me!" Draco interjected. "I'll write to you too!"

After Harry and Hagrid left, Dyroth watched as the determined look returned to Draco's eyes.

Very good. The Malfoy family was now fully onboard. A ship that couldn't be sunk.