In Diagon Alley, a winding street crafted from slates and cobblestones.
At this moment, a father and son stood at the crossroads between Flourish and Blotts and Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
The boy, around ten years old, shared his father's pale golden hair, a slim oval face, and gray-blue eyes. He nervously glanced at the bustling street.
"I'll go to Flourish and Blotts for your books first. You don't need to follow me. Go into the next shop ahead and measure yourself," the man said, his serpent-shaped wand twirling in his hand, a slight frown on his face as he spoke in a displeased tone.
"Draco, I'll repeat myself. You belong to the ancient Malfoy family. I do not wish to see such childish weakness from you again," he continued.
"I just don't want to interact with those commoners, Father. Don't worry, I know what to do," Draco, the blond boy, imitated his father's tone, trying to sound composed.
"That's better. Hogwarts has admitted too many undesirable people in recent years. Always remember your heritage," the elder Malfoy nodded proudly, his tone softening as he lifted a hand to pat his son's shoulder.
"Anyway, let's part ways here. If I haven't arrived after you've measured yourself, go to the wand shop to find your mother," he instructed.
"I understand. No need to say more," Draco replied, slightly uneasy, shrugging and walking towards Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions without looking back.
(In scenes where Lucius isn't present, "Malfoy" will refer to Draco Malfoy)
Following the signposts, Malfoy reached his destination via the winding cobblestone street.
Approaching the doorstep of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, Malfoy noticed a girl of similar age sitting on the steps.
Curious, Malfoy glanced at her and instantly became captivated by the silver-haired girl seated there.
At that moment, the girl delicately licked a massive ice cream ball, seemingly absorbed in her own world, utterly adorable in her concentration.
Sunlight shimmered on her satin-like silver hair, casting a dazzling golden aura. With an elfin face, her long eyelashes quivered slightly, capturing the attention of passersby.
"Hey, are you also a Hogwarts student?" Malfoy tugged at his knitted shirt, clearing his throat as he politely approached, extending his hand for a handshake.
"...Kid, go away. I'm not interested," the girl replied nonchalantly, not bothering to look up, continuing to focus on her ice cream.
"So, are you also headed to Hogwarts?" Malfoy's face flushed slightly, raising his voice a bit and gesturing in front of the girl.
Slurp—
The silver-haired girl took another gentle lick of her ice cream, happily closing her eyes, paying no heed to Malfoy standing in front of her, as if he were invisible.
Infuriated, Malfoy approached the steps, attempting to shake the girl's shoulder.
This time, the girl reacted. Just before Malfoy could touch her, she gracefully evaded his movement and resumed eating.
Onlookers halted, intrigued by this "incident" unfolding in front of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
Sensing the whispers and covert glances, Malfoy's embarrassment heightened. His gaze turned cold, and with a surge of irritation, he lunged at the girl's arm.
Why are there so many annoying brats in the world?!
The silver-haired girl, Elena, impatiently furrowed her brow. Swiftly turning away, she skillfully avoided the approaching boy.
However...
As she dodged, the half-eaten ice cream cone wobbled and plopped onto the ground.
Plop.
The colossal ice cream hit the cobblestones, leaving traces of chocolate on the slate.
As if someone had pressed pause, everything fell into a brief silence. All eyes fixated on the fallen chocolate ice cream.
"..."
"..."
Elena looked at her empty cone, then at the fallen ice cream nearby. Amidst Malfoy's confusion, she expressionlessly finished the cone.
"Tell me, brat, what's your plan now?" Elena raised her chin, gazing down at Malfoy seated on the ground. Her silver locks floated weightlessly, icy blue eyes exuding a chilling silence. A radiant glow etched across the back of her hand, resembling sacred runes.
The entire space seemed to freeze as magic leaked out of the Muggle-born girl, creating an unseen whirlpool of magic. And at the center of the whirlpool...
"P-please..."
Malfoy's face contorted in pain. His hands instinctively grasped at his throat, struggling for breath. His pale face flushed red, almost turning liver-colored.
"Stop! Now!"
A thunderous voice from afar. A silver-bearded old man rushed forward, brandishing his wand with urgency.
After a glass-shattering sound in the air, the stagnant atmosphere regained its flow.
"Remember your vow! Elena Kaslana!"
Snap! The air crackled.
Dumbledore apparated directly from several meters away to Elena's side, swiftly grabbing the glowing hand and pressing it down, scolding her sternly.
"We agreed, after you finish your ice cream, you'll behave in the robe shop until I return. Why cause trouble again?"
Fortunately, he was inside Flourish and Blotts, aided by the unbreakable vow's effect, sensing the Muggle-born's magical outburst.
"..."
Elena pouted, looking away from Dumbledore, feeling a bit guilty despite it not being entirely her fault.
Following Elena's gaze, Dumbledore noticed a half-eaten chocolate ice cream quietly resting on the cobblestones. Where Elena was supposed to sit, Draco Malfoy now huddled, his pale blond hair covering his now visibly red face. Tremors ran through his body, his eyes wide with fear.
"Oh... alright, but once you learn to control your magic, try not to accidentally hurt anyone," Dumbledore said wearily, petting Elena's head.
"Later, I'll take you to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor until you're happy."
"What happened, Draco? Dumbledore, what did you do to my son?!"
There was a commotion on the outskirts of the gathering as Lucius Malfoy forcefully pushed through the crowd, rushing to Draco on the ground, furious.
"Good morning, Lucius," Dumbledore greeted with a pleasant tone, discreetly positioning Elena behind him.
"I'd like an explanation!" Lucius Malfoy demanded, his eyes blazing with anger.
"As you can see, Lucius," Dumbledore calmly smiled.
"It was merely a minor mishap between the children. After all, an unexpected magical outburst is something neither you nor I could foresee... young wizards who haven't yet entered Hogwarts often struggle to control their powers when emotions are high."
"Oh?" Lucius Malfoy sneered, dangerously narrowing his eyes, focusing on the silver-haired girl behind Dumbledore.
"And this is... a minor mishap?"
"I think young Malfoy might need to learn how to properly interact with girls," Dumbledore shrugged, appearing helpless.
"After all, female witches aren't in short supply at Hogwarts."
"Mr. Malfoy, I can confirm it was your son who attempted to grab the
girl's arm forcefully. The outburst was merely a reaction to his actions," a voice cut through the tension as a robust witch emerged from the crowd, her stern expression reinforcing her words.
Madam Malkin, a veteran robe maker, stepped forward, her eyes flinty, arms folded.
Lucius Malfoy's lips twitched in a strained smile, visibly restraining his temper.
"Draco," Lucius spoke with forced composure, "get up, and let's go."
Draco obeyed, scrambling to his feet, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
Madam Malkin politely gestured towards the entrance.
"Miss Kaslana, I believe you still need to finish your fitting session?"
Elena nodded, giving Dumbledore an innocent smile before stepping past him and into the robe shop, the crowd slowly dispersing.
Lucius Malfoy fixed Dumbledore with a cold glare before striding towards Madam Malkin's, beckoning his son to follow.
As the crowd dissipated, Dumbledore breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to look at Elena, who had slipped into the robe shop, and chuckled softly.
"Ah, Elena, always full of surprises," he mused to himself before following her inside.
The bustling street of Diagon Alley gradually resumed its rhythm, the commotion turning into mere whispers among the patrons.
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