HP: Pure-Blood Glory

Seeing Malfoy approach and raise his hand as if to pat Luke on the shoulder to grab his attention, Taylor sighed silently and softly uttered a single syllable.

Malfoy suddenly felt as though a thundering army was charging through his ears. The pain and dizziness forced him to stop in his tracks.

Luke caught the scene out of the corner of his eye but paid it no mind, his attention wholly focused on the final ingredients for his potion.

First, he picked up the moonflower, dropping it into the potion as the mixture turned a pale blue.

Once the moonflower had dissolved completely, he added powdered opal.

With a precise flick of his wand above the cauldron, the swirling potion calmed, though it continued to bubble gently.

Finally, Luke tossed in a dried Bowtruckle limb. The potion's color began shifting rapidly, from pale blue to bone white, then to bright yellow, and ultimately settling into a light lavender hue.

Not daring to hesitate, Luke quickly extended his wand, gently stirring the potion. The liquid began to swirl counterclockwise. As it evaporated rapidly, the lavender hue faded, leaving the potion colorless and transparent, with only a faint, refreshing fragrance wafting from the cauldron.

A delighted expression crossed Luke's face but was quickly reined in. Reaching for a potion vial on the nearby shelf, he gave his wand a subtle flick. The remaining potion in the cauldron rose like a tiny stream of water, gracefully pouring itself into the vial.

Capping the vial, Luke exhaled deeply and wiped the sweat from his brow—whether from the heat or tension, even he couldn't tell. He then handed the potion vial to Taylor.

Taylor took it, uncapped it, and sniffed. Satisfied there was no immediate issue, she dripped a single drop onto her finger. After confirming it was safe, she tasted the drop, and nodded, "No problem."

Relieved, Luke turned toward the still-dazed Malfoy and asked, "Is there something you needed, Draco?"

Malfoy shook his head to clear the lingering dizziness. Though the thundering sensation had subsided, a faint disorientation remained.

But when Luke asked, Malfoy had already returned to his senses.

Luke looked at him and asked with concern: "What's the matter? You don't look very good."

When Luke inquired further, concern evident in his voice, Malfoy managed a smile and said, "It's nothing—just a bit of... ringing in my ears?"

Luke's expression turned slightly puzzled. "Ringing in your ears? At our age, that doesn't seem right."

Though Luke's comment appeared straightforward, none of the students, including Taylor, understood its subtle implication.

(T/N: I don't understand either)

Meanwhile, the ever-alert Snape overheard everything, his hand twitching slightly as a result. This startled Harry, who almost spilled an entire vial of powdered opal into his cauldron.

Snape cast Luke a peculiar glance but quickly redirected his focus to Harry, his lips curling into a cold smile as he prepared his usual round of scathing remarks.

While silently marveling at Snape's complicated and peculiar attitude toward Harry, Luke seriously advised Malfoy, "You need to stop staying up so late and take care of your health."

Touched by Luke's genuine concern, Malfoy was deeply moved.

"I will!"

"Good, by the way, what brings you here?"

After saying that, Luke asked about Malfoy's purpose for coming, and only then did Malfoy remember the real reason he had come.

"Well, Flint asked me to invite you to watch our Slytherin Quidditch practice," Malfoy said, looking at Luke with a proud expression. "He heard you've never played Quidditch before, and he thought you might like to come watch. Maybe it'll spark your interest. Plus, your flying skills are pretty good, and you might even have a chance to join the team."

Among the students, the ones at the top of the social hierarchy were undoubtedly the members of the Quidditch teams.

The Weasley twins were famous throughout the school—not just because of their mischief, but because they were Gryffindor's star Quidditch players, and they played exceptionally well.

Luke, on the other hand, would be willing to join the Quidditch team if he truly had the talent. But unfortunately, while his flying ability was decent, it wasn't extraordinary.

Moreover, he didn't have much interest in it. He figured if he didn't join, it wasn't a big loss.

The only thing that stood out as a weakness for him in front of others was his lack of skill in brewing potions, and that was enough. Adding more flaws would just be unnecessary.

After the first flying lesson, Luke had already made up his mind not to join the Quidditch team.

What he didn't expect was that Marcus Flint was so persistent—almost unnervingly so.

As Luke thought about it, his eyes shifted, briefly becoming as deep and mesmerizing as a bottomless abyss. But it lasted only a moment before he quickly regained his composure and smiled at Malfoy. "Alright, I'd like to see it. When is it?"

Malfoy was instantly thrilled. He knew Luke well enough to understand that he didn't have much interest in Quidditch. Every time they talked about it, Luke would chime in with a few words, and even offer some insightful comments.

But Malfoy, who had grown up with his father's constant social engagements, could easily see through Luke's disinterest.

When Luke talked about Quidditch, his demeanor was the same as his father's when discussing something he didn't like—calm, composed, and polite, offering just enough to engage but never showing any real passion.

Malfoy knew that people like Harry, Ron, and even the Weasley twins wouldn't be able to notice this subtlety.

They weren't accustomed to such social engagements.

But it just so happened that such interactions were a staple in any noble family...

So, when Luke had agreed so easily, Malfoy hadn't expected it, but he was pleased nonetheless.

As he saw the change in Malfoy's expression and the genuine joy on his face, Luke's mind quickly pieced things together. Smiling, he said to Malfoy, "I'll go for your sake. After all, you know me."

These words made Malfoy feel both honored and delighted.

"Tomorrow afternoon, we've secured the use of the pitch for a mock match. It'll be a chance for the seniors to see our impressive skills in action"

Malfoy said, his voice filled with undeniable pride.

"It seems you're one of them now."

Luke responded with a faint smile, seamlessly continuing the conversation.

Hearing this, Malfoy's face lit up with an unmistakable look of pride.

"As a first-year reserve, I'll be participating in tomorrow's training alongside some of the senior players"

Malfoy said, his tone brimming with self-satisfaction, making others envious.

Although the commotion wasn't too loud, Harry and Ron, who weren't far away, naturally overheard everything. They even caught Malfoy's slightly provocative glance, which was directed solely at Ron.

Ron gave Malfoy a disdainful look, clearly unimpressed with his smugness. He then turned to Harry and said, "Look at how smug Malfoy is, and he's just a reserve. You're already Gryffindor's Seeker, and you're not out here showing off."

Harry blushed slightly at Ron's words. It wasn't that he didn't want to show off, but Oliver Wood had explicitly told him not to. Wood wanted to keep Harry as a secret weapon.

Although Harry had let slip about his position at the dining table earlier, which everyone, including Malfoy, had heard, the "secret weapon" notion was effectively moot. Even so, Harry wasn't foolish. Since Wood hadn't made a fuss, he thought it best to stay low-key.

Besides, he had already told the people he wanted to tell.

Malfoy becoming a reserve hadn't been public knowledge either. It seemed Malfoy had come over specifically to show off to Luke, Harry, and Ron.

Typically, Quidditch team selections started in the second year. However, reserves weren't limited to second years—they could range from second to seventh years.

The fact that Malfoy, as a first-year, was participating in the mock match made him quite the outlier.

After Luke readily agreed to the invitation, Malfoy returned to his seat and began brewing his cold remedy under Snape's icy gaze.

---

At dinner, Luke and Taylor were seated in a quiet corner when Hermione joined them, sitting down without hesitation.

Gemma noticed the trio from a distance but didn't immediately join in until Luke called her over.

The group began chatting about classroom anecdotes. Hermione, ever respectful of academic excellence, expressed her admiration for the senior student known for her capabilities. To Hermione, anyone who earned top marks deserved respect.

whether it was Percy Weasley or Gemma Farley.

In Hermione's view, house affiliation wasn't that significant. Since arriving at Hogwarts, she hadn't witnessed much intense rivalry between houses.

If anything, there seemed to be a spirit of mutual support.

Hermione had seen Ravenclaw students tutoring Gryffindors, and Slytherins sharing family food recipes with Hufflepuffs.

At least among the first-years, everyone seemed to get along quite harmoniously.

After all, even the informal leaders of various years could occasionally be seen sharing meals at the same table.

Hufflepuff's Ernie Macmillan often hung out with Luke and his group as well.

As the conversation flowed, the topic naturally shifted to Malfoy's invitation earlier that day.

Luke didn't shy away from the subject. After swallowing his bite of food, he remarked candidly, "I really didn't expect Marcus to be this persistent. But the more I think about it, the more certain I am that he has something he needs from me."

In a quiet corner, the four at the table fell into silence.

Hermione looked puzzled, while Taylor and Gemma had already begun contemplating. Hermione, noticing Luke's calm expression and the others' thoughtful demeanor, sensed something unusual. However, she chose not to say anything and silently joined in the pondering.

Luke observed Hermione's behavior with satisfaction.

Of course, he didn't expect Hermione to come to a conclusion faster or think deeper than the other two.

Gemma and Taylor had both experienced significant events and carried a heavy sense of pressure in their hearts.

Luke had never asked about their pasts, and they never brought them up.

Compared to them, Hermione's pre-Hogwarts life was undoubtedly ordinary but also incredibly fortunate.

"Maybe it's to draw your attention and get you to join the Quidditch team? How skilled you are might not be the main concern. What matters is having you as a living advertisement. Your presence would likely win over neutral students from the other two houses during inter-house matches"

Hermione suggested after a moment's thought, not considering the matter particularly serious.

Luke nodded but did not comment on whether she was right or wrong.

A moment later, Taylor spoke. "It probably doesn't have any deeper meaning. Flint has never been particularly devious. He likely just values you and genuinely wants your support. Plus, he's been keen on upgrading the team's equipment but is short on funds."

Both Hermione and Gemma turned to look at Taylor, intrigued by her confident tone. However, seeing that Luke merely nodded in agreement, didn't ask any questions.

"Marcus doesn't have much of an agenda," Gemma began. "He can be overbearing, but it's usually limited to Quidditch-related conflicts. For instance, he and Gryffindor's Wood don't get along because both play very aggressively. And you know what Slytherin's reputation used to be like; it's not worth elaborating on, so having you on the team might help."

"I think both Hermione and Taylor made valid points. Marcus wanting to replace equipment but lacking funds is no secret. If he's approached you, it's not entirely surprising. Once you develop an interest in Quidditch, it wouldn't be hard for you to chip in for new gear. After all, this kind of expense wouldn't bother you."

This conclusion, while synthesizing the previous points, managed to connect the two lines of reasoning. It seemed to pinpoint Marcus's intentions accurately.

Luke nodded again, this time more seriously, as this was precisely what he had been thinking.

"But... Luke, there's something I need to tell you"

Gemma said, steering the conversation in a different direction.

Noticing her serious expression, Luke replied, "Go on."

"There's more to the team than just Marcus. Although he's the captain this year, there's someone else on the team who doesn't get along with him."

"Oliver Nott. A seventh-year Slytherin."

"The key issue is... he's a staunch advocate of pure-blood supremacy."

"Your speech during the opening feast didn't sit well with him. He can't openly cause trouble for you, but on the Quidditch pitch, 'legal collisions' are fair game."

"This insistent invitation might very well have been fueled by his involvement."

"Be careful, Luke"

Gemma said with a serious expression. "This situation might be more complicated than it seems."

*****

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