HP: She married Malfoy after becoming an exchange student.

The Hogwarts Express's rhythmic swaying sound was like a lullaby, making people drowsy.

Sunlight streamed through the car windows, casting bright spots of light on the aisle floor, while the air was filled with the sweet aroma of candy and the smell of old leather.

Draco Malfoy absentmindedly twirled a silver quill pen, and the sound of the box door sliding open made his fingertips tremble.

Seeing Elias walk in carrying books, he immediately patted the empty seat next to him. "You've finally arrived, Elias!" he said, his voice rising a little. "I was just about to tell you about my new finds at the manor during my vacation."

Elias sat down beside him, the heavy hardcover book on his lap making a slight thud.

As Draco's cloak, draped over the back of the chair, brushed lightly against the back of his hand, Elias subtly pulled the cloak closer to himself.

"My father brought back a pair of ferrets from Norway," Draco said quickly, pulling a small, intricately carved silver box from his pocket. "They're not ordinary pets—take a good look."

He snapped the lid open, and two tiny, fingernail-sized ferret phantoms darted out, chasing and playing in the air with a faint blue light, leaving behind faint streaks of light.

"Pansy insisted last week that they were big enough to fit through her pearl bracelet," Draco scoffed, his silhouette darting deftly in the sunlight, "but they got stuck on the clasp and ripped off three of her pearls."

A clear "tsk" came from diagonally opposite.

Pansy Parkinson put down the small mirror in her hand and looked up. "That was a scientific assessment, Malfoy. It's more respectable than someone fantasizing about stuffing a live ferret into their evening gown pocket and getting bitten and chasing dessert tarts all over the hall." She emphasized the word "respectable."

Crabbe, lurching in the corner, let out a muffled chuckle. Goyle quickly stuffed a piece of cake into his mouth, but his shoulders were shaking violently.

Draco's jawline tightened instantly, and his gaze swept quickly, almost instinctively, over Elias beside him. The sunlight fell precisely on the tips of his ears, making his skin appear slightly pink.

Blaise Zabini slowly broke open a chocolate frog. "Elijas didn't see it. The scene... three dining tables, a bottle of '86 elf-made wine." He took a bite of chocolate and added vaguely, "I heard he was made to stand in Uncle Lucius's study for the entire morning afterward?"

"Zabini!" Draco's neck flushed red this time, but he suddenly grabbed Elias's hand, which was resting on the book, and placed the cool little silver box into Elias's palm: "...Take this."

Their fingers touched briefly before parting. He abruptly turned to look out the window, quickly adding, "They seem quite interested in that box of laurel cookies you sent me last time."

Elias reached out and steadily supported the silver box.

He looked down and saw a few crumbs of biscuits stuck to the soft haystacks inside the box, while two small blue phantoms were still tirelessly dancing around his fingertips.

The sunlight cast small shadows on his silver eyelashes.

"Very lively." Elias raised his eyes.

Draco was about to stealthily turn his gaze back when their eyes briefly met in mid-air. Draco's body immediately jerked back half an inch as if stung, and for some reason, he became extremely interested in a withered tree rushing past the window, leaving Elias with only the back of his round head in sight.

The wheel rolled over the seam of the rails with a soft clanging sound.

After a while

For some unknown reason, Draco resolutely moved closer.

Amidst the laughter and banter about the ferret and the banquet tragedy, Platinum turned his head very slightly toward Elias, his voice low, almost drowned out by the noise: "That morning... when Sparkle came with the letter, she said she'd go with you..." He mumbled a word, "...anyway, she came at the wrong time."

Elias closed the thick book "The Origin of Advanced Magic Runes" on his lap with a "snap" as the pages closed.

He turned his face and looked quietly at Draco, his silver eyes like two deep, still lakes.

“My mother…” Draco shrugged, his fingers unconsciously picking at a fine line on the chair. “No one in the family dares to disobey her.” He tried to make his tone sound casual, as if he were talking about the weather.

Elias's gaze lingered on Draco's face for a few seconds before he nodded very slightly.

"Yes," the boy replied magnanimously, his tone calm. "Mrs. Narcissa's urgent summons should be given priority, of course I understand."

"no……"

Draco stared at Elias's face with a complicated expression, seemingly stunned by his "tolerant" tone. "You... how could you..."

"Huh? What's wrong with me?" Elias looked back at Draco with a calm expression.

"Forehead……"

The young master couldn't find the right word to describe Elias's state at that moment, so he changed his words to "After the final exams, I'll take you to see the real thing" (referring to the ferret).

Elias stared at Draco's face for a long time before finally replying with a "Heh."

Draco: ? ? ?

Pansy, who had been eavesdropping, seemed to have caught wind of something. She peeked out from behind Blaise, her eyes wide: "Wait, a 'letter'? 'Not the right time'? Draco Malfoy, you weren't actually on vacation at Malfoy Manor, were you?"

Daphne Greengrass immediately looked up, her sharp eyes scanning between the two of them.

Draco's back visibly stiffened. Crabbe and Goyle stopped chewing and stared blankly at the suddenly quiet atmosphere.

Blaise let out an exaggerated "Oh—" and slowly wiped his fingers: "No wonder Mr. Malfoy initially declined my father's invitation; it turns out he already had an 'international' trip planned."

Pansy grabbed Daphne's arm excitedly. "So you came back from—Germany?" Her voice rose in a shrill tone. "From someone's territory, urgently summoned back by a letter?"—while inwardly roaring, "Merlin's flowery underpants! Our little dragon is only in first grade!"

Draco felt like his head was about to explode: "It's official family business! Old Mr. Reinhardt was aware of it too! Put away those monstrous fantasies in your heads!"

However, his protest was completely drowned out by the girls' excited giggles and Blaise and the others' amused smiles. Pansy whispered to Daphne, "He's panicking, he's panicking!" Daphne nodded frantically, covering her mouth with her handkerchief and laughing so hard her shoulders shook.

Elias calmly extended his hand and returned the silver box to Draco. "The Reinhardt family cherishes its friendship with the Malfoy family." His voice was not loud, but it silenced the laughter.

Pansy and Daphne exchanged a knowing glance and wisely retreated to their seats. Crabbe and Goyle, oblivious, chose to continue munching on their cakes.

The chattering sound started again.

Draco stared down at the silver box that had been closed in his palm, a look of bewilderment in his eyes.

The train let out a long sigh; they were almost at Hogwarts.