HP: She married Malfoy after becoming an exchange student.

As the train approached Hogwarts, dusk had fallen outside the window, and the castle's spires cast a majestic silhouette against the night sky, like a sleeping giant.

The noise in the carriage gradually subsided, and the young wizards gathered around the windows, exclaiming in surprise.

Draco frowned as he pushed open the car door, his platinum hair standing out conspicuously against the backlight.

"Shut up, a bunch of ignorant fools."

He reprimanded in a low voice, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Elias slowly closing the ledger, his silver-grey eyes gazing out the window, his expression as calm as if he were looking at an ordinary landscape painting.

Draco pursed his lips, inwardly cursing "pretentious," but he couldn't help but look over as well: the castle windows shone with a warm yellow light, which was reflected in the black lake below, shattering into a shimmering array of stars.

The moment the train came to a complete stop, the doors were flung open, and the half-giant's booming voice made the carriage vibrate: "First-year students! Come here!"

It was Hagrid, taller than rumored, his furry coat stained with grass clippings, carrying a kerosene lamp whose light danced among his thick beard.

Draco instinctively shrank back, only to see Elias already standing up, a black leather suitcase floating lightly behind him—Wandless magic!!!

"Keep up!" Hagrid shouted, waving for everyone to follow him toward the dock. The young wizards jostled and pushed their way through the overgrown path, their boots squeaking in the mud.

Draco tiptoed carefully, afraid of getting his expensive boots dirty, while Elias, walking ahead of him, walked steadily, the hem of his dark robe sweeping across the mud without getting a single stain.

"Hey, how did you do that?" Draco caught up with him and asked in a low voice.

Elias turned his head, his silver-gray eyes shining brightly in the night: "The Reinhardt family's waterproof spell is more practical than the Malfoy family's sequin spell."

"Who used the sequin spell!" Draco's face flushed red. Just as he was about to retort, he heard laughter behind him—it was a black-haired boy with round-framed glasses, and the red-haired Weasley.

The dark-haired boy had a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead, faintly visible in the kerosene lamplight. Draco had seen him in Diagon Alley, where he was huddled with Hagrid buying a wand.

"Ha, looks like a Malfoy." The red-haired boy's voice was mocking. "He walks with his nostrils practically sticking out to the sky."

"That red-haired rat from the Weasley family dares to comment on me?" Draco immediately turned around and retorted, his hand already reaching for his wand in his pocket.

"Draco," Elias's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a bucket of cold water that extinguished his anger.

He tugged at Draco's arm, gesturing for him to look ahead. "Hagrid is waiting for us."

Harry looked over curiously, his gaze lingering on Elias for a moment, seemingly somewhat interested in the unfamiliar silver-haired boy. Weasley was still muttering something to himself, only shutting up after being pulled by the black-haired boy.

Draco snorted, shook off Elias's hand, and quickly caught up with the group.

A dozen or so small boats were moored at the dock, their dark hulls floating on the water like floating coffins. Hagrid directed everyone to board the boats, four people per boat.

"Malfoy, come quick!" Crabbe and Goyle, who had already occupied a ship, waved to him. Draco was about to step forward when he heard Elias say calmly, "That ship is overloaded; it'll sink."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the boat beneath Crabbe's feet lurched violently, nearly throwing him into the water. The two burly men scrambled to grab the gunwale, their faces pale.

Draco stopped in his tracks, watching Elias board an empty ship nearby. Elias gestured with his chin towards Draco: "Want Hagrid to come and rescue you, young Master Malfoy?"

A few low chuckles drifted from the surroundings, including from the dark-haired boy and the wretched Weasley. Draco gritted his teeth, bent down, and jumped onto Elias's ship.

The ship was remarkably stable, as if supported by an unseen force. He had barely settled in when he saw the black-haired boy and Weasley board the ship next door, making faces at him.

"Ignore them." Elias picked up the oar but didn't row—the small boat started moving on its own, silently following the procession towards the castle.

The water of Black Lake was as thick as ink, reflecting the stars in the sky. Occasionally, something slippery would swim under the boat, startling several girls on the nearby boat who would scream.

Draco forced himself to remain calm as he gazed ahead, but felt the ship rock slightly. He looked down and saw Elias's hand resting on the gunwale, his silver-grey eyes fixed on the water, as if trying to soothe something.

The next second, the water returned to calm.

"You..." Draco was about to say something when the ship had already arrived at the foot of the castle steps.

Hagrid stood at the very top, waving his arms: "We're here! Everyone, get on!"

The young wizards scrambled ashore, and Draco stumbled from the jostling, instinctively grabbing the person next to him—Elijas. Even through his robes, he could feel the tension in Elias's muscles.

The other person paused, but didn't shake him off until he was steady on his feet, then said calmly, "Watch where you're going, Malfoy."

The castle gates slowly opened before them, and a witch in a bright green robe stood in the foyer—Professor McGonagall.

Her expression was serious, and her gaze swept over the chattering freshmen as if she were scrutinizing a group of mischievous kittens.

"Quiet down, everyone, come with me."

After a brief maintenance of order, Professor McGonagall led the new students through the magnificent foyer. The armor on the stone walls cast long, thin shadows in the candlelight, like a group of silent guards.

Draco deliberately slowed his pace, falling half a step behind the crowd, his gaze fixed on the back of the black-haired boy—who was huddled together with the red-haired Weasley, whispering something, with occasional soft laughter.

"Just you wait and see," he whispered to Crabbe beside him. "It won't be long before he realizes that the Weasley fools are no good enough for him."

The group stopped in front of an oak door. Professor McGonagall turned around, her expression as serious as a block of frozen butter: "The Great Hall is inside. The Sorting Hat will decide your houses later. Keep quiet."

The moment the door was pushed open, Draco heard a gasp behind him—hundreds of candles floated beneath the dome like an inverted galaxy; four long tables were filled with students in colorful robes, and flags fluttered on the walls.

His gaze immediately swept over the long table with the green flag, the serpentine emblem gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

Just then, the black-haired boy turned around and his eyes met.

Draco immediately raised his chin and gave what he thought was a "friendly" smile—although Elias thought it looked like he was showing off his new wand.

While Professor McGonagall was organizing the list, the blond boy quickly walked up to the boy and deliberately lowered his voice, saying in a volume that only the two of them could hear, "I am Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. I met you on the ship earlier."

The boy paused for a moment, then pushed up his glasses: "Harry Potter."

"Potter?!" Draco's heart leaped with joy. "I know you. Everyone's talking about you—" He paused, glancing in Weasley's direction with a condescending arrogance.

"This red-haired Weasley is not worthy to speak to you. Come with me, and I'll introduce you to my real wizard friends."

He assumed the other party would agree immediately, just like those young wizards at the train station who wanted to curry favor with the Malfoys.

But Harry shook his head, took a half-step back, and created some distance: "No need, I think Ron is fine."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a needle, piercing through all of Draco's sense of superiority.

Draco's face flushed instantly, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment and anger. He hadn't expected to be rejected so decisively, especially before the Sorting Ceremony, when everyone's gazes were subtly sweeping over him.

The red-haired boy made a face at him and silently cursed, "Idiot."

"Hmph, whatever."

Draco clenched his fists so tightly his nails almost dug into his palms. His youthful pride compelled him to utter his final, harsh words: "Don't come begging to me when you regret this."

He turned and walked away, bumping right into someone's arms.

"Where are you rushing off to, young master?" Elias's voice rang out from above, tinged with a barely perceptible chuckle.

He appeared behind Draco without him noticing, his long, silver-gray hair falling in front of Draco's eyes like a cold bridge.

Draco shoved him away abruptly: "What's it to you!"

Elias glanced at his flushed ears and a slight smile played on his lips: "Rejected? Looks like your 'pureblood charm' isn't as good as the Weasleys' redheads."

"Shut up!" Draco growled, turning and rushing into the sorting line, his back taut like a bowstring about to snap.

He could feel Elias's gaze still on him, like rays of heat that made him feel uncomfortable all over.

Professor McGonagall picked up the list and cleared her throat: "First one, Hannah Abbott."

……

Draco took a deep breath, forcing himself not to think about the embarrassment he had just experienced. He stared at the worn-out Sorting Hat, with only one thought in his mind: Slytherin, it had to be Slytherin. As for that ungrateful Potter… he'd regret it sooner or later.

But out of the corner of his eye, his gaze would always unconsciously drift toward Elias, who was standing on the other side of the group.

The other person was looking down, their fingertips lightly tracing the silver thread on their cuff, as if nothing had happened. Draco's heart suddenly felt like it was filled with a tangled mess.

"Hermione Granger!"

As Professor McGonagall's voice faded, a curly-haired girl nervously stepped forward and trembled as she put on the Sorting Hat. A few seconds later, the hat shrieked, "Gryffindor!"

A cheer erupted from the Gryffindor table. Draco chuckled and whispered to Crabbe and Goyle, "See? Mudbloods should go to Gryffindor."

Elias stood beside him, his silver-grey eyes sweeping over the cheering crowd, his tone flat: "At least braver than some people who only use bloodlines to label others."

Draco immediately glared at him: "Who did you say?"

"Whoever answers first is the one I'm talking about." Elias tilted his head slightly, his long hair falling over his shoulder. "Your turn, Malfoy."

Sure enough, Professor McGonagall called out his name: "Draco Malfoy!"

He straightened his back, deliberately ignoring the gazes directed at him by Weasley and Potter, and strode to the stool to sit down. The Sorting Hat had barely touched his hair when it eagerly called out, "Slytherin!"

The Slytherin table erupted in cheers as the pure-blood wizards applauded.

Draco raised his chin and walked towards the long table amidst cheers, deliberately choosing a spot with a clear view of the entire hall.

He had barely sat down when he saw Elias walk up to him—the Sorting Hat hovered over his head for less than three seconds before loudly announcing…