1st September, 1991
Three figures turned outward within the compartment: a bespectacled boy with a lightning-shaped scar, a freckled red-haired lad, and a girl with bushy brown hair and eyes sharp as flint.
"Is it true?" came Malfoy's voice, light with excitement but practiced, like a boy imitating a man."They're saying Harry Potter's in this compartment. That's you, isn't it?"
His smile was broad, all teeth, but his tone wrapped itself in silk.
He extended his arms with theatrical flair."This is Crabbe, this is Goyle. This one's Bondrewd. And I—" he gave a small, precise bow, "—am Draco Malfoy. But I believe we've already met."
Harry gave a dry, unreadable smile.
The red-haired boy beside him stifled a snigger, his hand darting to cover his mouth.
"Think the name's funny, do you?" Draco snapped, the smile now a cold mockery. "Red hair, freckles, secondhand robes. You must be a Weasley."
He turned his gaze back to Harry."Not all wizarding families are the same, Potter. You don't want to be making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."
"Draco," Bondrewd's voice came low and steady, like a warning wind brushing through the trees.
Malfoy straightened, clearing his throat."Ah, where are my manners," he said, hand extending again like a knight from an old tale.
"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself," Harry said firmly, his voice calm but edged with steel.
Draco's eyes narrowed, lips pursing in disbelief before shifting into a smirk as though masking something more vicious beneath.
"I'd be careful if I were you," he muttered. "Unless you're politer, you might go the same way as your par—"
"Draco."
Bondrewd's tone cracked like frost underfoot. His hand landed gently on Draco's shoulder, but the grip was firm, iron beneath velvet.
Malfoy shrugged him off. He wasn't finished.Harry and Ron rose at once, rage flaring in their eyes.
"Say that again."
"And you'll do what?" Malfoy retorted, though his voice faltered. "No, I don't feel like leaving. We've eaten all our food. Looks like you've still got plenty."
As Goyle reached toward a box of Bertie Bott's Beans, a sudden screech cut the air.
"Ahh! He bit me!" Goyle staggered back, a rat latched onto his hand.
Ron lunged forward. Malfoy's eyes widened—
"Locomotor Mortis."
Bondrewd's voice cut clean through the ruckus. Ron dropped mid-lunge, legs locked, arms flailing.
"Allow me," Bondrewd said with a cool bow, "to reintroduce myself. Bondrewd. I offer my sincerest apologies—Draco isn't yet used to company outside our circles."
Draco began to protest, but—
"Silencio."
Bondrewd flicked his wand lazily, and silence bloomed around Draco like a cloche over a flame.
Crabbe recoiled. Malfoy glared, silenced and red-faced.
"What'd you do to him!" Harry snapped, pointing at the immobile Ron.
"It'll wear off," Bondrewd said simply. "Just a gentle deterrent. Five minutes at most."
"You used a spell on a fellow student!" Hermione burst out, clearly horrified. "You could be expelled!"
"A valid concern. But I believed the alternative would be rather more... disruptive."
Bondrewd's eyes settled on her with a smile so warm it seemed borrowed from someone else."And such knowledge, already? What's your name?"
"Hermione Granger," she said stiffly, chin up.
"A pleasure. If we were already in Hogwarts, I'm sure you'd be earning House Points."
He turned to Draco, who was glowering beside him, now mouthing silent profanities."Now, if you'll excuse us. I think my friend here has done quite enough damage for one afternoon."
He turned with a flourish.
"Locomotor Vita." Three circles traced in the air and the curse dissipated from Ron's limbs.
As the door closed behind them, Bondrewd patted Draco's shoulder.
"I know you're angry, Draco. But remember your father's wishes. Come now, let's leave this behind us. A bit of food always helps."
Draco didn't reply.
"Sonorous."
Draco inhaled, his voice louder now, echoing down the corridor."He insulted my family! And took Weasley's side—Weasley of all people!"
Bondrewd cast him a sideways glance. "Draco, what does it mean to be Slytherin?"
Draco blinked."It means ambition. It means doing what it takes to win."
"Then don't let your emotions blind you. We're here to win, not to whine."
He grinned faintly. "Now come on—before someone takes our seats."
"Fine. But don't do that again," Draco muttered as they stepped back into their carriage."Crabbe! Goyle!"
Bondrewd smiled to himself as he followed.
Heir Malfoy's impetuousness is... even greater than expected.
Time passed. The whistle howled. The train screeched to a halt. Goyle jolted forward—
"Arresto Momentum."
Bondrewd's spell stopped him an inch from the table.
"Show-off," Malfoy muttered. The irony lost entirely on him.
"I live to please," Bondrewd returned with a grin.
The group disembarked, robes fluttering like bats in the cold wind. Coniferous trees lined the horizon like sentinels.
"First years, this way!"
Hagrid's booming voice rolled across the platform. Harry glanced back, glaring at them.
Draco faltered, then raised his chin. Bondrewd waved kindly. Harry turned away, scowling.
They followed a winding, muddied path. Shadows ate the edges of their vision.
"Typical Hogwarts," Draco muttered with disdain, his fine shoes caked with mud.
"Lumos." A warm glow followed Bondrewd like a faithful wisp."Incendio." A controlled flame hovered above his hand, casting gentle light.
Ahead, Ron tried and failed to imitate it. Sparks fizzled from his wand tip.
"See, Potter? Told you you'd make the wrong friends!" Draco called.
"Keep up!" Hagrid barked back, not bothering to turn around as Draco scoffed.
Soon, boats came into view. Rickety wooden things with iron fixtures. A fog swirled across the black lake.
"Nox." Bondrewd extinguished his lights, his figure disappearing in the shadows.
"No more than three per boat!" Hagrid commanded.
Draco moved toward one, then paused."Sorry, Bondrewd—"
"Don't worry. Plenty of boats left." Bondrewd smiled faintly, his tone measured, and turned into the mist without another word.
His silhouette vanished slowly, absorbed by the swirling fog that clung to the lake's surface like a living thing.
A beat passed.
"Malfoy lose his pet?"
The voice cut through the silence like a skipping stone. Zabini. His words floated out from a boat just ahead, laced with amusement. Laughter followed—sharp, youthful, careless.
Bondrewd paused mid-step. He turned his head slightly, not enough to face them, just enough for silence to fall.
His eyes met Zabini's across the fog—icy, unreadable, and calm in a way that made the air grow colder.
Zabini looked away first.
"Mud-bloods," he muttered under his breath, barely audible—but audible enough.
Bondrewd's posture eased, and he smiled. Smooth and composed.
Then, without another glance, he stepped silently into a waiting boat, the mist curling around him as the vessel slipped into the dark waters bound for Hogwarts.