Harry Potter and the Way of Reason

Unfortunately, J.K. Rowling's identity cannot be said.You have to see for yourself. [2]

Scientific Disclaimer: Rakshasa points out

Chapter 27's theory of empathy (using your own brain to simulate other people's feelings) is not an accepted scientific fact.Evidence so far points to this, but we have yet to prove it with brainwave analysis.Likewise, while the timeless quantum mechanics equations (hinted at in Chapter 28) are so elegant that I would be surprised if the final theory included a time parameter, this theory has not yet been proven.

---

Lately, Hermione's stomach felt heavy whenever she heard other students discussing her and Harry.This morning, she overheard Monaji and Padma's conversation in the bathroom cubicle, and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.

She was beginning to feel that competing with Harry Potter had been a terrible mistake.

If she's far from Harry Potter, she's Hermione Granger - the brightest academic star at Hogwarts, the one who earned the most house points for Ravenclaw.She won't be as famous as the Boy Who Lived, but at least she's famous for being famous.

As it turned out, the Boy Who Lived had an academic rival, and that rival's name happened to be Hermione Granger.

To make matters worse, she even made an appointment with him once.

Initially, developing a romantic relationship with Harry seemed like a great idea.She has read such books.If anyone at Hogwarts could be a heroine's love interest, it's Harry Potter: smart, funny, famous, and sometimes a little scary...

So she made Harry go on a date with herself.

And now she's his love interest.

Or worse: she's an option on his dinner menu.

In the morning, when she was about to turn on the tap in the bathroom cubicle, she heard giggles from outside.Then she heard Moraghi say that the Muggle-born girl was no match for Ginnifera Weasley, and Padma speculated that Potter might want both.

They don't seem to understand that the girls are the ones to pick from the dinner menu and the boys have to fight to get them.

But that's not what upset her the most.The thing that bothered her the most was when she got a 98 on one of Professor McGonagall's quizzes, and it wasn't Hermione Granger who got the top score in the class, but Harry Potter's rival He is 7 points higher.

If you get too close to the Boy Who Lived, you become part of his story.

You don't own your own story.

Hermione thought she should just walk away, but that would be too sad.

She does want to get back what she accidentally lost by becoming Harry's rival, though.She wanted to be a separate person, not Harry Potter's third leg.Is this asking too much?

If you fall into this pit, it will be very difficult to climb out.No matter how high the grades you get in class, if you do something worth announcing at dinner time, people will only think that you are competing with Harry Potter again.

But she thought she had figured out a way.

Something that didn't look like it was meant to be against Harry.

It will be difficult.

It would be against her character.

She will have to fight very evil people.

And seek help from more evil people.

Hermione raised her hand, ready to knock on that dreadful door.

She hesitated.

Realizing she was being stupid, she raised her hand a little higher.

She tried to knock on the door again.

Her hand failed to touch the door.

But the door was still open.

"My God," said the spider, sitting in his web, "Miss Granger, is it really so painful to lose a little Quirrell?"

Hermione stood there with her hands raised, her cheeks starting to flush.It really is that painful.

"Okay, Miss Granger, I'll be merciful," said the evil Professor Quirrell, "Just deduct the points. You see, this way you don't have to make such a painful decision, don't you thank me ?”

"Professor Quirrell," Hermione's voice trembled a little, "I have a lot of Quirrell points, right?"

"True," said Professor Quirrell, "but one point less than before. That's awful, isn't it? Come to think of it, if I don't like your reason for coming, you'll lose another fifty points. Maybe I can First deduct one point...then deduct one point...then deduct one point..."

Hermione blushed even more. "You are really evil, no one told you?"

"Miss Granger," said Professor Quirrell gravely, "it is dangerous to flatter someone so excessively. The other person may feel guilty and try to do something to deserve your compliment. You would like to speak to me, then. What, Miss Granger?"

---

After lunch on Thursday, Hermione and Harry retreated to a corner of the library.They cast a silence so that the two could talk.Harry was on his stomach, propped on his elbows, his head on his hands, his feet dangling in the air.Hermione was sitting in an ottoman that was too big for her, like Hermione inside a hard candy.

Harry suggested that they could read the titles of all the books first, and then Hermione read the table of contents.

Hermione thought it was a great idea.She'd never done that to a library.

But this plan has a small flaw.

—They are all Ravenclaws.

Hermione read a book called "Magical Memory".

Harry read "Questing Wizards".

Both felt that they would only make an exception once.They didn't realize that no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't read all the titles.

The quietness of this small corner was broken by two words.

"Oh, no!" Harry said suddenly, the words seemed to be squeezed out of him.

There was another silence.

"He's not," he said in the same tone.

Then Hermione heard him giggle involuntarily.

She raised her head.

"Okay," she said, "what's the matter?"

"I just realized why I couldn't ask the Weasleys about that mouse," said Harry. "Too bad. I shouldn't have laughed. I'm such a bad guy."

"Yeah," said Hermione solemnly, "you're the bad guy. Tell me."

"Okay, background first. There's a whole chapter in this book about the Sirius Black conspiracy theory. Do you remember who that was?"

"Of course," said Hermione.Sirius Black is a traitor.He is obviously a friend of James Potter, but he lured Voldemort to the magically protected residence of the Potter family.

"There was actually a lot—let's say anomalies—about Black's imprisonment. He wasn't tried; the undersecretary in charge when the Aurors arrested Black was Cornelius Fudge, who later Became our current Minister for Magic."

It sounded suspicious to Hermione too.That's all she said.

Still lying on the ground staring at the book, Harry shrugged. "Suspicious things happen all the time, and conspiracy theorists are always looking for clues."

"But not even a trial?" said Hermione.

"This happened right after the Dark Lord was defeated." Harry's voice was serious. "It was very chaotic. When the Aurors found Black, he was standing in a pool of blood up to his ankles, laughing. Twenty eyewitnesses gave detailed accounts of how he killed my father's friend Peter Pettigrew, as well as a dozen passers-by. I'm not saying I approve of Blake not being tried. But these people were wizards, so this Not much more suspicious than—for example, the stuff people bring up when they're arguing over who shot John F. Kennedy. Sirius Black is the Lee Harvey Oswald of the wizarding world anyway. Now there are There were a lot of conspiracy theories about who actually betrayed my parents, the most popular being Peter Pettigrew, and things got complicated from there."

Hermione listened intently. "But what does that have to do with the Weasleys' pet rat—"

"Wait a minute," said Harry, "I'll get to that right away. When Pettigrew died, it was discovered that he was an undercover agent for the Light—not a double agent, but a very good snooper. He's been good at this since he was a year old, even at Hogwarts he was known to be able to uncover all sorts of secrets. So in the conspiracy theory Pettigrew was an unregistered when he was still at Hogwarts Animagus, his transformation is some kind of small animal that can scurry around and eavesdrop on conversations. The key problem is that successful Animagus are very rare, and it is even more difficult for a teenager to succeed , so this conspiracy theory says that apparently my father and Blake are also unregistered Animagus. And in this conspiracy theory, Pettigrew himself kills a dozen bystanders and becomes his little Animagus form, and then start fleeing. However Michael Shermer[3] pointed out that there are four holes in this theory. First, Black is the only one other than my parents who knows how to pass the protective magic around their place (Harry's voice became grim as he said this.) "Second, Black is a more likely suspect than Pettigrew. It is said that Black tried to kill a Student, and he came from a very dirty pure-blood family, Bellatrix Black is his cousin. Third, Black is twenty times better than Pettigrew in combat, although IQ may be No. It's like Professor Quirrell vs. Professor Sprout. Pettigrew doesn't even have a chance to pull his own wand, let alone fake all those conspiracy theories. Four, Blake standing in the street laughing."

"But with rats—" said Hermione.

"Yes," said Harry, "well, to cut a long story short, Bill Weasley thought his brother Percy's pet rat was Pettigrew's Animagus form—"

Hermione's jaw dropped.

"Yeah," said Harry, "it's unlikely that you'd think that evil Pettigrew would live a miserable life as a sneaky pet rat in a hostile wizarding family. He should either be with the Malfoys, or more Possibly off to the Caribbean after plastic surgery. Anyway, Bill knocked out brother Percy, caught rats, owled all sorts of urgent messages—”

"Oh no!" said Hermione, her voice sounding like it was coming out of her.

"—and managed to get Dumbledore, the Minister for Magic and the Chief Auror—"

"No way!" said Hermione.

"Of course they thought he was crazy when they got there, but just in case, they used the Eye of Reality[4] on the mouse, and guess what they found?"

She almost died laughing. "That's a mouse."

"A cookie for you! So they dragged poor Bill Weasley to St. Mungo's with a pretty typical diagnosis of schizophrenia. It's not that rare, especially in our college age group over there. .He is a firm believer that he is 97 years old and has died once and returned to his younger self via the train station.Valium has worked for him and he is on the mend now and everything is back to normal but people don't talk much about Sirius Blake's conspiracy theories, and asking the Weasleys about pet rats has become taboo."

Hermione couldn't help giggling.this is too scary.She shouldn't have laughed.She is a bad person.

"What I don't understand," Harry said after they had finished laughing, "is why Black would go after Pettigrew instead of running away. He must have known the Aurors were after him. I didn't know they put him Did you ask the reason before being sent to Azkaban? Look, so even certain and certain criminals have to go through the judicial process and go through the trial."

Hermione had to agree.

Harry finished his book before long, and Hermione was only halfway through - hers was much harder, but she was still embarrassed.Then she had to put Magic Memory back on the shelf and reluctantly leave, because it was time to face the most terrifying lesson at Hogwarts.flying lessons.

Harry walked with her, even though his own class was an hour and a half away.The two are like a fighter jet escorting a sad little prop plane to its own funeral.

He whispered a sympathetic goodbye to her, and she walked onto the lawn that meant the end.

And then lots of screaming and nearly falling and a close brush with death and the earth not where it should be and the sun too harsh and Moraghi chattering and Mandy pretending to fly close to her implicitly before she falls When he caught her and the other students were actually laughing at them both but she didn't say anything to Mandy because she didn't want to die.

After 10 years the lesson is over, and she is back on the ground where she is supposed to be, and can stay until next Thursday.Sometimes every day is Thursday in her nightmares.

It was a complete mystery to Hermione why everyone had to learn this, when they grew up to be able to Apparate or Floo powder or Portkeys to go anywhere.No adult wizard has to ride a flying broomstick, it's like being forced to play dodgeball in gym class.

Luckily, Harry was very manly about being ashamed of himself for being good at flying lessons.

---

A few hours later, she was sitting in Hufflepuff's study room with Hannah, Susan, Lini and Megan.Professor Flitwick asked her, surprisingly shy for a teacher, if she might be willing to help the four students with their Charms homework, even though they were not Ravenclaw students.Hermione was about to explode with pride.

She took out a piece of parchment, sprinkled a little ink on it, tore it into four pieces, crumpled them up, and threw them on the table.

Actually crumpling would do, but these procedures just now make this thing more like garbage, which is helpful for those who are practicing the cleaning spell for the first time. [5]

Hermione opened her eyes wide and pricked up her ears, then said, "Okay, try it."

"Clean up the clutter."

"Clean up the clutter."

"Clean up the clutter."

"Clean up the clutter."

Hermione hadn't seen everything that was wrong yet. "Can you guys try again?"

An hour later Hermione came to the conclusion that 1) Lini and Megan were a bit careless, but if you told them to keep practicing, they would do it; 2) Hannah and Susan were very serious but anxious, so you had to keep making They slow down, relax, think about it instead of trying to keep trying - Hermione thinks it's kind of weird to think that the two of them will become her minions later; and 3) she likes to help Hufflepuff The atmosphere of the whole study room is very pleasant.

When she went to dinner, she saw the Boy Who Lived reading a book and waiting to accompany her.She felt a little smug, but also a little worried because Harry didn't seem to have spoken to anyone other than her.

"Did you know there's a Hufflepuff girl who's a Transformmagus?" said Hermione as they walked down the hall. "She made her hair really red, not the Weasley kind, but the parking lot." The red of the Yield sign. She turns into a black-haired boy when she spills hot tea on herself until she gets control of the situation again."

"Really? So handsome." Harry replied a little absent-mindedly, "Uh, Hermione, just ask, you know tomorrow is the last day to apply to join Professor Quirrell's army?"

"I know," said Hermione, "the evil Professor Quirrell's army." There was a hint of anger in her voice, though of course Harry didn't know why.

"Hermione," said Harry, sounding exasperated, "he's not evil. He's just a little dark and very Slytherin. It's not the same as evil."

Harry's problem is that his vocabulary is too rich.It would be much easier if he just divided the universe into good and evil. "Professor Quirrell called me out in front of the class to attack people!"

"He's right," Harry said gravely. "I'm sorry, Hermione, but he's right. You should attack me, and I don't mind. If you don't use real spells on real targets, you're You can't learn battle magic. And you're doing pretty well in duels now, aren't you?"

Hermione was only 12, so she knew, but couldn't articulate, and she couldn't find the words to convince Harry.

Professor Quirrell called a little girl up in front of everyone and made her attack her classmates for no reason.

It has nothing to do with whether Professor Quirrell is right or not.

Professor McGonagall would never do that.

Professor Flitwick would never do that.

Maybe not even Professor Snape.

Professor Quirrell is evil.

But she couldn't find the right words, and she knew Harry wouldn't believe her.

"Hermione, I've talked to the older students," said Harry. "Professor Quirrell is probably the only reliable defense professor we've had in seven years at Hogwarts. Other stuff Can take it later, but Defense is only for this year. Students who are involved in extra-curricular activities will learn a lot more than the Ministry of Magic thinks the first year should learn - did you know that we will learn the Patronus Charm in January?"

"Patronus Charm?" Hermione raised her voice in surprise.

She had read in books that it was the brightest magic known, capable of fighting the darkest creatures, and that it needed to be cast with the purest positive emotions.It hadn't occurred to her that the evil Professor Quirrell would teach—or arrange for them to learn it.Hermione couldn't imagine himself being able to use that spell at all.

"Yes," said Harry, "the average student doesn't start taking the Patronus Charm until at least fifth year, maybe even later! But Professor Quirrell said the Ministry's timetable is run by a group of talking Flo Bombyx decide, and the ability to cast a Patronus depends on emotion rather than magic. Professor Quirrell says he thinks most students are far from reaching their abilities, and this year he will prove it."

Harry always mentioned Professor Quirrell with this tone of awe and admiration.Hermione gritted her teeth and continued walking.

"Actually, I've already signed up." Hermione said softly. "I signed up this morning. The reason is what you just said."

As the saying goes, one does not do two things.

And she doesn't want to lose either.To win you have to learn.

"So you'll be in the army, too?" Harry suddenly became enthusiastic. "That would be great, Hermione! I've already made a list, but I'm sure Professor Quirrell will let me add one, or change— "

"I won't join your team." Hermione's voice was sharp.She knew it was a reasonable assumption, but she was angry nonetheless.

Harry blinked. "Not joining Draco Malfoy, of course. So you want to go to the third army? We don't know who the general is yet?!" Harry's tone was very surprised, and a little hurt.She couldn't blame him, although she did, because it was really his fault. "But why don't you come to me?"

"Think about it," snapped Hermione, "maybe you'll figure it out!"

Then she quickened her pace, leaving the stunned Harry behind.

---

"Professor Quirrell," said Draco in the most formal tone possible, "I must object to your appointment of Hermione Granger as the third General."

"Oh?" Professor Quirrell leaned on the chair leisurely and relaxed, "Go on, Mr. Malfoy."

"Granger doesn't fit the position," Draco said.

Professor Quirrell tapped his cheek with his fingers, thoughtfully. "Yes, she is not suitable. What else?"

"Professor Quirrell," said Harry Potter beside him, "despite Miss Granger's excellent academic talent and the many Quirrell points she has earned in your classes, she is not of the character for a military command. .”

Harry agreed to accompany Draco to Professor Quirrell's office, much to Draco's relief.And it's not just because Harry is Professor Quirrell's star student.Draco was also worried that Harry and Granger were really friends.It's been a while since the last time, and he still hasn't taken any action... that's about it.

"I agree with Mr Potter," said Draco, "making her a general would make the whole thing a farce."

"That's a harsh assessment," said Harry, "but I can't argue with it. Frankly, Professor Quirrell, Hermione Granger's willingness to kill is about as good as a bowl of washed grapes."

"This," said Professor Quirrell mildly, "is impossible for me not to have noticed. I already knew what you were talking about."

It was Draco's turn to speak, but the conversation came to a sudden halt.He and Harry hadn't considered this kind of answer before they came.What else can you say if the teacher says he knows everything you know and is still ready to make an obvious mistake?

The silence was prolonged.

"Is this some kind of conspiracy?" Harry asked slowly.

"Must everything I do be a conspiracy?" said Professor Quirrell. "Can't I create chaos just for chaos' sake now and then?"

Draco didn't come up in one breath.

"You wouldn't do that in your Battle Magic class," said Harry calmly and firmly. "It might be possible elsewhere, but not here."

Professor Quirrell raised his eyebrows slowly.

Harry looked back at him firmly.

Draco shuddered.

"Well," said Professor Quirrell, "you don't seem to have considered a very simple question. If not Miss Granger, who should I appoint?"

"Brace Zabini," Draco said without hesitation.

"Any other suggestions?" Professor Quirrell asked with great interest.

The names of Anthony Goldstein and Ernie MacMillan flashed through his mind, and then Draco's common sense returned, ruling out Muggle-borns and Hufflepuffs, no matter how aggressive they might be in a duel .So Draco just said, "Why not Zabini?"

"I see..." Harry said slowly.

"I haven't," Draco said. "What's wrong with Zabini?"

Professor Quirrell looked at Draco. "Because, Mr. Malfoy, no matter how hard he tries, he can't keep up with you and Mr. Potter."

Shock swept over Draco. "You don't think Granger could—"

"He's betting on her," Harry said quietly. "It's not guaranteed to win, and the odds aren't even good. She may never be able to fight us decently. And if she finally does, she may have to use it." Going to school for a few months. But she's the only one in this grade who has any hope of beating us."

Draco's hand twitched, but didn't close into a fist.Showing up as a supporter and then dropping out is a classic destructive tactic.So Harry Potter and Granger are on one side, and that means—

"But Professor," Harry continued, "I'm worried that Hermione would make a bad general. I say this as a friend of hers, Professor Quirrell. This contest might be good for Draco and me , but what you let her do is not good for her!"

I didn't think so.

"Your friendship with Hermione Granger is convincing," said Professor Quirrell coldly, "especially since you are also friends with Draco Malfoy. Quite a feat."

Harry suddenly looked a little nervous.This means that he is actually very nervous.Draco cursed inwardly.Harry's cleverness obviously cannot escape the eyes of Professor Quirrell.

"And I doubt that Miss Granger will appreciate your concern out of friendship." Professor Quirrell said, "She asked me for this position, Mr. Potter. I didn't offer it to her."

Harry was silent for a moment.Then he glanced at Draco with a mixture of apology and warning: "Sorry, I tried my best" and "We'd better call it a day".

"As for her level," Professor Quirrell went on, with a slight smile on his lips, "I suspect that she will be much more relaxed in that demanding position than you think, and she is evenly matched with you." It will take much less time than you think."

Harry and Draco gaped in horror.

"You're not going to instruct her, are you?" Draco was completely petrified.

"I didn't sign up to fight you!" said Harry.

Professor Quirrell smiled even more happily. "In fact, I did say that I wanted to give some advice to Miss Granger's first few battles."

"Professor Quirrell!" Harry yelled.

"Oh, don't worry," said Professor Quirrell. "As I expected, she rejected me."

Draco narrowed his eyes.

"My God, Mr. Potter," said Professor Quirrell, "didn't anyone ever tell you that it's rude to stare?"

"You're not going to secretly help her in some other way?" said Harry.

"Would I do that?" said Professor Quirrell.

"Yes." Draco and Harry said in unison.

"I'm very hurt by your mistrust. Well, I promise not to help General Granger in any way that you two don't know about. Now, I suggest that you take care of military affairs. November is coming, and the time is not up." Wait."

---

Draco knew what that meant before they left Professor Quirrell's office.

Harry has expressed disdain for "the relationship thing".

And now it was Draco's only hope.

Don't let him find out, don't let him find out...

"We should attack that Granger first and get her out of the way," Draco said. "After we've knocked her out, we can go on with our own game without interruption."

"Isn't that fair to her?" said Harry gently.

"What does that have to do with you?" Draco said. "She's your match." Then, a tinge of disbelief blew into his voice just the right amount. "Don't tell me you're really starting to like her after being her rival for so long..."

"Founders don't," Harry said, "what can I say, Draco? I just have a natural sense of justice. And you know, Granger does too. She has very strong ideas about good and evil, And she's likely to attack the evil side first. Being 'Malfoy' is a taunt on her, you know."

Damn!

"Harry," Draco's voice was a little hurt, but also a hint of arrogance, "don't you want to fight me fairly?"

"Are you saying not to attack you when you've lost your army after defeating Granger?" Harry said. "Well, hard to say. Maybe I'll try this 'fairness' after I'm bored after winning."

"Maybe she'll attack you first," Draco said. "You're her match."

"But I'm her friendly rival." Harry smiled wickedly. "I bought her great birthday presents and things like that. No one goes out there to set up your friendly rival like that."

"Is it okay to destroy the chance of a fair confrontation with friends?!" Draco was very angry, "I still think of us as friends!"

"Let me put it another way," said Harry, "Granger isn't going to spoil a friendly rivalry, but that's because she's about as willing to kill as a bowl of washed grapes. You will. You absolutely will. And guess what? Me too."

damn it!

---

If this is a play, this is the moment for exciting music.

The protagonist, dressed in a green-trimmed robe and meticulously combed platinum-blonde hair, makes a perfect appearance to face the villain.

The villain is leaning on the back of a simple wooden chair, her front teeth can be clearly seen, her curly chestnut hair hangs down her face, facing the protagonist.

It's Wednesday, October 10th.The first fight is the following Sunday.

Draco was standing in the office of Granger's army.The office is the size of a small classroom. (Draco doesn't quite understand why the general's office is so big. A set of desks and chairs is enough for him. He doesn't even know why the army needs an office. His people know where to find him. Unless Professor Quirrell Giving them huge offices on purpose, as a status symbol. Draco is all for it.)

At the other end of the office, Granger was sitting on the only chair in the room, as if it was her throne.There was a long table between them and four small round tables in the corner, but there was only one chair at the end of the office.Several windows lined one wall, and a beam of sunlight fell on Granger's hair like a glowing crown.

The scene would be perfect if Draco could walk across in a slow, straight line.But the long table was in the way, so he had to go around, thus losing the sense of solemnity in the play.Did she do it on purpose?If it was his father, it must have been on purpose; but this was Granger, so obviously not.

He had nowhere to sit, and Granger didn't get up.

Draco was furious, but his face didn't show a trace.

"Well, Mr. Draco Malfoy," Granger said, when he reached her, "I graciously grant you an audience. What do you want?"

Come with me on a visit to Malfoy Manor, my father and I would like to show you some interesting spells.

"Your opponent Potter made a proposal to me." Draco made a serious expression, "He doesn't mind losing to me, but if you win, he will lose his face. So he wants to fight I will cooperate and knock you out first, not only in the first battle, but in all battles. If I refuse, Potter wants me to stand by or harass you, and he will attack you with all his strength from the beginning."

"I see," Granger said, somewhat surprised, "and you're going to help me against him?"

"Of course." Draco said tactfully, "I don't think he's being fair to you like this."

"Ah, you're so kind, Mr. Malfoy," Granger said. "I apologize for my previous attitude. We should be friends. May I call you Dede?"

Alarm bells were ringing in Draco's head, but in case she really meant that...

"Of course," Draco said, "then I'll call you Hehe too."

Draco was pretty sure her expression wavered a bit.

"All in all," said Draco, "I think Potter deserved to be knocked out by the two of us."

"But that's not fair to Mr. Potter, is it?" Granger said.

"I think it's quite fair," Draco said. "He plotted against you first."

Granger gave him a stern look.If he had been a Hufflepuff instead of Malfoy, he would have been intimidated. "You think I'm stupid, don't you, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco flashed a charming smile. "Of course not, Miss Granger, but I think it wouldn't hurt to try. So, what do you want?"

"Are you going to bribe me?" Granger said.

"Exactly," said Draco. "Can I give you a Galleon so that you'll spend the next year on Potter instead of me?"

"No," Granger said, "but you can give me ten Galleons so that I can attack you with the same strength instead of just one."

"Ten Galleons is a lot of money," Draco said cautiously.

"I've never heard of the Malfoys being poor," Granger said.

Draco stared at Granger.

He began to have a strange feeling.

He didn't expect this girl to give him this answer.

"Well," Draco said, "you know, you can't get rich by wasting money."

"Mr. Malfoy, I don't know if you've heard of a dentist. But both my parents are dentists, and less than ten Galleons is not worth my time negotiating."

"Three Galleons." Draco tentatively asked.

"No," Granger said, "unless you don't want a fair fight at all, I don't believe a Malfoy would think a fair fight isn't worth ten Galleons."

Draco started to have a very strange feeling.

"No." Draco said.

"No?" Granger said. "This is a limited-time offer, Mr. Malfoy. Are you sure you want to risk being beaten for a year by the Boy Who Lived? It would make the Malfoy family pretty miserable." save face