Chapter 103: Dragon Materials Gift Package, Is Malfoy Worthy of Your Friendship?
Outside Hagrid's hut.
When Leonardo didn't respond, Malfoy gritted his teeth and snapped open the box, revealing its contents.
There were bottles and jars, smaller and more ornate silver boxes, and what appeared to be a book lining the bottom of the display.
"This is a horn from a Romanian Longhorn. This is the skin from a Swedish Short-Snout. This is a scale from an Australian Opaleye."
Malfoy introduced the materials with practiced ease. His father had provided him with information about each one, but Malfoy was also a dragon enthusiast and knew their details intimately.
"Oh, and there's also this."
Malfoy carefully opened the ornate silver box.
"This is a complete heart from a Hungarian Horntail!"
After Malfoy finished his explanation, Leonardo asked, "Does your family run a dragon breeding operation?"
Through the Peeking Fiend's Eye before the box opened, Leonardo had already sensed several concentrations of magical energy similar to dragon heartstring. He'd guessed the gift would contain dragon materials, but Malfoy's specific inventory still surprised him slightly.
These were the most precious parts harvested from those dragons.
For example, the Australian Opaleye's scales displayed a mesmerizing rainbow iridescence. Whether used as luxury decoration or ground into powder for potions and alchemy, they held considerable value.
The most precious and rarest item was the Hungarian Horntail's heart. That dragon was renowned as the most dangerous of all fire-drakes. To obtain a complete heart in such pristine condition...
Leonardo glanced at the ornate silver box. The heart was preserved in excellent condition.
It looked remarkably similar to the one in Snape's office.
Perhaps it was a gift Lucius had sent to Snape?
"Dragon operations, yes. My family has stakes in breeding facilities in Britain, Australia, South America."
"We hold shares in dragon farms across those regions."
Malfoy said this with pride, almost lifting his chin, but then caught himself, remembering his previous interactions with Leonardo, and consciously restrained the gesture.
Leonardo nodded in understanding. No wonder Malfoy could produce so many materials at once. Most ordinary wizards or families would need considerable time to gather such a collection.
It made sense. Leonardo had read that the Malfoy family crest featured a dragon. It was likely a generational business.
"Malfoy, there's no need for such an elaborate apology."
Leonardo spoke calmly, showing no sudden shift in attitude despite the gift's high value. From his perspective, their supposed conflict had been nothing more than childish theatrics. He'd never taken it seriously, hadn't even expected Malfoy to apologize personally, much less with such a gift.
"No, no, this isn't just an apology. A Malfoy's friend deserves such respect."
"Friend?"
"Yes, friend. There's an Oriental saying: 'No friendship without a fight.'"
Leonardo looked at Malfoy with slight surprise. The Oriental wisdom in the boy's words was delivered flawlessly, as if he'd lived by such principles his entire life.
"Leonardo, I quite like the meaning of that saying. Through sparring and dueling, we understand each other better and become friends."
Leonardo nodded slightly, his tone softening. "It is a true saying. Have you studied Oriental culture?"
Sensing Leonardo's shift, Malfoy silently congratulated himself. Father had been right. Leonardo truly did have an interest in Oriental traditions. His letters had mentioned that Leonardo had taken a particular interest in Oriental culture, inquiring about unusual ingredients and preparation methods with the house-elves.
Leonardo's question prompted Malfoy to recall his father's other instructions. First: even when emphasizing pride and face, it was to make his eventual humility more meaningful. Second: toward intelligent and powerful people, one must show genuine sincerity.
"My family provided education in that area. I thought you might have an interest in Oriental culture, so I thought of mentioning it this way."
Malfoy's answer made Leonardo's eyes narrow slightly with interest.
Malfoy believed Leonardo had an interest in Oriental traditions. This assumption didn't come from nowhere. What Oriental-related things had Leonardo revealed?
His inquiries to the house-elves, certainly. That wasn't hard to discover with a simple question to a house-elf.
But it was thoughtful of Malfoy to have bothered learning about him.
Or perhaps it wasn't Malfoy's idea at all. Maybe his parents had coached him?
"Malfoy, did you think of this yourself, or?"
"My father instructed me. He's a school governor and knows what happens at Hogwarts."
"Father told me to befriend you, to be sincere, humble, and show good faith."
Malfoy's direct honesty made Leonardo almost laugh out loud.
Swinging from one extreme to another, were we?
"If you showed this sincerity and humility to everyone, you'd have befriended them already."
"Befriended whom?"
Malfoy looked at Leonardo with confusion, not understanding who the "them" referred to.
Leonardo simply shook his head and withdrew the book from the bottom of the box instead.
"This book is also part of the apology?"
"No," Malfoy replied, shaking his head. "That's my tuition fee."
"I heard from Father that Potter studies potions with you. I'd like to study as well."
After hesitating, Malfoy continued, "Besides, I think it will strengthen our friendship."
Potter's studying with me? That information likely came from Snape. Lucius and Snape were close, and Snape knew about Leonardo's tutoring.
Leonardo examined the book's cover and read the title: "Divination and Inspiration."
Divination-related, inspiration? Intuition for avoiding misfortune, or something else?
It didn't seem to be a family grimoire, at least not a Malfoy one. For families of that caliber, luxury and appearance came first. The binding should be made of dragon leather, with the text written in gold leaf and decorative gems set into the edges.
This must be a rare acquisition from the family's collection. If it sat alongside dragon materials, its value couldn't be low.
Leonardo ran his fingers across the book's cover and asked his final question: "Is all this really necessary?"
Hearing this, Malfoy's eyes lit up with hope, and he immediately said, "Of course. A Malfoy is always the friend of the strong."
"Leonardo, do I have the honor of earning your friendship?"
Malfoy no longer displayed the arrogance of their last encounter. He'd repositioned himself properly.
In his father's letter, Lucius had emphasized: befriending the strong was worthwhile, but becoming friends with future strong people was better. When you identify someone with genuine potential, provide them with "investment." Don't fear loss. The Malfoy family doesn't lack capital.
And the final line of his father's letter, which Malfoy had never forgotten:
Trust your own judgment. Trust the judgment that has passed through Malfoy's blood for generations.
Leonardo smiled slightly, thinking: This attitude. Not everyone could manage being a fence-sitter. Lucius, the head of the Malfoy family, truly had a gift for navigating between both sides. Draco was his son indeed.
"Alright then, come inside and have dinner with us."