Gryffindor was back as a trio.
Draco, on the other hand, was still alone. Goyle and Crabbe could be relied upon to beat people up, but for delicate matters requiring skill and discretion, they were useless. Solim had made it clear that he had no interest in this particular matter. Draco could only handle it by himself, but he threw himself into it completely. People naturally devote their energy to what interests them, and Draco was no exception.
At this point, it was obvious that Draco was not a fully qualified Slytherin. He invested immense effort into a task that was unlikely to succeed and did all the work himself. This approach was clearly far removed from the cunning methods of his father. It was often said that the Malfoys were never found at the scene of a crime, though the wand used in the act might bear their fingerprints. Draco, however, was diverging from that legacy.
He approached the task boldly and openly, moving forward with Gryffindor-like courage. But this approach was not suitable for him, and, predictably, he failed.
On Saturday night, after hours, Draco—who had neither an Invisibility Cloak nor Disillusionment Charms—was caught red-handed by Professor McGonagall on his way to the Astronomy Tower. She grabbed him by the ear, preparing to take him to Professor Snape, when Harry and Ron, hiding around the corner, witnessed the scene. They laughed and taunted Draco, but before they could enjoy their victory, Filch appeared.
The two, who had left their invisibility cloak at the top of the tower, were caught without any suspense. This time, Neville and Hermione had nothing to do with it. The cloak could barely cover three people, and if they wanted to move, only two could hide. Neville, being an insider, had no reason to inform Harry and Ron about Draco.
The next day, Gryffindor was deducted 100 points. Hermione was in a daze, but luckily, it was Sunday, giving her time to piece together the events. After Harry recounted the previous night's escapades, Hermione felt she had little reason left to scold the boys. The one relief was that they had not brought the dragon into the castle—if they had, she could not imagine the disaster.
With the dragon safely gone, Hermione no longer cared about the punishment awaiting Harry and Ron. In her eyes, they had earned it. By noon, the news of their night adventure spread throughout Gryffindor, and the 100-point deduction left Harry and Ron in a difficult position.
Seniors and fellow students either sneered or stared coldly at them. With the semester nearing its end, the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup competitions in full swing, Gryffindor's 100-point deduction put the house at a significant disadvantage—all because of two reckless first-years.
In contrast, Draco fared much better. Some Slytherins were upset over a fifty-point deduction against their house, but they kept their dissatisfaction private. Gryffindor's misfortune had only made Slytherin seniors gloat more. Malfoy, representing an iconic Slytherin family, was well-protected. The following semester, Draco's sponsorship of the U.S. Quidditch team with seven Nimbus brooms would shield him from any criticism.
Over breakfast, Draco informed Solim about his upcoming detention, showing him the note from Professor McGonagall.
"What am I supposed to do with Filch in the foyer at night? Shouldn't it be in Professor Snape's office?" Draco asked.
"Your detention begins tonight at eleven. Find Filch in the foyer," Solim read aloud, returning the note. He knew Draco would end up in the Forbidden Forest that night. Though it seemed dangerous, Solim knew the actual risk was minimal.
Solim was curious about unicorns, having never seen one in person. The magical creatures were extremely valuable—especially their horns, which could be used in high-end wands, potions, and alchemy. On the black market, an adult unicorn horn could fetch 200 to 300 Galleons. Of course, this was contraband, requiring special authorization from the Ministry of Magic. Though Solim was motivated by curiosity and profit, he had no tools or plans for unicorn acquisition at this time and recognized that adding complications here would be unwise.
"Don't worry about tonight. Be honest," Solim advised, wanting to warn Draco before anything went wrong.
Solim was aware of Mr. Fu's current state, though he had never seen him in person. He had no intention of meeting Voldemort. Besides, what could one gain from observing the fallen Dark Lord? Even if Draco encountered him, he could not openly seek an autograph or acknowledgement. Solim knew it was better for Draco to make his own judgments rather than be dazzled by idolization.
"Be obedient tonight. Don't cause trouble. I warned you," Solim said, glancing at Draco before leaving.
Draco hurried after him. "Do you know something?" he asked. "You always know something I don't."
Solim said nothing. He couldn't reveal that Draco would soon face his idol, Voldemort, and it was better for Draco to figure things out on his own. Solim believed it was important for Draco to recognize Voldemort for what he truly was—a poor role model spreading negative energy that could hinder young wizards' growth.
Although Lucius Malfoy had been a Death Eater, he hadn't been entirely willing to serve Voldemort blindly. His influence on Draco had, however, instilled a certain admiration for the Dark Lord. Solim, having observed Draco in Slytherin, knew him well. Draco was cocky, ambitious, and from a prestigious family, but his soul had not yet been corrupted. He had potential for greatness, if only he did not squander it.
Given Neville's recent growth, Solim felt Draco, too, needed guidance and a subtle shift in perspective.
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