Snape gave Harry a deep look and tacitly agreed to Dumbledore's proposal.
Seeing no objections, Dumbledore asked, "I must say, altercations on the train during the start of school are quite common. I've already heard Draco's side. Now, I'd like to hear what happened from your perspective."
"But... but Malfoy was on the train the whole time. How did he..." Ron's face turned red. He never expected that Draco would play the villain and make the first complaint.
Draco pulled a mirror out from his pocket, displaying a smug smile.
"A Two-Sided Mirror, my father gave it to me before school started," Draco boasted, shaking the mirror in his hand. "You see, Weasley, you have to admit that some wizard families are just different. My father can give me the best—"
Hearing Draco's taunt, Ron's face turned even redder.
"Mr. Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall said sternly, "Please stick to the topic at hand."
Draco wasn't afraid of Professor McGonagall's warning. Instead, he raised his eyebrows provocatively at the three.
On the way here, Harry had been thinking hard about how to make sure that Malfoy's schemes would backfire on him.
He had heard about it on the train too. Malfoy's father, Old Malfoy, was a board governor of Hogwarts. His words certainly carried weight at the school. It might be difficult for the school to protect them, a group of students with no backing.
Now, seeing that Professor McGonagall was being impartial, Harry decided to approach the situation from her angle.
He had heard before that Professor McGonagall was the head of Gryffindor College, and his parents had also been from Gryffindor.
His parents were the head boy and girl, which meant they must have been Professor McGonagall's prized students.
He could guess about the other professors. That chubby witch with the herbs on her must be the head of Hufflepuff; as for the oily-haired professor's earlier reactions, he must be the head of Slytherin.
He didn't expect to sway the head of Slytherin, but he could try to win over the other heads.
So...
"Professor, I have something to say," Harry suddenly spoke up.
"Speak, Harry," Dumbledore gave him an encouraging look.
Professor McGonagall also nodded at him. Harry felt more settled and began to speak: "Sorry, Professor, actually on the train, we didn't want to engage with Malfoy. But after he found out Hermione came from a Muggle family, he used that term..."
"What term?" Professor McGonagall's face looked grim; she could already guess what it was.
"It was... Mudblood, Professor," Harry pinched his own hand with his nails, pretending to be pitiful. "I'm sorry, I don't know what it means, but I once heard my aunt say my mom cried for a long time when she came home during one holiday because someone at school said the same thing to her, calling her a 'stinky little...'"
"Is that true, Mr. Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall asked sternly.
There was no denying that teachers have a natural authority over students. Clearly intimidated by Professor McGonagall, Draco had to lower his head and reply, "Yes."
Harry felt more assured. He raised his head to look at the head of Slytherin, not expecting the professor was already looking at him.
"Enough!" Snape said coldly.
Was he going to defend Malfoy? Harry wasn't surprised. Being the head of Slytherin, it was understandable for him to side with Malfoy.
"Mr. Malfoy, is this what you call Pure Blood manners? I truly wish Mr. Malfoy and Lady Malfoy could see what kind of son they've raised—"
At this, Snape paused and returned to his expressionless demeanor.
"After the sorting, your house will be deducted twenty points!"
Harry was astonished. He had thought that this head was hard to get along with, yet now he found Snape to be quite decent.
Cold outside, warm inside, truly Slytherin orthodoxy.
Not only was Harry surprised, but Ron was also so shocked his mouth opened wide.
At home, he had heard more than once that the Bat of Slytherin never took points from his own house. Not just Fred and George said so, but even Percy, the model student, agreed…
What on earth was happening today?
However, the professors present seemed not a bit surprised. Professor McGonagall gave Draco a deep look before saying, "Since Dean Snape has already punished you, I will not. Remember, Mr. Malfoy, this word is absolutely banned at Hogwarts!"
Draco hung his head, staring dejectedly at the floor.
He never expected that the head of Slytherin would be the first to punish him.
"Additionally, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall looked at Harry, "standing up for a friend is commendable, but we do not encourage the use of evil curses on classmates."
Got it.
Harry understood immediately. Professor McGonagall just said it wasn't encouraged, but she didn't say it was prohibited.
"Yes, Professor." Harry bowed deeply to the professors present. "Apologies for causing trouble to all the professors on the first day of school. That was our fault."
"Alright, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall's stern face showed a trace of a smile, "return to the hall with your friends, the sorting ceremony is about to begin."
Harry led the still-floating Hermione and Ron in saying goodbye to the professors, then turned to walk out of the room.
"What a polite child," Professor McGonagall folded her hands. "I think she really is like Lily..."
"Indeed, Minerva," Dumbledore nodded knowingly. He glanced at the expressionless Snape and said, "Let's go, the sorting ceremony should also be starting."
Once Harry and the others returned to the hall, they were immediately surrounded by young wizards.
"Heavens, what did you do? Are you alright?" Neville asked with concern.
"We're fine," Ron patted his chest, "the professors didn't trouble us at all. Look, we're back for the sorting, aren't we?"
His relaxed demeanor was a far cry from his earlier worry about being expelled.
"Do you think this ends here, Weasley?" Draco's voice sounded from behind. "Our paths are long!"
Seeing Ron about to retort, Hermione quickly pulled him back.
"Ignore him, Ron," Hermione advised. "He's provoking you to catch you out!"
"Oh, you're right." With his external brain linked, Ron's smart wit reclaimed the high ground.