Harry Potter seethed with anger. "Malfoy!"
Having spent his childhood enduring his aunt and uncle's taunts, he recognized mockery when he heard it. And Malfoy wasn't just being arrogant—he was deliberately targeting him.
Around them, a crowd of young wizards had gathered, many of whom were not of pure-blood lineage. Malfoy's words had ignited their collective outrage. Yet, he remained as insufferably smug as ever, reveling in the attention.
Then, Lin Mei stepped forward. "Indeed, my parents aren't pure-blood wizards."
Malfoy's smirk widened, his expression practically screaming: See? I was right!
"But in the Dragon Kingdom, we don't believe in something as absurd as bloodline superiority. Do you know why?" Lin Mei's voice was calm, yet firm.
Momentarily caught off guard, Malfoy blinked before scoffing. "Why?"
Lin Mei looked at him with cool disdain. "Because in the Dragon Kingdom, if you were to grab a random person off the street, their ancestors could very well have been emperors or marquises. If blood determined worth, then the entire country would be in chaos. What we value is ability and character. 'Heroes are not judged by their lineage.'" She paused, letting her words settle. "Malfoy, do you really think that being 'pure-blooded' makes you superior? Here, worth is determined by one's own efforts."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd. Many of the young wizards, long accustomed to discrimination, looked at Lin Mei with admiration. Malfoy's triumphant smirk had vanished, his face twisting in irritation.
"Hmph! What a convenient excuse. You people from the Dragon Kingdom just want to cover up the inferiority of your bloodline!" His voice, though defiant, wavered slightly.
Lin Mei sneered. "In the Dragon Kingdom, the only time we concern ourselves with bloodlines is when choosing pedigree dogs."
A stunned silence fell over the crowd. Malfoy's face turned red, and the tension in the air thickened. Every young wizard held their breath, waiting to see how he would respond.
"You… what do you mean?!" Malfoy stammered, his voice shaking with rage.
Lin Mei smiled—a slow, knowing smile. "I mean that in my culture, we value inner strength and capability over something as arbitrary as lineage. Bloodline might determine a dog's appearance or temperament, but for humans? It's irrelevant."
Malfoy's eyes widened as realization dawned. Lin Mei had just likened his 'pure-blood' ideology to breeding dogs. His anger boiled over.
"You—!"
With a sharp motion, Malfoy yanked out his wand, aiming it directly at Lin Mei.
But before he could utter a single spell, Lin Mei vanished.
In the blink of an eye, she reappeared behind him, draping an arm casually over Malfoy's shoulder while gripping Crabbe and Goyle tightly. The three of them were pressed together, caught in her grasp.
Leaning in close, she whispered into Malfoy's ear, her voice low and laced with mischief. "Honestly, with my temperament, I'd fit right in with Slytherin. You'd better hope the Sorting Hat doesn't put me there... or else."
No one else heard her words, but the effect was immediate. Malfoy turned deathly pale, his bravado crumbling in an instant.
"Mr. Malfoy! Put your wand away at once!" Professor McGonagall's sharp voice cut through the tension. "Do you want to be expelled before you even start at Hogwarts?"
Malfoy hastily lowered his wand, his face burning with humiliation. But McGonagall said nothing to Lin Mei.
Perhaps, just perhaps, the professor had witnessed something worth acknowledging. Lin Mei's words and actions had left an undeniable impact—not just on Malfoy, but on every young wizard present. She had delivered a powerful lesson: at Hogwarts, it wasn't blood that determined one's worth.
It was strength, intelligence, and character.
Professor McGonagall's sharp gaze moved between Lin Mei and Malfoy before settling on Malfoy's trembling hand. Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. "Mr. Malfoy, remember this: Hogwarts is a school built on tolerance and inclusion. We welcome all students with talent and potential, but we will never condone violence or discrimination. I expect you to reflect on your actions."
Malfoy's face twisted with humiliation. Slowly, he lowered his wand, his expression a mix of resentment and fear. He knew he had crossed a line—one that could have led to dire consequences had Lin Mei not shown restraint.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself before mumbling, "Yes, Professor."
Satisfied, Lin Mei released her hold on Malfoy and his lackeys, stepping back into the crowd with effortless composure. His expression returned to calm neutrality, but in his bright eyes, there was an unmistakable glint—one that silently declared he was not someone to be trifled with.
The surrounding students exchanged glances, the atmosphere thick with unspoken thoughts. Some admired Lin Mei's courage and wit, while others regarded Malfoy's arrogance and impulsiveness with disdain.
Professor McGonagall took one last look around and, seeing that order had been restored, cleared her throat. "All right, children, we have much to do. Please compose yourselves and follow me to the Great Hall for the welcoming feast. There, you will officially become members of Hogwarts and embark on your magical journey."
At her words, the first-years gathered their belongings and emotions before following her toward the castle. Lin Mei walked at a leisurely pace, soon finding himself alongside Harry Potter and his two companions.
"That was brilliant, Lin Mei!" Ron Weasley grinned, his eyes alight with excitement. "If Malfoy ever tries to pull that pure-blood nonsense again, I bet everyone will just think of him as a pet! Oh, by the way, I'm Ron Weasley. Just call me Ron!"
Ron's enthusiasm was infectious. He had clearly enjoyed the confrontation and almost wished he had been the one to stand up to Malfoy.
Lin Mei glanced at the red-haired, blue-eyed boy with a smattering of freckles and extended his hand politely. "Nice to meet you, Ron."
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