Kael and Conna were chatting while walking toward the castle, and as they passed the grounds, they happened upon Hagrid, who was delivering fir trees to the castle.
"Finished with classes?" Hagrid poked his head out from the branches and grinned, "Go take a look at the Auditorium, it's truly marvelous."
"No rush," Kael walked over to him, glanced at the fir tree, and asked, "Are there more? We can help you carry them."
"Thanks, but this is the last one," Hagrid winked at Kael, "I haven't forgotten about Christmas this year."
"Forget Christmas?" Conna asked confused, "How could you forget Christmas... I mean, last year's Auditorium was beautifully decorated.
I saw those Christmas trees, twelve in all, just like the one you're holding now."
"Yes, because of some reason... it was quite awful," Hagrid stammered, "But luckily, with Kael's help, we made it in time."
Hagrid found the memory loss too embarrassing, and didn't want too many people to know this piece of dark history, so he brushed it off after a couple of vague remarks.
Fortunately, Conna didn't ask more questions.
The group entered the castle together, but had only taken a couple of steps when Hagrid suddenly stopped.
Just as Kael was wondering, Harry and Ron's voices came from ahead.
"Hey, Hagrid, need a hand?"
"Where's this big tree going?"
"No need, I can handle it, thanks, Ron." Hagrid turned his head, poking it out from among the branches.
"Could you move aside, you're in the way," came Draco Malfoy's cold, drawling voice from behind them, "Are you trying to earn some pocket money, Weasley? Let me guess, you hope to be guarding the hunting grounds after graduating from Hogwarts?"
Ron's face turned bright red, clenching his fists, he turned around angrily, as if ready to punch Malfoy's troublesome face.
Crabbe and Goyle stepped forward voluntarily.
Malfoy wasn't scared, in fact, he was even more delighted, but just as he was about to say more...
"I think you should apologize to Ron, Draco, and stop dragging out your words, it makes you sound very mean."
"Who... dare meddle in my affairs!"
Malfoy frowned, looking displeased behind Hagrid.
He wanted to see who was so bold, daring to make him apologize to Weasley... and accusing him of being mean in front of Harry Potter?
That drawling speech was something he learned from Professor Snape; calling him mean was tantamount to calling Professor Snape mean!
Had enough of living?
"Crabbe, Goyle, give me..."
But upon recognizing the speaker, Malfoy suddenly paused, his tone changing abruptly, "... give our friend Kael some snacks."
He hadn't expected Kael to be there, let alone that girl... seemingly called Conna Prince.
Malfoy remembered that a week ago, Marcus from the Quidditch team had been taken away for detention by Professor Snape for calling her Kael's tag-along during a meal.
After dealing with Flobberworms in the dungeon for three days.
Malfoy previously wasn't sure if the detention was related to that girl, so he investigated.
Only to find out that Professor Snape awarded points to this Hufflepuff girl in every class.
Just being cautious would be wise.
Nearby, Crabbe and Goyle, having rolled up their sleeves, suddenly froze upon hearing the latter part of the sentence, swiftly covering their pockets.
"No snacks left, Draco."
"Yeah, yeah, we've eaten them all."
"You guys..." Malfoy was infuriated.
Most of the premium candy from his dad had ended up in Crabbe and Goyle's pockets, and now they claimed there were none left?
And that gesture of covering their pockets, did they think everyone else was a fool?
"Hand them over quickly..."
Feeling embarrassed in front of others, Malfoy said unhappily, "Or else I won't give you any next time."
With crestfallen faces, Crabbe and Goyle reluctantly took out one candy each, shivering as they handed them over.
"You guys..."
This stinginess made Malfoy's face even more sullen, as he stepped forward, grabbed a handful of candy from each, and turned to stuff them into Kael's hands.
Crabbe and Goyle, as if struck by a Petrification Spell, stood there with mouths agape, eyes dimmed and lifeless.
The moment Malfoy took the candy, it felt like the sky was falling for them.
"Thanks, Draco..."
Kael said with a smile, casually taking what was left from Crabbe and Goyle's hands as well.
"Thanks to you too, Crabbe, Goyle... oh, Screaming Mint, I just happened to want this."
"Oh!" Crabbe shrieked, nearly fainting.
As for Goyle... he had already fainted when Kael took his final candy.
Malfoy didn't care about these two disgraceful minions anymore. He tidied his clothes, smiled, and stepped forward saying, "Nice to see you here, Kael.
Oh, and Miss Prince, nice to meet you, I'm Draco Malfoy from Slytherin."
"Hello." Conna greeted, but said no more.
She's always like that with strangers.
"Actually, I was just about to look for you, Draco," Kael stepped forward and took out a Snake-Shaped Bracelet, transparent and glowing with a shimmering green.
"This is what you asked for earlier; I've taken the liberty of engraving the Malfoy family crest on it. What do you think? If you're not satisfied, I can revise it."
"Satisfied... definitely satisfied!"
Malfoy initially wanted to quickly send Kael away, but upon seeing the item in Kael's hands, he immediately forgot about Harry.
The bracelet was even more beautiful, grand, and exquisite than he had imagined, especially the Malfoy family crest on the snake's body; he couldn't get enough of it.
"How much for the extra engraving? I'll pay now."
"No need, Draco, the hundred Galleons you paid earlier is enough," Kael smiled, "as our regular customer, it's an extra gift."
"Thank you... this is amazing!"
"Aren't you going to the pitch to try it out?" Kael suggested with a smile.
"Ah, right..." Malfoy then realized, not caring about Crabbe and Goyle nearby, hurrying towards the Quidditch Pitch.
Only after he left the castle did the others come to their senses.
"Kael... you actually get along well with Malfoy..." Ron said incredulously, "He's a Slytherin."