Pansy picked up a Golden Snitch cookie and examined it thoughtfully. "Your mother's cooking is truly excellent."
Daphne's face flushed slightly with pleasure. "Thank you."
Henry selected a small star cookie, took a bite, and savored the flavors of honey and nuts, sweet but not cloying. "Delicious," he affirmed with a nod.
Daphne's eyes lit with unmistakable joy.
Draco reclined on the sofa, holding a glass of juice that Pansy had poured for him, his expression thoughtful and distant.
He kept turning over Henry's words in his mind, that politics concerned how people could coexist peacefully, that not everyone needed to become friends, that protecting oneself meant ensuring others couldn't harm you.
These concepts circled through his thoughts like a swarm of restless Golden Snitches.
"Your Highness," he finally ventured after considerable hesitation, "may I ask you something about what you said earlier?"
Henry looked at him and set down the small star cookie he'd been holding. "What is it?"
Draco chose his words with obvious care. "About politics... could I trouble you to explain it further?"
His tone was remarkably polite, bearing no resemblance to the arrogant Malfoy who typically spoke with such confidence.
Henry glanced at him, then at Pansy and Daphne. Both girls were listening intently, their eyes bright with curiosity.
"Would you like me to teach you?" Henry asked directly.
All three nodded in unison.
Henry smiled knowingly. A qualified monarch should always endeavor to elevate those around him.
History demonstrated that great leaders achieved their power not through surrounding themselves with inherent geniuses, but by teaching others to think and act effectively.
If his peers understood strategy and political navigation, they would serve his interests far better than naive followers ever could.
"Then answer me a question first," Henry said. "Why do you want to learn?"
Draco paused, his expression becoming serious as he considered the question carefully. When he spoke, his voice carried genuine conviction. "Because I'm the heir to the Malfoy family. My father said the Malfoys hold considerable status and influence in the wizarding world, but these things didn't arise from nothing. They require active maintenance. Without understanding politics, how could I possibly sustain them in the future?"
Henry nodded, then turned his attention to Pansy.
Pansy thought briefly before responding. "The Parkinsons face the same situation. My father says the wizarding world grows increasingly complex each year, and the old methods no longer work effectively. If we don't adapt and learn, we'll eventually be eliminated."
Daphne spoke quietly, her voice thoughtful. "My father mentioned that circumstances have changed significantly. Pure blood alone proves insufficient now. One must also possess intelligence."
After hearing all three responses, Henry didn't rush to answer. Instead, he let his gaze linger on each of them, measuring their sincerity.
Then he spoke. "You're all partially correct, but there's a more fundamental reason underlying everything."
The three leaned forward expectantly.
"You wish to study politics," Henry continued slowly, "not primarily because you're heirs to pure-blood families, but because you're already participants in this game, and escape is impossible. Since you cannot escape, you must learn to play effectively."
Draco's brow furrowed with concentration. "But how should we learn?"
"Begin by asking questions," Henry replied, selecting the little star biscuit again and taking an elegant bite.
The green flames in the fireplace flickered, casting dancing shadows across their faces. Henry reclined back against the sofa, his posture relaxed while his words remained anything but casual.
"Earlier, you asked what happens when someone simply refuses to cooperate," he said. "That was an excellent question. Now I pose this to you: what if that person is someone you must inevitably face, someone you cannot possibly avoid? What do you do then?"
Draco ventured tentatively, "Perhaps... find a way to make them willing to work with you?"
"How?" Henry pressed.
Draco hesitated, clearly uncertain of the answer.
Pansy whispered beside him, "Give them something they want in return?"
"What sort of benefit?" Henry asked further.
Pansy hesitated as well, struggling to articulate a response.
Daphne spoke softly. "Discover what they truly desire?"
"And if you cannot provide what they want?" Henry continued.
Daphne fell silent, her initial answer proving insufficient.
Henry observed the three of them without immediately speaking. After allowing them a moment to reflect, he finally continued.
"What I've described represents only the most elementary aspects," he explained. "The genuine difficulty isn't acquiring this knowledge, but knowing which approach applies to any given situation. That distinction matters enormously."
He paused, a relaxed smile crossing his features.
"For example, suppose Mr. Fudge attempted to win me over right now. What should I do?"
Draco responded immediately, drawing on Henry's earlier lesson. "You said before that you should make him believe he's already secured you, without him actually having done so."
"Correct, but how precisely would I accomplish that?" Henry asked.
Draco struggled again, unable to provide a concrete answer.
Pansy ventured hesitantly. "Perhaps appear to cooperate on the surface while doing nothing of substance behind his back?"
"What if superficial cooperation alone doesn't satisfy him?" Henry countered.
Pansy too found herself at an impasse.
Daphne spoke softly, her tone gaining confidence. "Make him feel like you're cooperating, but in a way that gives him nothing concrete to criticize?"
Henry met her gaze with a gentle smile. "That's closer to the right idea, but how exactly would you execute it?"
Daphne reflected carefully before responding slowly. "For instance, if he invites you to an event, you attend. But while there, you make no statements or commitments. You simply appear, show your presence, and then leave."
Henry nodded approvingly. "Precisely. But what if he publicly praises you at that event and then asks you to make a statement?"
Daphne paused, uncertainty crossing her face. "Then I would..."
"Say this," Henry continued gently. "'Thank you for your concern, Minister.' Nothing more. It sounds gracious and cooperative without committing you to anything."
Daphne's eyes brightened with understanding. "Yes! That's exactly right!"
The conversation continued, growing increasingly animated. Draco posed numerous questions, how to determine if someone was trustworthy, how to decline requests without giving offense, how to make others believe he supported them when he didn't.
Henry addressed each inquiry, sometimes providing direct guidance and sometimes asking questions in return to help them arrive at their own conclusions.
Pansy and Daphne contributed their own questions, mostly centered on practical scenarios—what to do when encountering someone disliked at school, how to navigate awkward family situations, how to respond to questions one preferred not to answer.
Henry offered counsel on all of these matters, some of which they could themselves deduce, others that had genuinely never occurred to them.
"Your Highness," Pansy finally asked, unable to contain her curiosity, "where did you learn all of this?"
"I was taught by someone, and I also learned through my own observation," Henry replied.
"Who taught you?" Draco asked, his tone suggesting genuine eagerness.
"A very wise gentleman," Henry said without elaborating further. "He provided much instruction, but perhaps most importantly, he taught me how to think about problems independently rather than simply accepting answers."
Pansy and Daphne exchanged a meaningful glance but didn't press for additional details.
As the night deepened, fewer and fewer students remained in the common room until only the four of them were left. Draco reclined on the sofa and released a long, satisfied sigh.
"What I've learned tonight exceeds what I absorbed during my entire holiday," he said.
Pansy nodded in agreement. Though she habitually supported Draco's opinions, she would have sworn on her wand that this time she spoke with complete sincerity.
Daphne asked softly, her eyes hopeful. "Your Highness, might we consult with you more frequently in the future?"
Henry looked into her expectant gaze, and a subtle smile crossed his features.
"Yes," he said, "but under one condition."
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Early chapters: [email protected]/palevolt100