"Malfoy?" Jack repeated the name, perhaps, this was a young nobleman like himself? When Jack dressed in a proper suit, they didn't wear black robes in the house, at least the Ludwig family didn't.
Descending the stairs slowly, Jack saw a pale, frail-looking young man.
Jack really wanted to ask young Malfoy if his parents didn't feed him, as he seemed so thin!
That aside, aside from his pallor, Malfoy was a rather adorable boy—in Jack's view, sure to be a heartthrob when he grew up.
Much like a certain red-robed bishop—what's the saying?—conquering his followers with beauty.
Draco Malfoy had once visited the Ludwig Manor in Germany as a child, though only in passing.
Seeing the little tyke, who once stood as tall as him (of course, they were both still shorties now), had grown taller and didn't seem as dimwitted as the rumors suggested.
Draco had a moment of discontent.
Mrs. Ludwig noticed that the two boys didn't greet each other warmly and took the initiative to introduce them.
"This is Draco, a young Malfoy. Look at him, how much he resembles Lucius! But his eyes, those are Cissy's," Mrs. Ludwig even took the opportunity to caress Draco's hand.
All of this was observed by Jack, it seemed his mother was a still sharp woman.
But faced with the somewhat arrogant Draco, Jack lost the desire to argue. If age was counted truly, Draco could call him father.
Thus, Jack displayed the grace befitting a noble, quietly edged past his mother, and took Draco's cold little hand.
"Hello Draco, my name is Jack." A very rhyming introduction, Jack was quite proud of himself.
Draco, who normally disliked physical contact with strangers, tried to pull his hand back, but found he couldn't break free. Angrily, he glared at Jack.
Then when he met Jack's gaze, Draco shrank back.
The clear depths of Jack's eyes held an unfathomable darkness; Draco thought this must be his imagination, yet he couldn't help but feel intimidated.
All he managed to utter was a stammer, "You can call me Malfoy." Clearly, young Malfoy did not feel Jack knew him well enough to use "Draco."
Unaware he had frightened Draco with his gaze, Jack smiled and released his hand, saying,
"No problem, Draco."
"..."
"Oh, such affectionate youngsters. Draco, come this way, I've just made some treats, you're going to love them." Mrs. Ludwig seemed oblivious to their previous interaction, pulling Draco towards the dining table.
Jack boredly accompanied Draco, his mind preoccupied with the dead rat, or rather the pus it had become, in his room.
He hadn't expected a simple toxin curse to have such a potent effect. Could it be due to this body's peculiarities?
By the time Jack came to his senses, he found himself in Diagon Alley.
How had he gotten there?
Certainly not by Floo Powder; otherwise, Jack would have been seeking a trash can to vomit into.
Diagon Alley, a miraculous place, where one could buy all sorts of novelties—like wands, like pets.
Everything thrilled Jack, his first outing since his crossing over. The scent of magic in the air lifted his spirits.
Except for the presence of the glowering Draco at his side.
"Mother, why did he come with us?" Jack had overcome the mental barrier of calling a woman of his own age, mother, and felt no discomfort in it.
Mrs. Ludwig seemed disapproving of Jack's rude bellowing, "Lucius and your father are discussing important matters, so I brought Draco along to shop. Surely you haven't forgotten that you two would be classmates for seven years?"
Jack feigned ignorance, "What if we're not sorted into the same house?"
Sure enough, Jack heard Draco's disdainful snort. Teasing the young boy was indeed a pleasure.
Mrs. Ludwig looked at Jack with surprise, as if he had spoken a great blasphemy, like calling out the name of 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.'
"My dear, have you lost your senses? You and Draco, you'll go to Slytherin, you can only go to Slytherin. Stop making such bad jokes."
"Mom, what's Slytherin?" A young witch passed by them, holding her mother's hand.
After the young witch moved on, she whispered softly, "Slytherin is a great magic academy, of course, Gryffindor isn't bad either."
Jack had no desire to hear his mother's preaching and turned to Draco instead.
Draco accidentally met Jack's eyes again and instinctively stepped back.
"Merlin's beard, what's wrong with me!" Draco thought, in turmoil. He was actually scared of the eyes of someone his own age. If his father knew, he would certainly be driven out of Malfoy Manor.
"This is the place, we'll get Draco fitted for his robes first. I've always been curious if this shop is run by Dumbledore's relatives." Mrs. Ludwig led Jack and Draco to Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
While Draco was being measured, Jack surveyed the street idly.
Then he saw something extraordinary—a living giant! Good heavens, a giant!
In Jack's time, giants were always symbols of evil, just like the necromancers; they were meant to be burned at the stake.
Though giants were clumsy, knew little magic, and excelled at brawling, if it weren't for their sparse population and tough hides, Jack would've loved to experiment with a giant's corpse.
Perhaps it would summon an ancient demon!
"Has it come to pass that wizards no longer fear giants?" Jack pondered curiously as he saw a lanky boy beside the giant.
The boy wore round black glasses, was short and slight; the pair made a comical duo walking together.
Hagrid pointed at Madame Malkin's and said to Harry, "Let's get you your uniforms first! If you don't mind, afterwards, I'd fancy a drink at the Leaky Cauldron! That bloody Gringotts cart was dreadful!"
Then Harry walked into Madame Malkin's on his own.
Jack stopped him; he couldn't help it, this boy had something magical that drew him in.
Perhaps he was the breakthrough in Jack's necromantic research?
"Oh, are you a wizard too?" Jack spoke to Harry like a streetwise rogue.
Harry predictably got scared and stepped back. Just when Jack thought he would draw his wand, the boy said, "I am, would you mind stepping aside?"
Was he about to cry? Jack found a wicked pleasure; he discovered he enjoyed teasing these young lads.