Malfoy snorted, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the leather sheath with the intricate runes etched into it. He reached for it, his fingers hovering just above the ornate design, a greedy look crossing his face. But before he could make contact, Toji shoved the sheath back into his pocket with a careless jerk, cramping it without a second thought.
Malfoy stiffened, his lips curling into a sneer. "No wonder you'd get your hands on something like this," he muttered, trying to regain some semblance of control.
Toji didn't even flinch, his smirk only deepening as he watched Malfoy's frustration build. "As expected of a mudblood to steal," Malfoy added quietly, his voice tinged with disdain as his eyes flicked over to Toji.
Toji's sharp laugh echoed in the space between them. "I see that you're satisfied with the bet," he teased, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You have to win against me first, which, you know, is gonna be a big challenge for you. But I'll give you credit for recognizing a valuable item—it's good enough, isn't it? Don't you want to show me what you've got?"
The words hung in the air, thick with challenge, as Toji's eyes gleamed with amusement. Draco's scowl deepened, but he tried to push back the discomfort, his pride winning over.
"Don't underestimate me," Draco snapped, stepping forward as he straightened up. "Fine, let's do it."
Toji's grin grew wider, clearly enjoying the tension in the air. "Great! But—" He held up a finger, interrupting Draco's eager response. "What if I win? What would you like to put up as a bet? Hmm?"
Malfoy's face froze for a moment, clearly unprepared for that question. "Not a chance," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "But to make it interesting, I'll—"
Toji cut him off with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Your mom's phone number," he said brightly as if suggesting a simple transaction. "No wait—do you even have telephones? Your owl mailing address? Nah, your dad might find out... How about a picture of her, full-body, in her prettiest dress?" He paused dramatically, letting the words sink in. "Just a picture, of course. But make sure it's the magical one that moves around... real lively-like."
Draco's eyes went wide, his face shifting between disbelief and outrage. He sputtered, struggling to form a coherent response, but the words came out in a strangled hiss. "Y-you fucking mud blood!" he spat, utterly flustered by the implication.
Toji chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the chaos he'd just caused. "Oh, come on, I'm just trying to make it interesting. I mean, unless you think your mother's not worth a picture? I bet you'd get some good points in the family scrapbook for that."
Malfoy's fists clenched, his entire body tense with anger. The whole situation had clearly spiraled beyond what he'd anticipated, and his face was a mix of fury and embarrassment. But Toji, with his unbothered stance, just stared back at him with a wicked grin, waiting for the next round of this little game to unfold.
Toji grinned, clearly enjoying the chaos he was stirring up. The tension was thick enough to slice, and Draco, standing there with his wand trembling in his hand, was clearly too embarrassed to back down. The silence stretched for a second before Toji casually piped up, "Let's take it outside, then, shall we?"
Draco's face went an alarming shade of crimson, his usually pale complexion flushed with anger and humiliation. He didn't hesitate, storming out of the shop, as if he could outrun the ridicule. Toji, unfazed, strolled behind him, hands deep in his pockets, not in any rush to follow.
The two made their way down the narrow alleyway near Gringotts, far enough from prying eyes to let the confrontation unfold without anyone interfering. Toji gave the street a quick glance over his shoulder—no one was around. Good.
Draco whirled around, practically vibrating with anger. "I'll make you pay for talking about my mother!" he sneered, drawing his wand with an exaggerated flourish.
Toji raised a hand lazily, not even bothering to look at him. "Time out!" he called out in mock seriousness, the corners of his mouth curling upward. He turned his head back towards Gringotts, catching the faint sound of voices and footsteps behind him.
And then it came. "Petrificus Totalus!" Draco shouted out of the blue.
Toji looked back at Draco and then proceeded to look around. He looked back at Draco only to realize that the boy was totally useless.
Toji gave him a slow, mocking clap. "I told you to wait, didn't I? What part of time out didn't you get?" He let out a sharp laugh, his eyes gleaming with amusement, "But if you're going to just recite spell names go ahead."
Draco's face only darkened with humiliation, his hands shaking as he fumbled for another spell. "Shut up!" he snapped, trying again. "Expelliarmus!"
The charm missed entirely, ricocheting off the alley wall with a loud crash. Draco's next spell, a weak "Lumos," fizzled out mid-air, the light sputtering into non-existence.
"That wasn't even an attacking spell..." Toji couldn't help but feel the second hand embarrassment from Draco's futile efforts. It was clear that the boy was just trying to copy spells he had seen performed before and had no experience whatsoever.
Toji sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. "You really are just a bunch of words, aren't you?" he muttered under his breath, clearly bored by the repetition. "Just pretending to be a wizard... that's cute."
Draco's face was turning beet red now, embarrassment mixing with his fury. He barely had time to gather himself for another attempt before Toji glanced back over his shoulder at the Gringotts gate. The familiar figures of Harry and Hagrid were just returning from inside the bank, their voices drifting faintly toward him.
Toji's eyes lit up with mischief, and a smile spread across his face like a cat who had just caught a mouse. "Well, well... Look who's back in town," he murmured to himself. Harry and Hagrid were just close enough to make an entrance, and Toji knew it was time for his perfect show as he pulled out his dagger from his pocket slightly.
Turning back to Draco, his face shifting into a mask of enthusiasm, Toji stretched and cracked his knuckles. "Alright, Draco, here's your chance for redemption. But fair warning, you're about to witness true power."
Draco opened his mouth, probably to protest or curse him.
"I'm about to give the performance of a lifetime," Toji said, grinning widely, his voice laced with excitement. "Hope you're ready for this, Malfoy. It's not every day you get to see me in action."
Draco's face twisted with confusion, and then, panic. "Wait—what are you—"
Toji didn't wait for him to finish the sentence. With a sudden, fluid motion, he lunged backward as if he was thrown by an invisible force, flying towards Hagrid and crashing into the giant.
"What are you doin', kid?" Hagrid growled, grabbing Toji by the collar and gently placing him back down on his feet. "He threw a spell at me..." Toji muttered weakly, looking up at Hagrid with wide eyes, his voice trembling as he pointed accusingly at Draco. "Calling me a mudblood and all!"
Draco, completely caught off guard, stood there, his mouth slightly open in confusion, clearly unsure of what was happening.
Harry, who had been watching from the side, stepped forward, concern etched all over his face. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice full of genuine worry.
Toji flashed a quick, strained smile. "I'm fine, Harry... don't worry about me." He took a step back, still playing the role of the victim. Harry, his face turning hard with anger, turned toward Draco. His expression grew cold, disappointment flickering in his eyes. The Malfoy heir, in Harry's mind, had already sunk lower than he had expected.
Hagrid, ever the protector, took a step forward, ready to break up the fight. "Oi, now, let's calm down here. It's not right, students fightin' like this." His thick fingers twitched as he moved toward Draco. "The boy's from the Malfoy family, Toji—ye don't want to get yerself in trouble."
Toji stopped him with a quick wave of his hand, a forced yet confident smile still plastered on his face. "Please, Hagrid, let me finish my fights on my own terms. I don't need anyone's help." He spoke with an exaggerated weariness, like a damaged hero who had been wronged but was too proud to admit it.
Hagrid sighed, his face filled with reluctance. "But fightin' like this... well, it's not acceptable. And with the Malfoys involved, ye don't want to make trouble for yerself."
Toji's smile faded slightly, replaced with a more serious, almost warning expression. "We're not students yet, Hagrid. And please... leave. If you don't, I'll have to tell Harry everything."
The words hit Hagrid like a physical blow. He froze for a moment, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "What d'you mean...?" Hagrid's deep voice wavered, and for the first time, uncertainty flashed across his face.
Toji's eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer, lowering his voice just enough so only Hagrid could hear. "Please don't make me, but you know what I'm talking about. You-know-who."
Hagrid's breath caught in his throat. The mention of that name seemed to rattle him more than Toji had expected, and for a brief moment, it looked like Hagrid was going to say something. But he quickly gathered himself, looking over his shoulder to see Harry watching curiously.
"What's all this about, Hagrid?" Harry's voice cut through the tension like a knife, his brows furrowed with concern.
Hagrid, clearly uncomfortable and wanting to avoid an explanation, gently scooped Harry up and turned toward the alleyway. "Yer not gettin' involved in this, Harry. Not now. Come on, let's go—yer gonna get yerself in trouble, an' that's the last thing I need."
Harry, clearly confused and frustrated, struggled against Hagrid's hold. "What's going on? I want to know, Hagrid!"
Hagrid didn't answer right away. His grip tightened slightly, and with a final look at Toji, he gave the warning he had been trying to avoid. "Don't get yerself into more trouble than ye can handle, lad," he muttered before he started walking briskly away, Harry still protesting in his arms.
Toji watched them go, his face breaking into the widest grin he could muster. He shook off the dirt from his clothes, his pockets now heavier than before. The smile on his face was the kind that would have sent anyone else running for cover.
Turning back to Draco, Toji's eyes gleamed with amusement, and his smile only grew wider—almost predatory. Draco, taking an instinctive step back, couldn't help but feel an unfamiliar chill run up his spine. The air around them seemed to shift, the playful tone in Toji's voice gone, replaced by something far more dangerous.
Toji's grin deepened, the tension between them thick enough to cut through. "Well," he said, his voice carrying a dark amusement, "I guess we're done here, Malfoy. It's been real."
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Kinda early to plug things but I hope you can also check out my original novel as well.
Mana Forged: Iron Mage
Show some love and thank you for reading!