Draco Malfoy.
The number-one little scumbag in the original story.
Not truly evil, strictly speaking. But definitely not a good person by any stretch of the imagination.
Hogwarts' premier daddy-backer.
Using his family's influence to pick fights wherever he went.
A firm believer in blood supremacy in his early days.
Only after being repeatedly battered by Voldemort and Harry...
did his skin finally grow tough and resilient enough...
to show the first faint tendencies of a decent human being.
Eventually letting go of his prejudice against Muggle-born wizards.
But at eleven years old...
he was undoubtedly still that exact same obnoxious prick.
"Oh, it's true, then."
Malfoy's eyes lit up as he looked at Harry.
He was clearly extremely interested in him.
"They're saying on the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment."
"So, that must be you?"
Harry felt thoroughly uncomfortable under his gaze.
He said stiffly, "Yes."
Devereux said nothing.
Of course he knew what was going to happen next.
Still, he was quite happy to watch this arrogant brat take a tumble, so he didn't bother stopping them.
And the original book really wasn't exaggerating.
Goyle and Crabbe didn't look remotely like normal human beings.
They were probably the ugliest number one and number two Devereux had laid eyes on since arriving in this world.
"I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. And these are Goyle and Crabbe."
Malfoy introduced them casually.
Hermione looked at him, her brows furrowed slightly.
Clearly, she felt deeply uncomfortable with the boy's demeanor.
Neville was cowering in the corner.
Clutching his toad tightly to his chest.
Doing his absolute best to avoid drawing anyone's attention.
Though Devereux could see that Neville was practically about to squeeze the poor toad's eyeballs right out.
When Ron heard Malfoy's introduction...
he couldn't help letting out a snort of laughter.
Malfoy's face instantly darkened.
"What are you laughing at? Oh, I know."
Malfoy looked at Ron.
His gloomy expression slowly shifted into a sneer.
"I know who you are. Red hair, and a hand-me-down robe."
As he spoke, the smile on his face grew even more insolent.
"Must be the Weasleys. My father told me all about you lot—can't even afford to feed all your kids."
Hearing this...
Ron's face flushed crimson.
He glared at Malfoy.
Yet it was obvious the other boy hadn't come over to mock Ron.
"So, Potter, haven't you figured it out yet? Not all wizarding families are created equal. Associating with the wrong sort won't help you get ahead, but I can help you."
With that, Malfoy extended his hand toward Harry.
The outcome, however, was entirely predictable.
Malfoy had already tanked his approval rating with The Chosen One to absolute zero.
Harry completely ignored Malfoy's outstretched hand.
"Thanks, but I think I can figure out who the 'wrong sort' are for myself."
Harry's tone was as cold as if he'd just pulled it out of a refrigerator.
Malfoy's expression shifted through several distinct phases.
Watching from the side, Devereux almost laughed out loud.
Yet, whether from poor circulation or something else, Malfoy's face remained as pale as ever.
"Potter, honestly, you really haven't been in the magical world for very long," Malfoy said in a brooding tone.
"So you might misjudge a few things. If I were you, I'd be very careful."
"If you keep hanging around with riff-raff like the Weasleys, or that oaf Hagrid..."
Malfoy's eyes swept over everyone present.
Finally coming to rest on Hermione.
A flash of undisguised disgust clearly marked his gaze.
"Or people like Mudbloods."
The moment those words left his mouth...
all three boys in the compartment instantly sprang to their feet.
Neville dropped Trevor right by his ankles.
His previously timid expression now blazed with fury.
Ron's face turned practically the same color as his hair.
He pointed a finger straight at Malfoy.
"Take that back!"
Harry glared at Malfoy with equal venom.
Only Hermione remained sitting awkwardly in her seat.
She still didn't quite understand why everyone had suddenly grown so furious.
"What? Want to start something?"
Malfoy sneered down at them.
A provocative gleam flashed in his eyes.
Clearly, he felt completely secure.
After all, Goyle and Crabbe standing behind him were absolute hulks.
They looked stronger than all the other boys in the compartment put together.
Even if a real fight broke out...
they had nothing to fear.
Yet...
at that exact moment...
Malfoy felt his heart violently skip a beat.
He couldn't help taking a step backward.
His hand flew to his chest.
An inexplicable panic suddenly crawled up his spine.
As if he were being hunted by some vicious beast.
He had no idea where the sensation came from.
But the crushing pressure made it almost impossible for him to breathe.
Malfoy raised his head in sheer terror.
Only to see a beam of red light hurtling straight toward him!
"Expelliarmus!"
A resolute voice rang out.
"Bang!"
Malfoy felt the world spin wildly around him.
His entire body slammed directly against the compartment wall.
He let out a muffled grunt.
And slid down, unable to get back up for a long while.
Goyle and Crabbe were so terrified by the spectacle that they were completely paralyzed, not daring to twitch a muscle.
Hermione let out a shrill scream.
Ron was so startled he dropped heavily onto the floor on his backside.
Malfoy raised his head with great difficulty.
Staring in utter disbelief at the terrifying scene before him.
He could scarcely imagine that a peer of his own age was capable of casting such a spell!
A strange young wizard was walking toward him.
The boy grabbed him roughly by the collar.
Yanked him straight up from the floor.
And pressed his wand hard against Malfoy's chin.
Dark eyes locked onto him with a fierce intensity.
Fraught with threat and boiling rage.
"Don't you ever let me hear you use that word again!"
The boy's voice was low and icy.
"Understand?"
As he spoke, he dug the tip of the wand a fraction harder into Malfoy's chin.
Frightening Malfoy into a miserable groan.
Weeping tears as he nodded frantically to promise he wouldn't say it again.
"Good."
The young wizard slowly pulled his wand away.
Malfoy let out a breath of relief.
Even as his mind immediately began scheming...
on how to exact revenge.
"The very second we get off this train, I'm reporting this to a professor! And I'll let my father know—I'm going to have this person expelled!"
Yet, right at that very instant...
the boy gave him a sharp jab in the stomach with his hand.
"Agh!"
Malfoy let out a yelp of pain.
His body involuntarily doubling over.
Simultaneously, the young wizard delivered a matching jab to both Goyle and Crabbe.
All three instantly felt their bodies float out of control.
With a fierce flick of the boy's wand...
the three of them were hurled straight out of the compartment and onto the corridor floor several feet away.
Crashing down with a deafening thud.
The students in the surrounding compartments were jolted by the sudden commotion.
Wide-eyed with shock...
they poked their heads out.
Eager to see what on earth had happened...
to cause such an enormous racket.
—
Having finished all of this, Devereux slammed the compartment door shut.
He took a heavy breath and slumped back into his seat.
He had no idea why...
why he had completely lost control of his temper the moment he heard that word.
After taking a deep breath to steady his racing heart...
he looked up.
Only to find the other four staring at him in absolute dumbfounded silence.