But as long as your mindset doesn't slip, there are more ways than challenges. Before Ron returned to his own room, he sneaked a bottle of whisky.
This bottle was a heartfelt gift from Mr. Weasley.
"A man, you know," Mr. Weasley said, "should always drink something a man should drink, like this bottle of single malt Scotch whisky... Go ahead, don't let your mom find out."
Ron didn't keep this glory to himself but instead called Neville and Draco over.
"Acting all secretive, what's the deal?" Draco asked with a sour face.
"You'll know when you get back. We're going to see who really is a man," Ron said smugly to Draco.
Draco looked puzzled, unsure what Ron was up to.
The party in the living room finally broke up, and Fleur seemed determined to annoy Mrs. Weasley by deciding to mimic Sedina singing "A Cauldron Full of Hot Strong Love." Seeing Mrs. Weasley's expression, everyone took it as a cue to go to bed.
Cassandra stifled a laugh, hooked one arm around Harry's, and pulled him into the room, the rubbing had Harry's arm aching.
Over there, Ron, Draco, and Neville quietly gathered in Ron's room.
"My dad says a man should drink manly stuff," Ron said, taking the whisky out from his coat and placing it on the bed. "So, Malfoy, dare to see who's the real man with me?"
"Oh, please," Draco said disdainfully, "even if you tie yourself together with Longbottom, neither of you would be a match for me—if brains were gold, Longbottom would be poorer than you—"
The words were so hurtful that Neville let out a loud yell.
"Longbottom!" Draco jumped, "What are you doing!"
"I don't know what I'm doing either!" Neville yelled again.
"Don't shout!" Ron slapped his hand on the top of Neville's head. "Come on, let's go, a fair competition first and take down Malfoy's arrogance—watch this."
He then turned three books on the desk into three cups and placed them in front of the trio.
Each poured a full cup of the drink. Then, Ron picked up one of the filled cups and said to Draco, "Come on, it's time to see what a real man is!"
With that, he tilted his head back and chugged down the entire cup.
Neville quickly followed suit, draining his cup in one gulp, and then started coughing violently due to the alcohol's sting.
Ron also gagged a couple of times but seemed to be naturally resilient.
"Look at you two," Draco said confidently with a smile.
But he soon regretted his youthful bravado. As soon as the alcohol entered his mouth, the intense burn and spice made him almost want to spit it out.
After seeing both Weasley and Longbottom swallow their drinks, Draco felt that he couldn't lose face.
Thus, he forced back tears and swallowed the drink.
Almost immediately, an intense urge to vomit surged through him; Draco fought hard against it and finally managed to hold it in.
"Weren't you just full of yourself?" Ron coughed twice, "What happened to the bravery now?"
"I'm not scared! Who said I'm scared?" Draco said, his tongue heavy.
There was a moment of silence between them, and a few minutes later, Neville couldn't hold it any longer.
Not to puke, but to confess.
"I like Luna," he said, "I really like Luna, gosh... you know? When she accepted my invitation to go to Professor Slughorn's party, I was over the moon... But why hasn't she texted me back yet?"
"Maybe because you're so awkward, Longbottom," Draco said with a mocked laugh.
"Oh, shove off," Neville weakly kicked Draco.
"And you?" Ron asked, looking at Draco with bleary eyes, "Malfoy, tell us the truth, are you going out with Pansy Parkinson?"
"No, no, no way!" Draco waved it off, saying straightforwardly, "Pansy isn't my type, let me tell you, she's really not my type—my type."
"So what kind do you like?" Ron asked, eyes blurry with drink.
"What kind do I like..." Draco leaned back against the chair, pondering for a moment, his face already flushed redder from the alcohol.
"Why are you blushing like a tomato?" Ron hiccupped, "Just tell us who you like, Malfoy—though we never see eye to eye, we've been at the Dueling House together for years. Tell me who you like, and I'll definitely help you—help you disrupt things!"
Draco was infuriated and kicked Ron.
"But..." he suddenly became confused, "who do I like?"
When he said this, Draco glanced at the ceiling.
"Don't tell me you don't have anyone you like," Ron squinted at him, "Bro, it's just not cool to talk like that—or if you're too shy to say, we can do it another way, what type of women do you like?"
This was no problem for Draco, who immediately said, "She must be Pure Blood!"
"Okay, Pure Blood," Ron nodded, "What about looks?"
"Has to be beautiful," Draco said, "I like girls who are good-looking."
"Alright, Pure Blood, beautiful girls," Ron repeated, "Any other traits?"
"Strong," Draco said decisively, "Definitely can't be useless."