Tiberius understood the importance of Voldemort's request. Catering solely to pureblood clientele would mean severing ties with many long-standing business partners and would undoubtedly cripple his reach and profits. But that was a very small price to pay for securing the cure for his precious daughter Astoria. In fact, Tiberius was willing to sacrifice much more than that if Voldemort ever requested it.
"As you command, my Lord," Tiberius replied, not a single hesitation present in his voice. "Rest assured, I will prioritize pureblood partnerships and work tirelessly to establish dominance in the European market, particularly France, as you've instructed."
This was exactly what Voldemort wanted for someone like Tiberius, who was famous worldwide and had no previous association with the Death Eaters. No one would suspect anything from him, and he could just get the job done. "Excellent, Tiberius."
Voldemort rose from his chair and swept a gaze over the assembled group before speaking again. "The meeting is dismissed. Go and begin your tasks".
Then Voldemort turned to leave.
However, as he took his first step, he paused, his eyes landing on Draco and Daphne Greengrass.
"Draco, Daphne," he called out, "Come with me. I have a mission for both of you at Hogwarts. The rest can leave."
Daphne, who had already gotten up and was ready to move with her parents, stopped on the spot as Voldemort's voice reached her ears. Her eyes lingered on her parents before finally turning around and beginning to follow Voldemort. Unlike her, Draco was much faster and was just a few steps behind the Dark Lord. Draco was very excited as the time had finally come for him to prove his worth to the dark lord and serve him. What sort of command did the dark Lord have for him?
These thoughts lingered on Draco's mind as he followed the dark Lord Voldemort as he navigated inside the Malfoy's manor into a room designated to him.
In the drawing room, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy watched as the Greengrass family left as instructed by Voldemort, and then Lucius himself drew back to his room, leaving Narcissa alone.
Narcissa, in the now-quiet drawing room, couldn't help but fidget with her robe. Her mind was agitated with questions about the tasks Voldemort would ask Draco to do.
Would it be something dangerous? A mission that could put him at risk?
Meanwhile, inside the other room, Draco was the complete opposite. This was his chance. He could not let this one go to waste. Voldemort closed the door, and now they were alone, Draco and Daphne with the Dark Lord.
Draco did not have time to look at the surroundings or study Daphne's emotions as Voldemort addressed him first.
"Draco, have you already received your letter from Hogwarts?"
Draco was confused upon hearing such a question.
"What letter?" he thought. Apart from the first year when he received an admission letter from Hogwarts, Draco has never received another one before the start of another year. Despite this, Draco decided not to be rude and instead simply said no.
"In the coming days, you should receive a letter from Hogwarts informing you that you have been appointed as the Prefect of Slytherin. Alongside you will be the girl Pansy Parkinson."
It was no mistake to say that Draco was shocked.
Sure, the notion of becoming Slytherin Prefect had been present in his head for a while. After all, who else apart from him deserved to become the Slytherin Prefect at Hogwarts?
But to hear it from Voldemort himself, and with such certainty. Just how could he know? This was Hogwarts they were talking about, the Hogwarts that was controlled by Dumbledore.
Draco realized just how powerful Voldemort was. Draco's obedience and admiration for the Dark Lord have risen once again.
"I expect you to make good use of such an opportunity for the pureblood supremacy. So, from now on, you will need to change the way you behave. Become more mature. Stop those unnecessary quarrels with the other house or the Mudbloods. Just focus on gaining the other pureblood and half-blood to join our cause."
On hearing Voldemort telling him to become more mature, Draco felt embarrassed. If any other person had told him this, Draco was surely going to counter. But this was Voldemort.
"I have to show the Lord that I am a great wizard and will become a great Death Eater." Draco thought as he continued to listen to Voldemort.
Voldemort then instructed Draco on what exactly he would need to do. "There is a vanishing cabinet at Hogwarts on the first floor. Do you know it?"
"Yes, my Lord," Draco replied, happy to confirm this. He remembered the broken cabinet on the first floor, left there with no one bothering to fix it.
"Excellent," A slow smile spread across Voldemort's face. "That, Draco, is not just any broken vanishing cabinet. It is linked to another one located at Borgin and Burke's."
Draco's eyes widened.
He remembered visiting Borgin and Burke's with his father. It was a shop that sold dark artifacts at Knockturn Alley. Does that mean there was a way to get inside Hogwarts through that shop?
"I will speak with your father," Voldemort continued. "Lucius will take you to Borgin and Burke's under the pretense of shopping. There, your father will convince Borgin to repair the Vanishing cabinet at his place. Your task, Draco, is to learn how to repair the cabinet and then to repair the broken cabinet at Hogwarts."
It clicked immediately in Draco's mind. This was Voldemort's plan to get inside Hogwarts.
This was such an important mission, and Voldemort had chosen him. One second, he felt excited, but then the next, he realized the importance.
One slip-up, one misstep, and Voldemort's wrath would be on him.
"My Lord," Draco stammered, "wouldn't Dumbledore suspect something? Repairing a vanishing cabinet within Hogwarts with him around…"
Voldemort smiled. "Ah, yes, a good question, Draco. Fear not. Dumbledore would not be the Headmaster of Hogwarts for the full year. And also, there is a room where you will take the vanishing cabinet to repair, it's a room of hidden things."