The funeral ended, and most of the guests gradually departed. Narcissa and Andromeda went to speak with Sirius.
In the past, Narcissa's relationship with her two siblings had not been good. Bloodline, allegiance, and family created a chasm between them. Narcissa hadn't even spoken to these "blood traitors."
After Sirius was released from Azkaban, Andromeda visited him several times and even invited him to recuperate at her home for a while. Narcissa, however, had only appeared in the audience on the day of his trial, and there had been no interaction since.
But now, in front of Regulus's tomb, they could finally set aside their grievances and resentments, speaking a few words without animosity.
The Malfoy father and son naturally waited nearby. Although they sat in the front row, they looked isolated, as everyone around them deliberately ignored them.
The two Malfoys weren't embarrassed by this; they looked down on those "shabby" people anyway and preferred a bit of peace and quiet.
They were conversing in low voices.
"Was that grey-eyed boy Wade Grey?" Lucius Malfoy murmured.
"Yes," Draco said disdainfully. "Just a Mudblood, but he's favored by that old lunatic Dumbledore and Murray! And there's a bunch of little idiots always trailing after him, including Harry Potter, that scar-head..."
"I thought you might reflect on yourself!"
Lucius coldly interrupted his complaints. "I told you, you should make promising friends, not always associate with those dimwits who try to curry favor with you."
Draco's eyes darkened.
Those who used to follow him like a shadow had mostly left.
He had complained to his father about it but had been criticized in return—
In Lucius's opinion, Crabbe and Goyle, like their fathers, were so stupid it made one wonder if they had any brains at all. The fact that Draco couldn't even rally such people meant, in Lucius's eyes, that his own problems were clearly greater.
"But what do I see? A group of the most talented young wizards in your year participated in a collective activity, working together seamlessly, recognizing each other. But you were excluded!"
Lucius said disappointedly, "Draco, I've taught you repeatedly that you can dislike some people, but don't push valuable people away because of your own preferences."
"I don't want to come here and do servant's work!"
Draco said indignantly, "Besides, Wade Grey is just a Mudblood! You told me our Malfoy family is a Pure-blood noble..."
"I also told you that our noble titles and lands came from the Muggle emperor William I. Before the Statute of Secrecy was implemented, our family maintained close ties with the Muggle royalty; your ancestor even pursued Queen Elizabeth I."
"But didn't you say..."
"Yes, of course, we deny that publicly, but we mustn't deceive ourselves."
Lucius interrupted Draco, instructing him:
"Draco, pure-blood wizards are indeed superior, but supporting pure-blood ideology doesn't mean we should completely push away non-magical society. Power and wealth are the truly eternal things, the real strength that sustains our Malfoy family."
"The Dark Lord was also a half-blood, so what? If he had succeeded, he would have led us, the families who supported him, into a new center of power."
Draco was silent for a moment, then said, "But he failed."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance at Harry Potter, who was speaking with Neville and others in the distance.
"Then we must accept that outcome, instead of, like your foolish aunt, sending yourself to Azkaban for revenge."
Lucius adjusted his collar, lowering his voice.
"If the pro-Muggle faction gains power, then we can also become pro-Muggle. Dumbledore isn't someone easily swayed by words, but Harry Potter and Wade Grey are still children, easily influenced. There's no harm in getting on good terms with them..."
Draco lowered his head, not speaking, unconsciously twirling a ring in his hand.
His pride made it impossible for him to humble himself and curry favor with those who disliked him, but he had made more valuable friends. One day he would prove to his father that he was also very capable...
A Cleaning Crab scuttled past them with a "crunch, crunch." Lucius cautiously stopped speaking, waiting for the crab to pass before saying:
"Next semester, pay attention to any changes in the school. Inform me immediately if anything happens."
"What could possibly happen at school?" Draco grumbled. "If you ask me, the biggest news will probably be magical pets... Wade Grey always manages to come up with something unexpected."
"That's why I told you to interact with him more," Lucius said. "Do you know how much money Aslan's Magic Workshop has made since partnering with him?"
As he spoke, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.
It had been half a year since the diary was sent into the school through the Weasley family's daughter. Why was there no activity at all?
Had the girl lost the diary? Or had she not brought it to school at all?
Lucius had been wondering about this for a long time, but it was impossible to inquire about such a thing. He could only suppress the doubts in his heart, acting as if the dark magic item the Dark Lord had entrusted him with was simply not that powerful.
Draco didn't want to revisit the old topic and instead asked, "Can I learn Alchemy too? Father, find me a good teacher."
"Alchemy isn't as easy as you think," Lucius shook his head and said. "I can find someone to teach you some basics first. If you can understand them, then we'll find a true Alchemist to teach you Alchemy."
"I'm sure I can learn it!" Draco said defiantly. "Wade Grey had products in his first year..."
"I know," Lucius said impatiently. "You've told me a dozen times... If you really want to achieve something, start working hard from then, instead of always complaining to me about why a Mudblood is better than you... Ah, it looks like your mother is finally done."
Narcissa was walking towards them, and the Malfoy father and son went to meet her.
The Cleaning Crab scuttled over again with a "crunch, crunch," cleaning the muddy footprints on the ground. Some witches looked at its ruby-like shell, smiling with delight, and some quietly asked where they could buy one.
The crab, naturally, couldn't understand human language. It circled once, went around behind a bush, and was then picked up by a hand.
Wade thoughtfully watched the Malfoy family leave, gently nudging the crab so its upper body tilted up, as if looking at him.
"What did you hear? Tell me," Wade said.
"It's all boring talk," the crab said, clacking. "Once I'm done, can I get a cooler body? I prefer a leopard."
"A black panther?"
"Wouldn't golden be cooler?"
"...I don't understand your aesthetic, but I can respect your choice."
"Thanks."
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