Harry stood behind Cassandra, as he usually did.
"You sit too, Potter," Cassandra turned back to Harry and said, "Come sit beside me."
Mr. Septimus seemed to completely ignore Harry, only engaging with Cassandra, asking what kind of man she liked, promising to help fulfill her wishes as long as she liked him.
"Have some potato stew, Kathy," Mr. Septimus said, "I remember it's your favorite dish, isn't it?"
"Hmm." Cassandra nodded, "Thank you, Dad."
Harry sat beside and watched, unsure whether he should interrupt—he instinctively felt that Mr. Septimus and Ignatius had issues, but couldn't bring himself to stop Cassandra.
Yes, Cassandra had already lost her family, what right did he have to stop her from enjoying a moment of familial warmth?
The meal lasted for more than an hour before Mr. Septimus reluctantly instructed the House-Elves to end the banquet.
He stood up, taking Cassandra on a slow walk through Malfoy Manor.
"Do you remember here?" Mr. Septimus pointed to a small house and said, "Here, this house, you threw a tantrum at me—let me think, it was when you were six, right? By Merlin, you awakened some of your Magic Ability at six, hiding yourself in this small room—which worried me and your brother sick... it was Camille who found you."
"I remember." Cassandra tenderly looked at the small house, speaking to Mr. Septimus.
"And here, your study." Mr. Septimus pointed at the study and said, "You didn't let anyone in... after you left, I ordered this room sealed, no one was allowed in..."
"After I left?" Cassandra furrowed her brow, catching the inconsistency in Mr. Septimus's words.
"Come, let's walk a little further," Mr. Septimus said.
They nearly traversed every corner of Malfoy Manor, neither Harry nor Cassandra had ever seen this side of Mr. Septimus.
Cassandra had never seen her father display this side.
They walked all the way to the Malfoy Clan's secret vault; Mr. Septimus waved his hand, opening the vault door.
"The secret treasure left by Merlin, which you took with my token when I was away, right?" Septimus said, "I was furious, thinking you abandoned your father and brother for a boy... but I feared someone would target the treasure, so I removed your name from the family. To be honest, I always regretted this."
"Dad?"
Cassandra suddenly looked up, realizing the person before her was indeed her father.
Mr. Septimus said nothing, merely smiling slyly at Cassandra.
Before he could say anything, a voice from Death suddenly came from beside.
"Septimus Malfoy."
Harry looked up and found Death had somehow appeared in the Malfoy Clan's vault.
However, Death's expression remained calm, not showing anger at all.
"Remember our agreement, Mr. Malfoy," she said calmly.
Unexpectedly, Mr. Septimus smiled gently at her.
He turned back to Cassandra, reaching to wipe away her tears.
"To leave here, you must persevere, Kathy," he said, "Don't doubt your choices; this is the last thing I can teach you."
After speaking, he patted Cassandra's arm and turned to Death, saying, "Thank you for allowing me to talk to my daughter so much, it's time for me to go back."
As he walked by Harry, he placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Mr. Malfoy..." Harry lifted his head to speak.
However, Mr. Septimus said nothing, calmly brushing past Harry to stand beside Death.
"I respect my daughter's choice, Lady Death," Mr. Septimus said to Death, "Whether it was a hundred years ago, or now—"
Upon hearing Septimus's words, Death's expression darkened slightly.
She snapped her fingers, causing the entire Malfoy Manor, including Mr. Septimus, to disappear from sight.
Now, they found themselves back at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
"What great fatherly love," Death said leisurely, "It seems your father won't blame you for it, will he? Miss Malfoy?"
Cassandra's lips quivered for a moment, she wiped her tears away, gradually firming her expression and lifting her head to look at Death.
Harry reached out to hold Cassandra's hand.
Meanwhile, the sky gradually brightened.
Deep within the path of the Forbidden Forest, brilliant light gradually illuminated the entire forest as if it were daylight.
"Let's go," Cassandra said to Harry, "Along this path, if we keep walking forward..."
"Don't rush, Malfoy," Death suddenly interrupted her, "You'll never escape my pursuit—and you too, Potter, you should know, Grindelwald and Swedding are no different..."
"Quickly!" Harry pulled Cassandra's wrist, turning to run.
The two of them ran quickly along the path of the Forbidden Forest, all the way to the end.
At the end of the path was a door, much like those Harry had seen sealed by Ancient Magic.
The door was spacious enough for both to enter together.
"Let's go in together," Harry said, still holding Cassandra's hand tightly.
Cassandra didn't speak; she shook her wrist but couldn't shake off Harry's tight grip.
Harry tugged her through the door.
...
Inside Merlin's Secret Chamber, Harry suddenly awoke, gasping as if yearning for fresh air after hundreds of tight breaths.
He struggled to stand, looking at Cassandra lying on the stone platform in front of him.
At this moment, a tear suddenly fell from Cassandra's eye.
"Cassandra?" Harry called out anxiously.
Cassandra slowly opened her eyes, looking at Harry with a complicated expression.
"I take back what I said, Potter, I shouldn't have placed hope in someone barely smarter than a Giant."
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