There are two staircases leading to the basement in Malfoy Manor.
Arthur Weasley of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office believed he knew everything about the ends of those two staircases—he had thoroughly examined them during the search of Malfoy Manor.
He believed he knew perfectly well what room those two staircases led to:
One of them was a potions-making room that Narcissa Malfoy had recently opened for her beloved son. It was filled with bottles and jars, and rare potion ingredients were everywhere.
The Malfoy family, known for their extravagant spending, truly spares no effort in grooming their heir. Arthur could not help but think, glancing at the row of seemingly superfluous pure gold cauldrons.
Another staircase leads to a dark and sunless dungeon, the mottled marks on the iron doors and pillars undoubtedly revealing to Arthur its filthy past, though it is now empty.
"What is this for?" Arthur walked around the wide area, kicking up a cloud of dust. He sneezed and said sceptically, "It looks quite old."
"This place is a relic of history; we have not used it for a long time. I admit it is not aesthetically pleasing, but that should not be the standard for being deemed a restricted room, should it?" Lucius stood in the doorway, refusing to take another step—trying to get away from the swirling dust in the centre of the room—and said with a forced smile.
The head of the Malfoy family was casually stroking his snake-headed cane, standing tall and straight in front of the Ministry of Magic officials who had suddenly come to inspect his home, exuding an aura of authority and showing no fear whatsoever.
Arthur looked somewhat embarrassed.
He looked around and regretfully admitted that there was nothing there but dust. Glancing at Lucius's glaring, half-smiling lips, Arthur said somewhat sheepishly to his colleague Perkins, who was clutching his back and sneezing incessantly, "There is really nothing wrong. Let us call it a day... Let us go."
"I told you so," Lucius said arrogantly, leading them up the stairs. "The Malfoy family has always supported the Ministry of Magic. I do not understand why your department would inspect law-abiding pure-blood wizard families like ours. If your department continues to trespass on the Malfoys' property without prior notice, I am afraid I will consider you trespassers and complain to dear Cornelius."
"The point of a surprise inspection is to catch people off guard. We cannot let the people being inspected know in advance, and the Ministry has already approved our surprise inspection method. I do not think we need to inform anyone in advance before the inspection," Arthur said bluntly. "As for why we are inspecting the Malfoy family, we did receive some anonymous tips, and they are not unfounded."
A flicker of anger flashed in those indifferent grey eyes—Lucius was extremely displeased with these uninvited visitors. Ordinary wizards certainly did not have the luck to freely enter and leave the highly exclusive Malfoy Manor.
Arthur Weasley was simply wielding a heavy weapon. If it were not for the mere title he held at the Ministry of Magic, how could he have so arrogantly knocked on the Malfoy family's door?
Does he think the Malfoys are afraid of him?
Look at his swaggering manner! Lucius was secretly furious.
Being treated as a suspect, having one's home invaded and one's privacy invaded—whatever the reason, it would be a great offence to a Malfoy.
"If you keep taking the slander of your enemies as truth, this kind of fruitless and inefficient search will never end. Do they... pay you overtime?" Lucius's gaze slowly slid over Arthur, scrutinising his robes. "It seems not. Merlin's beard, what is the point of being a 'scoundrel among wizards' if you cannot even get a decent reward?"
Arthur's face immediately turned red.
"We have completely different views on what constitutes a scoundrel among wizards, Malfoy," he said through gritted teeth.
"Betraying pure-bloods and protecting Muggles, you get nothing in return. School is about to start, and with so many children at home, you still have to buy secondhand wands and books. Do you think they will thank their father?" Lucius flashed a standard, impeccable smile, his malice lurking beneath his words.
Lucius Malfoy always avoided openly displaying his personal grievances and was adept at exchanging pleasantries with those who disagreed with him. However, if anyone dared to challenge the dignity of a Malfoy, intending to tarnish the Malfoy family's reputation, infringe upon their safety, or encroach upon their interests, he would absolutely not let them off easily.
Lucius considered himself a master at responding to provocations. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze darting between the two men's robes to subtly convey his contempt.
Even Perkins, who was suffering from back pain and unable to concentrate on his work, noticed it. Lucius Malfoy's expensive velvet black robes, accentuated by his platinum blonde hair, made him look incredibly noble; this made Arthur's old, plain robes look even more lacklustre.
He braced himself against his back and tried to pull his colleague away: "Forget it, Arthur, let us go."
"Be careful. If we keep getting reports, we shall be back. It is my job, and I have to get it done, whether you like it or not." Arthur followed Perkins out of the Malfoy house, turned around, straightened his back, and adopted a righteous and indignant posture, trying his best to hide the embarrassment of being ridiculed in front of his colleague. "As for my children, I believe they can judge the quality of their parents, so you do not need to worry about them."
"Hmph, superiority or inferiority..." Lucius chuckled mockingly, eyeing Arthur Weasley's smug expression outside the door. Despite his anger, he maintained a certain composure, refraining from uttering a single curse word to this incorrigible Ministry of Magic official.
"Goodbye and do not bother coming back," he said coldly, slamming the gates of Malfoy Manor shut in front of Weasley and Perkins.
"Arthur Weasley, that degrading pure-blood traitor, is unworthy of being one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight!" Lucius said to Narcissa, who was walking down the stairs, his nostrils flaring. "His whole family lives in a burrow, yet he dares to discuss superiority and inferiority in front of a Malfoy? Does he even deserve it?"
"Ignore him. It is not worth getting angry over someone like that," Narcissa said. "We had better stay away from wizards who are ostracised by pure-blood family social circles, lest we get ourselves into trouble. There is no benefit in associating with them; and there is no need to waste time making enemies with them, which would only lower our own status."
"I know! I do not want to deal with him. I always keep a 'live and let live' attitude towards people like him," Lucius said, suppressing his anger. "You know I have been very busy lately. I would rather spend that time having dinner with Cornelius Fudge and figuring out some new ways to make money!"
"I heard what he said. He probably did not consult with Fudge, his superior, and this surprise inspection was entirely his own decision," Narcissa said, a slight wrinkle appearing on her forehead. "How could Fudge promote such a Ministry of Magic official? He has no political acumen or personal awareness whatsoever. Working in the Ministry of Magic, how can he be so clueless and unable to read between the lines?"
"Exactly. I have not dealt with such self-destructive Ministry of Magic officials in a long time! They clearly get nothing out of it, yet they still deliberately offend people!" Lucius said impatiently. "For something invisible and intangible, he has ruined his reputation... Protecting Muggle interests is something he can just deal with superficially; do you really think the Ministry of Magic cares? No matter how much he does, no one will thank him! Do you expect Muggles to thank him? Muggles do not even know wizards exist. Wizards will not thank him either, because it brings more inconvenience. Even the Ministry of Magic will not thank him; they will not even give him an extra Galleon!"
"The Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office... I have heard that the Ministry of Magic supported the establishment of such a department to protect careless wizards from being discovered by Muggles and causing chaos; but he, on the other hand, calls himself the 'protector of Muggles,' only concerned with the safety of Muggles, without considering the rights of wizards, completely putting the cart before the horse." Narcissa said thoughtfully, casually brushing a speck of dust off her husband's shoulder. "However, I suspect he is being used as a pawn by the Malfoys' enemies. It is laughable that he is so enthusiastic, even shouting that he is going to get his job done."
"That is right. If Weasley had just asked his boss Fudge, he would not have had to come all this way today," Lucius said, his tone softening slightly.
"Anyway, being targeted by someone who has no loopholes is troublesome," Narcissa said worriedly to her husband. "Lucius, you have to be careful. I do not think he will give up so easily."
Lucius's face was grim, and he did not say anything more.
Draco silently stood on the second-floor platform, peering down at the scene below. He had overheard his parents' conversation and seen the look of disgust on Lucius's face as he saw Mr Weasley off.
Currently, he has no way to resolve the stalemate between the two.
The Malfoy and Weasley families have completely opposite values. The heads of the two families often think and act on completely different wavelengths.
Even after being reborn and knowing that the Weasleys had a keen eye and had chosen the right side, Draco still did not believe he completely agreed with all of the Weasleys' beliefs, just as he did not believe his father's beliefs were without fault.
They each have their strengths and their own set of standards for doing things. It is unrealistic to expect either of them to completely transform themselves or fully understand the other.
However, this does not prevent them from seeking common ground whilst reserving differences and pursuing cooperation.
The two families do not have any deep-seated hatred that is irreconcilable; they are not incapable of standing on the same side.
However, changing this situation would not be easy. Draco sighed, pondering the matter, and then quietly disappeared at the end of the second-floor corridor.
At the breakfast table the next day, Lucius, still resentful of Mr Weasley's rudeness, not only did not calm down, but instead vented his resentment again—he found a new angle to criticise Mr Weasley:
"You know, Cissy, I look down on that Weasley, not just because he supports Muggles and betrays the concept of pure-bloods, and not just because he is clueless about human relationships, but also because I do not think he is a responsible father..."
Narcissa looked up with interest, silently encouraging her husband to express more of his thoughts with her gaze.
"A good father should provide his child with the best material conditions and living environment, ensuring the child lacks nothing and is full of confidence," Lucius said arrogantly. "Crude and shoddy procreation is irresponsible and will bring painful consequences to the new life. How can a couple have so much energy to raise seven children? I have heard that they are all dressed in rags, running around in the fields, and being ridiculed..."
"It sounds rather irresponsible," Narcissa said, puzzled. "Raising one child is difficult enough, but seven? How do they have time to provide all kinds of education for their children? Can their pre-school education keep up? Can they provide targeted training based on each child's talents? How much time can they dedicate to each child in a twenty-four-hour day? Can each child receive sufficient attention from their parents? It is terrifying, simply unimaginable."
"That makes sense. Raising one child carefully is much better than aimlessly raising a group of children. Besides, you have already had enough of a hard time having one child! I do not want to experience that scene a second time." Lucius said with lingering fear, his face turning pale as he took Narcissa's hand under the table.
Narcissa silently returned his handshake.
"Draco, you silly boy! Listen to your mother and do not make her angry! She gave birth to you and raised you with great difficulty, do you understand?" Lucius suddenly turned his head and said fiercely to his son.
Father, is it not a bit inappropriate to use this tactic just to belittle your own son? Draco, who was inexplicably called out, felt like an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire, like a tool for showing off affection, and he had no words to express his bitterness.
However, Lucius's words, though abrupt, did make some sense. Draco's expression turned serious, he nodded to his father, and gave his mother a loving look.
"Lucius, do not frighten the child. Draco has always been very obedient." Narcissa smiled gently at her well-behaved son, then looked back at her husband and said tenderly, "My dear, you have always been very considerate to me. I have no interest in being a breeding machine, and I cherish your respect for my thoughts. However, I do not regret having Draco. He is the proudest child in the world, and I cannot imagine any other son being better than ours."
Mother, have you forgotten William Weasley's twelve Ordinary Wizarding Levels? Or Charlie Weasley's near-representation in Quidditch for England? In two years, Percy Weasley will also burst onto the scene with twelve Ordinary Wizarding Levels, eager to enter the Ministry of Magic. Draco lowered his eyes, thinking to himself, It cannot be said that the Weasley children are entirely without merit.
Narcissa did not care how much other people's sons had accomplished. She only focused her attention on her own son—the son to whom she poured all her heart and soul.
Right now, her Draco was sitting elegantly in a corner of the dining chair, silently and skilfully cutting his steak. Thinking of Professor Snape's praise and his top-of-the-year report card, she felt immense pride.
Draco, meanwhile, continued to eat his breakfast with his eyes closed and his mind at ease. He did not dare tell them that he was having close communication and contact with the Weasley children, whom they looked down upon.