Despite verbally belittling him, Lucius Malfoy harboured a deep-seated fear of Arthur Weasley.
On the twelfth of August, when he took his son to Diagon Alley to buy school supplies, he first made a detour to Borgin and Burkes' shop in Knockturn Alley and sold a few more items that might be detected as Dark magic.
That morning, he feigned distress to Narcissa, trying to salvage the situation before things settled down: "Cissy, you know me. I did not actually use most of these items; I just looked at them... purely for display... is that not allowed?"
"Lucius, I have never restricted your little hobbies before. But times have changed, and we cannot afford to take risks now," Narcissa said firmly. "My book club is almost out of business! Just imagine, if our guests keep seeing Ministry of Magic officials barging into Malfoy Manor and treating us so casually, they will suspect we have lost the Ministry's respect. And if he actually finds something out in front of everyone... that is not exactly a good reputation for us."
"It is all that wretched Weasley's fault, he has come twice in one week," Lucius said angrily. "What is he going to do next? Start clocking in at Malfoy Manor regularly? I am not paying him overtime."
"If he were to charge us 'overtime pay,' things would be much easier," Narcissa said. "He is completely unresponsive; what can you do? Complain to Fudge?"
"Of course. He is very smooth; he will say he is 'greatly shocked' and then the next thing he will say he is 'powerless to do anything about it,'" Lucius said. "There is a considerable number of people watching the Muggle Protection Act that Weasley is overseeing, mostly low-ranking officials. Although they are not high-ranking, their numbers are actually quite substantial. He cannot just arbitrarily prohibit Weasley from doing his work in accordance with the terms of the Act at this time."
"Hmph, he is really cautious, not wanting to give anyone a handle to use against him, is he not? I think he is planning to be re-elected, which is why he cares so much about what others think of him." Narcissa said, narrowing her eyes. "Even if he were painted white all over, he could never become as pure white as a unicorn."
"He is content as long as his political enemies do not find any fault with him," Lucius said, then suddenly felt a wave of frustration. "There is no room for negotiation, is there? They have to be sold?"
"They have to be sold." Narcissa glanced at Lucius with a smile whilst her son was eating, and said in a barely audible voice, "Come back early after you are done, and I shall give you some unconditional compensation, all right?"
"...All right." Lucius's eyes lit up, and he readily agreed.
He felt the curious look in his son's eyes, so he coughed lightly, took a sip of tea, and secretly raised the corners of his mouth behind the teacup.
What exactly did his mother say? Draco wondered to himself.
Given the Malfoy family's fascination with Dark magic artefacts, Father probably would not be able to bring himself to do it; however, after only a moment of distraction, Father actually agreed? And even seemed a little happy?
His overjoyed expression did not seem like the product of being threatened by his mother.
Draco's astonishment never ceased on the journey from the breakfast table to Knockturn Alley, and he was utterly bewildered by Lucius's unusual behaviour.
Knockturn Alley always had a gloomy, cramped, and dirty appearance.
After passing a sinister witch selling dead men's fingernails, a shop selling poisonous candles, and a few more shops selling Dark magic items, Borgin and Burkes' spacious but dimly lit wizarding shop came into view.
As soon as he entered, Lucius put away his cheerful expression and put on a cold and dignified demeanour again.
He walked through the shop, casually glancing at the items displayed on the shelves. He cautiously shook the bell on the counter, then turned to his son and instructed, "Do not touch anything, Draco."
The young Malfoy had lost interest in the Dark magic items displayed on the counter. He had seen them before in his own secret chamber; they were nothing special to him.
Draco listened absentmindedly to Lucius and Mr Borgin's complaints about the Ministry of Magic's raid and the ensuing long and tedious haggling. When no one was looking, he went straight to the only thing in the shop that interested him—the Vanishing Cabinet.
He looked at the large black and gold cabinet and thought to himself: This thing is a rare treasure. I should find some time to buy it from Mr Borgin. Who knows, it might come in handy in the future.
Suddenly, he saw a pair of emerald green eyes through the crack in the Vanishing Cabinet door.
How is that possible?
Is anyone using a Vanishing Cabinet?
However, those eyes were not an illusion, and they looked strangely familiar.
He asked softly, "Harry?"
Those eyes blinked nervously at his words, looking more like Harry's.
Draco darted to the crack in the door, blocking the view from the counter.
The eyes disappeared, but a low voice came from the crack in the door: "It is me, Draco."
"Why are you here?" Draco asked with interest.
"An accident." Harry's voice betrayed a hint of unease.
"An accident..." he repeated slowly, trying to process the meaning behind the word, "I think you had better leave here as soon as possible." He shook his head, opened the door, and quietly let Harry out.
Under Draco's cover, Harry, his face covered in soot, tiptoed out from the other shelf. Just as he reached the door, Draco heard Mr Borgin ask suspiciously, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Harry did not dare look up, and said evasively, "I am sorry, I..."
"He is my friend. He saw me here and came in to say hello, correct?" Draco quickly jumped in to smooth things over.
"Yes." Harry seemed relieved.
"Your friend?" Lucius put down the list in his hand, slowly chewing on the words, and looked at Harry's face and body with suspicion with his cold grey eyes.
"I did not know you had such...unique tastes." He glanced at his son, a hint of disdain on his face.
Draco gave an awkward smile.
Father, this is the Harry Potter you have always longed for...
"Father, I have arranged to meet Blaise at the ice cream shop at Florean Fortescue's. It is almost time, can I go say hello first?" Draco asked with an innocent air.
Blaise, thank you for taking the blame.
Lucius waved his hand dismissively. "All right, do not wander off. Buy your friends some ice cream or something. I have things to do. Meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour."
"I understand, Father. Also, Mr Borgin, did you not give too few coins earlier?" Draco said tactfully. "I noticed you seemed to take one back just now."
Mr Borgin gave a twisted smile and sheepishly put the gold coin he had picked up back on the counter; Lucius glared at him coldly.