"The Malfoy family once stood on Voldemort's side, so even though both our families are pure-blood Slytherins, our relationship has never been particularly good. We rarely associate with each other. And even setting that aside, I doubt we'd ever get along—though gossiping behind someone's back is hardly dignified, it has to be said that this family hasn't exactly done many respectable things throughout history…"
"Their manor mainly cultivates various herbs and magical woods. Overall, the quality can't compare to the Hogwarts greenhouses or the Ollivander family's stock, but it's still a specialty of theirs…"
Two days later, at Shafiq Manor, Baron—dressed in proper formal attire—was quietly briefing Avada on the general situation of the Malfoy family. Mr. and Mrs. Shafiq sat upright in the drawing room, while Old Charlie stood to one side, along with another house-elf Avada didn't recognize. Although the two families had never been particularly close, their relationship had never reached the point of hostility either. Besides, the Malfoys were bringing business opportunities this time, and due respect had to be shown.
At last, the doorbell rang.
With a wave of Old Charlie's hand, the double doors swung open, revealing three figures standing outside.
At the front was a thin, pale middle-aged man with long, pale-blond hair cascading over his shoulders. He held a cane topped with a serpent's head, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips—Lucius Malfoy. To his right stood the tall and elegant Narcissa Malfoy, and the blond boy with slicked-back hair holding her hand was, naturally, Draco Malfoy.
Avada sighed inwardly.
At this moment, the Malfoy couple were impeccably dressed, their manners refined, both wearing gentle, pleasant smiles—nothing like the irritating image they had in the original story. Even Draco Malfoy stood properly, not fidgeting, only casting curious glances around him.
It felt oddly absurd.
In the original story, Lucius Malfoy had openly glared at Dumbledore and even sabotaged him from time to time—and that was before Voldemort had even returned.
Lost in thought, Avada rose along with the Shafiq family, though he didn't step forward to greet them as they did, merely moving a couple of steps ahead.
"It's been a long time, Mr. Malfoy. A very long time indeed," Mr. Shafiq said with a smile as he stepped forward and shook Lucius's hand. "When was the last time we met?"
"The last time…" Lucius replied gently. "At the courtroom. I was facing charges of being a Death Eater then, and you were a member of the jury. You were there to witness my acquittal."
As he spoke, a look of recollection crossed his face. "Even now, I don't like to think back on that period. Controlled by the Imperius Curse, drifting through each day in a haze, voices whispering in my ears every moment, driving one mad. And when I finally came to my senses, I was surrounded by Aurors, wands pointed at me, accusing me of being a Death Eater…"
"Oh, forgive me—I've gone on a bit," Lucius said, recovering himself. "Allow me to introduce you. This is my wife, Narcissa Malfoy. And this is my son…"
He patted Draco lightly on the back, signaling him to step forward. "Draco Malfoy. He'll be enrolling at Hogwarts this year. Draco, greet Mr. Shafiq."
"Good afternoon, Mr. Shafiq," Draco said, bowing stiffly but respectfully.
"A good child," Mr. Shafiq said, patting his shoulder before turning to his own family. "This is my wife, Joan Shafiq. And this is my son, Baron…"
"This Baron here took first place in his year," Mr. Shafiq added. "You should learn from him."
Lucius said a few words to Draco, which were met with a flurry of polite deflections and modest replies.
"And this is Ken," Mr. Shafiq continued, turning to Avada and beckoning him forward. "Baron's friend from Hogwarts. He's staying with us for a few days and will be going to Diagon Alley with us as well."
"Ken?"
After Avada greeted them, a puzzled look appeared in Lucius's eyes. "Just one name?"
"It would be best not to inquire into his true name, Mr. Malfoy."
Mr. Shafiq's expression turned serious at once. Behind him, Mrs. Shafiq and Baron both lowered their heads—afraid they might be seen struggling to hold back laughter.
"And why is that?" Lucius asked.
"His name is a taboo. A taboo even Dumbledore avoids."
Mr. Shafiq frowned, lowering his voice as if afraid of disturbing something unseen. "That name once stirred up bloody storms throughout the wizarding world. Dumbledore personally oversaw Ken's enrollment and strictly concealed his true name afterward. Trust me, Mr. Malfoy—you wouldn't want to hear that name."
"No one would want to hear that name."
Avada: …
He turned the words over in his mind and realized, with some astonishment, that not a single sentence was false. Mr. Shafiq had perfectly upheld the noble virtue of honesty.
Lucius studied Avada deeply for a moment, then said nothing more and resumed his easy conversation with Mr. Shafiq.
Unbeknownst to them, his palms were already slick with cold sweat.
He knew it well—whether Dumbledore or the Shafiq family, both were famously unyielding, hardly the sort to fear taboos of any kind. They were people who could casually speak even the Dark Lord's name without a second thought.
A name that once plunged the wizarding world into chaos. A name that made even Dumbledore wary. A name no one wished to hear…
"No wonder…" Lucius thought to himself. "So Hogwarts didn't just welcome Harry Potter—there's another one as well…"
"But when did that person ever have descendants?"
"So, Ken," Lucius asked kindly, bending down slightly and softening his voice, "which House are you in?"
"…Hufflepuff."
"Hufflepuff?" Lucius was genuinely surprised. It didn't quite match what he had imagined—but after a moment's thought, it began to make sense.
"Ah, of course. Dumbledore must have arranged his life from childhood onward, reshaping his temperament to erase that person's traces as much as possible…"
"So it's Hufflepuff. Mm, a fine House," Lucius said. After racking his brain for a while—having exhausted all praise for Gryffindor—he finally managed to compliment Hufflepuff. "Do you find the academic pressure at Hogwarts heavy? Any difficulties?"
"Uh… it's fine. Everything's pretty easy."
Watching Lucius's mental state trace a curve of shock—realization—shock—realization—tentative probing, and recalling Mr. Shafiq's scrupulously honest explanation, Avada could more or less guess what Lucius was thinking.
Mr. Shafiq had already discussed this approach with him in advance, and Avada agreed that such deliberately vague yet pointed wording would save him a great deal of trouble—at the very least, Lucius would surely warn his son not to provoke him. That way, the ill-tempered Draco Malfoy wouldn't make trouble for him at school.
As for whom Lucius would associate him with—Grindelwald or someone else—he could guess to his heart's content.
"Ken nearly took first place in his year," Mr. Shafiq said with a smile. "He only answered one astronomy question incorrectly, losing a single point. Otherwise, he would've tied with Baron for first."
"So that's how it is. He's inherited that person's talent as well—no wonder Dumbledore values him so highly…" Lucius's suspicions grew ever firmer.
He smiled warmly and said, "That's truly impressive. And I'm very glad Draco will have two such outstanding upperclassmen after he enrolls. Draco, you must learn well from Baron and Ken."
"I understand, Father," Draco replied, nodding in confusion.
He knew that first place and nearly first place were remarkable, but he couldn't shake the feeling that his father's behavior was strange.
For instance, Lucius had always looked down on Hufflepuff, yet he had just praised it—something practically unheard of. And when he questioned that Ken earlier, he had seemed oddly tense…
Just who was he, really? Could he be even more distinguished than the noble Malfoy family?
"Then, Mr. Malfoy," Mr. Shafiq said with a smile, "it's about time. Shall we head to Diagon Alley together? I can show you the new broom display while we're there."
Lucius nodded at once. "I can hardly wait."
(End of Chapter)