Street Encounter

"Merry Christmas, Canopus!" Neville's round face was a little red from the cold. "You're out shopping too today."

"As you can see, my house-elf said he... needed some room to show off." Canopus spread his hands, and Neville laughed.

"Aren't you going to introduce me, darling?" The old lady placed a withered hand on Neville's shoulder, making him shudder involuntarily.

"O-of course, Canopus, this is my grandmother. Gran, this is my classmate, Canopus Black. He usually takes good care of me."

Neville was as awkward as he had been when he first met Canopus, and the old lady gave him a somewhat dissatisfied look.

"Just call me Mrs Longbottom. Merry Christmas, dear." The old lady elegantly held out her hand, and Canopus hurriedly took it and gave it a shake.

"Merry Christmas, ma'am. I think Neville simply doesn't have much experience introducing his classmates to you." Canopus smiled and patted Neville's shoulder. "Don't be nervous. I don't think my face is frightening enough to scare Mrs Longbottom."

He made a funny face, and Neville relaxed. The furrow between Mrs Longbottom's brows smoothed away as well.

Neville's parents had once been renowned Aurors who had thwarted Voldemort three times, but they were eventually captured by Bellatrix Lestrange and tortured into madness with the Cruciatus Curse.

Mrs Longbottom had raised Neville alone, so she naturally had to maintain a stern image. Yet no one could compare to her in how dearly she loved and protected her grandson. Canopus held her in great respect as well.

Canopus and Neville strolled down the street in front, while Mrs Longbottom followed half a step behind with her handbag in hand.

"That pen you gave me is so useful, Canopus." Neville kept expressing how much he loved the gift.

Naturally, Canopus was delighted that someone appreciated his creation. "I've always thought the design of Remembralls was downright inhuman. They turn red when you forget something, but..."

"But if I've forgotten what it was, I still can't remember it even when it reminds me!" Neville couldn't help cutting in, full of resentment.

That was absolutely Neville's heartfelt opinion. The Remembrall had become his greatest enemy in the battle against his forgetfulness.

They passed Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, which was selling Christmas outfits, then Zonko's Joke Shop, which was holding a Christmas sale, and finally spotted the Malfoy family outside Honeydukes Sweetshop.

The young Malfoy heir, Draco, was wielding a licorice wand in one hand and a Blood Pop in the other. Narcissa Malfoy lovingly patted Draco's head, while Lucius Malfoy walked ahead with a blank expression, occasionally glancing at his son with the faintest hint of a smile.

At this time, Draco was not that obnoxious and cowardly young master, but simply a child doted on by his parents.

No matter how much trouble this family stirred up outside, or how often they shifted their allegiances, they truly valued their family above all else.

Maybe he had mocked Draco a little too much normally? He was just a kid, after all. He ought to be given a chance to change...

"Oh, no." Neville muttered under his breath. "I really didn't want to run into them on Christmas."

Canopus asked curiously, "What's wrong? Are they going to beat you up in the street or something?"

"Of course not. Just watch." Neville sighed, and then Canopus saw Lucius and Mrs Longbottom stride toward each other like two fighting cocks poised to strike.

"Mrs Longbottom, what a pleasure to see you." Lucius held his chin high, as though he were greeting Mrs Longbottom through his nostrils.

"Seeing you on Christmas, Mr Lucius, leaves me with rather mixed feelings."

The vulture ornament atop Mrs Longbottom's hat swayed, fully conveying its owner's foul mood.

"Isn't this Neville? Draco told me you've improved quite a bit this year. At the very least, you've learned a few spells." Lucius turned his prominent nose toward Neville and praised him in a peculiar tone.

Neville had shown magical ability very late and had nearly been considered a Squib. Squibs were heavily discriminated against in the wizarding world, like Hogwarts' caretaker Filch, whose hard work had never been appreciated by anyone.

Lucius had once made snide remarks about Neville almost every time they met, enraging old Mrs Longbottom, who had once raised such an outstanding Auror son, until she trembled with fury.

Even though Neville had improved greatly now, he still couldn't deal with such veiled mockery. He could only wait for his grandmother to return the blow.

"You're too kind to let Draco concern himself with Neville. That child always remembers other people's performances so clearly. Anyone who didn't know better might think he intended to report them to some important person." Mrs Longbottom spoke in an operatic drawl. "I suppose it runs in the family."

This time, Lucius's face darkened. The Malfoy family were fanatical pure-blood supremacists, and Lucius himself had once been a central figure among the Death Eaters. He had often used his family's influence to gather information everywhere and report it to his master, Voldemort.

After Voldemort fell overnight, Lucius immediately claimed that he had been under the Imperius Curse. By bribing people throughout the Ministry of Magic, coupled with the fact that he had not personally taken much part in hunting down opponents, Lucius escaped imprisonment.

Mrs Longbottom's counterattack had been precise and ruthless, striking directly at Lucius's sore spot.

Lucius snorted through his nose, having no intention of continuing the war of words with the grandmother and grandson.

When he turned around, he saw his wife, Narcissa Malfoy, looking at Canopus with a complicated expression.

"Hello, Canopus." Her hands rested on her son's shoulders as though she were choosing her words carefully. "I never knew you existed. You... how have you been all these years?"

Narcissa's father and Regulus's father were brothers, which meant that Narcissa was, in a sense, Canopus's aunt.

But Canopus's other aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange, was the very culprit who had directly driven Canopus's mother, Vivian, to her death.

Canopus truly found it difficult to show this woman a pleasant face. Although she was not a Death Eater, she had always been very close to Bellatrix.

"If it weren't for Miss Bellatrix, my mother could still be having a chat with you right now, Madam Narcissa."

Narcissa's face turned pale. Lucius glanced at Canopus, then took his wife by the arm and left with Draco.

Neville saw that Canopus was in a bad mood, and not long afterward, he too took his leave with Mrs Longbottom.

Canopus wanted to say that he had not been affected, but when he looked at the shop window, he discovered that his expression had already turned cold and indifferent.

He was still far from being able to keep his emotions from showing.

Canopus rubbed his cheeks, once again drawing the attention of quite a few young girls.

He could only hurry away, heading home.

Perhaps once he killed Bellatrix someday, his mind would finally be at peace.

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