The afternoon at Malfoy Manor was very quiet.
The lawn outside the window was neatly trimmed, and a white peacock was walking past the hedge.
Narcissa looked at the family letter sent by her daughter, and then glanced at the package receipt next to it, her lips gradually curving into a few more smiles.
Lucius sat behind the desk, heard the sound of turning letter paper, and glanced up at his wife.
"Draco wrote again?"
"I am reading the one she sent a few days ago."
Narcissa unfolded the letter paper.
Aside from the usual greetings, the back also carefully listed several items: a fine men's robe, a book of spells suitable for beginners, preferably with detailed wand-movement diagrams, and five hundred Galleons.
Money was hardly anything. But these things were obviously not prepared by their daughter for herself.
"Who is it for?"
"Without a doubt, a lucky little boy."
Lucius's quill stopped.
"Little boy?"
"Men's robes, a book of spells suitable for beginners." Narcissa handed the letter over. "I think it is probably not for some professor."
Lucius took the letter and read it carefully.
Their daughter's requirements for the robes were written very clearly; the size, the fabric, and several areas that easily affected movement were all specially mentioned.
As for that book, after Narcissa selected it, Draco had even written back to ask whether the diagrams inside were clear.
The man's gaze slowly lifted from the letter paper.
"She didn't write a name?"
"No. She only said it was the reward for a favor."
"What favor?"
"That is precisely what I want to know."
Narcissa picked up the package receipt again, and the smile in her eyes grew a little more.
She certainly understood her daughter.
From childhood to now, Draco was very particular about her own things, and even if it was just a robe, she had to pick it until she was satisfied.
Now, this fastidiousness was actually applied to someone else.
If it were merely paying a reward, it would be far too meticulous.
Lucius frowned and lowered his head to look at that sheet of letter paper again. Five hundred Galleons was nothing, but how long had their daughter been at Hogwarts?
Now she had already started picking out robes for some boy?
Narcissa did not continue guessing and took a new piece of parchment.
It seemed she had to ask those two children.
After some time, a reply from Hogwarts was delivered to Malfoy Manor.
The letter was written very conscientiously.
Goyle was responsible for sorting out the events, and Crabbe supplemented the details in several places.
The two first explained that Miss ate well, lived well, and did very well in her coursework at Hogwarts, and had not suffered any grievances.
Only then did they begin to answer the Madam's questions.
"Madam, the robes, spell book, and Galleons prepared by Miss are for Mr. Harry Potter."
The hand with which Narcissa was turning the letter paper suddenly paused.
Potter?
Turns out that lucky little boy was him.
She sat up slightly straight and continued to read the letter.
On the train, Miss had taken the initiative to invite Mr. Harry Potter to make friends, but Mr. Harry Potter had not responded in time, and Miss had therefore been very angry.
During the Sorting, Miss had hoped Mr. Harry Potter would enter Slytherin.
As a result, Mr. Harry Potter went to Gryffindor, and Miss grew angry again.
In Potions Class, Miss became partners with Mr. Harry Potter, and even personally taught him how to process ingredients.
Both of their potions received praise from Professor Snape, but Mr. Harry Potter's finished product was a bit better.
Miss was still very angry.
Narcissa's fingers tapped gently on the edge of the letter paper twice.
How was it that every time she seemed angry, it was because of the exact same person?
She continued to read downward.
During Flying Class, their daughter performed very well, and even helped an out-of-control classmate together with Harry.
In the subsequent flying match, Draco won as well.
Seeing this, Narcissa's expression softened a little.
Unfortunately, after winning the match, Mr. Harry Potter was selected by Professor McGonagall as a Seeker.
Miss was extremely dissatisfied with this.
Narcissa moved the letter down a bit. Next, things seemed to become even livelier.
Their daughter challenged Potter to a duel, and actually went in the middle of the night.
Goyle and Crabbe were responsible for keeping watch, but Peeves appeared and alerted Filch. When the few of them fled, they were separated by the Moving Staircases.
Fortunately, they all returned safely to the dormitory in the end.
Narcissa's smile from just a moment ago vanished. Were these two children a bit too daring?
Only further down was the matter of the Silver Snake Brooch.
Narcissa slowly exhaled in relief. That was pinned onto her daughter by her own hands, and she knew very well how much Draco liked that gift.
So that reward was for this.
At the end of the letter, there were two supplementary sentences.
"Madam, Miss has frequently brought up Mr. Harry Potter lately. Moreover, she seems to care very much about Mr. Harry Potter's evaluation of her. After returning from delivering the gift, Miss was in very good spirits."
Narcissa looked at it for a while, and then stood up and walked toward the desk.
"Lucius, you had better look at this."
"Harry Potter?"
Lucius had only just seen the beginning when he raised his eyes.
Narcissa nodded, signaling for him to continue reading downward.
The man read very carefully. After finishing, he did not speak immediately, but flipped the letter back to the front and read it through once more.
Narcissa picked up her teacup and waited quietly. After a moment, Lucius finally raised his head again.
"Narcissa, why is it that almost every event that happens to Draco at school is related to Harry Potter?"
Narcissa did not answer, merely placing her teacup back onto the saucer.
She had thought of this very question just now.
How long has it been since enrollment? Their daughter has already shared a train ride with Potter, served as a Potions partner, saved a classmate, competed in flying, dueled in the middle of the night, and fled from the caretaker together inside the castle.
Now she has also sent robes, a spell book, and Galleons. She has scheduled things fuller than Lucius's meetings this month.
Yet in previous family letters, Draco's evaluation of Potter had clearly remained completely consistent.
Hate him, extremely hate him, she must defeat him with her own hands.
Lucius's gaze landed on the last two lines, and his expression gradually turned somewhat subtle.
"Wait, does Draco like Harry Potter?"
"At least, she very much likes competing with him." Narcissa's reply was completely poised. "I do not remember her ever caring this much about any classmate before."
Lucius leaned back into his chair and tapped his fingers lightly against the tabletop.
He had to think carefully about this matter.
Harry Potter.
He of course knew what this name meant in the Wizarding World.
The Boy Who Lived, the Chosen One whom nearly all wizards knew.
Moreover, according to what was said in this letter, Potter's performance at school was indeed quite good. His potions received praise from Snape, and he was chosen by McGonagall as a Seeker against the usual rules.
All of these things were worth noting.
"The Potter family itself has some accumulations." Lucius spoke slowly. "His father's family is not unfamiliar."
Narcissa looked at him.
"So?"
"But that child grew up in a Muggle home, and his mother was also Muggle-born."
"And... he walks far too close with the children of the Weasley family."
When uttering the final sentence, Lucius's brow furrowed noticeably. Narcissa lowered her gaze to look at the letter, then looked back at her husband.
"Yet he accompanied Draco to retrieve the brooch."
"I saw it."
"And he did not refuse to learn from Malfoy, did he?"
Lucius paused. This indeed did not resemble certain children who relied on their fame and felt everyone ought to revolve around them.
"We can continue observing." He finally spoke. "But Draco ought not to be easily influenced by others."
Narcissa did not refute him. She picked up her teacup again, but her gaze fell upon the sheet of parchment at her husband's side.
A few words had just been added to the top.
Potter Family.
"Lucius, you do not need to be in such a rush."
"I know that, of course."
"Then why have you already started considering the Potter family's assets?"
The hand with which the man held his quill paused slightly.
"Harry Potter..."
Lucius softly murmured the name once.
For the Malfoy family, wealth was never the thing that needed worrying about the most.
What truly mattered was power and status.
Ten years ago, the Dark Lord fell, and those pure-blood families who had once followed him were virtually all in a state of panic for their own safety.
The Malfoy family was naturally no exception.
Although he ultimately escaped the accusations of being a Death Eater on the grounds of being controlled by the Imperius Curse, Lucius knew very well in his heart that certain matters could not be thoroughly erased by a mere excuse.
The Ministry of Magic being willing to accept his explanation did not mean all wizards believed in his innocence.
It was simply that, hindered by the Malfoy family's wealth and influence, not many dared to bring it up to his face.
But Harry Potter was different.
He was the Chosen One acknowledged by the entire British Wizarding World.
If such a person were to establish a sufficiently close relationship with the Malfoy family in the future...
Lucius slowly narrowed his eyes.
Then many things would probably all become different.
At least when people spoke once more of the Malfoy family's past stance, they would be forced to consider the Chosen One who maintained such a close relationship with them.
What was more, the Potter family itself was not simple at all.
Given time, he might not fail to become a person of decisive weight in the Wizarding World.
Of course.
There were also risks inherent in this, and moreover, no one could guarantee that the Dark Lord would truly never return.
Thinking of this, he slowly laid down his quill.
"Narcissa."
"Mm?"
"That boy's identity is very special." Lucius picked up his teacup, his tone returning to calm. "If they can maintain a good relationship, it might perhaps be of some help to the future development of the Malfoy family."
Narcissa looked at him.
After a moment, she suddenly smiled softly.
"So you have already begun considering utilizing our daughter and his friend?"
"Narcissa." Lucius frowned slightly. "I am merely considering the future of the family."
"Of course, of course, my dear."
Lucius: "..."
The man picked up his quill once more, deciding not to continue this topic.
The reply to their daughter was written by Narcissa.
The front part consisted entirely of ordinary admonitions.
The weather was gradually turning cooler, do not forget to wear thicker robes, eat meals on time, and go find Madam Pomfrey if there is any discomfort.
Following that, she conscientiously reminded her of a few points: do not roam about at night at will, and even less should she feel that because someone accompanied her, she would not encounter danger.
Finally, she asked about the brooch. Writing up to this point, Narcissa's pen tip paused slightly, and she added another line.
"Oh yes, my dear, I hear you have made a new friend at school."
"That Mr. Potter seems to be rather a good, fine child?"
She read the letter through once more, folded it, and sealed it. Lucius glanced at the envelope.
"Just these?"
"For now, these are enough."
Narcissa handed the letter to the owl waiting by the window and gently stroked its feathers.
She was rather looking forward to seeing how her daughter would answer.
Hogwarts, Slytherin Common Room.
Draco had been in a fairly good mood when she opened her mother's reply.
She had just earned the professor's praise in Charms, and Potter had even asked her about a move in that book.
See?
He already knew that, for some things, he had to ask yours truly.
The girl sat by the window, carefully reading her mother's reminders.
Wear thick robes-she knew that; eat on time-she knew that too. As for sneaking out at night...
Draco's gaze suddenly stopped.
How did Mum know she'd been sneaking out at night?
She slowly read on. When she reached the final line, her fingers abruptly tightened around the letter.
Potter, a new friend, a good boy.
"..."
The girl jerked her head up. Goyle was sorting his textbooks, while Crabbe had his head lowered, staring at a timetable he had long since finished reading.
Both of them were suddenly very busy.
"Goyle."
Goyle's movements paused.
"Crabbe."
Crabbe turned the timetable over again.
Draco set the letter on the table, her voice gradually rising.
"Have you two been doing something behind my back?!"
Goyle glanced at Crabbe. Crabbe glanced at Goyle and finally spoke in a small voice.
"Madam wrote to ask how you've been doing at school lately."
"So you told her?"
"We didn't make anything up, miss," Goyle hastily added. "It was all true."
Draco stared at the girls.
"How much did you tell her?"
The two girls fell silent for a moment.
"Starting... from the train."
The girl's expression froze completely.
From the train?!
She looked down at the letter from home, suddenly understanding why her mother had asked about Potter at the end.
Damn it! Just how much had they written about Potter?!
Draco immediately pulled out a sheet of parchment and picked up her quill, ready to set this misunderstanding straight in earnest.
Friends? Who was friends with him!
She simply hadn't won enough yet!
She wrote, "Dear Mum." Her quill paused, then quickly touched down again.
Meanwhile, far away at Malfoy Manor, Narcissa had already prepared her questions for her reply.
She hoped her daughter would say a little more this time.
Especially about... that utterly detestable Mr. Potter.
Before you continue