Killing Two Birds with One Stone

"Yes, Mom, I understand."

Malfoy lowered his head and spoke with difficulty in a hoarse voice.

He could not let go of the hatred for his father's murder, nor could he forgive the Auror who killed his father, or the Dark Lord who caused his father's death.

But he also knew that, having always lived under his parents' protection, he was still very immature. He should heed his mother's advice and learn to become a qualified clan leader.

Seeing her son's sorrowful and pained expression on the screen, Narcissa felt an unbearable pang of heartache. She softened her tone slightly and said softly:

"Draco, do you remember those two tasks your father gave you when you first enrolled?"

"Remember to befriend Harry Potter and Bell Menethil. What's wrong, Mom?"

Malfoy failed both of these missions.

But aside from feeling extremely resentful that Harry had been snatched away by that little Weasley family, he didn't really care about anything else.

After all, when his father learned that all his missions had failed, he only said a few words indifferently, and then nothing more.

Therefore, Malfoy was very curious as to why his mother would suddenly bring up those two tasks that he had almost forgotten at this time.

"You can leave Harry Potter alone, but I require you to ease tensions with the Menethil Family heir as quickly as possible. I don't expect you to become friends with them, but at least make sure they stop disliking you."

Suppressing the tearing pain in her heart, Narcissa tried her best not to show any abnormality in her expression.

Narcissa was extremely unwilling to grovel before the descendants of her enemy.

But for the continuation of the Malfoy family, and for Draco's safety, she must use every means possible! Even if it means enduring endless humiliation, it doesn't matter!

Although rumors suggest that the Menethil Family heir is not favored by the current patriarch, William, a better relationship between Draco and the heir, perhaps even a friendship, should alleviate the Menethil Family's hostility.

"Why? Mother? Didn't Father say that the Menethil Family was our enemy?"

Malfoy asked, puzzled.

He also clearly remembers that in recent years, his father had grown increasingly disgusted with the Menethil Family.

At first, he was instructed to cultivate a good relationship with that Bell, but later on, he would often hurl insults at the Menethil Family.

It's worth noting that my father, who always considered himself Pure-blood nobleman, was extremely particular about etiquette. For even such a father to utter such foul language shows just how infuriated those scoundrels of the Menethil Family were.

"Times have changed..."

Draco, you should know that our Malfoy family is currently at its weakest point in history.

During this special period, we must do our best to reduce external hostility towards the Malfoy family.

A thousand-mile dike can be breached by an ant hole.

Even the slightest hostility must be eliminated as much as possible.

To avoid arousing her son's suspicion, Narcissa went to great lengths to come up with a perfectly plausible excuse.

Even she herself, if she hadn't known that the Menethil Family were the murderers of her husband, would almost have been convinced by herself.

"Okay, Mom, I'll go and have a good talk with Menethil later."

Although he was extremely unwilling, Malfoy obediently agreed.

"No, don't wait until later. Go now. Start taking action right now."

Narcissa urged.

In fact, Narcissa also wanted to talk to her son a little longer.

After all, apart from her sister who was imprisoned in Azkaban and acted like a madwoman, Draco was the only family she had left in the world.

So, in this vulnerable moment of losing her husband, she longed to be with her son, even if it was just through a screen.

But she couldn't do that.

Because she was about to be unable to bear the grief and hatred in her heart.

She didn't want her son to see her in that ugly state, and she was even more afraid that her intelligent son would discover something strange about it.

Therefore, she had to disconnect from her son, and immediately at that.

"Yes, Mom, I'll go find them right now."

After saying that, Malfoy reluctantly hung up the video call.

He left the washroom and called Crabbe and Goyle, who were weeping in their dormitory, and together they went to find Bell.

Like his father, Crabbe and Goyle's father also perished in last night's fierce battle.

Considering that Crabbe and Goyle's families were probably facing the same predicament as the Malfoy family, he decided to take his two not-so-bright younger brothers with him to ease the tension with Bell.

While Malfoy and his two henchmen were frantically searching for Bell all over the castle, Bell was comfortably nestled in Hermione's arms, enjoying the massage from her soft little hands.

After learning the general outline of what happened last night and discovering that Bell was still recovering from serious injuries, Hermione was terrified.

If Bell hadn't repeatedly assured her that she had already received professional treatment and only needed to rest, Hermione would have really dragged her boyfriend to Professor McGonagall to ask for leave and accompany him to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries and Healings.

"Bell, how's the power?"

Hermione placed her hands on Bell's temples, gently massaging them as she asked softly.

"Hmm... a little harder."

"Bell said lazily."

At this moment, he felt that his decision to fight Voldemort one-on-one last night was so wise and brilliant.

Not only did he get to spar with the "golden sparring partner" and improve his spellcasting skills, but he also got to enjoy Hermione's meticulous care and attention afterward. It was truly a win-win situation!

"Good! That's the right amount of pressure, very good."

Bell hummed contentedly.

I wonder if Narcissa would faint from anger if she found out that the culprit who killed her husband last night was now leisurely enjoying life as if nothing had happened.

However, Narcissa was indeed overthinking it.

That is, it's impossible for Bell to take action against the Malfoy family. And it's even less likely for Bell's father, William.

Early yesterday morning, when William suddenly received a report from Sebas, the naturally cautious William was almost scared to death by the audacity of his son's disastrous act.

Even Elena, who is usually fearless, scolded Bell for almost an hour this morning after learning the details of the matter.

(Elena: "That brat, if he wanted to fight Voldemort, he should have done it properly! What was he thinking, having to go and challenge me to a one-on-one fight? And what happened? He's badly injured, isn't he? I'm so angry!")