Lucius had composed himself when he came downstairs, and he sat calmly opposite Lorne.
"It's a rare honor for Hogwarts to send someone to visit us, without prior notice or appointment, just showing up in broad daylight," Lucius, his hands crossed on the table. "I feel as if the wizarding demeanor of Hogwarts has been completely destroyed by the arrival of someone."
Lorne calmly put away the extra documents, leaving only a notebook, as if he were the master of the place.
" Hogwarts does indeed handle student affairs primarily through letters, but the purpose of this home visit is not because of Draco's performance at school, but rather to conduct a survey of the parents."
Lucius smiled dismissively, "I've never heard of a home visit being conducted to investigate parents."
Lorne wanted to roll his eyes. He found the United Kingdom's sarcastic remarks childish; didn't they ever consider what would happen if the other person went along with what they were saying?
"That shows you're indeed ignorant, Mr. Malfoy." Lorne gave an understanding smile.
Lucius's expression remained unchanged, but the clenched fist under the table spoke volumes about his anger.
He retorted, " Dobby, bring this guest some barley tea meant for the servants."
Dobby, carrying a tray, glanced at Lorne and offered him a cup of tea with mixed feelings.
"Tea leaves aren't inherently good or bad; it's just that some people assign them a value," Lorne said, taking the teacup and examining it before finally placing it on the table. "Perhaps good tea leaves wouldn't be proud of being drunk, but some wizards are eager to be someone's dog."
Lucius instantly recalled Lorne in front of all the Hogwarts students that he had been Voldemort's vassal, and his anger intensified. But reason still told him that excessive emotional expression would only make him appear more incompetent.
"Are you talking about those Muggle-born Mudblood used to live on my estate? I wasn't that prejudiced against them before, but they still stole things from my estate—bloodline, sometimes it's just that strange."
"But nothing like that has ever happened at Hogwarts. Everyone there is of high moral character," Lorne said without fear. "I think it's more likely a matter of feng shui, or perhaps it's due to the leadership. After all, the school has been very stable under Dumbledore's leadership."
Lorne raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps you'll also need a General Affairs Office, placed next to your study."
Lucius gritted his teeth. "You came to my house just to say these things?"
"Of course not," Lorne pulled out the forged Dumbledore's diary from his pocket and placed it in front of Lucius. " Hogwarts is honest and has come specifically to return your belongings."
Lucius was shocked for a second, then snorted coldly, "This isn't mine."
"Are you sure you don't want to accept it? What if Voldemort comes back to life and finds out you've lost what he gave you? Will he punish you?"
Lucius's pupils contracted sharply; he feared the name, and he feared the truth that Lorne had spoken.
He immediately severed ties with Voldemort after his downfall and sided with the Ministry of Magic. If he were to lose the diary Voldemort had given him, he would certainly face dire consequences once Voldemort was resurrected.
His hand, resting on the table, seemed ready to strike.
Taking the diary back... wouldn't that be exactly what Lorne wanted? Besides, Dumbledore wouldn't let the tiger return to the mountain after knowing the diary was Voldemort's remnant.
Lucius forced a smile and said, "If there's nothing else, you can leave."
After saying that, he got up to leave the table, but Lorne also stood up. "Wait a minute!"
Lorne stretched out one hand. "This is a gift for your first visit to the Malfoy Manor."
Lucius looked over and saw that Lorne's hands were empty.
He thought Lorne was playing a pointless game of humiliation, but the next moment Lorne shook his arm and made a throwing motion.
Lucius instinctively caught it, and to his surprise, there was indeed a silky smooth thing in his hand.
"What's this?"
"I don't know," Lorne shrugged. "Maybe it's Thestral saliva, maybe it's Troll's snot, who knows?"
Lucius was speechless. He knew Lorne was lying; the thing had just been in his own hands.
Lucius didn't care what it was; he tossed it aside casually. " Dobby, get rid of it. Don't throw it in the trash can; it smells like Muggle."
Despite the object being transparent, Dobby caught it steadily in its arms, holding it with both hands, feeling it slide down inch by inch.
"What is this?" Dobby asked Lorne.
"Who gave you permission to speak, Dobby!" Lucius roared, even turning back to kick Dobby until he was rolling like a football.
But Lorne stood in front of Dobby.
"What are you doing?" Lucius drew his wand. "In my own home, stopping me from disciplining my House-elf?"
"To be precise, he's not your House-elf anymore."
Lorne's wand slid out from his sleeve, and with a casual wave, colorful dust filled the air, swirling Dobby. Amidst the dazzling spectacle, the object in Dobby's hand gradually took shape.
It's a piece of clothing.
"The transparent pajamas, you just gave them to your House-elf Dobby, I guess that means—"
Lorne looked at Dobby, seemingly waiting for Dobby to say those words himself.
" Dobby..." Dobby incredulous. Its eyes, which had been dazed, suddenly focused, like a streetlamp suddenly illuminating the night. " Dobby... free now?!"
"You've taken my House-elf from me!" Lucius angrily swung his wand at Lorne, " Avada— "
Before he could finish speaking, Lorne's instant Etching Charm attack was already launched. Before Lucius could continue waving his wand, Lorne used a Levitation Charm to send his wand flying out of his hand.
"We mean no harm, Mr. Malfoy," Lorne turned to Dobby, " Dobby, clean up the mess, then say goodbye to your old employer."
Lorne put away his notebook and, as he passed Lucius, whispered reassuringly, "Don't worry, I won't let Dobby with you at the Ministry of Magic, even though that's how you treated your previous boss."
Dobby, you're gone.
Lorne and Dobby walked out of the Malfoy Manor without looking back. Lucius watched them until they disappeared from sight, then gritted his teeth and ordered, "Clean up the table, and throw away the chair he sat in."
Lucius sat back down at his desk, staring at the left drawer for a long time before finally pulling out a few blank sheets of paper from his letterbox.
He wanted to join forces with other Pure-blood families to launch a thorough purge of the Magic Mobile Phone Shop, and he wanted to let Lorne Myles know that the honor of Pure-blood families could not be trampled on.