Faced with such blunt questioning from his parents, Draco actually felt little panic.
He had anticipated this situation long ago. It was merely a confrontation that would come sooner or later.
Draco remained calm, his fingers gently stroking the end of his dinner knife's handle as he slowly spoke. "You misunderstand, Father. I spoke with that girl today because I wanted to use the opportunity to build a good relationship with Professor McGonagall. She is Hogwarts' deputy headmistress and a top master of Transfiguration. When I study at school, having a little extra support can only help. I certainly had no genuine intention of growing close to a Muggle-born."
The situation was delicate, so he could only use Professor McGonagall as a shield and avoid the immediate confrontation.
"Is that so?" Lucius raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of suspicion. Clearly, he was not entirely convinced. "Why would you need to go through a Muggle girl to befriend a professor? That explanation is rather far-fetched."
"Of course it is." Draco met his gaze openly. "If you do not believe me, Father, you are welcome to ask Professor McGonagall whether what I said is true."
In reality, Draco's explanation left no one available to verify it.
As head of the Malfoy family, Lucius had always been proud. How could he readily lower himself to verify such a trivial matter? Draco was merely bluffing.
Sure enough, Lucius was left speechless. His brow furrowed tightly, but he did not know how to refute him.
He truly had no reason to question Professor McGonagall, either. Doing so would be both undignified and making a mountain out of a molehill.
After a brief silence, he snorted, a note of warning in his voice. "It had better be so. Remember your position. You are the heir to the Malfoy family. Never forget the family's glory. Letting the filthy taint of Muggles pollute our pure blood would be a disgrace to the family."
His mother quietly agreed from beside him, her persuasion gentle. "Draco, listen to your father. He is doing this for your own good and for the whole family. Do not act willfully."
Draco looked at Lucius and asked with feigned puzzlement, "Father, I have never understood why you bear such deep hostility toward Muggles. We have little contact with them. Surely such hatred is too extreme."
Lucius's expression darkened. "Why do I hate them? Because Muggles are backward and barbaric by nature! In the days before magic went into hiding, they feared the power we possessed and persecuted wizards on a massive scale. Burning, killing, looting-there was nothing they would not do. That hatred has long since been etched into their bones."
"But Father," Draco raised an eyebrow slightly, "with our abilities as wizards, we need only learn real magic to take a Muggle's life with ease. They are helpless. What could they possibly use to stand against us? Such fear seems unnecessary."
These words left Lucius speechless once more. He opened his mouth, but did not know how to argue back.
A brief silence fell over the dining room, broken only by the faint sound of burning candles.
Several seconds later, Lucius took a deep breath, his tone growing graver. "You are far too naive. Technology in the Muggle world is becoming increasingly advanced. Those so-called firearms and explosive weapons are astonishingly powerful. Even setting aside guns, cannons, and ammunition, some can manufacture bombs capable of devastating heaven and earth. Many of their inventions pose a lethal threat to us wizards. They are by no means as vulnerable as you imagine."
Draco widened his eyes in feigned surprise, a teasing note entering his voice. "I never imagined you followed developments in the Muggle world so closely, Father. You even know so much about their weapons. Does that not contradict what you said earlier about avoiding contact with Muggles?"
Draco's question left Lucius utterly speechless, his face alternating between livid and pale. Clearly, he had not expected such a rebuttal.
Narcissa hurried to smooth things over. "Your father learns about the Muggle world not because he wishes to grow close to them, but to understand their movements and better respond to potential threats. It is all for the family's safety, not what you imagine."
"I understand Father's intentions." Draco nodded slowly. "But I have always believed that no matter how the Muggle world develops, it cannot threaten us wizards with extinction. On the contrary, the risks they face are far greater than ours."
"Think about it, Father. Most of the news we hear concerns wizards accidentally exposing magic and causing casualties and chaos in the Muggle world. There are very few cases of Muggles harming wizards.
"Since that is the case, there is absolutely no need for us to hate Muggles so much. We are merely creating trouble for ourselves."
"Do you think I am afraid of them?" Lucius slammed his hand onto the dining table, making the tableware clatter sharply. His voice was filled with anger.
"I am not afraid. I am worried about those foolish wizards bringing trouble upon themselves! Do you know that when wizards marry Muggles, their descendants are highly likely to lose their magical talent and become Muggles? Even if they are fortunate enough to become wizards, their magic will be greatly weakened. Over time, the family will gradually decline and may even perish!"
After those words, the dining room fell completely silent. Lucius's breathing gradually steadied, and the anger in his eyes faded, replaced by gravity and weariness.
Draco understood. He had finally spoken the truth-all that hatred and wariness stemmed from an obsession with pure-blood lineage, from protecting the family's power and legacy.
From the perspective of the Malfoy family's heir, there was actually nothing wrong with such thinking. It was simply too extreme.
Draco nodded slowly and said sincerely, "Father, I understand. You are absolutely right. The family's legacy takes precedence over everything. Your considerations are all for the continuation of the Malfoy family. There is nothing wrong with them."
Seeing Draco's attitude, Lucius's expression gradually softened.
Narcissa breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "It is good that you understand, son. Discuss things with us more before acting in the future. Do not make us worry again."
"Enough. That concludes today's discussion." Lucius raised a hand and rubbed between his brows. "You must give your actions more thought in the future. Do not make so many assumptions. Put the family's interests first in all things, and remember your mission."
Draco nodded in agreement and said nothing more.
The atmosphere remained heavy and oppressive throughout dinner. The earlier warmth and ease had vanished completely. Each of them was occupied with their own thoughts, unable to taste their food.
After hurriedly finishing his meal, Draco stood and bowed slightly to his parents, saying softly, "Father, Mother, I am a little tired. I will return to my room to rest. Please enjoy the rest of your meal."
They nodded their assent, and Draco turned and left the dining room, his steps somewhat heavy.
After Draco left, Narcissa watched his retreating figure and said softly, "What we said today went too deep for him. Let him think it over properly. Do not put too much pressure on him."
Lucius gazed out the window into the deep night, his tone grave. "He must learn these things sooner or later. As the heir to the Malfoy family, he must eventually learn to shoulder these responsibilities and duties. Telling him earlier may spare him a great deal of unnecessary trouble in the future and keep him from taking so many wrong turns."
Narcissa nodded in agreement, though she could not hide the worry in her eyes. Still, she knew her husband spoke the truth, and could only silently hope that Draco would truly understand this weighty mission.
Back in his room, Draco took off his outer clothes and lay straight down on the bed. Gazing at the exquisite carvings on the ceiling, he felt thoughts surge through his mind, unable to settle for a long time.
Before transmigrating here, he had naively believed that being with Hermione would be a simple matter of overcoming a few prejudices.
Ron's family was easier to deal with. The Weasley family had many children, with five or six brothers who each had their own abilities and outstanding talents. Only Ron seemed unremarkable. The burden of carrying on the family line and preserving its legacy had never truly rested on his shoulders.
Besides, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were open-minded and tolerant, and had always respected their children's choices. He had a great deal of freedom in his life, with no need to be constrained by the family's interests.
By contrast, as the Malfoy family's only son, he had borne the mission of carrying on the family legacy since birth. That invisible burden was so heavy it left him struggling to breathe.
The family's glory, its obsession with pure blood, the continuation of its power-each was a shackle that bound Draco firmly in place.
What made it even more frustrating was that it was difficult to judge these constraints as right or wrong. From the family's standpoint, they were entirely understandable.
But from his own standpoint, they ran counter to what he sought in his heart.
Only now did Draco truly understand the helplessness and struggle contained in the ancient saying, "Loyalty and righteousness cannot both be fulfilled."
His mind was a jumble. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Now, the only way to break free of these constraints was for his parents to have a few more children and share the heavy burden of carrying on the family legacy.
But that was ultimately a distant hope, not something he could control.
This situation truly was thorny in the extreme. The road ahead was long, filled with uncertainty and hardship.
Hermione, what should I do?