Draco, seeing Lucius's enlightened expression, curled his lips into a smug smile and spoke without any politeness:
" Laodeng, you've been in the Ministry of Magic for so many years, and I still have to break this down for you? Really..."
Lucius's initial shock turned into embarrassment. He tried to save face as the head of the family by clearing his throat.
"I didn't expect the Dementor to be involved so deeply, and I certainly didn't expect you to have calculated every possible way out."
Narcissa couldn't help but chuckle softly, then picked up a napkin to cover her mouth.
Lucius glanced at his wife, then looked at his son, who had grown into a strategist.
In the end, he could only sigh helplessly.
"Alright, stop mocking your father. From now on, do as you say. You'll be in charge of setting the direction for Malfoy."
Lucius looked at his confident son, still overwhelmed with complex emotions, but finally couldn't suppress it and asked softly:
"Why... why did you suddenly decide to help me get the position of Minister for Magic?"
"Isn't that why I want to write openly and honestly about my minister father in my next essay?" Draco laughed.
The moment the words left his mouth, the dining room fell silent for half a second.
Narcissa paused for a moment, then covered her mouth and laughed.
"You brat... you put your father in the position of Minister for Magic just for an essay?" Lucius was speechless.
"What else? I can't exactly write that my father is a senator who just coasts along in the Ministry of Magic, that would be too embarrassing for Malfoy."
Lucius was completely speechless.
"Of course, just writing essays isn't enough," Draco added. "Actually, I also want to be able to roam freely in the Wizarding World."
He spoke so frankly, behaving exactly like a spoiled young master who flaunts his father's power and influence.
Lucius nearly spat out the red wine he had just sipped. He put down his glass and glared at Draco, a mixture of anger and amusement in his eyes.
So all my hard work fighting for this ministerial position just turned out to be nothing more than you being my backer?
"Otherwise what?" Draco asked matter-of-factly.
"As the head of the Malfoy family, it's only natural for him to support the younger generation. Besides, with me as your strategist, you can secure your position as minister. Isn't that a win-win situation?"
"Alright, stop bullying your father. If you really become the minister's wife, I wouldn't mind helping you out in the Wizarding World." Narcissa offered her help.
"Alright, time for bed. You handle the rest. I have class, and tomorrow Hermione and I are going to Diagon Alley to buy school supplies."
Draco said something, then got up, stretched, and went straight upstairs to his room.
Lucius and Narcissa were left bewildered, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
I slept without any dreams.
The next morning, Dobby dawn was breaking, Dobby tiptoed and woke Draco in the softest of voices.
After washing up and changing into a neat and tidy set of casual clothes, the boy made sure he had everything he needed, then silently Apparition and landed at the entrance of an alley near Hermione's house.
At this moment, Hermione Granger is experiencing a typical morning in a Muggle family.
She was already dressed neatly, wearing a clean light-colored knit sweater and jeans, and clutching a shopping list she had prepared in advance, covered with circles and marks.
She was standing at the dining table in her kitchen, quickly munching on a slice of toast while checking her list and muttering to herself the items she needed to buy.
Mrs. Granger handed her milk and told her to be careful on the road. Hermione nodded obediently, but her eyes never left the neatly written list.
Hearing very light footsteps coming from the alley entrance, Hermione suddenly looked up, her eyes lighting up.
She quickly stuffed the last bite of bread into her mouth, grabbed her handbag, and ran towards the door, excitedly calling out, " Draco!"
"Why are you so startled, like you haven't seen me for months?" Draco smirked.
Hermione had just run to the door when she heard this and immediately wrinkled her nose, retorting coquettishly, "It's you who never tells me before, you always just pop up out of nowhere."
As she spoke, Hermione casually stuffed the shopping list she had prepared into her pocket and adjusted her otter crossbody bag.
"Alright, alright, it's me who wants to see Miss Granger."
Just then, Mrs. Granger came out with a glass of warm milk, wearing a floral apron. When she saw Draco at the alley entrance, a gentle smile immediately appeared on her face.
Seeing this, Draco lost his usual nonchalant attitude towards Hermione and greeted Mrs. Granger, "Good morning, Auntie."
"Good morning, Draco," Mrs. Granger said with a smile, handing Hermione the milk and offering gentle words of advice.
Be careful in Diagon Alley, and come back early. If you're not back for lunch, remember to give us a call.
She was already used to her daughter's interactions with this Malfoy family young master and felt completely at ease with their trips together.
Hermione took the milk and urged Draco, "Okay, Mom, let's go."
As she spoke, she pulled Draco toward the alley entrance, not forgetting to turn back and wave, "I'll bring you Honeydukes candies at noon!"
Mrs. Granger's reaction
Mrs. Granger watched Hermione and Draco walk away quickly, and shook her head helplessly.
She waved to the two of them and called out, "Okay, Mom's waiting! Be careful on the road!"
She only went back inside after the two figures disappeared at the alley entrance.
Apparition Draco and Hermione to a smooth landing on the cobblestones at the entrance to Diagon Alley, where the cacophony of hawkers' cries and shop bells immediately filled the air.
Just as the two were about to head towards Flourish and Blotts, Draco's gaze fell upon the entrance of a dessert shop not far away.
"The two of you?" Draco asked in surprise.
Hermione followed his gaze and saw Neville clutching a brown paper bag, his cheeks flushed red.
He nervously gripped the edge of the paper bag, stammering as he greeted her, " Draco, Hermione, good morning."
Hannah Abbott, who was next to him, reacted even more strongly, and upon hearing Draco's voice, she abruptly looked up.
Upon meeting their gazes, her face instantly turned bright red. She hurriedly lowered her head and whispered, "Good morning."
Hermione, seeing the two blushing and flustered, didn't say anything, but simply waved her hand gently. " Neville, Hannah, good morning. Are you here to buy school supplies too?"
"Yeah, you two actually came by yourselves, without anyone else," Draco chimed in with amusement.
Neville's face turned even redder, and he stammered, "Yes, yes, we... we live close by."
He spoke with a vacant look in his eyes, not daring to look at Draco or Hermione, only staring at the cracks in the stone slabs beneath his feet.
Hannah stood beside Neville, her head bowed even lower, her cheeks as red as ripe apples.
Clutching her small handbag, she whispered in agreement, "Yes, yes, just the two of us... we just happened to be going that way."
After speaking, she secretly glanced at the two of them, then quickly lowered her head, fiddling with her bag strap, looking shy and awkward.