Draco took a deep breath and slowly said, "I'm going back with my father."
Lucius grinned smugly. "Then we'll head back now, Albus, Professor McGonagall."
As he spoke, he gestured to Dobby: " Dobby, Apparition."
"Yes, Master."
Dobby's hands touched Draco and Lucius.
The next second, everything in front of them twisted and spun, and the Headmaster's Office at Hogwarts disappeared.
Draco returned home with his father.
Dobby has already stepped down.
In the Entrance Hall, Narcissa stood at the top of the stairs.
Her face was pale and complex, a mixture of fear of her husband, worry for her son, and an unconcealable sense of shame and disappointment.
She wanted to go forward, but a cold look from Lucius stopped her in her tracks.
"To the study," Lucius said coldly.
"Now."
Then, without looking at anyone else, he went straight to the study.
Draco followed.
The study door slammed shut behind him.
With a click, it seemed to completely shut out the outside world.
Lucius pointed his wand.
All of Draco's belongings related to Hogwarts, especially Gryffindor.
The school uniform, tie, and badge all vanished silently, as if they had never existed.
He stood before the fireplace, his back to Draco: "You've made our family a joke, Draco. A joke like no other in a thousand years."
Corner.
Narcissa finally couldn't help but let out an extremely faint, almost suffocating gasp.
She abruptly looked up at Draco.
Those usually cold and reserved blue eyes were now filled with undisguised, deep pain, fear, and a hint of desperate pleading.
It's unclear what she's pleading for.
Was she begging her son not to choose the worst option?
Or should she beg her husband to stop pressuring her like this?
Perhaps, it's just a plea for this torment to end quickly.
Lucius took in his wife's lapse in composure, but he made no comment; he simply turned away slowly and with remarkable grace.
His face showed no furious rage, only a deep, cold calm.
His eyes, like two cold, emotionless diamonds, scrutinized Draco from head to toe.
The gaze wasn't that of someone looking at their son, but rather like someone assessing a family heirloom that had serious flaws but had to be disposed of.
"Now," he spoke again, his voice carrying a more decisive tone, "You are presented with only a few paths."
He took a step forward, the silver tip of his snake-headed cane making a soft "tap" sound on the polished floor.
"Select."
The last word, uttered softly, carried the weight of a thousand pounds.
"First," Lucius's voice was as calm as if he were stating a business contract, "We will announce that you experienced a brief lapse in judgment during your Sorting Hat trip due to travel fatigue and stress, which interfered with the Sorting Hat's assessment."
"This is an unfortunate accident. You will 'voluntarily' take a year off from school to receive treatment and recuperate at the manor."
"After that, he transferred to Durmstrang."
Durmstrang.
That school is known for its harsh Northern Europe climate and its bias towards Dark Magic education.
That meant leaving Britain completely, leaving everything at Hogwarts.
Everything will be left behind, replaced by colder winds and snow, and a more unpredictable future.
"Second," Lucius continued, his gaze sharp as a knife, "You are hereby 'disappeared' from magical society. You are suffering from a serious illness and are seeking medical treatment overseas."
"In reality, you will be sent to a place no one knows you to undergo long-term, thorough re-education."
"You can only return—as a completely new person—after you've been transformed, until the outside world has completely forgotten the 'joke' about the Malfoy family."
Completely disappeared.
He was "hidden" and "reformed" by his family.
Draco felt a chill creep up from the soles of his feet.
Laodeng's methods were indeed ruthless; it was like sending an internet-addicted teenager to an addiction treatment center.
Lucius paused for a moment, a very slight, almost cruel sneer flashing in his eyes.
"Third," he said slowly, his tone even carrying a strange hint of "forgiveness," "if you find it so hard to part with that tattered hat and your new... friends, we can publicly declare that we respect the Hogwarts Sorting Results."
"However, given that this outcome is in serious conflict with family tradition, the Malfoy family will strip you of your official heir status and sever all public support for you."
"You can go back and enjoy your Gryffindor life as a ' Malfoy ' who's been half-abandoned by the family. Of course," he added, his voice as cold as the Siberia wind.
You need to apologize publicly to your family, to Slytherin, and to everyone who has been disgraced because of you.
Publicly disclosed separation.
Utter exile.
At Hogwarts, he became a laughingstock, abandoned by his family and rejected by both the lion and the snake.
Draco could actually accept this choice, but when he glanced at Narcissa...
In the corner, Narcissa's fingers were tightly gripping the hem of her skirt.
Draco felt a pang of reluctance, but decided to give it a try anyway.
Narcissa opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.
Lucius's gaze returned to Draco.
There was no expectation, no warmth in that gaze, only a calm assessment and a final order.
"Select."
He repeated it, his voice devoid of any emotion.