Harry Potter: Miss Malfoy

Outside the door, a wooden drum was struck once, followed by two quick hits.

This is the signal of readiness.

I took a deep breath, reminding myself not to be too tense. I took my mother's hand and walked out the door.

As far as the eye could see, people gathered on both sides of the door, clapping and waiting for her to pass.

The crisp sound of the harpsichord and the faint sound of the bow across the strings echoed,

Draco stepped forward step by step to the beat of the sonata.

He placed his right palm on the back of his mother's left hand, raised his left hand, and let his left wrist draw a semicircle to greet the people on both sides.

As I passed by, I silently counted them.

There are about thirty people here tonight, which means everyone who received an invitation is present.

This number is certainly not as high as in the past, but it is already commendable today when the powerful families are declining and in conflict with each other.

After turning around, picking up the hem of her skirt, lowering her head, and bowing to the people on both sides again to express her gratitude, the dance began.

In addition to the people dancing in the center, Lucius and Narcissa led Draco to introduce the visiting guests one by one.

I found that many people who I had only heard of and thought had already broken off with the family came.

Mr. Barty Crouch, with gray hair, was among them.

At the same time, he also greeted the elders of Ai Bao and the McMillan family.

Upon asking, I found out that although Hannah was in the same year as Draco, she, like Pansy and Daphne, had chosen to be an "intern" next year.

There was a silent understanding, and it seemed that no one was willing to compete with Draco on the same stage.

But this also meant that there were almost no people of the same age as him present.

As the glasses clinked, a look of nostalgia seemed to show on the nervous old Batty's face.

He said that he hadn't experienced this for a long time.

A social occasion where upper-class families put aside their differences and fulfilled their status responsibilities.

The Greengrasses talked eagerly with the elders of the Parkinsons and other family members.

It seemed that no one had expected that the ancient families, which had been fractured during the First Wizarding War, would be able to gather together like this.

Of course, there are some cracks that even social responsibility cannot temporarily alleviate.

The Longbottoms would not be in attendance anyway.

The reputation of the Malfoy family was indeed affected because Lucius was once a Death Eater.

Despite the dance party tonight, everything went smoothly.

-

"You did something very brave."

The tall man who had remained silent throughout the meeting, seemingly only there to fulfill his family responsibilities, came over.

Draco remembered that he was the representative of the Shacklebolt family?

Since his father just nodded and left when introducing him, Draco didn't have time to remember his name.

"You are very polite, Mr. Kingsley. But could you explain a little more?"

Draco asked politely.

"Ah, sorry, I meant you and Harry Potter."

"I heard that it was you who solved the Chamber of Secrets crisis at Hogwarts."

Draco was stunned when he heard this. How did he know about this?

"Please don't panic. My name is Shacklebolt. Kingsley Shacklebolt. I'm an Auror."

Shacklebolt said gently, seeming a little sorry for scaring Draco.

"It's my job to investigate this kind of information."

This surprised Draco even more.

Although my parents must have sent out invitations out of courtesy because we were all members of the Holy Twenty-Eight,

However, the Weasleys and Longbottoms were not expected to attend.

But here comes Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"I know what you are thinking, Miss Malfoy."

Kingsley smiled a warm smile.

"The hatred of the previous generation should not be extended to innocent people like you."

Draco was stunned when he heard this. This was indeed something she had never thought of.

"Besides, we also need such occasions to ease the past, don't we?"

"Please accept my congratulations, Miss Malfoy."

“Many people come here for you.”

"Shacklebolt is right, Miss Malfoy."

"Don't be nervous, he and I both work at the Ministry of Magic."

Old Batty came closer.

I don’t know if it was this occasion that made old Batty miss the good old days.

He seemed to have a liking for me and always tried to join in the conversation whenever he got the chance.

"Of course, we are in different departments. But he gave me a lot of safety advice on activities."

"Are you planning anything, Mr. Batty?"

"Yes, it is. I shouldn't have said that, Miss Malfoy."

Already a little drunk.

“But please look forward to the semester starting next September.”

"It's a pity that you are still young, otherwise you would be an excellent representative."

Seeing Draco's confused expression, old Barty could hardly resist telling Draco what he was planning.

"Barty, let's go sit over there."

Kingsley hurriedly supported Crouch and elegantly resolved the possibility that old Barty might blurt out the secret.

"Ah! Shaker! Batty! You should be punished for talking about work in such an occasion."

A cheerful voice with a smile reminded, coming from a well-dressed old man.

Draco knew who he was.

"How are you doing, Professor Slughorn?"

The retired old professor bowed slightly and showed a happy expression.

"I'm fine, just old."

A wink full of humor.

Slughorn seemed to have an aura that made Draco, who was bombarded with social rhetoric, feel relaxed.

"What a shame! If she hadn't retired, Miss Malfoy would be a student I would have liked to have added to my collection."

"Add to favorites?"

"Yeah, I didn't say that. When I was teaching, the Slughorn Club was famous."

"Professor, you are also talking about your previous job."

Draco couldn't help but make a little joke, reminding Slughorn who was about to talk endlessly about his past.

Slughorn was stunned for a moment, then laughed heartily.

After talking to everyone at the meeting one by one, Draco returned to the small room to rest.