great-warnovel Chapter 110 A Brief Private Talk
Chapter 110 A Brief Private Talk
Chapter 110 A Brief Private Talk
Inside the castle, unnoticed by everyone, a brief but intense private conversation took place at the same time as the duel.
Narcissa Malfoy was supposed to be waiting at the dueling grounds with Madam Pomfrey, but two of her children had to be hospitalized after stuffing too many slugs into each other's mouths during a fight. So she stayed at the castle to take care of the troublesome little ones, though she suspected they were doing it on purpose out of fear of actual combat.
After putting her two children to sleep, she took a moment to go to the window and look through the glass at the practical training session taking place on the lawn.
His son, Draco, stood in the crowd like an expressionless robot. His handsome face, so similar to his father's, and his light blond hair made him stand out even though he tried to be discreet. His mother spotted him immediately.
However, this year's first practical class was different from previous ones. With the students' encouragement, the rising star Platinum Knight seemed to be going to duel Hermione Granger.
Narcissa had some reservations; her feelings toward Hermione were extremely complex. It was this little girl who sent her husband to prison, broke her family, and tarnished the reputation of the Malfoy name.
But looking at the whole incident, the child is the hero who saved Hogwarts, and her husband is doing something unjust. Even with the weak moral values of pure-blood families, Lucius's actions have crossed the line they can accept.
Sending out children of the same kind in exchange for power and status is a truly appalling act.
Deep down, Narcissa felt a sense of gratitude towards Hermione. It was Hermione who had rescued Draco from his unhealthy upbringing. In the days since the incident subsided, Hermione had never shown them any discrimination, unlike the other children. A large part of the reason she and Draco could continue living peacefully at Hogwarts was because of Hermione's exemplary acceptance; otherwise…
Even if professors were able to view them rationally, the students' resistance would be much stronger than it is now.
Lost in these random thoughts, the duel began.
She didn't think Hermione would be a match for Lockhart, but deep down, she hoped Lockhart would lose, so that Lucius's defeat to a first-year girl wouldn't be so shameful. Even the ranger wizard Platinum Knight had been defeated, so people wouldn't use this incident to humiliate the Malfoy family.
But as Professor McGonagall unlocked Apparition, the battle between the two sides intensified, and a sudden, sharp sound exploded in their ears.
"Snapped!"
Narcissa was startled and instinctively pulled out her wand. It was an extremely ordinary, standard wand. She originally had a wand that had been passed down in the Black family and was Ollivander's last work, but after her family was raided, she sold that wand to pay part of Draco's tuition.
Yes, after the Malfoys fell from power, Draco had to bear the miscellaneous expenses incurred at school like ordinary children, or he would have to go out to work and study with the professors.
Narcissa dared not let her son leave the castle. Lucius had too many enemies, and there were many people in Malfoy Castle who would be happy to see the Malfoy family line die out. Even though Draco was furious, she still chose to keep him confined to the school, at least for the next two years, until the storm had passed and they were forgotten.
Before them stood a short figure draped in tattered cloth; clearly, he had appeared here after McGonagall had briefly lifted the Apparition restriction.
His body was covered in burn-like wrinkles, and pustules that had burst open and healed left terrible marks on his body and arms. His body was extremely weak, like a frail, withered branch, as if he might fall at any moment. A filthy, foul stench instantly filled the air.
But Narcissa recognized him at a glance—it was Dobby, their house-elf Dobby!
She almost screamed, but forcibly restrained herself. Using the screen as cover, she quickly set up a soundproof barrier and cast a ghost-repelling spell to prevent the likes of Peeves from suddenly passing through the wall.
"Dobby! Why are you here! What orders did Lucius give you! Why did you try to assassinate Hermione!" Narcissa's voice trembled, half with excitement at seeing Dobby again, and half with panic and tension. She had fantasized about seeing Dobby again someday, but she never thought it would be now. She had too many questions to answer.
"Mistress—Dobby is so glad to see you again." Dobby's voice was weak and trembling with sobs. Even though it had been almost two months since his last assassination attempt on Hermione, recuperating in the wasteland was not a good option. He had to keep up with Hogwarts while avoiding potential dangers, and he only had a few moments of peaceful rest. Therefore, his condition was not much better. In fact, if it weren't for the connection between master and servant, he wouldn't even be able to find Hogwarts.
Narcissa frantically rummaged through the cabinet for various ointments to give Dobby emergency treatment. Having been with Madam Pomfrey for so long, she had picked up all the potions she had forgotten.
Dobby let his master apply liniments to his body, choking back tears as he said, "Master said I should protect you and the little master."
And he would kill Hermione Granger if given the chance. Dobby didn't want to kill anyone, but he couldn't get into Hogwarts, so he had to go find Hermione Granger. Dobby was a useless, wicked elf; he couldn't kill Hermione Granger. With that, he was about to bang his head against the floor.
Narcissa grabbed him, surprised by her own sudden strength. She felt a fire burning in her chest, her eyes wide as she asked Dobby, "He—he was locked in the water dungeon, and instead of having you rescue him, he abandoned us at Hogwarts, and to spite his own pathetic pride, he made you kill someone!?"
Dobby seemed frightened by Narcissa; he had never seen his mistress like this before. "Dobby doesn't know," he said, "the mistress said that there was no point in him coming out. After he dies, Dobby should listen to the mistress and the young master."
Upon hearing this, Narcissa slumped to the ground as if resigned to her fate, remaining silent.
"What is he thinking? Is a momentary impulse really that important?" she asked bitterly to herself.
Dobby carefully picked up the fallen ointment bottle, tears still glistening on his face. "Mistress, don't worry," he said, "Dobby's in now. Dobby can protect you, the young master, and Hermione Granger! At school, Dobby has the chance to kill her!"
Narcissa suddenly looked up and rushed to the window, watching the duel below. Lockhart and Hermione's battle was still ongoing.
But she knew that once they were decided, Professor McGonagall would re-lock Apparition, and then Dobby wouldn't be able to leave even if he wanted to.
She walked quickly to the medical cabinet, took out various useful medicines, and put them in a cloth bag.
"You can't stay here, and you can't go and kill Hermione Granger again!" Narcissa turned to Dobby and said in a commanding tone.
"But, but Master's order is—"
"I am your master too!" Narcissa interrupted him. "You can't hide at Hogwarts. You'll be discovered in less than a day, and then you'll not only get yourself killed, but also me and Draco!"
"Dobby can hide in the kitchen, it's full of elves." Dobby wanted to try again.
"Look at you like this, the other fairies will spot you right away," Narcissa bluntly pointed out the problem.
"Now, go! Immediately, take care of yourself outside. The Malfoys will need you sometime in the future!" She stuffed a bag full of medicine into Dobby's arms. Even though she would have to figure out how to deal with Ms. Pomfrey's questions because of the sudden shortage of medicine, it was nothing compared to Dobby's problem.
She stood up and saw Hermione aiming her radiant magical bow at the weakened fox Lockhart; the battle was over.
"Walk!"
She gave Dobby a shove, and he stumbled backward in a daze, falling into a whirlpool and disappearing with a snap.
The next moment, Narcissa felt the Anti-Apparition Charm's sealing effect again, and McGonagall didn't waste a second, which made her feel fortunate.
But then, a huge wave of resentment washed over her; she wanted to cry, but she knew she couldn't.
Draco has no one left to rely on but her.