The next morning, Malfoy continued to study in his study as usual.
After three knocks on the door, the old butler said, "Young Master, the Parkinson family is here. Master wants you to go out and meet them."
"Okay, I'll be right there," Malfoy answered.
Malfoy slowly closed his book and went to the living room. From afar, he saw two figures, one tall and one short. They were probably the Parkinson family who had visited today.
"Hector, it's been a long time. You're still the same." Lucius had a rare smile on his face, but no one knew how sincere it was.
"Yes, it's been a long time, Lucius." Hector also greeted him politely.
"Little Draco, come here." Lucius waved to Malfoy. "This is your Uncle Hector, one of my best friends in the past. It's still the same now."
"Hello, Uncle Hector." Malfoy bowed slightly and greeted him politely, then fell silent.
"I heard you're a dud?" A clear voice suddenly sounded. Needless to say, the owner of the voice was his so-called official partner, Parkinson Pansy.
Her personality is predictably bad, Malfoy thought to himself. Malfoy thought to himself. He couldn't help but take a look at Pan Xi. Her chestnut-colored hair was short and scattered around her ears. Her slightly messy bangs covered half of her forehead. Coupled with her Gothic-style black pleated dress and her arrogant expression, one couldn't help but think of a word — princess. However, in the Parkinson family, Pan Xi was considered to be doted on, so it wasn't an exaggeration to call her a little princess. But the harsh words that came out of her mouth naturally broke this noble temperament.
"Pansy! Is this the etiquette I taught you in the past? "Hector's expression changed when he heard that, and he immediately reprimanded Pansy. "Quickly apologize to your Uncle Lucius and Young Master Malfoy."
"Hmph." Pansy turned her head away and didn't say a word.
"The child doesn't know any better. Hector, you don't have to be angry. Malfoy, bring Pansy around the manor. Your uncle and I still have some matters to discuss." Lucius did not seem to have heard the insults directed at his family.
"Yes, Father." Malfoy nodded slightly.
"Pansy, go walk around with Malfoy. Remember to apologize."
"I don't want to follow a dud," Pan Xi muttered to himself.
"Pan Xi!" Hector's tone became heavier.
"This way, fair lady," said Malfoy, bowing slightly in a gentlemanly manner. "I think our fathers must have something important to discuss. It's better if we don't disturb them for now."
"What a gentleman. His etiquette is impeccable." Hector could not help but praise him. "Lucius, your education is really successful. Unlike our Pansy, who has been spoiled since he was young. He's lawless and dares to say anything."
Lucius chuckled and said, "Children's words carry no harm. Children's words carry no harm. It's good to be lively. Just let children interact with each other for a while." Turning to Malfoy, he said, "I am sure you will get along well. Take good care of Pan Xi. Your uncle and I will go upstairs first. We haven't seen each other for a long time, so it's time for us to catch up. "Then, he went upstairs with Hector and disappeared at the end of the stairs.
There was a moment of silence after that. It was as if a curse had been cast on them. But the silence was finally broken by Malfoy. "I think even if you don't like me, just standing here should be more boring than just being with me. Maybe you can find something that interests you in this manor?" As the soul of an adult, it was not worthwhile to bicker with a little girl. Thus, it was Malfoy who spoke first to break the deadlock.
As if she felt that it was boring to just stand there, Pan Xi reluctantly nodded and said, "Then I'll be merciful and let you be my tour guide." There was a trace of expectation in her helpless expression. After all, the Malfoy family was one of the ancient Magus families. Perhaps something interesting would happen in this mysterious manor.
"I'm honored," Malfoy replied.
"Little girls really aren't easy to coax." Malfoy, who had been single in his previous life, couldn't help but complain.
The two slowly walked through the corridors. The expensive lamps in the corridors emitted a gentle light, illuminating the lines on the grey walls that had been eroded by time. Every now and then, they could see a painting of a famous person that had long been lost, or a portrait of an ancestor of the Malfoy family.
As the interior of the Malfoy Manor was very complicated, with all sorts of winding corridors and many forks, it was easy for people who were not familiar with the place to get lost. Thus, Malfoy emphasized to Pan Xi, "Remember to follow me closely. Don't get lost."
"You've said that three times already. Don't be so annoying, little mute." Pan Xi's face was full of impatience. "Didn't you say you were going to bring me to see something interesting? Where is it? Don't tell me it's these lousy paintings in the corridors. "The winding corridors had already made Pan Xi lose her patience. She complained to Malfoy.
"The painter of these paintings and the ancestors of the Malfoy family would cry if they heard you say that," Malfoy couldn't help but think. "What a difficult little girl. How should I coax her?" Malfoy pondered as he walked.
"This room is very special." Suddenly, a voice came from behind.
Malfoy abruptly turned his head, using the weak light to look. He saw Pan Xi standing in front of a stone door. There were some strange symbols carved on the stone door, emitting a sinister aura.
"Something's wrong with this room." Malfoy's mind immediately flashed with a book on black magic he had once read. There were many symbols on it, which were the incantations of ancient magic.
"Pan Xi, don't go in!" Malfoy hurriedly shouted to Pan Xi, but it was too late. The curious Pan Xi pushed the door open and walked in. Strangely enough, the seemingly heavy stone door opened with a push from an eight-year-old girl. Then, something even more unusual happened. The stone door gradually closed on its own. Pan Xi, who was looking at the room behind the door, did not notice.
"Sigh." Malfoy shook his head and rushed in before the door closed.
With a creak, the stone door slammed shut. Previously, the room could still get some light from the lamps outside the door, but now it was gone. Pan Xi, who was carefully observing the secret room, could not help but return to her senses.
"Fortunately, it's not a forbidden area." After rushing in, Malfoy immediately scanned the room with the help of the weak light. Looking at some magic materials and broken wands, Malfoy immediately determined where this place was based on his rich knowledge.
"With such security measures, any two people can break in. Father, you dare to study black magic in peace? Aren't you afraid of a sudden attack from the Ministry of Magic? " Based on the clues at the scene, the knowledge in his mind, and his understanding of Lucius, Malfoy quickly concluded that this secret room was none other than the laboratory where Lucius usually studied black magic.
Malfoy cursed in his heart. But now was not the time to care about this. How to get out was the key. "I wonder if this young lady was frightened." Malfoy started to have a headache again. If not for this burden, he would have been fine staying in this dark secret room. Although he had not yet begun to study any profound black magic, he could still do it with a flicker of light. Plus, there were some books in this secret room to pass the time, so staying here for a day was not too much of a problem. But now, it was different.
Pan Xi seemed to have finally returned to her senses. Her expression could not be seen in the darkness, but if there was a light, Malfoy could see that her slightly trembling body betrayed the fact that she was afraid.
Pan Xi forced herself to be calm and said, "What kind of place is this? It's so gloomy that there's not even a light. Isn't the Malfoy family famous for their wealth? Could it be that you can't even afford a light? This young lady's house does not have such a place. "Although she was afraid, her poisonous tongue did not change.
In the darkness, Malfoy did not reply.
Because he had decided to teach this little loli a lesson.
"Say something. Don't tell me you're scared silly?" Pan Xi continued.
Still silence.
After a while.
"Dumb Cannon, are you still there? Quickly reply to this young lady, or I'll complain to Uncle Lucius that you bullied me. "Pan Xi shouted.
The secret room was silent.
After a long time.
"Malfoy? I'm not calling you Dumb Cannon. Are you still there? If you are, say something! "Her tone became weaker.
The horror of the darkness was not only the fear of the unknown, but also the loneliness.
After a period of darkness and no response, Pan Xi began to feel anxious. Her fear and loneliness began to grow. Bit by bit, her defenses were destroyed. From her words, one could see that her attitude had softened.
Coupled with the rumors that Lucius was a fan of black magic, Pan Xi's emotions began to become more and more unstable. After all, not all pureblood Wizards were fond of black magic. Even for pureblood Wizards, the Parkinson family only advocated the pureblood theory, and their attitude towards black magic was no different from ordinary Wizards. That was taboo and fear.
Even adult sorcerers were afraid of black magic, not to mention the young Pansy.
"Forget it, there's no point in bullying a little girl." Malfoy thought.
"I remember there was a complete magic wand here." Based on that glimpse, Malfoy moved to a bookshelf and picked up a wand.
"Sure enough, I still can't bear to see a girl wronged." Malfoy thought as he quickly waved his magic wand and chanted a spell.
"Flicker of Light!"
The pitch-black secret room was immediately illuminated.
Under the stimulation of the light, Pan Xi was startled and raised her head to look at the source of the light.
Their eyes met, and Malfoy could only see that Pan Xi's eyes were red and swollen. There were faint traces of tears at the corners of her eyes. She was probably frightened. If not for her pride as a young lady, Pan Xi would have been unable to hold back her tears.
"This won't end well," Malfoy thought. "If I knew this would happen, I wouldn't have teased her."
"Well, don't blame me. You called me a dumb cannon so many times just now. Let's call it even." Malfoy spoke. The education he received in his previous life was deeply engraved in his memory. A man making a girl cry was not something to be proud of. However, he had to find a way out.
Pan Xi was silent for a while after hearing this. There was no other sound in the secret room except for some faint breathing sounds. Compared to the pure darkness just now, the little light brought by the magic did not reduce the somewhat gloomy atmosphere in the secret room. The two figures on the wall were motionless, as if time had stopped.
"Creak." As the stone door opened, the silence was broken. Both of them looked at the door at the same time.
Lucius walked in quickly, followed by Hector. The two scanned the entire room and saw that Hector's face was not looking good.
A man and a woman alone in a room. The woman had tear stains at the corners of her eyes. It was obvious that she had cried. If the two of them were a few years older, Hector would have given Malfoy an Avada — although he did not know how to do it. But even so, seeing his precious daughter on the verge of tears, Hector naturally needed an explanation. He could not help but look at Lucius.
"Why did you bring Pan Xi here?" Lucius asked sternly. Although he knew that Malfoy would not do anything that would bring disgrace to the Malfoy Family, it was obvious that Pan Xi was at a disadvantage in the current situation. As the master, he could not show any favoritism to his child. Hector was still watching from the side. He had to show the necessary attitude.
"I …" Malfoy was about to explain. Pan Xi suddenly spoke.
"I accidentally came in. Malfoy followed me in to protect me. When I was afraid, he used magic to light me up. Uncle Lucius, Father, I'm sorry for making you worry," Pan Xi explained. Her slightly red eyes and pitiful expression made one feel sorry for her. Her soft reply was completely different from the little witch who had hurled hurtful words just now.
Hearing this, Hector's face eased a lot, and he said, "Then why aren't you thanking me?"
"Thank you, Malfoy. It was my fault just now. I was so rude to you. You were so patient with me. "Pan Xi could not help but lower her head when she thanked him, like a shy deer.
Malfoy's mouth twitched a few times. His intuition told him that this matter was definitely not so simple. But he still replied, "Don't mind it. I didn't treat you well, so you were frightened." He turned his head and bowed to Hector. "Uncle Hector, I'm sorry. I didn't take good care of Pan Xi."
Hector waved his hand. "Since that's the case, it's not your fault. I have to thank you. "He turned his head and glared at Pan Xi." I'll teach you a lesson when we get back. Look at how much trouble you've caused. "
"It's getting late. We should take our leave. "After chatting for a while, Hector bid farewell to Lucius. "But, old friend, I'll say one last thing. I don't think the next time I see you is in Azkaban. Get rid of what needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Pure-blooded Magi are becoming fewer and fewer. If you were to join them, things would not be good. "Although he did not have much interest in black magic, Although he did not have much interest in black magic, as the leader of a family, Hector still had some knowledge. Naturally, he had some understanding of the use of this secret room. So he still gave his advice to Lucius.
"Of course. Of course. "Lucius could only laugh it off and gloss over the matter.
After that, Malfoy and his son sent Pan Xi and her father all the way to the entrance of the manor.
"Let's stop here, Lucius." Hector stopped in his tracks.
"Sorry for the lack of hospitality today." Lucius maintained his apologetic expression.
"There's no need for such pleasantries between us. Let's just say that this time, my little princess might have changed for the better. She might even have to thank you." Hector lowered his head and looked at Pan Xi. "Isn't that right, my little princess?"
"Mm." Pan Xi nodded her head, her voice as soft as a mosquito's. She then lowered her head and looked at the ground, no longer speaking.
The two elders were chatting happily, and Malfoy naturally did not interrupt. But looking at the seemingly docile Pan Xi, Malfoy felt an inexplicable sense of disharmony.
"I wasn't careful and stopped here for so long. It's getting late. I really have to leave now." Hector raised his head.
He looked at the sky and spoke.
"Then I won't send you off. Have a safe trip," Lucius said.
Malfoy heaved a sigh of relief when he heard that. He had already planned out his time every day. He could not afford to miss out on curses and basic knowledge. Entertaining the two of them today was not part of his plan, and he had wasted a lot of time. "Looks like I have to work overtime today." Since he was aware of this, Malfoy naturally held himself to the standards of a top student. He could not slack off in the slightest.
Just as Malfoy was planning his study plan for tonight, something unexpected happened.
Pan Xi suddenly broke free from Hector's hand and ran all the way to Malfoy. Malfoy, who was immersed in his thoughts, had yet to recover when Pan Xi stood on her tiptoes and said softly, "Thank you for today." Then, she lightly kissed Malfoy's forehead.
"What kind of development is this!" Malfoy did not even have time to feel the gentle touch of the little loli's lips before he was stunned by what had just happened. "The little loli is a masochist? After being taught a lesson by me, she has a crush on me? What kind of joke is this! "
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The two adults were also stunned by the scene before them.
"Looks like your little brat is going to abduct my little princess." Hector was the first to react. He joked. "It's very similar to your demeanor in the past."
"You must be joking. Children don't know anything. "However, Lucius's gloomy face still revealed a slight smile. His child's charm was naturally something to be proud of.
After the kiss, Pan Xi's face was also flushed with shyness. She immediately ran behind Hector, lowered her head, and tugged at the corner of his clothes. She revealed a shy expression.
However, if someone were to take a closer look, they would discover that Pan Xi revealed a mischievous smile like a cunning little fox.
"Father, let's go." Pan Xi shook Hector's arm again and acted coquettishly, as if she was still shy about what had just happened.
"Alright, alright, Lucius. Our Pan Xi is rushing me. Since she's so interested in your little brat, it looks like we'll be able to meet again soon." Hector could not stand Pan Xi's shaking and hurriedly said.
"You're most welcome," Lucius replied with a smile.
Just like that, Malfoy finally ended a day of entertaining activities. After sending off Hector and his daughter, he had time to complete his plan.