Before the weekend, Astoria had received a letter from Lord Greengrass, an invitation to a private party. The only details given were that my safety was guaranteed by the word of the head of the family. Well, we'll see how much that word is worth, but I'm afraid my disappointment will be short-lived. I've left the letter and instructions with Anthony Hilliard.
The appointment is for Saturday evening. I spent Friday night with Lizzie, half the day resting at my house and teaching her the Clan material. And in the evening I apparated to the gates of Greengrass Mansion.
Still, it was very good of Lizzie and I to talk about this. I've been worried about our relationship ever since she arrived. I like her very much; literally everything about her is my type, from her hair to her well-groomed toes with a few rings. And her fun personality never lets you get bored. Love of money? Pfft! Who doesn't love money?
She didn't sell me out when she had the chance, did she? And if she wants some jewelry, I'm not so greedy that I can't spoil my girlfriend, especially if her shopping sprees are quite rare. The question of marriage is indeed still difficult for me in the sense that the situation in Britain is not as simple as I would like it to be. At least until this spring — and there, after my seventeenth birthday, I will be able to unfold the full breadth of my soul!
Well, jokes are jokes, but the evening will not be easy.
***
There was no dancing, feasting, or increased attention here. They had chosen a large hall for the event, but there were very few people invited, two hundred at most. There was no wandering around, getting to know each other, moving on. From the moment I arrived, I noticed that the guests immediately dispersed into certain companies where they spent most of their time.
Communication also happens in a peculiar way: two or three people break away from the groups, go to another group, spend time there, and come back. And I was also struck by the open expression of attitude, in the sense that no one made a face or bared their teeth, but it was worth looking at a person and you could immediately understand their attitude toward you.
There were men and women, teenagers and older children among the arrivals. I saw a few familiar Slytherin faces, a few Hufflepuffs, four Ravenclaws and even a seventh year Gryffindor girl. More interestingly, there were Aurors present. They were very confident, and some of the younger ones even tried to be cheeky, but they were quickly put down by their older comrades. But the very fact of the Aurors' presence at the private reception raised questions and speculation in my mind. Was this an echo of the war against Voldemort?
Are they still afraid, or do they just want to keep the "evil slugs" under control? I don't understand why the aristocrats put up with it. They have the majority of the business in their hands — eighty percent of the total volume! After all, you can easily create some kind of union, with a lot of conditions for co-founders, and with its help put pressure on society and the government. Or, for example, threaten (if the business is important for the country, almost strategic) to seriously reduce the supply of goods/resources/products. There are a lot of possibilities! Are they really willing to tolerate such things for the sake of profit and unwillingness to cooperate with "enemies"? I hope not, otherwise such sheep do not deserve a drop of respect. I have seen clans, I have lived in a clan, I know what a strong clan with an intelligent head is capable of. I can't say that I'm all ideal and genius, but if you look around soberly, what do you see in Britain?
I mean, there are plenty of places where you can use magic and make a lot of money. The same coal mines, a lot of them are closed and are closed because of the amount of gas, even though the seams are very rich. With magic, that's not a problem at all! You can organize the mining with pure magic — there are no sparks from it, and in case of gas emission you can use air purification spells. Problem solved! So what's the problem? Sluggishness of thought? By the way, I have to write down my ideas in a special notebook for future reference. I'll give my notes to the manager — maybe he'll give me some hints, and in case of emergency we can hire as many assistants as we need — there are a lot of people in Knockturn Alley, and they all do what they can....
In general, while I was waiting for my hour at the reception, I let my imagination run wild, and only had time to write. And I literally wrote everything down. Magic is the realization of all the miracles, fantasies, dreams that are available to you if you are gifted and have a brain. A brain, not like most people's brains.
— Good evening, Mr. Hoshino. — comes a familiar voice from my right. I lift my eyes from my notebook and look at the teenager and the woman.
— Good evening, Mr. Malfoy, lady. — And who wouldn't recognize this woman if they had seen her once? Especially in the movie, all the actors were English, so not particularly beautiful, but here there are clear differences for the better. The woman is beautiful, but the arrogant mask, this kind of "I've condescended to you, a merchant" ruins a lot.
— Narcissa Malfoy, my mother. — Draco introduced her formally.
— Pleased to meet you, Lady Malfoy. — A slight half bow, as an equal.
I got something like a nod and a cold face. Although I had enough eyes for myself: the lady was obviously very unhappy that the floors weren't kissed in front of her.
— We couldn't help but notice that you were writing something in your notebook, young man. — said the woman. — Please dispel the doubts of my friends who thought you were just another upstart collecting gossip. — and without giving me a chance to speak, she continued. — I never thought Henry would invite such a man.
I watched the woman's face for a few seconds, noticing Draco's tense expression out of the corner of my eye. What was this? A test or the famous Black intemperance? We'll try to smooth things over, but if she doesn't calm down, I won't let her go.
— Heir Malfoy — I look into Draco's gray eyes. — It looks like your mother is a little tired and it would be better if she rested in peace and quiet, without unnecessary stimuli. — I point at the couple in the red robes.
Draco stares into my eyes for a second, then glances at the Aurors and slowly opens his eyelids, taking his mother under his arm.
— You're right, it is a bit stuffy in here. If you'll excuse us, we'll leave you to it. — A half bow and the boy leads his mother away.
Where's that Gryffindor Draco from the movie? That's how the heir should behave, not what Rowling showed. Maybe she wanted a Slytherin villain, an antagonist. Or does the guy act like that on purpose, like "they won't see genius in a stupid hysterical girl"? Hmmm...