Lucius glanced at the book list and curled her lips. Lockhart’s books actually required so many purchases, and they weren’t cheap either.
Fortunately, she had now become a little rich lady and didn’t lack this bit of money, otherwise she’d really want to strangle this money-grabbing fellow! →_→
Lucius casually flipped through a few books, such as “Breaking with a Female Ghost,” “Traveling with a Ghoul,” and “Vacationing with a Female Ogre,” which basically all wrote about his own adventure stories.
Typical romanticism and heroism—the truth of these stories was still debatable.
These books could serve as adventure story readers to pass boring times, but what help would they be for the young wizards’ studies this year?
Lucius suddenly remembered that Lockhart’s most skilled spell seemed to be the Memory Charm, Obliviate. The protagonists of these stories were probably other people.
Oh, this fraud!
Lucius shook her head, thinking with great anticipation: If only Professor Snape could be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor!
Snape’s single “Expelliarmus” could instantly defeat Lockhart.
“You also think there’s nothing worth seeing, don’t you? Lucius.”
While Lucius’s thoughts were wandering, she was pulled back by the newcomer’s drawling tone filled with disdain and arrogance.
Before her eyes was a familiar face that also felt somewhat unfamiliar.
The delicate, soft features were beginning to take on the firm lines of adolescence. Platinum blond hair was neatly combed back, spotlessly clean and glossy—probably fixed with plenty of hair gel.
Getting closer, she could faintly smell a not-unpleasant hair gel fragrance. With this level of smoothness, probably not even a fly could stand on it.
It was Draco Malfoy!
Lucius was momentarily dazed, feeling he seemed much more handsome, and his height had increased too—no longer the little bean sprout from before. It’s just that his expression was sour, lowering his overall appearance score.
According to Lucius’s aesthetic, Draco should be the best-looking among Harry Potter’s peers, but also the most punchable one.
“Just a flashy guy with no substance. I really don’t know why so many people like him.”
Lucius nodded in agreement—she didn’t have a good impression of Lockhart either.
“I thought you were still angry.”
Lucius glanced at Draco’s flawless profile, hinting at something.
Before leaving school last semester, Draco had still been giving her the cold shoulder, even avoiding eye contact several times with a guilty expression that inexplicably amused Lucius.
“…Nothing of the sort!” Draco turned his face away, justifying himself with righteous indignation.
Well, the young master was always throwing inexplicable tantrums like this—Lucius was used to it.
Glancing at the ongoing commotion outside, Lucius covered her secretly smiling lips with a book and couldn’t resist teasing: “Draco, I thought you’d be outside watching Harry make a fool of himself, or mocking him a few times?”
That would be more like the young master’s style. (ω)
These two natural enemies would inevitably trade barbs whenever they met.
Draco’s handsome little face couldn’t help but fall, saying irritably: “You seem to enjoy watching the spectacle between me and Potter?”
He had indeed originally intended to jab at Harry Potter a few times, but accidentally catching sight of Lucius’s figure, he had unconsciously followed her over.
Lucius felt guilty inside. Elementary school chicken squabbles were quite entertaining, though very childish—it wasn’t a bad way to spice up life.
That’s what she thought in her heart, but she certainly couldn’t say it out loud.
Lucius avoided Draco’s gaze under the pretext of looking for books.
“How could that be? I truly hope you can get along peacefully, especially you, Draco. Your father should have taught you that when someone earns the respect of most people, being the odd one out is hardly a wise move.”
Draco let out a dismissive snort, as proud and haughty as ever. “Hah, become a fan of the Scarhead? Not even in the next lifetime!”
“Alright, let’s drop this topic. It seems there’s some commotion outside—let’s go check it out.”
Lucius paid for the books, packed them away, and beckoned Draco to follow him outside.
By now, the crowd had mostly dispersed, but the atmosphere remained lively.
Two tall, burly men were engaged in an undignified brawl, the fight quite intense, with many onlookers gathered around.
Mrs. Weasley stood nearby, shouting furiously, “Arthur, stop it!”
“Dad!”
Draco recognized one of the men as his father and gasped in shock, glaring at the Weasleys who were preparing to jump in and help.
The Twin Brothers were the most peculiar, gesturing excitedly and itching to join the fray.
Ron returned Draco’s glare with equal anger, while only Harry and Lucius exchanged a knowing glance, everything left unspoken.
In the end, it was Hagrid who stepped in to pull Malfoy and Weasley apart. Both men were disheveled, looking as though they hadn’t had enough, their expressions sour and stubborn, like stones from a latrine.
Especially Lucius Malfoy, usually the epitome of a noble gentleman and a handsome figure, now appeared utterly disgraced, his face marked with several bruises.
“Draco! Let’s go!” Calling to his son, Lucius shot Mr. Weasley a venomous glare before striding away.
From the back, he seemed somewhat hurried and disheveled.
Lucius likely had the foresight to realize that with Mr. Weasley having so many sons, if a full-blown brawl broke out, he and Draco would be at a severe disadvantage. After delivering his harsh words, he made a quick exit.
“Little sister, these are your books, right? Take good care of them.”
Amid the chaos and accusations at the scene, Lucius took out the Tom Riddle diary that Lucius had slipped in and handed the remaining books to Ginny, whose face was flushed bright red.
“Thank you,” Ginny muttered softly, her mood clearly downcast.
“Lucius, how did you…”
Harry hurried over, initially intending to ask about Lucius being with Draco. But surrounded by the Weasley family, he worried Lucius might be misunderstood and changed the subject, introducing her instead.
“This is Ginny, Ginny Weasley, Ron’s sister. She’s a first-year this year.”
“Hello, I’m Lusa Riddle.”
Lucius introduced herself with a smile, carefully studying this heroine who didn’t quite fit the typical mold.
As Harry Potter’s official love interest, Ginny Weasley could be considered the heroine, though her overall screen time wasn’t extensive—certainly less than the know-it-all Miss Hermione Granger, and she lacked Hermione’s fame and popularity.
But in this world, Ginny’s looks were quite impressive, far surpassing the actress who played her in the movies.
Even now, as a petite young girl, her features were delicate, with a healthy baby face and faint freckles on her cheeks that seemed like adorable decorations. No wonder she would later be known as the flower of Gryffindor.
Noticing the scrutiny and hostility in little Ginny’s eyes—if she wasn’t mistaken, it was the kind of “hostility” one directs at a romantic rival—Lucius couldn’t help but break into a smile. Glancing at the bewildered Harry, she decided to play matchmaker for them ahead of time.
“Hello Ginny, you really are quite beautiful. Harry, you’re quite the lucky one.”
Hearing this, Ginny realized there was more to Lucius’s words than met the eye. Her little face flushed instantly, turning as red as a sunset sky, making her look even more adorable.
Harry was so flustered his tongue nearly tied itself in knots. He widened his eyes and said, “Lu-Lucius, what kind of joke is that? Ginny is Ron’s sister!”
She’s Ron’s sister, not yours!
Lucius shot Harry an annoyed sidelong glance. She’s your future wife anyway. Such a delicate flower bud, paired with a straightforward guy like you—you’re already getting a great deal, okay! →_→