Chapter 358 Preparing for School (I)
Diagon Alley.
Jian Yuzheng and Dumbledore were walking one after the other.
She looked at the famous wizard who had the "sudden idea" to take her on a "shopping spree" when "many stores were closed" and felt that it was a bit magical.
Along the way, she looked at both sides of Diagon Alley:
It is very deserted here, and the doors and windows of many shops are nailed shut with boards, but there are still parents hurrying by with their children, looking nervous and tense.
When they saw Dumbledore and Jian Yu appear, they secretly looked at the two of them, and their nervous expressions relaxed a lot, as if their presence could ensure the safety here.
"It has been attacked here before," Dumbledore said calmly. "Just the day before your accident, a Death Eater and his Dementors attacked the ice cream shop."
Jian Yu looked towards the location of Florin Fusco's ice cream shop and found that it was closed and the doors and windows were closed.
"Florin's family knew a lot about medieval witchcraft, which might be why he was targeted." Dumbledore continued, "Fortunately, he was rescued. Percy brought people to rescue him."
But he changed the subject, with a heavy look on his face:
"Unfortunately, the Death Eaters' true intentions were with Ollivander. He was taken away by three other men."
Jane Yu understood that this was some kind of diversionary tactic, the purpose of which was to divert Percy's patrol by attacking the ice cream shop so as to capture Ollivander.
"It's like taking away an arsenal," she said. "I guess such skilled people will be forced to make wands for them endlessly."
Dumbledore nodded and confirmed:
"It would result in Voldemort having a new wand... and all the Death Eaters would have an endless supply of wands."
He and Jian Yu walked slowly. The not-so-wide alley allowed them to walk out in a leisurely manner as if they were in their own garden.
Dumbledore stopped in front of Madam Malkin's robe shop, his eyes flickering:
"You've grown taller, Jade. You'll need a new school robe to cover your spell-proof vestment."
The door of the shop closed behind them.
What greeted Jian Yu was a loud "Ouch"!
In an instant she recognized the voice as Draco's:
"You know, the customer is Merlin! Where are you measuring your ruler? How do you treat Merlin?"
Narcissa breathed rapidly, her voice heavy, and she sounded like she was mad at the son who called himself Merlin and fainted.
"Please, dear, stop using those homemade proverbs." Madam Malkin sounded desperate. "Turn around."
"The business of this store in this alley is so bad. This is how you treat a Malfoy when he comes to visit you, a high-quality customer?"
Draco took the word "arrogant and domineering" to the extreme and also embodied the word "crazy" to the fullest:
"Speaking of physical stores, do you understand the principle of developing remote shopping? That is our future! You'd better prepare now, use owls to advertise, use owls to send deposits, and use owls to deliver goods! Develop the transportation industry - what are your needles doing?"
"Please be kind, dear." Madam Malkin, who was tortured to the point of mental weakness by him, said, "Mrs. Malfoy, what are you talking about? Perhaps I am being presumptuous, but when will this poor child be able to recover?"
Narcissa sighed, her breathing sounding even weaker than Madam Malkin's.
"Ahem." Dumbledore interrupted their conversation, "Ma'am, when you are done, we need a set of school robes here."
The store was quiet for a moment.
Narcissa's breathing became more rapid. She slowly turned out from behind the clothes rack and looked at the two of them intently.
Jian Yu discovered that compared to the last time they met, although she still held her head high and looked arrogant, her face looked much more haggard and wrinkles gradually appeared. When their eyes met, a light flashed in her eyes, and it was unclear whether it was hope, panic, or something else.
They haven't communicated for a long time.
After Voldemort's resurgence, they had to cut off direct business ties.
Narcissa did not say hello, and neither did Jane Yu. She was not sure what the lady's attitude would be now that the situation had changed.
"Good morning." Dumbledore said unexpectedly, "I didn't expect to meet a student's parent here."
Narcissa stared at him intently, as if thinking about something. She nodded:
"I just hope my son can get good teaching quality in the new school year. His test scores and mental state make me very worried."
This always proud lady felt that she had never been so nervous before, and every nerve in her body was tense.
The person she wants to murder is standing right in front of her, but she must seek his help... and even forgiveness.
She tried her best to keep her chin up so that her head would not drop to her chest in shame.
At this moment, her mind was full of chaotic thoughts - the Death Eaters, the murder mission, the death of her son, the despair in her heart...
"Of course." Headmaster Dumbledore said calmly, "This is my duty as the headmaster."
The atmosphere suddenly became cold, and the awkward topic seemed to have come to an end.
Narcissa felt as if the sky had fallen on her.
Dumbledore's indifference was a direct rejection!
She looked at Jian Yu again with pleading eyes, her breathing seemed to become heavier, and her lips slightly opened.
Jian Yu wasn't sure whether he hoped she could say a few words to ease the atmosphere.
"There will be new people in the school this year."
Given their past relationship, she felt it was inappropriate to lay the words of her former greatest partner on the table.
Narcissa's breathing became disordered, and she felt as if she had returned to the world from hell again.
Thanks to Merlin, Jian Yu finally spoke!
This was an opportunity she had worked so hard to come by, so every word Jian Yu said must be full of meaning!
She had to carefully interpret the meaning of this short sentence so that she could grasp this life-saving straw.
Newbies in school? What does this mean?
Could it be... Death Eaters...?
Did she already know about their plan to allow Death Eaters into the school?
Narcissa calmed herself down and thought to herself that this was unlikely.
She thought about it carefully and felt that it was probably the vacant position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who was kicked out last school year.
"What new person? The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?"
"Yes, Headmaster Dumbledore specially invited a professor who is very knowledgeable about the Dark Arts and is as good as himself." Jian Yu continued kindly, "And this professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts focuses on practical application and will strictly enforce grades."
Narcissa immediately began to think about the meaning:
Dumbledore "specially" invited a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts... who was equally good... had a deep understanding of the dark arts... focused on practical application... and paid close attention to grades...
Who else but the Dark Lord could be as knowledgeable about the Dark Arts as Dumbledore?
And there is no way the Dark Lord could be a professor—
Jian Yu was just using the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts as a metaphor. The person in his words was clearly Dumbledore himself!
This was hinting to her that Dumbledore was extremely wary of the dark arts! Tell her not to make any small calculations!
Perhaps it was because he was guilty.
Narcissa felt like a frightened bird. She opened her mouth but was so frightened that she couldn't utter a word.
She felt that the robe on her back was soaked, and Jian Yu's gaze was like an invisible boulder pressing on her chest.
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